LOST: Story of the 2008 New York Mets

MARLINS 4, METS 2

SHEA STADIUM 1964-2008

Well, the Mets have done it again. They have accomplished something only a team run by an incompetent General Manager, Omar Minaya, can do; furthermore, they have accomplished something where the players never come up big in the clutch, i.e. David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Aaron Heilman, and on and on and on, can accomplish. They have accomplished something where they fire a manager, Willie Randolph, who brought the team out of the depths of last place in the NL East to first place, only to blame him for his players' lack of effort, when it was really their shortcomings, can accomplish.

Yes, the Mutts sent Shea Stadium out in style with an another excruciating defeat, losing 4-2 to the Marlins, costing them any hope of making it to the postseason. The Brewers beat the Cubs earlier in the day, 3-1, to clinch the Wild Card.

Like last year, Met fans were sitting with looks of angst, clasping their hands in prayer, hoping that the gods of baseball would shine on them. Lets face it, the way these players on the Mets treat their fans, Met fans must be the most abused fans in baseball history, which is why after 22 years of misery since 1986, the fans have become a cynical group.

In the sixth, Oliver Perez imploded, as he always does, giving up two runs to make it 2-0 Fish. Think the Mets will give Perez a big contract next month? I don't think so.

The Mets tied it in the bottom of the inning as Carlos Beltran, the only clutch player on the team, blasted a two run jack into the bleachers to tie the game. His homer was the last by a Met in Shea Stadium history.

Finally, the Marlins exploded on Minaya's prized possesions: Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala. First, Wes Helms homered off Schoeneweis to make it 3-2 Fish. Then, Dan Uggla homered off Ayala to make it 4-2.

In the ninth, with a runner on and two out, Ryan Chruch got one into right center. The fans stood, hoping for it to leave the park, instead the ball fell into the glove of Cameron Maybin to end the game and the Mets season.

Now the Mets have to start over. They have to rip this team apart, piece by piece, and begin anew because this is two staight years that the Mets choked.