Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

JUPITER — First baseman Logan Morrison hasn't played in a single major league game, but he's setting a lofty goal this season: Follow Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan and win the National League Rookie of the Year award.

 

"I'd be lying to you if I didn't want to go back-to-back with him. You've got to have your goals and set them high,' he said.

 

Of course, Morrison knows that he must win a job with the Marlins first. And he's giving himself every chance to do that.

 

Spring training doesn't start until Feb. 20, but Morrison said he has been working out on the back fields at Roger Dean Stadium since October. On Tuesday, he took light defensive drills at first base with infield coach Joe Espada.

 

"The biggest thing I've had my mind set on this whole off-season is to go in and make that opening-day roster,' Morrison said.

 

Morrison will compete with Gaby Sanchez, who opened the 2009 season at Class AAA New Orleans after failing to win the first base job out of camp.

 

Jorge Cantu wound up starting the season at first base. He moved to third base in August after the Marlins traded for Nick Johnson, who recently signed a free-agent deal with the New York Yankees.

 

The Marlins will go into camp with the hopes of Cantu starting the season at third base and Morrison at first. Morrison, of course, will have to prove this spring that he deserves it.

 

"He's ready to play in the big leagues. He's a very impressive kid,' Marlins baseball operations president Admin Beinfest said recently.

 

Morrison, who was drafted by the Marlins in the 22nd round in 2005, had a breakout year with Class A Jupiter in 2008, batting .332 with 13 homers and 74 RBI en route to winning the Florida State League Most Valuable Player award.

 

He was limited to 79 games at Class AA Jacksonville in 2009 after fracturing his right thumb in a collision in April. He finished the year with a .277 batting average, eight homers and 47 RBI.

 

"The numbers weren't what I wanted but coming off an injury you've got to allow for that,' he said.

 

Morrison, 22, could also get some action in left field, but for now the plan is to start Coghlan there.

 

"We've been focusing mainly on infield,' Morrison said. "If the outfield thing comes along in spring training and they want me to work out there, I'd be more than happy.'

 

Morrison isn't the only Marlins player getting a head start in Jupiter. Left-handed reliever Taylor Tankersley, who is trying to come back from an elbow injury, threw his first bullpen session Tuesday.

 

Tankersley, the organization's top draft pick in 2004, will try to win a bullpen spot. He missed all of the 2009 season with a stress fracture in his left elbow.

 

Among 20 major- and minor-league players working out this week are right-handers Chris Volstad and Tim Wood, left-hander Dan Meyer and third base prospect Matt Dominguez. Right-hander Anibal Sanchez also has been in Jupiter.

 

Players said they're expecting those numbers to increase when the Marlins hold informal winter workouts the week of Jan. 24. The workouts are not open to the public.

 

Volstad said he has been working on a slider, a pitch he never had thrown.

 

"The coaches wanted me to work on a slider, something that goes down and away, to work off of my sinker,' he said. "I have been playing catch with it but haven't really thrown it yet off a mound.'

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/marlins/marlins-logan-morrison-making-an-early-case-to-177281.html

 

Definitely rooting for LoMo to be out there on Opening Day.

  • Author

JUPITER — First baseman Logan Morrison hasn't played in a single major league game, but he's setting a lofty goal this season: Follow Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan and win the National League Rookie of the Year award.

 

"I'd be lying to you if I didn't want to go back-to-back with him. You've got to have your goals and set them high,' he said.

 

Of course, Morrison knows that he must win a job with the Marlins first. And he's giving himself every chance to do that.

 

Spring training doesn't start until Feb. 20, but Morrison said he has been working out on the back fields at Roger Dean Stadium since October. On Tuesday, he took light defensive drills at first base with infield coach Joe Espada.

 

"The biggest thing I've had my mind set on this whole off-season is to go in and make that opening-day roster,' Morrison said.

 

Morrison will compete with Gaby Sanchez, who opened the 2009 season at Class AAA New Orleans after failing to win the first base job out of camp.

 

Jorge Cantu wound up starting the season at first base. He moved to third base in August after the Marlins traded for Nick Johnson, who recently signed a free-agent deal with the New York Yankees.

 

The Marlins will go into camp with the hopes of Cantu starting the season at third base and Morrison at first. Morrison, of course, will have to prove this spring that he deserves it.

 

"He's ready to play in the big leagues. He's a very impressive kid,' Marlins baseball operations president Admin Beinfest said recently.

 

Morrison, who was drafted by the Marlins in the 22nd round in 2005, had a breakout year with Class A Jupiter in 2008, batting .332 with 13 homers and 74 RBI en route to winning the Florida State League Most Valuable Player award.

 

He was limited to 79 games at Class AA Jacksonville in 2009 after fracturing his right thumb in a collision in April. He finished the year with a .277 batting average, eight homers and 47 RBI.

 

"The numbers weren't what I wanted but coming off an injury you've got to allow for that,' he said.

 

Morrison, 22, could also get some action in left field, but for now the plan is to start Coghlan there.

 

"We've been focusing mainly on infield,' Morrison said. "If the outfield thing comes along in spring training and they want me to work out there, I'd be more than happy.'

 

Morrison isn't the only Marlins player getting a head start in Jupiter. Left-handed reliever Taylor Tankersley, who is trying to come back from an elbow injury, threw his first bullpen session Tuesday.

 

Tankersley, the organization's top draft pick in 2004, will try to win a bullpen spot. He missed all of the 2009 season with a stress fracture in his left elbow.

 

Among 20 major- and minor-league players working out this week are right-handers Chris Volstad and Tim Wood, left-hander Dan Meyer and third base prospect Matt Dominguez. Right-hander Anibal Sanchez also has been in Jupiter.

 

Players said they're expecting those numbers to increase when the Marlins hold informal winter workouts the week of Jan. 24. The workouts are not open to the public.

 

Volstad said he has been working on a slider, a pitch he never had thrown.

 

"The coaches wanted me to work on a slider, something that goes down and away, to work off of my sinker,' he said. "I have been playing catch with it but haven't really thrown it yet off a mound.'

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/marlins/marlins-logan-morrison-making-an-early-case-to-177281.html

 

Definitely rooting for LoMo to be out there on Opening Day.

Really want to see "LoMo" get 2+ months in AAA for competition reasons and to delay his arbitration clock. But love the attitude.

 

Gaby/Jimenez R/L platoon and Cantu shifting between 1B/3B is what I want to see. And if it doesn't work out, I'll be happy we gave each of those guys 100 or so PA to try and establish themselves before giving Morrison his shot.

Really want to see "LoMo" get 2+ months in AAA for competition reasons and to delay his arbitration clock. But love the attitude.

 

Gaby/Jimenez R/L platoon and Cantu shifting between 1B/3B is what I want to see. And if it doesn't work out, I'll be happy we gave each of those guys 100 or so PA to try and establish themselves before giving Morrison his shot.

  • Author

He could probably use those two months but if he wins the job, so be it.

  • Author

He could probably use those two months but if he wins the job, so be it.

I think he's really going to have to blow everyone away during Spring Training to make the Opening Day roster. I know he will be called up sometime during the season though.

I think he's really going to have to blow everyone away during Spring Training to make the Opening Day roster. I know he will be called up sometime during the season though.

I'm not so sure that he is ready to really make a ROY splash type season at the major league level, and I have my doubts that he is going to be a real impact player (although still a very good offensive player, just not exceptional for his position), but I have to say that I'm impressed with the work, attitude, and desire. Its one thing for a guy to want to be ROY, but its another for that guy to be out there in the offseason working out, trying to get better every day so he can actually get that award.

 

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

I'm not so sure that he is ready to really make a ROY splash type season at the major league level, and I have my doubts that he is going to be a real impact player (although still a very good offensive player, just not exceptional for his position), but I have to say that I'm impressed with the work, attitude, and desire. Its one thing for a guy to want to be ROY, but its another for that guy to be out there in the offseason working out, trying to get better every day so he can actually get that award.

 

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

 

Can we move on? Seriously?

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

 

Can we move on? Seriously?

I know this article is mainly about Morrison and I'm happy to hear that he's aiming for a ROY type season but I agree that he needs a bit more time in the minors.

More importantly, I'm glad to hear that Voly is putting in some work to try and build off this less than impressive season. I hope whatever he is doing works because we are really going to our pitching to step up after an inconsistent 2009.

I know this article is mainly about Morrison and I'm happy to hear that he's aiming for a ROY type season but I agree that he needs a bit more time in the minors.

More importantly, I'm glad to hear that Voly is putting in some work to try and build off this less than impressive season. I hope whatever he is doing works because we are really going to our pitching to step up after an inconsistent 2009.

I'm not so sure that he is ready to really make a ROY splash type season at the major league level, and I have my doubts that he is going to be a real impact player (although still a very good offensive player, just not exceptional for his position), but I have to say that I'm impressed with the work, attitude, and desire. Its one thing for a guy to want to be ROY, but its another for that guy to be out there in the offseason working out, trying to get better every day so he can actually get that award.

 

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

 

 

 

I don't get it, because Hermida never explicitly came out and said he wanted to win ROY he didn't want to suceed in the majors or because he didn't say it he's a "lazy bum"?

 

Whatever, he is the Red Sox issue now and I wish him the best.

I'm not so sure that he is ready to really make a ROY splash type season at the major league level, and I have my doubts that he is going to be a real impact player (although still a very good offensive player, just not exceptional for his position), but I have to say that I'm impressed with the work, attitude, and desire. Its one thing for a guy to want to be ROY, but its another for that guy to be out there in the offseason working out, trying to get better every day so he can actually get that award.

 

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

 

 

 

I don't get it, because Hermida never explicitly came out and said he wanted to win ROY he didn't want to suceed in the majors or because he didn't say it he's a "lazy bum"?

 

Whatever, he is the Red Sox issue now and I wish him the best.

I'm not so sure that he is ready to really make a ROY splash type season at the major league level, and I have my doubts that he is going to be a real impact player (although still a very good offensive player, just not exceptional for his position), but I have to say that I'm impressed with the work, attitude, and desire. Its one thing for a guy to want to be ROY, but its another for that guy to be out there in the offseason working out, trying to get better every day so he can actually get that award.

 

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

 

 

 

Hermida never had to say this. He was a better prospect than Morrison, Coghlan, etc. That's why he came up very young. He was one of the best prospects in baseball, in his time. It didn't work out. As has been said, it's probably time to move on.

I'm not so sure that he is ready to really make a ROY splash type season at the major league level, and I have my doubts that he is going to be a real impact player (although still a very good offensive player, just not exceptional for his position), but I have to say that I'm impressed with the work, attitude, and desire. Its one thing for a guy to want to be ROY, but its another for that guy to be out there in the offseason working out, trying to get better every day so he can actually get that award.

 

Funny, these kinds of stories never came out about Jeremy Hermida.

 

 

 

Hermida never had to say this. He was a better prospect than Morrison, Coghlan, etc. That's why he came up very young. He was one of the best prospects in baseball, in his time. It didn't work out. As has been said, it's probably time to move on.

The only question for Logan is whether he'll be able to hit LHP enough to be an everyday player, really. I wouldn't really mind going into this season platooning Logan and Gaby if both show enough early on.

The only question for Logan is whether he'll be able to hit LHP enough to be an everyday player, really. I wouldn't really mind going into this season platooning Logan and Gaby if both show enough early on.

But you also don't want to resort to platooning/splitting their plate appearances -- both of them are relatively inexperienced and need as much opportunity as they can get, so they can adjust/progress at their respective levels.

 

Gaby seems much further along right now, and I'd be shocked if Morrison starts this season on the 25 man.

But you also don't want to resort to platooning/splitting their plate appearances -- both of them are relatively inexperienced and need as much opportunity as they can get, so they can adjust/progress at their respective levels.

 

Gaby seems much further along right now, and I'd be shocked if Morrison starts this season on the 25 man.

In what way is Gabby further along than Logan as a player besides having played more games and being older? Logan is a better glove and has a better swing and is a more versatile hitter. I like Gabby but right now at this very moment Logan is a much more polished hitter

In what way is Gabby further along than Logan as a player besides having played more games and being older? Logan is a better glove and has a better swing and is a more versatile hitter. I like Gabby but right now at this very moment Logan is a much more polished hitter

You can't just exclude "experience" and "age" ... when those are important indicators of where a player resides on the depth chart.

 

Gaby has been a prospect at the upper level of the minors for a few seasons now, producing enough to earn an extended major league opportunity (that means the team should continue to let him take the field everyday, even if he gets off to a slow start).

 

Morrison missed a lot of time last year, is still largely untested, and only has 340 PAs at AA. A promotion to the major leagues at this point in his career, would seem premature/overly aggressive.

 

Furthermore, Gaby Sanchez is projected to produce +6 runs offensively next year and Morrison is only projected to produce +1.3 -- I'd use this projection more for a relative difference than an accurate prognostication of their performance next season.

 

A lot of "feel good" pieces like this come out this time of year, teasing fans with the idea that their team's most prized prospects might be starting the season in the major leagues -- probably to arouse interest/build hype for the upcoming season more than anything else.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...