Daily Dodger in review: Jay Gibbons finally earns his repeat performance
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JAY GIBBONS, 33, outfielder
Final 2010 stats: .280 batting average, five home runs, 17 RBI, .313 on-base percentage, .507 slugging percentage in 75 at-bats
Contract status: Free agent
The good: After being called up Aug. 8, he finally gave the Dodgers the left-handed bat off the bench that had been such a black hole with the prolonged Garret Anderson experiment. All five of his home runs came against right-handed pitching. Can also play first base.
The bad: Defensively, he’s a weak outfielder. Or at least, a constant adventure waiting to happen. He’s capable of turning a routine fly into will-he-or-won’t-he uncertainty, and also of making a stunning play. His on-base percentage was low, but that’s been a career theme. He’s a power bat not looking to walk.
What’s next: Last season the Dodgers took a flier on Gibbons, who hadn’t played in the majors in almost three years after being named in the Mitchell Report. Even when he was excelling at triple-A Albuquerque, they seemed reluctant to bring him up and give up on Anderson. When they did, he responded and earned a return.
The take: That’s not to say, of course, he should be looked at as their everyday left-fielder. Or really, even in a left-right platoon. He’ll turn 34 in spring training, and even if his 75 at-bats were encouraging, this is not the ideal candidate to count on as your regular left-fielder.
As a role player -- a left-handed pinch hitter and occasional starter -- Gibbons is absolutely solid. Even better for ownership, he figures to be inexpensive to sign. Plus, he’s an L.A. guy who still lives in Southern California and wants to be a Dodger. That has to matter some.
The Dodgers gave Gibbons a last chance, and he made good on it. Now if they re-sign him, he’ll instantly give them a stronger bench than they played with throughout most of last season.
-- Steve Dilbeck