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102 comments Add your comment
Coxlover
February 22nd, 2009
5:16 pm
twin, keep in mind that Anderson could also be a future hall of famer if he can get 3,000 hits.
Keeping It Real
February 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Anderson is a good stick, but he and Chipper are the only bangers in this pathetic lineup as presented by Tomas above. Its going to be a long season unless the pitching can hold the opposition to no more than three runs per game. The Marlins will be better than the Braves..
Erik
February 22nd, 2009
5:18 pm
DOB, your AJC article on the Signing of Garrett Anderson has an error in it I think. Ylist his career slugging against right and left handers at .441. I think his right handed number .481 not .441.
mbatl
February 22nd, 2009
5:18 pm
Braves managed to go through this off season without giving up our top prospects like Heyward, Freeman and Hanson…, etc
Great point, Kris. Haven’t even given up lower-tier prospects (except Flowers). Rohrbough, Locke, Gorkys, etc. stay in the fold. Reyes, Morton and a ton of pitching, plus probably B. Jones and Blanco in the minors, plus a #7 pick in the draft upcoming. It’s all good.
CaliChopper
February 22nd, 2009
5:19 pm
Zach, the Braves play in the national league, his feilding was never all that great and his bat has been on the decline for the last 5 years, after watching him play like he’s just going thru the motions you will see why most Angel fans I know were glad he was gone.
Ed Glennon
February 22nd, 2009
5:19 pm
Getting another outfielder makes me feel a lot better. also the news that Chipper may get an extension soon. I love hearing what Bobby and Chipper have to say about the young guys. Nice scoop DOB
cabravesfan
February 22nd, 2009
5:20 pm
Bobby’s Belly-
The Braves were looking for someone to platoon with Diaz- Center field was most likely going to go to Anderson (like you said- out of options and he’s got the speed the rest of hte team is lacking) OR Schafer (if he was just too good to leave off the team)…don’t know where that leaves Blanco but this is the impression I got…Heyward is not going to make the team, never was (too young) and Garrett is a good bridge between now and the young guys…
kirkinga
February 22nd, 2009
5:20 pm
mbatl, I would hope so, his price must have decreased significantly at this point. But DOB has said he isn’t in their plans soo.
While I’m happy about this Anderson “report”, I’m not going to start projecting him in any Braves lineup until I see him up on the podium with a Braves jersey and cap and a beaming Frank Wren.
Like Jason Stark said, many Braves for someone reason seem fixated on who the Braves didn’t get this offseason and haven’t taken a fair and honest look at those who did become/remain Braves.
LowCountryBravo
February 22nd, 2009
5:20 pm
So Anderson signed with the Braves…Guess we can pen him in the #5 hole in the Angels lineup then.
BravoMan
February 22nd, 2009
5:21 pm
“edmonds hits like 230…not good ..would rather have anderson for sure”
Agreed, I’d take high average over power any day. It makes more since with our club that is attempting to focused on fundamentals and speed rather than an offence that is just waiting for the 3 run homer.
LivininAL
February 22nd, 2009
5:21 pm
DOB We ave to give you credit, you have more power than we realized, you can effectively control the trade market with your reporting!
Fun to see people laughing again!
JayDub
February 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
Dearest DOB,
Just wanted to drop you and the AJC a note saying “thank you so much” for going out and getting us a quality hitting left fielder like Garrett Anderson.
I know that things were very harsh for you after you screwed up the Griffey deal. Especially after Braves management had a sparkle of confidence all offseason up to that point.
But now you have redeemed yourself! We Braves fans certainly owe you one.
Most Sincerely Yours,
JayDub
P.S. Last game I attended, the lighting was bad, the music was poor, soda was warm and my hotdog vendor only came by twice per inning. Please see what you can do. (Thanks in advance.)
N8
February 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
BravoMan Good post at 5:01.
Puts it into perspective doesn’t it? Sure, it’s not as “sexy” as adding Sabathia, or retaining Tex. And it DOES require the young guys to do their part.
But make no mistake about it. Wren did what he set out to do, and did it within the budget restraints that were set for him. He might have over-paid for Lowe, but he got a steal on Anderson.
Will it be enough? Not sure. But the team HAS been improved in the areas he said it would be. Had their not been such publicized “failure” in obtaining the services of so many guys this off-season, this would be considered a GREAT off-season for Wren.
Unfortunately, most will judge him by the ones that “got away” (Peavy, Smoltz, Furcal, Burnett, Griffey), rather than the ones that he got (Lowe, Vazquez, Kawakami, Logan, O’Flarity, Glavine and now Anderson).
With Anderson to complete his “wishilist” (at least position wise), Wren has had a very SOLID off-season, IMO.
ccrider
February 22nd, 2009
5:23 pm
Another viewpoint about this signing. Suppose, Diaz doesn’t return to his former form against Lefthanders(He looked bad against everybody the last time he got his shot to start). Garrett Anderson still hits almost .290 against lefties, albeit with less power.
SeaAtl
February 22nd, 2009
5:26 pm
Icing on the cake – the Gwinnett Braves are gonna be great this season with several of these great young guys spending time there.
Bobby's Belly
February 22nd, 2009
5:26 pm
cabravesfan – I understand your point. But atleast give the farm a chance in ST. I dont think it’s implausible to believe 2 of the 4 could have earned a job as starting CF and platoon guy. Maybe GA was being heavily pursued and FW didn’t think he could wait a few weeks, but it’s 2/22 and no one showed GA much love the past 3+ months. I find it hard to believe there were other suitors.
mbatl
February 22nd, 2009
5:28 pm
I’d rather have Garrett Anderson at 1/$2.5 mil than Raul Ibanez at 3/$30 mil.
Kevin C
February 22nd, 2009
5:29 pm
DOB
Any chance that the longer Will Ohman is unsinged the Braves would look at him?
Andrew
February 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
keeping it real,how are you forgetting one of the best catchers in baseball in your lineup?
Bubdylan
February 22nd, 2009
5:30 pm
Don’t know if it’s been noticed on the blog, what with the comments disappearing, but ESPN’s site’s givin’ the Braves a little love today. Nice article on Chipper and also one on the revamped rotation. Stark and Kurkij… Kurjkia… Kyrkyj… Stark and some other guy.
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
5:31 pm
I was just looking over Anderson stats, and I find it real curious that he only averaged 9 homers from 94-97; then, all the sudden he averaged 26.2 homers through the 98-03 seasons. Worse is that from 04 to last season, he only averaged 5 homers. Remember, it was in 1998 when McGwire broke the single-season home run record by hitting 70. Just saying. I know one could point to at-bats, age, injuries, etc. to explain away this obvious statistical blip, but I’ve become too cynical nowadays to listen. Who is this guy?
cabravesfan
February 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
Bobby’s Belly- and I don’t necessarily disagree with you…but I feel better having another vet in the lineup and in the outfield and as someone pointed out (sorry to whomever it was- too lazy to scroll up to find out) if Garrett sucks we don’t lose much in the way of money if we release him and go with one of the young guys (but I think you will like him)
lurker
February 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
for DOB:
@}-,-`-
cut and paste 12 times
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2009
5:32 pm
So, uh… did they actually sign Anderson or should I wait until Opening Day when he’s actually in the dugout to know that he’s a Brave?
sri
February 22nd, 2009
5:33 pm
Maybe another reason the front office might have preferred Anderson over Edmonds, is that his prescence may help Kotchman?
Daybed Wagmoe
February 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
Tomas, agreed, if Francoeur hits more like he did in 2006-07, he should bat behind McCann. And I’d also agree that if he doesn’t, have KJ hit behind Mac.
But are the lineups you’re proposing what you would go with from day 1? We’re not even to Spring Training yet, and you automatically want to have him hit anywhere above the 8 spot? I don’t see what he’s done this offseason to merit anybody hypothetically putting him behind Mac in the lineup. Remember, last year going into Spring Training, DOB and others were commenting on how much Francoeur had beefed up (i.e., muscle, not fat) during the winter, but it turned out not to be an improvement.
Chris
February 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
they only lost of getting anderson rather than griffey is attendance for the braves. anderson right now is the better player, and probably good enough to play everyday. the dude hit .293 last year as the starting left fielder
Efrim
February 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
mbatl- “I’d rather have Garrett Anderson at 1/$2.5 mil than Raul Ibanez at 3/$30 mil.”
Amen to that.
Andrew
February 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
it was just announced on SC so i think were good
shano229
February 22nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Come on guys quit your belly aching. This is a nice signing. I would much rather have a guy that hits for average and in the clutch than a broken down former home run champ. DOB & the AJC should be sainted for making the Griffey, Burnett & Furcal deals fail. I say that tounge in cheek but I really would rather have Lowe than Burnett, Escobar than Furcal & Anderson better than Griffey. Now we really have a lot of options in the outfield if Francour doesnt bounce back. Hey Dave feel free to report the next lacky that we might sign ahead of time!! We owe you.;)
Blair
February 22nd, 2009
5:37 pm
DOB, not sure if you my post earlier, but keep working hard. You’re doing a great job. I have been a long time blog reader, you consistently give information that I can’t get anywhere else.
Lew
February 22nd, 2009
5:39 pm
Like I said on the last blog-No Way the Braves sign Garrett Anderson. Shows how much I know.
DBackMac-Thanks.
CCjacket
February 22nd, 2009
5:40 pm
President of Matt Diaz fan club,
don’t know where you get your stats, but GA avgd. 16 HRs/yr from ‘04 thru ‘08. Not 5.
? ? ?
Chop Chop
February 22nd, 2009
5:40 pm
Abreu at $5 million vs. Anderson at $2.5? Hmm.
Abreu: career .300/.405/.498 hitter; 20 SB+ a year for ten years in a row; six straight 100 RBI seasons
Anderson: career .296/.327/.469 hitter; 78 career SB in 15 seasons; hasn’t driven in 100 runs since 2003
I think the Angels and Braves did just fine with their steals.
“Yeah, yeah. Where’s the defensive stats, Chop Chop?”
Abreu has played at least 146 games in the outfield per season for eleven straight seasons. Anderson has played more than 100 games in the outfield once in the last five years. Abreu may suck as an outfielder these days, but his usage has been close to Andruw Jones-like over the last decade. If Anderson’s a better fielder than Abreu these days, it’s likely because he’s been playing close to 60-70 fewer games out there.
Even so, the Braves got Anderson for $2.5 million. I like him better at that number than Griffey. Anderson has gotten used to not starting everyday in the outfield. That makes him more likely to accept a platoon.
SeaAtl
February 22nd, 2009
5:41 pm
Bubdylan – good articles on espn. I liked Chipper’s quote about Andruw Jones, “”He’s my boy,” Chipper said. “He looks great. I hit with him this winter. He’s lost some weight. If he can stop trying to hook the ball around the left-field foul pole, he’s going to be all right. He has such great power to right-center. If he can try to go that way instead of pulling too much, he’ll be back. I think [Rangers hitting coach] Rudy Jaramillo will really help him.”"
David
February 22nd, 2009
5:42 pm
Why don’t you yahoos wait until the Braves make the official announcement on the Anderson signing before reporting it? Your inside sports news is about as believable as a cartoon.
brian
February 22nd, 2009
5:42 pm
the only way the Braves would sign Will Ohman is if they got a good offer for one of their other lefties which is not likely to happen
Del
February 22nd, 2009
5:43 pm
If Hanson is as good as advertised then Kawakami better be plenty good from the git-go or he will be spending some time in the pen or at AAA.
David O'Brien
February 22nd, 2009
5:43 pm
After a sluggish start in 2008, Anderson hit .337 over his last 69 games beginning July 1, with 49 RBIs and a robust .871 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in that long stretch.
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
5:44 pm
shano229 – Agreed up to a point. However, if you look at it in another way… I’d rather have Peavy over Lowe, Furcal over Kelly and Jones over Anderson or Griffey. Like Chipper said regarding A. Jones:”He’s my boy,” Chipper said. “He looks great. I hit with him this winter. He’s lost some weight. If he can stop trying to hook the ball around the left-field foul pole, he’s going to be all right. He has such great power to right-center. But we’ll see.
LivininAL
February 22nd, 2009
5:47 pm
Signing Garrett Anderson also give a little insurance against the possibility of Frenchy not bouncing back, Diaz could play some RF.
mbatl
February 22nd, 2009
5:48 pm
Brian, all our lefties have options, as far as I know. So if we could pick up Ohman on the cheap, just send those guys (Logan, O’Flaherty, Ridgway) to AAA. Or trade them when the opportunity arises.
Again, I’m not saying it’s likely that we sign Ohman, just that it seems like it would only cost us about half a mil, which is a pretty good deal if we have that kinda’ cash laying around, now that the big issues are solved.
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
5:48 pm
CCJacket – My BAD. Still though. Why the drop-off?
Leah
February 22nd, 2009
5:48 pm
I could be stretching here, but I seem to remember that Anderson is somewhat tight with Kotchman. Anderson was there when Kotchman started coming up, with Kotchman’s dad playing a big role in the Angels’ organization and all. Maybe with Anderson here, it will make Kotchman feel that much more at home. DOB, maybe you could ask Kotchman about his thoughts on the Anderson acquisition.
mike p in wc
February 22nd, 2009
5:48 pm
great signing….for all the turmoil braves fans faced this offseason, wren has to be commended for the job he did. Wren and company got tossed around and still found a way to improve this ball club a great deal. There’s something to be said about an organization trying and trying to improve after a disappointing season. we should all be thankful to be fans of such an organization that isn’t satisfied with mediocrity or losing seasons. Well done Frank….and DOB!!
ssiscribe
February 22nd, 2009
5:49 pm
Great move to sign Garret Anderson. Plain and simple. Look at the numbers against right-handers. Look at the way he finished last season (particularly his second-half play). Look at his production.
Great move. Get Anderson to do what he does against right-handers, get Diaz back to 2006-07 production against left-handers, and I think this lineup is good enough now to go toe-to-toe with the Phils and Mets.
Yes, the addition of Garret Anderson (a guy who hit .293 with 15 homers and 84 RBIs last season) is the final piece of a roster upgrade that has landed Lowe, Vazquez, Kawakami, Ross, Glavine and now Anderson. Sure, the Braves missed out on Peavy, Burnett, Furcal and Griffey.
But that doesn’t matter. The team the Braves have assembled is good enough to win the NL East.
There. I said it. Now I’m gone, so rip me apart non-believers
The Scribe abides.
–30–
Andrew
February 22nd, 2009
5:50 pm
DOB,any chane Andruw Jones has a great spring,then opts out of his contract to sign with Atlanta?
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
5:52 pm
Does anyone know what Liberty Media plans are for the Braves long-term? What’s their thinking behind raising the payroll anyway?
kirkinga
February 22nd, 2009
5:52 pm
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club, he had 5AB’s in 94, then had Hr totals of 16,12, and 8. Don’t fudge the numbers now.
JOE
February 22nd, 2009
5:54 pm
DOB, what does it look like the Braves plans are for diaz? are they going to stick with the platoon anderson with diaz or are they going to make anderson the everday LFer?
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
5:54 pm
Averages don’t care about ABs
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
I’m not Dimitroff with the fancy statistical matrix
braves fan 16
February 22nd, 2009
5:56 pm
I love that we got Garret. I believe Wern so get an A for all he has done. I mean we have a way better team then last year.
Steve McP
February 22nd, 2009
5:58 pm
David – the announcement of the signing is on the Braves official website.
