Coming into the 2024 MLB season, New York baseball fans had higher expectations of the Yankees than the Mets, but both disappointed in the end.
In the Bronx, the Yankees were expected to make the World Series, and some believed they could win it all.
Typically, the Yankees were the top team for the entire season in the American League East division. This was largely due to phenomenal plays by their superstar outfielders, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, acquired in the offseason from San Diego. At the trade deadline in July, the Yankees secured utility man Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins and relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs to continue their postseason push.
Attributed to Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
The Yankees clinched the number one seed in the American League, and won the American League East division thanks to their leading AL 94-68 record.
Meanwhile in Queens, the Mets struggled significantly to begin the 2024 season. Following the Mets’ mediocre 2023 campaign, fans expected a similarly poor performance. They were one of the worst teams in the MLB, beginning their season with a record of 22-33. It reached the point where their main play-by-play commentator Gary Cohen lamented during a game against the Tigers: “Nobody in the ballpark. 0-5. Hitless through seven. Feels like rock-bottom.”
Despite the slow start, the Mets began to turn around after McDonald’s mascot Grimace threw out the ceremonial first pitch in a game against the Marlins on June 12th. This sparked a seven game winning streak and a massive turnaround in their season.
Cuban-born Mets shortstop José Iglesias rallied the team together with the creation of his song “OMG”, a Latin pop hit that became like the Mets’ anthem. Released on June 28, it propelled them into the postseason as the number six seed in the National League, finishing with a record of 89-73.
In the postseason, the Mets defeated the Brewers in the Wild Card and the Phillies in the Divisional Series. After losing to the Dodgers, they fell short of the World Series.
On a similar thread, the Yankees defeated the Royals in the Divisional Series and the Guardians in the Championship Series. At the end of their season, the team lost against the aforementioned Dodgers, losing their 28th World Series title, leaving the Dodgers to claim their title as champions.
Now, both New York teams are facing challenges this upcoming offseason. The Mets need to bring back star first baseman Pete Alonso, and the Yankees must find a way to re-sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto, or else wind up short of fans’ expectations again.
