Another Day, Another Heartbreaking Mets Loss

On June 12th, 2008 the Mets were facing the Arizona Diamondbacks in a day game at Shea Stadium. Though the Diamondbacks had gotten off to a great start in 2008, as of late they were beginning to show more and more flaws. However, in spite of there short comings, the Diamondbacks managed to score the tying run in the bottom of the 9th inning against Billy Wagner for the second straight game. Unfortunately for the Mets, they would not be able to score the winning run in extra innings as they had the previous night. The Mets lost the game 5 to 4 in the 10th.
What makes this particular loss painful is that the Mets had their ace Johan Santana pitch seven complete shutout innings. In the top of the eighth inning, relief pitcher Joe Smith gave up two runs. But the Mets were still up by two when Wagner was brought in to close the game. Those who have watched Billy Wagner attempts to save games in his two outings before this one, know that he has been less than stellar. No one will dispute the fact that Wagner is a good closer. As of late though, he's been a little off.
In the game that the Mets won on June 11, 2008 , their young highly touted pitching prospect Mike Pelfrey pitched into the ninth inning with a 3 to 0 lead. Wagner was eventually brought in to save the game because Pelfrey gave up a single to Stephen Drew. Wagner managed to get out two of the first three batters that he faced. With Conor Jackson and Drew on second and third respectively, all Wagner had to do was get third baseman Mark Reynolds to pop up, ground out, or strikeout. Wagner did none of those things and instead gave up a three run homer to Reynolds on a 2-2 pitch. That means he only had to get one more strike for the Mets to win the game. Thankfully, Carlos Beltran came through in the 13th inning with a two run homer to win the game. Sadly though, Mike Pelfrey once again does not get a win for his efforts.
Mets fans right now have had about all that they can take. After the unbelievably gut wrenching end to the 2007 season and the off season acquisition of pitcher Johan Santana, much better was expected for the 2008 season. So far though, it seems as though the Mets simply picked up right where they left off in 2007. They can't get hits when the starting pitching is good. The starting pitcher's aren't able to go deep enough into games. The bullpen gives it up in relief. One way or another, the Mets have found more ways to lose games that they shouldn't be losing this season. Fans are getting disgusted and it's not as though they will turn their backs on the Mets. What it means is that they will stop believing that they will go to the playoffs and therefore start thinking about who they can root for once October is here and the Mets' season is finished. In 2009, fans will not expect as much from the Mets, which might be a good thing. But regardless of what happens, the Mets are going to have to work to regain their fans trust. Let's hope that they can do that sooner rather than later.