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.