【MLB專欄】大舉補強過後,大都會幹大事?—2021年國聯東區季前概述

JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets looks on during the first inning against the Miami Marlins of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on March 17, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Francisco Lindor。(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) (Michael Reaves via Getty Images)

國聯東區是競爭激烈的分區,但大都會休賽季大舉補強,已成為國家聯盟爭冠熱門之一,《FanGraphs》與《PECOTA》預測大都會能取得分區第一,《USA Today》則看好擁有「黑色鱒魚」Ronald Acuna Jr的勇士隊。無論是投手或野手,這個分區都有頂尖的選手值得密切關注,例如國民Juan Soto和勇士Mike Soroka等,可看性十足。

亞特蘭大勇士

端出四年約迎回30歲、正值當打之年的Marcell Ozuna,讓火力不虞匱乏,他上季不但全勤,敲出18支全壘打為國聯最多,OPS+175,抱走生涯第二座銀棒獎,不過去年超過一半場次扛指定打擊、專注在面對投手,今年得負擔守備工作,勢必造成一定程度的影響,打線除了Freddie Freeman、Travis d'Arnaud、Ozzie Albies,尚有兼具速度和長打能耐的Ronald Acuña Jr.挑大樑,整體而言足夠成熟也還有潛力待開花結果,充滿想像空間。

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the first inning of a Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox at jetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 1, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Ronald Acuña Jr.。(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox via Getty Images)

輪值部分才華洋溢,27歲左投Max Fried和25歲Kyle Wright、22歲Ian Anderson、23歲Mike Soroka都是選秀首輪資質,Fried上季賽揚票選第五名,本季可望達成生涯300K里程碑,Soroka則是在2019年賽揚票選第六,延攬Charlie Morton回鍋,更能達到經驗傳承的作用。牛棚「左右護法」Will Smith、Chris Martin都有不錯的壓制力,K功不俗的A.J. Minter也準備大鳴大放。

邁阿密馬林魚

馬林魚上季闖進季後賽是讓球迷跌破眼鏡的大驚奇,然而或多或少受惠於小樣本的「偏差」和季後賽名額增加的「福利」,今年很難再度複製「神劇本」,打線雖有Starling Marte、Miguel Rojas這兩位可以繳出「盜壘和全壘打雙位數」的人物,不過中心棒次Adam Duvall、Brian Anderson、Jesús Aguilar幾乎都是揮空率高、不善選球的「盲砲」,影響得分效率。

JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Starling Marte #6 of the Miami Marlins in action against the New York Mets in a spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 01, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Starling Marte。(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) (Mark Brown via Getty Images)

輪值一字排開都不到26歲─Sixto Sánchez、Sandy Alcantara、Pablo Lopez、Elieser Hernandez和Trevor Rogers,這群投手前途無量但仍需證明自己能挺過漫長賽季。牛棚並無一夫當關的角色,只能靠Anthony Bass、Yimi Garcia、Dylan Floro、John Curtiss、出手點奇異的Adam Cimber和左投Ross Detwiler人海戰術撐起。

費城費城人

「前海賊王」Andrew McCutchen步入生涯第13個大聯盟球季,近四年的OPS+逐年下滑,但本季仍有看點:瞄準「生涯1000得分、250轟、200盜」,保持健康和選球眼,他會是不動開路先鋒。28歲的Bryce Harper去年領到全大聯盟最多的49次保送,繳出0.268/0.420/0.542 的三圍,對投手造成的威壓感不需贅述。捕手J.T. Realmuto和游擊手Didi Gregorius重返陣中使得隊形未被動搖、核心尚在。涉及家暴、禁賽後歸隊的中外野手Odúbel Herrera則是「另類補強」。

Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew McCutchen drives in a run with a single off New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole during the third inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game in Clearwater, Fla., Thursday, March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Andrew McCutchen。(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Aaron Nola、Zack Wheeler都正值顛峰年紀,Zach Eflin去年三振率大躍進,到日本職棒重建信心的Matt Moore也值得期待。牛棚除了原班人馬Héctor Neris和Archie Bradley之外,新添的Jose Alvarado、Brandon Kintzler、Tony Watson皆有「關門」經驗,後防戰力大幅進步。

紐約大都會

儘管競逐Trevor Bauer失敗,但和印地安人的交易案換來Carlos Carrasco和Francisco Lindor,一投一打的中流砥柱能帶來立竿見影的幫助,Brandon Nimmo及Michael Conforto都有優異的上壘率,搭配砲手Pete Alonso、Dominic Smith串聯火網。

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) warms up before a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Jacob deGrom。(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

賽揚身手的Jacob deGrom領銜,其餘先發投手Marcus Stroman、Taijuan Walker、David Peterson、Joey Lucchesi也都有單季雙位數勝投的實力。守護神Edwin Diaz去年K/9值來到17.5,保送率雖然同步增加不過對手不易紮實擊球,使得他帳面數據顯著回神,火球Trevor May和「左怪姿」Aaron Loup的到來更讓牛棚深度提升不少。

華盛頓國民

「三本柱」Max Scherzer、Patrick Corbin、Stephen Strasburg雖然又都老了一歲,且多了37歲的Jon Lester,讓輪值和同區其他隊相比略感「吃力」,但年紀因素應不需太擔心,畢竟打線就充滿許多年輕人─22歲Juan Soto、23歲Victor Robles和23歲Carter Kieboom,新面孔Kyle Schwarber、Josh Bell和原本的「腿砲游擊」Trea Turner也都28歲左右而已,即便先發投手有稍微「退化」的可能性,但打線的「進化」可以彌補。

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto (22) runs after hitting a single during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, March 8, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Juan Soto。(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Will Harris、Daniel Hudson漸趨年邁,上季22局未挨轟的救援王Brad Hand添定心丸,Tanner Rainey擁有97英里速球和高揮空率的滑球,可望佔得「勝利組」一席之地。

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