Poll

Who would you rather keep?

Adam LaRoche
68 (60.7%)
Michael Morse
44 (39.3%)

Total Members Voted: 112

Author Topic: Morse or LaRoche  (Read 55056 times)

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Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Morse or LaRoche
« Reply #325: November 23, 2012, 12:38:15 PM »
I think some interesting insights can be taken from his split page on B-R from last year.

Toss around the caveats for small sample size on all of this, but you can see that:
1) his post All Star Break OPS jumped from .739 (pre) to .817 (post) while his batting average only bumped .003. Not exactly slugger territory in the OPS even post ASB, but it demonstrates that all of that bump was in being able draw a bit more walks (.016 OBP) and to be able to begin to get back to normal on his SLG (.061). 

2) Acknowledging #1, that SLG was still low in the 2d half (.491) relative to what we had been getting from Mikey Mo in 2010 (.519)  and 2011 (.550).   July (.486) and Sep/Oct (.510) look better than August (.449) (Small Sample Size warning again).  I don't remember the exact dates, but I recall he had a wrist problem at some point in the second half.  I'm guessing it was August. 

3) the  second half demonstrates the BABIP-driven OBP, as July and Sep August had high average (.305/.302) / better OBP (.345 / 330) than August (.255 / .295).  That said, it looks like August, with a BABIP of .288, is the outlier when compared to his 1700 career PAs (.344) rather than July (.360) or Sep /Oct. (.348).   

I'm sticking with the belief that a healthy Mikey Mo is going to get you an abnormally high BABIP for a slowish guy who hits a fair number of ground balls, will hit his .295 or so with have an OBP rate that is satisfactory but not good of .325+, and will slug .520+.  That's a pretty good likelihood of an .850+ OPS.  That's roughly top 25% of MLB and probably conservative.

I'd like him out of left field, where he can hurt himself running, if I can.  If I'm a GM, looking for short term help, and can play him at DH or first, I look to acquire him without giving up the farm.  He's a very nice insurance policy for ALR.