Is the New York Mets’ Loss on Friday Night the Worst in Baseball So Far?

“I just sh*t my pants.”

Those were just some of the text messages I got Friday night after the Mets lost to the Yankees 9-8 in unbelievable fashion.

There have been a lot of teams who have suffered excruciating losses this year—The Rays blowing a 10-run lead against the Indians comes to mind. But there is nothing, I mean NOTHING, that can compare to the way the Mets lost to the Yankees in the Subway Series last night.

After the Mets took an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth against the great Mariano Rivera on a David Wright double that scored Carlos Beltran, the stage was set for Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) to close out the game in the ninth.

K-Rod, who had not blown a save all season, needed to retire Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, and Nick Swisher to preserve the win. First came up the quadruple-A level, Brett Gardner.

Can someone tell me why Gardner is in the major leagues? Seriously, he is like an WR in the NFL who can run a 4.3 40 but can’t run a route, catch a pass, or do anything else—or every WR on the Oakland Raiders.

K-Rod got Gardner to pop up to the catcher for the first out. Then things got interesting.

Jeter got things started with a single up the middle. It was a solid piece of hitting by Jeter, as he stayed with a wicked changeup to get the hit.

Johnny Damon came on to pinch hit for Nick Swisher. In a tough nine-pitch AB, K-Rod got Damon to swing and miss on a 3-2 changeup, low and inside for the second out. Jeter, running on the pitch was able to steal second rather easily.

Now we have a runner on second with two outs for the red hot Mark “Everybody knows the Yankees paid the most” Teixeira. Despite Teixeira sporting a career 2-for-19 mark against K-Rod, it appeared the Mets’ closer wanted nothing to do with Teixeira.

Teixeira walked, and then the unthinkable happened.

It was K-Rod vs. A-Rod. After falling behind 3-1, K-Rod poured in a sinking, 94 mph fastball to A-Rod. A-Rod popped the ball up to second base. This just wasn’t a popup, this was a pop up that most above average second baseman ages 12 and up could have caught.

Despite winning three Gold Gloves, Mets second baseman Luis Castillo, bumbling around in short rightfield (when I say short, I mean right behind the infield dirt) DROPPED THE BALL!!! Jeter scored. Teixeira, running all the way from first, scored. 9-8, Yankees win.

Not only did Castillo drop the ball, but when he recovered and picked up the ball, he threw the ball to second base instead of home. That is how Teixeira scored. Two mistakes for the price of one loss for Castillo.

I don’t think I have ever seen a routine pop up to second base dropped to lose a game. Have you?

Is this the worst loss in baseball so far this year? What do you think?

I think it is. Teams blow saves all the time, but nothing like this. Just excruciating.

P.S. I was going to put this in my “Can of Corn” category, but that would be just pouring salt in the wound of Met fans.