The 2024 New York Mets- What a story, right?

As a lifelong Mets fan, it’s hard not to assume this team will break your heart and the dream will turn into a nightmare. However, the 2024 New York Mets team turned many fans into believers. It started like so many other lost seasons do, hopeless and with many fans checking out before the trade deadline. However, it became a thrilling, heart-pounding journey with even the most pessimistic fans smiling and saying Let’s Go Mets. While they came up short in a quest for a World Series title I don’t think fans would change one second of this season.

You can point to many reasons why this team went on a magical run, but here are three major reasons. 

Francisco Lindor Played like an MVP

MVP! MVP! MVP! What else can you say about the Mets shortstop? You could not ask for more from a single player. With his calm demeanor on the field, he exemplified leadership.  Don’t be surprised next season when he has a C on his jersey. Having Lindor leading the way made rookie manager Carlos Mendoza’s job a little easier, even in the Big Apple.

Sean Manaea who just completed his first season in New York talked about Lindor’s daily impact on the team. He told the media, “I look forward to it every day. The consistency, the positivity — he really is like that every day.”

It is this attitude that carried the Mets to the NLCS. Lindor’s time in New York didn’t start like this. Fans were actually booing him in his first season so to see thousands of fans serenade every night with “My Girl”, his walk-up song, is quite the turnaround.

Lindor has always been a fantastic player, but this season he established himself as a fantastic leader and role model.

Pitchers Trust Francisco Alvarez

The Mets have had some great catchers over the years and young Francisco Alvarez looks like he could be another. At first glance, the stats do not show Alvarez’s impact, but ask the pitchers on the roster. Even veteran pitchers like Edwin Diaz praise the young catcher,

The difference is clear just check the numbers, 24-38 record without him in the lineup and 65-35 with him in the lineup. Alvarez’s impact is real both in the lineup and behind the plate. His thirty-six home runs since 2023 is eighth amongst all catchers. He struggled offensively in the postseason, but his manager and teammates never lost confidence in the catcher.

You can truly see the difference in the team’s overall pitching stats when Alvarez was forced to miss time this season with a thumb injury.  His ability to frame pitches has led to the staff having more strike calls, while also having the ability to settle down pitchers despite being younger than all of the pitchers. The pitching staff overachieved this season and a lot of that has to do with having Alvarez behind the plate. 

The OMG Effect

You can tell this team likes playing together. Even after ugly losses, the team was able to shake it off and come in fresh the next day. There were times when Citifield was empty and they were the only ones who believed in this team. When this team was at its lowest,  eleven games under .500, they never looked defeated. Even when it looked like the team had given up by bringing up minor league players like Jose Iglesias and Mark Vientos, they proved their worth.

Fans witnessed the emergence of a young superstar in Mark Vientos while enjoying Iglesias’, better known as Candelita off the field, smash hit OMG. Iglesias even had a postgame concert for fans. The point was that this team loved playing with each other and it rubbed off on fans. There were OMG signs throughout the stadium with many fans serenading Iglesias with his own lyrics when he came up to bat. While Vientos set a team record for most RBIs in a single postseason. The future for Vientos looks very, very bright.

When fans reflect on the season, it will be with true, joyous smiles. This feels like the beginning of a special time for the Mets and their fans. Soon it will be time to talk about free agency and the idea that Pete Alonso might be wearing a different uniform, but for now, it’s fun to bask in the most unpredictable season in Mets’ history.