Chief Nock A Homa
February 22nd, 2009
5:59 pm
DOB:
Thanks for getting GA for us (re: 5:05 p.m. post)…
It was ALL part of a master plan… right?? right???
JPO
February 22nd, 2009
6:01 pm
I’m on Team Hudson.
Coxlover
February 22nd, 2009
6:01 pm
Now that I think about it, I think we should have went after GA before we went after Griffey.
oasisbraves
February 22nd, 2009
6:01 pm
I feel bad for Matt Diaz
tony
February 22nd, 2009
6:03 pm
great pick up by the braves. this kid garret is an outstanding baseball player. i’m ready for the season to start.
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
6:03 pm
oasisbraves – Why not join his fan club? Dues are $20 a month, but for a limited time offer you can get free membership for 17.99. Let me know.
Lew
February 22nd, 2009
6:04 pm
President Diaz-Yeah, but people have been saying the same thing about Andruw throughout his entire career. Why do you seriously think he’ll stop trying to hook the ball around the LF foul pole all of a sudden? He hasn’t done it in 13 years. Why the optimism now?
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
6:04 pm
Let me correct my awful syntax: membership is not free, but discounted.
GboroBravo
February 22nd, 2009
6:04 pm
DOB,
Ok with what the Braves have spent 1 mil for Glavine and 2.5 mil for Anderson shouldnt they have like 2-3 mil left? Is all of the incentive money deffered over time for Glavine? If so why not look to sign Ohman on the cheap?
CCjacket
February 22nd, 2009
6:05 pm
PrezMDclub,
The dropoff could be due to several things, including what you alluded to. We’ll never know all the players who used PEDs over the years. Maybe some of our own personal favorites did; who knows?
However, GA’s dropoff was not nearly as drastic as your original post on the subject inferred.
What I’m most concerned about now is if GA can adequately platoon with your fave in LF. I think he can.
chris from maryland
February 22nd, 2009
6:06 pm
Here’s another reason why Anderson might turn out to be a better option than Edmonds or Griffey. Both of them have the wear and tear of playing CF their whole careers (though Griffey moved to RF a couple of years ago). Anderson seems much more durable. Last year we took enought trips to the DL.
Chris from MD
kirkinga
February 22nd, 2009
6:07 pm
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club, wrong again dude. You simply can’t count 5 AB’s as one season, that’s fudging…lol!
Anyway, all I care about is that he’ knocks in runs when they count the most, if it’s by HR or single, I don’t care, just get them over and get them in.Too many games were lost last season when we got someone on and were luck to get him over, and hardly ever got him/them in from the 7th on. This guy will help with that.
BravoMan
February 22nd, 2009
6:10 pm
Every hole has been filled by Wren this offseason. Couldn’t be happier with the job he has done after all the times of turmoil.
Wren…you are my boy!
LivininAL
February 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
Seems we faced a bunch of left handed starting pitching last year, could be a challenge with this lineup, but we should wear right handing pitching out.
(Technical Question to one and all)- Does eveyones comments pop up on your screen?? Did the 1st day with change over,but now I have to refresh to get other blogger’s comments after my last entry.
oasisbraves
February 22nd, 2009
6:14 pm
I think we still need to sign Ohman
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
6:15 pm
Lew – I like Jones. Glavine once said: (paraphrasing) He saves us at least 1 run a night with his defense. In ironic twist, years ago when we first tried to acquire Griffey (scuttlebutt), I recall Glavine saying that Griffey would have been the best left-fielder in baseball – obviously referring to Jones and his amazing defensive abilities. Besides, his problem really isn’t hooking the ball – its that he’s not seeing the right shrink. Get him on some good meds and he’s as good as new. To bring this full circle, maybe Smoltz could recommend the shrink he saw. No joke. These guys really get self-conscious on the diamond. I’m betting that’s Andrew’s problem. Dude can hit when he locked in and comfortable. Remember – he freaked out when the contract stuff loomed: pre and post. Just like A-ROD (Who took Deca-Durabolin instead of Prozac.) Jones doesn’t have to worry about money anymore. Sucks for his bank account, but might be great for his statistics and us.
KC
February 22nd, 2009
6:15 pm
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club, Both for tax purposes, and per their agreement with MLB when the Commissioner approved the sale… Liberty must own the team for several years. However, exactly how long… no one knows.
Liberty said from the get-go that they see the Braves as an appreciating asset. They want the value of this franchise to grow. Winning certainly has an impact on franchise value, and payroll can have an impact on winnings. Therefor, Liberty said from the beginning that they would allow Braves management to spend what was necessary to build a winning team.
For the longest time, many fans didn’t believe Braves officials when they said the payroll would be going up… until it did. Liberty is a wonderful owner. They write the checks and get out of the way of Braves management. I hope they keep the Braves long term.
Nate in Maine
February 22nd, 2009
6:16 pm
I am happy with the team…. e4specially with how many starters we have in our rotation. Plus we are forgetting about getting huddy back in august. Go Braves
Steve from OH
February 22nd, 2009
6:16 pm
President of Matt Diaz fan club, A-Rod took testosterone and Methenolone, not Deca.
blueridge
February 22nd, 2009
6:17 pm
I am very pleased with this signing. It is not all that exciting, but it is the right decision. I actually thought this was the best move to make for the braves when all of the other LFs were still on the market. For the money G.A. easily has the most upside and is a proven winner. It’s nice to know that going into the season the lineup is much more complete. Well done Wren. Most of the questions have been answered, except of course for center and that will make for a great Spring Training.
KC
February 22nd, 2009
6:17 pm
oasisbraves, why do you feel bad for Diaz? In all likelihood, Anderson will platoon with Diaz.
kirkinga
February 22nd, 2009
6:19 pm
Diaz had his chance to be the guy in LF, but wasn’t a full-time player. 32 strikeouts in only 135 AB’s,with 14 rbi’s. He was good with RISP and with runners on. Put the two together and we’ve got something good.
This moves also helps the bench as whoever didn’t start in LF is going to be a nice PH. So that’s Norton, Diaz/Anderson, Infante as some very nice bats to have in reserve.We have to start looking at our bench as the best 1-2 in the division.
NC Braves fan
February 22nd, 2009
6:20 pm
Hey DOB….
Since Hudson gave you so much crap for the Braves not signing Griffey I hope he apologizes. For my money we got a better player with a little bit more gas left in the tank. GA may not sell as many tickets as “the Kid” but I’ll take a CONSISTENT .290 average and 15-20 homers….and we don’t have to worry about how well his knee surgery really went.
Let’s start the season NOW!
Steve McP
February 22nd, 2009
6:21 pm
kirkinga – Don’t forget we also have Glavine’s bat on the bench!
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
6:22 pm
Kirkinga – you missed my point entirely. I’m not trying to get into a fantasy geek argument over stats. However – what I am trying to do is point out that these guys have to be scrutinized, and scrutinized heavily. Maybe your right and GA’s number are legit. But, let’s not rush to any conclusions. weren’t Dumb 20 year-old kids injecting themselves DIDN’T created the steroid era – instead it was owners, fans, and the like saying: “I don’t care, just get them over and get them in.” I do care! And if that means looking at guys on my own team – then so be it.
Supes
February 22nd, 2009
6:23 pm
I don’t think Anderson will be the answer. He’s never played in the NL, and many of the pitchers will be relatively new. Advantage pitching. I think he’s a slow, declining player who we got b/c Wren is desperate to get ANY outfielder at this point.
All b/c he didn’t wanna give up 1-2 prospects for Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady (who is a better player than Anderson and right handed, what we need since the Braves are now predominantly LH lineup).
I guess Matt Diaz could kiss any chance of significant playing time goodbye, same for Brandon Jones or Gregor Blanco. I can’t imagine either of those 3 guys being happy about the move.
rupert
February 22nd, 2009
6:24 pm
maybe only 2 things to love about this economy:
1) cheap gas
2) cheap outfielders
Andrew
February 22nd, 2009
6:25 pm
Diaz will get his share of AB’s ..there are a good amount of lefties in our division
Lew
February 22nd, 2009
6:25 pm
President Diaz-Yeah, but Glavine made that comment years ago before he went to the Mets about seven years ago or so. Andruw is just not the same player anymore. He’s still good defensively, but no longer the best and I think you’ll be surprised with people like Schafer and Josh Anderson out there. Along with Francoeur, those two with him in the outfield would give Atlanta one of the best outfield defenses in baseball. I know it is likely that one or the other will be our center fielder, but either could equal Andruw as things stand now. Ten years ago? probably not, but Schafer, in particular, is an excellent defensive player and Josh is no slouch either.
jay
February 22nd, 2009
6:25 pm
“clutch” is basically a myth, and impossible to prove on a season-basis, due to the small sample size of “clutch” situations. For what it is worth, G. Anderson’s “clutch” stats, for his career, basically line up with his overall stats, maybe slightly better (as it is with most players, since most batter’s stats improve with runners on). The second thing worth mentioning is that he does play ok defense, when he plays defense that is, as he hasn’t played more than 106 games in the OF since 2003. It’ll be interesting how he holds up, health-wise, if he starts 110-120-or-so games in the OF. If this is a straight platoon and Diaz bounces back from his lost season, the Braves have a chance for .300 / .340 / .450 production from LF. Basically league average, for the position I am in no way a big Anderson backer, but for the $2.5 million cost, the move actually makes sense. And as DOB mentioned, after being garbage in the first half, G. Anderson was actually good in the second half last year. I still think that (if he’s healthy) Griffey is the better player, but not by that much. It beats trading for the marginally better Nady, or even Swisher, the only one left in the conversation with some genuine up side potential. Now, if Francouer can get up to league-average production, the Braves may have a shot. Here’s a lineup:
1. CF: The big question right now…
J. Anderson / Infante: Josh Anderson deserves a shot, for at least 1/3 of a season. Even with his defense and steals, I think he’s crap, until he learns how to take a walk, but maybe I’m wrong. And if Infante gets some of the starts vs. lefties, that may mitigate Anderson’s badness If he can hit .290 / .340 / .400, J. Anderson is (barely) good enough to start… If his OBP is only around .320 after 60 games in, maybe Schafer will be ready by then.
2. SS: Escobar
3. 3B: Chipper
4. C: McCann (even vs. left-handers. McCann is the only legit #4 guy)
5. 2B: K. Johnson (really, Kelly at #5)
6. RF: Francouer (only this high in the lineup in order to break up the string of lefties)
7. 1B: Kotchman
8. LF: G. Anderson / Diaz (it is often good to have an aggressive hitter at #8, if they are selectively aggresive. I have my doubts with both these guys on that account, so it may be better to bump Kotchman to #8, as he may have the better approach for hitting before the pitcher).
That actually might not suck.
SeaAtl
February 22nd, 2009
6:26 pm
I’m very excited for ST games to get started, so we can see all of these guys “gel” – the new acquisitions, the young guys with another year or two maturity & another chance, Frenchy & Kotchman, etc. It really is going to be fun to watch it all unfold.
dgd
February 22nd, 2009
6:26 pm
I think the signing was good–especially considering our options–but don’t you think the good lefties in the division–Santana and Perez for the Mets and John Lannan and Scott Olsen for the Nationals–are salivating at the thought of facing the lefty-laden Phils (Utley, Howard, Ibanez) and Braves (chipper–better from left side–McCann, Anderson, Johnson, and Kotchmann–not to mention J.Anderson/Schafer) ALL OF THOSE Games?! Hard to see how we’re going to fare well against those guys–but maybe Mets and Nats will fear the Phils more and tweak their rotations so that THEY face the lefties more often…
DAP
February 22nd, 2009
6:28 pm
i ike he move because i felt like this team needed isomething more in the outfield to be a complete team. im glad we got anderson, but i cant give wren an A grade because of all the missed chances on guys who would have been better. juan rivera, eric hinske, bobby abreu. still, a very solid B for this offseaon.
i would love to sign ohman, but considering all the option we have, it wouldnt effect my grading of the offseason by wren. he did a great job giving us multiple options for a lefty reliever.
Mr. B
February 22nd, 2009
6:29 pm
This was the best they could do in the market without giving away the farm. I was talking about this earlier and you were right DOB, they had interest and they weren’t letting anyone know about it, but thank you for the insight. Now do you feel he will still platoon with Diaz or is the job his outright?
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
6:29 pm
Steve from OH – Sorry about calling Super SILVER HAZE Marijuana – White Widow Max Marijuana. Both get ya high – know what I mean.
KC – Thanks. While I agree with your analysis – I do wonder what might happen if the asset (I mean Braves) don’t win, therefore being in the black financial speaking?
Champ
February 22nd, 2009
6:30 pm
Good pick up for a bargin price. Remember he did have a 10 RBI game in 2007. That would be about a month of RBIs for Blanco/J. Anderson combined.
Moondog
February 22nd, 2009
6:30 pm
If you look at 3-year totals vs lefties, Diaz has much better numbers than Anderson. So it will surprise me if Anderson starts much against lefties. Maybe if they are facing somebody that Anderson has killed in the past.
DAP
February 22nd, 2009
6:31 pm
guys join the free fantasy baseball league for bloggers! email me a daalper@yahoo.com
Steve McP
February 22nd, 2009
6:31 pm
GA has surely been signed to hit clean up, that is where he has batted most of his career, whether he was fielding or DH. Can’t see him not being put in there when he plays.
lexbrave
February 22nd, 2009
6:32 pm
andrew, i think that’s the idea boras had when he got aj his opt out clause, not necessarily so he could resign with atlanta but with any team that might have an injury or a hole to fill by the end of march. that being said he would have to look pretty darn good in the few ab’s he would get in those 20 or so spring training games in order for him to opt out for a better deal.
Moondog
February 22nd, 2009
6:34 pm
In a similar number of ABs vs. lefties over last 3 years, Diaz has 50 homers and Anderson has 10.
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club
February 22nd, 2009
6:35 pm
Lew – I hope so regarding Schafer and Anderson. But don’t get me started on Francoeur. You’re probably right about Jones not being the defensive player he was severe years ago. But most players his age are peaking offensively and he’s obviously not. It’s a gamble, but one I would have taken. What do you lose – a roster spot and chump change? No risk involved in seeing if he could regain his form.
Doc Holiday
February 22nd, 2009
6:36 pm
Are they gonna fix this blog anytime soon or what?
winterville
February 22nd, 2009
6:36 pm
DOB
Any update on what the early spring training pitching rotation will be?
kirkinga
February 22nd, 2009
6:38 pm
President of Matt Diaz Fan Club, as I said, Anderson is a proven run-producer and late-inning offensive threat. That’s all that matters to me offensively. I’m more interested in when a guy get’s his hits. In the case of Dunn, one reason I had him ranked lower on my list than Anderson was because he didn’t hit many in clutch situations.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his best Hr seasons are the ones he played the most games. Yet we let the steroid thing linger out there without considering his injury history.
So how many Hr’s he hit, or if he was juiced doesn’t matter so much to me because I am not convinced PED’S enhance the numbers in crunch time.
There’s no “maybe legit” too his career numbers in the clutch because they include post steroid era numbers including some monster numbers last season. So to me, what is without question is his overall body of work suggests that he’s a professional hitter with “ok” power.
I can’t prove he never took steroids any more than anyone could prove he did. But what I can do is look at more than just Hr’s and see that this guy get’s it done offensively for a long time now.
Jeff R
February 22nd, 2009
6:39 pm
Anderson will be a good fit in LF. He’ll platoon with Diaz; Cox isn’t going to let Diaz sit idle. The one year deal is the bridge Wren was looking for to ‘10, when one or two of the top OF farm prospects are ready for the Show.