From 0-5 to OMG: The 2024 Mets

Published: Thursday, October 24, 2024

by Jacob Glick

“Nobody in the ballpark. 0-5. Hitless through seven. It feels like rock bottom.”

Gary Cohen's words were on the minds of every Mets fan in the ballpark. It was Game 6 of 162. The Mets had 156 games left in the season, but things were getting late early in Flushing. What followed provided a glimpse of what the 2024 season would entail for the Mets.

It was the second half of an April doubleheader. After losing the first game 5-0 to the Tigers, the Mets were hitless into the eighth inning of the second. Harrison Bader singled, giving the Mets a glimpse of hope, but the next three batters were quickly retired. Then, Pete Alonso led off the ninth with a home run. The Mets went on to win, setting the tone for their rollercoaster season.

After a disastrous 2023 season, in which the Mets set an MLB payroll record but missed the playoffs, expectations for 2024 were low. The offseason saw short "prove it" contracts for players like Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Reed Garrett, J.D. Martinez, and 34-year-old journeyman José Iglesias, who signed a minor league deal. The Mets aimed for a retool year, hoping that if everything went right, a playoff run was possible.

Following that win, the Mets went 12-3 over their next 15 games. Then, star catcher Francisco Álvarez suffered a thumb injury, and the Mets struggled, going 9-19 in May. Francisco Lindor was hitting below the Mendoza Line, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to move him to leadoff. The bullpen kept blowing leads, and on May 18, a ninth-inning collapse where Edwin Díaz allowed four runs while recording just one out felt like a breaking point.

As June approached and desperation loomed, the Mets called up Iglesias. Up to this point in his career, Iglesias had been known as a slick-fielding, light-hitting middle infielder, but he was always considered a valuable clubhouse presence. Nobody could have predicted what he would do for the team.

Around the same time, the Mets recalled third baseman Mark Vientos from the minors. A former top prospect, Vientos had failed to show consistency in his first two years in the majors, but the Mets felt it was time to see what they had in him as third base had been a weakness for the team for nearly a decade. Once again, nobody could have predicted what Vientos would do for the team.

Heading into June, the Mets were 11 games under .500, and hope seemed lost. Then, they went 16-8 in June, thanks to three unlikely heroes. On June 12, the Mets invited Grimace to throw out the first pitch—a gimmick that turned into something more. On June 18, Álvarez returned from injury, and Latin pop star Candelita released "OMG," which became the Mets' rallying cry after nearly every home run at home.

It's worth noting that Candelita is also José Iglesias, who, in addition to making music, hit .417 in June. Vientos also contributed with seven home runs that month, sparking hope he could overcome his early struggles. Following Grimace's visit to Citi Field, the Mets went on a seven-game winning streak. By June 28, they were above .500 for the first time since April 30, and by July 11, they had moved into a playoff spot—something unimaginable just two months earlier.

The Mets remained in the race through the trade deadline, where they acquired outfielder Jesse Winker from the Nationals and reliever Ryne Stanek from the Mariners.

Three series stood out during the final two months: a three-game set against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, a four-game series against the Phillies in New York, and a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta.

In the second game against the Diamondbacks, the Mets gave up a grand slam in the eighth inning to lose the game, falling four games back of the final National League wild card spot. They bounced back with a hard-fought 3-2 win in the final game of the series, showing their resilience.

Three weeks later, the Mets found themselves in a playoff spot and faced a four-game series against the presumptive NL East champion Phillies. The Mets took three of four, ending with a statement win on national television, propelling them to a two-game lead in the wild-card race.

Just two days later, the Mets traveled to Atlanta to face the Braves, the same place where they lost the division in 2022 after being swept. The Mets lost the first game 5-1, and another heartbreak seemed inevitable. To make matters worse, Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia, postponing the final two games, which would end up being played after the regular season to determine the Mets' playoff fate.

In a game that mirrored the 2024 season, the Mets fell behind 3-0 before rallying for six runs in the eighth. Just when it seemed they'd completed another comeback, they allowed four runs in the bottom half to trail 7-6. With the season on the line in the ninth, Lindor—who had hit .304 with 26 homers since May 18—stepped up and delivered a go-ahead two-run homer. Fittingly, Lindor fielded the final out in the bottom half, securing one of the most improbable playoff berths in baseball history. As announcer Gary Cohen exclaimed, “From 0-5 to OMG! What a ride! The Mets are going to the postseason in 2024!”

The Mets faced the Brewers in the first round, splitting the first two games. In the decisive Game 3, Pete Alonso went yard to finish another miraculous comeback. The Mets won 4-2 to secure their first trip to the NLDS in nine years. They met the Phillies in the playoffs for the first time in history, defeating their division rivals in four games to advance to the NLCS. However, their magical run ended there, as they fell to the Dodgers in six games.

Though 2024 will be remembered as the season of Grimace and “OMG,” it also marked a turning point for the franchise. No longer are the Mets a team constantly cycling through general managers and managers. Vientos emerged as a star, and Lindor cemented himself as a franchise cornerstone. The Mets are here, and while 2025 may not match the magic of 2024, this October has prepared New York for the next step.

Jacob Glick can be reached at jacob.glick@student.shu.edu. 

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