After a game seven loss that nearly brought me to tears, I simply have neither the desire nor the full set of notes to offer a fair analysis of the last seven games.  However, I’d like to offer a few quick thoughts.

1.         That was a lot of fun. 

2.         The Mets lost two games in which they were tied headed to the ninth inning at home!  That can’t happen. 
            Wagner in Game 2.  Heilman in game 7. 

            Heading into the NLCS, if there was one area where the Mets appeared to have the clear advantage it was in the bullpen, but it clearly didn’t play out that way.  (If I was Joe Sheehan, whose work I adore, I would go on a rant about small sample sizes related to bullpen ERA and the unpredictability inherent in a short series.)  Don’t let Mota off the hook for Spezio’s triple either.  The Mets didn’t get beat on bleeders and bloops.  They gave up bombs and blasts. 

3.         Unfortunately, I think my lasting image of this 2006 NLCS will be Mets looking at curveballs from Adam Wainwright for strike three stranding the tying run at second.  Beltran, behind 0-2 made the final out in the ninth in game 7 looking at a called third strike.  Valentin, with the count 2-2, did the same in the eighth inning of game 5. 

            In both cases, the hitters should have been aware that Wainwright wanted to drop the deuce.  Against Valentin, earlier in the count, at 1-1, he shook off Molina (something Cardinal pitchers rarely do) to go curveball.  At 2-2, again he shook off Molina to throw the hook.  The pitch looked outside and high, but it was simply too close to take.  Beltran had no excuse.  He’d seen one fastball and one curveball in his AB and had to know that Wainwright wanted to throw the curve with two strikes having seen it each time he appeared in the series. 

4.         Yadier Molina?  Are you kidding me?

5.         Endy Chavez made one of the greatest catches I’ve ever seen tonight. 

6.         If you want to think positively, add John Maine and Oliver Perez to your starting rotation in 2007.   Wait ‘til next year sounds really f—ing hollow. 

I’ll be talking Mets Minor League issues in this space very shortly. 

PS: Good news: It’s almost time for the Knicks to tip off a 23 win season.