The best batting eye on the team is...

by ATLandUNC on Apr 25, 2009 4:34 PM EDT

Jordan Schafer?

I know, I know, Chipper has one of the best batting eyes in all of the majors (ever), but JS looks like he may be close to being on par. He is leading the team by far with 12 walks, and he has a .380+ OBP even while sporting a batting average of only .268. It is not easy to have an OBP 110 points higher than your .avg, especially for a rookie.

He had that very ugly string of Ks when he was pressing, but when he is comfortable like he is now, he works the count full like nobody on the team but Chip. Jordan leads the Braves (and is 31st in the majors) with 4.09 pitches seen per at bat because he constantly has 2-2 and 3-2 counts. That patience would work great for allowing the heart of the order behind him to get a read on pitchers, plus leading off he could finally begin to utilize his speed a bit more.

Bobby needs to put him at the top of the lineup already.

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

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Most of those walks...

are a product of hitting in front of the pitcher.

That’s not to say that he doesn’t have a great eye, because he does. But if he’s in the leadoff spot, pitchers are going to go after him more. For now, I like him in the 7th spot.

"If I had a little humility, I would be perfect" - Ted Turner

by Little Lady on Apr 25, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Keep him where he is. We don’t need to put anymore pressure on him. The only benefit I see in moving him to leadoff is that then we could fully take advantage of his speed, but I like him hitting 7th or 8th

by eaheckman10 on Apr 25, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. once he gets in the lead off role pitchers will def be going after him more. however it would be nice to have him at the top of the lineup for his speed because right now there isnt anyone who honestly is a SB threat on our team.

by drumzalicious on Apr 26, 2009 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions

It is not easy to have an OBP 110 points higher than your .avg, especially for a rookie.

We had a rookie do it last year!

4/24/09 NEVER FORGET THE SWAGGA IS BACK BABY
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club

by bigjoe on Apr 25, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

who was that?… not being a dick… i cant think of it off the top of my head… and if u say BJones i swear to god

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 25, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably Blanco.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Apr 25, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

indeed

Blanco’s AVG.251 OBP.366

by Lennox on Apr 26, 2009 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions

At least Schafer’s SLG is over .400

4/24/09 NEVER FORGET THE SWAGGA IS BACK BABY
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club

by bigjoe on Apr 26, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

thank you…forgot about greg white

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 26, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Was the Corkster a rookie? };0)

by Chopaholic on Apr 26, 2009 12:15 AM EDT reply actions

Logan’s OBP line isn’t bad at all, but until he cuts down on his K’s there’s no way Bobby will play him at leadoff

"When life gives you lemons, just say 'Fuck the lemons,' and bail."

by Bravely going forward on Apr 26, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

agreed. bobby’s not gonna pull the trigger anytime soon cuz of the k’s and his raging boner for kj (who’s 2nd on the team in k’s btw)

go jackets!

by duckylummox on Apr 27, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Brian McCann.

"Here comes Bream! Here's the throw to the plate! He is...safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!...Braves win!"

by jug on Apr 27, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

i wonder why everyone thinks we need to move Schafer to the top of the order to take advantage of his speed….

If he is batting eighth, and he gets walked… shouldnt he try to steal second… then the pitcher sacrifices (bunt, fly, what have you) to move Schafer to third. You do a couple of things.. the pitcher is a prime candidate for a DP becuase he is slow…. you avoid this by stealing second. The pitcher has the worst OBP of any spot in the order (theoretically). you would want to allow the pitcher to put the ball in play and hope that moves Schafer to third.

However, put Shcafer at the top of th elineup. Suppose schafer plays the exact same (same walks same Ks and same avg… which is a huge presumption and certainly not a reality)…why would schafer want to steal with the 2 hitter up next then the Chipper… theres no reason to run into an out. the damage of running into an out with the pitcher up is less significant than the damage of running into an out with the 2 hitter up. This is because the pitcher has a lower chance to drive in Shcafer than the 2 hitter does.

It would seem Schafer should be stealing more bases while in the 8th spot then he would in the lead off spot… especially considering Schafer isnt that proficient at stealing bases (he has a 64% success rate in the minors)

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Apr 27, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions