With the Mets collapse occurring gradually over the course of month, I wasn't stunned by the way the season ended. More crushing would be losing a playoff series, or perhaps a situation such as Phillies fans would've endured had the Phillies been eliminated on the last day after their momentous comeback.

I did focus on avoiding media coverage and generally ignoring the situation, and I didn't get really upset until I accidentally noticed the front-cover of the Post on the train. My reaction was "oh gosh, poor Charlie."  While my almost two year-old son, who can slur the word "Mezzz" and recognize "ball" when it's on t.v, is fortunately too young to comprehend what happened, I couldn't help but think of the future misery he's going to face being a Mets fan.

I know. My third Mets related post in a few weeks. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'll be quick this time- the subject says it all.

(If you don't know who Doug Sisk is, read this funny entry from The Mets are Better than Sex blog. )

On August 30th, after the Mets got swept by the Phillies and had their division lead shrink from 6 games to 2, I posted The Mets make me sick. After that post the Mets went 9 and 2 including winning 5 of 6 from the Braves, the Phillies went back to playing at their level, and the Mets division lead went right back up to 6 1/2 games.

With the Phillies coming into Shea for 3 games, the Mets could've easily ended the season by winning two or three games. Not. They got swept AGAIN and have proceeded to lose 2 more games (5 straight) while the Phillies won two more (5 straight) and now their division lead is a paltry 1 1/2 games.

My wife, with more neutral objectivity, suggested that perhaps I need to post again. Given what happened after the Mets first sweep I remained calm after the last sweep but in retrospect, if my first "make me sick" post had some kind of karmic affect I am perhaps a couple days late with this. But here goes.

The Mets make me really sick. How could they not win a game against the fakester Phillies? Worse, to give up 21 runs in two games against the Nationals - the lowest scoring team in the league - is simply pathetic. Blowing  4 run leads two games in a row? I don't know if I can watch another game this year.

(Watching the AL East standings also doesn't help. So, fwiw, the Red Sox are making me sick too. )

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.html
Man. 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.

 
 

In case you missed it:

During the off-season when the Mets picked up Pedro Martinez and released Al Leiter I had complained. I felt the Mets were wasting money on another washed up free agent, while Leiter, a long-time Met and known quantity would probably win 15 games. I was very wrong. Pedro's having a great year for the Mets...his 2.95 ERA and 190 Ks have him among the lead leaders and his 13-7 record should probably be 18-3 if weren't for the Mets inconsistent offense and their bullpen blowing a bunch of his starts. Leiter, on the other hand was released mid-season by the Marlins.

It is with desperate hope that the same baseball gods that mocked my Martinez/Leiter prediction are listening now when I proclaim the current season over. I know, I know...ya gotta believe. I did believe. Until last night. After a great 9-2 stretch the Mets were within 1/2 game of taking over the wild-card lead. That now seems like 2 months ago. Since then they've lost 10 of 12, mostly to division rivals and are now 5 1/2 games out of the wildcard running. Making matters more insurmountable is the fact that there are four teams above them, most of which will be playing games against each other for the rest of the season. On any given night the Mets can only gain ground on 1/2 of these teams...if they were to start winning.

So, being at the point of the season where losses will no longer upset me, nor wins please me, I figured I'd reflect a little on the past season before turning my focus over to football.

The pleasant surprises:

Pedro - As a National League fan I never really got the chance to watch Pedro pitch. As I wrote before, I thought he'd be washed up and have a year like the Big Unit has had for the Yankees. But not only has he had a great season, he's extremely exciting to watch and has brought some much needed excitement and attitude to the Mets.

David Wright and Jose Reyes: How awesome are these guys? At 22 and 23 years old, these guys will make the Mets exciting for years to come.  Wright, in his first full year is going to lead the Mets in RBIs and Average (currently 21HR, 87 RBI, .314). Reyes will lead the whole league (or be 2nd to Juan Pierre) in triples and stolen bases. Both do well in the clutch. And both are getting better every day.

Cliff Floyd: In one of his first seasons where he stayed healthy all year Floyd is putting up near-MVP numbers (.273, 29HR, 85RBI). The near-MVP would be MVP if it weren't for Beltran batting in front of him.

Roberrto Hernandez - Who would've thought this 40 year-old would be the only bright spot in the Mets bullpen?

Jae Seo - 5 and 0 with a 1.79 ERA in last 6 starts.

Rookies, Bench, and Role Players - Victor Diaz, Ramon Castro, Chris Woodward, Mike Jacobs, Marlon Anderson...no matter who the Mets plugged in, spot started, pinch hit with, they all did great this year.

The big disappointments::

Carlos Beltran - For $900 million per year, you have to do better than .271, 14HR, 65RBI and 16 SB. And although those numbers may not seem horrible, they are very soft. There were just too many inning-ending double plays or pop-ups in the late innings of close games. If Beltran had the year that was expected, the Mets are in the playoffs. I'm hoping that this was just a first-year-in-the-big-apple slump, similar to that of A-Rod. 

Braden Looper - I really shouldn't classify Looper as a disappointment. Before the season started I knew he didn't have what it took to be a closer. (Not that I'm an expert as per my Pedro prediction). But it wasn't like I had an expectation or hope that he'd be good and he disappointed me. This guy is horrible. During his jog from the bullpen he already has the expression of a pitcher that blew a save. Not since Doug Sisk do I dread the Mets having a close lead in the late innings. Two nights ago was the best...Mets winning in Atlanta 2-1 only 3 1/2 out of wild card. Looper comes in for the save in bottom of the 9th and gives up a couple doubles, blows the save, gets out of the inning. Top of the 10th Mets score to take 3-2 lead. Bottom of the 10th, Looper gives up a single, then plunks the next batter, then gets an 0-2 count on next batter (two fouled off bunts...not good pitching) but winds up walking him to load the bases with no out. (Mets pull Looper and next scrub reliever gives up 2 run single) Looper blew the game not once, but twice. That takes talent. Please release or trade this guy.

Farewells

Mike Piazza - This is likely Piazza's last season with the Mets since he'll likely retire to the league where old players go and DH for a few years. He had some great years for the Mets but I'll probably respect him most for the classy way he handled his moving from the clean-up spot to 5th, then 6th, then 7th in the Mets order this year.

A good year from Beltran and a new closer and 2006 is the Mets!