Meet: Jose Morales

by Jesse on Apr 1, 2009 9:00 AM EDT in Player Profiles

With Morales beating out Drew Butera for the second catcher spot (officialy yesterday), now seems like a good time to familiarize ourselves with the backstop.

Jose Morales was a third-round draft pick way back in 2001, which was the same draft that included Joe Mauer, Matt Macri and Nick Blackburn. He started his slow climb to the majors that season, appearing in 35 games for the GCL Twins, finally making his debut in a cup of coffee in September of 2007...before being the unlucky recipient of an ankle injury.

He made it back last summer, but not to the majors, hitting .315/.348/.426 in 197 at-bats for the Red Wings. That's been his attraction thoughout his time in the minors--he's generally hit for decent average, posting a .283 career average in the minors. That doesn't always translate into good power or on-base skills, but any offense for a catcher is still deemed an asset in the world of baseball.

Morales, 26, hits his share of ground balls (44-51% ratio from '06 - '08), and doesn't walk often. But he's a professional who can play decent defense and call a decent game, and if the Twins are looking for a temporary catcher to hit two or three days a week he's probably the best option in the system. There are teams out there who would take a battery including Morales and Mike Redmond over who they currently have.

Welcome to The Bigs, Jose Morales. This is your opportunity, and here's hoping you shine.

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Here's Hoping

That Morales shows enough to get the brain trust to move Mauer to third where he can be my rightful heir. Crede can DH and spell Mauer at Third.

by Corey Koskie on Apr 1, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Morales

I hope Morales hits as good as he can and takes over the job, because I really won’t be able to stand even a month of Red dog playing 4 games a week.

What are the chances that Gardy hits Redmond 3rd a couple times a week, like last year?

by DaTwins on Apr 1, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

very probable

that Reddog hits third if Crede isnt in the lineup. Reddog hits at his best in the three hole because pitchers give him something to hit when he is in front of Morneau.

by BCTwins on Apr 1, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Better #3 options than Mike Redmond

Michael Cuddyer
Jason Kubel
Delmon Young
Brendan Harris
Brian Buscher (if a righty is pitching)

I would also hope that Crede doesn’t go in the 3 spot, because he’s been awful at getting on base his entire career, and that would rob Morneau of a lot of RBI opportunities.

As snolls pointed out, Redmond was put in the 3 hole because that’s where Mauer was, and Gardy figured it was easiest not to shuffle around the whole lineup. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gardy bats Morales in the same lineup position as Redmond, for the same reason, but I’d also guess that spot will be 7 or 8 (most likely 7, to keep the Punto-Gomez-Span-Casilla speed package together).

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Apr 1, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

So would anyone

I’d hit best in front of Morneau, as would Punto, Harris, Gomez, Young, etc. That doesn’t mean that Punto will be in the 3 spot.

Gardy puts Redmond at #3 because he wants stability in the order (everyone else stays in the same position). I think he got more flexible about that last year, though, after moving Gomez to #9, and putting Redmond in lower spots in the order.

by snolls on Apr 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

J-Mo

It’s a great story, really. You gotta love this kid. The Twins tend to use their third-round pick in the draft on Puerto Ricans (e.g. Eduardo Morlan, Angel Morales). When they do this, they tend to take the best player in Puerto Rico, which is the case for J-Mo. It’s kind of a testament to how far baseball has fallen for that territory. But he’s no slouch. If not for injuries, he could have been in Redmond’s shoes a couple of years ago. If he plays like he’s capable of, he’ll play plenty until Joe gets back, and make himself a real option should they decide to trade Red Dawg at the break.

As for using Red in the third hole, I wouldn’t bank on it. Every hitter will hit better in front of Morneau. That doesn’t mean you put your eight-best hitter there. You put your best hitter there, and that happens to be Kubel.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 1, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions