Baseball is a game where statistics mean so much more than in any other sport, because the whole thing is basically a series of one-on-one matchups. If a player is significantly outperforming another one statistically, it means he probably should play more.
↵But don't tell that to the Nationals, at least when it comes to Michael Morse. Despite posting significantly better hitting and fielding statistics than incumbent right fielder Roger Bernandina, Morse still can't get a regular gig. Why? MASN's Ben Goessling explains.
↵↵↵The reasoning has been covered here on several occasions: The Nationals want to give Roger Bernadina a long look in right field, and are still committed to Nyjer Morgan in center. Until, or unless, that changes, Morse has nowhere to play consistently.
↵He probably hasn't helped himself, either, by being so good off the bench. Morse has thrown himself into that role, talking about preparing mentally as though he's going to play each day and becoming the team's best bat off the bench. He's 5-for-16 as a pinch hitter, and is hitting .346 as a substitute, though all of his homers are as a starter.
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In other words, the Nationals won't play Morse more because they think Bernandina is going to turn over a new leaf at age 26 and because Morse hits better when he hits less. This is a common malaise more commonly known as "overthinking." Morse is younger and better than Bernandina, and that's all that really matters. Keep up the good fight, NatsTown.
UPDATE: My bad, Morse is 28, and therefore older than Bernandina. For some reason, I thought he was 24.
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