Hey Nineteen: Pete(r) Alonso!

[Edgy MD]

Hi, I'm not only considered by consensus to be one of the Mets' two hottest prospects, I'm easily the closer to majors of the two. I think I led the minors in homers last year. And that's a cool feather to add to your cap when you're so young.



People may think that I just broke through last year, but I'm 24, I've had three years in the minors playing for five different teams, and I've slugged between .550 and .600 everywhere I go. Maybe I'm good at this game. Maybe the Mets need to find out how good. What do you think?



http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/bf/e3/peteralonso-handout-ftr-050318jpg_122tqy2ulo6ma1wuel9epfglj6.jpg?t=652883635&w=960&quality=70>

[MFS62]

Stick him at first base and leave him there - for 15 years.

Make Dominic Smith a distant memory - the answer to a far future trivia question.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's one of the intriguing questions at this point. I think Frazier starts the year at first base, but how long he lasts there will depend on both Frazier's performance and Alonso's. And if Alonso ends up displacing Frazier (and I suspect he will, but maybe not immediately) will that be from the lineup? Or from the roster?

[Vic Sage]

Yes, he's promising. He could be the best home-grown hitter we've developed since Wright. But he has no glove, no speed, and has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, so he could also end up as a RHed Lucas Duda, but without the walks. Not to say he shouldn't be given a shot, but I remain cautious.

[smg58]

His minor league tenure is comparable to Paul Goldschmidt's -- including significant concerns about his defense. Goldschmidt jumped AAA and hit .250/.333/.474 in 177 ABs, before following it with .286/.359/.490 line in his first full season. I'll go in between those numbers: .268/.346/.482 in 500 ABs, with 20 HR and 70 RBI.

[nymr83]

=smg58 post_id=2728 time=1549898106 user_id=62]
His minor league tenure is comparable to Paul Goldschmidt's -- including significant concerns about his defense. Goldschmidt jumped AAA and hit .250/.333/.474 in 177 ABs, before following it with .286/.359/.490 line in his first full season. I'll go in between those numbers: .268/.346/.482 in 500 ABs, with 20 HR and 70 RBI.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: Hi, I'm not only the considered by consensus to be one of the Mets' two hottest prospects, I'm easily the closer to majors of the two.

Who is the other one?

[Edgy MD]

Gimenez.

[Centerfield]

Gotcha. Some were saying Vientos has passed him.

[smg58]

=nymr83 post_id=2730 time=1549901627 user_id=54]
=smg58 post_id=2728 time=1549898106 user_id=62]
His minor league tenure is comparable to Paul Goldschmidt's -- including significant concerns about his defense. Goldschmidt jumped AAA and hit .250/.333/.474 in 177 ABs, before following it with .286/.359/.490 line in his first full season. I'll go in between those numbers: .268/.346/.482 in 500 ABs, with 20 HR and 70 RBI.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I'm not on the Alonso bandwagon till he drives by my place and forces me into the vehicle like a demented Uber driver.



8 homers and 29 RBI, most after the ASB, 50 games.



Remains a strong MiLB power hitter

[seawolf17]

I want to say he'll be the 2019 ROY winner, but you just can't predict baseball, as they say. I think he'll get every chance to succeed, and he'll probably whack two dozen homers and play an adequate first base, before delivering a clutch game-winning triple in a late September game against the Marlins that makes everyone realize that you know what, he's quietly had a really great season and he *should* be the 2019 ROY winner after all.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Defense? The DH is coming.

[Edgy MD]

Not in 2019, apparently.

[Centerfield]

.244/.306/.508



31 HRs.



Is slow and clumsy around 1B but catches most of what he gets to.

[Frayed Knot]

=smg58 post_id=2728 time=1549898106 user_id=62]
His minor league tenure is comparable to Paul Goldschmidt's --

[Benjamin Grimm]

Anthony DiComo wrote: First baseman Peter Alonso has informed the Mets he would prefer to go by Pete, effective immediately.

It looks like you'll have to change the name of this thread!



I remember noticing when I was a kid that athletes were always known by a diminutive version of their first name, but politicians always used their full first name. It seems to have started to switch around the time of Jimmy Carter and Richard Todd.



Now, it's the other way around. If Michael Conforto was running for office, he'd be Mike Conforto, and if Mike Pence were a ballplayer he'd be Michael Pence.



Pete Alonso is trying to reverse the trend. Or else, he's planning on running for Senator some day.

[Frayed Knot]

Jimmy Carter was sworn in as 'Jimmy', rather than be James Earl even for a day.

I guess you could write than off as a southern thing, but I'm sure there was also a lot of market research that went into it: friendly guy, common man, etc.

[MFS62]

To me, Peter Alonso fits/ sounds better than Pete Alonso.

My wife heard this on the radio and asked why anyone should make a big fuss about this or even care.

I tried to explain that this is important because we're talking about a player on my favorite team, to no avail.

Anyone who wants to come over to my house and explain to my wife why this is a matter worthy of discussion is more than welcome.



Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, http://leaptoad.com/mets/profile.php?PlayerCode=4G97I've done my part!

[G-Fafif]

Chase Bradford, Phil Evans and Dom Smith applaud Pete Alonso.



Chasen Bradford, Phillip Evans and Dominic Smith back Peter Alonso.

[Centerfield]

Early reports are that his defense is much improved.

[Lefty Specialist]

'R' or not, I think he does reasonably well out of the gate. .250, 18/50 in a shortened season since they'll hold him down for a bit.

[Guest 41Forever]

=G-Fafif post_id=3270 time=1550798308 user_id=55]
Chase Bradford, Phil Evans and Dom Smith applaud Pete Alonso.



Chasen Bradford, Phillip Evans and Dominic Smith back Peter Alonso.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Well, http://leaptoad.com/mets/profile.php?PlayerCode=4G97I've done my part!

And https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=alonso000petBB-Ref has joined you.

[kcmets]

Not sure he goes north at first but kind of feel he'll lead the team in G's

at first base this year (third in NL ROY voting).

[Edgy MD]

Opening day roster party at my house, Pete-headz!

[A Boy Named Seo]

Cool, Mets. So if they're doing this, they're doing this, right? Why keep him up if you're going to bench him against tough right-handers.... say, Max Scherzer, just off the top of my head.

[Edgy MD]

Nah, I'm good if they hit opening day with Smith at first base. He's earned something this spring too. Alonso gets the vote of confidence of making the opening day roster, Smitty gets the vote of confidence in getting the opening day start. Wins all around.



Alonso can soak it all in and start in game two. Nobody's going to get rusty if they each start six games in 10, with outfield appearances by Smitty and DH opportunities allowing them both that much time, along with pinch hitting and defensive subbing the other four days.



As injuries and performance indicate, their roles will expand or contract.



Hooray for everybody, you know?

[Benjamin Grimm]

And if Alonso is struggling in May, for example, they can send him to Syracuse for two weeks to get himself right, and they'd also get that service time bonus that they would have had if he didn't go north with the club. This isn't a prediction, just a possibility.