Jorge Polancos continuous struggles not about to make Mets fans forget Pete Alonso

In one dugout was the kind of first base torch-passing that will be referenced for decades, a seamless transition from an aging star to a younger version.In the other dugout was the kind of first base torch-passing that sees the torch get fumbled to the ground and sets the whole place on fire.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.

With Matt Olson, who assumed the position of Freddie Freeman so naturally, watching and homering for Atlanta, Jorge Polanco again did not look much like Pete Alonso.Because he is signed through next year, Polanco still has time to endear himself to his team and the team’s fans, but with each game and each at-bat right now he is making one of David Stearns’ key offseason decisions look a bit worse.Polanco’s struggles continued Wednesday afternoon, when he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and, perhaps most tellingly, opted for a sacrifice bunt rather than swinging away in what became a 3-2 Mets win over the Braves in the opening end of a doubleheader at Citi Field.Since returning from nearly three months on the injured list with both wrist and ankle issues, Polanco entered the nightcap 4-for-41 (.098) with three singles and a double.He had logged at least one strikeout in eight of his past nine games, a stretch in which he was punched out 13 times in 29 at-bats.

He has not swung like Alonso.Every one of those at-bats has come as the designated hitter, the 33-year-old unable to play the field because of his Achilles bursitis.He has not played defense like Alonso.In his final at-bat, with the bases loaded in the seventh inning against former Met Danny Young, Polanco swung through a sweeper and heard loud boos — even following a frame in which his team took the lead — all the way to the dugout.

The fans, too, are not treating him like Alonso.Andy Green said Polanco is still searching for his timing after his 12th game back from the ...