Tuesday was a big night of baseball out East, and both New York teams couldn't have let their fans down any more if they tried.

Hosting the Red Sox, with some hope still alive to capture the AL Wild Card, the Yankees needed to start their final series in Yankee Stadium vs Boston with a win. Alex Rodriguez had other ideas. Five failed plate appearances later, highlighted by two strikeouts, two double plays and a fielding error, the Pinstripes came up short. The 7-3 loss drops the Yankees six games behind wild card leader Boston, and nine and a half behind Tampa Bay.

Down in Philadelphia, the New York Mets really blew a big opportunity. Thanks to Damion Easley and Fernando Tatis driving in a combined six runs in the first four innings, the Mets cruised to a 7-0 lead against rival Phillies. This would be huge, gaining a 1.5 game advantage in the NL East and a chance to seperate themselves even further the rest of the week... not so fast my friends.

Mets bullpen happpened.

After Pedro Martinez pitched the first five innings, four members tried to hold the lead over the next four. Luis Ayala allowed a two run double to Eric Bruntlett and it was far from over after that. Four innings later Chris Coste drove in a walk-off pinch hit single, sending Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy.

No more lead for the Mets, and very little confidence in a bullpen that has been relatively fine for the last month.

As the calendar turns to September, I can't help but think we'll be seeing the 2007 Mets return to form. Jerry Manuel has done a nice job this summer, taking over for Willie Randolph, but if he can't prevent another collapse, he's no different. Except, of course, for being similarly unemployed.