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October 21, 2009

Gordon Beckham Named AL Rookie of the Year


Yesterday, the Sporting News named Gordon Beckham American League Rookie of the Year after hitting .270 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 103 games. Over a full season, you're talking about a kid on pace to hit 40+ doubles, 20+ home runs and 100+ RBI. Those are disgustingly impressive numbers for a guy that was only in the minors for about 350 days.

As the Chicago Sun-Times points out the Sporting News ROY Award is special because:
A panel of 338 major-league players voted the third baseman The Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year, making Beckham, 23, the ninth rookie in Sox history to be honored by the magazine. Manager Ozzie Guillen last received the honor in 1985.
As a manager, no one keeps it more real than Ozzie Guillen. So when he drops the following quote to the Sun-Times, it is truly enormous praise:
‘‘I wish that kid was a two- or three-year veteran in the big leagues because he has that attitude,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘He has that right frame of mind. He was a leader his whole life from when he was in high school, college. I think he wants to be the face of the franchise, and we need something like that. When a player thinks like that, doesn’t hide in the weeds, you don’t see many players come up from the minor leagues and think that way. It’s a big challenge. But I don’t have a doubt in my mind that he has the right tools to be one. Obviously, it has to come from help from myself, Ken Williams and the staff to make him a great leader.’’
What's next for Gordo? He wants to hit for more power next year, and he'll be hitting the weight room shortly.

PWD

20 comments:

Kurt Wagner said...

Who cares?

Baseball Blows.

Russ Fortson said...

Great accomplishment, Gordo! Damn good dawg!

Anonymous said...

Wish we had a few more kids with the heart of Gordo on the football team. Like #47 of old and the current #35, the guy just has that "it" factor. Of course, he's pretty talented too.

cameron said...

Dude needs to be an Atlanta Brave once Chipper retires.

Make it happen, Wren...

The Watch Dawg said...

I'm really happy for him. Watching his final game at Foley Field ranks in my mind as one of the greatest Georgia moments ever, and anyone else who was there for it knows what I'm talking about.

Now I hope he doesn't pull a Jeff Francoeur.

Anonymous said...

Bulking up to add power? Yeah, that always goes well.

And it's never code for anything ...

VAdawg said...

Gordo is exactly what the Georgia for the baseball program: a marquis pro player. This will be huge for Perno's recruiting efforts.

UGA VII in '08 said...

This one's still my favorite picture of him:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/ncaa_ap_gbeckham1_300.jpg

TKAthens said...

I'm with ya Watch Dawg - that was one incredible afternoon at Foley.

Congrats to Beckham - and I'm already looking forward to the Wednesday February 24th home opener at Foley.

Andy said...

Thank God he doesn't play for the Cubs.

Hobnail_Boot said...

Gordo is ROY, and on the same day DJ is released from the Falcons.

Busy news day for 2 Damn Good Dawgs.

Mr. Sanchez said...

Agreed Watch Dawg.

And in addition to the difficulties, he also did it at 3B, a position he had never really played before doing it at the highest level possible.

EmotionalFescue said...

Kurt Wagner...

Do you go around telling kids that Santa Claus isn't real because you're miserable or a because you're a jerk?

Signed,
Dawg Nation

Gordo is the man! Second greatest Bulldawg game in Athens I've been to after the First Blackout was Gordo's movie-like performance at Foley that day.

Unknown said...

If you think that game was great from inside the ballpark, you should of been up at the brick house.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully the initial hype will have cooled off in two years when Chipper's contract ends. Bring him home FW.

Mr. Sanchez said...

I'm a Green house man Kyle. The house that got Travis Storrer yanked from an NCAA regional game from heckling to the point it was in his head, that provided the late night beer to umps in town working that regional, etc.

U_G_A said...

Excellent news!

Anonymous said...

Congrats Gordon DGD

coreyugacubs9 said...

CONGRATS GORDO all time uga great

coreyugacubs9 said...

wish he played for the cubs

 
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