New York Mets: The 8 Worst Moments of the Last Four Years
October 19th 2006. The last day of the Mets 2006 season, ending their hopes of going to the World Series.
The next four seasons have no doubt been brutal at times. There have been any number of bad moments to remember. This is a list that compiles the top worst moments of the four seasons that followed.
The moments are filled with some of the most disappointing and nerve wracking moments of the last four years. This list isn't meant to depress; but rather to look back and reflect on all the events that led to the firing of Omar Minaya and the release of Jerry Manuel. After all, all of the moments on the list helped contribute to where the Mets find themselves today, with a new general manager, a new manager, and a roster full of new faces and talent.
May the future bring much better days than the ones here on this list.
#8 Mets Lose to The Dodgers 3-2, Ryan Church Misses a Base To Lose Go Ahead Run
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May 18th 2009
"I don't know if I ever remember seeing anyone miss third base in a situation like that. I don't have any explanation for it." Jerry Manuel summarizes what happened pretty well.
With the game tied in the 11th inning, Ryan Church was charged with the arduous task of touching each base, one by one, on his way to home plate. This may sound difficult, but it was made harder by the fact that he was on first base. This meant he had to tag two bases before he could head for home plate. All but a few of the all time baseball greats could accomplish such a task.
Church missed third base. The play was reversed. Game still tied. Until the bottom of the same inning when, of course, the Dodgers would go on to score and win the game.
Ryan Church wouldn't stay with the team much longer as a clear discord grew between him and manager Jerry Manuel. He would eventually be traded for Jeff Francoeur during the trade deadline.
This game however is a sharp reminder of the early terrible baseball fundamentals that plagued the team. This wouldn't matter for long of course, because we'd learn that this was a lost season anyway.
#7 Mets Lose to The Giants 5-4, David Wright Suffers a Concussion
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August 15th 2009
This may not seem like that serious a loss but let me explain. At the time the Mets roster had been devastated by injuries. This was the starting lineup for the day:
- OF Corey Sullivan
- 2B Luis Castillo
- 3B David Wright
- LF Gary Sheffield
- 1B Daniel Murphy
- RF Jeff Francoeur
- C Brian Schnieder
- SS Anderson Hernandez
Not exactly striking the fear into anyone's hearts. David Wright was one of the only players to not be injured, but was still suffering from a pretty bad season. Then during his at bat Matt Cain pelted him right in the head. Game over.
Wright lie on the ground suffering from a concussion. The crowd was silent. Gasps were initially heard, then everyone sat still, unwavering. Wright lie on his back motionless. Cain knelt down and looked stunned. It was obviously an accident. Wright was taken out of the game to a roar of cheers and claps and pleads to get better soon.
The freak season continued its brash of injuries that led to this point. Thus, this game was essentially a symbol of just how badly bruised the team had become, and now star David Wright was hurt.
I use this game as a summary of the entire injury plagued season that went absolutely no where, culminating in the brutal loss of Wright (Though Niese's injury was pretty brutal to witness too)
#6 The Mets Sign Oliver Perez For Three Years $36 Million
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February 3rd 2009
Judgment day. The day the world ended.
The infamous day when Oliver Perez was signed. At the time the signing did not seem so bad; after all he had some fairly good seasons with the team. But the next two years would be absolute disaster. He is clearly the most hated player on the team today.
What is worse is that he refused a minor league assignment last season to get help which, if there was any doubt before, only fueled the rage people had against him.
In 2007 he gave us a great season, 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA. Very respectable. The next year he slumped towards 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA but was not a complete lost cause. The Mets wanted or rather, needed, either him or Derek Lowe for their rotation.
Three years and $36 million dollars later, Perez has absolutely failed to live up to that contract.
So far the Mets have paid him $24 million dollars for 3 wins and 9 losses over the last two seasons.
Doesn't get much worse than that.
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#5 Carlos Delgado Hits Grand Slam, Mets Still Lose to Cubs 9-6
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September 24 2008
This one isn't a famous loss, I wouldn't be surprised if most people have forgotten about this game. I havn't.
The Mets came into this stretch needing to win every game they could. The season was winding down to the final week. This series against the Cubs was crucial and beating Carlos Zambrano would not be easy. In the 3rd inning Carlos Delgado hit a grand slam against Zambrano.
I went insane, wildly jumping around screaming. Delgado was fantastic that year, perhaps his best year with the team. The season instantly felt winnable again.
Then, In the fifth inning, the Cubs came back and tied the game at 5-5. Who gave up the five runs to the Cubs? Oliver Perez of course. The game would go into extra innings when Luis Ayala (remember this name) came in for the Mets and gave up 3 runs to end the game.
The worst part were the numerous chances the Mets had to come back with men on base but being unable to do a thing.
It was terrible. In a decisive game in which they gained the upper hand early against a then good Zambrano they could not pull it off. This wasn't necessarily a difference maker in the end, but instead it was very telling of why they did not make the playoffs; they could not finish a game. That whole year was plagued by poor relief and unclutch hitting, and this game was a bad summary of it all.
A win here would have certainly helped their chances.
#4 K-Rod Punches His Girlfriends Father, Out For Season With Thumb Injury
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August 11 2010
The Francisco Rodriguez signing made sense. The Mets were desperate for a closer, and Krod was the best one available. Though perhaps overpriced, he was a welcome addition during the off season.
Fast forward a year and a half to August, and we come to one of the most bizarre moments of the season. News that night quickly released that an altercation occured in the club house following a night game.
Soon the news broke that Krod actually assuallted the grandfather of his children, his girlfriend's father. Not only that, but it also came out that several Mets' players and their families were actually present to witness the event.
And then, a few days later it was learned that he injured his thumb ligament in the fight and had to have season ending surgery. The circus never seemed to stop it.
This is the sort of thing that, to other fans of other teams, no doubt sounds shocking. I'm sure the people across in country who woke up and saw this report on ESPN the following morning couldn't believe it. But for Met fans it was just one more ridiculous thing to happen. Very ho hum, nothing out of the ordinary here. It wouldn't be a Mets season without some intrigue and conspiracy.
#3 Mets Lose Marlins 4-2, The Second Collapse In Two Seasons Is Complete
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September 28 2008
The Mets had to win this game. The NL East was already gone, but their hopes were alive in the wild card race against the Brewers.
The day before Johan Satana pitched one of, if not the best game of the season, going 9 long innings of 3 hit ball for the win. Their opponent for the day? then ace Rickey Nolasco who had 15 wins and a 3.52 ERA. This effectively extended the Mets season to one more day.
But the day would not be kind to the Mets.
Facing Marlin's pitcher Scott Olsen, Carlos Beltran hit an amazing 2 run home run to tie the game 2-2 in the 6th inning on top of a good start by, once again, Oliver Perez (5.1 IP/2 ER/3 BB/6 SO) By the 8th inning however the die had been cast. The problem that had plagued the team all earlier once again veered its ugly head. Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala (sound familiar?) were tagged for one run a piece. The Mets could not rally, going quiet into the night and ending their 2008 campaign. Their loss and the Brewers win helped the Brewers take the Wild Card.
This was the final game at Shea stadium. After the game they had their Shea Goodbye event, but people who were there for this game told me the mood was not cheerful. It is full of anguish and disappointed of another collapsed season down the drain.
#2 Luis Castillo Drops a Routine Pop-Up To Lose To The New York Yankees
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June 12 2009
All fans can recognize this one. In a game against the Yankees the Mets were en route to a victory. Krod needed one out to end the game. He throws, Arod hits the pitch and it soars through the air.
Here is where it gets tricky.
Luis Castillo sees the ball. Maybe. It is a routine pop-up after all. However, in one of the most bizarre things that can be seen he doesn't catch it. He misplays it. Gary Cohen wildly exclaims "And he dropped the ball!" Krod looks stunned and stands with his hands over his head. The Yankees win the game.
It was unreal. I partly felt bad for Castillo. But it was certainly one of the bizarre and very disheartening games of the season that ultimately was a complete bust.
#1 Tom Glavine Implodes, Mets 2007 Season Collapse Is Complete
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September 30 2007
This was by far the worst moment of the last four years.
Stop me if you've heard this before.
It is the second to last game of the season. Every game counts for the Mets' playoff chances. On this day John Maine pitches one of his best career games, going 7.2 innings of 1 hit, 14 strikeout ball. The Mets respond, with a 13 run blowout of their own, topped by Lastings Milledge and his two home runs. The Marlins were badly beaten, mustering a mere one hit the entire game.
Familiar? That is because one year from now, in the second to last game of the season, this exact situation is going to occur again. Santana will pitch a masterful game, beat the Marlins, and extend the season to one more game. And the result will be exactly the same one year from now. The Mets will lose. Season over.
Tom Glavine came in to start on one of the biggest days Met days ever. The Mets, already having suffered a collapse, have their one chance to salvage their season. Glavine then promptly destroyed any hopes that were left.
He could manage only one out. He ended with 5 hits and 7 runs. By the time the bottom of the 1st inning came the game was essentially over. The season was essentially over.
Glavine walked off the mound to a parade of boos. Needless to say fans likely won't be welcoming him back with open arms anytime soon.
He also drew the ire of fans when, after the game, he appeared insincere or rather uncaring by saying "I'm not devastated, but I am disappointed." I personally did not find this to be a big deal, but it certainly was controversial to many fans at the time.
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