Hide the confetti. Cancel the parade. And, no, there won’t be a bobblehead.
Alex Gordon is coming to Omaha. Coming back to Nebraska. This was always the dreamlike scenario that the Omaha Royals, and local baseball fans, have waited for.
But not like this, not this way.
Gordon returns home a wayward, sympathetic figure, not a confident, budding hero.
He’s not passing through on his way to superstardom. He was sent here — “down’’ to Omaha — by the Kansas City Royals to either revive or save his career, depending on whom you listen to.
On Tuesday, one K.C. sports talk show host said, “I’ve got one word for you: bust.’’
In his baseball blog in the Kansas City Star, Sam Mellinger wrote, “It’s boom or bust for him now — (Clint) Hurdle or (George) Brett.’’
Who knew the crossroads of Gordon’s career would be at the corner of 13th Street and Interstate 80?
Gordon will be in the Omaha Royals lineup on Saturday night at Rosenblatt, where we always wanted him. But it will feel more like a wake than a party.
What are we supposed to do? What’s the protocol here? Would a standing ovation feel like a slap in the face? He doesn’t want to be here. It’s nothing personal. We understand. We don’t really want him here, either. Not now. Not like this.
When he signs autographs, and the classy homeboy will no doubt mingle, what do you say? What can you say? Hang in there, Alex? It will get better? We love you? We’re behind you?
Meanwhile, Omaha General Manager Martie Cordaro should be in line for a lottery ticket today. Talk about your good fortune. The Royals are usually an afterthought behind the third-string Husker tight end in late August.
But now here comes a 13-game homestand with Alex Gordon a full-time Omaha Royal. It’s amazing. It’s unthinkable.
It’s awkward.
“Yeah, that’s probably the best word for it,’’ Cordaro said. “Awkward.’’
Which is why there won’t be any special advertising or promotions for Gordon’s visit, however long.
“We’re not going to do anything,’’ Cordaro said. “If he’s here for the rest of the season, we hope it’s the last time he’s here.’’
That will be up to Gordon and how he handles this demotion. His third season in K.C. has been rough. Gordon suffered a hip injury in the season opener, had surgery, missed three months and returned to the big leagues after a short rehab stint.
He’s batting .227 in the 22 games since, .198 for 29 games this season. Gordon is working on an adjustment to his swing, focusing on holding onto the bat with both hands through his follow-through.
K.C. manager Trey Hillman said the move was made to take pressure off Gordon and “put a little joy back in the game.’’
Maybe that’s Omaha’s role in this. Maybe hearing encouragement, seeing a park full of Gordon jerseys and getting some old-fashioned Omaha hospitality and home cooking is just what Gordon needs.
There’s a theory that K.C. is doing this for financial reasons; Gordon would have qualified for arbitration had he remained with the big league roster through the end of the season.
But the Royals need Gordon to be right more than they need to save a few bucks. Frankly, you wonder if Gordon had started here in 2007 if he would be here now.
Gordon has always had the talent. We know that. But hitting is all about confidence. Gordon was sent to K.C. so fast, almost too fast. A hungry baseball town craved the “next Brett.’’
What they got was the first Alex Gordon. That’s still not a bad thing.
It’s too early to call this career a bust. But clearly the clock is ticking on Gordon’s career. And that clock is the one on the scoreboard at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Contact the writer:
444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com
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