2011 MLB Season Discussion: Joey Votto MVP Edition

[Moss]

I was...responding to Trich? What makes you think I'm not excited? lol

idk you just didn't comment on it at all, and you are always quick to point out anything negative, lol

[Akiyama]

So, read your statement again. 'quick to point out anything negative'.. did I say anything negative? no? then there's your answer

but if you'd like my opinion, I think this was a very good deal considering the best prospect we gave up wasn't near our "Power 4" if you will, so it's all good to me. Also means no more McLouth/Schafer in CF.

[Moss]

So, read your statement again. 'quick to point out anything negative'.. did I say anything negative? no? then there's your answer

My point was if you are going to jump on everything negative, you should also be around when we make a great deal like this one. I hope we extend him when the time comes and he patrols CF for the foreseeable future.

[Alderaan]

Curious to see if Fredi plays Constanza in left and bats him second. That would be a ridiculous amount of speed with Bourn hitting first. It's going to be the direction to go if pitching is going to be this dominant. It's not exactly the 85 Cards (that team had 5 players with at least 30 SB's), but it's better than the station to station hitting we've been doing with our lack of power.

[Soa]

Welcome to the 10,000 loss club Braves

[Moss]

Welcome to the 10,000 loss club Braves

shhhhhhh

[Akiyama]

My point was if you are going to jump on everything negative, you should also be around when we make a great deal like this one. I hope we extend him when the time comes and he patrols CF for the foreseeable future.

Curious to see if Fredi plays Constanza in left and bats him second. That would be a ridiculous amount of speed with Bourn hitting first. It's going to be the direction to go if pitching is going to be this dominant. It's not exactly the 85 Cards (that team had 5 players with at least 30 SB's), but it's better than the station to station hitting we've been doing with our lack of power.

Until Chipper comes back, possibly. Could keep Prado at third, move Constanza to left. Then when Chipper comes back, move Constanza tot he bench, Chipper to third, Prado back to left.. then Heyward turns into the weakest link of the OF, lol

As for extending him.. he's a Boras client, so I doubt it. He'll want to see the FA market first.

and @Soa, at least we're not 1000+ games under .500 :3

[Alderaan]

The problem with Heyward is he's not getting any protection and just getting pitched around. Unfortunately he's not walking like he did last year so it compounds the situation. He's gotta figure it our or we're not going anywhere come playoff time, especially with all the lefties in Phi.

[Weeks]

The problem with Heyward is that he swings at pitches in the dirt and pops up everything thrown above the belt, and has a swing that isn't well-suited to power or average.

The bigger problem with Heyward is that he was promoted so aggressively (Both up the levels by the Braves and as the savior of mankind by ESPN) that he's never going to fix the problems with his offensive game.

[Boyiee]

But it sounds like a .30-06 when he makes contact!

[Akiyama]

The problem with Heyward is he's not getting any protection and just getting pitched around. Unfortunately he's not walking like he did last year so it compounds the situation. He's gotta figure it our or we're not going anywhere come playoff time, especially with all the lefties in Phi.

No, it's not the protection thing that's getting him. He hit in the #2 spot for a bit too and did diddly, got hurt, etc. He's got shit he's just gotta fix, and he needs people helping him fix it.

The problem with Heyward is that he swings at pitches in the dirt and pops up everything thrown above the belt, and has a swing that isn't well-suited to power or average.

The bigger problem with Heyward is that he was promoted so aggressively (Both up the levels by the Braves and as the savior of mankind by ESPN) that he's never going to fix the problems with his offensive game.

Actually, if you look at his BABIP, I think he's something like.. 60+ points below what he was last year, so that's also a reason as well. That and yeah, his huge hole in his swing. He's got the talent to see pitches, as his K:B rate indicates, he just needs to solve this whole 'making contact' thing.

[Trichocyst]

Bourn is going to be such a pain in the ass and all I can think of is how much he sucked ass when he was on the Phillies.

[Akiyama]

Sort of like Kelly Johnson in ATL. They get so much hype around them from their teams they came up with, they suck so much ass until they switch teams, and boom.

I'm just excited that Atlanta has an actual threat on base who can steal them without having to surprise people, like McCann and Chipper, lol..

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/po...yer-than-pence

Also interesting article here.

[Akiyama]

Also LOL http://deadspin.com/5826261/behold-t...jeff-francoeur

[Trichocyst]

Bourn is a great example of a player meeting the right coach. When he was here he wasn't really concerned with using his speed to get on base, stealing bases. He was a free swinging mess.

[Weeks]

Actually, if you look at his BABIP, I think he's something like.. 60+ points below what he was last year, so that's also a reason as well. That and yeah, his huge hole in his swing. He's got the talent to see pitches, as his K:B rate indicates, he just needs to solve this whole 'making contact' thing.

When you have one of the lowest line drive rates in baseball and you pop up the ball in the infield nearly 10% of the time you come to the plate, a low BABIP isn't bad luck, it's bad hitting.

[*Shinzon*]

Also Heyward has a naturally upper cut swing. It's just the way he loads up and rotates. From what I've seen when the mets play the braves it just looks like there's too much motion in his swing. I think once the league figured/figures him out until he alters his swing to be more level he's never gonna florish. It's not a problem unique to him either, he just needs someone to help him work through the mechanics.

[Conrad]

protection

lol

[Weeks]

Cardinals at Brewers. If anyone is going to call Milwaukee out on what is approaching a statistical certainty that they are cheating at home, it'd be LaRussa.

[Orph]

Cardinals at Brewers. If anyone is going to call Milwaukee out on what is approaching a statistical certainty that they are cheating at home, it'd be LaRussa.

I haven't read anything about this, what are they doing at home?