Email a copy of 'NL East Notes: Gordon, Hech, Stanton, Nats, Phils, Braves' to a friend
Loading ...
By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'NL East Notes: Gordon, Hech, Stanton, Nats, Phils, Braves' to a friend
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
hide arrows scroll to top
Vandals Took The Handles
Commented on the Nationals yesterday. Their inability to play in big games has become more of a topic of discussion today in DC.
I watched the Cardinals win last night against the Giants. They had just placed Randal Grichuk on the 15-day disabled list, when Jason Heyward goes out with a hamstring issue in the 2nd inning. The Cardinals have lost so many key players to injury this year that it’s just ridiculous. But they have the best winning percentage in MLB.
Some teams seem to know how to win, and many more don’t.
RunDMC
Credit that to their winning culture and incredible farm system that keeps spitting out high-ceiling guys, not to mention the braintrust not trading much of that away in silly deadline deals (i.e. Rob Kaminsky for Moss, notwithstanding).
formerlyz
I would explore trading Dee Gordon in the offseason. We wont get anything near what we gave up for him in that ridiculously dumb trade, but we should sell high on him for multiple reasons, with one of those reasons being that I’m sick of seeing him constantly get thrown out on the bases. Its not just the caught stealing number. he has been picked off at least 6 times too, and he just makes unbelievably dumb decisions. He also literally swings at everything. Its a good thing he is somehow hitting .330 b/c his OBP is barely .350, which it really isnt considering all the times he gets thrown out
whodunnit
Trade away a three tool, gold glove candidate? And who will Miami play in his spot? Doesn’t seem likely.
Your concerns about him are extremely magnified. Yes he has some troubles baserunning, but that skill can easily be improved upon in the off-season. Additionally, you need to consider other parts of his game which have greatly improved. For instance, last year he was worth -5 DRS and had a UZR of -3.5. This year he’s not only a plus defender, but easily a gold glove candidate. He’s ranked 2nd in DEF, 2nd in UZR, and 5th in DRS.
Offensively, he ranks 3rd in BABIP in the entire MLB and among 2nd basemen, ranks 8th in offense. He also doesn’t swing at everything. His Swinging Strike rate is 11th, ahead of guys like Cano, Kendrick, Dozier, Phillips, Walker and Wong. He’s tied with LeMahieu. So far, four out of five months of the season, he’s hit over .300, which is pretty impressive and not easy to do.
The only thing to gripe about his game is his BB rate, which is awful but it doesn’t mean he won’t improve as he grows as a player. This is only his second year as a starter.
whodunnit
Let’s slow down there a little bit. Your concerns about him are overly magnified. Removing him would make the Marlins worse, not better. Gordon is a three tool player: average, speed, and fielding. Replacing that is no simple matter.
Consider the following:
Gordon rank 2nd in DEF, 2nd in UZR, and 5th in DRS. Last year, he had a -3.4 UZR, and -5 in DRS. Offensively, he ranks 6th in WAR, 8th in OFF, and 2nd in BABIP.
As far as him swinging at everything, he actually doesn’t. His swinging strike rate ranks 10th tied with DJ LeMahieu, ahead of Cano, Wong, Walker, Phillips and Kendrick.
He’s only been picked off five times, not six. And his baserunning can easily improve. That’s why there’s an off-season.
The only major gripe about his game should be his BB rate. But consider this, this is his 2nd year in the majors and his last year in AAA he had a BB rate of 11.8%.
He could easily improve this part of his game, but the Marlins are asking him to be aggressive at the plate. The Dodgers didn’t. They asked him to be patient and get on base. This aspect greatly affects his BB rate. But again, it doesn’t mean he can’t improve.