Álex González (shortstop)

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name = Álex González
team = Cincinnati Reds
number = 2
position = Shortstop
birthdate = birth date and age|1977|2|15
birthplace = Cagua, Aragua, Venezuela
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = August 25
debutyear = 1998
debutteam = Florida Marlins
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .248
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 106
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 480
teams =
*Florida Marlins (by|1998-by|2005)
*Boston Red Sox (by|2006)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|2007-present)
awards =
*All-Star selection (by|1999)

Álexander Luis González (born February 15, 1977 in Cagua, Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball shortstop who plays for the Cincinnati Reds. Previously, González played with the Florida Marlins (1998-2005) and Boston Red Sox (2006). He bats and throws right-handed. González' speed and range have enabled him to make acrobatic plays, quickly drawing comparisons to Venezuelan shortstops like Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepción and Omar Vizquel. His defensive tools were so masterful that by by|1999 he established himself as an All-Star.

González is able to make some contributions on offense as well. He hits with considerable power by middle infielder standards, and is considered a good bunter. However, he frequently swings at pitches out of the strike zone, and this poor plate discipline combined with an inability to make consistent contact has caused many to see him as a limited hitter.

In by|2001, he led all Major League shortstops with 26 errors.

His most productive season came in by|2004, when he posted career highs in home runs (23), RBI (79), games played (159) and at bats (561).

Before the by|2006 season, the Boston Red Sox signed González as a free agent to a one-year contract worth $3 million, plugging a hole in the starting lineup after the trade of shortstop Edgar Rentería to the Atlanta Braves.

González committed 32 errors in the last two seasons (16 each), compared to the 30 committed by Edgar Rentería in his only season with the Red Sox. González's signing with the Sox marks the second time he has replaced Rentería as the shortstop; Renteria had just left the Marlins for the St. Louis Cardinals before González joined the team in by|1998.

On November 18, 2006, he signed a three-year, $14 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. [ cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2667193|title=Gonzalez, Reds agree to three-year, $14 million deal|accessdate=2008-09-04 |work=ESPN.com |publisher= |date= ] In 2008, an MRI showed that Gonzalez still has a fracture in his left knee.

When González was hurt in February, it looked like he'd be back in the middle of April. However, with the fractured still not having healed, he won't be allowed to run for at least another two to four weeks. [ [http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2008/04/gonzalez-update.asp Gonzalez update] ]

Highlights

*Made the National League All-Star team in by|1999.
*In 17 post-season games, hit .161 (10-for-62) with one home run and six RBI.
*González played an important role in the 2003 World Series against the Yankees. After going 1-for-13 in the World Series, he hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game Four to gave the Marlins a 4-3 victory and a 2-2 tie in the Series. The extra-inning happened because Florida's closer Ugueth Urbina blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth. Then in Game Five, González hit a two-out game-tying double and scored later in Game 5, another Marlins victory. González added an extra run in the sixth and final game, when he slid around catcher Jorge Posada, eluding him and brushing the plate with his left hand. Florida beat the odds with a 2-0 victory and won the World Series.

ee also

* Players from Venezuela in "MLB"
* Florida Marlins all-time roster

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=136460 |espn=3916 |br=g/gonzaal02 |fangraphs=520 |cube=G/alex-gonzalez
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6077 Yahoo Sports]