One of my X followers got after me the other day about the Mets having “Grimace” (the mascot) throw the first pitch of the Mets’ game against the San Diego Padres. He thought it was an amateur stunt of a major league team. I see it as a lot more.
Grimace had made an impact. Ever since he threw the first pitch last Wednesday at Citi Field, the Mets have had a seven-game winning streak. The Rangers snapped it on Wednesday, 5-3, before NYM resumed winning by clubbing the Cubs on Friday, 11-1.
The Mets are hitting the ball, and they are pitching much better.
You can say it’s just a coincidence, but I think there’s more to it. Consider how the Mets came from behind to beat the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers 7-6 on Tuesday night. You can’t deny Grimace’s impact on the team when you see a win like that.
Yes, the Mets are a team below .500 at 36-38. Yes, it’s just a snapshot of their season. And yes, they did win four of five before Grimace threw the first pitch. Still, a fan needs to have fun during a long season, or else there’d be no point in watching sports. The players need to have some fun with it, too, given that the season is such a grind. Why not embrace Grimace and ride it out until the magic runs out?
Before the McDonald’s character threw the first pitch, there really wasn’t anything to talk about outside of Christian Scott’s and Luis Severino’s starts. The Mets were so bad that I wondered if they would lose 100 games. But now they have me thinking about going to Chicago on Labor Day weekend and maybe thinking of playoffs.
Interestingly, Francisco Lindor, J.D. Martinez, and Pete Alonsoll suddenly started hitting as soon as Grimace entered the Mets’ lives. The three have struggled for most of the season so far. Now, it’s hard to get any of them out. Sure, a long baseball season would mean those three would eventually turn their season around, but how is it that all three are doing it simultaneously? Of course, there’s something at work here.
And how about the starting rotation, giving quality starts suddenly? Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea have pitched well enough for us to forget pining Scott and the injured Kodai Senga at the moment. The bullpen has found footing, too, pitching to a 1.40 ERA over the previous 11 games after struggling for most of the season.
Edwin Diaz found his groove after being on the injured list with a shoulder injury that had him blown three straight saves. Adam Ottavino has finally been reliable after being miscast as a closer. Dedniel Nunez has become a revelation to the point that he has now pitched in high-leverage situations. Adrian Houser found his niche in the bullpen after struggling as a starter and being demoted to relief. Even Jake Diekman is getting outs.
Superstitions have been part of baseball for a long time. Players rely on good luck to have something good to go on, and they don’t want to ruin a good thing. Remember Jason Giambi wearing a thong when he went on a great stretch as a Yankee? How about Wade Boggs eating chicken for good luck before the game? And remember when the then-Anaheim Angels used the Rally Monkey to spearhead their summer run to the playoffs and ultimately won a championship in 2002?
It seems like we have the same thing with Mets, and if it works, why not? If the Mets somehow win 30 of 35 to get back into contention, then yes, this Grimace theory sure has its meaning where cynics have no choice but to really believe it.
Go ahead and talk about the easy schedule. But guess what? The Mets have lost to mediocre teams such as the Giants, Cardinals, and Rays, so it’s hard to look down on them if they beat mediocre teams. Remember, most of the teams in MLB are mediocre anyway.
It would be really cool if the Mets could enter the trade deadline by making a move that would improve their chances of making the playoffs. Not only that, but Grimace would become an even better story. We could use a legend to remember when we think of Mets baseball 2024. Call it “THE SUMMER OF GRIMACE.”
It’s a fun narrative. So, instead of ridiculing Grimace, embrace him.
