MINNEAPOLIS | It remains the most intriguing question on a team brimming more than ever with intriguing questions after an encouraging 6-3 start.
Has Alex Gordon finally figured it out? More specifically, does he think he’s figured it out after four inconsistent, injury-filled and, yes, often disappointing seasons with the Royals? The question prompts a pause. “I don’t know,” Gordon said, finally. “I just feel good right now. I’m happy with that. I’m feeling comfortable. I’ll say that. I feel a lot better than in the last couple of years. That’s for sure — a lot better in confidence and health.” That confidence gained a major boost near the conclusion of a strong spring training when manager Ned Yost announced his intention to shift Gordon to third in the lineup. That’s the star’s slot, which delighted Gordon — “That’s where I want to be,” he acknowledged — but it ignited a flood of second-guessing that Yost was putting too much emphasis on spring production. After all, Gordon batted just .215 last season in 74 big-league games wrapped around a lengthy remedial stay in the minors. “Why is nobody asking me why I’m hitting Alex third now?” Yost challenged last weekend in Detroit. “Everybody wanted to know earlier why I’d move Alex to the third spot. Now, nobody is asking me any more.” Small wonder. Gordon carries a .357 average into tonight’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. He leads the Royals with nine runs, 15 hits and 23 total bases. “It’s not proof of anything yet,” Yost cautioned. “It’s just early, but his swing is flatter, which allows him to have more time through the strike zone. His bat stays in the strike zone longer, which produces more offense. “I saw it early in batting practice in spring training. Then once he got his timing going, we definitely saw it in the games, too.” Gordon is also creating a stir in left field, where he already has three assists thanks to a quick release that stems in part from his days as a third baseman. That’s not unusual. Converted infielders often lack the two-to-three step setup common among longtime outfielders. The quick release is, however, often canceled out by a lack of arm strength. That’s less of an issue in left field. Plus, Gordon’s arm strength has never been an issue. It was, in fact, a decline in quickness and agility after his 2009 hip injury that prompted the move to the outfield. And it was those shortcomings that Gordon sought to address last winter by overhauling his conditioning regimen and, for the first time, employing a personal trainer to direct his efforts. “Having Wilson Thomas as a personal trainer made a big difference in my workouts,” Gordon said. “Instead of just trying to get stronger, I worked on getting more explosive.” Thomas is a former football and basketball player at Nebraska who runs BarNone Training in Olathe. Thomas spent several years in pro football before starting his company. “He’s definitely helped me,” Gordon said. “In years past, I worked by myself in the offseason and tried to put on weight and get big. This was all focused on how it would improve my game.”
Off Monday
•TONIGHT: Royals at Twins, 7 p.m., FSKCGo to KansasCity.com for photos and updates from tonight’s game, plus Judging the Royals and the Ball Star blog.
•TONIGHT: Royals at Twins, 7 p.m., FSKCGo to KansasCity.com for photos and updates from tonight’s game, plus Judging the Royals and the Ball Star blog.
$25 for 2 tickets and $20 in Food & Drink; a $50 Value! KC Improv Comedy Club
