Can Alonso and McNeil save Mets season?

July 26, 2023

Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil stand out, along with Max Scherzer, for everything that has gone wrong with the New York Mets this season.

On Tuesday night, the Mets sluggers represented everything that was right about them in a rare great performance in the Mets’ 9-3 win over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Alonso homered twice and drove in five runs while McNeil doubled and drove in three runs.

The Mets desperately needed something out of their stars as they try to hang in there for the wild-card race. They are 6 ½ games back, so they are still on the periphery of contention. If they are going to hang around in the wild-card race and be in a position to play meaningful games in September, they need more of these types of performances from their stars.

Alonso has struggled ever since Atlanta Braves starter Charlie Morton drilled a 97-mph fastball at his wrist that had him out for a bit. He likely got drilled by Morton after he was caught on a hot mic for taunting Braves starter Bryce Elder by saying “Throw it again, please!” in the Mets dugout after he homered off him in the first game of the series.

The Mets slugger went through periods when he did not homer. Recently, he went through two weeks of not hitting a home run again, which he hadn’t homered in 11 straight games. With the Mets struggling to gain traction in the standings, the spotlight has been on his drought. He knows the Mets need him to hit home runs to win games.

Alonso is such an emotional player that when he struggles, he takes it with him when he goes home by dwelling on a bad game. In baseball, it can be mental where struggles can last a long time if a player lets it happen. It could be he let his struggles get to him, which explains why he is so streaky.

It had to be a relief for him when he hit a three-run home run off Domingo German in the third inning, giving the Mets a 4-0 lead over the Yankees. He followed it up by hitting another home run off German in the sixth inning, extending the Mets’ lead to 5-0.

Alonso being streaky could be good if he gets going, as he can go on a tear. He may be beginning to show signs that he is coming out of it altogether. Prior to the game against the Yankees, he went 5-for-12 against the Boston Red Sox with three extra-base hits.

Sure, it would be nice if the Mets first baseman would hit well for average and on-base percentage, but his game is centered on hitting the ball out of the ballpark. This is who he is. The Mets have to hope he will continue to stay hot.

McNeil has been an automatic out all season. He entered Tuesday’s game with a slash line of .248/.322/.321 with a .644 OPS. Tuesday was the first time this season that he drove in three runs this season, which explains why his RBI total is so low at 33 in 99 games.

It’s been stunning how he has fallen off this season after leading the National League in batting average at .326 and leading the team in hits with 174 last season. He hasn’t received much criticism, mainly because Alonso and Scherzer served as a shield for him in their struggles.

McNeil has to get back to doing what he does best, which is spraying the ball to all fields. It seems like he is reverting to bad habits (such as hitting for the fences) as a result of changes in the shift. This is not his game at all. Granted, he has bad luck at times when fielders rob him of his hits, but for the most part, he hasn’t really hit well with authority.

The Mets have been waiting for him to break out and get going all season long. During a long season, everything evens out. Maybe this is the start of something big for him. He and the team can only hope at this point.

The Mets are fortunate to still be in the wild-card race, mainly because the league allows so many teams into the playoffs in the name of mediocrity. They have 62 games left to figure it out. This not only gives them redemption from what has been a frustrating season, but it gives their two best players a chance to atone for their frustrating yearwith a great finish.

The Mets starting pitching can’t be relied on since there are so many question marks about the starters. But if Alonso and McNeil can compensate for the starters' struggles, that would help the Mets out.

If there is anything encouraging about Tuesday’s win, it’s that the Mets stars may finally be snapping out of their season-long slump.

The Mets have to hope there’s more where that came from with those two.

You can read Leslie's Jersey Sporting News Columns on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.