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1,078 comments Add your comment
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Baseball scouts care about 60 yard times? I would think how fast someone can run 90 feet would be a good stat to have.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Giants, Nationals are going to be in on Bourn – as will Texas if they lose Hamilton for some reason. Boras always finds a team no one knows or thinks is in the running to pay big for his client. And I can’t see Wren waiting until Christmas for Michael. He hasn’t been the patient type and want to play that game.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
Giants, Nationals are going to be in on Bourn – as will Texas if they lose Hamilton for some reason. Boras always finds a team no one knows or thinks is in the running to pay big for his client. And I can’t see Wren waiting until Christmas for Michael. He hasn’t been the patient type and willing to play that game.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
let him sign with Philly. he will be outta baseball within a year or so in that town with no built in support system.
Bayou Brave
August 2nd, 2012
4:05 pm
TennPaul @ 3:59
Exactly.
unbelievable
August 2nd, 2012
4:06 pm
Would you rather have Cliff Lee for 3/$75 or Greinke for 6/$120?
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
60 yards is the normal sprint distance used in baseball because that is a double. Times from the box to first are also measured and compared, Heisenberg
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
4:08 pm
nscoots, As much as I hate the Phillies I have to say that they will be a very competive team next year. They have Hallady Lee Hamels and Worly all capable of winning 15 games or more.
They sign Hamilton and another offensive peice and boom they are right there. Anoher thing is Hamilton will sign with the Astros even if they paid him the most. Its all about the money and the Phillies have the money and Hamilton needs as much money as he can get inorder to buy 30 years supply of weed. The guy smokes weed at a higher rate than you You or I breathe in a daytime. So Hamilton needs the cash and the Phillies have it
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:09 pm
ive seen some really hittable pitchers who threw well over 90. the gas is nice, but not a must.
scoots Can you identify, even in the vaguest terms, one single reason why Josh Hamilton would sign in Philadelphia over Texas?
$$$. that was easy.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:09 pm
IMO if phillies offer him more money than rangers, hamilton will sign with them and their place in division and supporting cast won’t matter.
The guy is gonna make bank, regardless. He’s just been to the WS twice (maybe three times, if this year pans out). I’m pretty sure that he can find a team willing to pay him market value and give him a competitive situation. I doubt he is so foolish as to have all the personal problems he’s had and WANT to go to Philadelphia to be the main lightning rod for that fanbase. Not when he can probably keep going to the playoffs and be paid the same coin, elsewhere.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm
Good discussion by the guys on XM radio baseball channel this morning on Josh Hamilton…Their opinion…Tons of talent, but VERY high risk. He’s in a hell of a slump (he did have a “personal” setback earlier this year) I love the guy…Raleigh boy, and all…went to HS with my neice. But boy does he have …just say challenges. Their conclusion…no way do you give him a mega year contract, but someone will. That team will probably regret it eventually. Texas says his current problems are not INJURY related, with no additional clarification.
Lew
August 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
Heisenberg – 60 yards is home to second base.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
yup I agree DAP, over 90 is no guarantee either. in fact, like crying, there are NO guarantees in baseball either
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:12 pm
let him sign with Philly.
I can’t let him do that. He’s a North Carolina boy, born of some fine parents. Philly might kill him, and I can’t have that.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:13 pm
I really don’t think the Phillies are going to invest 20m+ in another 30 year old+ player. Even if they trade Cliff Lee and get the team to eat all of the cash(seriously doubt it), they might go after a player like Michael Bourn. Might.
Veer
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Esocobar takes slack for being a bad clubhouse guy and not a good character yet Hamilton is always praised by ESPN. Him being on drugs is like some come back story for the people and thus they root for him. Such hypocracy. Fact is Hamilton is a weed addict and the national media make him out to be a hero while Esocbar for example is characterized as “cancer”?
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Here’s an explanation of radar guns in use now – most stadium guns are JugsGuns and probably set a bit high for fan appreciation.
