Jace Peterson

[yeezus]

It's obviously dependent on how he's performing in AAA. I'm basing my assumption on him being ready come midseason which it looks like he will be. I just don't personally advocate in keeping players in the minor leagues that long when they have shown they are capable of performing in the big leagues.

Money and control are definitely important,but so is cultivating a good relationship with your players that demonstrates a meritocracy and not maximizing the amount of time you can screw that player.

But hey, maybe Peraza is hitting .260 come July and this argument is moot. But if he's hitting over .300 with a lot of steals and doubles, then I personally think he deserves the promotion.

It isn't just about money and control, though. He's really young. I'd rather be 100% sure he's ready than rush him at all and mess him up that way.

Plenty of guys have good stats in the minors but aren't yet capable of producing in the majors. When someone is as young as Peraza is, I see little downside in letting him marinade longer. I see more potential downside in bringing him up too early, for Peraza AND Jace.

 

[thewupk]

The organization has a pretty long history of pushing players they're high on...

Furcal - 335 Sally League ABs, 10 AA ABs

Chipper - Got a full season in AAA, but only because Pendleton was here - only 266 AA ABs

Andruw - 157 AA ABs, 45 AAA ABs

Heyward - 162 AA ABs, 11 AAA ABs

The point is that they aren't going to let someone like Peraza stagnate because someone ahead of him is "acceptable" - if he reels of a solid month or so worth of the way he's played thus far, we're likely going to see him given the job to see if he's going to be the long-term answer.

There is quite a bit of a difference between those guys and Peraza. For one they were all elite prospects. Secondly the situation with the major league team was different. The team was expected to win at that time they were called up. Right now the Braves are not.

 

[clvclv]

Can't use Chipper in that argument and then say he got 1.5 seasons in the upper minors...regardless of reason.

Peraza has just not shown he's ready. I think it's that simple. We saw him in ST. Let him fully prove it. There isn't a reason to potentially rush it even the smallest amount.

Really?

1992 (AA) - 266 ABs, .346/.367/.594./961
1993 (AAA) - 536 ABs, .325/.387/.500/.887

Chipper spent the full 1993 season in Richmond for one reason (and one reason only) - Terry Pendleton was playing 3B in Atlanta. Peraza's raised his BA 55 points and his OBP 45 points in the last 10 games, and if he maintains the pace he's been on over that period for several straight weeks I betcha Jace Peterson or Alberto Callaspo won't stand in his way at that point.

The front office (both Wren's and Hart's) has been consistent in saying that he has the potential to be the best young middle infielder we've produced since Furcal. I don't personally see them treating him any differently - as soon as he shows them he's ready in their eyes, he'll be up and playing everyday.

 

[yeezus]

Really?

1992 (AA) - 266 ABs, .346/.367/.594./961
1993 (AAA) - 536 ABs, .325/.387/.500/.587

Chipper spent the full 1993 season in Richmond for one reason (and one reason only) - Terry Pendleton was playing 3B in Atlanta. Peraza's raised his BA 55 points and his OBP 45 points in the last 10 games, and if he maintains the pace he's been on over that period for several straight weeks I betcha Jace Peterson or Alberto Callaspo won't stand in his way at that point.

You threw him out there and then contradicted the point you were making...so...yeah, really. Would they have brought him? Likely. But he got 1.5 years in the upper minors. Peraza has had less than half of one. And as above stated, Peraza is not Chipper, or Heyward, or Druw.

 

[weso1]

The organization has a pretty long history of pushing players they're high on...

Furcal - 335 Sally League ABs, 10 AA ABs

Chipper - Got a full season in AAA, but only because Pendleton was here - only 266 AA ABs

Andruw - 157 AA ABs, 45 AAA ABs

Heyward - 162 AA ABs, 11 AAA ABs

The point is that they aren't going to let someone like Peraza stagnate because someone ahead of him is "acceptable" - if he reels of a solid month or so worth of the way he's played thus far, we're likely going to see him given the job to see if he's going to be the long-term answer.

Yeah, but in those years we were actually trying to win.

 

[clvclv]

You threw him out there and then contradicted the point you were making...so...yeah, really. Would they have brought him? Likely. But he got 1.5 years in the upper minors. Peraza has had less than half of one. And as above stated, Peraza is not Chipper, or Heyward, or Druw.

Just as Jace Peterson is not Pendleton.

 

[clvclv]

Yeah, but in those years we were actually trying to win.

The thing that ties the situations together isn't "trying to win" - they'll tell you that they're always trying to win, and have given no one reason to doubt that. What's similar is that JS and Bobby were always big on promoting kids as soon as they thought they could handle it, and they're both much more involved these days (just like back then).

 

[weso1]

The thing that ties the situations together isn't "trying to win" - they'll tell you that they're always trying to win, and have given no one reason to doubt that. What's similar is that JS and Bobby were always big on promoting kids as soon as they thought they could handle it, and they're both much more involved these days (just like back then).

This season is completely different than any season since JS has been a Brave. This is the first time in the JS era that the Braves have completely rebuilt. Because of this fact you cannot extrapolate what has happened in years past. The Braves are approaching this season with a completely different perspective. Plus this is the first season Hart has been the guy. His philosophy may differ.

 

[Carp]

You don't need an entire season at AAA to figure out junk-ballers.

I think young guys need the seasoning. Only reason you bring them up is if they are playing so well that you can't keep them down and/or you have an immediate need at the big league level. Peraza isn't exactly beating down the door, and we clearly don't "need" him in a rebuilding year. Now if we find ourselves around 10 games over .500 in mid June, you might consider it if Jace still isn't performing.

 

[Carp]

The organization has a pretty long history of pushing players they're high on...

Furcal - 335 Sally League ABs, 10 AA ABs

Chipper - Got a full season in AAA, but only because Pendleton was here - only 266 AA ABs

Andruw - 157 AA ABs, 45 AAA ABs

Heyward - 162 AA ABs, 11 AAA ABs

The point is that they aren't going to let someone like Peraza stagnate because someone ahead of him is "acceptable" - if he reels of a solid month or so worth of the way he's played thus far, we're likely going to see him given the job to see if he's going to be the long-term answer.

What about Freeman, who was tearing up AAA? Are you really gonna argue the great Troy Glaus was blocking him? And it's not just Peterson who is blocking Peraza. It's Peterson and Callaspo. Callaspo is playing exceptionally well on offense and Peterson plays fantastic defense as well.

Clearly there are counter points to your argument. The most important of which, is that we were a winning team in the other years.

 

[Tapate50]

There is quite a bit of a difference between those guys and Peraza. For one they were all elite prospects. Secondly the situation with the major league team was different. The team was expected to win at that time they were called up. Right now the Braves are not.

Two Hall of Famer's, one Chop Country Hall of Famer, and the guy who's fax machine cost him a shot at coming back (and who I loved to watch play in Fookie). He was a damn fine player. Shame injuries robbed him of the end of his career (hell the middle of it too)

 

[thewupk]

Two Hall of Famer's, one Chop Country Hall of Famer, and the guy who's fax machine cost him a shot at coming back (and who I loved to watch play in Fookie). He was a damn fine player. Shame injuries robbed him of the end of his career (hell the middle of it too)

Pretty much. Furcal was the lowest ranked prospect of that group according to Baseball Amercia and he toped out at 8th in baseball one year. Peraza isn't in that class and the more time he spends in the minors the better off he will be. We don't need him right now.

 

[Hawk]

I think young guys need the seasoning. Only reason you bring them up is if they are playing so well that you can't keep them down and/or you have an immediate need at the big league level. Peraza isn't exactly beating down the door, and we clearly don't "need" him in a rebuilding year. Now if we find ourselves around 10 games over .500 in mid June, you might consider it if Jace still isn't performing.

I agree with you (although I don't think AAA seasoning is especially valuable), but if our scouts determine that he's ready with nothing left to prove, and this team is, for some miraculous reason, still in contention in a few months -- it's a no-brainer.

 

[clvclv]

This season is completely different than any season since JS has been a Brave. This is the first time in the JS era that the Braves have completely rebuilt. Because of this fact you cannot extrapolate what has happened in years past. The Braves are approaching this season with a completely different perspective. Plus this is the first season Hart has been the guy. His philosophy may differ.

"Clearly there are counter points to your argument."

There are, and I don't discount them at all. The point that many are ignoring (still) is that I mentioned in the original post that IF Peraza maintains what he's been doing for the last couple of weeks for another month he, in fact, will be "beating down that door". Another bonus if the situation I described came about would be getting Jace consistent ABs (even if he's playing multiple defensive positions). Just as Carp mentions, Callaspo has been playing playing so well that it's tough to justify giving Jace all the ABs (and we haven't seen anyone with a pressing need to come looking for Alberto or the other veterans just yet).

If some of you will pause just long enough to digest what I said, you'll understand that I'm just pointing out what I think could happen in a month or so - I never stated that today or this week is the time frame. Several posters keep harping on the number of ABs Jose has had as of today - assuming he plays most of the games over the next month, that number will be around 100 more. At that point he'll be creeping into that 350-400 AB range at AA and higher. We'll also be deeper into the season where other teams' interest in guys like EY, Johnson, and Callaspo could be growing as contenders start to separate themselves (as well as teams with high expectations begin to panic a bit and look for immediate help - I'm looking at you Gnats and Yankees as a couple of those in particular). June is also typically the time the groundwork is laid for most deadline deals - if someone like the Yankees aren't getting more over the next month defensively than they have from Gregorius to this point, they may well decide to slide Drew back over to SS and trade a decent prospect for Callaspo.

 

[clvclv]

Duplicate post.

 

[Braves1976]

Personally, I rather discuss sending Gosselin down and replacing him with someone from AAA that deserves a shot (yes, I have names in mind). I am not interested in jumping the gun with this topic.

 

[Enscheff]

The organization has a pretty long history of pushing players they're high on...

Furcal - 335 Sally League ABs, 10 AA ABs

Chipper - Got a full season in AAA, but only because Pendleton was here - only 266 AA ABs

Andruw - 157 AA ABs, 45 AAA ABs

Heyward - 162 AA ABs, 11 AAA ABs

The point is that they aren't going to let someone like Peraza stagnate because someone ahead of him is "acceptable" - if he reels of a solid month or so worth of the way he's played thus far, we're likely going to see him given the job to see if he's going to be the long-term answer.

First and foremost, let's not even try to pretend Peraza belongs in the same prospect realm as Andruw, Chipper and Heyward (arguably the best 3 Braves prospects in the modern era).

If the goal is to compete in 2017, and if Peraza is considered the answer at 2B, 3B or CF, then the wisest move would be to let him spend this year in AAA with a Sept call up. In 2016 he starts the year back in AAA under the guise of working on positional flexibility at 3B and CF, and then is called up a few weeks into the season. He then spends the rest of 2016 figuring things out at the MLB level. The front office should then have enough information about Peraza to determine if he is good enough to be an everyday player in 2017, or can address the need if they deem him not good enough.

 

[clvclv]

I’m in favor of waiting, but I understand the frustration. I’m counting the days till Smith and Peraza are our 1 and 2 guys. Wonder if Smith’ll be moved up to AAA? Unlikely, I guess.

Kinda have to imagine Smith's timeframe is somewhat loosely based on if/when EY is dealt. When that happens we'll need a backup/platoon CF at the MLB level - queue the Eury Perez promotion and more ABs available in Gwinnett.

Again - IF he keeps playing like he is for another month. I don't think they're going to rush anybody, but I don't think they're going to hold some of these guys back just because there are marginal prospects a level above them either. Just as I'm saying that I don't personally think Peterson's going to keep them from promoting Peraza when they determine he's "ready", I also don't think they're going to let the presence of someone like Todd Cunningham get in Mallex' way if they think he's ready for a new challenge.

 

[Hawk]

First and foremost, let's not even try to pretend Peraza belongs in the same prospect realm as Andruw, Chipper and Heyward (arguably the best 3 Braves prospects in the modern era).

I don't think that was the point.

The Braves have a well documented tendency to advance talented players up the organizational ladder fairly quickly, sometimes skipping AAA completely (McCann, Francouer, etc.)

 

[clvclv]

Personally, I rather discuss sending Gosselin down and replacing him with someone from AAA that deserves a shot (yes, I have names in mind). I am not interested in jumping the gun with this topic.

I've been ready to see Gosselin DFA'd for a while now - and it has nothing to do with his performance the few times he's gotten a chance to play. Both Ciriaco and Reyes would be better 25th man options IMO.