Russell Branyan Released

[wilk]

So Branyan and his huge $800k contract cleared waivers and the Brewers gave him his release. Hello, where are we on this?

 

Career .807 OPS, Career OBP-BA of 100, Career IsoP of .248, averages a HR every 15.7 AB, 50% of his hits in his career have been for extra bases...

 

Has played 39 games at 1B, 229 games at 3B, 153 games in the OF...

 

A guy to backup 1B, 3B, LF, RF and actually add lefty thunder to the bench!

 

He is the king of the TTO (Three True Outcomes) 54% of the time he struck out, walked or hit a homerun. A class with McGwire, Jack Clark and Rob Deer. He strikes out a lot but it still led to a .378 OBP last year.

 

In 220 plate appearances in 2005 against righties - he hit .280 with a .405 OBP and a .943 OPS.

 

We could have grabbed him on waivers. Please give this guy a contract and add some power to our bench.

[SCCubbieFAN]

Really makes you wonder why every team took a pass on him during the waiver process :roll:

[cheapseats]

Really makes you wonder why every team took a pass on him during the waiver process :roll:

 

In the Cubs case, they already have an inferior version of Branyan in John Mabry.

[Balsa]

I would guess primarily because he can't hit left-handed pitching to save his life.

 

Three year average against lefties:

 

.181/.233/.319

 

Yikes.

[ThePenguin11]

The Cubs would be foolish not to even offer a ST Invite. Would he accept one at this point? If I were in JH's shoes, I'd be putting out the feelers for a 1 year deal near last year's contract. He and Grissom can fight over the 25th roster spot.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

What's annoying to me is that instead of Neifi, Mabry and Grissom for the bench, the Cubs could have/should have Mark Sweeney, Richard Hidalgo and Russ Branyan. Yet more bad decisions on role players from the addled mind of Jim Hendry.

[rawaction]

What's annoying to me is that instead of Neifi, Mabry and Grissom for the bench, the Cubs could have/should have Mark Sweeney, Richard Hidalgo and Russ Branyan. Yet more bad decisions on role players from the addled mind of Jim Hendry.

 

That would be an excellent bench. Ton of power. A bunch of K's, but those guys could all get on base, and most importantly, wouldn't give the team a huge dropoff in case players gets injured.

[RockTheIvy]

What's annoying to me is that instead of Neifi, Mabry and Grissom for the bench, the Cubs could have/should have Mark Sweeney, Richard Hidalgo and Russ Branyan. Yet more bad decisions on role players from the addled mind of Jim Hendry.

 

That would be an excellent bench. Ton of power. A bunch of K's, but those guys could all get on base, and most importantly, wouldn't give the team a huge dropoff in case players gets injured.

 

Just a question as I like Branyan a lot too, but how do those guys play as pinch hitters? The .370 OBP of Branyan is nice but I don't think that's his OBP coming off the bench. Do players like that generally do better or worse in bench rolls?

[Bgbird68]

What's annoying to me is that instead of Neifi, Mabry and Grissom for the bench, the Cubs could have/should have Mark Sweeney, Richard Hidalgo and Russ Branyan. Yet more bad decisions on role players from the addled mind of Jim Hendry.

 

I also would have liked Macowiak

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What's annoying to me is that instead of Neifi, Mabry and Grissom for the bench, the Cubs could have/should have Mark Sweeney, Richard Hidalgo and Russ Branyan. Yet more bad decisions on role players from the addled mind of Jim Hendry.

 

That would be an excellent bench. Ton of power. A bunch of K's, but those guys could all get on base, and most importantly, wouldn't give the team a huge dropoff in case players gets injured.

 

Just a question as I like Branyan a lot too, but how do those guys play as pinch hitters? The .370 OBP of Branyan is nice but I don't think that's his OBP coming off the bench. Do players like that generally do better or worse in bench rolls?

 

I don't think there's much consistency in numbers put up "off the bench". Partially because of sample size, and paritally because of the wide variety of situations that encompasses.

[cheapseats]

I would guess primarily because he can't hit left-handed pitching to save his life.

 

Three year average against lefties:

 

.181/.233/.319

 

Yikes.

 

Mabry's 3-year splits against lefties aren't bad, but he was wretched against lefties last year. The fact that Larussa rarely used Mabry against lefties is indicative of Larussa's lack of faith in his ability to hit LHP.

 

I didn't like the Mabry signing when it happened, and now I like it even less because we could have gotten a better player in Branyan for less money.

[Wheelimus]

Mabry cost us, what 1 million? Branyan would cost us less than that? Sign both and let them duke it out in spring training for the bench spot. I'm not too concerned about eating a million.

[TheDude]

I'm not against the Cubs looking into Branyan, but why is it that fans here always think they know more than the teams decision makers? If Branyan cleared waivers and nobody picked him up through that process, there must be a reason beyond surface level. It doesn't make any team foolish in the least.

 

Branyan's raw numbers will likely get someone's attention enough to get a shot at a bench job somewhere. Its worth the Cubs giving a look.

[cheapseats]

I'm not against the Cubs looking into Branyan, but why is it that fans here always think they know more than the teams decision makers?

 

Exhibit A: Jose Macias

[ManCrushOnNomar]

I've wanted Branyan for a while. He's a great bench option.

 

Hopefully he'll agree to a NRI or Minor League contract.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not against the Cubs looking into Branyan, but why is it that fans here always think they know more than the teams decision makers?

 

Perhaps because they aren't fooled into thinking these guys are geniuses with a talent for baseball knowledge that no mere mortal could comprehend. Also, I don't think fans always think they know more, they just know that the decision making process employed by the Cubs has been proven a failure, so they need to find another way to go.

[Neuby]

What's annoying to me is that instead of Neifi, Mabry and Grissom for the bench, the Cubs could have/should have Mark Sweeney, Richard Hidalgo and Russ Branyan. Yet more bad decisions on role players from the addled mind of Jim Hendry.

 

I have read reports that Sweeney was promised a lot of playing time at first base along with Lance Niekro almost on a platoon basis. I don't think he would have seen those same at-bats here with Derek Lee at first base. I think Hidalgo is a guy that thought he was going to get get better offers but now its getting closer to the dance and he still has no dates expect from the cross eyed chick.

[JeffH]

The cross-eyed chick is hot.

[Magnetic Curses]

I'm not against the Cubs looking into Branyan, but why is it that fans here always think they know more than the teams decision makers?

 

Perhaps because they aren't fooled into thinking these guys are geniuses with a talent for baseball knowledge that no mere mortal could comprehend. Also, I don't think fans always think they know more, they just know that the decision making process employed by the Cubs has been proven a failure, so they need to find another way to go.

 

yeah, call me crazy, but i think i could do just as good as cubs management over the last hundred years. i don't know, i just have a feeling.

[oldcubsfan]

OK, you are crazy. LOL!!

[sethuel1]

OK, you are crazy. LOL!!

 

I don't know if this would be considered improper, since I guess I'm "calling you out", but are any of your 1514 posts not made for the direct purpose of being incendiary?

[SouthSideRyan]

Sample Size issues and all but Branyan for his career is 4 for 41 with a 098/315/195 line as a PH.

 

I've heard from multiple Brewers fans on BTF that said he needs consistent playing time to be worth anything as he is very streaky.

Edited January 19, 2006 by SouthSideRyan

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Sample Size issues and all but Branyan for his career is 4 for 41 with a 098/315/195 line.

 

I've heard from multiple Brewers fans on BTF that said he needs consistent playing time to be worth anything as he is very streaky.

 

Is that line Pinch Hitting?

[SouthSideRyan]

Sample Size issues and all but Branyan for his career is 4 for 41 with a 098/315/195 line.

 

I've heard from multiple Brewers fans on BTF that said he needs consistent playing time to be worth anything as he is very streaky.

 

Is that line Pinch Hitting?

 

Whoops, yeah.

[CubsWin]

I'm not against the Cubs looking into Branyan, but why is it that fans here always think they know more than the teams decision makers?

 

Perhaps because they aren't fooled into thinking these guys are geniuses with a talent for baseball knowledge that no mere mortal could comprehend. Also, I don't think fans always think they know more, they just know that the decision making process employed by the Cubs has been proven a failure, so they need to find another way to go.

Every GM in major league baseball passed on Branyan in waivers. So every GM in major league baseball lacks "a talent for baseball knowledge"? Not one GM has ascended to their position because they have an uncommon talent for it? If I read your post correctly, this is what you seem to be saying, but I can't bring myself to believe that this is what you actually think.

 

And you also seem to be saying that anyone who dares to believe that some GMs know what they are doing and actually have information that we aren't privy to as fans has "been fooled" into thinking that?

 

That's not what you meant to say, right?