The Dee Gordon Show & East/West A League All-Star Game
by meercatjohn on Jun 23, 2009 9:47 PM PDT
in Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Report
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PrintAs I mentioned in the latest Prospect Star of the Day, Dee Gordon is the hottest hitter in the minor leagues and is getting big love from Baseball America and the Hot Sheet:
Why He's Here: .480/.552/.680 (12-for-25), 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SO, 4-for-5 SB
The Scoop: Despite playing at a lower classification, Gordon has a higher ceiling than the other prominent shortstop prospects on the Dodgers' depth chart (Chin-Hung Lu, Ivan DeJesus Jr.). His game-changing speed and discerning batting eye make him a potential top of the order hitter. Gordon also is a potential plus defender, but what's stood out the most in the Midwest League is his speed—his 36 steals and eight triples both lead the circuit, and he's second in the league in runs scored.
With thanks to Tango and Cash we have these plaudits from Baseball Prospectus Kevin Goldstein:
“Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers (Single-A Great Lakes)
It’s possible that no prospect excites me as much as Gordon has this year. He’s reeled off seven straight multi-hit games as part of an 11-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 22-for-45 to boost his season averages to .308/.372/.405, with his blinding speed adding eight triples and 40 stolen bases. The thing is, when you ask scouts about him, all they talk about is how incredibly raw he is. He’s getting this done on almost pure athleticism alone, and the gap between what he is now and what he can be is still massive. While it will require more research and discussion, I’m becoming convinced that he’s the top prospect in the Dodgers’ system right now.”
to winning the Midwest League Player of the Week:
Midwest League
Dee Gordon, Great Lakes
.500 (13-26), 10 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR,1 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO, 7 SB, .577 SLG
Dee Gordon has got both an 11-game hitting streak and a seven-game multi-hit streak. The Dodgers prospect finished a terrific week at the plate by scoring a pair of runs in each of the last four games. Gordon has raised his average to a team-best .308. He also leads the Loons in hits (86), on-base percentage (.372), stolen bases (40) and triples (8).
It would have nice a perfect ending to the story if Dee Gordon had then dominated the All-Star Game but alas he was only able to manage a single and stolen base as the many Loons from the East defeated the West.
The East was loaded with Loons (Pedroza, Kyle Russell, Dee Gordon, and Delmonico) started the game. Walter, Redding and Guerra pitched in relief with Walter giving up two of the three runs that the West scored. Redding and Guerra got four outs (two a piece) with no hits. Kyle Russell went 0/5 but the other three Loons all contributed to the scoring.
These are all players who we hope to keep covering as they climb the prospect ladder but no one seems to have climbed that ladder faster then one Dee Gordon.
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My point
is that fans our farm system can comfortably follow this guy’s progress without worrying that he’s trade bait. And that’s largely because the GM values his skillset (and rightfully so, in this case — Gordon sounds like a potential beast at leadoff).
But still that seems like a stereotype
the only players Ned has ever acquired with his skill set are Rafy, Lofton, and Juan Pierre.
Andre – No
Hudson – No
Blake – No
Manny – No
A Jones – No
Mueller – No
Nomar – No
Sweeney – No
Loretta – No
Betemit – No
Gonzo – No
Ned is on record saying he values speed and defense. He’s an old school GM who cut his teeth in the 80s when that was synonymous with winning baseball. Nothing wrong with that.
I’m just saying a guy like Gordon, with his game changing speed and slick glove, would probably be a safer bet to stay in the organization than, say, Kyle Russell (who scouts have called Adam Dunn with better defense).
I’m not arguing who’s the better type of player; just pointing out Ned’s tastes when it comes to potential trades.
by silverwidow on Jun 24, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
BA
says he’s the best defensive infielder in the system.
I’ve only seen clips on youtube and he looked flashy.
by silverwidow on Jun 24, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
I wonder how his arm is. Must be at the very least good enough that there isn’t talk that he can’t be an SS at higher levels.
by David Young on Jun 24, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe upside wise
There’s no way he is now. Especially with DeJesus still having prospect status. I don’t think they could have even made an accurate assessment of his defensive prowess since he basically didn’t play in his draft year and he always gets the “raw” label.
Comps?
Great stuff. Man, as if there weren’t enough things to be excited about right now . . . What comps are out there for Gordon? I’ve heard Rollins. Who else?
