Brandon Beachy
Just pitched so damned well that the Braves put him in the rotation over Mike Minor, even though Minor also pitched well. So I look pretty stupid.
Beachy is from Indiana and went to a small college there. That part of the country is still pretty underscouted compared to the South and West, but it makes very little sense that he was undrafted. He signed with the Braves as a free agent in 2008.
Beachy pitched briefly as a reliever in rookie ball that year, then in 2009 rose through the system from Rome to Myrtle Beach to Mississippi, again working mostly as a reliever (he made eight starts in Myrtle Beach, where he spent most of the season). Last season, he terrorized AA and AAA, converting from relief to starting along the way. In 35 games, 13 starts, Beachy pitched 119 1/3 innings, struck out 148, walked just 28, and allowed just five homers. Unsurprisingly, he went 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA.
He was called up when the major league rotation was collapsing late in the season, and pitched 15 innings. His ERA was 3.00, but that is a result of a lot of runs (four of the nine he allowed) being scored as “unearned”. But his peripherals were good; a strikeout an inning, no homers, and only four unintentional walks.
Very little offensive track record, 2 hits in 12 AB last season in the minors, 1-6 in the majors. He played third base in college so presumably he’s a relatively capable hitter and athlete.
Whose facsimile of a signature was on your glove when you were a kid?
Dave Righetti.
Got it because I liked the feel of the glove (it was already a little flexible even in the department store).
March 25th, 2011 at 2:17 pmGonna have everyone beat on this one: I had the Jose Canseco model.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:21 pmMine was and still is Glenn Hubbard. It’s obviously smaller (a second baseman’s glove) but it’s so good and broken in I won’t use anything else. Not great for softball though.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:23 pmI still use my Dave Righetti model as well. It’s a bit too small for softball, but it works and it’s what I’ve got.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:28 pmRed Schoendienst MacGregor.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:41 pmGeneric.
Cabrera’s struggles last year resulted, he believes, simply because he got “a little bit fat.”
I guess “a little bit fat” is Spanish for “morbidly obese”.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:45 pmMy favorite glove ever was signed by Fernando Valenzuela. I’m not sure what that says about my fielding.
March 25th, 2011 at 3:04 pmI had Terry Pendleton, I’m pretty sure.
March 25th, 2011 at 3:28 pmFelix Millan for me.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:06 pmSideshow Bob’s cousin to buy the Braves?.
I think Ron Terwilliger is more likely than Blank to bid on the Braves. Among other things, his company seems to have weathered the financial mess better than Home Depot.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:10 pmBarry Bonds for me. I think his head was a normal size then.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:15 pmA Wilson Denny McLain glove for the field and a Wilson Smoky Burgess mitt for behind the plate. Bought them at an old Reeder & McGaughey store.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:25 pm(Mac, Earlier, I inadvertently used my user name and email address I have for a different site. Please remove the earlier comment from “Richard” so there won’t be a duplication if possible. My bad.)
Thanks, Spike,
I was afraid I was posting a name on a glove going too far back but Del Crandall was a contemporary of Red’s. My first glove at age 8 was a catcher’s mitt Dad gave me that seemed to weigh 50 LBS. Neither of us knew at the time I was near-sighted, had to be fitted with glasses and was bat-blind as well. I’m sure that is the only reason I didn’t make it to the majors.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:42 pmI had Ken Griffey Jr.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:54 pmThe Murph…
Chipper hit another HR tonight. I’m seriously excited to see what Chipper can do this year.
March 25th, 2011 at 5:13 pmAndre Dawson for my very first one, I think. And then Ken Griffey, Jr. I still love that KGJ glove.
March 25th, 2011 at 6:25 pmAnother good outing by Beachy.
March 25th, 2011 at 6:28 pmSherrill gives up 2 runs
March 25th, 2011 at 7:19 pmA Ted Sizemore, followed by, unbelievably, a Dave Kingman.
