The Mets lost, and their season is over.
Sean Manaea didn’t have his putaway stuff, Phil Maton looked gassed, and Kodai Senga turned in one good inning but not a second. Meanwhile, the hitters worked solid ABs and kept creating traffic, but couldn’t get the big hit they needed: They were 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left 13 men on base. And — because it’s not always about us — the Dodgers were relentless and effective, with a new fearsome hitter popping up for every formidable one a Mets pitcher dispatched. The Dodgers beat us; they earned their pennant and the opportunity to renew their ancient grudge match against the Yankees.
Emily and I are in Tacoma visiting the kid, a trip put on the calendar before anyone could imagine our rocket ride through Atlanta and Milwaukee and Philadelphia and L.A. The three of us wound up watching in a bar in our hotel, without sound (not a big deal as I’ve heard enough John Smoltz for a lifetime), while everyone else around us was fixated on Jets-Steelers.
It wasn’t the strangest arrangement of the series: I watched Game 5 on the plane from JFK to SEA, relying on my laptop, MLB.tv and Delta’s Wifi. (The seatback TV’s lineup of live channels didn’t include FS1.) Occasionally I was watching in full HD; most of the time the feed was blurry and blocky; multiple times it failed entirely, including with two outs in the ninth. Fortunately the Mets had a reasonably comfortable lead at that point, meaning I was only seriously agitated by having to wait 15 minutes for the Wifi to come back so I could find out what had happened. If the game had been in the balance, I suspect an air marshal would have wound up writing up an incident report.
Emily and I would have watched Game 7 the same way, probably with the same obstacles. There’s the tiniest of silver linings, I suppose. Well, that and the fact that I’ll fly back to New York wearing clean clothes — the lucky 7 Line jersey and Mookie shirt were getting a little suspect.
The Mets are done. We’ll have more to say about that in the days and weeks ahead. But right now I know this much: This team will be loved. Loved, and remembered fondly, and cherished years from now.
Playing October baseball doesn’t guarantee such fond remembrances: The chilly, vaguely misaligned ’88 Mets aren’t loved despite their many ’86 alumni; the ’22 Mets’ season-ending fizzle and quick exit ensured we’d rather not talk about them. And failing to secure a title doesn’t consign a team to also-ran status: The ’99 and ’15 Mets fell short but will be source of joy as long as there are Mets seasons to chronicle.
So it will be with this team, the Mets of Grimace and OMG and “My Girl” and Zesty Mets celebrations, the Mets of unlikely resurrections and unforeseen comebacks. They gave us a magical summer and a joyous fall. Did we want a little more than we got? Of course we did. But I will always think back on what we did get and smile.
Thank you, Mets, from the bottom of this fan’s orange and blue heart.
Yes. This season turned into so much more than I thought it had a chance to be at various times – May, the day after everyone else finished their season, game 3 in Milwaukee. Not to mention following various “backbreaking” games like on the last west coast trip.
Congratulations to the Dodgers. Too many good bats and they figured our guys out.
This kind of season can carry me into March.
“This season turned into so much more than I thought it had a chance to be at various times – May, the day after everyone else finished their season, game 3 in Milwaukee. Not to mention following various “backbreaking” games like on the last west coast trip.”
This is where Faith and Fear in Flushing stands out as a Mets fan chronicle. The standard shorthand of the 2024 Mets season is poor start, the 0-5 and declared dead at 11 under .500, then the best record after June 1st. But that characterization glosses over the season’s critical points after June 1st in the wildcard chase, and how the Mets needed every bit of OMG magic to fight their way to the 3-way tie with the Braves and Diamondbacks and the tie breaker to win the 3rd wildcard. Greg and Jason can memorialize the nerve-wracking stretch run better than any pundit who glosses over it all by pointing out the Mets record after June 1st and leaves it at that.
Agree with your comment, nothing to regret and only fond memories.
To your list of not-so-fond memoried October Baseball, I’d add 2006. Sure, some Memorable Moments, including one for the Met Ages…but ooo, That Pitch.
