However, the kid is 24 years old and playing in his first full big league year.
I'm not looking at his stats in the majors, I'm looking at the minors and he didn't do a great job drawing walks there either. What makes you think he'll begin to draw walks against better competition?
Gross has 3 years on Tony, yet he's still under performing in 2 of the 3 categories you listed.
Gross also had a very good year last year and much better numbers than Gwynn did in the minors. Higher OBP, more power etc.
Gross has 3 years on Tony, yet he's still under performing in 2 of the 3 categories you listed.
That's a really small sample. I'm going off minor league numbers and what Gross did in the majors last year.
If Gross goes 4-4 in his next 4 at bats his batting average goes from .213 to .262 and his OBP goes from .355 to .385.
And, Gross's inability to hit lefties adds to the fact that Gwynn is the better player.
I agree Gross doesn't hit lefties well but Gwynn isn't great either. He hit .269 against them in 2005 and 2006 combined between Huntsville and Nashville.
Gwynn has less major league experience than Gross, is 3 years younger, has demonstrated an ability to hit both right handers and lefties, and is a threat on the base paths.
Gross has 490 major league at bats and Gwynn has 155. Before last year Gross had a total of 221 major league at bats. And Gwynn doesn't hit left handers well, better than Gross but not "the ability to hit both." And Gwynn didn't have a great stolen base % in the minors either, Hart was better. Gwynn stole just over 71% successfully in the minors.
In an ideal world, neither Corey Hart or Rickie Weeks are batting leadoff, I'd rather take my chances with Tony Gwynn in the future than either of them.
In an ideal world I agree neither one would bat leadoff but they are better options than Gwynn right now and most likely will continue to be.
I think it's too early in Gwynn's Major League] career to write him off as a prospect incapable of drawing walks.
I agree but it doesn't look good especially when he'll need those walks because he's not a power threat.
Tony had the OBP in college and the minors that indicates that he can get on base at a respectable clip, writing him off after 155 Major League ABs is silly.
I'm not writing him off I'm just saying and have been saying that many of you overrate him badly. And he didn't have a good OBP in the minors either, it was only .347 which is unacceptable if you can't hit for power and rely on speed.