The Mets are on a tear this season, showing no signs of slowing down. After a stumble in their World Series rematch with the Dodgers, they roared back with a statement, sweeping the Nationals and extending their winning streak to six games. A big reason for this surge? Some smart spending last season. While the $765 million Juan Soto deal grabbed headlines, it’s the re-signing of their powerhouse first baseman that’s paying off big. Yes, Pete Alonso is on fire, and even a Mets legend admits the power of his bat.
Let’s take a look at the numbers. The Mets now sit at the lead of the NL East with a 45-24 record. With the help of a powerful offense, they are closing in on the playoffs. There’s no question that Alonso has been the Mets’ biggest difference-maker this season, and four-time All-Star Johan Santana knows it better than most. He joined SportsNite to discuss the team’s performance after their series sweep. And the former Mets pitcher was met with an interesting question: “If Johan Santana was pitching against the Mets tomorrow, who in the Mets lineup would you least want to face?” As a two-time Cy Young Award winner and a four-time All-Star, the prospect of facing Santana isn’t pleasant. Remember when he pitched a no-hitter? Well, Santana has a name for who can face him. He didn’t have to think too much, as there is only one name right now, breaking records for the team.
“Oh, that’s a good one. I think, you know, the way everything is going, there is no question. And I know there have been a few hitters that are really good, but I think Pete Alonso has been the one that has shown that consistency, especially if he finds, you know, runners on base. I think that’s what the toughest thing is when you face him with runners on. But I think he is definitely one of the hottest bats in baseball right now.” Well, Santana’s probably right, because if anyone understands a batter’s threat, it’s a pitcher.
Alonso has become a formidable player this season. His records for the team are terrific to look at; he leads the team this season in home runs, RBIs, and batting average. He is slashing a .298 batting average, .982 OPS with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs. Remember the multi-homer night against the Rockies last week? He passed the Mets’ legend Darryl Strawberry for the most multi-homer games for the franchise that night when he recorded his 23rd. And guess what? He is setting his sights on another legendary milestone of Strawberry. Santana sure has a point!
Alonso needs just 9 more home runs to break Strawberry’s franchise record of 252. He just recently passed David Wright on the list, the same night against the Rockies, when he scored his 242nd and 243rd homers. Wright also weighed in to appreciate the star slugger: “Certainly one of the premier power hitters in baseball. It just seems like every time the ball leaves his bat, it’s got a chance to get out of the ballpark. And it doesn’t even matter what ballpark he’s playing in,” said Wright. No one has touched Strawberry’s record for 37 years now, and now, Alonso is knocking right at the door. Mets are surely witnessing one of their best offensive powers of all time. But unfortunately, he had some defensive slips this season. A minor misstep in the last game played a part in Kodai Senga’s injury, and he’s still struggling to move past it.
Pete Alonso feels “Awful”
Kodai Senga had to exit the Mets vs Nationals game in visible agony on Thursday. When Alonso chased down a grounder from Luis García Jr. in the top of the sixth inning, he timed his throw to the running Senga, but it sailed just a bit too high. Senga, leaping for the ball, landed on his right foot. They got the player out, but at what cost? What followed was Senga being sent to the IL for a right hamstring injury. Even though Carlos Mendoza clarified that Senga felt something was wrong before even making the catch, Alonso isn’t convinced.
“I still feel awful because, for me, just trying to make a baseball play. Just trying to make a play for my pitcher,” Alonso said to Bridget Reilly after the 4-3 win. “I tried to make the best throw I could. It just sucks. I mean, sucks to be involved in that. Senga, he’s one of our guys here and it sucks. You hate to see anyone go down. And yeah, it sucks being a part of that… I wish it wouldn’t have turned out like that.” It is baseball, and accidents like this are not a new story, but when a teammate exits because of you, it’s hard to swallow.
This is not the first time he has slipped. He had a costly one in May, too, during a tie game against the Yankees. His bad throw allowed Jasson Dominguez to score in the eighth inning, which led to an 8-2 loss for the team. His power bat is far more compensating, yes, but he still has to perfect his defense. The MVP buzz around him is growing, and if he sharpens his game and stays consistent, a serious run at the title isn’t far-fetched.
The post Mets’ 4X All-Star Reveals True Fear About Pete Alonso as Latest Power Surge Sends Strong Message appeared first on EssentiallySports.
