GDT 8/28/13: Indians (Masterson) @ Braves (Maholm) 7:10 PM

Good win, we needed it since Nats are going to sweep Miami (and have the Byrdless Mets next). Hopefully we can sweep tomorrow.

That said, Gattis hasn't started in 6 days and counting again. As I said yesterday, if this continues I doubt he'll be able to shake the rust to help us later on (including in the playoffs). We need to start playing Gattis more to get him going again.

Honestly I think Gattis' problem is that he's never played this much and it's taken a toll on him. Maybe he needs the extra rest to get it back together.
 
Honestly I think Gattis' problem is that he's never played this much and it's taken a toll on him. Maybe he needs the extra rest to get it back together.

I disagree, Gattis problem is that hasn't been getting consistent AB's (and has been moved around a lot, etc). This goes back to before his injury too. The injury and time missed certainly made it worse and harder.
 
CJ has been better than Chipper this year, more durable and played better. We should be very happy that he has made so much of his opportunity. He is definitely a keeper.

I'm thrilled with what we've gotten out of Johnson, and he's certainly been more durable than 40-year-old Chipper, but I'll bet that his OPS at year end is less than Larry's 2012 number.
 
Schafer is still relatively young and he is just now entering the stage where the vast majority of players have their best years and things finally click. Michael Bourn was pretty bad at the plate until he was 26 and even though he's not a world beater he's still pretty damn good. I think Bourn and Schafer are very similar and I do believe that Schafer could be the same type of player if given the opportunity. Obviously the money has been spent but why would FW spend that kind of money on BJ who has lived off the "potential" tag and is now approaching 30. Seems to me the "potential" is more reality. Now if we gave a guy like Ellsbury that kind of money then I'be be fine with that but BJ's so called proven track record is that he can hit 25 HR's and steal 30 bases while striking out 150+ times with a pedestrian OBP and BA that plays solid defense.

Jordan is 2 years younger than BJ.
 
082913_braves_CC19.JPG
 
Schafer is still relatively young and he is just now entering the stage where the vast majority of players have their best years and things finally click. Michael Bourn was pretty bad at the plate until he was 26 and even though he's not a world beater he's still pretty damn good. I think Bourn and Schafer are very similar and I do believe that Schafer could be the same type of player if given the opportunity. Obviously the money has been spent but why would FW spend that kind of money on BJ who has lived off the "potential" tag and is now approaching 30. Seems to me the "potential" is more reality. Now if we gave a guy like Ellsbury that kind of money then I'be be fine with that but BJ's so called proven track record is that he can hit 25 HR's and steal 30 bases while striking out 150+ times with a pedestrian OBP and BA that plays solid defense.

I would eat Kevin Mench's hat if Schafer became the same type of player Bourn is. For starters, Schafer cannot field close to Bourn's level. Second I severely doubt even if he was on a team that ran more he would swipe 60+ bases and be caught under 15 times. Considering to date Schafer has stolen a total of 64 bases for his whole career. All 311 games, 1085 PA. Schafer walks more but also Ks more. About the only thing they have in common is they're fast lefties with little girl power. Look at their batted ball and you'll see why Schafer won't be Bourn, Schafer lifts more balls as his GB% is 44% compared to Bourn's 55%. LD% for the 2 is close as well, so the difference is Schafer lifts more balls. But given that they have similar HR/FB numbers and Schafer hits WAY more IFFB, that's not a good thing at all.

Basically Schafer can hope to be a poorman's cross of worse than Bourn's offensive ability with like Curtis Granderson recently or Adam Jones's defensive ability. Which has some value, but I'd rather have Bossman's normally pretty surefire 3 WAR than pray Schafer can piece it together.
 
Actually there was. It's 94 teams that have won at least 55 home games in a season (since 1901, no adjustment made for 154 game seasons). The Braves did it in '96, '98, '99, '03, and '10.

Yeah, I figured 55+ home wins was pretty common, and should've known some of our teams during the division champs streak did it a few times. Don't know why I didn't think of or remember 2010 since I remember us having the best home record in baseball that year. A few other teams were close to 55+ home wins but we were the only ones to win 55+ with a 56-25 home record.
 
I disagree, Gattis problem is that hasn't been getting consistent AB's (and has been moved around a lot, etc). This goes back to before his injury too. The injury and time missed certainly made it worse and harder.

Well I disagree with that.

Gattis has looked lost at the play recently. Pitchrs have started to figure him out. I do agree he probably needs more at bats so he can try to make adjustments, but I don't think the lack of at bats is why he has struggled, nor do I think it was to do with moving him around.
 
looking at the replay a lot of guys would not have scored on CJ's hit, Brantley's throw was right there. Schafer's speed is another reason he has value.

While Heyward's hurt the argument is which of Gattis, BJ, Schafer and Terdo should play in the two spots besides Justin. Gattis is the last one of the four in usage lately, and I think its right. The other three should all be getting regular starts, and they are.
 
Good win, we needed it since Nats are going to sweep Miami (and have the Byrdless Mets next). Hopefully we can sweep tomorrow.

That said, Gattis hasn't started in 6 days and counting again. As I said yesterday, if this continues I doubt he'll be able to shake the rust to help us later on (including in the playoffs). We need to start playing Gattis more to get him going again.

At who's expense? I think he's the 5th OF'er and the other four have been more productive lately, or in the case of BJ have more reasons to get some AB's. Even Laird has hit better than Gattis lately.
 
At who's expense? I think he's the 5th OF'er and the other four have been more productive lately, or in the case of BJ have more reasons to get some AB's. Even Laird has hit better than Gattis lately.

Gattis hasn't been playing enough, getting enough consistent AB's to make your case. I could go a week of missing games and hardly miss a start by Gattis. Further, this shouldn't even be a debate with Heyward out now. Gattis should be playing in left when Joey T isn't starting IMO.
 
looking at the replay a lot of guys would not have scored on CJ's hit, Brantley's throw was right there. Schafer's speed is another reason he has value.
.

Schafer had done almost nothing since coming off the DL before two out of the last three games. I agree he has speed and had a strong game last night. But I am not sold that he's any sort of answer at lead-off, etc.
 
Im cool with the starting lineup Fredi used in this game. We should roll w/that one until JHey gets back.
 
Schafer had done almost nothing since coming off the DL before two out of the last three games. I agree he has speed and had a strong game last night. But I am not sold that he's any sort of answer at lead-off, etc.

So I guess we'll bash Schafer because he had a 30 AB slump and give BJ a pass because he's only had a 350 AB slump. B.J has shown zero pop in the last two months but we'll give him a pass since it's only 100 AB's and he was injured but we'll bash Schafer who was out for a while with his injury. Schafer has mashed righties this year in 150 AB's while BJ has hit worse against lefties with the eye popping stats of .168/.231/.463 in 100 AB's with just 1 homer. So when all of you want to see BJ out there and this offense struggles to score 2 runs a game with BJ and Uggla in the line-up don't cry and try to put the blame on Freddi.
 
Bashing Schafer has more to do with the failed start to his career in Atlanta and 2 failed seasons in Houston. I like Schafer as a bench player but that's what he is. You do realize the samples you're citing for BJ sucking against lefties while Schafer rocks against righties are small sample size correct? Schafer has a career .301 wOBA vs RHP Bossman has a career .339 wOBA vs LHP

Braves would be wise to play the guy with a much better career.
 
The Braves are playing the better player right now in Schafer, it's not hard to understand. If Upton showed signs of changing his swing, then maybe he would get some ABs.

As far as Gattis, what has he done in the past 3 months to deserve playing?
 
The Braves are playing the better player right now in Schafer, it's not hard to understand. If Upton showed signs of changing his swing, then maybe he would get some ABs.

As far as Gattis, what has he done in the past 3 months to deserve playing
?

TheThe just died. A little.
 
Back
Top