LOS ANGELES -- According to those in charge of such matters, the primary reason why the Mets did not make Peter Alonso -- their second-ranked prospect, who mashed 36 homers in the Minors this season -- a September callup is because they could not find enough playing time for him down the stretch of a lost season. The Mets consider their first-base reps too precious as they try to determine if Jay Bruce, among others, is fit to play there next year.
That situation grew no clearer when Bruce hit a home run but showed his defensive warts in the Mets' 11-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday, demonstrating all that he can be and all that he is not.