Thanks for the Happy Recap (of a loss, that’s a first), and all the recaps, Happy or not.
Thank you for writing this. You expressed what was in most Met fans’ hearts. No bitterness, only joy and gratitude for an unexpectedly entertaining ride.
To me, at the end, this team most resembles a Met team that did not make the playoffs, but almost certainly would have in the Wild Card era – the on-the-verge Mets of 1985. Those Mets made it to the brink of the playoffs, only to be stopped by the Cardinals. Our Mets made it to the edge of the World Series, only to be beaten by the Dodgers.
But the 85-ers already had Doc and Straw and Kid and Mex and Nails, not to mention the real Mookie. They had made their statement. They couldn’t go all the way that year, but look out. They weren’t going away any time soon.
That’s what I feel about these Mets. They’ll be back. Meanwhile, like the ‘85 crew, they gave us a season to cherish. Hat tip to the Dodgers, and a reluctant wish of good luck to them in beating the Evil Empire. They’re going to need it.
To the list of loved Mets teams that fell a bit short, let me add the ‘73ers. So many of them are gone…Seaver, Tug, Kranepool, Rusty, Buddy, Grote, Willie, Yogi….that it’s easy to forget them, but they were a lot like our 2024 Mets. Buried in a losing season, only to rise up and fall a game short. And they gave us our mantra that still, even a half-century later, defines us.
A lot of what we sensed was happening over this season was confirmed in the aftermath of last night’s game. We didn’t imagine the bias we sensed in the “ national” broadcast crews, ESPN in particular ( those post-game tweets are really something – where have you gone Vin Scully?). Aside from the never -ending noise, in-game interviews, and poor announcing, these networks and their partners-in-crime MLB made no attempt to hide their wish for an Ohtani/Judge (excuse me, Dodgers/ Yankees) World Series. Now they have it, but oops! they may have to recast it, because Soto has clearly outplayed Judge this postseason. At this moment, I could not care less who wins – King Kong or Godzilla. I hope Fox gets a five-game, boring Series in which Ohtani, Judge and Soto hit .200 and the hitting stars are Tommy Edman and Alex Verdugo.
Speaking of Soto – and I guess we must, because a huge number of Mets fans think he is the answer – his histrionics the other night were obnoxious. To stop dead in the basepath and start pounding your chest in front of a stadium full of your opponents’ heartbroken fans is revolting and shows a complete lack of maturity and, I’m afraid, a raging ego. Can he fit into a team that is led by Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo and (hopefully) Pete Alonso, when he might be fresh off starring in a World Series?
I sense that Cohen and Stearns are already wondering about that and about how much money to throw at Soto. Think carefully Mets, and take care of your own – the team you created and your fans – first. I suspect the Mets will do that before engaging with Soto. Sign Pete, Winker , some of the pitching staff, and Iglesias. There will be changes to the roster , but just about every single free agent interviewed last night wants to stay, and that’s rare indeed. You need people who want to be there, because there will inevitably be tough times.I’ve watched – and even rooted for – a few dynasties over the years (the Islanders, the Patriots) and those teams were full of “glue guys” who loved being part of something special, and if you want to build a team like that, you absolutely need them.
I wish every member of the 2024 Mets an off-season full of as much humor, whimsy, and joy as they brought to us this summer. Regardless of where you go ( or stay) after this, you will be remembered.
“Speaking of Soto”
Young age, durable, Hall of Fame-level bat, proven performer in the regular and post-season. But also an outfielder already at age 25 who’s not known for his athleticism, speed, and defense, qualities which Stearns prioritizes in outfielders. That doesn’t preclude the Mets chasing Soto, but it may influence how far they’ll chase him.
“Can he fit into a team that is led by Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo and (hopefully) Pete Alonso, when he might be fresh off starring in a World Series?”
On the Nationals, Padres, and Yankees, Soto has always been teammates with veteran stars. Of course, he would have that on the Mets too. Whatever team he joins (or rejoins) next will be his long-term home, where he’ll eventually be expected to be a team leader, not just a superstar performer. Something to consider.
How is it that Soto is a Gold Glove finalist and Francisco Lindor is not? Even the Yankee fans on my AM radio station were flabbergasted.
Thank you for the concise summation of how most of us are feeling this morning. With the current ownership and leadership, I feel that this season and postseason run are just harbingers of good times yet to come, unlike the many false starts that have come before (2006, 2015).
“With the current ownership and leadership, I feel that this season and postseason run are just harbingers of good times yet to come”
Good point. Short term, the roster moving forward is uncertain. But long term, this season spoke well of the acumen of Stearns, Mendoza, and their staffs and along with Mendoza’s oversight, Lindor’s development as a player leader in terms of the team culture.
All I wanted in this Game 6 was a chance. And we did have that, as we had the lead in the very first inning. And then Manaea did his best Tom Glavine impersonation. Then we had runners on base galore for the rest of the game and could not get the big hit.
Turning Point of the Season:
July 26th, Senga Night, when our world, for all intents and purposes, came crashing down after 5 innings of spectacular pitching on his FIRST NIGHT BACK. That is all we needed and could have hoped for.
But Mendy could not leave well enough alone, and the Baseball Gods taught him a lesson which he will never learn.
Would you ever imagine ANYONE saying they did not want Senga to pitch in the most important games of the season. And yet that is what everyone wound up saying.
If we only had him from August through October. And this should not be considered a fluke injury. It was due to a misguided decision made by Mendy.
But Mendy
This season was revelatory, showing again how great Lindor could be, the emergence of Vientos as a superb hitter and power threat, the importance of keeping the Polar Bear where he belongs (despite the off year, his homers vs Milwaukee and LA were epic and historic), and the fine leadership of Mendoza and Stearns, among many other things.
So much better than 2022, not only for going further but for not having to play a round we felt we felt we were much too good to be in (and showing that on the field). And honestly, far less agonizing than 1999 or 2006—this year was a great ride in which we simply ran out of gas. Even last night was sorta okay in the same way the passengers on the Titanic had 2 hours after hitting the iceberg to reconcile with the inevitable sinking.
Every fan roots differently I suppose, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was supremely disappointed this morning.
I’m disappointed too because all series, including game 6, the Mets put enough runners on base to go blow for blow with the Dodgers. When the Mets cashed in those runners, they won twice.
The difference is the Dodgers cashed in the runners in their 4 wins that the Mets LOB’ed. But that part mitigates my disappointment since I believe the Dodgers were better at driving in their runs largely because Mets pitchers hit the wall. On its own, the Dodgers offense isn’t that much better than the Mets’, or the Phillies’ for that matter.
But I can only gently criticize the pitchers for letting us down in the NLCS since they burned out by transforming themselves from journeyman 4 types into a staff of aces down the stretch. The storybook game-winning, season-saving hits couldn’t have happened without the pitchers consistently holding down the opposition through the NLDS.
Said another way, for the Mets pitching of 2 weeks ago, game 6’s 5 runs would have been enough to win. But not for the Mets pitching of yesterday. In the end, starting Senga in game 1 and the 2 off days weren’t enough to reenergize the staff.
In the bigger picture, I’m disappointed because the 2024 Mets, led by Lindor, had clutch magic like the 2015 Royals and a lot broke right in terms of unexpected health and performance. We can’t predict if or when the Mets will have either again.
And, the 2024 Mets as constructed were a one-off.The team will be significantly different next year. As much as this season earned our trust for Stearns and Mendoza and the rest of the organizational staff, there’s a lot of uncertainty right now. We knew yesterday that the Mets were a legitimate contender 2 wins away from the World Series. Today we don’t know what they’ll be next year.
