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For one thing, he's only 8 months younger than Smoak and just got to AAA.  His batting eye has abandoned him again after a really good year last year (in that regard) where it looked like he might be changing his approach.  He hits righties pretty well which would normally give him a shot (since he's RH), but "pretty well" as a first baseman isn't enough, especially because he doesn't punish lefties at all to help his line.  He just hits what he hits.
Rich is gonna have to go Mike Carp on somebody.  Carp got his shot because he hit 21 HRs in half a season (at the same age that Poythress is now) and we happened to have a need.  Poythress has 2 HRs this year so far, after hitting 9 and 11 the previous two years.  If we wanted a 1B without thump wouldn't we just keep Smoak?  
The 1B to watch is Choi, down at High Desert. He should be in AA before the year is through. He's almost 4 years younger than Poythress, is a lefty instead of a righty (there's discrimination that happens at 1B with righties), crushed the MWL when he was healthy last year and is currently demolishing the Cal League (.322/.404/.600) with a good batting eye and serious doubles power.  What'll get Choi to the bigs is walks, not HRs.  He's in the vein of Nick Johnson or Youkilis-lite, though he doesn't walk quite that much.  More of a doubles guy than a 30 HR guy, sweet swing, good  D, uses his good average and OBP skills to make up for a few less HRs.
I think Choi is jumping Poythress in line and with Morales around to play some first base it's unlikely Poythress gets the call even if Smoak craters again.  And if it's not this year, then it won't be next. Unfortunately for Rich.
~G

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