"Even when the Bad News Mets win, they lose.

The latest subject of the forgotten verse to "Meet the Mets" -- East side, west side, everybody's falling down -- is Jonathon Niese. The rookie left-hander's season is finished after he tore his right hamstring while covering first base during yesterday's 9-0 demolition of the Cardinals at Citi Field. The Mets last night received results of an MRI exam that confirmed fears of a complete tear. Niese will undergo surgery and is expected back for spring training next season.

On top of that, Gary Sheffield departed with a cramp in his right hamstring and Luis Castillo remained sidelined a day after he slipped on the dugout steps and sprained his left ankle.

But the biggest concern is for Niese, who did a split at first base while receiving a throw from shortstop Angel Berroa in the second inning. Niese returned to the mound, and fell while throwing a warmup pitch. He was helped from the field by the team trainers.

"I don't know many guys who can do full-fledged splits, so when I saw that at first base, I knew it wasn't good," Jeff Francoeur said. "