DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: NL East—ATL needs more from leadoff spot
Jul 3 2013
A lack of production from the leadoff spot continues to be one of the biggest issues facing the Braves. Entering play on July 2, the team had a paltry .243/.303/.367 with 7 HR and 12 SB from its leadoff spot. That .303 OBP ranks them 29th in MLB in that category (only the Mariners, Mets, Marlins and Twins have been worse.)
Andrelton Simmons (SS, ATL), the team’s primary leadoff hitter so far this season, has produced a .218/.254/.310 with 3 HR and 5 SB when batting first. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has utilized others, mainly Jordan Schafer (OF, ATL) and B.J. Upton (OF, ATL) in that role at times this season, but keeps coming back to Simmons. But one has to wonder if a change might come soon.
As we’ve discussed here before,...
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