Quick baseball break:
A guy I play basketball with was in Phoenix last weekend watching Arizona Fall League baseball, and could not shut up about how nice the weather was. When he finished one of the guys asked him if Matt LaPorta (Brewers' 2007 first round pick out of Florida, trying to turn him into a left fielder) was there.
He was, and the report was that while he looks the part and has a nice swing, LaPorta showed little plate discipline and swung at just about everything he saw. He was especially wild on 0-2 counts. No big deal, don't think we were planning on seeing him in Milwaukee until 2009.
But ... the guy told me that last year Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki and Hunter Pence were on the AFL all-star team, and we know how well those guys played this year.
Here's a Sporting News brief on the matter:
Milwaukee could have another young and powerful bat in its lineup soon. Matt LaPorta, selected in last June's draft, had three homers and a 1.042 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages) for his first 41 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. With Prince Fielder set at first base, the Brewers have LaPorta playing left field.
Arizona guys - have you ever been to AFL games? They seem like they're for baseball supernerds, but lots of us in this group qualify for that title.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Matt LaPorta update
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7 comments:
While I can't comment on the AFL, I find it interesting that a lot of people are speculating that the Brewers might move Braun to left, Hall to third, and Hart to center.
That wouldn't make sense since they are making LaPorta a LFer. Not to mention, asking Hall to move after investing so much making him a CFer.
Seems like LaPorta's move to LF indicates that everyone's staying put and they'll figure something out for LF until 2009.
I think it was SI that last week suggested the Brewers trade for Hank Blalock, move Braun to left, and platoon Hall and Blalock at third. To me, Hall and Blalock are too good to platoon, although those guys have been anything but consistent.
I'd rather leave Braun at third and let him figure things out.
I, for one, can't believe Tappa hasn't commented on Matt LaPorta's hair. He might as well comb it into his eyes and play QB for 'Bama. Does Florida really make their players take these jr. high school photos? Not good.
All that being said, I've heard the guy is solid at the dish, though a big swinger. But can the Brew Crew really keep stocking the lineup with so much undisciplined plate work? Us American League follower always hear about how important not being a high-K team is in the NL and the Brewers, as aligned, seem much more fit for the AL softball style.
Disagree away.
Is it me or does LaPorta's locks remind me of a look that a young Scott Tappa used to sport in his early collegiate days?
It's a shame that none of us Arizonans have attended an AFL game (we had a conversation about how pathetic this is a few weeks ago at Walt's house). Although yes, AFL baseball is technically for die-hards, from what I hear it's an atmosphere similar to what spring training used to be: smaller crowds, more player-fan interaction, and less of a production (i.e., more baseball less sausage races).
As for Braun, keep him where he is. We all saw how Hall's offensive production dropped significantly last season. Was it necessarily related to a switch to CF? Probably not. But he certainly demonstrated a lack of focus at the plate...and learning a new position can only prolong a slump, not make it better.
I wish I had hair like that in college, mine was flatter. Should have used a volumizing shampoo.
As for the real issue here, I get what Olson is saying, but scoring runs isn't the reason the Brewers fell short in 07. It was a combination of starting pitching, relief pitching, and defense struggling at various times, sometimes two or three of those components at once.
Off the top of my head, Fielder, Braun, Hart, Jenkins, and Hardy hit at least 20 home runs this year, Hall hit 20 the year before, Estrada was in double digits, and Weeks was too, with potential to hit many more. Now, of course you don't want your offense to rely on the long ball, but when you hit so many of them you can get by.
My uncles cousins sisters mothers brother was in Arizona last week and she was watching an AFL game. And she said Matt Laporta was....
Are you serious...what a waste of font. For you to say that Laporta swings at just about everything tells me that you do not follow baseball and definately perhaps the best young hitter in the game...Laporta had the least amount of experience in the AFL and was picked as the #4 prospect by BBA. He led the league or was in the top two or three in multiple catagories. He was 4th in BB with 17...only 4 off of leading the league in that cat too. Hardly a guy that swings at anything!!
Now go ask your basketball friend to stick with basketball...cause he dont know baseball!!
BREWHAA
Rick - are you serious? My post was a waste of font? I'm a big LaPorta fan, and the original post was overwhelmingly positive, just said that, like many young players, he needs work on plate discipline.
Do you know what plate discipline is? It means that you don't swing at bad pitches. Your stats to "disprove" the assertion don't mean anything - he can be a bad-ball hitter and put up good numbers. But he'll eventually need to lay off the crap when he faces better pitching. I'm optimistic that he will and he'll be a fine contributor to our favorite team for a long time.
And as for who knows baseball better, you or my basketball friend who scouts the AFL every year, I'll take my friend.
We welcome the comment, but think it through before the next time you post, you seem to have potential.
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