The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Mets’ Alonso, Astros’ Álvarez named Rookies of the Year
fore the regular season.
Alonso said he was challenged by first-year general manager Brodie Van Wagenen to “show up in shape and earn your spot.”
“I felt like I answered the bell,” Alonso said.
The former Florida Gator became an instant star in the Mets’ blue and orange. Wielding his hefty 34-inch, 32-ounce birch bat, Alonso hit .292 with nine homers, 26RBIs and a 1.024OPS over March and April, claiming the first of three NL Rookie of the Month honors. He put on a power-packed show while winning the All-Star Home Run Derby, and then cemented his fan-favorite status by donating $100,000 of his $1 million derby prize to charities supporting injured soldiers and 9/11 workers.
“Pete kept the same attitude that he came in spring training with through the entire season,” VanWagenen said. “He was a good teammate. He was a true professional. And obviously, he was a lightning in a bottle for all Mets fans.”
Alonso wore a hat reading “100%” on the broadcast while being named the NL winner, but his vote total didn’t match. The upbeat slugger was all smiles as usual — just like when teammates ripped offhis jersey following a game-ending walk in September. screen.
And even those socalled “chunk” plays have begun drying up. After completing eight passes of 25 yards or longer in its first four games, Buffalo’s managed just seven in its past five.
The run game has featured a similar drop-off. Buffalo had 10 runs of 15 yards or more in its first four games, while managing just six in its past five.
The lack of a quickstrike element has forced Allen to oversee lengthy touchdown drives, placing a premium on not making mistakes. Of Buffalo’s 20 touchdown drives, 12 have featured eight or more plays from scrimmage.
Against Cleveland, Allen matched a career high with 41 pass attempts, but completed just 22 for a career-best 266 yards. And yet, both touchdowns were scored on Allen runs.
Daboll isn’t giving up on throwing deep.
“Any time you complete a deep ball, it helps because it eliminates four or five, six plays within a drive where you have to execute,” Daboll said. “You have to be able to call them and execute them, and even if you don’t execute themthat helps in the long run.” WHAT’S WORKING Goal-line defense turned the ball over on downs after the Browns had eight snaps from inside the Buffalo 2 and were unable to score on a series extended by two defensive pass interference penalties. WHAT NEEDS HELP Forcing takeaways. The lone turnover Buffalo has forced in the past three games was a fumble recovered on a punt return in a 31-13 loss to Philadelphia. STOCK UP Tre’Davious White continues to solidify his place as one of the league’s top shut-down cornerbacks. In shadowing Odell Beckham Jr. for a majority of the game, White was credited with a game-leading four passes defensed. Beckham finished with five catches on 12 targets for 57 yards. STOCK DOWN Stephen Hauschka is no longer performing to his “Haush-Money” reputation, and on the heels of signing a two-year contract extension in August. Hauschka missed both field-goal attempts against Cleveland, including a 53-yarder in the final seconds that went wide left. He’s missed six consecutive attempts of 49 yards or longer going back to last season.
He also missed a 34-yarder against the Browns, marking the first time he’s missed an attempt frominside 39 yards since 2016. INJURED None reported. KEY NUMBER 8-0: Allen’s record when completing 60% of his attempts. He’s 3-10 when below that number. NEXT STEPS Four weeks after a 3121 home win over Miami, the Bills head to Florida to face the Dolphins on Sunday.