2008 Woodie Awards
The Real Victim of the Mets' Downfall
Mike McMaster
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Sports
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Picture this: You have been in the major leagues for 20 years and you have never been anything but the epitome of class and dignity. You have had a tremendous career, and on the last day of the season, your team hands you the ball and asks for one more win. At age 41, you don't throw that hard anymore, but your presence on the hill, your curveball and your slider make up for it. After this year, your contract is up. If you don't reach deep down and pull out a win, this could be the last game of your career. Of course it is a big game, but you're a veteran, you have been in big games before. Besides, you're just facing the hapless Marlins.
You are Tom Glavine. And what happened next will be remembered as the icing on the cake of one of the biggest collapses in sports history. Glavine was charged with seven earned runs and did not even make it out of the first inning. Meanwhile, Mets fans glanced at the out of town scoreboard as Willie Randolph trotted to the mound to take Glavine out. Phillies 1, Nationals 0. The fans at Shea Stadium immediately realized that their team was in danger of missing the playoffs, and as Glavine walked slowly back to the dugout, he was booed mercilessly by Met fans. In an unmistakable sign of defeat and anguish, he pulled his hat over his face and took a seat by himself on the bench.
Having lost 12 of their last 17 games, the New York Mets all but handed the National League East to the Philadelphia Phillies. In the month of September, the Phillies surged and the Mets lost their stride. Their collapse was a team effort. Their starting pitching struggled, their hitting struggled, their bullpen struggled, and on the last day of the season, Tom Glavine struggled. The last game was critical. However ,the blame for this epic collapse has to fall on the whole team, not just one individual.
Last Sunday night, Mets fans went home angry and upset. Many were left scratching their heads, trying to figure out how their team, which was picked as National League favorites, managed to miss the playoffs. As Sportscenter was busy ranking the Met's collapse among the all-time worst, and Shea Stadium was closing up for the year, Mets fans were left with only one thought, "What a Disgrace."
You are Tom Glavine. And what happened next will be remembered as the icing on the cake of one of the biggest collapses in sports history. Glavine was charged with seven earned runs and did not even make it out of the first inning. Meanwhile, Mets fans glanced at the out of town scoreboard as Willie Randolph trotted to the mound to take Glavine out. Phillies 1, Nationals 0. The fans at Shea Stadium immediately realized that their team was in danger of missing the playoffs, and as Glavine walked slowly back to the dugout, he was booed mercilessly by Met fans. In an unmistakable sign of defeat and anguish, he pulled his hat over his face and took a seat by himself on the bench.
Having lost 12 of their last 17 games, the New York Mets all but handed the National League East to the Philadelphia Phillies. In the month of September, the Phillies surged and the Mets lost their stride. Their collapse was a team effort. Their starting pitching struggled, their hitting struggled, their bullpen struggled, and on the last day of the season, Tom Glavine struggled. The last game was critical. However ,the blame for this epic collapse has to fall on the whole team, not just one individual.
Last Sunday night, Mets fans went home angry and upset. Many were left scratching their heads, trying to figure out how their team, which was picked as National League favorites, managed to miss the playoffs. As Sportscenter was busy ranking the Met's collapse among the all-time worst, and Shea Stadium was closing up for the year, Mets fans were left with only one thought, "What a Disgrace."
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