Alonso led the way in the ’25 home opener as the Mets beat the Toronto Blue Jays Friday afternoon before a sellout crowd.
This is as close to a perfect home opener as possible, especially in a sport that is hard to script in baseball.
Let’s count the ways: No Met was booed. Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff double to start the Mets’ first inning. Juan Soto had an RBI double in his Mets home debut. Tylor Megill pitched two-hit ball over 5 ⅓ scoreless innings. The bullpen finished off the Jays.
But the one that stood out the most was Pete Alonso hitting a two-run home run in the first inning, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. He finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.
The performance continues Alonso’s strong start to the season. He has hit three home runs and 10 RBI to start the season, including a grand slam on Monday and a two-out, game-tying three-run home run in the eighth inning on Wednesday.
The Mets star should be the odds-on favorite to win the NL Player of the Week and (is this dreaming or what), an MVP candidate. The Amazins have never had an MVP in franchise history. It could happen this year with Soto or Alonso.
It would be fitting for Alonso to win that award and be the franchise home run leader. He grew up as a Met and always wanted to do well as a Met.
To think this didn’t happen. As you remember, the Polar Bear was in a contract standoff with the Mets. He was a free agent, hoping many teams would be in a bidding war for his service. It never happened. There was not much interest. Like the Mets, most teams did not want to give him the years to go with his big contract. The Mets played it right, and there was no reason to up their offer.
Pete Alonso (photo courtesy CBS Sports)
It came down to what Alonso wanted to do. Did he have a big enough ego where he tried to leave the Mets out of spite? Did he want to do his thing in an obscure place such as Toronto? Would he want to waste an opportunity of not wanting to win a championship as a Met? The ball was in the Mets’ court, too. The Mets free agent needed love, as in the organization truly wanted him back, and that explained why Mets owner Steve Cohen had a heart-to-heart talk at the Polar Bear’s house in Florida. Cohen’s talk made Alonso’s decision to come back easy. It served both parties well that there was no divorce. Truth be told, they needed each other.
The Mets needed Alonso back. He hasn’t lost it from what he is doing right now, and he was the team’s best postseason player by hitting four home runs and driving in 10 runs with a slash line of .431/.568/.999 last year.
After forking up a 15-year, $750 contract to Soto, the Mets owed it to their free-agent prize to get him protection in the lineup, which is why Alonso had to be back.
It didn’t make sense for Alonso to play in Toronto or elsewhere. He’s made for New York. He is one of those players who can handle playing in the bright lights of the big city, which is not for everyone. He should be winning games and a championship for the Mets.
Seeing him get a loud ovation in the introductions and his at-bats on Friday was good for the soul. The decibels were off the chart when the Polar Bear homered. Alonso’s curtain call was just right. You felt that the Mets would not be denied on this day.
This had to feel good for Alonso. He shows emotion all the time, so for him to experience the love from fans and have the day he had, there’s no doubt he was on a high. He knows there’s nothing like performing in New York, so he is still thankful to be a Met.
Who knows where it goes from here? It sure appears the Mets star could be in for a great year and maybe get the contract he thought he should have received next offseason. Right now, he plans on enjoying every moment as a Met.
Yes, Friday was a perfect script for the Mets and Alonso.
