Braves This and That
By Fred Owens
News notes and related quotes from around the net.
Julio Teheran and Arodys Vizcaino will both pitch in the Futures game in Phoenix on July 10. This is the first time Vizcaino makes the squad while Teheran was selected once before. If Vizcaino can stay healthy the bullpen will be stronger in the next year or so and we’ve seen that Teheran has the stuff to be in the rotation soon. It seems to me there’s a log jam there to be sorted out. Hmmm…
Baseball Prospectus chimed in on the signing and promotion of Julio Lugo, they seem to be in agreement with Bob and I.
"…Lugo’s defense deserted him some time ago, so the only thing keeping his career alive had been a bit of pop and some moderate on-base ability. In light of recent events, it’s not clear whether Lugo can clear even the low offensive bar set for utility infielders. The off-season consensus seemed to be that he couldn’t…"
While they were not exactly supportive of Diory Hernandez, they saw it as a having negative effect on out defensive.
"…Hernandez is just 27, can run laps around Lugo, and wasn’t a total offensive non-entity in the minors, so this is a case in which reflexively reaching for a veteran was likely the wrong move…"
Speaking of hitters as I was in the previous posts, the cupboard is pretty bare it seems. MLB Trade rumors speculated that there were only a few hitters available then put a caveat on those.
"…Hitters: J.J. Hardy, Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds, Luke Scott, Vladimir Guerrero, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur, Wilson Betemit, Omar Infante, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, Jeff Baker, Carlos Pena, Reed Johnson, Hunter Pence, Jeff Keppinger, Carlos Lee, Michael Bourn, Clint Barmes, Ryan Ludwick, Brad Hawpe…"
"Cross off the Cubs players with crazy contracts and the Astros and Orioles who may never hit the market, (I did that for you) and there’s not much out there aside from relievers right now . . ."
FanGraphs Jack Moore takes a look at the Cubs getting ready to have a sale but isn’t sure anyone will buy.
". . . The question: can they find anybody willing to take these players on, and if so, how much much cash will the Cubs themselves have to throw into the deal?"
I doubt they can for a couple of those but I suspect there will be buyers and that The Cubs will sell more than Carlos Zambrano, Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano. None of those has much value to anyone while Marlon Byrd, Carlos Pena and Ryan Dempster are salable. All of this affect the Braves options in the trade market should they desire to seek a right handed bat.
I was asked earlier about extra strength at third base in the event Chipper or Prado go down. Everyone knows by now our minor league third base depth could wouldn’t drown an ant. Unfortunately there’s not much available and we aren’t the only ones looking.
The best inexpensive possibility might be Cody Ransom. The 35 year old Ransom has a line of .310/.389/.602 with 18 homers and 61 RBI in 269 at bats for Reno in the PCL. What the Diamondbacks would want I have no idea but he’s an upgrade on everything we’ve had lately.