We admit to a weakness for sports metaphors, particularly baseball. Perhaps it’s how happenings in the national pastime so often mirror life. And the capital markets.

Our latest pearl of wisdom comes from Carlos Mendoza. After his star shortstop Francisco Lindor ended a slump with a game-winning home run, the NY Mets manager was asked about other hitters’ struggles at the plate. “We’ve got a few guys going through it. That’s the 162.”

That neatly captures the ups and downs of a 162-game season: the dog days of summer and the exhilaration of a September pennant race. It also mirrors 2024 in the deal making world. Everyone is running hard to manage a growing pipeline of promising investment and financing opportunities, while simultaneously preparing for whatever year-end surprises unfold.