
All-time best Mets first basemen five years from now
There’s a burning question I wanted to know most at this position: where do Mets fans think Pete Alonso eventually lands? Five years would be enough for him to at least establish himself as one of the best.
Of course, there are some fantastic first basemen in franchise history he would first need to pass. In addition to finding out where he ranks, will we see Dominic Smith make an appearance? After all, the DH could be on its way to the NL.
Matt
1. Keith Hernandez
2. Pete Alonso
3. John Olerud
4. Carlos Delgado
5. Ed Kranepool
Elizabeth
1. Keith Hernandez
2. John Olerud
3. Ed Kranepool
4. Pete Alonso
5. Carlos Delgado
Michael
1. Keith Hernandez
2. Pete Alonso
3. John Olerud
4. Carlos Delgado
5. Ed Kranepool
Interestingly enough, we see all of the same five names on these three lists. Keith Hernandez is number one on all and the rest are scrambled. It’s honestly a little surprising no one placed Dominic Smith on their list. In the next five years, I don’t think we see Alonso play much first base at all.
But this isn’t about me. This is about what three other people believe happens at first base.
Matt and Michael both believe strongly in Alonso and even handed in the same exact list. They think in the next five years he goes up to number two. I think this definitely fair. Elizabeth doesn’t think so at all. She ranks him at number four, below Ed Kranepool!
I’m not here to go on a diatribe about Kranepool. I’m honestly unsure if I would even put him in the top five and not just because he played the outfield often. Kranepool is a loyal member of the franchise and a legend in his own right. Compared to other first basemen in club history, I don’t think he’s close.
The three Rising Apple writers surveyed for this seemed to have varying opinions on John Olerud and Carlos Delgado. Two entirely different players, I’m okay with however you want to rank them. They were both in New York for the same amount of time and excelled at their strengths.
Matt and Michael’s list most resembles what I might put together, but I might drop Kranepool in favor of someone else.