The Logan Morrison Ordeal

The Marlins sent rookie left fielder Logan Morrison down to Class-AAA New Orleans yesterday, citing his second half struggles as a reason.  While LoMo has struggled in the second half, there is reason to believe that there in more to the story.  There is a report that Morrison was sent down as punishment over a dispute about a local charity event with Jeffrey Loria.

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria isn't viewed to well in a lot of baseball circles.  He's viewed as a business man who's primary goal is to make money, instead of trying to win. Since winning the 2003 World Series, Loria's primary goal has been to get local taxpayers to build a new stadium, claiming that he couldn't afford to do it himself, and threatened to move the team if he couldn't get a new stadium.  He also sheds any high priced players in order to keep their payroll low, citing that the team doesn't make a profit.  After the MLB learned that the team does in fact make a profit, and Loria was pocketing most of it, the MLB stepped in and forced the Marlins to spend the money that they revieved frm revenue sharing.  That's why Hanley Ramirez and Josh Joshson got signed to long term deals and aren't on the Yankees at this point.

Loria has been known to force his organization to trade players that he has a personal conflict with, and this may soon be the same with Logan Morrison.  If i were a general manager of another team in the major leagues, I would keep my eye on the situation, and look to pounce during the offseason.

Last offseason, the Marlins got rid of Cameron Maybin and Dan Uggla.  I agree with getting rid of Uggla, because as a big, slow second baseman, he doesn't profile as a player who would age well.  His defense has never even approached league average, and is getting worse.  However, I think that they could have gotten more for him than utility infielder Omar Infante and middle reliever Mike Dunn.  Cameron Maybin is a true center fielder who plays well above average in the field.  Maybin has struggles at the plate, but is only 24, and is quietly having a good year this year.  The problem with the Maybin trade is they had no one to replace him, and got two relief pitchers back for him.  Chris Coghlan is the Marlins new centerfielder.  He's a converted second baseman who would be a below average defender in left field.  Within three days last November, the Marlins got rid of Uggla and Maybin for Omar Infante, Mike Dunn, Edward Mujica, and Ryan Webb.  Teams that are run well do not trade their assets for relief pitchers.  That is a fact.  If you look at the bullpen of successful teams in recent years, their pitchers are home grown, claimed off waivers, acquired for a prospect, or picked off of a scrap heap.  But no teams give away good assets to get relief pitchers.

Back to Logan Morrison, he's had a strange year this year.  He came up in the Marlins system as a first baseman who could hit for average, get on base, and hit for league average power.  So far this year, the average has been a little low, leading to a lower on base percentage than expected, but the power has developed faster than people thought.  He only hit more than 13 homeruns once in the minor leagues, but 17 in only 362 at bats so far this year.  He's been playing left field in the majors because Gaby Sanchez has ben manning first base the past two years, and is still learning how to play the outfield.  He's only 23, and his bat should play anywhere in the field.

If I managed the Indians, I would be calling the Marlins as soon as I could, to try and acquire Morrison.  They could move him back to first base, and build a package around a few relievers, Matt LaPorta, and maybe a prospect.  If the Indians are really trying to win in the next few years, they can't keep waiting in LaPorta, they simply need to get more out of first base.

Around the League:
The Brewers are really starting to separate themselves from the Cardinals.  They've won 16 of their last 18, including taking four of six against the Cardinals, and have a five game lead in the division now.  Twelve of those wins came against the Astros, Cubs, and Pirates, so take that for what it's worth, but they're hot right now.

The Diamondbacks are hitting the crap out of the ball right now.  The Giants are actually have a negative run differential right now, but are still managing to stay afloat because their bullpen allows them to win a lot of close games.

One thing that will get on my nerves from here until the end of the regular season will be the decisions made be executives at ESPN and other networks.  The Phillies, Red Sox, and Yankees have all but assured their playoff spots, while the other five spots are still up for grabs.  I hope that they aren't shown on national television every chance that they can while other teams are pressing for the playoffs are ignored.  I'd much rather see the Indians, Tigers, Cardinals, Brewers, Giants, and Diamondbacks rather than watch the Yankees go through the motions three nights a week.