After 14 games, Zero RBI for Logan Morrison

[PolarVortex]

Logan did the same thing last year - started slow and finished fast. Montero is hitting .360 in Tacoma with a .956 OPS. Something has to give here pretty soon. Morrison's made some pretty good contact at times. I can think of three balls he has hit that would have gone out of a few parks in the AL. But, that isn't really an excuse. You have to adapt to the environment you are playing in.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Problem I have with Montero is I'm not convinced he can hit at this level. It's hard for me to look at his AAA numbers and be convinced they will translate. What I am fairly certain of is that his defense will be worse then Lomo's. For a team that has struggling pitching, I'm not sure making your defense worse is a good idea.

Regardless most of us were concerned about this in the offseason because Lomo hasn't stayed healthy for 3 years. Unfortunately just another area that we didn't address with a Plan B option.

 

[cezero]

Problem I have with Montero is I'm not convinced he can hit at this level. It's hard for me to look at his AAA numbers and be convinced they will translate. What I am fairly certain of is that his defense will be worse then Lomo's. For a team that has struggling pitching, I'm not sure making your defense worse is a good idea.

Regardless most of us were concerned about this in the offseason because Lomo hasn't stayed healthy for 3 years. Unfortunately just another area that we didn't address with a Plan B option.

I agree with all of that, but If Lomo keeps this up, it cannot possibly hurt the team to call up Montero. Defense at 1B statistically is the least significant of any position in terms of calculating WAR.

 

[gowazzu02]

Lomos made some really good plays defensively. The pitching has been so bad we can't weaken the D.

Right now were not losing because of our hitting, even with lomo and K-nino in there. The pitching is the problem.

 

[cezero]

Making the team better is making the team better.

I know it's a new school way to think of it, but defense at 1B is by far the least important position as far as that goes...well, outside, of DH.

These are the WAR calculations by position. Higher means more impact defensively:

(all are per 162 defensive games)
Catcher: +12.5 runs
First Base: -12.5 runs
Second Base: +2.5 runs
Third Base: +2.5 runs
Shortstop: +7.5 runs
Left Field: -7.5 runs
Center Field: +2.5 runs
Right Field: -7.5 runs
Designated Hitter: -17.5 runs


I would hope that our GM/Manager are competent enough to weigh any decision about 1B logically.

I'm betting (hoping, praying) Lomo picks things up soon, though, and makes it moot.

 

[gowazzu02]

Making the team better is making the team better.

I know it's a new school way to think of it, but defense at 1B is by far the least important position as far as that goes...well, outside, of DH.

These are the WAR calculations by position. Higher means more impact defensively:

(all are per 162 defensive games)
Catcher: +12.5 runs
First Base: -12.5 runs
Second Base: +2.5 runs
Third Base: +2.5 runs
Shortstop: +7.5 runs
Left Field: -7.5 runs
Center Field: +2.5 runs
Right Field: -7.5 runs
Designated Hitter: -17.5 runs


I would hope that our GM/Manager are competent enough to weigh any decision about 1B logically.

I'm betting (hoping, praying) Lomo picks things up soon, though, and makes it moot.

Well logically 12 games is a really small sample size. If he goes out there tonight and goes 5-5 he raises his average by like 100 points...........

 

[cezero]

Well logically 12 games is a really small sample size. If he goes out there tonight and goes 5-5 he raises his average by like 100 points...........

true.

i'm not saying do anything yet. 2-3 more weeks before any moves will be made with the roster, i'm predicting. no way that JZ and LMC aren't already thinking of contingencies, though....i hope?

i'm also kind of bringing up the WAR stuff for those who trash zunino, and then say to keep lomo on because of his defense. if you don't think WAR is meaningful, then i guess it doesn't matter, though.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I agree with all of that, but If Lomo keeps this up, it cannot possibly hurt the team to call up Montero. Defense at 1B statistically is the least significant of any position in terms of calculating WAR.

Agree. I just have shades of him not being able to dig out a throw with 2 outs and letting an inning continue with runs scoring because it. Probably just the jaded Ms fan in me

 

[cezero]

Agree. I just have shades of him not being able to dig out a throw with 2 outs and letting an inning continue with runs scoring because it. Probably just the jaded Ms fan in me

Nah, totally legitimate concern. Plus, there may not be anything left of Montero in a month. He's gone from fatty mcfatterson to something approach calista flockhart (sp?)

 

[gowazzu02]

true.

i'm not saying do anything yet. 2-3 more weeks before any moves will be made with the roster, i'm predicting. no way that JZ and LMC aren't already thinking of contingencies, though....i hope?

i'm also kind of bringing up the WAR stuff for those who trash zunino, and then say to keep lomo on because of his defense. if you don't think WAR is meaningful, then i guess it doesn't matter, though.

Oh your right. K-nino is only up here cause of his D thats the difference. Any O we get from him (pitcher screwing up and grooving him a fastball in a fastball only count) is really gravy. It would be nice if he didn't strike out on 3 pitchs tho,.....We know that.... he's here cause of plus plus D and pitcher management....

Lomo's leash isn't as long. but he's done it before. health was usually his issue... some guys just start slow.

 

[NWinAZ]

Like posted on another thread, M's sign Quinten and he has a May 12th out date so it looks like Morrison's full time gig is ticking as well as Weeks spot on the team.

 

[cezero]

Like posted on another thread, M's sign Quinten and he has a May 12th out date so it looks like Morrison's full time gig is ticking as well as Weeks spot on the team.

Nice to have another contingency for sure.

 

[NWinAZ]

Nice to have another contingency for sure.

Throw enough paint at a canvas and eventually a picture appears I guess.

 

[gowazzu02]

Oh your right. K-nino is only up here cause of his D thats the difference. Any O we get from him (pitcher screwing up and grooving him a fastball in a fastball only count) is really gravy. It would be nice if he didn't strike out on 3 pitchs tho,.....We know that.... he's here cause of plus plus D and pitcher management....

Lomo's leash isn't as long. but he's done it before. health was usually his issue... some guys just start slow.

Did I call that one or what!!!

 

[wazzu31]

How do they come up with a defensive WAR? I can't see any way that a 1B is the least important position when he can make every fielders numbers better and vice versa

 

[cezero]

I'm guessing it's because they looked at a huge sample (70+ years worth) of numbers, and factored it as reasonably and logically as possible.

 

[NWinAZ]

Ya Dave Cameron of USSM (everyone's fave I know) told me in a tweet last year that a bad 1B vs a gold glove 1B saves about 5-7 runs per year only. I guess that factors in a lot.

 

[wazzu31]

Ya Dave Cameron of USSM (everyone's fave I know) told me in a tweet last year that a bad 1B vs a gold glove 1B saves about 5-7 runs per year only. I guess that factors in a lot.

But that doesn't really make sense to me whatsoever cause if there is no difference between a good and bad 1b cause they "save runs" then how is there a difference between a good and bad catcher since they can't save runs.

There is no logic in a formula that says 1B is the least important defensive position IMO.

 

[cezero]

no difference between a good and bad 1b

You're confused.

The formula isn't saying or implying that in any way, shape, or form.

Over 162 games, the difference between a good and bad catcher is more significant than the difference between a good and bad first baseman. Everybody understands that implicitly, and the stat is designed to try to measure it.

If it doesn't "feel" right to you, then fine, but there's nothing illogical about it.

 

[NWinAZ]

But that doesn't really make sense to me whatsoever cause if there is no difference between a good and bad 1b cause they "save runs" then how is there a difference between a good and bad catcher since they can't save runs.

There is no logic in a formula that says 1B is the least important defensive position IMO.

Not a professional on this topic by any means, but I think catcher gets rated higher because of calling pitches as well as controlling the base paths. A 1B for the most part just has to catch a ball thrown to them.