September 28th, 2011 will go down as one of, if not the greatest regular season day in the history of Major League Baseball. Last night you had four Game 7's go on at the same time. Last night you had the potential to set up two one-game playoffs to determine Wild Card winners. All of that hype and excitement was present before the games even started. Before the first pitch; four games, four cities, four teams, two playoff spots, and history is what was on the slate. And then they played the games. I'm not really sure what I expected going into these games, but I was definitely hoping two playoff games on Thursday 9/29. Until last night, I thought there would be nothing better than two one-game playoff games to make the postseason, those are the best. Last night what was given to us was three game 7's. Four games started within an hour of each other: the Cardinals in Houston, the Red Sox in Baltimore, the Braves at home against the Phillies and Rays at home taking on the Yankees. I know what you're saying, the Cardinals and the Red Sox have this sewn up right? Well the Cardinals made it clear early that they were going to stake their claim by hanging 6 runs on the 106 loss Astros in the 1st inning (they went on to win 8-0 in a laughter). The Rays fell down to Mark Texiera early, not the Yankees, Mark Texiera (Tex had a Grand Slam and a Solo shot in the first 4 innings to help the Yanks out to a 7-0 lead). While things looked bleak in Tampa, the Sawk were locked in battle with the 93 loss Orioles (the Sox are the most disgraceful bunch in this scenario). In Atlanta, the Braves had to deal with a Phillies squad that didn't seem to want to take their 101 wins and just waltz into the playoffs. In Tampa the Rays were coming to bat in the bottom of the 8th, down 7-0 and I have to say it was just another baseball 
night at that point; the Cards had won, the Sox were up but in a rain delay, and the Braves were up ready to close out the Phils so at least we would get one playoff game on Thursday right? What went down from this point forward will go down in baseball history. The Rays MVP Evan Longoria launched a 3 run shot, capping a 6-run inning, and bringing the Rays within 1 run heading to the 9th; and the Phillies tied the Braves in the top of the 9th as Craig Kimbrel (one of the best closers in baseball) showed that he's still a rookie by choking away a playoff spot for the moment. It's funny to me how these things all happen at seemingly the same time or within minutes of each other. I remember so many times in baseball when historic moments all wrap themselves up at the same time when they feel like they could go on forever. In the early 90's there was a night when Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Stewart threw no-hitters like 6 minutes within each other (it was crazy, especially being from the east coast, those games ended at like 1AM so it was surreal). This became a similar situation, and it's one that seems unique to baseball. The first chip to fall was the Braves Freddie Freeman, another very good rookie (the Braves are going to be sick in years to come, but people in Atlanta will still not care) grounded into a double play in the 13th inning to end their season and cap an epic collapse (we'll gloat on that later). Almost 5 minutes later the Red Sox were poised to put pressure on the Rays who were battling the Yanks in extra innings (the Rays had tied it on a 2 strike, 2 out, bottom of 
the 9th homer by Dan Johnson) but closing out the O's with their closer Jonathon Papelbon on the bump. Papelbon has had a very good season, but appeared gassed from the appearance the night before. Inevitably, the second chip fell when a double and bloop ended the Red Sox hope to play their way into the postseason and were going to have to hope the Yankees could help them back into a one-game playoff with the Rays (like the Hatfields hoping the McCoys will help them water their lawn, not an ideal situation). Less the 5 minutes later, Evan Longoria solidified his local MVP status by tucking a homer behind the left field foul pole and sending the Rays back to the playoffs for the third time. As a baseball fan, I thought I would never say that four regular season games would be better than two one-game playoff scenarios but in this case it's true; last night was the best regular season night of baseball that I had the pleasure of witnessing, and my Mets were no where to be found (as a matter of fact they were slightly embarrassing on this day).
*The Braves and the Red Sox now have matching epic collapses to take about over the winter. I find it odd that the Atlanta Braves used to be the Boston Braves, and it was the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox who had eerily similar epic choke jobs at the same time. Maybe Boston and all things Boston really do suck?
*Speaking of suck, let me take this opportunity to SLAM fans in Atlanta again. I know we preach "HATE the team, LOVE the fans" here at the Riot! but my God, can you people in Atlanta support your team? They were on the cusp of making the playoffs, and last night there were so many empty seats at "Turn-your stomach" field that the cameras couldn't hide it. So it's no surprise that this team never wins the big games when you Braves "fans" can't come out for what is essentially a playoff game. I know this has been going on for years so I'm not surprised, but I am mad on behalf of the Braves players; whom I hate.
*It makes me feel good that the Braves now have an epic collapse of their own that they can share with the 2008 and 2009 Mets, welcome to the club boys, it's gonna suck.
Other end of the season notes
*Jose Reyes should be ashamed of himself. I'm a huge Mets fan (which has been widely documented at this point) but what happened yesterday was an insult to my fandom and all other baseball fandom. Reyes came up in the first inning and laced a bunt single into the ground. After that, he
removed himself from the lineup to protect his .337 league leading average. What? Taking yourself out? You're lucky a headless Ted Williams didn't pop out of his grave and beat you to death with his 10 pound bat. This is such a p**sy maneuver. I hate to say this, but after Reyes did this, I was hoping for Ryan Braun to go 6 for 6 and win this batting title from Reyes (he had to go 3 for 4 to win it). What would possess a Major League Baseball player to do this? First off, this may have been Reyes's last game in a Mets uniform which he spent the first nine seasons of his career with, and this is how you want that to end? He claimed that he was glad that they won the game; really? If that was such a concern, why the first inning bow out? Finally, I can't imagine Reyes feels totally satisfied with his victory. Ryan Braun wound up going 0 for 5, so it was never really in jeopardy, but Reyes kind of backed into this award to begin with by only playing in 126 games to begin with as compared to Braun who played 150. Next time be a pro and more off be a f**king man, and enjoy your money you self centered douche (I will love you again next season though if you come back to the Mets). *BTW, Terry Collins, WTF is with the crying? Mets manager teared up when it came to defending Reyes's decision to pull himself from the game. Are you crying because you actually bought into that s**t, or because you know that the best leadoff man in baseball is indeed a self centered douche who WILL leave for the cash wherever it is. If Kansas City could pony up $20 mil a season, he'd be donning Royal blue for the duration, losing 100 games per with a smile on his face.
So another summer has come and gone and I have to say, it didn't have my attention nearly as much this season as in the past but boy, they got it on day 162, because it doesn't get much better than that. Do you have any moments from this season worth sharing, you know where to go thesportsriot@yahoo.com, or AdvancedFandom.com, or follow us on Twitter @thesportsriot
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