Piece on Matt Hague
At Pirates Prospects.
4 months ago
WTM
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[Hague] has been seeing a lot of playing time at third during winter ball and during workouts at the voluntary mini camp in January
Interesting. His bat plays much better at third than at first, and the added tactical value as a bench bat wouldn’t hurt, either. It’d be nice if he can pull it off.
It would be an interesting subplot to the 2008 draft, as well
I like it.
This offseason Hague said he has been working on a lot of agility and cardio to get more lean. The 6’ 3″ right-handed hitter was listed at 225 pounds prior to the 2012 season.
I’ve never seen him play; is he athletic enough to pass a corner OF position? Extra versatility never hurts a guy trying to break into MLB.
Going into this offseason
I would have said probably not but I don’t know what the result of those extra agility and cardio drills have been. Having said that, I don’t think the ability to fake it in the OF really helps him with this team just because of the crush of OF prospects we have coming up. Positional flexibility never hurts but I think getting in extra work at 3B would be much more valuable than extra OF-time…
by KentuckyPirate on Feb 6, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
This
couldn’t agree more. It is MUCH more valuable (at least right now) for him to be able to play 3rd instead of first. My question, along with those asked above, is does he have the necessary arm strength the play third? If so, his bat would look like a starters there.
The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
Perspectives become reality.
Twitter: @shanecglass
FWIW
When Hague was drafted, some of the scouting reports said he might be a good fit in RF because he has a good arm. (I think he threw pretty hard as a reliever in college at some point.) Anyway, yeah, better to spend time at 3B than RF.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
by WTM on Feb 6, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
Well
That answers my question. I didn’t know he was a reliever in college
The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
Perspectives become reality.
Twitter: @shanecglass
I’m only remembering that kinda vaguely, but I think he pitched a little in relief because I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that he threw 94 or something.
Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!
by WTM on Feb 6, 2012 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
Starred at Kentwood High School … hit .500 with six homers as a senior and also had a 0.47 ERA on the mound
(Freshman at U. Washington) – Began the year as a relief pitcher before breaking into the batting order midway through the season
MATT HAGUE’S CAREER PITCHING STATISTICS (at U. Washington):
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG ShO Sv IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR Avg. WP HB BK
2005 6.52 1-2 13/0 0 0 0 19.1 19 15 14 14 19 2 0 5 .257 0 0 0
2006 9.00 0-0 1/0 0 0 0 2.0 3 2 2 0 2 1 0 0 .375 1 1 0
Totals 6.75 1-2 14/0 0 0 0 21.1 22 17 16 14 21 3 0 5 .268 1 1 0
Positional flexibility never hurts but I think getting in extra work at 3B would be much more valuable than extra OF-time…
I agree that he’s more valuable to the 2012 Pirates with the corner IF ability; but being able to spell a Presley or Tabata in the corners mean more AB’s for him and fewer AB’s for Nate McLouth. I hope Petey plays 162 games of superb 3B next year. Like Neil Walker: you just have to find your way into the lineup.
It’s not even so much a matter of his value to the 2012 team as it is his future career prospects, I think. Teams almost never carry a bench bat who can only play 1B. If he wants to have a substantial ML career, he needs to either hit like a starting 1B (more walks and/or more power), or learn some other positions to make himself a viable bench option.
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