Carlos Delgado

Tonight, nobody cares that Josh Hamilton hasn't played more than 135 games but once in his career. Nobody cares that his past alcohol and drug abuse may shorten the career of one of the most talented players of his generation.

Tonight, May 8, 2012, Josh Hamilton is just the 16th player in major league history to hit four home runs in a single game—and just the fifth since 1986.

Yes, Manny Ramirez announced his retirement over the weekend.

But Wednesday, another slugger officially announced his career was over—Carlos Delgado.

MLB.com reported that Delgado announced his retirement at a news conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Yes and no. 

As baseball fans know the Omar Minaya era has came to an end in New York after six years.  Though the Mets had one of the highest payrolls when Minaya was in office the team never really established themselves other than in 2006. 

As a Mets fan, I must say Omar did bring us some good times but he definitely brought us some bad times.  Minaya brought in the likes of Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran but on the other end he also brought in the likes of Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. 

First, with all due respect and with full acknowledgement that a personal attack in order to prove a point is an ad hominem action and pointless, I still contend Omar Minaya, the general manager of the Mets, can be clownish. First let's take al ong look at Willie Larry Randolph http://bit.ly/a0r6Hg Copyright © 2000-2010 Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved.

Forget the countless injuries to Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes.

Or the fact that Bobby Bonilla, who last played with the team in 2000, is reportedly on the payroll.

Those are just minor problems compared to what the New York Mets truly face.

On the field, things appear grim.

Despite Major League Baseball's fifth-highest payroll, the Mets look to be missing out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

For two consecutive years (2007-2008), the Florida Marlins eliminated New York from fall ball down the stretch. 

In my opinion, the Boston Red Sox suffered the death blow to their season when they learned on Friday that first baseman Kevin Youkilis would be out for the season. It’s going to be really hard to lose someone of Youkilis’ caliber and still try to make up five or six games on the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the competitive American League East.

Carlos Delgado joined the Boston Red Sox this morning when he agreed to a minor league contract with Boston's front office, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

The contractual details include a $20,000 salary per month at the minor league level and a pro-rated $3 million yearly salary when Delgado reaches the bigs.

Should the Red Sox make the playoffs, postseason performance incentives have been included that could add to those numbers. Conversely, if Boston fails to bring Delgado up to The Show by Sept. 1, he can opt out and again hit the open market.

The Red Sox' interest in free-agent first baseman Carlos Delgado seems to have intensified after the 38-year-old worked out for Boston today, and Delgado could sign as early as tonight, according to The Boston Herald's Scott Lauber.

Despite the Mets being known more for failure than triumph as of late, the 21st century has provided an abundance of thrilling finishes in the Mets' favor.

Let's take a look back at some of the more memorable walk-off victories.

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