Mets Authoring Sequel to 2007 Collapse | Fier Thy Words: Sports Edition

9/14/08

The proverbial pen rests in their hands to finish the story of their 2008 season, and with two weeks to go, the Mets can only hope for the happy ending that escaped their grasps just a short year ago.

A three game lead with that magical number of 17 games left to play, and with a chance to really put a fork in those lingering questions surrounding last season’s collapse, the Mets lost two out of three this weekend to the hapless Atlanta Braves.

Two losses in three games against a far inferior Atlanta Braves team reminded their fans of how heartbreaking the end of the 2007 season, as the games we’re just lost but lost in an all too familiar fashion.

Two late game leads, and two implosions by a bullpen that has seemed to specialize in late game self destructing losses.

A well pitched game by Johan Santana was washed away in a 3-2 loss in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader; while Oliver Perez saw his quality start prove meaningless as a 4-2 ninth inning lead ended as a disastrous 7-4 loss following a 5 run inning.

The blame doesn’t fall squarely on the bullpen, as the offense continued to prove that it lacks an ability to tack on runs late in games, leaving the bases loaded in a crucial 6^th inning rally Saturday afternoon, while leaving them loaded again in the 7^th inning Sunday afternoon.

While 2-0 leads and 4-2 leads are no sure thing in baseball, losing both games in such a demoralizing way only clouds hope with doubt, and recreates memories of last season both the team and their fans would love nothing more than to put to rest.

Unfortunately, no matter what anybody says in an interview, the only way to put last season behind them is to prove it was a one year fluke, and to finish the job this season.

That has already proved to be much easier said than done, as heading into their second game of a day-night doubleheader with Milwaukee, the Phillies already shaved off 1.5 games on the Mets division lead, along with 2 games in their wild card chase over those Brewers.

Of course there with two weeks still to play, nothing has been decided and when they wake up tomorrow, the Mets will see themselves still in first place with four games at hand with the last place Washington Nationals.

And so once again, they can more or less control their own playoff destiny, with the Phillies hot on their trail and the division title within reach.

Of course if this past weekend is any indication of what’s to come, instead of re-writing history, the Mets may end up doing more than reenacting it.