2009 Line-Up "Projections".

by ejruiz on Jan 30, 2009 1:30 AM EST

Well, I figured we could use a little distraction right about now and what better way than to provide my completely non-scientific "projections" for what our current line-up might be able to do in the 2009 season for you all to tear apart. So, without firther ado:

Gregor Blanco - CF - .245/.375/.305
Yunel Escobar - SS - .295/.370/.410
Chipper Jones - 3B - .355/.455/.585
Brian McCann - C - .300/.365/.520
Kelly Johnson - 2B - .285/.355/.450
Diaz/Anderson - LF - .315/.350/.450
Casey Kotchman - 1B - .275/.335/.415
Jeff Francoeur - RF - .250/.300/.390

Now, I know some of you do this sort of thing more seriously and I'd love to know what you all have come up with so far. For those of you who are more on my side of the spectrum in this matter, well, go ahead and toss your two cents into the ring for some additional fun. Feel free to tell me what you think I got right and/or wrong. Alright guys and gals, have at it!

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

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

FYF batting 4th

by homerun on Jan 30, 2009 1:34 AM EST reply actions

Funny.

I put him where I think he should go and I honestly think that, unless he lights ST on fire, he won’t hit higher than 6th.

by ejruiz on Jan 30, 2009 3:50 AM EST up reply actions

I think your OBP for Blanco is a bit optimistic, a 130 pt increase from his AVG to his OBP would be insane. i could see more around 350 or 360.

And if thats our guess.. then why would be be preferable to Anderson, who has more power… and by more power i mean he has the power of a slight breeze, opposed to a gentle sneeze. If Anderson can hit 300 his OBP would be around 350 (maybe 300 for an AVG is high, ill concede that)… but i think ANderson is fast enough that Bobby would let him run a lil and that would add a dimension to our lineup…

Yes i know the Braves don’t run but I think thats less of an organizational philosophy and more a result of the Braves only allowing runners to run that are continuously successful (i.e Fookie or way back in they day Nixon). I think Anderson could be that. And since their defense is a wash, basically… i think ANderson would be the better player. ALthough admittedly they both suck ass.

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 30, 2009 2:01 AM EST reply actions

You're Right.

On second thought, I’d bump his OBP down 10-15 points and push his average up 10-15 points. I think I’d still give him the nod over Anderson in CF (it also allows me to platoon Josh with Matt Diaz in LF) but it’s definitely a closer call then. Thanks for pointing that out.

by ejruiz on Jan 30, 2009 3:53 AM EST up reply actions

Kotch

is low. I’d give him his 2007 line. That’s 296/372/467.

If you want to be conservative, you can give him a haircut and go with 285/365/450 like Chone does.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 30, 2009 2:11 AM EST reply actions

I Guess...

Maybe I could split the difference between your optimism and my pessimism, leaving us with roughly .285/.350/.440 (similar to CHONE, but still conservative). That’s something I’d feel comfortable with.

by ejruiz on Jan 30, 2009 3:56 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah

That would probably be fair.

Although I think he will outperform that projection, I know that a lot of ATL fans are down on him, because his half-season with the Braves was pretty awful. I’ve had the benefit of following him when he was out on the West Coast, and he has the capability to perform much better than he showed in 2H 08, but I acknowledge that’s a dicey way to do a projection.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 30, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

I’m actually pretty optimistic on the guy. What I found particularly interesting was that with the Angels last season his BB% was roughly 5% but with us it was roughly 11%. Small sample sizes though…

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 30, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

And in 2007 when he was good his BB% was 10.7%. Oh Pendleton please don’t tell him to be more aggressive.

"OBP is not a production number, and should not be used as something he achieved."

by VictorW on Jan 30, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Weird, right? His 2H BBs were back up to his normal levels, but his “production” was down.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 30, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

I dropped the other stats, roughly estimated the batting averages, and switched the batting order around. I’m guessing Schafer makes the team out of spring training and we get another left fielder (I’d bet Swisher). Either way, I still say LF bats 7th. I do think Francoeur will light up spring training and this will be a big year for him (and I’m going with Chipper’s prediction that Frenchy bats 4th).

Kelly Johnson – 2B – .300
Yunel Escobar – SS – .330
Chipper Jones – 3B – .330
Jeff Francoeur – RF – .280
Brian McCann – C – .320
Diaz/Anderson – LF – .280 (I think this will be replaced via trade)
Casey Kotchman – 1B – .300
Jordan Schafer – CF – .280

by secondbass on Jan 30, 2009 5:25 AM EST reply actions

I dont think Yunel hits anywhere near .330

I think .300 is his ceiling

by mrsoprano on Jan 30, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, all of those projections seem like best case scenarios

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 30, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions

Absolutely.....

by secondbass on Jan 30, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

pass me some of that kool-aid

’cause frenchy batting .280 4th in the lineup

and escobar hitting .330

and diaz/anderson .280

seems like you’ve got some lysergic acid in it.

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jan 30, 2009 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

Hmmm...

I find AVG to be the least informative of the slash stats (it’s the most volatile, random and least informative of them all), so I find it odd that you chose to focus on that. I have to agree with the others here that you seem to be overly optimistic, though you oddly undershoot the single best hitter in that regard…

by ejruiz on Jan 30, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

Well.....

…..given that I’m a bit of a traditionalist and like to have my stats in terms of batting average, home runs, RBIs, and on base percentage, and I further don’t have time (especially here at work!) to calculate everything across the slashes, I decided to go ahead and participate in the discussion in this fashion.
Also, for what it’s worth, I’m not betting Chipper hitting .350 again….I’m guessing .330. Just like I’m guessing Francoeur will hit 4th at .280 (Chipper sent me the kool-aid, by the way), I think Escobar has it in him to hit in the low-.300s, and I stated I don’t really believe Diaz/Anderson is the answer…..there will be a trade before it comes to that.

Again, all guesses. I don’t mean for this to sound angry, by the way….just rushed….still at work!
Besides, we’re all guessing. Let’s save this page for September and see who’s right. And in the end, who cares? If I’m overly optimistic about my favorite team, so what?

by secondbass on Jan 30, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

i also think that you’re a lil pessimistic on frenchy i think he will be around a 730 OPS

however… there is no harm in hedging ur bets so i dont really want to argue with any of you rpredictions they are close enough to mine that its just arguing over little things.

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 30, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions

We're Not Arguing.

I appreciate the feedback, so keep it coming. As for Frenchy, I’m just not sure he’ll get his power (i.e.) all the way back up. I guess you can argue that either the OBP (2007) or the SLG (2006 and 2007) should be higher, but I guess I’m a pessamist here,too. I’m happy to be missing on the conservative side, though, because this excercise is making me more hopeful that I was before!

by ejruiz on Jan 30, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

thats basically what im syaing…i have an general edict that if u aim for the bottom ull always be happily surprised. so by being pessimistic.. u set urself up to be happy

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 30, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

“I found that if you have a goal, that you might not reach it. But if you don’t have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya… it feels phenomenal.”

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 30, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions