Not much. The Braves signed Brian Jordan to a minor league contract. Let us never speak of this again. Pete Orr can back up in the outfield if necessary, Thorman or Jurries could probably wear a glove and do a Klesko imitation. Billy McCarthy is still around in AAA (last I heard) after a catastrophic season in which he first stank up the joint and then suffered a season-ending injury. He’s been removed from the 40-man roster; his future is murky at best.
The only minor league outfielder on the 40-man is Josh Burrus. The Braves had to put him there or lose him, but I can’t believe anyone would have bit, because he’s sucked for most of his minor league career. A first round pick in 2001 out of — can you believe it? — a Marietta high school, Burrus was converted from third base some years ago and spent his first three years toiling in the low minors, probably because he hadn’t hit at all. He was pretty good in Myrtle Beach last year (.284/.349/.462 — remember the park) but considering that he was in his fourth year of professional baseball I’m not all that impressed, and he was overwhelmed in Mississippi. That didn’t stop the team from promoting him to Richmond, where he went 6-19. (He might not have gotten promoted except that Johnson and Francoeur had, leaving holes in the upper levels of the system.) His walk rate isn’t all that bad, but it’s not a plus, his career minor league batting average is .258, and he’s averaged about six homers a season. He might turn out to be a player, but his minor league record is less impressive than, say, George Lombard’s.
The rest of the Richmond outfield was made up of minor league bozos like Esix Snead, John Barnes, and Kerry Robinson, all of whom remember the Carter Administration and all of whom have played briefly in the majors for no readily apparent reason. They may be back in spring training, or someone just like them will. Like, I now discover, Michael Ryan and Dave Kelton. They’re probably a half step ahead of the Snead group. These guys were once legitimate prospects but stalled out in the high minors, have a couple years’ worth of Major League experience. I see no reason to prefer them to anyone currently in the majors, but they’re at least capable of playing Major League ball without embarrassing themselves too much.
After McCann and Francoeur were called up to the majors (and Scott Thorman to AAA), Mississippi suffered a power outage of Katrinaesque proportions. Other than Francoeur, their most common outfielders were Onil Joseph, Gregor Blanco, Mike Rosamond, Burrus, and Carlos Duran in that order. The five combined for 24 homers in 1401 AB. Nine were by Rosamond, a minor league journeyman; the four who could be considered “prospects” hit fifteen in 1157. But they’re all fast!
Joseph was on the 40-man roster last year but was removed when someone realized that 23-year-old outfielders who hit .249/.302/.343 in AA are not precious commodities no matter their time in the 40-yard dash. Joseph is a lousy player, always has been. Blanco is a little more interesting, largely because he’s younger. He doesn’t have any power either, but takes some walks and has hit .271 a couple of times, plus he’s very fast. His career slugging percentage of .392 is boosted by a lot of triples and speed doubles. Twenty years ago, he would have had a career; now his best chance is to either hope a meteor hits the Braves’ outfield or hook on with the Devil Rays. Duran maybe has a smidgeon more power than the other two, but that’s like comparing the respective singing abilities of Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and Ashlee Simpson, as his career minor league slugging percentage is only .390. Seriously, it’s like the Vince Coleman All Stars. Yeah, Mississippi and Richmond had to give up some players to the big club, but it wasn’t that many, and just two outfielders. Someone wasn’t doing their job, because there’s no way that a club should end the year without a single possibly useful player in their AA or AAA outfield.
Brian Jordan Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
John Barnes – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Esix Snead – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Kerry Robinson Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
Dave Kelton – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Michael Ryan – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Bill McCarthy – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Josh Burrus – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Carlos Duran – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Onil Joseph – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Gregor Blanco – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
Mike Rosamond Jr. – Baseball Statistics – Biography, Minor League Stats and Baseball Cards
I remember hearing something about Burrus getting promoted due to all the hurricanes that hit Mississippi.
Good thing we signed Michael Ryan!
P.S. The Mets just traded Kris Benson to the Orioles for Jorge Julio. Aren’t these teams adorable? I love that all the sports columnists find ways to say things like “The Mets are the clear frontrunner in the NL East” even though they do things like trade for Jorge Julio to set up Billy Wagner.
I’m so glad that we don’t have any well-run teams in our division.
I think it’s a great trade for the Mets. Kris Benson is an albatross. Trading him for any useful part is a win.
As the resident Josh Burrus fan, I must point out that he has pretty good speed, which you touched on, but also that his numbers at Myrtle Beach were quite good: .284 BA, 11 home runs, and 25 SB. Slatalamacchia had 19 home runs, yes, but he did it in 459 at bats to Burrus’ 299. I’m in no way saying Burrus should be compared as a prospect with Salty, but I’m just saying….Saltalamacchia’s status shot through the roof with his year in MB. Burrus got promoted to Mississippi and stunk it up pretty bad, did worse in Richmond, went to the AFL and got himself hurt. I’m just not willing to lump him in a group with Blanco, Joseph, and the rest of the gang. I really think Burrus has a good future. That future may not materialize for 2 or 3 more years, but I think he’s the real deal.
What’s anybody’s opinion of Matt Esquivel? I know he’s young and hasn’t seen AA yet (neither has Salty), but he’s had some good minor league numbers. Brandon Jones is another decent, albeit young, prospect. I know your column is geared more toward this year, Mac, but the near future might not be so bad in the outfield.
I would not be seen dead in Baltimore!
Well, Saltalamacchia also hit .314, and his isolated slugging percentage was higher. But the real difference is that he’s two years younger than Burrus, though 22 isn’t ridiculously old for high-A. Furthermore, Burrus had three years of poor play coming into the season.
Joey, I agree that Benson’s contract is an albatross, but if the Mets actually give Julio playing time, then he will kill them. It’s his specialty.
For some reason I ended up spending a good deal of the morning poring over 2005 AAA rosters, looking for the oldest players. I always get a kick out of hearing some of the names of players trying to latch on somewhere long after their day in the sun. Hope springing eternal and all that.
Anyway, the oldest players who got significant time in AAA (and weren’t on rehab assignments) were (age as of spring training 2006):
Pat Borders 42
Jim Bullinger 40
Trenidad Hubbard 39
Dave Burba 39
Pedro Borbon 38
Borders has been doing the Tacoma/Seattle shuffle for years now — he’s essentially been a player-coach, although I think he’s now through playing. Of course, he holds a special place in Braves lore (WS MVP 1992), but old catchers are all pretty cool in my book, which is why I’m glad we got Todd Pratt. I had no idea Hubbard was so old, and he was by far the oldest semi-regular in AAA last year. Borbon being 38 makes me feel very old indeed.
I also saw that Melvin Nieves resurfaced briefly at age 33, and even played some at AA last year, which brings him full-circle from 1992, when I saw him (and Borbon) play in Greenville, one of the greatest minor league teams in many years.
Pedro Borbon…..I worked at K Mart back in the 90’s with a guy named Kevin Jones who played with Borbon at UGA. I don’t know if Borbon went to UGA or if they just faced each other, but he knew him enough to call him “Pokey.” Jones was the 2nd baseman on a team that included Derek Liliquist. Kevin goes to my church now, and we play on the softball team together. I think he’s also the principal at our local alternative school. And his family sat next to my family this morning at IHOP. Ah, what a day.
Well, I am extremely pleased that the Braves now get to face Jorge Julio. He’s very wild and gets rattled easily, two terrible traits in a late-innings pitcher. After being forced to watch him come in and throw gas on the fire for years, it will be nice to actually benefit from it.
Oh, and I didn’t see it mentioned, but according to Rotoworld, we’ve signed Jorge Sosa to a 1-year, $2.2 million contract.
My reaction? Eh. Okay.
From ESPN.com:
Former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, now with the Baltimore Orioles, helped improve Sosa’s mechanics.
“I am where I am today thanks to Leo, because he helped turn me into the pitcher I am,” Sosa said.
Well, well. What to do with that?
Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson are likely 4th outfielders on most good major league teams (in the same sense that Wilson Betemit is for the infield). That being said, for the Braves payroll, they should suffice as does Adam Laroche. I get chills anytime I see the statement “Pete Orr can back up in the outfield if necessary”.
I am with second bass in liking Burrus. Since players are in the process of developing, one must practice care in evaluating minor league states. This is especially the case with younger players.
To say that `Burrus had three years of poor play’ is not really accurate. This was a young player trying to learn two new positions while participating in leagues made up of largely older and more experienced players. In addition,he would not be the first player to be promoted to AA during the season and struggle.
Burrus may yet be a bust, but before the injury it was clear that he was a player who had improved every year.
The real question for Burrus is the extent of his injury and what it does for his subseqent development.
In my opinion Esquivel is on the bubble. Going into last season, there was some excitement(on the internet at least) about both Matt Esquivel and Steve Doetsch. I think both with be at AA and each will have to work hard to establish himself. Both of these outfielders still have a chance to become valuable prospects.
Jay, while Johnson probably isn’t ready to be an elite regular, he’s young enough and has a broad enough base of skills to be a good one. Everybody (even the Yankees!) has at least one regular who’s below-average. If Johnson or Langerhans is the Braves’ worst regular next year the team will probably lead the league in runs scored.
Burba, of course, helped the Giants blow the division in ’93… Jim’s brother Kirk resurfaced with the Astros in 2004, had a memorable game where he came in as a reliever in the second inning when Darren Oliver got hurt and shut the Braves down for three innings, should have gotten the win but the bullpen blew it for them. There, I’ve linked everybody.
I’ll reiterate… Burrus improved last season, but his record isn’t very good, and isn’t as good as Lombard’s — or Damon Hollins’ or any number of other guys who never made it. That’s not to say he can’t make it, but the odds are not in his favor.
Marte just got traded for Coco Crisp. Poor guy. At least he’s been at home in the Dominican.
can you supply the link, because i cant find it anywhere
Sure.
Sox reach deal for CF Crisp
So, does that mean Langerhans is going to the Indians for Riske?
Have you started practicing Renteria now, Kyle, so that your new handle is no longer appropriate? How do I convert?
Poor Andy Marte. He’s been bounced around quite a lot. But it could be worse. At least the Braves, Red Sox, and Indians are all good teams.
I’m just about to start reading Bill James *latest* historical abstract. I’ll get back to you all in about a month when I’ve waded through all 983 pages.
And no, kc, the Indians are getting Jason Michaels. Possibly for Riske, it’s not clear yet, but we aren’t involved.
Mrs. Benson on the trade: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/sports/baseball/22benson.html
The Herald says it’s Arthur Rhodes or Rafael Betancourt going to Philly for Michaels.
Who is Marte going to be traded for next? Pablo Ozuna? Sheesh.
The Indians are about to start winning a lot of games for a number of years. I’d give my firstborn for Hafner, Sizemore, Peralta, and Marte all in one lineup, and that Millwood-Sabathia-Lee-Westbrook rotation sure doesn’t suck.
Oh, I forgot Millwood signed with the Rangers.
Joey, you can replace Millwood with Paul Byrd, which the rotation is still pretty decent. Adding Victor Martinez into the group, the Indians are one of the very few examples in recent years to sucessfully rebuild their franchise through trading old veterans and acquring prospects.
Our ‘ol Buddy Andy gets moved again, eh? So I suppose you folks who blasted Schuerholz are going to declare the Red Sox the second biggest bunch of idiots in the galaxy for trading away this future hall of famer for a box of cereal to play centerfield? DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE GUYS ON S.O.S.H. ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS? OMG!!!!!!
The Sox are going to be hating themselves when Lowell and Crisp are posting sub-.750 OPS. I’m not sure Lowell will even break .700, and I think Crisp is overrated.
Marte is now in a very good situation. He should be starting, or at least playing regularly, in the majors in a town with less pressure on a winning team. I look forward to rooting for Cleveland.
Why is Marte so undervalued?
Well, if they’re trading him for Coco Crisp and thinking it’s a good deal, they’re undervaluing him.
Last night I dreamed John Schuerholz quit. And then Bobby talked him into coming back but only for a few months and then he was going to retire. I hope it’s not an omen 😉
Was anyone watching the sports reporters this morning on ESPN? At the beginning they had lupica, albom, and michael kay on and then all of a sudden kay is gone and whitlock is there. Weird
A great many Cleveland fans seem to be really upset with the Crisp-Marte deal as well. Does Crisp really have anything other than a marketing-friendly name that explains why they’d be so attached to him?
Heck, at this rate maybe we can trade Langerhans to the Indians and get Marte back…
Ach, you beat me to it drew, but that would be the best possible outcome.
That’s a pipe dream, but it would be awesome.
Yeah, I dunno about this. It seemed reasonable when I thought Crips was crazy young (like 22 or something), but it turns out he’s 26. And great defensively or not (I think he’s pretty good, but I don’t think he’s a “tops in the league” type of guy), you’ve got to wonder if that OPS will ever get on the good side of .900 for more than a year or two.
Perhaps there is something up with Marte’s arm. Either way, it’s now looking like the Sox dumped Renteria and gobs of cash for a good, young CF rather than a stud 3B prospect. So they solved one problem (CF) by creating another (Alex Gonzalez…).
Here’s a good story about Andruw. Wonder if Bobby Cox knows about this. I know many will get mad at that statement, but I never heard an apology, just a sweep under the rug, and that makes me angry.
Just heard about Kris Benson getting traded to Baltimore for Jorge Julio and the prospect John Maine. Looks like they dumped him and his salary.
Good story, Josh. Thanks for the link.
Josh that was funny.
Wow the Mets pitching went from so-so, to ha ha ha! Julio sucks and Benson, while not so good, coudl have been a soild #3 or 4 guy, maybe. Nah!
I don’t get why you would think that story was funny. To me it seems like some of you think the players and the Braves can’t do any good, and then when it appears they do you laugh at them or something else. I’m sure Bobby does know about what Andruw is doing. The question is why do you think he’s supposed to let the entire world into his marriage? Was he supposed to appologize to you or something?
Assuming Josh was referring to Cox’s domestic history:
1. While a public admission and apology would have been a stand-up thing to do, I don’t think it was necessary. His wife is the only person he truly needed to make amends to. I hope he did.
2. It was, what, 10 years ago? Time to put away the anger, I think.
3. I certainly don’t get the humor of the situation, in any case.
4. Way to go, Andruw. It’s a great thing you’re doing — count it.
I thought the part where Josh said, “Wonder if Bobby Cox knows about this.” was they funny part, well more Ironic
There was an article in the AJC two years ago (July 11, 2004, by Mark Bradley, if you have Lexis-Nexis or something; here’s a link that may work if you subscribe to the AJC archives) about Bobby that briefly mentioned the domestic violence thing. It sounds like his wife forgives him.
Here’s what the article says:
[Bobby Cox] refuses to discuss the 1995 incident that ended with his being arrested and charged with simple battery. Pam had called 911 during an argument, claiming her husband had pulled her hair. The two underwent counseling and the charge was dropped.
“We have one argument in 25 years of marriage and it gets in the paper,” Pam Cox says. “I’m not proud of it, but we’ve worked hard to put our marriage back together. I tell the children, ‘It’s not a mistake if you make it a learning experience.’ “
It looks like the link doesn’t work; anyway, the title is “Cox’s great escape: The farm.”
I’ve never been able to figure out the real dogging on Burrus. His first three years were forgettable, but he was a 17-year old HS grad and when you see guys like the Owings brothers (not a slam on the Owings family, but simply a realization that there is a growing spread in HS graduation ages) who were 19-year-old HS grads, it’s difficult to put those guys on equal footing coming out of HS. It just takes some guys longer, especially when they are switching positions.
I think the reason he was promoted to Richmond is that the last week of the M-Braves season was totally washed out due to Katrina and the Braves had promoted a ton of guys and Kerry Robinson had a contract provision that allowed him to declare himself a free agent. Unless the Braves re-signed him after the season, he is somewhere else.
All that being said, I was surprised that Burrus was included on the 40-man. He hurt his shoulder in Arizona and the injury required surgery. He might not be ready for spring training or the start of the regular season.
If Langerhans or Johnson moves to Cleveland for Riske or someone else, Michael Ryan is probably going to get a long look. I watched him quite a bit up here in Minnesota and he has a nice swing and a little pop. Not much of a fielder. On the other hand, he could be one of those guys who “looks” like a ballplayer, but cannot “play” like one.
A few years ago, I might have been more excited about Burrus, but the Braves just have better prospects right now. He isn’t even in BA’s top ten.
I’ve been away, but a couple of comments:
1) Don’t forget about Jeremy Sowers with Cleveland. He’s the real deal. Something like a 140-20 K/BB ratio in AA/AAA last year. The Indians should be tough for quite a while.
2) I think we have to assume that Jason Whitlock ate Michael Kay.
Thanks Another Alex R for the 2004 story. My main problem with the Bobby issue was that I had only heard unverified reports that he pushed his wife down some stairs. I had never heard that story where he actually addressed the issue. I have no problem letting go of it with that knowledge now. I know that it was a private matter between a married couple, but when you are a professional athlete/celebrity, how domestic abuse is handled has a profound effect on the expectations of non-celebrity victims. It always seemed that the whole organization wanted to pretend the event never happened, which didn’t seem right to me once the police call was made public. I guess this is asking too much, but I wish Bobby, and not his wife, had just said, “I pulled her hair in an argument. I shouldn’t have done it and I am sorry. She forgave me and she didn’t have to.” Oh well.