Owen Russell
When eccentric billionaire Steve Cohen purchased the Mets back in 2020, many diehard fans assumed that change was in the air. In an effort to bring a World Series back to Queens, Cohen spared no expense, shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars for top talent. Huge free agents like Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, and even future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer signed on. By 2022 the Mets had amassed a baseball “Death Star” poised to obliterate any opponent in their way. But baseball is funny that way.
Despite being many analysts’ pick to win the Fall Classic, the New York Mets will spend the rest of October on their couch, courtesy of the San Diego Padres.
The Mets came into the playoffs dazed and confused. New York blew a 10.5-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the NL East Division title. Even though the Mets won 101 games, they were forced to play in the new first-round wild card series against the San Diego Padres because they couldn’t secure the division.
With the new format, the Mets hosted the Padres in a three-game series. It was a disappointing result, but Mets fans had plenty of reasons to be optimistic. For one, New York boasted the best 1-2 pitching punch in the MLB, and all they needed were two wins. If Max Scherzer and Jacob Degrom could work their magic, then the Mets were allowed to move on. But again, baseball is funny – and cruel at times.
In 4.2 innings, Scherzer allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and four home runs. It was an uncharacteristically bad start, and it cost the Mets a crucial game one victory. “Baseball can take you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” Scherzer told ESPN.
It would only get lower for New York.
Game two offered a bit of hope. DeGrom dealt as well as he usually does, striking out eight batters in 6.0 innings. The Mets bats came alive, scoring seven runs on nine hits. It seemed like maybe game one was a fluke, and the Mets could keep the hits coming.
But in game three, the Mets had one hit – one hit. Needless to say, that one hit was not enough to secure the victory against a rollicking San Diego Padres team that continued firing on all cylinders. Padres ace Joe Musgrove pitched so well that the Mets were sure he was cheating. Musgrove threw 7.0 innings, allowed one hit, and struck out five batters. Mets’ Manager Buck Showalter asked the umpires to check Musgrove for illegal substances, or “sticky stuff.” The search came up empty and effectively put the nail in New York’s coffin.
New York was held hitless after the search and could not seem to build any momentum. The Padres’ bats solidified their win, notching six runs on 10 hits.
New York now finds itself in baseball limbo. After spending obscene amounts of money, the Mets couldn’t even make it past the first round of playoffs. Fans will be calling for their owner’s head if Cohen cannot deliver the Championship Juggernaut he promised. Jacob deGrom will most likely opt out of his contract, and closer Edwin Diaz carries a hefty price tag himself after producing one of the most dominant seasons for a relief pitcher in recent memory. Cohen and the rest of his team will have to decide how they’ll finally make the leap from regular team to World Series contender. But for now, Mets fans are forced to watch the rival Braves, Phillies, and Yankees all vie for the coveted World Series trophy.