Where Jordan Schafer Fits Into the Braves Plan
by BenDuronio on Jan 31, 2010 11:57 AM EST
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Coming into last year’s Spring Training, Jordan Schafer was this year’s version of Jason Heyward. Jordan was the top prospect with actual major league aspirations in 2009 and he competed with Gregor Blanco and Josh Anderson for the starting center field gig. Blanco was sent down to the minors and Josh Anderson was traded to the Tigers, solidifying Schafer as the Braves opening day centerfielder.
After Schafer’s first at bat, things went downhill. Jordan hit a home run in Philadelphia on opening day and did not see many similar results the rest of the year. Jordan’s bat speed slowed, likely due to a wrist injury that he kept quiet. Schafer did not want to lose the opportunity to continue his dream and he stubbornly battled through the wrist injury, leading to a very rough season in which he was sent back down to AAA. After his demotion, Schafer went on the disabled list and missed the rest of the season because of wrist surgery.
The Braves later traded for Nate McLouth, and Nate is expected to start the year off in centerfield. This off season the Braves traded for Melky Cabrera, the expected fourth outfielder. Schafer is now in a tough position, a filled depth chart in front of him and another prospect passing him up for a starting outfield spot.
This is a huge year for Jordan Schafer and whether it is through injuries or poor play by one of the current options- if Jordan produces in AAA he will see time in the majors in 2010. Jordan’s “swagger” has always been a problem and an advantage simultaneously. Jordan needs to mature as a baseball mind just as he has as a baseball talent.
For once in his life, he is out of the spotlight. The challenges Schafer faces this season will likely make or break his career with the Atlanta Braves. If he is able to continue to play strong defense and shows in Spring Training and in AAA that he can perform at a high level for an extended period of time then Jordan will get his second shot in Atlanta.
On the outside looking in is not something Jordan is used to, and his will and work ethic shall be tested this season. Right now it does not seem as if the Braves have any clear play for Jordan other than put him in Gwinnett and let him prove himself again. It is easy to doubt Schafer and expect nothing more than he contributed last season. To have faith in a player who at 23 has seen so many ups and downs as a professional baseball player is a bit more difficult. I for one, expect Jordan to rebound and become the player he thought he was. Do you?
This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.
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Anyone who gives up on this kid is nuts
He has until mid-2011 until I lose faith in him. He’s only 23…Ryan Howard didn’t even come up to the majors until he was 25 or 26.
Remember folks, I'm almost always wrong.
My sig was too long...
by Scott Coleman on Jan 31, 2010 12:42 PM EST via mobile reply actions
i forgot about josh anderson
anybody know what happened to rudy darrow? didnt seem to pitch much for us last year
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
He started in AA, got straight up hammered, and ended up with the Pelicans. I saw him pitch a few games and he looked fine. I wouldn’t say he’s spectacular, he’s not as good as a lot of the Braves other relievers, but he’s decent. If he got his control back he could be in AAA sometime this year. But who knows if that will happen. Anyway, the Tigers didn’t get much out of the deal since Anderson didn’t do much and they ended up losing him on waivers.
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Wren
Looks to me that Wren is doing the same thing with the outfield that he did with pitchers. Load up and cull. By this October, the Braves will most likely have Diaz, McLouth, Heyward, Cabrera, Schafer and Hinske to choose from for 2011. Milligan will be a year further along as well. Whether Wren choose to pay McLouths increasing salary or go with Schafer or Cabrera in center will be a big question. Trading McLouth, Wren might be able to turn 2011 into the year of surplus infielders, 2010 looks like surplus outfield, 2009 was surplus starting pitchers.
Hinske is a FA after this season, really doubt he’s back next year unless it’s in a utility role
by McCann's the Man on Jan 31, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
So is Diaz
Unless I’m way off, which would be no huge surprize! But, being in Atlanta, seems reasonable to consider them for next year. We can’t trade Hinske in November, but we can re-sign him.
Wrong again college boy genius
Diaz gets arb again
Diaz and Cabrera would both be arb eligible...
but that doesn’t automatically mean they return.
I’m still of the opinion that if Heyward and Schafer both look strong and are ready by June 1, then we start shopping McLouth to get max value for him by the July 31 deadline.
Even if the keep him until Nate leaves, he will be a Brave. They love him and if he wasn’t in the plans, you know he would of been in a deal this offseason. Probably included in a Lowe/Javy deal. I agree with Sanchez, he will have a good year and many will want them to trade Nate in July but I think we keep him and trade him in the offseason. 2011 will feature Schafer, Heyward and Diaz. Then it will be down to CoJo and Milligan to potentially replace Diaz and I think Milligan will show this year that he is one of our best prospects and the next big thing.
I’d love to see Schafer succeed and join Chipper, Hanson, Medlen, Reyes, McCann (Heyward and Freeman hopefully) and all the other homegrown farm boys in Atlanta. The Braves have always been great at raising young talent so I look (and maybe pray) for a mid-season trade featuring Melky Cabrera to get a more permanent piece in the outfield to compliment the future stars of our great farm system.
eh
Reyes isnt in that echelon of talent
by drumzalicious on Feb 1, 2010 3:11 AM EST up reply actions
i think Schafer will bounce back strong and do fine. I honestly hope he is the lead off man either sometime this year or next year because i just remember those few times he bunted the ball for hits or just to move the runner and he was at 1B before the ball was fielded.
Not to mention his arm is a canon. Him and Heyward would make our OF defense great.
Speaking of future outfield. Anyone know how Milligan’s fielding is?
Really? From what I’ve heard he’s not much better than Cody Johnson.
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I saw in a couple places that his D is serviceable and has some potential improvement. He doesn’t have a great arm or like great range but nothing that will hurt the team.
Serviceable with potential for improvement is exactly how I would describe Cody Johnson’s defense.
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i guess that depends on what the definition of serviceable is…if serviceable = Adam Dunn
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
It depends on what the definition of “is” is…or for that matter, “sexual relations”.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Feb 1, 2010 8:19 PM EST up reply actions
Well, that is less comical, but I guess it applies too.
"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."
by justincredubil02 on Feb 2, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
Dunn’s defense isn’t serviceable, it’s horrendous. If he ever drops down from 100 walks and around 40 homers he’ll be basically worthless.
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How a guy like Dunn has yet to play in the American League is beyond strange. He’s probably 2-3 times more valuable as a DH than as a 1st baseman or left fielder, his defense is so atrocious.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on Feb 2, 2010 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
wait
He doesn’t have a great arm or like great range but nothing that will hurt the team.
dont those two things hurt the team ? ? ? ? look at Johny Damon who had guys like Jim Thome going from 1st to 3rd on a single.
by drumzalicious on Feb 2, 2010 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
The Milligan love is a bit pre-mature. I want to see how he hits against better pitching over a full season first. Milligan’s bat has intrigued me since the day we drafted him, and I’m certainly pulling for him. But Cody is more proven at this point.
Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur
A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.
that is true, but i like Milligan better, bc of his current tool set…he is not as much of a power threat (but who is compared to Cody), but he hits for a higher average (presumably) and strikes out moderately less (still too much)…if he can learn how to walk like Cody has learned over the last three years… Milligan will be a very good prospect for us.
That said i understand ur reservations about him seeing as he was old for his league and his numbers are buoyed by a high BABIP (i would point to his high line drive rate to support that BABIP a little bit though)
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
The thing that gets me is that Milligan is older than Cody. He was playing a level below him as well. Yeah, he had an outstanding season, and he does look like a good prospect, but, at least to this point, I just can’t see putting him ahead of Cody.
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I think that the issue with putting Milligan above Cody...
…is multiple tools versus one tool. Cody has one very impressive tool, immense power, and a decent skill with patience. But that’s about it. Milligan’s ceiling could be higher if he can develop his multiple tools. 2010 should be an important year for both of them, because of Milligan’s age he needs to move quickly and Cody has to show that he can handle higher level pitching without becoming a wiff machine.
But what multiple tools does he have really? He showed he can hit for a high average and he can hit for power, but he didn’t show any real ability to take a walk. He walked in 5% of his plate apperances (compared to 13% for Cody), which is pretty low. Now, this could be a byproduct of how hot he was at the plate, but we really don’t know since he only has half a season worth of data. He’s not very fast and he’s at best an average defender, so he doesn’t really have any advantage over Cody there.
So really, I don’t see Milligan as having multiple tools, but he seems to have good power, but not near as much as Cody, and seems to be an excellent hitter who makes great contact, which is a huge difference from Cody. So, since he has that huge advantage at pure batting, and the difference in power isn’t big enough to offset that, I see why some want to put Milligan ahead of Cody. I disagree, but I get it.
As far as Mr. Sanchez’s point about Milligan playing at an age appropriate level next year, personally I like a prospect to be 20 or 21 playing in High A, Milligan will be 22, so while that difference isn’t damning, it’s still enough to make me say that he better have a better 2010 with Myrtle Beach than Cody’s 2009 there. Obviously if that happens and Cody struggles in AA I’d be very willing to put Milligan ahead, but if Cody continues playing well, as a younger player at a higher level, I’m still not seeing how Milligan ends up ahead.
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www.dropoutproductions.com
Ill take Cody over Milligan right now, bc of age/level and results….that said…Cody didnt walk very much early in his career…its a skill he has recently added to his repertoire..Hopefully Milligan will learn that as well…although that is far from assured.
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
Give them the same stats...
and I agree. But if Milligan has a strong first half in Myrtle, any doubt they move him to Mississippi? Could he and Cody be good enough to man both corners?
But the main point was as you say, he may not be the ideal age for Myrtle, but it’s certainly closer than in Danville last year.
Yeah, I’d think if Milligan is playing great with Myrtle Beach he could be with Mississippi by the All Star break. Then we could really get a handle on these two cause they’d be at the same level. Kind of like how we’ll have a better gauge on the Teheran/Vizcaino comparison.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
I don't think that most scouts agree...
…with your assessment of the relative defensive abilities of Johnson and Milligan. What I have read has mostly been that Milligan is pretty meh defensively while Johnson is a step below that. Patience I consider to be a skill not a tool in that Johnson has developed it and hopefully Milligan can too. The contact ability was one of the tools I was mentioning, the additional athleticism (admittedly not great for Milligan, but better than Johnson) and defense (again, not great for Milligan, but better than Johnson) was the other.
I don’t think most scouts have seen Milligan. He played for 3 months, Cody’s had 4 years for scouts to pick apart every aspect of his game. Let’s see the guy play for a full year then check back in on folks’ opinions of him.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
Milligan has to be more athletic than COdy…if memory serves Milligan was a pretty well regarded football prospect at RB
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
No Milligan is a better prospects, I like CoJo’s power but the K’s aren’t going down, and he hasn’t shown any great patience. He’s also not as quick or mobile as Milligan.
Ok, we get it
You are an Adam Milligan fan. Yes, he had a great year, but aren’t you over-inflating this kid a bit? Not to mention claiming he
IS THAT PERMANENT PIECE.when the kid has barely had 250 AB’s in the minors. My point is, there simply isn’t enough data on this kid to make these conclusions, at least not yet.
You aren’t the czar of typographic emphasis
Milligan rose through the ranks pretty swiftly though...
and Johnson has a couple extra years on him in the system, so that can kind of explain the levels. I think, with both, a lot comes down to this year. How does Cody handle the jump to AA and above? How does Milligan do at a more age appropriate level and in a full season?
I agree, 2010 is big...
…for both of them, for the reasons you mention.
we might want to start looking for a Third baseman
for it’s comming close to Chippers retirement :( I can feel it in my spine
i wouldnt put Logan at third…that just seems odd
i kid
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
lol
could you imagine his arm at 1B? you dont even get half way down the line before your out
by drumzalicious on Feb 2, 2010 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
just bc he has a strong arm doesn’t mean his arm is stronger than most 3B…in fact i would bet many 3B have the arm to be plus in the OF…its just they don’t have the range…his arm would be very good at 3B, but it wouldnt be the best arm ever at 3B (I don’t know who is)…
or at least that is my assumption OF are not better than IF arms necessarily
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
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