I mourn the fact that this might be the last time we see Giuseppe Franco in a long time

Andy Pettitte was the fifth pitcher since 1957 to be the winning pitcher with a Game Score of 14 or lower.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/qVU4

Ugh, 4-0 Marlins... poor Metsies.

oof... 5-0 mets. bases loaded one out

can't find the phils game on ESPN; damn

Glavine gave up 5 runs (so far) and left with a bases loaded. He recorded one out. This is unbelievably brutal for Mets fans. I mean, wow.

7-0 Marlins

Nice triple by Jeter.

6 It pained me to watch that first inning. If you put yourself in the place of the team and fans for even a moment, you feel their agony. You put so much into a team for the ful season, and for it to end this way...

Of course the Phils have to win.

(p.s., Betemit can't hit right handed.)

The Mets have got some bad luck.

8 Had a flashback to 2004. Hopefully Sosa will do better than Vazquez?

was Igawa scratched from his start? Henn started.

What a disastrous start from Glavine. Wow. It'll be interesting to see what the Phillies do-I'd love to see a one-game playoff, or that mass tie scenario would be even better.

Willis looks awful.

Come on Nugent. Buffalo must infect kickers.

13 The Mets must look worse.

Its sort of interesting to see a Yankee game thread where everyone is talking about some other game.

15 Glavine did.

I'm kind of surprised Henn got the start, you'd think someone like Clippard would've got it. Oh well.

Carlos Delgado broke his hand

18 It really doesn't matter.

The only minor surprise for me is they didn't make Wang the number two starter so he could go for 20 today.

20 No it doesn't, but I think Henn is worthless so you might as well give someone else a shot.

19 Well, his season was over anyway.... Unbelievable collapse.

Bases loaded 1 out for Chase Utley

21 I don't think an outing against an awful team on the last day of the year should have any real bearing on future decisions

Utley popped up. Howard up

Melky is going to get a little talkin' to...

25 What did he do?

Willis out, bases loaded for Lo Duca.

26 A-Rod scored from first on a double to left by Betemit. As Alex was rounding third, Melky (on deck) gave absolutely no signal to Alex ("stand up or slide"), and the relay throw almost got him. A-Rod was blowin' a bubble and actually slowed his pace for the final few feet, thinking since Melky didn't make any gesture, there was no throw coming. A-Rod was pissed and let Melky have it there.

28 Interesting, thanks.

So if the Mutts lose, Philly and San Diego win, the Mutts are out, correct?

30 Even if the Pads lose, the Mets are gone if they lose and Philly wins.

That makes 100 RBIs for Abreu on the year, for those who care.

31 Thanks. Simply incredible.

Wow. Wagner blasts Willie and Rick Peterson in a New York Magazine article (via NY Post):

http://tinyurl.com/2y827d

Should be an interesting winter for Mets fans...

33 I wonder if Willie is going to take the fall? I thought that Wagner's quotes were a little lame, as far as a defined role isn't coming in and getting outs enough of a role? It's pretty tough to give a guy a defined role in the pen other than the closer and maybe a LOOGY.

Still 8-1 FLA and 3-1 PHI

End of the fifth in Philly

End of the fifth in Shea

34 I'd be surprised if Wille gets the axe, but my following of them is pretty much limited to glancing at the NL standings once a week, I have no idea what happened to that club. But, man, the fall was stunning.

In other non-Yankees related stuff, just read today that Tampa Bay will drop 'Devils' next season and just be the 'Rays'...

Belliard singles on a line drive to second baseman Chase Utley, deflected by right fielder Shane Victorino.

I don't know what that could possibly be.

37 'Fan-Cam' at Shea must be pretty entertaining today...

3-2 on Zimmerman, 1 on no out

strike three

34 I have think that if anything, yesterday's game revealed where the big problems are; bullpen and certain position players' attitudes. If Willie takes the fall, it will show how very close-minded the Mets front office actually is; what with Willie not being allowed to assemble his own coaching staff and Wilpon singling him out in front of the players and media (IIRC). I had previously mused about Minaya being such a good GM, but I have serious doubts considering how this badness has been handled and almost funneled towards Willie.

When Torre was being sized up for a new necktie, Cashman stood by him publicly and risked his own job in the process. I don't see Omar doing that, and I have to wonder if he even wanted Willie in the first place. I may be crazy on that count, but their posture begs the question.

Meanwhile, if Willie becomes available, he'd be wise to come back and learn a thing or two more before accepting another manager position, like make sure you can choose your own coaches, and make sure your pitching coach is not a renowned genius, and if your superstar players don't hustle, shut him down immediately. Stuff like that helps.

Willie should take the blame for not doing certain things that would have impressed the importance of focus and teamwork, and I don't know if that has to do with him being a relatively new manager or pressure from above or if he just doesn't have it in him to be a hardass sometimes, but if he leaves, he should take a lot from this experience.

Dmitri Young up.

Wagner is a Putz and I'm not referring to JJ, whose twice the reliever BIlly Wagner is. The man makes 10.5 Million dollars a year, you'd think he'd hire someone to remind him to keep his stupid comments to himself instead of embarrassing himself . The Mets won't make the playoffs because of their 74 losses and I guarantee you Willie Randolph was not the culprit in 99% of those. Willie could take the fall because he's the manager and they're always the easiest targets. On the other hand, Wagner was inside the lines and blew saves and lost games. It makes you appreciate what it is like to have a Mariano Rivera who makes no excuses when he lose's and doesn't throw his manager or teamates under the bus.

Young singles. first and second no out. Moyer's leaving.

Flash Gordon is in

46 * One out

1-1 on Kearns

2-1

43 You'da thunk that Willie would know this after playing in the Bronx Zoo.

Double play

9-2 Scranton over Baltimore, bottom 5...

50 No, it's nothing like Shea. Two different animals in the same cage.

In other non-Yankees related stuff, just read today that at SeaWorld in Orlando, the aquatic creatures formerly known as 'DevilRays' will be called 'Large Winged Flying Bats' next season, or just 'Flying Bats'.

1st and second no out for Philly.

2-0 on Nunez

54 In Tampa Bay, relievers are called "guanos"...

43 There was a breakdown in communications as Omar Minaya was excited when he heard the Mets were hiring a manager named 'Willie Randolphez'.

sac bunt. second and third one out.

If it wasn't for Willie and the fact that I work with a die-hard Mets fan who has been near-suicidal (not too many in Omaha), I would be loving the Mets stuff right now.

Is Sardinha really playing third right now?

Phillies up 4-1 now.

4-1 Philly.

Soooooooooo....
In this year of a virtually historic Yankee comeback, with team members unanamously saying Torre held the team together, can we at the Bronx Banter send a little love Joe's way?

Look at the Mets. Willie is a good man, but there is a lot to the job. Once again, bad onfield moves and all, Torre showed me that he is uniquely qualified, and is the man for this job.

Anyway... kudos to Torre and bigtime Kudos to Cashman, for turning an aging team with no future into a young, vibrant team that should be the foundation of the next dynasty!

And Stink earns his ways into the cleanup spot in the PS.

Make it 5-1 Philly, on a Rollins RBI triple.

Rollins triples. 5-1.

He's the MVP.

63 Agree. Joe deserves to come back no matter what happens in the playoffs.

end of the sixth in Philly.

63 We'll talk after the playoffs:) He's had a lot of trouble managing in October lately, with bizarre moves like batting A-Rod 6th and then 8th, Jeff Weaver, Kevin Brown, and so forth. But right now, I don't really see a better candidate for the job-I like Girardi but I'm not sure he's a fit. Right now, I'd say bring him back, but let's wait and see.

63 Torre should be manager of the year. He does things that infuriate me, but so do all managers. And he kept this team together.

68 Batting A-Rod low was something he tried that worked with Giambi in 03

Shea sounds like a morgue.

one out in the top of the seventh in Philly.

70 Yeah, but in game one he put him 6th and Sheffield 4th (who was not hitting well), which started playing games with his head right away, in my opinion. Giambi was slumping and hurt at that time while if I remember right, A-Rod was swinging the bat well. But it's water under the bridge...

73 He was swinging the bat well? In the 06 playoffs?

He looked at least as bad as Giambi did in 03.

one on, one out in Philly.

74 I'm talking about game one, coming into the series he had a hot September.

two outs, one on in Philly and Shea.

end of the seventh in Shea.

going to the bottom of the seventh in Philly. 5-1.

I can't believe Tony Batista is still in the league.

Going to the bottom of the 8th at Shea

one out in the seventh in Philly.

Howard homers. 6-1

Batting ARod 6th and 8th in my opinion was nuts, but we complain about Torre and his 'formulas'. At least it showed he is willing to take a chance and shake things up.

Giambi happened to hit 2 HRs, ARod happened to hit poorly. I think it's a mistake to hold a manager accountable for OUTCOME... that's up to the players.

Torre is judged here for his in-game managing, which every knowledgeable baseball person says is by far the smallest part of the manager's job. I give the team players credit for this year's comeback, but everybody (and I mean EVERYBODY!) wrote this team off at the ASB, and it would have been easy for us to fold.

