tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post5786538860134000393..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Nats sign veteran hitter StairsMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-80880799499434468422010-12-15T09:11:22.908-05:002010-12-15T09:11:22.908-05:00I too am not getting the slam on Stairs. He hasn&#...I too am not getting the slam on Stairs. He hasn't been hired to be the heart of the batting order, or the leadoff hitter, or the missing first-baseman.<br /><br />As a pinch hitter he's good. Shouldn't we want somebody like that?Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07243007019646325480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-7656150003595660722010-12-15T08:59:48.033-05:002010-12-15T08:59:48.033-05:00That makes no sense N. Cognito. Stairs, who you s...That makes no sense N. Cognito. Stairs, who you say is in a freefall, tied for the league lead in pinch hit homeruns on a team that was in playoff contention last year. His OPS as a PHer was over.800 and he tied for the lead in PH homers (not to mention a game winner against the Nats). If he has been good enough to be a vital bat off the bench for Philly and San Diego the last 2 years, which by the way means he was on their 25 man roster in case you were confused, then he is surely good enough to be on our bench. Look up more than just a slash line before you say a player is destined to cause a team to lose 100 games. We had players like Kevin Mench, Willy Taveras, Jorge Padilla, Alex Cintron etc over the last couple seasons that got as many at bats as Stairs will get. Those are the players who are on 100 loss teams.pdowdy83noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-91024144386869955262010-12-15T08:15:46.520-05:002010-12-15T08:15:46.520-05:00Hey, Boz indicated fireworks. Should have three ne...Hey, Boz indicated fireworks. Should have three new players by lunch. The Boz knows.Section 223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-33051241153034529932010-12-15T08:13:21.096-05:002010-12-15T08:13:21.096-05:00@Big Cat, why would he say that? The off-season is...@Big Cat, why would he say that? The off-season is not over.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07243007019646325480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72527001921377298242010-12-15T08:11:03.113-05:002010-12-15T08:11:03.113-05:00I see the Stairs' signing as a positive improv...I see the Stairs' signing as a positive improvement for our bench. Is it going to change the Nats comletely in '11? No. But it is an improvement over our other PHs.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43530033210210374562010-12-15T07:03:57.086-05:002010-12-15T07:03:57.086-05:00Just when I thought things were looking up. Stair...Just when I thought things were looking up. Stairs signing == same old, same old, an old used to almost be. Oh, well.Another_Samnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-49440980974601331992010-12-15T06:31:20.270-05:002010-12-15T06:31:20.270-05:00I wonder if Werth is starting to look around and s...I wonder if Werth is starting to look around and saying to himself "This might of been a big mistake."Big Catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1706514309908995922010-12-14T22:29:34.642-05:002010-12-14T22:29:34.642-05:00The problem with Morse playing first base every da...The problem with Morse playing first base every day is that he is a right handed hitter. As is Chris Marerro. As is potential first bagger Derrick Norris. <br /><br />Bernadina in left could offset that ... but he doesn't hit as well as Morse, at least not yet. Perhaps he will become a good hitter? Apparently Rizzo doesn't want to take the sort of risk Jim Bowden would have gladly embraced; in both cases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-84971673572215356672010-12-14T21:54:37.266-05:002010-12-14T21:54:37.266-05:00"Professional hitter" Matt Stairs is a B..."Professional hitter" Matt Stairs is a BIG upgrade over Willie, and Riggs won't double-switch him.alm1000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-66337210013961321272010-12-14T21:23:37.116-05:002010-12-14T21:23:37.116-05:00You oughta at least mention who Stairs replaces as...You oughta at least mention who Stairs replaces as the #1 LH pinch-hitter -- Willie Harris. So who says Stairs isn't a good pickup?Theophilusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-82474711208146278672010-12-14T20:12:00.011-05:002010-12-14T20:12:00.011-05:00DFL -
I remember Staub as a pretty effective pinc...DFL -<br /><br />I remember Staub as a pretty effective pinch hitter, with numbers comparable to Lee Mazilli in late '86 and '87. And he was a good clubhouse presence as well. Obviously not what he was in his prime but still an asset. Kinda like Stairs, now that I think about it...Alan_Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24873540636742083182010-12-14T20:08:43.483-05:002010-12-14T20:08:43.483-05:00If Matt Stairs makes the 25-man roster the Nats wi...If Matt Stairs makes the 25-man roster the Nats will lose 100.<br />The guy is in freefall and last year hit .232 .306 .475<br /><br />But hey, he's a great clubhouse guy!N. Cognitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-76143812817430403562010-12-14T19:59:29.846-05:002010-12-14T19:59:29.846-05:00To the reactionists: Matt Stairs is a minor-league...To the reactionists: Matt Stairs is a minor-league signing for 2011, with an invite to Viera in 2011. That's all; No guarantees, no long-term obligations. <br /><br />Having 'said' that, if he does make the 25-man roster out of spring training, he needs to earn it with his current bat, and not just his reputation / history. If that means a lot of bus-trips to AL sites where he can serve as a DH, sobeit.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-11364925451864855122010-12-14T19:41:28.727-05:002010-12-14T19:41:28.727-05:00Good move by Rizzo. Fills need for left handed po...Good move by Rizzo. Fills need for left handed power that knows HIS PLACE on the team. And a good clubhouse guy too. These types of under the radar moves are what championship teams do in the winter. Let's hope double switch Riggs knows his place and doesn't use him in the field.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29124867577462688872010-12-14T18:37:48.048-05:002010-12-14T18:37:48.048-05:00"I think Stairs is a good bench pickup."..."I think Stairs is a good bench pickup."<br /><br />... so do I; I echo some of the others who see in Matt a guy who doesn't rock boats, who has the ability to settle down a wayward bench (if needed), and who can step up to the plate and do something worthwhile.<br /><br />... but that said, I'm still looking for a decent 1B and someone with an arm who camn take the mound to start a game.<br /><br />... we ain't done yet ... I hope.<br /><br />Go Nats!natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-91374231933619831172010-12-14T17:38:17.239-05:002010-12-14T17:38:17.239-05:00FWIW, Morse came up as a shortstop. That was 6 ye...FWIW, Morse came up as a shortstop. That was 6 years (and a significant body change) ago.Pilchardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-69420884577240703942010-12-14T17:06:55.296-05:002010-12-14T17:06:55.296-05:00pdowdy83,
Actually the 1.4 WAR includes a -5.9 f...pdowdy83,<br /><br /> Actually the 1.4 WAR includes a -5.9 for fielding in the outfield which means that he is a really bad outfielder (ALA DUNN); I think he can be less bad at 1st and if that works then you need to find a let/switch hitter for left field.JDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25754064290226117912010-12-14T16:50:50.638-05:002010-12-14T16:50:50.638-05:00JD,
Thats assuming he is an average fielding firs...JD,<br /><br />Thats assuming he is an average fielding first basemen. If he isn't that brings his WAR down. I think he should be in LF a lot and let him settle in there. Trade Willingham for something while we can and sign Laroche for 2 years, maybe 3. <br /><br />I like Morse a lot and he might be good enough for first but I wouldn't want to put all the eggs in that basket.pdowdy83noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72961021602125655002010-12-14T16:43:53.501-05:002010-12-14T16:43:53.501-05:00swang,
In 2010 Morse was 1.4 ORP on 293 AB's;...swang,<br /><br />In 2010 Morse was 1.4 ORP on 293 AB's; you can probably easily extrapolate this to 2.5 WAR if he played at 1st every day; the only negative with playing Morse at 1st is that he hits right handed.JDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-52853457015542603702010-12-14T16:36:40.503-05:002010-12-14T16:36:40.503-05:00I have no problems with Stairs signing. It's ...I have no problems with Stairs signing. It's a minor league deal and there is no risk in doing so. It's win win. If he makes the team great. If not you send him to AAA or cut him. What we need is a first baseman.<br /><br />Please Santa Rizzo. Christmas is right around the corner. Can I have a left handed hitting first baseman under the tree by Christmas morning?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-33300273259041779432010-12-14T16:30:47.911-05:002010-12-14T16:30:47.911-05:00Having Stairs for a Nats pinch hitting role remind...Having Stairs for a Nats pinch hitting role reminds me of the equally pathetic New York Mets of 1981-83 bringing the slovenly Rusty Staub off the bench as a pinch hitter. Staub seemed to have cared more for New York's cuisine than the ballfield. Perhaps Stairs is thought to replace Adam Dunn. Stairs did hit 38 home runs for Oakland in 1999 when he was 31, the same age Dunn was when he duplicated Stairs feat last season.DFLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25956787124078752282010-12-14T16:17:52.317-05:002010-12-14T16:17:52.317-05:00@Pdowdy83: Great points I have no problem with the...@Pdowdy83: Great points I have no problem with the Stairs signing. He should be a great LH pinch hitter who could always backup LF or 1B (not the prettiest of sights) in case of injury. He could be a great mentor for Bryce Harper in ST, and adds a nice vet. presence overall.Steveospeakhttp://www.fanspeak.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-9205814270186617442010-12-14T15:39:20.897-05:002010-12-14T15:39:20.897-05:00I think Stairs is a good bench pickup.I think Stairs is a good bench pickup.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12049885953973744819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-12613751865496188782010-12-14T15:31:20.872-05:002010-12-14T15:31:20.872-05:00Ditto on congrats for Natscan! I watched a game wh...Ditto on congrats for Natscan! I watched a game when Stairs and Larry Walker played in the same OF for the 'Spos.<br /><br />Trading Espinosa for Greinke, would be good for the Royals. I hope that is one trade that Rizzo passes up.Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-32513962827860869792010-12-14T15:28:07.435-05:002010-12-14T15:28:07.435-05:00It's already on Wikipedia so it must be offici...It's already on Wikipedia so it must be official.The Great Unwashednoreply@blogger.com