When Mets President David Stearns voiced concern about the team’s defense just a few days back, some brushed it off as cautious executive-speak. But under the bright lights of the Subway Series, his warning proved all too prophetic. In a tightly contested matchup that demanded precision, it wasn’t a lack of offense or pitching that broke the Mets, but the glove.
And at the center of the costly miscue was none other than veteran slugger Pete Alonso.
Known more for his bat than his glove, Alonso’s defensive lapse proved decisive, sealing a painful loss to their crosstown rivals. And, the ever-hyped Mets-Yankees series ended with the Yankees winning it. Meanwhile, the defense remained a concern, if not further amplified.
“From my view, a good throw would’ve had him,” the Mets’ manager, Carlos Mendoza, referred to a miss by Alonso in his post-game meeting.
It all started in the eighth inning. The Yankees had runners on second and third when rookie Jorbit Vivas hit a sharp grounder to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. The veteran slugger fielded the ball cleanly and turned toward home, where Jasson Dominguez had broken on contact.
Well, Alonso had time but not the execution. His throw sailed past the catcher and straight to the backstop, allowing the go-ahead run to score. That’s it! The moment that took the game away from the Mets. The Yanks went on to tack on five more runs, winning the game 8-2 and clinching the Subway Series.
So, what began as a tight, evenly matched battle ended in a blowout. It is not because of overpowering offense or dominant pitching, but because of the very thing Stearns feared. A defensive breakdown at a critical moment!
“We’ve gone through stretches where it’s been pretty sharp, but also there’s a few games where we’re not finishing plays — and even some of the routine plays,” Mendoza pointed out.
If you think the mishap was from Alonso’s end only, you are wrong. It started early, when Mark Vientos mishandled a routine grounder in the first inning. Struggling to get the ball out of his glove, the third baseman failed to make a clean play. And so, expectedly, the Yankees capitalized, turning the miscue into two early runs.
If we think about it, the Subway Series might have been a learning curve for the Mets to work on their weaknesses.
The Mets just got a reality check
While the Mets are performing well and even leading their division, their recent Subway Series loss might serve as a much-needed reality check. You would agree that the Mets have a larger scope to improve now than going deep in the season.
It’s often in defeat that a team’s flaws are truly revealed. In that sense, this loss might actually benefit the Mets as the season unfolds. It gives them a chance to address their defensive issues now, rather than allowing them to linger and become a liability deeper into the season.
Other than this, so far, things are going fine for the Mets. They are off to an impressive start, leading the NL East with a 29–18 record. Powered by strong offensive performances from Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, along with a pitching staff that currently boasts the best ERA in baseball (2.87), the team has established itself as a serious contender.
And now, we might as well see the team coming up with a better defense next time. Because the Subway Series blow has shown them where to improve. The team now has a crucial stretch of games ahead. This includes a matchup against the Red Sox. So, to maintain momentum and build toward a postseason run, the Mets must address these issues.
What are your thoughts on the Subway Series, though? Care to chime in?
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