Mets' future hopes in flux

Apparently, the worst thing that could have happened to the 2004 Mets was a little success. They began July 30 with a 49-52 record, six games back in the National League East and seven behind in the NL wild-card race. Nevertheless, the Mets decided their future was now. Rather than wait for some of its best prospects -- lefthander Scott Kazmir, righty Matt Peterson and catcher Justin Huber -- to mature and join David Wright and Jose Reyes in the majors, New York dealt them away to make a playoff run.

But even before their widely panned trades for Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano, the Mets were beginning to fade. New York went 22-39 the rest of the way to record its third straight losing season.

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