yeah, I'm just not all that high on Morse anymore. maybe they did screw up but the idea of moving a guy like Zimmerman (who is basically the foundation of the Washington franchise) for a rookie isn't one that will usually be a realistic one

National infield defense is pretty shaky as I recall. I think the Nats liked the idea of a good glove man at 1B. He has been a pretty good hitter most of his career--114 OPS plus.

Rendon has been hurt a LOT. Shoulder and ankles. That could present quite the problem at 2B. However, if he can play there he would be really valuable. He's supposed to be pretty athletic.

Zimmerman has had his injury problems as has Morse. Morse is also pretty clunky so the Nats might not have wanted him at 1B.

I don't see the LaRoche signing as a Ryan Howard type fiasco.

At least it's not the Ryan Howard Fiasco.

smitty wrote:Rendon has been hurt a LOT. Shoulder and ankles. That could present quite the problem at 2B. However, if he can play there he would be really valuable.

And we'd get to hear T-Mac and Wheels say Ren-DOAN!! for 10-12 years

I would do terrible things in order to trade Howard for LaRoche right now.

Since 2010 (both basically lost a year to injury):

Howard: 1626 PA, .257/.338/.478 . 348 wOBA

LaRoche: 1496 PA: .253/.326/.459 .338 wOBA

The OBP difference is almost entirely due to an IBB difference from 2010/2011 that is no longer relevant going forward.

Trent Steele wrote:Since 2010 (both basically lost a year to injury):

Howard: 1626 PA, .257/.338/.478 . 348 wOBA

LaRoche: 1496 PA: .253/.326/.459 .338 wOBA

The OBP difference is almost entirely due to an IBB difference from 2010/2011 that is no longer relevant going forward.

Yup. LaRoche's glove work is what really makes a difference too. LaRoche has been an above average hitter who can really play some first base. He's been pretty cheap to boot.

Brett Wallace is 1-for-24, with 17 strikeouts, in 2013.

Makes our dudes look like Ryan Braun.

Shore wrote:Brett Wallace is 1-for-24, with 17 strikeouts, in 2013.

Makes our dudes look like Ryan Braun.

He and Ankiel combined for 40 Ks in 59 plate appearances. Pretty awesome.

Trent Steele wrote:

Shore wrote:Brett Wallace is 1-for-24, with 17 strikeouts, in 2013.

Makes our dudes look like Ryan Braun.

He and Ankiel combined for 40 Ks in 59 plate appearances. Pretty awesome.

Hence me hitting the discount bin for hitters, and starting King Felix tonight.

Trent Steele wrote:Since 2010 (both basically lost a year to injury):

Howard: 1626 PA, .257/.338/.478 . 348 wOBA

LaRoche: 1496 PA: .253/.326/.459 .338 wOBA

The OBP difference is almost entirely due to an IBB difference from 2010/2011 that is no longer relevant going forward.

this is very disconcerting news

pacino wrote:

Trent Steele wrote:Since 2010 (both basically lost a year to injury):

Howard: 1626 PA, .257/.338/.478 . 348 wOBA

LaRoche: 1496 PA: .253/.326/.459 .338 wOBA

The OBP difference is almost entirely due to an IBB difference from 2010/2011 that is no longer relevant going forward.

this is very disconcerting news

So Howard claims his swing has been messed up for years now due to the fact the coaches have wanted him to pull the ball more. So maybe Charlie ruined him.

Link?

Kruk said that during the game yesterday saying Howard told him that.

that seems... important? has he un-messed it up yet?

like ryan howard won ROY and MVP in back to back years, hitting over 50 homers in the MVP year, and the team was like, hmm yea pull the more ??

Could explain why he's hacking at so many clearly inside pitches, which I don't remember being a problem in the past

That sounds like total bullshit to be honest. The reason Howard has declined is because he swings at everything. His O-Zone swing percentage was between 25 and 27% from 2006 to 2009. Since then it's been 33%, 32%, 37%, and 35%. He gets way more weak contact now.

Also, I think his bat has slowed significantly and he can no longer wait on pitches and drive them to LF

Grotewold wrote:Could explain why he's hacking at so many clearly inside pitches, which I don't remember being a problem in the past

I think this is a function of how far off the plate he stands compare to when he was younger. I would bet just about anything that the reason he pulls the ball more now (assuming that is even true) is because if the amount of offspeed junk that he constantly sees as compared to when he was younger. He's not pulling good fastballs, that's for sure.