3B options, Latest: Ensberg discussion

[Brian the Automator]

I seriously think Braun is expendable at this point. Whatever your opinion is about his defense, they seem hell-bent on finding a replacement for him at 3B rather than let him try and settle in and learn the position. If they throw him into the OF, his value will decline and there will not be enough playing time to go around for everyone vying for a spot. If I were an AL team or an NL team in a rebuilding mode, I'd be poking around the Brewers' camp to see what Braun's availability would be.

Now, I'm not managing the team or anything, but I think they'll find a way to squeeze Braunie into the lineup every few days.

 

[MoneyballMan]

I seriously think Braun is expendable at this point. Whatever your opinion is about his defense, they seem hell-bent on finding a replacement for him at 3B rather than let him try and settle in and learn the position. If they throw him into the OF, his value will decline and there will not be enough playing time to go around for everyone vying for a spot. If I were an AL team or an NL team in a rebuilding mode, I'd be poking around the Brewers' camp to see what Braun's availability would be.

Now, I'm not managing the team or anything, but I think they'll find a way to squeeze Braunie into the lineup every few days.

 

 

No kidding. I know sometimes we (me) may throw out some crazy ideas or mutually agree to disagree on topics, but some of the things Cubs fans post are just unbelievable.

[hawing]

Braun could be platooned at 3B with Bill Hall. We could call it Braul.

[MoneyballMan]

Ok, I may be crazy (and I'm sure you'll all tell me if I am), but I wonder if they've thought at all about Hart at 3B. I kind of forgot that he played 3B in the minors, but I have no idea how he was defensively. I guess if you swap anyone it still makes sense to move Hall back there, but Hart's offense at 3B would be something if they can add a corner outfielder instead of a 3B or CF. Just a thought.

[Brian the Automator]

I kind of forgot that he played 3B in the minors, but I have no idea how he was defensively.

I saw it in person. This is how I would describe it best:

http://www.habeeb.com/images/matador.bullfight.05.jpg

[MoneyballMan]

I kind of forgot that he played 3B in the minors, but I have no idea how he was defensively.

I saw it in person. This is how I would describe it best:

http://www.habeeb.com/images/matador.bullfight.05.jpg

 

What's the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words? Enough said on that suggestion!

[chinabob99]

Ok, I may be crazy (and I'm sure you'll all tell me if I am), but I wonder if they've thought at all about Hart at 3B. I kind of forgot that he played 3B in the minors, but I have no idea how he was defensively. I guess if you swap anyone it still makes sense to move Hall back there, but Hart's offense at 3B would be something if they can add a corner outfielder instead of a 3B or CF. Just a thought.

 

I think they tried Hart at 3B in AAA and it was less than confidence inspiring.

[Hammer]

http://www.annsather.com/graphics/food/chickenSandwich.jpg

 

Yeah, the last time Hart was at 3rd it worked about as well as a soup sandwich...

[sbrylski]

I'd love for Corey Hart to wear that outfit on the field.

[PeaveyFury]

I think the Giants proposed those as new unis 5 or so years ago.

[Hammer]

I'd love for Corey Hart to wear that outfit on the field.

I'm guessing that his size would be custom http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[RU Rah Rah]

If memory serves, didn't Braun actually have a modest streak of relative defensive competence after he was called up? I don't think he was such an utter Dave Kingman-like butcher for the whole season.

[TooLiveBrew]

That's awesome - it tells all you need to know about how rough defense in 2007 was on Braunie. The best compliment I've seen him paid in that regard on this board is that he had...

 

"a modest streak of relative defensive competence"

 

That is pure gold. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[DHarris34Phan]

Move Billy Hall to 3rd, sign Andrew Jones 6 years 100 million, get some pitching and call it an off season!

[And That]

If memory serves, didn't Braun actually have a modest streak of relative defensive competence after he was called up?

Nooo..... that was when Craig Counsell came in to play defense. Even when it looked like Braun was making a good play, he was just uncrapping a play he had initially crapped.

 

[PlayerHader]

If they'd give Andruw Jones a 6 year 100 million dollar deal I would pass a monkey on my next stop in the john.

 

And I'd love to get Hank Blalock.

[madtowndrunkard]

I'd try like hell to get LaRoche, if that deal doesn't pan out then I'd make another run at Rolen. If that doesn't work out then move Hall to 3rd and go after a defensive CF.

[WestCoastBrewer]

http://static.yuku.com//common/bypass/images/off_line.gifTooLiveBrew

 

I'm going to put you on the spot, name one game that his error clearly cost our team a game, now take all the games he helped win and compare. Good luck.

 

We have some fans that have nothing better to do this winter then 2nd guess managment. This move if it's ever made was based on Braun offering to make a move so the team has options, and much less to do with the organization wanting to make a move.

[trwi7]

http://static.yuku.com//common/bypass/images/off_line.gifTooLiveBrew

 

I'm going to put you on the spot, name one game that his error clearly cost our team a game, now take all the games he helped win and compare. Good luck.

 

We have some fans that have nothing better to do this winter then 2nd guess managment. This move if it's ever made was based on Braun offering to make a move so the team has options, and much less to do with the organization wanting to make a move.

 

Two that come to my mind are the 3 error game against San Diego in the last series of the year which very well could've been 4 errors and the game against Philadelphia where if he makes an easy play the game is over and the Brewers sweep, instead the Phillies end up scoring 5 in the 9th and win it in extras.

[homer]

Braun had one of the worst defensive campaigns for a third baseman in MLB history. There is really no arguing that at all.

[And That]

Ryan Braun wasn't a problem over the course of a few games, it was his season in totality. He was just terrible at third. Like, the worst (or at least one of the few worst) third baseman in baseball over the past 100 years. That bad. It's almost impossible to underestimate the apocalyptic nature of his defense. Every time a ball went to the left side of the infield, I hoped like hell Hardy would get it.

[ILuvDaBush]

"No seriously, Ryan, I got it. Go practice your swing in the dug-out. Yeah. Over there."

[RU Rah Rah]

I've looked in Baseball-Reference.com to try to find a 2007 "game log" for fielding, but (being the dork that I am) I can't figure it out. Can anybody else chart when, exactly, Braun's 26 errors came, at least month-by-month?

 

I know he was brutal, but something in me hates the notion of moving yet another player to the outfield.

[TURBO]

Move Billy Hall to 3rd, sign Andrew Jones 6 years 100 million, get some pitching and call it an off season!

 

was that post made in sarcasm?

 

I surely hope we wouldn't invest that kind of cash into a guy who looks to be in the declining years of his career. That kind of contract would handcuff us for years, and if he didn't perform, we would be screwed. Please say you were kidding...

[RobertR]

I know he was brutal, but something in me hates the notion of moving yet another player to the outfield.

What's more to know? Directly his errors and missed plays led to runs. Indirectly his errors and missed plays led to an added strain on the pitching staff and those extra pitches and innings being picked up by lesser pitchers.

 

I'd agree with the idea that Braun has the tools so that he can improve. Still, how quickly and how much can he improve are difficult to assess and it's more urgent to figure that out when the Brewers are in a window of contending. I'm firmly of the belief that teams get the most bang for their buck by addressing their biggest weaknesses. And third base defense last year was easily the Brewers biggest problem.

 

Robert