4 Mets highlights from the first half of the 2022 season

The New York Mets were set to make waves in 2022 after a very disappointing 2021 season. They started off in the offseason by reshaping the organization from top to bottom. By hiring Billy Eppler as General Manager and the very well-respected Buck Showalter as manager, they set a precedent that the team from Queens meant business.

On top of that, the Mets retooled the roster bringing in veteran leader Max Scherzer to help Jacob deGrom lead the starting rotation. They also brought in star outfielder Starling Marte and role players, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha.

Everything was coming together until deGrom went down with an injury but the Mets still had Scherzer to lead the charge. As the season started and progressed we got a taste of how good this team could be and then Scherzer went down for 6 weeks with a strained oblique muscle. What seemed like doom and gloom only propelled the Mets.

The Mets overcame the obstacles in front of them and played better than anyone could have ever imagined. They not only have led the division for most of the season but they also have the 2nd best record to start a season in franchise history just below the 1986 team (and we all know what that team accomplished in the end).

The first half of the 2022 season has been filled with many great Mets moments but these 4 are at the top:

Mets Highlight: April 29th, The Combined No-Hitter

People will try and denounce this accomplishment but a no-hitter is a no-hitter no matter how you play it.

Playing against their division rivals from Philly, five Mets pitchers combined to shut out and shut down a potent Phillies lineup led by Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, JT Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber.

Tylor Megill got the start and mowed down the Phillies offense for 5 innings including 5 strikeouts. Drew Smith came in relief and had a very impressive outing striking out four in 1.1 innings pitched. Smith was on a historic start of his own not allowing any runs in the first month of the season.

The no-no didn’t seem real until the Mets scored in the 5th and 6th inning capped off with a Polar Bear Blast from Pete Alonso. Once the runs were in place Seth Lugo and Joely Rodriguez came in and continued the Mets pitching brilliance. Rodriguez got into a little trouble giving up two walks but kept the Phillies hitless and Lugo got out the only two batters he ended up facing.

In the 9th, in front of a raucous crowd at Citi Field, Edwin Diaz came in against the heart of the Phillies order: Harper, Castellanos, and Realmuto. Not only does Diaz set them down in order, but he also finishes with a flourish, striking out the side.

The combined no-hitter was the second no-hitter in Mets history; ten years after Johan Santana pitched one in Queens as well.

Mets Highlight: May 5th, The 7-run rally in Philly

Well, the title speaks for itself. Isn't it funny that two of the biggest highlights of the Mets season come against the Phillies? Haha!

What had started off as a dud of a game finished with a comeback of epic proportions. 

Taijuan Walker got the start and had a very rare off day on the mound. He only lasted 4 innings giving up 9 hits and 7 runs (6 earned). The Mets scored a run in the 6th inning on a Starling Marte solo shot but that was it until the 9th inning.

Down 7-1 in the 9th, Mets magic started to materialize. With a man on, Francisco Lindor hit a two-run shot to cut the Phillies' lead to 7-3. You usually like to see a comeback capped off with a home run but the Mets still had some hits left in them.

Philly pitcher James Norwood could only record one out as he gave up four earned runs. It was now time to bring in closer Corey Knebel who didn’t fare much better.

With the tying runs on base, Brandon Nimmo came through with a single up the middle to tie the game and bring the Philly crowd to complete silence. Next up was Starling Marte and he gave the Mets the lead with an RBI double.

Edwin Diaz came in striking out two for the save and capped off a comeback that even stunned some Mets fans. It showed that this team was for real and nothing would hold them back.

Mets Highlight: July 9th, Keith Hernandez number retirement ceremony

What a journey it has been for Keith Hernandez in Queens. It all started off with a trade back in 1983 that brought the Gold Glove, Co-MVP, and World Champion to Queens from St. Louis.

Reluctant to want to be here at first, Hernandez became a legend in Queens and has been here ever since.

He transformed the team and provided leadership on and off the field that could not be compared. Just ask his teammates. This leadership led to a great second half of the 80s culminating with a World Series championship in 1986.

Following the World Series championship, Hernandez shared co-captain duties with Gary Carter. This lasted until the end of 1989 when his contract ran out.

After retiring, he became a fixture in New York by making a guest appearance on the popular comedy sitcom, Seinfeld.

Hernandez returned to the Mets organization, but this time as a play-by-announcer on SNY along with Gary Cohen and former teammate Ron Darling. Not only did he succeed on the field but has become one-third of possibly the best broadcast team in all of baseball.

I never got to see Hernandez play, but being in attendance for his retirement ceremony showed me just how important he was not only to this organization but to the fan base in Queens as well.

A sold-out crowd packed Citi Field to see one of the greatest get his number retired. From the video package to Keith’s speech it was a beautiful ceremony and day to honor this Mets legend.

On top of that, there was baseball to be played after the ceremony and the Mets defeated the Marlins in a comeback that even the 1986 championship team would be proud of.