Dan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, ‘Ugh’
All I'm saying: Remember Game 3. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Were Dan Uggla about to turn 29, as opposed to 31, this might be a good deal. Were the Braves based in the American League, as opposed to the ol’ Senior Circuit, this might be a good deal. But he isn’t and they aren’t.
The Braves have agreed to re-up Uggla, who hasn’t yet played a game for them, for $62 million over five years. That’s not nearly Jayson-Werth-to-Washington money, but it’s a huge outlay by Braves standards. It’s also the biggest contract afforded any second baseman in baseball, and Uggla is a second baseman in name only.
Uggla’s real position is batter, and he’s really good there. And yes, the Braves needed a hitting upgrade, right-handed hitting especially. So that part makes sense. What makes less is this: To accommodate Uggla, the Braves are willing to weaken an already-crummy defense by moving Martin Prado, who’s better at second base than Uggla, to left field.
Defense in baseball is a funny thing: Almost nobody notices it until they see it’s not there. Then the wailing begins. The Braves just lost a playoff series because they couldn’t play D, but much of that was a function of circumstance: Chipper Jones and then Prado had gotten hurt and poor Brooks Conrad had to play someplace. If the Braves are still lousy defensively in 2011 and beyond, it won’t be an accident: It will be because they’ve made the considered decision to acquire and then extend Uggla.
I know what you’re saying: “What’s the big deal? If he drives in two runs a game he’ll make up giving one back.” But that’s not quite true. Bad D has an erosive effect on a team’s psyche. Let’s recall that the first moves made by John Schuerholz when he arrived from Kansas City were to sign Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream and Rafael Belliard — not so much for their hitting (although the Braves reaped the bonus of having Pendleton lead the league in batting average) but for their defense. Schuerholz knew the heart of his inherited team had to be its young pitching, and he wanted above all to give his young pitchers a chance.
Even with Uggla, the Braves going forward figure to be better at pitching than hitting. The presence of Uggla at second base (and, by extension, Prado in left) could undermine that pitching. We just saw the Giants win a World Series without hitting much — the Braves outhit outscored San Francisco over 162 games, FYI — because of an ability to pitch, yes, but also because of the capacity to catch.
I understand why the Braves wanted Uggla. They’ll need a batting-order anchor in case the post-surgical Chipper doesn’t return to his 2008 form, and they’re tired of one year rentals. (See Teixeira, Mark. Also Drew, J.D.) That said, signing a player of Uggla’s age to such a contract knowing he really doesn’t have a position is a real reach.
Pitching and defense are supposed to go hand in glove. Uggla’s glove is for ornamental purposes only. There are better ways to spend $62 million.
By Mark Bradley
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344 comments Add your comment
No Crying in Baseball
January 6th, 2011
12:31 pm
The Uggla contract, as well as the contracts for Lowe, Kwakami, and Jones, are just the cost of doing business in today’s sports market. If you want to play you got to pay, “there ain’t no free.” All of you something for nothing guys need to chill out for a while. When any contract is signed there is a risk, sometimes you win sometimes you lose. If you want an established player (30 HR, 100 RBI) then you have to pay for him.
I am sure Uggla’s contract can be dumped in 3 years to the senators, royals or brewers, even if it has to be prorated. There is always value in a player that is under contract for more than a season. We need him now and the $62 mill contract is the cost of keeping him. I hate the one year rentals.
I am sure the net difference between Prado at second and Uggla at second will be negligible, as long as both are in the line up, and hitting, which they will be! If Uggla is a disaster in the field, adjustments can be made, we can always stick him in left. We did it to Chipper.
Dan Uggla / Uggla deal official, press conference at 2:30 p.m. | Sporty Twits
January 6th, 2011
1:00 pm
[...] reach agreement on new contractDetroit Free PressBraves Overreact In Extending Dan UgglaTalking ChopDan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, 'Ugh'Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Examiner.com -USA Today -SB Nation Phillyall 273 news [...]
Mr. Baseball
January 6th, 2011
2:31 pm
Adding Uggla is a positive step, but the reality is, the Braves must purge themselves of past sins before they can truly move forward. The sins of the Band Aids – trading the farm (2 All Stars) to get Texiera for a year and a half when it was a forgone conclusion he would end up with the Yankees. Overpaying for Lowe because you lost on Burnett and giving $40 million to Chipper expecting to get what he was instead of what he is. When these and other sins are repented, then signing Uggla for $62 million will be a non-event – just doing business.
raleighbravefan
January 6th, 2011
3:00 pm
Mr. Baseball – When we resigned Chipper, he had JUST WON A BATTING TITLE! Many other factors entered into that contract, which have been rehashed here ad nausium. Get over it, or at least give it a rest.
Pdog
January 6th, 2011
3:29 pm
Braves have to hope that Uggla can put up solid numbers for the next three years then hope to trade him to an American league team looking for a DH. In three years his contract will not seem crazy the way salaries are climbing and one of the kids in the minors should be ready to play either left or second by then.
SID
January 6th, 2011
4:12 pm
When will the increase in ticket prices be announced????????????????
raleighbravefan
January 6th, 2011
4:24 pm
Mark – I guess you aren’t going to provide any specifics, or even suggestions, about how the $62M could be better spent. Actually, I’m not at all surprised. Are you actually Don from the main blog just posing as a columnist/blogger?
ramblingman
January 6th, 2011
4:52 pm
Okay, so those of you who are getting all bent out of shape because the team signed a player with very good stats to a reasonable contract averaging under $13M for 5 years – here is a question for you.
Have you ever in the past complained that the Braves did not go out and sign a top notch FA? Ever complain about the Braves letting JD and Tex walk? I guess the true question is have the Braves done anything that you approved of? Ever?
baseball, you are twisting history a bit. They gave up a lot but they did not give up the entire farm for Tex. It was certainly not a foregone conclusion at the time he would sign with NY. The team took a gamble, for which they were persecuted by the same people who persecuted them for not taking a gamble at other times.
As to the overpaying for Lowe because they lost on AJ – don’t simplify it down to they paid Lowe just because of losing out on Burnett. There were many factors and one was the desperation level of rebuilding the staff. Burnett contributed but was not the sole factor. Besides, which one would you rather have right now?
As for Chipper – well, he has earned every single penny the Braves ever pay him. Calling it a sin is an opinion and, IMO, a severely wrong one.
BradleyCurse
January 6th, 2011
5:21 pm
Bradley is a true Atlanta sports fan! First he questions the Falcons in the playoffs and now he’s on to the Braves. Hawks and Thrashers fans better watch out .. you’re next!
Lou Vales
January 6th, 2011
5:22 pm
Chipper will ultimately have career ended due to an injury sustained while engaged in coitus.The man was disabled by a batting cage.The man was disabled by a bed in a 5 Star hotel.The man in his 80’s will be going by “Chipper.” He is a joke.
Billy
January 6th, 2011
5:47 pm
Prado will be an upgrade in left field. Both offense and defense. He is an experienced LF’er so it is not as if he has never played there. He has been playing LF in Venezuela for years.
Uggla makes all the routine plays at 2nd and turns the DP with the best of them. Where he accumulates his errors is when he tries to follow through with spectacular, almost impossible diving stops of balls hit and he tries to finish off the play with errant throws when he should put the ball back in his glove. His one flaw is he is not the best at making circus throws.
Craig
January 6th, 2011
7:54 pm
everyone juges his d becouse of one game give it a rest already!
Luv 2 hate me
January 6th, 2011
8:10 pm
Mark you looked like death warmed over when I saw you on TV last week discussing the Falcons (I forget what channel). Try smiling for a change!
MitchC
January 6th, 2011
8:47 pm
Mark.. one other thing.. my friend.
For a guy who just wrote an “accountability score” article, admitting you were 100% wrong about all your predictions in 2010, including the Braves.. don’t you think your position on Uggla is.. a bit. daring.. considering how your previous predictions turned out?
Once again, we can’t have it both ways. We can’t have fans, writers, etc.. clamoring for the Braves to spend money to get the power bat we need, and then.. when we do.. we get Mark Bradley writing articles saying “OMG there are better ways to spend $62 million”. The Braves either spend money for the power hitter to try and produce more homers, and RBI’s.. or they dont..
Uggla is something the Braves haven’t done much of during their successful years, do a trade and sign to a long term contract of a “Middle aged” free agent. What I mean by that is.. we signed Greg Maddux to. at the time.. a large free agent deal when he was 27 years old, and coming off a Cy Young season. Greg was probably the best free agent signing this team ever had. We had him for 11 years, he was 106 games over 500 for us, won three Cys, and a WS.
