The Curse of Joey Gallo (It's a real thing)
Joey Gallo has hit 40 or more home runs twice (2017 & 2018) while a member of the Texas Rangers and was named to the All-Star team twice as well. But even in his best seasons, he's struggled to reach the famed Mendoza Line (.200). He currently has a .201 lifetime batting average spanning eight major league seasons, and he strikes out a lot.
In 2021, the season he split between Texas and NY, Gallo led the majors with 213 whiffs but was a gold glover and All-Star that year despite batting a combined .199. In 2018, Gallo struck out 207 times but was edged out by Giancarlo Stanton (211) and Yoan Moncada, who led the majors with 217. In 2017, Gallo struck out 196 times, but it was ROY and AL home run leader (52), Aaron Judge, who led all major leaguers with 208 whiffs.
Gallo reduced to a "pair of shoes"…
I remember Boston sports talk radio host Dale Arnold (WEEI) making the argument for Red Sox second baseman Mark Bellhorn (177 K's in 2004) that striking out wasn't that bad, that it was better than hitting into a double play. I don't buy it. There's a good reason why hitters carry bats with them to home plate, so they can hit the fucking ball!
Here's a formula for all you baseball data freaks, if the number of times a player strikes out is higher than his batting average, it should be automatic, he's done! In 2021 Gallo struck out 213 times and batted .199. In 2018 Gallo struck out 207 times and batted .206. In 2017 Gallo struck out 196 times and batted .209. This year, Gallo has combined for 131 strikeouts and a .164 batting average, but there are still plenty of games left…
It's all or none with Gallo, but lately, it's mostly none…
Gallo won Gold Gloves in 2020 and 2021 for his superb play in right field, so there's that to consider too.
But, Joey Gallo's biggest contribution to those of us whose teams are in the AL East is that he has cursed the Yankees with his departure on August 2nd. Since leaving the Bronx, Gallo's former team has gone 9-20, a .310 winning percentage, and they've seen their AL East lead drop from 12 games on August 1st to just 4 games as of today.
The Yankees started off white hot in April, going 15-6 (.714). They were 19-9 (.679) in May and an unbelievable 22-6 (.786) in June, bashing 58 home runs that month.
In 26 games in July, the Yankees hit 50 home runs but finished 13-13 for the month. By the end of the month, they traded for Andrew Benintendi, one of my favorite Red Sox players, making Gallo expendable.
When Gallo arrived in LA after being traded, the Dodgers were 69-33 (.676), 12 games up on the Padres in the NL West. As of today, they're 91-41, have the most wins in the MLB, and are now 18 games up on the second-place Padres. They're 22-8, a .733 winning percentage since Gallo put on Dodger Blue…
He can still hit 'em high and deep, albeit only on rare occasions…
The Yankees were 10-18 in the month of August with just 28 home runs and are already 0-2 in September. They're on the verge of being swept by the second-place Rays in today's game…
Coincidence? Maybe, but on a personal level, Gallo has raised his Dodger batting average 26 points to .185, hitting three home runs, a couple of doubles, and a triple with 25 whiffs in just 54 at-bats.
One day, Joey Gallo might return to his birthplace of Henderson, Nevada, where he'll be the most sought-after softball player in the over 30 leagues, but for now, he's little more than a good luck charm with a sub-.200 batting average and a bunch of whiffs…
Who knows, it may be Voodoo, but I don't recommend the Dodgers trade or release Gallo anytime soon. I'd keep him on the roster, and if I were the Yankees, I'd burn his old uniform…