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Sporting News wrote:Even rookies who hit .348 and 19 homers and 52 RBIS in their first 63 big league games are not immune to hazing.
"I had to carry bags, I had to sing on the bus. I feel like I am going to have to dress up soon." The singing performance came on his first full road trip after being called up. With the headphones to his ipod plugged into one ear, he sang "On Bended Kneee" and "Water Runs Dry" by Boyz II Men. " I was into it, but I don't think my voice was too great.
He was a shortstop at the University of Miami, and this is his second full season at third base
A shortstop has time to adjust his depth to play hops. A third basmen doesn't. "The hop kind of plays you. You get a lot more balls with the top spin and alot more in-between hops" Braun discussed the nuances of the poistion switch with Alex Rodriguez, who also moved from short to third and who wokrs out at Miami in the offseason. One thing they talked about was how to best replicate those tricky hops when fungo hitters hit grounders to them in practice.
Braun is believed to be the highest-drafted Jewish player since Ron Blomberg was taken first overall in 1967
He has connections with two other Jewish baseball icons: Sandy Koufax was born Sanford Braun but took his stepfathers name when his mom remarried, and Braun's grandfather has lived for 40 years in a home once owned by Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg. Anthother starnge but true fact:Braun's mom also is a brewers- seriously she makes beer for Anheuser-Busch.
His team fatal blaw might be its struggles on the road' the Brewers are 39-19 at Miller Park, 21-32 away from home.
Dont blame Braun, who is hitting 40 points better on the road. Thats one reason manager Ned Yost was no worries about batting a rookie third during the strech run. " He is an extremly talented offensive player who has the utmost confidence, " Yost says " He just knows, man that he can hit"
After growing up near Los Angeles and going to college at Miami, it has been an adjustment living in the Midwest
And that might be a good thing. " The nightlife isn't as enticing as L.A or Miami or I might be tempted to go out more"
Dont read anything into the fact that braun wasn't drafted out of highschool.
He was highly touted prospect,but he told teams he was out of their price range because he wanted to go to college. He chose Miami for its social scene, its academics, its athletics and because" I think the girls were the deal closer on the recruiting trip"
- Matt Crossman
