--LHP Johan Santana underwent surgery Oct. 1 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The injury, which came as a surprise, was discovered during Santana's exit physical. He's expected to be ready for spring training.
--Jerry Manuel received a two-year contract to stay on as the Mets' manager. The deal includes a club option for 2011. Manuel, who took over for fired Willie Randolph on June 17, guided the Mets to a 55-38 record the remainder of the season. --RHP John Maine underwent surgery Sept. 30 to shave a bone spur behind his right shoulder that has been irritating a muscle. Maine is expected to make a full recovery in time for spring training.
--RF Ryan Church -- who made the final out in Shea Stadium's history with a flyout to Marlins CF Cameron Maybin -- hit just .219 in 114 at-bats after returning Aug. 22 from a seven-week absence to deal with wooziness related to a pair of concussions. Church also received daily injections of anti-inflammatory medication during the season's last week to deal with a right hip injury.
--LHP Johan Santana endeared himself to Mets fans on Sept. 27 even though his team failed to qualify for the postseason the following day. Santana shut out the Marlins on the second-to-last day of the season despite coming off a career-high 125-pitch outing Sept. 23 against the Cubs and working on short rest for just the second time in his career.
--3B David Wright finished his Shea Stadium career with a .318 average, the highest of any Met in franchise history at the stadium. Runner-up Keith Hernandez hit .301 at Shea, which will be disassembled with the Mets slated to move into Citi Field in 2009.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 1/2 -- The Mets' division lead with 17 games to play in 2008. The Mets led by seven games with 17 to play in 2007 and failed to reach the postseason both years.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It didn't happen overnight. We didn't blink and all of a sudden we were a game back in the wild card. We did this to ourselves." -- 3B David Wright, on the Mets' second consecutive late-season swoon.
