Power at the Corners

by Illinois Pirate Fan on Aug 31, 2009 5:55 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

It has become readily apparent that we lack any power at the infield corners when Jones plays RF. Pearce, Moss, and LaRoche simply have no extra-base hit power and it's killing us. I certainly hope management allows Walker a chance to play 3B, Jones at 1B; and Tabata in RF so we can try to inject some offense into the lineup. This would at least allow us to try other permutations in the lineup in an attempt to finally score some runs. I'm fine with the rest of the guys, although I would like to dump Doumit but I doubt his perceived value is very high and so we would be trading at the bottom of his value. We need to monitor his hitting closely and if he even remotely begins to have a half-year like Nady then dump him quickly. I just don't think he adds much to the lineup. Jaramillo is a capable backup and together with our AAA catchers provide adequate catching. Oh, yeah...ditto for Capps. If he has a couple of good months I think we should dump him, too.

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Tabata only has 5 minor league home runs, so he wouldn’t add to the power. Selling low on Doumit also wouldn’t improve the power. Walker would probably get on base at a sub-.300 clip in MLB, which hurts the benefit from the power.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 31, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think...

Tabata will probably grow into the power…from what I’ve heard about his body type. Cutch is hitting HR’s at a 20-25 rate this season. Pedro had 27 this season…and I expect that number to go up for a few years. Milledge is probably capable of at least 15 to 20 if healthy. Another stick or two…and we’d probably be OK. Doumit will probably get the benefit of the doubt…but if his act…and his hitting…don’t improve by next spring…he’ll be gone too.

by Thunder on Aug 31, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tabata certainly could grow into power (although it isn’t guaranteed). But I wouldn’t count on it next year, nor would I bring him up next year unless he shows it.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Sep 1, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't make...

power the ONLY prerequisite to bring up Tabata. If he’s hitting well over .300…with little power…I’d probably still consider it. If he was hitting .280 with no power at Indy next June…I’d probably hold off too…but I think he may hit well enough to make it that quick.

by Thunder on Sep 1, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Power =/= Offense

And of course, 20 runs’ worth of power aren’t worth any more than 20 runs’ worth of BA, or 20 runs’ worth of walks, or 20 runs’ worth of defense…

Runs. Are. Runs.

by Vlad on Sep 1, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why do people keep thinking

we will be decent next year. Repeat after me

We… Are… Going… To… Suck… Hard.

Which is fine. If you need to satisfy your baseball fix, follow what guys like McCutchen, Morton, Milledge, and Clement do in the Pittsburgh. Cross your fingers that guys like DY, GJ, Moss, Doumit, Duke, Maholm, and Capps all do well, so we can move them and then enjoy the return. Look forward to what kind of draft we can pull off next year. Follow the exploits of guys such as Alvarez, Tabata, Sanchez, Lincoln, D’Arnaud, Owens and Alderson (and hopefully Sano). Get really into and follow our bonus baby draftees from the last few years such as, Wesley Freeman, Grossman, Stevenson, Von Rosenburg, and the slew of young pitchers we picked up in this past year’s draft. Check out some of our other “big” Latin American guys such as Marte, Cayones, Carvajal, Barrios, and Noris. (Sleeper alert! Jorge Bishop)

Watch the pieces, not the puzzle next year, because its not complete. Look for the finishing touches to be put on around 2012.

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Sep 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Moss isn't a corner in-fielder.

Pearce, Moss, and LaRoche simply have no extra-base hit power and it’s killing us.

I wouldn’t say they have no extra-base hit power. It’s more the fact that they aren’t hitting for the extra bases often enough. Whether that’s a comfort level issue will be seen ….most likely next year.
Moss actually has power, just that he strikes out alot and his command of the strike zone is poor.

Fact of the matter is, unless Clemente tears up the league in the last month and hits .300 and about 10-12 HR’s. He’s not gonna look any better than pearce and defensively everyone’s saying he’s worse than Pearce or GFJ.

N. Walker got a promotion for September, but according to most posters on BD, this probably won’t show much. As it will end up being a platoon situation or An. Laroche will still prob get most of the ABs.
It will mostly be interesting next year in Spring Training. If he can hit better or equal to Andy LaRoche he will win the job. Otherwise, they’ll send him down to AAA again and try to play An. Laroche in 2010 with hopes he hits more and then trade him mid-season. Which if he comes around and hits really well, then people will be upset again that we trade someone hitting well.

by lfhlaw on Sep 1, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The reason I included Moss in the discussion was because...

Jones is usually moved to 1B to allow Moss to play RF. By benching Moss, Jones is returned to RF and thus we have a power-void at 1B.

by Illinois Pirate Fan on Sep 2, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaRoche

I wouldn’t sell on Andy that quickly. This is his first full year as a starter and he’s shown power and average all through the minors. He has above average D and is leading the team in walks along with very little strikeouts for his amount of plate appearances. I say give Andy another half season at least before you completely sell on him.

by Sage18 on Sep 1, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs