Just a few Questions

by rocket8188 on Apr 19, 2009 8:14 AM EDT Comment 19 comments

Why isn't Schafer leading off? I wonder does it actually harm a team if the leadoff hitter goes up, sees four pitches and strikes out as opposed to grounding out to third? He doesn't walk but he gives you power potential and he's gonna do it sometime in the future.

Neither KJ or Jordan will get on base at a great clip this year anyway why take the fangs out of your offense by removing Schafer ability to steal or at least move on the basepath.

What the hell is wrong with the bullpen? Everyone is getting hit or just plain wild. And for all the people that smashed my idea of putting Hanson in the bullpen; with him I doubt they lose the sweep game in Philly and there wouldn't be all this uncertainty in the late inning. Because if you have confidence in Moylan at this point you are getting lonely on that island. Mike as well. The adventure in the season opener or giving up meaningless runs to the Pirates just doesn't bode well for a closer that may come on with runners on in the eigth inning of a important game in September

With all that said. Are we overreacting? I felt so confident after the first series that this team would win 90 plus with Jurrjens and Lowe winning 16 or 17 games and now I'm wondering if the Phillies are just that bad. Without Chipper and McCann this offense has no pop and those guys bring (compared to what you'd like out your 3-4 spots) little thump anyway. Garret seems washed up and while Francouer is hitting I feel more confident in 2006 FYF. The bullpen was a positive last few years and now its nothing.

I beg of you brothers of Talking Chop talk me off the ledge.

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suicide isn't funny

especially when it happens to babies

UPDATED >> Braves

by RehabReject on Apr 19, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The bullpen was a positive last few years and now its nothing.

Where the hell have you been? Our bullpen has been a mess for quite a few years now. Need I remind you of Reitsma, Kolb, Wickman(second year), Rocker? We haven’t had a good bullpen since Smoltz was leading the charge in the ninth for us.

Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts

by bravesrbaseball on Apr 19, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought Moylan was really good a few years ago, Soriano is talented, Gonzalez is (or was) a really good reliever.

by rocket8188 on Apr 19, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

our main problem has been having every one of those names healthy at the same time. It seems like when one goes down we overuse someone else till they go down.

Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts

by bravesrbaseball on Apr 19, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully getting rid of a bad apple will keep the others fresh

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 19, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My two cents>>>>>

Schafer will be the lead off in time. KJ is better suited in the six hole and once Schafer truly has his feet wet it will happen. Patience and it will happen. Schafer at lead off will change the dynamic of our offense but if Schafer can’t get on base then it becomes a moot point. Once again, Patience.

In the long term I think our bullpen is sound and we will shake out the rough spots over the next month. We have the pieces internally to make our bullpen more than serviceable. I truly see Soriano closing full-time before the All Star Break.

You are blowing this a little out of proportion but at the same time; if we still have these questions in three weeks then you point gains more validity. I’m more concerned with the folllowing:

GA in my opinion makes us worse when he’s in the field and at bat. He most likely will bring his bat up to par but he makes us worse in the field and I doubt he magically makes his legs ten years younger. Any option will be better than GA and this move (GA) has the potential to fester as the season goes along. If he doesn’t pick it up he will lose playing time and I can see a club house issue developing with GA demeanor.

It’s apparent that we don’t have enough power bat’s and it’s going to affect us when our hot streaks lose consistency. i.e. this past week. We really need a power bat. We truly need to make a power bat a huge huge huge priority. We also must accept that we will have to give something up of TRUE value to achieve this. Someone as simple as Dan Uggla could solve all of our problems. (Don’t rape me on the name drop just an example of someone who could help the team)
Schafer
Yunel
Chipper
Uggla
McCann
Frenchy
Kotchman
Diaz

Completely different dynamic that transforms the team. I’m assuming Kelly Johnson, and a few prospects for Uggla. Remember it will cost us so Uggla probably isn’t the solution financially or long term but the idea is to present a trade that we can make without breaking the farm system but seriously changes the dynamic of the team. Imagine what an impact that bat would make. We need to find that bat sooner rather than later. The difference will be our season.

by Charmin519 on Apr 19, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KJ won’t get on base at a good clip …

You base this on, what?

by Lennox on Apr 19, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

career on base of...

.355 and how last year his walks went down.

I guess that’s not horrible. but considering he is prone to hot and cold streaks, doesn’t steal alot of bases, and isn’t Jordan Schafer ( I needed a third point) he is not your best option at the 1 spot

by rocket8188 on Apr 19, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only reason that KJ shouldn’t be leading off is that his power is more valuable lower in the lineup.

If anyone on the team should be leading off it’s Yunel, due to his high OBP and low SLG throughout his career.

And Schafer is a rookie who is currently on a pace to strike out 250 times this year and spent the last week looking awful in most aspects of the game. How about he shows that he can get on base consistently before he gets entrusted with leading the team in PA?

by Lennox on Apr 20, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yunel should hit in the 2 hole because he doesn’t strike out and has productive at bats.

by rocket8188 on Apr 20, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yunel vidro’s a bit often, as he tends to hit a lot of groundballs. That’s why I like him in the leadoff spot; he has a good OBP, he doesn’t have a lot of power so it won’t be wasted, and he won’t GIDP if we get the leadoff hitter on.

by soup du jour on Apr 20, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I used to advocate Yunel in the #2 hole, but I now think he should be hitting leadoff for the reasons stated above.

Braves 2009 offense: in play, out(s)
Braves 2009 bullpen: in play, run(s)

by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 20, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KJ is definitely streaky. When he’s hot, he’s on fire, but when he’s not, he’s ice cold. But, Schafer hasn’t really been any better so far. Jordan started really well, but he’s hit a rough patch lately (although hopefully he’s turning around after today’s game).

Schafer will get there, but letting him get experience in a less-pressured role isn’t a bad idea. He’s still a straight-from-AA callup, no AAA experience.

by tchoup on Apr 20, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Schafer isn’t leading off because he’s struck out something like 13 times in his last 21 at bats. He may one day be a leadoff guy, but it won’t be until he cuts down on the Ks. He leads the majors right now.

by kalesi on Apr 19, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed. If he doesn't cut that K rate down he will do us no good at leadoff.

Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts

by bravesrbaseball on Apr 19, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

so why the hell did we trade Anderson?

by rocket8188 on Apr 20, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Because Schafer was the CF of the future

That doesn’t mean he needs to be leading off his second week in the big leagues.

by Weldon on Apr 20, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well now the braves don’t have a leadoff hitter. Schafer is never going to be 1980’s Rickey Henderson (.300, .400, .500) but he gives you pop and speed from the 1 hole. In the 8 slot he gives you nothing because you do not have a ‘work the count’ mentatlity there and he cannot steal with the pitcher behind him.

by rocket8188 on Apr 20, 2009 12:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs