Pete Alonso wouldn't admit it when asked about the emotions of this moment when he returned to Citi Field as a member of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, but this was personal, and he had to love every minute of it.
Nine months ago Alonso said good bye to the city he called home for over a decade, when he signed a five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, after the Mets front office, led by President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, decided against going into an aggressive bidding war for his services.
In fact, the Mets didn't even make an offer last winter.
How could they do that?
Alonso is the Mets All-Time Home Run Leader. His bat alone catapulted the Mets onto an incredible postseason run in 2024 when he launched a Devin Williams fastball over the right field wall in Milwuakee to send the Mets past the Brewers in the wild card.
Alonso was a home grown Met; one of the franchise's best overall players (even if he wasn't fleet afoot at first base). He played every single day. Never complained. Just put his head down and worked, and worked and worked.
"I spent a lot of time here. It's obviously exciting, because of all that time, coming up in the Mets organization and knowing a ton of people on the other side ... it's good to see all the people there," Alonso said on Monday outside the Orioles clubhouse. "Honestly I am gracious and appreciative of all the support. It's been a long time now since I have been an Oriole. It's been almost a year, I've been an Oriole and to still have that support is appreciative."
While he said all the right things, let's be honest, when Alonso launched a Kodi Senga fastball deep into the Flushing Queens night on Tuesday for his 300th career home run, he had to feel every kind of emotion and thought running through his body. I bet it probably felt like running on air around those bases.
He flipped the bat toward the Orioles dugout, pumped his fist in the air and screamed, then rounded the bases at Citi Field, something he had done 123 different times in a Mets uniform. Only this was different. This was vengeance. As Alonso came to the dugout he high-fived his new teammates, and had the look of both relief and anger in his eyes.
300 home runs! In the building he once called home! Against the team that didn't want him anymore! Against the team that replaced him with an oft-injured and inconsistent middle infielder named Jorge Polanco?!?!?!
You have to think that Alonso was thinking about all of that. Thinking about David Stearns who refused to come to terms on any deal with the Mets best player for two straight off-seasons. In fact Alonso was quoted in a May edition of the New York Post as telling Stearns: "When my career is being evaluated for the Hall of Fame years from now, you'll still be fiddling with your F---ing formulas."
This was justice personified.
And then there is Steve Cohen, the Mets slickster owner, who for years has tried to paint himself like George Steinbrenner, but is just a slicker version of Fred and Jeff Wilpon, walked up to Alonso at batting practice on Monday, almost making sure the cameras were on the two of them, when he told the Mets former First Baseman that Citi Field would always be his home. The two shook hands and Cohen walked back to the first base dugout.
While Cohen was trying to be the better man, and with all intents and purposes did the right thing going up to Alonso, he also tried to paint himself as innocent one in this situation.
Here's the thing, Cohen is the second richest owner in Baseball (outranked now by the Angels new owner Stan Kronkie). He could have easily walked into the office at any point last off-season and said, 'Guys, what the hell is going on here with Alonso? Five years? Six years? What is it? I'll pay it.'
He could have done that. Just like he made sure to outbid the Yankees for Juan Soto, making Soto one of the highest paid players in baseball history just two off-seasons ago. He could have done that, just the way he tried to with Carlos Correa before that deal fell through back in 2023.
So this entire week has been a harsh reminder to both Cohen and Stearns that Mets fans never forgot and never forgave. Sure for the past two months in July and August when this team has played a little bit better under Andy Green, you didn't hear much from Mets fans, mainly because the season was over before it ever started in April.
Mets fans stood up and gave Alonso a well deserved standing ovation when he walked to the plate on Monday.
And when he was walked in his first at bat, the crowed booed. When nothing was going on, they chanted, "Fire Stearns!"
Then came Tuesday night when Alonso crushed his 300th home run in the ninth inning of the Orioles 7-5 victory.
Citi Field exploded when the ball was launched off Alonso's bat. Then, Alonso peered out of the dugout and gave the fans a curtain call to which he received an even louder ovation.
The "Fire Stearns" chants grew louder and louder.
For those few fans criticizing Mets nation for their love and support of Alonso, you just don't get it.
Alonso was more than just a ball-player, he is a Hall of Famer. While we can argue about the Mets moving on from Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and even Edwin Diaz last off-season, Alonso should have been a full stop. Allowing him to leave should have never been an option.
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