Not because he steals a lot of bases, which he does, nor because he had a low on-base percentage in his first two years of pro ball, but because he makes eyebrow-raising predictions, including this one toward the end of spring training:
Early last season, standing in front of his locker in the Lakewood BlueClaws clubhouse, center fielder Anthony Gose issued a bold prediction.
"I'm going to lead all of minor-league baseball in stolen bases," said the 2008 second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He did.
The fleet-footed Bellflower, Calif., native stole 76 bases, helping spark Lakewood to the 2009 South Atlantic League Championship.
At Philadelphia's windy, cool minor-league camp at the Carpenter Complex on Tuesday, Gose was in the prediction business again.
"The plan is to steal 100 this year," said the 19-year old, who will play this season for the Clearwater Threshers of the high Class-A Florida State League.
More importantly, he knows he has to improve last year's .323 on-base percentage:
"I want to get on base with a lot more walks, bunting, anything I can do to get on," he said. "And I'm going to steal 100 bases."
I'll have to remember to keep track of his progress.
J-Roll, meanwhile, remains the Phillies go-to player:
While it is legitimate to debate Rollins' suitability for the first position in a batting order, his ability to step up at important moments is generally beyond reproach.
2 comments:
Saw him last year in Lakewood and he seems to be a good one, maybe in the mold of Michael Bourne.
Great, trade him for a perfect closer.
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