Mitch Moreland

[notin]

In the absence of actual baseball topics, I'm going to revisit this signing.

 

While he's hardly a key component and more likely a placeholder for Sam Travis (my prediction - up by mid- August), I really don't like this guy. Granted, it's hard to sing the praises of Brandon Moss or Adam Lind or Logan Morrison over him. It's really a borderline inconsequential signing, but it's not like anyone is generating better new topics.

 

First, the defense. While he is coming off a Gold Glove season, Moreland really isn't normally an elite defender at the position. The Rangers used him at DH and in the outfield alot, which makes me wonder about his true glove skills. It's not like Prince Fielder and Jurickson Profar and some of their other first slackers were known for great glove work. Why did it take a career-ending injury to Fielder to get him a regular job there?

 

He also really isn't a great hitter. Really his one skill seems to be absolutely mashing no doubt tape measure home runs. If you've ever seen a Moreland home run, you know what I am talking about. He'll clear the bullpen at least half a dozen times next year,and clear it by a lot.

 

But really what bugs me is this integrated 1b/DH platoon. Moreland has always struggled vs LHP. This probably won't change. So if an opposing team brings in a LHP to face him, pinch hitting is not so much of a no-brainer. Young can likely hit, but then who plays first? Hanley can't, unless the Sox want to forego the DH. Holt certainly could, but there will be times he's already in the game. Or already out of it.

 

Normally in a true platoon, one counterpart is always on the bench and steps in to replace the starter. It's that easy. But when a platoon is integrated with the DH, things get needlessly complicated.

 

And is Moreland worth needlessly complicating things over? In this respect, maybe a better flat out hitter who would make for a better DH platoon mate would have made more sense...

[Eddy Ballgame]

You make some good points and obviously time will tell if they made the right move. Dombrowski supposedly loves the guy and his "makeup." His reputation is that he is the ultimate gamer, which plays well in Boston. DD also mentioned how Tigers scout Dick Egan kept telling him to trade for Moreland when he was in Detroit.

[Bellhorn04]

His fielding numbers look pretty solid to me. A career UZR/150 of 5.3 (9.2 in 2016).

[moonslav59]

Good point on the who plays 1B after we pinch hit for Moreland when they bring a lefty in to face him late in games.

 

- If it's HanRam, we lose the DH.

- If it's Holt, uh-oh.

[notin]

His fielding numbers look pretty solid to me. A career UZR/150 of 5.3 (9.2 in 2016).

 

His UZR is above average, but entering last year he was one DRS above league average for his career. ..

[moonslav59]

His UZR is above average, but entering last year he was one DRS above league average for his career. ..

 

He's significantly better than HanRam on D, and maybe having HanRam DH vs RHP will help keep him fresh and improve the odds of being injury free.

[Kimmi]

He's significantly better than HanRam on D, and maybe having HanRam DH vs RHP will help keep him fresh and improve the odds of being injury free.

 

Agreed. I like the Moreland signing. I think he's a good fit. I think he will help our first base defense as well as help Hanley's production by keeping him rested.

 

Notin does have a fair point about who will play first base if Moreland is removed for a pinch hitter.

[notin]

I'm not so big on Moreland, and I think the defensive upgrade will have a minimal impact. But outside of a blockbuster signing like Encarnacion or (I can't believe I'm about to include this guy) Trumbo, it is really hard to make the case for any of the other second tier options like Moss or Lind or Morrison as definitive and obvious superior choices. I do think limiting the choices to a left-handed bat was being way too simple and unnecessarily eliminated some other decent choices like Napoli, and even to a lesser extent, Chris Carter..

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not so big on Moreland, and I think the defensive upgrade will have a minimal impact. But outside of a blockbuster signing like Encarnacion or (I can't believe I'm about to include this guy) Trumbo, it is really hard to make the case for any of the other second tier options like Moss or Lind or Morrison as definitive and obvious superior choices. I do think limiting the choices to a left-handed bat was being way too simple and unnecessarily eliminated some other decent choices like Napoli, and even to a lesser extent, Chris Carter..

 

Probably figured Moreland would be cheaper than Napoli or Carter?

[moonslav59]

I'm not so big on Moreland, and I think the defensive upgrade will have a minimal impact. But outside of a blockbuster signing like Encarnacion or (I can't believe I'm about to include this guy) Trumbo, it is really hard to make the case for any of the other second tier options like Moss or Lind or Morrison as definitive and obvious superior choices. I do think limiting the choices to a left-handed bat was being way too simple and unnecessarily eliminated some other decent choices like Napoli, and even to a lesser extent, Chris Carter..

 

I disagree. Chris Young needs to start vs every LH'd starter, and unless you want to platoon Beni and/or JBJ, then Young at DH vs LHPs makes a tom of sense. That leaves the need for a LH'd batter to allow for a platoon. Moreland has a career OPS 105 points higher vs RHPs, and his better defense than HanRam allows us to get HanRam more PAs (in theory) by keeping him rested through being our DH for two-thirds of our games. With Papi's departure, a healthy and productive HanRam is essential.

 

While the PH issue is a concern, Moreland's .673 OPS vs LHPs is not the worst career split on the team.

[moonslav59]

Probably figured Moreland would be cheaper than Napoli or Carter?

 

Naps wants 2 years.

 

All Chris Carter does is score touchdowns!

[notin]

Probably figured Moreland would be cheaper than Napoli or Carter?

 

Reportedly Dombrowski said he wanted a left-handed option. But it is possible price was his only concern..

[moonslav59]

How much worse is Moreland vs LHPs offensively than some other Sox batters?

 

.429 Beni (only 33 PAs)

.667 Vaz (85 PAs)

.673 Swihart (98 PAs)

.673 Moreland

.681 JBJ

.709 Holt

.750 Leon (150 PAs)

 

Yes, wanting to PH Young (.848 vs LHPs and much better recently) for Moreland might come up late in games, but we could just PH him for Leon or Vaz and keep the DH. Also, losing the DH is not always a terrible thing in the 8th or 9th inning as the lost DH slot never gets to hit again.

 

Here are the Sox widest career splits:

 

.555 Beni (tiny sample sizes)

.139 Young (still .707 vs RHPs)

.130 Bogey (.717 vs RHPs might need demoting in line-up)

.105 Moreland (.673 vs LHPs)

.069 Ramirez (still .844 vs RHPs)

.050 Pedroia (still .797 vs RHPs)

.029 Betts (still .832 vs LHPs)

.005 Holt (actually hits LHPs slightly better than RHPs)

 

Catchers:

.097 Leon (.652 vs RHPs)

.083 Vaz (.584 vs RHPs)

.054 Swi (.727 vs RHPs/.673 vs LHPs- maybe a platoon might develop, if he is called up)

[moonslav59]

Reportedly Dombrowski said he wanted a left-handed option. But it is possible price was his only concern..

 

I think both played into the Moreland signing with a 1B defense upgrade being a side perk.