I’m not going to tell you that Pete Alonso plays Gold Glove defense at first base, but he’s not as bad as the defensive metrics suggest.
The advanced metrics crowd likes to refer to three key stats for fielders: Outs Above Average (OAA), Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), and Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR).
A (+) or (-) number represents a player's defensive abilities. A (+) means the player is above average, while a (-) means they are below average.
- OAA weighs catch probability and play difficulty. Routine plays have a lower weight, while more difficult plays—such as diving stops or tough grounders—carry a higher value.
- DRS considers a score of +15 as elite. An above-average fielder typically scores between +5 and +14, an average fielder ranges from +4 to -4, a below-average fielder is between -5 and -14, and anything lower is considered poor.
- UZR evaluates a player’s value at their position using multiple components, including Double-Play Runs (DPR), Range Runs (RngR), and Error Runs (ErrR).
Like many advanced stats, defensive metrics have their flaws.
Take Juan Soto, for example. He’s not a Gold Glove outfielder by any means, but his strong arm adds value to his OAA rating. Last season, despite being an average defender, Soto was a Gold Glove finalist in right field—largely thanks to defensive metrics rewarding his outfield assists.
Now, consider outfielders like Roberto Clemente, Dave Winfield, or Dwight Evans, who had cannon-like arms that intimidated runners from even attempting an extra base. Because those players prevented baserunners from running, they didn’t rack up as many outfield assists, which could negatively impact their OAA rating compared to players who record more assists.
Last season, Alonso did not fare well in defensive metrics. According to FanGraphs, he posted:
- OAA: -8
- DRS: -3
- UZR: 0.4
Breaking down his UZR:
- DPR: 0.1
- RngR: 0.5
- ErrR: -0.2 (which can be influenced by scoring decisions)
Most of Alonso’s errors occurred on throws to second and first base. While he made several nice diving plays, he sometimes followed them with poor throws to the pitcher covering first.
However, Alonso's ability to scoop throws saves his infielders from being charged with errors. This provides confidence to his teammates—allowing them to focus on making a clean throw, knowing Alonso will handle anything in his "neighborhood." Francisco Lindor, in particular, benefited from Alonso’s ability to dig out throws last season.
One thing defensive metrics cannot measure is Alonso’s work ethic and willingness to improve.
This brings me back to last season’s opening weekend when Alonso unfairly came under fire from WFAN’s Boomer Esiason.
After the Mets lost their second straight game to open the season, Alonso attended a Zach Bryan concert at UBS Arena and even took the stage during a song. Esiason, a former NFL quarterback, questioned Alonso’s leadership and work ethic:
“There was Shoeless Joe, and now there’s Clueless Pete,” Esiason said. “Clueless Pete decides to go to a concert at UBS Arena, which he has every right to do... but if you want to talk about someone who doesn’t understand the big picture and what’s going on around here... you gotta understand, you had all offseason to go to parties and screw around and go to concerts and do whatever you want, and nobody would say two bits about it.
“But when you go on stage at a concert after you lost your first two games and have a game at 1:40 the next day, that’s a bad look, and you’re gonna get roasted for it. I’m sorry, that’s just not parcel to a winning athlete with a winning DNA and somebody who wants to lead their team out of the abyss.” (for more on that issue check out WFAN: I'll Hang Up and Listen, On Second Thought I'll Just Hang Up. )
I was scheduled to score the Sunday afternoon series finale and arrived at the ballpark at 10:30 a.m. Alonso was already on the field, taking grounders and practicing scoops in preparation for that day’s game.
The bottom line? Alonso will never win a Gold Glove. But as long as he continues working to improve defensively—while providing the power bat that is his real strength—he’ll be good enough at first base to help the Mets win.
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