Is Brandon Hicks A Prospect?
by jdunk on Jul 4, 2011 2:33 PM EDT
Email
PrintBrandon Hicks is quietly putting together a fine season in AAA with a line of .266/.344/.518 with 12 HRs. Could he be considered a possible replacement for Gonzalez?
I know he's looked terrible in the majors, but 20 PA isn't enough to pass judgement on the guy. As far as I know he's a considered a good defensive player, so we could do much worse than a defensive shortstop with a .240/.320/.400 line making the league minimum.
This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.
50 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think he has been around too long to be considered a prospect. He’s more of a AAAA guy in my eyes.
"Bunting's my favorite." Fredi G
AAAA is very accurate for Hicks, though I like him better than Lugo.
Twitter: @Ben_Duronio Stop calling Tommy Hanson "Big Red"
He seems 4A
but, he isnt too old to get it together.. With his power numbers in the minors, and his defensive abilities at second base, I don’t see his career as over as most guys I’d call a AAAA
I don’t think he’s the replacement for Gonzalez,if chip retires then we should trade Lowe and that would give us 30 million plus to spend on a SS,LF(assuming Prado takes over 3rd),and CF
If Lowe is traded,
then some of that $30M you mention will be going along with him…
My opinion is Alex Gonzales should be allowed to walk, and the Braves should go with Hicks, Diory Hernandez, Tyler Pastornicky, possibly a major league ready prospect from another organization, or some combination options.
I think Hicks – if given a real shot at a consistent starting role – would give us solid defense, increased team speed and passably decent offensive production. I do not think he would represent a major downgrade from AG.
I’m not sure about that. I don’t have any particular love for Gonzalez, but we are getting him really cheap. If we believe that Pastornicky or Salcedo are genuine long term stars at SS within the next two years then Gonzalez has incredible value for providing a cheap fix while we wait for a major league minimum, home-grown replacement. And even if we do get someone, better and cheap (I personally want to get a star in FA next year with all the money we are going to save rather than trying to get 2-3 fairly good players,) then Gonzalez would be a perfect Utility bench player, and his contract really isn’t ridiculous for the role. I’m not sure he would necessarily accept it, but we shouldn’t ignore the “utility” he could provide in the future.
Pastornicky has the ability to be a regular. He might not end up being one, but he has the chance to. Him with a legitimate caddy/utility player is a good option for next season, in my opinion.
Twitter: @Ben_Duronio Stop calling Tommy Hanson "Big Red"
Having seen Pastornicky a few times, I have a lot of questions about his defense. It is really questionable in my mind. I personally think he will move from SS, and if he doesn’t then that will be because we see him as a JJ Hardy type. I have my doubts, but to be honest I’m a little late to this “grading prospects” game and am certainly not the final voice on the matter. But truly, I have seen better defense in college ball than the kind of glove Pastornicky provides. From what I’ve seen, it seems like he is a better fit for LF or 3rd. But if his offensive becomes elite by SS standards then the entire angle of this discussion could change completely.
Actually Pastornicky’s glove is not that bad. It is his arm. He flatlines alot of throws. I think he will be better suited at second base but I believe he has the skills for a decent fielding SS if he would work on his throwing.
I'm a king, no matter how the cards are dealt.
There’s a reason that Alex is so “cheap”
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 5, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s probably a huge part of it.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
He also signed his current deal
after a rough spot health wise, which always reduce the total.
http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/
To answer the question of the OP:
No. He just doesn’t have enough contact skills.
Grand Slam Tonight!!!!
Totally means he turned the corner as a pro and will now become an AS in the majors
Fanshot, much?
CEO and Founder of the Hire Bill Cowher for 2012 Bandwagon.
Pack your bags, TS and JI.
No. 20 PA is a SSS, but when you only have 1 hit in those 20 PA, you have to admit he’s struggled in his time at the Majors and that something is up.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 28, 2011 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
Fail.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 5, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not a fail, it’s a realistic judgement. Let common sense be a guide. 1 hit in 20 plate appearances brings you a batting average of less than .100.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 28, 2011 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
Now it’s a Super Fail.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Wasnt Freeman like 1 for 20 when he was called up last year? Now look at what he is doing
I'm a king, no matter how the cards are dealt.
KJ was something like 1 or 0 for his first 37 IIRC.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Freeman was 4 for 24 in his call up last year, 1 HR, 1 2B
no walks, and 8 strike outs in those 24 plate appearances/at bats.
KJ, I count 1 for 30 to start, or 2 for 34 before going on a patented hot streak.
(work computer not working to link his b-r game log from 2005).
http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/
2-34 – that’s right.
I knew it was somewhere in that ball park. Either way, it’s a far cry from 1-20, and thusly, proving that the “I know this is a SSS, but it is legit” argument completely ridiculous.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
As said, you'll see the same argument
in single season defense debates as sabre-inclined site the season’s UZR, or even WAR which is half based on UZR.
http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/
I am definitely one of those that leans towards the sabermetrics, but UZR and even to an extent, WAR does not sit well with me.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
To be honest, we knew from the get-go Freeman was gonna be a big help for us, because he was like #2 or 3 on the prospect list, but Hicks was never on any kind of Top 10 prospects or Top 25 prospect list.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 28, 2011 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
Define “never”
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 7, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Why do you admit things are small sample sizes and then act like the results in that sample size mean anything? Were you around for Kelly Johnson’s start? He turned out okay. I don’t view Hicks as anything more than a potential backup infielder, but that’s not because of what he has done at the plate in the majors.
Twitter: @Ben_Duronio Stop calling Tommy Hanson "Big Red"
In that vein Ben...
it’s the same argument numerous make when judging defense on a single season using UZR, which happens a helluva lot more than it should, even by admittedly knowledgable sabre-advocates.
http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/
I’m being realistic, Ben. Stop. Don’t get mad at me for it. 1 hit in 20 plate appearances is not good. 20 PA may not be a real season, but when you only have 1 hit, it’s fair to say you’ve struggled in your time at the majors, just like everyone else is saying Wilkin Ramirez has struggled as the right-handed bench bat.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 28, 2011 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
The point is you can’t judge a guy over 20 plate appearances over the course of several months over two seasons. Chipper Jones wouldn’t do well if he only got to get one at bat every 10 games. It’s an unfair situation to judge a player on. If anything, Hicks’ Major League stats to this point should be completely ignored.
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
It is not the results in the 20 plate appearances...
…it is the fact that he got only 20 plate appearances in several months over two seasons. The reason he got so few plate appearances is that the Braves knew he couldn’t hit major league pitching.
That’s likely part of it. But it still doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that it’s unfair to make any kind of judgment on a guy when his at bats were that spread out.
But would they feel the same way now with how he’s performing at AAA? I don’t think he’ll ever be a good Major League hitter, he just doesn’t make enough contact, but it’s hard to ignore the positives he’s bringing to the plate with his excellent defense.
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
I take it you guys have made up?
lol
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I still feel that way.
While Hicks’s numbers this year at AAA are far better than he has ever done previously in the high minors, they still aren’t particularly good, and really are only far better than his previous high minors hitting numbers because the earlier results were horrible. A .271/.347/.575 slash line at AAA as a 25-year old with 63 K’s in 203 plate appearances doesn’t tell me he’ll ever be more than a tweener who is called up to replace a utility guy when the utility guy is filling in for a starter. While his numbers when he makes contact are better this year, his K% is actually worse this year in the minors than it was in 2010 and 2009. A 35.4 K% at AAA is just a whiff machine in the majors.
Could he be one of the late-bloomer types that seem to be popping up all over baseball now? In other words, is he the next Jason Werth? lol
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 6, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
yea but
a BB% of 10 with a .258 ISO look very good
That's all nice...
…but a K% that high in AAA translates to an even higher K% in the majors (major league pitchers are just that much better) to the point that hitting success just isn’t sustainable.
This is called not getting into a groove.
Baseball players who play the game on a regular basis, establish their timing and swing… Hence, giving a player a bench role when they are used to everyday play, hurts their ability to produce… some can adapt well to it (Hinske, Conrad, Infante, Ross) others (Hernandez, Hicks, Mather, every other LF we’ve tried) not so much.
If you’re paid to play baseball, you should be able to make the adjustment… and the good guys do… The others get labeled AAAA and then go to another organization and turn into Jose Bautista… :-D
But Choppy, you should know better than to try to defense a SSS…. :-)
Don’t worry about older women until you turn 22. It’s called the Saltalamacchia.
by bwellnjonesco on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM PDT
by Klemson Krash on Jul 6, 2011 6:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Talking Chop
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Roy Oswalt doesn’t need to save the Rangers, he only needs to provide insurance and depth
- James Loney: Umpires should call pitches from behind mound — and be robots with replay
- Magglio Ordonez set to retire after 15 seasons
- Barry Bonds thinks it will be ‘very sad’ if he doesn’t get into the Hall on his first try
- Chris Johnson’s glove webbing had a Spidey sense at Coors Field — for one play, at least
