Disturbing On Some Level: Brett Stalking Gordon?

[AirForceChief]

Brett says Gordon is the real deal
About five years ago, George Brett was in Wichita to watch the Wranglers play the Tulsa Drillers, Texas' Double-A affiliate at the time.

Tulsa's third baseman was Hank Blalock, now a two-time All-Star with the Rangers, and Brett liked what he saw.

"This guy is the man," Brett said he told Royals general manager Allard Baird.

It's the same feeling Brett thinks people will have when they watch Wranglers third baseman Alex Gordon, the team's top draft pick in 2005.

"He's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Royals to get," said Brett, a Hall of Fame third baseman who Friday night was at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Brett, who worked with Gordon in spring training, is impressed with Gordon's baseball skills and desire to learn.

But it's Gordon's physique that awed Brett.

"One day I'm in the shower with Alex and kind of looked over, and he had his back to me, and he was washing his hair," Brett said. "So I went over and put shampoo in my hand, started washing my hair right next to him. About eight other guys were in the shower, and I said, 'Who's got a better body, me or Alex?' It was the funniest thing said all spring.

"He's got a body. I don't have a body."

But Brett believes Gordon still has some things to learn, and Double-A is a good place for that, he said.

"I think that's the only reason he's down here is to learn to play 140 games a year, instead of 60 or 70 (in college)," Brett said. "He has to learn to deal with failure. You're out there and go 0 for 10 for three games, make three errors in two games, and to see how you overcome that.

"(Wranglers manager) Frank (White) is a great teacher. He'll nurture him. That's why he's in Double-A, not Triple-A."

One of the differences between Brett and Gordon is expectations; Gordon is constantly being compared to Brett.

It's understandable since both played third base, but those are still pretty hefty expectations.

"I take that as a compliment, because I didn't think I was as good as he was," Brett said. "At age 22, I wasn't.

"It took me a while to become a good player; it's going to take him a while. But he's so much farther ahead defensively than I was at 22, difference is day and night."

So could Gordon be in Kansas City right now?

"He could be there right now just based on athletic ability and baseball skills," Brett said.


[Edit...removal of the rest of the non-Gordon related portion of article.]
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Joanna Chadwick covers the Wranglers for The Wichita Eagle


Apparently Brett can't quit Gordon...at least in the shower.

[StcChief]

Glass will trade him once he has a couple good season with Royals.

[chop]

Originally Posted by nm_dbf

Glass will trade him once he has a couple good season with Royals.

The Royals are just a major league farm club. As soon as their players develope into really good major league players, they have to be traded because the Royals will not pay them what other clubs will pay them.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by chop

The Royals are just a major league farm club. As soon as their players develope into really good major league players, they have to be traded because the Royals will not pay them what other clubs will pay them.

I've been saying that for years AAA Royals. They fans just don't want to believe it. Only shiny spot is 1985 as reason for hope.....sad.

I keep wondering how Pujols slipped thru their hands in the own backyard...........I'm just glad it did.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by nm_dbf

I've been saying that for years AAA Royals. They fans just don't want to believe it. Only shiny spot is 1985 as reason for hope.....sad.

I keep wondering how Pujols slipped thru their hands in the own backyard...........I'm just glad it did.

Jesus Christ dude, stfu. The Cardinals drafted Pujols in the 13th round. It's not like they knew he was going to set the world on fire. I'm certain all the cards scouts got together and colluded to not draft him in the 12th. Or the 11th.

[FringeNC]

Florida Marlins have $14 million dollar payroll; we have a $45 million dollar payroll. Florida understands if you are going to suck and not compete, what's the purpose of blowing payroll on mediocre veterans? Save the money and spend it when it matters. If the Royals had any sense, they'd be fielding a team like Florida and saving the $30 million to keep players like Gordon as long as possible.

It may be that Glass is so short-sighted, he would not understand that if you spent $14 million one year and $86 million another year, the average would still be the $50 million he said that he'd be willing to spend per year. It's hard to know where to assign blame....obviously Allard Baird deserves a lot, but I think he is probably hampered by interference from the David and Dan Glass.

[beavis]

Originally Posted by nm_dbf

Glass will trade him once he has a couple good season with Royals.

[Hammock Parties]

I wish George Brett would come and talk some sense into Blalock. Last year all he tried to do was hit home runs. He would overswing almost every at-bat. He only hit 25 homeruns and .263 because he doesn't have the natural power of a player like David Ortiz or Juan Gonzalez in his prime.

Blalock could hit .320 every year if he would shorten up his stroke and become a line-drive hitter like Brett. And he would probably still hit 15-20 homeruns.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I wish George Brett would come and talk some sense into Blalock. Last year all he tried to do was hit home runs. He would overswing almost every at-bat. He only hit 25 homeruns and .263 because he doesn't have the natural power of a player like David Ortiz or Juan Gonzalez in his prime.

Blalock could hit .320 every year if he would shorten up his stroke and become a line-drive hitter like Brett. And he would probably still hit 15-20 homeruns.

I should recant this statement.

Blalock has gone back to doing what he does best. He's hitting .328 with 6 HR and 26 RBI now. OBP of .398 and SLG % of .500.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by AirForceChief

"He's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Royals to get,"

We keep loosing a 100+ games every year, and we should be getting "once-in-a-lifetime" type players every year.

[Dave Lane]

The problem is everyone would scream that he's so cheap. Look at last year.

Dave

[ck_IN]

"One day I'm in the shower with Alex and kind of looked over, and he had his back to me, and he was washing his hair," Brett said. "So I went over and put shampoo in my hand, started washing my hair right next to him. About eight other guys were in the shower, and I said, 'Who's got a better body, me or Alex?'

Ok this was just WAY too much for me. Guys should never talk about other guys bodies unless it's to make fun of something. But they should never talk about each others bodies while naked. That's just wrong.

[VonneMarie]

Originally Posted by ck_IN

"One day I'm in the shower with Alex and kind of looked over, and he had his back to me, and he was washing his hair," Brett said. "So I went over and put shampoo in my hand, started washing my hair right next to him. About eight other guys were in the shower, and I said, 'Who's got a better body, me or Alex?'

Ok this was just WAY too much for me. Guys should never talk about other guys bodies unless it's to make fun of something. But they should never talk about each others bodies while naked. That's just wrong.

WTF? That is disturbing.

[ck_IN]

As for the Royals, MLB has killed my love for the sport. Now I only watch minor league or little league.

[AirForceChief]

Originally Posted by ck_IN

As for the Royals, MLB has killed my love for the sport. Now I only watch minor league or little league.

That's the beauty of MLB: take in a Royals game and you can see BOTH minor league AND little league baseball!!