Freddie to third base??

[DirkPiggler]

Found it...

In the early 2000's Pujols was a +1 to +18 guy at 1B. He was elite over there.

2002 was the last year he played any meaningful innings at 3B, and he was -7.

Who here is willing to claim Freeman will be as good at 3B as a young Pujols? The same young Pujols that was many times better at 1B than Freeman currently is?

We see this -15 to -25 run delta between 1B and 3B defense for guys like Miggy and Pujols. Assuming we will see anything different with Freeman is being willingly naive.

Wouldn't the relevant difference be Freeman's runs saved versus those of the other alleged third basemen? It's not like he's going to be replacing Brooks Robinson.

I don't think anyone is claiming Freddie will be good or even average at 3B defensively. The relevant question is whether 3B Freddie + 1B Adams ends up better overall (offense and defense) than 1B Freddie + Garcia/Ruiz/Camargo at 3rd.

[Enscheff]

Can someone tell what Freddie's War is if he hits like last year but is -20 at 3B? What is Adam's WAR if he's a 800 OPS 1B?

I still think this is dumb.

Building around pitching and the world's worst defense in the corners is dumb. Can we make opponents only hit to the middle of the diamond?

This literally made me laugh out loud at work haha!

Barves Way!

Load up on young pitching, and then stick a defense of Freeman, Adams, Kemp and Markakis behind them.

LOL!!

[Enscheff]

Wouldn't the relevant difference be Freeman's runs saved versus those of the other alleged third basemen? It's not like he's going to be replacing Brooks Robinson.

I don't think anyone is claiming Freddie will be good or even average at 3B defensively. The relevant question is whether 3B Freddie + 1B Adams ends up better overall (offense and defense) than 1B Freddie + Garcia/Ruiz/Camargo at 3rd.

Then the solution is to fix 3B with someone other than those guys.

It made some sense to move Miggy to 3B and take the defensive ding to make room for Prince. Matt Adams is not Prince Fielder. Sorry to burst any bubbles lol.

[Preacher]

Is it weird that I kind of morbidly want to see this happen just to watch?

I think its a silly idea, because you're displacing your best player (why even mess with that) and the guy you're making room for isn't a star. Adams is a good player riding a hot streak..... that's not enough to shift FREDDIE FREAKIN FREEMAN over to 3rd base.

....its a dumb idea..... and yet.... I kind of want to watch it happen lol.

[Super]

I'm not against trying this, but if (when) his defense at 3B is abysmal, I hope they pull the plug quickly. Especially if more young pitchers come up, I don't want them pitching through a bunch of errors being made behind them. There's already really bad defense at 1B & LF. Average-to-below at 2B and RF.

[UNCBlue012]

I will laugh when Freddie is somehow an all-star third basemen

[sturg33]

I'm only OK (not supportive) trying it because:

1. It was Freddie's idea, and he apparently wants to do it

2. The Braves have no playoff aspirations this year


Otherwise, really dumb

[Russ2dollas]

I'm only OK (not supportive) trying it because:

1. It was Freddie's idea, and he apparently wants to do it

2. The Braves have no playoff aspirations this year


Otherwise, really dumb

Great for FF. Agree.

But it's great those HS and college arms want to throw 200 pitches or go on short rest to win for their team. It's up to the adults who look after the long term health of the franchise to say no.

FF has to come back from a major injury. Now every 0-4 will be about his new position change vs him coming back. This is asking a lot.

[mfree80]

Is it weird that I kind of morbidly want to see this happen just to watch?

I think its a silly idea, because you're displacing your best player (why even mess with that) and the guy you're making room for isn't a star. Adams is a good player riding a hot streak..... that's not enough to shift FREDDIE FREAKIN FREEMAN over to 3rd base.

....its a dumb idea..... and yet.... I kind of want to watch it happen lol.

Worst case scenario... You are right at it only takes a handful to games to see it. I don't think anybody is expecting Freddie to be great over there, but that won't stop a few from gloating if it happens.

[chop2chip]

This very well could be the worst corner's defense ever assembled. I don't even think that's hyperbole.

I expect basically every speedy player to drop bunt after bunt after bunt on the Braves. Folty is going to have an psychotic breakdown

[Super]

Great for FF. Agree.

But it's great those HS and college arms want to throw 200 pitches or go on short rest to win for their team. It's up to the adults who look after the long term health of the franchise to say no.

FF has to come back from a major injury. Now every 0-4 will be about his new position change vs him coming back. This is asking a lot.

I don't really think this ups the chances of injury.

[Enscheff]

Can't the Braves just go head and trade some pitching for Longoria this offseason? Depending on how harshly you want to apply the aging curve, he should have a surplus value in the $15M range, and a Top 75-100 pitcher would be almost exactly even value.

Seems like a much better plan than this silliness.

[DirkPiggler]

Then the solution is to fix 3B with someone other than those guys.

It made some sense to move Miggy to 3B and take the defensive ding to make room for Prince. Matt Adams is not Prince Fielder. Sorry to burst any bubbles lol.

I agree for the long term. We know Adams isn't a part of the future beyond maybe next year as a bench bat.

The only downside risk that I see given that A) this is a lost year anyway and B) internal options at 3B are replacement level at best for the immediate future is that the front office will consider the third base problem fixed and ignore possible opportunities to come up with an adequate solution.

[Southcack77]

Found it...

In the early-mid 2000's Pujols was a +1 to +21 guy at 1B. He was elite over there.

2002 was the last year he played any meaningful innings at 3B, and he was -7.

Who here is willing to claim Freeman will be as good at 3B as a young Pujols? The same young Pujols that was many times better at 1B than Freeman currently is?

We see this -15 to -25 run delta between 1B and 3B defense for guys like Miggy and Pujols. Assuming we will see anything different with Freeman is being willingly naive.

What inferior player moved Pujols off 3B? Rolen?

[Southcack77]

I will laugh when Freddie is somehow an all-star third basemen

Hopefully this is not the only opportunity for laughter in your life.

[DirkPiggler]

Hopefully this is not the only opportunity for laughter in your life.

With the way Freddie hits I expect him to win a Gold Glove at 3B.

[chopdrew]

This very well could be the worst corner's defense ever assembled. I don't even think that's hyperbole.

I expect basically every speedy player to drop bunt after bunt after bunt on the Braves. Folty is going to have an psychotic breakdown

There was that playoff game we played against the Giants w one-legged Troy Glaus at 3b and Derrek Lee @ 1b. That game took years off my life.

[mfree80]

I will laugh when Freddie is somehow an all-star third basemen

Careful.... This is the kind of statement that comes back to haunt you if it doesn't happen, but is forgotten if it does.

...would be kinda fun though.

[Orphan Black]

This very well could be the worst corner's defense ever assembled. I don't even think that's hyperbole.

I expect basically every speedy player to drop bunt after bunt after bunt on the Braves. Folty is going to have an psychotic breakdown

This is stupid...the only difference between fielding a bunt as third as compared to first is the throw, and Freddie does have a good arm. It will be funny though if he fields a bunt and then turns to third to make the throw.

I'm sure someone will test it, but as long as he has the arm it won't keep happening.

[Russ2dollas]

I don't really think this ups the chances of injury.

I didn't say he will get injured.

I said he's coming back from an injury.