Who is the fastest Brave?

[BlackwaterPark]

We should have just kept Gattis and let him playing LF over Kemp...

[The Chosen One]

Chip Caray can do a straight line pretty fast.

[The Chosen One]

I don't think Ender is declining. I just think he's sick and tired of playing next to Kemp and Markakis. I think he understands a CF is supposed to cover twice as much area as the corner outfielders but thrice is a bit much.

[drewdat]

Newcomb 34.6

[CyYoung31]

Chip Caray can do a straight line pretty fast.

Only on the white chalk.

[jimsnores]

Pretty crazy that Freeman has 45-50 grade speed. That is hard to believe. In fact, I don't really believe it.

I do. I remarked to my wife recently that Freddie looks faster than he used to be. Only recently has this caught my eye, and I was glad Encheff posted those stats. That said, I used to think of him as sort of lumbering. I'm not into it enough to do the research, but it would be fun to see if Statcast has stats from a couple of years ago. You would think he'd be about the same or slower than he was then, due to age, but my eyeballs say he's faster than he used to be. My eyeballs could be wrong, but I'll blissfully assume them right until stats tell me differently.

[jimsnores]

The actual answer to the OP:

Is that Paul Byrd?

[zbhargrove]

Pretty crazy that Freeman has 45-50 grade speed. That is hard to believe. In fact, I don't really believe it.

He's actually a very good runner for his size. He could very well also end up with 10+ stolen bases on the year. He's at 7 now. He can move.

[50PoundHead]

We should have just kept Gattis and let him playing LF over Kemp...

I had the same thought when they traded J. Upton. Whoever's calling the shots in the dugout seems to think that the LF has to play all 9 innings.

[mfree80]

I had the same thought when they traded J. Upton. Whoever's calling the shots in the dugout seems to think that the LF has to play all 9 innings.

Does Snit get any credit for replacing Kemp in the 8th last game? We keep bringing up that he never does that.... even when he does.

[Enscheff]

I do. I remarked to my wife recently that Freddie looks faster than he used to be. Only recently has this caught my eye, and I was glad Encheff posted those stats. That said, I used to think of him as sort of lumbering. I'm not into it enough to do the research, but it would be fun to see if Statcast has stats from a couple of years ago. You would think he'd be about the same or slower than he was then, due to age, but my eyeballs say he's faster than he used to be. My eyeballs could be wrong, but I'll blissfully assume them right until stats tell me differently.

26.5 in 2015, and 26.7 in 2016 and 2017.

Dude hasn't lost a step!

[50PoundHead]

Does Snit get any credit for replacing Kemp in the 8th last game? We keep bringing up that he never does that.... even when he does.

I noticed that. But he has done it so rarely over the season.

[Enscheff]

Does Snit get any credit for replacing Kemp in the 8th last game? We keep bringing up that he never does that.... even when he does.

I wasn't watching, but if so, kudos.

Kemp can be a contributor next season if he is managed properly and kept healthy. Subbing for him defensively late in games is a big part of that. They should be able to eliminate 10%+ of his defensive innings at the cost of very few PAs (~2%) if it's done intelligently.

[Knucksie]

Yeah, they should just trade Inciarte. Freeman too.

[50PoundHead]

I wasn't watching, but if so, kudos.

Kemp can be a contributor next season if he is managed properly and kept healthy. Subbing for him defensively late in games is a big part of that. They should be able to eliminate 10%+ of his defensive innings at the cost of very few PAs (~2%) if it's done intelligently.

It isn't exactly rocket science. If we have a lead late, Kemp should be out of the game, especially if he's been just been passed in the batting order. I am so old, but I remember listening to Milwaukee Braves' games and actually witnessed this in the one game I saw in Milwaukee, late in the game, Rico Carty would be removed from the game. Ty Cline would come in to play CF and Mack Jones would slide over the LF. It was just automatic.

[Enscheff]

It isn't exactly rocket science. If we have a lead late, Kemp should be out of the game, especially if he's been just been passed in the batting order. I am so old, but I remember listening to Milwaukee Braves' games and actually witnessed this in the one game I saw in Milwaukee, late in the game, Rico Carty would be removed from the game. Ty Cline would come in to play CF and Mack Jones would slide over the LF. It was just automatic.

The most frustrating thing is Snit does defensive subs for other players, but not Kemp. The only conclusion that can be made is the Braves don't think Kemp is bad in LF, and/or they don't think it would benefit the health of his legs to limit the number of innings he runs around out there.

[steveAKAslick]

I don't think Ender is declining. I just think he's sick and tired of playing next to Kemp and Markakis. I think he understands a CF is supposed to cover twice as much area as the corner outfielders but thrice is a bit much.

This...I don't think speed has much to do with Ender's success as an OF'er but more to do with his instincts and how well he breaks on balls

[Enscheff]

Yup. Yes pretty lean for a big 1b. Bodes well for his aging curve.

I don't think it does. There was a time when Pujols stole many more bases than Freeman currently does, and he aged just as poorly as every other guy at 1B.

The Braves need to let Freeman walk when his contract expires.

[thewupk]

I don't think it does. There was a time when Pujols stole many more bases than Freeman currently does, and he aged just as poorly as every other guy at 1B.

The Braves need to let Freeman walk when his contract expires.

I could be remembering wrong but I think pujols was bigger than Freeman currently is. His hit skill is different too and I think he will age similar to how votto has. It is likely a mistake to extend him though.

[smootness]

Pujols was definitely bigger than Freeman, and I'm pretty confident he never had anything approaching average top-end speed.