Olivera Update

[SJ24]

Some guy on Twitter says Hector is being sent to the GCL on a "rehab assignment."

[bravesfanMatt]

Some guy on Twitter says Hector is being sent to the GCL on a "rehab assignment."

Well since he is on their roster I would probably say it is true.

[NinersSBChamps]

Maybe the Braves brass should seek rehab of their own for such a terrible trade.

[50PoundHead]

Can you be Comeback Player of the Year in half a year?

[nsacpi]

Playing left and batting third today.

[striker42]

I think it's funny that the team has completely abandoned even the pretense that Olivera is capable of being an excellent hitter in the majors. They swore he was going to hold down third and be a presence in the middle of the lineup for years when we traded for him. By the time the offseason rolled around they still swore by his offensive potential but you could start to detect a hint of desperation there. Now they've just accepted that he's a pretty lousy player. If he weren't owed the money he is then I'm convinced he'd already have been cut.

[CJ9]

He got hit by a pitch in his first AB. I'm not mad about it.

[SJ24]

I think it's too early to count out Hector as a hitter. He didn't have that many ABs.

I hope he plays really well and helps us in the 2nd half.

[bravesfanMatt]

He got hit by a pitch in his first AB. I'm not mad about it.

Part of his agreement was his girlfriend got to pitch to him for his first 10 at bats. I guess she is still pissed.

[nsacpi]

Part of his agreement was his girlfriend got to pitch to him for his first 10 at bats. I guess she is still pissed.

hell hath no fury like a woman wronged

[striker42]

I think it's too early to count out Hector as a hitter. He didn't have that many ABs.

I hope he plays really well and helps us in the 2nd half.

When you watch him hit you see it's not just a matter of adjusting to the majors. He's got a terrible bat wrap and is consistently late. This leads to lots of weak pop ups and, when he guesses, balls rolled over to short. When he was 24 and playing in Cuba he had a lightning quick bat that compensated for his poor swing fundamentals. At 31, the bat speed has come back to earth.

I hope Hector is able to change who he is as a person and player and that he plays well for us and acquits himself well. I just don't see much chance of that. He's just not a good hitter (at least not on the baseball diamond).

[chop2chip]

I think it's funny that the team has completely abandoned even the pretense that Olivera is capable of being an excellent hitter in the majors. They swore he was going to hold down third and be a presence in the middle of the lineup for years when we traded for him. By the time the offseason rolled around they still swore by his offensive potential but you could start to detect a hint of desperation there. Now they've just accepted that he's a pretty lousy player. If he weren't owed the money he is then I'm convinced he'd already have been cut.

Some of that doubt has to do with his arrest. He didn't have enough major league at bats to make any strong declaration of his ability as a player.

[yeezus]

They swore he was going to hold down third and be a presence in the middle of the lineup for years when we traded for him.

they probably thought that, yeah. "swore"? ehh.

[Preacher]

At the end of the day, let him toil in the minors the rest of the year and see what he can do.

Its not impossible that he figures something out and if he does, he will have some value going forward.

[bravesfanMatt]

At the end of the day, let him toil in the minors the rest of the year and see what he can do.

Its not impossible that he figures something out and if he does, he will have some value going forward.

We seem to always agree... I don't want him in a Big League Uni in 2016, unless he just smashes the lower level.

[mqt]

I honestly hope he sucks just as much as he did before, because I'm confident I can never celebrate any achievement of his. I don't think he has to lose his job, but I definitely can't cheer for him.

[msstate7]

If we still have inciarte and mallex after the deadline, we probably won't see Olivera this year

[gilesfan]

I think it's too early to count out Hector as a hitter. He didn't have that many ABs.

I hope he plays really well and helps us in the 2nd half.

How many other 31 year olds do we not count out?

[WaitingFor2017]

Olivera will go the Kenshin Kawakami route and rot in the minors for the rest of his contract (if not released/miraculously traded).

[sturg33]

Olivera will go the Kenshin Kawakami route and rot in the minors for the rest of his contract (if not released/miraculously traded).

The Kawekami thing was so weird to me. He wasn't that bad of a pitcher, IIRC... and was making real money. Not sure why we burried him.