ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Braves at Nationals
John Thomson’s quest to go through the entire season without a decision continues, as the Braves again rallied to win after he’d left the game having pitched well but trailing.
L’il Tony Armas three-hit the Braves for 6 1/3, but in the eighth they got three runs off of Gary Majewski. Martin Prado (who had walked twice earlier) got his first career hit with a leadoff triple. Diaz couldn’t get him home, but Orr drew a walk, bringing up Betemit, who hit a 1-2 fastball over the wall in right center.
Bobby tried to get a two-inning save from Reitsma, but you can imagine. He gave up two hits in the eighth (one of the infield variety) and left with two on in the ninth. Remlinger came in and got Nick Johnson for the save.
Thomson wasn’t as sharp as he’d been, allowing seven hits and five walks, but got a couple of double plays and pitched out of jams all night. Cormier pitched a perfect seventh for his first win as a Brave.
The Braves host the Brewers for three starting tonight. Chipper should be activated Tuesday, at which time Prado probably will be sent down, though he should probably hit a homer tonight to make sure. Renteria wanted to play last night.
Thomson gave up five runs? Walks, maybe?
Mac,
You mean seven hits and five walks, not runs.
2 minor quibbles with the recap:
1) Prado’s second walk came in the ninth, which was after the triple, not before.
2) The Brewers host the Braves this series. The games are in Milwaukee.
Last night was a great win. Any win with that line-up is a great win.
Prado looks like he could be a decent player in a few years. He has a good eye and plays solid defense. He might already be better than Orr is now.
This is early in the morning for Mac…he’s clearly tired.
And can I just say how happy I am that Oscar the thief didn’t steal a win? I feel for Thomson.
By the way, what is it about RFK that just puts our hitters to slkeep…that stadium is so cavernous and depressing, it has a real negative effect on the team and the offense. I really don’t think it’s just the 3 guys missing.
I am hoping a nice, newer stadium like Miller Park will wake the boys the up tonight.
Yeah, Kyle, a rookie drawing 2 walks in his first big-league game is a great sign.
If the Braves get through this month with a .500 record, it will be a real accomplishment. We’ve lost 3/4 of the infield, twice as many games on the road as at home, and there always seems to be bad weather.
I have to say though, last night’s strike zone was as tight as I’ve ever seen. Which didn’t exactly help guys like Thomson and Reitsma who love to nibble.
It was tight and inconsistent. Really bad umpiring. If we’d lost, I’d probably be complaining about it a lot more.
Any chance we see Dan Kolb tonight?
Typo, which happens when you’re in a hurry. I’ll fix it.
Chip Caray mentioned on the radio last night that HP UMP Bruce Froeming was within about 350 games of setting the record with the most games ever umpired. Last night was something like 4,915 or so. Froeming has always stunk behind the plate, and has mesed up, IMO, most of the close calls he has ever been involved with, (at leats the ones I have seen). It amazes me that someone as bad at his job has he is can be allowed to do it for so long.
If you divide Prado’s walks by Francouer’s, you get infinity. That’s good, right? Prado also just missed a double in his first AB, but was robbed by Johnson on a hard grounder down the first base line. He looked like he had some trouble catching up with a good fastball but otherwise had a nice sense of what he could do with the pitches he saw. I didn’t see the triple; what happened there? Does he run well?
It went to the wall, Kyle. Prado is fast, though probably not as fast as Orr or Langerhans.
As for the stadium, I just assumed that the Braves weren’t going to have a nine-game road trip already. Let me think… They’ve played six at home and 12 (with the rainout) on the road so far.
Another thing I thought was nice about Prado was, on Schneider’s slow grounder in the 9th, he came up w/ it and took his time. Nice to see a kid in his first game be so aware of who’s running.
And, I think his walk in the 9th came after 2 first pitch swinging outs by “established vets” Francouer and McCann. Pretty fun.
