Mets fans, the season is over. The Mets were eliminated in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. Even though the season is over, it is one of the most fun and exciting seasons that the Mets have played in a long time. There were many lows, highs, this season was a literal rollercoaster. Let’s look through what was definitely a successful season and a recap of the 2024 New York Mets.
Let’s go back to April. The Mets are starting the season against the Milwaukee Brewers. Their spring training did not start on a good note as their ace, Kodai Senga, would be out for at least half the season. As the season continues to play out, we see a series of other highs and lows for the entire team, however specifically for Jose Quintana. The opening pitcher continued to have an up and down season for the Mets, starting opening day letting up 2 runs in 4.2 innings, ultimately leading to a 3-1 loss. . The Mets record continued to decline over the course of the season; going 0-5 against the Brewers and Tigers. In the sixth game of the season, Gary Cohen, SNY broadcaster, said “Nobody in the Ballpark,0-5, hitless through seven, this really is rock bottom”. This was rock bottom. In that 6th game, the Mets would walk off the Tigers in the 9th and win their first game of the season. Unfortunately, their season would appear to be lost until the end of May where they were 22-33. Everyone gave up on them, everyone thought their season was over, they had no expectations and everything was going wrong. Then Grimace threw out the first pitch.
It was June 12 and the Mets brought out Mcdonalds mascot, Grimace. Grimace threw the first pitch against the Marlins and all of a sudden the Mets bats broke out for 10 runs, especially Lindor where he broke out of his slump with a homer and a double. The Mets would end up going on a seven game winning streak after Grimace threw out the first pitch. This winning streak was the beginning of many memorable moments throughout the season. The first one during the winning streak was when J.D. Martinez hit a walk off homer against the Marlins on Sunday Night Baseball. This is where fans began to believe in the team as they were only 3 GB of a WC spot due to other teams not performing as well. There were many teams in front of them though but the fans said “Ya Gotta Believe” and that 7 game winning streak put them in range. The Mets month of June was nothing short of amazing. They went 16-8 this month because of everyone that stepped up. Lindor was able to break out from his slump as he was moved to the leadoff spot. Ever since he moved to the leadoff spot, he has not stopped hitting. The pitching also stepped up massively with Sean Manaea and Luis Severino. Sean Manaea, an average pitcher for most of his career, decided to change up his arm slot to be more like NL Cy Young Candidate, Chris Sale. Ever since June, Sean Manaea has been one of the best pitchers in the league and is sure to get some Cy Young votes. Everything that happened after Grimace threw out the first pitch was truly magical
Now we get to the trade deadline. The Mets are in playoff contention but there is a lot of debate on how much the Mets should buy. David Stearns, arguably one of the best baseball minds, had a miraculous deadline now that we look at it. His main pieces were Jesse Winker and Ryne Stanek. Jesse Winker was a playoff machine as he was one of the best if not the best hitter during the playoffs. Jesse Winker had one of the iconic moments in the Mets season. It was a day against the Baltimore Orioles. Tie Game. Bottom of the 9th. Jesse Winker comes up, looking for his first homerun as a New York Met. He hit a pitch to Left Field. The Ball Kept Carrying and it went over the Left Field Wall. It was an emotional celebration from Jesse Winker as he slammed his helmet before he even touched first base. This wasn’t even the most important homerun Jesse Winker hit. The other main trendline acquisition was Ryne Stanek. A high leverage, a high velocity reliever acquired from the Seattle Mariners. He was a key high leverage guy for the Mets during the postseason.
Now we get to September, a clutch time for the Mets as they hope to lock down a playoff spot. The Mets were playing amazing baseball but their season came down to one series. Against their division rivals. Atlanta Braves. All came down to a 3 game series. Except, there was a much bigger problem. That massive problem was a hurricane. Coming into the series, it was obvious by the forecast that there would be a hurricane during the series. Yet, MLB did nothing prior to stop this problem. So, the Mets and Braves would play the first game of the series where the Braves would win 5-1 after a strong performance from Spencer Schwellenbach. The 2 remaining games would be postponed to the following Monday where the season for all other 28 teams would be over. Those games almost certainly had to be played because there were only 2 WC spots for 3 teams. The Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves, The DiamondBacks finished with 89 wins but the Mets and Braves both had the tiebreaker against them. So to get into the playoffs, the Mets needed a split on Monday’s doubleheader and so did the Braves. The DiamondBacks needed one team, didnt matter which, to sweep the doubleheader. We get to Monday, September 30, 2024. Everyone’s regular season is over. The playoffs start tomorrow. The Mets and Braves fight for their lives in the playoffs.
The game starts at 1:10 pm that day. The game starts as a pitching duel until Ozzie Albies hits a homer to give the Braves the lead. We go into the eighth inning and the Mets simply cannot hit Spencer Schwellenbach. This is until Tyrone Taylor hits a leadoff double that forces the Braves to go to their bullpen. They bring Joe Jimenez and Francisco Alvarez hits another double that cuts the lead to 3-1 and this brings up the Mets MVP Francisco Lindor. He hits a single that cuts the lead to 3-2. Jose Iglesias hits a double that gets runners on 3rd and second. Then Mark Vientos hits a sac fly. The score is 4-3. Then comes Brandon Nimmo. HE SLAMS THE BALL INTO RIGHT FIELD giving the Mets a 6-3 lead and a 6 run 8th inning. Then comes Edwin Diaz in the bottom of the 8th. The bases are loaded for Ozzie Albies with 2 outs. The score is 6-4 after the Braves score a run. Ozzie Albies hits a bases clearing double over the head of Brandon Nimmo giving the Braves a 7-6 lead. I slammed my computer during this, I was so mad and upset. I thought classic Mets choking in the biggest moments. But I still tuned in for the top of the 9th. The Mets had one runner on and Francisco Lindor was up. I was thinking this is the time to prove you are the MVP. I see the pitch and LINDOR WITH A SWING AND A DRIVE. He crushes the pitch to right center field giving the Mets a 8-7 lead. This was the MVP moment. He sent the Mets to the playoffs. Edwin Diaz shuts down the Braves in the bottom of the ninth and BAM the Mets are heading to the postseason. This was one of the games of the season, if not the game of the season. This game had everything, it had drama, it had great baseball and a lot was on the line in this game. Truly one of the best games a Mets fan has ever watched. The Mets didn’t even celebrate massively, they had a postseason game the next day! The Mets didn’t even care about the second game but if they won, they would play the Padres. If they lost they would play Milwaukee. The Mets ended up losing, the Braves made the postseason and the Mets would travel to Milwaukee the next day.
Game 1 for the Mets, Luis Severino Bump Day, Everyone was excited, Vibes were high. The Mets won that game after Luis Severino gave the Mets a quality start with 6 IP and 3 ER. The Mets would go on to lose Game 2 leaving the series to a Game 3. The Mets had Jose Quintana pitch this game. Credit to Quintana as he balled out going 6 innings scoreless. The game was tied going into the 7th. The Mets brought in Jose Butto. Unfortunately, this decision would backfire as Butto would give up back to back homers and the Brewers would lead 2-0. This honestly felt like the season was over but Mets fans had a glimmer of hope left. Their magical season could not be over this quickly. We get to the top of the 9th. Francisco Lindor is up. He walks, getting the typing run on. Unfortunately, Mark Vientos would strike out. 2 outs left. Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso coming up. The Brewers had their closer, Devin Williams, in. One of the best closers in baseball. And then BOOM, Nimmo rockets a single up the middle. Pete Alonso comes up in what could be his final at bat as a Met. The stakes were high, the season on the line, Pete Alonso’s legacy as a Met was on the line, and he rockets the pitch opposite field OUTTA HERE. PETE ALONSO GIVES THE METS THE LEAD. THEY LEAD 3-2. Pete Alonso brought them back from the darkness. They thought the season was over. He saved them. The Mets would tack on another run in the top of the ninth. Then David Peterson, yes David Peterson, would close the bottom of the 9th after Lindor would get a double play where he would take it himself. The Mets win! They would go on to play the Phillies and they would play playoff baseball after the Wild Card Round for the first time since 2015 where they won the NL Pennant.
Here come the Mets, ready to come play the Phillies. As if this season couldn’t get any more crazy, the Mets had Kodai Senga coming out the first game. Kodai Senga was their ace in 2023 and only pitched in 1 game this season due to injury. He would start off the first game and in the very first AB, Kyle Schwarber would take him deep. That was the only run the Phillies would get until the 9th innings, where the game was basically over. Zach Wheeler went 7 innings only allowing 1 hit. He was lights out. Then the Phillies brought out what was supposed to be the best in baseball. Fortunately, they were really bad and the Mets got 6 runs in the top eighth and they went on to take Game 1. This was absolutely crucial for the Mets which meant that they would have a chance to clinch at Citi Field. Unfortunately, The Phillies would win Game 2 due to a Castellanos walk off. But it was all okay because the Mets were tied going into their 2 games at home. Going into Game 3, the Mets were hyped. The Mets had their best pitcher in Sean Manaea going. He went 7 innings allowing 1 run as he allowed one baserunner in the 8th. Overall, a great game for the Mets and the best moment being Jesse Winker’s homerun where he stared at the ball. The Mets lead 2-1 going into game 4. Both teams were playing for their lives here as the Mets did not want to go back to Philly for Game 5. The Mets were going up against Ranger Suarez and they would leave the bases loaded in the first 2 innings. Then the Phillies would load up the bases and Mark Vientos would bobble a ball that would lead to the Phllies scoring the first run. Then in the sixth inning the Mets had the bases loaded with no outs. Francisco Alvarez grounds into a forceout at home. Then Francisco Lindor is up. The Mets MVP. Does he have another MVP moment in him? The first pitch, Lindor completely whiffs on. The second pitch is a ball. The third pitch comes in and LINDOR WITH A SWING AND A DRIVE AND HE HITS A GRAND SLAM. HE SENDS THE METS TO THE NLCS. The Mets move on to play the Dodgers.
Unfortunately, this is where the Mets season comes to an end. They lost to the eventual World Series Champions, Dodgers in 6 games but not before showing life in Games 2 and Games 5 and right before they got eliminated. This Mets season was one of a kind, with all these amazing moments, giving Mets fans a one of a kind experience. As Howie Rose said “They made a 70 year old feel 15 again” which truly shows how a true Mets fan views this season.
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