Carlos Gonzalez Mashing to Oakland

by ZackAttack on Apr 18, 2008 9:53 PM EDT

I thought we might try to get back to some of the old posts like we used to have before our conversion to the new site...

Not sure if anyone else has noticed yet, but Carlos Gonzalez is currently hitting to the tune of:

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
SAC	PCL	.340	13	50	7	17	2	0	2	6	25	5	10	0	0	.400	.500	.900

He has had 5 multi-hit games in his last 10. It seems like most high profile hitters (not named Puhols) have suffered from colder weather in the majors so far, especially the recently anemic Oakland outfield.

Everyone knows that CG can hit. However, (I realize small sample size) perhaps the most promising thing I've noticed from him so far is his desire to finally take some walks. Last year he had only 38 walks in 500 at-bats.

Given the somewhat lack of conversation on him among a lot of other sites, I am curious as to what our community thinks about him. Since Oakland isn't going to compete this year, when do you all think we may see CG in center or RF? Should Beane, in your opinion, even call him up before September? What should we expect from him when he does get called up early, and what should we expect four years from now? I have always felt (although I have no real proof) that you can leave someone in the minors too long, just as you can call someone up too early and ruin a promising career. Not saying that this is the case with CG, but just throwing out the idea. Any others care to weigh in?

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Who says Oakland isn't going to compete?

The AL West is a weak division, and if the Mariners and Angels remain listless and injury-plagued, there’s no reason the A’s can’t sneak in there with 80-some wins.

by Flynn Blake on Apr 18, 2008 10:07 PM EDT 0 recs

You do

have a point there…I just don’t think they’re deep enough, but looking at that division, they are pretty craptastic, and if the Cards can be the worst best team of 2006, anything can happen.

by ZackAttack on Apr 18, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Err

I guess I should say one of the worst teams to ever win a World Series

by ZackAttack on Apr 18, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's not likely, but

there is a shot. Everything has to go right for them, and SEA and LAA have to stumble, but like you say, much stranger things have happened.

But I think it points out something larger to us prospect hounds and fantasy and sim players. MLB teams are a business, and it’s bad business alienating your fan base and throwing in the towel before a significant portion of the season is over. Everyone knows that it’s a real long shot that a PGH or a KCR or an OAK is going to sneak in there, but everyone mouths the words and says the right things to keep the fans engaged as long as possible. It’s like losing presidential candidates like Huckabee or Clinton not letting on that they’re basically toast, but soldiering on.

And speaking of politics, we’re going to have a new world champion before we know who the next president is. As long as the baseball season is … that’s just crazy.

by Flynn Blake on Apr 18, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

There's a difference between competing and winning the division

Even if the Angels finish the season 8-10 games up on Oakland, if they’re only 4-5 games out in July, that’s competing.

People who thought Oakland was a 100 loss team were baseball retarded anyway.

As for Gonzalez: barring injury, I think he gets called up sometime in June, when, hopefully, Beane finds a way to trade Emil Brown for anything anybody is willing to give him. Of course, Brown shouldn’t be starting now anyway and he is, so who knows what will happen.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 19, 2008 1:00 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1

I think both Oakland and Texas are going to be a lot better than what most people are expecting. The to-be division winners and basement hounds could be within a small few amount of games when it’s all said and done. And that’s not even factoring in the devastating blows both the Angels and Mariners have suffered health-wise so far.

by elrey34 on Apr 20, 2008 2:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

well

if they need 85 wins to win the division they will need about 75 shutouts since their offence won’t get much more than 100 runs this year. ;)

by pedrophile on Apr 21, 2008 2:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

Tonight

So far he is 1-2 w/ a HR and BB, not a bad start at all.

by hybrid on Apr 18, 2008 11:59 PM EDT 0 recs

travis buck-k-k-k

Well, travis is outta the lead-off spot but went 0-4 with another k last night. 20 strikeouts and 2 walks in 67 plate appearances. Rotoworld expects he’ll pick it up but says if not Carlos may get a call in May.

Don’t mind me. I like travis but he is on my fantasy team and killing me.

by wobatus on Apr 19, 2008 8:50 AM EDT 0 recs

anyone notice the other carlos?

His long lost brother from Arizona who went on to the white sox…. Carlos Quentin is hitting 245 with 4hr and 15rbi and thats not in the minors. I took him for a buck in my keeper league while carlos gonzo went for quite a bit more. Its paying off for now.

by kershaw_equals_stud on Apr 19, 2008 11:14 AM EDT 0 recs

word

Tack on 7 walks, 3 hbp and a 22% hit rate and I really like what I’m seeing with this guy. Might be the post-hype player of the year.

Carlos Quentin's time has arrived.

by Team Moneyball on Apr 19, 2008 11:38 AM EDT up 0 recs

We'll see.

It’s still too small of a sample size to be drawing any logical conclusions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get some hints here or there by taking a close look. I don’t claim to follow Gonzalez closely, but I wouldn’t quite say that the numbers match the hyped up tools just yet. I say wait and see what numbers he sustains after another month.

Also, I’d be wary of the .375 BABIP so far.

by elrey34 on Apr 20, 2008 2:39 AM EDT 0 recs