Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - 10 Photos

In honour of his major league debut, today's POTD is dedicated to rookie outfielder Anthony Gose after he went 1-for-2 against the Yankees Tuesday night.

Anthony Gose, surveying the infield at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma June 27, where only his shadow can overshadow his glove.

Anthony Gose, who will turn 22 on August 10th, was selected 51st overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 amateur draft. The 6-foot-1 left-handed hitting outfielder was dealt by the Phillies to Houston for pitcher Roy Oswalt and was then flipped over to the Blue Jays moments later in exchange for first baseman Brett Wallace before the July 2010 trade deadline.

Speed is the name of the game for Anthony Gose as he has stolen 223 bases with a 74 percent success rate over his five seasons in the minors.

Anthony Gose stole 70 bases with Double-A New Hampshire in 2011 but his best single season total came in 2009 when he stole 76 bases with Single-A Lakewood of the South Atlantic League.

Anthony Gose has been a work in progress with the bat. He never broke the .400 slugging percentage barrier during his time in the Phillies organization but he has topped that mark over his stints in Dunedin, New Hampshire and Las Vegas.

Making contact has been a challenge for Anthony Gose as he has struck out 501 times over his minor league career, 154 of those came in New Hampshire last season.

Anthony Gose has been able to make more contact with the bat in 2012. He struck out in 26 percent of his plate appearances in 2011 but has whittled that down to just over 21 percent this season. However, his lone at-bat in his final game with the 51s on Monday resulted in a strikeout.

Anthony Gose, peeling off after left fielder Travis Snider makes the catch, surprised many Jays observers that he got the call to replace the injured Jose Bautista instead of Snider.

Anthony Gose has maintained his batting average in the .290s with Las Vegas this season. He has compiled a batting line of .292/.375/.432 to go along with 18 doubles, 10 triples, five homers and 41 runs batted in. He was 29-for-39 in the stolen base department.

Anthony Gose is wearing #43 for the Blue Jays, worn by two-time World Series winning manager Cito Gaston. Lefty Trever Miller wore #43 last season and fellow southpaw Jesse Carlson wore it before Gaston came back for his second act as manager in 2008. The last position player to wear that number was infielder/outfielder Kevin Barker in 2006. Now you know!

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 10:43 AM EDT.

10 Photos - Anthony Gose | 58 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Chuck - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 11:08 AM EDT (#260599) #

Alan Ashby suggested that Gose might be disappointed by getting his first hit in the way he did (a lousy bunt and ridiculously poor judgement by Rapada) since it will make for a terrible story when he is much older. I agree. Here's hoping that hit #2 leaves him with a much better anecdote.

uglyone - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 11:11 AM EDT (#260601) #

Girardi was so scared of the kid he brought in two separate lefty specialists to handle him.....and even then they couldn't contain him!

hypobole - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 11:25 AM EDT (#260602) #

Yeah Girardi was well aware of AG's massive platoon splits this year:

vs LHP .187/.291/.227 .518 OPS

vs RHP .318/.397/.483 .880 OPS

I was a bit pleasantly surprised he didn't embarrass himself against the 2 lefties.

Subversive - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#260610) #

This is very exciting! The first of the new wave of prospects to make it to The Show. I hope he does well.

JB21 - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 12:57 PM EDT (#260614) #

Ashamed is the last word I think of when I hear "first major league hit". Gose is playing with a big league ball club at Yankee Stadium, I bet he was happy with the results.

Chuck - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#260615) #

Ashamed is the last word I think of

Who said ashamed?

JB21 - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 02:15 PM EDT (#260620) #

Disappointed is (tied for) the last word I think of when I hear "first major league hit". Gose is playing with a big league ball club at Yankee Stadium, I bet he was happy with the results.

Chuck - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 02:50 PM EDT (#260623) #

I think you are simply intent on misinterpreting what Alan Ashby was saying and what I was agreeing with.

I am sure that Gose is neither ashamed nor disappointed with getting his first major league hit. I am sure that the opposite is true. I am sure he is thrilled to be playing in the majors and to have recorded his first major league hit. I am sure that he is thrilled to be in Yankee Stadium.

Ashby was saying, and I was agreeing, that many years from now, when he is asked to recount his first major league hit, the anecdote will be disappointing. He won't be able to brag about a line drive or some such. He'll be forced to concede that his first hit was a cheapie based on a defensive gaffe. At that future hypothetical date when he is recounting the story of his first major league hit, he will not be ashamed. Further, he will not be disappointed that he got his first major league hit, only that the hit in question was not one to brag about. I'm sure there will be numerous hits that he will be able to brag about.

sam - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 02:53 PM EDT (#260624) #

Unbelievable.

sam - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:01 PM EDT (#260625) #

Man, I hope that's not as bad as it looks. The Yankee broadcast slowed down the replay and the violence of his ankle/leg hitting that second railing was difficult to watch.

I really hope he's not too hurt. Maybe Hech is Lawrie goes on the 15 day? Escobar to third?

Rasmus in some kind of slump right now.

sam - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:05 PM EDT (#260626) #

Oh and Rajai Davis is a fourth outfielder.

Mike Forbes - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:05 PM EDT (#260627) #

I would imagine that Gomes gets the call if Lawrie is out for any length of time.

sam - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#260628) #

Mike Forbes, I think you're right. Gomes is the more deserving candidate.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#260629) #

At one point, I expressed a fear that Lawrie would injure himself trying to squeeze between two railings to catch a foul pop and a hope that Arencibia would school him on the importance of staying healthy. This does seem to be a time when fear triumphs over hope.

blu-j - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:50 PM EDT (#260634) #

I'm hoping it's just a bad bruise--He hammered it pretty good, and it had to hurt a ton. I love is hustle and effort, but it comes with an increased injury risk, unfortunately.

John Northey - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#260636) #

Lawrie getting hurt isn't a shock, but geez!

So who is next on the injury lottery? How long until all players in Vegas get a shot at the big time? Who are the backups for each position now? If the Jays can somehow by some miracle pull off a wild card does Farrell get manager of the year for running this ER unit?

hypobole - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 04:41 PM EDT (#260639) #

Pitcher A 122.1 IP, 122 H, 17 HR, 62 BB, 84 K, 5.22 ERA
Pitcher B 110.0 IP, 140 H, 14 HR, 35 BB, 64 K, 5.40 ERA

92-93 - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 04:47 PM EDT (#260640) #

When Ricky Romero is being compared to Jo-Jo Reyes you know we're in trouble.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 05:07 PM EDT (#260641) #

Hyperbole would be David Price; hypobole would be Jo-Jo Reyes.

hypobole - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 05:14 PM EDT (#260642) #

Could someone relate to me Bruce Walton's positive achievements this year keeping pitchers healthy and effective? Casey Janssen and uhhhh,

bpoz - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#260644) #

Once the season is over It will be interesting when the various writers caluclate the number of hours lost to injury. Boston has had it bad with Beckett & Crawford. I am too close to the Jays to be honest.

sam - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 08:45 PM EDT (#260645) #

bpoz I think that's a good point. It's certainly hard to see any other team faring worst than the Jays injury wise, however, the Red Sox have faced a whole slew of injuries and have essentially played the season to this point without their LF, CF, Closer, and no. 4 pitcher. Then, on top of that have had to deal with periodic DL's to their 2B, no. 2 pitcher, no. 3 pitcher, no. 5 pitcher, and now DH.

I agree it'll be an interesting tally at the end of the year.

grjas - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 10:21 PM EDT (#260646) #

"Could someone relate to me Bruce Walton's positive achievements this year keeping pitchers healthy and effective? Casey Janssen and uhhhh,"

I can't think of a time offhand in the last 30 years where the team's pitching has looked so bleak, at least in the short term There are currently no reliable starting pitchers. None. Yeah i know laffey and villanova have outperformed expectations for a few games but they are hardly a lock. And they have but 3 or 4 bullpen pitchers that likely even belong in the majors.

The biggest concern right now is not making the playoffs. The odds are minimal. It's ensuring we don't overtax the oliver's and villanova's and janssen's of the world so we don't fry 2013 as well.

JB21 - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 10:36 PM EDT (#260647) #

Chuck, I still disagree. If anything, Gose will enjoy telling the story of his first base "hit" in the Major leagues. I don't think disappointment will ever be a word to describe his feelings towards his second career AB.

Thomas - Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 11:06 PM EDT (#260648) #

Could someone relate to me Bruce Walton's positive achievements this year keeping pitchers healthy and effective? Casey Janssen and uhhhh

I have little idea if Bruce Walton should be blamed or assigned a portion of "responsibility" for Brandon Morrow's oblique injury, Drabek's second Tommy John or Dustin McGowan's annual injury, but my guess is that it's much more likely that "pitchers get injured" explains these and the other trips to the DL much better than some systemic problem in Walton's philosophy or teachings as pitching coach. You also ignored Villanueva, Laffey and Oliver. Meanwhile, a number of other pitchers on the staff, such as Cecil, Alvarez and Frasor, have pitched about as well as expected.

rtcaino - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 12:53 AM EDT (#260649) #

I think it is a pretty cool story.

First MLB game. At Yankees Stadium. They bring in a lefty specialist to match up against you.

A walk off grand slam would be cooler, of course...

hypobole - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 01:27 AM EDT (#260650) #

Thomas, just like you, I have no idea how much of our problems can be assigned to Walton.

McGowan's medical issues would certainly not be his doing and Drabek was noted as a TJ waiting to happen last year due to his arm lag. They could have tried totally revamping Drabek's mechanics, but he has trouble enough getting the ball over the plate with his present mechanics. Effectively altering them would probably have been impossible.

Slider-dependent Santos was also probably an injury waiting to happen, which I'm sure is why he came so cheaply.

Morrow and Hutch may just be examples of sh*t happens - it certainly happens to every pitching staff.

Yes, I should have mentioned Villanueva as a success, and Frasor is pitching as well as expected.

I guess one could credit some measure of Oliver's success to Walton if one credits Cordero's failure. I'll grant Oliver has remained healthy and effective. Doubt Walton had much to do with either, though.

How much influence did Walton have on Laffey? He seemed to find his groove in Vegas and brought his modest success with him when promoted.

Cecil may be thought of as pitching as well as expected in his short time back, but that's only because his expectation bar is awfully low. However Cecil's numbers have regressed each of the past 2 years under Walton's watch. Along with Laffey, I have a nagging feeling they're time bombs ready to blow up at any time.

Alvarez has certainly not pitched as well as expected - pretty well all his numbers are worse than last year.

And Romero has regressed to Jo-Jo Reyes.

Again, I am not blaming Walton, but this is a results oriented business and the results of the pitching staff under his leadership have not been good.

hypobole - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 02:01 AM EDT (#260651) #

On a positive note, Snider with 2 bombs over the left centre field wall to go along with a ringing double off the left centre wall in a 4-5 performance tonight.

sam - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 02:40 AM EDT (#260652) #

My understanding is Walton is more the pitching coach that talks about demeanour and mental preparedness than the true pitching technician. That is not to say he doesn't know how to spot when a guy is not throwing the ball correctly, however, he is better "known" for coaching the "non-physical" side of pitching.

Farrell apparently was very well-liked and respected by his pitchers, but was also a keen follower of various biometric studies on pitching and some of the technical aspects of throwing the ball.

So they presumably compliment each other well. I do think that with a lot of the young guys now coming through and the mechanical messes most of these guys are, the Jays might be better served with someone who is going to crack the whip more often. I wouldn't be surprised if Walton were to be let go this offseason if only to make clear to the guys on the staff that injuries or not, their performance this season by and large will not be tolerated.

JB21 - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 07:36 AM EDT (#260653) #

FREE TRAVIS SNIDER.

Funny how 1 game changes things. Snider is now 412/535/706 in his last 10, and after a 322/406/508 in June, he has posted a 340/453/623 in July.

At this point there is no reason for Travis to be in AAA, his 322/407/552 for the season is enough to give him a shot at the starting LF spot over Davis.

Magpie - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 08:47 AM EDT (#260655) #

I can't think of a time offhand in the last 30 years where the team's pitching has looked so bleak

You could cast your mind back, back, back to spring 2009. Burnett to the Yankees, Marcum and McGowan lost for the season before spring training had begun. The team went into the season with Jesse Litsch as the number 2 starter, followed by David Purcey, Scott Richmond, and Ricky Romero. Who had a combined record of 4-9 in the majors. And of course Litsch blew out his arm in his second start. Anytime Roy Halladay happened to lose put the team in imminent danger of a nine game losing streak.

Chuck - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:09 AM EDT (#260658) #

The streaky Adam Lind (great start in 2011, terrible finish; terrible start in 2012, nice post-callup flurry) actually looks consistent (though not good) at the macro level:

2010: OPS+ 90
2011: OPS+ 95
2012: OPS+ 92

Despite his low lows, his high highs are a definite tease. But has his time run out? Does this current high mean that "he's back" (meaning a return to form to his one and only good year) or that he may be back or that he may be slotting in somewhere new, between his 90ish recent past and his 140ish long ago glory?

I think that if Lind goes back into the crapper, he's done as a Jay. That would seem fairly obvious. But what happens if he continues hitting, if even not at his post-callup 323/382/613? Would the organization be willing to make him Plan A at DH one more time in 2013? I know there may be a temptation to believe that his recent 68 plate appearances are a sign that he's now "fixed". But is it really that simple?

BlueJayWay - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:14 AM EDT (#260660) #

I'm not being fooled by Lind's cock teasing again. I'd try to trade him while he's hot. Some team might bite.

Mike Green - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:17 AM EDT (#260661) #

It is interesting that in his career Lind has hit .240/.285/.411 as a first baseman in 649 PAs and .271/.329/.485 as a DH in 1173 PAs; statistically players on average hit somewhat worse as DH than at a position. He may be (like Encarnacion) a player whose defensive issues affected his performance at the plate. His DH line is not great, but if you give him some time off against tough LHPs, he might be able to do a little better than that.

Chuck - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:39 AM EDT (#260664) #

I wonder if the thinking behind the flip-flopping of EE and Lind at DH and 1B went something like this.

They would play EE more and more in the field to find out if he could keep up his hitting while playing 1B (something he appeared not to be able to do while playing 3B) and if not, they'd move him back to DH. They certainly seem comfortable now with the idea of EE as a more or less fulltime first baseman.

With Lind, they obviously like what they see since his call-up and maybe want to leave well enough alone, letting him DH and just concentrate on his hitting. And, as Mike points out, he has had much greater success when not taking the field. Also, having him DH, makes him easier to platoon, though the current injuries and Farrell's forgiving heart may mean that Lind will find himself regularly starting against LHP yet again.

Mike Green - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:45 AM EDT (#260666) #

When you think about it, the defensive transitions seem perfectly logical. Encarnacion was a defensively challenged third baseman. These guys normally end up at first base. Lind was a defensively challenged first baseman in college. These guys normally end up at DH. The twist with Lind was the early-career conversion to left field. It may have been better had he been left at first base to work on his defensive game when he was younger and more agile.

clark - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 10:36 AM EDT (#260671) #

A trade scenario that seems logical might involve the Rays and Jays.

The Jays are willing to move Escobar according to reports on MLBTR, and Tampa could use help at SS and C.

Would a trade that sends Escobar and Arencibia for Shields make sense?

It brings a SP controlled through 2014 and clears spots for two positional players who should be ready for full-time duty in 2013.

Presumably some fungible catcher would come back in the deal to handle things while D'Arnaud in injured.

Thoughts?

Oh, and now Snider meets all the call-up criteria, he is officially hot!!

92-93 - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 10:52 AM EDT (#260675) #

I have very little love for Arencibia so his inclusion in a deal wouldn't hold me back, but I think Escobar should be more than enough for Shields, considering their contracts. Yunel is owed 5m in 2013 with 5m options for 2014 & 2015, both without a buyout. Shields is only under control through 2014 on 9m and then 12m options, both with buyouts. Yunel should be more valuable.

Richard S.S. - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 11:42 AM EDT (#260678) #

Snider will, as A.A. said, get his full year at one Minor League level. He is expected to be the MVP if he is the Stud he's supposed to be. He will make the 2013 Team, he will be traded or he will be released.

Garza's number are good. I don't think Shield's number are better.

I don't think Escobar and Arencibia will be enough, even though they fill holes.

Gomes can fill in for Arencibia.

Magpie - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 12:04 PM EDT (#260679) #

He is expected to be the MVP if he is the Stud he's supposed to be. He will make the 2013 Team, he will be traded or he will be released.

Released? You're kidding, right?

Anyway, while Snider could conceivably be an MVP in the Pacific Coast League, surely no one thinks he's the kind of hitter who would be an MVP in the major leagues.

rtcaino - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 12:36 PM EDT (#260682) #

"I'm not being fooled by Lind's cock teasing again."

I mean, he's looked *okay* at the plate...

TamRa - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 01:32 PM EDT (#260684) #

"I think that if Lind goes back into the crapper, he's done as a Jay. That would seem fairly obvious. But what happens if he continues hitting, if even not at his post-callup 323/382/613? Would the organization be willing to make him Plan A at DH one more time in 2013? I know there may be a temptation to believe that his recent 68 plate appearances are a sign that he's now "fixed". But is it really that simple?"

If the team were prone to write him off, last off-season would seem to have been the obvious time. If he continues to hit, say, at an .800+ rate (OPS) they will almost certainly continue into 2013 with him at DH.

On your last sentence, the correct answer is "sometimes"

The problem is you don't know and can't know without running them out there. At the end of 2009, and the beginning of 2010the story on Bautista was that he'd made a relatively small adjustment to his mechanics and took off. Sometimes it IS just that simple. Same for EE this last winter.

Sometimes it's not.

Anders - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 02:36 PM EDT (#260686) #

I really don't understand why Travis Snider is in AAA at this point (especially as opposed to Gose).

Snider now has 796 AAA plate appearances, where he is hitting .332/.411/.560. His numbers this year tie or exceed all of those (albeit slightly), and he's cut his strikeouts significantly while posting the best walk rate (by far) of his career. I can't imagine there is anything left for him to "prove" in Las Vegas. Moreover, he is probably the better player than Rajai Davis at this point.

I get the argument about not wanting to jerk him up and down, but if he starts April of next year off 10/63, for arguments sake, is that really any better?

John Northey - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 03:13 PM EDT (#260689) #

I suspect the plan has been to keep him there until September - give the kid a full AAA season - unless he tore the cover off the ball. He has hit OK but remember it is Vegas. Gose getting his first taste is OK with me, given Snider/Thames/Sierra aren't hitting the cover off the ball anyways.

greenfrog - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 03:13 PM EDT (#260690) #

Lind's stance has looked better since his recall. More balanced and stable.

JB21 - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 04:22 PM EDT (#260695) #

How does .332/.411/.560 translate in regular AAA world? Because to me it looks like tear the cover off numbers.

Mike Green - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 04:35 PM EDT (#260696) #

Roughly .270/.330/.440. Not great, but a lot better than Rajai Davis.

greenfrog - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 05:20 PM EDT (#260697) #

I wonder whether Snider has figured out a few tricks for succeeding at AAA that don't translate well to the nastier stuff he'll have to deal with in the majors. Didn't someone recently comment that he doesn't look all that great at the plate, despite the lofty numbers? I really disliked the wristy swing he demonstrated the last time he was in Toronto.

I certainly hope this is wrong and that Snider has a Lind-like resurgence when he makes it to the majors - if only so we can turn the page on this interminable subject.

Magpie - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:04 PM EDT (#260702) #

Snider now has 796 AAA plate appearances, where he is hitting .332/.411/.560.

David Cooper now has 806 AAA plate appearances, where he is hitting .339/.418/.523, and no one seems tremendously impressed.

Mike Green - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 09:24 PM EDT (#260703) #

That's true, Magpie, but Snider runs and fields much better than Cooper, and had a better minor league career prior to triple A.

greenfrog - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 10:54 PM EDT (#260705) #

Mike, can you reverse-engineer Encarnacion's 296/384/579 to predict what his AAA line would be, were he to do a stint in Vegas? 1300 OPS, maybe?

Hodgie - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 11:13 PM EDT (#260707) #

Rizzo's numbers since his recall are somewhat similar to Encarnacion's and he put up roughly an 1100 OPS in the PCL, good for a 174 wRC+. I am always Leary of this conversions though, Trout for instance has actually been better since his promotion.

Oh! And for what it is worth, Travis Snider is showing his thoughts of the recent roster decisions with his 3rd home run in the last two games. Although it appears he we was lifted shortly afterwards. I will hold my breath that he is on his way to Toronto and isn't experiencing more issues with his wrist.

BlueJayWay - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 11:14 PM EDT (#260708) #

Snider pinch hit for after homering. Call up to Toronto, injury, or trade.

hypobole - Thursday, July 19 2012 @ 11:40 PM EDT (#260710) #

I hope he didn't re-injure his wrist on his swing.

Magpie - Friday, July 20 2012 @ 04:29 AM EDT (#260726) #

Snider runs and fields much better than Cooper, and had a better minor league career prior to triple A.

For sure, and he also has a fairly large position and opportunity advantage. Although I have to say that what anyone does at A ball doesn't impress me a whole lot. At AA, Snider went .269/.348/.476 - it's certainly better than Cooper's .257/.334/.416. But not a great deal better. And the farther we get away from their A ball and AA days, the less relevant it becomes.

Richard S.S. - Friday, July 20 2012 @ 04:45 AM EDT (#260729) #

Read other post, Snider's called up.

92-93 - Friday, July 20 2012 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#260740) #

Any comparison of Snider & Cooper's AA stats should include their ages as well. Snider was primarily 20; Cooper was 22. Big, big difference.

I do like Cooper a fair bit though, and would much rather be carrying him on the roster than Francisco, who is completely superfluous with Rajai around.

bpoz - Friday, July 20 2012 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#260752) #

IMO B Francisco was depth. But who really knows what that means. If Francisco can catch the ball when hit to him and also hit the cutoff man when he should then that is an OK 4th OF IMO.

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