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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
646 comments Add your comment
Frankie Knuckles
March 28th, 2009
5:17 pm
Sorry Gonzo, but when I was passing letters to 11 year old girls, when I too was 11 years old, they did use LOL and thingy. jk is an abbreviation for just kidding ( or, take it easy chief ) – LOL is pointless – “that was good” conveys the same meaning – especially amongst men. Again man, just f in with you. Take it easy. But, your right, next time i will spell out – i’m joking around, dont’ act like a Pu##$
Frank from KS
March 28th, 2009
5:19 pm
Anders
As already been mentioned on the ole blog….
if Moyer can do it….so can Tommy.
I expect Tommy to be just fine. I also expect the Braves to be much better than some think….here and the media.
mbatl
March 28th, 2009
5:20 pm
Pelfrey and Jurrjens? Pelfrey had a nice season… I’d take him on my team.
As to Niese, really didn’t mean to overlook him. He did pitch a nice game against our AAAA Braves last year (no Chipper, McCann, Escobar; Blanco and Infante in the OF). Hasn’t done much else, but I’m sure he’s a nice prospect. (really, that sounded catty… he probably is).
Fire Chop Chick
March 28th, 2009
5:21 pm
I really hope the AJC isn’t paying this person after the recent cuts. Most here could post more frequent, interesting and insightful blog posts.
richbrave
March 28th, 2009
5:26 pm
Anyway an ANDERSON/SCHAFER platoon of sorts might work? Situational stuff depending on the opposition or the batter. Is one better than the other at certain facets of the game other than pure speed? 14 position players allows for only 11 pitchers, and with the situations there I got to believe the club intends to carry 12.
Oops, one too many players on the 25 man. FRANCOUER still has options and time doesn’t he? Maybe a few weeks or a month in the minors to work on that stroke leaving MATT to cover right in the meantime keeps JOSH on the 25 man until something can be worked out after the start of the season. I do think if even one club is needing a CF after ML start up, they’ll grab him off waivers. Just can’t see him clearing under any circumstance. But maybe FW has a lucky face and wins when he’s in VEGAS.
Frankie Knuckles
March 28th, 2009
5:27 pm
Anders – Point being, not bad for pitcher on the mend. Location was good.
- Salute
richbrave
March 28th, 2009
5:28 pm
Ambivilant on the FIRE CHOP CHICK thing.
mets fan in atlanta
March 28th, 2009
5:30 pm
Yes, player A is Pelfrey, player B is Jurrjens. I just wanted to post a quick comparison since everyone here seems ready to annoint Jurrjens as bonafide ace, while discounting any Mets pitcher not named Santana.
Dadgum
March 28th, 2009
5:31 pm
Hey Anders…where New Cars at?
Ya’ll go easy on Shaefer. Kid can’t help that he looks like a young Ty Cobb.
Rock on….get used to looking at Shaefer for he will be patrolling CF this year in Atlanta.
zookee
March 28th, 2009
5:32 pm
Anders ,My 4:54 post should be considered complementary considering your bs…
David O'Brien
March 28th, 2009
5:34 pm
Forgot to mention earlier, Tommy Hanson and Kawakami are scheduled to pitch Saturday’s game at Turner Field against the Tigers. Kawakami will get the start and probably go four innings and Hanson will relieve and go five, Bobby Cox said this morning.
Braves can’t use their bullpen for that game because they play the regular season opener the next day in Philly.
Vazquez will start Friday’s exhibition at Turner against the Tigers.
With Hanson pitching Saturday, he’ll be on schedule to be Triple-A Gwinnett’s opening day starter April 9 at Durham.
Braves are gonna take all 36 people left on the camp roster to Turner Field next weekend for those games with the Tigers, plus a bunch of the Triple-A Gwinnett players. Then those Triple-A guys can just stay up there and work out with the Gwinnett team, that’s going to have a couple of workouts at the new ballpark before they go to Durham.
David O'Brien
March 28th, 2009
5:35 pm
Oh, and Kotchman is supposed to play tomorrow, that’s the plan at least, along with his friend Garret Anderson, who’s scheduled to DH tomorrow in what would be his Grapefruit League debut.
THB
March 28th, 2009
5:36 pm
Mets fan – Niese is a solid prospect, had a good year in the minor last year and a few good outings (including the one against the Braves) in the bigs. Jo-Jo had a string of really good outings last year too in which he had an outing that he went 8 innings and struck out close to 10 against the Brewers. He was looking promising but then hit a bump. Pelfrey and Jurrjens are a pretty good comparison, I think both our seasons will depend a lot on whether those guys hit sophomore slumps.
ncscoots
March 28th, 2009
5:36 pm
molie, thanks for the props (though being deserving of them is probably an open question!), especially for the “different perspective” part. I don’t think Steve-OH and I are all that far apart, but I’m not sure about ole PWH yet, LOL.
Other posters are right, Schafer does look a little, well, goofy. Gonna put that down to youth. When he grows into his body, maybe he’ll grow into his face!
Even Anders’ attempts at irony carry the stench of smarm, don’t they? It’s credit to the man’s strength of will that he’s able to live with himself a single day. Either that, or his total lack of self-awareness; that might do it, too.
mbatl
March 28th, 2009
5:41 pm
“had a good year in the minor last year and a few good outings (including the one against the Braves) in the bigs”
Just for the record, Niese had a very good outing against the Braves, and got pounded in his only other 2 games (11 ER in 6 innings). Again, I don’t mean to put him down (really don’t know much about him) but the Mets’ 5th starter discussion seemed to come down to Livan and Freddy Garcia (who totally blew out). I doubt Niese is considered major-league ready or he’d have been more in that conversation. And a 6+ ERA this spring…
The original discussion was who had more depth at the back end, and I think the Braves do by a long shot.
nolie
March 28th, 2009
5:42 pm
I think mentally lazy people (and I include myself) want one stat that says what a player will be, but it ain’t happenin’. Hale
yeah I think we all have our favorites. Mine are OBP and WHIP, but like you say the more you use the better your understanding. It’s mostly about trying to isolate those stats that are influenced the least by outside factors. Which is why ERA is useful but not the ideal stat to compare different pitchers with.
Oh and you were right about the computer models promoting objectivity , which is a good thing in all evaluations. I just like to read what some of our good posters think.
Daybed Wagmoe
March 28th, 2009
5:42 pm
mets fan — Player A is Mike Pelfrey, Player B is Jair Jurrjens.
Frankie Knuckles
March 28th, 2009
5:44 pm
Is the game televised tomorrow? If so, on what channels?
Daybed Wagmoe
March 28th, 2009
5:45 pm
Sorry for coming along late with the answer — I refreshed the page, but nothing since 5:15 or so was updated, so I thought that nobody had said anything…and FWIW it’s worth, I was on here a few days ago showing how similar the two are. Someone else pointed out that last year was Pelfrey’s 3rd year in the majors while it was Jurrjens’ 2nd year, but I pointed out that Jurrjens spent 5 years in the minors while Pelfrey only 2.
They’re very similar pitchers, definitely.
David O'Brien
March 28th, 2009
5:46 pm
Frank Wren on the CF battle: “The guys have all performed, and they’ve done what they were capable of doing and what we expected them to do. It’s been good. Nobody’s going to win it by default, that’s for sure. When the final decision is made, it’s not going to be because the other two guys fell on their face. All three guys have played well.”
On whether Blanco’s WBC stuff gets considered: “That’s obviously the most exposure we had on him [this spring], in the WBC, and we’ve seen him enough last year to know what he’s capable of. And we saw him a lot in winter ball. Like I said, nobody’s going to win this by default. It’s going to be because they’ve earned it. That’s the good thing.”
On whether Schafer has continued to build on the late-season momentum he established last season at Double-A: “Absolutely. He’s shown us this spring what we had seen in prior years, and he’s maturing as a player and a person. I think we’ve all been very impressed.”
GTgirl
March 28th, 2009
5:48 pm
DOB – what is the chance that the Braves keep both Anderson and Schafer on the opening day roster? I know its probably not the ideal move but it would work and it would at least give them more time to evaluate options.
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 28th, 2009
5:53 pm
Afternoon Denizens.
An update on our little neck of the woods. Fargo, N.D and Moorhead, Minn. are hanging tough at the moment in our latest flood fight. Mother nature has cut us a break with some cold enough temperatures to slow the melt, and keep the flood waters on the wet side of the sandbags. Fargo is not out of the woods yet but thinks are looking up.
I won’t be chucking anymore sandbags in the near future, threw my back out and have joined the walking wounded.
I was just thinking. With Glavine not scheduled to pitch until around April 19th, will the Braves start the season with a temporary four man rotation? In other words, would they consider adding Jordan Schafer to the 40 man and keeping both Schafer and J. Anderson on the team into the first two weeks of the season.
Glavine could be put on the 15 day DL and still get his work in on the side with the Gwinnett Braves or just stay with the big league team. It’s just something to think about.
zookee
March 28th, 2009
5:55 pm
Dadgum,Schafer=young Ty Cobb,great compairson !
If Glavin keeps up the progress he could be the best 5th starter in mlb…
DAP
March 28th, 2009
5:56 pm
before comparing pelfrey adn jurjens to much, keep in mind pelfrey is about 2 years older than jurjens, and had like 3 times more major league expereince than jurjens did going into last year. so, really, pelfrey seems to be a little behind jurjens, if they are both getting the same results.
Chop Chop
March 28th, 2009
5:58 pm
The Georgia Peach posted a .377/.431/.517 with 107 RBI and 76 SB at age 22. If Schafer does that, he just might secure the starting job for 2010.
Chop Chop
March 28th, 2009
5:59 pm
Oh, and Cobb also won the Triple Crown that year.
TommyP
March 28th, 2009
5:59 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, Schafer will be your starting CF. And #8 hitter.
Chop Chop
March 28th, 2009
6:00 pm
1909 is the year.
Goldenglove002
March 28th, 2009
6:00 pm
Its my opinion that it would be smart of the Braves to allow this CF battle to go into the begining of the season unless they are able to trade Anderson. The kid’s worthy of a major league roster spot and I would really hate to see him get claimed off waivers by another team.
Options for that would be to give Anderson Glavines spot until he is needed, or put Moylan on the 15 day DL to start the season, just to make sure he is truely good to go. I guess you could also send one of the other bench players down for a week if neccesary.
Schafer's Wafers
March 28th, 2009
6:03 pm
Starting in CF #5 Jordan Schafer batting 1st.
Couch Tater
March 28th, 2009
6:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Jay212033
March 28th, 2009
6:05 pm
Hey Dave,
Did you happen to catch an of the game on the back field?
Tom O'Hawke
March 28th, 2009
6:18 pm
GTgirl, I agree with your 5:48 post. I don’t want to see Schafer go down or Anderson get released. Glavine will definitely start the season on the DL, I would imagine. With Gwinnett so close by, the Braves can get very creative.
mets fan in atlanta
March 28th, 2009
6:19 pm
Prior to 2008:
Pelfrey – 17 starts, 98 innings (majors)
Jurrjens – 7 starts, 30 innings (majors)
Pelfrey (minors):
High A: 4 starts
Double A: 12 starts
Triple A: 16 starts
Total minor league starts: 32 (never pitched in relief)
Jurrjens: (minors)
Rookie Ball: 8 starts
Low Level A: 7 starts
Regular A: 26 starts
High Level A: 12 starts
Double A: 31 starts
Triple A: never played
Total Starts in Minors: 84 starts (pitched 5 games in relief)
JasonInFL (Formerly ME)
March 28th, 2009
6:28 pm
Was at the game today…Jordan should absolutely be the CF. I think he will bring an energy to the team. Man can play some D today as well…
Still a little concerned about Gonzo’s velocity…hit 92 a couple of times today. And I agree with DOB, the ball Tex hit was crushed! Other than that, the Yankees sure made some nice defensive plays today…Escobar appeared to not be playing with the energy he is known for…maybe just me…
jed
March 28th, 2009
6:29 pm
i’m just throwing this out there, probably overlooking something, but here goes: regarding schaefer and josh anderson, and the possibility of keeping them both on the opening day roster, what is garrett anderson’s status going to be for opening day? he’s basically missed all of spring training. is it going to be necessary to send him on a minor-league rehab to get him prepped for the season? if so, and if that took 2 to 3 weeks, you dont have to make a decision on schaefer and anderson, and you dont have to potentially lose josh. schaefer’s had a great spring, but it’s quite a jump from AA to the majors. i fear he’ll win the job, we’ll trade josh, and then schaefer will be over-matched when he gets to atlanta. then we’ll have lost josh as well. gotta say, as excited as i am about schaefer, i dont think i’d gamble on losing josh just yet. if i had to make a choice, i’d err on the side of caution and start schaefer in AAA, then bring him up if josh tanks.
Bobby's Cox
March 28th, 2009
6:32 pm
Interested situation with Hanely Ramirez and Fredi Gonzalez.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Marlins-find-themselves-in-a-hairy-situation-wit;_ylt=AuejRMSx8H9hNDhTWc0rYXMRvLYF?urn=mlb,151033
JOE
March 28th, 2009
6:32 pm
I for one, do not understand chop-chick. Just last week she suggested that Javier Vasquez might not make the rotation and this week in her ‘fantasy baseball’ piece, she asked the question about what round you pick players such as Josh Anderson, Jordan Shafer, and Brandon Jones?!?! I mean come on now!! Brandon Jones isn’t likely to crack the majors this year without some serious injuries, and if you are banking on Anderson/Shafer in your outfield for some fantasy numbers, you better have a pretty deep league, or be ready to drop em within the month. I love the braves as much as the rest of us, but what is this girl thinking?! Am i the only one who thinks she knows considerably less about the braves then the average mets fan on this blog?!
Tom O'Hawke
March 28th, 2009
6:45 pm
jed, I, along with, probably, many others, am being greedy. I’m looking at having my cake and eating it too. However, if it comes down to the choice of what you said in your 6:29 post, I absolutely agree with you.
Andrew
March 28th, 2009
6:48 pm
that so much more exciting saying schafer is the starting centerfielder and leading off..love rookies
Hakuna
March 28th, 2009
7:11 pm
“lol, i don’t know. he just doesn’t look like any other player. when i first saw a feature on him in Chop Talk magazine a couple of years ago he (schafer) was wearing this baby blue “urban”-style outfit that i just had to laugh at. this was when he was like 19, and was first getting some attention for hitting off his pitching machine thingy. just looked like a funny guy to me all along, definately spoofable.” ~ Gonzo the Clown
Just FYI, that article came out in the April 2008 issue of Chop Talk LAST YEAR, right before Schafer was hit with the suspension.
Bravesfan
March 28th, 2009
7:18 pm
Schafer is our centerfielder. He won the job again this spring and he is the best player for the job. Its time to give it to him and let him help this team become winners again.
Couch Tater
March 28th, 2009
7:20 pm
Jed, your usin’ your noggin way to much. Good post.
Mr. O’Hawke, that was a good one you posted earlier about the moniker, too. I had a good chuckle.
David O'Brien
March 28th, 2009
7:21 pm
Coach, it’s already been established that Glavine will start the season on the 15-day DL and be activated before his first start, which is April 18, not 19th (weeks ago Bobby said 19th, but has since changed that).
Just a matter of whether Braves will carry an extra pitcher or extra position player to start season. And right now, if I had to guess I’d say an extra reliever, because of Moylan’s status (they don’t want to use him back-to-back days right away) and Soriano’s status (who knows what that’ll be by opening day).
Tom O'Hawke
March 28th, 2009
7:23 pm
Thanks, Couch Tater. Feel free to call me Tom.
David O'Brien
March 28th, 2009
7:24 pm
Jed, glad you brought up G. Anderson. There is at least a possiblity that Garret won’t be ready for opening day, since he’s not going to play his first Grapefruit League game until tomorrow (or at least is scheduled to).
With only a week to go, he’ll have to do some of those bat-every-inning things in a minor league game or two to get enough ABs to prepare and get his swing down. So it’s not farfetched to think he could start out on the DL, which would allow the Braves to carry Anderson an extra week or two before trying to get him through waivers, if they wanted to do that (easier to get a guy through a week into the season, generally, than it is before opening day)
Dan
March 28th, 2009
7:27 pm
O’Flaherty and Logan are horrible pitchers. One of them making the team just because of the arm they throw with is stupid. Just take the best relief pitchers.
McFann :Ô:
March 28th, 2009
7:28 pm
Wow…”McCann day-to-day after injuring finger” is the number two MLB headline. “Jeter injures pinky” is only forth!
monty
March 28th, 2009
7:41 pm
Matt Diaz put a plug in yesterday for his home boy Schafer to make the team as the starting CF. They worked out together all winter and he thinks he’s ready. I don’t think he would have chosen Schafer if he didn’t figure he gave them a better chance to win.
Horner's Corner
March 28th, 2009
7:53 pm
Fully agree w/ Jed’s earlier post. I have been hesitant about backing Schafer, but getting a chance to see him (first time for me) on the T.V., it’s hard not to like him. Now I wish the Braves hadn’t signed G. Anderson. A three person platoon of Diaz/J. Anderson/Schafer would have been nice. Still don’t think Schafer is ready to lead-off. Lot of pressure on a rookie to assume that role.
cabravesfan
March 28th, 2009
7:53 pm
Wow- that’s a big relief about Mac (had to leave right after he got hurt- been freaked all day I would get home and hear he had a broken hand)
Javy Lopez used to keep his throwing hand on his knee, same as Mac- until the day he took a foul ball off it that left an impression of the stiching from the ball in the swollen flesh- needless to say he never put his hand there again…
Bravetiger
March 28th, 2009
7:58 pm
DOB – are you going to have a chance to ride your bike a time or two in the Florida sunshine before heading North? Maybe to Lakeland since there is two trips left there.
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
8:10 pm
Former Blue Jays asst. GM Bart Given on Travis Snider’s roster situation, which is pretty similar to Jordan Schafer’s:
“A MLB player becomes eligible for free agency once he has amassed six full seasons of service time. If Snider breaks camp with the Blue Jays, he is on schedule to become a free agent after the 2014 season. If optioned until May 15, he wouldn’t have the ability to become a free agent until after the 2015 season. Isn’t six weeks of not having Snider in 2009 worth having him for six months in 2015? After all, Paul Beeston has said the 2009 season is one in which they may take a step back – I’m sure they expect to be going forward in 2015.
Given notes that due to service time from last season, Snider’s May 15 date is a bit later than someone like Schafer’s would be. A player must spend 171 days (or less) out of 183 total days on the ML roster in order to not accrue one full year of service time, so we could put Schafer in AAA until April 16 for this to happen, by my rough count–essentially putting him in AAA for a week and a half to give us another year of control over him.
Good strategy or underhanded play?
McFann :Ô:
March 28th, 2009
8:11 pm
cabravesfan (had to leave right after he got hurt- been freaked all day I would get home and hear he had a broken hand)
Ditto.
Yeah, maybe he’ll start catching Johnny Bench style all the time from now on…
Couch Tater
March 28th, 2009
8:17 pm
SteveOH,
Underhanded. I like it.
ease19
March 28th, 2009
8:22 pm
Regarding Schafer, are we REALLY concerned with 2014-2015? Isn’t the goal to win now? If he is the better player on the field, he should be in the starting lineup, however, the conundrum is that Shafer, although having a great spring, has not played above AA ball whereas Anderson has some, if limited, MLB experience and has done well in the time that has been given. I have joined the bandwagon that is Jordan Schafer, however, I would not dismiss Anderson so lightly…Schafer in AAA will do more good than harm, along with Hanson…
A-ville Ranger
March 28th, 2009
8:25 pm
It seems to me we have a clear problem with left handed relievers.I don’t get why Ohman isn’t getting the love from Wren.
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
8:26 pm
ease, putting Schafer in AAA until April 16 (or for 9 games, approx.) isn’t going to put us out of the race. That’s the rub. I’m a member of the “Schafer now” brigade (and have been for a long time), but an extra year of club control for nine games? Seems too good to be true.
Couch Tater
March 28th, 2009
8:30 pm
Actually, I didn’t know it would be that quick. I had said in an earlier blog that it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he missed a couple of the long road trips and called up after the all-star break to add a boost to the line up. Given that we don’t have to have him earlier and are still hanging around the top. I assumed it was less than that 171 you cited.
Schafer's Wafers
March 28th, 2009
8:31 pm
Im thinking a little underhanded there Steve. He is ready now. He clearly is not overwhelmed by the pitching. He knows how to handle adversity (50 game suspension). He busts his arse out there. He can leadoff. He can steal bases. He play great defense. Let the kid play.
ease19
March 28th, 2009
8:31 pm
And also, with McCann, regardless of what happens to him (lets hope, pray, beg or whatever that nothing happens) aren’t we a bit more confident in Ross as a backup than Corky? We had Charlie O’Brien and Eddie Perez playing every fifth day to spell Javy (not only because they were Maddux’s PC’s) and did we really hurt that much? And take into consideration that Ross is much better than those two! I mean he won’t won’t hit as many triples as McCann or steal as many bases but…
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
8:31 pm
Couch Tater, I’m drawing that info from Bart Givens’ blog. It could very well be wrong, or I could have easily miscounted.
northbeach Scott
March 28th, 2009
8:32 pm
A-ville Ranger, check the blog over the last few days. Not happening, per Wren. If you saw Logan pitch today, 92-94 mph heater & nasty 81-82 mph breaking ball, all with good movement, you know why the Braves want to give him a real shot. O’F had a good outing, yesterday.
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
8:35 pm
Schafer’s Wafers:
Maybe it’s a little of both!
That said, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it if they sent him down for 2 weeks, and likewise if they gave him the job straight out of spring.
I would, however, lose sleep if they waited until June or until after the ASB.
ease19
March 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
Steve, I don’t disagree with you in the least. I just have trouble looking to 6 years into the future with my life so it is hard to speculate on guys that have not proven themselves at the MLB level yet. I mean how many guys have made the AA jump straight into the opening day lineup? (Although I am sure that Random knows). Let him tear up Gwinnett for a couple days, weeks and if Anderson sucks…well win win for everybody. But like I said if he is the best now, let him play. He is certainly playing like he has something to prove and well…he’s proving it. Hmmm, I feel like I am talking in circles
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
I also don’t really think that it’s fair to give Anderson a “placeholding” job, whether it be for two weeks or two months. He seems like a nice kid and deserves a shot to make a team that he’s going to (hopefully) stick with long-term. I think the best option is to trade him now, and either give the job to Blanco or Schafer, depending on how the Braves want to play the service time card.
AdirondackDave
March 28th, 2009
8:39 pm
My money is on Schafer. He looks like the best young Braves player to come up since McCann. More importantly, he may well be the best offensive player on the team after Chipper and Mac. Then there is his defense which is going to save the Braves a lot of games, just as Andruw did. Bobby used to say Andruw had 50 RBIs in his glove… the same can be said of Schafer. Seems to me he has won the CF job hands down.
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
8:41 pm
Seems to me he has won the CF job hands down.
Oh yeah, I don’t think there’s any doubt of that. The question is, when do the Braves allow him to claim his prize?
I really don’t know what is better, sending him down or starting him right away. That’s why I’ve brought this up–what do y’all think?
Couch Tater
March 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
Steve- One of the reasons I felt that way was June is trade time and we may maximize our return. Also, the rest of the team could be getting a little burned out in July. Much like last year when the wheels fell off.
McFann :Ô:
March 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
I mean he won’t won’t hit as many triples as McCann or steal as many bases but…
Nobody will, Ease. Nobody will.
A-ville Ranger
March 28th, 2009
8:45 pm
Northbeach,I’ve seen Logan twice in preseason, maybe he was off but he didn’t really impress me.I hope you’re right but I’ve seen what Ohman can do.
mbatl
March 28th, 2009
8:48 pm
I just don’t think that “9-game” estimate is accurate with Schafer. I think it would take until late May or early June to buy another year of him under team control. (sorry, don’t mean to be disagreeable, and I can’t really go through my understanding of it… so trust me or don’t! Wouldn’t blame you either way.)
If indeed it’s 9 games or so, it’s a no brainer… play Josh, and then try to pass him through waivers (or keep him if he’s playing well).
Though like you said, Steve, that would be kind of a “dead man walking” exprerience for him.
But, my understanding of the rule is that Schafer would probably have to be in the minors for 45-50 games to avoid Super 2.
Schafer's Wafers
March 28th, 2009
8:50 pm
Here is the thing. 2015 is 6 years away. If Schafer is good and plays like he is capable. He will have already signed an extension or a new contract by then. We dont know where this team will be in 6 years. We need to worry about the future team as a whole but it is clear who the CF of the future is. Make it happen now.
picked last in gym class
March 28th, 2009
8:52 pm
Steve from Ohio- I am in Miami watching Tech tonight and I have a great story told to me by a scout from a team that we play in the next couple of days. I asked him about Schafer and he told me he seen him in high school and went into the home for a visit. He said the kid told him that he wanted to sign for whatever money was suggested by the commisioner at the time for his pick. He held true to that even though it is standard practice for kids to ask for more after they are drafted. No games just signed like he said he would. He said he hopes the Braves will do the same thing when it comes to dealing with Schafer now but he understands the other side of it. He said his team is bringing up a young pitcher because it makes their team better to do it. He also said he scouted Heyworth and he had him extremely high rated.
ease19
March 28th, 2009
8:53 pm
McFann That was just for for you!
back acha!
mbatl
March 28th, 2009
8:53 pm
Wafers, that’s the other thing: I don’t think we’re paying Lowe $60 mil for 4 years; or Javy $23 mil for 2 years; or Kawakami $23 mil for 3 years, so we can compete in 2015.
To me, the only question is, is he ready? I think so, but would love to know his splits against LH/RH pitching this spring. His hitting against LHP is my only concern.
nolie
March 28th, 2009
8:53 pm
I don’t think Steve-OH and I are all that far apart, Scoots
I guess I see Steve as a little more statsish and you as a little more eyes-on.
Braveheart
March 28th, 2009
8:54 pm
Mbatl, looks like I was somewhat wrong the other day when we were discussing the whole S2 and FA thing. Is it really only 12 days they have to be down in AAA to steal a free agency year in their prime? Yikes! I thought they had a strong union. That’s a helluva loophole the union left behind for teams to screw players out of millions. Well, anyways, that explains why Longoria was only down about 12 days last season like you had suggested.
ease19
March 28th, 2009
8:57 pm
Bottom line – We have a problem that not many teams have…too much talent! And the bullpen be darned. Whne is the last time we could say that!?
On another note, although in my dreams…how scary would it be to have to face Hanson in the ninth?
TnBrian
March 28th, 2009
8:58 pm
MetInAtlanta, my guess is what will the Mets do when Santana ain’t on the hill? Cross your fingers and hold your breath seems to be the natural thing to do. Look, the Mets offense will be good, maybe very good. The pen will be decent until they get to Putz/K-Rod when teams will be shut down most of the time. BUT, it all starts with your starters and well…ya’ll have some SHAKY starting pitching after Mr. Santana. Am I right?
Schafer's Wafers
March 28th, 2009
8:59 pm
Found this on Super 2.
The top 17 percent of players with at least 2 but less than 3 years of Major League service. These are known as “Super 2” players. To qualify as a Super 2, a player must have accumulated at least 86 days of service in the previous year. Historically, the cutoff point for Super 2 status is 2 years, 128 days of service, though the requirement has been as high as 2 years, 140 days in years past.
TnBrian
March 28th, 2009
9:03 pm
ease19, Hanson in the 9th is 50/50, I think. Just because a guy has great stuff doesn’t mean he’ll always succeed with that role…it takes a special breed. Maybe he could be a Smoltz and do it all, but he’s our future ace, so it’s all pointless. It is fun to think about though.
mbatl
March 28th, 2009
9:04 pm
Braveheart, are you asking me? I actually have come around to your view on it! Ha!
With all the web traffic for baseball, there’s a business opp for someone to create a site that can detail (1) options – who has them and how many; and (2) specific details on these service time issues. I’ll build the back end if anyone else will front some of the money and help me do the research…
(and Longoria was only down for 12 days because on Day Eight the Rays signed him to a longterm contract)
TexasBrave
March 28th, 2009
9:05 pm
DOB – Sorry to hear about your Jayhawks. I really believed they had enough to at least the final 4 even though they were young. They should be pretty awesome next season.
As for my Sooners I did not get to see one second of that game as I was at another Dark Star of sorts, Sea World San Antonio, with my science students. My boys will have a tough next game with North Carolina but I have faith that they will make it to the Final 4.
Couch Tater
March 28th, 2009
9:06 pm
Braveheart,
When you put it that way, I kinda feel bad about my selfish fan comment of 8:17.
AdirondackDave
March 28th, 2009
9:06 pm
Last in Gym Class — That was an interesting scout story. Thanks.
nolie
March 28th, 2009
9:08 pm
egarding Schafer, are we REALLY concerned with 2014-2015? Ease 19
and what are you gonna say come 2014 when he leaves a hole in CF and the lineup if he is as good as we think? I understand that a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush and all that, but Instant gratification can sometimes be costly. However it looks like you’re gonna get your wish, so enjoy. I don’t have strong feelings either way myself.
ease19
March 28th, 2009
9:08 pm
TnBrian, it won’t happen but like I said…In my dreams!
Its such a pleasing image…makes my wife mad!
Schafer's Wafers
March 28th, 2009
9:11 pm
How many years of professional experience does Josh Anderson??? Does anybody know??? According to wikipedia on MLB transactions(If a player is on the 40-man roster and not the active 25 man roster for any part of more than three seasons (in which he spent 20 or more total days of service in the minors), he is out of options and may not be assigned to the minors without first clearing waivers. However, if a player has less than 5 years of professional experience, he may be optioned to the minors in a fourth season without being subject to waivers.)
ease19
March 28th, 2009
9:11 pm
nolie…I hope to be a millionaire by 2014…if that helps make my point…
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
9:13 pm
mbatl, like I said, I’m not too sure about that time frame I quoted. I’m not as familiar with things like service time rules as I am with VORP (that one’s for you, Lew!). If it is until May/June, then I think it’s a no-brainer–you go with Schafer. Even if the whole 9 day thing doesn’t help him avoid super two, I still think you do it because the extra year of club control is worth an extra year of arb. But like I said, do not hold me to my words, lol!
nolie, regarding PECOTA: I don’t view it as a definitive source of knowledge by any means, but I do look at it and sometimes draw conclusions from it, for sure. I see it as more of a general guide rather than as a tool to say something like “see? Garret Anderson will hit exactly .296 this season,” or something like that. But if we’re looking at a player like Ryan Ludwick, where he had a great season last year amongst a few so-so seasons, then I’d definitely put some stock in the PECOTA projection, because it is typically pretty accurate. I believe that they compared its projected standings with all the ESPN analysts from last season, and it won handily (it had the Rays winning 90+ games, I believe). The reason I do look at it (rather than other projections, like CHONE or Marcel or whatever, as I feel they are less sophisticated) is because it is extremely sophisticated. It not only takes into account previous stats, but age, height, weight, comparisons across about 20,000 batter seasons since WWII, etc. Plus, I have a ton of respect for Nate Silver, who I think is a freakin’ genius. You can read all about what exactly they do on their wikipedia page. Anyway, if I was ML GM I would definitely take a look at them before acquiring a player, trading a player, etc.
But like fnhale said, it is objective, and I love objectivity. When I’m evaluating players, I like to look at as many statistics as I can, and not just concentrate one one like OBP, OPS, etc, although those are some of my favorites, along with EqA. And I also look at things like BABIP, WHIP, K/9, BB/9, etc. One of the biggest misconceptions that I feel is out there about the use of some of those stats (especially BABIP) is that they are performance stats. They are, sorta, but I view them mostly as predictive metrics. For instance, I don’t care what Kelly Johnson’s BABIP was at point x in the season as a means to say “Kelly Johnson is a good hitter,” I view it as a way to say “Kelly J has been unlucky, expect improvement in the future” (I also feel that this is more predicitve for pitchers–case in point, Javy Vazquez). Same thing for things like pythagorean record. It doesn’t mean anything about actual performance in the sense of standings–the W/L record does that for you. But it does give you a general idea of “has my team been lucky or unlucky?” So, for instance, the Braves finished 7 games below what their pythag said they would be–so it’s not as much of a stretch as some of y’all think to say that they’ll rebound and be and 85+ win team this season. But it doesn’t mean they were any better (or worse) than a 72 win team last season–the standings tell us that.
Of course, I also love to read scouting reports, especially at the minor league level. For major league players, especially established ones, I place a lot more emphasis on stats–their tools aren’t going to get any better than what they are at that point. But for minor leaguers, especially the lower-level ones, I place most of the emphasis on the scouting report. As they advance through the system, their stats become more important to me, but I still place a lot of stock on the scouting report. Case in point–Todd Redmond. Dude was great statistically in AA, but his scouting report is iffy. If I was using pure stats on him, he’d probably be in Atlanta in 2010, and right on the road to being the next Chuck James. Gotta read the scouting report first!
Sorry for the extremely long-winded post, but ask for my opinion on something and ye shall recieve!
dogsbrekky
March 28th, 2009
9:16 pm
I was barracking for NOVA until i realized I had PITT in my final 4
Oh well, is Schafer the CF or what ?
Steve from OH
March 28th, 2009
9:17 pm
picked last in gym class, very good story. If that’s true, I would hope that the Braves would deal straightforwardly with him. Even if they do send him down for whatever the amount of time is, I would hope that they would be honest enough to tell him that that was the reason (as long as it stays between Schafer and Wren).
Bobby's Belly
March 28th, 2009
9:18 pm
MLB channel has Braves game on. I predict Schafer goes 3-5 tonight.
AdirondackDave
March 28th, 2009
9:22 pm
Nolie — Minor point, it would be 2015 not 14 when he would be a FA. However, if this guy is the player most of us think he is, Wren will have long since tried very hard to sign him to a long-term extension. He’s giving every indication of being an impact player, just the kind of multi-skilled guy the Braves (or any other smart, solvent club) would budget to keep for the duration.
dogsbrekky
March 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
Schafer will be tied up long term in the next 2-3 years…EOFS
any dabbler who thinks we need to play a mediocre player in CF in lieu of the BEST option should follow a team of dabblers like….
I dunno…….. the METS !
ease19
March 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
I for one, believe that stats (in the short term) are meaningless…and before all the PECOTA and CHONE guys come looking for my head, its because of this. How do you explain how a player has better year than the previous…or worse, do stats predict that? Computer analysis has its value but when you consider the fact that players are constantly trying new things, trying to work on mechanics, etc…the evolution of a ball player is very fluid… some guys are just naturally good, others have ot work at it…it is just a fluid process…
Cheyenne
March 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
But, my understanding of the rule is that Schafer would probably have to be in the minors for 45-50 games to avoid Super 2.
it’s not a case of avoiding super 2 is it? It’ s a case of his eligibility years starting I believe. Is that the same thing?
McFann :Ô:
March 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
ease19–
Haha! Had a feeling! Thankfully a finger injury won’t hurt his running!
ease19
March 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
dogsbrekky, I just threw up some…we did play Blanco in CF last year..