A moment the NY Mets crossed their easiest Pete Alonso backup plan off the list

Let’s go back to last winter. The New York Mets had yet to sign Pete Alonso and the thought process was they’d be able to easily turn to Mark Vientos as their next first baseman. He slugged his way into our hearts in 2024. Clearly not a major league third baseman, a move across the diamond to the overall less challenging position of first base seemed like a way to get the most from him.

Vientos failed to repeat his 2024 offensive performance. And in one moment in early August, he crossed himself off the list of potential Alonso replacements at first base.

Yeah, one misplay at a position you’re not so familiar with shouldn’t have the team shifting completely away from some decisions. However, if run prevention and defense truly are an essential goal of the Mets, they can’t make Vientos their starting first baseman next season.

Mark Vientos reminded us on this play he’s not an everyday defender at any position

There wasn’t much difference about this missed pop than anything Vientos would have experienced at third base. Defensive numbers at first base aren’t extensive enough for him for us to really dive into whether he’s a fit at first base or not.

Ron Darling’s lack of words shows just how flabbergasting the failed catch was. Irrelevant to the final outcome of the game, a bigger picture showed itself. For as much criticism as Alonso gets at first base, his experience over there cannot be compared to how green Vientos is even on the routine plays.

This was just one of 3 games Vientos played at the position all year. There isn’t enough data from his 112 major league innings at first base to draw a full conclusion. It’s plays like this that should have him as a Plan-C at the position and not a direct replacement for Alonso.

Ironically enough, two years earlier almost to the day there was an incident in Kansas City where Alonso whiffed on a foul ball. There’s a startling difference. Vientos’ play looked like a lost defender staring into the headlights. Alonso’s was a good effort by a below-average fielder.