WARNING: Long depressing and painful story ahead (at least there are pics at the end )


Well it has been over 24 hours since the New York Mets concluded their monumental and historic collapse . While I was not "shocked" that they did not make it into the postseason I felt like I had an ugly breakup with someone I care very much about.

What I mean is our relationship was doing fine. We had some fun and shared laughs most all summer long. Those steamy days and nights spent at Shea Stadium were special, and then something happened. They lost four in a row in Philadelphia in late August. They went from six games in the lead to two.

A little stress in the relationship, but we quickly rebounded and built the lead back up to 6-1/2 games . Then as the sun started setting sooner in September the Phillies came to Shea and once again swept the Mets to knock their lead down to 3-1/2 games.

Not a big deal because the final 13 (regularly scheduled) games the Mets played were against the Marlins and the Nationals; with the last 6 to be played at home. What could possibly go wrong?

About that time I was informed that I was selected via the Mets web site that I had the opportunity to purchase tickets to the NLDS .

Seeing that the Mets have never lost a postseason game that I attended since 1999 I jumped at the opportunity. To cover my bases I bought two tickets to " home game 1 ", and " home game 3 ". Out of a best of five series I did my part and assured a victory for the Amazings in the NLDS by purchasing tickets to a possibly deciding game . ("home game 3" would be game 5 of the series)

The slide continues and the Mets can't seem to beat anyone, anywhere. The Cardinals Came to Shea to make up an earlier game that was rained out. The Red Birds have been having an awful past couple of months so figured the Mets could steal a victory form them. WRONG! They lost .

Ok, I am still feeling fair but the Mets are now tied for first place (that they held all to their own since early May) with Philadelphia. Not the end of the world, three games to play against the last place Marlins what could possibly go wrong?

They lost Friday night, and lost possession of first place. I panicked and ran to Shea on Saturday to offer my support and the Mets did not disappoint. They romped the Fish early and often and beat them up bad. The Phillies lost so we were once again tied for first place with 1 game to play .

All they had to do now was win on Sunday, hell even if they lost they could have played a one game elimination game Monday if the Phillies lost too. I figured that they could pull this out without my presence, so I did some chores and watched the game with my bride on television.

The Mets sent the 303 career victories veteran Tom Glavine to the hill to assure the Mets a victory against the lowly Marlins that would extend their season. It was not to be . Tom Glavine never got out of the first inning. He gave up 5 runs and recorded only one out. He was yanked and by the time the 1st inning was over he was charged with 7 runs.

Deflated? Sure, but wait ! The Mets rally in the bottom 1st inning and scored a run. They then had the bases loaded and Ramon Castro (Back-up catcher) lifts a pitch to deep left field, way up, back towards the wall, I jumped out of my seat imagining a grand salami that would bring the deficit to 2 runs and a close game, hope is in the air, but it fell into the leftfielder's glove for the 3rd out.

The Mets had ample chances to get some runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings as the Fish's star pitcher was struggling mightily. The Marlins yanked Willis (pitcher) and whatever hopes the Mets had of a comeback went tumbling down as the Marlins bullpen held them in check.

I officially bailed at the end of the 7th inning. I looked at my bride and said " I'M OUT! " and went outside to gather my fishing supplies from the boat and put them in the car so after the game I figured I would unwind by doing some surf fishing.

At the conclusion of the game I gathered my now worthless postseason tickets and my dog and we hit the beach. We went hunting bass in the back harbor area and after I caught a nice striper that I safely released (why ruin his day too?) I had an idea.

I would exonerate the spirit of a collapsed season by offering my postseason tickets to the fish and sun Gods.

I found a piece of cardboard and lined up the tickets.


I then put my pole and refreshment down.


I then lit my lighter and barely touched the tickets.


Those suckers sure burned fast, almost as fast as the Mets collapse

I watched as the tickets and the Mets 2007 season went up in smoke


Once thoroughly burnt I buried them


I then turned 180º and this is what I saw


I then went to another spot deeper in the backwater harbor with my fishing buddy


The sunset was spectacular


The sky lit up and I watched (and fished) as the day came to an absolutely beautiful conclusion.


No fish to be had in the back, but after witnessing a sunset for the ages how can anyone be depressed or blue anymore?


I fished for another hour or so and then went home had a nice home cooked meal of pork chops and applesauce. It was swell. (pronounced " schwell ")

I showered and relaxed and watched the New York Giants manhandle the Philadelphia Eagles and proclaimed "baseball season is officially over, GO BIG BLUE !!! "


I know, long and boring to most but it is just a day in the life.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Koz,

Koz-

All my preseason concerns about the Mets came to fruition..but it was STILL tough to watch. You have the right attitude, though--it's just a game and the sun will always rise....

Bob, without my daily beach excursions either fishing, boating or just walking with my dog I would be completely insane . I find great joy in Mother Nature and what she has to offer, she never disappoints . I find solace down there and it puts things into perspective for me.

Funny thing was on my drive down there Sunday evening (about 3 miles through some beautiful tree lined narrow winding roads that have a few horse farms on it) to get to one of the most beautiful places on earth I turned on my MP3 player instead of listening to the post game report on Sports Radio 660.

I hit " random play " and this song was the first song that came on. It made me laugh out loud.

Koz,
Truly heartbreaking, ...if I were more technologically inclined, I'd offer to set the pictures to music for you.

This gives us women a wonderful insight into the male psyche.

btw, despite my kidding, this is a great post. Thanks.

Amen, Koz--Mother Nature can work wonders...

OK... I cannot lie. I giggled in the sickest sports schadenfreude ever. You certainly did try to purge the system. I watched a slightly smaller lead in our division start shrinking incrementally and was shocked to see the No-Names pull through.

Glad to know you did pull through though. I had local PD drive by to make sure you had not Met(s) your maker !

And purge I tried Dawg and for the most part it worked out fine. I am not happy about the way things turned out for the Mets, but I am no way near "depressed" about it as I was about a week ago. I remained optimistic right up until late Sunday afternoon but I guess watching the monumental collapse take hold over two weeks or so deep down I knew things wouldn't work out the way I wanted them to.

The Mets were in first place for 147 days straight (about 4-1/2 months) and had a 7 game lead with 17 games left to play.

Since mid May they were out of 1st place for a grand total of two games. Unfortunately one of those games was game number 162
(For the non baseball fans there are 162 games in a season )

They had first place for so long and by so much it was theirs to lose, and they lost it .

I still love them adorable Mutts however and I thought about burning my "season" Mets cap along with the tickets but I didn't.

I am still a baseball junkie and will watch most of this postseason (I watched most of the 13 inning affair last night ) and I can find peace in my "church" anytime I want to.

Speaking of my church, here is a photo of a handsome fella sitting on the very same hallowed steps that the legendary Babe Ruth gave his speech when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the first class of enshrines back in 1936.

The Church of Baseball I am still a believer

For a few years now I sing " Broken your servant I kneel, Will you give it to me? " Whenever I pass in front of The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. I do get some funny looks

( Disturbed " Down With the Sickness " lyrics, and I go up there a few times each year)

Mr. Met can't even kill himself properly

Mr. Met goes home

The only disappointment I feel over the Met's collapse is that I really admire and respect Willie Randolph.
If he weren't the manager, they could go 0-162 for all I care.

I am not sold on Willie Randolph's managerial abilities; he made a lot of questionable decisions this year. He left a lot of pitchers in too long in my opinion. Then again with the woeful bullpen the Mutts had I shouldn't criticize him for that either .

Don't get me wrong I don't blame him at all for this collapse as he aint' the guy choking at the plate or the pitcher serving up batting practice.

I do respect him more now that I previously did. The look () he gave Jose Reyes the other day when the Mutts were down 3 or 4 runs and he almost got picked off at first (a half way decent throw over and he would have been dead) because he was napping was priceless.

Koz, thanks for echoing my feelings; for me, it still hurts too much to talk about.