“August isn’t the time to highlight your personal achievements.”
On Monday, the New York Mets secured a win, but before the game, the buzz among fans centered on an unusual move by first baseman Pete Alonso in the locker room. After a tough weekend where his struggles with runners in scoring position became a hot topic, Alonso was bumped down to fifth in the lineup. When asked about his declining numbers, his response didn’t sit well with fans, who were already frustrated by the runners he’s leaving stranded.
"I'm on pace for close to 40 homers, I was an All-Star this year, to beat myself up or be frustrated – it's really no use. I'm really excited for the end of the year where we get to play winning baseball. I'm happy with what I've accomplished this year so far"
– Pete Alonso pic.twitter.com/plsLygR1Vd
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 5, 2024
To many, his answer came across as more of a pitch for a lucrative free agency contract rather than addressing his current performance issues. His claims about his home run pace (which isn’t accurate) and All-Star selection (which is debatable) seemed irrelevant to his recent struggles this season. Typically, Alonso is better at handling questions like this, so what’s really going on with him?
Mets slugger Pete Alonso is digging himself a bigger hole with responses like this
Since his rookie year, Alonso has always seemed to grasp his role and the significance of being a Met. However, this year, he has faded into the background, receiving less attention and appearing more focused on personal milestones.
Alonso isn’t accustomed to being criticized by the fans. Francisco Lindor has surpassed him in popularity, while Brandon Nimmo, despite his own struggles at the plate, is seen as untouchable. The key difference is that Nimmo has been careful in addressing questions, keeping his responses team-focused. A player just needs to acknowledge their challenges, express a desire to improve, and emphasize that the team’s success is the priority.
We can only speculate about the frustration Alonso might be feeling for various reasons—his performance, the team’s fall out of Wild Card contention, and the revelation of his struggles with runners in scoring position just months before he becomes a free agent. There’s also the matter of a big contract he possibly left on the table, which may no longer be available.
Reportedly, Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million offer in the offseason, seeking a deal closer to 9 or 10 years. He may have to settle for much less.
Alonso showed some spark in Monday’s win. He made an early defensive play on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the third inning and was perhaps overly aggressive on the base paths, trying to stretch a single into a double after scoring on a wild pitch earlier in the game. He ended the day 1 for 4, without any opportunities to bat with runners in scoring position.
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