Do we have a starting LF right now?

by calbers on Jan 19, 2009 5:06 PM EST

If the season were to start today...who is our LFer? Heck you can even ask the question of who is our RF and CF the way last season went.

Joking aside we know that Frenchy starts in RF and CF will be a try out between Blanco/Schaeffer/Anderson. However, who is honestly our LF right now? Diaz? If we are going to do a mix and match type routine in CF and LF do we need more cheap but "upside" players? Are the Braves looking at Brandon Jones as the dominant part of a LF platoon?

We could debate this scenario for another 6 mos but I was wondering if the Braves have actually made any kind statement or indicator as to what the company line is at the moment.

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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This is an interesting problem. It becomes even more interesting if Shafer makes the team out of spring training. If he does then he has to be the everyday starter in CF, you can’t be taking him in and out of the lineup. That leaves us with 4 outfielders for the LF spot. Diaz after signing a deal last week is going to be on the roster, but he shouldn’t be anything more than a starter against left handers and a bench player. That leaves Anderson, Blanco, and Jones as another possible starter. Jones should spend the season at AAA where he can get regular at-bats. Blanco is the guy who I think should be the starter and that leaves Anderson as another bench player.

by jack dein on Jan 19, 2009 5:18 PM EST reply actions

I think that we won't know until 1. Atlanta signs one or 2. The regular season begins

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 19, 2009 5:42 PM EST reply actions

God, a 4 headed platoon of Diaz/Jones/Anderson/Blanco isn’t pretty at all, considering that only 1 of those players has any realistic chance of being a semi-productive regular.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 5:53 PM EST reply actions

Which one are you talking about?

And please say you are not talking about Anderson! I am going to assume Brandon Jones is who you are speaking of.

by bengoodfella on Jan 19, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

I am guessing he means Blanco since Blanco is the only player on the list who has put up a decent OBP in his ML time. And Diaz has proven nothing as a regular.

by yondaime4 on Jan 19, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Jones. Blanco has absolutely no power, Anderson doesn’t nothing too well aside from run, and Diaz is a platoon player. Jones is the only wildcard who could blossom into something worth half a shit.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

I am fine with Diaz on the roster as a platoon player but one of Blanco or Anderson has to go. We don’t need two guys who are roughly equal on the roster. I would like to see Jones get the job everyday in LF. I think that given a full season of at-bats he could produce around a .275 avg. with 15 homeruns and 75 RBI. The problem is that none of the current options on our roster for LF are the type of hitter that we need. I would keep Jones, Blanco, Diaz, Shafer, and Francoeur for the outfield with McCann and Ross at catcher, Kotchman and Norton at 1st, Johnson and Infante at 2nd, Escobar at SS, and Jones and Prado at 3rd. That leaves Lowe, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Kawakami, and Campillo starting with Gonzalez, Soriano, Acosta, Bennett, Carlyle, and Logan in the bullpen.

by jack dein on Jan 19, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with the roster you just mentioned jack dein but we need a cleanup hitter. Someone to put between Chipper and Brian….But I agree with the roster 100%

by AlRoBraves95 on Jan 19, 2009 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

In that scenario, McCann would be the cleanup hitter…but god, would we seriously be looking at KJ in the 5 hole? Christ

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

is this better than mccann in cleanup?

schafer
johnson
esco/kotchman
chipper
mccann
kotchman/esco
frenchy
left field

by chief glock&hummer on Jan 20, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

Chipper doesn’t like hitting cleanup.

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 Jan 20, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't that just the silliest damn thing?

It shouldn’t make a difference what spot in the order you hit in. Every person in the lineup has one responsibility – don’t make an out.

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jan 21, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

Escobar or Kotchman hitting in the 3 hole. YIKES!

