Was this the end of Pete Alonso’s Mets tenure?
NY Post
LOS ANGELES — In the final days of the regular season and so often through this postseason run, Pete Alonso could wave his bat like a wand and conjure up one more game for the Mets — one more game in which he would play for the Mets.
On Sunday, the magic was all gone, and his future became the startling present.
After Alonso survived the doubleheader in Atlanta; survived the Game 3 elimination game in Milwaukee, in which his ninth-inning, three-run home run turned the Mets from losers into winners; and survived the potential elimination game at Citi Field on Friday, he finally found what could be his final game as a Met with the 10-5, NLCS- and season-ending loss at Dodger Stadium.
“I love being a New York Met. I love representing the city of New York. I love representing Queens,” Alonso said in a clubhouse of hugs. “This has really been special.”
Alonso’s possible goodbye included a pair of infield singles and a walk, reaching base in three of five plate appearances.
The Mets can now go home, and Alonso will reach what will be a fascinating free agency.
The Rangers hit the mark with their on-ice ceremony honoring Mika Zibanejad ahead of his 1,000th NHL game Monday night.
PORT ST. LUCIE — For now, Craig Kimbrel is choosing Mets purgatory.
‘Freak of nature: Zion Williamson’s resurgence could pose a Knicks problem versus motivated Pelicans
Zion Williamson is slimmer and healthier for his trip to MSG.
Don’t blame Mikal Bridges for his paltry stats. Blame the role.
Almost a year to the day after a goaltender interference call against Kyle Palmieri lost the Islanders a game against the Blue Jackets that started their season’s death spiral, they were on the wrong end of another controversial call against those same Blue Jackets that might have had the same effect.
On the Queens side of town, the reno began in earnest almost as soon as Francisco Lindor grounded into the 4-6-3 double play. That ended a 4-0 loss before a rare sizable crowd at Miami’s loanDepot Park last Sept. 27, all of them there to witness the final death rattles of an epic baseball calamity.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is being paid handsomely for his breakout season.
Next comes the harder part. Mostly because it can’t get any easier.
It was Kids Day at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, but for the Rangers, it’s been All About The Kids for months.
PORT ST. LUCIE — From the moment he was told he needed surgery on his left hamate bone, Francisco Lindor fixated on the recovery time. Trainers provided the Mets shortstop a six-week pathway to return to play, and Lindor was determined to hit every marker.
Dylan Garand knew the number off the top of his head. He knew that, between the regular season and playoffs, he’d logged over 160 games with AHL Hartford, and he was right. Before the Rangers recalled him Friday, Garand had served as the Wolf Pack’s goaltender 165 times.
SAN DIEGO — As you may have seen elsewhere in this newspaper (and also if you haven’t deleted me yet from your social media), I have a book coming out Tuesday called “The Bosses of The Bronx.” Much of it details the 37 years’ worth of antics, winning, losing, winning again and overall mania of George Steinbrenner’s time with the Yankees.
Don’t close the curtain on “Mean” Joe Greene.