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September 28th, 2008
Marlins- 4
Mets- 2



Everything came down to this Sunday afternoon. Win and play game 163 and possibly more. Lose and watch our final game ever at Shea and let another golden opportunity go to waste. We knew Sabathia, who seemed to pitch everyday down the stretch, wasn't going to lose that game.

I've seen big games at Shea, but none that I was more nervous to watch. I knew how much this game meant to the franchise and losing it would be disastrous.

These tickets were very difficult to acquire. All season, I hit myself for not pulling the trigger on purchasing the shea goodbye pack which included this game. I waited too long, hoping a better deal would come along. I was looking at being forced to buy tickets on stubhub well above face value. But I kept trying the mets site after constant checking, they released a few scattered seats to the public. I nabbed two for face value, and away we go. There was an empty seat next to my friend so I just sat there most of the game.

The weather was pretty brutal. Or at least it started that way. The rainfall kept getting heavier and heavier. We got there real early (like 12:15) picked up the tickets, received our final promotion (ticket and lanyard). I've never seen the game so packed so early. It was weird, but exciting. Everyone was in the concourse areas to protect themselves from the rain. People were chanting Let's Go Mets. We tried to find things to do before the game, but it is Shea. There's nothing but the game. We waited on line seemingly forever to get inside the team store but got impatient and left. Then we had the final Shea meal. We called it the last supper. What was it? Two hot dogs of course. It wasn't very hot. So my final dog at Shea was sort of cold. Fitting.

They delayed the game until 2 which gave us more time to think and walk around. We tried to get a picture of the spot Tommie Agie hit his monster home run. Apparently everyone else had that idea. When we arrived at the spot, the line was huge. Kept going and going...So we just found our seats and waited it out.

Marc Anthony sang the National Anthem. I felt bad that my mom, an avid fan, wasn't there to hear it. The place really was sold out this time around. No empty seats whatsoever. Yes!

Now to the game. It was imperative that Ollie, which the crowd really got behind early and often, blow away the fish in the first. That means no runs, no momentum, no anything.

We were pleased to find out that Hanley wasn't going to play but were still cautious.
Maybin took his spot and Matt had told me he was on a tear. Great.

But Ollie did just what the doctor ordered. He retired the side in order. Last year, uring the same situation, Glavine couldn't get one out because he lost the feel of his changeup. SO we all felt this year, this game would be different. We had a pitcher that was getting people out.

However, some things never change. The offense, as it had all weekend, struggled mightily to get anything done off Scott Olsen, who we've hit very well the last three outings against him. We went down quickly that inning and many of the innings to come.

The 6th inning is when all the offensive action started. Chicago had a 1 0 lead and it even looked for a few moments that the Mets could clinch a playoff spot that afternoon. What a day that could be, we thought. To celebrate the wild card birth along with old Mets greats. It could've been amazing.

But Oliver got in trouble. Mayben led off with a double. Never a good sign. Then Baker hits a single and drives in a run. Then Cantu hits a single. After BOTH runners advanced on a fly out to Evans, Jerry had Ollie intentionally walk Uggla to load the bases. I can't explain to you how much I loathe that play. I hate, hate, hate it. Why Jerry? And to put in the bullpen after that? He's been a great manager all year and it's not his fault the pen is trash but I really disagreed with this play, not just in hindsight either. So Joe Smith, the best reliever in the bullpen (although that title doesn't say much.) comes in and walks Josh Willingham! A run comes in! SHIT! 2-0 Marlins. Luckily, Joe got out of the jam and got two outs we so desperately needed. It could've been worse but with the way our offense was going, it didn't seem good enough.

But the Mets showed one final sign of life. Robinson Cancel drew a walk and with two out, Beltran came up clutch and hit the home run Mets fans have been dying to see hit hit. It was hit in the picnic area and tied the game at 2 and our confidence was finally restored.

Unfortunately that would be the final Mets home run (and run) at Shea.



In the 8th, Schowenweis replaced Stokes and I don't even need to finish this thought for you to know what's going to happen. He gave up a solo home run to Wes Helms, about the second pitch of his outing. Ughhh! 3-2. It's amazing how a guy can get paid so much for not only doing his job so poorly but doing so little. Most people work over 40 hours a week. Showenweis? 5 minutes. Here's your millions.

That was the beginning of the end. Of course, the bullpen had to do even more to put this game away. Ayala came in and gave up a bomb to Dan Uggla (the last homer at Shea)
4-2 Marlins

The Mets gave us two more glimmers of hope after that. In the bottom of the 8th, with two outs, Reyes hita ground rule double. Bad luck because he could've easily gone to third. Beltran then walked. Arthur Rhodes, the lefty, was put in the game to face Delgado. He hit the ball very well to left. I thought for a split second that Deli had come through again. THe crowd would go nuts and we'd regain the lead. My heart rose up to my throat, but it wasn't hit well enough. When the left fielder caught it, I threw up the heart.

Around this time, we found out the Brewers took the lead, like 3 or 4-1. So we had just 3 outs to come back and try to live another day.

But it wasn't meant to be. In the 9th, Lindstrom, former Met retired the first two batters. Easley then walked with two outs. Flashes went off all over the place as everyone wanted to capture the very last play at Shea. It would be off the bat at Church, who seemed to hit it hard. It looked again for split second that we had gone deep. But after the outfielder made the play, it was all over. Just like that. 162 games. All that time and energy and emotion placed in this team...Gone.

And every fan was expected to put on a happy face for the post game ceremony. Only as a Mets fan...

Words cannot express how surreal a feeling it was knowing that this was going to be it. After that evening, they were going to take this thing apart, slowly, piece by piece. There would be no more Mets baseball in 2008. Our worst nightmares came true. Groundhog Day...
I cried after that game and during the ceremony. I've never shed tears at Shea before that. I guess there's a first and last time for everything. I don't know what hurt more, the bitter end of the season or the end of an era at Shea. I believe it was all of the above. I was overwhelmed.

The actua ceremony was beautifully done, much to my surprise. Seeing my favorite Mets from the 90s was a thrill, especially guys like Piazza, Ventura, and Alfonzo. It didn't take the sting away, but it was very therapeutic. It helped me come to terms with the stadium closing down. Here are some vids/pictures.




























What can you say? Changes needs to be made. I'm sure there will be. We'll have months to discuss that though. Right now, the pain and anguish is fresh in the brain. I don't know what else to say for now. I'm sure my wrap up will attempt to add some closure...