Four days ago the Mets had a 6 game lead over the Phillies going into an important 4 game series against them. Going into the series, as a pessimist (synonymous with Mets fan), I'm just hoping the Mets win one out of the four and escape with a 4 game lead. Winning more than one would be gravy.
Monday night the Mets were blown out 9-2. Fine. Mets lead: 5 games.
Tuesday night Glavine pitched 7 shut-out innings and the Mets have a 2-0 lead. In the 8th they bring in Feliciano who gives up a home run to the first batter. A walk, throwing error on a steal, and an infield-roller that David Wright and Paul LoDuca watch stay fair it's 2-2. A nice Ryan Howard 2 run homer in the 10th wins the game. Mets lead: 4 games.
Wednesday, the Mets are down 3-2 in the 9th. They've got one out and runners on first and third. A fly-ball from tying the game. Just please no double-play. Shawn (weak-grounder-my-specialty) Green at the plate. Weak grounder to short. Maybe too weak to be a double-play? Rollins to Iguchi...Iguchi to...no throw...Mets tie it...nope...Marlon Anderson ran into Iguchi...interference called...batter out..double-play...game over. What just happened? Mets lead 3 games.
Today. Thankfully it was a day game so I didn't have to watch it. When I remembered there was a day game I checked and the Mets were already losing 8-5 in the 6th. Just to see how bad they'll lose I checked about an hour later. The Mets scored 5 runs in the 8th...now up 10-8! Mets bring in Billy Wagner - all star closer. How about giving up a homer? Burrell homers, thanks. 10-9. In the Phillies bottom of the 9th, 2 singles, three stolen bases, an intentional walk, and another single later..game over 11-10 Phillies. Mets division lead 2 games.
Just look at the scoreboard here.
http://sports.myway.com/mlb/game_logs/270830122.htmlMan. Unbelievable.
Earlier in the week in Marc's post
Save = meaningless stat Sambu wrote
"The save is one of the least effective stats at evaluating a players value to his team." and Marc wrote
"[closers are] the most overrated position in baseball. The rest of the team has to do its job for 8 innings for the closer to even get in the game. Then he has to get three outs." I don't know. The whole dynamic of a game changes knowing you've got someone capable of getting a few outs or not. Just having a reliable closer provides this huge intimidation factor that absolutely affects the opponent's offense for more innings than just the closer's. "We have to score this inning because if we don't we'll see Rivera" adds pressure that both makes the setup man and other scrub relievers better. The converse is true too. When there's no confidence in the bullpen, the starters feel like they can't give up a run and the offense presses more in tight games.
I've digressed.
I'm not sure I'll be able to watch another Met game this season. Right now they make me sick.
The whole dynamic of a game changes knowing you've got someone capable of getting a few outs or not. Just having a reliable closer provides this huge intimidation factor that absolutely affects the opponent's offense for more innings than just the closer's. 
