Jordan Schafer Is Clearly the Best Option the Braves Have for a Leadoff Hitter

Prepare for Metamorphosis. Ready, Kafka?

He’s ready.

Last night it was plainly obvious that he is the best option the Braves have for a leadoff hitter. In fact, based on last night, from my seat, he looked like the second or third best hitter in the entire lineup.

And he didn’t even get a hit. That might be a testament to how poor the Braves’ lineup is, but either way, Schafer is better than most everyone except Chipper at this point.

Here’s his line from the past three series the Braves have played (9 games):
21 AB, 3 R, 6 H, 12 BB, 5 SO, 2 IBB, 1 SB, .285 AVG, .606 OBP, .429 SLG

And here’s his line from the three series before that (9 games):
35 AB, 5 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 16 SO, .257 AVG, .278 OBP, .314 SLG

That is drastic improvement.

We all sort of know it will happen at some point and chances are Cox will wait just a bit longer (my money is on the start of next week), but the change is imminent.

On a side note, I had the good fortune of attending this game. It was a great night in Atlanta to enjoy a game. Perfect weather and I sat beside two guys from South Africa who were, perhaps, two of the more...ummm...interesting people I’ve ever met in my life. Good times were had by all.

But I will confess it is quite frustrating just how much you miss while enjoying the scene of the game while actually at the game.

Vasquez pitched well and finished the eighth inning...quite a feat now-a-days. He gave up five earned, but mostly on seeing-eye singles. Truly bad luck. It was kind of lost on me, though. Until I saw the box score this morning, I had no clue.

I guess my new friends from South Africa and their pretty friend from there in Georgia had me more distracted than I had thought.

I did make note of Schafer getting his first MLB Stolen Base though. So the evening wasn’t completely a loss.