This will be Zack Gelof’s fourth season in an A’s uniform. Isn’t that crazy? I think it is. Probably the craziest most interesting thing about his career up to this point (not counting the dynamic 70 game rookie campaign of course). Now according to Gelof himself in an interview with Foul Territory, the plan was to take the field with the boys yesterday. His shoulder injury last September might’ve prevented him from repping Team Israel in the WBC, but maybe it was for the best…for all parties involved.
We need Gelof in camp, looking around at vets like Jeff McNeil, hot prospects such as Leo De Vries, and thinking to himself: “where do I fit in?”
That’s a great question, Zack! Glad you brought it up because I’ve been sitting on an idea I’d like to extend your way…
How about third base?
Think about it for a second before you roll your eyes. What was the biggest question mark outside of the pitching staff this offseason? It was who was going to be playing third base. So much speculation swirled around that alone, producing storylines where Nolan Arenado was apparently on the table, reunions with Miguel Andujar were suggested, even the ghost of Yoan Moncada was thrown out there as a possible option. All this resulted in nothing by the way, and now we’re stuck talking about the uninspired rogues gallery of Harris, Hernaiz, and Muncy (with Andy Ibanez I guess floating around there somewhere).
This is just so bland!
Gelof, in my opinion, has the highest upside out of all these guys and if we can get him at-bats and time to settle into the hot corner, I say let’s explore it. Plus, much of Gelof’s college career at the University of Virginia saw him already playing there, so it’s not like we’re asking him for a Scott Hatteberg. In this case, third base is an old friend. Maybe the sensation of being back where he had experienced so much success will awaken something within Zack Gelof? Maybe a “change of scenery” doesn’t have to mean a new team, but just a different home on the diamond?
Sure, you could throw some advanced stats at me that explain why this would be such a terrible idea, why some of the other options are just statistically a better choice — but I don’t care. I’m thinking with my heart here and I feel like we got to figure it out. More importantly, Gelof needs to figure it out as he’s not getting any younger, and it’s not like the A’s are completely without options. If I were him, I’d be doing anything and everything not to get lost in the shuffle. He’s at a point where he could still follow in the footsteps of a lot of great A’s players and pivot, adjust to the moment, and see some success along the way.
Think about this: Josh Donaldson’s legacy would be non-existent, hadn’t he actively looked towards keeping himself on the field. Many forget that he came up as a catcher, but turned to third base as an opportunity to secure more trips to the batter’s box.
The rest was history from there.
Point is, I’ll be drinking the Zack Gelof Kool Aid this Spring Training, hoping that we at least see it put into action as a trial run. Chances are, however, he’ll just be slotted in as a platoon guy with McNeil to begin the season, but hey — I see no harm in throwing the idea at the wall and seeing if it sticks.
