While the Mets can’t figure out how to score any
runs for ace Jacob deGrom in Chicago on Tuesday night, a guy that could have
solved that problem will not play in the majors at all this season.
Peter Alonso is enjoying an incredible season down on the farm. Between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las
Vegas, Alonso is killing the baseball, batting .277 with 33 homers, 111 RBI and
an on base percentage of .393.He even stole the show at the Futures Game during
All Star week last month.
Hell, the guy has even homered in three of his last six games for
the 51s.
Yet, the Mets have no intention of calling up Alonso when rosters
expand to 40 on Saturday.
The reason? Playing time according to Acting General Manager John
Ricco.
“We didn’t contemplate enough playing time
to warrant the call-up at this time,” Ricco said. “We are going to have Dom
Smith, Jay Bruce, and we’ll have Wilmer Flores all playing some first base and
to have Pete come up and just sit when we looked at it didn’t make a lot of
sense.”
Ricco’s statements came well before Bruce
botched a grounder at first that cost the Mets a 1-0 lead in Chicago Tuesday,
and perhaps a chance to win the game. What exactly do the Mets need to see from
Bruce, Smith and Flores that they haven’t already seen?
To be fair, Bruce just came off the
disabled list, but he is best suited in the outfield, not first base. Flores is
a very good utility guy, not an everyday first baseman.
Dominic Smith, on the other hand, is a
total quagmire. He is a natural first baseman, but the Mets have tried to
shoehorn him into the outfield to mixed results. He isn’t getting a lot of
playing time at his natural position either, losing out to both Bruce and
Flores. It feels like they have given up on Smith at this point.
In short, first base is a mess.
Alonso, himself, wasn’t too pleased with
the Mets decision, saying that he felt he “deserved” an opportunity to play in
the big leagues this season.
"I'm not going to lie, it's really
disheartening and disappointing, because one of the things that people tell you
is as long as you are successful, you're going to be in the big leagues,"
Alonso told MLB.com. "It's just one of those things where I understand
it's an organizational decision, and at the end of the day, I have to respect
that. But it's really disheartening because I feel like I've performed, and am
deserving of a reward."
Alonso later took on his critics who have
brought issue with his defensive skills at first base.
"I know people say I stink at defense. I'm
going to let all those people know that I figured a lot of things out. Yes,
there's always room to improve, but one day I'm going to win a Gold Glove
(Award]) … in my heart, I know that's going to happen,” Alonso said.
Alonso’s agent James Wagner also chimed in
delivering a slight jab at the Mets front office for not promoting his client.
“It is
disheartening for Peter after producing an historically great season and
exceeding every request from the Mets player development staff," Wagner
added. "I'm sure it is equally disheartening for Mets fans who would enjoy
watching and getting to know one of the most talented and entertaining players
they've developed in years."
With statements like this, one has to wonder if the Mets made
any concessions to Alonso, or if he and his agent are using this to draw more
attention. It’s working.
Even with his struggles at first base, Alonso has
earned the right to play in the major leagues this September. There is no
future with Bruce, Flores or Smith at the position. Alonso might be that guy; it would have made sense to see what kind of talent the Mets have here.
At the same time, New York knows that Alonso is not required
to be on the 40-man roster this year in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
There is no rush in their mind if it means protecting the player and keeping
him in the fold longer.
Regardless, the Peter Alonso story will be on of the biggest
headlines heading into the off-season and next Spring Training.
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