On February 6, the New York Mets made a decisive move by designating right-handed reliever Austin Adams for assignment, effectively dropping him from their 40-man roster. In a twist of fate, Adams found a new opportunity with the Oakland Athletics through a cash deal as spring training progressed.
The change of scenery has proven beneficial for the 33-year-old pitcher. Adams has established himself as a valuable asset in Oakland's bullpen, posting a respectable 3.92 ERA and recording 53 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings. His performance has been a bright spot for the Athletics, particularly during their recent visit to Citi Field.
Clutch Performance at Citi Field
On Tuesday night, Adams played a pivotal role in the Athletics' 9-4 triumph over the Mets. Facing a high-pressure situation in the fifth inning with runners on first and second and no outs, Adams managed to escape unscathed. He struck out Francisco Alvarez to cap off the inning, a moment that was as crucial for the Athletics as it was personally significant for Adams.
The Celebration and Its Controversy
After the crucial strikeout, Adams couldn't resist borrowing from the Mets’ own celebration playbook by mimicking their "OMG" gesture, inspired by Mets infielder Jose Iglesias' song "OMG." The song, released in June, had become something of an anthem for the Mets, with Iglesias even performing it at Citi Field after a win on June 28. The Mets typically use the "OMG" gesture to celebrate home runs, which added an extra layer of intrigue to Adams' choice of celebration.
Reflecting on the moment, Adams shared his thoughts 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."
The Mets, however, did not take kindly to Adams's celebratory gesture. Edwin Díaz voiced his displeasure: "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."
More Than Just a Game
For Adams, the game meant more than just another entry in the win column. It was a personal milestone and a form of validation after being designated for assignment by the Mets. Adams expressed the emotions fueling his performance: "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."
Athletics on the Rise
The victory at Citi Field extended Oakland's winning streak to three games, providing a much-needed boost to their momentum as the season progresses. Meanwhile, the loss marked the fourth consecutive defeat for the Mets, placing them two games behind the third wild-card spot and adding pressure to their postseason aspirations.
As the season moves forward, both teams will undoubtedly revisit this emotionally charged encounter. For Austin Adams, however, it was a night to remember, a night that solidified his journey from being a castaway to becoming a crucial part of the Athletics’ bullpen success.