Kris Medlen Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.
Normally I’d do an “Other starting pitching possibilities” post, but there’s only one real possibility if someone can’t start the season, and it’s Medlen. Medlen has a lot of positives as a starting candidate, in that he’s pitched well as a starter in the minors and has great stuff. On the other hand, he’s 5-10. That’s really the only reason that anyone doesn’t think of him as a starter — though he’s probably the best long-term closer candidate that the Braves have.
Medlen made four starts with the big club, and his ERA was 6.38. That’s slightly deceptive. He pitched poorly in his first start, was great in his third, and was adequate in the other two, one of which was an emergency start in Colorado. In that small sample, he showed power — nineteen strikeouts in eighteen and a third innings — but bad control — eleven walks — and also allowed four homers. The expectation is that he would improve with experience, and the strikeouts are a nice base to improve on. As a reliever, he put up a 3.47 ERA and kept the strikeouts up, but showed much better control. The Braves hopefully won’t need him in the rotation, and he could be a major contributor in the bullpen. You probably won’t want to pigeonhole him just yet, though. Starters are a lot more valuable than relievers.
Though he was a two-way player in college, went 0-13 as a hitter in the majors. On the other hand, was a .333 hitter (in limited work) in the minors, and is a good athlete.
I like Medlen a lot and feel quite comfortable to have him as a SP if need be.
I’m very comfortable with Medlen as a spot starter. If he can keep his ERA as a starter under 5.00, he’ll have real, positive value to the team.
I think nerves had a lot to do with the early control issues, therefore I too have a lot of confidence in him starting if we need him to.
Since 2002, the Braves have spent 19% of their total payroll on injured players. Even the snakebit Mets are only at 22%.
The Yankees and Red Sox are at 12%.
19%??
What a drag it is getting old.
——————————
Uh, does anyone think the Yankees are better now than they were at the end of last year?
Wonder how much of that % Hampton makes up for?
@6
I would say quite a bit
I would hope that Medlen gets in some starter work, especially since the rotation has a few injury/age risks in it.
Lets just say it becomes apparent that we need an outfielder around May, do you include Medlen in a package to get one? We’ve got 3 34+ year old starters.
JC’ed from the last – The Dodgers apparently have a plan in place to double ticket prices (and revenue, oddly) by 2018 but keep spending static or below. This is a great look behind the scenes at how baseball teams really work.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-revenue22-2010feb22,0,157533.story
@4, I am not sure what this tells you. A teams highest paid players are also likely to be among it’s oldest, and thus most likely to get injured. In the Braves case, as has been noted, a single injury to a very highly paid guy accounts for a lot of this value. Because the Red Sox and Yanks have such comparatively high payrolls, it minimizes the impact as a percentage of the total when any given player gets hurt.
True. The Pirates are near the bottom too. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox are the very last on the list, at 6%.
In and of itself, without context, that list doesn’t tell you much. But it’s not meaningless. I’d love to see a little more unpacking of it. (Remember, the list is adjusted for insurance money.)
@5 – Defensively, replacing Damon/Cabrera with Granderson/Cameron is better. Acquiring Vazquez, who was far better than anyone else on their staff including Sabathia last season, is better. They are going to give back some offense from their OF-DH, but they have an infield that has a top 3 offensive player at every position. I’d say they are at least as good as they were going into 2009, and maybe a bit better. I wouldn’t like to be in a division with them.
spike,
I think it tells you more than just that high priced players cost you more on injuries. In fact, the two teams that pay the biggest salaries are among the lowest.
I am not sure I got AAR’s point about insurance. I saw insurance at the bottom, but not the top. Also, if the chart doesn’t take into account money paid by earlier clubs, then the team it is charged to is not really the one that did the bad deal (not necessarily).
For Braves, the actual prorated cost of Hampton was about 8 million per year. If he was 50% insured for 15 million, then he almost didn’t cost anything. However, if you run it at the original gross salary, that was a 60 million hit.
BTW, it’s Granderson/Gardner. Mike Cameron’s a Red Sox.
@ 125 Quite right – my mistake. Review before posting and all that. Point still stands though.
Also, I hate saying “he’s a Red Sox.” I pretty much hate everything about that team now, even the way that their stupid “x” precludes their nickname from ever being singular. It sounds stupid to say “he’s a Red Sox” — but that’s the abomination they’ve perpetrated on the English language.
Okay, I feel a little better now.
Very scary tweet from Heyman a few minutes ago. He seems to be wrong a lot and hopefully that remains true here:
“#braves, #reds could be in mix for garret anderson”
Garrett Anderson is a Boras client. Jon Heyman is an unabashed Boras water carrier. I wouldn’t worry about it.
DOB has an interview up with Hank Aaron. Not much red meat there, per se, but it’s just nice to hear the man talk. He still passionately loves baseball and the Braves, and carries himself with dignity, grace, and humility. He was my first hero.
I dont think Huddy or Oswalt can be much taller than Medlen either. I think Id like Medlen more as a starter, but comfortable with him in either situation.
AAR,
I hear you, buddy. It’s even worse for outfits like the Miami Heat or the Oklahoma City Thunder. I mean, what do you call a Heat player? A Heater? A calorie?
For all you USC Trojan lovers:
http://tinyurl.com/yeatmbu
Chan Ho Park, apparently, to the Yankees.
Spike,
Nice to finally hook up with you Friday for that BBQ. Got back to ATL a little later than I wanted last night & I had a super-early flight this a.m., so I just chilled with the hockey. (Awesome effort, boys!) We’ll get that cocktail next go ’round. Thanks again.
BTW, those Vic Chesnutt shows were really fun. For longtime Athenians, it was kind of a cross between “The Last Waltz” (onstage) & “The Big Chill” (offstage).
The Friday gig was more about presenting local acts/collaborators & longtime Vic friends. Lotsa old-friend re-connections, people coming from outta town (like me). In a weird way, it felt like an old-time Athens house party.
The Saturday gig had more outta town acts/collaborators & it had a more
“respectful” feel, in that some of the artists probably thought the whole 40 Watt Club would be hushed & tearful or something.
This being Athens, it was just the opposite. So a couple acts certainly seemed a bit miffed that about a third of the packed room wanted to blab with old friends during quieter songs. (Even though he was really great, I kinda felt sorry for Howe Gelb, who suffered most from the boozy indifference in the back of the room.)
Top-of-the-Head Highlights (I’m still a little foggy):
David Barbe & The Quick Hooks’ spiky interpretation of “Bakersfield.”
Backed by DBT’s Patterson Hood, Kelly Hogan’s soaring cover of “Soft Picasso.” Whew, that gal can sing.
Centro-Matic’s Will Johnson did a version of “Independence Day” that burned holes in you.
And I can’t say enough about the deeply moving & effortlessly spiritual three-song set from Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra (with Guy Picciotto)—just chills.
I’m still processing it. Everybody was blown away and, faced with such a commanding performance, even the blabby, big-chillin’ drunks STFU.
To Joelk from last thread. I live just east of Grand Island. We usually get one or two snowfalls a year, this year, two blizzards, one or two heavy snowstorms, and 4-5 days like yesterday with 1-2 inches. Very depressing.
I want to see Chipper, Nate, Heyward, and our great pitchers, man I’m ready!
I never want to see Garret Anderson at the plate again unless it’s for the opposition.
Kris I think will step up and do well, at least I hope he does. He could become a key addition to the team because of his youth. BTW I’m trying to forget Garret Andersons’ existance on the earth. He really played the “Gary Shefield” role last year and in my opinion. I’m glad he’s gone.
AJC spin machine is getting cranked up.
http://bit.ly/cgCCSe
ububba –
I have shared the stage with a lot of folks over the years (won’t namedrop here, but a couple of certifiable legends among them), and really, truly, playing with Kelly will always be a treasured moment of the highest order. I have never been moved to tears while performing before or since.
Didn’t Medlen have plus control in the minors? One must wonder if the walks last year were due to “nerves.”
26,
I liked this quote a lot:
“He’s still No. 71?” Jones said. He grinned and added, “I’m going to say he’s not No. 71 at the end [of spring training]. Just a hunch.”
28,
That’s what I think too.
In 227 minor league ip 2.0 BB/9, 10.4 SO/9, 5.16 SO/BB.
As a Brave, 67 ip 4.0 BB/9, 9.6 SO/9, 2.40 SO/BB
I don’t see why some improvement wouldn’t be expected here.
I remember his control really settled down after his first couple of starts.
5, the Bronx Bombers are better than they were last season sad to say. But when you have unlimited funds and the talent available to sign, well, it is what it is.
I have no issue with Medlen’s height. Stand him next to Tim Lincecum, they are almost the same. That said, he makes for great rotational depth and enhances the bullpen. I’m glad to have him.
Also, Jurrjens shoulder has got to have the Braves thinking about adding to their rotational depth chart. John Smoltz would look good again in a Braves uniform if he is willing to pitch out of the bullpen.
Spike,
I hear you. Sadly for me, I hadn’t seen Kelly Hogan actually perform since The Jody Grind days, but she is still amazing.
For all you USC Trojan lovers:
http://tinyurl.com/yeatmbu
Yawn. Nice of them to stop by.
No way the Braves re sign Garret Anderson…..right?
Robert,
Like you haven’t been shopping for Depends…
Robert,
Like you haven’t been shopping for Depends…
I really couldn’t be less concerned.
36,
I’m assuming Heyman is just doing the Boras pawn thing.
A Miami Heat player would be El Heat as opposed to Los Heat. Orlando player is a Magi (but I refer to them as the Magi, so I guess that’s the same problem).
How about… a Red Sok?
Wow, never mind. El Heat was their dumb jersey in the first place. Un partido del Heat? Maybe a degree – that’s in the vein of calorie.
Red Suck?
white boy?
Ububba, glad you could be there, buddy. I was listening to Vic tonight. It sounds like you got to help commemorate him in the best way, in the best place.
Chris @ 42,
Um… No. Wait, what?
@26 – One word: ‘roids.
With this JJ situation, I have a bad feeling he is going to start throwing again and his shoulder will start bothering him. The team will rest him and we will all hear about how is is going to pitch a minor league game after he goes and has a “drink” with Mike Hampton/ Johns Smoltz’s best friend Dr James Andrews.
All of the sudden he is out for the year.
Posts mysteriously vanished.
But, Yay!
Nice article from Boog on BP:
http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=10101
Damn, I had let myself forget that Boog was gone. Nice article Dusty.
Jeez. DOB’s twitter feed is all one big Heyward love-fest.
@48,
I can’t believe we’re swapping a guy as bright as Boog for Chip “I Eat Crayons” Caray. Unreal.
Any chance Mike Minor is ready by the end of the season? That had to be part of why he was drafted.
Check out #8 on the list… and the REALLY nice things Verducci has to say about him: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/02/23/non.roster/index.html?eref=writers
@48 – We’re all going to miss Boog this year. That screencap of Chipper is priceless.
according to peanut, salcedo is a brave. it’s a good day to be a braves’ fan.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/braves-interested-in-edward-salcedo.html
Well, there’s your first round draft pick. Apparently, he is/was a Boras client that was drawing serious ~3M interest from the Yankees and Indians at 16 before questions arose about his age.
If we really signed him for 1.6, and his age and talent level pan out, it would be quite a coup.
my comment sucked…nevermind. go braves!
Ryan C, I love the signing, we need to add more like him if possible
DOB said everyone enjoyed watching Heyward take BP today. All players are raving about his attitude and his strength. This kid might just make the team out of ST
Beginning to think DOB has a crush on Heyward:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/02/23/dented-truck-smashed-sunroof-heywards-hitting/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
Hmm, guess I should have seen it coming, but I’m not really enjoying this Heyward circlejerk. Let the dude do his thing.
I hope he’s got some backbone. If that were me, that hype would drive me up a wall.
I swear I remember that “ball sounds different” line being used about Frenchy, and often, a couple years back.
59,
Deep down, we all do.
Hah! I almost posted the same thing after reading that DOB line a few minutes ago. I had a solid chuckle about that one. Especially after the gushing comparisons to Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle all day on Twitter after the kid’s first day of practice. 🙄 😆
Also, if Bobby can’t comment on Heyward without throwing out a Hank Aaron comparison and if DOB can’t write a blog without fawning over his tight undershirt stretched over his bulging biceps, just imagine what’s gonna happen when Joe Simpson starts calling this kid’s games! 😯
We all know what his right hand has been up to in that booth all these years.
And that was just when all he had to jerk to was the rare Francoeur opposite field single. If Heyward lives up to even half of the hype at this point, I shudder to think about the things poor Chip Caray will see beside him in the booth this year. 😯
I can hit a ball farther than Jason Heyward.
Signing Salcedo is the best news we have had for awhile:
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100223&content_id=8123082&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Its nice to see that the Braves intend to start him at Rome….
#53–Thanks for the link–Tony Pena Jr. returns–as a pitcher!
I was at a Royals game a couple of years ago where the Royals got rocked (happens fairly often) and they brought Pena in a pitcher. My brother and I both thought he looked surprising good. Fastball at 91-92 with wicked movement and some kind of slurvy breaking ball that got swinging strikes (we were pretty drunk and I couldn’t exactly tell what it was). I don’t know if he can hold up, but if he stays healthy, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him make it as a reliever.
I’m kind of rooting for him. The Royals never should’ve played him, but that wasn’t his fault. He always tried/seemed like a nice guy and he got booed pretty badly.
In case you missed it here’s a link to what Mike and Mike in the Morning said about the Braves. Overall I think it’s a pretty fair assessment. The love for Heyward continues though – the next Albert Pujols? Sounds good to me, but that may be a bit of a stretch.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=4937492&autoplay=1&callsign=ESPNRADIO
weird to hear a Braves report without a real mention of Chipper Jones…
Sciambi’s argument with Chipper
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=10101
I’m too frightened to google “brad komminsk” and “batting practice performance”. I just don’t want to know.
Anybody else on Braves Journal like Cricket?
I lived in South Africa for a year, and got to know the game pretty well. Perfect viewing for a Sunday afternoon hangover.
Yep, my man crush is on Jason Heyward 😛
My favorite memory of Brad Komminsk was back on June 19th, 1984 in a game against the San Francisco Giants at Fulton County. The “Phenom” as he was known hit a grand slam in the third inning which just happened to be the Goodies HR inning and some lucky fan won a hundred grand in the contest.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL198406190.shtml
As it turned out, this was to be his only grand slam and one of only twenty-three HR’s that Komminsk would hit in parts of nine big league seasons (1983-1991).
But don’t lose bubble gum cards just yet, he’s on his way back to the majors. Komminsk’s managing/coaching career began in 1999 with the Cleveland Indians. Komminsk will return for his third season as manager of the Bowie Baysox (Orioles) in 2010 following a two-year stretch in which he led the club to their first playoff appearance in 11 seasons in 2008 and a third place finish in the Eastern League’s Southern Division in 2009.
Oh please, please please come true…
Is it a trap? Students push Admiral Ackbar for Ole Miss mascot
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/is-it-a-trap-325708.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Its too bad that Brad Komminsk remains the poster boy for Braves prospect busts. I guess that its that Braves fans didn’t have much to hope for back then as players coming from the pipeline were far and few between in addition to the ‘next Dale Murphy’ hype that came with him. IHMO Andy Marte is a bigger bust than Komminsk.
#78–Gerald Perry was in the minors at about the same time as Komminsk and he was not a bust. That said, I will always associate the two because given the way he was hyped, Perry was a disappointment…..
IHMO Andy Marte is a bigger bust than Komminsk.
Boy, I don’t know about that – Komminsk put up ridiculous minor league numbers through age 22. Obviously, we don’t have OPS+ to help contextualize them, but they were way off the scale for the early 80’s.
/edit – having said that, it’s worth noting that Heyward’s are far superior given his age, even allowing for an increased offensive era.
We signed J.R. House?
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/02/24/braves-sign-journeyman-catcher-j-r-house/
Finally…
I am going to miss Boog this year, and this article clearly shows why.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=10101
I think I posted the same article as someone else. For some reason I was only seeing 26 comments.
I appologize.
It’s pouring in S. Florida, so I am taking in hockey instead of baseball.
U-S-A!
Anybody watching?
Baseball America top 100 ‘specs
1. Heyward
32. Freeman
51. Teheran
69. Vizcaino
No crime was committed.