New Atlanta Braves News from Around the Infield

2 of 2

Jun 18, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham (15) makes a catch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

Gordon’s Sights Are Not Set on Second

Gordon Beckham signed with Atlanta on December 2nd, and hopefully we can be forgiven for thinking all this time that he was inked to be a platoon partner for Jace Peterson, who had struggled vs. LHP. Heck, fangraphs got duped into that ruse as well. After all, in Beckham’s career, he’d logged almost 5,600 innings at the Keystone Sack, with under 1,400 at third base… including just 507 there in 2014-15.

More from Tomahawk Take

So now he intends to steal the third base job away from… Adonis Garcia, I suppose. Okay. Interesting.

Up to this point, we had figured third base was mostly going to be Garcia’s position to lose. Sure, we know that any of Olivera, Beckham, Kelly Johnson, or even Emilio Bonifacio could spend some time at third base, but we were pretty well focused on the notion that Beckham would stick to his natural position.

Beckham will still have to earn the spot. His hitting in 2014-2015 has left a lot to be desired: .226 and .209 over 700+ plate appearances and a 0.0 combined fWAR. His fielding, however, does look to be perhaps a bit above league average for the position… with 5 Defensive Runs Saved in 2015, to boot. So there’s something that could keep him on the field for a while.

But What Was Coppy Thinking?

We can’t say for sure exactly what times and which events may had lead to John Coppolella to run off and ink so many multi-positional infielders, but now we can guess: he wanted insurance.

Insurance in case Peterson can’t start the season or if he re-injures his thumb
Insurance in case Freddie Freeman can’t start the season or if he re-injures his wrist
Insurance in case Adonis Garcia and Hector Olivera just flat can’t play third base

Well, that all makes sense now. Especially since neither Peterson nor Freeman opted for a surgical repair. If either one ends up needing to go down that avenue this Spring… well, then probably half to two-thirds of the season will be lost to that player. Then it will be “Bring in the under-study!”

Next: Finally Getting Some Consensus - Yes, the Farm is Better

Sure, maybe Bonifacio was the presumed player in mind as a possible platoon partner for Peterson… he has hit LHP at a .286 clip over his career. But with so many – too many – veterans currently listed as candidates for the 25-man roster come April, it actually makes more sense that somebody ultimately either (a) is cut; or (b) ends up on the disabled list.

That certainly changes the thinking.

Home/Braves News