Atlanta Braves Making The Team Meter 2012: Hitters, Week 1
by gondeee on Feb 24, 2012 9:36 AM EST
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The Making the Team Meter (MTM) is your one-stop shop for keeping up with who will make the club and who won't. Earlier this week we brought you the pitchers' edition of the MTM, and today as the full squad reports for action in Orlando, we bring you the hitters who are trying to make the Atlanta Braves opening day roster.
To begin with we'll assume that there is a group that has already made the team:
Starting Lineup: Michael Bourn, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward, and Freddie Freeman (1 spot available at shortstop)
Bench: David Ross, Eric Hinske, Matt Diaz, and Jack Wilson (1 spot available, possibly 2 spots if Wilson is the starting shortstop)
If the Braves carry 12 pitchers as they usually do, then after the 8 players in the starting lineup, there are 5 spots left on the bench, of which 4 are already spoken for. It should be a tight race for what looks to be very few available roster spots (FYI, none of the NRI catchers are included for what should be obvious reasons):
| Player, Position | Trending | Last Week | Roster Status | Notes and Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Constanza, OF |  |
Showed that he can be a valuable rug-rat on the basepaths last year. He rode a hot streak to a lot of playing time, but finished the year on a really cold note. A pretty one-dimensional player, but the Braves seem to value speed, and if they carry a backup center fielder, then he has the inside track. |
||
| Todd Cunningham, OF |  |
A great college hitter, Cunningham hasn't wow'ed with the bat yet in pro ball, but he's still young and the Braves clearly believe in him with this invite to spring training. He'll use this opportunity to learn from a great center fielder in Bourn, and try to impress the Atlanta coaching staff. |
||
| Luis Durango, OF |  |
Durango could be the main competition for Constanza. They're very similar one-dimensional players, and Durango has more extended Major League service time, and could be a more dynamic player. It could come down to who has the hot bat at the end of the spring. |
||
| Stefan Gartrell, OF | |
A mid-average power hitter who is finding himself stuck in four-A status. He will need to have a really impressive spring to make the club, and even then it's a longshot without an injury to one of the other Major League corner outfielders. |
||
| Brandon Hicks, IF |  |
Hicks is the favorite to win the last spot on the bench. He will still need to hit this spring, and show his versatility in the field, but he should be pretty close to a lock for the Atlanta bench. I also predict that at some point this spring, if he's hitting well, that there will be talk about Hicks winning the starting shortstop job over Pastornicky or Wilson. He's less of a fielder, but could be a much better hitter as the starting SS. |
||
| Jordan Parraz, OF | |
Parraz is the classic case of a high draft pick who hasn't panned out ... yet. He's got decent speed, mild pop in his bat, and hits for a decent average. Like Gartrell, he would need to have a lights-out spring to make the club. |
||
| Tyler Pastornicky, SS | |
The odds on favorite to win the starting shortstop job with the Braves, but he'll still need to do some hitting this spring, and show he's ready mentally. I fear that the Braves may be making a similar mistake with Pastornicky that they made with Jordan Schafer several years ago -- moving him to quickly to the Majors after only limited time in the upper minors. Pastornicky will have competition this spring with Hicks, Simmons, and Wilson. |
||
| Andrelton Simmons, SS | |
This is the guy I consider the Braves future long-term shortstop. There's no question about his arm or his defensive ability, though he may need some more reps before he's ready. Some people question his bat, but I believe he's just about ready to contribute. It will be interesting, with the glut of shortstops in the Braves system, to see if they put Simmons at AAA to star the year. I also believe there will be some talk about him starting over Pastornicky this spring. |
||
| Drew Sutton, IF | |
If Brandon Hicks can't win the backup util job this spring, then Sutton could step in and snag it. He actually might be a more preferable option to Hicks. Sutton has much more Major League playing time than Hicks, and can play everywhere on the infield and in the outfield. He's kind of an Omar Infante lite. Sutton is also adept at getting on base, a skill the Braves need. |
||
| Joe Terdoslavich, IF | |
J-Terd will probably get a lot of playing time filling in after Chipper exits spring training games. The Atlanta staff should get a good feel for whether he'll be able to hold down the hot corner defensively or not. Being around Chipper Jones should help. |
||
| Josh Wilson, IF | |
The other J. Wilson on the roster, almost a forgotten man (smirk). He has more experience than anyone else on this list, having accumulated five years of Major League service time. He's a four-A veteran at this point in his career. He doesn't do anything particularly well, but he also doesn't do anything particularly poorly. He should get a long look to be the backup infielder. |
| Arrow Key: |
|---|
| = Chance of making the team is good. |
| = Chance of making the team is bad. |
| = Chance of making the team is slightly better than 50-50. |
| = Chance of making the team is slightly worse than 50-50. |
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Hicks has no issues hitting in the Winter or Spring...
it’s the Summer and Fall hitting that hurt him.
"If you're looking around...then we're looking around" - Coach Paul Johnson
by TBuzz on Feb 24, 2012 9:52 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Only way Hicks makes the team is if Wilson or Pastornicky gets hurt
The last spot will go to an OF, likely Constanza or Durango.
I actually think Drew Sutton would be ahead of Hicks, especially if he was on the 40 man.
...and Wilson's hurt.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Gimme some Powerball numbers...quick!
"If you're looking around...then we're looking around" - Coach Paul Johnson
Agree with Hicks comments above. Nice assessment on players overall – I do think it is a stretch to see Simmons starting the year at AAA – he may end up there but I don’t think he starts there – also, I don’t think there will be any talk about him starting for the big club over Pastornicky this spring – a jump from High-A to the bigs is a huge stretch IMO – although there is no doubt he is our shortstop of the future.
by bravesfaninchitown on Feb 24, 2012 11:26 AM EST reply actions
Agreed
Plus he said the Braves could be making a Schafer type mistake bringing up Pastornicky to start this year. Simmons would be an ever bigger gamble. At least TP has a year and a half above A ball. Simmons has yet to play above A ball.
With that said, Simmons is going to be a very good MLB SS one day.
You forgot about Josh Wilson.
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
Constanza, Pastornicky, and Sutton
Please and thank you
Freeman isn’t on Heyward’s level in terms of tools, skills, or baseball IQ–but it’s fair to say Freeman has failed to meet the modest expectations in place for him - Capitol Avenue Club (May 28th, 2011)
Hicks?
What is going on and why are we certain he would make the team. For one, if we are going w a third ss, we should take sutton, who can play everywhere else. Which is why it’s so odd he was called an infante light because he plays ss and infante doesn’t really. He also has power infante doesn’t.. Odd name..m
I think go dee flat out forgot about Diaz, cause he didn’t forget Hinske, Ross, or Wilson. Really there is only one bench spot available, and my bet is that it goes to sutton, Durango, or Constanza based on how pastornicky is playing as much as its based on their own bats. If pastornicky sucks, sutton will be the guy to start till we make a trade
25% of Omar Infatne’s games in the Majors have come at SS. 30% of Drew Sutton’s have. Only 9% of Sutton’s games in the Minors came at SS. So saying “(Sutton) plays ss and infante doesn’t really” isn’t really factual.
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 believe Constanza began to struggle when Frediot moved him to #2 in the order where he was supposed to move Bourn over. That’s really not his game. When he was going well, Constanza was leading off … getting on base anyway he could. and then was a terror on the base paths. Yes he is kind of one dimensional as a batter but when he gets on base – wow.
- ChillyMutt
Fredi on Hicks
According to DOB today, Fredi didn’t even mention Hicks when talking about back-up for Jack Wilson. From DOB twitter: “#Braves plan to use others in-house in backup SS role. Drew Sutton, Josh Wilson, maybe Andrelton Simmons for a while.”
Strange.
Twice now Jack has been called Josh in this thread, and my brain now hurts. But I agree with everyone else on here, there is no reason for Hicks’ name to be mentioned even in a backup role. Why would they throw career hitting in the minors out the window in exchange for Spring hitting, that is IF Hicks can somehow find a way to hit this spring.
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
Wilsons
The Braves have both Jack Wilson and Josh Wilson in camp. Jack is hurt and out 4-6 weeks. Josh is his possible back-up.
What the what? how did I… good lord that is embarrassing. Still, I think Hicks is last in line for the backup job. Even with JACK Wilson getting injured
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
I have a question. According to cb’s “NRI In-Depth: Jordan Parraz” piece, although he has almost exclusively played RF, he’s solid defensively with a strong arm and he also has decent speed. So, the question is can he cover CF? If so, as a RH hitter with some pop, I would think that could vault him into serious consideration as the 25th man.
I don’t think he could be counted on to play more than a very minimal amount of innings in center. And, if you look at his numbers, he hasn’t really ever shown much pop.
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
Constanza and Durango have no pop, nada, none. And I did look at his numbers for the last 3 seasons, 1 at AA and then 2 at AAA. Didn’t crunch numbers but he had about an .820 OPS over approximately 1200 PAs.
That 2009 in AA where he only played 64 games in AA and had a 1.005 OPS isn’t much of an indicator, I’d look more closely at the 1049 at bats he had in AAA after that, where he put up a .781 OPS, with a .425 slugging percentage. The last 2 years in AAA, Jose Constanza had a .742 OPS with a .374 slugging percentage, and Durango has a .673 OPS and a .311 slugging percentage. So obviously Durango has no pop, but Constanza really isn’t much worse than Parraz with the bat, and that difference seems even slimmer when you consider Parraz hasn’t seen an inning in center field since 2008, and that Constanza stole more bases last year, 23, than Parraz has in the last 3, 17. Frankly, if you want an outfielder with pop on the bench, Stefan Gartrell is a much better choice than Parraz, because they’re both slow and limited defensively, but Gartrell actually has pop.
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
Mycal Jones
Any particular reason Mycal was not invited?
God has to bruise you before he use you. So you'll be sensitive to his touch.
The Hicks write-up confuses me, not just what everyone has commented on so far about his being a “lock”, but the talk of his defense being lesser. For years all I’ve heard about Hicks was that he was a good defensive SS and that his bat was what was keeping him out of the majors. Now his glove is better than TPv2.0 (who tends to be rated, at best, average with the glove), but his bat is better?
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
The no chipper lineup
Constanza
Bourn
Prado
McCann
Uggla
Heyward
Freeman
Pastornicky
Vs sutton, or anyone else you could add.. Who are you really excited to add to the lineup? Not only do you make chaos on the base paths, your outfield defense is phenomenal.
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