The first base battle continues at the New York Mets Spring
training camp between Pete Alonso and Dom Smith. The battle between the two
players has been very competitive.
It has been one of the best battles for both the media and the New York Mets fans to see.
It has been one of the best battles for both the media and the New York Mets fans to see.
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| PC - Reese Kaplan |
Smith has been turning things around thus far as he tries to rebound from a rough performance with the parent club in 2018, however he did manage to slug .420 in 56 games. He was able to solve a sleep apnea issue and he feels physically better.
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| PC - Ernest Dove |
Since both players are performing well it will be a
difficult decision for Mets manager Mickey Callaway to decide who will be the starting
first baseman. From the way both players have performed thus far they both
deserve a roster spot.
If Smith wins the job and Alonso starts the season in the minor leagues, Alonso would gain an extra year of control. Smith said that he is
willing to play left field if it means going north with the team.
There is a
possibility that Callaway may keep both on the opening day roster. Another
option is a possible platoon for both of them.
Frazier and Lowrie will begin the season on the disabled list. When they both come off of the list it can make things interesting, because Frazier can also play first base; therefore, Callaway would have to decide who will have to be optioned to the minor leagues unless they trade or release someone else.
Frazier and Lowrie will begin the season on the disabled list. When they both come off of the list it can make things interesting, because Frazier can also play first base; therefore, Callaway would have to decide who will have to be optioned to the minor leagues unless they trade or release someone else.
Alonso is a right-handed hitter which
is a team need in a left-handed dominant lineup. If Smith goes to the minor leagues and continues to perform well, he can be a valuable trade chip in the
future since he is a versatile player which is the type of player that some
teams would be interested in.
In other baseball news, the New York Yankees are having
their own first base battle between Greg Bird and Luke Voit. Both players are
having a good Spring and have put on a great show for Yankee fans and the media
to see.
Voit came to the Yankees in a trade last year and performed well.
According to Yankee management Voit is the front-runner at the moment to win
the job. Bird has had to overcome injuries during the last two seasons and has
done a good job thus far.
It is possible that manager Aaron Boone may keep both
when the Yankees go north or if Bird is sent to the minor leagues, he can
possibly be a good trade chip for a starting pitcher, which the Yankees can use.
2 comments:
Yanks do have a similar problem with Voit and Bird at first base - both are having really good springs.
Interesting to see the parallel to the Mets' 1B situation.
The Shawshanks are averaging 6 runs per game this spring - their offense is never in doubt. Maybe they will do 6 runs per game in the season, too. Judge has a slug % of 1,061!
As I have stated before... and will again in my weekly post... if Brodie is a man of his word, Alonso will come north as the opening day first baseman.
BTW -
The object of this site has never been to have a bunch of writers all writing about different issues all this time.
The primary goal on this site is to have our seasoned writers give you their own opinions about, sometimes the about the same issue.
We all are writing about the Smith-Alonso duel this week and giving it our own spin.
That is what we have always been known for.
Editor
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