AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 22
Friday, February 22, 2008
Who should bat leadoff for Braves?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. _ Good morning/afternoon on another mid-70s day from Dark Star, where I’d like to know who you think will bat first and second for the Braves ahead of Hoss and Tex.
(Actually, I’d like you to deliver a Mellow Mushroom pizza with pineable and jalapeno peppers to me here in the pressbox, but I realize that’s probably not going to happen. So….)
We know Chipper Jones is batting third, and we know Mark Teixeira is batting fourth. But it really isn’t quite clear who’ll bat leadoff and who’ll replace Egar Renteria in the 2-hole, though I’ve got a good idea on the first part.
Though Kelly Johnson hit quite well in the leadoff spot early, before he started getting moved around and platooned, etc., I think Yunel Escobar is going to get the nod from the get-go this year.
Could be wrong. Wouldn’t really surprise me if Kelly is there. But at this juncture, before the first Grapefruit League game has been played, I’m gonna put my money on Escobar.
The Cuban shortstop hit .326 overall as a rookie, including a sizzling .351 with a .400 OBP in 151 at-bats as a leadoff man, trailing only Florida’s Hanley Ramirez (.405) in leadoff OBP among NL qualifiers (Kelly J. was fifth at .372).
Kelly had 63 strikeouts in 306 at-bats as a leadoff man, while Yunel had 22 in 151 at-bats from the top of the order. And late in the season, Escobar impressed by hitting .352 and posting a .405 OBP in August and hitting .311 with a .407 in September, putting up strong numbers in the latter part of his first season in the majors, when other younger players sometimes struggle.
“I think he can be a .300 hitter in the league, no doubt in my mind,” said hitting coach Terry Pendleton, who loves Escobar’s talent, confidence, and practice habits. “I think he can be an Edgar Renteria with possibly more power.”
Assuming I’m correct and Escobar hits leadoff, who’ll bat second? I’ve said since the day the Braves traded for him that I thought Kotsay would fit well in that role, provided he’s healthy. So far he’s looked as good or better than anyone expected, showing no lingering problems from back surgery he had last March.
Chipper says he likes the idea of Kotsay batting second because he makes more consistent contact than Kelly Johnson, who has more power. If Kotsay is healthy, Chipper likes Kelly hitting behind Jeff Francoeur or Brian McCann in the order.
Kotsay’s numbers were lousy last year, but anyone who’s seen him before his back problems started a couple years ago, and anyone who’s seen him hitting so far down here in camp, knows that he’s a very good hitter when healthy, a guy who has what the players and coaches call consistent quality at-bats, a tough out who works counts.
In other words, perfect to hit in front of Chipper and Teixeira. He has plate discipline and good bat control, essential in that 2-hole if you’re asked to move a runner over. If Kotsay stays healthy — always that “if,” until he proves he can hold up. But so far, he really looks good.
If the back surgery was good, then hey, there’s no reason why he can’t be close to the hitter he once was. It’s not like he’s old. Before last year’s .214-.279-.296, 206-AB injury debacle of a season, Kotsay had hit .275 or higher in eight of 10 full seasons in the majors, and had 482 or more at-bats in seven.
Gonzo update: Mike Gonzalez continues steady progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and the left-hander is on pace for a return in early June — about one month earlier than the Braves had first anticipated last year after his surgery.
He threw 15 pitches at 50 percent and 30 at 75 percent off the mound Thursday, and said again he’s had no setbacks, no scar tissue breaking up, none of the minor stuff that can discourage a pitcher coming back from TJ surgery. But he also realizes that can happen anytime, that he might feel a twinge here or an ache there once he really starts airing it out.
In the meantime, he’s tentatively scheduled to begin throwing curveballs next week, another big step. Gonzalez said being in camp and getting so close to a return is making him anxious.
“Getting antsy,” he said. “It’s like taking time out and watching everybody play in recess.”
Kotsay’s arm: Someone asked me about Kotsay’s defense, and I said when he was with the Marlins in 1998-2000 (I covered that team then), his arm and instincts were outstanding and his range way above average. I haven’t seen him as much in recent years, but when healthy, everyone agrees he’s still one of the better defensive center fielders around.
He was a part-time closer in college at Cal State Fullerton, with a fastball in the low-90 mph range. The arm might not be quite as strong as it was, but it’s still plenty strong, and he still can hit a target as well as anyone in the game.
“His arm’s probably more accurate than any in baseball,” Cox said.
Kotsay told me Francoeur’s got a stronger arm than he does, but that Kotsay can hit the target better. I’d agree with that, no question, having seen Francoeur launch a few to the fifth row. (Kotsay said he told Frenchy he wants to put a trash can at third base and see which of them can throw it in the can from RF. By the way, Kotsay was a RF back with the Marlins, had 40 assists in a two-year span.)
Francoeur’s got an absolute cannon, and watching him load up to throw out a daring first-to-third runner or a guy trying to stretch a single into a double is always fun. Love to watch that.
With him and Kotsay out there, it’ll be interesting seeing how many guys try to take an extra base against them.
Schafer already hooked up: With Nike, that is. Kid’s only 21 and hasn’t played above A-ball, but already Jordan Schafer has been signed by the shoe giant with the swoosh on its gear.
Schafer, a non-roster invitee to camp, had a stack of Nike cleats and shoes waiting at his locker this week. The three-quarter-high cleats came in three color schemes, black with red trim, black with white trim, and black with gray trim. He took them out of the box and smiled with approval.
Of course, he’s not quite as high on the Nike scale as Teixeira, who had stacks of very sharp custom-made cleats and running shoes waiting at his locker when he arrived. (He has some blue training shoes with red swooshes that would sure look good on a KU fan, uh-hum.)
Blue jerseys? Braves haven’t announced it yet, and I don’t even know that it’s been approved by MLB yet, but I heard the Braves are going to wear blue jerseys for some games this season. They haven’t decided yet when to wear them, but one option discussed is to use them as a road alternate jersey.
They won’t be the powder-blues the team wore in the ‘80s, but a new jersey with their regular dark blue. Again, none of this is official and Braves aren’t commenting unless and until it is.
A tune to start the weekend:
”SUSPICIOUS MINDS” by Mark James (sung by The King)
We’re caught in a trap
I can’t walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
When you don’t believe a word I say?
We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds
So, if an old friend I know
Drops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?
Here we go again
Asking where I’ve been
You can’t see these tears are real
I’m crying
We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And be can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds
Oh let our love survive
Or dry the tears from your eyes
Let’s don’t let a good thing die
When honey, you know
I’ve never lied to you
Mmm yeah, yeah….
Services »
