Alex Gordon, Despair Now?
by Freneau on Aug 24, 2010 3:14 PM EDT
in Kansas City Royals News
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PrintSince returning to the Royals in late July, Alex Gordon has continue to not really hit. His triple slash line in his return is .225/.279/.382 in 112 PAs.
Post-return, Gordon has struck out in 18.75% of his PAs. Disturbingly, his walk rate isn't tremendous, at just 7.1%. Not terrible, but a bit troubling given the K-rate. Overall, on the year, in comparison to his career numbers, Gordon's K-rate is a little lower than his previous levels, but the walk rate has also dropped. I'm not sure it's a worthwhile payoff.
For the positives, in these 112 PAs, Gordon has shown a little power (4 HRs, 4 2Bs), which is moderately decent. That's about it.
What's killing Gordon now, in addition to the strikeouts, is the really low batting average number. Gordon is hitting just .244 on balls in play, which is probably not sustainable. There are some singles out there that he's missed out on due to bad luck. Nevertheless, Gordon has a fairly sizable track record of low BAs at the Major League level. An even lower BA, plus the lowest walk rate of his year, has equaled a disastrous .279 OBP for Alex. Maybe he's pressing. Maybe he's being screamed at to be aggressive to avoid strikeouts, maybe he's working on a new swing. Maybe the attention to learning a new position is wearing on him. Maybe it's just an ill-timed slump.
Instead of coming back and hitting at his previous levels, or even better, Gordon has been slightly worse. The early season numbers, which are also bad, are actually helping his season totals. Despair now?
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I hate to see Gordon struggle
I like him way more than I have ever like Billy Butler. For one when you are a grown man you should be Bill Butler. I bet if he dropped the Y he would hit ten more home runs next year. That is not the reason I like Gordon better. I think if we could resign Gordon to a contract that fits his performance he would be an above average 6 or 7 hitter in our lineup when the rest of the talent “arrives” in 2020. I mean 2013
Those were the good ole days... wait I wasn't alive then
Great idea on dropping the "y" to Bill Butler!
Okay, well maybe we should tell that to Rain Man, because he practically bankrupted a casino, and he was a ri-tard.
by Clearly Ambiguous on Aug 24, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d be nice to have a day when the whole luck thing can be backed up by pointing out how many of the hits were extraordinary plays. As opposed to Gordon’s ability to hit the ball directly at the fielder, along with his 8 GIDPs, all of which came post return.
It’s not bad luck when you hit balls that a competent fielder is gonna get to. It’s bad hitting.
Then again, having Mr. Groundball as the hitting coach is doing wonders for Gordon
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo (follow me, because reloading my twitter page 40 times a day is kind of creepy)
Without looking at his numbers, seems like he has flown out/"lined" out a whole lot.
Same with Kila. We know that fly balls will produce a lower BABIP, is it too many ground balls or in the air too often?
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
BBRef stuff
41 PA ending in a groundball, 40 PA ending in a flyball, 24 PA ending in a line drive.
Also worth noting that Gordon is 12 for 31 when he pulls the ball, and 2 for 17 to the opposite field. (“Must.. have… Gordon… spray the ball weakly to LF!”)
Back in 2008, Gordon had 119 PA ending in a groundball, 182 PA ending in a flyball, and 76 PA ending in a linedrive.
Seitzer got fired from Arizona and was said to have the same approach for every case. And I would imagine that if all the young hitters who work with Seitzer turn into groundball machines, then maybe he’s telling them all the same thing no matter what. When your hitting coach has only succeeded at teaching 12 year olds how to hit, that’s a pretty bad resume.
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo (follow me, because reloading my twitter page 40 times a day is kind of creepy)
haven't you been listening to Frank?
every ball hit to the opposite field is described as “a good bit of hitting there, Ryan”.
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
BABIP for 2010: .240
LD% is 22, which is above his career number. Seems like he’s at least having some bad luck; whether he can be a 800 OPS hitter when the luck changes is still to be seen, though.
That BABIP ranks 20th lowest of 191 players w/100+ ABs (in the AL). I think it safe to say that, even in a slump, he’s not one of the 20 worst BABIP guys in the AL
"....The complex has been made simple, the unfathomable has been made fathomable, chess has turned to checkers and bridge turned into pitch. I feel better about myself after reading your post. Smells are smellier. My pants are looser in the waist....Philip ****ing Fitzsimmons. You brilliantly named sonofabitch...." -- by Nighthawk at the Diner on Aug 15, 2010
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Aug 24, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
(career BABIP .296, about what you'd expect)
"....The complex has been made simple, the unfathomable has been made fathomable, chess has turned to checkers and bridge turned into pitch. I feel better about myself after reading your post. Smells are smellier. My pants are looser in the waist....Philip ****ing Fitzsimmons. You brilliantly named sonofabitch...." -- by Nighthawk at the Diner on Aug 15, 2010
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Aug 24, 2010 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not in the despair phase (yet)
I am writing off the struggles at the plate to the pressure of learning a new position. I think he will be a competent outfielder. Next year, if he has a very slow start, then despair will set in. I’m saving my despair this year for old #2.
