It's a no-win situation if NY Mets fans compare Jorge Polanco to Pete Alonso

Comparing apples to apples isn’t going to turn out well for Jorge Polanco. Pete Alonso crushing a home run in his first spring training game while Polanco gets eased into spring training action isn’t the kind of start that impatient New York Mets fans wanted to see. Those same Mets fans probably already have a target placed on Polanco’s back. An entirely different player from Alonso, the struggle here is convincing fans that the first base situation isn’t the same as it used to be.

Mets fans have gotten pretty used to first base being a one-man job. Not this year. It’s going to be Polanco but also heavy doses of Mark Vientos and Brett Baty. Don’t forget Ryan Clifford. We shouldn’t even overlook other options as the season progresses.

Polanco came to the Mets this offseason as one of the first responses to losing Alonso in free agency. An unexpected fit who can give the Mets plenty of offense and serve as a backup at a variety of infield positions, it’s a no-win situation if all you ever think of him is the Alonso replacement. He’s much different than that.

You’re never going to be satisfied if you’re going to compare Jorge Polanco to Pete Alonso

Alonso can hit twice as many home runs and match or overtake Polanco in several offensive categories. The salary difference of $11 million per year might not be strikingly different enough for the common fan to appreciate what the Mets did. They’re paying a guy a lot right now over the next two years to avoid having to spend large on Alonso in a few more as he fades.

Is first base worse than it was last year? You’re fooling yourself to think it has gotten better from an offensive standpoint. Alonso crushes Polanco in terms of expectations and consistency. It’s the defense where the Mets seem to be hoping they can add a little more balance.

Moving on from Alonso gave the Mets the added flexibility to add elsewhere. Their pursuit of Kyle Tucker was made possible and the eventual signing of Bo Bichette is where they ultimately invested the largest sum this offseason.

You can’t even realistically look at something such as the combined WAR of Mets first basemen this coming year in comparison to Alonso. The larger plan was to have hitters with a different approach at the plate. Higher contact rates from Polanco, Bichette, and Marcus Semien are meant to translate into better results. Waiting for the three run home run didn’t work for the Mets last year. Why not try something else?

The entirety of the Mets roster has a different feel this season with multiple free agent additions and a significant amount of contribtuors brought in via trade. It’s not about swinging from Alonso to Polanco. It’s a collective.

That’s not to give Polanco a free pass. As a first baseman/DH, he needs to produce. And if he doesn’t, he’ll have a long two years in Queens.