Look folks, Jonny Gomes isn’t THAT bad in right field
By Scott Caruso | March 14th, 2008 | Posted in General
I’m still trying to figure out why everyone thinks that Jonny Gomes is awful in right field. No, he’s not the most graceful defensive player in the world, and he - like MANY other players, including B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford - occasionally misjudges balls. The latest to facilitate this myth is Erik Hahmann, who calls Gomes a “disaster” in a recent piece about Kenny Lofton.
As I’ve noted on this site before, fielding statistics can’t ever give you the WHOLE picture about a player’s defense, but they can at least give you a starting out point. Let’s begin with the most basic of those stats - the error. Is it an overrated number? You betcha. But at least it gives you an idea of what you can expect from a guy once he gets to the ball, and in 66 games in the outfield since his awful 4 error stint in 2005, he hasn’t committed a single one. That’s right, not one error in the field last season.
How about assists? Last season, he threw out 5 baserunners in 58 games; extend that out over the course of a full season and you’re looking at 14 assists for a 162 game season. That’s nearly as many as Delmon Young threw out last year - and he’s considered to have an elite arm while Gomes is considered to be a disaster. That’s no fluke, either; Gomer threw out 7 baserunners in 50 games in 2005.
Over the course of his career, Gomer’s RFg is a 1.93. Certainly not a great number, but the league average in the category is 1.78 over that same time period. His RF9, similarly, is 2.24, compared to a 2.11 league-wide. If anything, you could make the argument that Gomer is slightly ABOVE average in the field.
Yes, I’ve watched all the games you’ve watched. And he LOOKS like he gets lost out there sometimes - but he almost always makes the plays anyway. There’s only one time last year that I can remember where he really looked bad, and that was when he was going back on a ball and tried to time his jump at the wall and missed by about 5 feet to his left, but aside from that, most of his miscues come from losing the ball in the roof. You can’t really fault a guy for that.
So let’s tone down this “Jonny Gomes is a disaster in right field” talk. If your concern about him is that he can’t hit right-handed pitching, then you’ve got a very valid one, and that’s what you should REALLY be worried about as a Rays fan. But don’t worry about his defense - he’s better than John Rodriguez, Jon Weber, or Eric Hinske out there, that’s for sure. And don’t listen to other people who try to pass his defense off as “a disaster” because it’s a fun buzzword to use.
Tags: Jonny Gomes
March 14th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I think you are absolutely right Scott. In fact, I also think you have pinpointed the real concern, which is that he flails helplessly at right handed pitchers and so the Rays need a lefty platoon partner, or at least someone to relieve him against particularly tough lefties. I say that, because Gomes would likely get only about 1/3 of the ABs in a strict platoon, and I think he would have problems with such infrequent use.
But it is there that the defensive issues arise. I think Rodriguez or Hinske can hit well enough, especially in a platoon, but doubt either can play RF well enough. And I also do not think the Rays want to expose Floyd in the field too much, both because he is not a good defensive player and because of the injury problem. So unless the Rays can find a right fielder who they expect to play there regularly (with Gomes/Floyd as the DH platoon and Gomes getting some more ABs relieving Crawford and in other roles to stay sharp), they need at least an adequate defensive lefty platoon partner there.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I meant relieve him against particularly tough righties, of course.
March 14th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I’ll admit I was wrong about his defense. I know he’s not the worst right fielder in the world. I should have used another word instead of “disaster”. He doesn’t have that many games in RF, 76 by my count, so that’s a small sample size. As our team is currently constructed I would rather have him out there than the other cast of characters the Rays have. I was merely trying to exaggerate my point of wanting Ruggiano to get more playing time. I’ve met Jonny, I like Jonny, I just wish he could hit right handers better.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:38 am
More playing time= more success for Jonny, ESPECIALLY if he is the one standing in RF.
He has always proven that he hits better when he is part of the game and in the field. I think this could be a breakout season for Jonny, last year he got such limited playing time, or playing time for short stretches, it is hard for him to get into a groove.
Can Jonny gomes hit .270??? probably not, but I bet with a little better plate disclipline, he could definately go in 500AB
.255 with a .340-.365OBP (he does take some pitches) 30-35 HR 80-90 RBI and aboout 30 doubles, and he can steal ya 10 bases.
Yes a platoon might be necessary, but I think JG should be in RF 4 days out of 5…
I have wondered out loud about who else we could get for RF and the only few I have interest in are Ethier and Teahen… I’d like to see what Jonny can do as “the man” first.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Let the boy play in 0-8! If it does not work out, look to the prospects or trade material for our pennant run of 0-9.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I have been saying that the Rays should go after Juan Rivera. I haven’t done a great job of explaining myself first, though. I do think the Rays should give Gomes a shot for the 1st month to see if he can handle the job full-time. I don’t personally think he will handle the job very well though. I could be wrong, and wouldn’t mind being wrong if it meant success for the Rays. I think he is better off as a DH against lefties, and occasionally plays against righties. I love his hustle and passion for the game, and always will. You root for people like him because he plays with such a high intensity. But he swings aimlessly at breaking balls in the dirt, and is not strong in the outfield. I think there are better alternatives via the trade to handle the job full-time. But as I said, the Rays should give Gomes the opportunity to have the job for the 1st month of the season. If he doesn’t look like he will hold up full-time, there will be options on the trade market to go after. I will disagree with Jason about how many HR he will have though. I think if he gets 500 AB’s, he has a chance at 30, but doubt it. I think if he were to get 500 AB, his numbers would be similar to this: .258 BA, 26 HR, .332 OBP, 28 2B, 74 RBI, 12 SB. Looking strictly at offense, that’s not very bad at all. It’s actually pretty good besides the low BA. But I still prefer to see a better defensive RF if at all possible.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
“It’s actually pretty good besides the low BA.” Ummm the .332 OPB sucks. A lot.