I know exactly what our bench should look like

[Andy G.]

There's an interesting battle going on for the available spots on the Braves' bench, as everybody knows. I believe that I know which players should get those spots, and I think I can convince you that I'm right.

David Ross will make the team and needs no explanation.

Eric Hinske is also a lock, but it's worth mentioning that he is our primary left-handed pinch hitter, and that he can play left field and first base. He has not played third base extensively since 2003, and the Braves only had him play there one time last year. It might not matter that he can play third base, because Prado will move in when Chipper gets hurt. Keep in mind, however, that he is left handed and is best utilized when not asked to hit left handed pitching. Also keep in mind that Freeman is a very young left handed hitter, and is our everyday first baseman. We need somebody to platoon with Hinske in left field when Chipper is hurt, and we need a right handed backup at first base.

That's why Joe Mather makes the team. He's hitting well in Spring Training. He's right handed . He can play first base to backup Freeman, and he can play left field to platoon with Hinske when Prado is at third while Chipper is on the DL. His handedness and versatility in the field fits perfectly with the team we have in place. He can also play centerfield in a pinch, but I'll get to that later.

The other vital position to be filled on the bench is the backup shortstop. That should be Ed Lucas in my opinion. In 2009, Lucas only played 5 games in AAA, but he played 103 in AA and posted a .392 wOBA. Last year in AAA, he posted a .390 wOBA.

Diory Hernandez on the other hand played 54 games in AAA in 2009, and he played 30 games in AAA during 2010. His wOBA in those years was .369 and .336 respectively. Both are performing well in Spring Training so far, but Lucas has been better in recent years. What puts him over the edge, though, is that he's a better baserunner. Hernandez has never even come close to having an acceptable stolen base percentage, while Lucas has had a season in which he stole 18 bases and was caught only 3 times ('09) and last year he stole 7 bases and was caught once. I'm not saying he's exceptionally fast; I have no idea how quick he is, but he's obviously a better basestealer than Hernandez, and I'm guessing that means he's a bit faster. Lucas gets my vote.

That leaves only one available spot on the bench. It pains me to say it, but Brooks Conrad doesn't get it. The final spot should go to Matt Young, and here's why.

Young fills the centerfield void and he gives us speed off the bench. Yes, the Braves are saying they'd be comfortable having Mather as the backup in center, but Matt Young gives us a legitimate base stealing threat off the bench. While Lucas does get the nod over Hernandez in part because of his speed, it does not mean that he is an ideal pinch-runner late in games when the Braves really need to get a runner in from first base. Young has stolen 72 bases in the past two seasons and was caught 28 times. He is the legitimate pinch-runner that the Braves must have on their bench. That's on top of being able to play centerfield, which already makes him a great candidate to be on the bench.

In summation, Lucas wins the shortstop spot because he's better than Hernandez. Young wins a spot because his speed is needed on the bench, and he can actually play good defense in center field unlike Mather. Mather wins his spot because he's the right handed backup we need for Freeman, and he's the ideal platoon partner for Hinske if/when Chipper misses time due to injury.

Also keep in mind that third base is well covered on this team beyond the fact that Prado can move in if needed. Both Mather and Lucas can play there as well. Also, Lucas and Mather should both be decent pinch hitting options from the right side of the plate.

Here's your bench:

C - David Ross

LF/Primary LH Pinch Hitter - Eric Hinske

1b/LF/RF - Joe Mather

SS/2B - Ed Lucas

CF/Pinch Runner - Matt Young

[-Dr. Brave-]

Joe Mather's not hitting this spring, but I agree that he will make the team anyway.

I also wouldn't keep Conrad. I do like using that spot for a pinch-runner type, but I think I'd go with the right-handed Wilkin Ramirez instead. Ramirez isn't on the 40-man roster, but he could take Conrad's spot. Young has options remaining, and I'd prefer to play him every day at Gwinnett (alongside Schafer) in case Schafer can't get it together by next season. Unfortunately, Ramirez strikes out a ton and isn't good defensively, but he has good power, is at least as fast as Young, and can play center field if needed. (I'm not saying this is how I think it will work out, but this is what I would do.)

I wish we could find a versatile third-catcher type, somelike like Eli Marrero, for example. Ryan Doumit comes to mind, but too much money involved there. With the starters we have, we could easily go with 11 pitchers rather than 12 if Fredi manages the bullpen effectively.

[Andy G.]

Yeah, I don't know what happened. I glanced at the stats and obviously misread the stats for Mather. I even knew that he wasn't hitting well, but I made that mistake anyway.

Still, like you, I believe he'll be on the team despite his poor hitting up to this point.

[AhbBrave]

you posted this exact same thing on talkingchop :P

[Andy G.]

you posted this exact same thing on talkingchop :P
:D

[AhbBrave]

andy i posted this on your talkingchop post about Wilkin Ramirez what do you think?

He has power and speed, his one knock on his career is he cant hit the breaking ball (chipper called him pedro cirano lol) but today he hit a slider out in dead center. this spring he has a 421 average with 3 sb, a homer, a triple and 8 base hits striking out and walking once respectively. he can play all 3 outfield spots as well.. might be a good thought for a callup if he doesnt make the team and someone is needed on the bench, what do u think andy? (gilley)

[Andy G.]

andy i posted this on your talkingchop post about Wilkin Ramirez what do you think?
We've got a conversation taking place in two places at once. Haha

I responded on the talkingchop discussion. Basically, the only reason I didn't mention Ramirez is because I don't know much about him. You clearly know more about him than I do, and you and -Dr. Brave- make a good case. He seems like a great fit for the bench.

What say you, other Chopnation members?

[bravos4evr]

There's an interesting battle going on for the available spots on the Braves' bench, as everybody knows. I believe that I know which players should get those spots, and I think I can convince you that I'm right.

David Ross will make the team and needs no explanation.

Eric Hinske is also a lock, but it's worth mentioning that he is our primary left-handed pinch hitter, and that he can play left field and first base. He has not played third base extensively since 2003, and the Braves only had him play there one time last year. It might not matter that he can play third base, because Prado will move in when Chipper gets hurt. Keep in mind, however, that he is left handed and is best utilized when not asked to hit left handed pitching. Also keep in mind that Freeman is a very young left handed hitter, and is our everyday first baseman. We need somebody to platoon with Hinske in left field when Chipper is hurt, and we need a right handed backup at first base.

That's why Joe Mather makes the team. He's hitting well in Spring Training. He's right handed . He can play first base to backup Freeman, and he can play left field to platoon with Hinske when Prado is at third while Chipper is on the DL. His handedness and versatility in the field fits perfectly with the team we have in place. He can also play centerfield in a pinch, but I'll get to that later.

The other vital position to be filled on the bench is the backup shortstop. That should be Ed Lucas in my opinion. In 2009, Lucas only played 5 games in AAA, but he played 103 in AA and posted a .392 wOBA. Last year in AAA, he posted a .390 wOBA.

Diory Hernandez on the other hand played 54 games in AAA in 2009, and he played 30 games in AAA during 2010. His wOBA in those years was .369 and .336 respectively. Both are performing well in Spring Training so far, but Lucas has been better in recent years. What puts him over the edge, though, is that he's a better baserunner. Hernandez has never even come close to having an acceptable stolen base percentage, while Lucas has had a season in which he stole 18 bases and was caught only 3 times ('09) and last year he stole 7 bases and was caught once. I'm not saying he's exceptionally fast; I have no idea how quick he is, but he's obviously a better basestealer than Hernandez, and I'm guessing that means he's a bit faster. Lucas gets my vote.

That leaves only one available spot on the bench. It pains me to say it, but Brooks Conrad doesn't get it. The final spot should go to Matt Young, and here's why.

Young fills the centerfield void and he gives us speed off the bench. Yes, the Braves are saying they'd be comfortable having Mather as the backup in center, but Matt Young gives us a legitimate base stealing threat off the bench. While Lucas does get the nod over Hernandez in part because of his speed, it does not mean that he is an ideal pinch-runner late in games when the Braves really need to get a runner in from first base. Young has stolen 72 bases in the past two seasons and was caught 28 times. He is the legitimate pinch-runner that the Braves must have on their bench. That's on top of being able to play centerfield, which already makes him a great candidate to be on the bench.

In summation, Lucas wins the shortstop spot because he's better than Hernandez. Young wins a spot because his speed is needed on the bench, and he can actually play good defense in center field unlike Mather. Mather wins his spot because he's the right handed backup we need for Freeman, and he's the ideal platoon partner for Hinske if/when Chipper misses time due to injury.

Also keep in mind that third base is well covered on this team beyond the fact that Prado can move in if needed. Both Mather and Lucas can play there as well. Also, Lucas and Mather should both be decent pinch hitting options from the right side of the plate.

Here's your bench:

C - David Ross

LF/Primary LH Pinch Hitter - Eric Hinske

1b/LF/RF - Joe Mather

SS/2B - Ed Lucas

CF/Pinch Runner - Matt Young

I put sumthin like this in the offseason duscussion thread and I agree with you. HOWEVER, I doubt Fredi does...

What the Bench SHOULD LOOK LIKE:

Ross
Hinske
Mather
Lucas
Young

What it WILL BE:

Ross
Hinske
Mather
Conrad
Diory


In the long run I doubt it matters THAT much as by Aug/Sep time the bench should be solidified...

[KB 34]

A lot of bench speculation has one middle infielder and I'm convinced that it's a recipe for disaster. The bench obviously starts with Ross and Hinske. For the middle infield I'd go with Lucas and Conrad. Lucas has a .362 career OBP in the minors and should help get on base when called upon. While Conrad is not a popular player by any means, in 156 AB last season he had 8 HR and a .811 OPS. His glove is garbage but his bat isn't complete garbage and he plays the middle infield. I'd prefer a better backup infielder then him, but the Braves will have to watch the waiver wires or make a trade to get one.

Another reason I'd have Conrad on the bench is the over-rating of Prado. Yes, I've said it and I know it won't be popular but I've been a Prado fan since he outplayed KJ for the starting 2B job and still lost because there actually was no competitio in reality. I simply don't see him being able to be a utility player who starts all over the field and puts up All Star numbers. He needs to play one position for long stretches and the only way that happens is with 2 utility infielders. That leaves Mather as the backup outfielder with Hinske also helping with the corner positions.

Quite honestly this bench scares me a lot. However, Uggla in the lineup instead of Infante on the bench is a much bigger benefit. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Braves bring in 2 new bench players by June to help with the bench. Ross and Hinske have safe spots, but whoever wins the last bench spots should probably not get too attached to Atlanta and find some favorite places to eat in Gwinnett.

[bravos4evr]

KB I think if they decide to make Mather the backup CF'er then you are right. And they may wait to see how Mclouth's first month or two goes before bringing up Young or Shafer... I too like Conrad's bat But Lucas can play the middle infield better than Conrad and his stats show he should hit just as well....

[Andy G.]

A lot of bench speculation has one middle infielder and I'm convinced that it's a recipe for disaster. The bench obviously starts with Ross and Hinske. For the middle infield I'd go with Lucas and Conrad. Lucas has a .362 career OBP in the minors and should help get on base when called upon. While Conrad is not a popular player by any means, in 156 AB last season he had 8 HR and a .811 OPS. His glove is garbage but his bat isn't complete garbage and he plays the middle infield. I'd prefer a better backup infielder then him, but the Braves will have to watch the waiver wires or make a trade to get one.

Another reason I'd have Conrad on the bench is the over-rating of Prado. Yes, I've said it and I know it won't be popular but I've been a Prado fan since he outplayed KJ for the starting 2B job and still lost because there actually was no competitio in reality. I simply don't see him being able to be a utility player who starts all over the field and puts up All Star numbers. He needs to play one position for long stretches and the only way that happens is with 2 utility infielders. That leaves Mather as the backup outfielder with Hinske also helping with the corner positions.
What situation are you envisioning where not having two middle infielders on the bench will hurt us? Why is that a necessity? We'll have Lucas/Diory to give one of the guys a day off and to play if one of them has a small injury but doesn't hit the DL. They only way we'll need another middle infielder is if a disaster strikes and both of our middle infielders get hurt in the same game. Even if that does happen, Prado can come in to finish that game until the next day when somebody from AAA is called up.

Conrad can only play two positions, and he doesn't play either of them well. Plus, he's not necessarily going to match his offensive production from last year. Lucas, Mather and Young/Ramirez are all more versatile than Conrad defensively.

Who would like to keep off the bench in place of Conrad? In what scenario is Conrad on our bench without limiting the bench's versatility?

[alaskabravesfan]

I did and still do support trading Omar Infante for Dan Uggla, but I have to admit that we were spoiled by Omar...Now we are back to reality and facing the same problem that most other teams do in building their benches...

[alaskabravesfan]

Why the hate for Brooks Conrad?

I remind you:

In 156 AB he posted an .811 OPS

That's a much bigger sample size than his bad postseason error game.

Give him a break! He's not flashy with the leather, but he's no butcher! He definitely belongs on our bench in 2011!

[Andy G.]

Well first I don't consider him anywhere near a lock to repeat that production from the plate in 2011, and second he's just not a great fit for our bench logistically in 2011. The only thing I can see sacrificing on our bench to keep him is the backup CF/speedy runner guy (whether it's Young or Ramirez), and I feel like that makes us a worse team. I like Brooks Conrad, but I wouldn't put him on the bench to start the year.