Then, two years ago.. we sign “Old” Derek Lowe to a large free agent deal when we had some money to spend. Derek gives us 15 wins a year for 2 years, and a 4 ERA. Not Cy Young Maddux, but, 15 wins isnt chicken feed.
I see it that the Braves did the best they could. I dont know if there were that many “younger” free agents out there, who we could have gone after. We couldnt necessarially sign two 15 home run hitters who were cheaper, instead of one 30 home run one, who cost 12 mil a year, because, where would we play them, and where would we bat them in the order?
The problem I have with what you’re saying is this. All of us… fans. Writers! etc, knew we needed a power hitter. Power hitters, 20 to 30 homer guys, dont come cheap now a days. We get one.. who is not old, and who can meet our needs.. for not an astronomical price, considering the markets of what he might get in NY, Philly. LA., and Bradley is writing articles criticizing the Braves for signing a power hitter to a deal that is probably below market value for the offensive production we will get from him.
Do you see my problem with what you’re saying?
Boatdoc
January 6th, 2011
8:54 pm
Jason “ok I have said this before Uggla fielding percentage is better than Prado and Infante case closed”
Although I believe adding Uggla makes the Braves a significantly better team because of his bat, fielding percentage is not the stat that makes the Uggla “case closed”.
Fielding percentages:
Uggla .980 (all at 2B)
Prado .982 overall, .987 at 2B
Infante .981 at 2nd.
Errors last year:
Uggla 18 errors in 745 chances at second
Prado 6 errors in 475 chances at second
By any objective standard, Uggla represents a step down as a defensive second baseman.
But I believe that the combination of Uggla and Prado together in the lineup offensively will more than compensate for the slight degradation of defense at second.
Freddie G
January 6th, 2011
9:34 pm
It is good to see Liberty willing to spend some money, and yes it is well deserved for a player of Uggla’s production. As stated previously by several others and by me in past post’s Chipper’s contract is of most concern, considering his injury record over the last 5 years, his age and his declining production. We love Chipper, but The last extension was waaay too generous.
Furman Bitcher
January 6th, 2011
9:47 pm
Folks Chipper & Kawakami come off the books next year and that is 20 million. I think we will be just fine signing players this year and in the future.
Furman Bitcher
January 6th, 2011
9:50 pm
Boatdoc, if Uggla hits 30 dingers I can handle those 18 errors all season long
Geno
January 6th, 2011
10:17 pm
I’m glad the Braves made a deal and got a good bat. Let’s keep moving forward. Quit whining.
Boatdoc
January 6th, 2011
10:27 pm
Furman – as per my previous post regarding Wins Above Replacement, statistically Uggla would have been good for one win more than Prado LAST year – when Martin more than earned his All-Star selection.
I can’t WAIT to see what Uggla can do hitting surrounded by Prado and Heyward and Chipper and McCann instead of Coghlan, Maybin, Cantu, etc, not to mention hitting at The Ted in front of enthusiastic fans 2 hours from his home, instead of at that teal monstrosity in front of 800 apathetic seat warmers.
I won’t be surprised to see Uggla have a Davey Johnsonesque 40 + HR season. If that happens the Braves may have 4 players score 100 runs.
The big questions are still CF and Chipper’s health. Wouldn’t we love to see Nate hit .270 with 40 doubles and 20 HR, and Chipper play 130 games with an OBP of .400? If that happens I don’t give a hoot about the Phillies rotation.
Boatdoc
January 6th, 2011
10:33 pm
Here’s a question for anyone who wants to answer:
Freddie Freeman has only a handful of MLB at-bats, but there is essentially no “back-up plan” at first base.
Here’s the question: What kind of year does Freddie have to have to be considered a success? If his stats are less than the Glaus/Lee/everybody-else-amalgamation at first last year – is that a failure?
Boatdoc
January 6th, 2011
11:01 pm
Mitch: I totally agree with Uggla’s value relative to “the market”.
Uggla compares favorably with Jayson Werth or Adam Dunn statistically:
Uggla .287 33 HR 105 RBI
Werth .296 27 HR 82 RBI
Dunn .260 38 HR 108 RBI
Yet the Braves get Uggla for 62 million for 5 years: 12.4 million a year at age 30, while Werth, one year older, is getting 126 million for SEVEN years – 18 million per year, and Dunn just signed for 56 million for four years – 14 million per year.
