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A-Gon blames Fenway for his power outage

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08:14 AM ET 08.28 | Adrian Gonzalez seems pleased to be in new surroundings, thousands of miles from where things ended badly in Boston. As for why the Boston media didn't take to him, he said, "They didn't like that I was a calm person. I won't throw my helmet, I won't scream, I won't use bad words if I strike out. That's what they want over there." ... [There] were whispers that Gonzalez had lost power. He hit 27 home runs last season after averaging 34 the previous four years, including 40 in 2009 and 31 in 2010. "What took my power away was the Green Monster," he said of the 37-foot wall at Boston's Fenway Park. I used to hit line drives that way and they would be doubles," he said. "That took away five home runs from me last year. So I would have had 32."

Los Angeles Times

Don Mattingly, Getty Images Don Mattingly, Getty Images
August 28, 2012  08:34 AM ET

Forget last year. What was the excuse this year?

August 28, 2012  08:44 AM ET

Not sure what the issue was this year, but the monster will definitely rob some homers from line drive hitters.

I wish I could get a tally on the number of wicked liners that Jim Rice banged off that wall back in his day.

August 28, 2012  08:45 AM ET

Yeah. Adrian. Fenway is just awful for LH hitters. Like Williams, Yaz, Lynn, Boggs, etc. The fact is, Gonzalez does not need to apologize for his production in Boston. He just didn't play up to the contract. Take away the context of the cost to acquire him (Rizzo & Kelly) and the $$ to pay him, his production was more than ok.

Comment #4 has been removed
August 28, 2012  09:09 AM ET

If he's a line drive hitter, then yeah, the Green Monster will knock a few of those line drives back onto the ball field and 5 sounds like a good estimate.

August 28, 2012  09:43 AM ET

Disappointing; I thought Gonzo was a class guy, but now we are seeing him look for excuses for his performance during his time in Boston.
Maybe this is why the Boston "media" didn't take to him?

August 28, 2012  09:52 AM ET

......However, he probably gained a little in the batting average because of the wall too. I think if you look at one area of somebody's game, like home runs, you're really not going to get a complete picture of what somebody's been contributing to the game. I would not consider Gonzo to be a one dimensional player but more of player that takes what the pitcher gives him and works with it.

August 28, 2012  10:19 AM ET

I'm pretty sure Fenway is considered a "hitter's park." All excuses, no game, this guy has.

Comment #9 has been removed
August 28, 2012  01:01 PM ET

.....seems to be all correct to me.......no controversy....red sox will be great again before the yanks who are doing the boston/philly thingy right now and dont yet know it.....at least red sox have a clena slate to move forward.....now that dodgers are done shopping, no more iditos out there to take away all the yanks garbage.....

August 28, 2012  01:58 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Rice hit a heck of a lot over the wall too. Jim was outstanding. His year in 1978 is still an all time great.

Which reminds me that Bucky Dent hit one over the monster that year didn't he.

August 28, 2012  02:27 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

Which reminds me that Bucky Dent hit one over the monster that year didn't he.

never heard of him.....................

August 28, 2012  04:16 PM ET

I just read where Dice K has been placed on waivers. It is interesting to note that he has a no trade clause.

August 28, 2012  05:43 PM ET

Of course he has to blame something or someone. God forbid he take responsibility for himself.

August 28, 2012  08:35 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

......However, he probably gained a little in the batting average because of the wall too. I think if you look at one area of somebody's game, like home runs, you're really not going to get a complete picture of what somebody's been contributing to the game. I would not consider Gonzo to be a one dimensional player but more of player that takes what the pitcher gives him and works with it.

I agree with that. Sure he lost some HR's to the Monster, but he got a few singles and double that would have been flyouts in other parks.

August 28, 2012  09:20 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

......However, he probably gained a little in the batting average because of the wall too. I think if you look at one area of somebody's game, like home runs, you're really not going to get a complete picture of what somebody's been contributing to the game. I would not consider Gonzo to be a one dimensional player but more of player that takes what the pitcher gives him and works with it.

Very astute comment; you know baseball!

Comment #17 has been removed
August 29, 2012  01:05 AM ET

'

He shoulda taken PEDs, like Manny and Ortiz..... Balls woulda been flying out of the park :-)

August 29, 2012  07:26 AM ET

He doesn't yell or scream...he just texts.

 
August 29, 2012  09:15 AM ET

that explains everything ....thanks for clearing that up Gonzo -----now you do ot have to scream you can just poison the Dodger clubhouse quietly like you did in San Diego so the Dodgers can quietly fade away out of the race for good

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