New York’s Polar Bear Is Hot

Sunday the New York Mets were trailing the Toronto Blue Jays, in the rubber match of the three game series, 3-1 in the 6th. The Jays had just taken the lead in the top of the inning. With Michael Conforto on first and one out, up to the plate stepped the Amazin's budding star, a mammoth of man, that's why the fans affectionately call him the Polar Bear, Pete Alonso.

The pitcher for Toronto, Ryan Borucki, has pitched his entire career for the Jays in the American League, so he has only had to face the Polar Bear twice, on at-bat Friday and Sunday. Each time the young left-hander gave the monstrous beast something to feast on. Two at-bats with two home runs for Alonso, his 5th round-tripper and 9th and 10th RBI's since winning his second consecutive Home Run Derby last week. The Polar Bear is hot.

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New York loves the long ball. Home run hitters are dangerous and that's how the Big Apple likes to roll. From Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays to Reggie Jackson, Mike Piazza and now Pete Alonso, with countless other great New York home run hitters in between, the Sultans of Swing have always ruled in the Empire State.

Pete Alonso isn't just hitting home runs right now, he is hitting big home runs. No, not the distance of the baseballs he sends rocketing into orbit, as he did Friday night off of Mr. Borucki, these four-baggers are being hit with the Mets protecting first-place with a slim lead in the National League East. After hitting Sunday's game tying dinger, the young first baseman turned to his home dugout and shrugged with his palms up to signal something like, 'no sweat. We got this.'

It's never easy to hit home runs but it's harder when the pressure builds, when the heat is on. But some animals just run cooler. They seem to just heat things up themselves, like this particular Polar Bear. Pete Alonso is hot and he is keeping the New York Mets in first place and his teammates are happy to jump on his big back.