Brewers obtain Nyjer Morgan from Nationals

by jballgame on Mar 27, 2011 2:52 PM CDT

The Nationals sent Nyjer Morgan to the Brewers for Cutter Dykstra, a minor league IF in the Brewers system, and cash.

Apparently Morgan was not going to be in the picture in CF for the Nats, who are going to platoon Rick Ankiel and former Cub Jerry Hairston Jr. Morgan, in my opinion, is the type of guy the Cubs need at the top of the lineup. He did have a down year last year, but he typically hits for high average and OBP. Yes, I realize that Marlon Byrd is in center for the Cubs, and they have a logjam in the OF, but perhaps they could've gone with Morgan and either released Reed Johnson or perhaps unloaded one of their other OFs (most likely Byrd). Discuss......

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Ugh, no

Bad attitude. Lousy hitter. Pass.

by timh815 on Mar 27, 2011 2:56 PM CDT reply actions

He also tries to steal bases...

Even when he doesn’t have the greenlight. The Brewers are welcome to him.

"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain

by brook on Mar 27, 2011 3:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I'd hardly call......

a career .284 hitter with a .344 OBP a “lousy hitter.” As for his attitude and taking a green light, I can’t comment.

by jballgame on Mar 27, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

career .316 wOBA

and .287 last year. that’s pretty lousy.

by PrincetonCubs on Mar 27, 2011 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

the only bad part of this deal

is that we have to see this joker a few more times this year. On the Cubs? No thank you.

The Brewers clubhouse must be a wacky place, ranging from Fielder and Morgan to Greinke…I’m interested to see what happens when they hit their first rough patch

by PrincetonCubs on Mar 27, 2011 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

Or play the Cardinals

by timh815 on Mar 27, 2011 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on Mar 27, 2011 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Did I miss something RE: Cardinals vs Brewers?

The Cardinals look like a pretty big mess to me from where I sit. Anemic offense, weak bullpen, questionable rotation, locker room turmoil. I dont think the Brewers or Reds are too concerned with the Cardinals since Wainwright went down.

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on Mar 28, 2011 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

They’ve got some holes on offense, but I sure wouldn’t call them anemic. A pitcher is going to go through Holliday, Pujols, Berkman, Rasmus 3 or 4 times a game. Freese was hitting well before he got injured. Lohse and McLellan are both pitching well. Not exactly a creampuff opponent.

by ol Pete on Mar 28, 2011 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I dont see it.

There is no way the Cardinals can run Berkman out to the outfield every day. It will be a disaster. There middle infield has zero power. Rasmus has a bad reputation in the clubhouse and was nearly traded last year. Freese looks like a good young player, but he relied on a huge BABIP last year for some of his stats. And yes IMO, even with the brilliance that is Dave Duncan, I would call their rotation outside of Carp and Garcia a question mark.

I know to never count the Cardinals out, but I have never really understood why people were making the 2011 version out to be the team to beat in the NL central. They weren’t very goood last year outside of a red hot first six weeks or so. Without Wainwright this year I dont know how they expect to win much more than 80 games.

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on Mar 29, 2011 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions

What is it you imagine that its like?

by ol Pete on Mar 27, 2011 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

just some pretty diametrically opposed personalities

more so than the usual, from the rather flamboyant to the extremely introverted

by PrincetonCubs on Mar 27, 2011 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Saito is supposed to be a bit of a character as well.

by ol Pete on Mar 27, 2011 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Unless he's going to hit .320 with a .385 OBP and plenty of stolen bases, Morgan would have a difficult time as a corner outfielder at Wrigley.

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Mar 27, 2011 6:02 PM CDT reply actions

Of course Morgan had a down year last year.

He ended up at the bottom of this pile.

I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.

State high point count: 3/50

If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 27, 2011 6:21 PM CDT reply actions

That's a great fight.

I like this one though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prdzs7OggBI

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Mar 27, 2011 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.

State high point count: 3/50

If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 28, 2011 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Hahahaha...

I actually respect Morgan after that fight… Not a lot of dude his size would dare or have the balls to charge the mound… Cuz most likely, the small dude is gonna get rocked- which what happened to him. Hahaha then didn’t he get in trouble again or something right after this fight? Or is this after the first time he got in trouble? Either way… he has an attitude problem.

by bart s on Mar 27, 2011 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I rather like the attitude of going after pitchers who keep throwing at players. I thought the clothes line by the first baseman was dirty as all hell. I think they should have a 3rd man in rule and let the pitcher defend himself or run if he wants to throw at people. That’s what would happen in real life.

by ol Pete on Mar 27, 2011 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Feel free to read my FanPost on the incident for a full history

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/9/7/1675808/ot-code-violations-deconstructing

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Mar 30, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Could anyone else imaging Harry trying to pronounce his name?

A race riot would soon erupt!!!

by TJ11 on Mar 27, 2011 6:51 PM CDT reply actions

Speed on a team is a nice commodity but I think Riggelman

may have been on the verge of kicking the crap out of him. Bad character guy.

by troutfishin on Mar 27, 2011 6:56 PM CDT reply actions

A lot of Cubs fans want to criticize the deal

since it was the Brewers. If the Brewers can get Morgan focused, it isn’t a bad deal for a team going all in for 2011. Their other CF’er is Carlos Gomez who isn’t much so far either. Morgan can platoon with Gomez. It is a real L/R platoon unlike the Cubs Baker/Barney and Colvin/Fukudome same side platoons.

Dykstra is isn’t much of a prospect and probably is only around because of the bloodlines. It isn’t a great move by the Brewers but I do think there is a chance for upside.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Mar 27, 2011 9:23 PM CDT reply actions

Having followed Morgan's playing while he was a National...

the Brewers will have their work cut for them trying to focus Morgan. I will admit, though, when the Nationals got Morgan, he was an upgrade over Lastings Milledge.

However, good luck to Morgan and his alter ego, “Tony Plush” , except when playing the Cubs (and the Nats).

"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain

by brook on Mar 27, 2011 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm in Virginia

and watch the Nationals. Maybe I’m a little biased based on 2009 but he was a good player for the Nats in 2009. He was bad in 2010.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Mar 28, 2011 6:23 AM CDT up reply actions

He's a Bradley in the making.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Mar 28, 2011 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I think he is closer to Zambrano than Bradley.

Maybe I’m underestimating it but I don’t think he is a bad guy like Bradley. Difficult and a little hot-headed, yes but not Bradley bad. And he is surely not Elijah Dukes’ bad like someone mentioned in the other thread.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Mar 28, 2011 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions