More upside Braun or Fielder?

[JoeJohnson2two]

Braun is going to be special. He's definitely going to be the best player from the 2005 draft IMO.

I think Braun has more upside then Fielder. I just think he's a better overall hitter than Fielder. Braun has a better idea of what to do at the plate then Prince does.

Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to have both. Hell, I'm ecstatic to have both but I think Braun is going to be special. Very special. I mean Albert Pujols/Alex Rodriguez special.

Think about it. We could have a Big Papi/Alex Rodriguez type duo for years to come...

[Ayt]

Of course, Prince is probably the current NL MVP and he just turned 23 in May. Sickness.

[Nowak008]

-= original quote snipped =-



I think the A-Rod comparison is very apt. Early in his career he was a high average/high power guy who didn't walk as much as you'd like. He could also steal a bag. His walk rate really went up his 5th season and on.

Since Braun reached the majors at an older age, I'd expect his walk rate to go up more quickly than A-Rod's did.

I like the A Rod comparison, but its kinda hard to make it. Their games are similar, but its a stretch to think he will even be close to that caliber. A Rod might end up being the greatest player of all time or at in the top 5.

I think Braun could have a career like Todd Helton's, always in the batting title race, and have the power to average 30HR a year.

[Ayt]

-= original quote snipped =-



I like the A Rod comparison, but its kinda hard to make it. Their games are similar, but its a stretch to think he will even be close to that caliber. A Rod might end up being the greatest player of all time or at in the top 5.

I think Braun could have a career like Todd Helton's, always in the batting title race, and have the power to average 30HR a year.

A-Rod is certainly an exceptional player, but Braun has the potential to be the best 3B in the majors and an MVP caliber player in his peak years. You are correct about A-Rod possibly being one of the top ever, which is certainly not a projection I am making with Braun at this point, but I also wouldn't shortchange his extremely high potential.

I also think you are really shortchanging his power potential. He averaged 35 HR per 550 ABs in the minors. For the sake of comparison, Prince averaged 31. Braun's HR rate was actually very high compared to most minor league players since they often don't hit for power so early, even college players. Players tend to peak with their power around 25-27 and then carry that over into their early 30's. Prince could hit 50 this year at age 23 and Braun could easily hit 30+ while missing the first two months of the season. He's also only 23 and is a rookie.

At this point, I'd be very surprised and a little disappointed if Braun didn't consistently hit 40+ HRs per season during his peak years. He has a ridiculously powerful swing and he can blast it out to any part of the park. He should also be good for between 20-30 SBs during the early part of his career because he also happens to be an exceptional all around athlete.

So he may be no A-Rod, but it is not hard to project him as the top 3B in baseball considering his minor league track record and the ease with which he has adapted to the majors.

[Nowak008]

-= original quote snipped =-



A-Rod is certainly an exceptional player, but Braun has the potential to be the best 3B in the majors and an MVP caliber player in his peak years. You are correct about A-Rod possibly being one of the top ever, which is certainly not a projection I am making with Braun at this point, but I also wouldn't shortchange his extremely high potential.

I also think you are really shortchanging his power potential. He averaged 35 HR per 550 ABs in the minors. For the sake of comparison, Prince averaged 31. Braun's HR rate was actually very high compared to most minor league players since they often don't hit for power so early, even college players. Players tend to peak with their power around 25-27 and then carry that over into their early 30's. Prince could hit 50 this year at age 23 and Braun could easily hit 30+ while missing the first two months of the season. He's also only 23 and is a rookie.

At this point, I'd be very surprised and a little disappointed if Braun didn't consistently hit 40+ HRs per season during his peak years. He has a ridiculously powerful swing and he can blast it out to any part of the park. He should also be good for between 20-30 SBs during the early part of his career because he also happens to be an exceptional all around athlete.

So he may be no A-Rod, but it is not hard to project him as the top 3B in baseball considering his minor league track record and the ease with which he has adapted to the majors.

I think you might be right about short changing his power stats. I was thinking that an average of 30 HR a year would get him over 500 (something that still matters), but he would have to average around 35. I would also be disappointed if he didn't average +40 in his prime years. If Braun does play a full career there are bound to be some seasons where he is injury plagued and will bring down his average.

I agree that Braun should be the best 3B in the league, barring some sort of calamity.

[El Duderino]

-= original quote snipped =-



I never said Braun wasn't a good hitter but don't you think he may benefit from batting in front of Prince? Now would you rather go right after the rookie who is still prone to striking out and swinging at pitches out of the zone (look at his 15 walks and 41 strikeouts for proof) or would you rather pitch to the rookie carefully, risk walking him and face the NL leader in homeruns with at least one runner on?

Maybe it helps him a drop,but the "protection" deal gets so overstated compared to it's real importance.If it was really so crucial,howwould Fielder have managed to hit 13 homers and have his best month all while Estrada was batting fifth behind him stinking up the joint all of May?Why did Fielder only get walked 11 times that month?

Lance Berkman had a revolving door of guys batting after him last year and managed to hit 45 homers and 136 RBI's,this year he has Lee following him and he's having a worse year.Berkman is walking at basically the same rate this year as last,if protection was so vital he'd have walked way more last season and never got enough pitches to have a monster season.There are countless examples like Berkman through baseball history of guys who have huge years and walk rates barely differ even if the guy following him wasn't as good.

The reason for this is simple,walks create to much trouble and if you pitch to even good hitters,you'll get them out roughly 70% of the time.Say Hall followed Braun instead of Fielder.

1.Are you really going to pitch around him and walk Braun to lead off an inning?

2.If a guy is on first,walk Braun and advance the guy to second and put two runners on?

3.Guys on first and second,pitch around and walk the bases loaded?

Except for fairly rare game situations like man on second or man on third with two outs and first base open in a close game late,there aren't many times it makes sense to walk a guy vs going after him and trying to get the out.Sure if a total scrub hitter followed,then it might some sense,but so long as a decent hitter follows Braun,he'll produce big.

In the vast majority of at bats for even very good hitters,pitching around them and ending up walking the guy is just asking for more trouble than going after them and taking the 70% chance you'll get them out.

[JoeJohnson2two]

I agree that Braun should be the best 3B in the league, barring some sort of calamity.

Don't forget about Alex Gordon. Give him some time and he'll be up there battling Braun for years as the best 3B in the league. Something like Nomar and A-Rod did.

Here's how I look at it.
Braun is A-Rod. Gordon is Nomar.
Chase Headley or Ryan Zimmerman could wind up being Jeter...

I can hope can't I

[Nowak008]

Thought I would give this thread a bump.

Braun is straight murdering people. Anyone change their mind?

[SportsWorld]

IMO Braun has more upside. I can see Fielder having some injury problems as his career goes on.

[ajb905]

Both look like perennial all-stars...if both stay healthy (Prince would seem more likely to get hurt...violent swing, large body type) they both could be top 3 hitters at their position. Neither seems to have an advantage defensively. I think its safe to say Prince will have more eyepopping power numbers while Braun will be able to do a bit of everything with his speed. But I like chicks who dig the longball so I'll go with Prince.

[Ayt]

I'd say both look like perennial MVP candidates.

[xTitan]

Looking at the big picture to me its Braun and Braun easily......both players will demand huge money and it will be much easier (although not easy) to replace Fieldrs numbers at 1st base then it will be to replace what Braun does at 3rd base. Fielders agent is Scott Boros and he believes Texiera is worth between $20

[Ayt]

We don't have to worry about Fielder being a FA for 4 more seasons.