Oakland's Austin Adams Makes a Mark Against the Mets
On February 6, the New York Mets made the decision to designate right-handed reliever Austin Adams for assignment, a move that removed the 33-year-old pitcher from their 40-man roster. As spring training progressed, Adams found a new opportunity with the Oakland Athletics, who acquired him through a cash deal. Since then, Adams has found his footing in Oakland’s bullpen, posting a respectable 3.92 ERA and recording 53 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings.
Strong Performance in a High-Pressure Situation
Adams' most notable performance came on Tuesday night at Citi Field, where the Athletics faced off against his former team, the Mets. In the fifth inning, Adams was thrust into a high-pressure scenario with runners on first and second and no outs. Skillfully navigating the tense situation, he managed to escape without allowing a run, even striking out Francisco Alvarez to end the inning.
After his clutch performance, Adams mimicked the Mets' "OMG" celebration, adding a personal touch after striking out Alvarez. The celebration, inspired by Mets infielder Jose Iglesias' song "OMG," which was released in June, typically follows after the Mets hit home runs. Iglesias performed the song at Citi Field following a win on June 28, further cementing its place in Mets culture.
Reactions to the Celebration
Adams' celebration did not go unnoticed by the Mets. "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," commented Mets closer Edwin Díaz, indicating that Adams’ actions may have sparked some potential for retaliatory gestures in the future.
Adams Reflects on His Journey
Despite the reactions, Adams stood by his actions, expressing his surprise at his own performance in that high-stress moment. "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 shared with the New York Post.
Adams also opened up about his emotional connection to the game and the difficulties of being designated for assignment earlier in the season. "I pitch on emotion. 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. 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," he explained.
Impact on Teams' Standings
With the Athletics' 9-4 victory over the Mets, Oakland extended their winning streak to three games. Conversely, the Mets' loss added to their struggles, placing them on a four-game losing streak and leaving them two games behind the third wild-card spot. The game underscored the shifting dynamics and ongoing challenges both teams face as they aim for better positions in the standings.
Austin Adams' journey from being designated for assignment to becoming a key reliever for the Athletics is a testament to resilience and opportunity in Major League Baseball. While his celebration may have ruffled some feathers in New York, it also highlighted the passion and intensity that players bring to the game. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how both teams respond to these moments of tension and triumph on the field.