LOS ANGELES—The remarkable resilience of the New York Mets has been evident this year.
“This year has been quite challenging for us, with many ups and downs and facing a lot of adversity,” shared Carlos Mendoza, the first-year manager, during a press conference at Dodger Stadium on Monday. “We not only have exceptionally talented individuals, but also a team that is not afraid to address each other when necessary. We continue to discover ways to achieve success.”
On Monday, they demonstrated their resilience by bouncing back from a potentially devastating 9-0 defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of the National League Championship Series. The Mets remained undeterred and overcame another Dodgers bullpen challenge, securing a 7-3 victory in Game 2 after establishing an early 6-0 lead. The NLCS is now heading to New York for three games at Citi Field.
Once again, the Mets’ star players delivered. Francisco Lindor kicked off the game with a home run on the eighth pitch from opener Ryan Brasier, who was the first of five pitchers for the Dodgers. This ended LA’s 33-inning shutout streak. When Lindor came up to bat again in the next inning against Landon Knack with runners in scoring position, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to walk him intentionally to load the bases.
Mark Vientos, the following batter, responded with a grand slam, significantly widening the gap in the score.
“They maintain their belief,” Mendoza remarked about his team. “They understand that after a poor performance, there’s always an opportunity to make a comeback the next day.”
This is a familiar scenario. Lindor’s ninth-inning two-run home run during a makeup doubleheader against Atlanta on the final day of the regular season secured their spot in the playoffs. The Wild Card Mets defeated the NL East champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, in Game 4 of the NL Division Series at Citi Field, with Lindor hitting a grand slam.
Lindor, who signed a 10-year, $341 million contract with the team under owner Steve Cohen in 2020, continues to justify every penny. Lindor and the Mets are proving to be specialists in making comebacks when least expected.
“We don’t dwell on the past, which has been pivotal for our success,” Lindor stated. “Nobody is preoccupied with what could have been or what occurred previously. We are focused on the present moment.”
With the series tied at 1-1, Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Dodgers, facing Luis Severino of the Mets in New York on Wednesday.
On the other hand, the crosstown Yankees emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on Monday night, keeping alive the dream of a Subway Series for the first time in 24 years.
While the Yankees had high expectations coming into the season, the Mets were anticipated to be in a rebuilding phase. Despite a slow start, they turned their season around, finishing with a remarkable 63-35 record after starting 22-33 on May 29. They had to win 20 of their final 29 games to secure a Wild Card spot, which they accomplished at a blazing pace.
“There was immense pressure,” acknowledged Lindor, “but pressure is actually a blessing.”
Undoubtedly, the Mets are financially well-equipped to compete, with a payroll of $350.3 million, making them the team with the highest payroll in Major League Baseball, ahead of the Dodgers at $340 million and the Yankees at $314.7 million.
Unlike the Yankees, who are striving for their 28th World Series victory, the Mets have secured the title just twice in their history, in 1969 and 1986. Interestingly, the other four teams in their division have all won the World Series since the Mets’ last triumph.
When it comes to starting pitching, the Mets appear to have the advantage against the Dodgers in terms of health. They will have a strong starting lineup for each game in New York, while the Dodgers, with only three reliable starters, will eventually have to resort to another bullpen-heavy strategy.
This tactic proved successful against the San Diego Padres in the division series when eight relievers combined for a scoreless, seven-hit performance in Game 4. “It’s fantastic when our pitchers are shutting down the opponents,” noted Roberts.
However, this approach is dependent on collective success, and if a few players falter, as seen with Brasier and Knack, the entire plan can backfire.
The Mets capitalized on those opportunities and are now preparing for what promises to be an exciting series in New York.
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