tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23735245.post7640158686550391656..comments2024-02-23T20:49:09.057-08:00Comments on obsessivegiantscompulsive: Your 2014 Giants: Fickle FInger of Fate, Part Deux: Sans-a-Beltobsessivegiantscompulsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23735245.post-61573178139299125202014-05-11T21:53:13.395-07:002014-05-11T21:53:13.395-07:00Thanks for pointing out his UZR/150. I forget to ...Thanks for pointing out his UZR/150. I forget to check there, easier just to pull up one site, BB-ref.<br /><br />Yeah, OK, that is true, but the fact is that the one season he played mostly at 1B, 2011, he compiled a pretty bad overall defensive performance, enough that even with very good UZR at first in every other season (10+ runs rate), his poor 2011 torpedoed all those small samples and for his career, his UZR/150 is -1.4, which is below average.<br /><br />But to your point, he's actually not that bad defensively per UZR, not like his DRS, and for defense, an overall picture is better, I should start trying to use that overall picture. So yes, he probably hurts the defense much less at 1B, at least per UZR. And yes, keeping in the lineup longer in the game is a plus for us given the loss of Belt.<br /><br />I would note here that it was not all defense that pulled him out of the games thus far this season. He's been having hammy problems and if you'll recall with Durham (and even Pablo), those can linger. And Morse does not really perform that well when injured, as he showed last season, his season tanked right when he got injured. So I think Bochy was erring on the side of keeping him in our lineup healthy, something you certainly approve of.<br /><br />And I guess that is where 1B benefits Morse, there is less need to run around a lot, risking your hammy, unlike 1B, and though Pablo hurt his hammy at 1B, that was because a shorty like him had to stretch to reach a throw, something a behemoth like Morse won't have to do as much of.<br /><br />I also think that he should get better the more he plays 1B, particularly with the Giants, who focuses on positioning players pitch by pitch, batter by batter. He's never played 1B much, and as muscular as he is now, he was a SS once upon a time as a pro, so you would think some of that athleticism should kick in at some point. <br /><br />Thanks for the great comment.obsessivegiantscompulsivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23735245.post-57043943767827820912014-05-11T15:58:04.849-07:002014-05-11T15:58:04.849-07:00Actually, except for 2011, Morse has had a pretty ...Actually, except for 2011, Morse has had a pretty good UZR at first, so he may cost the Giants less at first than in left. If that lets him stay in games longer, so that the team has the advantage of his bat rather than that of one of their pathetic sub outfielders (at least, pathetic so far this year), good.campanarinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23735245.post-42252293245121320492014-05-10T19:11:05.672-07:002014-05-10T19:11:05.672-07:00Well, the Giants changed their mind and went to an...Well, the Giants changed their mind and went to another player, Tyler Colvin. Which makes sense on many levels, now that the move was done.<br /><br />First off, while his overall numbers are pretty bad for a major league experienced player in AAA, in his last 19 games, he's hit .369/.408/.585/.993, with only 6 K's in 65 AB and a good 5 walks to boot. That's good power going, ISO of 216.<br /><br />Second, this was the original plan, he was suppose to be the power guy off the bench, utility OF backup, so ideally he was suppose to play himself into shape (and heal up from the back problems that caused him to be dropped by his prior taam and that delayed his spring training for us). He gets some starting now, then becomes the bench OF after Belt returns.<br /><br />Third, he has generally been a good defensive player in the OF, putting up plus numbers in CF and RF, making his negative LF defensive numbers appear to be an anomaly due to less playing time there, he has roughly half the innings there that he has in CF, where he has half that in RF, his usual playing position in the majors, where he has a 3 DRS/yr production there, good, not great, but certainly better than Morse in LF.<br /><br />I would note here that Colvin has played some 1B and while limited time there, was pretty good there defensively, so I wonder if the Giants would have been better overall defensively had they played Colvin at first instead of Morse. <br /><br />Oh, and that is the plan right now, to make Morse the starting 1B and with no need to sub him out defensively (not sure about that since he's not good there either), particularly with Belt out now. Then Colvin will battle with Blanco for starting time in LF. That's why Morse is starting at 1B, so he can stay consistently at one spot, letting Colvin and Blanco get starts in LF. Perez will probably see time there while he's still on the roster.<br /><br />Speaking of which, Scutaro was moved to the 60-day DL to free 40-man space for Colwin. He takes Belt's place, who is put on the 15-day DL, but probably out at least 6 weeks. Meanwhile, Kontos was sent down to bring Cain back off the DL. <br /><br />Still, today, Posey got the 1B start, Morse in LF, probably because since Belt is out anyway, may as well give Posey a bit of rest starting at 1B in a day game after a night game. Morse is probably the 1B going forward until Belt returns. I expect Colvin to get the first chance to hold the LF starting position, particularly since he was hitting in AAA and Blanco has been cold. But since both are lefties, can't platoon them. Not sure what happens when Posey needs a start at 1B, whether Morse goes to LF or not, or does he get a rest too?<br /><br />In any case, if Colwin can be anywhere good offensively, it won't be that big a drop offensively from Belt to Colvin, just defensively having Morse at 1B and Colvin/Blanco in LF.. obsessivegiantscompulsivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.com