Umpire’s nudging led to Pete Alonso helmet tip with Mets future uncertain
NY Post
Pete Alonso came to the plate to a standing ovation from much of the sold-out Citi Field crowd in the bottom of the first in what could have been his final game there as a Met.
The first baseman said the reaction caught him off guard, so much so that he didn’t know what to do.
Alonso said home plate umpire John Libka had a message for him when he got into the box.
“John said, ‘Are you gonna tip your cap or something? I can give you time,’ ” Alonso said after the Mets’ 2-1 win over Philadelphia. “I said, ‘What?’ I was worried about my at-bat, but [thought] ‘Yeah, I should.’ I’m happy John reminded me.”
It was the first of four loud ovations for Alonso, who is headed to free agency for the first time.
If things go well for the Mets over the next couple of weeks, though, he could be back again.
Every one of his 23 catches is preserved in his stat log. The same with his 271 receiving yards and his three touchdowns. His 37 targets reflect that he is not one of the focal points — he is the focal point. The leaps into the air to snare the ball and quick pivots and spins to wriggle past defenders are newly minted memories for fans who went from wait-and-see to here-and-now when it comes to anointing this youngster as legit.