Chicks might dig the long ball, but Atlanta Braves' manager Fredi Gonzalez seems to want more out of his lineup as the 2013 MLB Playoffs are here. Dan Uggla, the Braves' starting second basemen will likely find himself out of the roster as the team gets ready to play in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. We weigh the positives and the negatives as Gonzalez is determined to change the look of his lineup.
Pretty Uggla- Pros
The Braves led the National League with 181 home runs in 2013, finishing fifth overall in baseball. Uggla accounted for 22 home runs this season, finishing third in the team. When not hitting home runs and placing the ball in play, you can count on Uggla to leg everything out. He hustles and will try to beat out any play close at first.
However, in 2013, hustling has not been enough for Uggla as 33-year-old struggled on both ends of the ball.
Ugly Uggla- Cons
While finishing third in home runs among second basemen in baseball, Uggla also finished with the third most errors in the 2013 season, 14. He's not exactly trustworthy, though he will dive and get dirty chasing after anything in reach, but again, hustle has not kept Uggla consistent in 2013.
At the plate, Uggla is a strikeout casualty waiting to happen. He's only had two years where he posted a decent average, back in 2006, his rookie season and 2009 right before the Braves signed him to a five-year, $62 million deal. In 2013, he struck out 171 times, matching his career high set back in 2008 when he played for the then Florida Marlins.
Analysis
Uggla in the Braves lineup is dangerous, but only when he's hitting and that hasn't happened often. He was able to push the Braves in the summer of 2011, when the second baseman had a 33-game hitting streak. However, in his three seasons in Atlanta, Uggla has not proved he can make consistent contact, though last season he posted a decent .348 OBP.
Instead of having a strikeout threat in his lineup already filled with free swingers, Gonzalez will go for contact in Elliot Johnson, a midseason acquisition from the Kansas City Royals. In 32 games with the Braves, Johnson hit .261 with 10 home runs, eight stolen bases and committed only three errors in 65 opportunities at second base. Gonzalez appears to have confidence in his other big boppers as they Braves get ready to face a Dodger pitching rotation that struck out 1,292 hitters in 2013, placing them eighth in baseball.
Game 1 will be on Thursday and the Braves face the possible 2013 N.L. Cy Young Award winner, Clayton Kershaw.
