Who is Mitch Moreland?
by psugator on Aug 17, 2008 11:04 PM CDT
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Is this guy the real deal or is he just an old guy (23) raking in A-ball? I've never heard of him until now....Tell me more please. Is he really Chris Davis reincarnated? Why haven't the Rangers promoted him? Is he the kind of guy -- ala Mat Gamel et al -- who doesn't have a position? Is he part of the Rangers' future? Your help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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You can't
just call him an old guy, this is his first full pro season. Walks as much as he strikes out, not as much raw power as Davis. Can probably play in RF with Smoak at 1B. He does need a promotion soon, but maybe staying in Clinton for the playoff run.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Aug 17, 2008 11:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
2007 draftee
Moreland was a 17th round pick in the 2007 draft. Bats L and throws L, he was a firstbaseman and pitcher at Mississippi State. I think he has been working on the holes in his swing. :)
From Baseball America:
Junior first baseman/lefty Mitch Moreland could be taken on the first day of the draft. Moreland might be drafted as a first baseman, where plus raw power is his best asset. Because he’s limited defensively and has an uppercut swing that’s full of holes, he has received more interest as a pitcher. His ceiling on the mound is also modest, but he has an aggressive approach and comes right after hitters with an 86-90 mph fastball and a curveball that has good spin.
Nolan Ryan should be the Rangers president, GM, manager and pitching coach.
by RangerMad on Aug 18, 2008 12:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Analyzing his stats
Moreland has joined Ben Revere (Minnesota 1st round pick in 2007) in lapping the Midwest league field in 2008. Moreland leads the pitcher friendly league in slugging (.533) and is second to Revere in OPS (.924). The third-place hitter is nearly 50 points behind Moreland in OPS.
Moreland is currently 22 (he turns 23 in September), which is about average for the Midwest league. But, this is the first year that Moreland has not split time between pitching and hitting. Perhaps his performance as one of the leading hitters in his league has resulted from his ability to focus.
While in the SEC, Moreland posted an OPS of 865, 914, and 996 in his freshman, sophomore, and junior years, respectively. He posted good slugging numbers despite hitting only 17 homeruns in his three years of college. His junior year saw a significant jump in doubles (26 vs 8 as a sophomore). Consistent with his time in the minors, Moreland’s college career revealed him to be a patient hitter with good contact skills as he he walked 62 times while striking out only 59 times in 444 career at-bats.
Moreland’s 27 games in Spokane was unimpressive – 259/308/398/706. Hopefully, that was due to the fact that it was his first exposure to wood bats.
For me, Moreland’s most intriguing trend derives from his power numbers. Moreland started hitting doubles as a 21 year old in college. He has carried that through to his 22 year old season in 2008 by posting 32 doubles this year. Interestingly, it appears that many of those doubles are starting to turn into homeruns. Moreland hit five homers through the first three months of the season. He then had 7 homers in July and has hit 5 more in August, giving him 17 for the season. If the power continues to emerge, then his on-base and contact skills could make him a legitimate prospect.
by spurdynasty on Aug 18, 2008 7:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
mitch
he’s a pretty built guy.
those 2 home runs today were big shots, also.
no doubters.
he must’ve felt the heat when smoak arrived this morning,
cos he crushed those balls today.
by god allah star on Aug 18, 2008 1:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Moreland is not in danger
of losing playing time to Smoak. He can move out to RF. Kyle Murphy might lose his spot.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Aug 18, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chris Dennis put on the D.L.
Kyle Murphy lives to ride pine another day.
by shroomer on Aug 18, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so...
is he another Botts?
I ask b/c I don’t remember what was being said about Botts when he was coming up in the lower minors.
"For those booing me. Take that, beeep." - Ramon Vazquez
by 8legs2fangs on Aug 18, 2008 9:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it sounds like he has
more defensive versatility than Botts.
by clark on Aug 18, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comps for Moreland
I vaguely recall Moreland’s swing this year being described as compact. Can anyone who has seen him play verify that? That would hopefully limit the Botts comparison.
Statistically, it is difficult to compare Botts and Moreland because Botts joined the Rangers as a 19 yr old and spent time in rookie and short-season ball before hitting 309/416/449/865 in low A as a 20 yr old. Botts power didn’t emerge until he was 23 years old and in AA.
Late round college draftees whose stats and profiles are reminiscent of Moreland’s? How about:
Travis Hafner – 31st round pick in 1996
As a 22 yr old in low A posted a 292/387/546/933 line that is essentially identical to Moreland’s current stats. Teh big difference between the two? Hafner struck out 151 times. Hafner then went on to reduce his k-rate and post an OPS of 1027, 941, and 1022 in A+, AA, and AAA before breaking in with the Rangers.
Ian Kinsler – 16th round pick in 2003
As a 21 yr old in Spokane, posted a line of 277/352/410/762 that is similar to what Moreland did last year. Kinsler exploded in Clinton as a 22 yr old (402/465/692/1156) before being promoted to Frisco and hitting for an OPS of 880. Like MOreland, Kinsler’s walk/K ratio has consistently hovered at ~1.
I checked 22 yr old stats for more than twenty other Ranger low round college draftees and was surprised to find that no one else really compared to the Moreland/Kinsler/Hafner triumvirate.
by spurdynasty on Aug 18, 2008 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
x
Is he really Chris Davis reincarnated?
Davis is about 6 months younger than Moreland, which makes the fact that he’s doing this in the majors, vs. Moreland in low-A, all the more impressive.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 9:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well it's official
23 is old. When do I get my Senior discounts?
Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.
by TheBZA on Aug 18, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dude I'll be 40 in October
I hope my AARP card is in the mail. I could use the discounts also. lol
"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley
by boomer1 on Aug 18, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1...
I guess with Engel Beltre (born 11/1/89), Michael Main (12/14/88), Blake Beavan (1/17/89), Joseph Ortiz (8/13/90), and Fabio Castillo (2/19/89) showing signs of promise in the Midwest League, people on this board can become a bit warped regarding expectations. Some might have already given up on the “ancient” Moreland (9/6/85), Jonathan Greene (9/16/85), and Tim Murphy (6/14/86).
I guess some might think that by ruling out players who are over 21 in the Midwest League (or over 20 in the Northwest League, or over 22 in the California League, etc) they are being more “realistic.” But it’s actually the opposite; it’d be nice if every player who was going to contribute in the Major Leagues (for the Rangers, of course) would make their Big League debut between the ages of 22 and 23, and then six years later we could all talk about how many years and how much money Hicks should spend trying to retain a future Hall-Of-Famer. But that’s just not going to happen.
Watching a player hit into a double play. A fan's delight. It's the only time in professional sports where you can sit on your couch, out of shape and drinking, and say, "Yes, I could have done better."
by YourNameHere on Aug 18, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoops...
I mean Tim Smith, not Tim Murphy.
Watching a player hit into a double play. A fan's delight. It's the only time in professional sports where you can sit on your couch, out of shape and drinking, and say, "Yes, I could have done better."
by YourNameHere on Aug 18, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
I guess the issue is, if you are 22/23 in low A, you should be putting up monster numbers to be considered a prospect. That’s old to be in low A.
I think there’s a happy medium between thinking being 22/23 in low A is fine, and thinking every prospect has to be in the majors by then.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Aug 18, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I get that...
I mean, if I were betting on who were going to be batting 1 through 5 on the Rangers in, say, 2012, it probably wouldn’t include Jonathan Greene or Tim Smith. The thing is that many of the guys who are deemed “old” (e.g. average age for their respective leagues) is that some of them could be 2 levels up 12 months from now.
Guys like Greene, Mitch Moreland, Tim Smith, Ian Gac (born 8/10/85), Renny Osuna (4/24/85), and Chad Tracy (Independence Day, 1985) don’t have a lot of time to “mess around” (Gac has way exhausted that luxury), but if they get it in gear, they can still be contributors to good (hopefully Ranger) teams.
Watching a player hit into a double play. A fan's delight. It's the only time in professional sports where you can sit on your couch, out of shape and drinking, and say, "Yes, I could have done better."
by YourNameHere on Aug 18, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing is
College players like Greene, Moreland, Smith and Tracy who are quality prospects usually start their first full season in High A. Somewhat above average numbers at a level lower than where they should be just isn’t all that impressive. If they were doing what Ian Kinsler did, okay.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Aug 18, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For no rational reason
I like Moreland much more than the others you listed. Perhaps I’m being too hopeful that he can be an option in RF down the line or at least nice trade fodder.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Aug 18, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
His Clinton numbers
are much better and much more in the range of that guy who dominates that level and no one understands why he’s still there. He’s not approaching Kinsler’s 1157 OPS, but he is way ahead of those other three.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Aug 18, 2008 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moreland promotion
Soon after it was reported that the Rangers were trying to minimize changes in the Lumberkings roster so that the players on the team could focus on preparing for the Midwest league playoffs, the Lumberkings coach mentioned in an interview that Moreland is one of, if not the leader on that team. It has occurred to me that Moreland likely would have been promoted to Bakersfield if not for that mandate and not for his standing on the team. Like tball, I really like Moreland as a potential down-the-road prospect. My reasons for believing that Moreland might be one of those late-bloomers that you occasionally get in the latter rounds of the draft are three-fold:
(1) He has only recently focused on hitting
(2) He is starting to show homerun power
(3) His plate approach translates well to higher levels
by spurdynasty on Aug 18, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moreland's numbers
Sorry, but I just noticed this quote from AJM:
“I guess the issue is, if you are 22/23 in low A, you should be putting up monster numbers to be considered a prospect. That’s old to be in low A.”
For what it is worth, Moreland’s numbers this year ARE “monster numbers” for the MWL. He and Ben Revere are the only two players with an OPS above .900 (.932 for Revere, .924 for Moreland). Last year, only Travis Snyder had an OPS above .900 at .902. There were two players in each of 2005 and 2006 with an OPS above .900 in the MWL – the league is clearly a pitcher’s paradise. During the last three years, Jay Bruce, Cameron Maybin, and Bryan Anderson are a few of the notable prospects that have played in the league so it is not as if quality hitters don’t spend time there.
by spurdynasty on Aug 18, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point
about the relative levels of offense in the MWL. His discipline at the plate is what impresses me, plus the emerging power.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Aug 18, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Generally speaking...
