UGLY OF ‘21 METS
Little bit of everything
drunk driving the morning after he left a charity event at Cohen’s house in late August. The Mets immediately put Scott on administrative leave. He was fired months later, in early November, to officially end his front office tenure in Queens. Scott, who pleaded not guilty, is due back in court in January for his drunk-driving case.
7. ROJAS’ EJECTION IN PITT
For many fans, the Mets’ meltdown in Pittsburgh to open up the second half of the season revealed the true makeup of the 2021 team. Mets closer Edwin Diaz finished the first half by blowing a save opportunity vs. the Pirates, and he came out of the All-Star break with another blown save at PNC Park. In the series finale, Taijuan Walker faced just nine batters and made one out after he let six runs score. As the Mets were in a 6-0 hole in the first inning, manager Luis Rojas stormed out of the dugout to excessively and passionately argue with umpires over Walker’s misplay. Though the Mets came back to win that game, and Rojas was later suspended by MLB for his behavior, it was evident then that these Mets were not a playoff team.
8. ALONSO TELLS FANS TO ‘JUST SMILE’ AMID FREE FALL
It was none other than Zack Wheeler who put the punctuation on the Phillies’ sweep of the Mets in a critical August matchup at Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler pitched a twohit shutout against his former team as the Mets went from a four-game first place lead in the NL East to an unwatchable third-place disaster. As the Braves and Phillies made their way to the top of the division, the Mets played like they were ready to watch October baseball from the comfort of their couches. Instead of being accountable, Pete Alonso told Mets fans who’ve been waiting over three decades for a ring to “just smile” because they “get to watch baseball.” The advice didn’t exactly go over well with fans that had even an ounce of optimism left for the season.
9. VILLAR STEALS HOME
“I’m not scared to play baseball,” said Jonathan Villar moments after his memorable trip around the bases on May 2. Villar caught the Phillies sleeping and stole second base, then third, then home to tie the game at 4-4 and spark a six-run Mets rally. Edwin Diaz later allowed the Phillies to come within one run, but the Mets held on to win.
10. METS PRACTICE WORLD SERIES CELEBRATION
Led by first base and outfield coach Tony Tarasco, the 2021 Mets started the year by attempting to manifest their future. Nearly every starting position player played the 27-outs game, a drill designed to make 27 consecutive outs without making an error. The Mets, practicing the drill at their spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Fla., watched as Michael Conforto jumped against the right field wall to catch the simulated final out of Game 7 World Series. Instructed by Tarasco to celebrate like they just won the Fall Classic, infielders threw their gloves in the air and formed a dog pile near the mound as the outfielders sprinted in for a warm reception full of cheers and high fives and chest bumps. “I believe in putting great things and positive things in the universe,” said Dominic Smith back on March 10. “I feel like it’s more likely to happen.” Evidently it will take more than a wholesome and spirited manifestation for the Mets to break their 35-year championship drought.