The New York Mets are still fighting for a spot in the playoffs, but it is looking more and more unlikely with each passing day. They are in a very bad position because the pitching depth couldn’t stand so many injuries, inconsistencies, ineffectiveness and opt outs. But they have only gotten league average production from Pete Alonso, arguably the team’s most potent bat.
Before Wednesday’s games, the Mets’ slugger has a .209/.306/.435 line with a .313 wOBA and a 99 wRC+. Those numbers are a far cry from what he did on the 2019 season: .260/.358/.583 with a .384 wOBA and a 143 wRC+, plus 53 homers.
After hitting a home run in the New York Mets’ victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Alonso suggested to local media that he has been somewhat unlucky this year.
“I’m hitting the ball hard, but I’ve had some pretty bad luck, hitting the ball right at guys,” he said to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. He may be right to some degree, but the difference between his wOBA (.297) and xwOBA (.316) is not so big.
Pete Alonso cites his .215 BABIP and 88.5-mph average exit velocity as evidence that he’s been more unlucky than anything this season: pic.twitter.com/F1EZ3X6Ijk
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) September 23, 2020
The Mets’ star will keep trying
He was hitless in his last 13 at-bats coming into Tuesday’s game, but went 2-for-3 with three RBI and the 13th home run of his season. “Every time I go up in the box, it’s nine against one,” Alonso said. “Baseball is tough, and it’s a game of failure. And for me, I’m never going to give up, that’s the thing. I never give up on myself, I never give up on my teammates, and until the last out is made, I’m busting it,” he said to SNY.
“I’m doing the best I can, I’m playing as hard as I can. That’s one thing I take pride in, regardless of any outcomes, I still hustle, I still play the games right, and I still try to be the best teammate I can be… Ultimately, this is my job. I got no other choice but to keep going and just keep going in with the best attitude possible and trying to compete and win each day.”
His homer came off All-Star lefty Blake Snell, and more importantly, it helped the Mets win a ballgame. “All you can focus on is winning today, and putting your best foot forward,” he said. “And today is a great day, and I’ll take that every day of the week.”