The Braves DH

Who Should It Be?

  • Marcell Ozuna

    Votes: 9 34.6%
  • Nick Markakis

    Votes: 4 15.4%
  • Austin Riley

    Votes: 7 26.9%
  • Adam Duvall

    Votes: 1 3.8%
  • Other (Please specify)

    Votes: 5 19.2%

  • Total voters
    26

Because it means we have a repeat of the end of last year and his bat is not playing well enough to displace Camargo or Markakis. Riley’s defense in the OF was superior to Ozuna and Markakis last year so if he’s hitting well enough to play he should be on the field. Riley also has more utility than Ozuna and Markakis which would be wasted in the DH slot.
 
Because it means we have a repeat of the end of last year and his bat is not playing well enough to displace Camargo or Markakis. Riley’s defense in the OF was superior to Ozuna and Markakis last year so if he’s hitting well enough to play he should be on the field. Riley also has more utility than Ozuna and Markakis which would be wasted in the DH slot.

Riley's OF defense was a pleasant surprise last year, that's for sure.
 
No matter what, the addition of the DH will allow guys that need At bats to receive them.

The question is...will Fried be allowed to bat?
 
Wouldn't it make the most sense to just DH Ozuna, and platoon Duvall and Markakis in left?

Defensively, probably.

Thing is, we "know" Markakis can handle the DH role since he's done it in the past. It wouldn't seem that hard for Ozuna (or just about anyone for that matter) on the surface, but there have been guys that just haven't been cut out for that job in the past. I can recall interviews with plenty of guys who've said they "need" to play defense to keep their heads in the game. (Seems like even Chipper was one of those FWIW.)

Following the Astros' scandal MLB is supposedly cutting down on players watching video and spending time in the underground cages so they don't cheat. Not sure how much that will change things overall. IIRC, we rarely saw Big Papi and most pure DHs in the dugout anytime there was a chance their turn might come up soon - they usually disappeared for an inning or two to get the juices flowing again, etc..
 
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