The Braves do the right thing for Schafer (and themselves)
The Braves had no choice. Jordan Schafer was at sea. It made no difference if the team around him was steaming or sinking. A prized young property was in danger of washing out at age 22.
There’s a reason baseball teams try not to rush kids. They don’t want them to fail. Schafer was hitting .204 with 63 strikeouts against two home runs. That’s not someone who’s in a slump. That’s the sign of a young man who has lost his vocational way.
After two months it was clear the Braves could do nothing to help Schafer at the big-league level. Chipper Jones had been designated as his mentor, and even the counsel of one of the game’s finest hitters was having no effect. I asked Frank Wren last week how much longer the Braves could go with Schafer — Wren politely declined to answer — and when finally they demoted him they acted not a day too soon.
Baseball isn’t as much about speed and strength as technique and self-assurance. Schafer’s technique had deserted him, and how confident can you be when you’re hitting .204? And nobody can ever be sure that egregious failure at a tender age will be surmounted.
There was once a young center fielder who arrived in the majors on a wave of boundless hype. He’d been hitting .477 in the minors, but he got to the big leagues and went 1-for-26. (The hit was a homer in his 23rd at-bat.) Distraught, he begged his manager to send him down, saying the pitching was just too good for him.
Loading ...The manager, name of Durocher, told him he was going nowhere, and the kid wound up being named the 1951 National League rookie of the year. But the point isn’t that the guy turned out OK; the point is that even Willie Mays, one of the five greatest players in the history of the sport, had cause to doubt.
Jordan Schafer is where he needs to be: In Class AAA with Gwinnett, away from the bigger ballparks and the brighter lights and the harsher critics. He has a chance to find himself down there. There was nothing else to be found in the majors this summer, maybe not this year.
He just wasn’t ready. Now he can go get ready.
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116 comments Add your comment
TommyP
June 3rd, 2009
6:48 am
Been preaching this for quite awhile now. Save Schafer and send him down. Don’t ruin the career of one of your best prospects before it begins.
Michael Smith
June 3rd, 2009
7:00 am
I agree that Schafer needs to be replaced — that many strikeouts puts a huge whole in the lineup. But the best and most promising outfielder the Braves have in their entire minor league system is Gregor Blanco? That doesn’t say much for our minor league system.
Bill
June 3rd, 2009
7:09 am
I’ll keep saying this.It comes down to ownership.Liberty Media pays only lip service to winning.They care about profit only.I have no problem with that in the business world.However I want my sports ownership to care.
The Braves haven’t had that since Ted Turner,before Jane Fonda ruined him.Until the Braves get better at the very top we’ll be looking at 77-83 wins per year.
Hawkdawg
June 3rd, 2009
7:22 am
He sucks. .204 says it all.
Lee Eggert
June 3rd, 2009
7:57 am
Jordan is a winner and so are the Braves. Jordan will land on his feet and make his comeback in due time…and the Braves will be back in the playoffs. They did the kid good and the kid is good. If you want to see how its done, just watch Schafer. He’s go the right stuff ’cause he was raised right. He’ll fight back and be the better for it. Be gald he’s with the Braves instead of the Yanks, Red Sox. Please, leave Turner and Fonda out of the mix; Schafer is in a different class. He hasn’t been handed anything…he’s earned it all.
Patrick
June 3rd, 2009
8:11 am
Hey..David Justice even got sent down..look at his career..this may be the start of a good thing
The Anti-Vick
June 3rd, 2009
8:13 am
At least Jordan Schafer isn’t running an illegal interstate gambling operation while brutalizing defenseless animals , knowingly spreading STDs to unsuspecting women (or men) and/or fertilizing numerous illegitimate kidz who will never know him as a father.
Good Luck, Jordan!
McCann Fan
June 3rd, 2009
8:17 am
What a great game last night! I normally try avoid the negativity, but I can’t help but think that we would not have pulled that one off had Schafer and his strikeouts been in the game.
He is going to end up a fine player, just not right now. How many all-star players are there out there that don’t get their break until their mid to late 20’s? Tons. They learn and grow in the minors and come up when they are ready — not when they have potential to be ready.
Here’s looking at him starting center field next year or in 2011. Good luck kid!
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » The Braves do the right thing for Schafer (and themselves)
June 3rd, 2009
8:20 am
[...] Mark Bradley | ajc.com – [...]
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
8:24 am
I’d say Jason Heyward is a tad more promising than Gregor Blanco. But the Braves really don’t want to rush him.
Bruce
June 3rd, 2009
8:31 am
This kid is a ball player. He will come around. There’s nothing wrong with keeping him in the oven another year until he is fully cooked.
I support the Braves decision to do what they did; it was the right thing to do.
Jabo
June 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
How about this .. HawkDawg .. you suck. Get a life.
shawn
June 3rd, 2009
8:38 am
I think the Braves did the right thing. It was painful to watch what Jordan has been going thru. Right now I would have been happy with A. Jones in CF but we couldnt sign him. Or Griffey. Or Dunn. Our outfield needs some help. Good to see Anderson finally helping with some clutch hits. J. Pierre of the Dodgers would be a great addition. Maybe we can trade the pitcher from Japan (he is not good).
Chris
June 3rd, 2009
8:51 am
Wow, the article didn’t even mention the sport Vick plays (played?), let alone his name, and someone still feels the need to bring him up. For Pete’s (and Skip’s) sake, let it go.
Sending Schafer down was absolutely the right thing to do. He was obviously in over his head at the plate and needs another year or so to get things right. I have full faith that he will come around and be a tremendous talent in center for the Braves when his time is right. His defense has been superb, at least from what I’ve seen, so if he can get his act together at the plate, he’ll be fine.
Mac
June 3rd, 2009
8:55 am
Hindsight is 20-20, but it’s tough to see in the dark. Wrenn must’ve had his head in his … when he shipped Josh Anderson off too soon.
gb
June 3rd, 2009
8:57 am
Let’s not forget we traded a solid major league centerfielder with speed before the season knowing only Blanco was down on the farm if Jordan failed. This was the biggest mistake Wren has made yet!
RC Cola and a Moon Pie
June 3rd, 2009
9:00 am
i posted that this move needed to be done here a month ago. not that i don’t believe JS has what it takes, he just definitely needs more time for his offensive development. I do love seeing him glide to the ball in CF – but I think the Braves can take the defensive gamble to get just a bit more pop in the lineup.
Outhouse
June 3rd, 2009
9:02 am
He’s terrible!!! Wait! One more hit in ten at bats and he’s in the running for rookie on the year and the fans are going crazy. The Braves have done the right thing, if he’s not ready let him develop and get ready.
Justafan
June 3rd, 2009
9:10 am
Blanco is just that a Blank. 7 weeks of Spring Training does not make a major leaguer. Jordon was not ready and our great mgr. and Wren should have known that. How many years are we going to have the same problems?
jim feely
June 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
now the next move is to get rid of Pendelton. Name one hitter he has helped. maybe Leo should return as well.
You are right
June 3rd, 2009
9:23 am
Schafer is not Vick. He is not black. He did not grow up in a poor neighborhood surrounded by people who pretended to be his friends and continue to give him horrible advice. There’s two sides to every person. Vick isn’t all bad. I don’t understand people who used to love him and choose now to mercilessly throw him under the bus. It’s all been said before… he’s served his time. Vick is a person, he makes mistakes. Let it go.
David
June 3rd, 2009
9:23 am
Now with Hanson tearing it up, Glavine healthy and Medlin pitching well, they have a MAJOR decision to make. Which direction to go? You can keep down Hanson for a while longer and possibly send Medlin back, but you can’t do anything with Kawakami, you have to give him time. One thing they can’t do is wait and lose too many games and not be able to catch back up.
They could trade Jo Jo (somebody will want a left handed arm, possibly out of the pen) and Kelly Johnson or Matt Diaz or even Javier for a big stick.
They could have Medlin, Jair and Hanson as the future and then Lowe and Hudson for next year. Put that with a big stick, hopefully one of the kids (Freddie or Heyward comes up next year) and Schafer becomes a better hitter and leadoff man….that is a formidable team.
BT
June 3rd, 2009
9:25 am
Man Mark, great job. How many blogs do you crank out each week.
The Braves did Schafer a disservice by bringing him up without any AAA experience and only a short success in AA. Lot of great players got sent down their first year Mantle etc. Schafer will come back a much better player.
Justafan
June 3rd, 2009
9:27 am
jim feely, add Pat Corrales to that list and Ned Yost as mgr.
Bamafan
June 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
I have been watching the Braves AAA team on CSS and they don’t have many players who could help the Atlanta Braves right know. Pitching is the only thing that the G-Braves have and Jordan really needs help with his swing. The Braves needs to trade for a center fielder and hope Blanco can hit above 204!!
David
June 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
I thought I was the only one to figure out the slide of the Braves.
Bill, there is someone in Atlanta that knows more than me. Me and you might be the only 2 guys that know why the Braves have crashed for the last 4 years. Nice job of stating it in a short paragraph. Now let’s let Bobby Cox, Frank Wren, and John tell us this is not true.
PMC
June 3rd, 2009
9:33 am
It is a good thing, he will find his stroke back in Triple A without being so much in the limelight. It’s what he needs a break… even if he’s upset about being sent down. He’s a better hitter than he’s shown. Major League pitching is tough. Unfortunately they chose not to do this with Francouer last year when he suffered similarly.
Deadelvis
June 3rd, 2009
9:34 am
Why does Chipper have to be the player coach? Why do we keep Terry Pendleton???
Even when Frenchie was hitting this year it was at the start of the season after sending the summer with the Texas Rangers hitting coach. That right there says so much no one is saying. I always hear Chipper’s helping B-Mac – Chipper’s mentoring so and so. What the hell does Terry do or is he that bad that they don’t want him helping anyone. Sometimes the change needs to happen at the top and it is time for Terry to go – Team has no offense – get rid of the pitching coach- seems simple. If it is just that he is the future coach of the Braves let him coach in the minors until Bobby’s done but get him out of the dugout.
Justice for all
June 3rd, 2009
9:38 am
Yes Schafer needs AAA Gwinnett but Blanco is not the answer. Go out and find a good centerfielder who can hit. We need that one big bat and we need a centerfielder. Get one and lets move on. Schafer can come up again in a coupld of years when hes really ready. Right now we need that one player and its not Blanco.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 3rd, 2009
9:39 am
Let’s see, Schafer’s lack of success is the fault of Frank Wren? No, wait its Bobby Cox? No, it has to be Terry Pendleton? No, no, silly, it’s Chipper Jones’ fault…How about this? The kid was given a chance and he wasn’t ready. Not the first rook to struggle and won’t be the last.
The two things Wren did wrong was hoping Francoeur would bounce back and not signing another proven outfielder (like Garrett Anderson) to get us through this year until the kids are ready.
Say what you want but I’ve yet to hear of a hitting coach getting credit for anything — even the great Rod Carew was not immune to criticsm as a hitting coach with the then California Angels. You can get rid of Pendleton and find somebody else but won’t make a bit of difference if a player doesn’t translate the batting cage to the batters box (see Brad Komminsk) or is not a student of the game to begin with (see Jeff Francoeur).
o-me
June 3rd, 2009
9:43 am
all I’m saying is…..open your eyes and clean your ears.
MiltonDawg
June 3rd, 2009
9:46 am
It was way overdue, glad to see Wren give the guy a shot, but now is not the time for Schafer. Hope he can find his swing in Gwinnett. On a side note, maybe we should change his # to 50. 50 games susp last year, 50 game tryout in the bigs before being sent down.
JD
June 3rd, 2009
9:46 am
Schafer will get things figured out and be back in Atlanta before the end of the season. Bigger concern, is our hitting coach. As a player thought the world of TP, but as a coach not so much. We have players working in the off season with Rudy Jaramillo and anyone else that can help them, just not their own coach. That speaks volumes!!!
David
June 3rd, 2009
9:47 am
Josh Anderson is NOT the answer and we didn’t ship him off too soon. He is a decent, not great hitter and we needed to trade him for Vaz. He is not a future big time player like Schafer. Schafer hasn’t been good and was brought up too soon but he is the future.
longtimefan
June 3rd, 2009
9:49 am
At least he went down swinging!!!! Hey, didn’t the Braves trade away Mark Texiria not long ago??
Bob Horner
June 3rd, 2009
9:50 am
Don’t forget, they brought him up from AA, without really doing any time in AAA — Give the kid a little time. And no Hawkdawg Doofus, he doesn’t suck. He has a killer swing, and once he starts making contact you’ll be singing his praise like everyone else… moron.
Deadelvis
June 3rd, 2009
9:53 am
Tex was traded because he was not going to sign with the Braves at year end and it better to get something for him rather then nothing before he left.
Baba O'Riley
June 3rd, 2009
9:58 am
Anderson got traded for Vaz? Anderson is servicable and would have been a better option that JS or GB.
Supes
June 3rd, 2009
9:59 am
Mark,
Schafer should have started the season at AAA to begin with. That was the problem all along. Josh Anderson should have been the starting CF (just how much stock can you put into Spring Training?)
Did you notice Blanco’s best attempt to simulate Jordan being there last night? Didn’t get a hit and K’d a couple of times to boot. You basically swapped one struggling player for another.
Unless Anderson and Jeff F. start to hit in the clutch and with power (like last night), this current Braves team is doomed to fail.
Meanwhile…Adam Dunn and his 16HR await in D.C.
Kentavo
June 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
Jason Heyward got sent down to Danville – what’s the story there, Mark?
MLH
June 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
jim feely –
I can name two. Escobar and McCann
bali
June 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
thanks for a good article of the schafer situation. I hope he makes it back.I wish the Braves had not rushed him to the majors. It seems that every year there is a player who cant miss making it to the big show misses. Hate it.
61 year Braves Fan
June 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
SHOULD HAVE SENT SHAFER TO DOUBLE A MISSISSIPPI. A FULL SEASON THERE WOULD
BE BETTER THAN AT GWINNETT.
CoastalDawg
June 3rd, 2009
10:12 am
Francoeur isn’t a student of the game? Where in the world did you get THAT? He’s probably more of a student than anyone else on the team because he realizes his struggle and problems at the plate. On his “day off” (translated into let’s try someone else today) he spent the morning in the BATTING CAGE. He HAS the potential but for some reason seems to get desperate when he goes a few at bats and doesn’t get a hit; he has to establish within his own mind and spirit that he CAN do it, he HAS done it, and “it” hasn’t gone away. Aside from that though, Texiera was a great hope for the Braves but guess what, Wren traded him for a first baseman that has moments but has been inconsistent the whole times he’s been in Atlanta. Although Kelly Johnson has hit moments at the plate how many games has he probably cost the Braves with his lack of attention and miscues as a second baseman? Same with Escobar, he plays his position way too casually often and doesn’t make plays that a little leaguer might make. I don’t think Frank Wren has proven himself at all in his short tenure with the Braves, missing out on some big name players that could have helped the team and letting others get away while he was dallying with the big names. Even his send down of Francoeur last season was ill timed and not handled well –also have to fault Francoeur with the way he reacted. Bottom line is this: the Braves have the players but do they have the coaches and managers that can “think” through the game with the best players in the field each game. By the way, who KNOWS if Texiera would have signed with the Braves again? My feeling is that he would have and supposedly money isn’t a problem with the new owners – that’s another deal in which Wren jumped the gun and sold him off too cheaply. Back to the question at hand: Schafer is a good player that should do well @ Gwinnett and find his way back down the road to Atlanta soon.
steve
June 3rd, 2009
10:15 am
Blanco is a good player who has did not have a good spring or start of the AAA season. But his numbers have climbed. Blanco may never be an all-star, but he is a good player. He is good in the field, has an excellent eye at the plate, and usually puts the ball in play. On top of all of that, he has something that the Braves severely lack – speed. Let’s give him a chance.
Rontavious Jefferson Bradleys
June 3rd, 2009
10:18 am
What about Frechy? One good game in 30 dos not make him any better than Schafrer. I say hire Julio Franco to teach hitting. Let him spend some time with Frechy and with Schafer and get them ready for the playoffs. Of course Bobby will probably have Lockhart back for the playoffs. Need to get him a few starts at the beginning of the series.
MightyQuinn
June 3rd, 2009
10:20 am
Been out of the loop for about 10 days while on the road with a dead computer. I was wondering if the Braves might have been showcasing Medlin for trade possibilities. Any news/rumors regarding that that I missed while computer-less?
o-me
June 3rd, 2009
10:21 am
Steve..he had a chance last year and failed.
Ryno
June 3rd, 2009
10:26 am
Mr. Bradley – It would be interesting to hear if the Schafer situation impacts how Bobby and Frank Wren deal with younger players that have phenominal stats at Spring Traning.
I think there is something to be said for players earning a spot on the team but it simply hasn’t translated yet.
GT81
June 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
Schafer has one swing speed for all counts and all situations–100% swing as hard as he can. Yet, he isn’t even a power hitter–what’s wrong with this picture? I don’t see how going to AAA is going to change that. The major league pitchers have got his number, as they have Frenchy’s, and he’s human out-making machine. RISP, 2 outs, late and tight–swing as hard as you can and miss the ball by a foot. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see this guy as a major league hitter.
o-me
June 3rd, 2009
10:28 am
MLH…MaC’s dad is his hitting coach, usually don’t need one. Esco has been getting tips from chipper. name two more?
Dave in Buford
June 3rd, 2009
10:30 am
It was absolutely time, and if he starts hitting, bring him back up … that’s how it works and is the rule rather than the exception. All you have to do is bring up the career stats for most top flight players and you see them splitting time between the minors and majors.
I have to admit, though, that I can’t help but be reminded of another can’t miss prospect years ago named Brad Komminsk who came to the bigs and also looked lost almost immediately.
Francoeur frankly scares me … I tend to agree with Furman, though … give him more time. We need more than just one more bat this season, so giving him this year to work it out isn’t going to lose the Braves anything.
The Doktor
June 3rd, 2009
10:37 am
The tools are all there, this kid is a winner. He just needs to stay within himself and continue to learn. He has nothing to be ashamed of, he just can’t “catch up to the pitching” at the major league level and adjust… right now. So let him go get some more seasoninig, build the confidence required and then bring him back up – all in it’s own time. He’ll be OK, it’s some of the swell people who post here that you sort of get ‘concerned’ about. Take a deep breath folks, life goes on no matter what… sheez…
o-me
June 3rd, 2009
10:37 am
isn’t going to lose the Braves anything!?!?!? Until last night he was killing us…wake-up.
Rufus
June 3rd, 2009
10:38 am
That’s the way things go in Baseball, one day you’re on top, next day, well, try to bounce back, with more determination.
He has got to learn how to get through this, if not, he doesn’t belong in the big leagues or in any other professional sports.
Yes, the Braves were, and are more than fair to this kid.
Dave in Buford
June 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
I did … about a month ago. This team is no better than .500 and will stay that way.
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
I laughed at that one, MiltonDawg.
MLH
June 3rd, 2009
10:40 am
O-Me –
If Mac’s dad is his hitting coach, then why was his numbers sub-par in the minor leagues, then gets to the big leagues and they are phenomenal. And Escobar getting tips from Chipper? If that is the case, then why don’t the whole team get tips from Chipper?
I’m not trying to defend TP, but you have to give credit where credit is due.
Yogi
June 3rd, 2009
10:55 am
Wren needs to be held accountable for letting Josh Anderson go for nothing. With Jordan having no previous experience above AA, its not like this is a surprise. Now, we’re left with a CF who will probably hit for a slightly higher average, with fewer strikeouts, but will continue the Braves tradition of anemic hitting OFs with low SP and OPS. Blanco’s defense is also not very good, and he has poor baseball instincts. Anderson sure looks good right now, or AJ for that matter.
o-me
June 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
most players do ask chipper…Mac, I can’t say except he works at it very hard. I’d love to give TP credit but its hard.
MLH
June 3rd, 2009
11:04 am
Well you can’t only point out the failures, you have to look at the successes as well.
tashunka
June 3rd, 2009
11:05 am
It was dumb to move Josh Anderson. Shafer needs a little more AAA experience. Now without Anderson we have that never has been, Blanco minding center field. When se shipped out Anderson this was my worse fear. Blanco: time to turn off the television.
hmmm...
June 3rd, 2009
11:06 am
Fire TP. move frenchy to center for the rest of the season and bring in holliday. i hear bonds is cheap.
Gravy Train
June 3rd, 2009
11:07 am
The bad ownership point is valid. So think of this: The owners restrict the team budget. Frank and Bobby have to work within that frame. They have to find a way to win with what they’ve got. Probably, Blanco is not a All-Star, right? But Blanco is an upgrade if he can hit above .250 and get on base at a higher clip than Jordan. We don’t need a power hitter. We need a guy who enables the small ball game.
I have a feeling that with this group of owners, what we see is what we get. I don’t see them bringing in a big bat without dumping several prospects in the process. Then the owners will not resign them. Just look at how Wren handled the Teixeira fiasco.
Sicem
June 3rd, 2009
11:15 am
Schafer is off steroids now and his numbers reflect it. I dont know if he will be back. I hope I am wrong but without the HGH he looks like a skinny unskilled worse than average ballplayer.
Harkle
June 3rd, 2009
11:18 am
I was thinking the same thing Mighty Quinn mentioned. With so much pitching in the wings, they might be showcasing Medlin.
Turtsnap
June 3rd, 2009
11:19 am
Great article Mark, I never knew that about the “Say Hey” kid. Interesting.
One never knows if the fast track to stardom ruined A. Jones as well. he appears to be making a minor comeback this year, but one will always wonder.
Glad the Braves sent Jordan down. The kid has potential! Also glad they didn’t compound the mistake by calling up Heyward. Blanco will be a decent stop gap. Still looking for a big trade coming down the pike!
Don’t know if anyone else caught the Braves telecast last night, but Chip and Joe pointed out a startling stat. Mark, maybe you could bring it to light here, because I can’t remember the number, but they detailed the contrast on the Braves record this year when they score 4 or more runs as to when they score 3 or less. The scariest part is that the Braves have scored 3 or fewer in 24 of their games so far. OUCH!!!!
Dawg A
June 3rd, 2009
11:27 am
What concerns me is why did it take so long for Wren and Cox to figure this out? Everyone but the two that matters had it figured out a long time ago. I would love for you to do a blog on what the readers think about the future of Cox as manager. You might be surprised with the negative feelings….
MiltonDawg
June 3rd, 2009
11:35 am
Thanks MB, i try to be witty. I’m sure Cox/Wren gave enough chances for Schafer to get it together. Is this game, it is what it is. We’re result driven fans.
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
11:37 am
Thanks, TurtSnap. I don’t think Andruw Jones was rushed. He struggled periodically, but he tended to come out of it, and he was pretty good right off the bat. (Game 1 of the 1996 World Series — I’m sure you recall.)
Miroslav Slobodan
June 3rd, 2009
11:42 am
Mike Schmidt hit around .200 his first year. he had twice as many strikeouts (136) as hits (72).
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
12:01 pm
Give Schafer a break he is 22 for sake and trying to play the hardest game at the professional level. He will be back by the end of the year and is the future in CF.
Once Infante is back make him the everyday 2B and move Kelly back to LF full time.
Lastly, hire a new hitting coach please.
Ace
June 3rd, 2009
12:02 pm
Maybe I’m beating a dead horse here, but gotta ask: How’s Josh Anderson doing in Detroit anyway? That decision’s looking worse and worse isn’t it?
Marti Hernandez Rojas
June 3rd, 2009
12:07 pm
Josh Anderson was not traded for Vazquez. Vaz came from the White Sox. Anderson went to Detroit. Genius.
Outside Robber
June 3rd, 2009
12:10 pm
Nicely written article, Mark. I wonder how much of Schafer’s problems stemmed from a lack of confidence, that is, more a mental issue than lack of physical skills?
Braves73
June 3rd, 2009
12:12 pm
Michael Smith – I agree that if Gregor Blanco is our next best option to replace Schafer, then the Braves farm system is not what it used to be.
On another note, Schafer was lost at the plate, refused to shorten up his swing, and as Chipper stated “needed to have a game plan for each at bat”. I think that can probably be said for all young players in the bigs. The successful ones have a plan before the come to the plate and adjust accordingly. I have to admit that TP hasn’t been able to nuture some the young guys and his approach needs some “tinkering”. He is not getting the very best out of our rookies and is only efficient with the vets.
