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NEW YORK — There was a point in January when questions swirled about whether the Mets' lineup packed enough of a punch.
The Mets front office had sent a shockwave through the baseball landscape with the signing of Juan Soto, but he needed backup, and Pete Alonso's spot in the middle of the lineup was still up in the air.
In the Mets' home opener on Friday afternoon, the home fans got a firsthand look at the potency of a lineup with both Soto and Pete Alonso at the heart.
Alonso belted a two-run home run in his first at-bat and Soto helped the Mets gain some separation with an RBI double in the sixth as they scored a 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays in front of a sold-out crowd of 43,945 fans on Friday at Citi Field.
On a day like Friday, it was easy for Alonso to see why he made the decision to return on a two-year, $54 million deal.
"For me, it was just all about winning," Alonso said. "And for me, knowing the culture here, knowing the guys, knowing the camaraderie, you need a great combination of talent, hard work and chemistry. And obviously this place is familiar. Love it here. Love playing at Citi. Love being at New York. It checks all those boxes for me."
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza does not want to envision a world in which Alonso, who has supplied three of the biggest hits in the team's 4-3 start to the young season, is not in the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
"I'm glad I don't have to think about it. I have him," Mendoza said. "I had him last year and I got him again this year. I don't think that crossed my mind."
Now at the top of the lineup, Mendoza has the chance to deploy a pair of players in Soto and Francisco Lindor who were finalists for the MVP in opposite leagues last season and one of the game's best power hitters in Alonso.
Alonso heard the positive response from the fans to his return and gave them another reason to cheer.
On the fifth pitch of his at-bat against Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman in the first inning, the Mets first baseman reached out for a fastball outside the zone and sent it over the wall in right field.
"That's why they call him the Polar Bear," Soto said. "It's tremendous power."
The chants that Alonso heard during pregame introductions resumed as he touched home plate and continued as he ventured into the dugout. So Alonso made sure the fans knew he appreciated the love, ascending the dugout steps for a curtain call.
"It was sick. That type of stuff is what you dream about as a kid," Alonso said. "And to have that type of support being reciprocated, it's really special, for sure. I enjoyed every second of it."
Alonso is in a great spot to begin the season, leading the team with three home runs and 10 RBI. He delivered a grand slam on Monday and added a game-tying three-run blast in their extra-inning win in the series finale against the Marlins on Wednesday. In the early going, he's 7-for-24 (.292) with five extra-base hits.
"He's locked in when he's not chasing, when he's laying off some tough pitches, when he's not missing pitches in the strike zone and he's using the whole field," Mendoza said.
Soto was not shy about playing to the fans either as he ventured out onto the outfield grass for the first time at Citi Field as a member of the home team.
In the first inning, he received a roll call, and throughout the game, he acknowledged the shouts and chants that were directed his way.
"It feels great. This fan base is amazing," Soto said. "Like I said in the past, I didn't realize how many fans they have and how passionate they are. It's really cool."
Soto endeared himself to those fans in his first game, driving in the Mets' third run of the game in the sixth inning as the Mets earned a little extra separation.
Looking ahead: These 5 players didn't make Mets' Opening Day roster, but can still impact 2025
It was a frame that proved the headache that the Mets' lineup could induce, particularly with Alonso swinging it well.
After Soto knocked the RBI double to the wall in right field, the Blue Jays elected to intentionally walk Alonso with a free base. Brandon Nimmo made them pay with an RBI double to the warning track in right to boost the Mets ahead 4-0. It was enough for the Mets to coast to the victory.
"They're very, very careful with (Soto), so with our lineup, there's a lot of different guys that can beat you," Nimmo said. "A lot of them are circling Juan and they're like, 'We're not letting this guy beat us,' so we're trying to put them in positions where they have to pitch to him and they have to come after him."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets dream lineup of Pete Alonso, Juan Soto star in home opener
Continue reading...
The Mets front office had sent a shockwave through the baseball landscape with the signing of Juan Soto, but he needed backup, and Pete Alonso's spot in the middle of the lineup was still up in the air.
In the Mets' home opener on Friday afternoon, the home fans got a firsthand look at the potency of a lineup with both Soto and Pete Alonso at the heart.
Alonso belted a two-run home run in his first at-bat and Soto helped the Mets gain some separation with an RBI double in the sixth as they scored a 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays in front of a sold-out crowd of 43,945 fans on Friday at Citi Field.
On a day like Friday, it was easy for Alonso to see why he made the decision to return on a two-year, $54 million deal.
"For me, it was just all about winning," Alonso said. "And for me, knowing the culture here, knowing the guys, knowing the camaraderie, you need a great combination of talent, hard work and chemistry. And obviously this place is familiar. Love it here. Love playing at Citi. Love being at New York. It checks all those boxes for me."
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza does not want to envision a world in which Alonso, who has supplied three of the biggest hits in the team's 4-3 start to the young season, is not in the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
"I'm glad I don't have to think about it. I have him," Mendoza said. "I had him last year and I got him again this year. I don't think that crossed my mind."
Now at the top of the lineup, Mendoza has the chance to deploy a pair of players in Soto and Francisco Lindor who were finalists for the MVP in opposite leagues last season and one of the game's best power hitters in Alonso.
Pete Alonso adds to strong start
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Alonso heard the positive response from the fans to his return and gave them another reason to cheer.
On the fifth pitch of his at-bat against Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman in the first inning, the Mets first baseman reached out for a fastball outside the zone and sent it over the wall in right field.
"That's why they call him the Polar Bear," Soto said. "It's tremendous power."
The chants that Alonso heard during pregame introductions resumed as he touched home plate and continued as he ventured into the dugout. So Alonso made sure the fans knew he appreciated the love, ascending the dugout steps for a curtain call.
"It was sick. That type of stuff is what you dream about as a kid," Alonso said. "And to have that type of support being reciprocated, it's really special, for sure. I enjoyed every second of it."
Alonso is in a great spot to begin the season, leading the team with three home runs and 10 RBI. He delivered a grand slam on Monday and added a game-tying three-run blast in their extra-inning win in the series finale against the Marlins on Wednesday. In the early going, he's 7-for-24 (.292) with five extra-base hits.
"He's locked in when he's not chasing, when he's laying off some tough pitches, when he's not missing pitches in the strike zone and he's using the whole field," Mendoza said.
Juan Soto getting settled at Citi Field
You must be registered for see images attach
Soto was not shy about playing to the fans either as he ventured out onto the outfield grass for the first time at Citi Field as a member of the home team.
In the first inning, he received a roll call, and throughout the game, he acknowledged the shouts and chants that were directed his way.
"It feels great. This fan base is amazing," Soto said. "Like I said in the past, I didn't realize how many fans they have and how passionate they are. It's really cool."
Soto endeared himself to those fans in his first game, driving in the Mets' third run of the game in the sixth inning as the Mets earned a little extra separation.
Looking ahead: These 5 players didn't make Mets' Opening Day roster, but can still impact 2025
It was a frame that proved the headache that the Mets' lineup could induce, particularly with Alonso swinging it well.
After Soto knocked the RBI double to the wall in right field, the Blue Jays elected to intentionally walk Alonso with a free base. Brandon Nimmo made them pay with an RBI double to the warning track in right to boost the Mets ahead 4-0. It was enough for the Mets to coast to the victory.
"They're very, very careful with (Soto), so with our lineup, there's a lot of different guys that can beat you," Nimmo said. "A lot of them are circling Juan and they're like, 'We're not letting this guy beat us,' so we're trying to put them in positions where they have to pitch to him and they have to come after him."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets dream lineup of Pete Alonso, Juan Soto star in home opener
Continue reading...
