Are the playoff pumpkins rotten?
Does Pete Alonso still have the magical swing left to continue this magical playoff run?
That question will begin to be answered Friday, when it will be remembered as the Polar Bear's final dive at Citi Field with the Mets, and perhaps in a home jersey.
The Mets were defeated 10-2 by the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League CS on Thursday, pushing the Mets to the brink and Alonso on the brink of free agency. The activities of the past 6 years are coming back.
If Alonso leaves like this, he will regret it.
The big slugger had one hit in four at bats, one RBI, two strikeouts, and one walk on Thursday, and now has two hits and six strikeouts in 15 at bats in the National League CS.
The Mets' offense has cooled down, going shutout in two games before giving up just two runs on Thursday, and Alonso hasn't been able to shoulder the burden.
If Alonso were to leave in this way, he would be saying he doesn't care about the stakes or the offseason.
Asked if he thought Friday might be his last game as a Met, Alonso said, “Absolutely not.” “For me, I think I'm just focused on winning for them. This group is really special. This year has been really great. We've accomplished a lot.
“This is going to be an incredible challenge. I'm really looking forward to going out there and competing with the guys that are in this clubhouse tomorrow.”
Alonso already looked like he was on the verge of an unceremonious exit from the Mets when he pulled them out of trouble.
His go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 3 in Milwaukee was the biggest swing of his career (so far) and one of the biggest swings in Mets history, ending a season that seemed to be dead. brought back to life.
Alonso hit two home runs in the win against the Phillies in National League Baseball, but the Dodgers were throwing a variety of pitchers at him and Alonso rarely looked comfortable.
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“The last two days we were obviously frustrated in terms of results,” Alonso said of the team's overall attack. “…We had a lot of guys on base and it didn't necessarily benefit us, but that's in the past and we need to move forward.”
There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding what's in store for the beloved hometown Met.
He has been one of the best home run hitters in baseball since joining the team in 2019, appearing in four All-Star Games and winning the Home Run Derby twice.
However, he turns 30 in December and is coming off a regular season in which he posted a career-worst OPS of .788 despite appearing in all 162 games.
There are concerns about how first basemen, who are rarely the most athletic players on the field, will age.
There are baseball and non-baseball reasons why the Mets want to bring back Alonso.
His 226 career home runs rank third in franchise history, and if he signs a long-term contract, he could have a chance to set the Met's all-time record.
However, the rise of Mark Vientos could make the Mets reconsider. This is because a threat of a power hitter who is not a highly mobile third baseman can switch positions and play as a first baseman at a fraction of the cost.
In that scenario, the Mets would need a third baseman.
If Alonso wishes to postpone further discussions about his future and his suitability, Friday's big match will mean he will be able to play at least one more game for the Met.
“It was really fun,” Alonso said of the 2024 Mets. “But we will continue to try our best.”
