Braves Making the Team Meter - The Hitters, Week 3
by gondeee on Mar 14, 2008 8:41 AM EDT
10 comments
It's week three and we have some cuts. The team decided to cut catchers Tyler Flowers and J.C. Boscan, and infielders Javier Guzman and Diory Hernandez. Since it is apparent that utility man Omar Infante is certain to start the year on the disabled list, I'm going to go ahead and cut him from the MTM. The rest of the players below are competing for five bench spots.
On a side note, I'll be traveling today and tomorrow, so sporadic posting at best.
| Player, Position | Chance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Anderson, OF |
 |
I would call him the leading candidate for the backup outfield job, but there's still a lot of spring left. |
| Gregor Blanco, OF |
 |
He's playing well this spring, but much like last spring, he just isn't getting the same playing time that the other candidates are. I would still call him "on the bubble" for making the team. |
| Martin Prado, INF |
|
They are giving Prado every opportunity to win a backup infield job. He's played second, short, and third, and he's played them all without any errors. He's starting to hit and looks like he may have the inside track on the job. |
| Brandon Jones, LF |
 |
He's still not hitting at all and it's becoming a cause for concern. I talked with Jones a couple of days ago and he indicated that he's not quite right at the plate yet. He also said he has traditionally been a slow starter. (Kind of reminds me of another recently departed Jones.) |
| Scott Thorman, 1B |
|
How do you trade a guy who has never proven he can hit in the majors and is hitting .160 in spring training. This could be one of the trades for "future considerations." |
| Clint Sammons, C |
|
I would call him third on the depth chart right now behind Lopez and Pena. |
| Brayan Pena, C/1B |
|
He's out of options and may fit in well as a backup catcher and first baseman, though he hasn't played any first this spring, so all of that is just speculation. |
| Brent Lillibridge, SS |
|
Cox and company like the way he plays, and his natural position of shortstop could help him in making the team as a backup infielder. He's also done a pretty decent job of playing third base. |
| Jordan Schafer, OF |
|
The hits have been harder to come by lately, but he certainly has done what he has to this spring in the way of impressing the big league coaches. |
| Joe Borchard, OF |
|
He's certainly putting up the numbers this spring, and is now tied for first in the majors with 6 doubles and tied for second with 11 RBI (and in only 24 at-bats) -- surely that count's for something. Yes, I have heard the warning cries from those who have seen him do this before. |
| Javy Lopez, C |
|
He's got two homeruns out of his three spring hits. Remember, he's coming off a year in which he didn't play baseball, so it may take him a while to get back in the swing of things. A bit of a warning sign about him may be that he has allowed six of six baserunners to steal bases. |
| Corky Miller, C |
|
Corky's hitting as bad as every other catcher. |
| Arrow Key: |
|---|
| = Chance of making the team is even. |
| = Chance of making the team is going down. |
| = Chance of making the team is going up. |
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they better have a backup ready...
by ryan c on Mar 14, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Javy
by was385 on Mar 14, 2008 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Javy
It will also be interesting to see which pitcher in the rotation is assigned the back-up catcher this year when McCann gets a day off. Glavine had some fairly nice things to say about Javy the last time they worked together.
by KLB on Mar 14, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Roster
I'd like to see Javy in there at backup. To me he's the frontrunner even if he's not the Javy of old. Gondee, you make a good point about him missing an entire year so shaking off some of the rust will be a factor.
The best thing Javy's got going for him is he can have good power surges and he's hard worker. I've got to believe he'll be out there working on his throws to second as much as he can to get that percentage down a good bit.
JB in ATL
by JBinATL on Mar 14, 2008 5:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bullpen.
by ejruiz on Mar 15, 2008 2:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think so...
by sdp on Mar 15, 2008 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bullpen
You won't see Acosta going to Triple A but James will be there along with I think even Resop because Boyer's made a decent case.
Although I know I could be wrong and Resop and Royce will be there instead of Yates and Boyer (my favorites right now).
We may be surpised and see someone like Bennett in the 'pen because he could be a potential starter candidate when Hampton is inevitably injured again. He can also eat up innings in cases of a bad starts or blow outs.
If I may venture one last prediction I'm leaning toward's Jurrjens being our number 5 come opening day.
JB in ATL
by JBinATL on Mar 15, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Resop.
by ejruiz on Mar 15, 2008 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Relief Composition
Soriano
Moylan
Ohman
Boyer
Resop
Ring
Acosta
I just don't believe in Yates' control enough; but, if the Braves feel they must allow Yates a final opportunity to "break through" and capitalize on the potential of his fastball, I suppose Acosta could return to AAA.
However, since O'Brien has listed Acosta amongst Cox's four prohibitive favorites for bullpen spots (along with Soriano, Moylan, and Ohman), it looks like the decision will come to down to Yates, Ring, and Resop.
Personally - since Resop has looked better than Yates in camp while possessing similar fastball prowess, along with more youth and better minor-league numbers; and since Ring is the only other viable southpaw at present, who also cost Atlanta both Wilfredo Ledezma and Will Startup - I would probably lose Yates over the other two. Nevertheless, Yates' lack of success in 2007 was pretty hit-dependent (.320 BABip), while he actually improved his walk- and homerun-rates with respect to 2006, so perhaps his presence in the bullpen wouldn't be disastrous; of course, his career BAbip is .317, and his walk-rate in 2007 was still pretty bad.
by jpx7 on Mar 15, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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