WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. _ The Mets' Cinderella playoff run came down to three games. After a resilient second-half finish, just three games separated the Mets from sneaking into the postseason last year. That three-game difference is what held them back from a Wild Card spot, and what cost them the chance to try to win their first championship in over 30 years.
To make matters more cruel, the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention during the final outing of what would become Jacob deGrom's second Cy Young season. The Mets offense, historically allergic to scoring runs for their ace, tallied double-digit runs that night against the Marlins. But there was little to celebrate after falling short of the postseason for the third straight year.
In another clubhouse in a different city, the Nationals soaked their surroundings in champagne and beer. They celebrated a Wild Card berth that didn't seem possible in the earlier part of the year, and it was especially bitter for the team watching from Flushing.
The Mets went 12-7 against the Nationals and outscored them 109-96 last season. So when Washington celebrated on a parade float after beating the Astros for the championship, it stung the Mets to see the World Series unfurl in the Nationals' favor from the comfort of their homes instead of the finish line.
Now, the Amazin's are motivated by the Nationals' journey to the World Series. If Washington _ a team the Mets had no problem handling in 2019 _ could go all the way, what's stopping the Amazin's from accomplishing the same triumph?
"(The Nationals), they got hot and they played really well in the postseason and they found a formula that worked and I think we could have easily done the same thing," Brandon Nimmo said Monday after the Mets beat the Nationals, 2-1, in their first exhibition game against the defending champs. "So I think that's the motivation for us. We were literally three games away last year from almost doing the exact same thing as them."
Monday's game was the team's first Grapefruit League win of the year, behind a two-inning start from 24-year-old left-hander David Peterson.
It was the first of six matchups between the two teams this spring, with 19 more games on deck in the regular season. Monday's lineup included a handful of Washington starters in Trea Turner, Adam Eaton, Yan Gomes and former Met Asdrubal Cabrera.
In a competitive NL East division where three games can separate playoff duds and winners, the Mets will take any first looks at the Nationals that they can get before the 2020 season kicks off.
"Just playing in this division is going to get you playoff ready," Nimmo said.
Wilson Ramos, after spending seven seasons behind the plate for the Nationals, said he has good memories of playing for Washington. He feels extra motivated when the opposing team's fans are on his side _ cheering the catcher on when he gets to the field in appreciation for the years he spent with the Nationals.
Ramos provided the power with his first spring training home run of the year in Monday's win and he's working on lifting the ball in the air this season to help give the Mets an offensive edge.
"I'm very happy for (the Nationals) to win the World Series," Ramos said. "Now it's time to give 100% to my team and try to get that trophy too."