The character this team showed the last 3 months had a lot to do with Joe Torre and his style of leadership.

And I love the fact that he cries on camera!
Really... would Lou Pinella ever cry on camera?

Pinella would make the camera cry.

84 Can't argue with any of your points, especially about Torre crying.

End of the seventh in Philly

2 outs in the 8th at Shea

going to the ninth at Shea.

I really know about the sample sizes, but with Giambi fizzing these days and Doug. M looking reasonably hot at the plate, is there any question who should be starting at 1st in the playoffs?

Giambi 2007 OPS: .792
Doug M. 2007 OPS: .794

89 The only real issue is Doug really is a terrible hitter, and it would suck for him to go back to form at a critical point.

89 No question Doug has to start for now. One, ride the hot hand, and two, his defense is so much better it's ridiculous.

Going to the bottom of the 8th in Philly.

Going to the bottom of the ninth at Shea. Do the Mets have a seven run rally in their bones?

Three outs left for the Mutts...

A conflict: Watch Joba do his thing, or stare at the train wreck at Shea...

What a descent.

If this were the Yankees, I think I would set myself on fire. 2004 was bad, but this - man, this is something else.

Two things you won't hear about from Mets fans anymore: Jose Reyes is the best shortstop in NYC and any mention of the Yankees choking.

I mean he's bad....but he's more than capable of 280/340/420. We've turned him into Miguel Cairo in some ways, whereas the real issue is that he's a slightly below average hitter according to his career and recent stats, not a terrible one as you say Matt. The fact that he's a bad hitter for a first basemen is the real issue, but he's not Cairo or Sierra bad, more like Melky but at 1st...

I foresee Giambi being to this team what Strawberry was to the 96-99 clubs-someone who will get a big walk or line a single the other way in a big spot.

96 2004 was horrid, but was much quicker than this.

This has dragged out over a month.

96 Cap just keeps knocking off the pretenders; Nomar, Tejada, Reyes....

97 Before this year, he was coming off three terrible years

2 outs at Shea.

Wow. Reyes just completely dogged that ground out to second...

One final out at Shea, 3 in Philly.

Going to the top of the ninth in Philly.

The Mets are 3 outs (and 7 runs) away from the worst blown season (7 game lead) with 17 games to play, in history.

The NY newspapers will go crazy. I feel terribly for Willie, but I don't know how the PLAYERS could collapse this badly.

After today, the Mets will have gone 5-12 in their last 17, with 13 of those games against Florida (11th in the NL) and Washington (14th in the NL), and 1 game against St. Louis (8th).

Truly, truly, an utterly inexplicable collapse. Imagine if this happened to the Yankees. Torre and Cashman's houses would be burned to the ground, and their families would be in hiding on some Greek Island.

They play .572 ball for 145 games, and then .294 ball with a very favorable schedule. Almost unbelievable.

Mets lose.

Mets Lose.

As the Mutts are booed off the field by the few hundred remaining at Shea...

100 Or gets them to switch positions:)

Holy crap, another Molina. I know it's not one of the brothers, but we're only 26 away from every team having a catching Molina....

Crowd goes wild in Philly

One out in Philly.

Philly is 2 outs away....

2 outs.

2 down, one to go

9-4 Brew Crew over Pods. If that holds and the Rockies win: one game playoff tomorrow!

two strikes.

Philly wins.

Phillies win!

Or should it be "Mets choke worst!"

109 Is indifference an emotion?

Unreal. Has to be a contender for the biggest choke ever.

Wow. Just, wow...

I've never seen anything like this.

120 Oh yes. It's the opposite of love ;-)

The Padres aren't doing much better. I knew they were in trouble yesterday when Tony Gwynn Jr. came up with a shot at tying the game.

Oh, to be a headline writer for a NYC tabloid tonight...

Mets choke wurst?

Interesting day. I think there have been at least 5 Yankee related posts so far...

Mattpat11,

Last yr. he had an OBP of 360 and slugged 410, better than the rate stats I suggested he was capable of above...I would hardly call that a terrible year. I'm not defending him as a choice at first in the long-term at all. All I'm suggesting is that he's not some god-awful major league hitter...just not a good stick at first.

124 Not really. I could not hate them, too >;)

123 The 1995 Angels were worse. But this is pretty awful.
126 Figure that the Post is going with "Mutts."

127 Not so yummy >XP

126 I think the back pages will be filled with stories on the Yanks-O's game, don't you?

126 "Shea-mful."

134 You're hired! ;-)

And Delgado fractured his wrist? Good lord.

134 I'm going with that without the hyphen.

The Mets finish 5th in the league, 3rd in the WC. However, the Cubs are in the PS having finished all of 8 games over .500, with 85 wins.

This is where the WC bothers me. It should go to the team with the 4th best record. The Cubbies already had an advantage by playing an unbalanced schedule in a weak division.
2 others teams will win 3 more games then the Cubs but miss the PS.

This is the case when the WC should be 'penalized' in PS play. The Yanks finished 4th, with 94 wins, and probably would have won 2 more games (both in the last week) if something real was on the line. I think the Yanks being in the playoffs is 'numerically' correct.

But the Cubs just got lucky (as opposed to good).

This Liz guy has a pretty nice fastball.

Bronson needs to pump a little iron.

129 He was playing in Kaufman Stadium. Those are bad numbers in that ballpark. His overall year was bad (94 OPS+) He's not a good hitter. At all.

133 "Torre Out. Posada Takes Over, Yanks Roll"

9/30: Philadelphia Terrorizes New York

exactly...94+ OPS = slightly below league average, not terrible, at least according to his career and recent numbers. All I'm saying is that early in the year we all piled on a bit...he's not really a viable option at 1st. He's not a good hitter, as you say, but terrible has proven to be a bit extreme. He was terrible in April '07 at a bad time for the team and we attacked, but he's a bit below average, and still a somewhat capable major leaguer...

"Shea-ken, Not Stirred"

142 Sounds about right to me! Good stuff.

Since it's the end of the regular season and the playoffs are too tense for this stuff, I just want to thank all of you guys for your great posts. I've learned a ton about baseball just by hanging here the last few years. What a knowledgeable, and funny, group, and never condescending.

"Flush It"

138 That's the way it is in divisional play. I'm sure you'll find the same instances occurring before the wildcard.

"Oh Shea you can't see by the Post Season light"

Well since I'm sure they are saving "Shea Goodbye" for the last game in queens next year...

"Meet the Mutts" or "Shea it ain't so..."

148 There was one year ('78?) when the Yankees won 103 games, the Orioles won 100 and were shut out of the post season.

146 Well said, my sentiments exactly. Here's to all fellow Banterites — cheers!

148 The Twins in I believe both 87 and 91 come to mind. The Giants missing the playoffs in 93 after winning 103 or 104 games as well.

144 I consider a below average player to be terrible. I think that's the sticking point.

I will grant you he's a fine bench player.

Oh crud, Farnsy hurt? Or maybe that's a good thing?

"Choke By The Throggs Neck"

Same old Kyle.

155 No, he stayed in to just serve up a dinger on a hanging curve...

Yup... Farns is just fine.

Farnsworth. The gift that keeps giving.

156 ROFL!

153 The Twins won 95 in 91 so that's fine, but only 85 in 87. The Yanks won 89 and finished 4th in the East!

159 , 160 Good ones. This is better Comedy Central around here today ;-)

146 Totally agreed, I look forward to seeing the Yanks through the post season with you fellas.

Well, they absolutely have to keep Posada now, no?

So Wright gets credit for the win?

Wow.... Thursday seems a million miles away.
Geez... I'm gonna miss you guys (sniffle).

166 That means the headlines tomorrow will be "The Wright Stuff" and "Exactly Wright". Or, "The Chase is On".

Well... the O's just showed the highlights of their 1007 year. What a waste of 37 seconds.

What a lousy Corona commercial. With all that wind you hear blowing, and the guy chasing the parasol, you'd think the lady's skirt would've moved just a little. Even if the angle would have made it, er, interesting... can't help but notice those things, being a PA and all.

Rockies tied with D'Backs, 1-1 top 7. San Diego down 10-4, top 8...

167 You can always stop by to consider things at my spot (i'll have something new up soon...) >;)

Say g'nite, Guiseppe...

169 Better than the 2007 edition, I guess :)

g'nite, Guiseppe.

Wow, Lions beat Bears.

The early returns are coming in (Web headlines):

NY POST: "WHAT A CHOKE"

DAILY NEWS: "ELIMINATED!"

I'm sure the print editions will be more interesting. You can bet front AND back pages on the Post...

169 That's a long time to wait for another team to come to the field... meanwhile, they were founding what would become Shanghai on the other side of the world. I tell you, Americans are spoiled in many ways >;)

"Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine was yanked after recording just one out and the Mets trailed 7-0 after a half-inning this afternoon"

7 runs... in the first... and getting only one out. Now that is an historic choke for an AAAA pitcher pitching in MLB.

How could that happen to Glavine? How could Willie leave him out there so long? Think of that. 7 runs in 1/3 of an inning to start the game.

