Wire Taps: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark's Sources Say Nyjer Morgan's Chances Of Returning To D.C. In '11 "Non-Existent"
by Patrick Reddington on Sep 9, 2010 2:26 PM EDT
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PrintNats' Skipper Jim Riggleman said all the right things, well, maybe not the "right things" at least according to MLB, but he stuck up for his player and his team following the turmoil-filled weeks that ended with Nyjer Morgan's "mound visit" and the brawl with the Fish that followed. DC GM Mike Rizzo came out in support of Morgan and said that he considered this season's struggles an abberration, telling Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore, as quoted in an article entitled, "Reaction and fallout from Nyjer Morgan's suspension", that, "It's really difficult to go get premier defensive center fielders that have potential to hit at the top of the order and have the potential to steal 50 or 60 bases. And we have that [in Morgan]."
So what to make of ESPN.com's Jayson Stark's report this afternoon in a section of an article entitled, "Expanding the postseason", which is cleverly subtitled, "Morgan is less", which quotes "Two scouts whose coverage assignments include the Nationals" who say that fans shouldn't, "...mistake those words as a vote of confidence in [Morgan]'s future." According to the sources, "the team is determined to trade Morgan this winter,":
"Asked what the chances were that the Nationals will keep Morgan, one scout summed it up in one word: "Nonexistent."
• One Other Note: The idea of Carlos Pena as a possible replacement for Adam Dunn at first should he be allowed to walk has been the talk of NatsTown for several weeks after MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling mentioned that sources were telling him that the Nats had interest in the 32-year-old Rays' free-agent-to-be, who's currently hitting .203/.330/.423 with 15 doubles and 26 HR's in 123 games. According to a post at MLBTraderumors.com by Luke Adams entitled, "Free Agent Stock Watch: Carlos Pena", Pena's currently projecting as a Type B free agent, meaning he wouldn't cost the Nats draft picks if they were to sign him this winter...that is, granted Pena has any interest in signing with Washington. (The Nats and Mr. Goessling's reports get a mention in the MLBTR piece.)
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I think Morgan should be given a chance as the everday CF next season. Let’s see if he matures at all during the offseason and comes into 2011 with a clean slate. If his struggles continue, he was given an extra fair shake. He’s not really holding back the development of any other players if he’s back as the starter in 2011. Maxwell isn’t really going to do much, and Bernadina will likely be in the OF regardless of where Morgan is, won’t he?
Morgan has shown what kind of a player he is
He’s had over two full years’ worth of plate appearances. He’s almost certainly neither as good as he was last year with the Nats, nor as bad as he’s been this year with them. He is not likely to be a top-notch player, but he is a bit of a distraction. I would imagine that a year of JMax would be about the same as a year of Morgan, only quite a bit cheaper.
Note: Jmax’s career OPS is .696; Morgan’s is .707. JMax is 3 years younger and has had only a sixth as many PA as has Morgan though, so he could end up being a lot better.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
all of this is true...
which makes it all that much more frustrating that Mawell wasn’t in a strict platoon with Morgan this year, as they did with Bernie and Morse until Hammer got hurt. Morgan should never, EVER, be allowed to bat against left-handed pitching. He’s an automatic out (career .209/.298/.281 v. lefties).
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at District Sports Page on Sep 9, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
yup, figuring walks and reached on error, etc figure into OBP...
also, against lefties in his career, he’s stolen 13 bases and been thrown out 12 times.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at District Sports Page on Sep 9, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
ROE does not count towards OBP
At least, not in a positive sense.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
Regular at bats could change that
Plus unlike Morgan he gets walks, and when he does get on base he tends not to create outs on the basepaths
Aim for the head baby Jesus
"Nearly the same number"
That’s the rub, right? He’s not had a consistent opportunity to prove himself. 220 PAs in his entire career — can’t say very much based on that, especially when those PAs have been spread around so widely.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
MLB isn't the proving grounds
You can’t keep putting a guy out there who is hitting .100 to .200
Clearly he hasn’t figured something out hitting-wise and needs to be sent down to straighten it out
You keep missing my point
Maxwell has done enough to prove he’s capable at AAA, but his playing time at the ML level level has been so sporadic that the results achieved cannot be considered to be representative of his capabilities.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
the MLB level has just magnified his problem with striking out
Even in the Minors he struck out a ton at around 30% for the last two seasons. It’s probably hard to justify if you’re a manager to put a guy in the game who hasn’t even put the ball in play 40% of the time.
His K rate does seem pretty representative of his abilities considering he’s always K’d that much.
He might be a guy who strikes out a lot and walks a lot
and has a fair portion of inside-the-park power. That would be useful. I don’t really care too much about strikeouts anyway.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
If we trade Morgan for whatever we can get...
…and go with a JMax/Bernie platoon that would be something I could certainly live with. If Bernie is solid defensively, he might be an everyday player. If JMax does anything to improve his eye over the winter, he might be an acceptable number 8 hitter against lefties with plus defense.
I remain scared that we have seen Roger Bernadina’s ceiling rather than his floor or his typical performance.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
I'm not convinced we've seen Bernadina's ceiling.
He seems to be better in all aspects of the game. i think his long, arduous rehab last year set him back quite a bit, but he’s beginning to show his promise.
Nyjer, OTOH, has definitely shown his ceiling..and his near total lack of games smarts and field awareness. I.m definitely ready to send him away.
"I think about the cosmic snowball theory. A few million years from now the sun will burn out and lose its gravitational pull. The earth will turn into a giant snowball and be hurled through space. When that happens it won't matter if I get this guy out." Bill "Spaceman" Lee
Hope you're right.
You may very well be.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
My biggest concern on Bernadina
is his long, arduous swing. He does seem like the sort that could be “figured out”. I hope not, I like the kid.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
With his strength
I would think that he might be able to shorten his swing and still have power
Aim for the head baby Jesus
power's not what you should be concerned with re Bernadina
it’s on-base skills. whatever power he give you is a straight bonus. he’s never going to be a 20 home run hitter. but if he can give you 12-15 homers and get on base at a .340-.350 clip (and have a platoon partner) and play a decent centerfield, you’ve got a serviceable major league player.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at District Sports Page on Sep 9, 2010 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
Roger will just get better from here on out.
Platoon? His swing appears longer than it is b/c he has a high leg kick. But he gets the leg-kick foot down before he has to make a decision on whether to swing. It is just a timing mechanism, not a necessity for bat speed. He can adjust and hit breaking balls with authority (as well as a good MLB fastball). He stays inside the baseball with most swings and that makes for better contact, even against lefties. He is an MLB hitter here to stay.
Numbers are one thing, growth as a player is another. Maybe I am wrong, but I think he has played all-around great since the all-star break.
His defense looks great, and I think his power will never be phenomenal, but will improve. I love how he bunts for a hit when he needs one — even Mickey Mantle did that when he wasn’t hitting his best.
I have a solution
Sign Carl Crawford, move Bernie to center, and everyone is happy except for Nyjer.
by The Herndon Kid on Sep 9, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Everyone is a Platoon player.......
Except “THeFRaud” Willingham. His .265 20 80 is so important to this team that has lost 205 games…………..
I wasn't really think HR power
but more line drive in the gaps power, just enough to punish pitchers for making bad pitches.
Aim for the head baby Jesus
I think he deserves a chance...
If after a couple of months of regular playing time and regular at bats he hasn’t improved then move on but as of right now he just hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do or how he can develop.
by Dan Shields on Sep 10, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
JMax is out of options, which makes the situation even more challenging.
Bigs or boot him at this point.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
He might accept an assignment to the minors
His prospects as an FA aren’t particularly good at this time.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
If I was JMax's agent...
…I would not allow him to stay in DC. We simply seem to be convinced that he doesn’t deserve an opportunity. I wish him the best because he’s a really good kid and he’s local. I also think that the best is outside of this org at this point.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
Team needs..........
Right now the team needs to sign DUNN………….Then get a #5 hitter playing CF or RF with BERNIE in left…………..Some would say a major trade for a 13-15 game winner is still in order…………Then deal with Morgan…..All though I consider Morgan the most disappointing player on the team. He’s not the biggest problem. Or hardest to solve.
I think Bernie over Morgan in center, I think they need more production from the corner spots...
Hammer in left, Nyjer/Bernie in center and a FA RF to hold over til Harper arrives.
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Sep 10, 2010 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Utility role, his #'s scream utility role....
When he was playing out of this world D and hitting last year, I was almost convinced he was better than his production in Pittsburgh, he’s not. Would love it if he was…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Sep 10, 2010 11:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
it goes into a utility role and improves his numbers then maybe he proves this season as an aberation but we shoudl put that onis in him....
by NewJerseyAveSE on Sep 10, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
No way he should play in right though
His numbers barely justify playing in center; he has nowhere near the power or patience to play in a offensive-oriented position like right field.
Not to rehash a nightmare, but I still find it hard to believe that Willie Taveras (Nyjer Morgan clone) started a few games in right for the Nats this year.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
[shudders at memory of Taveras]
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Sep 10, 2010 12:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Nyjer can't play right.
He has no arm.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
BERNIE......
I can deal with BERNIE in Center as long as Willingham is traded. Other wise I want two very athetic OFs and a Super Star #5 hitter in the third spot…….I can see Morse as the 4th OF or a platoon……..I see Morse and BERNIE as completely over taken Willingham.
WHY??
Willingham is miles ahead of Morse, they are both bad defensively, but willingham is proven bat, Morse is not
Aim for the head baby Jesus
Don,
You’ll have to get used to the idea that Artistfork just hates Willingham. Nobody knows why. The Hammer had a pretty darn good year this year, I say.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
If you dislike Willingham...
…I guess it’s because he doesn’t do much to call attention to his virtues, has injury concerns, and is not great in left.
I share none of these concerns and consider Hammer the one time since we’ve moved to DC that we’ve beaten the Marlins at anything. Puzzling to the extreme artistfork. Perhaps there is a personal reason explaining this dislike of a player that explains others irrational attractions to other guys like BOOMER WHITING!!!
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
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