The Mets Have A Chance To Make History On The Most Important Night Of Their Season Tonight

For some baseball teams, the most important nights of the season come in October. Those chilly fall evenings where six months of work all come together for a fleeting chance at glory.

For other teams, however, those nights come in July. Baseball is a summer sport, after all, shouldn't its most important milestones happen while the Sun is still shining well into the evening and you can enjoy an ice cold beer at the ballpark? The New York Mets sure think so.

Now this is what I'm talking about. Postseason baseball? Overrated. Pete Alonso has a chance to join Ken Griffey Jr. as just the second player to ever win the Home Run Derby three times. This is what you dream about as a kid and work for every year when you show up to Spring Training.

You may hear some baseball analysts saying this season has been a failure for the New York Mets because they're under .500 at the All-Star Break with the highest payroll in the history of professional sports, conveniently ignoring the fact that Alonso could soon join one of the greatest players of all-time in the record books. Find me another team with that much on the line tonight.

Ronald Acuña and Matt Olson declined to participate in the Home Run Derby because they're scared of the spotlight. What good is a 60-29 record if your players are only interested in winning a World Series rather than a spinning Home Run Derby chain?

I hope Mets fans appreciate how special tonight has a chance to be. Cherish these moments, because not every fanbase is lucky enough to have them.