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Alonso was never a hacker at the plate. Last year, at 28, he became an even more patient hitter. This season, he posted the lowest swing rate and lowest chase rate of his career. He hit in the most 3-1 counts of his career...and was a disaster in them: .111 with no extra-base hits on 3-1, .139 with no extra-base hits in all PAs that got to 3-1. Great process, bad outcomes.
In the biggest moment of his career, Alonso waited out a suddenly wild Williams, taking four pitches, just one close to the zone, to get to 3-1. He didn’t take the fifth pitch. Alonso knew it was a homer before anyone else did. It wasn’t a moon shot, it didn’t break Statcast, but he knew. Then we all knew. Great process, great outcome.
In the biggest moment of his career, Alonso waited out a suddenly wild Williams, taking four pitches, just one close to the zone, to get to 3-1. He didn’t take the fifth pitch. Alonso knew it was a homer before anyone else did. It wasn’t a moon shot, it didn’t break Statcast, but he knew. Then we all knew. Great process, great outcome.
