Pete's All About Elevating and Celebrating
Consistent Meat Pete did all he could in 2021, now he wants to keep improving and help his friends get there, too...
Image credit: Chris Simon
Pete Alonso knows things could and should have turned out differently for this team. And it appears he’s already begun to convert this season’s shortcomings into motivation with a focus on 2022 and beyond.
Ahead of Friday’s series opener in Atlanta — the Mets’ final series in a mostly disappointing 2021 season — Alonso spoke about his year, his goals as a player, as well as his hopes for the Metropolitans, moving forward.
“I’m happy with how I played, but I want to be able to take my game [and] help take this team to the next level,” he told the team’s press corps. “For me, I hate to lose and this isn’t where any of us want to be right now, going home on October 3. We want to be going home holding up a trophy.”
The 26-year-old slugger indubitably made every effort to carry this group over the hump this season (.263/.342/.520, 37 homers, 133 wRC+). That was plainly evident.
Following a slow start to the year (.235/.331/.432, six homers, 112 wRC+ over his first 154 plate appearances) and a trip to the injured list (right-hand sprain; May 21), the Florida product returned on May 31 with a two-run homer at Arizona and never really looked back.
From his return to the lineup through the All-Star break (159 PA), Alonso hit .262/.321/.517 with 11 homers and 125 wRC+. Getting there, no doubt.
Compared to his historical rookie season in 2019 (.260/.358/.583, a home run every 13.1 PA), a moderately lacking slash line and a blast every 14.5 plate appearances were not quite there, but certainly on par.
Then Alonso really hit his stride. Over his first 27 games after the break (July 16 to August 12; 119 PA), the gentleman they refer to as Polar Bear hit .272/.370/.553 with eight more dingers, 150 wRC+, and a 16.8% strikeout rate. That’s what we’re talking about.
The Mets were tied for the lead in the National League East after their doubleheader sweep of the Nationals on August 12. After being swept at home by the Cardinals a little over a month later, amid their scorching hot sprint to the finish line, the Mets were essentially out of the race.
Though, despite the team’s submersion into the early offseason abyss, Alonso’s production never waned. That’s what experts refer to as — let me make sure I’m getting this correct — leadership. Yeah, that’s right.
From August 13 through New York’s unofficial elimination on September 15 (32 G, 143 PA), he hit .271/.336/.558 with eight homers and 138 wRC+. Same old Pete.
As things have fallen further out of reach for the Mets, Alonso’s only gotten hotter. Including his 3-for-4 night in the Mets’ 4-3 win over Atlanta on Friday, Pete’s hitting .298/.389/.596 with four home runs over his last 13 games (54 PA).
It’s almost like he’s pissed off. We love that.
Even when the dissolution of this season was being foretold in the pages (and pages) of RISP-deficient prose, Alonso remained optimistic. To some at the time, it came off as delusional. I believe the phrase “toxic positivity” was tossed around a bit, actually.
“I believe in my teammates,” he said. “If I don’t believe in my teammates and if I don’t support my teammates, then who else will? I don’t just say things to say things. I truly meant every word I said.”
“Every single guy in that clubhouse, they worked hard and are still working hard,” Alonso added. “Yeah, we’re out of it. But I think that the character and work ethic, that’s all I need. I’d be in a foxhole with every single one of these guys.”
Alonso did make note of his inclination to remain a first baseman with or without the adoption of the designated hitter into the NL next season, telling reporters he wouldn’t be interested in becoming a full-time DH and “I think I’m a really good first baseman with potential to win a Gold Glove”.
This checks out. After posting atrociously bad outs above average metrics over his first two MLB seasons (-6 OAA in 2019, -5 in 2020), Alonso’s +1 OAA at first this year ranks 13th among all MLB first-baggers.
His +4 OAA on plays toward the line are best in baseball and his +3 OAA on plays coming in is good for sixth. That’s gonna play, friends.
He’s got work to do moving to his right and back (36th and 33rd out of 37, respectively), but the progress he’s made is crystal clear, as is the work he has cut out for himself moving forward.
With Dominic Smith available to provide solid defense at first base in his own right, the Mets will certainly have options on how to employ that plan of attack. Smith’s also 6-for-his-last-18 since settling into a hybrid bench role.
Having too many good players has never been a problem before. We don’t foresee that becoming an issue anytime soon.
Besides, all signs would point to both Alonso (and Smith, for that matter) doing anything and everything the team asked of them in order to achieve that ultimate goal.
“For me, I just want to be able to get better and really improve upon myself,” he said. “I want my legacy to be known as a champion one day […] I don’t just want that for myself, I want that for my teammates. I want everyone in that locker room to be known as a champion. I want to bring a championship to Queens.”
Two games to go. Let’s enjoy them. Onward and wayyyy upward, family.
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