Mets’ first baseman Pete Alonso didn’t exactly set the world ablaze in 2020, following his breakout Rookie of the Year campaign the year prior.
Though, Alonso can be awarded a mulligan, as the season was a mere 60-games, didn’t start until the end of July, and was amidst a global pandemic.
Alonso was worth just 0.4 fWAR — or 0.3 rWAR if you prefer to go that route — but there were still some positives in his game. In the 57 games he played, Alonso clubbed 16 home runs and still had strong exit velocity, hard hit percentage and barrel rate.
The Mets find themselves in a bit of a pickle going into 2021 as there will be no universal designated hitter, meaning New York will have to get creative with how they deploy both Alonso and Dominic Smith.
Regardless, the native Floridian Alonso is feeling confident going into his third big league season. The 26-year-old chewed the fat with New York Post columnist Steve Serby over the weekend via email as the two talked about everything ranging from season expectations, to his thoughts on his teammates, to meeting legendary boxer Mike Tyson and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl.
This past autumn, the Mets switched hands, as hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen took the reigns of the franchise. It’s been quite the busy winter for Cohen and co., from the hiring and firing of general manager Jared Porter, to the plethora of free agent signings, trades and miscellaneous depth moves, hiring coaches and additional staffers, and trying to get the fans hyped up for a new era of Mets baseball.
Early in the offseason, Cohen said that he wants to build a sustainable winner in Queens, and set World Series aspirations for the next 3-5 years.
“I love it,” Alonso said. “There’s no point in playing the game unless you are trying to win. So excited to play for an owner that’s all-in on winning.”
Alonso will be an integral part to that short and long term success. Coming off a “down” year, the first baseman feels confident for a new campaign and is ready for whatever it throws at him. He also wants to win a Gold Glove and be more disciplined at the dish.
“I can’t wait. I’m feeling dangerous,” Alonso said. “This is the best I’ve felt physically and mentally in my career. I’m ready to make history and ready to drive in 130 steaks.
“The uncertainty got to me mentally (in 2020). Last season, I failed more than any time in my career, and that simply won’t happen again because of my preparation and will to succeed.”
The Mets overall roster has seen a huge shakeup this offseason as the front office has attempted to inject some new life into a team that already had a core of strong, young talent. Alonso is particularly excited about this.
“We’re talented, we have a good mix of guys with varying experiences,” Alonso said. “I’m excited ’cause we have a great group of guys, will play a full season again and getting fans back in the stands. Also excited to rebound from 2020 and show resiliency. … We’re going to be able to win in so many different ways. Phenomenal pitching with depth. We have the pieces, we just have to go out and do it.”
If everything culminates, Alonso thinks the Mets can capture a World Series championship in 2021. Though, it’ll be tough as he admits that the team to beat in the National League East is, well, “all of them.”
“I think we can win it, but only one way to find out. Play the season,” Alonso said. “We can’t think about being champs on Opening Day. We just have to focus on winning every day and focus on the now and we’ll find ourselves playing in October and fans waving playoff towels.”
And if they do win? Alonso wants fans to go crazy.
“I hope it’s bedlam,” Alonso said. “Everyone should go absolutely bonkers. I don’t care what borough you are from, all five boroughs would have one big block party.”
He left fans with the parting message of, “LFGM!”
To read the full article from Serby, please follow the link to the New York Post here.
