NEW YORK -- The Mets basked in defeat.Sure, they were disappointed. But there were no tears, not a shred of frustration. Instead, there was -- to a man -- a sense of accomplishment.Their starting lineup included just three batters who were on the field for the season opener in Kansas City.Their third baseman and captain didnt play after May 27.Their starting first baseman had 23 at-bats after May 20.Their second baseman was done for the year on Aug. 27.Their shortstop was playing on a bum knee.Their regular catcher was benched after driving in one run in the seasons final month.Their star slugger, struggling with a strained quadriceps, hit one home run after Sept. 11.And four of their five highly touted projected starting pitchers were on the sidelines after seasons more notable for surgeries than strikeouts.In a season when MRIs were discussed more often than ERAs, not even seven shutout innings from Noah Syndergaard was enough, given the decimated offense for the defending NL champions.Im really proud of these guys, to handle all that adversity, Syndergaard said after Wednesday nights season-ending 3-0 loss in the NL wild-card game to Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.Last year, they won their first NL pennant since 2000, reviving a franchise that seemed to be on spin cycle after the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. And this year they filled the seats regularly at Citi Field, which rocked with energy as they overtook the Yankees in local television ratings. Just 60-62 in mid-August, they managed to finish 87-75 and clinch a playoff berth with a game to spare.I dont think you can say enough for what these guys did, said Jacob deGrom, one of the injured star pitchers. Everybody was pretty much counting us out at one point, and we battled back. ... Im proud to call them my teammates.Syndergaard pitched up to his Thor nickname , striking out 10 and walking three, throwing 42 thunderbolts to 98 mph or higher -- more than Philadelphia or Clevelands pitchers all season, according to Inside Edge. Curtis Granderson made a run-saving catch in a Willie Mays impersonation.But Jeurys Familia gave up a three-run homer to Conor Gillaspie in the ninth inning, a drive into the right-field bullpens that stunned the Citi Field crowd into silence.No more comebacks. No more hope.Theyre hurting, but theres no reason to be, Mets manager Terry Collins said . They were written off so many times this summer and yet they kept fighting back. ... Youve got to have special people and special character to play in this town and in this environment, and thats in that room.Last year, Familia allowed a tying home run to Alex Gordon in the ninth of the World Series opener, and he was charged with three blown saves -- partly because of his defense. He knew the 96 mph offering to Gillaspie would be a home run as soon as the bat made contact.I missed the location, he said.Casey Stengel dubbed his early 1960s teams the Amazin Mets, terrible but entertaining. The 1969 championship club became the Miracle Mets, and the 1986 champs made a notorious bunch that partied as hard as it played. This years group was the Replace-Mets.Captain David Wright and second baseman Neil Walker watched the end of the season injured. Lucas Duda played sparingly after returning from a back injury. Asdrubal Cabrera powered through pain at short. Travis dArnaud watched Wednesday from the bench, and Yoenis Cespedes failed to replicate his power surge that helped lift New York to the World Series last season.T.J. Rivera, the second baseman against San Francisco, started the season in Triple-A Las Vegas and made his big league debut in mid-August at age 27, a Bronx boy done good.Rene Rivera, the 33-year-old catcher, was released by Tampa Bay in spring training before signing with the Mets, who also sent him to Vegas.James Loney, the 32-year-old first baseman, was sold by San Diego to the Mets in late May for the closeout price of $1 -- less than the subway fare from Manhattan to the ballpark.Now its time to look back at the positives and look at it as a positive experience, T.J. Rivera said. Its been a fun ride.There are fewer than 4 1/2 months until pitchers and catchers, ones the Mets hope report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, with soothed muscles, mended tendons, resuscitated ligaments and rejuvenated spirits.Were disappointed, Collins said, but well be able to get healthy, and well be back.Discount Shoes Black Friday . PETERSBURG, Fla. Buy Shoes Black Friday . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Cheap Shoes Black Friday . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat.BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- Tony Schumacher got his 82nd career victory in Top Fuel at the U.S. Nationals on Monday.Schumacher raced his dragster to a 3.806-second pass at 317.64 mph to beat Steve Torrences 3.803 at 325.06 in the final round.Schumacher, the NHRAs winningest driver in the category, also became the winningest driver at Lucas Oil Raceway with his 10th victory at the track.I didnt see (Torrence) for one second but I heard him, Schumacher said. It was a great final round ... and I had the chance to win my 10th at Indy.Schumacher will be the No. 4 seed for the six-race playoff for the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners in their respective categories at the 18th event of 24 on the NHRA schedule. The U.S. Nationals was the final race of the regular season.ddddddddddddHagan drove his Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a 3.964 at 327.43 mph to beat reigning world champion Del Worshams 3.958 at 324.20 in his Toyota Camry. It was Hagans 21st career win and first at the. Nationals. The two-time world champ enters the playoffs as the third seed.In Pro Stock, McGaha got his first win of the year by driving his Chevy Camaro to a 6.688 at 207.15 to defeat Allen Johnsons 6.715 at 207.09 in his Dodge Dart.Hines rode his Harley-Davidson to a 6.682 at 194.63 to beat Hector Arana Jr., who red-lighted on his Buell in the final round. It was Hines 47th career win -- fifth this year -- and gave him the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead. ' ' '