Again: defensively Uggla may not be Joe Morgan (who is?) but offensively he gives us the kind of production that is rare for anyone in MLB, but especially rare for a middle infielder. Uggla’s slugging percentage last year was .508: higher than Ryan Howard (.505) or Prince Fielder (.471) Rather than a “liability” Mr. Uggla appears to me a “bargain.”
Bobby's Cox
January 7th, 2011
1:20 am
His contract, for a 30-HR guy really isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s a bargain. If his D really sucks that bad, or his range deteriorates around 35 y/o, they could trade him to the AL, in which 30+ bombs for a DH at $12 per season would be a bargain. Overall, good contract. Sucks that Martin has to play LF. Here’s hoping for Chipper to break out again, or retire early…
Bobby's Cox
January 7th, 2011
1:23 am
Boatdoc,
There is a backup at 1B. His name is Eric Hinske. Prado can also play 1B, in which case you’d move Schafer or Matt Young to CF, & McLouth to LF.
The Braves as currently constructed, have the depth to cover numerous injury/non-performance scenarios
puppydawg
January 7th, 2011
7:31 am
Good grief, Bradley. Who pissed in your corn flakes? When Uggla is the starting second baseman for the NL All-Star Team, you’ll be eating crow. That is, unless you employ the old journalistic trick of having amnesia and claim that you knew all along that this was a good deal for the Braves. BTW, have you ever worn a uniform?
Steve
January 7th, 2011
9:09 am
I am a huge believer in defense, so I partially agree with this, but let’s look at it from all sides.
You can have the best defense in the world, but other teams are STILL going to score 3-4 runs a game against you on average at the least. You have to be able to score at least 4-5 to win consistently. Uggla/Prado is such a huge improvement over Diaz/Cabrera/Prado on offense it is not even measuable. Teams fear Uggla at all times, not just when he is rolling like MattyD. Simply fact is that we could not have expected Infante to continue to hit like last year. We really can’t be sure Prado will, though his minor league numbers suggest he could. Uggla is a known commodity with 5 years of ridiculous numbers. If Chipper goes down,
Safety net topic. Uggla is also a HUGE safety net if Chipper gets hurt again. If we have to move someone to third it would have been Prado anyway, only instead of having to fill two holes if that happens (2B and OF) we only have to fill one. The hope is that Chipper is ready to go by spring training and plays lights out all year long, but if he does get hurt we still have a legitimate right handed power bat in the lineup. Not only that, if Chipper is able to go during spring, we should get time to evaluate McLouth and possibly Shafer before deciding on what to do next. We reallyl had no one left to evaluate at middle infield … we know we have nothing close to major league waiting in the minors at those positions. Closest we have is two yars away from what I have seen/heard.
Now from the defense side. When is the last time you saw Uggla boot a game away against the Braves? When was the last time you saw him not be able to get to a ball that you know he cost the team a game due to his limited range? Come on people, the difference between an average fielder (Infante/Prado) and Uggla has so very little impact. Uggla can turn double plays without any problems and has a accurate arm that is probabyl around average in strength. Slow and steady is better than flash and implode. Just ask Glaus how much more he liked the slow and steady A-Gon over flash and implode of Escobar. Per a couple of the defensive stat programs, Uggla might get to one less ball every 6 games or so over Prado (who wasn’t exactly a defensive dynamo folks). Yes, maybe 1 out of every 3 of those scores. Yes, maybe one out of every 3 that scores has a significant impact on the game. That 27 fewer chances, roughly 9 runs, roughly 3 games. The numbers against the league average are slightly worse, making it 4 games affected. If you seriously think Uggla’s bat doesn’t far outweigh that, then you don’t know baseball.
Uggla increases the offense FAR more than he hurts the defense. His production will help EVERYONE else in the lineup, similar to having Chipper in there. He will likely be batting behind Chipper and McCann against righties, and probably ahead of McCann against lefties. That means a huge amount of protection for those guys. Protection they really haven’t had since Andruw’s big season and Tex being here. My guess is he alters 20-25 games offensively directly. He is a HUGE run producer.
