Brandon Morrow

[brewcrewfan08]

http://ussmariner.com/200...es-2010-off-season-plan/

 

JJ Hardy for Brandon Morrow?

 

I don't know a lot about Morrow, but from what I have read he seems to have upside and would be under control for 4 years. Thoughts?

[GoudaBrew]

This is the type of risk I'd like to see the Brewers make with trading Hardy. As Dave points out,

 

"The Brewers have coveted Morrow for years, and they probably won't get a better arm in return for Hardy."

 

Has anyone heard how Morrow is dealing with his diabetes? That is apparently why he left the rotation at the beginning of the year. He must have it under control because they put him back in to the rotation.

[MJLiverock]

Is Morrow a starter or a reliever? I ask because I really dont' know much about him other than being a high draft pick who hasn't thrown much over 100 innings in any season yet and seems to be used out of the pen a lot at the major league level. His walk rate looks a little scary in his minimal innings thus far but maybe due to being young but like I said I don't know much other than his name and quick stats look up.

[bjkrautk]

I admittedly don't know much about Morrow beyond his stat line. To those are more knowledgable, I'd be curious to hear why Morrow only has 15 games started over the past 3 seasons.

 

From an analytical standpoint, I'm comparing Morrow against Dave Bush when we acquired him from Toronto (roughly the same age, with roughly the same # of IP in the majors). Morrow looks to be a better pure strikeout guy (9.29 k/9ip stands out), but I'd expect that number to go down if he has to dial things back and pitch 5-7 innings, rather than 1-inning spot duty. At the same time, his walk rate is high (about 5.3 bb/9ip), and I'm not as willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on that going down. Finally, I have to wonder just how well an extreme flyball pitcher (0.55 gb/fb) is going to make the transition from Safeco Field to Miller Park.

 

From the numbers, I'm not sure that Morrow is a great fit for Milwaukee.

[dadofandrew]

Morrow is a hard thrower who SEA has flipped between the closer role and a SP. He's also a big RHP, so add that to the fact he throws hard, he is Doug's "type". I'd say he has #2/3 SP potential, but as of this minute is more of a bottom of the rotation guy, or middle reliever. That said, given his velocity, size, and former top prospectdom, I'd say a swap of JJ for him makes too much sense to ever happen.

[endaround]

Morrow isn't that young and has McClung like control problems. He likely has the most upside of a guy who the Brewers could get who is ready to pitch next year. But he's a risk similar to Parra. Either could turn it on next year or bust. At least Parra has had soem success where Morrow really hasn't.

[dadofandrew]

Morrow has a sub 4 career ERA, and has pitched pretty well as both a starter and a reliever...he's more the victim of high expectations than anything else. He's still just 24 as well, so he's got a few years before is improvement ceases. He was rushed, take a look at his minor league numbers, he was up very quickly...those guys often take time to iron out the rough edges.

[endaround]

His career FIP is 4.56 in a combination of starting and mostly relieving, hardly exciting. His K/BB is 1.59 which is bad. He's 25 and turns 26 next July. He was up in 2007 at age 23, not exactly young. And his control problems are there in the minors as well.

[joepepsi]

He's only made 20 minor league starts in 30 appearances, 101 IP. Sheesh, I'd say he's been rushed. Still, his minor league K:BB is 1.86. That's bad. The good news, he hasn't been any worse in the majors.

 

He's probably McClung right now, with the hope he gets better. Just as Tampa hoped McClung would get better when he was 24. So, would you trade Hardy for McClung? I think Seattle needs to throw another player; maybe a decent OF prospect. Or maybe someone like Jeff Clement, another guy who probably needs to try a new organization.

[yoshii8]

Jeff Clement was traded to the Pirates last season. I replied in the other thread, but I would be happy w/ this trade, but I agree that the Mariners should be adding another player. I'd like to see Phillip Aumont included.

[TheCrew07]

A high K/9 and BB/9 pitcher is about all you're going to get for Hardy and is the type of pitcher we should be targeting. I'd be very surprised if the Brewers landed a high K/9 and low BB/9 type pitcher for Hardy... if he's that good already, why is he being moved in the first place? There isn't a team out there this season that has the logjam for SP that the Rays were dealing with this time last season and would maybe sell a little bit low on a guy. Kazmir and Jackson are gone now, and I wish we had either one to be honest, but no one else has that kind of depth. The O's are close, but a couple of their prospects are pitchability guys and the guy they'd most likely move in Guthrie isn't exactly a stuff guy. There's absolutely nothing wrong with pitchability pitchers who maximize their talent and get good results, but every pitcher the Rays were thinking about moving had "stuff"... just a difference in upside between the 2 organizations, but not necessarily the MLB production from the players.

 

I think an MLB pitcher like Morrow makes sense and I think a youngster like Arrieta makes sense. I'd prefer to move players like Hardy, McGehee, Hart, Lawrie, Green, and Cain for some higher ceiling players without results or unproven youngsters. If Gamel doesn't stick at 3B he'd make a wonderful 1B or 3B, I realize I've beat this into the ground but I think the McGehee vs Gamel comparison is just way too black and white. I like the idea of Peterson working with young arms this off season and pitchers that have stuff but shakey control seem like prime candidates to be working with our new pitching coach.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Count me in for the Hardy/Morrow swap... if we could couple that with a Tim Hudson signing, i'd be pretty optimistic heading into next season

 

Hudson

Gallardo

Morrow

Bush

Parra/Suppan

 

That accomplished Melvin's goal of two new pitchers.

[colbyjack]

Morrow's certainly far from perfect, but he has an incredible arm, and as noted, is probably the best the Brewers could get in exchange for Hardy.

 

His numbers aren't pretty, as he still seems to be the same pitcher he was coming out of college at Cal in 2006, but he also wasn't handled the greatest by the Mariners previous regime. They bumped him up extremely fast, as he made his MLB debut the spring after he was drafted, as a reliever. He spent most of last year coming out of the bullpen as well before this year, as the Zduriencik-led Ms wanted to see if they could give him some time at the major and minor league level to work on his ability to start. He has a great arm, with a power fastball-curveball combo. Like so many power pitchers, his third pitch is in question, and obviously he has control problems. You can't just cite his terrible BB:K ratio without pointing out that his K:IP ratio is roughly 1:1. Obviously the BBs need to come down, but he wouldn't be the first power pitcher that struggles with control early in his career.

[reillymcshane]

I remember watching Morrow on TV a couple of times and being wowed by his arm. Again, it was only twice, but no one the brewers has an arm like Morrow. The main thing, as Colby points out, is that third pitch and his control. If he can get better control of his pitches, he's at worst, an excellent reliever due to his lack of a third pitch. At best, he's a very good starter.

 

I'd take the risk for Hardy. Again, I think at worst we get a quality reliever if he can't develop that third pitch. He could even dominate as a reliever. Personally, I like it. Plus it saves us a good deal of money.

[brewcrewfan08]

Is Morrow a starter or a reliever? I ask because I really dont' know much about him other than being a high draft pick who hasn't thrown much over 100 innings in any season yet and seems to be used out of the pen a lot at the major league level. His walk rate looks a little scary in his minimal innings thus far but maybe due to being young but like I said I don't know much other than his name and quick stats look up.

Didnt see anyone answer this so I thought I would. From wiki "Morrow, who is a diabetic, acknowledged that his diabetes was a factor in the decision, saying that it was easier to balance his blood sugar in a relief position.". His potential must have changed the organizations decision though.

 

The more I think about the trade the more it makes sense. We cant afford (giving up to many players or money) to get a stud starter. Taking a chance on someone like Morrow who is cheap and under control for four years would save us a lot of money, and could have high rewards. But as some have said, it just makes to much sense.

[804Sox]

Morrow was rushed to the majors, and has been jerked around between roles since he got there. He's got a great arm, and if he can be acquired before ST, then he can probably be stretched out into a starter in time ofr the season. Otherwise, he has the power stuff to be a back-end of the bullpen guy even though he wasn't great as a closer at the beginning of this year (small sample).

 

I think with a defined role and move to the NL he'd be a pretty solid pitcher with some upside too.

[ILuvDaBush]

Maybe it's just me but when I first saw this rumor, I figured the Brewers would have to throw something extra in to accomodate the difference in service time. And Aumont is a pipe dream and a half. I wish we could get him, as I still envision the tall Canadian as an ace-type pitcher.

 

As for Morrow, as has been mentioned, he has been handled poorly and could probably flourish in a change of organizations.

[CheezWizHed]

...the tall Canadian as an ace-type pitcher.

He is Canadian? Hardy or not, I'm assuming some deal for him will be complete by ST next year... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[carolinabadger]

I would like to see a trade that would bring us Morrow as well as Ian Snell.

Yes I know he has some problems between his ears and is owed 4.6 mil. but he is a very high upside pitcher and would be worth a try to get this pitching staff moving forward.

[dadofandrew]

The time to get Snell was last year when PIT buried him in AAA. He's reestablished himself as a MLB SP.

[Hate those Rodents]

Plus Seattle gave up enough to get him to where he probably is not even really available.