"Right Now, I Hate Baseball" *

I've had my share of baseball disappointments and heartbreak. But this ... this just might be the worst ever.

It isn't as crushing as last year's Game 7 loss. Last season was magical and everything seemed like it was going to turn the Mets' way after Endy's catch. Then in a flash, it was over. And the World Series victory to be didn't happen.
But this is worse. Over 17 excruciating games, I watched this team self-destruct. Hell, it feels like this has been going on for a month now and kind of has been if you include the four game sweep in Philadelphia at the beginning of September. But then the Mets built back their lead and took a 7(!) game lead with 17 games left. The playoffs tickets were printed. I know because I have them.

What went wrong with this team? What happened? The offense was for the most part very good but couldn't get the big hit when it mattered. Look at today. They had Willis on the ropes but left 8 runners on in the first 3 innings. What the fuck? That little league play in the first inning that plated three Florida runs was an embarrassment. This whole thing is embarrassing. But, of course, the pitching and boneheaded defensive plays were the real culprits. Other than Pedro, I can't think of one pitcher on the staff that didn't do his best to sabotage the season at one point or another during the last month. The bullpen has been much maligned but no excuses can be made for Glavine's last two starts and Perez's hideous performance on Friday. Disgusting.
And that is why this is worse than last year. The '07 Mets will be forever linked with the '64 Phillies. For the record, I don't care what anyone says - that still remains the worst choke of all time. 6 1/2 with 12 left is worse than what the Mets did. If the Mets had only 12 games left rather than 17, they would have won the division. Still, this team will never be forgotten in baseball history for its ineptitude.

The Mets play the Phillies 19 times a year. Philadelphia is only two hours away. Mets fans will never ever hear the end of this. The Yankees, after stumbling through the first half of the season, look poised to do big things this postseason. I want to console myself that the Yankees blowing a 3-0 lead in the '04 ALCS is worse than this but it isn't. At least they were in the playoffs. And at least they lost to a great team. The Mets lost 6 out of 7 to end the season to two terrible teams and a mediocre one. Truly embarrassing.

Yesterday was a tease. How amazing would it have been if after all of this, it was the Phillies who blew it? But it wasn't meant to be. Not this year.

Stone Groove called to leave a message that it was better to have contended and lost than to have never contended at all. I agree but when the disappointment is so profound, it is hard to look at the positive right now.

*A quote from Moises Alou