Steve Pearce the key as the Orioles zag their way to the playoffs

[xian4]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/assessing-steve-pearces-breakout/

[AlbionHero]

Yep. I expect him to be good next year.... not as good as 2014, but a solid everyday RF who will lead the team in OBP. We need it.

[Spy Fox]

I read in another thread that Fangraphs people are nothing but useless geeks who are no more intelligent than dart-throwing monkeys!

But now that they've used some stats to write something generally positive about the Orioles, maybe they are actually pretty cool guys.

I expect Pearce to be a solid regular in 2014. I'm comfortable with him starting on most days.

[fastball]

The way this team is positioned today and what teams in the East and West have done you can't possibly be serious.

[clapdiddy]

I'm not a fan of putting all my eggs in the Steve Pearce basket. I love the guy, but I would prefer him playing 4 or 5 games a week, not all 7.

[weams]

I'm not a fan of putting all my eggs in the Steve Pearce basket. I love the guy, but I would prefer him playing 4 or 5 games a week, not all 7.

I'm glad we have him.

[25 Nuggets]

Our Steamer projections think quite highly of Pearce’s three true outcome style, forecasting a .270/.349/.464 followup season, good for a 129 wRC+. His age and his patience make him a good candidate to retain some of the over-the-fence magic powering his 2014 breakout.

I'll take that slash line from Pearce any time.

I still think the key as things stand is Chris Davis. He needs to bounce back and he can't use his lack-of-adderall as an excuse.

[clapdiddy]

I'm glad we have him.

For the record, so am I!

[Three Run Homer]

I am less concerned about his ability to play well than I am about his ability to stay healthy (his wrists especially) over the course of a long season given a full time workload.

[Frobby]

Very good article. However:

As an out-of-options quad-A hitter coming out of nowhere, some comparisons to Jose Bautista are inevitable. Like Bautista, Pearce is a pull-crazy and fastball-hungry former Pirate who found success after 30.

I'd say Bautista's 54-homer campaign at age 29 was pretty successful.

[atomic]

I don't think you can depend on a guy who has never had more than 330 at bats in a season and who will be 32 next year and has been replacement level up until last year. He might be successful but more likely he will go back to being a borderline major leaguer.

[atomic]

Very good article. However:

I'd say Bautista's 54-homer campaign at age 29 was pretty successful.

Yeah and he had close to 3.0 war in his 28 year. I don't think the two are comparable and Pearce looked overmatched in the playoffs. I don't mind giving Pearce a chance but you better have a plan B.

[El Gordo]

Pearce is a more than useful role player. Even if he hits his career ave. .768 OPS he will be a boon. In platoon with Lough and/or De Aza he will be very effective. Buck will use him to his best advantage.

[Nevermore]

I'm also glad that we have Steve Pearce. Another guy with a true work ethic. The team released him last spring and he stuck around until team management re-signed him. Then he went on to have a truly solid season.

[Aristotelian]

I'm not a fan of putting all my eggs in the Steve Pearce basket. I love the guy, but I would prefer him playing 4 or 5 games a week, not all 7.

Are you kidding me? The guy led the team in OBP and SLG. Yes, higher OBP than Nick, higher SLG than Nelson Cruz, but he costs practically nothing. He has earned the right to be an every day player until he stops hitting. As long as he is healthy I want him in the lineup every day--not a platoon player.

That said, because of small sample and health issues, I want a good depth option behind him.