USA Today: Nyjer Morgan Models His Game After Juan Pierre

by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 24, 2009 3:44 PM EDT

Let's hope this is something that came from the writer's brain and not something Morgan actually said:

"I'm not going to hit the ball out of the ballpark," says Morgan, who has modeled his game after Juan Pierre, "but I try to be exciting and bring an energy."

I know Pierre actually had a couple good years there, but come on. He was toast by the time he was Morgan's age, he doesn't have a starting job anymore, and his contract is currently one of the biggest boondoggles in baseball. The idea that the Pirates' likely left fielder aspires to be Juan Pierre is depressing on so many levels.

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Oh, dear.

Pierre has a place on a roster, but on the whole, he’s overmatched as a starting CF. I wish Morgan had set his sights a little higher.

by Vlad on Mar 24, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

Don't be such a hater!

Cut Nyjer some slack. Given his offensive skill set, Juan Pierre is not that bad of a choice. While it may not be your idea of the best baseball has to offer, I think that the PBC coaches need to adapt Nyjer’s skills to the best model available. After all, he is a hockey player!

by SlackBoss on Mar 24, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

In reading...

the P-G article today,it seems that as long as Nyjer THINKS that he’ll be a solid leadoff man,he will be…..OBP/power numbers to date be d!@#%* !
Good to have that much faith,I guess….?!

by rissaldar on Mar 24, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

The stoopid . . . it burns!!

Did you see Chuck Finder’s article today in the PPG on Morgan le Feh?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09083/957792-63.stm

It’s celebrating a 1 for 3 day with a walk. Good news — Morgan stole 2nd (but then was thrown out trying to steal 3rd). And then he stole 2B later (but was stranded). And he got his 4th whole RBI even though he has most ABs of any Pirate this spring (9 less RBIs than Jeff Salazar has in about 20 more ABs). And his 3rd whole walk.

And then comes the garbage stats.

[Morgan] batted a torrid .347 after his August 19 recall — the 10th-highest average in the National League.

Yes, if you just look at 115 AB’s and ignore every other thing the guy has ever done, he’s quite the stud. And my favorite Finder quote about Morgan’s studliness:

With Morgan leading off, the Pirates went 2-0 in April and 9-20 down the stretch, when they were 8-17 without him there after the Jason Bay and Xavier Nady trades.

WTF!! This is significant, why? They are virtually the same losing percentages after 7/31.

Can’t we at least wait until Morgan breaks the Mendoza Line before we get a PPG puff piece on the guy? A .226 OPS in 60 plate appearances would get most guys outrighted, let alone handed a job as a ML leadoff hitter and LF (I’m not even going to mention Morgan’s non-existent power numbers).

Please Neal Huntington. Stop treating us like idiots.

by WstCstBucco on Mar 24, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, 9-20 with him leading off. That settles it. He’s a star.

“He’s expanding the zone too much. He hasn’t utilized the bunt enough. He does need to take some steps forward,” as Huntington is quoted in today’s Synopsis.

Morgan knows it. He has heard it in camp. “Definitely,” he said, “the work doesn’t stop.”

So all he needs to do is shrink the strike zone, bunt more, get on base more, develop more power, pick better spots to steal, and get better at defense. No, Nyjer, the work doesn’t stop.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 24, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Speaking of WTF...

this report from Perrotto has me shaking my head…among other things.

http://piratesreport.com/page/content.detail/id/500229/Tabata-s-wife-suspected-of-kidnapping.html?nav=5008

by Thunder on Mar 24, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

That's a Nyjer quote

jasbird9: If you could compare yourself to any other baseball player playing or retired who would that be?

nyjer_morgan: I think it would be Juan Pierre, but I have just a little more pop.

[link]

I think he’s said it several other times as well, but I couldn’t find other links.

Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
http://mvn.com/pittsburghlumberco

by MBandi on Mar 25, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions