I'm only offering up two options here with Gordon Beckham - he's either the White Sox' everyday 2B next year, or we replace him.

 

He had a nice September, unlike the rest of our roster, but the OPS was still horrendous. Dude can field a baseball, though.

 

Some comparative statistics across 23 qualified MLB second basemen.

 

Average MLB 2B OPS: .735

Gordon Beckham's rank: 19/23

 

Average MLB 2B OBP: .331

Gordon Beckham's rank: T 23/23 (last)

 

Gordon Beckham's OPS by season

 

2009: .808

2010: .695

2011: .633

2012: .668

 

There you have it, let's see what Soxtalk thinks.

Based on what I think they should do with the rest of the roster for 2013, I think they should keep him. They have nothing better, and he's still cheap.

 

If Carlos Sanchez has a good year in Charlotte and profiles more as a 2B, then they can bounce Beckham then.

I think there are other concerns we have first, and therefore, since he is cheap I am willing to give him one more year. He's still an excellent defender and he had a nice closing 6 weeks to the season, so I'd give him one more shot. I believe the talent is still there

I think you keep him, unless you believe there is something else out there. There aren't alternate options as cheap as he is, and maybe he is turning a corner and getting better. But I'm tired of his extended slumps, so I hope Hahn brings in someone who can contribute with the bat on a more consistent basis.

 

Since the alternative was cited as "Seek a replacement" and not "Replace him", I went with that option. The Sox at least have to make some calls and see what's available. There is pitching depth that can be traded, especially if Peavy is re-signed.

At 27 next year, he's close to a finished product. There are bigger problems to address.

At 27 next year, he's close to a finished product. There are bigger problems to address.

 

There aren't bigger problems to address. After Youkilis was added, Beckham was farther below average for his position than anybody else on the team. There are easier problems to address, since there is a lack of available 2B talent out there.

 

There aren't bigger problems to address. After Youkilis was added, Beckham was farther below average for his position than anybody else on the team. There are easier problems to address, since there is a lack of available 2B talent out there.

 

The starting pitching is a mess.

Edited October 2, 201213 yr by Marty34

The starting pitching is a mess.

 

Chris Sale, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Jose Quintana, and Hector Santiago are under contract. Re-signing Jake Peavy seems possible. It's not impossible that Phillip Humber and/or Dylan Axelrod will turn things around. Starting pitching is the least of the problems.

He showed some real signs of putting it together at the plate the last month or two, and he's very good defensively. Also, the Sox have Carlos Sanchez behind him, though probably not quite ready yet. And the Sox have other more pressing needs to address, with a limited payroll.

 

I'd say keep him starting, and if he flops in 2013, he can be replaced.

 

The starting pitching is a mess.

 

The only mess I see is the fact that there is 4 lefties with a legit shot at the starting rotation.

 

As far as Gordon goes I say give him one more year. See if the crouch he switched to for the final stretch can translate into greater success in 2013....A quality backup on the bench should be brought in (someone not named Rey Olmedo or Orlando Hudson) should he fail.

He showed some real signs of putting it together at the plate the last month or two, and he's very good defensively. Also, the Sox have Carlos Sanchez behind him, though probably not quite ready yet. And the Sox have other more pressing needs to address, with a limited payroll.

 

I'd say keep him starting, and if he flops in 2013, he can be replaced.

 

 

Only issue I see with that is, didn't some say that before this season? "If he flops in 2012, we replace him." He shows flashes of being a decent hitting 2B and its enough to convince people that he MIGHT still work out. I hope he stays around and figures it out, but I would definitely be on the lookout for a more solid 2B.

 

Of course, as stated, there aren't that many options out there and any that are available, are just as good as Beckham (or worse).

 

At 27 next year, he's close to a finished product. There are bigger problems to address.

He had the lowest OBP of any 2B in baseball who qualified for the batting title.

Wait... is trading him for Adrian Gonzalez no longer an option?

Barring some ridiculous trade being made by Kenny in the off season, Gordon is going to be back at 2B next year whether people like it or not. With the pitching staff this team has, the organization wants his defense out there.

Although I'm not a big fan of his you have to start him at 2nd next year. He's cheap and serviceable.

Hope for the best. I'm cautiously optimistic that he'll at least put up something like a .700 OPS next year, which is fine with me. I don't expect him to have two separate months batting under .200, especially not a month like his first one this season. Manto has flat out said it -- he needed a lot of mechanical work to get consistent. He's had this season to work on things (not that easy) and he'll get an entire offseason with Manto this time around.

 

Luckily, he's a huge plus defensively and he seemed to be on the rise offensively in the midst of our pennant chase. There are no replacements out there. You leave it be.

 

If Chase Utley becomes available, you can forget Gordon. Until then, I'm okay with where we are.

Keep him, start him. If this is what he ends up being, you could still do worse for a bottom of the order bat that moonlights as a gold glove on defense. I don't think this is what he ends up being, and despite all the time he's been given to come around offensively (unsuccessfully, for the most part), he will eventually get it. That reads like crazy talk when you consider his age, but stranger things have happened.

 

Hope for the best. I'm cautiously optimistic that he'll at least put up something like a .700 OPS next year, which is fine with me. I don't expect him to have two separate months batting under .200, especially not a month like his first one this season. Manto has flat out said it -- he needed a lot of mechanical work to get consistent. He's had this season to work on things (not that easy) and he'll get an entire offseason with Manto this time around.

 

Luckily, he's a huge plus defensively and he seemed to be on the rise offensively in the midst of our pennant chase. There are no replacements out there. You leave it be.

 

If Chase Utley becomes available, you can forget Gordon. Until then, I'm okay with where we are.

 

 

While I agree with your post I just wanted to point out that I'd love to have Marco Scutaro.

 

He's old so he wouldn't be a long term solution but should someone come calling about Gordo with a good package I'd let him go, grab Marco for a year or 2, and hope Carlos Sanchez can take over after.

Seek a replacement. Don't dump him or give him away, but don't let him get in the way of an upgrade.

should someone come calling about Gordo with a good package

Who the heck is going to come calling about Gordon Beckham??? dude stinks

I'd say keep him starting, and if he flops in 2013, he can be replaced.

 

I agree. I think we give him one more year. The defense is great and who knows, maybe next year he becomes a much better hitter after ending the year nicely.

He's bad offensively, but above average defensively, and he won't make much in arbitration. It's okay to live with a couple black holes on offense if they at least play solid defensively. I think you have to keep him around because you have bigger concerns and limited resources.

I'd personally try to trade him. He seems to need a change of scenery. If you can't get squat for him, keep him and be happy with his defense.

I'd personally try to trade him. He seems to need a change of scenery. If you can't get squat for him, keep him and be happy with his defense.

 

I'd agree with you if we still had Escobar to replace him. As it is, our internal options could be disastrous.

 

Though, if we could trade him for something half decent, I'd be okay with trying to extend Hudson's career for a year or two by offering him the job at $1m or so.