During the Nationals’ unsuccessful pursuit of free agent first baseman Prince Fielder last winter, incumbent Adam LaRoche maintained his usual unruffled exterior. He didn’t complain or sound off about it in any negative way. As a second-generation major leaguer — his dad, Dave, pitched in the bigs for all or part of 14 seasons — he understood that things like that happen in this game. Nothing personal.
Truthfully, it’s not entirely accurate to label LaRoche the incumbent; he tried playing last year with a bum shoulder. After just 43 games and a .172 batting average in 2011, he went on the DL and had his shoulder surgically repaired. The uncertainty of what he would be able to do this year was part of the club’s motivation to pursue Fielder.
LaRoche returned to the Nats whole, and since Opening Day he has picked up where he left off in 2010. A lefty run producer with remarkably solid stats against left-handed pitching, LaRoche also has played what is arguably the best defensive first base in the National League. Really, who’s better with the glove around the bag than LaRoche?
Entering Saturday, LaRoche is near the top of NL first basemen in home runs (21) and RBIs (67). That projects to roughly 32 homers and 102 RBIs, both figures would likely lead the ballclub. His ability to snag virtually any throw that comes his way has spared the other three Washington infielders at least a dozen throwing errors and the pitching staff a passel of unearned runs this year.
When LaRoche signed with the Nats in January 2011, he received a two-year deal for $16 million, plus an option for 2013 at $10 million. It doesn’t require a lot of research to figure out that a player with his numbers in the game today would likely be worth more than $10 million on the open market, which presents the Nationals with an obvious question.
Do they pick up LaRoche’s option for next year and leave first base in his hands, or do they hand it off to promising rookie Tyler Moore, a right-handed power-hitting first baseman? Another scenario has Michael Morse playing first and the ballclub pursuing a natural center fielder and prototypical leadoff hitter.
They probably will hang on to the bargain they have in LaRoche, but please, no wagering.
LaRoche’s success against left-handers probably comes from taking batting practice against his dad. Dave LaRoche threw some of the nastiest stuff you’ve ever seen when he was active, and even in retirement he probably could still make everything move. It’s doubtful there’s an angle LaRoche hasn’t seen on a pitch from a left-hander, as evidenced by the bolt he hit off Cole Hamels on Thursday.
LaRoche is the best first baseman this town has seen since Mickey Vernon. I can’t offer any higher praise.
Examiner columnist Phil Wood co-hosts the “Mid-Atlantic Sports Report” and is a regular contributor to “Nats Xtra” on MASN. Contact him at [email protected].
