Beyond the Box Score: Player Profile: Jonny Gomes

Marc Normandin breaks down Jonny Gomes...the best thing in Tampa Bay clubbing since The Dukes of Hillsborough!

Gomes beat the average and power projections for him by both sources, but he did strike out a great deal, as was expected. In limited defensive time, Gomes was not all that bad, according to BP’s Rate. His Zone Rating in right was .931, but his UZR was terrible, as was his Range. Something I’ve noticed (and discussed with others) is that right field just doesn’t seem to match up system to system. The sample size is small for all of these figures, so don’t read too much into them, especially since Gomes has taken over as the everyday designated hitter in Tampa. Free to mash, he has produced quite the line in 2006 thus far, coming in at .293/.419/.659, with a .336 EqA, 13 homeruns and 27 walks in 123 at-bats. He is still striking out a great deal—46 whiffs so far this year—but he also has extra-base hits 53% of the time. He has amassed 2.1 Wins Above Replacement Player so far this season, which prorates to an incredibly valuable year, even primarily as a DH.