On February 6, the New York Mets made a decisive move: they designated right-handed reliever Austin Adams for assignment, a decision that bumped him off their 40-man roster. Fast forward to spring training, and Adams found himself a new berth with the Oakland Athletics, thanks to a cash deal. This transition has since become a win-win for both Adams and the A's bullpen.
Adams, now 33, has emerged as a crucial arm in Oakland's relief squad. His efforts have been substantial, posting an ERA of 3.92 coupled with 53 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings. The performance metrics are indeed a testament to his resilience and determination to bounce back.
High Drama at Citi Field
The stakes were sky-high on Tuesday night at Citi Field when the Athletics faced the Mets. The A's walked away triumphant, extending their winning streak to three games with a commanding 9-4 victory. For the Mets, the game marked their fourth consecutive loss, placing them two games behind the third wild-card spot.
One of the turning points of the night was when Adams found himself in a perilous situation during the fifth inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, the tension was palpable. Yet, showing remarkable poise, Adams managed to escape the inning unscathed, culminating in a crucial strikeout of Francisco Alvarez.
Celebration and Controversy
Adams, visibly charged with emotion, mimicked the Mets' "OMG" celebration after striking out Alvarez. The "OMG" celebration, inspired by Mets infielder Jose Iglesias' song "OMG," is typically reserved for Mets players after hitting home runs. Iglesias himself had performed the song at Citi Field following a victory on June 28.
Addressing the celebratory gesture that sparked some controversy, Adams shared with the New York Post, "Honestly, I looked up and was so surprised I got out of it. I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' And then it dawned on me, I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' So then I did it. I mean, that song is sick. Iglesias is a good dude. So hopefully no one is offended. Just having fun."
Adams' jubilation was met with mixed emotions. Mets closer Edwin Díaz didn't take kindly to the mimicry and had strong words to reflect that sentiment. "He crossed a line because that's something we do when we hit a homer or something. He (can) do it always, that's fine. But he can't get mad if we do something to him the next couple of days," Díaz remarked.
Resilience and Redemption
The backdrop to this otherwise festive celebration was Adams' own journey of redemption. "I pitch on emotion," Adams confessed. "I maybe need to do a better job of not doing that. But at the end of the day, big-time situation in a game. Got some big outs, got the team a win." Reflecting on his journey post-designation for assignment (DFA), he added, "You know, when you get DFAed you're told you're not good enough to play for a team anymore. You know it sucks, so yeah, had a little extra juice today."
The context is crucial. Once deemed not good enough for the Mets, Adams has found a new lease on life with the Athletics. His performance on this memorable night wasn't just a pitch— it was a statement, a moment of catharsis, an emotional rollercoaster encapsulated in a single "OMG."
Adams' journey from a DFAed reliever to a key player in Oakland’s bullpen reflects a tale of resilience. But as the tension between him and the Mets continues to simmer, it remains to be seen how this rivalry will unfold in future matchups. For now, one thing is clear: Adams is here, and he's making every moment count.