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Despite a miserable stretch of baseball -- 16-30 since June 1 -- the Mets can still climb into contention with a great stretch of baseball, apparently. Just 7 1/2 games out of the Wild Card, 10 1/2 out of first place, and 21 of 28 coming up at home, there are those who believe New York will find itself in the heart of the pennant race as August turns to September.

It will take more than two games with any semblance of an offense for me to believe again. The plan has always been to hang close and, once the dream team is reassembled, go on a tear that leaves the rest of the National League a smoldering mess of also-rans.

But the Kremlinology required to find out just which Mets are injured, for how long, who has had setbacks, who will require surgery, etc. makes it clear: the Mets won't get all ten back en masse.

In fact, the Mets took an unusual route in sending Gary Sheffield to the disabled list. Sheffield was injured July 17, stayed on the active roster for eight days, during which time he was disabled. On July 25, just as he pronounced himself fit to play, he was put on the disabled list.

Nevertheless, I have created the odds for each of the 10 injured Mets to return and help New York to a championship run. I have also provided a suggested date for you to play, should anyone be involved in a Mets Injury Return Pool.

Let me be clear: I am in no way advocating gambling as a way to pass the time during Fernando Tatis at-bats with runners on base. Gambling is illegal, though less so with each passing day though less so with each passing day, and I do not want my reputation so tarnished that Hank Aaron will speak out on my behalf.

And now, the gambling odds!

Gary Sheffield (2-to-1): The most likely Met to return from injury, principally because he is already not really injured. Sheffield is also playing for a contract in 2010, and has been hitting all season. Factors pointing against his return are his age (40), could suffer some setback from the time off, and Mets have been getting injured merely by riding in the same car as trainer Ray Ramirez.. Pool Date: Aug. 2.

Billy Wagner (4-to-1): Wagner has apparently been throwing hard and is upset that the Mets haven't fast-tracked him back to the Major Leagues. Of course, considering that Wagner largely succeeded based upon his top-shelf fastball throughout his career, any reduction in his velocity from age or surgery could make a return to the Majors ugly. Pool Date: Aug. 9.

Jose Reyes (6-to-1): Reyes has or hasn't had numerous setbacks, might be set to run the bases, is close to a return despite missing a huge chunk of time, has yet to play in any rehab games and has been quoted as trying to figure out how to play at less than 100 percent. If anyone sounds like a good bet to repeat Billy Wagner's 2008 press conference, where he shut down his comeback on the eve of return and instead had major surgery, it is Jose Reyes. Pool Date: Aug. 15 (with a return to the DL by Aug. 20 at around even money).

Carlos Delgado (8-to-1): So Carlos Delgado and Alex Rodriguez had the same injury, the same surgery, but Rodriguez came back early, with constantly updated timetables from the Yankees, and Delgado is already beyond his worst-case timetable, with no predicted return time from the Mets. And people wonder why Mets fans are so irritated all the time.

On the plus side, if Delgado comes back and hits but is essentially immobile at first base, it will seem like he never left! He's also playing for a 2010 contract and for a team to give him a chance at 500 home runs. It is a mistake to bet against a player as determined as Carlos Delgado -- but it is also a mistake to bet against the passage of time as a great quicksand swallowing up careers and lives. Pool date: Aug. 21.

J.J. Putz (10-to-1): Putz appears to be ahead of schedule on his return from surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. With a $9 million option for 2010, you can bet Putz wants to get back and show what he can do. When healthy he's been dominant, though the fear is by the time he returns, he'll be protecting leads in the eighth inning for meaningless games. Pool date: Sept. 5.

Carlos Beltran (15-to-1): So, let me get this straight: Carlos Beltran has a bone bruise that still doesn't show signs of healing despite a month of rest, and it is something that surgery can help correct. But the Mets are considering bringing him back and putting his 2010 in jeopardy? Beltran needs to be shelved now. It looks like even the Mets have come around on this; Beltran has not been mentioned lately as one of the players likely to return "anytime soon", the ludicrously open-ended phrase used throughout the organization to describe the temporarily departed. Still, there's probably one ill-advised comeback in Beltran's 2009 future -- the guy played on two injured knees for most of 2007 -- earning a label of "soft," for some ridiculous reason. Pool date: Aug. 15 or April 15, 2010.

John Maine (25-to-1): John Maine is visiting Dr. James Andrews. This is like an unfaithful husband telling his wife he's "going out for cigarettes." Pool date: April 15, 2011.

Fernando Nieve (35-to-1): Nieve tore a quad and even if he returns, he will have trouble finding work in the starting rotation or bullpen. A shame, really, because the Mets ought to see what Nieve can do. This one isn't their fault, however. Pool date: March 10, in Port St. Lucie.

Fernando Martinez (65-to-1): This would require Fernando Martinez to heal quickly, for the Mets to rush back their prized prospect, and for Martinez to have learned to hit Major League pitching while recovering from surgery. Not happening. Pool date: April 15, 2012.

Ramon Martinez (120-to-1): This would require Ramon Martinez to recover from his dislocated thumb injury, turn the clock back to the year 2000 and supplant Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo and Alex Cora on the depth chart. I don't know which of the three is least likely, but I know all three aren't happening. Pool date: June 3, 2000.