The New York Mets haven’t been playing particularly well for some time. With the penultimate week of the regular season approaching, they are now deadlocked with the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild card slot. ESPN’s Jeff Passan has been openly critical of New York’s dismal performance.
“The New York Mets, who have lost six straight games, are down 6-0 and will face Jacob deGrom.” Since opening 45-24 with the best record in MLB, the Mets have gone 31-47, trailing only the Rockies, Twins, and Nationals. This is not a collapse. “It is a disintegration,” Passan wrote.
Despite this collapse, first baseman Pete Alonso’s future remains uncertain. He’s a star player who leads the franchise in home runs. Earlier this season, he declined to say whether he would return.
“But let’s see what happens. I adore it; it’s fantastic, but you can never expect anything. And for me, I’m focused on getting this thing finished. I hadn’t given much regard to the free agent situation until we started talking about it,” Alonso explained. “It would be wonderful to remain. However, as previously stated, whatever happens happens. I can’t get a crystal ball. I wish I could, but we shall see.”
On Sunday, after what could have been his final home game in a Mets shirt, Alonso avoided the question.
“If I had a nickel for how many times everyone in this room has said that and I received it every time someone said it, I’d be really, really rich,” Alonso exclaimed.
Whether Alonso was attempting to lighten the mood or not, he refuses to even hint about a future comeback. This leaves Mets fans with a bittersweet taste, since he provides no details about his future with the franchise.
The Mets will try to hang onto the final wild card berth, but failure will reflect poorly on the organization. After free agency, Alonso will most likely be either the most popular or the most despised player in New York.
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