Wow, that one hurt. What a punch in the gut…

The Miami Marlins came back in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Mets 2-1 in stunning fashion as the winning run scored on a Brandon Lyon wild pitch. The loss is the sixth straight defeat for the Mets, matching their longest losing streak of the 2012 season and it’s only April 30.

I feel more worse about Jeremy Hefner being denied the win, than for the incredible way we lost this game. The kid pitched his heart out.

For eight scoreless innings, Hefner was pitching the game of his life. He held the Marlins to just three hits and no walks while striking out eight and was three outs away from a complete game shutout. But then it all came crashing down in the ninth.

It all started to unravel after a leadoff single by pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan in the ninth. Coghlan advanced to second on a passed ball by catcher Anthony Recker. Juan Pierre then lays down a perfect bunt, but rather than taking the easy out at first base, Recker fielded the ball, rolled the dice, and fired to third. Safe!

It was a bad call according to the stop-action video, but the ump wasn’t buying David Wright‘s argument that Coghlan’s foot came off the bag. However, lets not pretend that the runner didn’t beat the throw by a mile. For a split second his foot did come off the bag, but unfortunately it was Wright’s own leg that blocked that view from the umpire. Also, the throw by Recker was way too high. A better throw could have made a bigger difference and produced a more favorable outcome for the Mets.

So now instead of a runner at third and one out, you now have the tying run at third and the winning run on first with nobody out.

A call to the bullpen… Enter reliever Brandon Lyon. The next batter, Donovan Solano, quickly greeted Lyon with an RBI single to tie the game. Following an intentional walk to Placido Polanco to load them up, Lyon uncorks a wild pitch to send Pierre scampering home on with the game-winning run. Game over.

Ouch…

Look… The fact of the matter is that the Mets scored only one run and had only four hits. How are you going to win with offensive numbers like that?

The lone Mets run came on a sac fly by Recker to drive home Daniel Murphy who had gotten on with a double and advanced to third. That was all the fireworks the Mets could conjure up against the equally as brilliant Marlins starter Kevin Slowey.

Wow… The New York Mets – Always discovering new and shocking ways to lose a game. For the second straight night, the Mets were three outs away from victory and blew the game to the last place Marlins.

What a terrible loss and one that now has them five games under .500 and already 6.5 games back and just two games away from last place in the NL East.

What else can we do? Everybody’s struggling right now – the bullpen, the offense, the whole damn team. Nothing will be worse than getting swept by an awful Marlins team who don’t even have their best player Giancarlo Stanton.

Somehow they will have to pick themselves up after another gut-wrenching defeat and try to salvage the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon. Dillon Gee (1-4, 5.96 ERA) opposes left-hander Wade LeBlanc (0-4, 6.20) in an early 12:40 PM start.

Placido Polanco 2B – Much chatter surrounding the Phillies signing of Polanco to a 3-year deal at the ripe old age of 34. But as one of our readers pointed out it’s the conditioning you have to take into consideration. It looks like Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. cited Polanco’s conditioning as the reason he’s not worried about the 3 year deal who’s $6 million annual salary he considers a bargain rate. It makes sense. The Mets gave $24 million to a younger Castillo who was out of shape and two months removed from multiple surgeries on both knees. Plus Polanco can hit the ball past second base unlike Castillo. The new Phillies second baseman had 47 extra base hits in 09 compared to (gulp) 16 for Castillo, and he had a career high 72 RBI last season matching Mets team leader David Wright.

Takashi Saito RP - The Braves bolstered their bullpen big time as the follow up the Billy Wagner signing with Saito who agreed to a $3.2 million dollar deal for the 2010 season. Saito had a tremendous year for the Red Sox last season posting a 2.43 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and a 52/25 K/BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings pitched. He’ll most likely take over as the setup man and bridge to closer Billy Wagner. Speaking of Wags, I think all the chirping from disgruntled Mets fans regarding Wags betraying the Mets is absolute nonsense and needs to come to an end. Your anger should be directed at Omar. Refocus.

Carlos Delgado 1B – Don’t bury your Delgado jerseys in the attic just yet, according to Jon Heyman the Mets are keeping close tabs on him in Puerto Rico where he continues to rehab and get back into baseball shape. We may not have seen the last of Dos Carlos. The Mets also have zero interest in Nick Johnson and won’t sign Adam La Roche who wants a multi year deal. I hope those Double-A stats Ike Davis piled up translate well in the Major Leagues, because that’s where the Mets are hoping he’ll be in 2011.

Final Tweet – I find it interesting to see how Mets fans react to players when an NL East rival acquires them as compared to those players that the Mets get.

Billy Wagner – He’s washed up. He’ll probably blow his elbow out again. He’ll be blowing saves for the Braves now. He’ll betray them too. I’d rather have Carter and Lora than the two 1st round picks. The Braves bullpen still sucks.

Takashi Saito – He’s as old as a fossil. He’s a fluke. Didn’t we have this guy last year? He don’t have the makeup to be a setup man. He’s an injury risk. We don’t fare well with Japanese players anyway. Who the hell is Saito?

Placido Polanco – The Phillies got burned. He’s on the wrong side of 30. He can’t play third. That contract was terrible. His numbers are declining. He’s an AL type hitter, watch him tank in the NL. Gold Gloves mean nothing he’s overrated defensively.

Benny Blanco from the Bronx - I love his game calling ability. He has a shotgun for an arm. He’s ten times better than Schneider. Who cares if we doubled his 2009 salary, it’s not our money. This was Johan’s call, they are close friends.

Ya gotta love Twitter.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed Placido Polanco to a reported 3-year deal worth $18 million dollars.

The Phillies announced Placido Polanco has signed a three-year, $18 million contract. The contract also includes a fourth-year mutual option for 2013.

Polanco is expected to meet with reporters later today.

It looks like the Phillies have become the NL version of the Yankees who always seem to get any player they target.

Last season their goal was to upgrade from Pat Burrell and they went all out for Raul Ibanez and got their man who eventually became the team’s MVP for the first half of the season.

When they made the decision to get a top tier pitcher at the trade deadline, they targeted Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Lee went on to become the most dominant pitcher in the NL for the last two months of the season.

Polanco’s new deal averages out to $6 million dollars annually which is what the Mets pay Luis Castillo. However, the Phillies now added a dynamic top of the order hitter who will mot likely bat second in the leagues best offensive lineup.

No word if the Mets were even interested in Polanco, but most likely they won’t do anything until they rid themselves of Castillo first. So far though, interest in Castillo has been tepid at best, and most likely he’ll be the Mets Opening Day second baseman.

Of the players that are now coming across the sports news wire, these four players could be useful for the Mets.

Rich Harden – Cubs: I’ve been a fan of Harden ever since he broke into the big leagues. He’s coming off a rough year, but has a career ERA of 3.24 and a 1.24 WHIP.

Placido Polanco – Tigers: He just won a gold glove and in my opinion he could be a better fit than Orlando Hudson if the Mets trade Castillo.

Miguel Olivo – Royals: If the Mets are looking for a one year option until Josh Thole is ready, Olivo could be that guy.

Joe Beimel – Dodgers: The Mets still need a bridge to K-Rod, and Beimel has played that part with great success in the past.

More updates to come in what looks to be a busy Hot Stove Tuesday.