Ranking The NL East: Second Basemen
By Ricky Keeler
Oct 6, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman
Dee Gordon(9) hits a single during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
3. Dee Gordon (Miami Marlins)
Earlier, I mentioned that the Nationals were 26th last season in batting average from second baseman. Well, the Miami Marlins were 21st in that category. At the Winter Meetings, Miami traded away starting pitcher Andrew Heaney in a package deal to acquire Dodgers’ speedster Dee Gordon.
Last season, the 26-year-old Gordon had a career season in just his fourth year in the league. In 148 games, he hit .289 with two home runs and 34 RBI’s. Gordon’s .289 average was fourth among all second baseman behind Howie Kendrick, Robinson Cano, and Jose Altuve.
The best aspect to Gordon’s game is his speed. His 64 stolen bases were the most in baseball. However, he was caught 19 times, which was the second most behind Billy Hamilton of the Reds. That is to be expected when you take as many chances as he does. If Gordon does hit leadoff, he only adds to a Marlins’ team that’s leadoff men had a combined .346 on-base percentage (4th in baseball).
Gordon isn’t higher on this list because he doesn’t have the track record as the two players who are ahead of him. If he can put up similar numbers this coming season, then that can change. Even if Gordon gets hurt, the trade to acquire Martin Prado gives Mike Redmond depth at this position of high quality.
Fangraphs doesn’t seem to think Gordon’s numbers can project to last year with his WAR dropping from 2.4 to 0.9 in 2015. If he can get on-base in the leadoff spot, his run total could increase with players like Christian Yelich and the great Giancarlo Stanton hitting behind them in that much improved Miami Marlins’ batting order.
Next: Number Two?