LONDON — How, exactly, are Mets fans supposed to explain their team to foreigners?
Do they start with their standings in the NL East (fourth place)? The exorbitant payroll? Maybe they start with the time Mr. Met flipped off a group of fans? After all, Mr. and Mrs. Met did make the trip to London for the team’s series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
It’s a question Mets fans grappled with — and laughed about — this weekend.
Danielle Sepulveres, a lifelong Mets fan from New Jersey, found herself trying to figure out how to accurately describe the experience of being a Mets supporter to a couple of Brits in a pub in Stratford near London Stadium on Saturday.
“The Mets are an inherited fandom, if you will,” Sepulveres told the Daily News on Sunday. “Most of us got it from our parents or grandparents. In it for life, and this is what we do. We’re dedicated, no matter what — even in another country.”
Sepulveres was one of the 108,956 fans in attendance for the two-game series and one of many Mets fans who made the trip across the Atlantic. It was a big financial undertaking and she knew she could be in for some tough losses, but she also knew the experience alone would be worth it.
“It very much felt like this historic thing,” she said. “In a way, it almost feels like the games don’t count. I know it’s nothing to get upset about. I feel like people still had a great time, at least in my section, and even [Saturday] night, everyone I bumped into was having so much fun. That’s been the overriding sentiment.”
Mets fans found community in London. Sepulveres came by herself but made friends with other fans once she arrived. The highlight of her trip was running into outfielder Brandon Nimmo and his wife, Chelsea, on the street. Nimmo even offered to take a photo with her.
The weekend was everything Sepulveres imagined it would be. It proved to be popular with players, and equally as popular of an experience for sports fans from New York, Philadelphia, and the U.K.
“I remember last year watching the Cubs and Cardinals and being like, ‘Oh, I really want to do this,'” Sepeulveres said. “So it just feels kind of surreal. Both days have been incredible.”
McNEIL GETS McGOING
Jeff McNeil made his first appearance since June 2 on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, with both hits coming against left-handed pitchers. It was a frustrating week for the 2022 NL batting champ. The Mets sat the slumping second baseman against four straight left-handed pitchers, giving him time to work on his swing.
His return was encouraging.
“I felt like my first two at-bats were my two best swings, and I was 0-for-2,” McNeil said. “Then my last two at-bats, I got a blooper and was able to sneak one by an infielder. So it’s the game of baseball, it’s tough. Hits aren’t always going to go your way, but my approach is always to stay up the middle and hit a line drive.”
McNeil, an avid golfer who won a pro-am event in January, might have picked up a new hobby during his time in London. The infielder got hooked on cricket with his wife, Tatiana. McNeil got so into it that he’s already making plans to see a World Cup game on Long Island next week.
“I think I’d be a heck of a cricket player,” McNeil said. “Everything bounces and you’re able to put in play and hit it anywhere. I think that’d be a lot of fun.”
CATCHING CAROUSEL
Luis Torrens might have secured his spot on the team with his performance in London. Acquired last weekend from the New York Yankees, Torrens has hit safely in four of the five games he’s started since joining the Mets and has shown a strong arm behind the plate. He saved the game Sunday with his heads-up 2-3 double play, and he went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a pickoff.
With Francisco Alvarez returning from the injured list next week, the Mets will decide between Torrens and homegrown backstop Tomas Nido. While Nido filled in admirably in Alvarez’s absence, his .229 average might not be enough to keep his spot on the roster.
Neither catcher has any minor-league options left. The Mets designated Nido for assignment last season but his contract (two years, $3.75 million) was a deterrent for other teams looking to pick up a catcher on waivers. With less than a year left, the outcome could be different this year, but either way, the Mets have a choice to make Monday.
