63.29 Marzuq Slated to Make Season Debut

[Bob Breum]

Montreal announced today that they have purchased the contract of Jedidiah Marzuq from AAA New Jersey. He is expected to be in the lineup for tonight's game with Mexico City.


Jedidiah Marzuq
The Blazers have received no production at designated hitter this season. With the arrival of Marzuq, the plan is to deploy Manny Burgus as the full-time designated hitter and play Marzuq in right field. This will shift Clancy Lee to his natural position in left field. Marzuq, like Lee, is comfortable in all three outfield spots, but his elite throwing arm plays up in right field.

Marzuq was acquired from Jacksonville in the Rule 5 draft before the 2059 season. Prior to that, he had not played above short season A; he had signed as an international amateur free agent with Jacksonville for a $13 million bonus back in 2054. Montreal carried him on their big league roster during the 2059 season and then sent him down to AA to continue his development. He has hit .250/.315/.453 (106 OPS+) in AAA this season.

Scouts project him with elite power into the gaps, which should play well in Montreal's home park. He is expected to have plus contact and power and a decent eye. He has excellent base stealing instincts with plus speed. He possesses plus-plus outfield range and a plus glove. As a left-handed hitter, he is slightly more comfortable against right-handed pitching but can hold his own against southpaws.

[BaseClogger]

It’s probably the right thing to do, but I can never convince myself to DH somebody who can play some useful defense.

[Bob Breum]

It’s probably the right thing to do, but I can never convince myself to DH somebody who can play some useful defense.

I strongly agree, but Burgus is Fragile so I am hoping that this will minimize his chance of injury.

Also, instead of getting negative WAR from failed DHs, this should ensure that I get significant positive WAR at DH while also receiving positive WAR in RF from Marzuq's excellent defense on top of whatever offense that he can muster. Even the WAR in left field should increase slightly, given Lee's marginally better defense. Burgus won the gold glove in left field last season but Lee is a superior defender.

I have cycled every other possible DH through the position without success. This seems like it should have a high percentage of success in addressing my DH production problem. I can afford to be more patient with Marzuq's bat if he's out there dominating defensively. He rates as a 10 in right field with 8 range, 7 error, and 10 arm. Fun fact: new outfield alignment rates 10 in LF (Lee), 11 in centerfield (Rooney), and 10 in RF. Our fourth OF, Kapkin, platoons with Lee in left field and also rates 10 in LF.

Best hope for opposing batters is to hit ground balls into our good but not great infield. Middle infield are both rated 8, Wilkinson's a 9 at first base, and Terovolas rates 6 at third base with modest range. Of course, they can always try to hit it over the deep fences in Ubisoft, another low percentage play.