New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso won the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year Award which was no surprise. He received 29 of 30 first-place votes.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka who had an impressive 2.68 earned run average while striking out 142 batters in 174 2/3 innings received the other vote.
Alonso easily won the
award, because in addition to breaking Aaron Judge’s single-season home run
record he led the major leagues with fifty-three home runs and also, he had a decent
.358 on-base percentage.
When Alonso hit 36 home runs with 119 runs batted in with a
.975 OPS at two levels in the minor leagues in 2018 the Mets did not call him
up, because of his defensive deficiency at first base.
For that reason, he was
determined to work hard on his defense and play the best he can through spring
training which he accomplished.
When Alonso first competed for the first-base job against
Dom Smith and Todd Frazier, he got off to a good start with the bat by hitting a
two run homer against the Atlanta Braves in the New York Mets first spring
training game and I figured it was the beginning of something big for him.
During the first couple of months of the regular season, he quickly
showed that he belonged in the majors when he hit the long home runs and played
well defensively by diving after balls towards both his left and right that
were hit sharply which was attributed to being a student of the martial arts.
He continued to draw national attention as a slugger when he
won the home run hitting contest during the All-Star break. He has established
himself as the face of the Mets.
It will be interesting to see Alonso and Judge battle
it out, to see who will be New York’s top slugger each year, which does intrigue
the fans.
It is just like the comparison of the battle between Daniel Jones and
Sam Darnold who are battling to be New York’s top quarterback.
General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen is pondering offseason changes such as moving Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman to the starting rotation if Zack Wheeler leaves for free agency.
Brodie will then have to acquire a relief pitcher or two to improve a weak bullpen.
The Mets could also use a defensive upgrade at centerfield after declining Juan Lagares’ 2020 option.
The Mets could also use a defensive upgrade at centerfield after declining Juan Lagares’ 2020 option.
3 comments:
Pete Alonso received 29 of 30 first-place votes...Soroka was quite good, but you could make a case that if you pooled all the NY rookies over the last 50 years, and voted for who was THE ROY for that 50 year period - it would have been Alonso.
So that writer should be kicked off the voting committee - permanently. having an opinion is one thing - being so blatantly stupid is another. And I would say exactly the same thing if I were not a Mets fan.
Alonso hit 36 home runs with 119 runs batted in the minor leagues in 2018, but add in his AFL #s in 2018 and he had 42 HRs and 146 RBIs in 159 games - two WOW years in a row.
He will look to cut his Ks down in 2020 - he could do BETTER in 2020 - and, BTW, Judge fans more.
Alonso is better than Judge - Judge's numbers are hugely boosted by a massively favorable home hitting record vs. the road.
Pete? He hit 80 points LOWER at home than on the road. He will figure that out too.
I'll keep Pete.
Judge not lest ye be judged by a Polar Bear.
I'm sure Pete will cutdown on his strikeouts.
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