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Post by klaiggeb on Feb 17, 2017 22:29:21 GMT -5
If I could write the PERFECT script for who we'd keep coming out of spring training: Meaning the guys on my script had a good enough spring to make the club, I'd like one of them to be Mike Morse.
I already hear the snarls, and "what the hell for!" out of many.
"He's a terrible outfielder!"
"He can't run!"
Well, unless it's an emergency, or just to get some at bats, I wouldn't want him in the outfield.
What I'd rather do is have him be the guy who spells Belt occasionally at 1B.
Again I hear the snarls, and "Hey! That's Posey's job! We need to keep Buster's bat in the lineup!
No, we don't.
What we NEED is a fresh, strong Buster Posey in August and September, and to GET that, he gets time off... PERIOD.
I want Buster catching.
Not playing 1B but rather resting, and available to come off the bench to PH.
When he's healthy, and rested, he's a very good player.
When he's not... the entire team pays the price.
Remember, I said IF I COULD WRITE THE PERFECT SCRIPT.
Morse is healthy, that's a huge thing, and I like his potential for a bench bet MUCH MUCH more than I do Ruggiano.
Morse would be a GREAT add as a RH bat off the bench.
Assuming we keep no more than 12 pitchers... which I think is 1 too many, this is what I'd like to see from 3rd to 1st
Nunez, Crawford, Panik, Belt, Posey Span (CF) Pence (RF) Parker/Williamson-LF
Hundley-(C)
Gillaspie---------because I WANT that veteran LH bat. Tomlinson ------because he's versatile, can play all the infield positions, and can run. Morse------------as the veteran bat off the bench from the right side.
I see two Wild Cards in all of this:
Wild Card #1-Hwang makes the club and forces his way into the lineup. And I think that's a real possibility.
Wild Card #2-Either Mac or Parker or both, pulls a Titanic, hits the iceberg and stinks up all of spring training.
Personally, I think the guy most likely to flop is Parker. Big, out of control swing that causes too much lack of contact.
Plus he's 28 or 29.
Go ahead.
Rip me apart.
Just remember my words before you do: If I could write a perfect script.
boly
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Post by Rog on Feb 18, 2017 10:12:17 GMT -5
Mike Morse would be a nice power bat off the bench, and we'd all like to see him make the team, but he's almost entirely limited to first base at this point. Even with 13 bats off the bench, versatility is key.
The weakness I see with the proposed roster -- and I like that you proposed something for us to chew on -- is that there is really no backup center fielder, and what the Giants truly need is someone who is capable of platooning with Denard Span if he hits southpaws as he has three of the past four seasons. I'm hoping Ruggiano is that guy, which is why I would have him on the roster instead of Morse.
Maybe Tomlinson can be that guy, which could possibly make room for Morse. But since leaving the Giants, Michael has hit just .224 and has only five homers in 237 at bats. He's hit only .263 in the minors with just one homer in 38 trips. As sad as it is, Mike may have turned from a bike to a trike.
Even though Mike has played a lot more in the majors than Justin Ruggiano and was once a star, his .274/.791 doesn't dwarf Ruggiano's .258/.761. Justin can play all three outfield positions, while Mike may be only a first baseman at this stage. The Giants truly need a right-handed hitter who can play some center.
As far as being complementary lineup players, both Morse and Ruggiano would have value. Buster Posey started a career-low 11 games at first base last season, so Morse could essentially platoon with Conor Gillaspie as the backup first baseman. On the other hand, when Buster does play, it should be against southpaws to give Brandon Belt a rest in the best situation. That reduces the need for Mike in that situation.
Meanwhile, Ruggiano -- or someone, at least -- is strongly needed in center field. Justin has tagged southpaws to the tune of an .865 OPS, and he can play all three outfield slots.
Perhaps if the Giants cut Parker and keep just four outfielders (one being Ruggiano), the Giants could find room for Mike. He doesn't hit southpaws (.806 OPS) quite as well as Justin, but he certainly hits right-handers better (.785 OPS to Justin's weak .694). Ruggiano would make a better pinch hitting complement to Gillaspie in the sense that if the opponents bring in a right-hander to face Justin when he pinch hits, Conor could pinch hit for Justin. And if the opponents provide a southpaw to pitch to Gillaspie, Ruggiano would be right at home filling in.
The pinch hitting advantage Morse owns is he has hit both southpaws and right-handers pretty well.
It may be because he hasn't played much in the majors recently and his sample is small, but Ruggiano has done most of his good hitting the past five seasons, while with the exception of his good 2014 season with the Giants, Morse hasn't hit very well since 2012, when he was still a feared hitter.
Mike and Justin are the same age, but whereas Mike never could run much, I think Justin can still run a little -- enough that he still played almost exclusively in center field in 2016.
Morse is certainly the sentimental choice, and perhaps he can resurrect at least one more good season. But Ruggiano appears to both fill the Giants' needs better and have been a more productive player in recent years. The negative for Ruggiano though is that if he's so good, why has he spent most of his time in the minors recently? Since he's played pretty well when he has gotten the major league call, I'm not sure of the answer.
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Post by Rog on Feb 18, 2017 10:15:54 GMT -5
In the more-perfect world IMO, Hwang would start at third base as you mentioned, and Nunez would play center. Span would then platoon with Williamson in left. That might be a decent outfield, and due to health and unproven-ness, the Giants outfield right now is well below average. It makes it tough to have that much of the team that far below average and still be a top contender.
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Post by Rog on Feb 18, 2017 10:16:47 GMT -5
I agree with you that the most likely to flop is Parker, although almost shockingly, his numbers in limited play are really good.
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Post by Rog on Feb 18, 2017 10:18:40 GMT -5
I think the three biggest improvements the Giants make this season will come from:
. Having Mark Melancon as the closer (the obvious)
. Getting full health from Hunter Pence (the necesary)
. Rebounds from Joe Panik and Buster Posey (the expected)
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Post by klaiggeb on Feb 18, 2017 11:34:49 GMT -5
What in the world is with you, Rog, insisting that Span platoon.
Seriously.
Platoon with whom?
Hernandez? Please Lord, Please! NO!
He can't and won't ever and hasn't ever hit.
Also, we don't have the room on the roster for him to platoon with anyone. And IMHO, certainly not with Clank: Mac Williamson
I mentioned that Hwang was a wild card. HE makes the team as a starter and EVERYTHING changes.
boly
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sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Feb 18, 2017 12:44:20 GMT -5
I like Michael too Boly...Im just not sure how much is left in the tank. I feel the same about Rollins.
You also need to get used to the fact that Bochy will never begin a season with less than 13 pitchers. It wont stay that way, but he's going to protect his arms early on.
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Post by klaiggeb on Feb 18, 2017 13:37:16 GMT -5
I know you're right, Randy... but it still chafes my hide.
boly
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Post by Rog on Feb 19, 2017 13:11:22 GMT -5
I thought Denard could platoon with Michael Morse. The league would surely allow the Giants to use a softball outfield in that case.
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Post by Rog on Feb 19, 2017 13:16:36 GMT -5
In reality though, I'm hoping Justin Ruggiano will still have enough range that he could platoon in center. I would have liked to see the Giants sign Austin Jackson to a minor league deal. Instead Austin signed with the Indians.
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Post by Rog on Feb 19, 2017 13:17:47 GMT -5
The best deal of course would be if Denard can re-learning hitting southpaws. At the beginning of his career, he hit them well. But something has changed.
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Post by Rog on Feb 19, 2017 13:20:15 GMT -5
I think there is at least a chance the Giants will open with a dozen pitchers. It will probably come down to injuries, options or whom they think they might sneak through waivers.
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