Who is that in Center Field!

by gondeee on Nov 21, 2007 10:55 AM EST in Braves Minor League News

Last year they engineered the successful switch of Kelly Johnson from left field to second base, now the Braves seem to have designs on moving Brandon Jones from left field to center field. This was a notion dismissed by many people who follow the Braves, but it looks as if the Braves may have other ideas. We get this news from a Baseball America Winter League notebook:

Braves' outfielder Brandon Jones has been playing a lot of center field in the Mexican Pacific League this winter for Navajoa...

They interviewed several scouts, with many of them not giving glowing reports of BJ's center field defense. Many of the comments were apparently like this:

"He doesn't get real good reads off the bat and his routes are just OK," said another AL scout who saw Jones in Mexico two weeks ago during his extended stint in center. "And this isn't a guy who can make up for mistakes with his speed. He might be a slightly above-average runner, but it's more speed when he's underway than having that true explosion. He's not a major league center fielder."

So the consensus seems to be that while he's getting playing time in center field, he won't be there for too long, if at all, at the major league level. The report did have a happy ending when talking about Jones' improvement at the plate:

So far in Mexico, Jones has seen action in center field in 19 of his 30 games, but it's been his approach at the plate that has most scouts talking.

"He's really improved his pitch recognition more than anything else, and that's something that was a weakness," said the scout. "He's laying off more breaking balls out of the zone--and he's probably seen more of those than he ever has."

This was certainly something that many of us could tell that Jones needed to work on after his short stint in Atlanta at the end of the year. Jones was striking out a lot (8 Ks in 19 ABs), and much of those whiffs were due to him swinging at breaking balls (something that seems to also affect our other recently departed Jones). Give extra kudos to Brandon for improving his hitting while at the same time working at a new and difficult position in the field.

From the same article there are some good words about one of our young left-handed starters, Jose Ortegano. BA is apparently impressed that he is holding his own against much tougher competition than he's faced before.

Also in this article is word about another center field candidate for the Braves, Greg White (or Gregor Blanco to the uninitiated). The most impressive part of his winter league season is when he hits leadoff:

In 102 at-bats, the 23-year-old was hitting .314/.421/.441 and has a 22-18 strikeout-walk ratio. He's led off every game for the Sharks, hitting .429/.556/.571 in 21 first inning at-bats.

Combine that with above average center field defense and the Braves may have another good option to replace Andruw next year. As Frank Wren put it the other day:

Wren said if the Braves don't acquire a more experienced center fielder as a stopgap replacement for Andruw Jones, [Jordan] Schafer would compete for the starting job in the spring along with prospect Gregor Blanco and 25-year-old rookie speedster Josh Anderson.

Add a feather in the cap of Gregor Blanco, and depending on how comfortable Brandon Jones gets this winter, there may be another candidate for center. I certainly wouldn't count on him making it, but the Braves may put him out there to push the other candidates and give them the illusion of more competition.

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a big question mark.

Looks like platoons in LF and CF, and I'm not sold on Escobar or the bullpen either.

by TradeAndruw on Nov 21, 2007 11:51 AM EST reply actions

hmmm

with all these CF contenders, it makes me wonder what's gonna happen with Willie and Diaz.

I'm guessing there will be a platoon of Willie/prospect in CF ... and Diaz/B.Jones in LF

i'm guessing they'll bring up Anderson and keep Schafer in the minors for a bit longer. and if Anderson can't pull his weight, the mighty Schafer will get called up.

by RehabReject on Nov 21, 2007 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Podsednik?

What about Scott Podsednik? REcently released.

by iLukeisamazing on Nov 21, 2007 1:34 PM EST reply actions

Pods and Willie

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Both have no business getting playing time, let alone on the same team. Willie was a nice story, but there was a reason he was released before. Same goes for Pods.
Diaz, B Jones, Francouer and Anderson/Blanco/Schafer. I highly doubt they would go with 5 OF's. IF Lillibridge proves he can handle CF, he might be the super sub this upcoming season. Spelling Escobar and the CF. Or getting him time at SS and having Escobar cover 3rd/2nd on Chippers/KJ's off day

by NorCalAtlFan on Nov 21, 2007 2:08 PM EST reply actions

Nice

I'm definitely with you that Podsednik would not be a better option than anything we currently have. I like your idea of Lillibridge being a super-sub. I also like the flexibility we have in the infield with Yuney, Aybar, Lilli, and even possibly Harris.

by gondeee on Nov 21, 2007 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

Pods

If I remember, there was a rumor awhile back that the Braves weren't interested in Pods because of his arm - or lack thereof, it being somewhere in the Juan Pierre/Johnny Damon class. Does anyone else remember this, or am I just crazy? (Note: the latter option is always a possibility).

by VegasAces on Nov 21, 2007 4:18 PM EST reply actions

2008.

It's not unreasonable to expect that both Brandon Jones and Brent Lillibridge could start the season in Richmond instead of Atlanta. Neither has had a full season at AAA and it's not as though their respective numbers were so overwhelming that we'd have to clear room for them to get to Atlanta right away. I still feel as though Mr. White (a.k.a. Gregor Blanco) will end up being our starting CF by Opening Pay and Diaz should get a crack at holding down LF everyday.

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by ejruiz on Nov 21, 2007 7:03 PM EST reply actions

Brandon Jones

looked ready in AAA after he got through his initial slump upon promotion. He had the best approach of anyone in Richmond at the end of the year, I wouldn't read much into his MLB numbers. That said, he's not not not a CF, had very average range in LF (though a good arm).

Lillibridge is also ready for a new challenge, his numbers were very strong until he faded down the stretch (wrist injury might have had some influence). That said, he could benefit more from extra seasoning than Jones because his K numbers, while not terrible, are a weakness.

Blanco never looked like an MLB player in Richmond, so I'm still very skeptical (no power, walked a bunch but didn't look like he had a great approach at the plate, he just took all the way a lot). We'll see, certainly picked the time to flash 5 HR potential though, haha

by abravesfan on Nov 21, 2007 7:29 PM EST reply actions

Speaking of approach at the plate

I hope that's something the hitting coaches will emphasize next year. I watched a lot of ugly impatient, ABs last year (excepting Chip, KJ, McCann).

by TradeAndruw on Nov 22, 2007 5:53 AM EST reply actions

why why why?

Why does when a player get released by another team is there always someone that says "there's a reason he got released before"?? What does it matter? It happens all the time where a guy gets released, resigns and there you have your everyday guy doing his job..
My guess is willie is like chucky thomas.. he's a solid player.. its just that guys like that have trouble staying on teams that have no room..
Gregor blanco opening day starter? Schafer, anderson..as well as anyone else who wants to try out.. And it doesnt matter if lillibridge or brandon jones hasn't spent a full year in aaa..has jo jo spent a full year there?

by bravos408 on Nov 23, 2007 8:12 PM EST reply actions