The Los Angeles Dodgers' season came to a most appropriate end _ with two streaks.

The first was a winning one that got them into the playoffs. The second was a losing one that knocked them out.

And another year passes without success in the post-season.

``I wasn't ready to go home,'' veteran second baseman Jeff Kent said.

Maybe not, but that's the way it is after the New York Mets beat the Dodgers 9-5 on Saturday night to complete a sweep in the best-of-five NL division series, leaving Los Angeles with a 1-12 postseason record since it won the 1988 World Series.

``The Mets look like a here-and-now team,'' said Kent, who had eight hits in 13 at-bats against New York. ``We look like a team that's still getting there.''

The Dodgers were in chaos at this time last year, having gone 71-91 for their second-worst record since moving west from Brooklyn in 1958. The team parted ways with manager Jim Tracy a day after the season ended, and general manager Paul DePodesta was fired in late October.

Ned Colletti was hired as GM in mid-November, and one of the first things he did was hand-pick former Boston Red Sox skipper Grady Little as manager. Then came a revamping process that mostly because of various injuries continued through most of the season.

Among those who got hurt were standout closer Eric Gagne, who appeared in only two games before undergoing season-ending back surgery, setup man Yhency Brazoban, limited to five appearances before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery, and third baseman Bill Mueller, a former AL batting champion who played in just 32 games before needing knee surgery.

Colletti scrambled to adjust, having to completely remake the bullpen and recalling several rookies after the season began who made vital contributions _ among them catcher Russell Martin, a native of Chelsea, Que., first baseman James Loney, outfielder Andre Ethier and pitcher Chad Billingsley.

Colletti acquired future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux along with infielders Wilson Betemit and Julio Lugo and outfielder Marlon Anderson past the midpoint of the season, and all helped out.

In the end, though, the Dodgers were undone by several shortcomings including problems in the rotation and bullpen and a lack of punch.

Oh, there were the four consecutive ninth-inning home runs against the Padres on Sept. 18 _ the first time that feat was accomplished since 1964. And just when it appeared the Dodgers were about to fold, they won their last seven games to qualify for the post-season.

The streaks began early. There was a five-game losing streak that left them 12-17, followed by winning streaks of five and seven that made them 27-20.

The biggest streaks came right after the all-star break. First, the Dodgers lost 13 of 14 to fall into last place in the NL West, 7{ games behind first-place San Diego. Then, they won 17 of 18 to take over first place, 3{ games ahead of the Padres.

The Dodgers lost 12 of 20 before turning it around for the seven-game winning streak, giving them an 88-74 record and a tie with San Diego for the division title.

The Dodgers entered the playoffs as the wild-card team because they lost the season series to the Padres, and then came the three-game losing streak to the Mets.

Nomar Garciaparra, who won the NL comeback player of the year award, is a free agent who has said he hopes to return. The 33-year-old Garciaparra made a successful move from shortstop to first base when he joined the Dodgers this season.

``I've loved every minute of it,'' said Garciaparra, who grew up in nearby Whittier.

``He's been good for us,'' Colletti said in expressing interest in re-signing Garciaparra.

Among the other potential free agents are Gagne, baseball's best closer from 2002-04; the 40-year-old Maddux, a winner of 333 career games, and centre-fielder Kenny Lofton.

``It's easy to say right now you want to play, but we'll see,'' Maddux said regarding his future. ``My son wants me to play, and that helps. I'm going to give it a few days.''

The Dodgers have a US$12 million option on Gagne but are expected to buy out his contract and try and sign him at a lower cost. Takashi Saito, a 36-year-old rookie, did an exceptional job as Gagne's replacement, recording 24 saves in 26 chances.

``We've got free agents who are good players and great people,'' Colletti said. ``You never have enough pitching. I think if we add another pitcher or two to the group we have, we'll be in pretty good shape.''

Despite the record-matching outburst against the Padres a few weeks back, the Dodgers lacked punch. Garciaparra and J.D. Drew led the team in homers with 20 each.

``First of all, we need to see what we can do about not needing so many innings out of the bullpen,'' Little said. ``This series (against the Mets) was no different than a lot of our season. We went to the bullpen kind of early and asked those guys for a lot of outs.''