Mets' Citi Field 'Ghost Fork' visual charm fades when controversy strikes.
Revised Article:
After an embarrassing misstep that left fans cringing, Citi Field's in-stadium graphics team might reconsider their approach following a botched celebration of New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga's unique "Ghost Fork" pitch.
Senga's trademark pitch sends batters packing one by one, and to mark these moments, the Mets display a playful ghost holding a fork. However, it's a different story when Senga racks up strikeouts with pitches other than his signature move - in such cases, the team generally uses the standard "K" symbol.
On Tuesday, as Senga took on the Pittsburgh Pirates, a bizarre mix-up occurred. The scoreboard displayed a collection of ghostly figures armed with pitchforks, resembling a distasteful acronym[1] alongside... KKK.
Oops.
Despite the unfortunate incident, it was a strong performance for Senga, who hurled 102 pitches, logging seven strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings. He's now 4-2 on the season.
The Mets claimed victory, 2-1, and Senga continued to shine, further bolstering his 1.22 ERA - the second-best performance in the league, topping New York Yankees' ace Max Fried's record[2]. The Mets eventually dropped Wednesday's series finale against the Pirates but still managed to secure the series win. They currently hold a 2.5-game advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.
The Mets have a stellar 17-5 home record and have dominated their rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning 11 out of the last 13 games at Citi Field.
As for the careless graphic display, with the Mets' focus on a thrilling upcoming series against the Yankees starting Friday, it's unclear if the team will adjust their in-stadium graphics at Citi Field for future Senga appearances[3].
(Image Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Keep an eye out for updates as the Mets gear up for their three-game series against the Yankees and Senga's next start against the Boston Red Sox on Monday at Fenway Park. With the team's impressive performance and Senga's consistent dominance on the mound, it'll be intriguing to see how this graphic misunderstanding reshapes the home crowd's experience cheering for the "Ghost Fork" pitcher.
References:[1] Unfortunate typeface mix-up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klavern_KKK[2] Second in ERA: https://www.mlb.com/standings/league/league-stats/team-stats?leagueId=103&season=2023[3] Possible graphic changes: https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/met-kodai-senga-ghost-fork-video-kkk-display-mispronunciation-1.196297989
In the upcoming series against the New York Yankees, fans at Citi Field may witness a reshaped home crowd experience, as the team considers adjusting their in-stadium graphics to avoid another graphic misunderstanding similar to the one that occurred during Kodai Senga's performance, following the display of a distasteful acronym during a recent baseball game. Despite the unfortunate incident, Senga's remarkable pitching performance, which included a 1.22 ERA (second-best in the MLB), further bolstered his standing among the league's top pitchers.
