Brian Hiro has a piece in this morning’s North County Times spotlighting recently acquired third baseman Russell Branyan and his prodigous power. Sprinkled among the usual cliches (“as much power as anyone I’ve ever seen,” “some kind of strong,” etc.) is this nugget from Branyan himself, reflecting on his propensity to swing and miss:
It’s my fault. I don’t have to try to swing hard to hit homers. Just put a nice, easy swing on it. That’s where I have to polish my approach.
Speaking of cliches, here’s one for you: The first step is admitting that you have a problem. Of course, all subsequent steps involve fixing that problem, but still, you have to start somewhere. Right?
After 38 plate appearances, there’s still a lot that we don’t know about Branyan, but I am liking the early returns. I think I could get behind picking up his $1M option, provided we lose “Russell the Muscle” as a nickname.
$1m? Done!
Found this today and thought it was worth posting.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5946798
A $1mm option is not a big number in this market…actually below average ML payday.
As long as we don’t rely on him as our starting 3B. Off the bench as a 4th OF and backup 1B/3B, he is a good option…Especially at $1mm p/y.
You know, after reading the article, I am concerned about Towers interest in Craig Counsel. This is a guy on the wrong side of 35, with no power, and a decreasing ability to get on base. Sure, he can swipe a base, but if he is brought in to SD to see significant playing time, I say that may be a step backwards.
If Zito’s agent was anyone but Boras I would say the pads have a shot, but when a guy hires Boras you know he is looking for the biggest payday possible and location does not matter.
I hope the pads can hang onto walker as well, but i think he could still get a starting 2B job somewhere.
If Boch is the manager and Councel is on the bench you know he will get significant playing time over any younger player’s.
I don’t know I think I’d rather have a guy like Counsell coming off the bench when Khalil breaks a toe or a finger then Bellhorn or Blum. Counsell is a pest at the plate like Dave Roberts and he can play a few spots in the infield so I wouldn’t mind seeing him around.
KRS1…while I don’t disagree with your first point (I’d also rather have him than Bellhorn), I don’t think he is as much a pest as his reputation suggests…sure, he is fast, but he does not get on base at a huge clip and certainly does not have a batting average that suggests he can still hit.
I guess with anyone, it depends on the cash it will take.
My first thought on Counsell was pretty much in line with #8 but on looking at his numbers this year, he’s really tailed off in a couple key areas: BB/PA is down from .117 to .065, and P/PA is down from 4.08 to 3.72. In other words, he isn’t doing the things that used to make him a pest. That said, Counsell isn’t a horrible option assuming the money is right and he doesn’t take PT away from more deserving folks (we must never forget Deivi Cruz).
I was actually thinking about the Counsell option for the Pads a few weeks ago, looking at prospective FAs.
He’d be a great guy coming off the bench (in lieu of M. Alexander or Bellhorn for example). But I read in one of the AZ papers last week — can’t remember which one — that he’s looking to go to a place where he can start.
OT, on baseball prospectus today:
Player Team EqA VORP
Brian McCann ATL .308 45.3
Michael Barrett CHN .288 32.5
David Ross CIN .299 23.6
Mike Piazza SDN .282 22.7
Josh Bard SDN .264 22.0
Baseball is back to Hawai’i.
The Padres are sending second baseman Peter Ciofrone and shortstop Sean Kazmar to Hawai’i Winter Baseball.
Ciofrone batted .292 with eight home runs and 74 RBIs at Lake Elsinore of the High-A California League.
Kazmar hit .250 with 19 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs and 72 RBIs at Lake Elsinore.
They have not been assigned to a HWB team.
Hawai’i winter baseball: not bad work if you can get it.
Good point guys. I don’t recall ever looking at Counsell’s stat’s seriously I just know when he comes up to bat against us I freaking hate him. He always seems to do something to kill a Padre drive or get a key base hit or make our pitch counts explode. If he’s looking for a starting job he’s gotta be nuts though.
BTW…
Gregg Doyle is officially in Joe Morgan’s “Shit List” after writing this!
http://sportsline.com/mlb/story/9653616
re: 12 … in case it’s not obvious what that is, it’s BP’s STAT OF THE DAY …
Top 5 2006 NL Catchers, by VORP
Player, Team, EqA, VORP
Brian McCann, ATL, .308, 45.3
Michael Barrett, CHN, .288, 32.5
David Ross, CIN, .299, 23.6
Mike Piazza, SDN, .282, 22.7
Josh Bard, SDN, .264, 22.0
Thanks LM, I guess the whole Top 5 catchers by VORP thing would have been good to include in my pasting.