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Mets players have had to deal with their fans rooting for the opposing team this week
Longtime New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso returned to Queens for the first time since leaving the ball club last offseason, leading to a bizarre atmosphere at Citi Field. The current Mets players sound quite annoyed by it.
Pete Alonso, now with Baltimore, hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning—his 300th career blast. Fans at Citi Field, who already felt aggrieved by the front office’s decision to not seriously pursue resigning Alonso, erupted and gave him a curtain call.
The crowd also chanted “Fire Stearns,” directing their frustration at Mets president David Stearns, whom owner Steven Cohen already confirmed would be returning next season.
Some Mets players sounded frustrated by the fans cheering for Pete Alonso to hit home runs against them
Speaking to the media after the game, Mets pitcher Sean Manaea sounded a bit irked as he discussed the fans’ reaction to Alonso’s return.
“I love him to death, but as the 2026 Mets — I know we’ve definitely underperformed– the guys in here work their a– off every single day,” Manaea said. “To have that reaction to an opposing player is crazy to me.”
“I love him to death, but as the 2026 Mets – I know we’ve definitely underperformed – the guys in here work their ass off every single day. To have that reaction to an opposing player is crazy to me”
– Sean Manaea on the Citi Field reception for Pete Alonso’s 300th home run pic.twitter.com/7itFYYpns7
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 16, 2026
Mets fans have largely had no time for Manaea’s apparent frustration, as he’s a member of a roster that failed to make the playoffs and imploded in April despite having the highest payroll in the league.
All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor had made a similar point the night before, urging fans to support young pitcher Jonah Tong instead of focusing their energy backward.
Interim manager Andy Green, however, seemed to have the response that Mets fans most appreciated.
“Do we love our fans cheering for us? Heck yeah, we do. Do we want our fans engaged with us? Heck yeah, we do. We absolutely want that. We understand we didn’t meet expectations this season. We’ll show up tomorrow, play to win a baseball game.”
Alonso was the Mets’ all-time home run leader with 264 homers for New York before signing with Baltimore in free agency. In his first season with the Orioles, Alonso is batting .267 with 152 hits, 36 home runs, and 101 RBIs. He’s also started in all 152 games that the team has played thus far this season.
The player that Stearns brought in to replace Alonso at first base, Jorge Polanco, has appeared in just 37 games and is batting .148 with 20 hits, two home runs, and six RBIs.