I Coulda had Class. I Coulda Been a Contender.

Last night the Mets had a roller coaster of a game that ended in utter and total humiliation.

Insults were added to injury as Luis Castillo slipped on the dugout steps...we watched as he lay in agony on the dugout floor being treated by trainer Ray Ramirez. X-rays came back negative, but figure Castillo to sit for a few days---if his condition worsens, he could be headed for a short stint on the DL.

We saw Johan Santana get hit fairly hard, but leave with a lead, only to see it evaporate at the hands of Frankie Rodriguez and Sean Green.

"It's just one of those crazy seasons where things don't go the way you want it to," Johan Santana said after a 12-7 loss to the Cardinals in 10 innings at Citi Field.

Frankie, honest and forthright as always, took the blame. "It was a real poor outing that I did today," said Rodriguez, who blew his first save since July 2 in Pittsburgh. "It was real embarrassing out there. I never was able to make pitches when I needed to."

Jeff Francoeur has officially crashed back to Earth. He's gone hitless in his last two games and is 3 for his last 23. He has one walk in 89 at-bats as a Met, and that was intentional.

Francoeur's OBP in his last 8 games is---wait for it---you ready?---OK: .242

Last night, as my friend Andrew Vazzano of 'the Ropolitans said, was truly a microcosm of the season, and it reminded me of Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront, with Johan in the Brando role:

Charlie: Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast.
Terry: It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, "Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson." You remember that? "This ain't your night"! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money.
Charlie: Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money.
Terry: You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley.