Jordy Mercer

[Burgh Sports Rule]

Jordy Mercer was called up by the Pirates today. ( Per The Fan )

Hurdle, says Mercer is not up here to replace Clint Barmes.

Mercer will not start tonight. Josh Harrison, will start at SS.

Take Hurdle's comments for what you will.

Burgh

 

[Burgh Sports Rule]

Oh, I almost forgot. Navarro sent down.

Burgh

 

[element1286]

Good for Mercer, but no matter what Hurdle says, I assume they are at least going to split time at short, or they would not have brought him up.

 

[sychmd]

give him some exposure and settle into the MLB experience with some defensive substitution and PH duties for 3-4 games. once he has had the glassy eye look go to real lenses again and he is reaady to play, give him a start on friday against a pitcher he has a chance for success against.
does anyone know if he can run and can steal a base late in a game as a PR.
seems like we need to make more use of our speed in the right situations. can gorky run.

 

[element1286]

give him some exposure and settle into the MLB experience with some defensive substitution and PH duties for 3-4 games. once he has had the glassy eye look go to real lenses again and he is reaady to play, give him a start on friday against a pitcher he has a chance for success against.
does anyone know if he can run and can steal a base late in a game as a PR.
seems like we need to make more use of our speed in the right situations. can gorky run.

Gorkys can run, although he hasn't been much of a basestealer above A ball.

 

[thecrow124]

Let me get this straight, Mercer is called up while in the midst of his best month as a professional baseball player, to sit on the f'n bench? You have got to be kidding me. If you bring up a prospect, then they come up to take a starting spot. You bring up journeymen to sit behind someone. If you didn't want Mercer to play versus Bailey or Cueto, it is understandable, but leave him in Indy getting regular AB's, don't bring him up and sit him.
I understand that Barmes is Hurdle's boy and all, but even he has to be thinking that Hurdle is a moron in this instance.

 

[Burgh Sports Rule]

Jordy Mercer in the Pirates lineup tonight & batting 2nd & starting at SS.

The lineup:
1 Tabata.
2 Mercer
3 Cutch
4 Pedro
5 Walker
6 G. Jones
7 Hague
8 Rod B.
9 Burnett

This is a lineup that I actually like & I would'nt mind seeing it every day, for a while?

Whatever happens tonight. Win or Lose. Let's give a better effort tonight, then we did last night, Buccos.

Burgh

 

[sychmd]

Let me get this straight, Mercer is called up while in the midst of his best month as a professional baseball player, to sit on the f'n bench? You have got to be kidding me. If you bring up a prospect, then they come up to take a starting spot. You bring up journeymen to sit behind someone. If you didn't want Mercer to play versus Bailey or Cueto, it is understandable, but leave him in Indy getting regular AB's, don't bring him up and sit him.
I understand that Barmes is Hurdle's boy and all, but even he has to be thinking that Hurdle is a moron in this instance.

i see your points, but if this is the first exposure to MLB, let him soak it in for a couple days, get hte routine and rhythm, then let him play on day 3. i wouldnt put him in against cueto as his first exposure.

 

[evolver115]

Wonder how long it will take upper management to realize that Mercer gives them a better consistency at the plate and in the field over Barmes

 

[magnumo]

The problem is that Barmes is a Hurdle favorite. In fact, Hurdle is probably the reason the Pirates replaced Cedeno with Barmes. It couldn't have been the talent/cost ratio, because that was clearly in Cedeno's favor.

I believe the only way Mercer will play much SS is if he hits the cover off the ball. Even then, the first time he slumps, I'm betting that Barmes will be back in there.

 

[Darkstone42]

I think Hurdle is going to play who gives them the best chance to win. Before Mercer was called up, Barmes was the only guy on the roster capable of handling short defensively on a consistent basis. If Mercer hits at all, he'll be starting at short.

 

[magnumo]

I think Hurdle is going to play who gives them the best chance to win. Before Mercer was called up, Barmes was the only guy on the roster capable of handling short defensively on a consistent basis. If Mercer hits at all, he'll be starting at short.

Although I hope you're right, both Huntington and Hurdle have been quoted that Barmes still is the Pirates' starting SS and that he will resume his starting role after being given a few days off to work on his hitting.

I'd love to see Mercer hit enough to keep the job, but I fear that "enough" will be a high hurdle, given Barmes' 2-year contract and the fact that NH has already cut McLouth. It seems doubtful that the front office will sit the balance of Barmes' $10.5 mill on the bench. That big (relatively speaking) money appears to make him both untradeable and uncuttable, at least in the near term. On the other hand, maybe Nutting and Coonelly have agreed to let Huntington dump a few million down the toilet each season..... as long as the team is improving on the field and "few" doesn't become too large. We shall see.

At least they're giving Hague a shot. No doubt all will be (and should be) forgiven if the Pirates continue to hit enough to win some ballgames.

 

[sychmd]

i think NH is feeling the pressure to win and is willing to put(within some reason like not bringing up taillon and cole or marte just yet) the best people in the lineup to do that.
sure, they have to say that barmes is still the guy. they cant say jordy, with no experience at all, is the number one guy, even tho barmes is below the SAT line.
if mercer can hit and play good defense, i think hurdle and NH will reward that and let him play and barmes can back up and be a throw in at trade time if possible.

hopefully, each year we have less holes to fill and when we do go FA, we can afford and attract a bit better options.
bedard - so far great
barajas - better than what we had, especially if he can be more like may and less april.
barmes - slightly, by a hair, better than iwomura or whoever that was last year.
mcgehee - book still out, occas potential, doesnt seem to be a spot or platoon kind of player, or at least hasnt adjusted to that yet.
slaten/cruz - both have been helpful

2013 projected lineup
1. marte CF
2. tabata RF (better arm)
3. cutch LF (faster to cover the LC gap)
4. alvarez - 3b
5. Hague/Jones - 1B
6. Walker - 2B
7. McKenry/Barajas - C
8. Mercer - SS could be laedoff or 2 depending on how he does this year

bench - Rod B/McK, Harrison, Jones/Hague, Chase/Barmes, Navaro/Gorkys/Presly/FA or farm upstart like curry

1. McDonald
2. Burnett
3. Karstens
4. Bedard
5. Morton - Cole in june of 2013, Taillon in Sept 13
potentials = lincoln, owens, reyes, locke, alderson

1. Hanny
2. Grilli
3. Lincoln
4. Hughes
5. Slaten
6. Cruz
7. Reyes
8. Morris
9. Watson
10. Resop

Priorities for trade deadline and winter:
1. C - Sanchez is probably going to be average offense for a C and slightly below defensively. really can trade and spend for this.
2. 1B that can hit 4 or 5 in a real lineup
3. SS - wouldn't spend to much as we will have good D with mercer or chase and speed with chase and no really affordable powerhouse at short out there unless we gamble on a prospect in someone elses system.


We have plenty of RP and SP options. obviously a strength,

 

[sychmd]

forgot to add,
with a real 1B and C, alvarez is a 5 hitter.

 

[element1286]

I don't think it is a slam dunk that Mercer should play everyday, because I don't think he is good enough to deserve that designation, and I don't but that Barmes is this bad. But it is good to have both options.

 

[steelparrot]

Yep, Mercer isnt some uberprospect that makes you move a guy to the bench. But, we might as well give him a decent look.

Sanchez and Marte both heating up, good to see as they both probably will be given a shot next summer.

 

[element1286]

Yep, Mercer isnt some uberprospect that makes you move a guy to the bench. But, we might as well give him a decent look.

Sanchez and Marte both heating up, good to see as they both probably will be given a shot next summer.

Yep, but I fully support playing Mercer for a few weeks and seeing what he has.

 

[pixburgher66]

Barmes is in tonight. I know Mercer hasn't hit well either, but I'd rather have him in...maybe Barmes will find his swing again though. If there's a place to find your power again, it's Miller Park.