ESPN article on Ryan Braun: "Ryan Braun's power outage"

[torts]

Ryan Braun thru 7/24 in each season (from baseball reference):

2014 - 80 G, 51 R, 21 2B, 6 3B, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 9 SB, 302/353/889

2013 - 61 G, 30 R, 14 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 4 SB, 298/372/869 (suspension season)

2012 - 90 G, 64 R, 15 2B, 2 3B, 27 HR, 67 RBI, 17 SB, 313/393/996 (season of extra random testing)

2011 - 92 G, 62 R, 22 2B, 3 3B, 20 HR, 68 RBI, 19 SB, 321/398/981 (MVP season, failed test)

2010 - 97 G, 60 R, 25 2B, 1 3B, 16 HR, 62 RBI, 13 SB, 283/335/809

2009 - 93 G, 67 R, 21 2B, 4 3B, 19 HR, 66 RBI, 9 SB, 310/390/938

2008 - 99 G, 57 R, 26 2B, 6 3B, 26 HR, 74 RBI, 9 SB, 301/339/924

2007 - 52 G, 44 R, 15 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 43 RBI, 8 SB, 348/397/1063 (rookie season)

 

so 10 fewer games than every other season but last* and rookie year... nothing alarming in any of those stats other than how insane he was in his first 52 games in his career

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

I'm not sure why everyone is so up in arms over what he wrote. Braun has had a great year, but he's had to adjust to his injuries. He hasn't been (until recently) been pulling the ball with authority. One could argue he's done an even better job of hitting by adjusting to his injuries and taking the ball the other way. The same posters who are griping about Buster Olney were in the IGTs complaining Braun needed some rest time since his swing looked so bad. Not every article written about Braun is a vendetta from the east coast media about what an awful human being he is. He's played hurt, he's adjusted, his stats are still strong, he has been suspended in the past...these are all facts. If he really got healthier over the break he could be even better in the next 60 games.

[hawing]

My favorite thing related to Buster Olney is the TRIPPINGOLNEY parody Twitter account.

[Bombers]

I am not sure what Braun needs. Some days off? A change in the order? Something. We need Braun to heat up

[Fear The Chorizo]

Braun needs to stop swinging at balls, for starters.

 

watching him over the last few games, it seems like his bat speed just isn't there...because of that he can't turn on fastballs, and he's forced to start his swing earlier which is probably contributing to alot of swings at bad pitches (he's doesn't have that extra split second to identify pitch/location better).

 

Not sure if that's thumb/oblique related, or if he's in the midst of a dog days slump because he needs a few days to recharge the batteries. Either way, it's not an ideal situation. My guess would be that his thumb is the main culprit, and I for one hope he opts for surgery on it as soon as this year is done. Even if it's not a guarantee that it will be successful, resting it didn't fix the problem last offseason.

[lcbj68c]

This conversation seems repeated from 6 weeks ago...then it was quiet for 4 weeks...and now it's repeating again. Seems to be the ebb and flow of a major league season.

[Bombers]

This conversation seems repeated from 6 weeks ago...then it was quiet for 4 weeks...and now it's repeating again. Seems to be the ebb and flow of a major league season.

His last 28 days has this line: .228 / .290 / .402 / .692

If his season line of .282 / .334 / .488 / .822 ended today, it would be his worst slash line of his career.

 

I would say there is some cause for concern and not just typical flow of a season.

[swheeler23]

This conversation seems repeated from 6 weeks ago...then it was quiet for 4 weeks...and now it's repeating again. Seems to be the ebb and flow of a major league season.

His last 28 days has this line: .228 / .290 / .402 / .692

If his season line of .282 / .334 / .488 / .822 ended today, it would be his worst slash line of his career.

 

I would say there is some cause for concern and not just typical flow of a season.

 

Yet, despite batting second for a long time he still leads the team in RBI's. What is he batting with runners in scoring position compared to Luc and Gomez?

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

He seemed to be better coming out of the AS break, but then fell off. If he responds well to rest maybe we need to see more Parra in RF. I'd rather have a 90% Braun 5 games a week than a 70% Braun 7 days a week.

[Bombers]

RISP :

Braun: .295 .343 .580 .923

Gomez: .336 .405 .495 .900

Lucroy: 263 .330 .394 .724

[dlk9s]

Yet, despite batting second for a long time he still leads the team in RBI's. What is he batting with runners in scoring position compared to Luc and Gomez?

 

lolRBI

[swheeler23]

RISP :

Braun: .295 .343 .580 .923

Gomez: .336 .405 .495 .900

Lucroy: 263 .330 .394 .724

 

This stat may be what causes Lucroy to lose the MVP race. Lucroy: 263. Braun is having such a bad year yet he is better than Lucroy in all those stats.

[SoupTown]

He seemed to be better coming out of the AS break, but then fell off. If he responds well to rest maybe we need to see more Parra in RF. I'd rather have a 90% Braun 5 games a week than a 70% Braun 7 days a week.

 

AMEN to that. He needs a light spring training. Then a couple of DLs in the year for rest. And I even guess a few days prior and after AS break. That is only minus 30 games. So, I want 130 games with Braun fresh. I dont like seeing 150 with him beat up.

[FVBrewerFan]

We have no idea if more days off would even help him. It does seem like that makes sense, but for all we know more days off has no effect on his health or performance.