Braves Finalize Opening Day Roster
By Fred Owens
Mar 6, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves infielder Pedro Ciriaco (61) trots home from third base after a solo home run during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
The Winners Of The Roster Lottery Are. . .
Pedro Ciriaco
Ciriaco had a great spring training. Lots of fans wanted this guy to get his chance and the brain trust headed by Fredi Gonzalez decided on the bus ride back from the game on Friday that he get it. Here’s what Fredi told Bowman in the post linked above.
"“I commend our coaches because they thought outside the box and decided we might just need a right-handed bat,” Gonzalez said. “So we started digging around and looking. Ciriaco has had a hell of a camp and also he’s got a track record. He’s got 400-plus plate appearances in the big leagues.”"
Sometimes our Skipper should write out his responses ahead of time and consider what he’s already said. Last Sunday he told Bowman that Benson had a good shot because he was a right handed bat with some pop. There’s not much outside the box thinking there as anyone looking could see the need for a right handed. The only change was that they elected speed instead of poo. There’s nothing like a last minute change of plan and coin toss to make roster decisions exciting. So what do we know about their right handed bat besides he had a good spring?
Ciriaco is a 29 year old utility player who does indeed have 498 PA in the majors. However 242 of those PA came in 2012 when he appeared in 76 games for the Red Sox posting a .293/.315/.390/.705 line. In 2013 he had 137 PA split between Boston, San Diego and Kansas City when he went .224/.279/.336/.615 with a couple of homers. In 2014 with the Royals he had 49PA (32 at second base) hitting .213/.229/.255/.484. So his 498 MLB PA don’t really impress me; sorry Fredi. The one thing Ciriaco does have and use is speed.
He’s as fast or faster than EY Jr. and can steal bases pretty much at will; if he gets on which he doesn’t all that often. In the end that has to be why he was chosen. Success breeds imitation and the Royals were very successful using a guy with very little bat and a lot of speed to change the game late. Adding Ciriaco is obviously the Braves attempt to duplicate that model.