Now that the dust has settled, I find it easier to have some perspective on the results from this season as compared to last season.

Last season, the term “collapse” was warranted.  Holding a seven-game lead with 17 games to go, the Mets let the NL East lead slip away with no one to blame but themselves.  Their failure to even make the playoffs after their 2006 success was inconceivable, and left me in a state of shock.

This season, after upgrading the team only at the starter position, it was remarkable that they even held a 3.5 game lead with 17 to go.  Considering that the team wound up blowing 29 save opportunities, I look at the 2008 Mets as simply a .500 team who happened upon a 10 game winning streak. Although I didn’t give up hope this year, I was never sold on their inevitable success. To me, on paper they were better than the Phillies, but that's not how they played. Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis were band-aids, not permanent solutions yet we came to depend on these types of players.  They only seemed to pull together as a team near the end of the season, but by then it was too late.

Because of last year’s finish, the rational side of me expected less this year than I did going into 2007.  Last Sunday’s loss was still heartbreaking, but I was a bit more prepared I suppose.  I somewhat agree with Jeff Wilpon that the Mets “over-achieved” with what they were given, but I feel strongly that the front office under-achieved.

Obviously, many changes need to take place starting with the bullpen.  I know this topic is redundant, but I feel that when these and other changes occur, a new, untainted Mets team will finally be able to turn the page.  These new players will be writing a different chapter for themselves and for the team.

So, as Shea is dissected, I find it fitting that the team too will be broken down and rebuilt, otherwise next year’s team may have October off once again.