When Jonny Gomes reported to spring training Wednesday, the outfielder sounded like anything but a typical newcomer ready to ease into his surroundings before making his presence known.
“I’m here to win, and I’m here to win it all,” said the thick-chested, thickly bearded veteran. “That’s where I’m at.”
Gomes, 34, has never been one to blend into the woodwork. Outspoken, heavily tattooed and full of swagger, his reputation as a fiery competitor and vocal leader were factors that influenced the Braves to sign him as a free agent last month. Along with his continued ability to hit left-handers even as his overall offense and power numbers have declined.
“He’s got that fire and that passion for the game, and I think that stuff is contagious,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I really think it is. And he’s a guy that’s got the pedigree to tell somebody, ‘Hey, kick it in gear a little bit. This is not the way we play the game.’”
Gomes reported to camp wearing a scraggly, reddish beard, like he had when he helped perpetuate the beard movement with the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox. Fellow Braves veteran newcomer Nick Markakis also arrived with a full beard.
“I spoke to both of those guys and said to keep it nice and trimmed and they’ll have no problems,” Gonzalez said. “Jonny goes, ‘My wife will love you.’”
Gomes knows, but doesn’t much care, that people outside the organization have low expectations for the 2015 Braves after trading away three of the top four hitters from a feeble offense. The 12-year veteran has played on postseason teams in four of the past five seasons, including each of the past three, and said there will be no lowering of expectations.
“With my path in the major leagues I’m scarred deep, to where you’ve got to set your goals high,” Gomes said. “It’s not setting the goals high, it’s almost expecting it. I’ve been in the World Series with a $41-42 million payroll in ’08 (Tampa Bay), won a division with the Reds in a so-called rebuilding year (2010). The 2012 Oakland A’s, can’t forget about that year. And Boston.”
Gomes played a significant role for Boston’s 2013 World Series championship team, hitting 13 homers during the season and another big one in the World Series.
Those who think an optimistic goal for the Braves would be a .500 record are advised not to say that to Gomes.
“I don’t think I could look at Bobby Cox walking around and be like, ‘Hey, Bobby, we’re trying to go .500, what do you think about that?’” Gomes said. “It’s not going to work.”
He’s penciled in for a left-field platoon and pinch-hitting role, but Gonzalez said Gomes could end up in a “soft platoon” that would have him in the lineup more frequently.
“There’s going to be some times you want him in there against a right-hander,” Gonzalez said. “So I’m not going to go out and say it’s going to be strictly a left-right platoon because this guy is proven; he’s got good numbers.”
Gomes signed a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a $3 million option for 2016 that vests with 325 plate appearances. He hit just .234 with a .327 on-base percentage and six home runs in 321 plate appearances last season with Boston and Oakland, setting career-lows for home runs (six) and slugging percentage (.330).
He has been and continues to be far more effective against lefties, with a .277 career average, .376 OBP and .485 slugging percentage. In 2014, he hit .276 with a .373 OBP, four homers and a .371 slugging percentage in 170 at-bats vs. lefties.
From 2011 through 2013, he had a .387 OBP and .494 slugging percentage against lefties, with 22 homers in 415 at-bats.
A reporter told Gonzalez what Gomes said about Cox, the iconic former Braves manager and Hall of Famer who’s now a team special assistant. “And I’m thinking, ‘Does he know that Bobby’s not managing this year?’” Gonzalez said, laughing.
Gomes knows. He knows who’s managing and the many personnel changes that Braves president of baseball operations John Hart and staff made, adding so many new players that Gomes forgot about a couple of them before he bumped into them in the clubhouse Wednesday.
Asked if he thought the Braves had a good mix of old and young talent, Gomes said, “Yes, but I think all 30 teams are saying that right now. You’ve got to create an identity, you’ve got to create an attitude, and not all 30 teams are going to do that. But we have some winning pedigree, some winning players in here. …
“That’s one of the ways you’ve got to win, with depth. I saw two or three dudes I totally forgot signed here, guys who (signed minor league contracts), which is going to create a whole lot of competition. You don’t compete with someone wearing the same uniform as you, but it’s a results-driven industry. And if you don’t put the results up and that guy goes, you’re going to have to do a quick swap. John Hart and staff did a heck of a job filling this place with talent.”
