September 12. A 7-game lead. The Magic Number to clinch in sight. But a funny thing happened along the way to that East Division title for the New York Metropolitans. Some bad starting pitching. Some lousy hitting. Some bad relief. Some more lousy hitting. And some cruddy fielding.
What's it all equal?
A monumental collapse, unrivaled since the league was split into divisions in 1969. (Ironically enough, the same year of The Miracle Mets.) The single greatest September collapse ever. And yesterday, the Mets did it fine fashion, getting blown apart by the Florida Marlins who exploded in a 7-run 1st inning off Mets starter Tom Glavine--the single worst inning of his Hall of Fame career. After that, the game was never close.
Meanwhile down the road in Philadelphia, the surging and not-at-all surprising Phillies were taking apart the lowly Washington Nationals to complete their improbable and spectacular September surge to the division title. Who woulda thunk it? Well, deifnitely not Met fans, that's for sure.
On the positive side, maybe The Monu-Met-al Collapse of '07 will contribute, in a small way, to the loveable loser lore Mets fans and the media have tried to bestow upon the team since its inception in 1961. A mystique that, in large part, has been largely overwrought and misplaced given the Mets success since they won that famous World Series of 1986 against the Red Sox. There hasn't been much to whine about.
Now there is.
So what will be the ramifications of the Mets after The Monu-Met-al Collapse of '07? I don't really know at this moment. One thing is certain, getting rid of manager Willie Randolph is definitely not the right move. But getting rid of Carlos Delgado and his over-priced, under-producing bat.
Finally on a personal note. While I want to feel sorry for the Mets and their fans--including my nephew who's a diehard fan--I just can't bring myself to do it. Hey, it's New Yorkers we're talkin' 'bout here, Joey!
Badda Bing, see ya next year, losers!
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Comments (2)
Wasn't the Phillies collaps... (Below threshold)1. Posted by kim | October 1, 2007 4:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Wasn't the Phillies collapse in '64 worse?
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1. Posted by kim | October 1, 2007 4:44 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 1, 2007 16:44
2. Posted by Peter F. | October 1, 2007 5:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
A monumental collapse, unrivaled since the league was split into divisions in 1969.
Just read the headline?
2. Posted by Peter F. | October 1, 2007 5:26 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 1, 2007 17:26