6/8/15: GDT - San Diego Padres @ Atlanta Braves (Only one Upton starting)

[chop2chip]

AJ is on his way to a worse DRS this year than last, he finished -11 DRS last year and is already -6 DRS this year. Bethancourt 5 DRS is even better when compared to AJ who is quite terrible. I'll be happy when AJ is gone but I don't see anyone giving up anything good in a trade for him.

Bethancourt has graded out as a worst pitch framer per BP.

[Braves1976]

McCann basically does all of the things excellently that AJ does atrociously. Mac would have been nice to have with our young pitching staff.

Yea, Mac is one of the better pitch framers in MLB whereas AJ is among the worst. I think watching Mac and Ross here in the past spoiled us a bit. I miss that combo.

[thethe]

Bethancourt has graded out as a worst pitch framer per BP.

I think thats great to look at but is there a normalization impact based on the umpire?

For instance, are certain umpires less likely to give borderline calls than others? I'd imgaine so. Under this assumption then you would have to give consideration to who is umpiring. I don't think something as simple as [# of pitches out of the zone called strikes / # of pitches out of the zone] should be the metric.

Maybe i just need to read up on how they are determining this stat though.

[Braves1976]

Bethancourt has graded out as a worst pitch framer per BP.

This year? If so it sounds like the mentoring is working wonders even if it is a small sample for Bethancourt.

[Braves1976]

I think thats great to look at but is there a normalization impact based on the umpire?

For instance, are certain umpires less likely to give borderline calls than others? I'd imgaine so. Under this assumption then you would have to give consideration to who is umpiring. I don't think something as simple as [# of pitches out of the zone called strikes / # of pitches out of the zone] should be the metric.

Maybe i just need to read up on how they are determining this stat though.

Maybe Bethancourt really is just listening to AJ, learn from one of the worst and become just as bad. :)

[jsebe10]

Well, you're right that AJ sucks and shouldn't be playing. But I think we're getting our answer about Beth regardless. He's pretty terrible

It's hard for him to get anything consistent going when his idiot manager plays him once a week and sits him literally after going 3 for 4 and helping us win our only game in the past 5 games.

[thethe]

It's hard for him to get anything consistent going when his idiot manager plays him once a week and sits him literally after going 3 for 4 and helping us win our only game in the past 5 games.

Its basically the same thing, to an even worse degree, as to what he was doing to Jace at the start of the season. Look at how much better Jace was once he got regular playing time. I suspect we would see an improvement with CB if he were given a chance.

[Braves1976]

Let's look on the bright side, maybe our bullpen isn't as bad as they seem. Maybe both our catchers just cannot frame a pitch to save their life. JK. :)

[sturg33]

I wasn't arguing against playing CB... we should be.

But he's probably a worse player than AJ at this point. And Fredi is (hopefully) fighting for his job.

[jsebe10]

Its basically the same thing, to an even worse degree, as to what he was doing to Jace at the start of the season. Look at how much better Jace was once he got regular playing time. I suspect we would see an improvement with CB if he were given a chance.

I don't get it.

On a side note. I'm interested to see what the bullpen ERA is when CB is catching them compared to when AJ catches...if anyone knew how to get, that'd be awesome

[Braves1976]

Its basically the same thing, to an even worse degree, as to what he was doing to Jace at the start of the season. Look at how much better Jace was once he got regular playing time. I suspect we would see an improvement with CB if he were given a chance.

I doubt Bethancourt hits enough even with regular time, but I agree you cannot say for sure till you give him a longer look. You don't sit him for days or longer after his best game. If we don't give him a chance this year when will we?

[jsebe10]

I doubt Bethancourt hits enough even with regular time, but I agree you cannot say for sure till you give him a longer look. You don't sit him for days or longer after his best game. If we don't give him a chance this year when will we?

Consistency is key.

[Braves1976]

I don't get it.

On a side note. I'm interested to see what the bullpen ERA is when CB is catching them compared to when AJ catches...if anyone knew how to get, that'd be awesome

I remember someone posted the overall ERA being a lot better with Bethancourt than AJ weeks back. But I am not sure about just the bullpen ERA nor what the updated overall ERA is right now. But I'll try to look for that later and post if I have time before the draft.

[jsebe10]

I remember someone posted the overall ERA being a lot better with Bethancourt than AJ weeks back. But I am not sure about just the bullpen ERA nor what the updated overall ERA is right now. But I'll try to look for that later and post if I have time before the draft.

Thanks man

[Braves1976]

Thanks man

It seems the overall ERA is closer now with Bethancourt just a little better (4.28 vs 4.33), see here: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/fieldin...se/order/false

The biggest difference seems to be Bethancourt's success at throwing out runners vs AJ's lack of success doing so. I'll keep looking to see if I can find just the bullpen numbers for both.

[gilesfan]

I'm getting a bit agitated at how much playing time AJ is getting now.

Why aren't we using this season to find out if CB can hit?

I think it's pretty clear he cannot. But, I would give him the whole season as a starter to see how much he can contribute in the future; even if it's just as a backup.

[chop2chip]

I think thats great to look at but is there a normalization impact based on the umpire?

For instance, are certain umpires less likely to give borderline calls than others? I'd imgaine so. Under this assumption then you would have to give consideration to who is umpiring. I don't think something as simple as [# of pitches out of the zone called strikes / # of pitches out of the zone] should be the metric.

Maybe i just need to read up on how they are determining this stat though.

He's graded out poorly both this year and last year, but you are right to assume the sample size is way too small. A lot of the noise would be shaken out over a couple years of games.

[Braves1976]

@DOBrienAJC 4m4 minutes ago
Triple-A #Braves activated newly acquired LH Dana Eveland, and Kelly Johnson begins rehab assignment at Gwinnett tonight.

@DOBrienAJC 3m3 minutes ago
#Braves released LH Donnie Veal, who was DFA'd last week

Comments: I am looking forward to getting KJ back with us and I kinda feel bad for Veal. I mean it must be rough to get excited twice about making it back to the Majors and also get DFA'd twice in short order and now released.

[chop2chip]

I remember someone posted the overall ERA being a lot better with Bethancourt than AJ weeks back. But I am not sure about just the bullpen ERA nor what the updated overall ERA is right now. But I'll try to look for that later and post if I have time before the draft.

I don't think that is a good way of evaluation. Especially since Beth and AJ catch different SP and your SP effectively determines which RP will pitch.

[thethe]

I think it's pretty clear he cannot. But, I would give him the whole season as a starter to see how much he can contribute in the future; even if it's just as a backup.

I'd definitely say its much more likely he can't at this point.