Nolan Reimold 2009 Review

I spent a large-part of the 2008 season arguing for the Major League promotion of Nolan Reimold, in many different local forums.

The intensity of my argument only increased on August 1st, 2008 when the non-waiver deadline had passed, and Jay Payton was still on the team.

Last January on this blog, I stated: “Reimold has had 693 AA at-bats, in which he has produced 201 hits, 44 doubles, 3 triples, 36 homers, 118 rbi, 117 runs, 80 walks, 129 k’s, a .290 batting avg, and an .880ish OPS. He produced in the AFL… you have an opportunity to put him in the everyday lineup in a season you do not expect to do anything… really nothing to gain with him going to to AAA.”

Reimold went to Spring Training and produced, and then went and dominated at AAA Norfolk, earning his Major League promotion May 12th.

Before being placed on the DL, and ending his 2009 season; Reimold was able to play in 104 games, and obtain 359 Major League at-bats this year.

For the year, Reimold produced an .831 OPS, with 15 homers, 18 doubles, 45 rbi, 47 walks, 77 k’s, 8 steals, and a .279 batting average.

After slumping a bit in August, Reimold had been responding with a very-strong September. (1.006 OPS).

For the 2nd-half as a whole, Reimold had a .880 OPS.

Reimold is an easy player to like, because he plays the game hard. He runs every ball out, and has much better speed than you anticipate. The 6’4, 207 lb OF is an athlete, with some real tools.

He has power to all-fields, and is a better OF than he had been described in the Minors. He occasionally takes poor routes in LF, but some of that blame falls on the O’s. With Markakis obviously positioned long-term in the O’s RF, why did Reimold get extended time in RF at Bowie in 2008?

Despite those occasional poor routes, he does a good job in bigger ball-parks of quickly getting to the ball. Felix Pie is a better defensive OF, but that is not a knock on Reimold’s abilities.

A 2010, where Reimold gives you 22-25 homers, and 70-75 rbi seems like a pretty reasonable goal.

If anything, I think you could see even further production. Reimold turns 26 on October 12th, and is reaching his physical-peak. Watching him in a number of different interviews this year, I saw a guy that just exudes maturity. I fully expect him to spend this winter, taking in what he experienced this year, and being ready to address his weaknesses.

The fact that his worst month of production, was still a .719 OPS, indicates he could avoid the deep valleys that limit your overall numbers.

Reimold is going to be a part of the O’s core going forward, but it remains to be seen if LF is his position long-term.

Reimold is going to produce offensively, at a minimal salary for years – you do not give those players up. As I said above, I think Reimold is a solid LF, but that Pie is better with the glove. That might lead Pie to grabbing LF on most-days, with Reimold finding everyday at-bats at either DH (replacing Scott), or at 1st.

As the 2009 season ends, my guess is that Brandon Snyder is going to get most of the 2010 at-bats at 1st, but maybe not to start the year. I think that means Scott will be brought back to start 2010, and will man 1st. Potentially, the O’s could Reimold as the Opening Day DH, with Pie in LF, but I think that process will be more gradual. Meaning, I would expect Reimold to get plenty of time in LF, until the O’s decide to promote Snyder to 1st. Once Snyder is promoted, that forces a corresponding move. Either Scott is moved, again takes over DH, or Pie is benched. What remains clear, is that whatever happens around him, Reimold is going to again get everyday at-bats for the O’s in 2010.

The fact that the O’s can end 2009, adding Reimold’s name to the young positional core they are moving forward with, is one of the real positives that was accomplished this year.