With nine home runs and 20 RBIs, Gonzalez is on a pace for about half of his normal production. Frankly, I have some sympathy for Gonzalez, who didn't ask to be traded here, who was handed the job of resurrecting one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, who was given the pressure of immediately producing in a new city, in a questionable lineup. Maybe he could follow the example of the fiery Higginson, who battled to emerge from last season's funk. I think I'm the type of guy Detroit should want to keep. Gonzalez is different, which isn't a slight.
Superstars tend to be different.
Shy but likable, he claims he's still happy in Detroit. But if he doesn't get hot, it might be a bigger gamble for the Tigers to sign him than to trade him before July 31. We know one thing. Gonzalez will be great again for someone, somewhere. Everyone's waiting to see it in Detroit.