Major League Baseball

Dodgers fast-forward Gordon's future

Published Jun. 15, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The future is coming quicker than the Los Angeles Dodgers planned.

Dee Gordon, considered the organization’s top prospect, was prematurely jumped to the big leagues, a strong indication that the Dodgers are leery about Rafael Furcal’s ability to stay healthy, both this year and in the long run.

They wanted to give Gordon a full season of development at Triple-A. But, instead of trying to hold things together at the big league level with veteran Jamey Carroll until Furcal returns from the latest stint on the disabled list, Gordon was summoned, and immediately inserted into the role of primary leadoff hitter and shortstop.

Furcal was on the disabled list already this season, April 12 through May 22, with a broken left thumb, and Carroll was given the bulk of the playing time. Furcal went back on the disabled June 4 with the strained left oblique. That ensures that Furcal won’t get the 600 plate appearances necessary for his $12 million option for 2012 to automatically vest.

Rest assured the Dodgers aren’t about to exercise that option, and they wouldn’t have any desire to do it even if they weren’t in a financial mess. At the age of 33, Furcal has become a concern because of his fragile nature.

Already on the disabled list twice this year, he also spent two stints on the disabled list in 2010 — from April 28 through May 25 with a strained left hamstring, and from Aug. 3 through Sept. 3 with a lower back strain.

He was sidelined on May 6, 2008, with back surgery, and while he returned to start 141 games in 2009, it was a definitely subpar season that included only 12 stolen bases, a career low, and 20 errors, tied for third in the NL.

That’s why the Dodgers decided to get an extended look at Gordon during Furcal’s current absence.

Gordon certainly provides an energy and excitement the Dodgers have been missing. He has range and arm strength in the field, and legitimately intimidating speed at the plate and on the bases.

"If he just makes contact he will hit .270," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

Late bloomer

Gordon was no stranger to big league clubhouses growing up. His father, Tom, pitched in the big leagues 21 years, and Dee, 23, spent time hanging around big league players, particularly in Philadelphia, where his father spent three of the final four years of his career (2006 to 2008).

Gordon, however, is still a work in progress in terms of baseball.

His game growing up was basketball. And the 5-foot-11 Gordon, generously listed at 150 pounds, had dreams of a career on the hardwoods. He played on AAU teams against the likes of current NBA players Kevin Durant and Mike Conley.

"I was recruited by most of the smaller Florida schools," he said.

Size, however, was a factor, and in Dee Gordon’s junior year in high school dad recommended that son play baseball.

"He said I could have a career if I did (play baseball)," Dee said. "I just wanted to play basketball, but I did see his point."

Having never played organized baseball in his youth, Dee Gordon played for Avon Park (Fla.) High School, Seminole Community College and Southeastern (Fla.) University before signing with the Dodgers as a fourth-round pick in 2008, in part due to a tip from Tom Gordon to his former roommate in the Kansas City minor leagues, De Jon Watson, the Dodgers assistant general manager/player development.

Turned out, Father did know best.

REALIGNED

As long as baseball wants to discuss creating balance between the two leagues instead of the current setup in which the AL has 16 teams and the NL has 14, it’s time to reconsider contraction. Don’t create a nightmare with two 15-team leagues, which would require interleague games every day.

Eliminate two teams, create four seven-team divisions. The top two finishers in each division plus four wild cards could advance to the postseason

Given the problems creating support from fans and politicians in Tampa Bay and Oakland, baseball could withdraw from those two cities.

What’s more, baseball could eliminate its ownership nightmares with the Mets and Dodgers by allowing the ownership group in Tampa take over the Mets and the Oakland groups to assume control of the Dodgers. Both ownerships are solid and they would then become entrenched in solid markets.

Then the divisions could be realigned geographically, and a 162-game schedule would be created by playing 13 games against each of the six teams in your division. Each year divisions would rotate the three other divisions so that every team in your division plays home-and-away with each member of another division, plays a series at home against each member of a third division, and plays a series on the road against each member of a fourth division.

That would create a balance of schedule for each member of the division. There would be 12 teams advance to the postseason. The first-place team in each division could have a first-round bye while the other eight teams play a best-of-3 series.

West: Arizona, Colorado, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle.

Midwest: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Minnesota and Cleveland.

South: Houston, Texas, Florida, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Washington.

North: Boston, Cleveland, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

8-SECOND RIDE

San Francisco outfielder Cody Ross' childhood ambition was to be a rodeo bull fighter. Born in New Mexico and raised in Texas, Ross grew up around rodeos. His father and brother still compete in roping events, and his brother is a steer wrestler as well.

"All my cousins and uncles who live in Texas still compete," Ross said.

While Ross has made his mark in baseball, he hasn’t forgotten about the challenges faced by a rodeo cowboy.

"There's no guaranteed contracts in that world," he said.

As a result, Ross made a $12,000 donation this offseason to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, which provides financial assistance to injured cowboys, who have limited insurance options.

"I know the heartache the cowboys go through," Ross said. "I remember when the Justin program started, thinking what a great deal it was to provide that kind of assistance and once I had the option to give back to the rodeo community I wanted to do it."

UPDATE

San Diego bullpen coach Darrell Akerfelds, battling pancreatic cancer, underwent the final session of his third round of chemotherapy last week. He now has a two-week break before undergoing tests to see if the tumor has shrunk enough to be moved away from the artery it is pressing against, which will allow surgeons to remove it.

If there is not enough shrinkage, but the size is smaller than the last time doctors checked, Akerfelds will undergo another round of chemotherapy, due in part to how well he has handled the first three rounds. If the tumor is the same size as the last test or has grown, Akerfelds faces radiation.

"I have options, which is good," Akerfelds said.

"When I came up (to the big leagues) I didn't like having options (to be sent back to the minor leagues), but this time I'm glad to have options."

Akerfelds was diagnosed with the cancer in December, and because of the way the Padres schedule worked out he has only missed one regular-season game to undergo treatment.

LOOK AHEAD

• With the return of Edinson Volquez from the disabled list last week, and the progress being made by Aroldis Chapman, Homer Bailey and Sam LeCure on rehab assignments in the minors, the Reds are getting close to a major lift for their pitching staff. Combine that with the dynamic offense, and don’t be surprised if Cincinnati makes a major move in the NL Central prior to the All-Star break.

• Milwaukee is looking for help at third base where Kevin McGehee’s defense is a growing concern.

• Philadelphia is paying close attention to the recently surging Ryan Ludwick of San Diego as a possibility to fill a need for a right-handed-hitting outfielder. Ryan Spilborghs of Colorado would be a lesser-type option for that need.

• With Chase Utley having been sidelined for a major chunk of the first half of the season, is Cubs rookie Darwin Barney the only legit candidate for the second base spot on the NL All-Star team?

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball