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Understanding Uggla’s Importance
In his latest Fried Baseball audio blog, Kent Covington explains why many are underrating Atlanta’s lineup and the importance of new Braves second-baseman, Dan Uggla, to that lineup.
Audio
Over a 2-month period; roughly 1/3 of the season, the Braves led the NL in scoring. That happened to be the 2-month span during which Troy Glaus hit like the big right-handed, middle-of-order hitter he was hired to be. Coincidence?
Jason Heyward played an important role in Atlanta’s offensive success in May, but really no more so than in April when the Braves were near the NL cellar in runs scored. McCann stepped up his production a bit in May/June, but he was far better in July… when the Braves again had difficultly scoring.
What did the Braves have in May and June that they did not have the rest of the season (a short stretch with a healthy Derek Lee notwithstanding)?
Answer: A big right-handed power bat in the middle of the order.
Sometimes one missing piece can bring an entire lineup together. Remember what the addition of Fred McGriff meant to this Braves team in ’93? In a lineup with several left-handed hitting starters and no notable right-handed power (outside of Glaus), Troy was the key in 2010. When he hit and hit for power, the Braves, who make their home in a pitcher’s park, outscored the Phillies, Reds, Rockies and every other team in the NL. When Glaus struggled, the offense struggled right along with him.
Because of chronic health problems, Glaus was entirely spent by the end of June. But the Braves have now added a big right-handed stick capable of replicating Glaus’ May/June power production over a FULL season in 2011.
That 2-month (May/June) span of last year represented almost exactly 1/3 of the season. Divide Uggla’s ’10 numbers by 3 and here’s what you have: .287, 11 HR, .508 SLG … Compare to Glaus’ in May/June: .285. 12 HR, 521 SLG.
Glaus was the linchpin in the Atlanta lineup last year. Both his success in May/June and his futility throughout the remainder of the season… profoundly affected the rest of the Braves’ lineup. The ripple effects, good or bad, were undeniable.
Dan Uggla is your new linchpin in Atlanta. His impact on the lineup, one way or the other, will be far greater than anything we can measure by his individual stats at the end of the year. A true right-handed power bat was the key ingredient last year. And with yet another lefty (rookie first-baseman, Freddie Freeman) added to the everyday lineup, a righty power threat will remain the most critical cog. But given his remarkable consistency… the Braves’ reliance upon Uggla likely means fans can now look forward to the Braves throwing a lot of crooked numbers on the board over a full season.
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By In his latest Fried Baseball audio blog, Kent Covington explains why many are underrating Atlanta’s lineup and the importance of new Braves second-baseman, Dan Uggla, to that lineup.
Audio
Over a 2-month period; roughly 1/3 of the season, the Braves led the NL in scoring. That happened to be the 2-month span during which Troy Glaus hit like the big right-handed, middle-of-order hitter he was hired to be. Coincidence?
Jason Heyward played an important role in Atlanta’s offensive success in May, but really no more so than in April when the Braves were near the NL cellar in runs scored. McCann stepped up his production a bit in May/June, but he was far better in July… when the Braves again had difficultly scoring.
What did the Braves have in May and June that they did not have the rest of the season (a short stretch with a healthy Derek Lee notwithstanding)?
Answer: A big right-handed power bat in the middle of the order.
Sometimes one missing piece can bring an entire lineup together. Remember what the addition of Fred McGriff meant to this Braves team in ’93? In a lineup with several left-handed hitting starters and no notable right-handed power (outside of Glaus), Troy was the key in 2010. When he hit and hit for power, the Braves, who make their home in a pitcher’s park, outscored the Phillies, Reds, Rockies and every other team in the NL. When Glaus struggled, the offense struggled right along with him.
Because of chronic health problems, Glaus was entirely spent by the end of June. But the Braves have now added a big right-handed stick capable of replicating Glaus’ May/June power production over a FULL season in 2011.
That 2-month (May/June) span of last year represented almost exactly 1/3 of the season. Divide Uggla’s ’10 numbers by 3 and here’s what you have: .287, 11 HR, .508 SLG … Compare to Glaus’ in May/June: .285. 12 HR, 521 SLG.
Glaus was the linchpin in the Atlanta lineup last year. Both his success in May/June and his futility throughout the remainder of the season… profoundly affected the rest of the Braves’ lineup. The ripple effects, good or bad, were undeniable.
Dan Uggla is your new linchpin in Atlanta. His impact on the lineup, one way or the other, will be far greater than anything we can measure by his individual stats at the end of the year. A true right-handed power bat was the key ingredient last year. And with yet another lefty (rookie first-baseman, Freddie Freeman) added to the everyday lineup, a righty power threat will remain the most critical cog. But given his remarkable consistency… the Braves’ reliance upon Uggla likely means fans can now look forward to the Braves throwing a lot of crooked numbers on the board over a full season.