4/16/19

Tony Plate - ALONSO OFF TO A GOOD START


FIRST UP - PETE ALONSO:

New York Mets rookie first baseman Pete Alonso is off to a good start with six home runs. He hit a rocket to straight away centerfield the other night to help the Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 6-3. The ball landed into the scenic water-backdrop high above the centerfield wall. 

He has good power and likes the ball low, then when he is able to extend his arms, he usually hits the ball to right-center field. So, the strategy for any pitcher would be to pitch him inside and a little high so he would not be able to extend his arms. 

When Alonso competed for the first-base job in spring training along with Dom Smith and Todd Frazier. He got off to a good start with the bat by hitting a two- run homer against the Braves in the Mets first spring training game. He hit 36 homers with 119 runs batted in with a .975 OPS at two levels in the minor leagues last season, but the Mets did not call him up, because of his defensive deficiency at first base. 

Alonso was determined at the very beginning to work hard on his defense throughout the whole spring training and play the best he can consistently to make the parent club. His hard work paid off which has helped him to get off to a very good start. It will be interesting to see what the Mets will do when Frazier comes off the disabled list, because someone perhaps Smith who has options will have to be sent to the minor leagues.

MOVING ON TO JASON VARGAS:

I noticed that some members of the media are disappointed with Jason Vargas’s performance thus far. His earned run average through several games is 14.21. 

They are hoping that the Mets would try to sign former Houston Astro and free agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel who does have playoff experience and when he pitched for the Astros, he was very tough on the New York Yankees as New York sports fans are aware. 

I’m surprised that nobody signed Keuchel at the beginning of free agency after last season.  I would like to point out that Vargas did pitch well during the latter part of last season. So, hopefully he can turn things around. 

Brodie Van Wagenen gave Vargas a vote of confidence. He said that Vargas is their fifth starter and they’re not going to make any drastic changes after Vargas had that one bad inning on Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves where he had a schedule that was derailed. 

Vargas has proved that when he pitches on regular rest and takes his regular turn, he pitches good. 

The Mets said they would push his next start a game back so, he would be scheduled to pitch perhaps next Saturday. 

When Keuchel’s name was brought up Van Wagenen said they have confidence in the guys here including Vargas, however he will still monitor the situation for a possible upgrade.






7 comments:

Gary Seagren said...

Good article but to this point our MVP's so far are Diaz and McNeil who doesn't get nearly enough credit for being Mr. Everyman for this team.

Tom Brennan said...

GARY, MCNEIL AND DIAZ ARTICLE AT 12:00

Mike Freire said...

Love the start to the season for The Pounder! I am also pleased with Dominic Smith in his current role......once Frazier comes back, I think Dominic OR maybe JD Davis will be the odd man out.

Personally, I would make Frazier the odd man out but there are salary implications that will muddy the waters.

Vargas is what he is.....veteran lefty, junk baller that needs to be "on" in order to be successful. Tiny margin of error and when he misses or is ineffective, he gets roasted. I would rather have Dallas in the rotation and Vargas as the last man in the bullpen, but it isn't my money.

Jim said...

It's time to release Todd Frazier.

In the club's hierarchy of needs, he brings nothing to the table.

In fact, he's a negative. A #4 third baseman taking away ABs from McNeil (.404 BA) and Davis (.957 OPS) and Smith.

All three of those guys have value now -- have value as trade chips -- as value as future Mets.

Todd hits. .215 and whiffs and sucks up to reporters.

A negative, because he will also take away a roster spot from a player with greater value, whether it's a bullpen arm or any other player.

There are lots of ways we might wish to improve the Mets. Todd Frazier fills none of those. Not a single one.

Needs to be released. Can't be traded.

Brodie did a good job at giving the club a transfusion. Flushing out much of the old, losing roster. This guy is a vestige. Needs to go.

Jimmy P

Tom Brennan said...

Jimmy p, we are on the same Frazier page. We saw that in 2018: Jose Reyes. Dump Todd!

Reese Kaplan said...

J. D. Davis will be demoted.

Tom Brennan said...

.263/.404/.553 and 47 are the reasons I think JD Davis is staying right here with the Mets.

The former are his excellent splits. The latter is the # of his plate appearances in the first 16 games, a very high number. Almost an every day player #. They'd be insane to send him down. I do not think Brodie is insane.