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The New York Mets are back in the playoffs for the first time in nine years, which means the team has a chance to once again lose in some absolutely heartbreaking fashion! Better yet, that heartbreak has the potential to send the team's fan base into a collective downward spiral, the likes of which haven't been seen since, well, since the Mets last lost in the playoffs.
You see, when the Mets lose in the playoffs, they don't just lose. They LOSE. So in honor of the unforgettably bad plays that almost certainly await the Mets in the 2015 postseason, here are the five most unforgettably bad plays from postseasons past. Go Mets!
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5
1973 World Series (Game 7) - Jon Matlack Gives Up Two Home Runs To Destroy Mets' Championship Hopes, Dreams
It could be said that the 1973 "Ya' Gotta Believe" Mets were fortunate to even make the playoffs. With a 82-79 record, New York's .509 winning percentage is the lowest of any team to make the World Series in MLB history.
Despite their lackluster performance during most of the season, those Mets were in the driver's seat with a 3-2 series lead and a great chance to beat the Oakland A's in the '73 World Series.
New York would lose Game 6 and in the third inning of Game 7, the Mets' World Series hopes were completely shattered with two swings of the bat.
A pair of two-run home runs by Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson off pitcher Jon Matlack gave the A's a 4-0 lead that they would not relinquish. The Mets lost Game 7 by a score of 5-2 and ruined their chances to win the franchise's second World Series.
Despite their lackluster performance during most of the season, those Mets were in the driver's seat with a 3-2 series lead and a great chance to beat the Oakland A's in the '73 World Series.
New York would lose Game 6 and in the third inning of Game 7, the Mets' World Series hopes were completely shattered with two swings of the bat.
A pair of two-run home runs by Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson off pitcher Jon Matlack gave the A's a 4-0 lead that they would not relinquish. The Mets lost Game 7 by a score of 5-2 and ruined their chances to win the franchise's second World Series.
4
1988 NLCS (Game 4) - Dwight Gooden Allows Game-Tying Home Run To Mike Bleeping Scioscia
The Mets from the mid-to-late 1980s were talented enough to win multiple championships. New York won the memorable 1986 World Series and appeared to be on the path for another title in 1988. After all, the Mets were playing a Los Angeles Dodgers team they beat 10 out of 11 times during the regular season.
In Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, the Mets had a two-run lead heading into the top of the ninth inning with a chance to grab a 3-1 series lead. On top of that, they had their ace Dwight Gooden on the mound with the chance to close it out.
Gooden walked the leadoff hitter and ended up giving a game-tying home run to catcher Mike Scioscia. As broadcaster Al Michaels noted, Scioscia hit just 35 career home runs in 8.5 seasons before that.
New York ended up losing Game 4 in extra innings and lost the series in seven games. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series.
In Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, the Mets had a two-run lead heading into the top of the ninth inning with a chance to grab a 3-1 series lead. On top of that, they had their ace Dwight Gooden on the mound with the chance to close it out.
Gooden walked the leadoff hitter and ended up giving a game-tying home run to catcher Mike Scioscia. As broadcaster Al Michaels noted, Scioscia hit just 35 career home runs in 8.5 seasons before that.
New York ended up losing Game 4 in extra innings and lost the series in seven games. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series.
3
1999 NLCS (Game 6) - Kenny Rogers Gives Up Walk-Off Walk In Most Mets Ending Ever
New York was hoping to make history, trying to overcome a three games to none deficit in the 1999 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets were halfway there after winning Game 4 and coming off one of the most exciting playoff games and Robin Ventura's "grand slam single" in Game 5.
In Game 6, New York actually came back from an early 5-0 deficit and grabbed the lead in both the top of the eighth and tenth innings. They would lose both leads in the bottom of those frames.
Then in the bottom of the 11th with the bases loaded, Mets pitcher Kenny Rogers walked outfielder Andruw Jones, giving up the game-winning run in very Mets fashion.
In Game 6, New York actually came back from an early 5-0 deficit and grabbed the lead in both the top of the eighth and tenth innings. They would lose both leads in the bottom of those frames.
Then in the bottom of the 11th with the bases loaded, Mets pitcher Kenny Rogers walked outfielder Andruw Jones, giving up the game-winning run in very Mets fashion.
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2
2000 World Series (Game 1) - TIMO PEREZ, WHY DID YOU STOP RUNNING!?
Committing a gaffe in a game during the first two rounds of the playoffs is bad. Committing a gaffe in a World Series game is very bad. But committing a gaffe in a World Series game against the hated cross-town rival is absolutely brutal.
That is exactly what happened to former Mets outfielder Timo Perez.
In the sixth inning of Game 1 of the 2000 World Series, Perez was on first after singling. Todd Zeile followed with a deep fly ball to left field that hit the top of the wall and came back in play.
Perez thought it was going to be ruled a home run, so he moseyed around second base before he eventually turned on the jets. But it was too late as Perez was thrown out by Derek Jeter at the plate.
The Mets ended up losing Game 1 and that set the tone for the rest of the series. The Yankees beat them in five games.
That is exactly what happened to former Mets outfielder Timo Perez.
In the sixth inning of Game 1 of the 2000 World Series, Perez was on first after singling. Todd Zeile followed with a deep fly ball to left field that hit the top of the wall and came back in play.
Perez thought it was going to be ruled a home run, so he moseyed around second base before he eventually turned on the jets. But it was too late as Perez was thrown out by Derek Jeter at the plate.
The Mets ended up losing Game 1 and that set the tone for the rest of the series. The Yankees beat them in five games.
1
2006 NLCS (Game 7) - Carlos Beltran Strikes Out Looking And #BlameBeltran Is Born
This moment is branded in the minds of Mets fans because it is the most recent, and it was just so painful.
2006 was the last time New York had made it to the playoffs before 2015. The Mets had shared the best record in the majors and probably had the best team talent-wise, but they were pushed to the limits by the St. Louis Cardinals in the '06 NLCS.
With the Mets down 3-1, Carlos Beltran was up with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7. Instead, Beltran looked at a nasty curve from the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright for strike three that ended the series.
This strikeout inspired the hashtag #BlameBeltran, a movement that shows Mets fans #NeverForget.
Without Beltran's 41 home runs and 116 RBIs that season, the Mets probably never would've made it up to that point, but that moment represents another playoff failure for the franchise.
2006 was the last time New York had made it to the playoffs before 2015. The Mets had shared the best record in the majors and probably had the best team talent-wise, but they were pushed to the limits by the St. Louis Cardinals in the '06 NLCS.
With the Mets down 3-1, Carlos Beltran was up with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7. Instead, Beltran looked at a nasty curve from the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright for strike three that ended the series.
This strikeout inspired the hashtag #BlameBeltran, a movement that shows Mets fans #NeverForget.
Without Beltran's 41 home runs and 116 RBIs that season, the Mets probably never would've made it up to that point, but that moment represents another playoff failure for the franchise.
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