Jose Constanza

by dhouck on Jul 23, 2011 8:25 AM EDT

While Carlos Beltran seems to be the "knight in shining armor" solution to the Braves outfield, I am wondering whether the trade would even be worth it. Yes, Beltran is an exceptional player when healthy and he would immediately impact the middle of the Braves order with a powerful switch hitting presence. However, Beltran is only hitting .232 vs lefties which is an overall team weakness that the Braves are seemingly looking to improve upon. So, is giving one or two top prospects to a division rival worth the rental of Carlos? I think Jose Constanza would be the solution to the outfield. He has lit up AAA this season with a batting average in the .320s and could possibly provide some top of the order speed to a line up whose middle of the order has suddenly woken up. This season he has hit .322 against lefties and has an overall OBS of .375. I understand that he has done all of this in AAA, but doesn't he at least deserve the opportunity to prove he can do it in the Bigs? He doesn't hit home runs, but he gets on base and steals bases creating chances for everyone else to drive him in. Thoughts???

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why not? What’s the worse that can happen.

I'm a king, no matter how the cards are dealt.

by ArmyITSpec on Jul 23, 2011 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

He'll definitely get a September call-up

But it’s likely that he’ll struggle to adjust, and won’t produce nearly the same amount as he did in AAA.
Think Gregor Blanco- a guy who’s fast and gets on base, but shouldn’t really be a full-time starter

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by TurnerTheBurner on Jul 23, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

If Schafer is traded, I’d call Constanza up to be the 5th OF.

I’d be willing to part with Schafer if we get a CF back in trade.

by Broccoman on Jul 23, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

5th?

we still need a 2nd 3rd and 4th, not counting Hinske

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by abraves257 on Jul 23, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Prado, Heyward, Traded for Player, McLouth, Costanza

Shrimp, Steak, Liquor, and Pasta
.

by KINGSLYTUT on Jul 24, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

i have been wanting him to get a shot for a while

its not just this year, he has consistently put up those numbers, at least he did last year, i dont remember beyond that.

How old is he?

What are his splits between left and right hand pitching?

How good is his defense? what would be the drop off from him to Schafer?

by willlinn on Jul 23, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

He’s 27. Not much difference lefty/righty, .326 avg, .372 OBP against righties, .322 avg, .384 OBp against lefties. Having a poor July, hitting just .242 with a .314 OBP, .556 OPS. His defense is solid, but nothing close to Schafer’s. No arm whatsoever.

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by cbwilk on Jul 23, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

problem with a september call up is that

the extra players are not pulled up to get a lot of playtime…

of course it is possible, that he just does it when he gets up there..
and excels with his chances, and somehow finds his way onto a playoff roster.

I hope he does.

by willlinn on Jul 23, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

and about beltrans switch hitting

he still has an 832 ops from the left.
His slugging is just very high from the left, he has more homers despite way less PAs

That said, he is a presence in the lineup from the left no question.

by willlinn on Jul 23, 2011 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

I'm sure there must be a reason why they picked Schaefer over Constanza

Not real sure about all the rules about player rights… but know that players not on the 40 man roster can be plucked and place on another teams roster if they keep him on for a full season… not sure if bringing players to the major leagues starts this rule 5 draft thing… but that might have have something to do with it… as well it starts players tenure towards arbitration and free agency… so it would make sense not to bring a guy in who can play everyday then sit behind a regular or platoon…

by jhutch346 on Jul 23, 2011 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

The Rule 5 draft has to do with a player’s service time in the Minor Leagues. Players originally signed after they turned 21 have to be protected on the 40 man after 3 seasons, players signed before they turned 21 have to be protected on the 40 man after 4 seasons. If a player isn’t protected he’s eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft in December, and the team that picks him gets to keep him if they keep him on their 25 man Major League roster for the next season. It had nothing to do with Schafer or Constanza.

They picked Schafer because he’s a much better player that they’ve put years into developing. Constanza is a Minor League free agent they signed to do just what he’s doing, play well in AAA. There was never a choice between the two.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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by cbwilk on Jul 23, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Constanza is a solid, useful AAA player, exactly the kind of guy you want bolstering your AAA lineup. That being said, he has no ability to drive the ball, and guys like that don’t usually do well in the Majors. While his average and OBP are about the same as they were last year, .319 and .325, and .373 and .375, this year his slugging is down to .366 after being .394 last year. Both are low numbers, which you’d expect from a little fast guy, but it’s also a good indication of what I’m talking about, a lack of ability to drive the ball. Sure, in the Majors he’d get his share of slap hits like always, but because nearly every guy he’d be facing could pump the ball into the mid 90s with movement, he just wouldn’t be likely to find much success without an ability to hit the ball with authority.

And, unfortunately, he probably won’t even get a chance in September. The Braves 40 man roster is full, and there’s already Matt Young on the 40 man, who is essentially the same player, except he’s already played in the Majors, with Atlanta, and he can play second base. The reality is, there just isn’t an opportunity for him with the Braves.

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by cbwilk on Jul 23, 2011 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

How do they protect 30 rounds of draft picks

on a 40 man roster?… with all the regulars on the 25 man roster too?… I must be missing something

by jhutch346 on Jul 23, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, after 3 or 4 years they’re subject to that draft. To keep them from being drafted the team can put them on their 40 man roster.

They don’t even attempt to protect most of the players. Most of the players are organizational filler, so if another team wants them they can have them. It’s pretty rare for teams to actually lose talented players through the Rule 5 draft, because there are enough spots to protect the guys you actually value. Out of those 30 rounds of draft picks, maybe 8 of them will still be in your organization in 3 or 4 years, and of those 8 maybe 2 are worth protecting on your 40 man roster.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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by cbwilk on Jul 23, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

are you saying that after they played 3 and 4 years they a subjected to the rule 5?

by jhutch346 on Jul 23, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

None of our current options really hit the ball with authority, either. Schafer seems destined to be a bust this season and obviously needs more time in AAA.

McLouth is providing bad defense in center and has seen his OBP skyrocket by getting pitched around in the 8th spot. I’m sure Constanza could do the same while playing better D.

by YakuzaFro on Jul 24, 2011 6:01 AM EDT up reply actions

If the team felt that way

Constanza would have been up long ago. He’s not even on the 40-man, which tells me that the team sees little value in him at the major league level. Remember how everyone before the season thought Matt Young would blow up the majors if he was just given a chance to prove that his minor league numbers would translate?

.208/.269/.229/.498

The team often knows what it’s doing and what the difference is between pretty AAA numbers and true major league talent.

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by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2011 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2010)

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by biggentleben on Jul 24, 2011 6:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Gartrell

You guys think Gartrell has a shot at a September call-up? It would be nice to have a righty pinch hitter with big power even if he does strike out too much.

by Ryan Eldridge on Jul 23, 2011 7:18 PM EDT reply actions