GDT #56, 6/1/14: Braves (Harang) vs. Marlins (Eovaldi), 1:10 EDT

[thethe]

I'm still waiting for the excuse train to come chugging through. All the guy does is make contact. Also love that he hasn't struck out yet in his 18 PA.

Again, I never think he will hit for power but I definitely see 350-370 OBP years in front of him. Just throw that in front of Heyward/Upton/Freeman and I think we really got something. I really do not want Heyward to bat fifth but I'm just not sure where to put him. Would putting three left handed hitters in a row really be that terrible? The traditionalist in me would like to see this:

TLS
Upton (if BJ continues to improve then him if not than Justin)
Freeman
Upton/Gattis
Heyward
Gattis/Simmons
BJ/Simmons
Simmons/Johnson
Johnson

Hope that lineup makes sense. I'm just rambling in my mind.

I just don't know that you can take Freeman out of the three whole so that complicates things. I suppose this is an option:

TLS
Heyward
J-Upt
Freeman
Gattis
BJ
Simmons
Johnson

[Julio3000]

Caught Gattis taking a well-earned break (and getting a tan) after his big hit today.

There are a lot of sad owls on the internet right now.

[Dalyn]

There are a lot of sad owls on the internet right now.

"Dalyn doesn't give a hoot about me now."

[Dalyn]

"Wooohooo"

[Dalyn]

I didn't know Uggla and Ford knew each other. Explains a lot.

[Runnin]

After reading the box score my head almost exploded when I thought that Andrelton had been used to close.

[thewupk]

Lol no he's not.

If anyone needs replaced later it's CF

He's second to last in DRS for 3B. Yes, he's that bad.

[yeezus]

Heyward
TLS
Justin
Freeman
Gattis
BJ
Simmons
CJ

BAM runs
Heyward cannot be moved off leadoff right now.

[thethe]

Heyward
TLS
Justin
Freeman
Gattis
BJ
Simmons
CJ

BAM runs
Heyward cannot be moved off leadoff right now.

Hard to argue against either position but I wouldn't have a problem at all with Heyward still leading off.

[Gary82]

After reading the box score my head almost exploded when I thought that Andrelton had been used to close.

He could do it.

[mossy]

TOMMY. Welp, I deserved a un-approving Chipper after that mistake.

[Julio3000]

I didn't know Uggla and Ford knew each other. Explains a lot.

Why'd you crop Chip out?

[thewupk]

Heyward
TLS
Justin
Freeman
Gattis
BJ
Simmons
CJ

BAM runs
Heyward cannot be moved off leadoff right now.

I agree. Over the last 14 days (not including today) the Braves have scored 61 runs which is the 2nd most in the NL behind the Brewers at 64. And Heyward over that time frame has hit 310/385/448. As Heyward goes in the leadoff spot so does our offense.

[Julio3000]

I agree. Over the last 14 days (not including today) the Braves have scored 61 runs which is the 2nd most in the NL behind the Brewers at 64. And Heyward over that time frame has hit 310/385/448. As Heyward goes in the leadoff spot so does our offense.

+1. Leave him there, with TLS, Justin, and Fred behind him.

[The Chosen One]

I personally would do

TLS
Justin
Heyward
Freeman
Gattis
BJ
CJ
Simmons
Pitcher

Freeman is the classic "clean up" guy. Heyward when on top of his game hitting wise (it seems like he's close to adding the power in addition to the already tremendous OBP he's posted recently) is a great #3 guy for us. Justin can stay in the 2 spot because LaStella will likely get on base slightly around or slightly under the pace Heyward does. Justin is going to bomb homers anyways or get a line single which brings Heyward with men on base with Fred behind him. Slotting Justin in between TLS and JH also breaks up the L-R-L-R thing which I think will put more pressure on LaStella coming to bat with runners on after the pitcher makes an out.

The only other option I'd do is:

TLS
Heyward
Freeman
Justin
Gattis
BJ
CJ
Simmons


I must also say I'm tempted to moving CJ down to 8th because at least Andrelton puts the ball in play around the same rate CJ strikes out (don't know if that's true statistically but just from observing I'd say so).

[zitothebrave]

That last sentence doesn't make much sense. You mean CJ Ks as much as Tron gets a hit? Cause Tron puts the ball in play more than anyone but TLS. Tron walks 4.5% of the time and Ks 9.4% of the time. Meaning about 86% of the time he puts the ball in play. And 86% is >>>>>>>>>>25.6%

[The Chosen One]

I'm saying Tron puts the ball in play a lot... and CJ K's a lot.

So therefore I'd put CJ 8th and move Tron up, because a pitcher pitching around CJ would mean he might actually walk. Tron puts the ball in play which means he might find a hole or walk into a hit. If CJ doesn't make contact, he isn't going to get on base. And we know when he makes contact he isn't going to get a hit unless his BABIP is on the same levels as last year. We know he doesn't walk, and if he's going to K a lot you might as well put him 8th so teams would be FORCED to kind of pitch around him.

What I was saying is that it seems like CJ K's so much, that it's at the same rate Andrelton puts the ball in play which I would prefer over CJ K'ing.

We know Andrelton is difficult to strike out, and he does put the ball in play which means yes he could theoretically hit into a DP but it also means he can bounce one through the hole or make a fielder throw an error since he does usually hustle and has speed down the line.

For someone that has a ton of fire and rah rah, I don't see CJ hustle down the line on most grounders like I do see with Andrelton.

[Julio3000]

CJ is balls right now, really. Swings a ton, hits for ****.

[The Chosen One]

CJ is balls right now, really. Swings a ton, hits for ****.

He was striking out a lot last year too... the only difference I think is BABIP.

Maybe one of our saber guys here can find his contact rate this year vs. last?

[The Chosen One]

Ok so I checked on fan graphs and his Contact % is the same from last year (.1% difference).

There's a 5% increase of him swinging at balls outside the zone.

There's also 4% increase of him swinging at pitches altogether.

2% higher percentage of swinging strikes this year.