Gordon Beckham: En Fuego (with addendum)

We interrupt this reguarly scheduled football news:

Whether you like baseball or not, you've got to be impressed by former 'Dawg Gordon Beckham's rookie campaign.  After starting his major league debut by going 0-14, he's now batting .311 and is settling in at 3rd base quite nicely.  In fact, Beckham is a doubles machine.  White Sox nation love him, the ladies love him, hairstylists from around Chicagoland are in awe and he's really making a push for the American League Rookie of the Year.

A few quick stats through Sunday (8/2)

Games:  52   At bats:  183  Hits:  57   Home Runs:  5  Doubles:  17   RBI:  36  Slugging:  .486 

I was watching WGN's coverage on Sunday and Steve Stone (The Joe Lieberman of sports broadcasting) said the smartest thing anyone has ever done for Beckham while he was in the Minor's with Birmingham and then Charlotte was this:  Nothing.  The coaches left him the hell alone.  He's a natural with great instincts.

Beckham is hitting to all fields.  He's light years ahead of where most rookies are in terms of plate discipline.  He's a contact hitter and is already drawing comparisons in his approach to Derek Jeter.  Beckham certainly has power, but that's not what he is about.  He's cat quick and able to pull the ball on the inner-half of the plate.  During Sunday's game, he hit a  C.C. Sabathia pitch that was a foot high and on the outer edge and drove it down the right field line for a leadoff double in yesterday's game.  Later, he drove a ball down the third base line for an RBI single.  It's fun trying to watch opposing teams try to defense him.  He's now batting 2nd and setting the table for the heavyweights behing him (Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko). 

A Damn Good Dawg.  Got get 'em, Gordo.

Now, back to football talk, already in progress.

Check out the lovefest at SouthSideSox:

http://www.southsidesox.com/2009/8/3/976124/gordon-beckham-allows-white-sox

A much better breakdown than I could ever do, but that's why they make the big money.