Braun- looking like second half 2014

[torts]

considering Stanton has more HR's (27) and 67 RBI's in almost half the at bats as the rest of the OF in contention i'd be shocked if he doesnt get one of the three slugger awards.

 

Stanton won't get one, not missing the entire second half of the season.

 

Harper and McCutchen will get two of them. It will be between Braun and A.J. Pollock. If Braun continues producing at the rate he has been, or even picks up his run production just a little (assuming people get on base in front of him), he has a real shot at 30 HR and 100 RBI. Right now, Braun's OPS is higher than Pollock's. While Pollock has more stolen bases, that won't figure into Silver Slugger. Braun has a 10 home run advantage.

 

 

Looks like Stanton is going to miss the rest of the year anyways, so its moot.

[clancyphile]

If Braun is back to being Braun... and if he is back to a .950 OPS...

 

 

:D

[jerichoholicninja]

If Braun is back to being Braun... and if he is back to a .950 OPS...

 

 

:D

 

That would be great but do you trade him or keep him? Will he still be that player or even a high .800 OPS player in two or three years when this team is ready to compete again? I don't see a hitter of Braun's caliber anywhere in the system

[DuWayne Steurer]

If Braun is back to being Braun... and if he is back to a .950 OPS...

 

 

:D

 

That would be great but do you trade him or keep him? Will he still be that player or even a high .800 OPS player in two or three years when this team is ready to compete again? I don't see a hitter of Braun's caliber anywhere in the system

 

 

Clancy is putting him at 3B, to negate half of his offensive value.

[logan82]

If Braun is back to being Braun... and if he is back to a .950 OPS...

 

 

:D

 

That would be great but do you trade him or keep him? Will he still be that player or even a high .800 OPS player in two or three years when this team is ready to compete again? I don't see a hitter of Braun's caliber anywhere in the system

 

 

Clancy is putting him at 3B, to negate half of his offensive value.

Only half?

[The stache]

Assuming this treatment for his thumb keeps him healthy, he should continue producing at a similar clip until age 35 or 36. He's in phenomenal shape, and while the stolen bases will likely drop some, his power numbers and run production shouldn't. I don't think he should be traded, and not just because I'm a big Braun fan. There is no other hitter in our system that can match his production. His combination of power and pure hitting ability is a rare thing. Keep him, and build around him. If we stop moving him around the diamond, he'll continue to get better at right field. I can really see him hitting over 400 home runs as a Brewer. That looks much better than the old team record. That's respectable.

[clancyphile]

If Braun is back to being Braun... and if he is back to a .950 OPS...

 

 

:D

 

That would be great but do you trade him or keep him? Will he still be that player or even a high .800 OPS player in two or three years when this team is ready to compete again? I don't see a hitter of Braun's caliber anywhere in the system

 

 

Clancy is putting him at 3B, to negate half of his offensive value.

 

No, I'm putting him at third base to maximize the offensive production of the Brewers in general. Between Khris Davis, Domingo Santana, Shane Peterson, Michael Reed, Brent Phillips, and Victor Roache, there are a number of very viable options. If 2016 is a lost season, why not move Braun back to third to see what these other outfielders can do?

 

In fact, ideally, I'd trade Davis and see which rookies stick.

[tmwiese55]

You can do the same thing by putting him at first where he shouldn't be near the butcher he was at third. 3rd is simply not an option and shouldn't be talked about. He couldn't play it when he was 23 and now after not doing it in 9 years how bad would he be? An offseason of practice at 1B and spring training they should know whether he can be average at 1B, I see no reason he can't be at least as good as Prince was.

[clancyphile]

You can do the same thing by putting him at first where he shouldn't be near the butcher he was at third. 3rd is simply not an option and shouldn't be talked about. He couldn't play it when he was 23 and now after not doing it in 9 years how bad would he be? An offseason of practice at 1B and spring training they should know whether he can be average at 1B, I see no reason he can't be at least as good as Prince was.

 

Moving Braun to first kills the value for Lind because it makes it obvious the Brewers want to move Lind. The value they'd get in return would potentially be less.

 

But if the Brewers move Braun to third, their leverage increases. In any case, who are the viable options at third for the next three to four years? Hernan Perez? Jean Segura? Nathan Orf? I'd rather have Braun's bat there, especially if the Brewers can find out which of Santana, Reed, Phillips, Peterson, and Roache can stick.

 

If 2016 is a lost season, how are the Brewers hurt by putting Braun at third and finding out what the young outfielders can do? It makes a ton of sense to me.

[brwrsfan]

Braun has been playing well of late, all season really, but I certainly wouldn't put him at 3b. Move him to first if you want to move him.

 

That said, I see a very small chance he gets to 30/30. It's not impossible but he still needs 5 more HR and 8 (I think?) more SB in the next 23 games (and that's assuming he doesn't take a single day off). He certainly could do it, but he hasn't hit HR like that all season really, nor has he run that much. I guess he can just start running every time he reaches 1b, but I don't see it. I'd say he finishes at 27 and 25.

[jerichoholicninja]

You can do the same thing by putting him at first where he shouldn't be near the butcher he was at third. 3rd is simply not an option and shouldn't be talked about. He couldn't play it when he was 23 and now after not doing it in 9 years how bad would he be? An offseason of practice at 1B and spring training they should know whether he can be average at 1B, I see no reason he can't be at least as good as Prince was.

 

Moving Braun to first kills the value for Lind because it makes it obvious the Brewers want to move Lind. The value they'd get in return would potentially be less.

 

But if the Brewers move Braun to third, their leverage increases. In any case, who are the viable options at third for the next three to four years? Hernan Perez? Jean Segura? Nathan Orf? I'd rather have Braun's bat there, especially if the Brewers can find out which of Santana, Reed, Phillips, Peterson, and Roache can stick.

 

If 2016 is a lost season, how are the Brewers hurt by putting Braun at third and finding out what the young outfielders can do? It makes a ton of sense to me.

 

A team that wants Lind isn't going to change their offer because Braun is playing first. Every other team knows that the Brewers are rebuilding and Lind almost certainly isn't part of that rebuilding.

[tmwiese55]

You can do the same thing by putting him at first where he shouldn't be near the butcher he was at third. 3rd is simply not an option and shouldn't be talked about. He couldn't play it when he was 23 and now after not doing it in 9 years how bad would he be? An offseason of practice at 1B and spring training they should know whether he can be average at 1B, I see no reason he can't be at least as good as Prince was.

 

Moving Braun to first kills the value for Lind because it makes it obvious the Brewers want to move Lind. The value they'd get in return would potentially be less.

 

But if the Brewers move Braun to third, their leverage increases. In any case, who are the viable options at third for the next three to four years? Hernan Perez? Jean Segura? Nathan Orf? I'd rather have Braun's bat there, especially if the Brewers can find out which of Santana, Reed, Phillips, Peterson, and Roache can stick.

 

If 2016 is a lost season, how are the Brewers hurt by putting Braun at third and finding out what the young outfielders can do? It makes a ton of sense to me.

 

So we have him move to 3rd for a few months just to move him to first later then?

 

I'd rather have Braun's bat at catcher, unfortunately he's not a catcher. But it's a lost year, throw him back there. Any of the mediocre IFs we have in Segura, Sardinas, Perez, etc can play 3B until someone else arrives. Ideally what you want back for Lind, Lucroy, Krod, Davis is 3B and C along with pitching (like always).

 

Who are viable options? well the guys I listed and not Braun. It 100% will not happen and is pointless to talk about or even think about.

[1992casey]

You don't move anyone to 1B while Lind is still on the team.

[tmwiese55]

Obviously Casey. I think Lind should move this offseason rather than risk injury at all with him next season, thus killing his value. We're almost all the way through this season with him healthy and generally still hitting well and will finish with solid numbers. Offseason is the time and it allows for Braun to start working at 1B in the offseason (assuming Davis isn't traded too).

[CheezWizHed]

So we have him move to 3rd for a few months just to move him to first later then?

 

I'd rather have Braun's bat at catcher, unfortunately he's not a catcher. But it's a lost year, throw him back there. Any of the mediocre IFs we have in Segura, Sardinas, Perez, etc can play 3B until someone else arrives. Ideally what you want back for Lind, Lucroy, Krod, Davis is 3B and C along with pitching (like always).

 

Who are viable options? well the guys I listed and not Braun. It 100% will not happen and is pointless to talk about or even think about.

 

[sarcasm]Can he pitch? Bill Hall could pitch...[/sarcasm]

[MrTPlush]

I see no reason he can't be at least as good as Prince was.

 

Umm he best be a lot better than Prince. Prince was throwing up a -2.5 dWAR every year. If Braun does that he will be a 1 WAR player.

[tmwiese55]

that's what I mean though, what prince did was kind of the minimum someone can do and still be considered passable. Braun is 5 inches taller and not fat. As long as he can field ground balls at all it should be easy to do that, and with his infield background he should already be better than Prince at fielding the ball. It's just learning how to stretch and just getting comfortable with his responsibilities. If he trains at it and they decide he can't do it, then I guess you look to trade Davis when Phillips is ready. But I'd be really surprised if he can't do it.

[jerichoholicninja]

Obviously Casey. I think Lind should move this offseason rather than risk injury at all with him next season, thus killing his value. We're almost all the way through this season with him healthy and generally still hitting well and will finish with solid numbers. Offseason is the time and it allows for Braun to start working at 1B in the offseason (assuming Davis isn't traded too).

 

Trading Lind this offseason is like throwing a draft pick in the deal too. Lind should be getting a QO after '16 as long as he's healthy I'd think.

[MrTPlush]

Obviously Casey. I think Lind should move this offseason rather than risk injury at all with him next season, thus killing his value. We're almost all the way through this season with him healthy and generally still hitting well and will finish with solid numbers. Offseason is the time and it allows for Braun to start working at 1B in the offseason (assuming Davis isn't traded too).

 

Trading Lind this offseason is like throwing a draft pick in the deal too. Lind should be getting a QO after '16 as long as he's healthy I'd think.

 

You want to offer a 33.5 year old injury prone 1st baseman somewhere around $16mil for one year? That would be really risky to assume they could do that. I can't imagine more than a 2 year deal and what will he need to do to get that? Another stellar season and a clean bill of health...a lot to ask for from Lind.

 

Would Lind even be confident enough to get 2/$25mil somewhere to pass up on the QO? Lind has been very good for us and he was recently with the Jays, but teams probably still view him as a platoon guy with injury problems. That and a player getting well into his 30s.

[jerichoholicninja]

Obviously Casey. I think Lind should move this offseason rather than risk injury at all with him next season, thus killing his value. We're almost all the way through this season with him healthy and generally still hitting well and will finish with solid numbers. Offseason is the time and it allows for Braun to start working at 1B in the offseason (assuming Davis isn't traded too).

 

Trading Lind this offseason is like throwing a draft pick in the deal too. Lind should be getting a QO after '16 as long as he's healthy I'd think.

 

You want to offer a 33.5 year old injury prone 1st baseman somewhere around $16mil for one year? That would be really risky to assume they could do that. I can't imagine more than a 2 year deal and what will he need to do to get that? Another stellar season and a clean bill of health...a lot to ask for from Lind.

 

Would Lind even be confident enough to get 2/$25mil somewhere to pass up on the QO? Lind has been very good for us and he was recently with the Jays, but teams probably still view him as a platoon guy with injury problems. That and a player getting well into his 30s.

 

I'm not saying the Brewers make the QO, the acquiring team would. And, yes, I think a team would. Any team would rather have Lind for 1 year at $16M than multiple years at $12M each.

[The stache]

Braun is in shape. Prince was just strong. He had no real speed to speak of, and his defensive reflexes were terrible. Braun would make much more sense at first base if he's not going to play at first. We're going to have younger guys manning the three outfield positions, and soon.

[The stache]

Braun has been playing well of late, all season really, but I certainly wouldn't put him at 3b. Move him to first if you want to move him.

 

That said, I see a very small chance he gets to 30/30. It's not impossible but he still needs 5 more HR and 8 (I think?) more SB in the next 23 games (and that's assuming he doesn't take a single day off). He certainly could do it, but he hasn't hit HR like that all season really, nor has he run that much. I guess he can just start running every time he reaches 1b, but I don't see it. I'd say he finishes at 27 and 25.

 

He hit five home runs in ten games between April 28th and May 8th. He hit five home runs in eight games between May 15th and 22nd. He's perfectly capable of hitting five home runs in twenty-two games. As for the stolen bases, he has four in eight September Games. Eight in twenty-two is doable.

 

I'm not saying he'll do it, either. But he's completely capable of doing it if he hits a hot streak, and he's seeing the ball incredibly well right now, hitting .421 in September (16 for 38). He's hitting .374 over the past month with 6 home runs and 20 RBI. His OPS is 1.047.

[tmwiese55]

Obviously Casey. I think Lind should move this offseason rather than risk injury at all with him next season, thus killing his value. We're almost all the way through this season with him healthy and generally still hitting well and will finish with solid numbers. Offseason is the time and it allows for Braun to start working at 1B in the offseason (assuming Davis isn't traded too).

 

Trading Lind this offseason is like throwing a draft pick in the deal too. Lind should be getting a QO after '16 as long as he's healthy I'd think.

 

You want to offer a 33.5 year old injury prone 1st baseman somewhere around $16mil for one year? That would be really risky to assume they could do that. I can't imagine more than a 2 year deal and what will he need to do to get that? Another stellar season and a clean bill of health...a lot to ask for from Lind.

 

Would Lind even be confident enough to get 2/$25mil somewhere to pass up on the QO? Lind has been very good for us and he was recently with the Jays, but teams probably still view him as a platoon guy with injury problems. That and a player getting well into his 30s.

 

Right, to me it's about that you got a full healthy season from him and he did well. Now's the time to get out. Look at it like gambling, they key is to walk away ahead. Yes, you could push it and hope for more but there's risk and he's injury prone. I don't think the risk of him getting hurt is worth it for what more they could get later, trade him in the offseason.

[markedman5]

that's what I mean though, what prince did was kind of the minimum someone can do and still be considered passable. Braun is 5 inches taller and not fat. As long as he can field ground balls at all it should be easy to do that, and with his infield background he should already be better than Prince at fielding the ball. It's just learning how to stretch and just getting comfortable with his responsibilities. If he trains at it and they decide he can't do it, then I guess you look to trade Davis when Phillips is ready. But I'd be really surprised if he can't do it.

 

5 inches? Braun is 6'2....are you saying that Prince is 5'9?

 

More like 2 or 3 inches.

[tmwiese55]

Yes, prince is 5'10 at best.