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Welcome to the new Citi Field, where raging celebrations, home team makeup and, most importantly, victories have become the norm.
While the Mets are looking for a playoff spot that seemed like a fantasy during the all-star break, they made Citi Field their own playground. In a stadium they struggled to hit and win in the playoffs. previous seasons, they have done nothing but hit and win lately.
"This place is completely different when we play well," said Michael Conforto. "I think we are just fueling energy in this stage."
Before Thursday's playoff final against the Indians, the Mets had won 12 of their last 13 home games. They were 36-21 at Citi Field this season – the sixth-best percentage of home wins in the majors and a near-total win in 2017 or 2018.
The best news? Starting Thursday, 24 of the remaining 36 Mets games in the regular season will take place at Citi Field – the largest number of major league teams.
"I think confidence is there, of course," said manager Mickey Callaway. "We played well at home all year long. Lately, the exciting games we've played and our ability to come back, I really think this is due to our fan base. It's amazing the support we get. "
Their new advantage on the field was not always the same, as Citi Field had become a hard place to hit, apparently more for the home team. Last year, the Mets scored the smallest home points of any major team (3.38 per game average). -44. This year, the Mets are averaging 4.93 strokes per game at home and averaging 0.253.
"I never really understood – the numbers showed that our team did not play well in this stage, but I do not know, maybe we did not have the right team to play, "said Conforto. "We have some very good hitters here. Obviously J.D. [Davis] love to hit here, Jeff [McNeil] love to hit here, Pete [Alonso] like to hit here. … We did not think of this place once as a cemetery. "
And the crowd loved them in return.
After Wednesday's victory, many fans stayed to listen to Davis' interview on the field with SNY, broadcast on the speakers. Davis grabbed the microphone and shouted, "Hey fans of the Mets, we did it again! Wooo! Alonso is also addressing the crowd in similar terms after the last few matches.
Callaway said he noticed Alonso and Dominic Smith on the rail during Wednesday's game, turning to the crowd and leading a "Let's Go Mets" song.
"There is no doubt that it's kind of the catalyst that really helps us at home, especially when we're behind and we're performing some of those fun returns we've had," Callaway said.
Callaway and the Mets talked about Citi Field as a playoff atmosphere. Conforto described the recent games as electric as he has ever seen, this coming from the player who participated in the race Mets to the World Series in 2015.
Of course, it also helped the Mets consolidate their paddocks, improve their defense, get the shot they were capable of, and rely on fast strikes. But they think they have also had help.
"It's just the crowd. They are back in the game, "said Conforto." Once we hit that winning streak after the [All-Star break]it's just a different feeling at home. "
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