Back in 1948, Gerald Hern of The Boston Post penned a poem, which was shortened, and the words have forever lived on in baseball lore: “Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain.”

The reason for the poem was not so much a reflection on the Boston Braves staff as a whole, but more of a reflection of the greatness that was Johnny Sain and Warren Spahn.  Both pitchers were aces, and any manager in their right mind would want them pitching more frequently than the rest of their rotation.  And that’s basically what happened with Sain making 39 starts and three relief appearances and Spahn making 35 starts and one relief appearance.

The Braves followed that plan to win the 1948 National League pennant.

Now, in 2018, you have to wonder if the Mets should follow that plan with their own version of Spahn and Sain with Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

With deGrom and Syndergaard, the Mets have two aces and Cy Young contenders atop their rotation.  After that, at best, you have question marks.

Matt Harvey has been removed from the rotation, and so far, he can’t figure things out in the bullpen.  Steven Matz has been struggling just to get into the fifth inning.  Zack Wheeler had a Spring Training so poor he began the year in the minors, and after two strong starts for the Mets this year, he reminded you of that guy again in his last start.  Finally, Jason Vargas, the guy who was supposed to be an innings eater, got lit up by the worst hitting team in baseball in the ultimate pitchers park.

Seeing what has happened to the once vaunted Mets rotation, they are now in Spahn and Sain territory.  The question is what should the quip be.  Here are some ideas.

• Thor and Jake and Pray for an Earthquake
• Jake and Thor and Can’t Watch Anymore
• Jake and Thor and the Revolving Door
• Thor and Jake and Oh for God’s Sake
• Thor and Jake And Who is on the Take?
• Jake and Syndergaard Followed By Batters Going Yard
• Thor and deGrom And The Rest Bomb

Personally, I like the first one as it encapsulates both an event which would cause a game cancellation, and it also conveys the disaster the third, fourth, fifth, and now sixth starters have been to start the season.