Happy Bobby Valentine day everybody! Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the roast beef and be sure to tip your staff writers. Here are some links for Monday night..
- Melissa Segura of SI (via Twitter) reminds us that some of baseball's elite international free agents will be playing in Tuesday's Dominican International League All-Star Game.
- From all indications, Michael Young isn't a fit for the Marlins, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star (via Twitter) is "99-percent sure" that the postponement of Jose Bautista's arbitration hearing will result in a multiyear deal. The session, originally scheduled for Monday, has been pushed back until Friday.
- It's not yet known why Elmer Dessens' deal with the Giants fell through but Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that when a team is tightlipped on such matters, it could mean they did not like something in the physical.
- Braves infielder Martin Prado was hesitant about changing positions to accommodate the arrival of Dan Uggla but is now comfortable with the move to left field, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman.
- The Twins have been impressed by Felix Jorge's development over the last few months, writes Kelly Thesier of MLB.com.
please stop citing Griffin. He is terrible
He is an arrogant clod. He refuses to admit his mistakes, and his commentary is the journalistic equivalent of pablum. Nothing insightful, never any original info. He’s a terrible example of tenure, because if he was trying to work his way up in the modern era, he’d never make it.
you sir, just rocked my world. I never heard of it summed up so nicely
He is brutal, but im hoping he’s right , get bautista locked up!
“Prado spelled backwards is Nitram Odarp!” – Will Ohman
Why isn’t Uggla moving to left instead of Prado? When did Uggla become a diva?
Because Uggla would break his leg on the first day in left.
I was curious about this situation as well. Why not just move one or the other to SS as opposed to the OF where neither of them are comfortable at all? SS seems the logical solution here. Then again, I know little of the Braves so perhaps they have someone better suited there? It doesn’t make sense to me to shift a successful middle-infielder to the outfield unless that’s the case.
Prado is a very versatile player but he does not play shortstop, center or catcher, which are more specialized positions. Uggla’s defense at second base is widely considered below average, a move to short would likely prove disastrous.
Prado has OF winter ball experience, while Uggla had just 20 games in the OF when playing AA ball 7 years ago. That, and Uggla has the defensive range of a potted plant.
The ideal scenario is that Uggla plays LF and Prado plays 2B on days that Hudson and Lowe are on the mound, and then the rest of the time keep Prado in LF and Uggla at 2B.
It’ll never happen, and Uggla would be terrible in the outfield. But the Braves have dealt with Garret Anderson, Melky Cabrera, Nate McLouth, Eric Hinske, Gary Sheffield, Matt Diaz, Greg Norton, Brandon Jones, Gregor Blanco, Ryan Langerhans, Brian Jordan, Kelly Johnson, and Raul Mondesi in recent years. I think the Braves aren’t too concerned with defensively liabilities in LF.
Brian Jordan was actually a Plus defender in his days if you go back and check. And Blanco/Langerhans weren’t terrible either. But yeah…the braves have gone through plenty of poor defending LF’ers in recent years.
I’m 100 percent sure that Griffin is an uncredible clown.
Probably won’t matter anyways. Wouldn’t surprise me to see Chipper get injured again and Prado moves to 3B while Eric Hinske plays LF.
This arrangement will definitely happen in at least 20 games this season, even if it’s only as a preventative measure to Chipper from injury.
If/when Chipper goes down, I doubt the Braves stick with Hinske or Mather in LF. I think if Prado has to move to 3B, a couple of these young arms are finally gonna be moved, unless it’s near the end of the season already. This is one of the many reasons I hope Jordan Schafer is back to his old self and/or Matt Young can contribute with the bat.
From all indications, Michael Young isn’t a fit for anyone! NUFF SAID!
ok
I’m starting to feel bad Michael Young a little bit. A well respected player by his peers who just happens to be aging and it shows in his defense and his bloated contract doesn’t help his matters. The feeling of not being wanted by any MLB teams must drive him crazy inside. Hopefully some of paychecks cheer him up.
YES! Here’s hoping Bautista gets locked up!
I find it hard to believe people don’t want Michael Young. They just don’t want to pay $16M/yr for his services.
SS is one of those positions where you need a guy in there who is comfortable at that position. Don’t get me wrong, the possibility of subbing AGon for a LFer in our lineup would be awesome, but not at the cost defensively of sticking Prado at short. We have enough defensive liabilities for the time being.