…quality hitters don’t spend enough time in low-A to get enough ABs to qualify for the rankings. Like Ian Kinsler, who put up insane numbers in low-A and then was promoted. Or Ian Gac.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gac?
He’s had like 800 ABs in Clinton.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Aug 18, 2008 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But at younger ages
Since he turned 21 he’s got about 270 AB there. Not that he’s the greatest example of what Adam’s saying.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Aug 18, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
More perspective before ruling out a few guys...
With only two guys with an OPS over .900, here’s some food for thought.
Jonathan Greene:
Pre All-Star (63 games): .236/.356/.403 .759 OPS
Post All-Star (52 games): .262/.348/.539 .877 OPS
Timothy Smith:
Pre All-Star (60 games): .293/.359/.402 .761 OPS
Post All-Star (50 games): .321/.378/.500 .878 OPS
Watching a player hit into a double play. A fan's delight. It's the only time in professional sports where you can sit on your couch, out of shape and drinking, and say, "Yes, I could have done better."
by YourNameHere on Aug 18, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not old
Moreland is not old for his league. Check out Scott Lucas’ analysis…
http://www.rangers.scottlucas.com/
Nolan Ryan should be the Rangers president, GM, manager and pitching coach.
by RangerMad on Aug 18, 2008 2:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
However...
…he is younger than less than a quarter of the league, according to Lucas’s data, and the younger guys are more likely to be prospects, whereas the older guys are more commonly organizational filler.
The fact that he’s right at the median age for low-A doesn’t mean he’s not old (for a prospect) to be there.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure...
If I’m reading it right, 26.6% of Low-A is 23, 6.1% is 24, 1.8% is 25, and 1.0% is 26. Since Moreland is 22 (doesn’t turn 23 until Septmeber 6th), then he is, at the very least, younger than 35.5% of the league.
Watching a player hit into a double play. A fan's delight. It's the only time in professional sports where you can sit on your couch, out of shape and drinking, and say, "Yes, I could have done better."
by YourNameHere on Aug 18, 2008 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are right
I was looking at short-season A by mistake.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For example...
…the median age in AAA is about 27/28. A 27 year old in AAA is old for his league.
The median age in AA is 24. That’s old for a prospect in AA.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except...
Except that using AAA and, to a lesser extent, AA, is a little bit unfair because those levels often have players on their way down in terms of their baseball careers. That pushes the average age up. The only guys in A+ or lower who have played in the Major Leagues are those who are currently coming off the disabled list.
(Note: before somebody else posts it, I’ll acknowledge that Kevin Mahar is the extremely rare exception, as he’s playing in the Florida State League.)
Watching a player hit into a double play. A fan's delight. It's the only time in professional sports where you can sit on your couch, out of shape and drinking, and say, "Yes, I could have done better."
by YourNameHere on Aug 18, 2008 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just as a point of comparison...
Last year’s MWL top 20 prospect list for BA:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/features/264933.html
2 guys who were 22 on the list…one of them was Drew Stubbs, your classic “toolsy” guy, and the other was a pitcher who was promoted to high-A halfway through the season.
I’m not going to say Moreland doesn’t have a future…but a guy who turns 23 in a month, has little defensive value and is in low-A is going to have to hit a ton to get on the map. If he splits 2009 between Bakersfield and Frisco and puts up huge numbers, I’ll pay attention. But now, he’s a fringe prospect, in my eyes.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 18, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moreland, minor league prospects, and investing
To be clear, I am not arguing that Moreland is among the Rangers Top 10, Top 15, or even Top 20 prospects. However, Moreland is on my short list of guys who might emerge next year as a Top 10 prospect. And from the perspective of someone who takes pleasure in following prospects, identifying an emerging player before the crowd catches on is far more fun than taking note of a player once its become obvious that he is going to get his shot in the majors.
Personally, I view minor league prospecting and financial investing as being equivalent pastimes. In finace, you do your analysis and invest the bulk of your funds in the companies that you expect to do well over the near and long term. With the rest of your portfolio, you invest in earlier stage, higher risk companies that you hope will emerge and become huge successes. Your conservative investments are critical to your success but your high risk investments are the ones that get you excited because every once in a while you make a fortune buying Dell or Microsoft or Amgen before the rest of the world finds them. By analogy in baseball, you invest most of your time in keeping up with Smoak, Andrus, and Davis but you get a thrill out of seeing the emergence of Holland, Vallejo, and Boscan.
by spurdynasty on Aug 18, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Truthfully
I would be all for Moreland in Baks, but that team has been in a hole this whole year and will not be playing in any playoff environment. The Rangers have breed winning throughout the farm, now moving him up would be a challenge for him, but when he is a team leader, when the rotation is loaded with teenagers, having a calming voice in the locker room is something Rangers should be praised for. He will get more of a challenge now with leading this team to a championship compared to rotting away 2 wks in Baks til their season is over.
by gamerabcd on Aug 18, 2008 2:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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