Matt Hague, 26, was on the bubble. Despite hitting .309/12/75 at Indy in 2011 and .400 in the spring with 7 homers, he didn't know if he was coming north with the club. But due to a posse of pitchers going down in camp and a sprinkling of early off days, the Bucs went with an extra bat, and Hague - "The Hit Collector" - made the cut.
The Bellevue, Washington native was an All-State pitcher and outfielder at Kentwood High, and stayed local by attending the University of Washington. He was a jack-of-all-trades there, playing third base, outfield, and also pitched in relief. After his junior year, the Indians drafted him in the 11th round of the 2007 draft.
He passed on the Tribe's offer, and transferred to Oklahoma State University for his senior year, presumably to improve his status. His stickwork was impeccable: Hague never hit under .350 in college and had a good showing in the Cape Cod wooden bat league. The Pirates took him in the 9th round of 2008's draft as a third baseman.
There was lots of company that year, as the Pirates stocked up on college corners: Pedro Alvarez, Jordy Mercer, Jeremy Farrell and Matt Curry all joined Hague in looking to make a mark in the organization.
Hague signed quickly - as a senior, he had little leverage, and was inked for a $25,000 bonus - and started off at short-season State College in the New York-Penn League. After a handful of games and a .333 average, he was promoted to the Low A Hickory Crawdads of the Sally League, where he put up a .321 BA
The following year, Hague started with the High A Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League, where he was switched from the hot corner to first base. He finished third in league with a .293 batting average. Staying on a fairly fast track because of both production and age, he began 2010 at Class AA Altoona. His bat kept smokin' as he put up a .295/15/86 line for the Curve.
He moved to AAA last year, and led the International League in hits (165) while batting .309 and earning All-Star honors. He showed discipline and a good eye while journeying through the minors, generally compiling a K rate of about 11% and a walk rate of 8% and a career .371 OBP.
But the thing he probably desired the most he didn't get - a September call-up to Pittsburgh. The Buc FO has a history of being selective in September, and Derrek Lee owned the late-season innings at first. However, he wasn't forgotten. The Pirates placed him on their 40 man roster during the off season.
Hague got a camp invite, too, but was considered a long shot to make the roster even after his strong showing at Indy. As a first baseman, his power was suspect. In the past two years he has 27 homers, 67 doubles, and a .450 slugging % at Altoona and Indy. His ISO of .150 over that span isn't particularly encouraging. Think of Hague as Steve Pearce (now in the Yankee's system) with a better bat and weaker glove.
At Bradenton, he got some work at his original home, third base, and quickly reminded the coaches of why he was switched. But while his glove may only work at first and maybe as a corner outfielder, he continued to sizzle at the plate, leading Clint Hurdle to dub Hague "The Hit Collector."
As cut-down time neared, it appeared that the final infield spot would come down between him and Josh Harrison, but the injury situation gave them both a ticket to ride. But that's temporary. Both Charlie Morton and AJ Burnett could return before May, and one of the Pirate bench players will have to go then.
Hague was the feel-good story of camp, and may have a future in Pittsburgh. It's improbable that he'll ever be a starter - his speed, glove, and modest power all work against him - but he puts the ball in play and has pretty good minor league split numbers, making him a strong pinch-hitting candidate and potential part time/platoon starter.
As he showed yesterday. Called upon to pinch hit (for Pedro Alvarez, yet) with a runner on second and two away in the eighth inning, he stroked his first MLB knock and brought the tying run home for his initial big league RBI.
Those are the kind of at-bats that keep guys in the majors. But Hague is going to have to fend off a crowd. Casey McGehee platoons with Garrett Jones at the MLB level, while Nick Evans and Alex Dickerson lead a pack that is chasing him along the farm system. For right now, though, it's the Hit Collector's time in the sun.
Showing posts with label matt hague. Show all posts
Showing posts with label matt hague. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2012
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Lee Stuns Cubs 7-5
The Bucs are going for two in a row, yes baby.
Started off OK, too. Alex Presley doubled with an out and McCutch walked. Derrek Lee, in his first at bat since coming off the DL, singled the King home on the first pitch he saw. A misadventure on the basepaths ended the frame when Walker lined out softly to left and McCutch, almost at third, was doubled up, thinking the ball would get down.
Ohlie struggled in the first, as did his defense. He plunked a pair of batters - maybe A-Ram's brushback was payback for McCutch getting hit yesterday - and gave up a single while the infield failed to turn a couple of DP grounders. But all it cost were some extra pitches; the Cubs failed to score and it remained 1-0.
Chicago tied it in the third. A-Ram singled and went to third on a Carlos Pena double. Alfonso Soriano lifted a sac fly to knot the game. A nice play by Josh Harrison at the hot corner ended the inning and saved the go-ahead run from touching home.
The Bucs came right back. Lee singled, and then was erased on a Walker force out. The Pittsburgh Kid plated when Dewey dropped a double the opposite way that Soriano had trouble handling to put the Pirates on top 2-1.
Ohlie put himself behind the eight ball in the Cub half. Darwin Barney led off with a swinging bunt single to third, and then Ohlendrof threw eight straight balls to walk Ramirez and Pena. He got ahead of Soriano 0-2, but threw 3 of the next four pitches, all sliders, in the dirt, giving Dewey quite the workout. Soriano got a 3-2 heater and ripped it into left to tie the game.
That was it; Chris Leroux came on to inherit the mess. Ohlie went four innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with two walks and two K's. Marlin Byrd chopped one in the hole, and Ronny Cedeno got the out at third, his only play and a heads up one at that, as the go ahead run crossed the plate. Leroux did a nice job of limiting the damage, getting a pop and soft fly to stem the bleeding.
Cedeno started the seventh with a triple off reliever Kerry Wood. Pinch hitter Garrett Jones pounded a curve deep into straight center. The park held it, but RC jogged home to tie the score. The Bucs threatened to take the lead, but with two on and two away, Lee flew out to left center.
D-Mac took the hill, and A-Ram banged a 3-2 heater down the middle into left for a lead off knock. Pena walked on four pitches. A wild pitch moved them up a station, and Soriano smacked a change into left for a double and his third and fourth RBI of the day to put the Cubs up 5-3. D-Mac plunked Byrd on a 1-2 pitch, and Chris Resop took the ball.
Not for long; three pitches into his outing it began to rain, and the tarps came out. Ninety minutes later, they were rolled back, and CR put down the Cubbie uprising. The eighth went quietly.
Carlos Marmol came out looking for the save, and like Jose Veras, he can be very very good...or not. Today was an "or not" afternoon. Xavier Paul led off with a pinch-hit single to right field. Marmol struck out the next two Buccos, then did a 180 and walked Jose Tabata and McCutch.
That brought up old Cubbie Derrek Lee, and he dropped a 1-1 slider barely over the ivy in left for a grand salami and his fifteenth dinger of the year. It was his first at-bat against him since Marmol hit Lee to put him on the DL; payback is a beach, hey? The Pirates were up 7-5, and Hanny put down the Cubs in order for his 34th save and Resop's fifth win.
We'll give the Bucs credit for grinding this game out, and in dramatic fashion. They could have won it with a lot less stress if they would have done some damage against a rotation back-ender with a 7+ ERA and thrown a few strikes, but hey, whatever works. It's not like the Cubs didn't have ample chances themselves. They stranded 12 and were 2-for-15 with RISP. It's nice to steal one for a change.
Charlie Morton takes on Randy Wells tomorrow.
Started off OK, too. Alex Presley doubled with an out and McCutch walked. Derrek Lee, in his first at bat since coming off the DL, singled the King home on the first pitch he saw. A misadventure on the basepaths ended the frame when Walker lined out softly to left and McCutch, almost at third, was doubled up, thinking the ball would get down.
