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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,631 comments Add your comment
Joe
May 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
just do whatever to get Adam Dunn
flange1
May 29th, 2009
2:04 pm
Shaun,
To inject into your Frenchy discussion, I think the RBI influenced the front office, but in my mind the big thing was the high average with RISP. Seemed like every time he had a chance to drive in runs, he did.
Folks were talking him being the perfect 4 hole guy….
Billy Walsh
May 29th, 2009
2:04 pm
The braves need a guy who will fly off the handle. We have no Paul O’Niel’s on this team.
DAP
May 29th, 2009
2:05 pm
i was just thinking about 2005, the last year the braves won the east, and francouer first year up.
the braves started 2005 with some experiments in the outfield, raul mondesi and brian jordan. it didnt work out, and they were replaced mid season. i decided to go check out what they were doing before they got released.
mondesi got in 41 games. he was batting .211 and OPSing .630
jordan got a little longer… he played in 76 games and hit .247 and OPSing .632. i believe jordan was hurt for a big chunk of that season.
this year we have francouer. he has been in 47 games, batting .247 and OPSing .616.
i dont see how this can last much longer. brandon jones needs a call up.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
2:06 pm
What is wrong with the “how can we do any worse argument”?
It’s a valid notion. If Schafer and Frenchy could get better in AAA, and are causing this team to not score runs/lose…..then why not try other players in their places. Makes sense.
Efrim
May 29th, 2009
2:06 pm
RHR, that is the second ESPN guy to jump all over Francoeur. Who isn’t, I suppose. Francoeur is a career .289/.335/.475 vs. LHP in 731 plate appearances. Maybe Boston sees some value in that? Maybe?
Wes
May 29th, 2009
2:07 pm
Shaun, correct me if I’m wrong, you too DOB, but didn’t Jeff have some absurd number of at bats with RISP and Bases loaded that year?
Like 200 and 45 respectively? Of course he’s going to drive in runs
Rafael Furcal
May 29th, 2009
2:09 pm
i sho is glad i didnt sign on that dotted line…
CB
May 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
i sho is glad too
cricket
May 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Why not Jim Edmonds? He’s still defensively good and did put up 18 HR .365 OBP and .568 slugging last year.
Knowitall
May 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Joe,
Surely you don’t think Washington is going to trade Dunn to us months after signing him to a 3 year deal do you?
Jeff Francoeur
May 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Dont laugh at me, dont call me names, dont get your pleasure from my pain…
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
ncscoots -if I read that “not any worse” argument any more, I’m going to start cleaning weapons and making travel plans.
That’s how I feel about “working the count”
braves70
May 29th, 2009
2:12 pm
Silly Braves, Amen! I am so tired of all that Coxian bologna he serves up, I just turn down the sound anytime he is interviewed. That old goat drives me crazy.
Jim Edmonds
May 29th, 2009
2:13 pm
I’d rather stay retired than to hit in that putrid lineup
AndyC
May 29th, 2009
2:13 pm
Knowitall, I think they might trade Dunn for the right package of players. The Nats need pitching real bad. If you through Morton and JoJo at them they might bite, but they would have to pick up a substantial portion of his salary and I don’t think they will do that.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
2:14 pm
flange1, right. Like RBI, what a hitter does with RISP is a flawed stat too in that it doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about a player’s skills and abilities. RISP is such a small sample and what a hitter does WITHOUT RISP matters too, especially when trying to guess what a player may do in the future and what his skills as a hitter are.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
2:15 pm
cricket – there are a lot of people out there that don’t think Edmonds is a CF anymore because of his range.
Threadkiller
May 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Knowitall; It was a 2/20 deal for Dunn..And yes, the could certainly trade him! Washington is far behind and they are not drawing big crowds! At somepoint they have to make decisions..Washington needs pitching and if someone offers pitching for Dunn it could happen! I would also suggest changing your name!
ElonBrave
May 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Verducci says Hanson may be up by Sunday??? Says who?
“Next up: Tommy Hanson. The Atlanta pitching prospect has been dominating Triple-A hitters, and could be promoted as soon as Sunday.”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/05/29/trades.wieters/index.html
cvbraves
May 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Not telling when/if/who trade will happen or whether Braves call up someone, send someone to the minors, etc. I’ll just wait for DOB to tell me when it happens.
There is a “but”…30 lineups in 46 games, how about 31? For now we have to make do with players we have available.
For tonight, let’s go with this: Kelly, Jordan, Chipper, Jeff, Brian, Casey, Diory, Garret, JJJ. (If Yunel is ready, we’ll bat Yunel 4th and move Jeff to 7th).
Key reason here is to distribute the “outs” instead of having them batting one behind the other…and to improve Braves’ chances of having someone coming up each inning who can hit (albeit a little bit with men on base.
Jordan, Jeff and Diory may see a few more fastballs with Chipper, Brian, Garret batting behind them.
If Kelly, Chipper, or Casey are on with less than two outs and not in scoring position, Jordan, Jeff or Diory can bunt ‘em over…take a walk…whatever. If they make an out, the next player in the lineup will be a better hitter.
Of course, you could tell me to just wait and let DOB give me the lineup, too!
Joe Fan
May 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
The Braves need to be sellers in the trade market. No one player is going to put them over the top in 2009. They should be seriously focused on 2011 and beyond where they can be competitive force for the division, NL and WS championships. Wren or anyone else should think twice and even three times before pulling the trigger on any trade that would dampen the Braves future. Now any trade that will enahnce that future is a winner in my book and that includes trading Chipper, with his blessings, to the AL where he can DH
Mitchie-san
May 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
Dave Dellucci was just DFA’ed. Let the speculations start.
DAP
May 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
knowitall
honestly, i think the nats only signed dunn (two year deal, not three) so they could trade him. otherwise, signing him for two years didnt make sense. did they think they were gonna make a run in two years? yeah right.
ShamWoW Guy
May 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
Buy my product and be satisfied how it wipes up and eliminates the stench in your outfield
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
AndyC Knowitall, I think they might trade Dunn for the right package of players.
Maybe you need to look up the length of time a FA is required to stay with the team he signed with before asking for that trade. I’m not sure exactly how long that is but a time period does exist.
cricket
May 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
Come on Jim, you know you want the money and still want to play the game – the reasons why you haven’t retired officially. Plus, uoi may be able to pick up some of Frenchy’s slack in the endorsements department
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
Efrim, good point about Francoeur against lefties. He could be very useful as a platoon guy.
Wes, Francoeur finished 5th in baseball in runners on base during his plate appearances last season. He was 11th in 2007. He was 20th in 2006. So he indeed got plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.
MiamiBrave
May 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
Mitchie-San
I was just thinking the same thing
LT- A Blogger
May 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
How could the Braves afford Dunn if they wanted him? They’d have to off load payroll somewhere/somehow, correct?
If they want to get a player with a sizeable contract, I think Vazquez will be gone. If they were to do that, I’d much rather see them pursue Holliday for half a season, and then put that money next year to resigning Hudson.
I think they’re better off long term riding this season out and seeing what happens. FW can focus solely on OF in the offseason.
Jim Edmonds
May 29th, 2009
2:25 pm
im just sad and depressed that no team has thought of me all winter long and now 2 months into the season i have gained 50 pounds now and look like John Kruk
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
2:25 pm
Joe Fan, the Braves are only 3.5 games out. And the Mets and Phillies aren’t that much better in terms of run differential either. I don’t think they should mortgage the future on this season but they shouldn’t cash in for 2010 or 2011 either. A couple of savvy trades and a little luck could clearly put them into the playoffs.
cricket
May 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
MFin04 – I have read a few sports columnists mention that Edmonds is still defensively good. Have you seen any mentions about his diminished range?
Anyway, JF is still pretty good in RF and that gazelle GA can help Edmonds out defensively
chuckw/deadjournalist
May 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
random thought: the braves’ line up(s) reminds me a lot of the hawks. bare with me here:
weaknesses at the top and in the middle (lead-off/quick point guard and slugger/legit center) with a lot of guys that so similar things throughout (a bunch of 2/6/7 hitters/too many wings). each team had one off-the-bench guy that brought energy and scoring (flip/infante).
all that brings me to this – everyone has been clamoring for a big bat – but with such a thin market, what about someone that could set the table at the top of the order? not that there are many guys that fill that roll available, but the surge the braves had with infante seemed to suggest that a more true lead-off hitter might provide the spark to get the team to 88 wins.
case in point: kelly johnson
hitting 1st or 2nd he’s a career .250 hitter (OPS around .760)
hitting 6,7,8 he’s around a career .325 hitter (OPS around .875) in about 1/3 the plate appearances
and don’t think mark derosa for that role, because he’s number for his career are also much better when hitting lower in the order.
Macon Braves (RIP)
May 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
Furcal–We’re glad you didn’t sign that dotted line too, isn’t your batting average even worse that Frenchy’s??
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
Oh, I’m not supposed to talk about the Braves being 3.5 games out. I’m supposed to act like the season is over and I’m about to jump off a bridge. I forgot.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
cvbraves – If you want to distribute the out makers among the productive hitters then I assume you want to put rally killers in the midst of your run producers also. If you put Jeff behind Chipper to hide his out, then what happens when Kelly and Chipper both get on and there’s 2 outs and Jeff steps up to the plate and not BMac.
Maybe Jeff can “work the count” before he strikes out or grounds weakly to short.
Mitchie-san
May 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
MiamiBrave, I would take him. Too bad he hits left handed….
ShamWoW Guy
May 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
im serious you can get two for the price of one thus eliminating two stenches of your choice
Ugaman
May 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
Let’s just sign Ron Gant and David Justice. They may be old, but they are still in great shape and can’t do any worse than GA and Frenchy. They may even actually hit a homerun accidentally.
Rafael Furcal
May 29th, 2009
2:29 pm
my average has my team in first place with a huge cushion i may add, oh lawd i sho is glad and cant wait for my reception back at turner field, i will hit 2 homeruns and steal 6 bases
Piedmont Blues (ex-BFIR)
May 29th, 2009
2:29 pm
fleming,
There can be a difference between being a selective hitter and working the count. Selective is subjective (no charge for that one), but in my view a player is selective when he can distinguish a pitch he can do something with from one he can’t. And then lets the pitches he can’t hit go by (even if that means taking strikes).
Several weeks ago, I think it was CR who posted a blog that transcribed an interview she had with Chipper on his approach to hitting. He goes up there with a plan, deciding what he’ll look for at a given spot in the count, swinging at the pitch if it’s what he’s after and it’s in the right location; otherwise he takes it and waits for another pitch. Chipper is clearly selective (look at his career OBP, K/BB ratio), but he’ll swing early in the count if it’s the pitch and the location he’s expecting.
You’ve never gotten the impression Frenchy does anything like that at the plate. Maybe he just can’t distinguish the rotation of a fastball from a slider, or his mechanics are such that he can’t make adjustments once the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. And it’s not just “see the ball, hit the ball” (a la Vladdy) with him. I believe there are pitches he sees perfectly well and still can’t put into play.
rammerjammer
May 29th, 2009
2:30 pm
Shaun,
I would say that RISP is a useful tool in player performance evaluation. How many of us, regardless of what we do, work a little differently according to the situation?
Some folks may perform wonderfully on a day-to-day basis, but in a crisis management setting (not unlike the RISP setting) they get overly anxious and perhaps don’t make their best decisions.
An athlete is no different. I think a field goal kicker is a perfect example. How many times have you seen a normally reliable kicker shank the kick with the game on the line?
One might say, “Well, nothing’s automatic and it’s just coincidence that he missed the kick that would’ve won the Super Bowl.”
I say that takes human nature out of the evaluation process, and you can’t do that with people. We don’t all respond equally to the challenge.
So if one player consistently meets or exceeds his batting average with RISP, and another guy is 40 points short, that’s an important distinction and worth factoring into an overall player evaluation.
MiamiBrave
May 29th, 2009
2:31 pm
Mitchie San
with the way the outfield is producing…wouldn’t be a terrible idea to kick the tires on him, see what he’s got, besides a jump to the NL could benefit, who knows…regardless Braves still would need a big bopper…but I think it’s been stated here a few times
chuckw/deadjournalist
May 29th, 2009
2:34 pm
in the mr. consistent category:
randy winn’s BA for his career is between .286 and .292 in six of the eight slots (1,2, 3, 5, 7) where he has gotten more than 1 at bat (he only has one career at bat at 4). he’s hit only .252 in 9th but .312 in 6th.
Bravesfan
May 29th, 2009
2:37 pm
I’d like to think of the NL East as a whole for a moment. I know the Mets and Phillies are “the enemy” and I usually agree. Right now it looks like our division as a whole is in trouble. If this deterioration keeps up, the wild card might come out of another division. Before the season began, I don’t think anybody would ever think that.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:38 pm
Piedmont Blues – here can be a difference between being a selective hitter and working the count
You get An A for that one. That’s the point I’ve been trying to make. Bloggers are all over a batter for swinging at the 1st or 2nd pitch because they are not working the count. Obviously the’ve never played enough to know that a lot of times the pitches you see early in the count is the best pitches to hit especially if the pitcher is trying to get ahead in the count. Taking a lot of pitches just to work the count generally places the pitcher in control and the batter has to swing at pitchers pitches from then on. Selective is the proper way to hit. Look for a certain pitch in a certain location and if you get it hit it hard regardless of the count. That’s Frenchy’s problem. He doesn’t have the ability to have good pitch selection.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
2:38 pm
cricket – I read a few that said since he hasn’t been playing all year and no spring training and that he has gotten older…he is more than likely a corner outfielder and not an everyday CF. But I wouldn’t mind giving him a shot in CF. We could use the help.
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
2:40 pm
rammerjammer, I’m sure you are right to a certain extent. But as I’ve said many times before, I believe all situations in the major leagues or in the NFL are pressure-packed. There is variation to the pressures in most of our jobs but while there is some variation in the pressure of situations in MLB, there isn’t as much because you are expected to perform well in many situations.
Also, an athlete who has made it through high school, college and the minors, all those filters, can usually handle the majors without getting psyched out. Players that get psyched out probably don’t make it past a certain point.
The last point I want to make, you say “if one player consistently meets or exceeds his batting average with RISP, and another guy is 40 points short, that’s an important distinction.” I would agree. But how many players consistently meet or exceed their batting averages with RISP to a dramatic degree? I would venture to say not many. And I think Francoeur is an example. Eventually, given a large enough sample, a player’s performance with RISP is usually going to look very similar to his performance in all situations.
rotty
May 29th, 2009
2:41 pm
The Braves can and or will trade JF (for AA/A prospects) and KJ freeing up ~7mm. Dunn makes 8mm this year and 12mm in 2010 – I believe.
2010 will take care of itself.
So theorectically they can afford Dunn. Put Prado at 2B and Dunn in RF.
I would prefer Holliday, Dye or Hawpe as they can run versus lumber in the OF.
cricket
May 29th, 2009
2:43 pm
Dellucci is of no use. We need power in OF. Edmonds hit 18 HR last year, Dellucci had 15 HR over more than 2 seasons.
Knowitall
May 29th, 2009
2:43 pm
My mistake. It was a 2 year deal instead of a 3 year deal. I understand Washington stinks and needs players but I just don’t believe that a team would sign a free agent to more than a one year deal just to turn around and trade him away. It just doesn’t make sense. The Braves could have had Dunn in the off season for 10 million. Now you think they are going to pay 10 million plus players for him? It just doesn’t make sense.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:43 pm
MFin04 – But I wouldn’t mind giving him a shot in CF
And how long would it take to get someone ready to play who didn’t go to spring training, hasn’t played at all this year. If we have to wait until July for Edmonds to play, why not look who becomes available for trade by then. We still have to play the rough June schedule without him anyway.
Travis
May 29th, 2009
2:44 pm
A lot of frustration here on the blog. Everyone just trying to help us get better…No harm no foul…keep it up everyone
Shaun
May 29th, 2009
2:44 pm
rammerjammer, I wish I could find this info but my guess is that the MLB career leaders in OPS w/RISP look very similar to the overall career OPS leaders.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
2:46 pm
You’d think a veteran guy like Edmonds could start contributing in a couple of weeks. And if all we are asking is for him to play a decent CF and go 0 for 4 every night, he can start playing now and get into a groove.
Efrim
May 29th, 2009
2:47 pm
Jon Heyman at SI.com had this to say:
“The Braves are seen as a threat to reacquire Mark DeRosa, the Indians’ first trading chip to hit the market. The Cubs seem to miss DeRosa, as well, and MLB Network’s Bob Costas speculated in the game telecast on Thursday that DeRosa going back to the Cubs would make sense.”
Indians want major league pitching back for Derosa. Not sure the Braves would want to give up anything more than Jo Jo Reyes for 4 months of Mark Derosa. Maybe adding a lower level prospect would get it done. I don’t “love” Dero, but he would be better than what is currently in RF.
Playground Plato
May 29th, 2009
2:47 pm
“A wise person once told me, ‘Perfect is the enemy of good.’ ”
But Bobby Cox believes that mediocre is the enemy of hanging on by the skin of your teeth.
Bravesfan
May 29th, 2009
2:48 pm
I believe the guy who signed Dunn got replaced. The new guy might be more likely to trade Dunn just to distance himself from a somewhat expensive acquisition he didn’t make.
Andy K.
May 29th, 2009
2:48 pm
Trade for DeRosa, platoon KJ and Prado.. Sign Edmonds and cut GA loose. Edmonds plays in left and right, and mentors Schafer. Diaz plays more often in LF.
cricket
May 29th, 2009
2:48 pm
MFin04 – Agreed. A friend of mine is big fan of Edmonds and has followed him over the years. In his opinion, Edmond’s will be ok in CF, but you never know. Still, considering the lack of options available for OF trade and the expected low cost (may be minimal salary and no loss of prospects), Edmonds may be worth a try.
Ok, I’ll stop pushing this now – feel like his unpaid agent.
Mitchie-san
May 29th, 2009
2:50 pm
cricket, I know he is a little old and left handed, but he is/was batting .275 this season. I can name about THREE of our outfielders who arent doing that.
He is NOT my first choice, not by a long shot. but like MiamiBrave said, why not kick the tires on him?
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:51 pm
Shaun – Eventually, given a large enough sample, a player’s performance with RISP is usually going to look very similar to his performance in all situations.
Shaun I normally agree with you and most players that is true but I believe ( And you’re the stat man not me) that there are some players who seem to be able to do better in pressure situations because professional or not they just concentrate more plus you tend a lot of times to hit differently in those situations, more concerned with scoring the runners than hitting homeruns for instance. Also there is that small minority that even though professionals tend to due worse when the pressure is on.
Efrim
May 29th, 2009
2:53 pm
“Trade for DeRosa, platoon KJ and Prado.. Sign Edmonds and cut GA loose. Edmonds plays in left and right, and mentors Schafer. Diaz plays more often in LF.”
I’m for it. Just not the platoon KJ/Prado part.
Jack Kerouac
May 29th, 2009
2:54 pm
Hey, man. Is this like the “beat blog”.
Cool. I’m into all things beat.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
2:55 pm
Edmonds plays in left and right
Looks like we’re going back to the 5 man infield again LOL
sri
May 29th, 2009
2:57 pm
Are the Braves ready to view Frenchy as a platoon player? Would Frenchy be willing to accept a role as a platoon/4th outfielder? If that is the case, who would you guys keep as a 4th outfielder next year Diaz or Frenchy.? 2008 salaries Diaz $1.2375m, Frency $3.3.75m
Frank Wren is one savvy dude
May 29th, 2009
2:57 pm
Sorry, I meant “sorry.
Frank Wren is one SORRY dude.
BBraves
May 29th, 2009
2:58 pm
Everyone complains about Anderson’s Defense in left but didn’t you see the WBC Dunn’s outfield defense was horrible. Dunn’s homers would be nice though in the lineup. Would like to see Brandon Jones or Barton brought up to give Frenchy and Shafer some days off. The two batting in the 7 & 8 holes and stiking out back to back is killing the offense. Then after they strike out the pitcher seems to be hitting better than the two of them. Doesn’t make sense the Bobby won’t give his two worst hitters nights off but the best hitters do.
braves70
May 29th, 2009
2:58 pm
Mitchie-San. Yes. I think Dellucci would be quite a good fit for now. Certainly better than what we have got. Go get him Braves.
tastes worse but less filling
May 29th, 2009
3:01 pm
Dellucci = Victorino light
Patron Saint of the Lost Art
May 29th, 2009
3:01 pm
Hello everybody…just a note…
Garrett Anderson is batting .266 with 11 RBIs in 94 ABs.
Martin Prado is batting .239 with 7 RBIs in 67 ABs.
They both have appeared in 29 games.
A. Lemming
May 29th, 2009
3:03 pm
Let’s all rush to support Frenchy.
braves70
May 29th, 2009
3:03 pm
Dellucci in 2006 with the Phillies as a platoon player hit 13 HR with a .292 average.
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2009
3:03 pm
How about moving Francoeur to the two-hole in the line up.
And that’s that. We’re shutting down the blog now.
RHR
May 29th, 2009
3:05 pm
#1 METS TROLL (And Proud Of It)
May 29th, 2009
3:05 pm
The braves offense is offensive……..
Bobby's Cox
May 29th, 2009
3:06 pm
Mitchell,
I agree with you. The Braves need a new direction. In regards to my previous post, I believe the Braves lack of discipline and on the field have to be redirected at Bobby and the coaches he employs. Sure, you can attribute failures to lack of talent, but the manager sets the tone and gives the guys on the team a strategy to abide by.
I posted this last year, when Torre came to LA and was half a season into getting his guys transition to his “strategy”. He had every single player focus on being a havoc at the plate. Taking pitches, putting balls in play, going oppo. It was his strategy. Scioscia does the same, making sure guys go from 1st to 3rd, hit singles in the holes, move runners over, get the sac fly, try not to do too much. The coaches are a by-product of the manager, as are the players.
It all starts at the top
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
3:08 pm
I love how soo many ideas are shot down….yet the current ideas by Bobby Cox, Frank Wren, and TP aren’t exactly working.
KJ hitting leadoff continues to happen even though it has proven to be a bad idea over and over again.
Schafer and Frenchy black hole keeps getting trotted out there every game and its proven to be a bad idea over and over again.
At this point there are no “bad” ideas. Frenchy in the 2-spot. Why the heck not. It’s not like we are scoring runs with the current lineup and it breaks up the black hole of death.
All I am saying is that this current crap isn’t working, time to try something else, it’s nice to see people thinking outside of the box. Too bad Bobby doesn’t believe in that kinda stuff.
DAP
May 29th, 2009
3:10 pm
when it comes to hitting with RISP, maybe its not the situation itself that the player responds well to, but the way pitchers tend to approach those situations…
certain players are good fastball hitters. with runners on, a pitcher may be more likely to throw fastballs, or may be more reluctant to go to that low breaking ball for fear of it getting away from the catcher, enabling the hitter to get elevated pitches.
i dont know, im just saying…maybe that contributes
JasoninAtl
May 29th, 2009
3:10 pm
Feel the need to chime in on the whole “work the count”, and plate discipline as a skill.
Working the count is announcer speak for a guy who is “patient.” But as mentioned earlier, being patient isn’t always a good thing, especially against pitchers that are in the strike zone. I hate “work the count” as any sort of a euphamism, it isn’t specific enough to describe a skill or a need.
Plate discipline is another thing altogether. It encompasses areas that I do believe are skills, namely pitch recognition and approach. One of the reasons you see some guys vastly increase their walk rates as they mature is that they obtain the skill of pitch recognition. They mix that with approach, which to me means they look for certain pitches in certain locations on certain counts.
I fear that Frenchy is lost where these skills are concerned, and we have a considerable body of evidence to prove that. I only hope that JS can improve these skills as he matures.
Knowitall
May 29th, 2009
3:10 pm
DOB
Too funny!
Parton Saint
How dare you provide stats that indicate that this team wouldn’t be better off with Prado playing everyday!
rotty
May 29th, 2009
3:11 pm
Dunn would need to replace GA b/c those two in the OF would be a horror show.
So Dunn in LF where he should have been April 1st, Schafer in CF and BJones/Diaz OR Derosa in RF.
If you can trade GA to a AL team who wants veteran leadership
that frees up another 2.5mm
So trade away JF, KJ, and GA you free up 9.5mm which is enough to take on Dunn.
GA will be the hardest to move – potentially – but I still think JF holds that title.
rotty
May 29th, 2009
3:13 pm
Or Dunn in RF and Bjones/Diaz in LF
fleming
May 29th, 2009
3:13 pm
MFin04 – it’s nice to see people thinking outside of the box.
Trouble is some people think outside the Universe in a not so parallel world.
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2009
3:13 pm
Dellucci in 2006 with the Phillies as a platoon player hit 13 HR with a .292 average.– Braves70
Yeah, and Francoeur in 2006 hit 29 homers. So what?
Delucci? Really? Last season, at age 34, Delucci hit .238 with a .307 OBP and 11 homers in 336 at-bats.
The season before that, he hit .230 with a .296 OBP and four homers in 178 at-bats.
So please, let’s not make him out to be anything more than he is — a 35-year-old Cleveland Indians castoff.
Knowitall
May 29th, 2009
3:15 pm
MFin04
Why would you want to practically guarantee Frenchy an extra at bat in every game?
braves70
May 29th, 2009
3:16 pm
Fine DOB, keep your brilliant outfield as it is and finish last. Dellucci has been injured but is still an improvement over our three stiffs.
Free Tommy Hanson
May 29th, 2009
3:16 pm
LOL @ Putting Failcoeur in the 2 hole. That would be the equivalent of having Corky Miller as your Clean-up hitter.
P-Town Brave
May 29th, 2009
3:16 pm
MFin-
Trying something else is fine, maybe benching or DFAing Francoeur and sending Schafer down ASAP should be thoughts but Francoeur in the 2-hole…
I’m thinkin thats a resounding NO.
I really am liking the idea of getting DeRo back in the Braves uni, but we need much MORE than just him to get the job done.
Read about how writers think Holliday would be the perfect fit…and honestly, at this point I’d be willing to try anything! That being said, I’d put Holliday in RF, Diaz/Anderson in LF, and DeRo at 2b….as I’d assume Kelly would be shipped somewhere…I mean he is our most viable trade chip that we can afford to sell off.
MFin04
May 29th, 2009
3:16 pm
fleming – I agree as long as everyone keeps it in the universe, we’ll be ok
Here’s some stats:
KJ batting in the order:
1) .260
.343
2) .246
3) .239
4) .286
5) .313
6) .303
7) .331
Jeff321
May 29th, 2009
3:17 pm
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies will fire manager Clint Hurdle today. The Rockies are 18-28 this year, 14.5 games behind the Dodgers and in last place in the NL West. Jim Tracy will be the interim manager, according to Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.
Via MLBTR
Bobby's Cox
May 29th, 2009
3:17 pm
Also, don’t tell me the manager has no say on free agents or who to trade for. We traded Devine last year because Bobby wanted a “veteran” bat last year in the OF in Kotsay. Instead, we could’ve kept devine (the argument is moot now because of TJ), but more importantly, we could’ve better analyzed Anderson in center field. Having to trade him without a prolonged look at him is hurting us now.
There’s a reason why Jim Leyland likes to play Anderson, while we didn’t. It’s because of the style of the manager. Instead of playing Anderson last year, we traded for older, slower Kotsay, then put a slower, worse fielder in Blanco in the OF.
I blame this teams poor approach to playing baseball, the lack of speed, lack of fire, poor hitting approach, etc, entirely on Bobby. Love Bobby, but I think his time has come. With that said, I still think this team can be competitive. Sure a few changes must be made, but the pitching is strong, players are hurt, and Schafer and Frenchy won’t be on the team much longer
met fans are idiots
May 29th, 2009
3:17 pm
has any one thought of maybe trying to get a package deal from the rockies that includes hawpe and street. i like gonzo but he already has blown a few save and a few near blows too! not the consistency that is needed for a championship caliber team.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
3:17 pm
JasoninAtl – Feel the need to chime in on the whole “work the count”, and plate discipline as a skill.
Agree totally with your post. That’s why I asked for a definition also of selective hitting also (another name for plate discipline). Get the pitch you want hit it regardless of the count. Don’t get the pitch then let it pass unless there is 2 outs.
cricket
May 29th, 2009
3:18 pm
Mitchie-san,
Pretty much anyone available would be better than what we have. All I am saying is Edmonds would be a better choice compared to Dellucci.
fleming
May 29th, 2009
3:18 pm
outs should have been strikes.
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2009
3:19 pm
Let’s all rush to support Frenchy. — A. Lemming
Actually, I think you’ve got it backwards, Mr. Lemming. The popular chorus now is to bash Francoeur at every turn, or have you been away for a while?
How can the isolated voices defending him be the “lemmings,” as you put it?
Bobby's Cox
May 29th, 2009
3:20 pm
Hunter Pence is the best trade piece out there for us. Not saying he’s on the market, he’s probably not, but Houston could use a 2nd baseman and some pitching. I think we could get them to listen and entertain offers…
braves70
May 29th, 2009
3:21 pm
Methinks the constant losing is getting to DOB these days. Ouch!