Hopefully today's game is a sign of things to come for this post season. Good enough starting pitching, solid pen and big bats. I did not understand Willie letting Mota bat with the bases drunk in the 7th but we ended up winning so who am I to complain.

It is going to be tough to do this without Pedro and El Duque, however, like every other Mets fan I am hoping 50 years down the line people are going to be talking about the 2006 New York Mets who gutted their way through the playoffs and won a World Series title despite not having anything that resembled a solid starting rotation. Hell, let's win it dancing on the Yankee Stadium infield.

So far so good! Unbelievable game. Two Dodgers thrown out at the plate on one play in the 2nd inning, then 2 bombs by Delgado and Floyd. Decent starting pitching. Excellent bullpen work from 5 different relievers. Add it all together and you have a very exciting 6-5 Mets win in game 1. Just loved Carlos Delgado's reaction at first base after he put the Mets ahead again to stay! Seems like he is trying to knock someone out with his fist pump!

A great victory for the Mets. With everyone reeling from finding out that El Duque wasn't pitching in the Division Series, and might join Pedro in not playing at all in the playoffs, there was a lot of anxiety brewing in New York that day. But we were all able to forget about all that for a few hours. John Maine pitched a solid 4.1 innings, and an incredible play at the plate saved two runs. For some reason that I still don't understand, the Dodgers third base coach decided to send Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew around third, even though the throw was coming in from Shawn Green to Jose Valentin. Valentin threw it down to Lo Duca, who tagged Kent, looked over at the umpire, suddenly realized Drew was coming, and he tagged him too. Possibly one of the craziest moments in Mets history. Delgado had a great game, driving in a few runs and hitting a bomb, and Floyd hit a bomb that we all knew right off the bat was gone. Nomar tied it up, but Delgado got the lead right back, and Wagner made it interesting, as he always does, but we came out with the victory and that's all that matters. 1 down, 10 to go.

An exciting game that Willie tried everything in his power to give away. Maine was pitching well-- so take him out. Mota and Wagner had nothing, but Willie sticks with them.

This game is a perfect example why scoring rules have to change. Mota gets the win for giving up 3 runs and blowing the lead. Wagner gets a save for being ineffective.

This was the first playoff game that I remember because 1999 and 2000 were when I was too young to remember so I was waiting for this day to come for a while. Unfortunately for me I had a cross country race that day and was forced to listen to the game on the radio before the race. When the race started the Mets were down 1-0 and I ran my fastest race of the season to get the score from my dad. I found out that the Mets had gone ahead after 2 home runs and I was just thinking about how loud it must be. the Dodgers tied the game on my way home but I got home just in time to see the Mets take the lead and win the game.

I remember most fans and media giving the Mets little chance without Pedro and El Duque. Obviously they weren't paying attention as Maine was one of our best pitchers all year and pitched in big games for us going into the playoffs. Willie almost gave this game away with this horrid pitching decisions. In the end he did end up costing us by leaving Heilman in too long in game 7 of the NLCS.

My dad and I were sitting in Upper Deck section 12 with a clear view of the unusual play of two players being thrown out at home. I think we were surprised as much as Paul LoDuca when he turned around and saw the second runner. My first playoff game ever and a play that true Met fans like me will never forget.

Attended this game with my parents, two of my cousins, and aunt & uncle. And let me tell you that I was not too confident coming in with Pedro and El Duque out. Although I relaxed a lot after their Game One win. What a clutch performance by Tom Glavine. And special thanks to the speed of Endy Chavez and the hustle of Julio Franco to beat that throw to first to prevent the double play in the sixth, which allowed a run to score. An awesome win and a nice time with the family. GO METS!

The Fox announcers made fun of a Mets fan who was wearing some strange looking goggles in the crowd, turned out he was legally blind and it was the only way he could watch the game, being a huge Mets fan.

Another moronic move by the boys at Fox. But a great win for the Mets.

