Next Year

by niekromurphy on Jul 29, 2008 11:11 AM EDT Comment 13 comments

The last few years with the Braves has seen like a case of trying to piece together a puzzle. Lots of good pieces that don't seem to fit together just right. Some thinking out loud:

KJ at 1st, Prado at 2nd, Escobar SS, Chipper 3rd, Mac C, Blanco CF, Frenchy RF, and a slugger brought in to play left.

Pros: Better up the middle defense, KJ and Frenchy could both have better years . Blanco is developing into a true leadoff man. Escobar could have a breakout season if healthy.

Cons: Someone made the comment that KJ is not the player the organization thinks he is. This may be true. Frenchy may not improve and will always strike out a lot. Chipper will always miss a lot of games due to injury.

To me, something in that equation is missing. Even with a power hitting left fielder, I think they need another power bat from outside the organization. Picking up one power bat in the off season shouldn't be that hard. Picking up two might be. If so, who do you replace, who do you get and how, etc.?

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I say move Chipper over to first as soon as possible. That would cut down on at least one DL trip per year. That is, If the man says he’s willing to move. Obviously, it’s his decision.

by Bmacbandwagon on Jul 29, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

kelly johnson does NOT have the pop to be a first baseman. no chance in hell

by bigjoe on Jul 29, 2008 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Beat me to it.

by VegasAces on Jul 29, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yet…people here want Kotchman to anchor 1B next season. The same Kotchman who has a lower career SLG in the majors than ATJ.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jul 29, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That right there is a telling stat…wow. I didn’t think Kotchman had that little pop.

by VegasAces on Jul 29, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1241 ABs in Minors: .325/.401/.493
1137 ABs in Majors: .274/.337/.426

He certainly had the pop that one would want from a corner infielder, but it just has not translated at the major league level. It looked like he turned the corner last season with a .840 OPS (.372/.467) but now it’s back down to .774 OPS (.327/.448).

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jul 29, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the difference in SLG is negligible…but the difference in OBP? yeeeeeeeesh.

by bigjoe on Jul 29, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s what so crazy about this guy…his minor league numbers show that he should be some all-world player. But he goes from .289/.276 in 2004, .352/.484 in 2005, .221/.215 in 2006 (all small sample sizes, under 150 ABs)...and then just as he starts getting some solid playing time and his power stroke starts to maintain these past two seasons…he forgets how to take a walk.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jul 29, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Adjust for the 51 point drop in batting average and his Isolated Power drops only 17 points and his OBP drops only 20 points. So yeah, his skills on that front have deteriorated a bit, but he also played in the Cal League and PCL, two homer havens.

His upside is of a 815 OPS first baseman with above average defense. That’s alright for a team who’s getting power from elsewhere on the field, but the Braves don’t get anything from LF or RF.

Gettting back to the thread’s point, something like this would work out:

C – McCann
1B – LH/RH platoon featuring folks like Aurilia/T. Clark and Delgado/Hatteberg
2B – Johnson
SS – Escobar
3B – Chipper
LF – B. Jones/Jay Payton
CF – Blanco
RF – Francoeur

Yeah, it sucks, but it’s not hard to imagine the first base combo being league average, Payton/Jones also could be league average and will get Jones to the majors and Payton is expendable if Jones develops quickly. Francoeur can take his lumps without the pressure. Sure it’s cobbled together, but if the bad news about Hudson is true, we won’t be contending next year anyway. This lineup saves lots of coin that can be thrown into the draft/international market or saved for 2010 when guys like Bay, Holliday, Ankiel, Crawford, Beltre, Lackey, Escobar, and Bedard are available.

by 17843 on Jul 29, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs