Alex Gordon Thread

[Dick Allen]

Now it is just taunting.

[Dunt]

If you needed any more proof that Caufield is a Royals fan, you needn't look any further than this thread.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Really hope this is just the Sox trying to get either Cespedes or Upton's price down. Gordon is a great player, but he is not the player I want the Sox to sign. His age is cause enough for concern for me.

 

Would it help to know Jermaine Dye had the best year of his career with the Sox at age 32 ?

 

I was just looking at Dye's stats from age 32 on . He had some of his best years with the Sox. One of the few guys who was hurt a lot then gets to us and gets healthy and hits more HR for the Sox then he ever had before. We always hear " this guy will hit more HR at the Cell "but we never see it actually happen very much.

 

Even in his last year in the majors at age 35 he hit 27 HRs and a .793 OPS and .340 OBP.

 

Dye had 44 HR's in age 32 season. , 120 RBI , 1.006 OPS, .386 OBP, .662 SLG. , OPS+ 151

 

Dude could still hit when he retired ( or nobody wanted him). His fielding fell of a cliff if I remember it right . Lost a couple of steps at 33 rebounded a little at 34 but still bad ,then totally lost it a lot more at 35.

[Kyyle23]

Do you really want a separate thread on John Smoltz replacing Harold Reynolds with FOX?

 

The main reason I included that was because Trayce Thompson is one of the targets...once again, do we want a separate thread about that topic alone (interest in a former White Sox player by another team seemingly being of interest to MOST SoxTalk posters)?

 

Should I start a separate Jackie Bradley, Jr. thread?

 

 

Trayce Thompson

Trayce also big time bloodlines as the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson and the brother of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Thompson made his Major League debut in 2015, appearing in 44 games with the White Sox before being dealt to the Dodgers this winter in the three-team Todd Frazier deal. Thompson was a second-round pick by the White Sox and has shown a nice blend of power and speed, with 20/20 potential as a centerfielder. However he has also shown little plate discipline, striking out 26% of the time with a 6.6% walk rate.

 

He hit well once he was promoted to Chicago this year, hitting .295/.363/.533 in 133 plate appearances with five home runs. His walk rate surged with the White Sox to 9.6% while he cut down on his strikeouts, although there are small sample size issues. Thompson is 24 years old, so his ceiling is not high, but he has power and speed, which the Royals will love, and his right-handed bat could fit in the lineup well.

 

Why don't you just make a thread called Caulfield where you can talk about whatever you want, since staying on topic in ANY thread is just impossible for you

 

[southsideirish71]

Do you really want a separate thread on John Smoltz replacing Harold Reynolds with FOX?

 

The main reason I included that was because Trayce Thompson is one of the targets...once again, do we want a separate thread about that topic alone (interest in a former White Sox player by another team seemingly being of interest to MOST SoxTalk posters)?

 

Should I start a separate Jackie Bradley, Jr. thread?

 

 

Trayce Thompson

Trayce also big time bloodlines as the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson and the brother of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Thompson made his Major League debut in 2015, appearing in 44 games with the White Sox before being dealt to the Dodgers this winter in the three-team Todd Frazier deal. Thompson was a second-round pick by the White Sox and has shown a nice blend of power and speed, with 20/20 potential as a centerfielder. However he has also shown little plate discipline, striking out 26% of the time with a 6.6% walk rate.

 

He hit well once he was promoted to Chicago this year, hitting .295/.363/.533 in 133 plate appearances with five home runs. His walk rate surged with the White Sox to 9.6% while he cut down on his strikeouts, although there are small sample size issues. Thompson is 24 years old, so his ceiling is not high, but he has power and speed, which the Royals will love, and his right-handed bat could fit in the lineup well.

 

 

[Kyyle23]

Would it help to know Jermaine Dye had the best year of his career with the Sox at age 32 ?

 

I was just looking at Dye's stats from age 32 on . He had some of his best years with the Sox. One of the few guys who was hurt a lot then gets to us and gets healthy and hits more HR for the Sox then he ever had before. We always hear " this guy will hit more HR at the Cell "but we never see it actually happen very much.

 

Even in his last year in the majors at age 35 he hit 27 HRs and a .793 OPS and .340 OBP.

 

Dye had 44 HR's in age 32 season. , 120 RBI , 1.006 OPS, .386 OBP, .662 SLG. , OPS+ 151

 

Dude could still hit when he retired ( or nobody wanted him). His fielding fell of a cliff if I remember it right . Lost a couple of steps at 33 rebounded a little at 34 but still bad ,then totally lost it a lot more at 35.

 

It was the weirdest forced/chosen retirement I can recall. Iirc he didn't want to take less than a certain amount, and I think he didn't want to DH

[southsideirish71]

It was the weirdest forced/chosen retirement I can recall. Iirc he didn't want to take less than a certain amount, and I think he didn't want to DH

 

If he would of accepted a DH role he would of played beyond that. By the time he decided to open to DH it was too late.

 

[Dick Allen]

Would it help to know Jermaine Dye had the best year of his career with the Sox at age 32 ?

 

I was just looking at Dye's stats from age 32 on . He had some of his best years with the Sox. One of the few guys who was hurt a lot then gets to us and gets healthy and hits more HR for the Sox then he ever had before. We always hear " this guy will hit more HR at the Cell "but we never see it actually happen very much.

 

Even in his last year in the majors at age 35 he hit 27 HRs and a .793 OPS and .340 OBP.

 

Dye had 44 HR's in age 32 season. , 120 RBI , 1.006 OPS, .386 OBP, .662 SLG. , OPS+ 151

 

Dude could still hit when he retired ( or nobody wanted him). His fielding fell of a cliff if I remember it right . Lost a couple of steps at 33 rebounded a little at 34 but still bad ,then totally lost it a lot more at 35.

He fell apart offensively his final season. .942 OPS first half with 20 homers, .580 the second half. Probably why he was lowballed the next season. He looked like he got real old real fast.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Dick Allen

[LittleHurt05]

It was the weirdest forced/chosen retirement I can recall. Iirc he didn't want to take less than a certain amount, and I think he didn't want to DH

 

Looking at his stats, he was a lot better hitter in his last season than I remember. .793 OPS, 105 wRC+, 27 HRs, I remember him being done.

 

That being said, his defensive numbers look atrocious on Fangraphs for his last 4 seasons

[jamesdiego]

Why don't you just make a thread called Caulfield where you can talk about whatever you want, since staying on topic in ANY thread is just impossible for you

 

 

I would read that thread.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

I loved Dye and I was bummed how badly it ended for him statistically.

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

Would it help to know Jermaine Dye had the best year of his career with the Sox at age 32 ?

 

I was just looking at Dye's stats from age 32 on . He had some of his best years with the Sox. One of the few guys who was hurt a lot then gets to us and gets healthy and hits more HR for the Sox then he ever had before. We always hear " this guy will hit more HR at the Cell "but we never see it actually happen very much.

 

Even in his last year in the majors at age 35 he hit 27 HRs and a .793 OPS and .340 OBP.

 

Dye had 44 HR's in age 32 season. , 120 RBI , 1.006 OPS, .386 OBP, .662 SLG. , OPS+ 151

 

Dude could still hit when he retired ( or nobody wanted him). His fielding fell of a cliff if I remember it right . Lost a couple of steps at 33 rebounded a little at 34 but still bad ,then totally lost it a lot more at 35.

 

Jermaine Dye's age 32 season is not a reason to go out and sign Gordon. If you're looking at Gordon for 5 years, you are looking at his 32-36 age seasons. Do you really think he is going to be worth the money through the length of that contract? Gordon is an excellent player now, but I fear the last few years of that deal will be a financial burden to the organization because it's rare to see players be able to maintain their level of play into those years. Look at Jimmy Rollins, he'd be an example of a player who is a shell of his former self entering his mid 30's.

 

I'm not arguing that Gordon is a bad pickup, his OBP would look amazing in the Sox lineup. I'd would rather have Upton for the remaining prime years of his career plus his twilight years than Gordon who has the chance to start declining fairly soon.

[jamesdiego]

I think Gordon is all..

 

 

 

&

 

 

[Bigsoxhurt35]

I think Gordon is all..

 

 

 

&

 

 

 

 

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Jermaine Dye's age 32 season is not a reason to go out and sign Gordon. If you're looking at Gordon for 5 years, you are looking at his 32-36 age seasons. Do you really think he is going to be worth the money through the length of that contract? Gordon is an excellent player now, but I fear the last few years of that deal will be a financial burden to the organization because it's rare to see players be able to maintain their level of play into those years. Look at Jimmy Rollins, he'd be an example of a player who is a shell of his former self entering his mid 30's.

 

I'm not arguing that Gordon is a bad pickup, his OBP would look amazing in the Sox lineup. I'd would rather have Upton for the remaining prime years of his career plus his twilight years than Gordon who has the chance to start declining fairly soon.

I wasn't basing an argument for Gordon on Dye I was pretty much just reminiscing and saw Dye was 32 with that monster year. If anything ,with how bad Dye's fielding fell off, my reminiscing was more of a case against Gordon.

 

However ,the Fangraphs article someone posted earlier comparing Gordon to players of similar stats did a good job of painting a more optimistic outlook. He has hsi pluses and minus like any of the big 3 . Budget wise he's a much better fit than the other 2 precisely because of his age. His work ethic is beyond compare if you read any of the stuff about how Rusty Kuntz worked with him to convert him from a 3rd baseman to an OF. Made me want to hire Kuntz for Avi.

