Image credit: Roberto Carlo
Tyler Pill. Adam Wilk. Kevin McGowan. Scott Copeland. Buddy Baumann. Bobby Wahl. Donnie Hart. Ryan O’Rourke. Ariel Jurado. Nick Tropeano.
Recognize these names? I certainly don’t, and chances are, almost any Mets fan would have a difficult time recalling them, too.
But the truth is, each of those 10 players have appeared for the Mets in a regular season game since the last time the New York Mets played in a postseason game.
And yes, even Jed Lowrie.
It’s been a loooooong six years. While six years may not seem like a ton of time, so much has happened in the organization since then. We’ve had a manager hired and then fired without managing a game, multiple general managers let go for reasons off-field issues. Out are the Wilpons, and in is one of the best (and most affluent) owners in professional sports. We’ve seen two really, really bad seasons, a season shortened by a pandemic, a league lockout, and more heartbreak then one article can fit.
Simply put, the Mets have been through it all since Ty Kelly recorded the last postseason hit for the Mets on October 5, 2016. But now, let’s forget about the past for a bit. Because we’re in 2022, and this year, the Mets are not just good, but historically great.
In 2022, the Mets won 101 games, one of the best seasons for a Wild Card team in MLB history. We saw Pete continue to be one of the best power hitters in baseball and Edwin rise to the best closer in the sport. From Tylor to trumpets, this year holds a special place in Mets fans hearts.
As special as this season was - and trust me, it certainly will be missed - the Mets are far from done with taking care of business. The San Diego Padres come to town this weekend, making Citi Field one of the best places to be in New York over these next few days. With potentially two of baseball’s best pitchers lined up to pitch this weekend for the Mets, the team is in a good spot. The Padres are a real threat and boast some of the sport’s best hitters—Manny Machado and Juan Soto are two guys with a good chance to see their name in Cooperstown one day.
While the Mets may have had a noticeably better year than the Padres, San Diego is not a team to take lightly. Their pitching is very solid too, and their 1-2 punch of Yu Darvish and Blake Snell can be sneaky good.
By virtue of winning an insane amount of games this year, the Mets secured home-field advantage for this entire series, and man, will that be impactful. Because it’s such a significant factor in a best-of-three set, it’s worth repeating. With the fans at Citi Field bringing the energy this weekend, it is likely to boost the Mets performance on the field as well; that’s not an exaggeration.
Entering this season following a disappointing end to 2021, the Mets had lofty expectations. For the first time in a long time, the Mets were truly viewed as a World Series contender. As the season progressed, that goal became even more clear.
Forget about the division title. While it’s a nice accomplishment, that was never the goal. The ultimate goal is still very much there. The path may have changed, but the road is still paved.
Image credit: Chris Simon
This is a World Series or bust club. It may now take an extra series to get there, but when has adversity ever stopped these Mets? Down in the 9th inning with little hope? Not these Mets.
These Mets are for real. The 2022 Mets? Now that’s a team ice in their veins and as Howie Rose so perfectly said, drama in their back pockets.
No one knows how this year’s story will end, but heck, the possible grand ending is worth believing in this team with every pitch.
Welcome to the Big Apple, San Diego. Here’s to a good, competitive series, but it’s time for Citi Field to get loud and show the Friars who reigns supreme this weekend.
Scherzer. deGrom. Alonso. Lindor. Playoff baseball in QUEENS. Let’s get it!
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Post season is all about what version of each player shows up. Stud or dud. There's no 162 to balance things out. Let's Go Mets!!!