Can the New York Mets Get a No-Hitter Before Shea Is Torn Down?

Well, I never thought it would come this close. The New York Mets have 22 games left at Shea Stadium. Being a Mets fan my whole life, I have seen so many one and two hitters. But my Metropolitans have never given their loyal fans a no-hitter. 

When the Mets finalized plans for a new stadium in 2006, I began to wonder if there would ever be a Mets no-hitter at Shea. I thought that in 2.5 years, they would be able to get it before Shea is gone and Citi Field is in. Unfortunately, this hasn't been long enough.

There is still hope, with 22 more home games, but how much can a Mets fan hope when they have played thousands of games before this and haven't had one. To try and gain some hope, I look ahead at the Mets starting rotation to see who might have a shot.

1. Johan Santana: Probably the Mets' best chance in this season and years to come.  He has two complete games with one being a shutout this season. Johan has given up 154 hits in 177 innings this year. Maybe he can pull it off.

2. Oliver Perez: Ollie has flashed signs of brilliance this season, but is not consistent enough to have a no-hitter. He has dished 120 hits in 142.2 innings this season. Decent numbers, but not the first guy I want on the mound.

3. Mike Pelfrey: Pelfrey has shown he has big-league stuff this season. He may have a shot to throw one down the road, but Shea will be long gone by then.

4. John Maine: Maine has the stuff, but his hurt arm will affect his concentration and ability to hit his spots too much to have a shot at a no-no.

5. Pedro Martinez: Pedro has the experience. With the Dodgers, he threw nine innings of no-hit ball once, only to lose the game in the 10th. Nowadays, Pedro has endurance problems that come with age. Don't look for Pedro to have a real shot at a no-hitter.

As much as I would like to see Shea go out with a bang, there is a better chance of a World Series win than a no-hitter. It doesn't seem a no-no is in the cards for the Mets, their fans, or Shea Stadium.