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Q.  Does SSI agree that Corey Hart, Michael Morse, Nelson Cruz are very similar players?

A.  SSI does agree with that, yes.  Along with Jayson Werth, Josh Willingham, and the like.  Defining characteristics:

• Right handed
• Huge bodies
• Aggressive on the first pitch (Richie Sexson, Jay Buhner, Cecil Fielder don't qualify)
• .275/.325/.500 type profiles
• 0.40 type eye ratios
• Good plate coverage, professional approach (they ain't Steve Balboni; they can drive a pitch to right-center)
• Not supremely talented (Albert Belle, Danny Tartabull, Jose Bautista don't qualify) ...
• ... But these guys can RAKE

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Q.  Are they of comparable value to Kendrys Morales?

A.  Very comparable value, but "right-shifted" down the EMP spectrum to what the Mariners need.  These players don't manage the plate as well, but they hit LHP's, and they have MUCH more power than Kendrys -- typically a 150+ Power Index (PX) vs. Kendrys' 120.

Being right-handed, and offering legitimate HR sock, that gets dismissed sometimes, but what the sabertistas overlook is that ...

... well, that these hitters can BRING THE PAIN.  Like Saavik told Spock about humor, "It is a difficult concept."  For statboys, the idea of a "hitter who can rake" is a very difficult concept.

In June of last year, USSM published an opinion saying that Morales should be given a $14M qualifying offer, despite his (eventual) 1.2 WAR at DH.  They wouldn't phrase it this way, of course, but the fact is they had beheld with their own eyes the fact that Morales, along with Seager, were the only guys who could RAKE.  

Same is true of Nelson Cruz, Corey Hart, and these other big lugs who can lose a fastball over the left field fence.  The contrast between the Usual Mariner Suspects ... Kotchman, Chavez, etc ... and an authentic MLB RBI man is impossible to overlook.  Espeically when they're hitting in the same lineup!

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Lloyd McClendon emphasized this in his press conference, saying that he wanted guys who could drive in runners late in games, two strikes on them.  This is a difficult concept, Saavik'm, but the idea is ...

... Corey Hart doesn't widdle his pants when the other team brings in Joe Nathan.  There are Mariners who do. ::coughsmoakcough::

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Q.  Does this kind of player age badly?

A.  I'll cosign this one with gusto.  Yes, they do.  VERY badly.  They've got to swing hard, swing early, and when their reflexes go even a little bit, you do not want them on your team.  Period.  No defense, no speed, they get hurt a lot because they weigh 240 lbs.  Once they stop hitting 30 homers, you don't want them.

It's always tough finding the right comps list.  But EVERY comps list you find on Nelson Cruz, tells you he is done at 32, or 33, or 34.

I was just about to write a piece, opining that on Nelson Cruz the THIRD year would be a reach.  Fourth and fifth years?   PFFFT.

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Q.  So the Mariners traded a set of bad knees for ... a 1-year deal?

A.  Wins all the way around.  In Corey Hart, they get a carbon-copy of Nelson Cruz ... only, because he's coming off a lost season, they get to skip years 2-5 of the deal.

Pretty ironic, that the day after* Zduriencik gets savaged in the press, he makes an undeniably brilliant sabermetric move.

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Q.  How in the world do you GET Corey Hart for one year, $5-8M?

A.  Two things:  (1) Corey Hart (reportedly) appreciated Jack Zduriencik from their Milwaukee days.  Once again, you could cut the irony in the air with Maureen Dowd's portable butter knife.  

Nobody likes Zduriencik, remember?  ... I'm not saying he ISN'T tough to get along with, but you've got to admit the timing of this "old buddies from down the road" add is ironic, do you not?  Here is a gorgeous 25-man roster add, and it occurred because Corey Hart likes Jack Zduriencik.

Dr. D isn't a Zduriencik fan.  He is a fan of "fair and balanced," a fan of nuanced evaluation as opposed to cartoon caricatures.

(We're not impugning Baker.  He's got a nuanced chat up at the Times today.)

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(2) GM's drip with skepticism about Michael Morse, Nelson Cruz, Kendrys Morales types who "haven't done it for me lately."  They're big guys and it "feels" scary when their legs start to go.

Corey Hart has supposedly been working out at full speed ALREADY.  If he's the new DH, he should be able to stay healthy.  If he does, he slugged over .500 in each of his last three seasons.

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Q.  How are the platoon splits?  What is Hart's projection for 2014?

A.  As with most of these guys, Cruz, Morse, etc., their platoon splits are pretty gentle ... Hart slugs .475 against RHP, lifetime, and .525 vs LHP.  

If these big guys weren't professional hitters, they'd be Carlos Peguero or something.  Hart can take a fastball into right-center, as Morse could.

Last edition, Ron Shandler projected Hart for a .277/.335/.507 MID batting line, 29 homers in 550 AB's.  That'll do for us too.

2014's Josh Willingham, most likely.

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Q.  What's the worst thing about Hart?

A.  That he's not Ryan Braun or Giancarlo Stanton?   ... maybe that he rules Jesus Montero out of another season.

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Q.  What's the best thing about Hart?

A.  That he's been Gordon's #1 value add for about a year?   :: golfclap ::  One of yer best calls, G.

... the strong indication that the Cano Maneuver is paying dividends on MLB players buying in to The New Seattle?

... that the Mariners sent all the Nelson Cruzes and Shin-Soo Choo's a message?  If you want to get greedy, we can and will freeze you out, dude.

... actually, my favorite aspect, that you scored a cleanup hitter, RIGHT handed, and you kept your cash powder dry.  Still a lot of dinero out there to spend.  Cliff Lee, anybody?  Good way to spend a lot of short-term salary without giving up the best prospects.

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Cheers,

Dr D