Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Pete Alonso hit what Statcast called a 429 foot home run on Wednesday night in the Mets loss to the Chicago Cubs. On Thursday, Alonso met with the media before the Mets’ Thursday night matchup against the Cubs.
In discussing the 16-4 loss the Mets suffered on Wednesday night, Alonso said, “whether we lost the game 20-0 or 1-0, it still counts as one loss.” The significance of the score differential raised concerns about the struggle some of the Mets players are going through, including Jeff McNeil.
Alonso stated, however, that he is not worried about McNeil’s struggles. “He works his ass off,” stated Alonso.
He also said that he felt like Statcast was wrong in saying his home run on Wednesday only went 429 feet. “I think the computer is wrong,” said Alonso. He also said it was one his top five favorite home runs he has hit in his career, with home run No. 53 being his favorite.
Statcast says this home run went 429 feet, Pete Alonso disagrees.
“That ball did not go 429 feet. I think the computer is wrong.”
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 22, 2021
Alonso, the 2019 Home Run Derby winner, also confirmed he is ready to defend his title, “I’m all in.” The 2021 Home Run Derby will take place at Coors Field, not a bad spot to watch Pete launch some missiles.
Pete noted that the Mets have two new apps this year that they use to breakdown hitting data and that he believes it’s much easier to communicate the data to the player than in the past.
“It’s an improvement from years past…it’s about having more hands on deck,” Alonso said.
He went on to note that previously it was only 1 or 2 people from the analytics department working on that data and that’s no longer the case. Mets new owner Steve Cohen said early in his tenure that the Mets would focus on improving and adding people to their research and development group. Something they’ve clearly done, and it started with hiring Ben Zauzmer from the Dodgers to lead that group.
Alonso launched another home run on Thursday in the Mets 4-3 loss, his second straight game with a long ball. It looks like Pete is starting to come around, which is no surprise given the elite exit velocity numbers he’s shown in 2021.
Pete is now hitting .231/.293/.500 on the season with a team-best four home runs and 11 RBIs.