Ohlie struggled in the first, as did his defense. He plunked a pair of batters - maybe A-Ram's brushback was payback for McCutch getting hit yesterday - and gave up a single while the infield failed to turn a couple of DP grounders. But all it cost were some extra pitches; the Cubs failed to score and it remained 1-0.
Chicago tied it in the third. A-Ram singled and went to third on a Carlos Pena double. Alfonso Soriano lifted a sac fly to knot the game. A nice play by Josh Harrison at the hot corner ended the inning and saved the go-ahead run from touching home.
The Bucs came right back. Lee singled, and then was erased on a Walker force out. The Pittsburgh Kid plated when Dewey dropped a double the opposite way that Soriano had trouble handling to put the Pirates on top 2-1.
Ohlie put himself behind the eight ball in the Cub half. Darwin Barney led off with a swinging bunt single to third, and then Ohlendrof threw eight straight balls to walk Ramirez and Pena. He got ahead of Soriano 0-2, but threw 3 of the next four pitches, all sliders, in the dirt, giving Dewey quite the workout. Soriano got a 3-2 heater and ripped it into left to tie the game.
That was it; Chris Leroux came on to inherit the mess. Ohlie went four innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with two walks and two K's. Marlin Byrd chopped one in the hole, and Ronny Cedeno got the out at third, his only play and a heads up one at that, as the go ahead run crossed the plate. Leroux did a nice job of limiting the damage, getting a pop and soft fly to stem the bleeding.
Cedeno started the seventh with a triple off reliever Kerry Wood. Pinch hitter Garrett Jones pounded a curve deep into straight center. The park held it, but RC jogged home to tie the score. The Bucs threatened to take the lead, but with two on and two away, Lee flew out to left center.
D-Mac took the hill, and A-Ram banged a 3-2 heater down the middle into left for a lead off knock. Pena walked on four pitches. A wild pitch moved them up a station, and Soriano smacked a change into left for a double and his third and fourth RBI of the day to put the Cubs up 5-3. D-Mac plunked Byrd on a 1-2 pitch, and Chris Resop took the ball.
Not for long; three pitches into his outing it began to rain, and the tarps came out. Ninety minutes later, they were rolled back, and CR put down the Cubbie uprising. The eighth went quietly.
Carlos Marmol came out looking for the save, and like Jose Veras, he can be very very good...or not. Today was an "or not" afternoon. Xavier Paul led off with a pinch-hit single to right field. Marmol struck out the next two Buccos, then did a 180 and walked Jose Tabata and McCutch.
That brought up old Cubbie Derrek Lee, and he dropped a 1-1 slider barely over the ivy in left for a grand salami and his fifteenth dinger of the year. It was his first at-bat against him since Marmol hit Lee to put him on the DL; payback is a beach, hey? The Pirates were up 7-5, and Hanny put down the Cubs in order for his 34th save and Resop's fifth win.
We'll give the Bucs credit for grinding this game out, and in dramatic fashion. They could have won it with a lot less stress if they would have done some damage against a rotation back-ender with a 7+ ERA and thrown a few strikes, but hey, whatever works. It's not like the Cubs didn't have ample chances themselves. They stranded 12 and were 2-for-15 with RISP. It's nice to steal one for a change.
Charlie Morton takes on Randy Wells tomorrow.
- Alex Presley had three straight hits before K'ing on a check swing in the seventh to give him six consecutive knocks, tied with McCutch for the longest hit string this season.
- In a not very big surprise, 1B Matt Hague was selected as Indy's MVP. The 26 year old has a line of .308/12/74 going into today. He's shown a pretty good eye - his MiL OBP is .370 and never been under .356 - doesn't K much, and is a strong gap hitter, with 30+ doubles for three seasons running. His bat is his tool; Hague isn't considered much of a glove man or runner, but you'd think that he'd be in the mix for a look at 1B next year. Dunno if he'll get a shot in September, although he deserves one, as Derrek Lee looks to eat up most of the at-bats this month.
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