Mets’ Recent Struggles Highlighted by Russo’s Comments

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, an ESPN figure and former WFAN host, made waves recently by surpassing Daryl Strawberry’s franchise home run record of 253.

In a segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” Russo expressed disbelief over the excitement surrounding Pete Alonso’s status as the franchise record holder, saying, “It’s hard to believe people are making a big deal about this.” He noted the Mets’ recent struggles, mentioning how they’ve lost 11 of their last 12 games and fallen behind the Phillies in the NL East, leading him to question the enthusiasm surrounding Alonso’s milestone.

Russo wasn’t shy about criticizing Mets announcer Gary Cohen’s enthusiastic reaction to Alonso’s 253rd home run. He seemed particularly frustrated, urging the producer to play a video of the moment during the show.

Cohen’s call, a dramatic “Outta Here,” coincided with Alonso’s home run during a decisive 13-5 victory. Russo, however, found the celebration somewhat misplaced, stating, “I can’t even remember what the home run record was before this nonsense.”

He further remarked on the Mets’ relationship with Alonso, questioning why the team hadn’t offered a substantial contract to him earlier, despite the apparent affection for him. “254 homers? That’s ridiculously low,” Russo concluded.

Alonso had signed a two-year, $54 million deal last year but opted out after this season, potentially looking to leverage his strong performance to negotiate a better deal.

Despite the recent victory, the Mets’ position has been precarious, trailing five games behind the Phillies in the NL East with only two games separating them from a postseason berth.

On Tuesday, Alonso added two more home runs, officially raising his record to 254.