Gonzalez sets a good example

Alexander Gonzalez may be tee-ball's top prospect.

He's about as tall as a short hop, his glove is about as big as his head, and even his summer shorts are long.

But he already has a Manny Ramírez-issued secret handshake and yesterday he drew looks from Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.

The kid doesn't let a ground ball get by him. His backhand is still coming along, but goes to his glove side like a pro. He gets under most popups, but every now and again he'll make a falling catch and play it off like it was a dive.

His throws almost always hit their target, and on most days his target is 6-foot-1-inch Kevin Youkilis.

Epstein had a couple questions for Alexander, but, because he doesn't talk much, Youkilis had to double as his throwing buddy/agent. ``How old is he?" Epstein asked Youkilis.

His coaches still move him from position to position, but ask Alexander and he'll tell you he's a shortstop. So if Epstein has a hole in the middle of the infield around, say, 2017, Alexander should be available.

``I like shortstop," said Alexander, who turns 7 June 30. ``That's what my dad plays."

His dad is current Red Sox shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who singled and scored in his first at-bat last night and finished 2 for 4 with a pair of runs during the Red Sox' 9-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

He warmed up with his son before taking infield yesterday. They sling the ball alike, from the arm cock to the follow-through. They took a couple dozen tosses before the elder Gonzalez left for the field.

``I don't mess around with my ground balls," he said.

His routine is everything: 10 to 15 ground balls, going to his glove side, working on his back hands, meeting slow rollers, and making strong tosses to second. He won't flip balls behind his back. He won't field a grounder with his hands out of position. That's where Alexander gets it.

``The way you take ground balls is the way you play in the game," said the elder Alex.

His practice is perfect, and his play has been as close as he can get.

He hasn't made an error since April. His 50-game errorless streak is a club record.

He's started 29 double plays, which makes him a friend of the pitching rotation.

``I played for seven years in Florida behind guys like [Josh] Beckett, A.J. Burnett, [Brad] Penny and they all say they love this guy playing behind them," Gonzalez said. ``When you have a good second baseman and a good shortstop, that's what people love."

In 210 chances, Gonzalez had made just one error, a .995 fielding percentage that is tops in the American League and second only to San Francisco's Omar Vizquel (.996). Vizquel has 10 Gold Gloves. Gonzalez has a leather one that Alex plays with before games.

``That's one of the things I want to do this year," Gonzalez said. ``I want to win a Gold Glove. I know I can win that."

And if he doesn't, maybe Alexander will.