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That's why it's up to Omar Minaya and Mets management to make this all better - to give loyal supporters something to look forward to, something to anticipate in order to remove the sour taste from their collective mouths. And that doesn't mean firing Willie Randolph or bringing in an overpriced free agent, either. It means, strong, sensible moves that will put the Mets right back as favorites for the National League East title, the one they let slip right through their fingers this year.

Here's a look, position-by-position, of what Minaya could do to shape the 2008 New York Mets:

Catcher

Paul Lo Duca, who will be a free agent, is as good as gone - he sealed his own fate over the summer with thinly veiled criticism of Randolph and a constant hot head. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn native was one of the few gamers in the clubhouse, but it's unclear whether his irascible demeanor had a negative effect on his teammates.

It's a moot point, anyway. The Mets will have a new starting catcher next year. It could be Ramon Castro, a free agent, who could be resigned and become a regular behind the plate, but it's believed Minaya might shoot for something better and bring Castro back as a reserve once again.

Anything Minaya does will probably have to come from the trade market, because the only top-notch catchers that are free agents -- Jorge Posada and Ivan Rodriguez -- are very likely to be back with their respective teams next year. That leaves Yorvit Torrealba, who's coming off a great NLDS with the Rockies, as the best, attainable option.

Minaya has always coveted Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez, too, and one of them might be able to be had via trade.

Probable: Torrealba

SNY.tv pick: Castro

First base

Carlos Delgado broke his hand last Sunday in the regular-season finale, but he is all but sure to be back at first for the Mets in 2008. Whether he's healthy and playing like the Delgado of old is another story. The lefty slugger is coming off his worst season ever in the big leagues and, at age 35, it's been speculated that he could be on the downside of his career.

The Mets will probably give him a chance to prove that he is not. Plus, he has two more years left on a $52 million deal. The Wilpons won't want to eat that kind of contract and his trade value is at an all-time low.

Probable: Delgado

SNY.tv pick: Delgado

Second base

The Mets have had a bunch of second baseman in the last two years: Luis Castillo, Jose Valentin, Anderson Hernandez, Damion Easley, Ruben Gotay. There's a chance that none of them will be the starter on Opening Day 2008.

Castillo, who has the best chance of returning, is a free agent and is ailing knees make him a question mark. But the organization likes him in the No. 2 hole behind Jose Reyes and the fearless way he turns double plays. Another option would be to sign Houston's Mark Loretta, but he's 36 and Minaya wants to get younger. Castillo is still only 32.

On the other hand, aside from defensive miscues, Gotay did nothing but show people he could handle regular second-base duties. He hit .295 with a .351 on-base percentage in 190 at-bats this year.

Probable: Castillo

SNY.tv pick: Gotay

Third base

Perhaps the only bright spot for the Mets down the stretch was David Wright. He'll probably still get MVP consideration despite being on a team that turned out to be historic for its inability to win the division title. He's the franchise and will - the organization hopes - be in Queens for the next decade or so.

Probable: Wright

SNY.tv pick: Wright

Shortstop

Jose Reyes is the guy who will get the brunt of Mets fans' venom next spring after a horrendous September in which he hit around .200 and didn't steal a base the last two weeks of the season. But, like Alex Rodriguez across town, he did much more good than bad for his team this year, setting the franchise steals record and being an all-around nuisance at the top of the order.

Perhaps unlike A-Rod, Reyes will be back in New York next year. Rumors have circulated about Reyes being the centerpiece of a trade that would bring Twins' ace Johan Santana to Shea Stadium, but they're mostly all talk. Reyes is as untouchable as any player in the Major Leagues - this is still a guy people talked about before this season as maybe the best pound-for-pound player in the bigs.

Unfortunately, he ended the season as the third best shortstop in his own division.

Probable: Reyes

SNY.tv pick: Reyes

Left field

Moises Alou missed 2 ½ months with a bad quad, but when he was in the lineup he was outstanding - he's always been a great hitter, after all. The 41-year-old set a Mets record with a 30-game hitting streak this year and became the first player over 40 to hit in more than 21 consecutive games.

