Nyjer Morgan is better than you think

by OpiateOfTheMasses on Sep 25, 2007 9:13 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

Baseball guys talk about stats all the time, but one thing I think these "stat guys" tend to overlook is the attitude with which players play. Nyjer Morgan plays with the same enthusiasm that the 12 year olds show in the LLWS. Maybe if he eventually makes big league money that will change, but right now the guy (I think he's 27) is showing great excitement and that translates into big plays. He's about the only guy out there on the team to be happy wearing a Pirates jersey, and that says something about his character. So quit talking about how this guy played in rookie ball or the time he had a low OBP 10 years ago, the kid can play, and he loves doing it. That will translate into more wins than anything else.

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Huh

Nyjer Morgan plays with the same enthusiasm that the 12 year olds show in the LLWS.

And he's about as productive as one, too.

HEY-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

by matskralc on Sep 25, 2007 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

I bet Tony Womack loves playing too

Too bad no one's willing to pay him to do it.

Guess what? I really love playing baseball too. But that's not going to get me on a major league team, and that shouldn't get Morgan on the team either.

Once again, there is confusion between what an exciting player is and what a good player is.

by Willton on Sep 25, 2007 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

Nyjer could be a fair bit better than I think...

...and still not be a starting-caliber CF.

I agree that he's a lot of fun to watch, if that's any consolation.

by Vlad on Sep 26, 2007 8:27 AM EDT reply actions

Lots of fun

Between Nyjer and the pierogie races, PNC could really be hopping.

by WTM on Sep 26, 2007 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, yeah.

But if you give me a choice between a bad, entertaining player like Nyjer and a bad, boring player like Paulino, it's not that hard a choice.

by Vlad on Sep 26, 2007 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Morgan story

I was at a doubleheader when Morgan was with Lynchburg, and had a seat just a few feet from the Hillcats' on-deck circle. Morgan was wearing a jersey in game one that wasn't his number, and he went hitless. When he was waiting to lead off game two, he had his own jersey on and somebody asked him about it. He said there'd been some problem or other about his jersey and he had to borrow a pitcher's jersey, and "that's why I didn't get any hits" in game one. He then led off game two with a hit.

by WTM on Sep 26, 2007 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Should've borrowed Mike Carlin's.

Might've affected his fielding, though.

by Vlad on Sep 27, 2007 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Want to know what else makes Morgan bad?

He is a liability on the basepaths. In the month he's been called up he's been caught stealing 3 times and picked off at least once. Morgan may be fast, but he's a bad base stealer.

by Willton on Sep 26, 2007 8:50 PM EDT reply actions

In his (ever so slight) defense

One of those CS's took a perfect throw. Six inches either way and he's safe. But your larger point stands.

by bucdaddy on Sep 27, 2007 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait a second

I thought Brian Graham stressed winning in the minor leagues so that players would become accustomed to winning and would know what it takes to win in the big leagues.

So are you saying that because Nyjer Morgan hasn't been beaten down and disheartened (yet) by the losing and atmosphere in Pittsburgh, that makes him a better player?

A wise old scout told me that September was the worst time to evaluate players, followed by Spring Training. So whatever Morgan does in the bigs in September is nice for the back of his baseball card, I prefer to look at the body of evidence that is his baseball career to date. Morgan would be an outstanding 5th OF, a great pinch runner and defensive replacement. But, if a team decided that Nyjer Morgan should be an everyday player, that team is probably going to lose more than it wins. Unless the rest of the team can cover up for his offense (like, say, the Yankees this year).

by Greg Schuler on Oct 2, 2007 11:16 AM EDT reply actions