Reese Kaplan -- One-On-One With Pete Alonso

Today I had the privilege of getting to spend a few minutes after the game with the Mets’ number one prospect, Pete Alonso.  I’ve been watching him first hand the past three games and although the results have not been there offensively, he definitely looks like most of the hype is justified.

MacksMets

Pete, thank you for taking time to talk to me today.  I wasn’t sure if you’d be amenable to do so given how the game ended tonight (striking out with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th on a pitch in the dirt).  

Alonso

No, it’s part of the game.  You can’t win all the games and everything can’t be a hit.  

MacksMets

What has this season been like for you?

Alonso

The effort I put in is showing up in the results I’ve gotten.  It’s a been great moving up the ladder.  

MacksMets

While you haven’t done much offensively these first three games of the series, I’ve been struck by how graceful and adept you’ve been on the defensive side.

Alonso

Yes, I have made an extra effort to work on that part of my game and I thank you for noticing.

MacksMets

Indeed.  You took complete charge on that infield pop-up, calling off P.J. Conlon and assuming his spot on the mound to make the play.  Then yesterday you’d made a nice grab running up into the right field foul territory for a nice grab.

Alonso

Yes, I was named the July Player of the Month for defense and it was good to see my hard work has paid off.

MacksMets

So what’s your timetable for making it to the big club?

Alonso

That’s something I can’t control.  I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully just keep being Pete and that will show them what I can do.  

MacksMets

What’s it like playing for new manager Tony DeFrancesco?

Alonso

Tony D?  He’s great.  He’s like that tough Italian uncle with a certain degree of swagger.  I like him.  

MacksMets

What’s next for you?

Alonso

I’ve just been told I’m headed to the Arizona Fall League and hope to keep showing everyone what I’m capble of doing.

MacksMets

One of my fellow writers wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t ask what you hear from Jeff McNeil?

Alonso

(laughing)  Yeah, I talk to McNeil a lot.  I gave him crap about his first home run and told him the wind must have been really blowing out that day.  But I’m really happy for his success up there.  

MacksMets

I know with the rain delay it’s a late night but I truly appreciate you spending this time with me.

Alonso

Glad to do it. 

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Saturday night’s game started off with a 56 minute rain delay.  You can tell how seldom it rains here.  The grounds crew had trouble figuring out how to roll out the tarp protect the infield.  

Tonight is Fireworks Night and the 51s provided some of their own to begin.  Left fielder Zach Borenstein lined a single to left that Allen Craig dove for but trapped.  Peter Alonso got retired on a pop up to 1st, but then cleanup hitter and right fielder Bryce Brentz hit a no doubt about it home run that kissed the top of the fence well above the yellow home run line.  

Unfortunately, lefty P.J. Conlon gave it right back by issuing a free pass to shortstop Luis Urias and then giving up a home run that went right down the line, threatening to go foul off the bat of red hot catcher Francisco Mejia.  The Padres got him for reliever Brad Hand.  Thanks, Ricco!  The Indians are on the hook for the balance of a $20 million obligation and Jeurys Familia’s superior pitching record netted hobbling Bobby Wahl and sore-shouldered Will Toffey. But we did get $1 million in international bonus pool money, so all is right in Wilponia.

The bottom of the second saw the 51s threatening again after a leadoff single by Ty Kelly and a walk to Jose Lobaton.  Unfortunately Conlon was unable to lay down a bunt, striking off by fouling off the pitch with two strikes. Matt den Dekker grounded out to 2nd to end the opportunity.

P.J. Conlon got the first batter on an easy grounder, but then gave up a long double off the wall on the fly to Auston Bousfield.  The Chihuahuas pitcher, Cal Quantrill, proved no more adept at bunting than had Conlon. The inning ended by a nice over the shoulder catch of a foul pop up to the between 3rd and left field by Patrick Kivlehan.

It took three games but finally evidence of Peter Alonso’s power surfaced on some loud foul balls and a screamer caught by the centerfielder.  Unfortunately that was the best the 51s could muster in the 3rd, going down 1-2-3.

Conlon gave up an infield hit that Kivlehan couldn’t field.  He got Mejia to pop up to the infield and it was nice once again to see Alonso taking charge defensively, grasping it on the pitcher’s mound.  Unfortunately 3rd baseman Ty France lined a double off the centerfield wall to give the Chihuahuas a 3-2 edge.  Kivlehan executed a force out at 3rd and it looked like Conlon was going to get out without further damage, but Dusty Coleman lined a single to left and with the runner sprinting from 2nd base the umpire ruled him out at the plate.  We were able to peek through the glass to see the replay in the broadcast booth and Conlon better buy a dinner for that umpire because he was clearly safe by a significant margin.  

The top of the 4th was another 1-2-3 inning against the 51s, though Luis Guillorme flashed his warning track power on a fly to the opposite field in deep left.

In the top of the 5th catcher Jose Lobaton hit his second home run of the series to even up the score at 3-3.  P.J. Conlon who couldn’t bunt when asked to do so, this time line a single up the middle.  Unfortunately Matt den Dekker struck out.  Then Zack Borenstein hit a rope to the centerfield warning track but Chihuahuas’ centerfielder Shane Peterson made a circus over the shoulder catch, just avoiding crashing headfirst into the wall.  Alonso ended the threat with a groundout.

Conlon looked stronger as the game wore on, striking out 4 of the last 6 batters he faced, all of them swinging.  If that’s his profile then relieving it not likely in his future if it takes him 5 or more innings to get loose.  

In the top of the 7th Manager Tony DeFrancesco made the curious decision to allow Conlon to hit, but he was rewarded with a base on balls.  Matt den Dekker followed with a single bringing up Zach Borenstein who unfortunately did what he often does and added to his league leading total of strikeouts to end the threat.

Even more oddly the manager then lifted Conlon and handed the ball to Eric Hanhold.  I’m not complaining because it’s my first time to see him throw live and he’s got a powerful arm, consistently hitting in the low to mid 90s on the radar gun.  He proved that velocity alone is not enough to win as he gave up a leadoff triple to Urias followed by two singles, but just allowed the 1 run to put the Chihuahuas up 4-3.

In the top of the 8th Patrick Kivlehan slammed a double with two men out bringing Ty Kelly to the plate against former Marlins reliever Carter Capps.  The oft-injured hurler has a very odd hopping delivery that has more than once caused the umpires to call an automatic ball on him for an illegal pitch.  He also hides the ball well behind his back until the very last minute.  Combined it’s very difficult for batters to pick up what he’s throwing and even with about 8-10 mph below what he used to throw he still looks like he can be highly effective.  Kelly and he engaged in a marathon 10-pitch at-bat, but ultimately he got Kelly swinging on strike three.

The 51s made it exciting in the 9th with a walk to Lobaton, a Texas league double by den Dekker to put runners on 2nd and 3rd.  The Chihuahuas gave a free pass to lefty swinging Borenstein to load them up for righty Pete Alonso. The strategy worked with Alonso swinging at strike three in the dirt.  Chihuahuas win 4-3.