Tom Brennan - Free Agency is a Two Way Street, Pete

IS THIS REALLY THE BEST HOME PARK LONG-TERM FOR PETE?

Almost everyone in Metsville wants to keep Pete Alonso.

"Sign him long term now!!!!"

"Sign him long term in the winter!!!!"

"Money is no object!!!!"

Well, a few things to consider there.

I saw a post that noted that, as the Mets won 14 of their first 21, Pete was hitting .293 with 10 HR, 23 RBI, .671 SLG and a 1.047 OPS

In the 52 games since, he's hitting .190 with a .447 SLG and .731 OPS, beaten down by the spiraling losses.

(Can we sign meteoric Tommy Pham long term instead?  He's really 28 and not 35, right?)

So, let's at least wait and see how much we want to sign Pete for, huh?

Of course, he could wise up and decide, "I'm going free agency."

He will be 29 next year, his last as a pre-free agent.

He plays for a team that ALWAYS UNDERPERFORMS (except in 2022, for which I still credit Edwin Diaz for instilling the ongoing excitement and aura of invincibility to lighten everyone else's load and help them play like winners).

Pete travels like any MLB player.  He sees the Braves players having FUN, winning like mad, life is easy, life is breezy. No need to break bats in half over your thigh.  Eat a peach. Smile.

Playoffs.  Lots and lots of playoffs.

Pete lusts for success and the glory that World Series rings can bring.

He's played in 3 playoff games as a Met. 27 innings, give or take.

He also sees his career road slash line is a commendable .271/.355/.576, a line which if it were his full career slash would seem Hall of Fame qualifying.  

And usually, hitters hit better at home than the road. 

But his career HOME slash is a far inferior .238/.331/.482 - a slash line which won't get you to the All Star game, much less to the Hall of Fame, Pete.

Unless he truly loves NY, loves being a Met so much, that he'd play nowhere else, he ought to WANT to leave the Mets, which free agency allows you to do.  

"I can go somewhere else, like Wrigley, like Philly, like Texas, and be a GREAT Hall of Fame hitter. Be in the playoffs a lot.  Or I can perpetually scuffle here.  And miss the playoffs here.  And, essentially, fail."

If I was this Mr. Pete Alonso, I'd ask for a trade -at this trade deadline - to a REAL contender.  

And a team that will give him HUGE BUCKS ASAP.  (Keep in mind that Texas has no state income tax, while NYS and NYC...)

A team that will give him numerous playoff runs.  And winning.

And - if you are thinking you can fix this, Pete, stop pretending things will somehow be different while playing for your pretender franchise in the years to come.

Trust me, Pete, since 1986, if you truly study this franchise, you will conclude: 

"I have to get away from this loser aura, this hanging curse."  It is real, and it always seems to be lurking.

CLUTCH?

Answer is: No. But who is the question about?

Former Mets first baseman Dominic Smith, who has picked up the power a bit of late, adding 2 HRs in the last week to double his season total to 4, but only has 19 RBIs in 295 at bats. 

Why not clutch?

Just 10 for 65 with RISP. Some bad Mets habits are hard to shake.

CRAZY

Braves’ last 195 regular season games, 135-61 (.687). 

This year, 42 wins out of their last 60 (.700). 

Crazy. Divorce the Braves.

Mets’ best year - the 108-54 killer in 1986? “Just” .667.

ANOTHER STARTER TO WATCH

24 year old Luis Moreno. 

Don’t know him?  

Well, you should, OK? 

So, darn it, please, pay attention. Thank you kindly.

He was not in the Mets pre-season top 50 of Prospects 1500. 

Nonetheless, he has done THIS:

In his last 5 starts, the Marcus Stroman-sized 5’8” righty has thrown 27 innings, recorded 35 Ks, and allowed just 4 earned runs, in AA. 

Sizzling.

And SIZZLING is far better than fizzling.

ANOTHER RELIEVER TO WATCH

6th round 2022 6’3” 225 righty Dylan Tebrake threw just 4 innings in debut 2022 and fanned 8. 

In his first game this year, for Brooklyn, 5 hits and 3 runs in 3 innings.

In the 12 games and 22 innings since? Dy-no-mite.

As in 34 Ks, just 3 earned runs, just 10 hits.

So, if you are itching for a coffee break, take a Tebrake instead. Overpowering stuff.

EXACTLY WHEN?

Exactly when will Coleman Crow (acquired in the Escobar trade) first pitch for the Mets. He’s been out a few months now, due to two dreaded words: elbow inflammation. So does anyone know when he is going to debut?

Anyone ever notice that they don’t make elbows like they used to? Just curious.