rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
To the attention of Frank Wren:
Frank:
I have always been your advocate. I don't wish to break down my reactions to each and every move, but I cannot remain silent any longer over the current inaction that may acually drive me bad.
Deal Dan Uggla. Dump his $13 million per year, his league-leading 146 strikeouts, his 33-year-old eyes that may or may no be going bad, With six weeks of games that will be relatively pressure free, bring up Tommy La Stella and let him slide into the job that should be his for the next 10 years.
Sure, Uggla has 21 homers and 50-odd RBIs are so, so misleading as to any productivity. How many RBIs would a .300-hitting disciplined hitter who walked more than he struck out do in the same at-bats?
Here are the inarguable facts to support my feeling that this is no slump; this is career downturn:
His 146 strikeouts have come in only 389 at-bats, a sharp increase in his already-lofty whiff totals. He had 168 last year in 140 more at-bats. His 72 hits translate to a .185 average, nearly 40 points lower than his career-low .220 of last season. He will need to walk 33 times the rest of the way to match last year's league-leading total of 94.
His sabermetrics stats agree with the downturn. Every year in his career, his WAR was a strong positive. Even last year, it was 2.9. This year, it's -0.5. His RAR (runs better than replacement) last year was plus 28. This year it is negative two (-2). His RAA this year is -17 after being +9 in 2012.
His defense also now fails to provide an argument for keeping him around. Uggla already has 12 errors, matching last year's total. But his 2013 numbers come in nearly 300 fewer innings and 250 fewer chances. He also has almost exactly 200 fewer assists at second than he did all last year.
He will be 34 before Opening Day next year.
There is no point putting up La Stella's Class A-AA stats up as any kind of true comparison -- except to show he is a totally different style of hitter than is currently in the Braves lineup, except possibly for McCann.
A series of injuries in 2013 has limited LaStella to 239 at-bats. He has 85 hits (13 more than Uggla!) and a .356 combined average. As dangerous as hitter as he's proven to be, he has 32 walks against 26 strikeouts -- but only three homers and 35 RBIs. In his entire minor league career, 782 at-bats, he has struck out only 79 times against 98 walks.
Defense? Again, with his 2013 innings limlited, the number are a little askew, he has five errors, well short of a career worst.
I don't care how Uggla moves or how much it costs; If the Braves have to pay more than half of his remaining $30 million or so salary in a deal, so be it. If he gets claimed on waivers, let him go and say thank yew. If we get someone else's problem contract in return, so much the better for them.
I write this mindful of two things. 1) That Dan Uggla has represented the Braves with class and professionalism every step of the way. It's just business. 2) The Braves have no chance in hell of moving BJ Upton.
Regards,
rico
PS: I'd settle for Pastornicky, too.
CC: Fredi Gonzalez
CC: Dan Uggla
CC: Tommy La Stella
Frank:
I have always been your advocate. I don't wish to break down my reactions to each and every move, but I cannot remain silent any longer over the current inaction that may acually drive me bad.
Deal Dan Uggla. Dump his $13 million per year, his league-leading 146 strikeouts, his 33-year-old eyes that may or may no be going bad, With six weeks of games that will be relatively pressure free, bring up Tommy La Stella and let him slide into the job that should be his for the next 10 years.
Sure, Uggla has 21 homers and 50-odd RBIs are so, so misleading as to any productivity. How many RBIs would a .300-hitting disciplined hitter who walked more than he struck out do in the same at-bats?
Here are the inarguable facts to support my feeling that this is no slump; this is career downturn:
His 146 strikeouts have come in only 389 at-bats, a sharp increase in his already-lofty whiff totals. He had 168 last year in 140 more at-bats. His 72 hits translate to a .185 average, nearly 40 points lower than his career-low .220 of last season. He will need to walk 33 times the rest of the way to match last year's league-leading total of 94.
His sabermetrics stats agree with the downturn. Every year in his career, his WAR was a strong positive. Even last year, it was 2.9. This year, it's -0.5. His RAR (runs better than replacement) last year was plus 28. This year it is negative two (-2). His RAA this year is -17 after being +9 in 2012.
His defense also now fails to provide an argument for keeping him around. Uggla already has 12 errors, matching last year's total. But his 2013 numbers come in nearly 300 fewer innings and 250 fewer chances. He also has almost exactly 200 fewer assists at second than he did all last year.
He will be 34 before Opening Day next year.
There is no point putting up La Stella's Class A-AA stats up as any kind of true comparison -- except to show he is a totally different style of hitter than is currently in the Braves lineup, except possibly for McCann.
A series of injuries in 2013 has limited LaStella to 239 at-bats. He has 85 hits (13 more than Uggla!) and a .356 combined average. As dangerous as hitter as he's proven to be, he has 32 walks against 26 strikeouts -- but only three homers and 35 RBIs. In his entire minor league career, 782 at-bats, he has struck out only 79 times against 98 walks.
Defense? Again, with his 2013 innings limlited, the number are a little askew, he has five errors, well short of a career worst.
I don't care how Uggla moves or how much it costs; If the Braves have to pay more than half of his remaining $30 million or so salary in a deal, so be it. If he gets claimed on waivers, let him go and say thank yew. If we get someone else's problem contract in return, so much the better for them.
I write this mindful of two things. 1) That Dan Uggla has represented the Braves with class and professionalism every step of the way. It's just business. 2) The Braves have no chance in hell of moving BJ Upton.
Regards,
rico
PS: I'd settle for Pastornicky, too.
CC: Fredi Gonzalez
CC: Dan Uggla
CC: Tommy La Stella
