Thoughts from the AFL game 10/13/10

by king of games on Oct 14, 2010 1:00 AM EDT

Pastornicki was really impressive. He played second tonight and looked really good on D, though it didn’t look like he had the arm to play SS to me. Also has some really good speed, actually beat out a Melkyesque choppah back to the pitcher. Seemed to be on base all night, and everytime he was Harrilchack was moving him over.

Harrilchack didn’t really impress me in CF, but he did have some timely hits.

Cory Gearrin came in for a couple innings and looked really good, throws sidearm with decent velocity. Kyle Cofield didn’t look nearly as sharp, he gave up a bomb that I’m pretty sure hasn’t come back to earth yet.

Freeman looked really good on D, but his swing was still pretty ugly, reminded me a lot of Alex Gonzalez. He swings too much at bad pitches, but when he connects he hits it hard. Hit two to the warning track tonight, also GIDP and looked really bummed when he got a called HBP that just grazed his jersey. Gotta say, this kid has a cannon arm and I don’t think it would be that hard for him to play 3rd base.

I'll have some pics as soon as the wife loads them from her camera.

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

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Around SB Nation

This Week In White Sox Minor League Baseball

Aug 2011 from South Side Sox - 9 comments

Nate McLouth's Homer Leads Pirates To 3-1 Win Over Blue Jays

Apr 2012 from Bucs Dugout - 303 comments

Altoona Curve Announces 2012 Roster

Apr 2012 from Bucs Dugout - 74 comments

Dodgers, Braves Off To Good Starts

Apr 2012 from True Blue LA - 412 comments

Phil Irwin And Josh Poytress Promoted To Altoona

May 2012 from Bucs Dugout - 14 comments

Comments

Any kind of Freeman to third talk needs to stop. He played 3rd in high school, so if the Braves felt like he could play third as a pro he would have, because a good third base prospect is much more rare, and thus valuable, than a good first base prospect. The fact that they moved him off of third is a clear indication he won’t move back. The Braves have a long track record of keeping their prized prospects at premium positions until they prove they can’t play them at an acceptable level.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Oct 14, 2010 2:44 AM EDT reply actions

I wouldn’t move him over there as an everyday option, but I think it would be good for him to get some reps over there occasionally to add a little versatility.

by king of games on Oct 14, 2010 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Regardless, it’s just not gonna happen.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Oct 14, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

So I'm not the only one who thinks Freeman could work on his swing??

I honestly think the kid could use some more time in the minors. AAA this past year seemed to be full of barely replacement level players for all the teams. Next year has a nice crop of youngsters that will be doing some damage in AA and AAA

by drumzalicious on Oct 14, 2010 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

Replacement level players? So that’s league average Major Leaguers? Even if they’re barely that, then isn’t that kind of like facing Major Leaguers every day? I feel like you’re trying to demean AAA in some way, which is just crazy because it’s the best level of baseball in the world that’s not the Major Leagues. Freddie dominated it. Straight up crushed it. Of course he needs to work on his swing, everyone does. But he certainly doesn’t need any more time in the Minors.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Oct 15, 2010 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

And wouldn't that be kind of a given...

that the players in AAA are “not quite major leaguers” for one reason or another? I think that point would apply every year for AAA baseball, some kids who still need developing and some journeyman who have bounced on and off the end of benches, with a few journeyman who have just never gotten a chance.

I’d assume those 3 categories comprise the vast majority of AAA players every single year.

by Mr. Sanchez on Oct 15, 2010 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

i guess my point

was that there was an abundance of average level players in AAA. In the majors there arent very many teams that have a full roster of average level players that he would be facing. Therefore he could benefit from seeing some higher level pitchers like the ones he would see in the Majors. He basically will be going from hitting against Charlie Morton 5 times a week to once a week.

In the end im just saying that him having such a hole in his swing will get exposed in a larger way when he is facing pitchers that can more accurately exploit it.

I just dont want the kid to come up and go down in flames because he is all of a sudden having to face good pitching and we dont have time for him to be at the bottom of the lineup trying to figure it out.

by drumzalicious on Oct 16, 2010 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions

The very definition of average means that there a good portion of the players in the Majors are average. There are guys who are better, guys who are worse, and a ton of guys who are average. The same is true at AAA, and last year, while being the second youngest player in the league, Freddie was one of the best. Frankly, despite the claims that some folks are making based off of a handful of at bats int he Majors, I think his track record has shown that he doesn’t have a hole in his swing (or at least not one that’s any more noticeable than the hole that every player has in his swing).

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Oct 16, 2010 4:39 AM EDT up reply actions

also

I’m not sure that aaa is right below the majors anymore simply because it seems like teams are pulling guys straight from AA now and foregoing AAA altogether. Which ends up leaving AAA with guys like Charlie Morton and Jojo Reyes. Pitchers who would only cut it on the bottom 5 teams in the majors because they have no one else.

by drumzalicious on Oct 16, 2010 3:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Show me the evidence that this is happening any more now than it always has. Until then it’s just an anecdotal claim. Show me that in the last few years there has been a noticeably higher rate of players moving straight from AA to the Majors than there used to be. Because I don’t think this is true and people keep throwing it out there like it is without any proof whatsoever.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Oct 16, 2010 4:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Japan’s pro baseball is rated as higher then AAA, but lower then the Majors. Think the 12 worst MLB teams and you got Japanese baseball.

by Broccoman on Oct 17, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess that argument could be made. Frankly I think more Japanese players would come over and play at least decently if that were true.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Oct 17, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think more time in AAA will do him any good.

His defense is more than major league ready, and his offense will come along a bit slower as it has at every level he’s played at thus far. I just hope Braves fans don’t have too high of hopes for his offensive production next year, as I wouldn’t be surprised if he was hovering around the Mendoza line most of the year. Remember that the NL East has some of the best pitchers in all of baseball with H20, Josh Johnson, Johan Santana, and a bevy of other young talented arms.

by king of games on Oct 15, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

.200 for a MLB 1B is unacceptable.

If he can produce Glaus-ish numbers with his glove, that’s acceptable. Otherwise we should keep Diaz and platoon them.

by Broccoman on Oct 17, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think he'll hit .200...

…but .250 is probably not out of the question. However, you don’t platoon him; you want him to improve and learn, and he needs to face those pitchers to do that.

by cavebird on Oct 18, 2010 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Another year in AAA for Freddie talk needs to stop. There is no reason at all, none, to think that’s happening and, conversely, very good reason to think and expect he will be our opening day starter at 1B.

by fandave on Oct 15, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea he has basically been given the job however it doesn’t mean that its the best choice right now. If we had 7 top tier players at every other position then yea give him the job and let him learn on the fly. Fact of the matter is that we currently are below average at about half of our positions which means we can’t afford for him to come up and stink up the joint. If Wren gets us 2 great bats for our outfield. Say DeJesus and Choo then I will be fine with him starting because we can cover for his short comings if he struggles.

by drumzalicious on Oct 16, 2010 3:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Let's face it.

If we want to afford an OF, we need his questionable (could be good, could be bad) production at first with the league minimum salary. You have to let the kids have a chance eventually—-we need some cost controlled production.

by cavebird on Oct 18, 2010 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions