Mike Jacobs
January 3rd, 2013 by terrybenishLarry Stone reported the signing of Mike Jacobs to a minor league deal this morning.
He was a guy that had some power as a first baseman with the Marlins and it fell apart for him and played for the Mets and Royals and Diamondbacks. In 2008 he had 93 RBIs and 32 home runs, but really is a guy that should bat, at least in those days seventh or eighth due to his lack of contact and low walk percentage. But after that he got hurt and was caught using human growth hormone (HGH) due to some injuries and has really fallen off the radar. Luis Jimenez is gone so a first baseman is needed in Tacoma, the organization must not like Rich Poythress or might there be something else going on with Jacobs.
So if you’re Dante or Alexander Solzhenitzen you think about things like layers of hell. So too baseall bloggers. Jacobs has had two successive good years in one of the outer rings of hell, it is baseball after all in AAA, but after living the high life, well perspective is everything. He still has power. His contact rate and success are improved, but yes it’s AAA. He seems to have shown some plate discipline as his walk numbers are up enough that his onbase is good. Which was not the case as he came up to the majors and through AAA before.
This sets up and perhaps allows Jack Zduriencik to have Justin Smoak on a short leash as the season starts or after spring training opens up. Possibly even permits a trade of Smoak in some larger package. While Jacobs at 32 is older than Smoak, Smoak’s career average and contact rate makes Jacobs look like Mel Ott.
Poythress is blooming overall, but his home run numbers are down. He is a great big guy, that is no longer regarded as a prospect, but might be were he given a shot.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jacobs004mic
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Recent Comments