(All photos Copyright David Rubin 2019)
There is nothing more exciting for Mets fans in 2019 then watching one Pete Alonso mash home runs over walls all across the US of A!
As a fan of 50+ years, I have seen almost the entirety of this team's history unfurl, and there have only been 2 other players that not only had this type of power, but were as fun to watch utilizing their gifts: Dave "King Kong" Kingman, and Darryl Strawberry. And, quite frankly, although Kong was prodigious when there was little else to cheer for, and Straw practiced his craft during the most dominant period this team has yet to experience, neither provided quite the almost child-like joy I feel every time Pete hits one out.
As a fan of 50+ years, I have seen almost the entirety of this team's history unfurl, and there have only been 2 other players that not only had this type of power, but were as fun to watch utilizing their gifts: Dave "King Kong" Kingman, and Darryl Strawberry. And, quite frankly, although Kong was prodigious when there was little else to cheer for, and Straw practiced his craft during the most dominant period this team has yet to experience, neither provided quite the almost child-like joy I feel every time Pete hits one out.
(All photos Copyright David Rubin 2019)
With 22 homers already, and June not even half-way over, my prediction of 42+ home runs is looking mighty light these days- and one Jack Flynn must be preparing some bread and ketchup to eat his words (LOL). The Rookie of The Year award is looking more and more probable, especially in light of the fact that the Padres temporarily sent down pitcher Chris Paddack (innings pitched issue), the same pitcher that took out his anger from being over-looked in favor of Alonso, and the probably the closest competitor to our Pete for the award.
(All photos Copyright David Rubin 2019)
But Pete's not the only thing going right with this organization, in spite of our current place in the standings, and I'll touch on some of those things in part 2 of this post. However, I just wanted to say "thank you, Pete" for giving us so much hope, and for quieting those naysayers in the preseason who predicted that Alonso would be a one-true-outcome player with porous defense. Way to prove them wrong, Polar Bear!!!!
(All photos Copyright David Rubin 2019)
News & Notes:
~Next week I will post my review of Wayne Coffey's '69 Mets book, "They Said it Couldn't be Done" and, the week after, Ron Swoboda's "Here's The Catch," which was released today. Coffey's book has been spectacular so far, and Swoboda's book is one I've been looking most forward to.
~Today The Athletic posted an amazing article about a little-known Mets story, involving a former fringe Mets pitching prospect from the Dominican Republic, Luis Vasquez, whose life was saved by the Mets, former Minor League Coordinator Jennifer Wolf (now with the Indians) and former GM, Sandy Alderson.
In a nutshell, the team continues to keep Vasquez, suffering from cancer, under contract even though he will never be able to play for the team, in order to keep his health insurance active. The team paid to have him brought to Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, one of the world's preeminent Cancer Hospitals, and he has continued to be cancer free thanks to the quiet efforts of those formerly and currently employed by the team.
So, the next time you think this organization has, and had, no heart, remember Vasquez' story and if you don't already have a subscription, I heartily recommend subscribing to the Athletic! (unpaid plug!)
In a nutshell, the team continues to keep Vasquez, suffering from cancer, under contract even though he will never be able to play for the team, in order to keep his health insurance active. The team paid to have him brought to Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, one of the world's preeminent Cancer Hospitals, and he has continued to be cancer free thanks to the quiet efforts of those formerly and currently employed by the team.
So, the next time you think this organization has, and had, no heart, remember Vasquez' story and if you don't already have a subscription, I heartily recommend subscribing to the Athletic! (unpaid plug!)
~In a piece in today's Newsday, Tim Healey writes about the Mets usage of Virtual Reality technology as a resource for hitters, something I discussed briefly in a post a few weeks ago. The Astros, Cubs, Red Sox & Dodgers have already spent millions of dollars on this technology, and it's very gratifying to see this team, under Brodie's watch, invest in the very same technology.
See? I TOLD you there were good things happening around here!! Here's the link:
See? I TOLD you there were good things happening around here!! Here's the link:
~Mack provided his initial review of the Mets 2019 draft, and if you haven't already read it, what are you waiting for? All signs point to the team signing all 3 of their top picks, once again employing out-of-the-box (for them) strategies, again under Brodie and company's watch.
See - a THIRD good thing happening around here!
See - a THIRD good thing happening around here!
~Need I say it again??? The least heralded part of Brodie's off-season has come up big time for us yet again! For the first time since the mid-to-late 80's, this team actually has players in AAA ready to step into roles for injured players, like Carlos Gomez and Adeiny Hechavarri'a have done so well. The better quality level of these replacement players has provided us with a buffer we haven't seen in so long; after all, this is the team where, when someone gets a hangnail, it's off with their thumb! And don't get me started about THOR getting all of these kids' sicknesses!!
And yes - a FOURTH good thing happening around here!!! (And no, I have NOT been smoking anything green today! At least, not yet!)
And yes - a FOURTH good thing happening around here!!! (And no, I have NOT been smoking anything green today! At least, not yet!)
~I just had a chance to look at the give-aways the Mets are giving out over the last weekend of this month, honoring the '69 team - and in spite of the less-than-wonderful quality of these items, I still can't wait to get to CitiField for the first time in 5 years!! I'll have complete write-ups, interviews with old Mets, and pictures of everything when the time comes, and I get to spend that weekend with my best friend of over 40 years.
However, would it KILL the team to provide their fans with a better quality of give-away?? Okay- you didn't think it would be ALL hearts and flowers here, did you????
However, would it KILL the team to provide their fans with a better quality of give-away?? Okay- you didn't think it would be ALL hearts and flowers here, did you????
~I will take 1 out of 2 versus those Yankees in the Bronx VERY happily!!! And obviously our Yankee-killer, Jason Vargas, was too much SLOW for those bats to handle!!! Keep it up, Jason...keep it up!
~Okay, gang - we NEED to take 3 of 4 from the Cardinals of St. Louis. Come on - your city just won their first Stanley Cup ever!!! (Congrats!!) Now just let us beat them up the next few days in Queens, then send them back to celebrate with their favorite hockey pucks!
As always, have a great week and LGM!!!!!!!!
11 comments:
V today is for Victory.
1) Pete's early 2nd game HR was perhaps the season's most important. The Bronx Goliath was slain - by the Goliath from Flushing.
2) Vargas is the Ace of the staff....just 11 earned runs in his last 8 outings says so.
3) Vasquez - very nice indeed.
4) Virtual technology - we can win a virtual World Series.
I love Alonso's power.
I loved Dave Kingman's power as a Met, too. He had more power than the rest of the Mets teams he was on, combined.
He had an amazing 32 HRs for the Mets in his first 91 games of 1976 before he got hurt.
In his best (post-Mets, of course) season in 1979, he had a jaw-dropping 27 homers in 68 games thru June, and on July 27 and 28, against his former team at Shea, he went 6 for 8 with 5 homers in 2 games.
And everybody choked on his Ks - but his worst season ever was 156.
As a Met, lifetime, he hit 154 HRs in 2,323 at bats. Would you want THAT in the 2019 Mets outfield? How exciting would Alonso and Kong in the same line up be?
Of course, as many Mets who play for the Mets and other teams during their careers, Kong hit much better as a non-Met: .219 in 2323 at bats as a Met, .245 in 4,354 at bats with other teams.
KONG!!
Great stuff but lets not forget Big Mike as a must see every at bat. Also wondering how BVW will address the BP going forward and what to do with Dom after the reinforcements return and yes LGM's!!!!
My only quibble is the praise given the Adeiny Hechavarria and Carlos Gomez. Maybe we're looking at it from a different perspective, but the former is actually hitting below his mediocre career average and the latter is struggling to stay over the Mendoza line. That being said, they're both doing better than Juan Lagares and his $9 million paycheck.
Pete has 10 home runs in 92 at-bats since my article on him posted! He's also hitting .228 in that time. I am both a good-luck charm AND a genius!
Just realized that Pete's BABIP since May 15 is just .193, which is incredibly unlucky. Even a normal run of bad luck in that time would have his season batting average closer to .265-.270. Pete Alonso is an MVP candidate with that batting average and this run of power.
Jack, that low BABIP and the fact that he adjusts quickly to the leagues he is in could actually mean that the remaining 95 games with be EVEN BETTER PETE.
And that would be EVEN BETTER.
Very good piece, thanks.
On Brodie, it's unfortunate that so many are eager to dump on his every move. Any GM will make mistakes -- and sometimes those so-called "mistakes" are just bad luck. He's turned this organization in a positive directlon after years of indifference.
One area that has been woefully under-reported has been the total remake of upper management. The smart, experienced people he's brought in. A far, far more impressive team that Alderson's weak group led by DePodesta and Ricciardi,
The Mets badly needed an overhaul. Rome was not built in a day. No GM can magically wave a wand and make it all suddenly better. But we are moving in the right direction, for the first time in many years.
Jimmy P
I agree - it's a sign that he has already adjusted and the National League is lucky that he hasn't hit them even harder.
I must remind you all of my prediction last year concerning Alonso: the next Harmon Killebrew. 8 years of 41-49 homers.
Maybe that was conservative.
Couple of things- Reese, we need to remember that, in the past, the reinforcements consisted of the likes of Eric Campbell and Brian Lawrence- and Jose Freakin' Reyes. At least Brodie anticipated the horrible run of injuries we usually get, and had (and still has) multiple replacements at the ready. You're NEVER going to have players better then what we already have, but at least we are not losing everything when these players go down.
Pete's going to get a lot more hits, as he's able to pull the ball, and he's got a plan every time up at bat that he's getting better at executing. Pitchers caught up to him for a bit, but then he adjusted. To Tom's point, that's what he does, he's a pro, at a young age, and I expect continued great things from him for a long time to come.
Thank you, Jimmy P. Before the season started, I had posted about how impressive a team Brodie had put together, led by Mr Baird. Their ability to develop and promote talent is already light years beyond the prior regime, and we have forward-thinking people at the helm in a way that we really haven't had before. It's exciting to think about what is going to happen in the future without being subjective about it.
Tom- I LOVED Kong, and was fortunate enough to see a LOT of his home runs with us in person. The sound that the ball made off of his bat was so different then anyone else on the team, and it's much that way today with Pete! I was watching that game at work, and that's why I posted pics of that homer with this piece. It was beyond exciting - and many people at desks near mine were wondering why I was whooping so loudly. That's what Pete can do!!
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