It’s bad enough we must live through the winter with the knowledge that the 2008 World Series championship flag will hang over Citizen’s Bank Park. Yesterday, to add insult to injury, the Phillies somehow did it to the Mets again.

The Peo Sagueros and the Mesa Solar Sox were locked in a flat footed tie for the American Division of the Arizona Fall League. Mets prospects play for the Peo Sagueros, Phillies prospects play for Mesa. Peo Sagueros needed to win yesterday and today to capture the division and play in the single championship game this Saturday. Mesa only needed to win yesterday to tie. Because Mesa won the season series against Peo Sagueros, they would clinch the division with a single win.

The Peo Sagueros led the Solar Sox by a score of 4-3 after seven innings yesterday. Pinch hitter and Phillies prospect Jeremy Sleyden hit a grand slam to put Mesa ahead 7-4 in the eighth. The pitcher for the Peo Sagueros was Mets prospect Eddie Kunz. Oh the pain…the pain. The Mets pitching staff must be cursed. It’s the only possible explanation. Mesa won the game and will go on to Saturday’s one game championship. Mets players will go home…again.

In Hawaii, Mets players on the Honolulu Sharks were beaten out by the Waikiki Beach Boys. The Sharks finished second and last. You see, in the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League there are only two teams in each of the two divisions.

After today’s final AFL game and the championship game on Saturday, professional baseball ceases for the year in the United States. However, the four major Caribbean leagues will still be going. Professional baseball in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico will continue through the winter, culminating with the Caribbean World Series in early February. Many major leaguers including Mets players participate in the Caribbean leagues. Check out MLB.com for information regarding baseball in the Caribbean.

MLB on TV

While many will be watching bowl games on January 1, baseball will be on the air. The MLB Network will debut on the first day of the new year in 50 million homes that have cable TV or satellite. The 24 hour a day station will have wall to wall baseball programming including regular season games, classic games, and other baseball related shows. The network has announced they will also broadcast 16 of the 2009 World Baseball Classic in March. The station will be offered on the family tier and not require an extra fee. Check with your local satellite or cable company to see if they will carry the MLB Network.