Gordon's exuberance, energy rubbing off on Marlins
MIAMI -- Hours before first pitch, a remix to the popular children's cartoon "Little Einsteins" blasts from the speakers at Marlins Park. Second baseman Dee Gordon stops stretching, stands up and dances to the beat as his teammates look on and laugh.
Through the first month of the season, Gordon's energetic personality has been on full display with his new ballclub.
As the leadoff hitter, Gordon set a new Marlins record for April by finishing with a .409 batting average, easily surpassing Mike Lowell's 2002 mark of .385. He collected at least one hit in all but three of Miami's first 22 games, pacing the majors with 38 overall. His average also leads the big leagues.
After righty Mat Latos bought a mini hoop and brought it to the clubhouse, Gordon came up with the idea to dunk on teammates during postgame interviews. Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, A.J. Ramos and Ichiro Suzuki have been part of the act since. Gordon's celebrations for Adeiny Hechavarria's and Suzuki's home runs have been documented for their exuberance.
"2012 when I was with the Dodgers I was having fun and we were winning," Gordon said. "I wasn't playing well, but I still had a good spirit. They kind of didn't like that. I tried to be different and it didn't work. I played worse. You've got to be yourself."
Gordon, who turned 27 last week, calls himself "unbotherable."
It's a trait he inherited from his father, a major leaguer, and his uncle's first brother, Anthony. It's a trait that helps a player stay sane in a sport that lasts eight months with plenty of ups and downs in between.
"Just don't let anything bother you," Gordon said. "Even when it does bother you. Just keep going. Let it go. On and off the field."
So when the Marlins opened the season 3-11 and everything thrown their way came up negative, Gordon remained upbeat.
While his teammates struggled at the plate as he found a groove, Gordon said "we're supposed to pick each other up." As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their antics were chronicled, particularly a home run bubble machine inside the dugout.
When Miami's offense couldn't produce entering a 10-game trip, bats mysteriously found themselves scattered around the visiting clubhouse in Atlanta. To this day, no one has taken credit for it. But it worked. As of Thursday, the Marlins rank fourth in average (.264) and third in runs (97) in the National League.
"He's the perfect fit for this club," manager Mike Redmond said. "This is the kind of guy we have. You have to have guys that are relaxed and like to have fun. As you can see around here it can get a little bit hairy. You have to have guys that come into the clubhouse and are consistent every day, like to have fun. It's too long a year -- 162 games -- to be grinding every single day. You have to laugh. Sometimes you have to sit back and laugh and have fun. Dee's a perfect fit for us."
All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton got to know Gordon in the minor leagues when they played against each other. They spent more time together during last year's Midsummer Classic in Minnesota. Gordon's reaction to Stanton's mammoth blast at the Home Run Derby was comically perfect.
"You see that and the balance of how good he is, too," Stanton said. "It fits into everyone's personality. You need the different levels of people in here to form a team, and a sparkplug is always good to have."
Gordon, who played basketball in high school, didn't pick up baseball until his junior year. He said he got more fired up in the minor leagues. Since then, Gordon has learned to play the game a "little more simpler."
And oddly enough, "Air Gordon" took on a different persona on the hardcourt.
"I played a little bit more conservative in basketball," Gordon said. "I wasn't as energetic. It was weird. I don't know. There's something about baseball that makes me more energetic."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