 

Anyway he's a winner and would bring that work ethic and winning attitude. Not sure if the other guys have that. I've wanted Cespedes because he's just put teams on his back and has elite power and is a pretty good OF according to DRS. My eye test tells me a slightly different story but that's neither here nor there. He just doesn't have the track record of the other 2 because of his late entry into the Majors. But imagine if that was the real Cespedes last year . His 4th year in the bigs ,now accustomed to everything . He has the chance to be a monster the most out of the 3. I want a monster .

[BaconOnAStick]

I wasn't basing an argument for Gordon on Dye I was pretty much just reminiscing and saw Dye was 32 with that monster year. If anything ,with how bad Dye's fielding fell off, my reminiscing was more of a case against Gordon.

 

However ,the Fangraphs article someone posted earlier comparing Gordon to players of similar stats did a good job of painting a more optimistic outlook. He has hsi pluses and minus like any of the big 3 . Budget wise he's a much better fit than the other 2 precisely because of his age. His work ethic is beyond compare if you read any of the stuff about how Rusty Kuntz worked with him to convert him from a 3rd baseman to an OF. Made me want to hire Kuntz for Avi.

 

Anyway he's a winner and would bring that work ethic and winning attitude. Not sure if the other guys have that. I've wanted Cespedes because he's just put teams on his back and has elite power and is a pretty good OF according to DRS. My eye test tells me a slightly different story but that's neither here nor there. He just doesn't have the track record of the other 2 because of his late entry into the Majors. But imagine if that was the real Cespedes last year . His 4th year in the bigs ,now accustomed to everything . He has the chance to be a monster the most out of the 3. I want a monster .

I think Gordon and Cespedes bring a lot of intangibles to the lineup, just in different ways. Cespedes as power hitting destroyer of world's and Gordon as a guy who keeps rally's going. Both are winners and I'd be fine with either one but would prefer Cespedes. Upton is a bum who draws a few walks for bad teams.

 

[YouCanPutItOnTheBoardYES!]

I think Gordon and Cespedes bring a lot of intangibles to the lineup, just in different ways. Cespedes as power hitting destroyer of world's and Gordon as a guy who keeps rally's going. Both are winners and I'd be fine with either one but would prefer Cespedes. Upton is a bum who draws a few walks for bad teams.

A "bum" might be an overly harsh way to describe Upton. He isn't my first choice, but I'd rather have him in right field in 2016 than Avi and I don't think any Sox fan would disagree with that.

 

If Upton is a bum, then I have no idea how you'd describe Avi.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

I think Gordon and Cespedes bring a lot of intangibles to the lineup, just in different ways. Cespedes as power hitting destroyer of world's and Gordon as a guy who keeps rally's going. Both are winners and I'd be fine with either one but would prefer Cespedes. Upton is a bum who draws a few walks for bad teams.

 

If we're talking about which one worries me the most it is Upton because of being a career NLer . Gordon and Cespedes know the AL. The Sox really don't need another guy having to adjust to the superior league and hitting way below career norms. They need a guy who can be a hit from day one. Light the fire , have people dancing in the aisles talking about our awesome pair of Cuban powerhouses. Our own Bash Brothers. Pito and La Potencia !

[hi8is]

For the record - Cespedes is my choice as well. Called for him when he defected and am calling again for him now.

[Marky Mark]

If we're talking about which one worries me the most it is Upton because of being a career NLer . Gordon and Cespedes know the AL. The Sox really don't need another guy having to adjust to the superior league and hitting way below career norms. They need a guy who can be a hit from day one. Light the fire , have people dancing in the aisles talking about our awesome pair of Cuban powerhouses. Our own Bash Brothers. Pito and La Potencia !

 

 

Last year he played at Petco. Even against superior pitching in the AL, I don't think you lose much of last year's stats, if anything in that transition.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Last year he played at Petco. Even against superior pitching in the AL, I don't think you lose much of last year's stats, if anything in that transition.

 

That's what worries me. Big ballpark , lots of room for hits and he bats .250 with the lowest OBP of his career ,which can easily translate to .220-230 in the AL . Walking just doesn't bring excitement, big hits do. I just have one eye on what will excite the fans and get them into the ball park. I know Upton has a lot of talent I just don't know how it will play in the AL and with the other 2 it's not a concern.

[glangon]

I have this nagging feeling that Alex Gordon will sign for us today.

 

Don't ask why, I just have this feeling....

[Whisox05]

http://www.southsidesox.com/2015/12/23/106...whatever-degree

[Bob Sacamano]

If he doesn't sign with us, I hope he doesn't sign with the Royals either. Hopefully a team that hasn't given up their first round pick yet so the value of our comp pick goes up.

[Bob Sacamano]

I have this nagging feeling that Alex Gordon will sign for us today.

 

Don't ask why, I just have this feeling....

 

If so, I don't want anything more than 4 years.