March 25th, 2011 at 7:29 pm@18, Dr, Strangeglove. Dating muself. Bob Buhl six finger glove. Birthday gift.
March 25th, 2011 at 8:09 pmLink under name
March 25th, 2011 at 8:12 pm-
I did not misremember
@21, that is a very cool site, thanks for posting.
March 25th, 2011 at 9:23 pmMARTA to vote Monday on reinstating Braves shuttle | ajc.com.
March 25th, 2011 at 9:26 pmBob Friend, strangely, because he was long-retired.
Got it at the Ft. Benning PX.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:40 pmRawlings Dale Murphy model , still use it, cuz it’s still awesome.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:45 pmHard to have a better night than I did:
My 16-year-old pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout against their arch-rival and my alma mater beat the #1 team in the land.
Think I’ll go see if the wife is still awake …
March 25th, 2011 at 11:01 pmBig cheers.
Helluva game, too.
March 26th, 2011 at 12:52 amI have a Tom Glavine glvoe
March 26th, 2011 at 8:06 amCongratulations, justhank! Nice to have days like that.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:35 amRon Gant autographed mine (but that was while we were both coaching little league).
March 26th, 2011 at 10:08 amMike Hampton officially retired. Insert joke here.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:09 amThe opportunity is certainly there to make a joke, and it would certainly be in accord with the official position here. But I have to say I grew to admire Hampton — he didn’t have to keep trying, keep rehabbing, year after year as the injuries piled up. He certainly had enough money to retire a long time ago. He strikes me as someone who felt a responsibility, and not just to himself, to keep going.
Oh, what the hell. Careful opening those pension check envelopes, Mike. Paper cuts can be nasty!
March 26th, 2011 at 10:47 am@31 – there is a town in Florida named Homosassa. Odd.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:51 amRon Mahay released by Dodgers. There’s a loogy I’d rather have than Sherrill.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:31 am@31 – $95,000,000 for 2268 innings of 107 ERA+ ball. $42,000 per inning. Jesus.
Apparently this figure does not include what he was paid by the insurance companies for 2006 and 7. So it’s really closer to 125 MILLION lifetime.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:58 am@22 Google was my friend
March 26th, 2011 at 12:39 pmI am getting the feeling with all the hype coming about of Braves camp, Beachy might be trade bait.
March 26th, 2011 at 1:49 pmIn Miami, a town full of clever, if often profane, t-shirts, best one I’ve seen this week: A very simple “Don’t Hate,” with “hate” done up like a Heat logo, complete with licking flame.
March 26th, 2011 at 2:16 pmMike Hampton has retired. “D-backs laud career, class of Hampton”. I cannot fathom a world devoid of a Mike Hampton start every fifth day. Good-bye, you class-act iron man.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:19 pmhttp://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/2011/03/men-of-honor.html
Pos unleashes berserkr rage on Chass, world nods in approval.
Money quote – “Murray Chass is a nobody now. He’s a bitter man…”
March 26th, 2011 at 4:28 pmLowe got hammered today.
March 26th, 2011 at 7:09 pmI think I have everyone beat on longevity here, I still have my glove from Little Chiefs (circa 1960) it was a BOBBY THOMPSON model. Years later at a card show, I got Bobby to sign it for me. Great treasure!
March 26th, 2011 at 8:58 pmSo, I have a question for all you fantastic Braves Journalers regarding scouting experts in the media, including such venerable and respected figures as Keith Law and Buster Olney. It would seem that if they really so proficient in their craft, wouldn’t they be currently involved in high-level work in the MLB?
I mean, every time we hear an “expert” in the media lament or praise a specific prospect or veteran, or criticize a certain move, we tend to believe them and hold that opinion for ourselves. For example, Keith Law is currently tearing the Beachy over Minor decision, and (not here, but in other places), a few Braves fans are criticizing the move based on Law’s assessment. I guess what I’m asking is, how much stock should we put into the opinions of people who are not actively involved in, but rather just covering the sport?
I mean, if I get a disease, I’m not asking my health insurance provider, or an admission officer at a Medical school on the best course of action to cure it. I’m asking a doctor. In the field of baseball, Law and co. are nothing more than commentators, whereas the real professionals are the ones making the decision. Yet we constantly use media experts’ opinions to question moves made by the actual professionals.
This may be a really stupid thought, but I’ve been wondering about it for a while. Why do I trust the opinions of media people over the decisions of the team? Do you guys find yourselves reading the thoughts of a scout or a member of a braintrust that wasn’t good enough to stick at the professional level and use his arguments as criticism for your team? If you do, do you know why you do it?
March 27th, 2011 at 12:53 amWould have gone with Minor over Beachy.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:15 amI don’t think being a scout pays all that well, so I’m not entirely sure anyone would choose working for an organization over ESPN. Law is probably right about Minor being a better long-term choice for the Braves, but you’d really have to stretch to say he’s the clear, obvious choice right now.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:24 amIt’s a fair question (FYI Law worked in the Blue Jays front office for several years). In the case of Minor, he tried out a curveball in his last start and struggled badly with it. Evidently it’s thought that he needs one, and that I believe is why he was sent down, despite the possibility that he’d outperform Beachy with his current repertoire.
But, as with the notion of batting McLouth second and Heyward sixth, how you start off isn’t always how you finish, or even how you intend to finish. Nothing is set in stone just because spring training is winding up. That, I think, is forgotten in a lot of independent analysis.
There’s professional pride at stake, too. Maybe Law advocated Minor during the draft a couple of years ago, and that impacts his view down the line. Everyone likes to be proven right.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:41 amBoycott The New York Times!!!
Tyler Kepner picks the Marlins over the Braves for the NL WC.
Mike Stanton as NL MVP…..there are no words.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/sports/baseball/27nl.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=2011%20baseball%20preview&st=cse
March 27th, 2011 at 7:20 amI think it’s very possible that there are people here who are more qualified to opine on Beachy vs. Minor than, for example, Keith Law is. The Braves are what we’re concentrating on, after all.
The difference is that, I, and probably a lot of us, don’t have any idea who Minnesota’s or Arizona’s fifth starter should be, for example. Then I’m going to listen to Keith Law, absent trying to figure out who Arizona’s most informed fans are, and what they have to say.
March 27th, 2011 at 7:30 am@46
That could happen. If Stanton has a huge year, the Marlins could be tough.
March 27th, 2011 at 7:43 am@46, great. the more other teams are talked up, less heat on the braves. don’t worry about the projections from some guy hoping for the long shot so he can look back and give the whole ‘i told you so.’ of course when it doesn’t work out those columns just get lost.
on the flip side, I locked in braves over 88 wins this year and the wildcard to come from the NL East +175 (both central and west had lower odds)
March 27th, 2011 at 8:22 amWhen are final roster cuts announced?
March 27th, 2011 at 10:10 amGood question on Law, and commentators in general, but I don’t think the medical analogy is fair.
Law is a researcher rather than a practitioner. So, I think he is more like the guy who works in the lab rather than a guy who works with patients. He has good general knowledge and applies it from a distance. Coaches and scouts usually know more about their specific players. As someone mentioned, sometimes even fans do.
That doesn’t mean the ones closer to the situation are always right when opinions differ.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:23 amSurprise!
http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/2011/03/27/hicks-and-young-on-opening-day-roster/
March 27th, 2011 at 10:31 amIn re Stanton – http://www.snywhyguys.com/2011/03/24/quantifying-upside-and-risk/ Somewhat overstates the argument, but helps put Stanton in perspective. Stanton K’s a ton, and had quite a healthy BaBIP last year at .330. He’s going to need to sustain that to get 30+ dingers. It may well actually be that if his BA dips at all he gets sent down. Still, even if he doesn’t advance a bit, a tremendous defender who puts up 20+ dingers with a 116OPS+ is seriously valuable. Not quite ready to go with MVP candidate for the guy yet though.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:37 amSo by my math, confirmed bench is now Ross Hinske Hicks Young
Remaining spot is between Mather, Conrad, Ramirez and Lucas at the moment. Go Ed!
March 27th, 2011 at 10:41 amBoth DOB and Peanut seem to think Conrad will get the last spot. That will be a lefty heavy bench — Conrad can’t hit from the right side, Hicks can’t hit period (I guess they like his defense and ability to pinch-run), and Ross is the backup catcher and will be held out from pinch-hitting.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:19 amAlso, with regard to Law and other media members, they are not generally giving an opinion that is solely their own. The opinion they broadcast is formed from talking to other professionals/sources in the field as well as weaving in their own observation. I would think that the level of collected input vs. personal input varies among media members and likely even by story/subject.
So while an opinion may be given by a media member, it is not necessarily a non-professional opinion, even if it comes from a Buster Olney type who has little to no practical experience himself (as far as I know for Olney).
Like anything, you have to evaluate the source as much as the information given.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:20 amBrooks hit .278/.366/.444 from the RH side last year
March 27th, 2011 at 11:22 am@57, in fairness, his career ML RH split is .225/.284/.445. It would be a reasonable argument that last years .301 BaBIP drove that higher split. Or maybe he just got better as a hitter (no snark intended). The latter would be very useful for both Brooks and Atlanta. I still see this as a sentimental choice and that Brooks better hit the crap out of the ball out of the gate.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:04 pmBrooks, if he makes the roster, is on a very short leash, I would imagine.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:06 pmBrooks will not be a late inning defensive replacement unless Braves are down big. Prado at 3b if Chipper needs an off day. Someone will be called up, OF or IF if Chipper is down for extended period.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:18 pm@58, OPS of .729, we had worse last year.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:20 pm@61, Well sure, but if your job is primary RH PH, and your defensive contribution is 3rd or 4th option 2B/3b, I would think there are lot of guys with a better resume out there.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:31 pmDOB is reporting Conrad as official.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/03/27/young-hicks-conrad-make-braves-25-man-roster/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
March 27th, 2011 at 12:51 pmHinske and Conrad will certainly be the primary pinch-hitters. The other guys are primarily defensive or tactical replacements (and Ross).
60 — Hicks would be a defensive replacement before Conrad at 2b/SS/3b.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:51 pmI guess this means the Braves will either trade Mather or attempt to send him through waivers to Triple A.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:54 pm“DOB is reporting Conrad as official.”
Bleh.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:56 pmYou’re talking about a sample size of like 50 AB’s WRT Conrad hitting right-handed in the majors. Puh-leese spare us. It’s not even worth bringing up.
He was about as good right-handed as left-handed in the minors: less contact, more power from the right side.
March 27th, 2011 at 1:36 pmConrad- Folk Hero
Rick Byrd has interviewed at UT
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/mar/26/rick-byrd-interviews-lawrence-frank-interested-ut/
March 27th, 2011 at 1:40 pmYeah Brooks! Pulling for ya, kid.
March 27th, 2011 at 1:40 pmDOB tweets that Proctologist has been released and the Lisp has won the last bullpen spot. Mather put on waivers.
March 27th, 2011 at 1:57 pm“DOB tweets that Proctologist has been released”
And here I was looking forward to the race to who would become the bullpen whipping boy first: George Sherrill or Scott Proctor.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:10 pmGoodbye, Assman.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:15 pmRe Proctor–the guy didn’t deserve to make the team based on his pitching but he was nice to my kid at ST so I wish him well.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:17 pm@68, could you give us those minor league platoon split values, or let me know where I can find them? Thanks!
March 27th, 2011 at 2:21 pmNew poll.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:32 pm75,
minorleaguesplits.com. They used to have a web interface where you could look these things up easily. Now looking it up involves sorting through six .csv files.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:36 pmI cannot believe VCU has beaten Kansas. I was on the verge of winning my office pool, but Kansas was my champion.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:37 pmIf VCU wins it all, does that mean all of the espn college hoops analysts get fired?
March 27th, 2011 at 2:39 pm@79,
Doug Gottlieb is the only ESPN college basketball guy I like. The rest of them should have been let go years ago.
March 27th, 2011 at 3:07 pm@77, yeah, I saw that and was daunted. Thank you though. What was Conrads, if you don’t mind sharing?
March 27th, 2011 at 3:22 pmI’m pretty surprised that they would cut ‘the next Jayson Werth.’
March 27th, 2011 at 3:27 pmWell, Werth was cut.
March 27th, 2011 at 3:29 pmI hear Scott Diamond isn’t going to make the 25 man in Minn. Trade him for something of theirs, take him back or let them keep him?
March 27th, 2011 at 3:44 pm81,
Unfortunately they don’t list doubles and triples, so I can’t calculate slugging average. I just used his AAA stats from 2005-2009, ignoring the PA’s he got at AA in 2005. 659 AB’s right-handed, 1662 AB’s left-handed. He hit .241 with a .326 OBP and a HR in 4.9% of his AB’s right-handed, hit .258 with a .335 OBP and a HR in 4.5% of his AB’s left-handed. They do have batted ball data though. Listed as GB%, LD%, FB%, POP%:
vs. L — 31.6%, 15.0%, 38.5%, 15.0%
vs. R — 36.8%, 16.8%, 37.5%, 8.9%
Don’t know how much we can trust the batted ball data, the stuff you see on Fangraphs for MLB-ers is bad, so I imagine this is even worse.
March 27th, 2011 at 4:00 pmConrad will be second option as infield replacement. Pinch hitting is likely more important than defensive replacement. Is there a 3rd catcher so that Ross can PH besides bottom of 9th?
March 27th, 2011 at 4:34 pmThank you – I appreciate your time.
.241/.326RH for his age 25-29 seasons in AAA does not inspire much confidence towards his success as a RH PH.
March 27th, 2011 at 4:35 pm84 – I would take Diamond back, having lost Ortegano.
If the Twins want to give us actual depth value for the guy in a position player, I would listen.
March 27th, 2011 at 4:55 pm86 — Prado would move back to the IF first, then Hicks is also ahead of Conrad defensively. But yes, Conrad’s primary role is to pinch hit.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:11 pm69—I have strong reason to believe that’s not true. Also, your next coach appears to be Cuonzo Martin.
BTW, Congrats to Coach Calipari on his first Final Four appearance! [Vomits.]
March 27th, 2011 at 5:18 pmCuonzo Martin to coach the Vols
March 27th, 2011 at 5:19 pmIll start it….if Bobby was manager would Proctor and Mather have made the team?
March 27th, 2011 at 5:20 pmHighest seed in the final four is a #3. When was the last time that happened?
March 27th, 2011 at 5:20 pm92—Proctor definitely wouldn’t have. Mather probably wouldn’t have.
93—This is apparently the first time.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:21 pmFinal 4: 2 Feelgood Stories vs. 2 Monoliths Dripping With Evil
We already know how this one ends.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:30 pmCan you really say Cal has taken three programs to a final four if two of those programs vacated theirs?
Enjoy it now Cats.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:39 pmLet’s just say that the officials might be encouraged by the NCAA to call things UConn’s way and leave it at that.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:49 pmAnd here I try to encourage such SEC camaraderie …
Well, to paraphrase a band of my youth for which I make no apologies for enjoying:
“I’m not gonna let you bother me tonight!”
March 27th, 2011 at 5:56 pmWill be rooting for UK in the first game. Gonna be a little complicated if they win it.
March 27th, 2011 at 6:31 pmYes they do, carpool, but they don’t list them as 2b and 3b. If memory serves they’re listed as D and T. Look next to H and HR.
March 27th, 2011 at 6:51 pmEven if I didn’t find rooting for teams you loathe all year just because they’re in your conference silly (which I do), there is no way I would ever root for Kentucky basketball.
Having said that, congrats to justhank.
March 27th, 2011 at 6:52 pmI’ll just weigh in right now that UK is going to win it. Not a UK fan, just observing.
March 27th, 2011 at 7:51 pmFeel good for Matt Young. bad for Ed Lucas. You heard it here first Young 2011 Folk Hero. guys like Mather will always get that extra look by an organization because of their size and athleticism. For a guy that was sucking he got a lot of playing time. See frenchy,Jeff.
March 27th, 2011 at 8:20 pmI think the tree biggest surprises of the spring were Beachy over Minor, Young over Mather and Hicks over Diory.
No one saw any of that
March 27th, 2011 at 8:32 pmGotta say, this is not a great bench.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:05 pmLast years bench may have been better but there were holes in starting line up – LF, CF, SS & 1B (after May)
March 27th, 2011 at 11:12 pmMost of our benches have had the other half of platoons available. This one doesn’t, so it both isn’t as good and (hopefully) won’t see as many important AB’s.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:53 pmIts amazing how long it took us to get rid of Mather and Proctor….
Great to see Matt Young and Hicks make the team,
If would be nice if we could get Diamond back–it will almost help me forget the Proctor was part of the team….
March 28th, 2011 at 1:09 am@108 Better late than never!!! In Wren and Fredi I trust.
March 28th, 2011 at 1:33 amTwo observations:
Great to hear so much arguing/criticism over the bench. When the last two spots on the bench seem to be causing the most anguish among fans, the rest of the team’s gotta be good (which, I can honestly say for the first time since 2003, is).
Next (to be read in your highest Justin Bieber fangirl voice), why did we trade Tim Collins? Honestly, after reading everything about him, he’s quickly become my favorite non-Braves player in baseball.
March 28th, 2011 at 2:00 am@110,
Yeah, I agree. Adding a RH of the bench is probably one of the easier things in baseball to add.
March 28th, 2011 at 6:39 amThere are no words to describe this.
“We targeted Jeff and Melky,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “as players we felt were not even at the prime years of their career. They haven’t peaked out. We felt there was upside there.”
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/18/2737175/cabrera-offering-encouraging-signs.html##ixzz1Htl9NIzU
March 28th, 2011 at 7:06 amI can’t help myself. From Jay Bilas, March 13th:
“I wonder,” Bilas said on ESPN, “if some people on the committee know whether the ball is round.”
“Some of the snubs include Virginia Tech, Boston College, Colorado, Alabama, St. Mary’s and even Harvard, while some of the questionable selections include Clemson, Alabama-Birmingham and Virginia Commonwealth.
“That sounds harsh,” Bilas said of his statement, “but I’m wondering. These were bad decisions. They’re indefensible.
“I’ve seen UAB play. I’ve seen VCU play,” he added. “All of the teams on the ‘snub list’ should have gotten in before those two. All of them. There’s a reason none of us brought up UAB and VCU as having a chance to get in — and it’s because they had no chance to get in. The committee has gone against their own principles.”
March 28th, 2011 at 7:07 amNew post.
March 28th, 2011 at 7:21 amI actually watched VCU play against Old Dominion in their conference championship game. Both teams looked terrible. Lots of turnovers and bad shooting. I would have never thought anything like this would have been possible. Their guard play has really stepped up in the tournament and Rodriguez has simply been playing out of his mind.
Smart also deserves a lot of credit for getting the most out of this lineup that,in all honesty, is lacking in overall talent.
March 28th, 2011 at 7:26 am