The Mets are set to face the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card game Wednesday night. NY1's Phil Andrews has a preview from Citi Field.
During the course of a baseball season, these off day workouts are normally no big deal, but this work out comes on the eve of the biggest night of the season for the Mets, a one game win or go home wildcard opportunity, a chance that Manager Terry Collins says he is truly thankful for.
"I told our players on September 1 — we were nine games behind the Nationals at the time — we're in a pennant race and by gosh we came out every night and played like that."
"You can't focus too far past tomorrow because then you do you'll lose sight of the great team that you're playing against and that's the San Francisco Giants," said outfielder Curtis Granderson. "That's the most important game for us right now. It's tomorrow. They're going to be just as excited as we are and that's where all the attention is going to be."
And for this one game playoff, Terry Collins will turn to his ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard who not only had some shining moments in last year's playoff run but has also shown that he is unaffected by the moment — big or small.
"It's just a dream come true," Syndergard said. "It's going to be really exciting. I'm looking forward to getting out there and feeling the energy from the hometown crowd. it's going to be an awesome time and I'm looking forward to it. Really no reason to be nervous when you are prepared. That's my motto. More anxious and just excited to get out there and compete."
"He's not afraid," Collins said. "He's not intimidated by anything. Obviously pitch one of Game 3 dictated that, he's not afraid. He wants to take charge, his stuff speaks for itself so I think he's grown a lot and I think he's certainly right choice for us tomorrow night."
Of course the Mets are very happy they're able to play this game at CitiField although history will show us that in previous seasons the home teams have not fared well in these wild card games but manager Terry Collins believes fans will give the team the edge that they need.