Comments on: Is Alex Gordon the Royals Best Option to Leadoff?

By: michael.allen.engel

michael.allen.engel — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:56:28 +0000

This is one of the rare spots where Ned has gone against the grain. I like it when managers don’t get trapped into the “by the book” mentality, and the stats make sense. The leadoff hitter will see more plate appearances than anyone over the course of a game and season, so it makes sense to put someone who’ll be productive there. More opportunities to get on base.

It’s a lot better than being stuck in the rut that the leadoff hitter has to be a stolen base guy. Often, that’s all you get.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:38:23 +0000

@eric.akers eric, that was worked on all winter by Alex and Seitz. Billy is one of the best at that, wasting two-strike pitches by flicking them down the first base line. He gets lots of ten and twelve pitch at bats.

By: eric.akers

eric.akers — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:34:15 +0000

I like a lead off hitter that can work the pitcher more than most hitters. I remember Joey Cora of the 97 Mariners being a great lead off. He would foul off pitch after pitch at times which is a great way to start a game. Make the pitcher work for the very first batter and let everybody else see what he is bringing that day. Alex needs to stop taking those close pitches with two strike counts and work to foul them off rather than letting them go by in hopes of a walk.

By: the5allens

the5allens — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:33:20 +0000

great article. to me, the ability to take a walk is more valuable for a leadoff hitter than the ability to steal a base. it is nice when your leadoff hitter can show some pitches for his teammates – gauge what the opposing pitcher has going that night. Commanding the strike zone as a hitter leads to walks, which are baserunners and potential runs. Not that speed is unimportant – as Fetterolf said, you don’t want someone who will clog the bases. but you can’t steal first.

By: mmeade17

mmeade17 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:57:51 +0000

I’m going to up the anti and say that Gordon is one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. He has a great on-base for a leadoff guy, and though he doesn’t steal a lot of bases, he does hit a lot of doubles, which is the same as a single and a stolen base–actually better. Of players with at least 80 games as a leadoff hitter, Gordon had the highest OBP in the leadoff spot (tied actually with Jose Reyes at .383). The Royals are lucky to have him.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:03:18 +0000

Gordon is good at leadoff because he gets on base and doesn’t clog them up when he is there. He seems to have a good eye, walked a lot even with Melky and Billy following, and managed 87 rbis on top of his runs scored, so about perfect for the job. Biggest drawback was his K% at 20.1, but he worked on stuff at Mac-N-Seitz in the off season trying to address that. With a weaker #2 hitter than last year, Alex should walk even more this year.