mentioned this in another thread, but is 3B a "big" concern? even if our production is below replacement level, if we're getting above every where else, isn't that OK?
3B is an offensive first position. If we're relying on Camargo as our main offensive production there things will hurt.
But that's for another discussion. Albies is playing way over his head. While I'm a proponent that most hitters who're young for their age in the minors outperform their minor league power numbers, Albies is doing so at an absurd rate. To put his current power rate in perspective, it's higher than Stanton's career average. There's no way that 5'9 160 pound Albies has comparable power to 6'6 240 pound Stanton. So expect regression there. Hopefully when he regresses his BB rate rises and K rate drops so his offensive value is similar to last year.
Let's look at our "established" players and where they are now vs. what they've done in their career.
Markakis career wRC+ 110, career iso .136 career BABIP .317. Best season wRC+ (2008) 138, best season BABIP (2008) .350, best season iso (2008) .185. This season he is eclipsing most of those marks (except BABIP). Now, I'm no big city lawyer, but if someone tells me that Markakis is going to have his best (or second best) season of his career in pretty much every facet (including K rate BB rate etc.) at 34, that's a tall glass of insanity. Markakis is almost locked into a massive collapse.
There was a point earlier this season where Inciarte was massively underperforming, that's basically gone. You can't say anymore "Well when Markakis collapses, Inciarte will rise" because Inciarte is rising. Infact pretty much everything but BABIP is at career norms.
Maybe the Braves truly found the magic formula to maximize Kurt Suzuki's abilities. More likely than not though, he's a potential bottom out candidate.
Preston Tucker and Ryan Flaherty. Flaherty finally came crashing down the last handful of games. He's still has a long way to crash out to reach his normal career levels (career 76 wRC+) I don't think he'll be given that opportunity, but realize this is the type of player that helped the Braves get to their position in RD/Record. Tucker is a 27 year old journeyman. Who posted the numbers of his lifetime as seat warmer for Acuna.
Last player to talk about is Freeman. Now I'm doing this kindly, because I do love Freddie, but he's on pace to have the best season he's ever had. And I really hope he does it. Unfortunately for Freddie though, health has been a concern of his. Last year he only played in 117 games, 2 years before that only 118 games, that being said, that's the only major risk with him. I can't see him slumping too much as a hitter. He may drop a little, but injuries are the concern with him.
Then we have the kids, already addressed Albies. Camargo is a decent backup IF/fill in 3B. Kind of an Omar Infante if you would. May have a season or 2 where he provides great production but typically I don't expect that much from him. Swanson to me is producing like I expected him to as a prospect. Playing ace defense, hitting the ball hard but keeping it low. This is what we were told to expect. Hopefully he keeps it up. I expect his BABIP to fall hopefully when it does his BB rate normalizes. Who knows with Acuna. I'm not gonna speculate on him. He's a legit stud.