Seems impossible.

178 Of the Big Three, I always thought Glavine was the worst Big Game Pitcher.

178 Yeah, I was stunned, bad starts will happen but my God.

179 Honestly, the only one I would bank on in a huge game was Smoltz. I don't think Maddux was bad (without looking at the numbers), but he seemed to be a 3 runs or so in 6 innings guy in the playoffs.

179 Honestly, the only one I would bank on in a huge game was Smoltz. I don't think Maddux was bad (without looking at the numbers), but he seemed to be a 3 runs or so in 6 innings guy in the playoffs.

Rockies making a charge for the one game playoff.

182 Smoltz, is, IMO, the greatest starting pitcher of the multi-round playoff era. Maybe the Koufax's and Ford's and Gibson's were better, but ever since the start of the DS and CS, Smoltz is unmatched in my book.

178 To be fair, two of those runs were charged to him after he left the game.... but... uh... yeah. Very much like Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS as far as the total, utter disbelief.

Even if you hate the Mets I think you have to feel for Glavine: a hall of famer, total pro, classy guy from all accounts and in my own experience, and he just pitched by far the worst game of his entire 20-year career... which might also be his last game ever. God, it would be excruciating to retire on that note.

Padres just lost. It's up to the Rockies now.

185 I feel really bad for him for all the reasons you mentioned.

Bases Loaded no out for Colorado.

Stupid Mets. Seriously, how do you blow a lead like that?

Rockies up by 1, bases still loaded and nobody out.

Looks like we're going to have baseball tomorrow. I'm trying to decide if it was smart to save Peavy for that possibility, or better to take your shot with him today on 3 days rest.

Let's go, Rockies!

I'm just rooting for one more day of baseball before the real drama begins. I love 'game 7s' and one-game playoffs when someone else's teams are involved.

FWIW Glavine's career postseason ERA is lower than his regular season ERA and 2/3 of a run lower than our beloved Andy Pettitte's. I'd hardly say he hasn't been a big game pitcher, more like one who's neared the end of the road...

185 Also should be noted that there were a few bleeders in the bunch. Sloppy play be the Mets didn't help Glavine either.

191 Hear, hear.

Diamondbacks not going quietly. They seem to have more fire than the Mets did today.

One game wild card playoff tomorrow in Colorado between the Rockies and Padres.

There will be baseball played tomorrow :)

Rockies 4-3 D-backs Final

Bonus baseball tomorrow looks like.

My brother-in-law is a Mets fan, and a Glavine fan. But he had little faith in him going into today's game.

He believes the team's fortunes spiraled down the terlet after Duque went down.

"My season turned on a bunion," he concluded late today.

What a mess these Mets.

I'm rooting for Colorado.

Rockies have won last 13 of 14 to force a showdown for the Wild Card. I'm heading to Vegas and putting everything I have on Colorado to win the NLCS.

199 Me too.

I'm rooting for COL because SD scares me more.

Jeter rips Posada!

From Pete A: "He was a terrible manager. There were a lot of problems that we're going to keep in-house for now," Jeter said. "He was awful."

Great. Just what need before the playoffs... ;-)

203 What the hell was Posada doing, sending his minion out there to look at Farns in the ninth, and then leaving him in.

202 Should they make it to the World Series, anything that can help keep the Yankees out of San Diego's ballpark, and away from their pitching staff, is just fine by me.

Go Rockies!!!

204 Yeah, when you dissect the game, Cap is dead on. Jorgie had no clue today. Funny how Moose is escaping heat for his horrible handling of the pen, also. Both of them should be canned...

I would be a bit concerned playing in Coors field. Yankees didn't play well there earlier.

Doesn't it seem like Opening Day was just yesterday?

Phil Hughes in September: 3-0, 2.73 ERA. Sure, it wasn't pretty at times, but it's badass that a 21-year old kid coming off a pretty serious injury was able to do that in the heat of a playoff race. Exciting.

208 Time flies when there's never a dull moment. This was yet another regular season for the books...

207 My only concern right now is playing well in Jacobs Field ;-)

206 Yeah, but he was no great shakes as bench coach. I didn't even see him next to Posada for the first 3 innings.

211 Oh, I see Jorge decided to not use Derek as bench coach after all. Sounds like fodder for the tabloids!

212 This could be bigger than the Jeter/A-Rod relationship story and split the clubhouse. I can see it now — 'Bronx Zoo II'. Kudos to Pete Abe for breaking it. Never a dull moment in Yankeeland!

My heart sinks for the Mets, especially for Willie.

I'm stunned.