Mets historic collapse is complete; N.Y. Yankees move on to playoffs

The New York Times
October 1, 2007
Marlins 8, Mets 1
Mets Complete Stunning Collapse
By BEN SHPIGEL

The Mets completed a stunning collapse with an equally stunning performance in a 8-1 loss to the Florida Marlins today that, coupled with the Phillies’ 6-1 victory against Washington, eliminated them from postseason contention.

Tom Glavine, the 41-year-old veteran with 303 career victories, was charged with seven runs in only one-third of an inning, the second-shortest outing of his 20-season career. The Mets stranded eight runners on base in the first three innings and hardly threatened afterward.

No team had ever lost a seven-game lead with 17 to play. But since Sept. 12, the Mets went 5-12, including losing six of their final seven — all at Shea Stadium against sub-.500 clubs — to make yesterday’s 13-0 thrashing, which pulled them into a first-place tie with Philadelphia, an afterthought in their quest to win a second consecutive division title.

Before the game, Glavine stifled a yawn, and it probably was not because he was up all last night thinking about this start. He has made 35 career postseason starts, and this, in effect, would be No. 36. After getting ahead by 0-2 on the leadoff hitter, Hanley Ramirez, Glavine threw four consecutive balls out of the strike zone. Two of the pitches barely missed the outside corner, and when Glavine does not get those calls, he is often in for a long day. As it turned out, the long day became incomprehensibly short.

Dan Uggla hit into a fielder’s choice, but Glavine did not retire any of the next seven hitters. It went single, single, double, single, walk, single and hit batsman. The major blow was the double by Cody Ross that knocked in two, and Ross himself scored when Glavine tried nabbing Ross at third but instead threw the ball into left field. Glavine’s day ended when he plunked Florida’s starting pitcher, Dontrelle Willis, to force in the Marlins’ fifth run.

In what could have been his final time walking off the Shea mound in a Mets uniform, Glavine was booed mercilessly. His contract expires after this season, and even if Glavine decides he wants to play another season, the Mets may decide they want to get younger and not attempt to re-sign him. The insult to his pitching line came when the reliever Jorge Sosa gave up a two-out, two-run double to Uggla that put the Marlins ahead, 7-0.

The Mets could not capitalize on an ineffective Willis, scoring only one run despite twice loading the bases in the first three innings, and managed only two hits in six and one-third innings against the Marlins’ bullpen.