Ryan Braun is still horrible in Left Field. I know he is learning a new position, but he is still an awful fielder. He is a born DH.
JJ Hardy might have a strong arm, but his range and fielding aren't quite what his reputation says they are. Don't get me wrong, he is better than average in the field. But I don't think he is a terrific fielder by any means.
One more KEY point. The Brewers don't have money. There is no chance in hell that this team will stay together in tact for 2 more years. Even some people under contract can be traded. I am not trying to belittle the organization at all. But they have to do things like the Oakland A's. Draft well (like the Brewers have for a while now) and make good trades (a top notch player for a few well scouted propects). They can't do what Cleveland did in the early 90s by signing about 8 core players to pretty decent money. It's not in their budget.
I have to disagree about Braun. Considering this is the first year he's ever played outfield in his life I think his progress is coming along fine and I expect him to be a good outfielder with enough experience at the position
Also Hardy doesn't have tremendous speed for range but he makes all the plays he's supposed to. He's not somebody I expect a great diving stop from shortstops but he's somebody that if the ball is hit in his area it's a sure out. Not GG caliber but I think he's in the category right under that. Because of his great arm and Escobar's great speed he may be the one to move over to third base
I know the Brewers can't afford players which is why Sheets will be leaving. Who else will go by then though? I don't think they'll have trouble affording Weeks, Hardy, and Hart. Gallardo, Braun, and Fielder will still be under arbitration in 2010 and with the team unless we trade them away. I certainly don't expect us to sign a high priced superstar free agent (a la Soriano) because it's simply impossible for a team like Milwaukee to do so. Still with the homegrown talent we have accumulated through the great job by Jack Zduriencik I don't think we'll have to in order to compete
I had a whole long thing written out and when I posted it I got an error so I'll just say this
Obviously one great season does not make Fielder better than anybody, I get that from watching him progress through the minors. I expected 50 home run seasons before he ever hit 50 last season. Most people here agree Molitor was the greatest Brewers hitter of all time (I agree with that) but even he was not really considered one of the best players of his generation. He was great, that's not what I'm saying at all, but was he ever in contention for being the best? I don't think so. That is potential I feel Prince has, to go down in history as one of the best hitters during his playing career. 500 homers in his career is expected from me of him. If he plays until he's 36 years old (which I think would be a generous underestimate) he would only need to average 33 home runs per year to reach 509. 33 home runs is something I feel he is fully capable of
When LeBron James was a sophomore in high school I said he would be the greatest basketball player of all time by the time his NBA career is over. I strongly feel he's been the best basketball player in the world for each of the last four years now and is well on his way to becoming just what I predicted. I don't need to see Prince Fielder reach his 500th home run before I call him great, I've seen enough of him to recognize what I feel is somebody who will turn into the best hitter we have ever had in Milwaukee since Hank Aaron
That 50 home run season did not come out of nowhere, he was one of the highest rated prospects throughout his minor league career and if you remember his first home run the call Sutton gave was something like "the Prince has arrived, but he's soon to be king". People (myself included) expected big things from him and all he did last year was reinforce the hype
I've seen enough of him to recognize what I feel is somebody who will turn into the best hitter we have ever had in Milwaukee since Hank Aaron
But Braun has shown more as a hitter, both in the minor leagues and major leagues than Fielder. And Braun was a higher rated prospect.
Minor leagues:
Braun 1 home run per 18.29 ab's with a collective .313 average
Prince 1 home run per 17.97 ab's with a collective .297 average
Major leagues:
Braun 1 home run per 14.73 ab's with a collective .313 average
Prince 1 home run per 15.65 ab's with a collective .277 average
Neither has enough experience to put them anywhere near Molitor or Yount, and now you are even using Fielders name in context with the Hammer?!!
I know you love Braun but look at his numbers when Prince Fielder is on deck for his ABs and compare that to how terrible his numbers are when Prince isn't batting behind him. I'll have to do a blog about that because I feel Fielder is a huge reason Braun hits so well and without him I doubt Braun would've won ROY last season nor would he have 9 home runs this year
I think you misunderstood me about Aaron. I put Fielder in the same sentence as him in the same way I'll say Ben Gordon is the greatest scorer for the Bulls since Michael Jordan. In now way did I mean or try to imply Fielder would be as good or anywhere near Hank Aaron
