Mar 24 2009
Braves face tough call in center field
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — Ever since the Braves landed Josh Anderson in a November 2007 trade, I’ve been high on the Kentucky native.
Anderson brings speed to the table, the ability to cover the gaps of left-center and right-center field, and enough talent at the plate to hit .294 in a quarter-season with the big-league club last season.
With all that said, I’m wondering if Anderson will be here in two weeks, because the more Jordan Schafer plays, the more he looks like a major-leaguer.
The only competition among the eight positions in the lineup for Atlanta this spring is who will man center field. For the first three weeks of spring training, Anderson appeared a lock. And while he endured a 1-for-19 streak that ended last week, he’s hitting .292 in spring action.
But Schafer, who missed a week with a shoulder injury, has been lights-out since returning to the field. He’s hitting .385 with a team-high five stolen bases in 11 games, all while posting a .429 on-base percentage. What makes Schafer’s OBP all the more impressive is in 39 at-bats, Schafer’s struck out 10 times.
Anderson, meanwhile, has an on-base percentage of .306 … not exactly the type of OBP you want from a leadoff guy.
What makes this complex is Anderson is out of options, and there is no way the Braves could pass him through waivers without losing him. Just his speed alone makes him a valuable commodity.
And certainly, everybody would feel more comfortable if Schafer starts the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s played just 84 games above Single-A, and a little more plate discipline, which will come with a little more experience, would serve Schafer quite well.
But I can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen if Schafer keeps getting on base, keeps stealing bases, and Anderson struggles just a bit. It’s going to be a difficult call, one the Braves won’t make until the very end of spring training.
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