The New York Mets are not the worst team in baseball.

They are not even the most incompetently run franchise in their own division. Yet, their campaign this 2009 MLB baseball season may have forever redefined the concept of losing.

Nothing has gone right for the poor New York Mets in this calendar year. From the ownership down to the bat boys, the entire organization has been beset by financial issues, management missteps, injuries, errors, poor timing, and just plain bad luck. Every week seemed to bring a new crisis or terrible disaster and through it all, they constantly found inventive and entertaining ways to squander victory. And there’s still a month left!

Let’s take a look at this disgruntled franchise on what has gone wrong this year. Actually, it started in the offseason when the Mets first gave Francisco Rodriguez a three year, $37 million contract. This was the biggest buyers market in years and no other big market teams were in the mix for a closer, and yet they still gave him premium money. Frankie finishes 55 games in 2010, 100 games between 2010 and 2011, and is deemed healthy after the 2011 season, his fourth year option vests for $17.5 million. The bad news is, Frankie has been declining the past four seasons and the decline has continued this season.

Then the injuries.

The first set of injuries came within a few days of each other in May. Carlos Delgado got injured in a game against the Pirates on May 10th, yet doesn’t go on the disabled list until May 16th, despite requiring hip surgery. Jose Reyes injures his calf in a game against the Braves on May 13th but was placed on the disabled list on the 26th, almost two weeks after the initial injury. Reyes has not been seen since, and apparently everybody thinks he’s a wuss for making sure he is completely healthy before returning to the field.

The Mets lost their last remaining star when David Wright was…

Wha?!? Sorry, we shouldn’t be talking about that THIS EARLY. For what it’s worth, the Mets started this season firing.

Yep, you know them, they’re that ”other” MLB Baseball team in New York. And yes, revenge was on their minds as they prepared to play the very team that eliminated them in the National League Championship Series, the St. Louis Cardinals.

While the St. Louis Cardinals were parading like morons, still basking in the glory of their 2006 World Series championship, Mets players like David Wright and Paul Lo Duca stretched in shallow left field and Carlos Delgado was running sprints as they watch the Cardinals hoist the 2006 MLB World Series flag.

After the festivities were over, it was the Mets celebrating, celebrating a win over the defending World Series champions.

The New York Mets parlayed some fine pitching by Tom Glavine, exceptional defense and clutch hitting to a 6-1 victory before 45,429 true believers at Busch. Best of all, they officially put spring training in the rear-view mirror.

I guess the Mets watching how the Cardinals celebrate their World Series win didn’t faze them one bit eh?

”It’s a respect thing and a good sportsmanship thing, and you can use it for some motivation,” David Wright said. ”In the back of your mind, you want to be a part of that at some point. And it’s kind of cool to see a World Series banner raised. That’s my first time seeing…”