“We expected him to be good after what we gave up for him [top prospects Anthony Rizzo and Casey Kelly],’’ said the Red Sox’ Josh Beckett. “But I don’t think anyone expected this. Not even our guys.’’
Tim Lincecum of the Giants is happy to have Gonzalez out of the National League West.
“It was tough because we did see him so often,’’ said the ace of the world champions. “The advantage was that we didn’t have to face him at Fenway Park. We played him at Petco and at our park. Now being in Boston with that wall, he’s able to utilize it and it plays to his strength. I always knew he was a really good player. Everybody knew it.
“He’s got that beautiful stroke to hit the ball to the other field, like John Olerud did. He doesn’t try to do too much with it. He’s just a natural hitter.’’
Gonzalez is hitting more than 60 points higher than his career average.
“I bet he’s a lot better than you thought he was,’’ said Gonzalez’s former teammate, Padres closer Heath Bell. “When you look at that career average, you have to consider the ballpark and the fact that he had no one hitting around him. He got the 100 RBIs and hit the 30-40 home runs with no protection whatsoever.
“As pitchers, we always said, ‘Why would you pitch to him? Just walk him four times.’ He’s like Barry Bonds. He was the only guy who was going to hurt you in our lineup the last couple of years. We had a couple of guys that were good hitters, but nobody who was gonna hurt you, guys who would hit a double or get on base. We knew he was amazing. Now he’s got people around him.’’
Asked to explain the jump in his production Gonzalez said, “just look at my walks.’’
Yo Adrian led the National League with 119 walks in 2009. Last year he walked 93 times. In the first half of this season he’s got 35 walks. It’s simple. There’s no place to hide when you throw against the Red Sox. Pitchers have to deal with him now.
“I don’t know why anybody would give him anything now, even with the players around him,’’ said the Cardinals’ Lance Berkman. “He has that beautiful swing. Put that kind of talent around him and in a ballpark that is tailor-made for that approach …
