Mike Morse and Momentum

Just before opening day, John McLaren announced that he'll be platooning Mike Morse with Brad Wilkerson, because Morse was swinging such a hot bat.

Unfortunately, McLaren failed to look at the schedule. With righty Jason Jennings going today, that'll be three straight starts for lefty Brad Wilkerson. The M's face a lefty in Adam Loewen when they go to Baltimore, but by that time Morse will have gone five full days without an at bat. That's how you freeze a hot bat.

McLaren could've pinch hit with Morse in the seventh with Eddie Guardado--but it was a little early in the game, and the move would've backfired an inning later when that spot came up again, this time with a righty in the game. It was a little early for a pinch hitter there.

It's an odd platoon anyway, since Wilkerson, for his career, has actually hit lefties better than righties (although I bet part of that is that managers will often sit their lefty bats against tough lefty starters).

With Wilkerson struggling through the first two games, it will be interesting to see how McLaren plays the situation. Last year, he showed waaay too much patience with his struggling veterans, which led directly to the August swoon. How much patience will he show with his managerial career on the line in 2008?