Pete Alonso took it personally last October when the Mets were eliminated from the postseason with a loss to the Padres in the NL wild-card series.
Alonso says he took a “deep dive” during the off-season into examining where he could improve. The results have followed through the first three weeks of the regular season.
Alonso entered Friday night’s game against the Giants tied for the major league lead with nine homers.
“I just feel really good and in control right now, which is a really good feeling,” Alonso said. “I feel like I am more of a complete player. I feel like I am playing well on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively and I feel like I am running the bases well.”
The Mets had six victories in seven games to open this West Coast trip as they arrived at Oracle Park on Friday, and Alonso’s hot bat ranked high on the list of reasons the team has succeeded in overcoming injuries within the starting rotation.
On the trip, entering play, Alonso was 10-for-29 (.345) with three homers. That included a blast in Thursday’s series-opening victory against the Giants.
The Guy Report 