Can't put that loss on Familia imo, and I don't think the Benitez comparison is a fair one. I never would have trusted Clippard in that spot, and definitely not for that long. Familia should have been brought in at least one batter earlier. Bad call there by Collins imo. Just can't put Clippard in that spot. I'm guessing it's the last time we'll ever see him on the field for the Mets, too. Not a bad late season pickup, but definitely not a guy to sign. Guys like him are a dime a dozen because they are simply not that good.
I think the loss can be most attributed to two other guys who probably won't be wearing Mets uniforms next season, either. But interestingly, they're also the two guys most responsible for getting us this far. We don't make the playoffs without Cespedes, and we don't get to the World Series without Murphy. But as we know with both of them, they giveth and they taketh away. Last night they took that game away. Murphy's error is exactly what we've come to expect from him, and Cespedes getting picked off at first is simply inexcusable. And the lack of any significant offense from Cespedes the entire post-season will make it an easy decision for the Mets to not even pursue a deal with him. It's a closer decision whether they make a qualifying offer to Murphy, and even then, it probably won't be enough to keep him.
I'm not holding out much hope for this series. I expect Harvey to keep us in the game tonight by yielding three runs or less through five or six--and I expect that to be the case for as many games as the series lasts, no matter who starts for us--but these guys are going to keep the pressure on by continuing to put runners on base and testing our defense, which won't pass every test, especially not when/if the series gets back to KC. Our offense may be able to make up for it one more time at Citi, but that won't continue in KC, either.
All of which is to say that the Royals are the better team, at least when they are playing with home field advantage. And I hate that stupid all-star game rule.