Well, it was kinda a move. The Buc's DFA'ed Nate McLouth, proving Thomas Wolfe right, and called up Matt Hague.
Nate was hitting .140 and was 0-fer since May 6th. Hague, after a hot camp and a slow start to his Indy season, had a .278/1/15 slash line for the Tribe. It's an anticipated shuffle. Hague has played first and third during his minor league career and is starting at first tonight. He was 1-for-9 in his brief time earlier this year in the show.
So it looks like Josh Harrison, who is starting in right, will get some OJT in the pasture, and the recall leaves Casey McGehee in the lurch at the moment; Hague may get an opp to slide into the first base platoon. Kristy Robinson of Pirates Prospects tweeted that Hurdle plans to give him a "string of at-bats," so Garrett Jones is on the hot seat, too.
Honestly, I don't know why they didn't cut McGehee at the same time that McLouth's head rolled. If not before. He has been flat out terrible at the dish, though as you noted recently, his defense has been surprisingly good. They didn't bring him here to be a no-hit gloveman, though, especially with the weakness up and down the lineup at other positions.
ReplyDeleteAs for Nate, well....I think he's just used up. His body is worn out. He's "an old 31". But, hey, he's got millions in the bank, and now he can go on to his life's work with no real worries. Not a bad outcome for the kid from Michigan.
Hopefully, there's a little more movement on the way, Will.
ReplyDeleteNate, from what I've read, doesn't plan to accept a demotion to Indy, but is going to try to catch on with another organization at the MLB level.
I know he was complaining about his vision here; wonder if that's the root of his problems. Could be too that like Casey McGehee, he strung a couple of seasons together but just couldn't repeat.