What a day! The Mets sweep the Dodgers, and the Yankees, along with their 200 million dollar payroll, lose to the Tigers and their 100 dollar payroll, in their series. The memory of Mike Scioscia, Tommy Lasorda, Orel Hershiser, and those unbelievably lucky '88 Dodgers put to rest! Get out those brooms!

An incredible day, because not only did the Mets sweep the Dodgers, but the Yankee fans were silenced by the Tigers. Next stop, NLCS!

Eight victories away from our ultimate goal! Not only are the Mets on their way to the NLCS, but the Yankees are on their way to the golf course. I LOVE THIS GAME! The Mets swept the Dodgers right out of the playoffs with a convincing 9-5 win at Chavez Ravine! Shawn Green had a hell of a night against his former club. It was nice to see him catch the final out! I am so glad I can now forget about the '88 collapse! LET'S GO METS!

A guy in a Mr. Met head was in the upper deck at Chavez Ravine. At the end of the game angry Dodger fans were burning the head in the parking lot. It was great seeing the Mets celebrate on the field after the last out, avenging 1988.

This was the first playoff game I went to. Sat in the Mez, section 15 right on the first base bag. The crowd went absolutely nuts when Beltran hit his homer. Later that night Albert Pujols, who went 0-3 and got doubled off first on a lazy fly ball to center, claimed Tom Glavine was not very good and it wasn't fair he was hitting the ball hard and making outs.

I attended this game, and much like every other Playoff game I have attended at Shea, this one just seemed larger than life. But this one was different. This was the first time I had attended a Playoff game at night. There is a certain kind of atmosphere at these games that just permeates the night. I'd been to games in 1988, 1999, 2000 and even Game 1 of the NLDS this year, but this game just seemed off the charts, from the second I got off the 7 train to the moment I pulled off into the night after the end of the game.

Standing in the Upper Deck, waiting through the interminable dead time for network TV, hearing the extra-loud sound system absolutely blasting Van Halen's "Right Now" before the game started, looking around and drinking it all in.

That's why I keep coming back.

Such a taut, tense battle the whole way. It's never easy in the Playoffs. I don't know what Pujols saw, but Glavine looked pretty damn good from where I was watching. He had his best stuff and it showed.

The Mets defense was definitely up to snuff as well. From Chavez's diving catch in the 5th, to Beltran's catch and throw to double off Pujols in the 4th, to Wright's 2 great stabs of line drives in the 3rd, and Valentin's glovework up the middle in the 9th.

And, of course, Beltran's show-stopping HR off the scoreboard in the 6th producing the only runs of the game.

And Wagner closing it out, and the Mets jumping out on the right foot in the NLCS.

Such an unforgettable night.

I only wish it wasn't my last trip to Shea for 2006...

An excellent pitching duel between Glavine and Weaver. Old time baseball like it ought to be.

The game that cost the Mets the series. Willie is in love with Mota and Wagner and stayed with them when they both had nothing.

I said to everyone the Mets just lost the series- -you do not bounce back from a lose like that and win a playoff series.

If the Mets win that game, there is no doubt in my mind that the Mets sweep the Cards.

No doubt that this game cost the Mets the series. You cannot lose a game when you blow 3 leads. Despite what people think about Wagner, and Shawn Green missing the the ball, Mota lost this game by throwing a fast ball after throwing good changeups . I knew the series was over when they lost this game.

No doubt that Spezio's hit in the 7th off of Mota was the game and series changer. One of those kick the dog and yell at the TV moments for me that I will always remember. Who doesn't think we have a third World Series pennant hanging at Citi Field if we win this game?

From our seats, the view of the right field corner was blocked. So we never got to see how well or poorly Shawn Green played the ball hit by Scott Spiezio, which broke the Mets' backs. But we had an all- too-clear view of Billy Wagner imploding in the ninth. One of the most painful Mets losses EVER.

This was the game that changed the series around, I think if the Mets would have won Game 2, Mets would win this series in 6 games. We had this game in the bag but Cards kept coming back, and that Taguchi home run in the 9th was the knockout. I knew Mets were going to lose this game since the Spizeo hit.

The game that changed the whole NLCS and gave the Cardinals confidence that they can win it.

Mets were beating up the Cards ace (Carpenter), Mets offense was redhot and ready to go up 2-0 in this NLCS, and win the NL Pennant in St. Louis in 4-5 games. But then Maine and the bullpen just couldn’t hold on.

What many tend to forget is that not only did Wagner give up that solo home run to Taguchi, but it was also that he allowed also a couple of more insurance runs, thus denying the Mets a realistic chance in the bottom of the 9th inning.

When Mets lost this game 2, Mets kinda knew that they were gonna be in trouble in game 3, since Trachsel in 2006 had nothing left.

And of course, who can forget that Mota inning, when he was up 0-2 on the Cardinals Spiezio, and twice Lo Duca called for a pitch away (maybe up) to make Spiezio chase, but both times Mota either threw a down and in pitch fastball to Spiezio (which he hit hard for foul ball) and then on the second pitch he threw a fastball right down the middle that Spiezio almost hit a go-ahead-home-run, but Shawn Green was able to pull it back.

I also know many Mets fans that feel like Shawn Green should have caught that ball.

Rough loss.

Have to say just 1 thing about this game and series: If David Wright does not hit to protect Carlos Delgado we will be done in 5 games! Wright needs to step it up tomorrow night and get some hits if the Mets are to advance in this NLCS series! Mets just looked dead all night. No emotion. Yesterday's 9-6 loss really messed with their heads! Couldnt catch 2 fly balls both hit by Scott Spezio for triples. Shawn Green should have caught that ball last night in the Mets 9-6 loss at Shea. Mets should be up 2-1 instead of down 2- 1. Still have faith we can do this but we need to get more than just 3 hits in a game!

The quintiscential choke game on the part of Steve Trachsel. He gave them nothing when they needed something badly, and he ran off the mound with an "injury" after he gave up 5 quick runs. At that moment, the Mets ceased even considered re-signing him in the off-season.

Never would I have imagined that the Mets offense would get shut-out by Suppan, who was having a rough 2006 season.

Also, Suppan hit a home run off Trachsel in this game

Suppan in his career has two career home runs, both against the Mets, both in St. Louis, both against Steve Trachsel (September 2005, October 2006 NLCS game 3)

Darren Oliver actually pitched very nicely out of the bullpen in this game 3, that he was considered to start game 7 instead of Trachsel (but the Mets went with Oliver Perez)

What a big sigh of relief!!! Finally our bats wake up!!! Delgado is my MVP of this series by far! But Beltran's 2 bombs puts him in the mix now also Beltran is just killing St. Louis pitching with home runs this year and last. Would like to know if anyone out there saw Willie Randolph's reaction to I don't know whom it was he was yelling at I think it was Oliver Perez, but clearly said no f------ fist pumping. This happened after Edmmond's home run then they got the next guy out and that's when this happened!! Wish I was recording this one; recorded first 2 games but not this one DAMN!!!!! LET'S GO METS!!! BRING IT HOME BOYS!!!!

Im surprise that there are no comments in this game 5

After the Mets offense put on a show in game 4, after getting shutout in game 3 by Suppan, I remembered that me and many Mets fans were feeling very confident in this game 5 with Glavine starting (who pitched great in game 1 against the Cards and pitched great in game 1 against the Dodgers), and we were facing a vulnerable Weaver (whom the Mets offense barely hit thanks to a Beltran late inning home run in game 1).

But Weaver once again pitched nicely in this game 5, like he did in game 1.

Mets get Glavine a two-run-lead in the top of the fourth inning. But then Glavine gives those two runs right back in the bottom of the 4th inning. And then the Cards took the lead again in the 5th inning and never looked back.

What I remembered about this game 5 also was that the Cardinals had ANOTHER TRIPLE in this NLCS. I mean, triples is one of the Mets specialties, not the slow-running-Cards.

In game 2, the Cards Spiezio hit a triple off Mota (im sure we all remember that at-bat).

In game 3, Spiezio had another triple.

In game 4, Juan Encarnacion had a triple.

In game 5, Aaron Miles had a triple.

Thats just unreal, for the slow-running-Cards to hit a triple in four consecutive postseason games.

The Mets then were making a rally in the 8th inning, as they were down by 2 runs with one out and runners on second and third, but then Shawn Green hit a fly ball out that wasnt deep enough, and then Wainwright came in to face Valentin with two outs and Wainwright struck out Valentin looking on a curveball to end the inning and the rally (signs of things to come in game 7)

What a game. Johny Maine tossed a gem and Oliver Perez is starting tomorrow on three days rest. I have a crazy hunch we are going to put up a lot of runs tomorrow, maybe I am wrong. Let's go Oliver, Let's go Mets, watch out Tigers.

Talk about nerves of steel, ice water in your veins, Superman? No it was just John Maine. What a great pitching performance tonight. All we need now is 1 more from Oliver Perez Thursday night and we are off to the Fall Classic against the TIGERS!! Clutch hitting also by Jose Reyes leading off the game with a HR! Paul LoDuca's big 2 run single in the 7th broke open this one, with Billy Wagner giving up 2 runs in the 9th. Shea Stadium was absolute bedlam can't wait for tomorrow. Hope they put up a 4 spot in the 1st inning and then just coast! Let's pop some more bubbly boys!! LET'S GO METS, BRING IT HOME BOYS!!

I just got back from this game 2 hours ago, and it was great. It was my first playoff game and Shea was ROCKIN'! Everyone was on their feet for the majority of the game, yelling Lets Go Mets and chanting the name of every Mets hitter as they got up. Also we yelled Pujols Sucks! and the best of all the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOPER chant that riled former Met closer Braden Looper up and got him to pitch like crap and get pulled after less then an inning. The ending was even sweeter, the Mets winning 4-2 and forcing a Game 7. Even as the fans filed out of the stadium chanst began, JOSE-JOSE-JOSE-JOSE, and LETS GO METS being the favorites. I've never seen it that crowded, and all 56,000 fans were into it every step of the way. It was about as far as I could get from my experience of going to a Subway Series game in 2000 and having Shea overwhelmed with Yankees fans being their "usual delightful selves". Anyway this game was great, hope they do it again tomorrow night. LETS GO METS!!

Was supposed to go to this game with a date, but she canceled and then uncanceled when I had already asked a friend. Although it was sort of bittersweet for me, still a great game to attend for the memories. I think John Maine officially made everyone forget Kris Benson tonight. It is ironic being that most people (including myself) were pissed when they got rid of Benson for Maine and Jorge Julio. Jose Reyes really helped set the tone with a leadoff home run off Chris Carpenter. Too bad the momentum did not carry into the next night. Still, I am thankful for a wonderful season and the opportunity to attend a couple of playoff games. Most important, that for a change, the Mets were still playing while the Yanks were sitting at home. GO METS!

This is the best game I have ever attended in any sport (the Giants 41-0 thrashing of the Vikings on their way to the Superbowl in 2000 is a close 2nd). Shea was LITERALLY rocking back and forth and it started early with Reyes's leadoff laser over the right-center field wall. From then on, Maine shut the Cards down and the pen did a great job to force the series to a game 7. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and it's because of all the GREAT Mets fans. That was experience one I absolutely will not forget!

What I remembered about this game was how Wagner got hit around in the 9th inning, reminding me of game 2.

I think this is one of the reasons why Wagner was not put in game 7 in the 9th inning of a tie-game at home, since you always send the closer in the 9th inning of a tie game if you're the home team, since there are no save situations anymore.

I think the Mets just lost confidence in Wagner.

Endy Chavez's catch will go down as one of the greatest of postseason history, right up there with Al Gionfriddo's in the 1947 series. It kept the Mets in the game to the very end. Though the game was a heartbreaker at the end, it will be remembered for many years to come and that catch will be talked about forever.

I was watching this game and I thought the Mets were going to win after the great Endy Chavez catch that was all for nothing. Then as this game and the whole series showed no Mets lead was safe because those pesky cardinals always keep coming back to score. Then that Yadier Molina hits the homer in the top of the 9th to not only rip my heart out but the heart of every Mets fan. And also the sickening sight of the Cardinals partying on the Mets field just like the 00 Yankees. This game also resulted in the second upset in the 7 times the Mets have been in the postseason since 1969. 1988 Dodgers and 2006 Cardinals going to the World Series when neither of them should not have beaten the Mets. And that Jeff Suppan must be god or something for why the Mets were unable to hit him in 2 games. This game has made me now both anti-Cardinals and anti-Dodgers because of the final results of the 1988 and 2006 NLCS.

Less than 48 hours after the fact, IT STILL HURTS! This one hurts more than '85, '87, '88, '98, '99 and 2000 combined! When the bases were loaded and Carlos Beltran came up against Adam Wainwright, visions of August 22nd danced in my head and with his history vs the Cards in the NLCS; I was watching and praying and cheering Beltran would deliver the walk-off basehit and it would be on to DETROIT! But it was NOT meant to be! When CB stood there like a statue and took the called 3rd strike, I was devastated to say the least. It was like when a friend sets you up on a blind date and you expect the woman to look like Fox News anchor Julie Banderas but when the doorbell rings, she looks like Lunch Lady Doris from "The Simpsons". My TV clicked off ASAP because I DID NOT want to see that arrogant, Nazi lawyer LaRussa and his overrated bunch of Redbirds dancing on the Shea lawn. (Btw, I did call LaRussa a Nazi, just ask his "pals" Ron Gant & Ozzie Smith). A sad ending to a great 2006 and the METS WILL KICK THAT ******* DOOR DOWN AND WIN THE 2007 WORLD SERIES!

Thought Willie did a great job managing the series, that is until the bottom of the ninth. First and second wih no outs he HAS TO BUNT the runners over. Struggling to score all series you must play for the tie at home. He could have saved his bench by using Glavine to sacrifice since he is probably the best bunter on the team. The move would have put more pressure on the "genius" in the other dugout (does he walk Reyes to set up the DP and thereby put the winning run on base?), not to mention turning up the heat on the rookie closer. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. None of it mattered if the following batters stood there with the bat on their shoulders like Beltran. WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!

About a week later I can still see Carlos just standing there but it was one of the best games I ever went to.

I got there while the Cards were working out and in batting practice, and Oliver Perez came out to the bullpen for his warmup. We in the upper deck started cheering for him, not knowing what was about to happen next.

In the 6th, one out, runner at first and Rolen coming up, Willie came out to talk to Perez. We all knew it was his last batter. First pitch Rolen lines it, and all I remember thinking was that Endy better catch it. Well, you know what happens. See him jump, and for at least one second, Shea was as quiet as I've ever heard it, then the place went nuts. I don't even remember the throw. Just jumping like crazy when we relized that Edmonds was out at first, the guy sitting to the left of me hugged me.

Then Molina's home run, Beltran looking and that was it. A great season not to forget and just as I left the tunnel, after about 10 munites of just hearing cursing and crying, one guy yelled "LET'S GO RANGERS!" And about 25 people that heard it left the game with at least something to be happy about.

It's one thing to be a good sport. It's another to ridicule the team you beat. From my understanding, the Cardinals players were making fun of the Reyes chant. That's not cricket. That action ranks up there with Mickey Hatcher making fun of the clench fists the Mets used to do in '88. At least the Mets players were gracious in defeat. The Cardinals players (Rolen and Pujols in particular) acted like a bunch of beer-swilling blowhards who need to take a semester in sports etiquette.

I also hope the Mets were watching the World Series on the TVs. With a few breaks, it should have been them winning the Series!

I did not attend this game. I was watching it at a Manhattan establishment.

It seemed like I had spend the last two and a half weeks walking a tightrope watching the Mets. After 6 years, I had forgotten how emotionally taxing following them through the playoffs could become. It was even worse knowing they were the favorite.

I remember seeing Fox signing on with their talking heads, seeing the multitudes of fans waving their towels and singing along to Bon Jovi. I felt sick. I didn't know which Oliver Perez would show up.

The good Oliver Perez showed up. A sign in the stands paid homage to Elvis Costello. "Oliver's Army."

1-1 in the 6th. I still felt sick. My legs were shaking. My friends were making up nonsense words. Rolen ripped a drive to deep left. My heart stopped. Endy Chavez went up...And he caught it! And all we could do was scream incoherently. ENDY! ENDY!

To the 8th. Drunk. Still shaking. Biting my nails. My friends catatonic. Still speaking borderline gibberish. We make jokes to try to ease the tension.

9th inning. It happens. I am unable to speak.

The game ends. I am still unable to speak. A hug and a cigarette on the sidewalk. I walk around the block. I still can't speak.

3 weeks later, I'm speaking. It still stings. It took me this long to be able to go back and watch the tape. Really a sublime night of Baseball. Some day, I'll be able to appreciate it more than I do right now.

Some day...

I think we should have used Glavine to pinch hit. But if only Floyd had jacked it. We open at St. Louis in 2007 Let's kick their **** and show them we mean business in 2007.

Three weeks or so after the fact and I finally have the stomach to come back on the site and write about this game. This is also the first time I read what I wrote after game 6. So much for all those runs I predicted.

I went up to Shea for the game with my buddy from work. Between the two of us we did not have enough money for two scalped tickets so we ended up watching the game from a hole-in-the-wall bar right outside of the Shea parking lot.

There were only 20 or so people in the place but the atmosphere was awesome. I was wearing a homemade Oliver Perez #46 t-shirt and we were going crazy watching him pitch. We threw the kid into a fire and he could not have had a better showing. Although he is erratic, he has a swagger and I hope we get to see him for the years to come.

Anyway, when Endy made the catch the place lost its mind. I was giving piggy back rides to people I had never met. It took the entire next half of the inning for everyone that was volunteering to buy a shot. You are not supposed to lose games that have plays like that.

The Molina homer was a blow, but I really thought we were going to pick Heilman up in the 9th. I still dont know what Beltran was looking for. But his knees buckled, my heart sunk, and what would beocme one of the longest nights of my life had actually just started.

Well almost a month after we lost the pennant, it still hurts me. I remember I was watching the game with my dad in the living room, I had my "LETS GO METS" poster that I got from the postseason rally a couple of weeks earlier and my lucky Mets cap right next me. As I was watching on TV and Shea Stadium was rocking, it was beautiful to see my fellow Mets fans swing the towels, to show the yankee fans how the Playoffs really are in New York. Oliver Perez was pitching the game of his life, in the 6th Willie comes out, I knew Scott Rolen was going to be the last batter he faced. then Rolen lines one to deep left, all I remember was my heart stopping, I was hoping for a miracle to happen, and it did. Endy Chavez caught it at the wall, it was unbelievable, my heart almost jumped out of my mouth, then I said "it must have been the old Casey Stengel who lifted Endy up!". The bottom of the 6th was an upset, the Mets left the bases loaded, WHY??. the Molina homer, the home run that broke every Mets fan's heart. Before the bottom 9th inning I was hoping for "1986 comeback", the Mets were fighting to comeback, but Carlos Beltran struck out looking with the bases loaded, it was a game we should have won, I cried and I was heartbroken, and realizing that the most toughest, longest, and saddest winter as a Mets fan I have ever had to face, was about to begin. WAIT TILL 2007, REVENGE WILL BE OURS!!!

As part of my Saturday season plan I got tickets for this game. I've been lucky enough to be at a few playoff games but this one had the best atmosphere I ever saw. It was awesome to see all those towels going at once. I don't think I sat down more than 5 minutes the whole game. The place went absolutlely nuts after Endy's catch plus I felt the place moving, the stadium was vibrating. I've been to hundreds of games but this would have been my number 1 until Molina's homer. I thought I was in shock; Shea went silent until the rally in bottom of ninth, then disbelief when the rally fell short and the game ended.

I went to the game and was excited like a little kid before Christmas. When I got to the stadium, I turned to my girlfriend and said I have a bad vibe all of a sudden.

Seats were under the overhang in mezzanine. No one saw Endy's catch in my section besides me--- you could not see the LF wall due to the overhang. I saw it because when the ball was hit I dropped to the ground to get a view. When Endy caught it I jumped up screaming "HE CAUGHT IT". No one in my section knew what I was talking about.

I am a Willie killer, but the right move was letting Heilman pitch the 9th. Wagner could never handle tie games or games with big leads.

However, Willie went for the Hollywood ending by letting Floyd pinch-hit instead of bunting the runners over.

Beltran proved again he is the most over rated player in baseball by looking at strike 3.

I have heard people say the game was a classic. I didn't think so.

Regardless, the series was lost in game 2.

I know I'm supposed to get over it but somehow I can't because some Satan Worshipers, I mean Yankee fans (REAL and FAKE) remind me once in a while to tell Beltran to get the splinters out of his shoulders!!!! NOT FUNNY!!! But as a lifelong Mets fan, I learned what to do and look for in 2007:

• The Mets will be having the final celebration after we win the 2007 WORLD SERIES as the Bronx Evils will crash and fall.
• When the Mets are on FOX-5 this season & Joe Buck is doing the announcing; the mute button will go on & WFAN will be my play-by-play.
• To borrow a phrase from Red Sox fans: From now on, the full name of the Cardinals thief that stole our '06 championship from the Mets is YADIER "BLEEPING" MOLINA!!!!

Definitely the WORST day of my life. I was at the game in nice seats in the front row of mezzanine on the 1st base side. The game was great. There wasn't much action but it was a great game. Then the big hit. The stadium deadened in sound you could feel the betrayal... but wait... Chavez was still chasing it... leaps and makes the catch... and to make it even better he doubles up Pujols on first. SHEA WENT CRAZY. At that time you thought that there was NO WAY they were going to lose... until I saw Heilman. I knew something was up. Never gonna forgive him for that. Heilman is my all time LEAST favorite Met. Already has a couple GW HR's this year. Never liked him, never will.

It's numbing just to think or write about this game, but I think it made us better. We won 97 games in a weak division and league, destroyed the Dodgers in the NLDS, and we ran into a mediocre team that simply got hot at the right time. It showed the Mets that winning it all is never easy, and now that we have been reminded of that I expect (and hope for with every muscle I have in my body) a world championship.

All I remember from this game is that Endy saved Willie's ass for awhile because the right move was taking Perez out in that situation. Then he shoulda gone to Mota in the 9th. Heilman has been awful all year long pitching 2 consecutive innings. As soon as I saw him out there for the 9th I knew we were in trouble and that our season would be lost because of Willie.

I got up at about 3:00 in the morning (Israel time) to watch this on MLB.com's Gameday... very taut game... very frusrtrating, considering the Mets left 11 men on base. Jeff Suppan! We couldn't beat Jeff Freaking Suppan! Suppan and Weaver stunk during the regular season, and during the NLCS we could barely beat them (two- run shot off Weaver in Game 1) for love or money...

It was ALL there, that game... every flippin' indication of karma was swinging squarely in the Mets' direction: home game, 20th anniversary of '86 season, best slugger (and known Cardinal killer) representing last at-bat with bases loaded, and of course The Catch. The Catch, which may go down as one of the greatest in postseason history. Even the crowd favorite hobbling toward home plate with the game on the line and working a full count a la Kirk Gibson. Except that Floyd struck out. And Endy couldn't scratch out a hit with men in scoring position almost immediately after making The Catch. The Catch... Sometime later I saw a photo of The Catch, pulled back so you could see the wall too. Endy Chavez had crashed into an AIG ad, right next to the words "The Strength To Be There".

We should have won. In a million million multiverses, we're probably the only one where karma, in the end, just faded away along with Adam Wainright's curveball.

This was the third one in a row that I had stayed up all night to see. I was in London and needed to leave the hotel for the airport at about 7 am - the game ended about 5 am GMT! What a horrible plane ride home replaying what could have been in my head. Menachem has it right in that Chavez came up with men on right after the catch and couldn't come through. How many times does the guy make the great catch, come up and then get a big hit? It just didn't happen. Not to mention:

The Floyd pinch-hit decision?

Beltran...looking????

Heilman....why Heilman...

Jeff Suppan....Jeff Suppan?????

Yadier Molina???? - UGH!

Just what the hell is Randolph not bunting with 1st and 2nd and no one out. Just stupid. Cost them the game and the series and has brought the team in a 6 year tailspin

A few years back HBO aired the great documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers: Ghosts of Flatbush. During the segment when they talked about the great 1951 NL pennant race and "The Shot Heard Around The World" they interviewed a woman from Brooklyn named Bette Bao Lord and she said that after Bobby Thompson hit the home run off Ralph Branca that she stopped following the Dodgers and baseball as well. In that case, I should of gave up on the Mets and baseball after Adam Wainwright froze Carlos Beltran and then some. But unlike BBL, I couldn't give up on the Mets and baseball and although the last few years have tested my patience (and my temper); I'm still waiting for the day when the Mets return to the post-season and hopefully take over the Tri-State area from that SATANIC OCCULT IN THE BRONX who employ a certain low life named A-Roid!!!!!

I was at this game in the nosebleed section.

Endy's catch was the greatest single play I have ever witnessed in person. It was the loudest I have ever heard any stadium ever and I KNEW that the Mets were going to win after that.

When the game was over, it was so quiet that I literally heard the Cardinals celebrating on the field. And, as I mentioned, I was in the nosebleed seats around 4-5 rows from the back in the RF corner. It was THAT quiet.

What hurts is that I thought the Mets were the better team and would have beaten the Tigers that year in the World Series.

First of all, I am sick and tired of hearing about Endy Chavez's catch. It's not Endy's fault, but the Mets lost the game and the series, so the catch is meaningless. I can't even bring myself to watch it. Second, all this hating on Heilman is misplaced. I didn't like him either, but the game should never have come down to his appearance. The true story of this game, and this series, is that the Mets stopped hitting. The best-hitting Mets team of all time could not score but one run in nine innings in a decisive Game 7 at home. What a disgrace. This was a foreshadowing of 2007 and 2008, when the Wright-Reyes-Beltran core proved themselves the biggest chokers in baseball history. Nothing to show for a wasted era.

I'm with you, Frank. Chavez's catch has become the most overrated moment in Mets history. It did not lead to victory in this game, so it's not worth getting excited about.

Willie had got to put up either Woodward or Glavine to bunt in the 9th. Floyd had not played much and was hurt, lucky he didn’t hit a ground ball auto double play .. a bunt is the only play in that spot. Gives two shots with your best singles hitters (Reyes and LoDuca) to tie the game with a single. Ahhh, 17 years later. Still ticks me off lol.

Suppan once again pitches a gem against the Mets offense.

Mets offense in this NLCS made Weaver and Suppan look like Smoltz and Maddux.

That bottom of the 6th inning was just brutal, with Valentin striking out with a runner on third and one out.

And Wainwright once again uses his curveball to get out of jams by striking out hitters looking, like he did against Valentin in the top of the 8th inning in game 5, and now against both Floyd and Beltran in the bottom of the 9th inning in game 7.

Mets offense and bullpen was their strongest point in this 2006 NLCS, and both their offense and bullpen was the reason why they lost this NLCS

Game 1 = Mets scored 2 runs (but they won thanks to Glavine) on the Beltran home run-lead against Weaver

Game 3 = Mets scored zero runs against Suppan

Game 5 = Mets scored two runs against Weaver

Game 7 = Mets scored one run against Suppan

I mean, I can understand getting shutdown by Carpenter, but Suppan and Weaver??!!!!! TWICE AT THAT EACH TIME BY BOTH PITCHERS, WOW