Photo by Robbie Noble on Unsplash
The 2024 New York Metropolitans baseball season began with a lot of expectations but also unknowns. The Mets started the season with a total payroll of $317, 778, 899- the highest in the league, high pressure from a failed 2023 season where they failed to make the playoffs- finishing fourth in the National League East with a 75-87 losing record and had a new manager in Carlos Mendoza who had been the New York Yankees bench coach for the five years prior to his appointment.
While hopes for the 2024 season began optimistically, many Mets fans would be forgiven for losing heart early when the team quite simply sucked. The Mets resumed the 2024 season in much of their form from the 2023 season, losing their first five home matches and after a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers on May 29, they were 22-33- far out of the postseason picture.
However, led by shortstop, Francisco Lindor, the team held a critical meeting on what they needed to do in order to salvage the season. This coupled with the appearance of the McDonald Mascot “Grimace”- who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a series against the Miami Marlins which marked the start of a seven game winning streak for New York, started a 67-40 record the rest of the way, resulting in a 89-73 overall record and a postseason wildcard series berth.
Perhaps in true 2024 Mets dramatic fashion, the wildcard spots came down to two delayed games against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park with both teams needing a win each to secure a wildcard spot, snatching a postseason appearance from the Arizona Diamondbacks who needed a sweep from either team to make the playoffs. The Mets triumphed in the first game during a back and forth affair, taking Game 1, 8-7 thanks to a Francisco Lindor two-run home run sealing October baseball.
This meant the Mets were just the 4th team ever to start the season 0-5 or worse and still make the playoffs. Some good luck too in their schedule as due to the Braves regular season series being delayed because of weather, the Mets went straight to Milwaukee to play the Brewers in the wildcard series the next day. However, they did not face the prospect of the coast to coast trip to play the San Diego Padres in California as their division rivals the Braves did, instead traveling to the much closer Milwaukee.
Despite the busy and turbulent 24 hours, the Mets still managed to go to Milwaukee the next day and take Game 1, 8-4, thanks to some great base-hitting contributing to a five-run 5th inning. The next day though the Brewers levelled the series 1-1 to send it to a Game 3. Once again the Mets faced the prospect of elimination as they were down 2-0 in the top of the 9th. But then, up-steps the astounding Pete Alonso who launches a game-winning three run homer with New York eventually taking the rubber postseason match 4-2, resulting in a date with the Phillies in the National League Divisional Series.
Philadelphia was another daunting prospect for the Mets as they faced arguably the best team in the National League who accumulated 95 wins behind some great pitching and hitting. However, for the magic Mets a Game 1 victory was no problem, as they triumphed 6-2 behind Kodai Senga and David Peterson’s pitching and some superb base hitting.
After the Phillies levelled in the second match 1-1 behind Nick Castellanos’ walk-off single, the series returned to New York- and boy does this city get going for baseball.
Once again the Mets took the series lead behind some priceless pitching from Sean Manaea who went seven innings for just three hits, one earned run, two walks alongside six strikeouts. The exciting offense once again stepped up too with Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker hitting home runs in the 7-2 victory.
The next day came Game 4 of the series with the Mets facing the prospect of a National League Championship series berth for the first time since 2015. Citi Field was anxious with the Phillies leading through Alec Bohm, who scored on a fielder’s choice. However, in the bottom of the 6th, up steps Mets superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor who launches a go-ahead grand slam to right-center field putting New York up 4-1 with three innings to go.
Edwin Diaz locks the victory down in the top of the 9th to send the New York Metropolitans into jubilation despite giving up two walks. This sets up a first National League Championship Series berth since they made the World Series back in 2015 when they made the World Series, losing to the Kansas City Royals 4-1.
New York has a lot to be excited about in the baseball world right now, especially in the Queens section of the City. However, the Mets face the daunting prospect of a best of seven against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League pennant- the team that boasts the best regular season record in 2024.
The Mets have a lot going for them though. The Dodgers rotation has been decimated with several major injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and many others, leaving the Dodgers rotation for the rest of the playoffs with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and the recently returning Walker Buehler. On the other hand, the Mets have four fit and healthy starters in Kodai Senga (who is due to start Game 1), Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana. While these four are solid, the innings they will allow the Mets are priceless so Mendoza does not have to tax his bullpen too much.
The Dodgers formidable top of lineup in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman is a great one, however the Mets arguably have the better one through nine as the likes of Harrison Bader, J.D Martinez and Starling Marte supplement the big hitters in Lindor, Nimmo and Alonso perfectly.
Going into the Dodger Championship series the Mets have a lot to be hopeful about and optimism that their magic season can continue. The prospect of a “Subway Series World Series” for the first time since 2000 is only adding to the excitement. Whatever happens these magic Mets will be sure to give us a hell of a ride the rest of the way.
Commenti