Of course at the same age Reyes was already rushed to the majors, having played in the minors since age 17.
by David Young on Jun 24, 2009 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
My memory is playing tricks on me. I thought he was 19, but he is 21.
by David Young on Jun 24, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
He should be promoted to A+
That’s where his peers are at.
by silverwidow on Jun 24, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I think this is where the “raw” comes into play. Perhaps there are certain coaches the Dodgers want him working with?
by David Young on Jun 24, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions
whats the difference between gordon and juan pierre
does gordon have more power, play better defnese, have a better arm, play a less demanding position…
what makes people so excited about him
btw. he hits left handed
Difference
More walks, more XBH, more speed, plays SS and scouts say he’ll stick there.
by silverwidow on Jun 24, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Not at this point
at the same age they played in A ball and not much difference between them. Gordon is going to have to improve in all those area’s you mentioned to be better then Pierre. Raw is the key here, can he generate the power the Reyes grew into and improve his OBP, and while he has the raw tools to play SS, he’s not even close to being a major league defensive shortstop. I have heard one scout say that if they want his bat sooner then his glove they may consider the BJ Upton route and make him a center fielder.
by meercatjohn on Jun 24, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Gordon is a SS/ Pierre is a corner outfielder
You can tolerate below average power in a middle infield position wheras you cannot in the outfield. Case in point, Juan Pierre is competing with Manny Ramirez for playing time, wheras Gordon competes with Furcal. Plus, Pierre makes $10MM per year, Gordon would be under club control at rookie salaries for a while.
That was really the big knock on Pierre (and for a lot of people Loney) is that these guys are playing power positions and not hitting for power. That’s why I was always suprised by how low people are on Eckstein. He gets on base at a decent clip and plays 2nd base- not a position where you expect a ton of power anyway. Pierre by comparison would be considered much worse.
by Michael White on Jun 24, 2009 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
True
but at the same point in their career, Pierre was a center fielder so that is where the comparison comes in. If you want to look at Gordon as a future lead off man and not take into account his position he has a lot of work to do unless your satisfied with someone like Rollins and his career .329 OBP which I’m not in my lead off man.
Right now the same complaints about Juan Pierre’s ability to work a walk and be a real benefit to the top of the order would be the same complaints you can have about Gordons game. He’s a burner but he has not shown me that he is going to be any better then Juan Pierre at this moment from an offensive standpoint. Rollins was in AAA at the age of 21, Reyes was in the major leagues. Gordon has to get much better before he’s even better then our DeJesus. If DeJesus had been in A ball at 21 he’d have lit that league up at a much higher clip then Gordon is doing.
Gordon’s wOBA is not even in the top 25 of the league. His walk rate is 6.8%. The kid has plenty of work to do, to be considered better then DeJesus in my opinion and Goldstein is just getting carried away or not valuing DeJesus properly in the first place.
by meercatjohn on Jun 24, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
He has an ISOP of .097 with a K rate of 15% for the year
So far this year the Walk rate is improving and the K rate is decreasing each month so he’s getting better and better but he has a ways to go before he’s our top prospect.
http://firstinning.com/players/Devaris-Strange-Gordon-a
by meercatjohn on Jun 24, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
As another point of comparison, how about Rafael Furcal
In his age 20 season (but an old 20 – born in August), he played low and high A ball and hit .322 / .392 / .389 / .781, with about a 9.4% BB rate, 13.3% K rate, and stole 96 bases (~76% success). The next season he was the NL Rookie of the Year. I imagine Furcal was a more polished fielder though.
by David Young on Jun 24, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't like the July 1 cutoff for age seasons for young, developing players
(though it’s obvious why it was chose). Gordon was born in late April so he’s barely 21 and just a couple months shy of having this be his age 20 season. I think it’s more useful to use a cutoff that would correspond to ages kids are, generally, in U.S. high school. Juan Pierre was an August baby. If he and Gordon were born the same year, they would most likely be one grade apart in high school. A nit, I know.
I sometimes think you are British with your liberal use of the word “bloody.” Not a complaint, but rather an observation. :)
by Eric Stephen on Jun 24, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Anyway - I like Gordon
I’m just bugged that last year DeJesus got hardly any love because his game was OBP but Gordon is getting all these platitudes because his game is speed. All the way up the ladder they have busted DeJesus because of his lack of power and yet Gordon who has the same lack of power is the next great thing.
Joshua (annapolis, md)
What’s Dee Gordon’s ceiling? is he a top 50 or 100 prospect next year?
Ben Badler
Very good prospect, ranked him fourth in the Pioneer League last year even though he didn’t play college ball that spring. He’s a great athlete with outstanding speed, he just doesn’t have much power right now. He will start to drive the ball with more authority though once he gains some weight, and at that point he could really take off.
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