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Nationals leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan, who is hitting .244 with a .308 on-base percentage, has become the subject of plenty of fans' ire recently, just a year after he arrived in a trade and sparked the Nationals' offense by hitting .351 in 49 games. It's the way Morgan played last year that has manager Jim Riggleman resolving to stick with the center fielder.
Riggleman said on Friday afternoon he'd have "a lot of patience" with Morgan in the lineup, believing he's capable of the kind of surge he started just before the Nationals landed him in a June 30 trade with the Pirates.
"One thing we kind of hang our hat on is, last year, when we got Nyjer at this time of the year, Nyjer had been doing OK in Pittsburgh, not having a great start, just kind of treading water," Riggleman said. "I really was encouraged the last four or five games. He had some better at-bats. He played very good center field. He kind of did some things we saw him do last year, when we got him in the trade. The glass is half-full. He's just treading water right now, but he knows he hasn't got it going yet. This is the time he got it going last year. He feels like he's ready to get it going, and we need him at the top of that lineup. So we're going to be real patient with him."
Morgan was hitting .263 on June 25 last year, when he started an 8-for-16 tear with the Pirates in his last four games before the trade.
He is historically a much better hitter in the second half of the season. In April, May and June, Morgan has hit .275, .236 and .246, respectively. Those career numbers jump to .388, .315 and .323 in July, August and September.
Uh-oh, Nyjer gets the 'John Lannan Vote of Confidence.' -- Pack your bags, Mr. Morgan, you're soon to leave town.
The problem with Morgan is his lack of baseball intelligence. He bunts way too much and nearly always to third. What about drag bunting to first on occasion? On his base-stealing, he is successful only about half the time because he doesn't read pitchers very well and his lead is too small. Many of his failed attempts are from pickoffs. In the field, he does not go back well on balls over his head and shies away from the fence. His hitting style leaves a lot to be desired--he doesn't make contact enough and overswings instead of slapping at the ball to get the most out of his speed. The best solution given his miserable OBA and the team's offensive funk is for Rigs to move Bernadina to center and put Morse in right. The latter deserves more of an opportunity.
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I think a lot of what you said is right on, Jay. He's been trying to bunt his way on a lot lately. That says to me that he's not comfortable enough in his ability to work a walk or get a hit, and he's had trouble on the basepaths all year. I think the switch in his sliding mechanics might be in his head.
Ben
And by the way, Nyjer was hitting .277 when he was traded to the Nats last year; Riggleman's revisionist history - "he was just treading water" when he was traded - is just more coddling of underperforming players. Riggs needs to go.
Can't disagree with this strategy and sentiment. Its either Morgan or Boomer Whiting at this point. He probably should be taken out against left-handed pitching until he gets his game going again. Statistical simulations agree that Morgan is the key to the offense ....
BUT NOT WILLIE HARRIS ... Morse can play more positions than Harris ... and he is younger. Time to let go Jim.
Just to clarify Whitings stats as a potential lead off hitter and CF in AAA are impressive. His OBP is .420. 17 walks versus 20 strikeouts. 11 SB 7 CS (not so good like Morgan this year.) total zone 25 runs above average fielding-wise.
Watch out Nyjer looks like Mike Rizzo might be grooming an emergency replacement? He is outperforming traditional CF JMax in these categories in AAA. Boomer is 26 years old.
And by the way, Nyjer was hitting .277 when he was traded to the Nats last year;
He was also the starter in far less stressful left field. Given what I saw of Lastings Millege's fielding in the Pirate's series I still believe the Nats got the better end of that bargain.
Milledge for Clint would have been a better deal; Milledge for the CEO of BP would have been a better deal. That's not the point.
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Wait, Milledge for Clint? So Clint would've been the center fielder, and Milledge would have been the annoying Seacr -- oops, I mean the energetic in-game emcee?
Ben
Milledge for Clint would have been a better deal; Milledge for the CEO of BP would have been a better deal. That's not the point.
Just trying to keep things in perspective ... it could be worst ... a lot worst. The sudden promotion of Whiting to AAA from A+ made me wonder if perhaps he was requested by former Cannons manager Trent Jewett. Now, I wonder if perhaps it wasn't Mike Rizzo thinking about Nyjer Morgan's struggles ... and looking at Whiting he does look an awful lot like a right-handed Morgan?
Despite his penchant to annoy at all costs, Clint does show a strong arm during the 'between inning' t-shirt toss. His ability to hit a cutoff man, though, remains a mystery.
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That's true. And he's got a big, projectable frame. Not sure how he'd be in the clubhouse, though, considering everyone would probably want to beat the living snot out of him.
Ben
Quite true, Clint would be in serious peril if he ever hit a walk-off HR
I'll take Teddy ... he knows how to get fanned by hot babes during sweltering day games.
Ben, Iam the real peric
Good Lord, how often can a general manager listen to a manager defaulting to auto-excuse? He doesn't need Morgan at the top of the lineup; unless Riggo doesn't care about stats.
If this team's management is interested in wasting time, testing, tweaking and tinkering, then keep Riggleman...there's none better at this (except maybe for LaRussa). If team management wants to begin winning, start with firing Riggo and then remove the players to whom Riggo is now pathologically loyal: Morgan, Guzman, Dunn and Harris.
This lack of urgency displayed by the manager is quite possibly a huge demoralizing factor. No more tinkering managers, and no more stupid baserunners and first-pitch swingers who've spent years in the league and haven't learned ANY tactics/strategy. Relegate poor performers to the bench or trade 'em.
Ben- coincidence he had probably his best game ever last night topped by that defensive play, only a few hours after you wrote this column?
since all these columns seem to end up be referendums on Riggs' and his managing style by the Natmosphere, Is it possible to do a column on him in the near future, so everyone can vent there?