Braves Making the Team Meter: Hitters Week 2

by gondeee on Mar 3, 2009 9:53 PM EST Comment 4 comments

This Atlanta Braves hitters are having a good spring so far, especially in the power department, where they're hitting more than a homerun a game. There are not a lot of spots for hitters on the team, and really, compared to the pitchers, there are not that many batters really competing for a spot, with the main competition being in the outfield. For reference, here is week one hitters MTM.

Player, Position	Chance	Notes
Josh Anderson, OF		He's getting his chances early in spring and he's taking advantage of them, and especially showing off his speed.
Gregor Blanco, OF		He's off to participate in the WBC, which I'm sure he'll enjoy, but when you're trying to compete with two other speedsters for the center field job (or even a backup job), you should probably do that in front of your manager, not far away in the WBC.
Brooks Conrad, INF		He's not showing us anything we didn't expect. All the comments I've seen seem to indicate he is already penciled into the Gwinnett lineup.
Freddie Freeman, 1B		Already with a monster homerun and good hitting with runners on base, he and his buddy Jason are the talk of the Braves camp.
Diory Hernandez, INF		Like Conrad, he's not standing out in the early going. However, he is showing his versatility by playing second, third, and short, which will set him up well as a replacement if there is an injury to another infielder.
Jason Heyward, OF		So far, he and Freeman are the talk of the Braves camp. It's good to hear that they are extremely advanced for their age.
Brandon Hicks, SS		The best complement he's gotten was from Cox, who said Hicks looks like a major league shortstop in the field.
Brandon Jones, LF		Brandon got off to a hot start with some solid hits in his first few games. He needs to keep it up, but he's looking like he has more confidence this spring. I, for one, am pulling for him, though I don't know where he would fit into our outfield picture unless there is an injury.
Martin Prado, INF		He's hit-less in the early going, but he's still the same Martin Prado, and he'll come along.
Jordan Schafer, OF		He got off to the best start of any Brave in the first couple of games, but he's come back down to earth since then. It looks like he's getting every opportunity to win the center field job.

Arrow Key:
= Chance of making the team is even.
= Chance of making the team is going down.
= Chance of making the team is going up.

We'll pick up with more MTM next Monday.

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Comments

I don't blame Blanco

With Anderson out of options and JS knock knock knockin’ on the door, he probably sees the writing on the wall (i.e., he’ll start the season in the minors).

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Mar 3, 2009 10:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It certainly looks that way. Barring of course another suspension for suspicion of using a non-performance enhancing, performance enhancing drug or .310 OBP from the leadoff spot from either of the two candidates for the CF job. I fully support the genetic gerrymandering/fusing of the Gregosh Blanderson duo to form one lefthanded batter who can actually get on base and use his speed to steal bases.

"Fools rush in where fools have been before"

by jeg on Mar 4, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great link, I enjoyed that story.

www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Mar 3, 2009 11:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

gondeee

What do you think about Sherry Haithcock’s chances of making the team? DOB reported on his blog that she hit about 8 homers of Jair Jurrjens in a simulated game the other day—five of which cleared the berm and landed on the batting cage facility.

Oh, Bobby.

by sdp on Mar 4, 2009 10:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs