Kelly Johnson has a 21 game hitting streak, great, except that in the past 21 games the Braves have had no pressure on them to win. I think Kelly can be a good player but he needs to do more when the Braves are still in the hunt. Kelly has been a hitter that goes in terrible slumps and then times where he can't buy an out. I just hope that he can continue this hitting into the offseason and start next year like he is ending this year. Good 2B are hard to find in the majors, and if Kelly Johnson puts up a consistent .286 12hr 68rbi year next year it will be a good year. Please avoid those horrible slumps is what I am trying to say to you Kelly Johnson. Also, to add to this point, Martin Prado and Omar Infante can be starters in this league on other teams, the only problem is it is hard for them to start on the same team because the lack of power. We have a logjam of utility players, and I am interested to see what happens, I like them all but a Kelly Johnson, Martin Prado, Omar Infante infield is not possible, unless we turn into the small ball Twins.
My prediction of what the Braves will look like in the field next year, our problem will be the pitching staff, we will probably go after Burnett.....
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Anderson/Shaffer CF
Escobar SS
Chipper 3B
Holliday/Bay LF
McCann C
Kotchman 1B
Francoeur RF
Johnson/Prado/Infante 2B
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The Joe
4 comments:
I have liked KJ sometimes and sometimes I think he is a big baby. I don't know him so I cant judge his character but I can judge his tools and potential. I think he is a good second baseman who is finally finding a home and getting comfortable at this position in Atlanta, and I think the Braves are lucky to have him and he is extremely lucky to be a Brave. Hopefully he remembers this. I also believe as he continues to mature, get 500 at bats a year, he will be more consistent and help the Braves in years to come offensively from the left side, defensively becoming more fund. sound, and on the bases with his speed. He has good veteran potential. I like Prado, and Infante, who has definitely surprised me all year. A clutch player, a starter, keep him if you can. Get some guns, and some power, and bring some young studs up...Switch things up, it cant get much worse.
GO RAYS!!!
Not sure if we have a chance at Bay. I just don't know who the RedSox would replace him with. With no Manny and Ortiz falling off, the Sox are in need of power too, unless they go after Burrell, who would probably be a good fit in the small LF of Fenway. I like that lineup w/ Kelly at 2nd and Omar as our super utility guy. Go after Burnett and Lackey, sign Smoltz, Glavine and Hampton to incentive based contracts. With Jurjens and Campillo, Glavine, Hampton, Burnette/Lackey, we will have a good rotation. The bullpen will be interesting with Smoltz going into it. Who will close? Has Gonzalez earned it? Has Soriano? Should Smoltz get it? Not sure I would go for Holliday, his stats outside of Coors aren't very good. Kind of like a Dante Bichette or Vinny Castilla. Good hitters at Coors. We have Chipper, Brian, Jeff that can be 20 hr guys, Kotchman, Kelly, Yuni 15 hr guys, Anderson in CF and get a LF, we should be fine. Our problem has been clutch hitting, not necessarily hrs. We need good fundamental baseball.
Not to mention, we have a lot of people we could trade. Brandon Jones, Martin Prado, Chuck James, JoJo Reyes, Rafael Brent Lillibridge, Gorkys Hernandez/Schafer/Anderson, etc. And please release Corky Miller. I actually blame him for the season. Who in the hell hits sub 100 and still gets to play. I would have walked out on the field and slapped his ass if I was Cox.
That should have said Rafael Soriano, not Rafael Brent Lillibridge.
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