Brent Morel

[shingo10]

I've been trying to find clarification of this so hopefully someone will know...Is Brent Morel still with the White Sox? I don't see his name being mentioned at all for a potential third base candidate yet I haven't heard about him being released.

[#1swisher]

His twitter account says: White Sox 3B, and his last post was 3 hrs ago.

@Bmorel_22

[anewman35]

Possibly nobody is mentioning him because he's not very good?

[WLL1855]

I ask this with all sincerity. What's the best case outcome for this guy? I'm thinking he's bench depth at most.

[Noneck]

I dont remember the Sox giving the public the diagnosis on his back problems, so no need to even guess about his future until that is known.

[shingo10]

Originally Posted by WLL1855

I ask this with all sincerity. What's the best case outcome for this guy? I'm thinking he's bench depth at most.

He was labeled as having above average defense when he came up. Last year we didn't get a fair read on him I don't think because of his back but I would certainly welcome him at 3rd over the Tank...

[DumpJerry]

He's on the 40 man roster.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by WLL1855

I ask this with all sincerity. What's the best case outcome for this guy? I'm thinking he's bench depth at most.

Morel was, at best, a pretty marginal prospect. He always hit kind of nice in the minors but he never hit for much power, and I'm not saying every minor league player has to be a masher to have success in the big leagues, but unless you have BLAZING speed, you're going to need to drive the ball a little bit in the Majors; the seeing eye singles through the IF or the ground balls you beat out just are not there. Too many good defensive IF at this level. Tony Campana, on the Cubs, can't hold a roster spot because even though he's arguably one of the 2-3 fastest players in baseball, he can't get on base more than 30% of the time because he has absolutely zero pop in his bat.

Anyways, all that said back to Morel, looks like he's got organizational depth, AAAA player written all over him. Maybe on a real explosive offense, you might be able to find semi-regular playing time for him because he is a pretty good 3B but you really need to be able to hide his bat. And this assumes that whatever back problems he has clear up, if not, I don't see how much of an impact he can make on even an average team.

[amsteel]

Originally Posted by WLL1855

I ask this with all sincerity. What's the best case outcome for this guy?

He can tell his grand kids one day he once played professional baseball

[JB98]

I don't think that back problem is going away. Even when healthy, he didn't show much with the bat. He can't be counted on. The Sox need to go in a different direction at 3B.

[Lip Man 1]

Coopaloopa:

Considering the Sox have nothing at this moment in time other than Moreal to try to play the position (they aren't going to re-sign Youk...) it's understandable that some fans might want an update on his back issues.

Lip

[russ99]

IMO, the injury sapped him of a decent shot to hold down the position.

If he is able to get healthy again (a major grey area when it comes to back injuries), I don't see how he can't be the same player he was before this season, a project 3B who could pay off down the road - admittedly that's a pretty big if...

But this lineup doesn't need another project or flawed hitter.

If the salary space doesn't allow for Youkilis to come back, they could bring in Placido Polanco in fairly cheap as a one-year stopgap.

[Chez]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

Coopaloopa:

Considering the Sox have nothing at this moment in time other than Moreal to try to play the position (they aren't going to re-sign Youk...) it's understandable that some fans might want an update on his back issues.

Lip

My prediction, for better or worse, is that Viciedo will open the season at third.

[Daver]

Originally Posted by Chez

My prediction, for better or worse, is that Viciedo will open the season at third.

That is a downright scary thought.

[Lip Man 1]

For the first time that I know of, Gonzo reported tonight from the winter meetings that Morel had in fact a bulging disc in his lower back last year and not a "lower back strain" that the Sox were claiming.

As someone who has a bulging disc in the lower back I honestly don't know how they think he can go out there and play every day even with the best training and rehab in the world. You simply can't take that kind of punishment.

Lip