KC Royals: Alex Gordon CF Trial Suggests Worry About Lorenzo Cain – Kings of Kauffman

Oct 31, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) celebrates with teammates Alcides Escobar (2) and Alex Gordon (4) after scoring a run against the New York Mets in the 8th inning in game four of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Royals Enter Spring Training As Underdogs by John Viril

One of the more curious stories to come out of the first week of spring training in Surprise, Arizona was the news that the Kansas City Royals would allow left field defensive zen master Alex Gordonto log some time in center field. According to Yost, Gordon had asked about the possibility for years and he chose this season to give it a whirlpresumably out of an impish desire to develop his clubs versatility.

Dont let Yosts casual characterization fool you. Hes indulging in the age-old baseball wisdom that the man in charge must ALWAYS pretend nothing could possibly be wrong. Hes not at all worried.

Oh no.

Its just an experiment. It means nothing.

Yeah, right.

You experiment with a players versatility when theyre young and you still havent explored their full skill set. You generally dont do it with 33-year-old four-time Gold Glove winners at left field unless you have a good reason. That good reason is most likely concerns about Lorenzo Cains ability to stay in the lineup while patrolling center field.

Last season, Lorenzo Cain played a mere 101 games. He missed most of July with a pulled hamstring. After he returned, Yost played Cain in right field and movedPaulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson to center in order to reduce stress on Cains hamstring. Cain then missed all but one game in September due to a broken hand as the KC Royals fell out of the race.

With Cain in the lineup, the Kansas City Royals went 59-42. Without Lorenzo Cain in the lineup, KC fell to 21-39.

Clearly, being able to write Lorenzo Cains name on the lineup card most days is one key to the KC Royals success in 2017. Except this season, Yost cant just swap him with speedy right fielders Orlando and Dyson. General manager Dayton Moore traded Dyson to the Mariners for rotation candidate Nate Karns. Meanwhile, Paulo Orlando figures to become a reserve behind heavy hitting Jorge Soler (who isnt a candidate to play center).

What is Yost to do if Cain suffers a similar leg injury in 2017, and needs to play a corner outfield spot to stay in the lineup? THATS what the Alex Gordon in center experiment is all about. Yost wants to know if Gordons outstanding ability to read the ball off the bat and take good routes will allow him to play center. Then, Yost could put Cain in left and keep his best bats in the lineup. Or, better yet, move him to designated hitter and put Brandon Moss in an outfield corner.

As the old saw goes, actions speak louder than words. Ned Yost is concerned about 31-year-old Lorenzo Cains ability to avoid injury in center field. Hes using spring training to explore his options just in case Cains legs wear down.

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KC Royals: Alex Gordon CF Trial Suggests Worry About Lorenzo Cain - Kings of Kauffman