Mets’ Big 3 turning Steve Cohen’s $1 billion-plus dream into reality

It was the verbal equivalent of being handed a rose as first Francisco Lindor, then Juan Soto and then Pete Alonso were called to the first base line by Howie Rose and Citi Field responded with love, appreciation and louder, louder, louder. 

If you were a Mets fan, this has been the $1 billion-plus dream becoming reality in front of you. Not in some far-off place — whatever the park is called this year in Houston or in front of friends and family in Miami. But at the home opener. Citi Field. A pinch-me there they really are in the flesh. In Mets uniforms. In Flushing. 

And then the bottom of the first came and the whole crowd — 43,945 strong — belted out “My Girl” as Lindor’s walk-up music played, like the renewal of a party from last year. And Lindor doubled and chants of “M-V-P” melded into a standing ovation for Soto’s first at-bat. And that was before Alonso — returning hero — heard “Peeete” all the way to the batter’s box and a crescendo of exaltation as he rounded the bases following a two-run homer that induced goosebumps if you were a breathing human. 

Sound and fury.