Exactly 50 years after the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants left New York brokenhearted, the New York Mets left their fans in stunned disbelief not seen by New York National League fans since Bobby Thomson hit the shot heard 'round the world off Ralph Branca in 1951, sealing what was both a monumental collapse and comeback in one felt swoop.  How fitting they played the Florida Marlins on fan appreciation day at Shea, especially given that now fans of both teams know what it is to have something of great potential taken away from them.

For the first time ever a team leading by seven games this late has blown it.  Obviously a good, hot Philadelphia Phillies team did what they had to do and took care of business.  However to lose eight home games in a row (Citi Field can't come fast enough) including games to the likes of the cellar dwelling Marlins and Washington Nationals is clearly unacceptable.  And from the owner on down there wasn't one voice being publicly adamant about this team whipping itself back into shape.  Clearly someone must take the fall.

To their credit, since Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph arrived the Mets have done nothing but win.  However if I'm the Mets Rick Peterson and Rickey Henderson have to go and Willie must be allowed to bring in his own coaches.  The Mets did hit well with HoJo as hitting coach, but at first base the Mets would do well to bring back fan favorite and former fellow coach with the New York Yankees Lee Mazzilli as the first base coach and as for pitching coach how about another guy Willie and Mets fans know all too fondly, Mel Stottlemyre.

In the off-season Minaya did nothing significant to upgrade the roster.  He went from the clutch but oft-injured Cliff Floyd to the clutch but oft-injured Moises Alou in leftfield.  Kept Julio Franco who served no purpose because they were tight in their Texas Rangers days.  Then instead of retaining Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver who'd pitched brilliantly out of the pen and Heath Bell, he brings back Mr. Steroid Guillermo Mota whom he knew full well would be suspended for 50 games right off the bat and he trades Brian Bannister to the Kansas City Royals where he won 12 games this season for the second coming of Mel Rojas in Ambiorix Burgos. 

This all the while knowing he had two 40 something's prone to break down at any second in Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez.  Couple that with the fact he had to know Pedro Martinez and Duaner Sanchez would be out until at least August if not later.  In addition this might be more the ownership than Omar, but knowing this about the rotation and their troubles at leftfield and second base, they could've gone after a Gil Meche type or the most logical fit for versatility Alfonso Soriano.  Finally at the trade deadline they need pitching (and who doesn't these days), especially bullpen help and what do they get?  A nice player in Luis Castillo, but certainly not anybody who's going to put you over the top.

Mets fans were left fuming, perhaps it was from frustration of the former New York Yankee managing in their dugout or the former Atlanta Brave pitching on the mound. Perhaps they should've have known better than to have been teased once again.  Perhaps they should've just listened to Jimmy Rollins all along, that in fact they were just doomed from the start. 

What this Yankees team has needed all year is a swift kick in the pants.  Ironically enough it may have been inspired by the man many thought would be their manager this year, Lou Pinella.  Pinella in a post game press conference was irate and ripped into his players for their listless play this season, he may as well have been talking about these Yankees. 

Pinella also spoke of how the Yankee teams he played for in the late 70's used to fight quite a bit.  Joe Torre and these Yankees must've been listening and took a cue from Sweet Lou on Friday night.

Gone are the days of the Yankees bending over for the Red Sox.  No more clapping on the top step of the dugout while their rivals get their rings.  No more Pedro Martinez hitting Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano without reciprocation.  These Yankees finally showed some fight and it's about time.

A team left for dead seemed like a ghost that couldn't be killed.  They didn't get demoralized after being up 3-0 in the top of the 2nd when Jeter grounded into an inning ended bases loaded double-play.  In the bottom of the 2nd Torre woke up and made his displeasure known with the homeplate umpire on what should've been a called 3rd strike from Wang on Youkilis.

The Yankees stormed back after the game was knotted in the 3rd with a 6-run 4th keyed by Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano.  Bobby Abreu who had two wall ####ing doubles on the night was called out on a horrible call by the 3rd base umpire.  Torre then stormed out of the dugout for his Yankees who've been on the wrong end of bad calls all season long.  Torre was heated and emotional about the call and finally showed that fire Yankee fans have been waiting for.

Then with former Pinella and Billy Martin protoge Don Mattingly taking over after Torre was tossed, the Yankees resumed getting back to the old days of when the players on these two clubs genuinely hated eachother.  After three Yankees had been hit, including Cano who'd homered earlier and got hit square between the two and four of his uniform when the game was well out of hand at 9-3.  The Yankees thankfully didn't back down and didn't mess around, when Scott Proctor clipped Kevin Youkilis on the shoulder almost setting off a full scale brawl.  Give Proctor kudos for standing up and protecting his teammates.

These Yankees still may have a fighting chance.