For the first time since 2015, the Mets are in the National League Championship Series. The silliness has drawn the headlines: Jose Iglesias ‘ Latin pop song “OMG,” Grimace, the McDonald’s mascot who has somehow gone from mascot of capitalism to, well, honestly, I’m not even sure at this point. More importantly, though, the Mets have played great baseball . They were the best team in MLB since mid-June and that fervor only grew as the season stretched on. By September, they seemed unstoppable. And so far in the playoffs, they have been.
They split with the Braves in a hurricane-necessitated doubleheader to make the playoffs. They took two of three from the Brewers to win the Wild Card Series. They knocked the Phillies out of the NLDS in four games. If you look at the box score, it’s been methodical. But it’s been anything but.
A magician is never supposed to reveal his secrets. To try to explain the Mets magic would be futile. Someone else can pull the stats on Edwin Díaz vs. Kyle Schwarber or how many shortstops have hit a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning or later in a playoff game or Sean Manaea ‘s arm slot. That all matters. The moments matter more.