During the 2020/2021 offseason, the Mets made an unprecedented move: they signed two players whose last name ends with -illar, Jonathan Villar and Kevin Pillar. While the names are pronounced differently (Vi-yar versus Pill-ar), the two bench pieces starters sometimes starters for the Mets have contributed a fair amount to their early success already.

Inspired by our own Maggie Wiggin on Twitter, we will declare an “-illar of the Day,” celebrating which player had a more productive (or less destructive) day for the Mets.

Just when we thought Kevin Pillar was doomed to never win an -illar of the Day again, he pulled us back in.

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Game 134: Mets at Nationals

A combined 7-13 with three RBIs means that this is the happiest of occurrences: a tie!

-illar of the Day: Both!

Game 135: Mets at Nationals

This game saw Villar continue his consecutive hit streak to 7. That’s a win, baby.

-illar of the Day: Jonathan Villar

Game 136: Mets at Nationals

Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

There’s an old adage that goes something like:

‘If a two-run jack you smack

You get a pat on the back’

-illar of the Day: Kevin Pillar

Game 137: Mets at Nationals

While this, perhaps should have been a tie, as both were amazingly dope, Pillar hit a 400-foot granny. Give the man a victory!

-illar of the Day: Kevin Pillar

Game 138: Mets at Nationals

Two hits and a walk (!) power Kevin to the throne.

-illar of the Day: Kevin Pillar

Game 139: Mets at Marlins

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Thomas gave good reasoning for Villar’s win today, despite a collective 0-7 from the -illar Bros.

Villar worked two walks, scoring a run in the process. While he had an error, I thought Alonso played it really poorly. He also made a beautiful diving play later in the game. Pillar only reached on an error, though he did make two good plays in center. Villar by a small margin.

-illar of the Day: Jonathan Villar

Game 140: Mets at Marlins

I am a generous soul, and so I’m going to give the flowers to both -illars tonight for small, but personally meaningful accomplishments. Jonathan broke an 0-14 stretch in the ninth inning, and Kevin made a dope catch.

-illar of the Day: Both!

Game 141: Mets at Marlins

Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images

No one was a winner this game, except that cruel mistress known as ‘Miami.’

-illar of the Day: Y’all are never going to believe this, but there is a Palestinian town in the West Bank called not just Illar, but ‘Illar. It is literally the perfect name for this stupid, stupid column.

Game 142: Yankees at Mets

Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Villar scored two runs in a rout of the crosstown rivals, so he gets the honor.

-illar of the Day: Jonathan Villar

Game 143: Yankees at Mets

While his inability to capitalize in the ninth inning may have hurt his overall -illarness, Kevin drove in two runs, so he gets to wear the crown.

-illar of the Day: Kevin Pillar

Game 144: Yankees at Mets

While the real answer to this is ‘Francisco Lindor,’ Villar scored a run in this game, and since they won by one run, that gives him the nod.

-illar of the Day: Jonathan Villar

Game 145: Cardinals at Mets

Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Images

Nothing good happened at all here, so let’s give it away.

-illar of the Day: Having lived in either New Jersey or Pittsburgh my entire life, it is amazing to me that there can be small, incorporated towns of 225 people elsewhere in the country. So, lets honor one of those: Tillar, Arkansas!

Game 146: Cardinals at Mets

I would argue that we are all losers in this scenario, but Jonathan got on base thrice, giving him the (only) Mets win tonight.

-illar of the Day: Jonathan Villar

Game 147: Cardinals at Mets

Kevin socked a homer in (another) losing effort, but gets the nod regardless.

-illar of the Day: Kevin Pillar

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The Tally So Far:

Jonathan Villar: 55 wins, 7 ties

Kevin Pillar: 31 wins, 7 ties

Other -illars: 27

While OF Doom took a 5-4-2-2 lead over Jonathan Virtual Reality, Villar’s continued success continues to run away with this. But hey, 3 in a row for Pillar ain’t nothing to sneeze at!