I really don’t know what to make of this situation.
On one hand, I think Daniel Murphy should have the clear advantage as he hits for a better average, gets on base at a better clip and flashes much better leather (though not ideal).
On the other hand, a much, much weaker hand, Mike Jacobs hits for power. That’s about it.
And it seems that these two are directly competing with each other and no one else. Chris Carter won’t be a factor and Fernando Tatis is the likely pair with Murphy or Jacobs to bat from the other side of the plate.
Murphy and Jacobs will duel it out in spring training for (at least) half the time at first. No joke.
Also, as Adam Rubin noted this morning, Jacobs will either make the team or be released/traded/cut. The only other spot for him would be as a backup/DH-type off the bench, and frankly, he’s not a very good pinch hitter.
This Jacobs signing really makes little to no sense to me. Murphy should be the heavy favorite barring an abysmal spring training. Rob Neyer doesn’t quite understand it, either.
But here we are, days away from pitchers and catchers reporting and I’m playing out situations of Jacobs being the first baseman in 2010.
Is there a chance Jacobs makes the team and is paired with Tatis at first base? Sure. Do I expect it to happen? No way.
That seems like a lot of dough for a team that is “out of money.”
I’ve always loved his swing.