Austin Adams' Journey: From DFA to Dominance
On a brisk February 6, the New York Mets made a notable roster move by designating right-handed reliever Austin Adams for assignment, effectively dropping him from their 40-man roster. For many players, such a turn of events can spell uncertainty, but Adams quickly found a new opportunity as the Oakland Athletics acquired him via a cash deal during spring training.
Since joining Oakland, the 33-year-old Adams has thrived, proving his worth in a bullpen role. With a commendable 3.92 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings, Adams has demonstrated why he's become a reliable arm for the Athletics.
Facing the Mets
Tuesday night at Citi Field added a layer of drama to Adams' evolving narrative. As the Athletics squared off against the Mets, Adams found himself in a critical situation. With runners on first and second and no outs in the fifth inning, the tension was palpable. Adams, however, displayed nerves of steel, navigating the jam without surrendering a run. He punctuated the inning by striking out Francisco Alvarez, a moment he celebrated with the Mets' own "OMG" gesture.
This celebration, inspired by Mets infielder Jose Iglesias' song "OMG," originally released in June, became a point of contention. The gesture, typically performed by the Mets after hitting home runs, didn’t sit well with some of the Mets' players.
"Honestly, I looked up and was so surprised I got out of it," Adams shared with the New York Post. "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."
Emotional Pitching
For Adams, pitching is as much an emotional journey as it is a physical one. "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 admitted.
While Adams' approach was to channel his emotions into his performance, it didn’t go unnoticed by the Mets' dugout. Edwin Díaz, one of the Mets' key relievers, suggested a line had been crossed. "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 commented.
Athletics on a Roll
Adams' contribution was only part of a broader story. The Athletics' victory over the Mets, a convincing 9-4 win, extended Oakland's winning streak to three games. Conversely, the loss deepened the Mets' woes, marking their fourth consecutive defeat and placing them two games behind the third wild-card spot.
Adams' resilience and determination have undoubtedly paid off. His journey from being designated for assignment to becoming a pivotal figure in the Athletics' bullpen is a testament to his skill and tenacity. Regardless of the emotions and occasional controversies that come with the game, Adams' performance on the mound speaks volumes about his readiness to seize every opportunity. For now, Adams and the Athletics can savor the moment, even as the baseball world continues to watch how this newfound rivalry with the Mets unfolds.