PORT ST. LUCIE – As someone who grew up in Tampa and still lives in the area, the past six months have been a nirvana for Pete Alonso, the sports enthusiast.
Over that stretch, the Stanley Cup and Lombardi Trophy were raised for the Lightning and Buccaneers, respectively. And a third professional team in the Tampa area, the Rays, advanced to Game 6 of the World Series.
All of this has fueled Alonso’s hunger for success in his job as Mets first baseman. Simply put, Alonso wants to bring a missing piece of hardware to New York – the Commissioner’s Trophy.
“The goal for us is to be the last team by the end of the year and see how much the city of Tampa was buzzing, it was full of energy and exciting and I can’t wait for that to happen in New York, starting in Queens , ”Said Alonso Friday after a team workout.
“To have that buzz, to have that energy, to have that swagger, that excitement, that’s a privilege and now it starts with attention to details and going out and fighting our asses out and going out and wanting to win and do everything to win. Being in that kind of environment is a privilege and I can’t wait for it. I hope all five boroughs turn into a big block party when we do it. “
Alonso followed his historic 2019 season, setting an MLB rookie record by beating 53 homers, with a second slide, if you can call it more than 60 games. In total, he finished with a respectable .231 / .326 / .490 slash with 16 homers and 35 RBI’s for a team that finished last in the NL East.
No one will root harder for a return to a full season than Alonso, who said he’s built for the marathon, but not necessarily for the sprint.
“Sixty games season, I can’t put too much merit into that, because I know it’s tough,” said Alonso. “Last year was a very abnormal year – not just baseball, but I think for all of us. This is a year of resilience and I am just happy to play 162 this year. “
Alonso slumped early last season and showed improvement in mid-August, but the Mets were quarantined for a week after a player and coach tested positive for COVID-19, and that momentum stopped. Alonso started a new wave late in the season.
“I’m really happy that last year happened the way it happened because I feel like I’m very prepared for this year and exposed a lot of things last year that I needed to get better at and I’m ready,” Alonso said. “I’m ready to have fun and go out and play.”
Without the universal designated hitter in place, Alonso will prepare as if he were the regular first baseman. Should an agreement be reached between MLB and the MLBPA before the season to implement the universal DH, defensively superior Dominic Smith could spend much of the time at first base, with Alonso on DH.
“I think I’m a really good first baseman and I just really want to play with the ball,” said Alonso. “I am a first baseman and I am a position player. I am not a DH. I don’t want to be labeled that because I worked too hard and feel like I played well.
“In 2019 I played very well at first base. In 2020 I didn’t have my best year be it offensive or defensive but this year I have a great opportunity and I want to grow as a person and as a player and I feel like I will never see myself as a DH. I will always consider myself a first baseman. “
Alonso arrived at the camp last year with the goal of winning a golden glove and ending the season on a parade car “drunk as hell.” He answered in the affirmative on Friday when asked if he had the same goals for 2021.
“It’s going to be a good year,” said Alonso.