Note: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, Schneps Media may earn a commission.
Pete Alonso (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
QUEENS — Pete Alonso might have been born 13 years after 38 Special’s hit was released, but he’s using the rock band’s words as gospel right now.
“You got to hold on loosely,” Alonso began. “If you hold on tight, you’ll lose control.”
The Mets slugger is trying to “Hold on Loosely,” emotionally amidst prolonged struggles — the worst of his career. Over his last 60 games dating back to May 1, he’s batting just .177. Since June 1 (32 games), it’s at a paltry .140.
“I haven’t played well at all. It’s not fun not playing well,” Alonso said following the Mets’ 6-2 loss on Thursday to the Chicago White Sox where he went 1-for-4 with an RBI single. “It’s just been tough. Nothing’s wrong mechanically. I changed some things about my approach… It’s just a matter of honing in on the approach and executing.”
It also appears that the more he cares, or perhaps presses, the worse it’s getting.
“Caring and wanting something is a double-edged sword where if you care too much, then that leads to mounting pressure,” Alonso said. “That’s not necessarily good.”
Those struggles at the plate bled into the field on Thursday when he booted a Luis Robert Jr. groundball to lead off the sixth inning. Alonso crouched behind the first-base bag with his head in his hands and kept it hanging as the White Sox proceeded to score four runs in the frame off reliever Drew Smith.
“We all know how much Pete wants things,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “He has put so much emphasis on trying to play perfect defense when he’s not hitting. He’s just trying to contribute and what happens is that you just get out of sync because mentally and emotionally, just wanting to do everything else other than hit perfect.
“It’s really painful to watch a guy, a great hitter like him,…
Read the full article here
