Spring Training Gamethread/Discussion

AUTiger7222 said:
Aside from April last year Justin Upton was only ok last year. .256/.343/.409 (.753). If BJ gets on base enough to justify it (which I think would be around .320) which I think BJ can do I think having his baserunning ability at the top of the order improves the Braves lineup. BJ is a better baserunner than Justin is. Justin dropping down to the 5th spot lengthens the lineup by giving us more power spread more evenly throughout the lineup.
Click to expand...

You know it is okay to disagree with Fredi occasionally, especially regarding something so obvious. We are talking about a career .356 (never below .354 in a full year--he is a lock for .350+) vs the hope of .320 from someone who has been under .300 two years in a row. It is a ridiculous decision.
 
AUTiger7222 said:
Aside from April last year Justin Upton was only ok last year. .256/.343/.409 (.753). If BJ gets on base enough to justify it (which I think would be around .320) which I think BJ can do I think having his baserunning ability at the top of the order improves the Braves lineup. BJ is a better baserunner than Justin is. Justin dropping down to the 5th spot lengthens the lineup by giving us more power spread more evenly throughout the lineup.
Click to expand...

That's like saying aside from her tits Kate Upton is OK looking. Upton's April was very much part of 2013, can't just throw it out. Remove any player's best month and they don't look as good, shocker.

BJ having a terrible OBP of .320 wouldn't mean he'd be acceptable in the top of the order ahead of a higher OBP Justin. Best hitters hit high.
 
Dalyn said:
You know it is okay to disagree with Fredi occasionally, especially regarding something so obvious. We are talking about a career .356 (never below .354 in a full year--he is a lock for .350+) vs the hope of .320 from someone who has been under .300 two years in a row. It is a ridiculous decision.
Click to expand...

I disagree with Fredi a lot but I like this move. Check out BJ's career numbers when hitting 2nd. .266/.344/.456 (.800). Better than the line Justin put up after April. That's in 890 PA in that spot so it's a legit sample size too. It's the spot in the order where BJ has had the most success. Coming into today BJ was hitting .278/.350/.352 (.702) this spring. There's all the reasons I have to backup with I like the move.
 
zitothebrave said:
That's like saying aside from her tits Kate Upton is OK looking. Upton's April was very much part of 2013, can't just throw it out. Remove any player's best month and they don't look as good, shocker.

BJ having a terrible OBP of .320 wouldn't mean he'd be acceptable in the top of the order ahead of a higher OBP Justin. Best hitters hit high.
Click to expand...

I wasn't trying to throw it away. Just saying that after April Justin wasn't one of the Braves 3 best hitters. The Braves 3 best hitters last year were Jason, Freeman and Johnson.
 
AUTiger7222 said:
I disagree with Fredi a lot but I like this move. Check out BJ's career numbers when hitting 2nd. .266/.344/.456 (.800). Better than the line Justin put up after April. That's in 890 PA in that spot so it's a legit sample size too. It's the spot in the order where BJ has had the most success. Coming into today BJ was hitting .278/.350/.352 (.702) this spring. There's all the reasons I have to backup with I like the move.
Click to expand...

Oh. Okay.

Here you go - Justin's career numbers batting 2nd: .284 .365 .503 .868.
 
Dalyn said:
Oh. Okay.

Here you go - Justin's career numbers batting 2nd: .284 .365 .503 .868.
Click to expand...

Those are great numbers. But Justin has also produced in other spots in the order and BJ hasn't. Wouldn't it actually make sense to have both players produce?
 
Breaking down box from TUESDAY, routing the dreaded Tigers 12-3.

Santana tuneup fine (3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER)

Thomas may be close to being Cinderella on Opening Day (1 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 2.70)

Gearrin could not finish inning (something wrong with him ... trying to confirm rumor) and Indy signed Cunniff fnished his inning,albeit with hit and walk

Lamm two good innings

Hoyt(!) good 9th inning ... good to see nonroster guys get a taste

Speaking of which ... Kubitza 1-1, 2B, 2 RBI

Pastornicky 2-4, RBI ... he will likely be ready for Opening Day

Uggla 2-3. 2 RBI, R ... stinging the ball

Heyward 2-4, HR (4th), 2 R (.317)

Laird HR (2-3, 2 RBI)... In truth, he has been better than Gattis

Johnson 1-3, RBI, BB (.290)

JUp 2-4, R, RBI

Pena 1-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI (.364)

One downer ... Schafer 0-2, K (.222) ... he has really not helped his chances. Pastornicky is working in CF, so Schafer might be at risk
 
I was nervous that Santana only pitching 3 innings wasn't good. Someone on here said the team doctors were looking at him and that he felt some discomfort in his elbow during the 2nd.
 
Its really too bad that the Braves haven't tried to stretch out Thomas. There are other options for the bullpen.
 
thethe said:
Its really too bad that the Braves haven't tried to stretch out Thomas. There are other options for the bullpen.
Click to expand...

I've been a big advocate for Thomas and want him tried as a starter. But who are our options in the bullpen. With Gearrin possibly injured, we're running out of arms. I suppose Buchter is an option. I thought he pitched much better as spring training went along.
 
I would like to see butcher in the pen. Lefties that miss bats are worth a ton. I'd also give any pitcher with starter potential a chance. Thomas could end up being a super valueable cheap piece for is. He did well in the minors as a starter as of course you've documented.
 
I really think the Braves have gotten things backward in how they have used Schlosser and Thomas this spring.

Schlosser is a sidearmer, who is very effective against righties but not lefties.

Thomas is effective against both. To me when you look at a pitcher in the minors, effectiveness against opposite handed hitters should be very important in how you project them going forward. Thomas' effectiveness against righties (.192 batting average last year in AA) and Schlosser's relative ineffectiveness against lefties (.281 batting average last year in AA) suggest Thomas should be the one stretched out to start and Schlosser should be the one competing for a job in the pen.

Then there is the fact that Thomas was so much more effective than Schlosser last year in AA. Whether you look at strikeout to walks, strikeouts per inning, WHIP Thomas was far superior. Schlosser did have the better ERA (though both were below 3), but it is by now well established that ERA is not as good a predictive tool as some of the other indicators of pitching effectiveness.

So I hope to see Thomas given consideration as a starter if the need arises later this year.

Btw Fredi has said some discerning things about Thomas, so I give him credit there. He even made a joke that Thomas must have been in some sort of witness protection program for other teams not to have seen that he actually has some real weapons in the form of major league caliber pitches. The kid is not getting by on smoke and mirrors. He has the repertoire to be successful at the major league level. As a starter I suspect.
 
AUTiger7222 said:
Those are great numbers. But Justin has also produced in other spots in the order and BJ hasn't. Wouldn't it actually make sense to have both players produce?
Click to expand...

Do ypu honestly believe a player remembers or forgets how to hit depending on where the manager writes his name in the lineup?
 
nsacpi said:
I really think the Braves have gotten things backward in how they have used Schlosser and Thomas this spring.

Schlosser is a sidearmer, who is very effective against righties but not lefties.

Thomas is effective against both. To me when you look at a pitcher in the minors, effectiveness against opposite handed hitters should be very important in how you project them going forward. Thomas' effectiveness against righties (.192 batting average last year in AA) and Schlosser's relative ineffectiveness against lefties (.281 batting average last year in AA) suggest Thomas should be the one stretched out to start and Schlosser should be the one competing for a job in the pen.

Then there is the fact that Thomas was so much more effective than Schlosser last year in AA. Whether you look at strikeout to walks, strikeouts per inning, WHIP Thomas was far superior. Schlosser did have the better ERA (though both were below 3), but it is by now well established that ERA is not as good a predictive tool as some of the other indicators of pitching effectiveness.

So I hope to see Thomas given consideration as a starter if the need arises later this year.

Btw Fredi has said some discerning things about Thomas, so I give him credit there. He even made a joke that Thomas must have been in some sort of witness protection program for other teams not to have seen that he actually has some real weapons in the form of major league caliber pitches. The kid is not getting by on smoke and mirrors. He has the repertoire to be successful at the major league level. As a starter I suspect.
Click to expand...

I'm interested to see how Gus does considering he has a long track record now of being successfully able to be an effective starter. I do believe though that Thomas will be in our starting rotation at some point in the near future. Whether that be in July or April of next year the Braves found another diamond in the rough. The guy has better stuff than I even though he had.
 
thethe said:
I'm interested to see how Gus does considering he has a long track record now of being successfully able to be an effective starter. I do believe though that Thomas will be in our starting rotation at some point in the near future. Whether that be in July or April of next year the Braves found another diamond in the rough. The guy has better stuff than I even though he had.
Click to expand...

There are two numbers from his pitching line last year that to me is a red flag with respect to Schlosser being an effective major league starting pitcher. 24 and 32. Those are his walks and strikeouts against lefties. Not a good ratio at all. Also he gave up more than a hit per inning against lefties. Teams in our division are pretty strong from the left side. Maybe he will develop a changeup or cutter or some pitch that will help him against lefties. But he has yet to show this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top