The New York Mets are mired in a miserable stretch, having lost 31 of their last 50 games and falling far behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
So when the franchise received a bright spot Tuesday in the form of Pete Alonso breaking the franchise home-run record, it felt like something worth celebrating.
Don’t tell that to Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who lambasted the Mets and announcer Gary Cohen for treating Alonso’s record-breaking homer like it mattered more than it did.
Chris Russo goes full Mad Dog on the Mets’ celebration and Gary Cohen’s call of Pete Alonso’s franchise-record home run. pic.twitter.com/FMcNcpP4cU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 13, 2025
“I cannot believe the big deal people are making about Pete Alonso being the franchise record-holder now for home runs. He passed Daryl Strawberrry last night,” said Russo, launching into his rant on Wednesday’s episode of First Take. “Nobody in Metsville that I know, and I know a lot of Mets fans, after a stretch in which they’ve lost 11 of 12, and have allowed the Phillies to bury them in the NL East, now we’re gonna make a big deal about Alonso’s home run?”
Russo then specifically called out play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen for going “a little over the top” for his call of the record-breaking home run.
Gary Cohen on the call for a moment of Mets history. https://t.co/3qFFVuyT4g
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 13, 2025
“YOU CAN’T EVEN TELL ME WHAT THE HOME-RUN RECORD WAS BEFORE THIS NONSENSE,” yelled Russo. “THIS IS RIDICULOUS!”
Russo revealed that his disdain for the celebration also stemmed from the fact that the team didn’t seem to be in a rush to re-sign Alonso during their most recent contract negotiations and ended his rant by calling out the team for doing a special celebration of Alonso before Thursday’s game, extending the good vibes.
“This is not Henry Arron against Al Downing,” said Russo, completing his rant with a requisite reference to something that happened before most of the people watching were born.
New York-based sports media have been having a field day teeing off on the Mets and their fans in recent weeks. WFAN’s Boomer Esiason recently shredded slugger Juan Soto over his apparent lack of leadership, while Evan Roberts roasted fans for applauding an opposing pitcher’s no-hit bid.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.