We could tell from the beginning that this season was going to be a weird one for the Mets. But then again, when do they have a normal one?
The Mets went from World Series darlings in the preseason to a $350 million disaster. The fans are frustrated, the players are frustrated, and the ownership team has even brought out a cute dog to soften the blow after underwhelming press conferences.
But the Mets are currently in the midst of a five-game winning streak and they have had an especially hot hand from rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez, who is giving New York a necessary spark midway through the season.
He leads all catchers in home runs (16) and has found ways to keep this team exciting during times of peril. The rookie leads all MLB players with five home runs to tie or take the lead in the sixth inning or later, per Associated Press.
Alvarez has said that he can’t even sleep at night if the Mets lose.
So when he does something that can help the Mets win, you can only imagine the thrill that envelops his entire being. Now triple that if that is a home run that comes on the last pitch of a game to secure a victory, as it did against Arizona on Wednesday night.
FRANCISCO ÁLVAREZ STRIKES AGAIN!
A GAME-TYING HOMER IN THE NINTH! pic.twitter.com/NC2c0aDlFh
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 6, 2023
But that celebration didn’t sit well with everyone and the next day, as the Mets led 9-0 in the seventh inning, it was still clearly on the minds of the pitching staff in Arizona.
Alvarez, who had another home run earlier in the game, was hit by a pitch and the benches cleared.
The benches and bullpens clear in Arizona after Francisco Álvarez is hit by a pitch pic.twitter.com/Kmyb6U3z10
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 7, 2023
Alvarez was reportedly warned this could happen because of his celebration. Here is the latest from beat reporter Tim Healey (via Newsday):
“In the jubilant haze of the Mets’ wild win Wednesday, as Francisco Alvarez rounded the bases following his down-to-their-last-strike tying home run, third-base coach Joey Cora sent a message: Tone it down. … Cora’s point, which he reiterated in a conversation with Alvarez early Thursday, according to Alvarez, was that the Mets hadn’t actually won or accomplished anything yet, so maybe don’t be quite so emotional.”
Alvarez took the message in stride. The report continued:
“I definitely respect that. It’s making me a better player at this point,” Alvarez said through an interpreter. “I respect the old school, the way that they were able to pave the way for all of us and how they handled their emotions in their career. At the same time, me being part of the younger players, we have a little bit more emotion. I’m not saying that it’s always appropriate for every single situation, but I also feel like it brings energy to the team, especially for the big moments like that.”
Alvarez described his celebration as “natural excitement” and “natural emotions” rather than showboating.
According to Mets manager Buck Showalter, however, this wasn’t actually much of an issue whatsoever. Showalter said that everybody “was wanting” to see that type of emotion and Alvarez was able to back it up with his play on the field.
“I’m not one of those guys that tries to force down somebody’s throat the way we [played back in the day],” said manager Buck Showalter, who sometimes uses Cora as a liaison with a Spanish-speaking players. “That’s the way Joey was brought up. I think he wants to have the kid — because he’s such a great kid, nobody wants anybody to get the wrong impression of him. It’s sincere. I’m telling you, it’s sincere.”
It’s a shame that the Diamondbacks plunked Alvarez after his theatrics on Wednesday, and it would be a shame if more teams behaved that way as he continues hitting dingers.
But the reality is that the Mets need this kind of life injected into the season and Alvarez is the perfect guy for the job.
