Is it too early to give up on BJ Upton?

Since joining the Braves last year, BJ has played in 130 games, encompassing 462 plate appearances. While that isn't a huge sample size, it is definitely large enough to get a pretty good guess as to what we might expect out of him going forward.

In those 462 PA's, he has hit .179 with an OBP of .260, SLG of .281, OPS of .541 that includes 44 walks and 160 strike outs. Those are statistics of epicly bad proportions.

I understand we still owe the man $60MM, but at some point, hopefully real soon, we come to the realization that we made a huge mistake signing him, accept it as a sunk cost, and cut him loose. He is hurting the team more by holding on to and playing him than cutting him loose and letting him flounder for someone else.
 
When you speak of cutting him loose with 60M owed you should consider what a similar action did to the Orioles when Joey Belle went down with only 52M (IIRC) owed.
 
If we're stuck with him through the duration of the contract and he doesn't turn it around, then if the DH comes to the NL during that time, we have no other choice but to hit someone for him.
 
goldfly said:
he made over 1.6 million playing baseball in salary alone

not counting signing bonuses etc

so i would say, over 2 million.

i hope he was smart enough to not end up flipping burgers with that much money
Click to expand...

I got this from a 2010 article but:

"MLB players must play 43 days in the majors to earn a minimum $34,000 annual pension plan. Just one day in the majors gets them lifetime healthcare coverage."

So, Andy is gonna be ok. He may own a franchise that flips burgers, but he won't be flipping them.
 
Gary82 said:
I got this from a 2010 article but:

"MLB players must play 43 days in the majors to earn a minimum $34,000 annual pension plan. Just one day in the majors gets them lifetime healthcare coverage."

So, Andy is gonna be ok. He may own a franchise that flips burgers, but he won't be flipping them.
Click to expand...

If you have a chance at playing professionally in either baseball or football, choose baseball.
 
We need Jeff Galllooly to do a Nancy Kerrigan on him. Then he's out and insurance pays the cost. ;)

I kid, of course, but the thought did occur to me while watching the game yesterday.
 
Braves center field prospect Matt Lipka went 2-for-3 with a double on Monday night, and he is hitting .286/.375/.429 over his first four games in Double-A.
Lipka, the first-round pick for the Braves in 2010, hit .251/.305/.362 in High-A in 2013, so if he hits well he could become the starting center fielder in Atlanta once Fredi Gonzalez gives up on B.J. Upton. Lipka has two doubles and a stolen base, and profiles as a top of the order threat.
 
There is always a guy every year that takes a step forward that you don't expect. Hopefully Lipka can be that guy.
 
This lineup could use a "top of the order" threat badly. Move Heyward down to the 2 spot or where ever. Right now it's like we have a second pitcher batting 2nd.
 
PurpleBrave said:
This lineup could use a "top of the order" threat badly. Move Heyward down to the 2 spot or where ever. Right now it's like we have a second pitcher batting 2nd.
Click to expand...

Heyward is traditionally a 3 hitter like Freddie. He just happens to have top speed which slots him on our team to be a leadoff.

That said, don't care about "prototypical" leadoff hitter. Lipka so far in the minors has struck out around 15% and walked around 7%. Not terrible but you typically figure in the majors the BB rate falls and the K rate rises. I'd much rather have Jason up there.
 
Speed is over rated for the top of the lineup. Would much rather have someone who can work a count and get on base. Heyward is probably the best we have right now, but he's better used elsewhere. Someone like LaStella projects as a great top of the order hitter imo...
 
I believe Peraza will be that guy but not until 2016 sadly.

I agree that LaStella is that guy. At least another guy in the lineup that will see pitches. I will give credit to Uggla at least for watching some pitches. Some of our guys are just clueless up there at times. They seem afriad to get to 2 strikes.
 
PurpleBrave said:
Speed is over rated for the top of the lineup. Would much rather have someone who can work a count and get on base. Heyward is probably the best we have right now, but he's used elsewhere. Someone like LaStella projects as a great top of the order hitter imo...
Click to expand...

I'm with you on TLS, sadly, we won't have 3 lefties to lead the lineup. So Heyward would probably be moved to 4
 
PurpleBrave said:
Braves center field prospect Matt Lipka went 2-for-3 with a double on Monday night, and he is hitting .286/.375/.429 over his first four games in Double-A.
Lipka, the first-round pick for the Braves in 2010, hit .251/.305/.362 in High-A in 2013, so if he hits well he could become the starting center fielder in Atlanta once Fredi Gonzalez gives up on B.J. Upton. Lipka has two doubles and a stolen base, and profiles as a top of the order threat.
Click to expand...

Watch Lipka become the new La Stella now for the overreactive members of the forum.
 
Knucksie said:
Watch Lipka become the new La Stella now for the overreactive members of the forum.
Click to expand...

I still really fail to see how wanting to give La Stella a shot is considered "overreacting." Some here (like you) loved to spout and whine that fans were pumping up TLS too much, but all I saw were some who wanted to just give him a shot, especially considering the type of hitter he is and the type of lineup we have. What is so wrong with that? Why is that STILL a hammering point?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top