The team has an option on him for 2008 and will probably pick it up. Even though he'll be another year older, another year more brittle, Mets brass is not sure Carlos Gomez can handle starting duties just yet. Plus, Alou's option is only $7.5 million, a bargain for his potential production.

Options on the free-agent market would be Brad Wilkerson, Adam Dunn and all-time home-run king Barry Bonds, who fans should definitely not expect to land in Flushing in 2008.

Probable: Alou

SNY.tv pick: Alou

Center field

Carlos Beltran, as streaky he has been in three years here, is still thought of as one of the franchise's young cornerstones. He's still on the good side of 30 and team brass thinks he's also still in his prime. Beltran very well may be and he was playing hurt for most of the year. There's no reason to think he won't hit 30 home runs, drive in over 100 runs and play his usually stellar defense in center next year.

Probable: Beltran

SNY.tv pick: Beltran

Right field

Shawn Green is a free agent and if he is re-signed it'll probably be as a back-up in the outfield and at first base, where he surprisingly plays tremendous defense. Lastings Milledge will probably be given the reins in right field and bat toward the bottom of the lineup. If he isn't traded, that is.

Guys to look out for in free agency: Jose Guillen, Bobby Abreu, Trot Nixon, Kosuke Fukudome of Japan and Sammy Sosa. Minaya has always been smitten with Sosa, but he'll be 39 next season.

Probable: Milledge

SNY.tv pick: Milledge

Starting pitching

The rotation was never as bad this year as people thought it would be before the season. With that said, Mets pitchers had a hard time going deep into games and that wore out a mediocre bullpen, which then turned into an awful bullpen, which then turned into a flat-out horrendous bullpen.

Tom Glavine is probably the lone member of the starting five that won't be back. He'll either retire or head back to Atlanta after declining his option with the Mets earlier this week. We'll find out for sure in a about a month.

Pedro Martinez, John Maine and Oliver Perez will all be back, as will Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber. Oft-injured Orlando Hernandez, a free agent, could also be brought back. But what the Mets need is an ace, because Martinez probably isn't that guy anymore.

Their best option is trading Humber or Pelfrey, along with Gomez or outfield prospect Fernando Martinez, for a stud pitcher. But even with that package, it'll be difficult. There just aren't too many guys available.

Same deal on the free-agent market, too. It's slim pickings unless Minaya wants to take chances on mediocre pitchers like Freddy Garcia or Randy Wolf. Those guys are hardly aces. Chances are, Santana isn't coming.

Probable: Martinez, Maine, Garcia, Perez and Humber

SNY.tv pick: Martinez, Hernandez, Maine, Perez and Pelfrey (trade Humber for bullpen help)

Bullpen

Ah, the albatross around New York's neck. Aside from Billy Wagner, no one's job is safe, though Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano will probably both be back. Guillermo Mota and Scott Schoeneweis, who now has to deal with his own steroid accusations on top of bad pitching, have to go.

In their place, Minaya needs to fortify the relief corps badly. Lefty J.C. Romero is a free agent, as are Scott Linebrink and Francisco Cordero from the right side. Dan Kolb isn't a terrible option, either.

The team's best bet might be to make a run at one of those free agents and trade Humber and a prospect for another bullpen arm. Ambiorix Burgos, who the Mets got from Kansas City in the Brian Bannister trade, has a live arm and could be given a shot in short relief.

Duaner Sanchez is expected to return, but who knows at what level. Jorge Sosa could also be back.

Probable: Wagner, Sanchez, Heilman, Feliciano, Sosa, Romero

SNY.tv pick: Wagner, Cordero, Al Reyes, Sanchez, Heilman, Feliciano

Bottom line

There won't be many changes and there doesn't necessarily need to be. The Mets' collapse was a freak thing - they still have as much talent as anyone in the National League. If the bullpen wasn't terrible down the stretch, the Mets are in the playoffs right now, perhaps even headed to the NLCS.

But they're not and alterations do need to be made in the relief corps. If that's improved drastically, the Mets will be, to quote Jimmy Rollins, the "team to beat" in the division.