Who should be the starting second basemen?

[lavell12]

Not sure on this one but Prado is definetly out performing Johnson in the Spring.

[CB1]

Johnson. No reason as of yet.

[Adam's Army]

Me

[McCarroll21]

KJ...

I'll take an excerpt out of DOB's blog today for my reasoning...

It [the 2B job] was probably [Kelly's] to lose unless he fell on his face, and he hasn’t fallen on his face. So Johnson will almost certainly be the opening-day second baseman, and Martin Prado and his .406 batting average will either earn him a spot as a utility man for Atlanta or he’ll be back in the minors.

Some will say that means baseball, like life, isn’t always fair. But the Braves aren’t going to base an important decision on three weeks of spring games against a mix of minor- and major-league pitching.

And at least consider this: Johnson had a .281 average with 131 doubles, 72 homers and 274 RBIs in 2,142 minor league at-bats, while Prado has a .299 average with 87 doubles, 12 homers and 191 RBIs in 1,915 at-bats. Prado never drew more than 41 walks in a minor league season; Johnson drew 71 walks one year, and 51 and 49 in two others.

The Braves believe he can hit for .280 or higher average with 20 homers and a high on-base percentage in the majors, though maybe not right away. Prado does not project anywhere near that high in homers and isn’t a high OBP-type guy. He’s the far better defensive player, but on balance the Braves clearly thought enough of Johnson’s potential to convert him from outfield and pencil him into the 2B/leadoff spot over the winter.

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Aside from that, I think Kelly's defense will improve given time. He's too great of an athlete for it not to do so. I think the offense speaks for itself, along with the fact that we wouldn't have a leadoff man in the lineup if Prado wins the job. We'd have to bat Renteria there, and he isn't in love with the idea of doing so.

Also, much like Thorman, KJ's bat seems to be coming around right about now so that will only separate him.

[JayDonnelly10]

Kelly Johnson! I feel like i'm going to watch a game this season and see him botch a big play but as McCarroll said hes a great athlete and he'll grow into the 2B role this season and if he fails during the season Prado can step right in....but for now Johnson should be our starter and I like his upside as a 2B

[CB1]

thinks Cage. Mostly because of the reasons that McCarroll said.

[C-Dawg]

Here's my answer to both questions of who should play 2B and who should play LF:

Since the Braves seem so hell bent on playing KJ and batting him leadoff, but Prado has also had such a killer spring, why not throw KJ back out into left--since Diaz is now injured, and I think we all agree that Langy will never amount to much--and then let Prado start at 2B.

I think KJ would split the difference between Langy and DIaz in left, giving us the solid defense and speed of Langy, with the better bat of Diaz. Prado, being a natural 2Bman would prolly give us more D there than Kelly, and has proven he can hit at this level.

[vnodnarb]

Here's my answer to both questions of who should play 2B and who should play LF:

Since the Braves seem so hell bent on playing KJ and batting him leadoff, but Prado has also had such a killer spring, why not throw KJ back out into left--since Diaz is now injured, and I think we all agree that Langy will never amount to much--and then let Prado start at 2B.

I think KJ would split the difference between Langy and DIaz in left, giving us the solid defense and speed of Langy, with the better bat of Diaz. Prado, being a natural 2Bman would prolly give us more D there than Kelly, and has proven he can hit at this level.

Interesting idea, though I'm not sure Prado has proven enough to get the 2nd basemen's spot yet, maybe down the road if Langerhans struggles again with the bat

[ajones2522]

I voted for KJ at second. His ceiling is to high to pass up as a second baseman. Guys with 20 hr power and .400+ obp's are hard to come by at 2b.

As far as C-dawg's idea, I'm not against it. I think it's a decent idea but I'm not sure it makes sense given our current roster makeup.

It would clear some space in the middle infield but now we have two backup left fielders and Wilson is now the full-time platoon partner with Thorman.

Tweaking the roster that much just to get Prado into the lineup is probably not going to happen. But maybe in the future we can package Langerhans and/or Diaz to make room for KJ in left and Prado/Aybar/Escobar/Lillibridge/Campbell at second.

[McCarroll21]

Since the Braves seem so hell bent on playing KJ and batting him leadoff, but Prado has also had such a killer spring, why not throw KJ back out into left--since Diaz is now injured, and I think we all agree that Langy will never amount to much--and then let Prado start at 2B.Well, you see ... there's a reason as to why KJ was moved back to the infield. He can't throw right now, he had TJ surgery in June, he's just not ready to make a throw from the OF yet.

[BGarrett7]

As much as Kage has struggled in the field, his ability at the plate is so much greater than Prado's that it evens out. His defensive shakiness will even out, it may take until May or June, but he will eventually come into his own and be a very well-rounded player.

[C-Dawg]

Well, you see ... there's a reason as to why KJ was moved back to the infield. He can't throw right now, he had TJ surgery in June, he's just not ready to make a throw from the OF yet.

Damn I hope his arm is not too weak....he'll need to make strong throws from second, particularly on the DP ball.

Here's another idea, if you don't want to put Kage in LF, but you DO want to get Prado in there at 2B, maybe Kage could take over at 1B if Thorman doesn't cut it there....maybe a 1B platoon with he and Wilson, although it would prolly be more likely for Bobby to just go with Wilson at 1B if Thor doesn't work.

[McCarroll21]

Well, the thing is that KJ plus Thor/Wilson is more productive than KJ plus Prado. Bobby said something earlier in Spring Training that caught my eye, he said that Prado is a very good LF too. That made me think that maybe Bobby has thought about keeping Prado around as the "super utility" guy and cutting bait with Woodward.

The thing with that is that I'm not sure who would backup Renteria though. I'm not sure if Prado can do it, KJ needs to stick to the 2B side of second base right now. Aybar has played some short before, but he's more viewed as the 3B backup and pinch hitter. It almost seems that if Woodward isn't here, Tony Pena would have to be here.

I think the best thing for us to do is use KJ at 2B and send Prado back to Richmond and have him getting at bats on an every day basis in the event that we need him. He'll be more ready to step in if he's been in the lineup every day than if he's been getting maybe 5 ABs a week coming off the bench.

[CaptainCrunch]

good post ^, i think kj is a more suitable at 2B i just can't see martin pardo as an every day starter at second

[BravesFan7689]

So far I would have to say Kelly Johnson at 2B. He is more experienced and I think he will come around.

[RaggledyFan]

I like Kelly Johnson at 2nd - He has done pretty well, By rememberance better than Giles after his tutalege with Hubbard. He is more suited to the Leadoff and has more Pop in his bat. I hope Prado make the team as a back up Utility guy this year. I think Prado will be a starter later.

[CB1]

RaggledyFan puts it great, and I've mentioned that before:
KJ is doing the exact same thing that Gilly did.

[jschafer5]

Me

That makes us a World Series winner, no doubt...lol...If we were playing the Pirates and you hit the ball to Adam, do you think he(Adam) would mess up on purpose so you could get on base?

[CB1]

He had better dang well mess up. Especially if AA was playing for the Braves.

[Nasadega]

We could also make a trade for that guy, he'd also be a good leadoff guy :)
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_gamebygamelog.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=279578&statType=1

[CB1]

We could also make a trade for that guy, he'd also be a good leadoff guy :)
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_gamebygamelog.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=279578&statType=1
:rimshot:

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

KJ...I feel both guys have chance to have bright futures, but it comes down to imo of asking your self would you rather have a guy who could be a Chipper-Lite or Polanco-Lite? I'm sure most of you have heard the Chipper/Rolen comparisons in the past for KJ and you can see it from time to time when you watch him closely... I've never heard Prado compared to Polanco, but from what I've seen he reminds me of him...