Good points – some media reports are along the lines of this is only the beginning, build and learn from, the best is yet to come, etc. You’re right, we don’t know that. Lots of uncertainties for next year. This team developed a unique personality and got it together at the end, and it’s disappointing to not see them go further. That doesn’t diminish the fun we had, but still it’s ok to be sad today.
Made the trip to LA to support the boys. It was well worth it, notwithstanding the result. There is much to be proud of and build on. I have faith that Stearns & Co. will bring back a team with fewer glaring weaknesses. We have a nice core and help is on the way in the minors. There is much to be learned from the Dodgers, particularly their approach with 2 strikes. Throughout their lineup, they foul off balls until they get something they like. We need another big bat in the middle of the lineup, preferably one who can hit for average as well as power, and few more arms and we will be good to go. Plenty of good reasons for optimism. This team wildly exceeded my expectations, which is always a treat.
Nothing can rob me of the joy this team gave me in 2024. LGM
So…
‘Perhaps’ the ‘geniuses’ in charge were saving guys like Shamsky and Swoboda to throw out the first ball at the WS?
Does anyone really think those two would not have jumped at the chance?
How’d that work out, Stupid Cohen.
Just heartless.
Great Article. You perfectly summed up my feelings for the entire season.
Seeing Matt Harvey throw out the first pitch to Yoenis Cespedes was unbelievable.
Took me right back to 2015 for one of the most exciting moments in Mets history. Matt Harvey 2015 Game 6 Ninth Inning taking the mound and jumping up and down and just seething with electricity and excitement. Gives me goosebumps thinking about that night.
In 2024 we got a few of those moments maybe not quite that electric but very close.
We were short a miracle or two in 2024 but it’s coming, hang tight, March is coming and it’s going to be a great 2025.
All the Love
Stanley
Yup, we had fun. It was a better season than anyone expected. Even in June. Am I disappointed that the ride is over? Sure, but I have a lifetime season pass for the fun and the not-so-fun and I’ll get on the roller coaster again next year.
Some had said that the Mets will not win another championship because they sold their souls by winning World Series game 6 and coming back from 3 games to 2 to take the series.
Well here we were again, game six, down three games to two and our magic wand was snapped in half by a better team. Hopefully this has appeased those who grant baseball wishes and Ray Walston or Jerry Lewis can take Lola and go haunt those Damn Yankees for forty years.
The White Sox losing 121 should help.
Mixed feelings today.
Throughout the NLCS, the Mets had enough RISP to win, but lost due to too many LOB. The Dodgers weren’t better at creating traffic, but they were better at cashing in their RISP for their 4 wins. When the Mets cashed in their RISP, they won 2 games.
On the hand, the Mets pitching had been the top reason the Mets got as far as they did. The storybook Lindor, Alonso, and Vientos game-winners and season-savers don’t happen if the Mets rotation of journeymen hadn’t become a staff of aces. But they gassed out in the NLCS. The Dodgers are good, but they’re not that much better than the Phillies. I think the Mets pitchers just hit the wall in the NLCS. That’s much of why the Dodgers were able to cash in their RISP as well as they did.
In short, as much as it hurts the Mets got so far but not all the way, I believe the 2024 Mets max’ed out and got as far as they could. A lot farther than I expected they would before they did.
And so say all of us; amen.
Thank you Greg and Jason for your wonderful work on this amazing blog.
Your splendid writing day after day made the season–and especially the playoff run–even more special.
Grateful for all the effort both of you–and the Mets–made this special season.
Many thanks for honoring both the team and the fans with your words.
Mets fan of 52 years, and have gotten a little old and busy with life to not suffer like I used to.
This year, for the first time in my Mets rooting, made me happy with the sport.
When Winker scored the insurance run in Milwaukee, and broke his helmet slamming it down in enraged elation, I felt a moment of what it feels like to win and be aggressive.
These Mets were something else, especially Linder, Alonso, and Vientos.
I hate to say it, but we need Juan Soto to get over the hump.
After many years, I don’t gotta believe any more, 2024 was special, even in defeat.