Mets Redefine the Term "Tough Loss"

Let me start by saying this loss should not ruin what the Mets did this road trip. Yes, they're back under .500. Yes, they should have won this game. But still a 6-4 road trip that included a series win against the Braves is commendable.

However, these losses are unbelievable. How many have we seen this year already? How many have Mets fans seen the past 2 or 3 seasons? It's ridiculous.

Here's what had to go wrong for the Mets to lose this. First, the most reliable closer in the majors this year had to blow not a 1 run lead but a 2 run lead. Second, a "defensive" substitution extended the game on a ludicrous error. And finally it took a balk for the final run of the game to be scored. I'm not sure if a definition of a balk has changed in recent years, but I still don't get what happened there.

The Mets came back from a 6-2 deficit turning a game that's usually over by the 4th inning into a chance to win. But losing after such a great comeback tends to be even more disappointing.

You often refer to these games as being a "tough loss." That phrase is overused in Mets fandom. I don't know what to call them.