There’s nothing ESPN loves more than celebrating a hero — except, of course, dismantling him in the next breath. Pete Alonso may have just sent the Mets’ record books into rewrite mode, but the headlines aren’t all confetti. Instead, the network is reminding everyone that one man’s moonshot doesn’t fix a lineup hitting like it’s allergic to runs.

When it comes to MLB, the state of New York is just not having a good time all around. The Yankees are in the trenches, with the Mets not far behind. Neither team can win the games when they should easily be able to take home the win. And that is becoming a big problem. While both teams are in danger of not making the postseason, the Mets are in the red zone because they have no room to drop any more games, and at this time, none of the records matter.

In the recent ESPN Power Rankings, the New York Mets have slipped from 7th to 11th, and there is a good reason. They wrote, “A collective slump at the plate since late July has been maddening for New York, although Pete Alonso setting the franchise record for home runs was a recent bright spot… You could throw a dart at their roster… hit a player who is struggling at the plate… include Alonso, who has an OBP under .250 since the All-Star break.”

Pete Alonso’s night against Atlanta was one for Mets history, blasting his 253rd career homer. That swing pushed him past Darryl Strawberry’s long-standing franchise record, a milestone 37 years in the making. He added a second blast later, marking his 25th career multi-homer game, three ahead of Strawberry. The achievement, however, now sits alongside the team’s larger struggle to turn personal glory into collective success.

For the Mets, historic moments mean little if they fail to translate into the all-important wins column. They sit at 64-55, still chasing the Phillies, having won just twice in their last thirteen games. A 13-5 triumph over Atlanta, when Alonso broke the record, felt like a rare offensive eruption. If that night becomes an isolated spike, the record risks fading into a bittersweet season footnote.

New York’s offense has been mired in a collective slump since late July, frustrating both fans and players. Francisco Lindor is hitting just .188 over his last 23 games, and Alonso’s OBP sits below .250 post-break. You could throw a dart at their roster and likely land on someone struggling at the plate. Even stars like Alonso, despite power surges, are finding it difficult to sustain consistent offensive production.

If the Mets miss the postseason, Alonso’s milestone will be overshadowed by another year of disappointment. A season boasting franchise records and individual brilliance would still be remembered for squandered playoff opportunities. With the roster’s talent, failing to capitalize on such moments would sting long after October passes quietly. For a homegrown star like Alonso, that’s the kind of legacy no record book can truly soften.

And so, the New York Mets find themselves in baseball’s cruelest paradox — rich in history, bankrupt in wins. Pete Alonso can keep swinging for the moon, but even moonshots look small on a losing scorecard. The franchise may cherish his 253rd, yet fans will remember the collapse more than the clout. Because in New York, glory isn’t measured in records — it’s measured in October, and the Mets might not even get an invitation.

Pete Alonso is having a blast, and the Mets might want to keep him in Queens.

In a season where the Mets have made inconsistency their brand, Pete Alonso, along with Juan Soto, remains the fireworks show. Every swing feels like a public service announcement that power still lives in Queens, even if wins don’t. But as the losses pile up, his bat is becoming less a luxury and more a lifeline the franchise can’t afford to misplace.

Pete Alonso’s season roared back into focus with a franchise-shaping, two-homer power surge on Tuesday. He passed Darryl Strawberry with career homers 253 and 254, electrifying a restless Citi Field. The latest ledger shows .272 average, 28 homers, 98 RBI, and an .887 OPS today. As he said, “take what the game gives you,” and the rewards follow soon enough.

Teammates and manager echoed that poise, framing Alonso as the heartbeat and metronome for winning consistency. Brandon Nimmo predicted free agency riches: “he’s going to get what he deserves,” this winter. Carlos Mendoza praised presence: “You appreciate that he posts,” anchoring lineup and clubhouse daily reliability. The night, he admitted, even moved him to tears, underscoring Alonso’s connective tissue with fans.

For the Mets, keeping Alonso resembles the Yankees securing Judge: talent, identity, permanence in Flushing. The owner’s resources remove excuses, and prime seasons still project elite run production ahead, consistently. Alonso’s horizon aligns; “I have a goal to play through my age-40 season,” he declared. Given the record, production, and bond, letting him walk would be unforgivable malpractice in Queens.

So here’s the truth — Queens without Pete Alonso would feel like Times Square without neon. Steve Cohen can buy every billboard in baseball, but you can’t purchase what Alonso’s bat gives you nightly. If the Yankees kept Judge, the Mets could surely keep their Polar Bear fed in Flushing. Otherwise, the only record they’ll chase next year is most fans rolling their eyes in unison.