(Tip o’ the pixel to Ring Lardner’s classic A World’s Serious)
Well, that kind of blew for any righteous New York Mets fan, eh?
The Junior Pinstripes went Chernobyl for the second straight night, starting with a disastrous top of the ninth.
The Mets led 2-0 in the wake of a brilliant pitching performance by Matt Harvey. Mets manager Terry Collins was ready to go to his closer, Jeurys Familia, but Harvey said “no way!” and Collins acquiesced (which virtually everyone in attendance wanted him to do).
Harvey promptly gave up a lead-off walk and a double.
Mets 2-1.
Then Kansas City Royal first baseman Eric Hosmer did this.
Which left the game tied, and Mets fans tongue-tied.
In the top of the 12th, the Mets completely melted down, resulting in this:
It just got worse from there.
As for the second-guessing:
• Why did Collins let Yoenis Cespides finish his at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth after Cespides shattered his kneecap?
• Why did Collins send Harvey back out for the ninth?
• Why did Collins not pull Harvey after he walked the first batter?
So, to summarize:
• The Royals were clearly the superior team.
• Ned Yost totally outmanaged Terry Collins.
• Wait till next year!
Campaign Outsider 
I haven’t forgotten or forgiven Grady Little for 2003, so this one will linger, and possibly cost Collins his job. I also noticed the Mets had several Buckner-esque moments in the field. Did Murphy have more errors in the WS than HRs in the rest of the playoffs?
This was pretty much a team loss, Steve – too many men stranded on base, too many arsonists in the bullpen, too little mental toughness. Maybe they can retool for another shot next year, the way the Royals did.