Yankees: 3 Reasons Aaron Judge is Better Than Pete Alonso

1. Aaron Judge’s WAR and Defense

Aaron Judge is a defensive game-saver, and it shows in his WAR totals.

For all the hoopla surrounding Alonso in 2019, Judge has been more valuable in every single season in his big league career.

In 2019, metrics state he was more valuable in 102 games than Alonso was in an entire season, out-WARing him 5.5 to 5.2.

Why? D-Fense. Hoo, hoo.

Last season, Alonso’s play at first base failed to even reach the threshold for “average” — his 5.7 offensive WAR (per Baseball Reference) was counteracted by his -1.3 dWAR. A replacement first baseman, in theory, would be more helpful than Pete Alonso with the leather.

Conversely, Judge was worth a career-best 1.7 dWAR, even in an interrupted season.

This passes the eye test, too. Judge’s hulking body covers ground he has no business reaching throughout the season in right field. When he approaches the wall, he need not jump in order to properly barricade it. If Jeffrey Maier tried his funny business on Judge, he likely would’ve been blocked out like a lunar eclipse.

In conclusion, we’re sorry, Mets fans, but a right fielder who can do the things Judge routinely does at his size is a more valuable player than the latest in a long line of slugging first basemen.

All the metrics agree.