Orioles’ playoff hopes end after Alonso did all he could to keep them alive

Pete Alonso almost had me believing it was possible — that he would lead the Orioles to three more wins and that the White Sox would lose the rest of their games to hand Baltimore the last wild-card spot.

Having remembered seeing Phillies manager Gene Mauch get introduced in the audience for the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, I began to think the improbable could happen. Mauch was introduced because the Phillies held a 6 1/2-game lead with 12 games to play, but they lost 10 in a row and were overtaken at the finish line by the St. Louis Cardinals, who went on to win the World Series.

It was an unbelievable collapse, just as this one would have been before the White Sox brought me back to reality with a 9-1 win over the Royals on Thursday afternoon to clinch the final wild-card spot.

On the day Alonso was a unanimous choice as Most Valuable Oriole, he paced the Orioles to a doubleheader sweep of the Blue Jays to keep the Orioles’ faint playoff hopes alive. He hit his 41st home and upped his runs batted in total to 110.

He also did something else that made me think this guy just might elevate the meaning of Oriole Magic. After the Orioles completed their sweep, he led the players back onto the Camden Yards field to salute the fans. It was another example of how the Orioles have become his team. He then said all the right things.

“I believe in the baseball gods, and I honestly believe that I’m here for a reason,” he said. “I was always meant to be a Baltimore Oriole and I think people are very appreciative and receptive to that, and I feel just as lucky and fortunate to be here as other people have told me. So, yeah, it’s special. It’s special. That’s really an understatement.”

Underrated is what Alonso is. Not as a power hitter but as an all-around player and leader. He played solid if not outstanding first base, working at a part of his game that doesn’t come as naturally as his ability to drive a baseball. He gave the Orioles a veteran presence they were lacking, one who encouraged and instructed his teammates while demonstrating an everyday work ethic reminiscent of Cal Ripken Jr.

If he had gotten the help that was expected from his teammates, the Orioles wouldn’t be ending the season this Sunday in New York.

“That’s the goal of the 162, and once you get into the playoffs, you can start thinking about winning the thing, but you’ve got to get in the dance first. It’s frustrating, you know, because I want that in the worst way for this team and this city.”

Alonso’s authenticity is refreshing. He means what he says. He also appreciates what he has, sharing how he felt after saluting the fans.

“It’s just felt so good because whether it be fans, people here internally, teammates, it’s just a strong connection to the city because people have just made it so enjoyable,” Alonso said. “I’ve got nothing but amazing things to say about the city, the fans. People have welcomed my family and I, the team, fans, coaches. Everyone has rolled out the red carpet, and it’s really felt like — it’s felt special.”

President of baseball operations Mike Elias signed a special player last December for five years, $155 million. At the time, I didn’t know how special. At the end April, when he had just four home runs, I still didn’t know how special. But I know now, and have become a believer — almost to the point that I thought he could pull off the improbable.

“I wish that we could just wholeheartedly say, ‘Yeah, we have postseason baseball. We’ve got October baseball coming back to Camden Yards,” Alonso said.

Alonso will carry that belief into 2027. I won’t doubt him.