Adrian Gonzalez is among the cream of the crop at the first base position, but you don’t need me to tell you that. He’s been proving this for the past four years. What’s not to love? He’s proven he can hit in a pitchers park hitting 40 HR last season. Brings his glove to the park to work instead of a fashion statement winning Gold Gloves in 2008 and 2009. Has a good eye at the plate leading the majors in walks with 119 in 2009.
Why doesn’t he get mentioned enough in the mainstream media? Is it east coast bias? A tired conspiracy theory I’ve been hearing here in San Diego for years. No people do talk about Adrian Gonzalez and respect his presence at the plate. Coast-to-Coast, in fact it has been rumored that he may be heading east before spring training breaks. The only factual information I have that this is more than rumor is that Adrian’s image wasn’t used this off-season in a folder that was sent out to encourage season ticket holders to renew their plans. Why would you not want to put your best player in a sales brochure? If you want to sell a BMW you don’t show buyers Mazda’s.
Okay, a minor oversight perhaps. How about strike two; No Adrian Gonzalez giveaways listed in the recently released 2010 Promotional Schedule. Bobble-heads for David Eckstein, Chase Headley, Kyle Blanks, Clayton Richard and Everth Cabrera. As desperate as these signs appear the born and raised super star could still stick with the Padres. Jed Hoyer for one doesn’t want to make a move that would lose many of his season ticket holders unless he gets a lot in return or enough to ease the pain of losing an all star. What also could keep him around is that he’s under contract for two seasons so the team is not desperate to move him.
Where ever Adrian ends up playing this year I’m pretty sure he will continue crushing the baseball and playing gold glove worthy defense. We have a fantasy man-crush on Gonzalez, and you should too. We are projecting him to hit .282, with 40 hr’s, 118 rbi’s and 101 runs scored. Put him down as our 4th best fantasy points 1b, slightly ahead of Miguel Cabrera and Ryan Howard, which may surprise some.
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