“0-5, no one in the ballpark, hitless through seven, feels like rock bottom.” 

Those were the words spoken by New York Mets lead play broadcaster Gary Cohen on April 4th, 2024. It was the sixth game of the year and the final of the first homestand of the year. The Mets had no wins, were struggling to score runs, and were completely miserable. It was a Wednesday afternoon game, with the empty stands only amplifying the hopelessness of the season thus far. 

However, the Mets weren’t exactly expected to set the world on fire in 2024. 2023 was a disappointing season. Following their first playoff appearance in six years in 2022, the Mets were expected to make a run at the World Series. However, the underperformance of several key stars such as Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander resulted in the World Series aspiring team to fail in reaching the playoffs. At the trade deadline, the Mets traded anyone with value and finished the year with a losing record. After the season’s disappointing end, Mets owner Steve Cohen fired General Manager Billy Eppler and hired former Brewers GM David Stearns to rebuild the team. Stearns fired the entire front office and brought in Yankee Bench Coach Carlos Mendoza as manager. 

Stearns also reversed the Mets strategy in free agency, opting to sign veteran players coming off of career worst years, hoping a change in scenery would allow for talents such as Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana to bounce back. David Stearns made it clear that the Mets were seeking to build a team that could remain in playoff contention consistently. “With all of these things, it’s important to recognize that every situation is unique,” Stearns said. “We aren’t going to be the Dodgers. We have to create our own identity, our own organizational way and be elite in a way that is unique to the New York Mets.” 

That strategy was revamping the Mets player development programs, bringing in low-risk high reward free agents, and continuing to build around current stars such as Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo. Yet with all this in mind, Mets fans weren’t expecting much from the team. They were hoping for a competitive team that could possibly compete for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, the start of the season was disastrous. 

Before Opening Day, the Mets announced star pitcher Kodai Senga had been diagnosed with a moderate posterior capsule strain in his throwing shoulder and would begin the season on the injured list. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 10th, 2024. The Mets would go on to start the year 0-5, scoring a dismal 11 runs in the first five games of the season. Francisco Lindor started the year with one hit in his first 27 at-bats. The Mets looked dead not even a week into the season. 

However, as would become a theme for the 2024 Mets, they punched back. Down 1-0 in the ninth inning, Pete Alonso belted a game tying home run into the left field bleachers. The Mets would go on to win this game in extra innings to secure their first win of the season. “It was one of those [home runs] I thought, ‘Oh, nice,'” Alonso said. “I just saw it keep going and going. It was really fun. We definitely needed that one. I’m just really happy I was able to come through at that moment,” Bill Ladson of MLB.com reported. The Mets kept the momentum throughout the month of April, going 15-10 over their next 25 games, entering May with a winning record. With high hopes for the summer, the Mets then decided to play some of the worst baseball in franchise history. 

The Mets played to a record of 9-19 during the month of May 2024. However, it wasn’t just the number of losses during this month that was miserable, but rather the manner in which they were losing. The Mets bullpen pitched to an abysmal 5.48 Earned Run Average. They blew a whopping 8 saves during the month, and every loss seemed worse than the last. On May 13th, closer Edwin Diaz melted down, surrendering two runs to the Phillies in the ninth. On May 18th, Diaz blew another lead late, entering with a four run lead, leaving with the game tied before the Mets eventually lost in extras. Three days later, the Mets entered the seventh inning up 3-0 against the Guardians, surrendering a three run game tying homer en route to a 7-6 defeat. Finally, on May 25th, the Mets blew a three run lead in the eighth, as Reed Garret gave up a go ahead grand slam to utility man Patrick Bailey. Ms. Gail Jaitin, a lifelong Mets fan and English teacher at Bronx Science, reflected on the Mets’ many struggles, saying, “I figured it was going to be a long season.” 

Still, even after the month’s heartbreak, the worst was yet to come. On May 29th, the Mets entered the eighth inning down 3-2 to the dodgers. Mets reliever Jorge Lopez gave up seven runs in the eighth, getting ejected with two outs after arguing a call with the umpires. As he exited the field, he tossed his glove into the crowd in a tantrum. It was a horrible look, continuing the Mets history of bizarre stories making the Mets franchise look like a joke. After the game, Jorge Lopez publicly called the Mets “the worst team in the whole MLB.” 

Jorge Lopez was let go from the team that day, and on May 30th, Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo called a team meeting, knowing that the Mets needed to change the course of their season fast to keep their postseason hopes alive. The team decided they needed to start holding each other accountable for negative performances, and using the wisdom of the veterans to guide the rookies. “The way everyone interacted and how we all left, it wasn’t kind of one of those meetings where it’s just kind of, ‘OK, we got to be better,'” Martinez said. “It was, ‘No, let’s start having fun again and start enjoying this. We lose, we lose.” 

As the Mets players began to change course, the ownership did the same. Noticing the bad morale in the clubhouse, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns decided it was time to bring in a veteran player who could be a positive force in the clubhouse. He called up 35 year old middle infielder Jose Iglesias, a player who hadn’t even been in baseball the previous year. He had quit baseball to pursue his other passion, music. It was with the Mets where he combined his passions, helping to completely revamp the image of the 2024 Mets. 

On the diamond, Iglesias had the best year of his career, batting .334 over the 2024 season. He became one of the Mets most clutch players, batting .421 with Runners in Scoring Position. Off the field, his hit single OMG, became the number one Latin Song on apple music. The Mets started playing the song over the loudspeakers at Citi Field after a homerun, and Iglesias treated the fans to a live performance after a win over the Astros on June 28th. At this point, the Mets were on a roll, winning 17 of their last 22 games, finally holding a winning record again. The Mets had gone from a depressing laughing stock, to one of the most exciting teams in baseball in one short month. 

Jose Iglesias wasn’t the only person to come up from the minors and make an impact. The Mets also called up 24 year old third baseman Mark Vientos. Vientos had been called up in 2023, showing glimpses of greatness but never playing well consistently enough to warrant a long tenure at third base. During Spring training, he slugged five home runs in 58 at-bats, but didn’t make the major league roster. However, when Mets third baseman at the time Brett Batty got hurt, Vientos got the call to the majors. In his first game with the Mets in 2024, he launched a walk-off two run homer to give the Mets a 4-2 win over the Cardinals. Vientos never looked back, securing the everyday third base position, and would become one of the most consistent offensive producers in the Mets lineup. 

The Mets June success could be attributed to a red hot lineup, and a renewed spark to the clubhouse. However, there was another contributor, from the most unlikely of sources. On June 2nd, McDonalds mascot Grimace threw out the first pitch at Citi Field, The Mets would then proceed to win seven straight games. As the Mets continued to roll through June, sweeping the Yankees, Padres, and Nationals, Mets fans contributed this to the “Grimace effect.” While this may seem bizarre, this story summarizes the 2024 Mets perfectly: expect the unexpected, and enjoy the ride. 

As July began, the trade deadline at the end of the month loomed near. The Mets found themselves right in the middle of a playoff race, and questions began to emerge about what the Mets’ approach would be at the deadline. Would they go all in, trading top prospects in the minor leagues to pursue a World Series trophy? It’s important to realize that 2024 was supposed to be a transition year, and the Mets had numerous players who could be traded for high value. Would David Stearns completely reverse his strategy and approach based on one good month? “I think the plan coming into the season was to compete and make the playoffs,” Stearns said. “That was the plan and that remains the plan. And so I think where we are right now doesn’t really matter how we got here.” 

As the Mets continued to play good baseball throughout the month of July, David Stearns said he would strike a balance at the deadline. He would look to sure up weak spots on the team, but would most likely not trade any top prospects. He improved the Mets bullpen through the acquisitions of Phil Maton and Ryan Stanek. He added lefty Jesse Winker to add some power to the middle of the order as well as an edge in the clubhouse. The Mets ended July right in the middle of the playoff race, and comfortably above .500 with a 57-51 record. 

As the dog days of August began, the Mets began to show glimpses of vulnerability. Edwin Diaz melted down again in Anaheim against the Angels, blowing a two run lead in the eighth, and the Mets were swept by the Mariners a week later. They would also drop a series to the A’s, a team dozens of games under .500. As the final week of August rolled around, the Mets were positioned to embark on a 10 game road trip, playing seven games against the Padres and Diamondbacks, two teams ahead of them in the playoff race. The Mets had just won back to back games on walk off homers from Jesse Winker and Francisco Alvarez, and had all the momentum in the world. Little did they know, this road trip would mark perhaps the lowest moment of the season. 

The 10 game stretch started well, with the Mets winning the first two games against the Padres, only to drop the final two, the last being in walk-off fashion. As the Mets progressed to Arizona, Edwin Diaz would blow yet another save, this time surrendering a grand slam to Corbin Carroll, en route to a 9-5 defeat. The Mets were now 6.5 games behind the Diamondbacks in the wild card standings, and far from any playoff spot at all. It was going to take a miracle for the Mets to make the playoffs at this point. But, as was the theme of the 2024 Mets, they always punched back. The Mets would come out and win the very next night against the D-Backs, winning the season series and securing the tiebreaker if need be. The Mets would then embark on one of the most unbelievable runs in franchise history. 

They closed August and opened September with nine straight wins, propelling themselves 10 games over .500 for the first time all year. On September 11th, the Mets were three outs away from being no-hit against the Bluejays, until Francisco Lindor ended the bid and tied the game with a homer in the ninth. The Mets would go on to win this game 6-2. The Mets would lose a tough series in Philadelphia, only to bounce back by sweeping the Nationals and taking 3 out of 4 from that same Philly team in Citi Field, including an electric 2-1 victory to mark the final home game of the regular season. The Mets were 87-69, and had a playoff spot. As they embarked on the final road trip of the regular season, two familiar foes, two teams that have destroyed the Mets for years stood in their way: The Braves and The Brewers. 

The Mets have a well documented history against the Braves full of heartbreak and upsets. Just two years prior they were swept at the end of the season, coughing up the division to the Braves, which eventually ended in an early exit in the Wild Card round for them. History has never fared well for the Mets in Atlanta; it’s been something on the minds of Mets fans year in and year out. You could say all you want about this version of the team, its unique vibe, the momentum they’ve built as one of baseball’s best over the last few months, and any other denial in the face of defeat that you could muster at the time. I don’t think any Mets fan could have looked you in the eye and told you seriously they weren’t worried at least a little bit about history repeating itself again.

As for the Brewers, they were instrumental in the Mets 0-5 start to begin the year, sweeping the Mets to begin the season. The Braves were first, and the Mets dropped game one to them in a one sided affair with a final score of 5-1. Before disaster could strike for the Mets, a different kind of disaster struck: a hurricane. Hurricane Helene delivered heavy rain, causing the final two games of the series to be postponed to a double header on September 31st. The Mets then flew to Milwaukee, salvaging the final game of the series to avoid the sweep. As the final day of the regular season arrived, the picture was simple: win one game of the doubleheader and the Mets were in. Ironically enough, on a day where there was supposed to be no baseball, the Mets and Braves played the Game of the Year. 

For the first seven innings, it seemed like the Mets would choke in Atlanta once again. They were held to no runs through seven and entered the eighth down 3-0. Time was running out for the Mets to clinch their spot in the playoffs, and the Mets would have to leave it all on the field. And that’s exactly what they did. They exploded for six runs in the 8th. Jose Iglesias would tie the game with a single, Mark Vientos would give them the lead, and Brandon Nimmo would cap off the inning with a two-run homer. This game was the perfect metaphor for the 2024 Mets: when you think they’re dead, they somehow emerge stronger. Unfortunately, the Mets would immediately surrender four runs in the bottom half of the inning, after Edwin Diaz failed to cover first on a ground ball to the right side, and then gave up a bases-clearing three-run double to Ozzie Albies. 

They entered the ninth inning down 7-6. This incredible ride was three outs away from being tragically cut short. This team was defined by its unique characters, the underdog players who stepped up in big moments, and the expected stars who rose to the occasion. But if they failed here, no one would remember this team, and 2024 would just be known as the year of yet another Mets choke job.  However, if there was anyone more fitting to get the chance to change the narrative for this franchise at this moment it was Francisco Lindor. If this absolutely ridiculous win was ever going to happen, if the Mets were going to turn an 0-5 start into a trip to the playoffs, it was coming to a head right here, right now. This team was once 11 games under 500, and their fans couldn’t even bother to show up and watch them play in April. Their second most productive player was a well below average hitter across his 11-year career, probably more popular on Spotify than in Major League Baseball, who just a few months ago had absolutely no reason to believe. But as Met’s fans have been saying for years: Ya Gotta Believe. 

“Lindor gets under one to center field, Harris going back, back near the wall, and, IT’S OUTTA HERE! LIN-SANITY AGAIN!! Francisco Lindor flips the script with a ninth inning home run, and the Mets go in front 8-7,” said Gary Cohen. 

After this unbelievable homerun, Edwin Diaz lumbered back out for the ninth, and finished the story: From 0-5 to OMG, the 2024 Mets were postseason bound. They slayed the Atlanta dragon, and were returning to the playoffs. The Mets couldn’t celebrate for long, however, because they immediately had to jump on a plane for a playoff series. Their opponents? The Milwaukee Brewers in a best of three Wild Card Series. 

The two teams split the first two games, as the Mets won the first game 8-4, before another bullpen implosion resulted in a 5-3 loss in game 2. They could have won this series, but now they have to drag their feet back into the building for a win or take all game 3. This could also be Pete Alonzo’s last game as a New York Met. Remember his contract with the team ends after this season, and fans were more apathetic than ever about whether or not they see him as a long-term Met. 

This entire time he was in the midst of what was probably the worst full season of his career to this point. In his potential last game in a Mets uniform, it seemed like he was trying to have the worst last game he could have. He made three quick outs and missed a foul popup in the eighth. The Mets needed runs to stay alive this season and their star run-producing threat wasn’t giving them runs. Jose Quintana’s six shutout innings are the only reason this is even a game right now. And when the Brewers lead off the bottom of the seventh inning with back-to-back homeruns, in what felt like the blink of an eye the Mets are three outs away from all this coming to an end. 

Lindor and Nimmo reach base and Pete is now the go-ahead run. But the way things have been going tonight for him you would totally believe that he might hit into a double play and end the season. It can’t be that someone this loved gets remembered for only this, it would be such an unfair, unpoetic way for it all to end.  It was at this moment we all asked Pete Alonso, “How do you want to be remembered?” He answered this question in grand style. 

“The pitch…swing and ball drilled, right field, Frelick back, at the wall, OUTTA HERE!!! IT’S OUTTA HERE!!! Alonso hits an opposite field home run, and the Mets have the lead! Pete Alonso the polar bear takes Devin Williams deep, and here in the ninth the comeback kids have done it again,” narrated Jon Sciambi. 

In the bottom of the ninth, David Peterson of all people strolled to the mound, slammed the door shut, and the Mets were Philadelphia bound. All the negative press, perception, and fan bombardment Alonso had been receiving all year was erased with one mighty swing to save the season. Within a span of a week, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso delivered two of the most memorable swings in Mets History. How could this season get any better? 

Well, the Mets answered that question in their best of five series against their arch-rival, the Phillies. The two teams split in Philly, with the Mets completing another magical comeback, exploding for six runs in the final two innings to win Game one 6-2. As the series moved to Queens, the Mets steamrolled the Phillies in Game 3, notching a 7-2 win, highlighted with home runs from Jesse Winker, Pete Alonso, and seven scoreless innings from Sean Manaea. The Mets would end the Phillies season the following night, thanks to a go-ahead grand slam from none other than Francisco Lindor. This unbelievable turnaround had taken the Mets to their first National League Championship Series since 2015. 

Next up, The Dodgers. Yes, the same Dodgers who the Mets played on May 29th, the team that prompted the Mets to hold that team meeting and completely revamp their identity. The Mets were shelled in Game one, losing 9-0. They responded to the Game one haymaker, with one of their own in Game 2, scoring six runs in the first two innings en route to a 7-3 win. Unfortunately, the Mets lack of pitching depth that plagued them all year came back to haunt them, as they were blown out in Games 3 and 4 at Citi Field. The Mets fought in Game 5, winning 12-6 to send the series back to LA, only to get throttled in Game 6, losing 10-5. And just like that, the season was over. 

But there was something different about this season’s ending, because in the minutes after it did, I found myself smiling and thinking to myself, “Wow, I’m glad that happened.” Usually, when your team loses in the playoffs, there is some traumatic moment that haunts you for life and leaves a sour taste in your mouth. In 2000 and 2015, the Mets were leading Game one of the World Series, only to surrender those leads in the ninth inning and lose the game and series. But here, there was nothing like that. This team delivered some of the most memorable moments I have had as a fan. They fought to the very end, only losing to the team that would go on to win the World Series. In fact, they put up a better fight than the “Big Brother Yankees” who were dusted in five games, losing heartbreakers in Games one and five. 

So, as the season came to a close, and a new one begins, it’s important for us to remember how special this group truly was. They were on death row multiple times, only to emerge stronger. They were the perfect combination of stars and scrappy underdogs that made the team so fun to watch. Their bizarre off the field stories and characters made the group distinct from any other in the league. The turnover rate for baseball teams is high, and the 2024 group will not be together in 2025. But the 2024 Mets gave their fans an amazing roller coaster, and have set the stage for what could be the greatest era of Mets baseball yet. 

“Lindor gets under one to center field, Harris going back, back near the wall, and, IT’S OUTTA HERE! LIN-SANITY AGAIN!! Francisco Lindor flips the script with a ninth inning home run, and the Mets go in front 8-7,” said Gary Cohen.