Props to the ... Mets?

 

Jose Iglesias

There are bad apples in every bunch.

Some would say that describes me and to each their own.

Regardless of thoughts about their fan base, I genuinely marvel at what the New York Mets did this season.

Yes, as I've been reminded ad nauseam for what seems like years, they were not expected to do well this year. Of course, they did better than well, taking until the final day of the regular season -- in a bizarre doubleheader that was the only action on that day -- and making the playoffs.

From there, they did what any great team does. They played team baseball and were never once out of a game. They supported each other and you could tell there was a general charm to them.

They rallied around things like Grimace and the "OMG" pop song and their fans ate it all up. Let us not forget the appearance of Ms. Hawk Tuah.

But the true hallmark of the team was that they simply wouldn't go away. They kept playing. Seemingly finished against Milwaukee, Pete Alonso hit a ninth-inning, three-run homer to advance to play the Phillies.

Then they rolled past the Phillies in four games.

Then they went up against the Dodgers. The fan base got louder and more confident that they were on their way to their sixth National League pennant. I'm fairly certain they all wanted the Yankees, who they were 4-0 against in interleague play.

But the Dodgers are the Dodgers and they're quite good if not great. Finally, the Mets were out of answers, falling in Game 6 last night.

The Dodgers will play the much-hated Bronx Bombers beginning Friday night.

Should Mets fans be proud? Absolutely. I mean, that's silly to even consider. It was a great ride, complete with an MVP-caliber performance by Francisco Lindor and the probable resurgence of Alonso plus the breakout of Mark Vientos.

Should they be disappointed? Yes, I think they should. Spare me the "I'm happy we just got here" stuff. You reached the NLCS. You took two games from the Dodgers. The media that you think hates you called you the team nobody wanted to face.

Mets fans shared humor, whimsy, and joy everywhere you went, along with no "effs" to give.

And they have an owner who will spend like it's Monopoly money this offseason. 

They're salty today though. Not all of them. Some. Well, the social media types and tough guys. I actually considered reaching out to one of them who just completely hates me to do a wellness check but, well, that probably wouldn't have mattered.

It's the good fans -- the rational ones, the ones I enjoy talking with -- that I need to rally around. They're the ones who are good for my own soul and good for baseball.

They're the ones who don't worry about feeling sorry for themselves or MVP votes of Gold Gloves or Derek Jeter humorously walking off the set of FOX's postgame show after shenanigans involving Mr. and Mrs. Met.

The others are toxic. They're too hung up on The Best Booth in Baseball ™ and other nonsense to recognize how annoying it all is. Them. Not the other stuff.

There's no need to be annoying. The Mets were good for baseball in 2024.

They'll be scary with a few improvements in 2025.

So, tonight, I'm calling a truce and tipping my cap.

Oh, don't worry, I still believe "Black is Not a Mets Color."™

I raise a glass to the memory of Tom Seaver and salute the 2024 Mets.

See how easy that was?