NEW YORK — With their season on the line Friday, the New York Mets spent the early afternoon hours cracking jokes. No one wanted to publicly share any of the punchlines that were freestyled during the initial minutes of their advance hitting meeting. But everyone insisted that the players’ one-liners aimed at one another were so good that even the coaches burst into laughter.
A good sign, Mets co-hitting coach Eric Chavez remembered thinking to himself.
“Of any group,” he said, “this is the group I’ve been least worried about bouncing back.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza sensed something similar when he walked into the meeting. He observed the kind of personality that has defined his club. In the room, he saw smiles. They’d be ready to play to keep their season alive, Mendoza figured. No worries there.
The Mets continued to show why there was such confidence with their 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. With the series headed back to Los Angeles, the Dodgers lead 3-2. The Mets had to win Friday. They also have to win Sunday. Then they’d have to win Monday. This particular test against baseball’s best team includes a raised level of difficulty, but the Mets are used to the idea of overcoming a challenge.
So it was no surprise that they approached Game 5 in a familiar style. Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo described the vibe as “loose and focused.” Turns out, you can be both. Because after everyone made their jokes, they got down to business.
the Mets are the first team to not strike out in a postseason game since the Angels in Game 2 of the 2002 World Series
11th such postseason instance overall and the 3rd in the expansion era (1961)
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 19, 2024
In Game 1, Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty shut the Mets out over seven innings, recording out after out by dominating down low with soft stuff. That day, New York failed to make much of an adjustment. With Flaherty returning to the mound for Game 5, the Mets vowed to prevent a repeat performance.
“It wasn’t going to happen again,” Chavez said.
In the Mets’ first at-bat, Francisco Lindor took a first-pitch fastball for strike one then laid off two curveballs out of the zone. He singled. Next, Nimmo worked a five-pitch walk, laying off another curveball.
Inside the dugout, Chavez said to himself, “Great, we are in a good state of mind.”
Pete Alonso followed, took one slider for a low strike and then watched another slider dive in the dirt for a ball before swinging at yet another slider 3 inches below the strike zone. He connected for a three-run home run that traveled 432 feet. It was the kind of thing that only Alonso can do regularly: swing at a pitch others wouldn’t dare do willingly and make it go very far. “He hit it off the ground to the apple,” outfielder Jesse Winker said. “That’s special power.”
From there, the Mets continued to clobber Flaherty. Against him, they swung and missed just twice. They racked up five extra-base hits. They even celebrated walks with pumped fists (Alonso) and bat flips (Winker). It was clear how badly the Mets wanted it.
Even after they chased Flaherty after three innings, the Mets continued to take turns having quality at-bats.
Their total number of strikeouts: zero.
“That’s incredible,” Winker said.
Though they’ve been shut out twice in the series, the Mets remain capable of explosive offensive games because of the depth of their lineup. Given the state of their pitching staff, the Mets’ bats may stand out as the main reason to have any faith that they can pull this off and take two games in Los Angeles.
The best signs may have appeared toward the bottom of the order, which had been a problem in the series for the Mets.
Starling Marte, who batted sixth, went 4-for-4 with three doubles. Coaches who know him best always tell Mendoza that Marte punishes good pitching. When the game is on the line and in times like this when everything is on the line, they feel like they can count on Marte to show up.
And perhaps the most promising sign for the Mets may have been Francisco Alvarez’s production. Mendoza decided to stick with Alvarez through his slump. It finally paid off. The catcher, who bats ninth, went 3-for-4 with three balls hard hit, including a double.
On Friday morning, Alvarez was actually experiencing a tough batting session. After he hit during early work, he told Chavez, “Everything is between my ears. I have to control my thoughts, and I’ll be just fine.”
Chavez initially interpreted that as an indication that Alvarez maybe wasn’t in the right headspace.
But Alvarez returned for more work later, looking sharper, locked in. He’d indeed be just fine.
To keep up with the Dodgers, it’s obvious that the Mets are going to need to continue to receive quality at-bats throughout their lineup.
The way the Mets see it, it’s just as important for them to continue to be themselves, play without thinking of pressure but also prepare intently. Loose and focused, as Nimmo put it.
There were glimpses of this at play before and after Game 5. Lindor smiled widely as he warmed up while The Temptations sang “My Girl” before the first pitch. After the game was over and his media obligations finished, Alonso bowed to the crowd at Citi Field.
It’s something that Mendoza has preached since spring training, something he reiterated early in the season when things looked bleak. He wanted them to take scenes in, notice the crowd and realize that this is supposed to be fun. They want to win, sure. And they intend to win. But they’re enjoying the ride, too, however wild it has been. It’s gotten them this far.
(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
