Lindsay, you are very technical in your evaluation and I appreciate it. But, to summarize, we are paying $11.5 MM PER YEAR to a 35-year old with only 7 years in the Bigs and a lifetime avg of .236?? The average batting avg over the past 5 years of what we deem as "failed fixes" is .235!! At least with Eli (home grown) you get speed and defense at age 31 and no million dollar contract. I thought the Yaz deal stunk from day 1. Generally, I'm tired of seeing AA paying other team's rejects huge money to simply "finish out their career".
Lindsay, I’m not sure why so many people have such a low threshold for patience with players only 29 games into the season. It is what it is, I guess.
Left field has been a strange Bermuda Triangle for the Braves for some reason. Do you think that by some point in the 2027 season, the Braves could have multiple prospects who are capable of playing left? It does seem like there are a few in the system who could handle the position. It feels like SS and left field and 2nd all have options coming in soonish.
Yeah, it genuinely feels like the season's story absolutely isn't over for Yaz, but it's just amazing how much we've struggled at the position other than 2023
Excellent article. How can AA hope a 35 y/o with a lifetime batting average of .236 is going to be worth $11.5 M/yr? He's a good guy, won't embarrass anybody off the field, and can fill in at all three OF spots (with, maybe, slightly above average skill). Once again AA's mistakes are evident as Laureano flourishes in SD and Kelenic flails in the minors.
"And the difference shows up there - the pitch recognition and how it’s driving his swing decisions. Yaz’s 2025 homer was off of an inside four-seamer, while he got rung up on a front door changeup. Yaz is taking more pitches that are strikes this season, with his zone swing down to a career worst 58.6%."
Not saying this is it, but this part of the newsletter felt like the 2025 Braves. Could it be that the Tim Hyers approach takes more time to adjust? Braves players who struggled last year to adjust to the TH method, are now looking great with it. Maybe Yaz is just behind.
Lindsay, you are very technical in your evaluation and I appreciate it. But, to summarize, we are paying $11.5 MM PER YEAR to a 35-year old with only 7 years in the Bigs and a lifetime avg of .236?? The average batting avg over the past 5 years of what we deem as "failed fixes" is .235!! At least with Eli (home grown) you get speed and defense at age 31 and no million dollar contract. I thought the Yaz deal stunk from day 1. Generally, I'm tired of seeing AA paying other team's rejects huge money to simply "finish out their career".
Little did they know the answer was right in front of them in 2024 with Laureano!
But he was.SO HOT in spring training ?
I saw Dubon played left the other day and tripled.
Lindsay, I’m not sure why so many people have such a low threshold for patience with players only 29 games into the season. It is what it is, I guess.
Left field has been a strange Bermuda Triangle for the Braves for some reason. Do you think that by some point in the 2027 season, the Braves could have multiple prospects who are capable of playing left? It does seem like there are a few in the system who could handle the position. It feels like SS and left field and 2nd all have options coming in soonish.
Yeah, it genuinely feels like the season's story absolutely isn't over for Yaz, but it's just amazing how much we've struggled at the position other than 2023
Excellent article. How can AA hope a 35 y/o with a lifetime batting average of .236 is going to be worth $11.5 M/yr? He's a good guy, won't embarrass anybody off the field, and can fill in at all three OF spots (with, maybe, slightly above average skill). Once again AA's mistakes are evident as Laureano flourishes in SD and Kelenic flails in the minors.
This brings again the question about Farmer: What has Farmer done to Weiss to get grounded on the bench?
"And the difference shows up there - the pitch recognition and how it’s driving his swing decisions. Yaz’s 2025 homer was off of an inside four-seamer, while he got rung up on a front door changeup. Yaz is taking more pitches that are strikes this season, with his zone swing down to a career worst 58.6%."
Not saying this is it, but this part of the newsletter felt like the 2025 Braves. Could it be that the Tim Hyers approach takes more time to adjust? Braves players who struggled last year to adjust to the TH method, are now looking great with it. Maybe Yaz is just behind.
On the other hand, Dubon has looked better than advertised in his first year with TH....so who knows.