Boston Red Sox Fans: A Message from a New York Mets Fan

With the Boston Red Sox completing an epic collapse in September and eventually losing out on the 2011 MLB playoffs, it is time for some kind words from a New York Mets fan.

It was only a few short years ago that we felt the same pain. Up seven games with 17 still to play, the 2007 Mets allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to catch up and eventually pass them on their way to the playoffs.

The important thing is to remember the one magical line that has kept baseball running for over 100 years: "There is always next year."

Those five words have sustained hope for teams that lose in the seventh game of the World Series, as well as teams who lose 100 games. Six months from now, your favorite players will be returning to Florida with a new goal for a new season.

However, here is some other advice that you might find surprising:

Don't Be Afraid to Overreact

Everyone will say it is not the end of the world and you should just calm down. Don't listen to them.

In 2006, the Mets were one game away from the World Series after dominating the regular season. They finished nine games better than anyone else in the National League. A year later they blew the lead and missed the playoffs. Did it end there? Not even close.

In 2008, they needed to come back in August just to blow the lead again in September. Fans have now come to miss those days. This was the last time the Mets finished the season over .500.

Sure there was overreacting, but not enough was done to change the culture of the clubhouse.

Players do not forget this type of thing. The next time they have a lead in September, the media will continue to ask questions about whether there will be another swoon. The next time anyone collapses, you will hear mentions of the 2011 Red Sox (thank you for that).

Someone needs to be added, others need to be removed. You cannot take the same team and throw them out in April and expect everything to be better.

Still, before you worry about next season, there is another piece of advice to adhere to:

Turn off the TV

Watching an entire day of SportsCenter will not make you feel better.

Take your mind off baseball. Take your mind off sports. Once you stop reading this article you should go out and enjoy the beginning of fall.

Give yourself a 72-hour detox. Trust me, the only thing that will be shown will be the walk-off hit against Jonathan Papelbon and the walk-off home run by Evan Longoria. There will be plenty of video of people celebrating and none of them are you or your team.

I would personally recommend watching a funny movie (not Major League or Bull Durham). Finish reading when you are in a better mood.

...Now that we have returned, it is important to place the blame. It is not Papelbon's fault, it is not Terry Francona's fault, it is not Theo Epstein's fault.

It is the Yankee's fault.

Sure you can place the blame on your own team for forgetting how to play baseball and finishing 7-20 in the month of September, but what is the fun in that?

We all hate the New York Yankees already, so really what's one more thing to add on top. They had a 7-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Rays and they decided to pull most of their starters like it was a little league game.

Scott Proctor was pitching his third inning for crying out loud!

This would not be a rivalry if you were not willing to place irrational blame on the other team.

Finally, it is time to give out thanks. It is important to thank the Atlanta Braves for surrendering an equaling depressing Wild Card lead in the NL.

The pressure is slightly taken off, not that anyone cares about the Braves, but networks are at least obligated to mention the fact that someone outside of the Northeast exists.

Now, instead of referencing the terrible Red Sox collapse of 2011, just tell people it was the "Year of the Collapse."

Or just blame the Yankees.