Kala Ka'aihue

by KC Ryan on Aug 31, 2008 12:31 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

Where is all of the hate for Kala Ka'aihue coming from? If you look at his numbers this year he was pretty good. I mean the guy is 23 and here are his numbers:

.273 AVG, 23 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 87 BB, 118 K, .415 OBP, .457 SLG, .872 OPS in only 374 AB.

His numbers Post All Star Break:

.315 AVG, 30 BB, 32 K, .465 OBP, .495 SLG, .961 OPS

I mean I know we all wish he was hitting 30+ homers and driving in 100+ runs but to call him a bust is totally premature in my opinion. I think he starts next season at Richmond and probably continues to hit for a decent average, very high OBP, and an OPS around .900. What is not to like about a 23 year old kid with that kind of OPS? Kala will be a starting 1st baseman in the majors for some team within two years in my opinion. What say you all?

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no one’s hating on him. we’re just saying, flowers and freeman at 1B would be that much better.

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Aug 31, 2008 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree 100%

Some of us even included Ka’aihue in our top ten hitters edition lists that ejruiz got going a week or so ago. So he’s still very much on the radar. As for me, Ka’aihue used to be my favorite prospect, period. And then along came Flowers and Freeman.
I was fortunate enough to get to see Kala in person as he played his 2006 season in Rome and absolutely dominated, both on offense and defense. His shift to Myrtle Beach that year was a little rough, but the next year, I think he set the homerun record at Myrtle, no? And then his move to Mississippi was rough as well. And this year it took him a while to get on track, but, as you say, his post all star break numbers are very good. But if Ka’aihue takes that long to adjust at the major league level, I don’t know how patient management will be.
And I’ve said before, I like Freddie Freeman, but I am cautiously waiting for his move up to AA. But given that he played in Rome at the level he did at the age of what, 17 / 18, offers a lot of reason to believe he’s something special. Not that Kala isn’t, but Freddie seems consistently special (so far, anyway). Also, Freddie adjusted well to the level of competition (.268 GCL to .300+ in Rome). Kala adjusted well from Danville to Rome but took longer the rest of the way. But he did get to where he needs to be. As for Flowers, I hope the Braves can find a spot for him – I think he’s going to be scary good in the Big Leagues one day, and sooner rather than later.

The Braves will figure things out at 1st base, and I hope it’s one of our home grown guys that wins the job for years to come. May the best man win, and if it’s Ka’aihue, then that’s cool by me!

by secondbass on Aug 31, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe not in Atlanta

Kala’s future is maybe not with the Braves since they have other prospects with high ceilings. I just think he will be good enough to be a starter for somebody.

by KC Ryan on Aug 31, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can't argue with that!

by secondbass on Aug 31, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think anybody hates on KK, it’s that his strikouts and the steep learning curve he has after each promotion worry everyone. Those are two things that tend to get exposed at the higher levels. Especially the learning curve, because as a rookie you don’t usually get to play poorly for two months and keep your job.
He’s a very solid hitter with a huge amount of power (saw him hit a ball in the lake on the backfield in Orlando, never seen anyone come close to that before, actually hit it off of James Parr in a scrimmage) and, like anyone in the minors he’s got stuff to work on.

by cbwilk on Aug 31, 2008 8:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also to point out, Kala’s brother, Kila, has exploded in his third full season of AA this year. These two brothers are INSANELY similar. To the point that they were born exactly one year apart. Kala really started to get it this year at about the time he had put in about a half season’s worth of games in AA (dating back to last year). Both of their MO’s have always been guys who take a little while to adjust. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him keeping the 1B spot warm in the next year or so after destroying AA next season. Though he might wind up in AAA instead next year.

by yondaime4 on Aug 31, 2008 11:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There are some KC fans..

..begging for Dayton Moore to call up Kila.

Revisit the Braves World Championship Year, all Season!

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by RainDelay on Sep 1, 2008 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I saw him brought up on BP and thought they made a typo. I had no idea he had a brother.

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 Sep 2, 2008 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KC fans

Yep. I live in KC and the Royals really aren’t so far away if they could just keep a few of their young guys when they start threatening to win big in arbitration. It’s really disheartening to see them develop good young players (Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye – I know he was developed in ATL but still, etc, etc…) and as soon as they become high quality players KC trades them away. The trades almost never seem to work out for the Royals either. I would love for the Braves to pick up Grienke though. I am from east Tennessee and the Braves have always been my team no matter where I am living. The Royals stadium is beautiful and there are tons of smart and dedicated fans here and they deserve a winner. Now I’m ranting, but Greinke…………yeah, the Braves need him.

by KC Ryan on Sep 1, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I feel bad for them...

for years Charley Finley seemed to use the old KC A’s as a farm club for the Yankees. I think Moore will do a good job there, but wouldn’t be surprised to see him move elsewhere in a couple of years. The Braves should have worked harder to keep him, but then what do you do with Frank?

by BBFAN46 on Sep 3, 2008 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs