In defense of Mets fans who didn’t pack Citi Field on Sunday night

There was a lot to be said about the New York Mets at the start of Sunday night’s loss to the San Diego Padres. In an all-or-nothing decider for the chance to advance, the team came up well short by mustering only a single hit.

Before that disaster, the Mets fan was being dragged through the mud for not showing up. It wasn’t even a sellout.

Mets fans have nothing to be ashamed of for not packing Citi Field

The Mets fan is loyal. They stick with the team through tough times even with another team right in the same city. They don’t follow the guidelines of the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Lakers, Duke Blue Devils fan we all know. They cheer on the Mets from wherever they are.

For Sunday to not be a sellout is a surprise. Let’s consider the circumstances. There was no guarantee the game would take place. It was only a week earlier when it became apparent that the Mets might have to play in the Wild Card Series. It was the series nobody wanted to happen in the first place. Already, there was a bad feeling around the series and the way the team was performing.

Max Scherzer started Game 1 and it was Jacob deGrom in Game 2. Chris Bassitt is a good pitcher but isn’t an attraction like they are. It doesn’t much matter. In the playoffs, the games mean more than just the pitcher—you also need more than a single hit.

What prevented many Mets fans from showing up were the other factors. Convenience was a big one. A late start on a Sunday is not appealing for many people. When you can watch the game at home rather than travel an hour or two or even more the night before the work week begins, it’s an easy choice. Why put yourself through more pain?

Then there’s the whole matter of ticket prices. It’s not cheap to attend a game. Spending hundreds of dollars on an early round playoff game is unattractive. It’s hard enough living in New York or the surrounding area financially. Having an extra $100 is important to many folks.

Should Mets fans be ashamed they didn’t go to Game 3 as much as they could have? Not at all. It’s easy to say in hindsight because performance on the field wasn’t even worth getting in there for free. The cost of the ticket, food, beverages, and parking or the train is enough to make a cold October night one to stay in and hope for the best.