Pete Alonso is confident this won't be his final Mets homestand

Knowing Francisco Lindor will miss at least a few games with a back ailment, David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza called an impromptu team meeting before Monday night's series opener against Washington.

The Mets' most important player will be out for some of the most critical games of the 2024 campaign — uncertainty over exactly when Lindor might return. Hence, the leadership felt the need for a meeting to discuss the shortstop's absence.

And three people were injured while addressing the meeting.

President of Baseball Operations.

the manager

and Pete Alonso.

A few in attendance noted Alonso's emotions. He mentioned that during his time with the Mets they were sort of in the running for 2019, but not really. They blew a late division lead in 2022, but didn't learn their full fate until the final game of the season and therefore never celebrated — then were quickly knocked out of the playoffs by the Padres. Beyond that, the Mets didn't sniff the playoffs in Alonso's other seasons.

So, speaking for the veteran players and staff around, Alonso urged his teammates. He said he wanted to celebrate, in his words, “with the boys.” Thus, he explained, it was essential for the team to hold off the rest of the way and enter the postseason.

It was a stirring way to start what could be his final homestand as a Met. Alonso is set to become a free agent after this season, and Monday's game against Washington was the first of seven straight at Citi Field, including four against the Phillies.

The Mets began the stretch knowing where their slugging first baseman's heart was. Now, they need his bat — none more so than Lindor's out of the lineup.

Discussing both the playoffs and his future, Alonso said he had “a gut feeling” it would all work out positively. When asked to clarify whether he wanted the Mets to make the playoffs or whether he would stay with the team long-term, Alonso laughed and said, “Both.” He said it was not because there had been any secret talks about an extension. Simply, he said, is what he wants to believe – “I love it here. It's a really special place.”

And because, he explained, he fully expects to play in October at Citi Field.

But he is focused on making it happen.

Alonso had 32 homers and a .795 OPS, fine stats, but he represented the lowest OPS of his career and his five percent homer rate was also the worst. He averaged .225 with runners in scoring position. He's lacked big hits off the bat this year — an absence that hasn't made Met fans' hearts fonder of him.

And now the Mets are in a period where many elements of their lineup have faltered, most notably J.D. Martinez, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos. And Lindor is out with what the team says is no structural damage, but also no clear return date for its best player and a strong NL MVP contender.

That leaves Alonso as the most eligible healthy hitter to change a game or three down the stretch.

A signature moment for Alonso last week and halfway through the regular season will only reignite the love affair with the Flushing fan base. Steve Cohen and Stearns don't seem the type to get overly emotional in discussions – especially Stearns. But Cohen made it clear how much he values ​​honoring and building on Mets history — and Alonso is an important part of that. And in the next 10 days it can make itself more instrumental.

Still, Alonso insists he's not allowing himself to get wrapped up in free agency or that this could be his final Citi Field home game. Not that – more than ever – he has to be the man with Lindor. He emphasized that he “feels the responsibility” every day regardless of who's in the lineup or what kind of season he's having or what awaits him next.

“Yes, this year is not necessarily my standard,” Alonso said. “But, for me, we still have 12 games left and all I want to do is win and I want to contribute to a winning culture — and this group is great. What happens in free agency happens. I'm not too worried about it.”

Alonso emphasized how much he cares about culture and group when he made an emotional call at a clubhouse meeting on Monday. But the Mets won't put their money where his mouth is – he'll need his bat to speak louder than they have all season.