First off Rick Ankiel is a left handed hitter and fielder who has a canon for an arm. His defense is raw, but he is an athlete and has proved to be adequate with the glove in St. Louis. Furthermore, he has one year left on his current deal (represented by Boras) which could mean a stopgap in center until one of the promising young outfielders is ready to come up from Richmond. Who knows what it will take to pry him away from Stl but it could prove to be a good move.
The Braves are much better off without signing Burnett to an over-the-top contract. This is a pitcher who is notorious for cashing in on free agent years and not living up to the hype in non-money years. He does have amazing stuff, but you can put money down that this guy will not spend the next 5 years avg 15-18 wins and 200+ K or Innings pitched.
Wren is better off spending a fraction of that 80+ M on a stop gap type pitcher or just hang on to the money to invest in Matt Holliday next year when he becomes a free agent. Plus don't discount a Matt Diaz platoon in left this year.
PWHjort
· 1 year ago
Ted, I meant to say Ankiel is a left-handed hitter and we're in need of a right-handed hitter, my mistake. I agree with you on the saving aspect. Names like Matt Holliday and John Lackey are surfacing on the free agent market next year and savings now equal spending later. Diaz murdered left handed pitching in 2007 (OPS over 950), so if he can sustain those numbers he'd be an excellent outfield platoon player.
Land-Man
· 1 year ago
"He can also fill in at 3B when Chipper goes on the DL "
Do you mean IF he goes on the DL? Just kidding, he'll go on the DL.
Jeff
· 1 year ago
I agree that a Smoltz, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Campillo, Hanson rotation would look good for next year. We obviously are not going to get anyone better than any of these guys at this point. I would hate to see the Braves sign a bum like Randy Wolf, preventing Hanson from having a rotation spot until September. We may be getting Hudson back in August, so if these guys can stay healthy, we can move Campillo to the pen as a long man. I also have been looking at what Manny is reportedly looking for an it seems reasonable for a guy who, although is not a good fielder, mashes the ball. Manny seems too high profile to come to Atlanta. Maybe 5 years ago. Wigginton is pretty solid and I would welcome his acquisition. If the offense can't put more runs up on the board next year, it'll be another bottom of the division finish. I like Josh Anderson in center hitting leadoff and Prado at second. Perhaps Kelly Johnson could move back to left, but would rather see him dealt for a guy who hits in the first 5 months of the season along with the 6th and makes routine catches behind first against the Phillies. 2010 is the year realistically with all the talent coming up. I wouldn't mind seeing Schafer and a few other guys peppered into the lineup or rotation for experience. I think the Braves can be competitive now considering Utley is out for a few months and the Mets are a trainwreck waiting to happen.
roger from lake tahoe
· 1 year ago
I'm not sure where you get your info, but Rick Ankiel is an incredible defensive outfielder with a rifle arm. Don't believe me, ask the Rockies what they thought when he threw out two runners at third from the center field wall, on the fly and on the bag. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE. Contact any writer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, jstrauss@post-dispatch.com or rhummel at the same address, that's Rick Hummel, who is enshrined in the baseball hall of fame at cooperstown. They will vouch for Ankiel. If you are lucky enough to get him, you will be in for a big helping of crow.
PWHjort
· 1 year ago
Speaking of doing your research, Ankiel made 15 fewer plays than the average center fielder given the same situations last year. This isn't opinion, the actual fielding bible data states he made 15 plays fewer than the average center fielder, which ranks 31st among qualified center fielders. That's terrible. Absolutely awful. You may think he has a canon arm, but he allowed 36 extra bases in 77 opportunities last year while only making 4 kills. You saw half of them in 1 game. Just because you think he is a good fielder because you saw him on Sportscenter making 2 incredible plays in 1 game (yes, they were incredible plays, but he only made 2 other plays like that all season, the average center fielder makes 6-8 more than Ankiel made last season), doesn't mean he's a good fielder. Sportscenter distorts the truth. Those were awesome plays but because someone made an awesome play doesn't make him an awesome fielder. He does have a strong arm but that doesn't translate to successfully cutting down on runners taking extra bases on him in this scenario, as per the data I just conveyed. I don't care what any writer you, or the baseball community at-large, deems an expert, the fact remains that Ankiel made 15 fewer plays than the average center fielder last season and anyone who sees that number acknowledges that he's at best a below-average center fielder. I'm taking my information from the statistics section of Bill James' website by the way. If you want to argue with Bill James go ahead but he is the father of baseball academia, it would be hard to argue against this data. Show me a season of above-average defense from Ankiel and I'll re-consider my position that he's a terrible outfielder. We haven't seen one yet.
Ben
· 1 year ago
I wouldn't mind seeing the Braves sign Pat Burrell for one year with a club option. I know he strikes out a lot and may not play great defense but it works out good. He is a right handed power bat that the Braves have been looking for. If the Braves give him one year with an option it sets up perfectly for Jason Heyward. If Heyward is ready then Atlanta can decline Burrell's option. If Heyward needs more time they can pick it up. Burrell doesn't have a ton of options at this point so he would probably take the deal for some decent money.
Alex
· 1 year ago
I love your optimism on our rotation. I certainly understand why you see Smoltz and Hanson in the picture but neither is certain. This is why we could use another viable option. I personally think Lowe makes a ton of sense, especially as his pricetag plummets. And I love your take on Wigginton.
All i know is, our karma is bound to turn because this off-season has been one bad turn after another.
All Comments
The Braves are much better off without signing Burnett to an over-the-top contract. This is a pitcher who is notorious for cashing in on free agent years and not living up to the hype in non-money years. He does have amazing stuff, but you can put money down that this guy will not spend the next 5 years avg 15-18 wins and 200+ K or Innings pitched.
Wren is better off spending a fraction of that 80+ M on a stop gap type pitcher or just hang on to the money to invest in Matt Holliday next year when he becomes a free agent. Plus don't discount a Matt Diaz platoon in left this year.
Do you mean IF he goes on the DL? Just kidding, he'll go on the DL.
All i know is, our karma is bound to turn because this off-season has been one bad turn after another.