One For The Ages

Sure the ending wasn't the way the team wanted. But boy was it a wild ride for the New York Mets. 89 wins and came within two wins of going to the World Series. This was their first playoff appearance and wins since going to said World Series in 2015. To be able to do what they did with the way the season went along is something that was truly specials.

There weren't very high expectations for me for this team when the season started. When I did my predictions at the beginning of the year I had the team finishing with 81 wins and missing the playoffs. Once things got going, the Mets limped out of the gate, getting out to an 0-5 start to their year. Things weren't looking much better by early June, as the team sat at eleven games under .500 at 24-35. That would be the worst record they'd have this season. By the time the All Star break rolled around, the team sat at 49-46. They had started playing better baseball.

Then by the time late September rolled around, it looked like there was a chance to actually be a playoff team. They held their fait in their own hands come the last day of the season in Milwaukee, a team they hadn't beaten all year. They won the final game. Now here's where the stress came in. Had to go to Atlanta, play a double header with playoff lives on the line. Win and in. Thanks to late inning heroics (Francisco Lindor) they did what they had to do and got in. Which meant go right back to Milwaukee for the Wild Card round. Game three, it looked like they were down and out, Alonso hits the biggest home run of his life. Moving on.

To Philadelphia for the Division Round. Ventos and Lindor provide more heroics. Onto the NLCS. Where the Magic simply ran out.

Alonso had a solid year, but a little down by the standards he had set for himself in past years. Lindor was playing at an MVP level. Both of them had clutch hits during not only the season but in the playoffs. Ventos set a club record for RBI's in the playoffs with 14, after driving in 71 during the regular season The three main starters this year, Severino, Manaea and Quintana each won ten games. All that without Sanga on the hill who missed most of the year due to injury.

They had moments this year where I'd watch this team and want to ram my head against the wall. It was that infuriating. Then there was times where I'd see flashes of magic that I hadn't seen from this team in a long, long time. It brought back a sense of magic I haven't felt in this team in some time. it was a nice feeling. Hopefully they can get Alonso signed and add a couple pieces and take the next step.

See you in 2025 LGM!