Article: Is it time to worry about Morneau yet?

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?350-Is-it-time-to-worry-about-Morneau-yet

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Way too early to get worried. 14 preseason games to play and two weeks until opening day. I will be worried if he is hitting below .200 on April 30.

[Ultima Ratio]

I'm worried that he will be hitting well below .200 at the end of ST. He needs rest for that wrist and his batting will not improve until his swing is mechanically sound. Until his wrist heals, it's stubbornness pushing futility up a big, rocky hill.

[jimbo92107]

If Morneau is sidelined by something other than concussion symptoms, then actually I don't mind. It means he's still got a chance to come back. Maybe not as soon as we'd all like, but someday.

[James Richter]

Morneau's ABs in Thursday's game included a deep fly to left and a lineout to 3rd, as well as a sharp grounder just foul down the 3rd base line. There's three swings that weren't far away from being extra-base hits. Seems like he's trying to go the other way. Parker would know for sure, but isn't that a change in approach from his pull-happy, out-of-whack swing from 2011?

[twinstalker]

Given that Terry Ryan is worried, I am worried. (Though I should point out that we rarely agree!)

[Alex]

I've been worried since last season, so I think it's just good that he's swinging a bat....

[kirbyelway]

Its spring training, average means NOTHING. All hitters want is good swings and pitchers to get loose and work on some things. Morneau is starting to hit the ball hard just in time for regular season. Thats all we can ask for.

[nmoline]

It's definitely time to be worried, but at least there is comfort in knowing that his $14m comes off the books after the 2013 season and the Twins and him can part ways.

[sethf00]

Whats his actual full / advanced stats from spring training? And/or where can I find that?

 

If he's struck out at half his at bats and is hitting lots of weak ground balls, I'm worried. If his BB/K rate is good, and his line drive rate is good, then I'm looking forward to stealing him in my fantasy baseball draft.

[LimestoneBaggy]

I'll worry if two things happen: 1.) He doesn't start the season on the DL (which is a possibility); and 2.) He doesn't pull the ball. I saw him briefly in Fort Myers this year, and the eye test said he's not quite right yet. I'm still in his corner pulling for him to come out of this. I want MORE-Neau!

[Parker Hageman]

Whats his actual full / advanced stats from spring training? And/or where can I find that?

TwinsBaseball.com's stat section has spring training numbers. They are hardly advanced.

[Parker Hageman]

Parker would know for sure, but isn't that a change in approach from his pull-happy, out-of-whack swing from 2011?

No video of his spring ABs are available in order to properly dissect his swing. It will something that I will be looking at more closely at the beginning of the regular season.

[Parker Hageman]

Its spring training, average means NOTHING.

Agree, for the most part but the real focus of Morneau's spring is the lack of extra base hits -- the power isn't there. It could be timing, as he says, which may dissipate as he accrues more ABs or it could be something effecting him like his wrist, shoulder, concussion, etc which, to me, is more of a concern.

 

If he is hitting the ball as sharply as the reports say, it's definitely a positive and trumps his ability to accumulate spring hits. At the same time, the reports from a year ago were strikingly similar -- his timing was close, he was having some loud outs, etc.

[Alex]

I'm just glad he's swinging a bat. I've been worried since last year, and it's honestly tough to expect too much from him this season after not really playing much in the last couple years.

 

While I realize his salary is a big factor in expectations, I think seeing him play 120+ games should be the goal with steadily increased production throughout the season. He's not going to be a .300 30 HR guy this season.

[Steve Lein]

Was at the game yesterday and saw 4 or 5 Morneau at bats in a Minor League game on Wednesday. I think his swing looks good, and he has been tagging the ball pretty good right at people. I don't see him flying open with his swing like he was last year, which I take as a good sign. Parker - I've got some video of an at bat or 2, let me know if you'd want 'em.

[StormJH1]

I am perpetually worried about Morneau (look at how well Sidney Crosby played in the NHL for a few games before going back on injured reserve), but not because of his numbers in Spring Training. So far, the spring has been more good than bad for Morneau, given that he's seeing game activity and not having problems. Who knows if his reaction time, concentration, and general physical health will get back to where they once were, but he has to stay concussion-free to even have a shot at that. While we're EXTREMELY early in that analysis, so far so good.

[SweetOne69]

Looks like Morneau got a solid double to deep center today.

[jharaldson]

It has been 20 months now since Morneau had his concussion and he has been awful or injured since then. During his comeback last year his best month was a .723 OPS which would be at the bottom of the league for firstbasemen. He showed up to spring training underweight, can't hit for average, and can't hit for power. At this point I am assuming he is done until he proves otherwise.

[TwinsArmChairGM_Jon]

This article could also have been titled, "Is It Time to Worry *More* About Morneau". Not even taking into account his other ailments, the multiple head injuries he's suffered are good reason to worry about Morneau for the last year and a half (and really, for the rest of his career.) I really want to see Morneau do well both for the Twins' sake and because he's a really fun player watch when he's raking or staring down stuffed lions. I don't think Parker was saying we didn't have reason to worry before, but there's been good reason to be concerned ever since the terrible takeout. I think we can all hope the recent push to study brain injuries leads to real and effective treatment for them.

[Parker Hageman]

A double yesterday and his first spring home run since 2010 today -- apparently the reports of him being "close" and hitting the ball hard are legit. Good signs.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Not to mention the second home run today . . . .

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Guess you feel a little silly about posting this blog now.

[Parker Hageman]

Guess you feel a little silly about posting this blog now.

I do not. The point of this post was to address the issue that was raised by fans/commenters/media members who were concerned over Morneau's spring numbers and performance. What I said was (1) it's a small sample size in the spring and (2) those that have been watching him this spring have been noting he had been hitting the ball better the past few games. Without having seen his performance first-hand, I did add that the reports were very similar to what was said in the final two weeks of spring training last year -- which were saying similar things about "hitting the ball hard" and needing to regain his timing. Hopefully, these past two days are an indication of things to come.

[TwinsArmChairGM_Jon]

The extra base hits are definitely a good sign, but the concerns that existed before a double and two home runs are still worth considering. It's nothing to feel "silly" about. The Twins are certainly considering it as they appear to be ready to have him DH the beginning of the year. An article also said that just being physically tired can make him more vulnerable to recurring symptoms. I'd love to see him continue homering, but the up and down nature of his recovery so far leave me with measure optimism.

[Billy Bremner]

"Is it time to worry about Morneau yet?"

Well, that's all a matter of one's expectations. If one enjoys watching a former MVP in the final throes of a career cut short by multiple injuries labor for a last-place team in order to maintain his contract, it will be a grand Summer.