Jody Gerut - The Brain Lock By The Rocks

[Wolf Hopper]

The more I see this guy play, the more I am impressed. He can do a lot of things. His swing reminds me of David Justice. I know that the Yankee YES announcers are impressed as well - - they say it often.

How could the Rockies let the Tribe take this guy right from under their nose? Great pick-up by Cleveland. This guys should be an All-Star by 2005.

[ronh]

He fits the mold that Shapiro is looking for, intelligent players who know how to play the game. Stanford grad. The Indians also have Jeremy Guthrie and Ryan Garko from Stanford.

That bunt he laid down against the Yankees was well thought out and perfectly placed. He had not hit Pettite the first 2 times up so he does whatever it takes to get on base.

I'll take 9 Geruts over 9 Bradleys any day.

[Wolf Hopper]

I'll take 9 Geruts over 9 Bradleys any day.

Ditto that.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Agreed. If the Tribe drafts the best Stanford pitcher every year, they'll win pennants for years to come.

[ronh]

Gerut even has good timimg! Wolf starts this thread and then Gerut hits a 3-run HR off a tough lefty, David Wells.

[sweaver]

Apparently you pronounce his last name the same as "Garrett."

[Wolf Hopper]

That's old news.............

[Ytown Tribe fan]

This kid can play.

He's now 4th in Runs created among AL rookies (with 61), and first in RC/27 among AL rookies with more than 10 RC.

If he stays hot, he may give Godzilla and Berroa a run for RoY. As it stands, he should be a solid third.

[sweaver]

With 2 homers last night, he has 18 for the year. Pretty good for a guy no one took seriously when the season started.

[OaktownTribeFan]

Sometimes the prospects you least expect to make an impact end up making the most. OTOH, the highly touted often disappoint. (But enough about Bard and Escobar.)

Still I doubt Gerut has got any chance at ROY. Godzilla is the media darling.

[KCBOOMER]

Despite all the talk Baldelli should be just about off the radar screen for the RoY. Gerut has really moved up and should be a serious contender but he is going to need ESPN to give him so air time and that just isn't likely. To me Berroa is still the guy. Matsui is slumping and if he wasn't playing for the MegaloMart he wouldn't be getting near the airtime he does.

I keep thinking that sooner or later it will dawn on the voters that Berroa is an SS and he will really pick up some steam in the RoY balloting.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Berroa should be a lock for RoY, if only for the value to his (contending) team. Gerut's quickly climbing the charts though.

[gyb13]

again, contention of the team shouldn't be a part of it.

the award is for the best player, not for a valuable contributer to the contending team (i can understand that argument for mvp, though disagree with it, but not for ROY)

now, whether berroa is the best rookie this year is another matter...

[sweaver]

Gerut has the best OPS among AL rookies with at least 100 ABs. He trails only Texiera in homers (Gerut, Craig Monroe and Eric Munson all have 18, Texiera 19). Gerut is 3rd in RBI behind Matsui and Baldelli, who both have far more at-bats. He deserves some consideration for the ROY award.

[gyb13]

more than some consideration...i say it's neck and neck between him and matsui right now: http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/showthread.php?t=11129

[cubfan33]

Why do the Indians have Gerut? Because Mark Shapiro is both a medhead and a great trader. Gerut had a serious knee injury, but Shapiro and his staff knew that players came back from it that fit his type. Boom, done deal.

[OaktownTribeFan]

He's made good deals for Gerut, Cliff Lee and Crisp, but OTOH he's also made some questionable deals like picking up Benji Gil and Matt Lawton. So far, I'd give Shapiro a B in terms of trades.