...on the head.
Signing a 90-ish OPS 1B guy because he has a glove when you already had two known "holes" in the line-up (SS and C) just doesn't make sense.
If the budget didn't allow for more than $3M...and there wasn't a $3M 1B bat out there..then spend that money elsewhere and go with guys you already had who have track records the equal of the guy you do sign (Langerhans had OPS numbers of 106 & 86 the last two seasons/Kotchman had 93 & 90. Langerhans in fewer PA's, of course).
Or go with a bigger upside. Tui and Carp, for example. Although both have struggled a bit this year. But a line up with Tui and Carp would give you a R/L advantage....and giveyou the utility (LF & IF) of Tui. I like that idea.
Langerhans and Saunders deserve a bunch of more starts right now. Never thought I would say that about Saunders. His stroke does look less loopy. Remember Miller Barber, "Mr. X", the old time PGA golf pro. Saunders swing remeinded me of the loopy motion that Barber had. Jury is still out for me on Saunders....but let's ride that horse for a bit. Langerhans, too. Has he hit a weak two hopper to 2B yet?
moethedog
=== FarFromPort ===
I/O: Harrison Crow makes the interesting observation that both Josh Wilson and Matt Tuiasosopo are below-average SS's defensively. Ergo, what is the logic is preferring Wilson as a defensive specialist.
In any case, sez Harrison, the M's should give thanks for Josh's little run infusion, and return to Jack status as soon as possible.
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CRUNCH: I hadn't really thought of it that way, but the eyes tend to agree, now that he mentions it. Wilson's and Tui's range look about the same to me.
Josh Wilson is a certified 69 OPS+ hitter. Not on the basis of his actual 69 OPS+ in the big leagues, but on the basis that in six (!!) AAA seasons, he's hit 275/335/425.
He's dialed in right now, which is great, but 70-OPS hitters have a good two weeks and then a bad six weeks. The mainframe predicts cloudy and overcast.
..........
That said, Jack Wilson is a hurkin' problem in an American League lineup. There is no harm in letting Josh chip in for a little while.
Just because a guy isn't a long-term solution, doesn't mean he might not give you a month or two. You do it with #6 and #7 starting pitchers all the time, ride them while they're hot and hitting the mitt.
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CRUNCH: Jack Wilson's offensive woes have been greatly underexaggerated. He hit for a 51 OPS+ in transition last year, and this year is considerably worse.
Granted, Jack is ripping along at a loftier 72 OPS+ this year, but that is based on a lucky .302 BABIP. Wilson's career BABIP is .290 and we are here to assure you that his true BABIP projects below .280 as an American Leaguer in Safeco.
This "inflated" 72 OPS+ isn't the point; his 1:14 EYE ratio is. Nobody stays in the lineup getting smashed like that.
Jack has taken to bunting as often as possible to salvage a bit of contribution. We remind that this is the same strategy used by, um, pitchers. In this case, the strategy is driven by similar rationale...
Jack is a wunnnnnnnnerful shortstop. He really is. But 60-70-OPS+ shortstops only make sense, if ever, on teams like the 1994 Cleveland Indians. If you've got bat-first, metal-glove players at several other positions, a D-wizard can make sense.
You can't deploy a 60-OPS+ defensive shortstop and then pick guys like Casey Kotchman around the rest of the diamond. You'll wind up scoring 9 runs in 7 games and reading about your DH's sleep habits.
There is a point of critical mass on everything. Jack Wilson takes you real close to the critical-mass point on offense. You've got to compensate for him, it seems to me, with Adam Dunn types elsewhere. That keeps you away from the critical-mass nexuses. (I looked up the pl., Zum-bro'.)
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CRUNCH: The reality is that Josh Wilson will probably spell Lopez, Jack and Figgins, as long as he's hitting. He gives Wok a chance to rest his IF air conditioners.
CRUNCH: If Jack Wilson continues to run sub-0.20 EYE ratios, it's a matter of when he's gone. Not if.
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Cheers,
Dr D
Comments
Theres a good chance this is just age related decline considering Jack's age and position. Over his career Jack Wilson has hit pretty much the same vs good pitching and bad pitching so he doesn't really figure to suffer as much in a league transition.
Over the past two years Jack Wilson has an O-Swing% over 32% (vs 23.3% career), and a SwS% over 7% (vs 5.7% career). This year hes making even less contact and the peripherals have further declined.
Its early, but Z took a gamble on Wilson rebounding offensively this season. So far it looks like the offensive decline is continuing.
Wilson's 32 now. For his level of ability that could be past the prime by a good ways.