Bowman's season preview

The key thing I see here is a blatant overvaluing of Melky and his ability to block Heyward. I don't know how of much of this is just Bowman's speculation and how much he got from the horse's mouth, but he seems to think if Melky has a good spring that the team may keep Heyward in AAA and use Melky in right, at least for a couple of months. I think most of us would agree that whether Heyward is our new right fielder is entirely upon Heyward's shoulders, not Melky's. If he hits this spring, he's in. If he doesn't have a good ST for whatever reason, then we reluctantly send him to AAA and use Melky in the short term until we deem he's ready. There is no way Melky is valuable enough as a starter to beat out Heyward in principle just by having a good spring; if there is a just God in the universe then Bobby and company know he doesn't have the stuff to be leaned on as a starter and this is really just Bowman talking out of his ass.

over 2 years ago J-Freak 4 comments 0 recs |

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“There hasn’t been much fanfare about Cabrera since he was acquired from the Yankees in December. But the switch-hitting outfielder did hit .274 with a .752 OPS for the defending World Series champs last year.

If Heyward doesn’t make the club out of camp, Cabera would likely begin the season as the club’s starting right fielder. His showing in camp will influence whether the Braves choose to send Heyward to the Minors to begin the season. "

I think that you are analyzing Bowman’s analysis too much.

"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 11, 2010 1:12 PM EST reply actions

Or maybe you are misanalyzing his analysis of Bowman’s analysis. haha. Just kidding.

I agree with you here justin.

by dunnytwogloves on Feb 11, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

I may very well be, and if that’s the case I apologize. But given how the outfield has been conducted in the last few years, the long drawn-out departure of Frenchy, reliance on FUGA, and even the current Damon debacle, I have these heart-in-throat moments whenever they start talking about these mediocre/bad outfielders like they’re some sort of commodity.

by J-Freak on Feb 11, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

I can see

the Braves possibly building up their desire for Heyward (and secretly hoping? – if I can use that phrase) to not have an amazing ST so that they can start him in AAA and keep him from being a super 2. And if Melky is faulting and Heyward is tearing it up, then they bring him up. But if Melky is hitting .280 or better, they leave him in RF until June. To me, the only reason they left Hanson in the minors was the Super 2 ($) reason and I could see them doing that again. But this time, they are going to show to the press that they are not like that (which is illegal I believe), but then they may do it anyway. I would love to see Heyward make the club out of the gate, but I just have my doubts that unless he hits over .380 with power we won’t.

by ronjba on Feb 12, 2010 10:25 AM EST reply actions