Player Profile: Josh Anderson

[JCStone7]

Wet Behind the Ears Part VI: Josh Anderson
by: Jonathan C. Stone (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=356) | Braves-Nation.com

Josh Anderson, the super-quick outfielder picked up from the Houston Astros in exchange for Oscar Villarreal. Most thought "The Vulture" would've been outright released; but Frank Wren swinged for a deal for the enigmatic outfielder from Houston, Josh Anderson.

Now with this player profile, I'm not going through the statistical history of his minor league past. Why? Because with slap-hitters it's almost pointless, and also I believe that everyone at Braves-Nation only expects two things from Anderson. Those two being:

Speed
Depth

Josh Anderson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 Amateur Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros who were hoping that his speed and plus defense will be superb in their spacious Minute Maid Park that requires superior range for a defender to thrive in the field.

But with most I'm in the same boat; no one expects much out of Anderson to be a key factor in the 2008 MLB picture. If he is on the 25-man roster it'll be for the two reasons above. Hats off to Frank Wren for getting something for Oscar when many believed that Oscar would've been non-tendered. I suspect that Wren thought Anderson was the stop-gap he was looking for to 2009 when Jordan Schafer was expected to arrive. I'm sure Wren realized that Anderson wasn't the answer to replace Andruw Jones and compensated with the acquisition of Mark Kotsay. With that move Anderson saw his depth chart position sink.

Anderson shows a penchant for going the other way, basically a slap hitter who thrives on getting on-base and using his best weapon to his advantage: his speed.

Anderson has stolen 238 bases in his entire career, including his Eastern Kentucky college days dating back to 2002.

Anderson will not wow you with his power by any means with an overall .373 slugging percentage. His biggest asset to a team is getting on-base and taking the extra base with his speed.

Dating back through his entire career he averages 3-4 homeruns per 250 at-bats. But he averages an on-base percentage of .342 which is almost on-par with most successful MLB lead-off men.

Anderson is battling with Brandon Jones for the 4th outfielder spot for the 2008 Atlanta Braves. The edge is with Brandon Jones but Anderson's speed and better defense could prove decisive in this battle.

[gobravez]

Yet another great article. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Anderson does get, and when he will be up in the bigs.

[josephw000]

I'd like to see Josh up this year with B Jones getting some work in AAA with a possible Jones, Schafer, Frenchy outfield next year.....

[nittanylionfan3]

Yet again, JCStone has put out a great article. Can't wait to see him.

[Lariat]

If he performs well in Spring Training and makes the team, would he be able to make good contact in his one ab, as a late inning running/defensive replacement?

[brnt247]

If he performs well in Spring Training and makes the team, would he be able to make good contact in his one ab, as a late inning running/defensive replacement?

Would he be able to make good contact? I don't see why not... he's a decent slap hitter with very good speed, sometimes making bad contact can still get him on base.

[JCStone7]

If he performs well in Spring Training and makes the team, would he be able to make good contact in his one ab, as a late inning running/defensive replacement?

I see him more as of Pete Orr, come in late in a close game and be a pinch-runner for McCann or whoever would be the tying run or potentially clog the bases. I think he'll make the team as the 4th outfielder as Brandon Jones has a job handed to him and continues to struggle.