It has been quite a ride for the New York Mets over the last two weeks; any UK Mets fan who says they have slept is lying.
In Game Four of the NLDS, the Mets were searching for a big hit. Heading into the sixth inning, they had stranded eight runners on base, chasing Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suarez out of the game.
With the bases loaded and one out, who was at the plate?… Francisco Lindor.
The crowd of 44,000+ singing My Girl and chanting MVP couldn’t have imagined what would happen next.
The count was 2-1 when Lindor unloaded a fastball into right-centre field for a go-ahead grand slam. The noise from the stadium was probably heard in Philadelphia.
As a 101.1mph Edwin Diaz fastball struck out Kyle Schwarber, CITI Field erupted into bedlam.
The miracle Mets had done it, clinching a trip to the NLCS for the first time in nine years and the first time they had clinched a postseason series at home since CITI Field opened 15 years ago.
This magical run is true proof that things have changed for the once ‘little brother’ of New York.
Steve and Alex Cohen have inspired hope in a fanbase that really does deserve it.
David Stearns, the die-hard Mets fan who is running baseball operations at the helm, no matter how deep this run goes, there is so much to be excited for.
Carlos Mendoza, the rookie manager who has been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows through his first managerial season.
To echo Mendoza’s words, “This is who we are.”
“And the story continues!”
Carlos Mendoza shares some words with his team following their clinch of an #NLCS spot.
(📹: @MLBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/uSoAPG1H1I
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2024
Mendoza’s first taste into managing did not get off to the best start, an 0-5 record at home before a Harrison Bader walk-off single got the Mets their first win of the season.
Flash forward a few weeks, with the Mets 22-33, losing to the Dodgers, Jorge Lopez ejected and throwing his glove into the stands.
Then, the turnaround.
A big, purple McDonalds mascot throwing out the first pitch on June 13th marked the start of an incredible run by this truly incredible team.
They went 66-38 to finish the year, and a clutch game 161 home run from, you guessed it, Lindor gave the Mets their first postseason berth since 2022.
The analogy ‘Miracle Mets’ comes from the fact that they just never quit and always seem to get a clutch late hit.
Like Pete Alonso’s go-ahead three-run home run in game three of the wildcard against the Milwaukee Brewers, or the clutch five-run eighth inning against the Phillies in Game One of the NLDS.
With this momentous victory over the Phillies, the Mets will travel to California to face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Diego Padres.
I asked UK Mets fans who they would prefer to face in the series:
But no matter who they face at the moment, they seem to always come up clutch.
Long may this continue for the Mets, and echoing my point earlier, no matter how deep this magical run goes, there is plenty to look forward to.
Article by Alex Worth. Check out Alex’s other articles. Want to share your baseball opinions in 2024 with a Bat Flips & Nerds audience of 10,000+? Click on the “Write for us” link above.