"The only time the Mets win is in the offseason"

by Falconzfan284 on Jan 23, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know if him hitting fourth is good or not

But him saying he’s not comfortable is wierd.

by buzzdeadwax on Jan 26, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

This is just the roster that I think that we should have with our current players. I hope that we add someone to bet cleanup. I think McCann is a great player but being a catcher takes him out of the everyday player role. One way to ease this a little would be to run more.

by jack dein on Jan 19, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

considering I have seen each of those players a fair amount and can’t figure out which one he is speaking of, this can’t be good regardless. I am ok with Blanco having the job, but I would have to see Shafer win the CF job first. I am not sure that is happening this year.

by bengoodfella on Jan 19, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions

Schafer has to produce better vs LHP before he can be a big league regular. He isn’t ready yet but he is getting close.

"Fools rush in where fools have been before"

by jeg on Jan 19, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

I Hope the Braves can find the time and players to let Schafer stay in the minors until at least the all star break to develop more. He has got still things to prove. Instead of the young pitching Jo Jo and Charlie Morton they have proven they are ready with the Minors they have to make the next step to be succesful in the majors.

by Dutch Braves Fan on Jan 19, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

Jo-Jo was serviceable in the first half of 08’ but was awful in the second half. He can’t seem to take that next step in improving his command. He has proven capable of being a standout at the highest levels of the minor leagues but I’ll use a cliche and say that the ball is in his court. It’s up to him to make the adjustment and improve his command or wash out of the big leagues entirely. The Braves could live with higher than ideal BB totals but they are merely a function of poor command. For someone who does not possess overwhelming stuff, it is crucial that you be able to spot your fastball down in the zone. The Mazzone credo of spotting your fastball down and away was the staple of the Braves success in the 90’s and it will have to be again if the likes of Reyes and Morton are to develop into useful players.

"Fools rush in where fools have been before"

by jeg on Jan 20, 2009 2:02 AM EST up reply actions

Just posted on mlbtraderumors.com One agent expect Dunn to make no more then 5 mln per year. I would love to see Dunn for that price in leftfield for the Braves. I guess that leaves the money to resign Ohman. I don’t buy the 5 mln per year but for 8 mln per year I still believe is one of the best bargains this offseason.

by Dutch Braves Fan on Jan 19, 2009 6:35 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn’t be upset if Diaz is the full time LF. It wouldn’t be a problem if Francouer is half as good as he should be.

by rocket8188 on Jan 19, 2009 8:22 PM EST reply actions

It was a pretty big problem for the first 6 weeks last season.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

Just want to get some opinions here. Is anybody else worried that Francoeur may never develope into a power hitting outfielder. He hit 29 home runs in 2006, 19 in 2007 and 11 last year. A player like him shouldn’t be going downhill like that. If he could hit around 25-35 home runs a year like he should he could be valuable. For him to have any value he has to hit home runs and get RBI’s. He doesn’t walk enough or steal enough bases or hit for a high enough average to have to many 11 home run seasons and expect to stay around.

by jack dein on Jan 19, 2009 8:27 PM EST reply actions

Francoeur

I am very worried that we have actually seen the best of what he has to offer the team at this point. His minor league numbers are too close to his major league numbers in regard to OBP for me to think this is all just a phase. I am afraid he is going to be an average MLB player for his entire career unless he figures it out or changes his approach at the plate.

by bengoodfella on Jan 19, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

All due

To the Sports Illustrated Cover Curse.

by WienerDog on Jan 20, 2009 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

He never really hit for power in the minors like he was projected to. He has absolutely horrendous pitch selection. He loves to swing and miss. He puts the ball on the ground too much.

If you’re expecting anything more than a .800 OPS as his ceiling, you’re shooting too high. I honestly can’t see us bringing him back after his arb years are over. Maybe as a fourth outfielder. The ABSOLUTE BEST CASE SCENARIO for him is that he learns some plate discipline and can turn into a poor man’s Vernon Wells without an obscene contract.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 19, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

He seems to me like one of those players that as soon as Heyward is ready you won’t see him anymore. And in a couple of years will be a forgotten player. His numbers from both the minors and majors say that he won’t be that much better then what he was last year.

by jack dein on Jan 19, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions