Add new comment

After Conrad hit his walk-off Granny, I just had to come find this thread again.
Brooks' current line with the Braves coming off the bench (at age 30)?
.250/.344/.679 (1022).
It's only 32 PAs -- but he's managed 3 doubles, 3 HRs and a SB in those trips (along with 4 walks and 9 Ks.  Yes, he still fans too much.  And no, he's not going to maintain a four digit OPS.  But, the Braves snagged a switch-hitting, backup infielder with modest patience and a LOT of power (for an MI).  And they're getting him for loose change.
Granted, the Braves are also getting surprise production from an MLB journeyman (Hinske), who is also posting a 1000 OPS at the moment.   So, why has Hinske gone from Boston to Tampa to Pittsburgh to Atlanta after his 4+ years with Toronto?  Well, his career average is only .256 ... he fans 120 times a year ... and he only hits HRs in the teens (and doubles in the 30s). 
But, Hinske is viewed as only a platoon option (.810 against righties - .664 against lefties for his career).  He's mini-Branyan to a degree, (though he's actually got enough time against lefties, in this case, the stereotype may actually be on the money).
I think Z was "trying" to get his own version of Hinske with the Byrnes pick-up.  He just missed on the reality that Byrnes had fallen off the ability cliff two years ago, and wasn't coming back.