3 UP, 3 Down: Mets’ Meltdown Overshadows Pete Alonso’s HR Record

3 UP

1. Alonso Holds The Record

In the four game series against the Cubs, Pete Alonso homered in three out of the four games pushing his season home run total to 27 thereby surpassing Darryl Strawberry‘s rookie record.

With that now behind him, Alonso can not set his sights on the Mets all-time record books.

Currently, he’s on pace to hit 56 homers which would obliterate the single season record of 41 shared by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran. Speaking of Beltran, his team record of 80 extra base hits, a record he shares with Howard Johnson, is also in jeopardy with Alonso on pace for 96 extra base hits.

With power numbers like this, you know Alonso’s slugging percentage must be through the roof. In fact, it is, so much so his .642 SLG is currently higher than Mike Piazza‘s single season record of .614.

2. The Other Guys

In the series against the Cubs, Brooks Pounders (2.0), Wilmer Font (3.0), Stephen Nogosek (1.0), and Chris Flexen (2.0) combined to pitch eight scoreless innings in the four game series.

That’s an impressive stretch no matter who the opponent. It’s all the more impressive against the Central division leading Cubs who have the fourth best wRC+ in the National League.

3. Seven Wheeler 

Back on Saturday, there was real hope developing for the season again as Zack Wheeler arguably had his best start of the season. Over seven innings, he limited the Cubs to just one run on five hits.

If you look at Wheeler’s career, this is the time of the year he historically takes off. July is usually his second best month of the season, and his career second half ERA is over a full run lower. If nothing else, this means Wheeler will begin building trade value heading towards the July 31 trade deadline.

3 DOWN

1. Postgame Meltdown

After the latest game with the Mets blowing a late lead, Mickey Callaway lost his cool with Newsday reporter Tim Healey. As bad as that was, Jason Vargas challenged Healey to a fight and needed to be held back by Carlos Gomez and Noah Syndergaard.

There’s no excusing the Mets behavior here. Even if there’s intense media media critcism, you can’t behave this way.

The manager needs to handle his emotions better, and everyone needs to know you cannot fly off the handle and challenge people to a fight. It’s completely unacceptable.

2. Lugo Latest Bullpen Victim

The Mets had a rare chance to not just win a four game series, but they also had an opportunity to win a road series. In seemingly an even rarer feat, the Mets had a chance to win a series against a team with a winning record.

Instead, Seth Lugo allowed a three run homer to Javier Baez putting the Mets down 5-3.

Lugo has thrown 20 pitches in the seventh, and he was quickly in trouble in the eighth. You should see he didn’t have anything close to his usual stuff, and the Mets were ill prepared to bail him out in time.

This would lead to questions about why Edwin Diaz wasn’t brought in. Worse than that, it wasted another brilliant Jacob deGrom start, served as a precursor for the clubhouse altercation, and it all overshadowed Alonso’s record setting homer.

3. Mets’ Problems Run Deeper Than Callaway

With Callaway’s recent gaffe with Lugo and the blowup after the game, you understand calls for him to be fired. If he’s fired, he’s really just joining Travis d’Arnaud, Keon Broxton, Dave Eiland, and Chuck Hernandez as scapegoats whose firing will have little to no positive impact on the team.

Whether or not Callaway remains here, Robinson Cano will still be in decline, Brandon Nimmo will still be shut down with a neck injury. Wilson Ramos will still lead the league in passed balls while whiffing on balls he should catch. It’s not going to fix Jeurys Familia or the rest of the bullpen. Jed Lowrie won’t be playing for the Mets anytime soon.

So, go ahead and fire Callaway just like Eiland and Hernandez just were. It’s not going to change a thing with this team.