Hart or Braun for centerfield?

[Thurston Fluff]

It seems like any discussion about center field revolves around either Gwynn or Hart as the centerfielder which is perfectly understandable. I have been very impressed with how easy the transition was for Braun so far. Given that and his speed, contract status and arm strength is it unreasonable to think he might end up being the long term solution there? I know he hasn't been in the outfield long but Hall did it and he seems to have adapted better to it than either Hall or Hart did so it might not be long before he is equal to or better than either of them. It also would make some amount of sense that given LaPorta's strong minor league showing thus far and his being a leftfielder it would only mean two switches as opposed to three. Just food for thought.

[Brian the Automator]

There are many who believe that centerfield is the easiest of all three positions to play (ball doesn't slice as funny), assuming you have speed. So, if that's true, then I see no reason why Braun could (eventually) handle CF, after Cameron's departure.

[JJHardy7]

given LaPorta's strong minor league showing thus far and his being a leftfielder it would only mean two switches as opposed to three. Just food for thought.

 

Hasn't LaPorta played mostly RF?

[Thurston Fluff]

I always thought he was a leftfielder but maybe I'm wrong. I tried to look but he's listed as OF so couldn't really tell. In any event it was more or less an after thought to my basic idea since I don't think swtiching left to right is all that big a deal. If all things are equal I'd rather they only swtich two of three but not gonna get to worked up about it if one is viewed as better suited for center long term than the other.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't know about either being CF material. Braun's been getting the job done, but he's looked far from polished in LF. Hart's tentative at times too in RF. They are very fortunate to have an experienced guy between them.

 

Both Braun and Hart play very deep to compensate for their inexperience going back on balls and both let a lot of balls fall in front of them that more experienced outfielders catch. You can't have that out of your CF.

 

Speed is only one attribute a CF needs. Some of the fastest players in history were primarily leftfielders because they couldn't play center. Lou Brock, Rickey Henderson, Carl Crawford for example. Even Scott Podsednik, as fast as he was, played himself into a leftfielder.

[rluzinski]

There are many who believe that centerfield is the easiest of all three positions to play (ball doesn't slice as funny), assuming you have speed. So, if that's true, then I see no reason why Braun could (eventually) handle CF, after Cameron's departure.

 

The slice might make judging some balls more difficult but on balance, there is no way that CF is the easiest of the 3 outfield position. There's a reason why defensive specialists play in CF and Cust, Dunn and Manny play a corner position. Many of the better defensive corner outfielders can also play a passible CFer (Gross) but that's about it.

 

That said, I think Hart could be an average defensive CFer. He has decent instinct and certainly the speed. Braun hasn't been in the outfield long enough for me to really have an opinion, although you'd think he at least has the raw tools for it.

[hauser42]

Given time I could see either would being a solid CFer. The both are athletic enough, have strong arms, and enough speed to play CF in the future. I dont think they would be gold glove material but would also not be a minus to the team.

JB12 is right that a lot of speed merchants have played LF, but if you look at all his examples the have weak arms and thus the reason for the move.

[Legacy25GT]

Tony Gwynn Jr will be our center fielder next year.

[JJHardy7]

I always thought he was a leftfielder but maybe I'm wrong. I tried to look but he's listed as OF so couldn't really tell. In any event it was more or less an after thought to my basic idea since I don't think swtiching left to right is all that big a deal. If all things are equal I'd rather they only swtich two of three but not gonna get to worked up about it if one is viewed as better suited for center long term than the other.

 

I believe he's been mostly in RF this year, but I could be wrong. I agree that it doesn't change the basic idea, but it will lead to some shifting regardless of how everything falls into place (given LaPorta is in Milwaukee in 2009). I think it's too early to tell on Braun playing CF, but he hasn't done anything as of yet that makes me think he couldn't play CF. It will be interesting to hopefully watch him continue to develop as the year goes on. It's pretty difficult to find a CF with the power that Braun has and IMO it's easier to find quality offensive players at the corners.

[InsomniacInkRoss]

I am of the opinion that...

 

Next year will bring LF Braun, CF Hart, RF LaPorta

 

Tony Gwynn will not be a Brewer past July 31st 2008 (even though I really like him and want him to be around)

[adambr2]

Tony Gwynn Jr will be our center fielder next year.

Not unless he improves a lot in several areas (namely OBP) before next year. As of right now, I'd say he projects as a career 4th OF.

 

[Thurston Fluff]

Both Braun and Hart play very deep to compensate for their inexperience going back on balls and both let a lot of balls fall in front of them that more experienced outfielders catch. You can't have that out of your CF.

 

Of the two Braun has more reason to still be playing back so deep. The whole reaosn I borught this up is because it appears to me that Braun has adpoted to the Of better or at least quicker than Hart. I think Hart is better today but that gap isn't very wide now and there is more reason to believe Braun has the room for significant improvement than Hart at this point.

[T B0NE 10]

Yes 2nd me on the Braun, Hart, LaPorta Outfield

 

But I REALLY REALLY like the TGJ in CF

then he could leadoff and finally put Weeks where he belongs in the lineup, and we wouldnt be losing to much fielding wise on the transition from Cameron

 

But I also have a feeling LaPorta will be playing 1B after 2009 when Prince leaves

[FVBrewerFan]

Braun in CF??? Man, he is barely serviceable defensively in LF. I can see him developing into a decent LF, he just needs more time. But I don't see him roaming CF any time soon...at least I hope not.

[Brian the Automator]

Braun in CF??? Man, he is barely serviceable defensively in LF. I can see him developing into a decent LF, he just needs more time. But I don't see him roaming CF any time soon...at least I hope not.

Do you think CF is a more demanding position than LF, from a pure skill point of view? He sure has the speed and athleticism to handle it.

 

[zzzmanwitz]

Braun has played about 100 games of LF in the past 10 years. For as "well" as he's done in that short amount of time, I think he could eventually transition to CF. That being said, I'd rather see Hart play CF. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[T B0NE 10]

I don't think Braun is made for CF either yet. Usually the CF is the best OF of the bunch because of the extra territory they roam and they have the priority on balls hit. I don't think Braun is quite there yet, hes never played OF before this year. I think hes capable and hes a tremendous athlete, I wouldn't say theres much he couldn't do. Also Hart is new to the outfield and is an average RF, but I think when in CF he may be a below average CF compared to the great players at that position. CF is kinda like the SS of the outfield. You want your best fielder there.

[FVBrewerFan]

Yes, I would say CF is a tougher position to play than LF, ther's a lot more ground to cover. I'm not saying Braun could never play CF, but if we're talking about next year, count me out.

[Thurston Fluff]

I'm not necessarily talking about next year as much as long term future plans. If it started next year due to circumstances like needing to get LaPorta in there or Cameron not available and Gwynn not ready or traded I think the offense the three of them could bring would somewhat makeup for the lack of experience. In all reality next year will be somewhat like this one in that it will be sort of a transitional period. instead of looking at next year though I'm more interested in the next 5 or so. I think it's fairly reasonable to think both of them could be here that long and would be the backbone of the team by then so why not look long term with were they fit?

[adambr2]

Yes 2nd me on the Braun, Hart, LaPorta Outfield

 

But I REALLY REALLY like the TGJ in CF

then he could leadoff and finally put Weeks where he belongs in the lineup, and we wouldnt be losing to much fielding wise on the transition from Cameron

 

But I also have a feeling LaPorta will be playing 1B after 2009 when Prince leaves

I totally agree about LaPorta.

 

I don't understand people wanting TGJ starting every day in CF. He hasn't even managed to get on base at as good of a clip as Weeks even when Weeks is sucking, and he wasn't especially great at getting on base in the minors. Gwynn has absolutely no offensive value if he gets on base 32% of the time and rarely hits the ball out of the infield. Defensively, obviously he's exactly what we want in CF, but there's really nothing he brings to the table offensively.

 

I know many people love his style of baseball, but he just doesn't do it as well as people think.

[BrewCrewForever]

If Braun can handle CF I would like to see him there and keep Hart in RF because of his arm. Of course LaPorta in LF.

[Brian the Automator]

Yes, I would say CF is a tougher position to play than LF, ther's a lot more ground to cover. I'm not saying Braun could never play CF, but if we're talking about next year, count me out.

The fact that there's more ground to cover only means that the requirement to play it is speed, right? If that's the case, and if the slices are tougher in LF and RF, why wouldn't Braun be an above-average CFer? I certainly think he's got the speed to cover it (although, admittedly, perhaps Hart would be the better man for the job, because of that reason).

 

[TooLiveBrew]

With all due respect, I don't see how one could consider CF a position devoid of having to deal with slices. Any ball in either gap is going to have some kind of tail to it, and CF is certainly regarded as the toughest of the 3 positions to play -- though I'll admit that might be mostly due to the large amout of ground to cover.

 

Certainly the slices would be more exaggerated in the corner spots, but that factor might be largely cancelled out by the 'easier' parts of playing LF/RF.

[jazzytrav]

I just had this image in my head of the outfield two years from now being LaPorta, Braun, and Gamel. Three converted infielders hitting 40 homers each. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

[Brian the Automator]

With all due respect, I don't see how one could consider CF a position devoid of having to deal with slices. Any ball in either gap is going to have some kind of tail to it, and CF is certainly regarded as the toughest of the 3 positions to play -- though I'll admit that might be mostly due to the large amout of ground to cover.

 

Certainly the slices would be more exaggerated in the corner spots, but that factor might be largely cancelled out by the 'easier' parts of playing LF/RF.

It's the fact that the slices are more exaggerated in the corner spots which makes it more difficult to play (from a mental point of view). The only thing that's really easier about it is the fact that there's less ground to cover. What else is there? CF is regarded of the toughest to play because of the speed requirement... Yes, the CF has the responsibility to call off the other outfielders when they're involved in a play ... but meh, I don't think Braun would screw that up.

link

"Winn is plenty fast to cover ground in center field, and it's the easiest outfield position from which to read the ball's flight."