bravesnumberone
Well-known member
I'm fine with AJ. We need the veteran leadership to show the young guys how to go from 67 wins to 77.
Braves sign AJP to 1-year deal, again
- Thread starter dak
- Start date
That's actually a pretty good sign (for Bethancourt as well) IMO. A. J. had a season no one expects him to repeat, but if you look closely at his numbers 2 0f his 3 best months were when he wasn't tasked with being the everyday guy and was sharing time with Christian (April and September/October). Assuming Bethancourt's not traded (and they'll actually MAKE Fredi play him regardless of how A. J.'s going), they're now in position to have this be his make it or break it year. "Watch him like a hawk and do what he does Christian (but better defensively), or this will be your last year here."
I know it's hard for some to eat crow - especially when it comes to someone with the reputation A. J. had when he was signed - but it's obvious that those concerns were unfounded. He can still hit, was great in the clubhouse, and is a really good fit. If he HAS to be "the guy", he still can be. As long as Bethancourt gets a legitimate chance to take the job IF he takes the step forward he has to take - getting at least 3-4 starts a week - I don't see the downside. It sounds like they made the decision not to spend the money (and draft pick) on Wieters early on and moved quickly since there are several teams looking to improve behind the plate - and got their guy.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
A.J. is a one-of-a-kind and that's not always a good thing, but I have no problem with him coming back. Pr*ck or not, there didn't seem to be any concerns about his fit in the clubhouse. Always laugh when a non-producer like Gomes barks about A.J.'s personality.
Plus, A.J.'s posts here last season were always insightful.
Plus, A.J.'s posts here last season were always insightful.
Nothing says taken care of like a Bethancourt/AJ platoon.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Probably one of the bigger highlights of ChopCountry 2015 for me!
GovClintonTyree
<B>Vencer a Los Doyers</B>
How do you figure? $3m plus incentives for AJ, Ianetta hits a buck eighty-eight and gets 4.25m from the Mariners? They're saying out here that this is his last chance to prove he belongs in the majors.
I think we did pretty well. This is a good signing. It's all the rest of them that are crap.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Ianetta is very overrated... he always had potential but he's never realized it. There's a reason he's never been able to nail down a full-time job... and he's been given plenty of chances.
dak
Well-known member
Iannetta is entering his age 33 season and Pierzynski is entering his age 39 season.
Their defensive value is similar, though Iannetta has a clear edge in pitch framing.
Looking at the recent past (last 3 years), Iannetta has been the better hitter. His wRC+ is 107, compared to AJP's 92.
2016 Steamer projections below normalized to 450 PAs. These projections don't take pitch framing into account, or the gap would be wider.
Iannetta: 93 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR
Pierzynski: 85 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR
Tapate50
Well-known member
Oh, bless your heart. Still under the impression we want to compete next year.
I don't think ATL wants any part of an option and he's already familiar with the staff. We basically got the lowest cost startable option going. I don't think a win in Fwar is going to do jack diddley for this team. We may not win 70 games in the most optimistic of opinions.
I don't think Ianetta is that much better either. I am sure there were other offers in the same neighborhood for AJP, but we threw in the Mich Ultra. He took less money to sign here, so he likely got the same offers as Iannetta anyway. I doubt in league circles they are looked at much differently.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
dak
Well-known member
Yeah, it could be argued that both Iannetta and Pierzynski have platoon bats. Career splits below. In my view, Iannetta projects to be a better all around player than AJP in 2016.
Iannetta has a wRC+ of 132 vs LHP, 92 vs RHP
Pierzynski has a wRC+ of 77 vs LHP, 99 vs RHP
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Especially when he's cheaper
NinersSBChamps
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br> 2015 (Co-Winner)</BR>20
Yeah signing a veteran backup/spot starting catcher for a cheap deal is nothing to get up in arms about. Bringing AJP here in the first place is one of the few things the "brain" trust has gotten right.