Clint Hurdle: Nick Evans, Jake Fox, Jose Morales Will Get Shots
Clint Hurdle talks about possible roster battles in Spring Training. There aren't many. One interesting nugget is that he mentions that Jose Morales will compete with Michael McKenry for the backup catching job. If this were about immediate gratification, McKenry would win it -- not only does everyone love his spunky clutchiness, but he's also, y'know, the better player. Morales has an out clause in his contract, however, so the Pirates can keep both of them if they take Morales north and send McKenry to Indianapolis. A lot of fans would howl about that, of course, but who the Pirates' backup catcher for the first two months of the season is isn't a matter of grave importance, and last season demonstrated the importance of catching depth.
Hurdle also notes that, despite the addition of Casey McGehee, Nick Evans and Jake Fox will still get shots at making the team. That's good news.
UPDATE: There's some dispute in the comments about whether McKenry is actually a better player than Morales. My statement that McKenry was the better player was based on the ideas that his defense is more highly regarded and that he's a bit younger and therefore has a bit of offensive headroom that Morales might not, but it's true that of the two, Morales is more likely to put up a reasonable OBP. It's certainly debatable, and so it would be hard to really fault the Pirates if they wanted to keep them both by sending McKenry to Indianapolis.
4 months ago
Charlie Wilmoth
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It’s good news that Hurdle will keep an open mind and give these guys a shot to make the roster, as that hasn’t really been the case in recent years.
It’s bad news that they don’t have actual talented players competing for the roster spots. You know…like a real first baseman.
last year i believe a handful of players had chances for a roster spot
none of them were any good though… atkins, fields, olsen (injured)
+1
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
McKenry vs. Morales
What makes you so sure that McKenry’s the better player, Charlie? It looks like a pretty close call to me.
I have to agree with this.
Morales has a rep as a solid defender (30% CS in the minors, and 34% in MLB), and he’s got some on-base ability as well (.365 OBP in MLB, and .367 in more than 1,000 AAA AB). That’s not a bad skill set for a backup catcher.
by Vlad on Jan 15, 2012 10:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’d be fine with Morales making the team. Barajas won’t catch more than about half the games this year, which means the backup is going to catch 60 or more (with somebody else backing up during stretches when Barajas is hurt). It’s going to be bad enough getting 80-90 games of a .280ish OBP from Barajas without getting an even lower one all the rest of the time.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
My understanding is that Morales has a good arm but his defense is otherwise not particularly good. I haven’t seen him a whole lot, but if it’s true that he plays good defense, then yeah, you’re probably right.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jan 15, 2012 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
This is my understanding also, but he’d have to be really awful to offset a 60+ difference in OBP.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
Yeah, you know, y’all are probably right. I updated the post to reflect that.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jan 15, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
Just curious how.
I guess you could try running a platoon, but a catching platoon wouldn’t be like any other, where normally you might swap the platoon partners in midgame if the opposing pitchers changed handedness. At least as conventional baseball wisdom has it, and Hurdle seems pretty conventional.
jaramillo being a switch was always a plus
LH batters can always find work. look at overbay.
by white angus on Jan 15, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Mediocre defender, yeah.
Probably better than Doumit, but Gardenhire wasn’t happy with him. Of course, Gardenhire IS happy to have a guy with lowest wRC+ in the history of the world as his back up, so he’s kind of a moron when it comes to evaluating total production. Actually, he’s just kind of a moron, period.
by tobynotjason on Jan 15, 2012 5:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Lotsa Twins fans...
were pretty pissed when they let Morales go. Dude can hit. While the Ramos trade has taken the most heat for the existence of Drew Butera, major league baseball player, you’ll still see Morales’s name come up once in while in a “they never should’ve let him go” way.
by tobynotjason on Jan 15, 2012 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, it’s not like Mauer needs a backup much . . . . . .
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
by WTM on Jan 15, 2012 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Excellent point.
Plus, you really want to KNOW it’s the back-up when he hits. Any kind of line-drive gapper and it confuses people.
Seriously: Butera should never have gotten out of AA but Gardenhire has a hard-on for overrated-glove white guys who can’t hit, ESPECIALLY when the other option exhibits the fatal combo of any sign of defensive weakness, any actual ability with the bat (show-off!) and the capacity to make the occasional “dumb” play.
Put it this way: there’s a totally decent chance Ronny Cedeno would have ridden the bench most of the last two years while Brian Bixler enjoyed starting most Pirates games if Gardy was in charge.
by tobynotjason on Jan 16, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
in all honestly.....
Why should we really care if Evans, Fox, and Morales are battling to compete on the major league roster?
I can’t wait til Cole, Taillon, Marte, Grossman, and Sanchez all show up in the Burgh in the summer of 2013.
by BadAndy on Jan 15, 2012 12:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I’d care because I’m interested in the minutiae of running the team.
You can borrow that reason, or find a different one, if you’d like.
by Vlad on Jan 15, 2012 4:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
It’s attitudes like this that keep this site from truly being a place where fans of all types can come read about and discuss the Pirates. I know you are a “contributer”, but this type of comment is as much of a reason to be banned as anything Even Meek ever said.
by Blyleven Curve Ball on Jan 15, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
What? In what possible way was Vlad’s comment offensive?
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jan 15, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 15, 2012 6:57 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Personally,
I plan on watching the Pirates play in 2012.
So, there’s that aspect of it….
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 15, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Why should we really care if Evans, Fox, and Morales are battling to compete on the major league roster?
I can’t wait til Cole, Taillon, Marte, Grossman, and Sanchez all show up in the Burgh in the summer of 2013.
Because the 2012 and most of the ’13 seasons come first.
And I think you’re overlooking the distinct possibility that at least a couple of the guys you mention don’t progress through the system due to injury and/or poor performance.
by patthatt on Jan 15, 2012 12:45 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The Mayans
Obviously didn’t have automatic bill pay.
by Jitterbug on Jan 15, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Yep. Rec.
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 15, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not if we count years by the Japanese nengo system, it doesn't.
This is Heisei 24. We are all safe.
by patthatt on Jan 15, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Evans and Fox
As long as they look good in spring training i think i’d prefer to start the season with these two on the ML roster. Fox is kind of a cool option at C, yes his defense is awful but he allows for double switch situations late in games etc. and he definitely seems to have a ML bat. McKenry COULD start at AAA play everyday see if he can improve his bat enough to be be viable ML backup catcher which last year he honestly wasn’t
I think i’d actually prefer Nick Evans to be our everyday starting 1B! I’d give jones spot starts but with jones we know what we have. Evans still has a chance to improve and with his tremendous defense he could be an above average player.
McGahee – really don’t know how i feel about him yet.
We’ve got lots of intriguing options!
by Mingy on Jan 15, 2012 5:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
well both evans and fox are minor league deals. only way they break camp with the pirates is because of injury
but having them in the minors just in great isnt too shabby
by white angus on Jan 15, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I doubt they’ll be in the minors. Evans has some sort of out clause, and Fox may, too. I think there’s a decent chance one or the other will make the team.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
by WTM on Jan 15, 2012 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
yeah?
right now im guessing McGehee, McLouth, morales/mckenry, navarro/rule 5 guy, and ….
youre right. i see one spot available. evans can also play outfield so he has a good shot.
by white angus on Jan 15, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Evans has also played a little bit of third. You wouldn’t want him there much, but he’s probably better than Steve Pearce. I’ll be disappointed if he’s not in the org. somewhere this year.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
by WTM on Jan 15, 2012 6:36 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
“…he’s probably better [at 3B] than Steve Pearce.”
Speaking of low-hanging fruit…
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 15, 2012 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, I’m just saying it adds to his value a little bit.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
by WTM on Jan 15, 2012 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hmm
the more i hear about Morales the more i like him, howevaaaaa – I realize Fox stinks defensively, but his stick would be good for our struggling offense. You know what drives me nuts? having a hitter like Ryan Doumit (or fox this year) just not be used in PH situations because he’s the 2nd catcher and you HAVE TO have him as a backup. when has that situation ever happened? I just think your WPA would go up using your best PH. Its the 7th freaking inning, use the best hitter!
I would almost guarantee Evans makes the club. I’ve always liked Fox. I don’t know if he shows a strong split against LHP that would help his cause i guess but i think he might be the best choice between morales mckenry
by Mingy on Jan 15, 2012 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i think navarro is clearly better than rule 5 guy
but they might want him to play at AAA everyday at 2B or something
by Mingy on Jan 15, 2012 7:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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