Mariners Analysis: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

Jul 3, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison (20) high fives the dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Logan Morrison

LoMo seems to always make it on this Market, and if you are heavily invested in him, then you are on a roller coaster of emotions based on the week. I feel bad for him, as he is being asked to do so much, leading off against righties and hitting 5th or  6^th against lefties. But, to his credit he keeps battling and you never hear him complain. Unfortunately, it has been a rather rough week for him at the dish.

This week LoMo is hitting a horrendous .130 (3-23) with two home runs as well as six RBIs in the past seven games. As I said earlier, I feel for him because he is being asked to do something that he shouldn’t be asked to do, and that is bat leadoff. With Austin Jackson boasting 1,437 ABs from the leadoff spot in the past three years, I think you need to relieve LoMo of his leadoff duties, and I sure hope so for his sake, and here is why.

So far this season, when LoMo is hitting leadoff, he is hitting a putrid .219 (16-for-73). But, when LoMo is slotted in his more accustom five hole or six hole spot, he is hitting a much better .256 (32-for-125), including the three run home run July 6th against the Detroit Tigers to make it 5-3. You may think that this is a rather miscellaneous stat, and more of a coincidence than anything else, but as a former baseball player, where you are slotted in the batting order has a ton to do with what pitches you are going to get. For LoMo, he looks much more comfortable in the middle of the lineup than at the top, and that is where I would like to see him stay.

Next: Stock Up: Robinson Cano