9/21/21

Tom Brennan - Francisco Alvarez, Home and Away

                                                                   PC: Ed Delany

I've spoken quite often in these columns about the downward drag created by playing home games in Brooklyn.

Francisco Alvarez, the 19 year old wunderkind, has played most of his season in Brooklyn, after a brief stint playing alongside Pete Crow-Armstrong in St Lucie. (No, Pete is not playing again yet, if you're curious).

How is Francisco hitting?  Thru last Tuesday, as I write this:

At home, overall, .228/.352/.503.

On the road, which is probably a far more accurate barometer of his hitting acumen:

.313/.418/.591.  

Incredible numbers on the road.  Kind of what you'd expect from someone like, say, Hall of Famer Mike Piazza.

Remembering that most hitters hit better at home than on the road - except in Brooklyn.  And Citifield, for that matter.

Imagine what his #'s would look like if he played in a friendly-to-hitters home park, not one hostile to hitters??

And not just him.  One more:

Ronny Mauricio has to be thrilled to be out of Brooklyn, starting out strongly in AA since his recent promo.  What are his overall home/away slash lines in 2021?

Home?

.218/.269/.355

Road?

.270/.320/.536

Ah, heck, I'll give you one more:

Luke Ritter, all season in purgatory - err, I mean Brooklyn:

Home?

.200/.292/.240

Road?

.252/.325/.561

Brooklyn is clearly anathema to hitters.

So, when looking at Alvarez, I suggest that you should just double his road numbers for a better read on his offensive prowess.

If you doubled his road numbers, you'd get:

.313/.418/.591...and...

352 at bats, 20 doubles, 26 HRs, and 76 RBIs.

Over 500 at bats at that pace, 30 doubles, 37 HRs, 110 RBIs.

You know, Piazza stuff.  I think Piazza II, otherwise known as Francisco the Great, is in advanced gestation and may show up in Citifield with his very loud bat late in 2022.  Do him a favor, Steve Cohen - move those Citifield fences in another 5-8 feet so when he gets here, it will not be hitter-hostile, too.

So tell me - does this give you another perspective on Alvarez's lethality?

5 comments:

Mack Ade said...

I can't understand why we see what happens when we spend top dollar for International players like Mauricio, Alex Ramirez, and Alvy.and then we revolve back to spending lousy this upcoming draft.

Open signing.

SMH

Tom Brennan said...

I 100% agree, Mack.

Mike Freire said...

A lot to get excited about, for sure. I am trying to temper my enthusiasm, but he certainly looks the part.

Piazza with better defensive skills? That would be something to behold!

I think 2023 is realistic......he could pair with McCann for a bit, until he is ready to take over and McCann
serves as a veteran mentor and quality back up.

Tom Brennan said...

I have an article coming up that aligns well with what you said, Mack.

Tom Brennan said...

Mike, I am still hopeful for mid-2022.