So, Freddie Freeman and Jose Abreu win their respective leagues' MVPs, and Dominic Smith is the only Met to get votes, finishing 13th in the NL.
The Mets have never had an MVP. 59 seasons. 0 for 59 (.000).
On the subject of Dom, hearty and deserved congratulations for his superb 2020 showing.
His chances, to be frank, were greatly reduced by his having only 199 Plate Appearances.
Freddie and Abreu both had 262 PAs. Both had 31.6% more PAs, to be precise.
Boost Dom's stats by 31.6% and you get 28 doubles, 13 HRs, and 55 RBIs.
I don't think that wins Dom the MVP - Freddie was phenomenal.
My point, however, is that Dom really would have been in play for the MVP if he had as many PAs, and was just an excellent first baseman/DH and not asked to try to play the outfield.
Freddie, let me add, at the same age as Dom (25) was good, but not nearly as good. It was when Freddie turned 26 that he stepped it up significantly to the Freddie Freeman star quality that we know all too well.
Makes you wonder what Dom Smith will achieve at age 26.
Abreu? 60 RBIs, 60 games in 2020. Thunder.
He is one guy that has to make you excited for the Steve Cohen era. Here's why.
Jose was a legendary hitter in Cuba (e.g., he hit a Little League-like .453/.597/.986 with 79 runs, 93 RBI and 33 home runs in only 66 games in 2010-11), defected in 2013, and was available to be signed. The White Sox got him at 6 years, $68 million.
The Wilpon Mets would never bid for expensive guys like that. Low risk, low rewards, low cash.
As a MLB White Sox rookie in 2014, in 145 games, Abreu didn't skip a beat, as he hit like an MVP - .317 with 35 doubles, 36 HRs, 107 RBIs. He's had 100 RBIs every year, except this shortened season and another where he missed 34 games. Dynamite bat.
We had Lucas Duda. We had the Wilpons. We had no chance to sign Abreu. None whatsoever.
Now, we have Steve Cohen for the next time an Abreu type of opportunity arrives. We'll have a chance. A great chance.
Maybe, someday, we'll have an MVP, too.
The Mets have been xenophobic other than central and South America. They do not look at Cuba, Japan, Korea or anywhere else in the world. Hopefully that short sightedness is now gone, but I won't hold my breath until I see it.
ReplyDeleteReese, it is a new day, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI remember at the Abreu signing wishing the Mets would get involved, but knowing that given the money, they wouldn't.
Abreu turned out to be a huge bargain for the White Sox. Possible Hall of Famer when his Cuban years are included.
Reminds one of another player the Mets did not pursue then, whom the Cohen Mets might have pursued aggressively - Ichiro Suzuki. He may only have wanted the West Coast initially - but money talks.
Question: if you could trade Smith to get Freddie Freeman right now, would you?
ReplyDeleteProbably not. It's exchanging an inexpensive good hitter for a more expensive one where his position is already filled with Pete Alonso.
ReplyDeletePutting Pete aside for a minute, I would not trade Dom for Freeman...5 years younger, and his age 26 year could (like it was for Freddie) be another step up from his age 25 performance, which would move him into the truly elite.
ReplyDelete