From deep within the bowels of DOB's blog, and update on Atlanta Braves prospect Jordan Schafer:
Just learned that [Jordan] Schafer hurt a finger in winter ball, got hit by a pitch, and he’s come home. Not broken, but it’s banged up and he’s supposed to rest it three weeks and then rehab it a few weeks.
He’s done for the winter, but he did himself a favor by going to play down there, left a good impression with the bosses. Wren told me Schafer played well while he was in Mexico.
Indeed Schafer was doing "well" in Mexico, not good, but well. He hit .276/.369/.343 in 27 games. That's a decent batting average, good on-base, but a pretty sub-standard slugging percentage. He may not have been focusing on power as he hit mostly leadoff, but with that good on-base percentage and nine stolen bases in ten attempts I suppose he performed "well" in that role.
This injury may also eliminate any doubt as to who will be offered up in trade talks, Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez. Though Schafer should heal by the time spring training rolls around where he will get the first crack at the center field job.
0 recs | 12 comments
DOB also says he reckons Schafer will start at CF.
someguy917 - November 18, 2008
Would Schafer be a legitimate leadoff guy for the Braves?
coldriver10 - November 18, 2008
He took a walk in roughly 14% of his PAs this year in AA. I think that’s pretty good for a kid his age. He may not have the crazy speed that some people want out of their leadoff batter, but that’s overrated anyways. Hell, Kevin Youkilis started 95 games for the Red Sox in the leadoff spot back in 2006 and posted a 14% walk rate.
Smoltz's Beard - November 18, 2008
Cool, thanks for the analysis. If he really did steal 9/10 in the AFL, that’s really not bad. We need a threat to steal at the top of the lineup in my opinion.
coldriver10 - November 18, 2008
Steals are overrated man…unless you’re swiping bases at like an 80% clip the outs end up costing you much more in the long run than the extra 90 feet.
With that being said, if Schafer were to put up 20/20 out of the leadoff spot along with a .360ish OBP…it’d be hard to argue with.
Smoltz's Beard - November 18, 2008
Agreed. I’d take that in a heartbeat.
coldriver10 - November 18, 2008
Steals are overrated, but speed isn't.
As well as intelligent baserunning, which I think Schafer has both in spades.
soup du jour - November 18, 2008
This I agree with
having the threat is pretty valuable.
PriceMultiCyYoungs - November 19, 2008
great....
tomahawk - November 18, 2008
If he learns to hit left handed pitching
he could be a very special player. My understanding is that almost every scout that sees him considers him a future standout defender, and that alone should secure him a spot in a major league roster. My own personal non-expert, educated guess is that he ends up as a .260/.340/.450 player with excellent defense and above average baserunning, which would make him a top 10 player at his position.
BraveBronco0121 - November 19, 2008
That being said, 2009 will be critical for him
and if he doesn’t turn in a good performance, I think we’re probably looking at a 4th outfielder/platoon guy.
BraveBronco0121 - November 19, 2008
Still needs work
He barely hits .200 against AA LHers. ML lefties will eat him alive. He strikes me as more of a #3 hitter. Scouts remark that his instincts are near Andruw like in the way he moves on a ball at the crack of the bat. He has a cannon for an arm and well above average speed. I really would like to see him spend at least part of the year in the minors working on lefites as much as possible unless a platoon can be managed. In spite of his lefty problem he led the minors in hits in ’07. I think he is more of .290 BA with 18/20 HRs and 20/30 SBs when he gets adjusted.
braves99 - November 19, 2008
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