"There is a game of cat and mouse” - JT Realmuto explains game plans against Mets after Phillies' NLDS Game 1 loss
Phillies catcher JT Realmuto was behind the plate in 11 of the 13 fixtures against the New York Mets in the 2024 regular season. A member of an NL East team for his 11-year career, New York is a team Realmuto knows well.
However, that experience meant little on Saturday. After leading 1-0 through eight innings, the Mets came alive late. Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso and JD Martinez all had RBIs as the Mets packed on five in the eighth inning to win 6-2.
In the postgame interview, Realmuto talked about the "game of cat and mouse" between the two teams before claiming that "we have to go out there and execute, we can't think too much about what they're going to do to us."
"Phillies + Mets know each other so well JT Realmuto says they might have to play a ‘cat and mouse’ game between the rivals. The @Phillies won the regular season series 7-6 but have lost 4 of 5 to the #Mets including NLDS game 1" - Jeff Skversky
A member of the club since 2019, Realmuto has faced some real postseason disappointments in a Phillies jersey. In 2022, he was part of the team that lost the World Series to the Astros, and in 2023, Realmuto's Phillies lost a Game 7 in the NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Now, the pressure is on for Philly to do something real in 2024.
Philadelphia won 95 games in the regular season, this figure was behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the NL. However, the Mets remain difficult for Philadelphia as they were closely matched in the regular season head to head (7-6 for Philly).
"2 swings, 6 RBI. Second 3-run blast of the night for J.T. Realmuto" - MLB
JT Realmuto acts as an anchor of his team in the playoffs
In his capacity as a catcher, JT Realmuto acts as the glue that holds the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching corps in place. As the Oklahoma native told NBCS this week:
“In the postseason I have to strategically know when to press the buttons”
An MLB veteran who can call a good game, Realmuto will now have to assess how his club can outsmart the Mets. If that objective is not reached, we could be looking at one of the biggest upsets in modern postseason history.