Posts tagged AlexGordon at FanHouse

From the Windup is FanHouse's extended look at a particular portion of America's pastime.

Season's Greetings. Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

As baseball fans across the country gather to celebrate the holiday season with their loved ones, we here at MLB FanHouse have come up with a present we'd like to give to fans of every team -- even the ones who root for the Yankees, it turns out you folks don't have quite everything just yet.

On a day like Christmas, baseball season can seem an awfully long way off, especially here in the Northeast, where the snow banks are piled four and five feet high. In reality, pitchers and catchers can report to Spring Training in a mere 52 days.

Enjoy the hypothetical gifts for now; it won't be very long before we can all unwrap a very tangible one -- a brand spanking new baseball season.

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.

After finishing 12th in the AL in runs, OBP, and SLG last year, the Royals have already begun to try to upgrade their offense, acquiring Mike Jacobs from the Marlins for Leo Nunez last week. Jacobs, who hit 32 homers last season, will add power, but that's about all he brings to the table. He walked just 36 times last season, so he'll fit right in with the Royals, who finished dead last in the American League in BB.

It was also a somewhat odd move since they have multiple 1B/DH types already, including Ryan Shealy, Kila Ka'aihue, and Billy Butler. But GM Dayton Moore may plan to move one or more of those guys in trades later this winter.

Who may leave?
2B Mark Grudzielanek (free agent)

What do they need?
Kansas City's strengths are the top of their rotation, with Gil Meche and Zach Greinke, and the back of their bullpen, with stud closer Joakim Soria. Brian Bannister isn't as bad as he was last year (5.76 ERA), but he isn't as good as his '07 performance (3.87 ERA) would indicate either. Bannister and Kyle Davies aren't bad back-of-the-rotation options, but the Royals could use a guy to slot in ahead of them. Their bullpen was decent last year, and when you're still a couple years away from contention like Kansas City is, you don't really want to be throwing money at free agent relievers.

Over the last few seasons since Dayton Moore took over the general manager's job in Kansas City, I've been a pretty big fan of what the Royals are doing as an organization. Yes, they overpaid for some free agents like Gil Meche and Jose Guillen, but in order to convince free agents to come to Kansas City, you have to pay them more than they're worth. That's what happens when you routinely finish in last place in your division.

Of course, finishing in last does have some benefits as well, as it gives a team a lot of high draft picks, and the Royals have used them to find players like Alex Gordon. The Royals aren't tearing things up by any means this season, as they're currently 21-23, but they're only 2.5 games behind the White Sox for the division lead.

All of which has gotten Royals legend George Brett to start talking about a division title.

"Why couldn't they contend?" Brett said. "In our division, I think they can. No one is head-and-shoulders above anyone else."

"If you live in Kansas City right now," he said, "and you're not excited, then you're not a baseball fan."

Yeah! Get excited Royals fans!

As odd as it may sound to hear Brett or anybody involved with the Royals talking about a division title this season, what George said is right. The AL Central is wide open this year as nobody has really stepped up and taken control of the division. The White Sox may be on top right now, but it's not like they don't have problems that could cost them in the long run, and the same can be said for Cleveland, Minnesota, and Detroit.

I don't think it's going to happen this season, unless the Royals offense starts hitting anyway, but at this point they're just as likely as anybody else to pull it off. They're basically only a five-game win streak away from climbing to the top.

The growing trend in baseball is for teams to sign their young players to contract extensions in hopes of locking them up before they become too expensive. While it's a smart financial move for all teams, it's generally a real good move for teams with lower payrolls. The Indians started it with Grady Sizemore a few years ago, then the Rockies followed suit with Troy Tulowitzki. This season it's been Evan Longoria and Hanley Ramirez reaping the rewards of baseball's new trend.

One smaller market team that is yet to adapt to this new philosophy is the Kansas City Royals, but that doesn't mean they don't have some young, talented players who wouldn't mind an extension.

"It's just kind of a feel thing," general manager Dayton Moore said. "Obviously, there has to be a willingness on both sides. We talk about a lot of things, but we're still very early in the process."

The Royals are loaded with young players who project as key players for years to come. Of those, the closest to free-agency are pitcher Zack Greinke and catcher John Buck. Both are on track to enter the market after the 2010 season.

Neither has been contacted by club officials about possible extensions.

I remember one time as a kid, I think I was 12 or 13, I was home alone with my sister one night when the power went out in our house during a storm. My dad was just down the street, so I figured it would be best to go to him and let him know. So I took off running through the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom, in complete darkness, to get my shoes and jacket.

Undeterred by the darkness, I ran full speed (like the wind!) down the hall until I went face first into my bedroom door. Oops! I learned a very valuable lesson that day, and that lesson was that a door can kick your ass if you're not careful. If only I had been around to inform Kansas City Royals pitcher John Bale of this.

Kansas City Royals left-hander John Bale, already on the disabled list due to a tight shoulder, broke his pitching hand punching a door at the team's hotel Friday night.

A club spokesman said Bale informed team officials he had pain in his hand after arriving at Progressive Field for Saturday night's game against Cleveland. X-rays were taken during the game, revealing the fracture on the side of his hand. Bale returned to Kansas City Sunday morning. He will be examined by team doctors, possibly as early as Monday.

Dumbass. At least I didn't know the door was closed when I ran into it, and I was only 12, so I'm expected to do stupid things. I'm not sure what the hell John was trying to accomplish here. Did that door say something about his mom? His wife?

The biggest kicker about this whole thing is that while Bale is already on the disabled list, he was scheduled to come off of it in a few days after throwing a simulated game earlier on Friday. Maybe Bale gave up a few simulated home runs to a simulated Alex Gordon, and then got confused thinking the door was a simulated punching bag. I don't know, all I know is he has to be feeling like an idiot right now.

Apparently Alex Gordon has some serious beef with a pair of Texas radio show hosts, according to the KC Star; Brooks postulates that the two gentlemen in question are "afternoon hosts Mike Rhyner and Corby Davidson (though we might be wrong, Flanagan doesn't name them)".

Apparently, the two radio show hosts in question crossed the line in Spring Training when interviewing the wives of Gordon and Luke Hochevar. And because no direct apology has been issued, Gordon could still a little fired up about the possibility of running into the hosts.

The seemingly harmless interview took a nasty turn when Jamie was asked whether she knew who Yoko Ono was. When she said she did not, someone back in the booth or at the station hit a "drop" button that spewed the words "stupid b...." over the air. The same drop button was hit again moments later after Jamie answered another question.

Then later in the interview, one of the show's hosts made crude innuendos about Jamie and Ashley, urging his interviewer to "try and get them to kiss."

Royals upper management got wind of the interview and was furious, as was Gordon. Royals vice president of communications Mike Swanson demanded an apology from the station and the hosts.

Now, technically, that's not anyone actually calling the ladies in question the b-word. But it might actually be worse when you think about it -- instead of some Imus-like gut reaction to something, this was a premeditated load of a clip with the intention of it being used as "humorous" commentary.

Now the Royals are apparently more concerned about Gordon not running into the pair of hosts while in Texas. And frankly, I don't blame them. He still hasn't gotten a direct apology from the hosts, and he's got a pretty good reason to be fired up.

New Studs takes a look at players ready to make the leap from "possibly productive fantasy player" to "must-have fantasy stud." This is not a "you've never heard of this dude, but ... " series -- these should be names you already know.

This week is special. Why? Because the player you see smiling at'cha on the right is special. Even if you don't recognize him (I mean, he does play for the Royals), you've heard of him.

He's Mark Teixiera with speed.

He's David Wright with more power.

He was the best college baseball player in 2005 and the Double-A player of the year in 2006.

So why is Alex Gordon a "new" stud to fantasy ballers? Well, it's that pesky little thing called 2007, the fallout of which was decimated expectations from short-sighted owners for this season.

Going into last season, Gordon was a hype machine. Pundits everywhere hailed him as the "Next David Wright ... but maybe even better!" The problem was that he wasn't ready to take that next step yet. Obviously he was ready to play in the majors, but he just wasn't ready to be, well, himself.

We're five full days deep in baseball and there's been a lot of action. In order to make the proper roster moves and know what to look for when you begin trade negotiations, it helps to understand the perceived value shifts that happen each week. So that's when we bust out the complex algorithms and determine who's up and who's down.

Ben Sheets -- Sheets looked great against the Cubs, engaging in a pitcher's duel against Carlos Zambrano, and even pitching post-rain delay; actually looking sharper. Sheets has a legitimate shot at the Cy Young and is a number one fantasy ace if he can avoid the injuries that have plagued him in the past.

Or, alternately: blahblahblahblah If he can stay healthy blahblahblahblah. I actually love Sheets but objectively he has to be considered a sell high, especially if he pieces together a few more of these starts. And considering Ned Yost seems unconcerned about his injury history.
Rich Harden -- See above.
Brian Bannister -- He absolutely shut down the Tigers. He won't overpower anyone but he's smart as hell and will get wins with nice ratios this season.

In sports, there are always surprises in the first week or so of the season. For baseball, think Chris Shelton's April two seasons ago. Then think about the rest of his season and remember that the length of baseball's season, unlike other sports, is the great equalizer. Knee Jerk Store will be here to help you rationalize the reality of an out-of-nowhere big performer (If there's someone else you'd like to see profiled at any point during the season, email FanHouse's friendly fantasy experts.)

Kosuke Fukudome -- I don't know how to say "Holy Moses" in Japanese, but if I could, I would. I was live-blogging the game Monday and man, was he freaking awesome. I'm serious when I say he might post a .750 OBP this season. I would really like to change my NL ROY pick now. So very much legit.

Xavier Nady -- With two taters and four RBI he beat down my Bravos, basically singlehandedly, not to mention Nady led the majors (well, tied with Jim Thome) in both categories for today. Which means absolutely nothing. Dudes, ladies, brahs. He's 29. He posted a .330 OBP with an above average BABIP last year. He's gotten better against righties, but he's still not great, and well, that doesn't fly if you're starting in the major leagues. As Pat Lackey pointed out to me Monday night when I mentioned the X-man's big night -- and he's right, by the way -- the Pirates need to give Steve Pearce some run instead of wasting a spot with Nady. I suggest you do the same with your fantasy team.

Yunel Escobar -- I will now abandon all the statistical reliance that you see above and just say that I implicitly trust Bobby Cox beyond any reasonable limit. The man took my team to 14 straight division titles. He's not Joe Morgan-y, in that even if Cox is old-school he's not curmudgeony about it. And he likes Escobar. And so do I, especially his 2B, SS, 3B eligibility. You'll just have to trust me on this one. Legit.

"Under The Gun" takes a look at one player from each team who will bear all the pressure for the upcoming '08 season.

Royals third baseman Alex Gordon has been under a lot of pressure since the first time he stepped on a Major League field in a Royals uniform. I mean, most people in Kansas City had been proclaiming him the next George Brett even though the majority of them had never even seen the kid play.

Those are some pretty lofty expectations for a 23-year old kid (Alex just turned 24 last week). It's tough enough adapting to the Majors as a rookie, let alone having to do so while everyone expects you to play like a Hall of Famer. So it's not surprising that Alex had a very un-Hall of Fame like season in 2007.

Gordon finished his first season with a batting average of .247 and an OBP of .314. He also hit 15 homers and drove in 60 runs, while striking out 137 times compared to 41 walks. While it would still be unfair to expect Alex to have a breakout season in 2008, it would be nice to see him improve his walk and strikeout numbers, which should also help raise his batting average.

The Royals actually had a pretty decent season in 2007, but recent Royals standards anyway, and if the team is going to continue to improve it's going to be up to guys like Gordon and fellow youngsters Mark Teahen, and Billy Butler to produce runs. Something all three of them have the ability to do.