Sale is close to being completed. I dont know how good it will be for another corp. to have the Braves.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/braves/stories/0424bravessale.html
Kyle, it was a gapper in right center that both fielders took bad angles on. Guillen came up with it at the wall and had no chance of getting him even with his arm. Prado slid but he could have gone in standing.
I was at the game and was mostly interested in watching Betemit play short. My conclusion? We are going to regret the Marte trade. Betemit is more than adequate at short: he may several very athletic plays, including an airborne tag of a runner on the helmet when McCann’s throw sailed.
Francoeur’s arm and legs saved a run in the eighth. Vidro hit a hard single and then Johnson scorched one ( I think it was those two, but a little fuzzy) that had extra bases all over it. Francoeur ran it down and rifled it in to save first and third. Neither scored.
Hay Evrywan!
Aye aim exictted two sea the Brafes inn town ass weal ass my oald freind, winston the watercooler. Aye hope aye hafe a goad searries against u all and pitch reelly well.
Aye also hope dat Bobby breangs hiss famass cheasebugers and BBCue two town four me two eat. Aye lake foode ay laot!
Love,
DAN.
this might have already been posted – I dont know.
McBride to work in Richmond
The original plan was for Macay McBride to come off the DL and rejoin the Braves this weekend in Washington. That changed after the left-hander gave up five runs in a two-inning appearance Wednesday at Class AA Mississippi.
Healo Aagin,
Doss anywan hafe aany infourmadion on muy oald freend, Raoul Mandesi? Aye misse hime.
DAN.
It was a fun game to watch. Thompson gutted it out as he struggled with his control, but he kept all his pitches down. If even a third of the pitches at the knees would’ve been strikes, he’d have thrown a gem. But who knows what Freoming’s strike zone will be in any given inning!
Benemit is a major leagur hitter. Believe it.
Bobby sent LaRoche on a hit and run and the batter struck out trying to make contact. Then the catcher dropped the ball, kicked it away, sneezed, blew his nose on his sleeve, sighed, and threw the slowest guy in baseball out by three feet.
That may be a slight exaggeration.
I gotta love Bobby, though. The thing he has figured out is that nobody else in our division has a clue what to do yet. The Melts (sic) have won some games, but showed their true colors last weekend.
Let Bobby fiddle with 12 relievers if he wants. When the weather warms up. so will the Braves.
Bobby can mix & match all the relievers he wants, but at the end of the day, we are going to have to find a closer. A stopper who can blow people away, ala Smoltz for three years.
There are a few teams with several great bullpen arms who simply aren’t being used.
One pitcher who has not been given much of a role with nasty stuff is a kid named Brandon McCarthy with the White Sox. He easily has the talent and makeup to come in here and be our closer. Wiht Bobby Jenks and a deep rotation, it doesn’t see McCarthy is getting the chance–yet when he pitches, he’s nasty.
There are other guys around Baseball like him. It’s worth looking at teams with deep pitching and lackluster hitting. The Oakland A’s come to mind…there’s clearly 3-4 good arms there I am sure Billy Beane would have no issue handing out for some hitting.
Whether Mac wants to hear this or not, Beane would probably love to go for a player like Kelly Johnson. An OBP machine and a guy without a position. Sure, Francouer may need more minor league work, but it’s not happening and Langerhans and Andruw are fine in their spots. It maybe worth considering to deal Kelly Johnson for a nasty young arm that can come in here and be a true 9th inning stopper.
We simply aren’t going to be able to stay in the race over a full season with Chris Reitsma as closer. And no one else in the bullpen seems to have the make up or stuff just right for that role. It’s a shame Houston is doing so well because if they had been bad this year, they may have dealt Brad Lidge but that’s not happening.
Kevin,
I have always thought the Braves were like the weather too. Start off slow in the cold, heat up in July, coll off again in October.
cool no coll
Top Rumor: The Marlins offered Dontrelle Willis to the Mets for David Wright. The real “Face of Baseball” for the new Derek Jeter? Blockbuster, but the Mets quickly turned it down. (via Newsday)
Prado’s debut should not be all that surprising. He has looked good for a couple of years–I think he has a chance to be a very solid player.
To change the subject, I hope that McBride is not rushed to Atlanta. I suspect that the Braves might well pay for twice bringing Devine up too early.
Has anyone noticed that the Braves do have a reliever who is eating up the minors? Will Startup has been nothing short of `Lights Out’ at AA–having only spent one game at the Beach. In 8.2 innings he is 2-0 with 14 Ks and 1 walk, without giving up a run.
Ok, I know there is about a 0.1% chance of this happening, but Wilson Beta-Meat needs to be an everyday player. I know that as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow, Bobby will plant him back on the bench as soon as everyone is healthy, but this guy is much more valuable to us as a starter than LaRoche (and I have never been a LaRoche-basher). LaRoche is what he is, and I don’t think he’s getting a whole lot better. Beta-Meat has shown that he can hit for average with a little bit of power, not to mention that he is a switch hitter. I know that his value as Chipper’s back-up is high, especially since Chipper seems to get injured more and more, but I just happen to be of the opinion that you should put your best team on the field as often as possible. I personally think Beta-Meat’s defense is underrated, but even if he IS an average defensive third baseman/shortstop, I would have to think that translates into a pretty good defensive first baseman. Maybe we could trade LaRoche to the Cubs (if they want him) and stick Wilson at first, or at least use a platoon to get this guy some more at-bats. Unlike some who post here, I will admit that I know much less about baseball than Bobby Cox, John Schuerholz and the rest of the Braves’ front office, but I just think it’s painfully obvious that Beta-Meat is a darn good player, and a MUCH better hitter than our starting first baseman. I know others have expressed the same opinion, but any thoughts?
Tennessee-
Reading your email I stood up at my desk here in Virginia and CLAPPED.
I agree with you 110%. Amen & preach on, brother.
First, Betemit has shown me a lot defensively. I am not sure where the whole “Betemit is an average fielder” thing comes from. He seems solid to me…so he doesn’t make spectacular plays like Furcal did. Who the F cares?
Second, he’s just a great all around hitter…he will hit .290 or better all year (as said switch hitter) and I think full time he hits 20 homers. He’s got enough pop and is smart enough to do this.
Third, LaRoche sucks. He’s an average defender (and until I see it with my own eyes, why does Cox assume LaRoche would be a better first baseman defensively then Betemit?) and the only thing he has is some power…but a mediocre average and terrible on base ability while striking out way too often in key situations.
Betemit saved our bacon last night and deserves a better fate then Chipper’s caddy when Jones returns. It’s simply not fair.
If Chipper gets hurt again, then Betemit can move back across the diamond and we can stick LaRoche back at first (if there are no other options). But if Chipper is healthy, we will then be able to assemble one of the best starting offensive teams in the game with Chipper, Edgar, Marcus, Betemit, Andruw, Langy, Mccann and Frenchy. That’s the group I would like to see gel.
Anyway, I am just repeating the wonderful words displayed by Tennessee Brave but its rather maddening that our worst regular hitter, LaRoche, is Andruw’s protection with or without the stud infielders who are injured.
Betemit would make a GREAT everyday 5th place hitter.
gah! the braves are gettin worse and worse without chipper jones ill be happy when he’s back I LOVE YOU CHIPPER JONES!!! your the best now and always!! hope to see you back soon!
-Shy-
Alex, you are right about Brandon McCarthy–I would love to have him, but he was such a hot prospect that I’m afraid the asking price for him would be untenably high. They’re burying him, totally misusing him, but even though Kenny Williams is a crappy GM he’s not crappy enough to trade us McCarthy.
Then again, JS has proved me wrong before. Here’s hoping…
2 things, Alex:
1) What job do you have, where standing up and clapping at your computer doesn’t get you fired?
2) You don’t completely agree with TN Brave, because he claims not to be smarter than Bobby Cox and, well, we all know where you stand on the skipper.
I saw Startup pitch last weekend… he looked very good! ..very promising!
Stu,
2 things:
1. That was a typical obnoxious note aimed at me that you promised you would stop.
2. I think anyone with half a brain knows that I was merely speaking metphorically about the clapping thing…but I did read Tennessee’s note and say yes a lot.
And here’s question for you…why do you always need to be judge and jury of everything I say?
Now, onto more important things.
AAR–Mac thinks it will be impossible to get McCarthy, even from a dolt like Kenny Williams…I agree with both of you. Still, it’s exactly the kind of stud that isn’t being used right or enough that we desperately need!!!
I mean, what kind of justified world let’s Oscar Villareal have a nightly job stealing wins where a stud talent like McCarthy is collecting dust? It kills me that we can’t get a guy like that!!!!
Betemit at first really wouldn’t be that much of an upgrade over LaRoche. His value comes from hitting better than most middle infielders while being able to handle SS defensively. But at the corners, you want power, and Betemit simply doesn’t have a lot of power.
Can Startup blow it by people or is he more a spot pitcher?
Also, why dont we just send LaRoche to Richmond. Put Betemit at first and keep Prado and Orr for our utility guys in case Chipper, Renteria, or Giles gets hurt. Prado looks pretty solid and even he might have more value than LaRoche at this point.
…
Steffen, I dont think power is what we need at 1st right now. We just need production and thats what Betemit would give us. I would definitely take .300 & 20HR’s from our fist baseman. That is much improvement from the .240 & 25 HR’s we might get from LaRoche.
I don’t want Bete-Meat to move to first, I want Chipper to move to first. I think Bete-Meat is better at third than Chipper. First base is harder than it looks, but I think Chipper would be great over there. He is athletic enough to learn to play it well and the injury risk is a lot lower over at first (save Lee for the Cubs) than at third.
I agree w/ Stephen wrt. betemit at 1b. we’ve been over this before, and no one other than Mac was willing to project Betemit and LaRoche that far apart offensively. A good hitter at SS is a lot different than even a mediocre hitter for a 1B.
—
easy on kenny, alex. he’s so dumb that his team won the WS last year.
Steffen,
Nick Johnson is a pretty valuable first baseman for the Nationals right? Other then maybe having a defensive edge, I see Betemit giving a similar offensive output as Johnson does for the Nats at first.
Wouldnt you rather have Nick Johnson then Adam laRoche? Most Baseball fans would.
The bottomline is that even if there are better power hitters at first (Konerko, Howard, Delgado, etc.) Betemit is a good all aorund offensive player and the most important factor, Steffen, is this:
Wilson Betemit is a far superior Baseball player on every single level to Adam LaRoche.
You cannot defend Laroche’s mediocre defense and below average offense at all. he is what he is and it’s not very good. Betemit–very good.
honestly… I don’t remember since that was the first game of Mississippi’s that I went to, but I don’t remember seeing any pitches from anyone over 92…. maybe a 93 and 94 here and there.
I’m going to try and go see them again not this weekend but next and now that I’m more familiar with some of the players I can pay more attention and I’ll come back with better reviews.
I say this as one of Wilson’s earliest and most ardent fans on this board – He does not hit enough for first base. If Chipper agreed to go to first, he’d be perfect at third. As a stopgap this year, if LaRoche were finally dispensed with, I could see it for a while. Ultimately though, despite the fact that he is probably a better hitter than some of the other stiffs we’ve run out in slugger positions (Brogna, Jordan v2, Mondesi, LaRoche), Wilson just won’t have the power of an avg – above avg slugger. I’d rather see him traded (regrettably) for a proper offensive 1B if JS is bent on running Chipper and Rentaria out there for the next two seasons.
Kyle,
I don’t deny the White Sox have a great team but Kenny Williams over his career has made a lot of dumb moves. But to be fair, he did win a World Series so dumb is harsh. (though a lot of people think this). He’s average.
As for Chipper to first…fine…at the end of the day, this is about Betemit being in the lineup each day over Laroche. Whomever they put at first is inconsequential. I am saying Betemit there because Chipper seems unwilling to move at this point and as long as we have both their terrific bats in the lineup, fine.
And this point needs to be hammered home with a SLEDGEHAMMER.
the difference, offensively between LaRoche and Betemit is night & day, folks.
The power is maybe different by about 5-6 home runs at BEST.
The batting average and on base % (not to mention Wilson being a switch hitter) is VASTLY different.
And so what if don’t have a 40 homer Delgado type first baseman…Laroche isnt that either. The point is that Betemit, offensively, is in Nick Johnson territory (something Adam could only dream of if he could focus long enough) and I would love to have no real hole in the lineup. Adam is a gaping hole.
Ok, my head is going to pop off this makes me so angry.
Some of you keep saying Betemit doesn’t hit enough for first.
WELL WHY IN GOD’S NAME DO ANY OF YOU THEN THINK THAT LAROCHE DOES??????
I DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS?
(the caps were for Stu’s benefit)
But seriously, for the love of God, why do people keep saying Betemit doesn’t hit enough for first…are we all watching 2 different players here? Why do any of you think laRoche does? Laroche SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS.
Ok…does Betemit (with his .300 avg. and 20 homer power) hit enough for third? And then Chipper at third?
I have never seen a group of people close their eyes so much.
Why would anyone (other then Mr. and Mrs. Laroche) want to see Adam Laroche in the lineup over Wilson Betemit? why?
Betemit, MLB career: .282/.344/.404
Johnson, MLB career: .270/.388/.447
There is a huge, huge difference between Betemit and Johnson as hitters. That’s what Spike is talking about. To be sure, Adam LaRoche is no Nick Johnson… but Betemit isn’t either.
For comparison purposes:
LaRoche, MLB career: .264/.324/.472
…and Betemit has not had that many MLB at bats, now has he? But in the breif cup of coffee the Braves have given him, he’s shown everyone that he’s not only a more well rounded offensive (and defensive0 player then LaRoche, he’s also far more reliable in the clutch.
Your sample size is simply not big enough since Wilson is still only 24 and has not been allowed to be a regular for very long.
Yet, LaRoche has never ever earned his regular status and yet we stick his lazy ass back out there, every day.
I mean, are we simply watching 2 different games?
Will Startup is the man!! My daughter loves the guy (she is 8, and he was a great guy at Rome last year….really friendly and what not…he made a life long fan out of her and the rest of the family). Along those lines, we are planning to go to Montgomery next weekend to see the M Braves play and hopefully see Will pitch at least one more time. I’m getting worried he’ll get moved up before we get there, which would be great for him, but stink for us.
Seriously, I’ve said it before, I hope they don’t rush him like they did Devine.As for his pitching style, he is striking out a LOT more guys tthis year than last. Last year he did the job, but with fewer strikeouts.
Betemit is on 20-homer pace now, 16 games into the season. Of course, Albert Pujols is on 99-homer pace, so I think we should discount this season’s numbers somewhat by past performance. If we use WB’s career HR/AB and project 550 ABs, we get:
9.59 estimated home runs
If you think he’s improved 50% over that, that’s still 15 home runs. (of course, 20 homer power doesn’t mean anything in itself; Brian Giles didn’t hit 20 homers last year while Adam LaRoche did, for example).
Kyle, there is absolutely no reason to think Betemit can’t hit 20+ homers over a regular season, playing everyday.
I mean honestly, there is nothing Laroche does well…why would people defend this guy?
It doesn’t matter how many dingers the WB hits, as long has the slack is picked up some where else. I think Giles’s and Renteria’s pop would account for the difference, I bet Andruw would kick him a couple of shots as well. If the kid can hit, then the kid can hit and he needs to be in there.
Another point is LaRoche hasn’t been terible this season and hasn’t played his way out of the line-up yet either. We don’t have anyone else who has played really any first base. LaRoche is better with the glove at first than Jordan, Chipper, Betemit, or Brian Hunter at this point, so we can’t trade him right now. If there is going to be a switch then it would have to come next year.
I’m sorry, but I really just don’t understand this notion that “you need to have power hitters at the corners.” Says who? Don’t base hits drive in runs just like home runs? And for goodness sakes, Wilson Betemit is not Adam Everett, folks. He CAN hit the ball out of the park (see last night).
In my opinion, here’s what LaRoche gives us at the plate:
(1) Occasionally long, towering, beautiful home runs to right field,
(2) Weak, opposite field blooper-type pop-ups that are usually caught,
(3) GIDP’s and (drumroll please)
(4) many, many strikeouts.
When was the last time you saw LaRoche hit a nice, hard line drive in the gap? Seriously?
Betemit (or Beta-Meat) can still give us some homers, hit for a high average, get on base more often, foil pitcher matchups, and be much more effective on the basepaths.
Saying LaRoche is better with the glove then Jordan is like saying North Korea is less of a threat then Iran. At the end of the day, they are both threats.
The bottomline is, we need the best lineup. Period. Betemit and Chipper have shown me enough to believe that there’s no reason to doubt that they would be no worse at first then LaJordan (who’s not very good at first) so why not improve our offense?
Tennessee-
Again, well said. Thank Goodness there are people on here with some common sense.
You would think Adam LaRoche is Carlos Delgado the way some talk about him. His defense isn’t that good and I can’t see how Chipper or Betemit would be any worse.
And by the way, people talk about power in a lineup? The White Sox won the World Series last year wihtout a ton of power. They had Konerko and a bunch of solid OBP type guys with speed. And still won.
Betemit…great OBP, solid defense, 20 homer power, clutch player. Nuff said.
Intentionally or not, you guys are missing my (and many others)point – the question isn’t LaRoche v Betemit at first (again, I would agree with this as a short term thing). It’s Betemit v who else could we get to play there. I would again, very regrettably, trade Wilson for a real 1B power guy (assuming age/money are roughly equal). Betemit’s value is that he hits well AND can play the middle IF/3B. Johnson for example, way outhits him but can’t play short. We need a Johnson starting more than a Betemit subbing, imho.
LaRoche is not Keith Hernandez at first, but he is better with the glove than Jordan. I would love to see Chipper over at first, it should have happened this past spring, but I think it might be too much to ask someone to learn a new position at this point of the season.
It is not like LaRoche is 0-the season, he hasn’t been terrible (not great either.) Bobby isn’t going to sit him until he starts sucking up the joint and we find someone who canplay first everyday, which we don’t have.
Smitty & Spike-
We understand your points. I also agree that Bobby won’t sit LaRoche…no one is saying he will, even if he should. Adam has been just ADAM LAROCHE enough to keep his job. A smarter, less stubborn manager would bench Adam but not. Mr. Loyalty!
I don’t think Chipper or Betemit is a long term solution at first unless they play stellar defense along with great bats.
But either is a far far superior baseball player on every level to Adam Laroche.
Alex, Kenny Williams has publicly stated that his #1 priority for the next offseason is to open a starting rotation spot for McCarthy. So, he will probably not trade McCarthy even for Francoeur, McCann, or Salty.
Alex, the first base position will eventually go to Salty.
I agree that Beta-Meat has more value at Third or Short. If your looking for a proto-type 1st baseman, bring up Jurries. Ladouche is just that, a douche. He would be a fantastic bench guy, but for a team thats expected to compete, a .250 20 70 guy is not what you want from First base.
Now I know Alex is going to jump all over that comment, so let me give you some of my reasoning. 250 20 70 is fine, if you get power and rbi’s from other sources, and we will, from Chipper, Andruw, and hopefully Francouer. But we dont get it, really, from LF or C, two positions that generally are power and rbi producing positions. If we had a true power hitting LF or C, then fine, let Ladouche be Ladouche and you deal with it.
kc,
I agree with this…long term, Salty would be a great choice but for the rest of this year, I can’t stomach Andruw’s lineup protection being Adam.
Hell, if Bobby would at the very least move Adam down in the order to 7th (when the team is fully healthy), My GOD, that would make me feel a little better.
It’s the fact that the worst hitting first baseman in Baseball is hitting 5th as protection for an MVP candidate…that’s the part that churns my stomach.
Look, I am resigned to the fact that Cox won’t stop playing LaRoche, at least this year (barring an injury…and again…of all infielders not to get hurt, why was Adam safe, God?) but for the love of Homer the Brave, could Bobby at least shift Adam down in the order some and say flip Langerhans to 5th or something?
Playing the position of first base, on defense, neither Chipper nor Betemit are as good as LaRoche is right now. Playing first base at a big league level is a lot harder than it looks. It would be like taking Smoltz and putting him in left field.
Lance,
I have no issues with what you said because you don’t like Ladouche as you call him. I am with you…Maybe betemit isn’t the prototype, fine, but he can hit. Laroche is neither a good hitter nor a good fielder and is a giant, puss filled cancer on the lineup when Bobby hits the guy behind Andruw.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that Smoltz would play a pretty good left field. Not that it matters, I just think he’s an incredible athlete.
Alex, please stop attacking the “Some people here love LaRoche” strawman. It’s getting really old. No one here likes LaRoche, thinks he’s as good as Delgado or Johnson, or is satisfied with him as a long term solution. Similarly, no one here thinks Wilson Betemit sucks. We’re mostly on the same page.
Putting Betemit at first is like putting Andruw at first; it just doesn’t make sense! Betemit is an alright hitter – he gets on base and has doubles power – but his strength comes from his ability to play hitting-light positions adequately and hit as he does. Andruw would be slightly above-average if he played first base; it’s only because he plays center field (and brilliantly) that makes him the MVP candidate he is.
Based on their track records from the last few years, LaRoche projects to be a slightly better hitter this year than Betemit does. Right now, he is hitting worse. Of course, right now, Ty Wigginton is second in the AL in home runs; would you take him over Chipper Jones, who is languishing at .238/.385/.286? As bad as LaRoche is, he has still been a better hitter than Chipper, Francoeur, Giles, Diaz, and Orr. Finally, as I discussed earlier, if Betemit is not a significant upgrade from LaRoche, the team gains a lot of flexibility having him on the bench. I’d sure hate for what happened to Derrek Lee to happen to him, and then see Chipper or Renteria get hurt again. If Betemit becomes a .300/.400/.500 hitter, then of course it makes sense to replace LaRoche – but you can’t tell that from 50 PAs.
Finally, I think I’d hold your horses on the calls for the Salty Dog. He’s “hitting” .222/.344/.389 in AA.
and on another matter, jr. schuerholtz is a cool 5-51 in Richmond, right now. If prado goes out tomorrow night, shouldn’t he be getting time and at-bats at the AAA level, instead of AA? This is about preparing the TEAM to win more games, isn’t it?
Um…why would the Cubs trade for Adam LaRoche when they have Derrek Lee? I realize he’s out for awhile, but he’ll be back in two months. Then what do they do with LaRoche?
Alex, it’s no foregone conclusion at all that Betemit’s a 20-homer hitter. The most he ever hit in the minors is 13, and that came in his third year in AAA (though, admittedly, in fewer at bats). In the two years prior at Richmond, he hit eight. Last season, he hit four in about 250 at bats. His value is tied up in batting average and doubles power. That’s plenty good for a middle infielder, but really wouldn’t be much of an upgrade for us at first base. And I really am no big fan of LaRoche at all.