There are two basic models of radar guns used to clock the speed of fast balls. The Jugs Speed Gun (Fast Gun) will pick up the speed of the fast ball after it has traveled 3.5 feet and the Raglan (Slow Gun) will pick up the speed after the ball has traveled 40-50 feet. A fast ball will lose 8 mph from the time it leaves the pitchers hand to the time it crosses home plate. The JUGS speed Gun is usually 3-4 mph faster than the Raglan.
The average major league fast ball is 88-89 mph on a JUGS Speed Gun and 84-85 mph on the Raglan. Scouts will rarely if ever sign a pitcher who does not throw at least 85 mph on the JUGS Speed Gun.
CrαZy
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
If Hamilton goes to Philly he’s destined for a relapse…. no one willingly wants to live in Philly, and if you do you’ll instantly regret it and turn to boos to help ease you’re pain!!!
space monkey
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Believe me, Gilmartin has a long way to go. When he throws fastballs he’s very vulnerable. At 87, batters can tune him up. The Knights did just that. If it wasn’t for some spectacular plays by Durango in CF, the game would have been a lot worse. There’s only about a 6 mph difference between his slider and his fastball. If he got either one up in the zone, it went for a ride. That’s the big difference for finesse guys: They don’t intimidate batters and they can’t make mistakes. Read Smoltz’s book. He says and I think accurately that finesse starters can get you into the playoffs but to win consistently against the best hitters, the most disciplined hitters in the postseason, you need power pitchers. That’s why I dismiss the value of adding another finesse guy to our collection. Of course, the chances of getting into the playoffs next year without Bourn and Chipper are slim.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Phillies will pay Hamels 20.5 million in 2013. So it’s another backloaded deal.
CrαZy
August 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
booze**
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
And this:
The four-seam and two-seam fastballs are the cornerstone of a pitcher’s repertoire. According to Terry Bahill, in the Major League Baseball, the range of speed varies between 85 and 95 mph. The average maximum speed in 2008 — based on all the fastballs pitched throughout the full season — was 90.9 mph; the average speed at the plate was 83.2 mph.
So, to me an 89-91 fastball pitcher is average – if he has control, above average.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
Being an addict is a little different from being an ***hole. From some reports, Yunel is not yet even a recovering ***hole.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
i wouldnt put it past the phillies to try and land hamilton at all. they are going to want the biggest free agent hitter they can, and i think thats hamilton. doesnt mean he will go there, but i bet they offer.
all their pitchers cant win 15 games each if they cant score, and right now, it looks like their problem is going to be scoring runs, because that rollins/utley/howard combo aint what it used to be. i think they made a mistake by trading pence.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
nolie:
His time was 6.9 as a rising soph, and that time was disseminated throughout the internet in 2010, but he was only eighteen months removed from a serious football injury. He’s pretty much back up to speed now, but hasn’t had any special conditioning to increase his speed yet, so we’re hoping he might get it down to 6.5 or close to that. BTW he stole 20 bases, and was caught once.
Juan
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
For those savy on Baseball, How the Giant knew that the Padres going to Claim Ross.
“We have also seen teams make waiver claims to block rivals from obtaining a player for the stretch run”.
Looking back at the Giants’ claim of Cody Ross, they liked the player, but they also did not want the then division leading Padres to get him. It turned out to be a great move by the Giants.
Nevada Roy
August 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
Keep Paul Janish as back-up! If you didn’t catch it the Indians after a strong start but recent collapse have designated Derek Lowe for assignment. I’m glad we didn’t get Dempster or Grenke.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
Of course, the chances of getting into the playoffs next year without Bourn and Chipper are slim.
Impossible to say. We are gearing up for the most busy Braves offseason in perhaps the last decade, and absolutely the most busy in the Frank Wren era. Who knows what the 25-man 2013 roster will look like?
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
OBP .625 this season.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Long term contracts for McCann, Prado, Heyward, Freeman…….. Michael Bourn………. Starting rotation beyond Tim Hudson. …………..Bullpen beyond Craig Kimbrel……….. 13.2 million in guaranteed dollars on the books for a consistent 90-92 million dollar payroll team…….. Holes in LF and CF….
Busy as hell.
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
60 * 3 = 180, 90 feet between bases, 180/90 = 2
Makes sense now. I must not be smarter than a 5th grader.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
i wouldnt put it past the phillies to try and land hamilton at all. they are going to want the biggest free agent hitter they can, and i think thats hamilton
I did hear Ruben Amaro Jr. on ESPN radio this morning say the moves they made and contracts they didn’t complete for their current players(Pence and Victorino) will make them players in the free agency market this winter. I’m not sure why he hasn’t learned, but I guess he understands that he’s just trying to keep the good times rolling in Philly with the park selling out every night.
And of course, Amaro may as well tattoo on his arm “Those contracts are the next GM’s problem”.
Fols
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
I would give Freeman a contract and the keys to the city, he’s going to be consistantly awesome for a long time.
I think he’s going to end up being the Justin Morneau the Twins thought they were signing.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
too there is a difference between where a pitcher normally sits in speed and what he can top out at if needed.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:26 pm
I was looking at COT’s today, and it appeared 62-63 mill minimum was coming off the books.
Of course you have to resign folks like HUDDY and B-MAC, and then there’s some keepers who hit ARB after this season. Yeah, it shapes up to be a pretty busy season.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
efrim, i think this off season could be very busy with trades for alot of teams, because there doesnt seem to be alot of really good free agents out there. if a team really trying to make a splash, they almost have to do it with a trade, outside of a few key players.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
Makes sense now. I must not be smarter than a 5th grader.
You probably don’t think of baseball in terms of “yards”, is all. I believe it would have come to you.
faninva
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/derek-lowe-designated-assignment-cleveland-indians-fan-154000464–mlb.html
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:28 pm
135 million in guarantees for the Phillies in 2013. They could afford a player like Michael Bourn in CF.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
Veer – Yeah, Hamilton and Escobar make a real “apples to apples” comparison. I realize that you are one of the only people who couldn’t understande why the Braves didn’t want Esco on their team, but it’s a TOTALLY different situation. A bad attitude IS a cancer on a team. If there’s one problem Hamilton DOESN’T have, it’s attitude.
No team will support Hamilton like Rangers do…but then, the manager tested positive for cocane.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
I think he’s going to end up being the Justin Morneau the Twins thought they were signing.
Good comp, but Freeman has a better glove abd maybe a bit less power.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:31 pm
I’m not sure that “afford” is going to be a term of operation for the Phightens next year, Efrim. I think they have to spend whatever it takes. To heck with budgets, luxury tax, whatever. They’re already too deep in with contracts to worry about a few more.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:32 pm
i think this off season could be very busy with trades for alot of teams, because there doesnt seem to be alot of really good free agents out there. if a team really trying to make a splash, they almost have to do it with a trade, outside of a few key players.
Take a look at the following years free agent class, DAP. It’s even worse, man. Boras wasn’t joking when he said that Giancarlo Stanton was the next great power hitter to hit the free agent market. Teams absolutely look ahead – even if they have no idea how it’s going to pan out. Gotta take the time to forecast, even though it could get turned around pretty easily.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:32 pm
depends on which average they are using : mean, median or mode. most use the ‘mean’ which means it was dragged down by a bunch of replacement level fodder. it does not mean that the average good quality successful pitcher throws 89
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
I think I could break 7 seconds from home to first and my fastball tops out in upper 60s. Just waiting on Frank Wren to call.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
To heck with budgets, luxury tax, whatever. They’re already too deep in with contracts to worry about a few more.
And there just isn’t a lot available in free agency the following year. Jacoby Ellsbury…….
and that’s about it.
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Faux Frank Wren @fauxfrankwren
The Braves Facebook page was not hacked to show embarrassing pictures of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. They are real. http://pic.twitter.com/0wkXdMu1
Wow…
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
Sidd Finch was clocked at 168 MPH on his fastball. You whippersnappers need to bone up on your Baseball history, y’all don’t know squat.
Walter Johnson probably threw over a 100, but they didn’t have radar guns back then. (And that’s a fact that could very well be true, but we’ll never know for sure…unless nolie or scoots saw him back in the day).
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Looking back at the Giants’ claim of Cody Ross,…Juan
because Juan was affordable to them if they got stuck with im, so yeah good idea. not the same as blocking a high dollar contracy out of your price range
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
The Braves Facebook page was not hacked to show embarrassing pictures of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. They are real.
They are also from a few years ago as part of rookie hazing… (just to put them in context)
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
sorry, because Cody was affordable……….
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
Didn’t Feller have some publicity stunt showing he could a baseball faster than a speeding train? Or am I thinking of something else?
Bravefaninok
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
The Braves Facebook page was not hacked to show embarrassing pictures of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. They are real.
They are also from a few years ago as part of rookie hazing… (just to put them in context)
Every bit as funny now as they were then…..
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
The Braves will be lucky to have $25mil to spend in the offseason, regardless of what money is coming off the books after this season.
If they spend more, I’d be very, very surprised.
cabravesfan
August 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
Bravefaninok-
Oh, absolutely
I especially love the look of total confidence on Meds’ face. Nothing bothers him at all
Heisenberg
August 2nd, 2012
4:39 pm
Sidd Finch, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, leprechauns, tooth fairy………
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
I would give Freeman a contract and the keys to the city, he’s going to be consistantly awesome for a long time.
Yes. He’s a real solid ball player. No reason not to try to keep the kid around. And Justin is a solid comp hitting wise. I think Freeman will be in between him and Konerko, though I don’t think Freeman will ever hit 40HR in a season. But the .500 slugging, .350 OBP range, yes.
richbrave
August 2nd, 2012
4:44 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
AARON NORTHCRAFT and the HILLCATS take it on the chin from the KEYS last night when 3 unearned runs are scored against him, and the offense is offensive….but not in a good way.
RHSP AARON NORTHCRAFT [L 8-9, 3.74 ERA] 6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO.
RHSP ANDY WILSON [1.76 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, zeros, 2 SO.
RHRP RYAN WEBER [4.60 ERA] 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.
RHRP JUAN JAIME [3.69 ERA] 1.0 IP, zeros, 3 BB, 3 SO.
Three hits, two doubles included not nearly enough offense as the HILLCATS succumb 1-7 to the baby GNATS.
ss NICK AHMED [.272 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B [32], 2 SO.
1B CHRIS GARCIA [.303 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [19], 1 BB, 1 SO.
Lead-off CF MYC JONES [.257 BA] 1-4
And that a wrap for the hitters.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
4:45 pm
scoots: I remember watching Feller on You Asked For It when I was a kid. He was pitching on a field with several tall posts between him and home plate and the camera was up high overhead. The purpose was to show in slow motion how the pitch “curved” around the posts on it’s way to home plate, thus “proving” the ball actually curved when thrown.
I wonder if it’s on You Tube, I haven’t seen it since then.
kenhotlanta
August 2nd, 2012
4:47 pm
Heisenberg: Bah Humbug! Killjoy.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:48 pm
The Braves will be lucky to have $25mil to spend in the offseason, regardless of what money is coming off the books after this season.
Funny, as that really is what they will have to spend if they exercise options and pay players their arb. numbers sans Jurrjens.
DAP
August 2nd, 2012
4:48 pm
Looking back at the Giants’ claim of Cody Ross
that claim probably hurt the braves more over the following 15 months than any other team. we wanted him too.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:49 pm
Yes. He’s a real solid ball player. No reason not to try to keep the kid around. And Justin is a solid comp hitting wise. I think Freeman will be in between him and Konerko, though I don’t think Freeman will ever hit 40HR in a season. But the .500 slugging, .350 OBP range, yes.
What about Jason Heyward? What are your thoughts on that young ballplayer, TenneseePaul?
[he says with a smirk on his face]
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:51 pm
I’d still take Jason over Freddie if I could only have one
Murph
August 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
Funny, as that really is what they will have to spend if they exercise options and pay players their arb. numbers sans Jurrjens.
You’re assuming a $90mil payroll? Have they actually been at or near $90mil the last 2 seasons?
Like I said, they’ll be lucky to get what we expect them to get… in other words… I wouldn’t count on it.
If I were to guess I’d say that Wren spends $15mil this offseason and keeps the rest for all of those big acquisitions he likes to make at the deadline.
Shaun
August 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
MLB just needs to change the name of the revocable waivers. Or just do everything to make sure that “revocable” part is in there when a player is placed on revocable waivers.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:53 pm
nolie @4:51 – Now there’s something we can agree on…and the good news is that we don’t have to choose between them.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:54 pm
I’d still take Jason over Freddie if I could only have one
Would not think twice about it. It’s just not easy to be a first baseman. Those jerks at fangraphs with that “Wins Above Replacement” garbage just made it difficult for anyone to love “good” first baseman……
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:55 pm
I wonder if it’s on You Tube, I haven’t seen it since then.
ken, I remember that vaguely, also.
raleighbravefan
August 2nd, 2012
4:56 pm
I expect a big increase in the payroll…the results of all that post-season revenue, on the way to a WS title.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:57 pm
from your keyboard to God’s eyes raleigh….
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Heyward 8th in WAR in ALL of the National League and Freeman…… 41st???
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=nl&qual=y&type=6&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
Just don’t like it at all.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
range kills Freeman
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
You’re assuming a $90mil payroll? Have they actually been at or near $90mil the last 2 seasons?
I think they’ll go to 95 next year, in whatever bizarro form of accounting they use. Whether that means more actual cash, I don’t know.
A tickling synapse makes me want to say they showed an operating profit of around $20MM or so last year, so they might have a tiny bit of wiggle room, anyway.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
4:59 pm
You’re assuming a $90mil payroll? Have they actually been at or near $90mil the last 2 seasons?
Yes, they have been. At around 92 million this year. And while Lowe’s 10 million isn’t on the field for us, they are still paying his salary.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:00 pm
What are your thoughts on that young ballplayer, TenneseePaul?
Comps? no idea. Not the elite walker/once in a generation type. Very solid ball player. I don’t see him hitting for as high of an average as freeman, largely because he hasn’t. Probably similar OBP/SLG though.
When they were both coming up, I thought they’d both hit for average and Heyward would have the higher OBP. The slugging would be very close, though I thought Heyward would excel there. But after watching him play in the majors, I think he’ll be closer to Freeman in both OBP and Slugging, just won’t hit for average.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:02 pm
range kills Freeman
Can there be some sort of adjusted WAR for first baseman? I guess it works as a model for all ballplayers – but 1.9 wins to date for Freeman? I guess you just have to absolutely destroy the ball to be a star at first base.
However, teams can just simply evaluate them among their peers at the position, and given his age – Braves gotta be excited about Freddie right now.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:02 pm
Jason more exciting player by far IMO
Pace
August 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
Murph – yes I read just before the trade deadline that the Braves’ Payroll this year is $92.4M – that included money paid to other teams.
I know the Cubs gave cash in the trade – not sure how much though – the Braves may be below the 90 now.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
where is Votto and Pujols on a good year?
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
Can there be some sort of adjusted WAR for first baseman?
And catchers.
But I don’t particularly want to start dealing with FG WAR, BR WAR, x1B WAR, and xC WAR.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
Wilson, 34, looked a little out of sorts defensively
Indeed…. looked like Rev without the bat
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
But after watching him play in the majors, I think he’ll be closer to Freeman in both OBP and Slugging, just won’t hit for average.
