Spring Training 2015

[seanyates]

My stance is "what do we have to lose by running Jace out there every day?". I'd much rather watch him than Callaspo.

[nsacpi]

Prado as a 23 year old in the International League: .316/.374/.421 with a 9.3% strikeout rate.

Peterson as a 24 year old in the PCL: .306/.406/.464 with a 16.7% strikeout rate.

As a rough rule applying a 15% haircut to PCL slash hitting stats gives you the equivalent for the International League.

I think the differential in their strikeout rates is of some significance.

One more comp:

La Stella last year as a 25 year old in AAA: .293/.384/.359 with a 7.1% strikeout rate.

[MadduxFanII]

Not as much as Stella!, but I still like him.

That was such a silly trade.

[nsacpi]

My stance is "what do we have to lose by running Jace out there every day?". I'd much rather watch him than Callaspo.

Yeah. I agree it makes more sense to play Jace than Callaspo. Let's find out what we have. He could be Prado-like in outperforming his MLEs from the minors.

[Dalyn]

That was such a silly trade.

It was pretty clear that Fredi didn't like Stella!. I knew he was a goner as soon as Fredi kept his job.

[gilesfan]

Here is a scouting report that talks about his speed:

Peterson was acquired in the Justin Upton deal and the former college football player at McNeese State has a chance to contribute to the Braves in 2015. Peterson was an under-slot bonus sandwich round pick in 2011 and he may not even have a 55 tool, but he makes the most out of what he has. His average or so speed plays up on the bases and in the field; he came up as a shortstop, but fits better at second base and third base, where his defensive tools profile. Peterson doesn’t have huge bat speed, power or even the prettiest mechanics, but he has a good approach at the plate, works counts in his favor and gears his in-game swing for contact over power, with a good approach versus lefties. He would have to really outplay his tools to become an everyday player, but he’s consistently played better than his tools and can contribute at multiple premium positions.

Prado had career minor league numbers of .298/.352/.390 playing in the offensively suppressed leagues the Braves are affiliated with. His minor leagues seasons were also essentially age 19-23

19- Rookie
20- A
21- A+/AA
22- AA/AAA
23- AAA

Peterson played in offensive environments with his seasons being age 21-24

21- A
22- A
23- A+
24 AA/AAA


While he certainly has some patience, his bb% is 12.5%......good, but not at some elite level.

To claim Peterson had much better minor league stats not only isn't true but lacks any sense of context.

[gilesfan]

Yeah. I agree it makes more sense to play Jace than Callaspo. Let's find out what we have. He could be Prado-like in outperforming his MLEs from the minors.

Agreed. We lose nothing.

[zbhargrove]

Prado as a 23 year old in the International League: .316/.374/.421 with a 9.3% strikeout rate.

Peterson as a 24 year old in the PCL: .306/.406/.464 with a 16.7% strikeout rate.

As a rough rule applying a 15% haircut to PCL slash hitting stats gives you the equivalent for the International League.

I think the differential in their strikeout rates is of some significance.

One more comp:

La Stella last year as a 25 year old in AAA: .293/.384/.359 with a 7.1% strikeout rate.

Of course you're also comparing Prado's 395 at-bat season vs. Peterson's 248 at-bat season. Further... that was Prado's second go around at AAA... Peterson has only had those 248 at-bats. Peterson also has more pop than La Stella.

So let's compare Prado to Peterson in both of their first tries at AAA....

Prado: .282/.314/.365 12 BB 28 K in 241 at-bats
Peterson: .306/.406./.464 42 BB 50 K in 248-at bats

I think that is a more fair comparison.

[thethe]

I'm not expecting Prado type production from Peterson. That would make the Upton deal a homerun even without considering anyone else.

[sturg33]

The fact that we're putting any credence into spring stats shows how desperate we are as a fan base. Pitchers are just pumping fastballs in there, or we're facing minor league pitchers.

[Dalyn]

If Jace gets the starting job, I'm more than confident that he'll have a better 2015 season than Prado.

[zbhargrove]

The fact that we're putting any credence into spring stats shows how desperate we are as a fan base. Pitchers are just pumping fastballs in there, or we're facing minor league pitchers.

I guess you missed basically everything that was posted that talked about much more than just spring training.

[thethe]

The fact that we're putting any credence into spring stats shows how desperate we are as a fan base. Pitchers are just pumping fastballs in there, or we're facing minor league pitchers.

Come on man...thats a massive oversimplication as to what is happening on the field.

[nsacpi]

Of course you're also comparing Prado's 395 at-bat season vs. Peterson's 248 at-bat season. Further... that was Prado's second go around at AAA... Peterson has only had those 248 at-bats. Peterson also has more pop than La Stella.

So let's compare Prado to Peterson in both of their first tries at AAA....

Prado: .282/.314/.365 12 BB 28 K in 241 at-bats
Peterson: .306/.406./.464 42 BB 50 K in 248-at bats

I think that is a more fair comparison.

I'm ok with comparing Prado's first go round in AAA with Jace's, but we should also take into account the 2 year age differential. That counts for a lot when making projections.

[zbhargrove]

I'm ok with comparing Prado's first go round in AAA with Jace's, but we should also take into account the 2 year age differential. That counts for a lot when making projections.

Fair point.

[clvclv]

My stance is "what do we have to lose by running Jace out there every day?". I'd much rather watch him than Callaspo.

In trying to read between the lines of Hart's chat with DOB the other day, that decision may have already been made...

"We would prefer to take a guy that we think has a chance to be a big player in our future, that has a lot of talent, a lot of ability. And at some point you’ve got to break these guys in. At some point you’ve got to give them that opportunity to go to the next step in their career."

[MadduxFanII]

"We would prefer to take a guy that we think has a chance to be a big player in our future, that has a lot of talent, a lot of ability. And at some point you’ve got to break these guys in. At some point you’ve got to give them that opportunity to go to the next step in their career."

I'll save this quote for the hypothetical moment when it's announced that Eric Young Jr is the starting center fielder.

[gilesfan]

In trying to read between the lines of Hart's chat with DOB the other day, that decision may have already been made...

"We would prefer to take a guy that we think has a chance to be a big player in our future, that has a lot of talent, a lot of ability. And at some point you’ve got to break these guys in. At some point you’ve got to give them that opportunity to go to the next step in their career."

Jose Peraza would fit this quote.

[Hawk]

Gammons' thoughts on Spring Training this year:

Peter Gammons
@pgammo
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[weso1]

Prado as a 23 year old in the International League: .316/.374/.421 with a 9.3% strikeout rate.

Peterson as a 24 year old in the PCL: .306/.406/.464 with a 16.7% strikeout rate.

As a rough rule applying a 15% haircut to PCL slash hitting stats gives you the equivalent for the International League.

I think the differential in their strikeout rates is of some significance.

One more comp:

La Stella last year as a 25 year old in AAA: .293/.384/.359 with a 7.1% strikeout rate.

Hardball Times estimated a .015 drop in avg/obp between the two leagues. Where you'll really see a bigger difference is in the power department, especially HR's. But Jace also only hit 2 HR's. Most of his power came from doubles, which has likely more to do with his ability to get to 2b on balls hit in the gap.