I am not thrilled with Blanco, but who else could the Braves have brought up? Blanco is a small upgrade to Schafer, but he wasn’t tearing up triple A (and has already been given a decent opportunity to prove his wares). I believe the Braves should strongly consider moving Frenchy to center, keep Anderson in left, and platoon Blanco (sparingly) with Diaz.
Baba O'Riley
June 3rd, 2009
12:18 pm
Josh Anderson’s currently has 98 ABs in 39 games. He has struck out 13 times. He’s hitting .265 and getting on base at .308 with 10 SB.
Sicem
June 3rd, 2009
12:41 pm
Braves73 your outfield suggestion looks like the best the Braves can do at this point.
Drez
June 3rd, 2009
1:01 pm
90% of you are ignorant when it comes to baseball. I have to read through 10 idiotic comments before I get to 1 rational comment from someone who actually has a clue.
Pendleton can tell Frenchy to stop swinging at the first picth he sees after the pitcher has just walked 2 guys, but he can’t make him stop. Nor can he force Jordan to cut down on his swing with 2 strikes and just try to put the ball in play. A hitting coach’s job is to work with hitters and give them advice on how to approach their at-bats, or correct bad habits. But once they’re in the BOX the hitter is going to do what he wants to do. Stop blaming TP for Frenchy’s refusal to be patient at the plate and work the count. Also, every team have players that get their hitting advice from other sources besides the team’s hitting coach.
Also, is it just a coincidence that Frenchy’s power numbers have really declined since MLB drug testing has gone into full effect? So has Andruw’s numbers. Not to mention that little midget 2nd baseman Giles. Looks like the Braves had a few juicers too.
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
1:01 pm
If a guy’s talented enough to make it to the bigs — and Schafer was, and is — his problems aren’t physical.
Bootlegger
June 3rd, 2009
1:11 pm
HAd to be done, Braves really did not have a choice. The only other option would have been to bench him, but that would not have helped his development. It will not be a quick fix in AAA as the pitching in Gwinnett’s division is some of the best in the minors with a lot of top prospects throwing in the IL right now.
FIRE COX!!!
June 3rd, 2009
1:12 pm
Good trade getting rid of Josh Anderson,,Bobby should have been fired 10 years ago…He would have been gone a long time ago in NY or LA.
JOHNNY HARRIS
June 3rd, 2009
1:22 pm
MR BRADLEY, WHY DONT YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO ASK MR WREN IF HE NOW THINKS IT WAS WISE TO LET JOSH ANDERSON GO??
Ernest
June 3rd, 2009
1:27 pm
Count me among those that thought the Braves were rushing Schafer. Many of the ‘blog GMs’ fell in love with him simply based on spring league games. I don’t believe this was the year the Braves planned to make the World Series so they could allowed Schafer more seasoning in the minors, to hone his skills. Add to that, he did not provide the speed on the basepaths that would have been helpful.
Hindsight is 20-20 but we should have kept Josh Anderson and stuck with the plan to develop players in the minors. Let’s hope the Braves don’t make the same mistake and rush Hanson to the majors.
David
June 3rd, 2009
1:31 pm
My bad, I was getting it mixed up. I wouldn’t have traded him but he is NOT the future and Wrne guessed Schafer is. They were worried about him getting taken in waivers so they decided to get something for him. Would he have helped us, yes possibly in the short run. But they made a guess and I still think Schafer will be the better player.
GT
June 3rd, 2009
1:31 pm
It seems the foreign players mature faster. Schafer came in last year after a drug suspension which makes you wonder if he was as good as he was advertised, but he had a good spring assuming without the drugs, I think it is a maturing problem. Hope so we need a center fielder and then we might have enough. I wonder if JF was real last night or lucky. If we have him back we really are set.
David
June 3rd, 2009
1:39 pm
My BIGGEST issue with the Braves the last couple of years is the fact they have many players that come up through the minors and quickly but once they get to the pros, they seem to not continue to develop. Since Andruw came up they haven’t really developed any big time player or all-star. Mac is the exception but he was already ready from Day 1.
KJ, Langerhans, Marte, Wes (forget his last name), Frenchy, Blanco, Jo Jo, Thorman, Chuck James….
I did forget Yunel, he seems to be progressing. And Furcal was good but still not a BIG time player.
Whatever happened to Eric Campbell?
JD
June 3rd, 2009
1:42 pm
I don’t know why some of you apparantly regard Josh Anderson as the second coming of Willie Mays, but the man’s hitting .265 with Detroit. Schafer has more extra base hits and runs scored than him too.
I can recall back in March and April when everyone was clamoring for Schafer to make the team. He hit in spring training. We knew his potential. With 4 outfielders already, that left no room for Anderson. It made all the sense in the world to trade Josh.
Wes
June 3rd, 2009
1:45 pm
Jeff Francoeur is a right fielder. He has the best arm on the field with limited range so he stays where he is.
As for the Braves lack of talent in the minors, the talent is there its just young. You would never bring up Jason Heyward from High A, or Gorkys Hernandez from AA.
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
1:45 pm
Just looked it up myself, JD. Josh Anderson is batting .265 with five extra-base hits and no home runs. He has 10 RBI. I don’t know that he’d have been the answer, either.
Then again, .265 does trump .204.
Ralph Turner Sr.
June 3rd, 2009
1:47 pm
Andruw Jones would fit in with the Braves and the young guy might learn something.
JD
June 3rd, 2009
1:48 pm
Since Andruw came up they haven’t really developed any big time player or all-star. Mac is the exception but he was already ready from Day 1.
Seriously? McCann was hitting like, .260 when he was called up. Don’t know what you have against Yunel and Furcal either….they’re doing quite well. And I think Kelly and Francoeur will surprise us soon. Although I seem to be their only fan left (except for Francoeur…I’ve seen a few people jump back on his bandwagon after last night)
Doug
June 3rd, 2009
1:50 pm
Did Kelly Johnson play outfield in the minors? Would he be more comfortable out there?
JD
June 3rd, 2009
1:53 pm
I don’t know that he’d (Anderson) have been the answer, either.
Oh I don’t either. I’m just tired of seeing everyone act like this was a bigger flop than the Teixeira fiasco. “Trading Josh Anderson was a HUGE mistake” yeah yeah… We all know Schafer has the potential to be an above-average to great major league player. But we also knew that there’s almost always growing pains when reaching the majors. I just didn’t think there’d be this much. Kid’s struck out more than Adam Dunn. Good grief…
Just looked up McCann’s stats – .265 in 48 games at AA when he was called up. Never hit more than 16 HR in a season. Hit 24 in his first full year.
BT
June 3rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Mark Bradley:
If a guy’s talented enough to make it to the bigs — and Schafer was, and is — his problems aren’t physical.
Interesting comment MB. So do you think everyone that comes up and has problems it is all in his head? I am not sure I disagree with the caveat that they all have different levels of talent.
Ernest
June 3rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Mark, remember it is more that just the stats. It is also what JAnderson would have brought to the team, speed at the top of the lineup. That is an element that has been sorely lacking from the Braves this year.
Speaking of stats, his BA has gone down over the past few games due to an 0 for 12 slump his is in. This is his low point over the past two weeks. He does have 10 stolen bases though, which could have helped the Braves.
JD
June 3rd, 2009
2:03 pm
Ernest – If we want to take slumps out of the equation, Schafer’s batting around .667
A. Einstein
June 3rd, 2009
2:13 pm
I wish we could demote all of the politicians in D.C.. It’s obvious that they are not ready for the BIG League either.
Schafer’s response to his re-assignment will indicate whether he has the mental toughness to succeed in the Major League.
Mark Bradley
June 3rd, 2009
2:22 pm
You’re right about the steals, Ernest. Ten stolen bases would just about double the Braves’ total.
Doug
June 3rd, 2009
2:24 pm
I think the Braves would have won 4 or 5 more games ast this point with Josh in the lineup. To me, he would have been a bridge to Jordan perhaps later this year or next year. I have seen the Braves destroy some young talent over the years by dropping the full load on them too early. Shafer missed 50 games at AA and never played AAA. No matter what happens in spring training, it should ba an iron-clad rule to avoid doing that to young players,