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
If we shouldn't get all excited over 180 PAs by Betemit
we don’t need to get all worried about 120 PAs by Alex. If he plays like crap again next year, then he’s in trouble, but I’m not too worried. Yet.
"The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey" - Unfortunate cricket commentator
by Juancho on Aug 24, 2010 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Thank you.
Without treading into mindlessly positive Facebook territory, the refusal to be optimistic about whatever Betemit brings to the table on the basis of small sample size (as opposed to perfectly legitimate criticism of his defensive abilities), tempered with “the sky is falling” posts such as this suggest to me that the mindset is needlessly far on the bleak end of the spectrum, even for a team without a playoff appearance in the past 25 years.
Proud member of the Toledo Computer Club since 2010.
by KeepItCopacetic on Aug 24, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to see him struggle for a full year of consistent ABs before I give up...
If we gave every prospect the same chance to prove they suck that we gave Kendall this season, we’d be in much better shape.
Gordon Already Has
A track record of being an above average MLB hitter from June ‘07 through the end of ’08. He’s driving the ball to left when he needs to now, though he has had some lapses lately. He’ll probably catch fire in September when the farm kids come up around the league. I’m looking forward to next year.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
Despair? Depends on what you are expecting Alex to become.
The chances of him being a well-above average hitter.. a .875 or better OPS guy…there’s certainly reason to worry about that. He’s going to be 27 next year and has exactly one pretty decent, but far from great, season to his record. You can come up with all the reasons/excuses you want..and some of them are certainly valid..but the numbers are the numbers. He’s been in the league for a few years, he’s had plenty of time to learn and make adjustments…yet still is not getting it done. Doesn’t mean he’s going to be out of the league in two years or anything…but the chances of him becoming a clearly above average player…they are dimming. Not gone yet..but it’s time to worry.
Killing time until time kills me
I'm over him
I don’t think he’ll ever repeat his ’08 season when he was the bear, bear minimum of what he needed to be long term.
BOOM! ROASTED!
Hey I'm a Royals Fan
i don’t have any despair left only really low expectations.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby
by MidTNRoyalsFan on Aug 24, 2010 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Oh Will, you are SO negative!
His triple slash line in his return is .225/.279/.382 in 112 PAs.
In his last 28 days, he has been hitting .241/.297/.422 which gives an OPS+ of 99. We don’t have to worry; he’s a beast!
In all seriousness (and acknowledging extreme SSS), he’s hitting slightly better against lefties than right-handers. Though (again SSS), that might be because he’s hitting like he always does against lefties and struggling otherwise.
I think this whole season should just be a wash in terms of Gordon anyway. Next season is when we should really evaluate him.
"I DARE you to make less sense."
His attitude seems better
Or at least he’s exhibiting some spirit. Does it mean anything? Apparently not.
Place witty signature here.
Where is NYRoyal on this one....
Chiefs Might
by chicks_love_chiefs on Aug 24, 2010 8:43 PM EDT reply actions
At some point we have to acknowledge the writing on the wall.
Whether it’s his fault or management, Gordon is (just) an average ball player.
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A Look Back
To May with Poz.
http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/05/03/mutual-of-omahas-alex-gordon/
But all that said: I think the Royals have made a huge mistake here sending Gordon down. Gordon, even a disappointing Gordon, is one of the better players on this team. Of course, the Royals insist they are not giving up on Gordon. No, they are sending him down so they can get the unseen value of Chris Getz into the daily lineup ("It may not be those standout things like a double in the gap or the great diving play every night," Royals manager Trey Hillman told the Star’s Bob Dutton, "but he’s going to turn the double play. He’s going to range up and the middle and, especially, into the 4-3 hole"). If you put Getz at second, you have to move Alberto Callaspo to third, that way you can keep Scott Podsednik in left, and Rick Ankiel in center when he gets healthy, and Jose Guillen at DH … see, the Royals have no choice! This isn’t just rearranging furniture on the Titanic. It’s rearranging furniture on the Titanic to make room for the wagon wheel coffee table.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 25, 2010 12:27 AM EDT reply actions
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