Just obsessed with the hitting side of the game and no view on the baserunning or defense. For shame.
I think when Heyward puts it all together(no idea when that will happen), we could see his OBP back at what it was in 2010. Not sure Freeman can get to that level. Career wise, I don’t see that thing being .390+, I mean, that would make him elite all-time, period.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
where is Votto and Pujols on a good year?
Dominating.
I love Freeman, but he is neither of those guys. Perhaps he could surprise, but that would be a massive surprise. Massive.
nolie
August 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
WAR sukks anyway,no way we need more than two, which is two too many
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:07 pm
Comps? no idea. Not the elite walker/once in a generation type. Very solid ball player.
Whoops. Forgot this question. You’d take Freeman going forward, I assume, yes?
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:07 pm
Just obsessed with the hitting side of the game and no view on the baserunning or defense. For shame.
They play different positions… for a reason. Why would I compare the speed of a first baseman to that of a right fielder? I never thought Freeman would be Jeff Bagwell, stealing bases all the time.
GWD,sc
August 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
Yunel is not even a recovering ***hole. Now that was funny!
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
Jason more exciting player by far IMO
He can run. That helps…..a lot in this game.
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
WAR sukks anyway,no way we need more than two, which is two too many
Sometimes, I think that giving advanced statistics to some particular folks is like giving them a gun and saying, “You pull this thing, and the bullet comes out this end.”, and that’s all you give ‘em. They don’t know how to strip it, clean it, or load it, they just know how to point it at somebody.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:09 pm
You’d take Freeman going forward, I assume, yes?
Take him where?
Fortunately I have them both on my favorite team. I don’t have to “take” them anywhere. But they have to take me places… preferably the elation and excitement of watching my favorite team win the world series… repeatedly.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:10 pm
I think when Heyward puts it all together(no idea when that will happen)
That will happen at the same time Freeman “puts it all together.” It’s called “peak years.”
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:11 pm
Why would the Braves not spend in the low-90’s next year? They have basically been around that for a while…
Shaun
August 2nd, 2012
5:12 pm
I guess you just have to absolutely destroy the ball to be a star at first base.
I think this is pretty much true. Freeman is 9th among the 24 qualifiers in wRC+ and 10th in wOBA.
13 qualifying firstbasemen have an OBP .340 or higher. 12 have a slugging .460 or higher.
11 are at least 20 percent better than league average offensively, according to wRC+.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:13 pm
I like Paul Konerko for Freeman. He hits for solid average. Gets on and slugs well. It isn’t flashy out there. He certainly isn’t Pujols or Votto or Fielder, but he’s as good as any and better than most.
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:14 pm
Why would the Braves not spend in the low-90’s next year? They have basically been around that for a while…
They’re agreement with MLB is up. They can spend whatever they wish next year.
Efrim
August 2nd, 2012
5:16 pm
That will happen at the same time Freeman “puts it all together.” It’s called “peak years.”
Ah, yes. But I like Jason’s “all together” more, I guess.
Take him where?
Let me rephrase: If you could only have one player, which would you want to keep on your beloved Braves moving forward? noles chimed in with Jason and I agreed, which is why I was asking the question. But you don’t have to answer, if you don’t want to. Was just askin. Didn’t mean nothin by it….
TennesseePaul
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
I don’t know why I’m so bad with the there, their, they’re. I do it all the time.
And for some reason I toss in through and threw mix ups.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
They’re agreement with MLB is up. They can spend whatever they wish next year
I still think they’d stick near 90-95 mil… no need to drop it if they’ve been fine with it as it is. Now if only they”d raise it….
ncscoots
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
Whatever the comps, a pitcher having to go through Heyward, Chipper, McCann, Freeman, and Uggla better pack a lunch. And hope Bourn and Prado don’t scramble his eggs for breakfast.
I don’t think folks actually get how tough this lineup can be.