Even if the games meant nothing towards post season implications, they had to be played. The Mets are finishing up another dismal campaign, third in the NL east, and the Brewers sitting fourth in the NL central also playing out the string and ready to pack their bags for the winter

Because net receipts from the gate and concessions are so important to the teams, the schedule must be played out. Even if there is a rain out the makeup game gets on the schedule if agreed by the teams this late in the season. With concession stands closed in the upper decks at Citi Field, and the noticeable empty seats it was time to play ball.

When the first pitch was thrown, and for a good part of the first game, fans in the stands and media in the press box could hear sounds of the game. A crack of the bat, fastball in the catcher’s mitt, and even players on the field heard saying “got it” or “go to first.”

“Rather play one game because as a player you are used to preparing for one,” said the Mets Chris Carter.  He would single and drive in two runs in the Mets two-run third inning of the first game. Those in the slim crowd could be heard, as the Mets started to cut the deficit after Niese surrendered six runs in the Milwaukee top of the inning.

That was one perspective of a long afternoon that went into the late evening in Flushing Queens.  The Mets would lose the first game of the double dip, 8-7. Niese (9-10) would throw 2.2 innings, on 10 hits and six runs, The Mets would battle back scoring five more runs in the fourth.

So what about those loyal fans who have once again witnessed another losing season at Citi Field? Carter, a first year Met loves their loyalty. “I love New York fans,” he said. “They’re tough, they know what to expect. I really appreciate the fans. As a player you block out the fact that there is nobody in the stands,” he said.

David Wright would hit a two-run homer in that fourth, his 28^th and third game in a row with a homer, done four other times in his career and now the fifth time he has 100 or more ruins batted in, But he failed to connect in the nightcap when the Mets could not score runs, could only get 5 hits in a 3-1 second game loss.

It was not the 13 hits they had in the first game. Starter R.A. Dickey concluded a successful first season in New York. A surprise who was signed after spring training, Dickey (11-8) was talking about coming back next season. The 35-year old right hander has earned a role to start with a knuckleball that has revived his career.

“Feel I have a lot to offer and age is no consequence,” commented Dickey who gave up six hits in seven innings. “Priority number one was the ability and consistency to throw strikes.” The fans saw what Dickey offered and many times showed their appreciation.

It was a storybook season for a pitcher who got a role when Oliver Perez and John Maine left the rotation, “I feel this is what I can offer over the next five or six years of my career,” said Dickey who certainly can hang around more with a knuckleball that has consistency.

“What impressed me the most was his consistency,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel who may not be making a decision about Dickey’s role with every expectation that Sunday will be his last game at the helm. “Every time he took the ball, he gave us a chance to win.”

When the first game was over, about 7:40pm, Manuel had used eight pitchers which tied a franchise record for a nine inning game.  The supposed 28,284 in attendance, more about tickets sold, than who showed, made as much noise as they could as the Mets staged another comeback in the eighth inning that once again failed short.

And when the second game began, a half hour later at 8:16PM, many of those empty seats were still visible and another Mets player Carlos Beltran was shut down for the final four games.  Beltran would say the mild inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee would require what the doctor ordered,

“I’m happy, actually the knee’s better, I’m happy for that part” said Beltran who was having a strong September which provided optimism for next season, that is, if the Mets don’t decide to trade him in what would be the final year of a $119 million dollar contract.

“The part that I’m not happy about is just that I wanted to finish the season playing but by the recommendation by the doctor they don’t want me to play.”

Ninth inning of game two and the Mets have one last chance to make this worthwhile in another meaningless game.  The “Cowbell Man” Ed Bison was doing his usual thing in a now almost desolate Citi Field, urging fans for one last push. You would think those doing the chanting were in a late season pennant race with their team.

They did cheer for Pedro Feliciano who pitched in both ends of the doubleheader. The lefthander has 91 appearances this season which extended his franchise record that he established the night before.  And they gave Angel Pagan his usual applause when he swiped his 37^th base of the season in the first inning of game two, becoming the first Mets outfielder with that many since Rickey Henderson and Roger Cedeno in 1999.

Trevor Hoffman the career saves leader got number 601 for the Brewers and Mets fans went home seeing a double dip loss.  New York, (77-81) needs to win their last four games to avoid their second consecutive losing season. Count four, when including the collapses of 2007, 2008, and of course the injury plagued Mets of 2009.

A long day at the ballpark and there are those loyal Mets fans who are willing to be patient about winning again. And the good thing about it, they have a team that knows they are around to give them support even when ballgames mean nothing in late September.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

There was Pujols, in the Cardinals clubhouse after his ninth multi home run game of the season that included a 10^th inning grand slam home run. It was his fifth grand slam this season, 11^th of his career off Mets relief pitcher Sean Green. In the eighth inning, Pujols hit his 35^th homer off Santana that narrowed the Cards deficit to 7-5.

But the media surrounding Pujols wanted to know more about the 0-for-13 slump before his four hit-five RBI game that included a single and double.  “I didn’t change my approach,” commented Pujols, when asked about his supposed problems at the plate. The questions continued and another side of Pujols appeared.

A four-time NL Most Valuable Player award recipient from the Latino Sports writers and Broadcast Association, Pujols, always receptive to the media, showed another side of his competitive spirit. He was very defensive and made it known.  It is about winning, a team effort, and even the best, as he is, are bound to have some bad days at the plate.

“As long as you get quality at bats at the end of the day something is going to happen,” he said.  The questions were repetitive and Pujols would get impatient.  The National League home run leader with 36 and in RBI with 97 defended himself. His team in a first place battle with Chicago in the NL Central may have had their biggest comeback of the season, scoring eight times in the last three innings in a 12-7 10-inning win over New York.

He wanted to end the post game media session. The answers were abrupt. Pujols probably knew the questions were going to revolve around him, the mini slump, rather than how important this win was for the Cardinals.

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said commenting about the win and not his power at the plate.  “It’s not about Pineiro, or me, it’s about winning games.  I don’t know why I have five grand slams. Its part of dedication and getting good swings,” he said.

The grand slam placed Pujols into a four-way tie for second on the list for most slams in a season, Former New York Yankee, Don Mattingly had six in 1987.  His reference to starting pitcher starter Joel Pineiro was in regard to how his team was able to pick him up after he gave up seven runs.

“I’m human and not a machine,” said Pujols as the questions kept coming about his big night at Citi Field.  A player of his magnitude, at times is always expected to get the big hit, have the multi home run game. So going hitless in 13 at bats and then having a night like he did can lead to questions. But they should not because Pujols is human and will have a brief slump or two during the course of a long season.

He has nothing to prove. His bat in the end will do the talking for him. “You guys know,” he said to the media. “I take the same swings that I have the past two weeks. I work hard. I’m ready every day.  I didn’t put my head down.  I don’t change myself and I don’t change my approach.”

Interesting to see what would have happened had the Cardinals lost in extra innings. Pujols would have been honest with his answers as he always is.  And the answers would not have revolved around him.   But give credit where it is due. He is perhaps the best players in the game and once in a while will have an off day or two.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com