Talking Chop

I would expect editorialism and criticism from the AJC, but to see it come from the "Braves.com" MLB beat writer (who presumably kinda works for the team) is surprising. It is also impressive, since it is quite spot on. This is why I'm glad Mark Bowman finally got a blog:

While I'm confident that Schafer will prove effective while battling through inevitable strikeouts, I'm also pretty sure the Braves spent about $2.5 million too much on the left field manequin that Scott Boras sold them in February.

When you talk to Garret Anderson, he's as lifeless as he looks during those few occasions that he's actually deemed himself healthy enough to be on the field.  He's a nice guy who has had a nice career. 

But there were a number of better, more economically-sound options for the Braves, who would have been wise to just stick to their initial intention to give some of their own players a chance to prove they could play left field.  

Braves manager Bobby Cox pushed for Anderson's signing and he has continued to show support for the 36-year-old outfielder.  Cox  has labeled him to be a "glider" who moves effortlessly toward balls in the outfield.  In addition, he's believes the 36-year-old outfielder will be a key piece to this year's success. 

Well Cox is entitled to his opinion and I'm entitled to believe the Braves will be putting Matt Diaz in left field much more frequently than Anderson.  

Don't let Diaz's .217 batting average concern you.  He's owns a .255 career batting average in April.  During the season's other five months, he's combined to hit .322.

Well put sir. My favorite part was this:

When you talk to Garret Anderson, he's as lifeless as he looks during those few occasions that he's actually deemed himself healthy enough to be on the field.

As the people who are around the clubhouse the most, this is the kind of stuff D-Fab and Bowman should be bringing us -- kudos to Bowman for finally putting these opinions forward.

I've been trying my hardest to give Anderson the benefit of the doubt, but it's not all his fault -- as Bowman said above, Anderson is old, why should we be counting on him for the lion's share of playing time in left field, so part of this is the Braves' fault. We're wasting that spot on the roster and in the lineup on a guy who looks done. Now, Brandon Jones isn't exactly tearing up the International League, but I'm pretty certain he could be at least as good as Garret Anderson, with the added bonus of developing a young player.

We've talked about the loyalty that Cox (and the Braves organization) shows the players who play for him, but at some point even he has to realize when there's a dead fish on the pond.

It's only been ten games into the season, but the first, second, and third impressions of Garret Anderson have not been good ones. Hey, we cut and ran when Blaine Boyer, who had a great spring, couldn't come through in the three games he's been in, why not cut and run with Garret Anderson?