Multiple Standing Ovations, Chanting His Name All Game, Booing Their Own Pitcher For Walking Him: Mets Fans Did An A+ Job Welcoming Pete Alonso Back To Citi Field
Not very often you'll find people complimenting Mets fans, but last night they put on quite a show as they welcome back Pete Alonso to Citi Field. I was a part of the Orioles crowd that cheered for Adley during his ABs a few weeks ago in Baltimore but my goodness this was different. Pete WAS the Mets, all time leading home run hitter, multiple massive playoff home runs, he was their guy....until he wasn't. Now he's Baltimore's guy and we love him here, I can't thank David Stearns and company enough. Sure the Orioles were dog shit yet again, but nothing about that is Pete Alonso's fault. He's been incredible all year, on the field, in the clubhouse, all over the community, he's the best. But it's very clear that the Mets fans didn't want Pete to leave and still are pretty pissed at the front office for letting the Polar Bear walk right out the door.
He had standing ovations during pregame warmups, he had standing ovations during his 2 minute tribute video, I'm not sure the Mets fans were ever in their seats if Pete was on the field, they really showed an impressive amount of love for a visitor. The tribute video was pretty awesome as well, they did a great job of that. You could tell how much he meant to that franchise and the fans truly appreciated it. Pete for sure tried his best to just kind of play it off but you know it meant a lot to him too. A nice tip of the cap to the crowd and some claps, was pretty cool. Lot of good memories in Citi Field for him and the Mets, just couldn't ever get over the hump. When the game started the applause didn't end. The Mets played "Layla" for his first AB, crowd went nuts, was a very cool scene to watch unfold.
He K'd in his first AB but then had the fans on their feet again when they thought he hit his 300th career homer later on. Ended up pulling it foul but I don't think I've ever heard a home crowd groan when a visiting player's home run ball went foul. And sure, the Mets season is over, they were eliminated last night with this loss so they don't have anything to play for, but I still never thought I'd hear New York fans rooting for a Baltimore homer. It was pretty wild that a lot of Mets fans were cheering and standing for Pete as he hunted for his 300th but didn't do anything close to that for Francisco Lindor who is also on home run #299.
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Not only were they openly rooting for the opponent to hit a homer in a 1-0 game they were losing, Mets fans BOOED their own pitcher once Alonso was walked! I've never seen that before. Tong had to be questioning if he was at home or in Baltimore because of the boos he heard. I mean the look on his face, he's legit trying to figure out if he's hearing what he thinks he's hearing. Almost like he's shocked at what he's hearing.
Again, never have seen something like this in a ballpark for a visiting player. Not even when Cal Ripken Jr. was retiring, or Jeter, or any of those guys. Mets fans had a mission to show Steve Cohen and Stearns how bad they messed this up, just a complete disaster letting Alonso walk and replace him with the pieces that they did. They made this personal towards the front office.
And then in the 8th inning with Alonso on-deck in a tie ballgame, they're chanting for him! "WE WANT PETE" as a guy who is known to hit clutch home runs, I truly believe they would have gone nuts if he got up and hit a homer leading to another Mets loss. It didn't happen but my god I would have loved to see the reaction. The camera shot to Steve Cohen in some owners box somewhere, it would have been something. Dylan Beavers ended up striking out in the 8th and a majority of fans just didn't want to wait around for the 9th and they started leaving. It's full sections of folks headed out because they wanted to see Pete bat in the 8th. I don't know why they didn't just wait until the 9th, they had a chance to see him then. But they had seen enough and headed for the exits.
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Just wild scenes all over Citi Field and I fully expect to see 3-4 more standing ovations tonight as well for Pete. Him getting his 300th at Citi would be pretty cool too, a nice full circle moment but man would that sting for Mets' fans. The way their front office butchered this move is just insane, I fully understand why their fans are acting like this with Pete, he was supposed to be their home grown Hall of Famer. Now he's suiting up in another uniform because the Mets didn't want to go 5-years, wild. And I know he turned down that deal after 2024, but he did so knowing he was going to bet on himself and I think he's okay with the move now. Just never thought I'd see the day where a pretty full Citi Field was openly rooting against their team and rooting for opposing home runs. What a world. I know the O's stink, but Pete doesn't. Fucking love that guy, worth every penny.