Mets reestablished relevance despite World Series loss

New York Mets congratulate the fans after their loss in Game 5 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaacNeil Best

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, then returned in 1985. His SportsWatch column debuted on Sept.

By the bottom of the 12th inning, Citi Field looked like it has on too many nights in its seven-season history, row upon row of mostly empty seats occasionally interrupted by grumpy, frustrated fans.

Then those who remained observed one last kick in the gut early Monday: poor, sweet, formerly teary Wilmer Flores ending it the same way the Mets ended their last postseason appearance in 2006 - looking at…