I love the contract despite the age and the defense. Look at it this way .. if he doesn’t pan out on defense and we want to trade him .. he would be one of the cheapest DH’s with that kind of production. AL teams would give up far more than we did to get him now that he is signed to what amounts to be a cheap contract for a hitter with his numbers. There is very little negative in the signign of Dan Uggla. The intangles are also ridiculous, as the guy is hard nose player who never quits. He is a better hitting, more powerful version of Matt Diaz. That kind of attitude is infectious, and it might actually resultin the team be better defensively just from being ‘in the game’ more .. though just getting rid of Escobar eliminated most of the lazy attitude this team had.
Steve
January 7th, 2011
10:12 am
Gotta hand it to MB though. He started yet anotehr blog where 90% of the posters are completely against him, and the number of posts is soaring.
He has some valid points, but I think he is too focused on the negative side. Defense is important but extremely overvalued by some folks, just like home-runs are by other folks, and OBP is probably the most-overrated stat in the books since a singles hitter can have a high OBP on a team with no one to drive him in and have no significant impact on the game (which is why OBPS or OPS or whatever acronym you choose to use is becoming the standard).
Oh, and stop quoting fielding percentage. It’s about as useless as OBP with no slugging or speed. A second baseman with zero range could have a 1.000 fielding percentage and still hurt his team due to lack of zone coverage. Uggla is not good at either. His fielding percentage is merely adequate and his range is below adequate. Even with that, he is not a tremendous downturn from Prado defensively.
To the person who said Uggla is only a 1 game bonus in total wins over Prado .. you are not thinking it thru. You need to see what Uggla is in game bonus over Infante. Prado is still going to be playing every day (or close). And don’t simply use last years numbers .. do a three year mock up. I am willing to bet you that Uggla is a 10 win improvement over Infante when using a three year window of stats instead of Infante’s outstanding career year. I still love Infante, but he is going to bring in a 6-8 million contract after this year and he just isn’t worth that.
Bobby's Blunders
January 7th, 2011
11:34 am
A player making the slary of a Star Player should be good in all aspects of the game. To pay over 12 million per year to a player who cannot play defense is absurd.
Even more absurd is the fact that the Brave seem to be conting heavily on Chipper who will be making about 15 million and taking up a huge part of the salary budget – when he is just a part time player – is very poor defensively – and despite being a great, great hitter in the past, has not really been productive for two years, and now, of course is coming off serious injures and at 39 is a year older.
They obviously do not have a Centrfielder,their Shortstop is not of major league quality either defenisvely or offensively, and they have an unproven rookie at first base. Thus, in 4 or the 8 position player positions, they have potential significant problems – not even counting the defensive problems with Uggla. Even more significant – what could have been a grat (basically young) starting pitching staff in now questionable past Hudson and Hanson — Medlin is out for the season, JJ has not been dependable/effective since the SHOULDER injury,
Lowe is a year older and who knows. They have some potentially good young talent, but it is unproven. They keep having Pitcher injury after injury, after injury – but still keep the same pitching coach – Is this his fault — who knows.
Bobby's Blunders
January 7th, 2011
11:38 am
Writers keep talking about who is going to “back up” Center Field. Before worrying about who the back up Centerfielder is, it might be best to even have a regular Centerfielder.
Tyler NJ Brave
January 7th, 2011
12:33 pm
Uggla’s defense isn’t as big of an issue when you lay it all out. If you think about it the upgrade of having Freeman at first and Prado in left instead of Glaus and Diaz/HInske, outweighs the second base position going from Prado to Uggla.
T Burns
January 7th, 2011
1:24 pm
If Bradley’s opposed to the move, then by all means count me as one in favor!
Braves_fan_RSD
January 7th, 2011
1:48 pm
Mark,
This has to be one of the most moronic blogs I have ever seen. Not only did you provide no statistical analysis to back up your points, but you can’t even get the names right.
Look at his home and away splits on defense, and if you think that’s just an anomaly look at Hanley Ramirez’s as well. The fact is the Marlins have a terrible playing surface, so its no surprise their defense is terrible there.
I’ll link you to the site that will provide you with this statistical analysis, since you are too lazy or to ignorant to find it yourself.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=3442&position=2B&season=0
Martin Prado is a career -8.4 UZR/150 at 2B while Dan is a -4.5 UZR/150, so Dan has produced better fielding numbers, while playing on a football field. Even looking at their 3 year, Martin has a -10.4 compared to Dan’s at -5.4. By no statistical analysis can you say that Martin Prado is a better fielder, which is why I believe you left stats out of this “rant.”
By the way that non athletic 2nd baseman Uggla also turns the DP better than Prado, +2.2 runs above average for Uggla, and +0.1 for Prado.
This is not meant to down Prado who is a hell of a player, but Bradley did you even look at the stats or did you just let your *** do your talking for you?
The you go on to say 62M can be spent better elsewhere but provide no feedback about what you would do if you were spending the money, easy to throw stones when you have no ideas to be criticized.
All in all a horrible article, horrible read, and gives no informative information.
Charley Maxwell
January 7th, 2011
4:35 pm
I’m a Tigers fan who now lives in Boca Raton and I love baseball. I’m one of those people you actually see in the stands. If as a first time posterI can contribute on Uggla. Won’t comment on his hitting as that speaks for itself. The stadium is actually very friendly from the 3rd base line to about 120 feet off the line but Uggla rarely hits a home run that takes advantage of those dimensions. There will be no falloff in Atlanta until natural aging process kicks in.
As to his fielding, it really is bad. Fielding percentage does not adequately describe the complete lack of range. I mean from left to right and coming in and going back. The man does not get to balls. Surely one of your beat writers could verify that with an anonymous chat with any advance scout in the game. Uggla also has trouble with the turn unless he has plenty of time. What you will notice quickly is how he can have trouble on the easiest of routine plays. He sometimes aims his throws. He really is bad and I have no dog in this fight.
Charley Maxwell
January 7th, 2011
4:44 pm
Forgot to mention that Tigers had an interset in Uggla but they saw him as a left fielder and they have NO second baseman. I’m telling you have your writer talk to scouts. They will talk to accredited people and as long as name is not mentioned they will give you all you want.to know. Football field may account for bad hops but from April through August the choppiness of field would not account for number of balls squeaking through. I don’t know if range factor takes into account a basically all right handed staff.Had one left hander at a time in bullpen and whoever it was, he was rarely used.
D12: Huzzah! Hall of Fame season mercifully drawing to an end | MLB Blitz
January 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
[...] 7. This offseason is officially starting to seem long, because I could have sworn that Dan Uggla and the Atlanta Braves had already reached a contract extension. But apparently not, as the two sides just came to a five-year agreement worth $62 million. [AJC] [...]
Jim Wynn
January 8th, 2011
9:43 pm
Dan Ugglie is nothing but a toy cannon.
Jim Wynn
January 8th, 2011
9:44 pm
Dan Uggla is nothing but a toy cannon.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
January 9th, 2011
6:31 am
If you don’t like it, with your bumbling record, it MUST be a great deal!
Pat
January 10th, 2011
12:38 pm
F-
E-4
January 10th, 2011
4:26 pm
Dan NEVER got over that All Star Game. He made a fool of himself and every once in awhile the spectre of Steve Sax invades his brain.
Bobby's Blunders
January 11th, 2011
10:38 am
Before getting too excited about the Braves, remember that all they need to be good is JUST a Major League quality Centerfielder, Shortstop. Third Baseman, and perhaps First Baseman; and for Medlin (who is at least a year away) and JJ to return to form.
Boatdoc
January 11th, 2011
10:15 pm
E-4: to say Uggla never got over “that All Star Game” is simply a troll statement.
Uggla’s stats:
2008 (The All-Star Year).260/.360/.874/ 32 HR/ 92 RBI
2010 .287/.369/.877/ 33 HR/105 RBI
* For those unfamiliar with the internet use of “troll”: In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.*
Dan Uggla has done just fine since his admittedly disastrous ASG.
Don’t feed the trolls.
Bobby's Blunders
January 12th, 2011
9:01 am
Uggla may not be great defensively, but my bet is that he is far better defenisvely than Chipper is at third and probably as good or better than our Shortstop.
If the rookie first baseman can play defense, then that will give the Braves ONE infielder who can play adequate defense.
Bobby's Blunders
January 12th, 2011
9:04 am
Come to think of it — Do the Braves have even one position player who is good defensively???? Don’t know how Prado will be in Left. Right Field may be OK.