Against all odds, the New York Mets have been one of, if not the best team in baseball since June and they just advanced to the NLCS after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 in the NLDS series. Since June 12, when the classic McDonald’s mascot Grimace threw out the first pitch at Citi Field, the Mets have had a 61-36 record.
The first hurdle the Mets had to overcome was the NL Wild Card race, which was neck and neck between the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves and the Mets since the end of the summer. But the Mets have been running on fumes since the middle of September. They spent most of the month on the road, traveling from Atlanta-Milwaukee-Atlanta-Milwaukee-Philadelphia, all which led them to now, where they just clinched the NLCS back at home at Citi Field.
Coincidentally, after Grimace threw out the first pitch on June 12, the Mets started a seven-game winning streak, and the team was quickly able to recognize the shift in momentum in the clubhouse. Grimace quickly got praise from players on the team like Tylor Megill on Instagram and even first baseman Pete Alonso, who paid tribute to the purple mascot by wearing purple cleats during a game in late July. Grimace has brought great karma to the Mets and has made consistent appearances at Citi Field since that first day to support the team.
But the actual baseball is what really stands out here. The ‘OMG’ Mets have put on a cinematic performance on the field for the last 10 days with back-to-back comebacks and plays that really define what true postseason baseball is. Francisco Lindor is at the forefront of the Mets and has been the absolute glue to the team all season long. In game four, when the Mets clinched an NLCS berth over the Phillies, Lindor was the hero of the night once again after he drilled a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to put New York in the lead 4-1, a lead that they would ultimately keep for the rest of the game.
“That 341 (million) is looking pretty freakin’ good right now,” said team owner Steve Cohen, per the New York Post’s Mike Puma.
Alonso has been another guy on the team who has been able to take the Mets to new heights and have kept them alive in potential season-ending situations. In game three against Milwaukee, in the top of the 9th inning,with two outs and the Mets staring at elimination in the face, Alonso launched a three-run homer to give New York the lead and save their season. Alonso has been swinging for the fences all postseason long and it is one of the main reasons why the Mets are still fighting for the championship. Alonso has been clutch on so many different occasions during the postseason and it will almost be impossible for Cohen and the Mets not to sign him to a life-long contract.
The New York Mets roster is so deep, especially with their starting pitching rotation of Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea and Luis Severino pitching lights out, and then followed by their bullpen who has handled business for the majority of their playoff games. Players from all sides of the field have stepped up and that is why the Mets are in the position that they are in. From the veterans to the young stars and the all around pitching performances, the Mets almost seem unstoppable.
However, the road ahead does not get easier for New York as they await the winner of the other NLDS series on the west coast between the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had the best record in baseball this season, and the Padres, who are looking like one of the most dangerous teams in baseball currently. But the Mets have the fire, heart, drive, talent and motivation to take them as far as they need to go in order to make a run for the World Series.
“I’ve been waiting for this for years,” Cohen said, per SNY’s Phillip Martinez. “I wanted this place packed. I want to slay the negative Met fan perception and we’re on our way to doing that. Let’s keep it going.”