CyYoung31
Shift Leader
This reminds me of Francoeur's infamous "I won't fail again" remark prior to the 2009 season. We all know how that turned out.
Looks Like Another Year Of B.J.
- Thread starter CrimsonCowboy
- Start date
This reminds me of Francoeur's infamous "I won't fail again" remark prior to the 2009 season. We all know how that turned out.
Runnin
Well-known member
All world athlete??? top 10 in the MLB??? Must be based on some amazing skill I haven't heard of. Does he juggle kittens on a unicycle for a Romanian circus in the off-season?
I watch every game and I've never seen him show above average ability at anything other than speed and that's only when he feels like it, about half the time. He's capable of making good plays in the field but he also misreads a lot of balls, like he's got vision problems. Still I agree that like the last 2 years he should be perfectly capable of having a solid or even a good '15 season. Hope he does.
blueagleace1
Playing the Waiting Game
He is referring to him being a Top 10 athlete in the game and I agree. B.J is one of the best ATHLETE's that i've ever seen, he is one of the rare guys in the league with power, speed, and a strong arm.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Heyward? Harper? Trout? Tulo? Puig? Cutch? Gomez? could go on of course.
chop2chip
Well-known member
It's hyperbole of course. BJ is most certainly a premier athlete in baseball based upon the reasons given by the fine gentleman above. To list 10 superior is mundane and unnecessary since it's impossible to actually measure this objectively.
Runnin
Well-known member
To me athleticism is more than just inborn physical ability. It includes agility and ball skills, although in resent years it has come to mean the biggest, strongest body. Who would win a punt, pass and kick contest doesn't matter in a baseball game. B.J.'s last 2 season should be enough evidence of that.
chop2chip
Well-known member
Your definition, although related, is different from the actual definition. Agility and ball skills (however you define that.) are certainly components, but body strength, speed, etc. are what people are referring to when they mention athleticism.
Runnin
Well-known member
I guess you're right. And if a great athlete is inconsistent, lackadaisical and only gives you 80% then the athleticism is over-rated.
blueagleace1
Playing the Waiting Game
My point in saying that is to simply say that he is athletic enough to make changes that a lot of other guys couldn't make. The ones above certainly are very athletic as well but to say Tulo is as athletic as B.J is a stretch. A better baseball player? Undeniably, positively, YES!! There is a big difference between being naturally athletic and being a good baseball player, the two don't go hand-in-hand, see: B.J Upton and Prince Fielder.
Perfect Cell
Lynchburg Prospect
Maybe he also has an undiscolosed concussion
There is some validity to "he can't do much worse." Somebody needs to convince him to BUNT the ball every once in a while. He could hit .250 if he bunted every time. I also think that not having his brother on the team, if we can deal JUP, will help him a bit. Again, it couldn't hurt.
57Brave
Well-known member
Was wondering the same thing. Vision troubles - slower reactions -- frustration
Yeah...you pretty much named the other members of the top 10 (maybe not Tulo tho). And I would put BJ up against any of those guys if we are talking about purely athletic ability.
The point is that there's no reason BJ shouldn't be able to hit a baseball anymore.
Except atheltic ability doesn't mean anything when being able to hit a baseball.BJ seems to be the classic toolsy guy that got by on pure atheltic abiltiy and when that fails him a little bit it all goes down hill. BJ obviously has some kind of issue with his eyes. To what extent I'm not sure but even a little bit can cause a hitter to get over matched especially when he is already on the cusp of failure which his K rate suggested. He also could have had a loss of bat speed. It could only be a split second but yet again it doesn't take much. Whatever BJ's issues are, I don't think can be fixed unless you have a time machine.
BJ has been trading OBP for HRs more and more pretty much since his rookie year (which is why his OPS stayed around 750 despite his HR totals going up). Seeing baby brother turn into one of the premier RHed power threats in the game probably didn't help BJ stop swinging for the fences either.
I have zero doubt BJ has all the talent/skills/ability/whatever to go back to being a .250/.350/.400 hitter that can pop 10-15 HRs and rack up 30+ SBs while playing adequate defense in CF, but who knows if he will be able to retool and simplify his swing...ever. After all, it wasn't until he tried to be that 25+ HR guy that he really began struggling.
In the end I imagine he is pretty much done and will never be anything more than a 4th OFer that everyone keeps hoping will turn into more. Folks like to dream on tools and potential, and BJ certainly is dripping with that.
stpeteirish
Called Up to the Major Leagues
real question now becomes how much do you play him if you can't trade him and are unwilling to eat that contract.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
That is a good question, I think it would depend a lot on our position in the standings. If we're not in the race or in such a rebuild mode that we know we're not catching anyone. Then go ahead and play him a lot and hope he can improve. But if we're battling for a playoff spot, then I'd have him on the bench unless he starts hitting a bit.