The MLB offseason and transaction season often brings with it a lot of commentary on baseball from analysts who aren't as familiar with America's Pastime.
That can create some goofy moments, and Stephen A. Smith had one of those involving Pete Alonso's signing with the Baltimore Orioles from the New York Mets.
Smith was rattling off some factoids about Alonso on his own show, and he referenced the fact that Alonso had only played 57 games in 2020. He'd gotten injured, Smith said.
Of course, 2020 was kind of a different year.
MLB only played a 60-game season that year because of COVID-19.
Stephen A Smith said Pete Alonso "got hurt and only played in 57 games his 2nd season", when really it was the 60 game shortened COVID season 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/0IDiQKiS1x
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) December 11, 2025
MORE: Mets have lost so much more than just Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz
Alonso has been steady pretty much his entire MLB career. The most games he's missed in a single season was a total of 10.
He's the Mets' all-time franchise home run leader, so it's tough to lose him to the Orioles.
Baltimore paid a ton, five years and $155 million, to get Alonso. The Mets were never going to go that high for a first baseman (low positional value already) who is a poor defender.
It still stings for Mets fans. But at least most Mets fans probably know that MLB didn't play a full slate of games in 2020.
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