Roster Watch: Jordy Mercer

I don’t know if it’s just me, but that batting helmet makes Jordy Mercer look like a child. The only thing missing is a facemask and/or it wobbling every time he tries to run.

Most people seem to think Jordy is going to make this team out of Spring Training. I’m not so sure I’m one of them. Am I a Jordy Mercer hater? Hell no.

In fact I really like Mercer. I’m what you call a MERCERnary. The problem as I see it is Clint Hurdle.

See Mercer plays good defense, has a bit of pop in the ole wood and has produced offensively, for the most part, at every level.

Year	Tm	Lev	AB	2B	HR	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008	2 Teams	A-A-	216	8	5	13	47	.250	.297	.366	.663
2008	State College	A-	24	1	1	1	3	.250	.280	.500	.780
2008	Hickory	A	192	7	4	12	44	.250	.300	.349	.648
2009	Lynchburg	A+	513	36	10	41	93	.255	.314	.400	.713
2010	Altoona	AA	485	31	3	31	69	.282	.329	.373	.702
2011	2 Teams	AA-AAA	491	30	19	36	78	.255	.317	.440	.757
2011	Altoona	AA	265	17	13	23	35	.268	.329	.487	.816
2011	Indianapolis	AAA	226	13	6	13	43	.239	.304	.385	.689
2012	Indianapolis	AAA	209	14	4	20	45	.287	.357	.421	.778
5 Seasons			1914	119	41	141	332	.265	.322	.402	.723
AA (2 seasons)		AA	750	48	16	54	104	.277	.329	.413	.742
AAA (2 seasons)		AAA	435	27	10	33	88	.262	.330	.402	.732
A (1 season)		A	192	7	4	12	44	.250	.300	.349	.648
A- (1 season)		A-	24	1	1	1	3	.250	.280	.500	.780
A+ (1 season)		A+	513	36	10	41	93	.255	.314	.400	.713

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/27/2013.

Sadly, that didn’t stop Clint Hurdle from having him waste away on the bench last season. And who could blame Hurdle? Clint Barmes was doing such a bang up job that it was hard to find playing time for anyone at SS.

Mercer was allowed to play in just 42 games, coming to the plate 68 times. For those of you not trying to clutter your life with math problems that’s an average of just 1.62 PA per game. In fact Mercer only started a total of 13 games last season, nine of which were at shortstop.

For comparisons sake consider that Josh Harrison started exactly twice as many games at SS as Mercer, logging 158.2 innings to Mercer’s 104.1. At the same time Harrison managed to post a lower OPS than Mercer. The upside to making Harrison the regular backup at SS over Jordy Mercer? Nothing honestly. The bats were pretty close to equal, though Mercer’s could go up or down due to the small sample size. In the field though? Mercer is the far superior glove. It’s not close.

In fact, despite playing Harrison playing in over 375 innings he was a negative WAR player, posting a paltry -0.2. Now I’m a Harrison guy but this just made no. damn. sense. What kind of WAR did Mercer come away with last season in 146.1 innings? 0.3, much of that due to his defense. So in less than half the innings he was an improvement of 0.5 WAR.

So why don’t I think he is going to make the team? Well he isn’t going to start. It would also appear that Hurdle doesn’t feel comfortable with him playing a major role off the bench. Harrison was the main backup at short last year and Hurdle clearly is okay with him logging at bats. So he makes it. Add in Brandon Inge to backup the corners and you see where I’m going with this.

Mercer’s option situation- two remaining- also makes it convenient to send him back to Indianapolis where he will be old for his level and likely written off by many.

If I’m running the team Mercer is on it.

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