Braun named player of the week

[UMFan83]

Jenks, its really not the Brewers we are ripping, its really just brewersbrewers that we are ripping on. I have no problem with the Brewers and actually rooted for them to make the playoffs last year. But when one of your fans comes on here hyping up Braun's defense because he made 0 errors last year and then calling us jealous because the Brewers are 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs in the standings in May after finishing 2nd to the Cubs the last 2 seasons, we can't help ourselves.

[dew1679666265]

It is hard to quantify defense and that is why I don't put that much stock into zone ratings, but that is the only thing that we have to go on so I will concede the point and stand corrected then. Thanks!

 

It's definitely hard to quantify defense - which is why I qualified my last post with the fact that I don't put a lot in the fielding metrics. They can be highly flawed, but it's true that it's about all we have to go on.

[javy knows my name]

someone is DRUNK...and it's not me.

::marks calendar::

[johnbriggs12]

Since you Cub fans only see Braun vs. the Cubs, I believe your perception of Braun's defensive deficiencies are based on:

 

1. His defense at 3B in 2007

 

2. One or two balls he took bad angles on early in 2008 in his first weeks in LF.

 

3. Knucklehead radio personalities in Chicago like Harry T. declaring him the "worst LF ever" and similar such statements.

 

The facts are Braun had 275 put outs and 9 assists in LF without out an error in 2008. He never mishandled a ground ball base hit that allowed a runner to take an extra base. He never made a throw that got away that allowed a runner to take an extra base. He never dropped a flyball.

 

Braun's defensive issues are that occasionally he'll get caught in between letting a ball drop and trying to make the great play.

 

That's strictly the result of lack of experience at the position. Braun early on had also trouble on balls over his head, but no more. He know recognizes much better when he won't be able to make a play and he plays balls off the wall very well. As for taking bad angles, he does that no more than any other LF. His arm is strong enough that he could play RF.

 

As Jenksfan points out, those of us that see Braun everyday in the OF know he is already adequate and getting better. It's time you Cub fans take off your blinders and watch the guy play more before you make you assessments.

[E.J.]

Just a friendly reminder to the fans of other teams, this is a Cubs' board. Please know your audience.

 

A quick look at the member's guidelines might help:

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53074

[1908]

As Jenksfan points out, those of us that see Braun everyday in the OF know he is already adequate and getting better. It's time you Cub fans take off your blinders and watch the guy play more before you make you assessments.

Many of us Cubs fans have provided evidence in this thread for why we believe Braun is a subpar defensive player. For instance:

 

I don't put a great deal of stock into fielding metrics, but UZR had [soriano] as a +18.4 fielder in left in 2007 and a +2.5 fielder in left in 2008. For comparison's sake, using the same metric Braun was a -3.4 left fielder in 2008 and so far (very small sample size) he is a -11.1 left fielder this year. UZR also had him in 2007 as a -35.5 third baseman.

Perhaps your own beer goggles are coloring your perception of Braun's defense?

[javy knows my name]

Braun has a decent arm. That's it. He is not on a par with Soriano defensively.

 

The "he's new to the position" defense is totally weak. We aren't arguing about Braun's upside as a defender or his athletic ability. We are arguing that he hurts a team NOW with his defense; and we're right.

 

I'd love to have him on my team. I'd take the (significant) defensive downgrade from Soriano for his offense this year. He's probably going to make up for it this year and certainly will in the future.

 

Who gives a crap about errors

[adamb10]

Standings are worthless right now. Sure I want the Cubs to lose just like you want the Cards to lose as well. However the standings today wont reflect what will happen in September and there should be no bragging rights this early in the season.

[XZero771679666304]

Since you Cub fans only see Braun vs. the Cubs, I believe your perception of Braun's defensive deficiencies are based on:

 

1. His defense at 3B in 2007

 

2. One or two balls he took bad angles on early in 2008 in his first weeks in LF.

 

3. Knucklehead radio personalities in Chicago like Harry T. declaring him the "worst LF ever" and similar such statements.

 

The facts are Braun had 275 put outs and 9 assists in LF without out an error in 2008. He never mishandled a ground ball base hit that allowed a runner to take an extra base. He never made a throw that got away that allowed a runner to take an extra base. He never dropped a flyball.

 

Braun's defensive issues are that occasionally he'll get caught in between letting a ball drop and trying to make the great play.

 

That's strictly the result of lack of experience at the position. Braun early on had also trouble on balls over his head, but no more. He know recognizes much better when he won't be able to make a play and he plays balls off the wall very well. As for taking bad angles, he does that no more than any other LF. His arm is strong enough that he could play RF.

 

As Jenksfan points out, those of us that see Braun everyday in the OF know he is already adequate and getting better. It's time you Cub fans take off your blinders and watch the guy play more before you make you assessments.

 

I have MLB EI, and regularly watch entire Brewers games (probably 2-3 a week). My eyes tell be he's bad, the metrics tell me he's bad.

 

My assessments aren't that colored. I don't care that much if Braun is a good defender or not, but he isn't. As a Brewers fan, you just as much of a pro-Braun bias as we Cubs fans have an anti-Braun bias, if not more. And as it happens, what evidence there is clearly supports what we are saying.

 

When Pujols moved to 1B, you didn't hear Cubs fans hating on his defense, because it was good. And trust us, we have much, much more anti-Cardinals bias than anti-Brewers. Much more.

 

Braun just isn't a very good defender, regardless of how much "improvement" you think (read: want) you see.

[XZero771679666304]

Standings are worthless right now. Sure I want the Cubs to lose just like you want the Cards to lose as well. However the standings today wont reflect what will happen in September and there should be no bragging rights this early in the season.

 

Agreed. I think it's a safe bet that the standings pretty much across the board will have a much different look 3 months from now.