METS FIGHT UPHILL BATTLE FOR PLAYOFF SPOT

I was riding the train back home from Montreal on Friday and I felt a huge wave of nostalgia wash over me as we passed by The High Peaks. It’s a section of the Adirondack Mountains, 46 peaks to be exact, that represent the highest elevations in New York state. Years ago, in my more spry days, we would camp up there every October. We would choose a peak to climb, I would be wholly unprepared but still make a point to wear the hat of the team I was still rooting for in the Postseason. It never worked. I would make it to the summit and back down in one piece, but my team would always falter (It technically worked in 2020, but the mountain I hiked up was extremely small and the Dodgers are still lampooned for only winning the “Mickey Mouse” World Series. (Honestly, that’s kind of perfect.)). But every time I climbed up a peak, I would think about the trials and tribulations that my team went through. I would channel strength from it and from the summit, I would try to send strength back to them. If anything, it’s a good mode of reflection. As I rode by in the comfort of my train seat, I realized that I didn’t expect to see the peaks this year, nor would I expect to be channeling The Mets. But if I squinted hard enough, I could see The Mets making their way up Wolf Jaw, a group of two mountains that have a lower and upper summit.

 

The Mets season has been an uphill battle and just like every mountain, the most dangerous part is near the top. When the air gets thin and you start to feel invincible. After all, the Mets scored 10 runs in 3 consecutive games going into Friday night against the Phillies. But then, they slipped on a rock and started to tumble. David Peterson was pulled out of the game after only 3.2 innings and Adam Ottavino reared his ugly head, making everything infinitely worse. When the inning was all said and done, a tie game had turned into an 8-2 bloodbath. The crowd of 41,000+ fans fell silent and so did the bats. They mustered only 2 more hits to end the night, losing 12-2. 

 

Going into Saturday’s matinee game, the Mets were at a crossroads. They’ve climbed high, made tons of memories along the way and inspired a borough to believe in something. But they’re beaten up, bruised, tired and the path to the summit had never looked more daunting. Not to mention the fact that the Braves were a mere two steps behind them, ready to take the last available campsite at the top. The Phillies, on the other hand, were merely 1 win away from clinching their first division title since 2011. For that to happen in the confines of Citi Field felt blasphemous, but somehow very Mets-esque. They took one step forward and immediately slipped in mud, as Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff home run. If they proceeded further, the climb would be even harder. But Sean Manea put his head down and didn’t allow a hit. In the second inning, the unexpected likes of Francisco Alvarez and Luisangel Acuna hit a pair of solo shots. The sold out stadium went absolutely bonkers and they kept climbing, not even bothering to look back. A dominant rally in the 7th inning put a bow on a statement-making 6-3 win. 

 

When you get above the tree line, you’re basically traversing on sheer bare rock. If you’re like me and not properly equipped, this could feel like a tightrope walk. Literally any freak movement could lead you to your death. Sunday night, over 43,000 Mets fans filled up Citi Field and felt that same exact trepidation for 3 hours. Phillies starter, Zack Wheeler, pitched like the guy the Mets always wanted him to be. His pitches were full of life and he sent 8 Mets down swinging over 7 innings. On the other side, Tylor Megill was just as effective but much less efficient. He was pulled after only 4 innings of one run ball and replaced by Phil Maton. Seeing the summit still within reach, he tossed 2 easy perfect innings, passing it off to Jose Butto, who struck out 2 to close the 7th inning. Despite Zack Wheeler’s dominance, the Mets were able to attack at opportune times. Brandon Nimmo hit a majestic shot that bounced just past the right field fence to make it 2-1. Holding that lead in the 8th inning and facing the top of the Phillies lineup, the trumpets started playing. 

 

Edwin Díaz had to make sure that the Phillies wouldn’t be popping champagne on his turf. 

 

He started out hot, striking out Kyle Schwarber with ease. But then Trea Turner smacked a bloop into centerfield and things got a little tense. Trea stole his way to third base, but couldn’t make it home as he struck out Bryce Harper and forced soft contact from Alec Bohm to end the inning. But the job was only half done and there was no way that anyone besides Edwin would hold the ball. The 9th inning was way more shaky. After getting an easy out from Nick Castellanos, Edwin’s pitching went wholly erratic. He walked Bryson Stott, who promptly stole second. And then, after delivering strike 3 to JT Realmuto, they slipped on a jagged rock. Francisco Alvarez made an errant throw to try to get Stott out at third base and he missed by a mile. 

 

That was it. As the ball traveled nowhere near Mark Vientos, we all watched the Mets season end. They barreled toward the edge of a cliff, ready to plummet. But then came divine intervention. A safety net. A root to grab onto. A helping hand. A third base bag. The ball bounced off the third base bag and into the air. Mark Vientos had no idea where the ball was, but the Phillies third base coach played it safe and held the stop sign. Bryson Stott remained at third base. And two batters later, he walked back to the dugout. Through the skin of their teeth, with the weight of the world on their backs, the Mets beat the Phillies, 2-1. 

 

Entering Sunday’s game, the Mets sat at 86-69. You couldn’t make up a better record than that for dramatic purposes, as 1969 and 1986 were the only years that they were at the top of the mountain. As for the Phillies, they slaughtered the Cubs Monday night to win their division title at home. Good for them. The Mets are now 87-69 and still two games above the Braves in the Wild Card race. It’s only appropriate that they now have to travel to Atlanta for a 3 game series. It’s even more appropriate that there’s also a hurricane coming to Atlanta later this week. But if Hurricane Gay Grimmace Candelita Seymour Weiner The Rally Pimp can muster out two wins first, the Mets will find themselves at the summit of Lower Wolf Jaw, heating up an MRE against a rock or something, ready for whatever comes at them next.

 

Because the thing about Lower Wolf Jaw is that there’s also Upper Wolf Jaw. 

 

That’s the crazy thing about the long baseball season. It’s actually two mountains in one. And if a team climbs that first mountain quickly and then wastes too much time waiting for the others at the first summit, the second summit might not be as attainable. But if a team scratches, claws and barely makes it up the first time, they could easily ride that adrenaline and good vibes to the top of the second. The Mets aren’t letting themselves cool off and that makes them more dangerous than any of the three division winners in the National League. They just need to win two more games in Atlanta and they can see what that second mountain holds. 

 

I told you this would be an interesting month.