How bout this...GONZO appreciation thread.

[SCM33]

The guy is playing GG defense. He may not hit the mendoza line, but if everyone else does their job, then who cares? The guy is a special defensive player....better than all previous SS's defensively weve had in years (Rentawreck, Ocab, Nomar, Johnny V). How about we show the guy some appreciation because when the ball is hit to short, we know he is going to make the play. He makes every play look so easy and its really something to watch such a fluid SS with soft hands make throws right on the money.

 

Show him the love for giving us something we didnt have last year, a great defensive SS with the ability to make big plays.

[redsoxrules]

The guy is playing GG defense. He may not hit the mendoza line, but if everyone else does their job, then who cares? The guy is a special defensive player....better than all previous SS's defensively weve had in years (Rentawreck, Ocab, Nomar, Johnny V). How about we show the guy some appreciation because when the ball is hit to short, we know he is going to make the play. He makes every play look so easy and its really something to watch such a fluid SS with soft hands make throws right on the money.

 

Show him the love for giving us something we didnt have last year, a great defensive SS with the ability to make big plays.

 

better than Ocab>? i dont think so ,and actually he and nomar have the same career fielding percentage , remember the guy did make 16 errors in each of his last 3 season , but dont get me wrong he is way better than what we had last year and did make some great plays so far this year, however , do you think his great defense is good enough to overcome his 215 batting average, if he was batting at least 250 id be fine with it ,but who knows maybe his batting will get a little better

[TheRivernator]

You wont mind having gonzo in the order when you are facing terrible pitching and your lineup can score 5 or more runs. When you face good pitchers, he will show as what he is. He is Mendoza, good D, no bat....

[TheKilo]

You wont mind having gonzo in the order when you are facing terrible pitching and your lineup can score 5 or more runs. When you face good pitchers, he will show as what he is. He is Mendoza, good D, no bat....

 

 

No one really expected him to hit .300. If he can get to .250/7/65 ish, that'd be a productive season for him.

[TheRivernator]

No one really expected him to hit .300. If he can get to .250/7/65 ish, that'd be a productive season for him.

 

Aside from one game against the yankees, he really has been completely horrid. If he hit .220 but game you a 1 for 5, 1 for 4 every night, then you'd take it. But he is giving you 1 for 10s then a 2 for 5, then another long hitless stretch.

[TheKilo]

Aside from one game against the yankees, he really has been completely horrid. If he hit .220 but game you a 1 for 5, 1 for 4 every night, then you'd take it. But he is giving you 1 for 10s then a 2 for 5, then another long hitless stretch.

 

 

Right, but his defense has been excellent. Which is what he was brought here for.

 

I'd like him to hit a little better, but as long as his D is good I can't really complain.

[mtbykr]

I would still rather have O-Cab. I think O-Cab plays as good or close to the same D as gonzo but with a better bat. O-Cab seemed to be one of those players that shined in boston---the bigger the stage the better the performance! With that said i have been more than pleased with his D this year, what amazes me more than anything is how quick his hands are. During the 1st game against the O's he turned a DP that i had to rewind (DVR) to see again because he turned it so quick. It's def better for my health that gonzo is here this year as i was a nervous wreck in any key position last year hoping that the play wouldn't involve rent-a-wreck.

 

In short, i am glad we have gonzo--but would be happier with O-Cab!

[schillingouttheks]

He's played a huge role in the success of our defense. Great range, heads up player, knows what he's doing in the field. We brought him here KNOWING that we weren't going to expect any more than a low .200 avg hitter, because of all the other offensive weapons in our lineup. As long as the others do their jobs, anything from him on offense is a bonus. It was nice to see him crank one against the Skanks

 

It's nice that I'm finally able to say that the Sox have the best defense in the MLB. If you said that last year I would have kicked you in the head and said you were stupid because of course, that wasn't the case. This year the defense is there, the offensive weapons are there, the pitching is shaky but strong in certain areas, and Gonzo is all part of it. There's nothing to complain about.

 

Let's also consider the quality of the defense we have from him, and what we're paying for it. I like.

[rician blast]

He's played a huge role in the success of our defense.

Let's also consider the quality of the defense we have from him, and what we're paying for it. I like.

 

nicely put and an important point (the $ he's being paid). With not much salary wrapped up in him, it does make moving in a different direction at SS viable assuming the FO has better long-term options in mind.

[Sizzlin22]

remember the guy did make 16 errors in each of his last 3 season

While I agree with you a lot of the balls that Gonzo makes an "error" most Short stops don't even get to. The guy is probabaly the best fielder in the bigs, because he aint' playing for his bat.

[mtbykr]

I think one other thing we are overlooking is the fact that there are some plays that he makes look routine that we were not getting at all last year. One example is the play in the 9th last night---when we only had a 1 run lead.

[SCM33]

I would still rather have O-Cab. I think O-Cab plays as good or close to the same D as gonzo but with a better bat. O-Cab seemed to be one of those players that shined in boston---the bigger the stage the better the performance! With that said i have been more than pleased with his D this year, what amazes me more than anything is how quick his hands are. During the 1st game against the O's he turned a DP that i had to rewind (DVR) to see again because he turned it so quick. It's def better for my health that gonzo is here this year as i was a nervous wreck in any key position last year hoping that the play wouldn't involve rent-a-wreck.

 

In short, i am glad we have gonzo--but would be happier with O-Cab!

 

I dont want Ocab at the money they are paying him. Gonzo has a little nice deal and plays great defense.

 

......and comparing Gonzo to Nomar based on fielding percentage is not fair because nomar had the range of the statue of liberty his last few seasons. Gonzo also has a more accurate arm than Ocab, and is alot smoother.

 

There arent many SS's that are as smooth as him. He makes his errors because he gets to balls other SS's wouldnt even dream about. How many times has he butchered a ball hit at him? I can think of one this season...and remember, he is playing at Fenway which is a notorious SS killer. I think hes been quite impressive.

[TheKilo]

I dont want Ocab at the money they are paying him. Gonzo has a little nice deal and plays great defense.

 

......and comparing Gonzo to Nomar based on fielding percentage is not fair because nomar had the range of the statue of liberty his last few seasons. Gonzo also has a more accurate arm than Ocab, and is alot smoother.

 

There arent many SS's that are as smooth as him. He makes his errors because he gets to balls other SS's wouldnt even dream about. How many times has he butchered a ball hit at him? I can think of one this season...and remember, he is playing at Fenway which is a notorious SS killer. I think hes been quite impressive.

 

 

I think this is the whole point. Remember, OCab was a .250 hitter when we got him and he was brought in for defense. I think AGonz is just keeping the spot warm faor Pedroia anyway, so I'm fine with paying him so little for such a short period of time.

 

The difference in production in AGonz and OCab isn't enough to make up for the difference in salaries.

[TheRivernator]

Pedroia is not the answer at ss. He is your prototypical 2b and your defense will suffer if you have to deal with his rag arm...

[TheKilo]

Pedroia is not the answer at ss. He is your prototypical 2b and your defense will suffer if you have to deal with his rag arm...

 

 

He did play SS in college.

[TheRivernator]

He did play SS in college.

 

that hardly matters. Someone already posted where people were drafted at. Sheff was a SS for god sakes and if he was at short for us right now I'd vomit...

[TheKilo]

that hardly matters. Someone already posted where people were drafted at. Sheff was a SS for god sakes and if he was at short for us right now I'd vomit...

 

 

2B to SS really isn't a HUGE leap. I think he could do it.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, really as long as you got the arm and decent range you can handle SS, though Id love to see the Gonzo-Pedroia combo up the middle, though it will be somewha like what we have now with loretta at 2nd.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

that hardly matters. Someone already posted where people were drafted at. Sheff was a SS for god sakes and if he was at short for us right now I'd vomit...

 

At his age there is no way he could play SS. However, go back to when he was in college and I suspect he was a decent athlete.

[Sox fan in Tex]

2006: Derek Jeter gets caught rounding second at Fenway while Gonzo hits three run homers at the Stadium. He is only hitting .210, but he'll get back up around the .260 range. I'm appreciative of what he has brought to the club. On defense, he's been brilliant. One error in 272.2 innings on the field. That's a .992 fielding percentage... take notes, New York.

[mtbykr]

I dont want Ocab at the money they are paying him. Gonzo has a little nice deal and plays great defense.

 

sorry should have been more clear in my statement---i don't want o-cab at his current price. i meant if all things were equal i would prefer o-cab. this is simply my opinion becuase i thought that o-cab played so much better under the pressure of playing in boston.

 

......and comparing Gonzo to Nomar based on fielding percentage is not fair because nomar had the range of the statue of liberty his last few seasons. Gonzo also has a more accurate arm than Ocab, and is alot smoother.

 

i don't think i ever compared him with nomar

 

 

There arent many SS's that are as smooth as him. He makes his errors because he gets to balls other SS's wouldnt even dream about. How many times has he butchered a ball hit at him? I can think of one this season...and remember, he is playing at Fenway which is a notorious SS killer. I think hes been quite impressive.

 

 

I am not disputing that gonzo is an amazing defensive ss. I was simply making the point that if all things were equal i would rather have o-cab. I am very thankful to have gonzo's glove though--still amazed how fast his hands are!

[Cocos Disciples]

too lazy to make a new thread, but LOU MERLONI just got called up to Cleveland, sending another former Sox, Ramon Vazquez,down. Nice trade, btw, Vazquez for Cora. Gammons calls Cora the smartest man in baseball.

[YanksHater213]

too lazy to make a new thread' date=' but LOU MERLONI just got called up to Cleveland, sending another former Sox, Ramon Vazquez,down. Nice trade, btw, Vazquez for Cora. Gammons calls Cora the smartest man in baseball.[/quote']

Gammons saying something like that is like you calling yourself smart. It doesnt make sense.

[TheRivernator]

Gammons saying something like that is like you calling yourself smart. It doesnt make sense.

 

Gammons is the biggest homer in the game....

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Gammons is the biggest homer in the game....

 

Deffinitly one of the good guys in baseball. I like listening to Gammons talk....great baseball mind.

[TheKilo]

Gammons is the biggest homer in the game....

 

 

Peter Gammons : Red Sox :: Buster Olney : Yankees

[riverside sluggers]

He did play SS in college.

 

didnt you know that Rivernator knows more about our prospects/players than we do? Like how Lester's struggles in beginning of season... no wait even though he's showing that same brilliance again of last year. This coming after being lifted from his strict pitch count Sox management put him on to start the season.

 

Loretta & Lowell will be busts.

 

Or how about how Wily Mo is just being prepped for a trade for starting pitching, which I guess is why we traded Arroyo. Yeah its not like the Sox are preparing him to someday soon take over right field (Trot in contract year)

 

Etc.

[TheKilo]

didnt you know that Rivernator knows more about our prospects/players than we do? Like how Lester's struggles in beginning of season... no wait even though he's showing that same brilliance again of last year. This coming after being lifted from his strict pitch count Sox management put him on to start the season.

 

Loretta & Lowell will be busts.

 

Or how about how Wily Mo is just being prepped for a trade for starting pitching, which I guess is why we traded Arroyo. Yeah its not like the Sox are preparing him to someday soon take over right field (Trot in contract year)

 

Etc.

 

 

Oh I understand he's very difficult to deal with. He actually was on my ignore list for a while.

 

 

I really think it's a very strong possibility that Dustin Pedroia is the starting shortstop next season.

[mtbykr]

Peter Gammons : Red Sox :: Buster Olney : Yankees

 

 

At least gammo can be objective!

[TheRivernator]

At least gammo can be objective!

 

oh c'mon now. I just watched baseball tonight and he was listing the pitchers that could have impact on rotations this season. Guess who the top 2 were? Hansen and Lester. The funny thing is, he only had 4 players on the list. There are tons more than 4 and many more likely to be in the rotation for their respective teams than Hansen or Lester for this season. Plus, he was talking about players who have revolutionized themselves, and he chooses 2 players on from the NL and one form the AL, guess who he picked from the AL? Yep, Wily Mo, while Alex Rios is having a much better season and is all around better and has shown a total change in his ability. Gammons is a total homer, and is starting to annoy me with his homerism....