First base is Braves’ most fixable problem: Adrian Gonzalez
Here's Adrian Gonzalez after he scored during Padres' 10-run fourth-inning against Braves. Oops.
A rumor popped up a few days ago that the Braves might have some interest in San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, which is interesting because I proposed the same thing in November.
As I wrote then, the Padres need to trim payroll and there is absolutely no downside to the Braves pursuing a trade for Gonzalez: 1) He gives them a dependable power hitter and run producer; 2) He fills the great black hole that always seems to exist at first base in Turner Field; 3) He has a favorable contract ($4.75 million and $5.5 million this season and in 2011, respectively); 4) His name isn’t Troy Glaus.
Would Braves general manager Frank Wren have to deal some prospects for Gonzalez? Yes. Do the Braves still feel somewhat burned by the Mark Teixeira trade? Probably. But there comes a time when a franchise has to push the button on a deal, and the Braves can’t afford to drop too far out of the race and potentially miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Now, back to Glaus. There is no shortage of problems in the lineup. We can start at leadoff, where the Braves are batting a sickly .091 — last in the majors by a longshot. Texas is next lowest at .138. The major league average is .252.
Detroit, which is led by would-be Brave Johnny Damon’s .323, is hitting .313 at leadoff. Sorry, just had to throw that in.
Chances are the Braves will have to deal with the leadoff issue all season. Their hope is that Nate McLouth or another player eventually gets hot (or even tepid) in that role. Or that Jordan Schafer can be brought back up and he takes it over. There just aren’t a lot of great leadoff hitters around.
The Glaus situation is different. The worst news is not that he stinks (.186 batting average, 17 strikeouts in 59 at-bats; slugging percentage of .305, even worse than Omar Infante’s .346). The worst news is that he might not get better. Consider that Glaus’ career stats show that his best months are April and May. In other words, this might be as good as it gets.
The career splits:
March: .250.
April: .276.
May: .270.
June: .233
July: .242
August: .252
September: .258
October: .151.
For what it’s worth, here are Gonzalez’ current statistics: .317, 6 homers, 14 RBI, .667 slugging, .429 on-base percentage, 1.095 OPS.
So the question is: How long can Wren afford to wait before pursuing a deal? And since some of you will bring up Freddie Freeman, here’s my view: Freeman can stay in the minors one more season. He’s not ready yet. Next year is next year, and that issue can be dealt with then. It’s about making something of this season.
♦
Earlier posts today
♦ Grading Falcons’ drafts, from Roddy (A) to Jimmy (ugh)
♦ Draft report card: Graders get an F, Falcons get 3 to 5 years
♦
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389 comments Add your comment
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
8:50 pm
Ok. Just 4 those not watching.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
8:52 pm
Hudson base hit up the middle. Now 1 for 7 for the year.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
8:55 pm
Escobar fly out. 1 down.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
8:57 pm
League leaders with 8 doubles Prado,K.Johnson,Werth.
Prado bloop single to center. 1st & 2nd. 1 out. Chipper up.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
8:59 pm
Chipper walks. Bases loaded McCann up.
Bill
April 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
Braves need to do something Now!
HANGMAN
April 26th, 2010
9:02 pm
STOP TALKING AND THINKING ABOUT IT !!!!!! DO IT !!!!!!!
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:02 pm
Braves batting .192 with bases loaded for year.
McCann fly ball. Hudson scores on sac fly. 1-0 Braves.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
Glaus Base hit. Prado scores. 2-0 Braves.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
Heyward strikes out. 3 outs.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:06 pm
Joe Simpson said that TP worked with hitters for several hours in the batting cage. Did he work with mcLouth and Heyward ?
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:08 pm
Ryan ground ball nice play by escobar. 1 out.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
Lohse grounds 2 Glaus, Hudson covers 2 outs.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:10 pm
Schumacker ground ball easy play Escobar. Inning over.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:12 pm
Top 4th
2-0 Braves
Braves have 5 hits, Cards have 3.
Melky Way up.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:13 pm
Melky ground ball 3rd. Melky safe.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
Melky almost picked off by Molina at 1B.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:16 pm
Nate line drive double, Melky scores. 3-0 nobody out.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:17 pm
Hudson bunts Melky to 3rd. 1 out.
Jerald Holcombe
April 26th, 2010
9:18 pm
I personally feel that trading both Freeman and Vizcaino for Gonzalez is a bit too much. The Padres are shedding salary and would take any deal that gives them a player of merit like Freeman plus a pitcher like Dunn. This situation is so close to being the same situation Schuerholz encountered when he fleeced the Pads for the services of McGriff. The Pads would trip all over themselves if we put Freeman and Vizcaino on the table. The last thing that gets in the way of this trade is the fact that San Diego is in first place. We all know they won’t stay there, but until they fall off, they aren’t gonna trade anybody.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:18 pm
I meant Nate to 3rd.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:20 pm
Escobar walks.
Prado up.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:22 pm
Prado line drive to 3rd. Double up Escobar.
3-0 Braves.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:23 pm
Prado just missed a double. Dang.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:24 pm
Ludwick ground out 3B. 1 out.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:25 pm
Pujols base hit to center.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:26 pm
Wild pitch, Pujols to 2nd.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:27 pm
Nice play Yunel 2 outs, Pujols to 3rd.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:30 pm
Hudson bouncing pitch after pitch in the dirt.
Rasmus strikes out looking. inning over.
3-0 Braves.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:33 pm
Chipper long fly ball out.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:34 pm
McCann deep fly ball out LF. 2 outs.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:35 pm
Glaus long fly ball CF. 3 outs.
3-0 braves
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:37 pm
Simpson says Chipper’s response to B.Jordan’s comments : 1)Did he say that really. 2)Brian’s not with me before games or in the off-season so he doesn’t know if I stretch or workout or not.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:40 pm
Molina walks. Umpire squeezing strike zone.
Hudson throwing junk in the dirt not even close to the plate (split-finger).
Starting to rain.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:42 pm
Freese doubleplay to Escobar. 2 outs.
Ump squeezing Huddy on fastballs that are strikes. the splits are no where near strikes.
Jalb3rt
April 26th, 2010
9:43 pm
This has got to be the most stupid article ever written by a human being. Specially after the Texeira fiasco. WOW. But even more stupid are the bloggers proposing trades like sending Freddie Freeman and others for A-Gon. Haha! Hilarious! Giving up the future franchise 1Bman for a half year rental. OMG! Some people are really retarded!
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:45 pm
Ryan strikes out swinging. official game. Still raining. 3-0 Braves.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:47 pm
Top 6th
Heyward fly to short. 1 olut. Heyward in a bad slump. 1 for last 12.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:48 pm
Melky pop up to SS. 2 out.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:49 pm
Nate pop up to CF. 3 outs. Bottom 6th.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:51 pm
3-0 Braves.
I hope Cox doesn’t leave Hudson in too long (if he’s tired ?).
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:52 pm
John Jay pinch-hitting for Lohse. Strikes out. 1 out.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:53 pm
Schumaker walks on 4 straight balls.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:54 pm
Nobody warming up in bullpen & Pujols due up 3rd…
Ludwick hitting.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:57 pm
Ludwick base hit to CF. 1st & 3rd. Pujols up. 1 out.
Damn Cox should have a pitcher ready to come in…
Hudson needs to stop throwing splitter. Another one bounced up there.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:57 pm
Long deep foul to RF…
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
9:59 pm
Hudson tiring.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm
Manage a little bit Bobby. Get a pitcher ready…
Ground ball to Escobar. Run scores. 3-1 Braves. 2 outs.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm
Runner at 2B.
robdawg08
April 26th, 2010
10:03 pm
Escobar took a hit away.
Holliday deep fly ball out. 3 outs. 3-1 Braves Top 7th.