Mailbag

Written by Colin on December 17, 2007 – 12:19 pm

Time for our first Mailbag question – to submit a question, please go to the “Submit Question” page using the navigation above.  For each question you submit, you’re entered to win that Brian McCann autographed baseball.

Melissa asked:

Ken Rosenthal over at MSN.Foxsports.com had this interesting comment about the Braves – “Meanwhile, the Yankees could trade Melky Cabrera even if they do not include him in a deal for Santana; several clubs are showing interest in Cabrera, including — presumably — the Braves, who tried to acquire him last off-season. ”

What do you think about the possibility of Cabrera getting signed?

First, thanks to Melissa for submitting a question – she’s entered into the drawing for a Brian McCann autographed baseball!

Secondly, let me ask you why the Braves would want Melky Cabrera? For those of you unfamiliar with Cabrera (I had to look it up too), he plays OF for the Yankees, hit .273 with 8 HRs, and 73 RBIs. So they’d plug him into center field? Makes sense, he played most of his games last year in center.

Except we already got rid of an identical player – Willie Harris.

Look at these stat lines:

Harris – .270 BA, 2 HRs, 32 RBIs, 17 SBs, .392 SLG, .349 OBP, and an OPS of 94.
Cabrera – .273 BA, 8 HRs, 73 RBIs, 13 SBs, .391 SLG, .327 OBP, and an OPS of 89.

Harris and Cabrera are identical. Part-time outfielders with decent stats but nothing mind-blowing. Both have some speed, 8 triples and 13-17 stolen bases, and both made around half a million last year.

Now, if we threw Harris on waivers like so much moldy bread, why would we want to trade for/sign Cabrera? I don’t see why it makes sense. Cabrera has a little bit more power than Harris, but not a higher on-base percentage.

So I don’t know why we’d go after Cabrera – it doesn’t make sense for the Braves. I don’t see it happening. Something about a snowball’s chance in… well, you get the picture.

Colin


Posted in Mailbag | 4 Comments »

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4 Responses to “Mailbag”

  1. By Jonathan on Dec 18, 2007 | Reply

    Well, being the Willie fanboy as I am, I must say I definitely agree with you, Colin. Willie is much more of an exciting player than Cabrera and a much better fit on the Braves roster. I don’t see the need to throw that money towards Cabrera when it won’t provide much of a change for us as a whole.

  2. By sean on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply

    willie harris had to go, there was no need to keep him, he gave it his best shot, had a killer first half, but then showed his true colors with an abysmal second half. its hard to have exciting speed when you cant get on base. his career batting average is .247. im sure hes a nice guy, but doesnt deserve a spot on the braves roster.

    that being said, i hope you just had to look up cabrera’s stats and not who he was, cause that would be kinda pathetic. i dont know if i would want him on the braves either. he does have good upside, but i think with his age, it would just be a huge block for the up and coming talent we have for centerfield with what i believe is even more upside than cabreras

  3. By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    Well, being the Willie fanboy as I am, I must say I definitely agree with you, Colin. Willie is much more of an exciting player than Cabrera and a much better fit on the Braves roster. I don't see the need to throw that money towards Cabrera when it won't provide much of a change for us as a whole.

  4. By sean on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    willie harris had to go, there was no need to keep him, he gave it his best shot, had a killer first half, but then showed his true colors with an abysmal second half. its hard to have exciting speed when you cant get on base. his career batting average is .247. im sure hes a nice guy, but doesnt deserve a spot on the braves roster.

    that being said, i hope you just had to look up cabrera's stats and not who he was, cause that would be kinda pathetic. i dont know if i would want him on the braves either. he does have good upside, but i think with his age, it would just be a huge block for the up and coming talent we have for centerfield with what i believe is even more upside than cabreras

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