Kansas City Royals: Sad and Costly Decline of Alex Gordon
By Joel Wagler
ALEX GORDON HAS DECLINED DRASTICALLY ON OFFENSE FOR THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Since signing the big contract before the 2016 campaign, Alex Gordon’s offensive numbers have been horrendous.
His 162-game averages are almost beyond belief, especially when compared to the previous five seasons.
- 177 Hits – down 59
- 66 Runs – down 33
- 21 Doubles – down 19
- 15 Home Runs – down 5
- 51 RBI – down 30
- .211/.300/.337.638 Slash Line – down across the board
Keep in mind these numbers are averages of what his performance would be over a 162-game stretch. While all of these are bad, the Batting Average and On Base Percentage drops are more than alarming.
Defensively, things have not been as bad, though the drop is there. His UZR over the past two seasons (albeit he has five weeks to go in 2017 to bulk these up a bit more) is at 20, an average of 10 a season (down from an average of 13 the previous five years.
He has 15 Defensive Runs Saved in 2016 and 2017, well below the average of 18.8 in 2011-2015.
The bad thing is, Gordon hasn’t been streaky…