Felix Pie stepped in for Adam Jones yesterday, and had his 4th homer of the year.

His average now stands at .259, and he has a .718 OPS.

I think there is a limitation to the things you definitively know about Pie.

You know that:

1) He had pretty strong numbers in the PCL (especially when you account for his age).
2) He has worked hard under Crowley.
3) Is a good defensive OF, with excellent bat-speed, and is an outstanding athlete.
4) Has limited baseball instincts.
5) The guy has only had 422 total at-bats in the Majors, and is just 24.

What does all of that mean?

In my-mind, it means that one of the major benefits of the Huff trade, is that you get to play Pie on a nearly everyday basis to end 2009.

By playing everyday, you get to see what adjustments he is able to make on a game-to-game, series-to-series basis.

It means that he is a full-year younger than Reimold. Pie may never have great instincts, but I do think they can improve with maturation, and regular playing-time. It is easy to look uncomfortable, when you are thinking every at-bat, and every play could lead you back to the bench.

It means that while he has been in the Majors during the parts of 3 seasons, he has never received a full-season worth of at-bats. It is hard to make the statement that he can not play everyday, when he has never had a full-season of opportunity. When he did play everyday in AAA, (at ages young for the league) he produced. AAA is not the bigs, but when you look at the level of production at the age, you can make reasonable arguments for the Major League equivalent.

It means that Pie’s work ethic this year is another reason to keep him around. A kid that is physically gifted, that works hard, should be given every opportunity.

Reimold is a decent OF, but Pie is better. Reimold’s injuries right now, allow him to be rested somewhat at DH. Next year, if Pie was the starter in the OF, Reimold could concentrate on doing what he does best – hitting. Reimold would also still be able to rotate into the OF on a regular basis.

Luke Scott is getting an opportunity to play 1st to end 2009. This gives the O’s the option of starting 2010 with Scott at 1st, and Snyder back in AAA. However, at some-point, the O’s are going to want to promote Snyder. If Pie has been starting and producing in the OF, it will be Scott that winds-up being the odd-man out.

What you can count on, is that MacPhail wants inventory. That means Pie, Reimold, Scott, and Snyder will all still be part of the organization in Spring 2010. How LF/1st/DH gets sorted out, will be determined on the field.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

X