Making a Silver Case Golden (For Your Consideration)
With the World Series still being weeks away, a handful of teams are still contending in October. Unfortunately, the Houston Astros aren't one of those teams, so speculation of off season moves and league awards have already begun for the spacemen. Jose Altuve has already won the AL batting title and league hit lead, and should be among the top considerations for AL MVP. 2016 should also see him get another Silver Slugger for second base.
On that note of Silver Slugger, a thought has occurred to me. Stay with me, readers. You'll thank me later for it! In the midst of Jose Altuve's recognition, however, there is another awards sleeper that could actually get a Silver Slugger for the first time in his career. And that player is none other than your people's champion and mine, EVAN GATTIS.
Now, the Silver Slugger is an award voted on by managers and coaches throughout the two given leagues, and is presented to the one player in EACH position in both the American and National Leagues. This is based on a few criteria that include On-Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage, etc. Pitchers are only eligible for this prize in the National League, and DH is exclusive to the American League. Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals looks to be among the top contenders for that among American League catchers, especially in the conversation of on-base, slugging and the combination of both therein with OPS.
Well, AL Managers and Coaches, I submit to you for your consideration, Evan Gattis as another viable candidate to win this award. To help in my candidacy for him, I've listed some of the 2016 statistics on him that should give enough credit to throw him in the mix. And they are as follows:
As a catcher in the AL in 2016, EVAN GATTIS was:
1st in Home Runs (32)
2nd in RBI (72)
2nd in total runs scored (58)
3rd in total hits (112)
4th in doubles (19)
4th in walks (43 BB)
3-way tie for 1st in sacrifice flies (5)
2nd in XBH, or extra base hits (51)
I know what you may be thinking, in that Gattis only played 54 of his 128 games as a catcher and did not get as high numbers in AVG, OBP, SLG or OPS compared to some of the other backstops. Or maybe even the posed question of, "Why should we even think of giving this to a backup?" Let me explain even further by making the following points:
1. His entire 2016 was a crash course due to the off season hernia surgery and DL stint he had to endure to start the season. The AA Corpus Christi squad was a place he had to be sent twice to, once to get his hitting together and the second to get a 10 day (you heard me right, only 10 day) course in the minors for catching due to him sitting out most of Spring Training. Thankfully, since rejoining the team in mid May to share time as both a catcher and a DH, Evan Gattis has not had a single solitary health issue whatsoever. Plus, the mere fact that a crash course season still led him to put up numbers like these speak volumes to just the kind of quality player Evan Gattis really is. Barring anything unforeseen, should Gattis go down to West Palm and get a full Spring Training under his belt when the pitching staff reports to work with them, he has the potential to be a very elite starter on both sides of the ball in 2017. (Wink wink, Lunhow!)
2. For his personal stats, Gattis set career single season records in home runs (32), on-base-percentage (.319), slugging percentage (.508), and OPS (.827). He also became one of only 3 Astros players to get double digit home runs in the month of September. (He had 10, while Richard Hidalgo and Lance Berkman each had 11.) When you also factor in his career high 3.0 WAR and splits between when he catches and when he's a DH, it is a clear night and day:
As a DH in 2016: .219/.298/.410 (.708 OPS) 13HR, 31 RBI
As a catcher in 2016: .295/.345/.647 (.992 OPS) 19HR, 41 RBI
You're looking at this correctly. In only 54 games as a catcher, 47 of them starts as a backstop, Evan Gattis was able to put up 19 home runs. If given the opportunity to be a starter, these numbers can be exponentially higher than they already were this past season. Not to mention, Gattis already has a lot of similar, and in some cases better, offensive numbers to some of the best backstops in the game today like Perez, Lucroy, Posey and Ramos.
Managers and coaches, I will obviously accept whomever is deemed the winner. All I ask is that you take strong consideration in, if nothing else, putting Evan Gattis on as a nominee for AL Silver Slugger in the catching spot. Let us no longer let media critics or front office doubt casting over the skills he has clearly proven himself more than worthy enough of cloud the decision making process. It is a process that I do want to trust, but can only do so if you fellas do the right thing here.
Please, strongly consider Evan Gattis to be 2016 AL Silver Slugger for catchers. If nothing else, a nomination will suffice. At least allow him to be apart of the conversation and consideration. It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Thank you!
On that note of Silver Slugger, a thought has occurred to me. Stay with me, readers. You'll thank me later for it! In the midst of Jose Altuve's recognition, however, there is another awards sleeper that could actually get a Silver Slugger for the first time in his career. And that player is none other than your people's champion and mine, EVAN GATTIS.
Now, the Silver Slugger is an award voted on by managers and coaches throughout the two given leagues, and is presented to the one player in EACH position in both the American and National Leagues. This is based on a few criteria that include On-Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage, etc. Pitchers are only eligible for this prize in the National League, and DH is exclusive to the American League. Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals looks to be among the top contenders for that among American League catchers, especially in the conversation of on-base, slugging and the combination of both therein with OPS.
Well, AL Managers and Coaches, I submit to you for your consideration, Evan Gattis as another viable candidate to win this award. To help in my candidacy for him, I've listed some of the 2016 statistics on him that should give enough credit to throw him in the mix. And they are as follows:
As a catcher in the AL in 2016, EVAN GATTIS was:
1st in Home Runs (32)
2nd in RBI (72)
2nd in total runs scored (58)
3rd in total hits (112)
4th in doubles (19)
4th in walks (43 BB)
3-way tie for 1st in sacrifice flies (5)
2nd in XBH, or extra base hits (51)
I know what you may be thinking, in that Gattis only played 54 of his 128 games as a catcher and did not get as high numbers in AVG, OBP, SLG or OPS compared to some of the other backstops. Or maybe even the posed question of, "Why should we even think of giving this to a backup?" Let me explain even further by making the following points:
1. His entire 2016 was a crash course due to the off season hernia surgery and DL stint he had to endure to start the season. The AA Corpus Christi squad was a place he had to be sent twice to, once to get his hitting together and the second to get a 10 day (you heard me right, only 10 day) course in the minors for catching due to him sitting out most of Spring Training. Thankfully, since rejoining the team in mid May to share time as both a catcher and a DH, Evan Gattis has not had a single solitary health issue whatsoever. Plus, the mere fact that a crash course season still led him to put up numbers like these speak volumes to just the kind of quality player Evan Gattis really is. Barring anything unforeseen, should Gattis go down to West Palm and get a full Spring Training under his belt when the pitching staff reports to work with them, he has the potential to be a very elite starter on both sides of the ball in 2017. (Wink wink, Lunhow!)
2. For his personal stats, Gattis set career single season records in home runs (32), on-base-percentage (.319), slugging percentage (.508), and OPS (.827). He also became one of only 3 Astros players to get double digit home runs in the month of September. (He had 10, while Richard Hidalgo and Lance Berkman each had 11.) When you also factor in his career high 3.0 WAR and splits between when he catches and when he's a DH, it is a clear night and day:
As a DH in 2016: .219/.298/.410 (.708 OPS) 13HR, 31 RBI
As a catcher in 2016: .295/.345/.647 (.992 OPS) 19HR, 41 RBI
You're looking at this correctly. In only 54 games as a catcher, 47 of them starts as a backstop, Evan Gattis was able to put up 19 home runs. If given the opportunity to be a starter, these numbers can be exponentially higher than they already were this past season. Not to mention, Gattis already has a lot of similar, and in some cases better, offensive numbers to some of the best backstops in the game today like Perez, Lucroy, Posey and Ramos.
Managers and coaches, I will obviously accept whomever is deemed the winner. All I ask is that you take strong consideration in, if nothing else, putting Evan Gattis on as a nominee for AL Silver Slugger in the catching spot. Let us no longer let media critics or front office doubt casting over the skills he has clearly proven himself more than worthy enough of cloud the decision making process. It is a process that I do want to trust, but can only do so if you fellas do the right thing here.
Please, strongly consider Evan Gattis to be 2016 AL Silver Slugger for catchers. If nothing else, a nomination will suffice. At least allow him to be apart of the conversation and consideration. It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Thank you!
Original Photo Credit: Rob Leiter of Getty Images
Evan Gattis needs a new bat to add to his collection. One made of silver, perhaps?!
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