This week, Michael Baron was at Citi Field photographing the Mets-Reds season finale:

For more photos from the season’s final two games, check out the MetsBlog Flickr page here.

Thank you for continuing to read MetsBlog.com.

This was my eighth season writing this site, and hearing from people who enjoy it is what sustains me. Despite the team’s struggles the last few seasons, I continue to take pride in being a Mets fan because of our collective loyalty and passion for this team – and to have a similar passion and loyalty directed toward this website is overwhelming and always appreciated more than you’ll ever know.

In addition, I’d like to thank my contributing writers: Michael Baron, Vinny Cartiglia, Brian Erni and Mike Nichols. Their hard work and focus is this site’s engine, and I couldn’t keep it running without them.

Also, I’d like to thank my friends at SNY (Ted Berg, Jeff Goldman, Jason Potere, Adam Rotter, Fred Harner, Jaime Goldman and Gil Santana), as well as John Keegan from PressHarbor.com and Joe Pizzuro from Creative Take Web, all of whom help keep MetsBlog ticking, entertaining, colorful and capable of a level of content that would be impossible to produce any place else.

The regular season may be over, but the Hot Stove season is just beginning – and I hope you keep reading as we work together to chronicle what’s next.

ESPN’s Adam Rubin posted this image on Twitter of Jose Reyes’s empty locker today at Citi Field:

Last night might have been the best single night of baseball that I’ve ever watched, from a league point of view. I’d have been content only watching Ryan Braun to see if he could overtake Jose Reyes for the National League batting title (which he did not), but to also have four games on (two of which went to extra innings), all roughly starting at the same time, all with playoff implications, as two teams worked to avoid simultaneous epic collapses, was beyond compelling and exciting.

Here are some random thoughts I jotted down after the action:

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That was fascinating. It reminded me of March Madness, with all the flipping back and forth and checking scores. I wish this could be replicated in other ways for baseball going forward, I just have no idea how they re-capture it.

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For me as a Mats fan, the silver lining here is that (because of how exciting and legendary the night was, and because of the math and percentages associated with Boston’s and Atlanta’s demise) the Mets clearly no longer have the worst collapse in league history. Not. Even. Close.

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I hate the Braves. I’m glad they didn’t get in to the post-season. However, I can’t help but think a Bobby Cox-led team would have played as poorly as these guys did in September, when they went 8-18. His teams were always so consistent.

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There are people who LOVE to cite ‘integrity,’ and ‘history,’ and ‘class’ when discussing sports. I wonder if those same people (some of whom host talk shows in New York) will accuse Joe Girardi of not being true to competition, since he basically treated his series against the Rays as a three-day bullpen session – as though it was Spring Training – all while his competition fought for a playoff spot?

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I wonder what was going through Boston’s mind as they sat idle in the clubhouse, unable to help themselves, during a rain delay, while watching the Rays charge back from down 7-0. Sox fans must have been crawling the walls. Also, if Boston decides to blow up their team, including parting ways David Ortiz, I wonder if Carlos Beltran will be their DH next season? Lastly, I wonder how Red Sox fans feel about their team’s $250 million spending spree from nine months ago?

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I’m rooting for the Rangers and Rays to win the World Series. Obviously, I hope the Yankees and Phillies get swept and never score a run.

According to the Associated Press, the Mets will be forced to pay no more than $386 million in damages in the clawback lawsuit in the Bernie Madoff lawsuit.

US District Judge Jed Rakoff issued the order yesterday and it consists of about $83 million in profits and $300 million in principal, and Rakoff said Irving Picard, the trustee appointed by the court to recoup damages, can only recover that principal if he can prove Wilpon-Katz knew of the fraud.

Picard had accused Wilpon-Katz of knowing or that they should have known they were operating within a fraudulent investment scheme, but lawyers for Wilpon-Katz have repeatedly said they never knew they were investing in a fraud.

Jose Reyes has won the 2011 National League Batting Title with a .337 average.

In a statement issued by the team, Reyes said the following:

“I just want to say I’m humbled and honored to win the batting title. It means so much to my family and my country, the Dominican Republic. I have been through a lot over the past few years so this really means a lot to me. It’s also very special to be the first Mets player to win a batting title. There have been so many great players throughout our history. I want to thank Terry Collins, my coaches and all my teammates and of course all the Mets fans who have always supported me and been behind me 100 percent.”

As Reyes said, he is the first player in Mets history to win a batting title.

Ryan Braun needed to go 3-for-4 or 4-for-6 in his game against the Pirates at Miller Park last night. He went 0-for-4 to lower his average to .332 for the season.

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And so, congratulations, Jose, on an awesome achievement and a spectacular season.

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WFAN’s Mike Francesa has been broadcasting from Citi Field today, and says ALL fences in the outfield will be 8 feet tall next year.

He says both foul poles will remain exactly where they are, however the walls in center and by the Mo Zone in right field will be brought in to around 390 feet.

In addition, from what he’s heard, Sandy Alderson’s off-season budget will be less than what was initially expected (ranging between $80 and $110 million).

“I’m hearing rumblings the team’s payroll could be under $100 million,” Francesa said. He says he’s heard the front office has a plan for each level, be it over $100 million or below.

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As for payroll, the team has roughly $80 million in commitments for 2012, according to previous reports. I had been hearing since March that next year’s budget would around $120 million. Alderson has indicated to reporters that the team’s payroll next season could be in the neighborhood of $110 million. So, all of this seems to indicate they can spend around $20 million or so, though if what Francesa is hearing is accurate it could mean spending significantly less. This is why I have to think signing Reyes will either happen early or not happen at all… because, this front office is meticulous, they plan and execute and I can’t see them waiting around knowing one guy can hold up so much of their budget.

I entered today thinking there was a very good chance the Mets and Reyes eventually reach an agreement. But, after being here today, talking to people, seeing this report and thinking about the market and how this negotiation will go, I’m not nearly as confident as I was just a few hours ago.

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Francesa says he expects to have Terry Collins, Sandy Alderson and other guests today throughout his show, which you can listen to live here.

Following today’s game, Jose Reyes told reporters that it was his decision to to leave the game after reaching base in his first bat with a bunt single.

He said, while he understands how important it is to fans to see him play, people need to understand how important it is to him that he win the National League batting title this season.

Original Post at 3:54 pm:

Immediately after the game, Michael Baron took these photos as Reyes was pushed back onto the field by Willie Harris to salute about 500 fans waiting for his curtain call: