Dee Gordon arrived in Los Angeles in 2011 posting a good .304/.325/.362 line in 233 plate appearances. In 2012, the 26 year old could not hit his way out of a paper bag and played bad defense at SS missing out on a good opportunity. Gordon was sent down for most of 2013, returning in spring 2014 with a change of position (2B), a challenge (Alexander Guerrero) and something to prove. This second version (v.2) of Dee Gordon is much improved using his speed and the stolen base as a weapon to impact games in a way reminiscent of the great base stealers of the past. His MLB leading 30 stolen bases in 33 attempts (91%) would make Bill James proud. This pace puts him around 100 for the season.
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| Dee Gordon stealing against Padres in San Diego (zimbio.com) |
Someone said Dee Gordon was a "poor man's" Billy Hamilton. So far it's the other way around with Gordon leaving Hamilton (18 SB in 24 attempts- 75%) in the dust in SB totals and efficiency. Fangraphs says he is 3rd in WAR for National League second basemen with 1.4 only behind Chase Utley of the Phillies (2.2) and Daniel Murphy of the Mets (1.5).
Dee Gordon and Billy Hamilton of the Reds might bring back an era of the great and daring base stealer. Great disrupters of the game causing pitchers, catchers and infielders to be very uneasy. Everyone and their dog knows they're stealing when they get on. The challenge is to dare to stop them.
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| Billy Hamilton streaking to first vs Padres at Cincy (zimbio.com0 |
Since 1988 no one has stolen more than 80 bases (Vince Coleman with 81 and Rickey Henderson with 93). 80 is a number that puts you on the steps, 90 takes you to the edge and 100 puts you in the "magic circle" with Maury Wills (104 in 1962- 6 SB titles), Lou Brock (118 in 1974- 8 titles), Vince Coleman (109 in 1985, 107 in 1986 and 110 in 1987- 6 SB titles) and the greatest of them all, Rickey Henderson (100 in 1980, 130 in 1982 and 108 in 1983-12 SB titles). Special mention to modern era trailblazers like Luis Aparicio of the 1959 Go Go Sox (9 SB titles), Bert Campaneris of the Oakland Athletics with 6 SB titles in the 1960's and Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos with 4 SB titles in the 1980's keeping the running game alive.
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| Rickey Henderson stealing vs Orioles in 1983 (mlb.com) |
Another era of great base stealers that can enter the "magic circle" is at hand. The conditions are there.
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