After optioning Alexander Guerrero to Triple-A Albuquerque, the Los Angeles Dodgers may have their focus on the new and improved Dee Gordon.
While Los Angeles Dodgers Cuban defector Alexander Guerrero continues to get acclimated at the major league level – second baseman Dee Gordon has stolen the show with his recent play.
Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon fields grounders in Spring Training
It’s been a roller coaster for Gordon since he made his Major League Baseball debut in 2013 – moments of solid potential followed by questionable play. The 2014 Spring Training was truly the final audition for Gordon making his case as a member of the Dodgers. After entering camp 13 lbs heavier – at 170 – and a solid Spring – Gordon not only made the Dodgers roster but after a 3-4 performances in Australia – has a chance of being the early season starter at second base.
Gordon has always been a guy you want on the base path – if anyone is going to steal a needed base at a critical moment in a game – Gordon is the guy. In a 162 game span, the 26-year-old Gordon is averaging 59 stolen bases – including stealing 32 on 42 attempts in 87 games in 2012. The issue with Gordon has never been his speed or base running, it has always been his plate presence. When he makes contact you can just about lock it in for either a double or a triple but he has not always come thru at the plate.
Gordon will never be the guy that will give the Dodgers a 20+ home run season but with the increase in weight it is very realistic the bloopers that were not getting past the infield last year will now drop into the gaps for hits. If Gordon can find a home at the top of the order and give the Dodgers consistent on-base production – the line up that follows will be even more threatening. Essentially it all comes down to Gordon – the potential that he has can be something of a Juan Pierre in his prime.
While the big guys like Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp come in and clean up with one swing of the bat – Gordon will be the speedster that grinds out all the work and takes care of the little things. Last year the Dodgers had a lot of production and timely hitting from Nick Punto and Skip Schmaker – this season Gordon along with Chone Figgins will have the job of pesky play.
From a defensive standpoint Gordon has had his fair share of errors over the last three years but all that can be fixed. Going in-and-out of the line up night-in-and-night-out can understandably throw off the fine tuning of the game. Speed, base running and on-base IQ are not things that can be picked up overnight – your either born with it or your not and Gordon is in an elite class when it comes to these attributes.
For a team whose looking to win a World Series in 2014 – the importance of scoring runs will be key. Anytime Gordon is on base, it undoubtedly will change the opposing teams approach to the next batter. Over time this will prove to be a vital part of the Dodgers game plan and post season run.
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