Branyan - What'cha think?

[ArRedbird]

What's this forum's thinking on Russell Branyan?

My 2 cents worth:
1. Walt probably had to offer a group of good players on the list of PTBNL
in order to get Branyan on the roster before Sept. 1. (to be eligible for post season)

2. Branyan may be a rental. But, then, there's no guarentee on
Scott Rolan's shoulder. Those shots he takes last a short
time and (as I understand the medical concern) they can
cause the bone to actually to decline in density. Surgery
may or may not help.

3. Branyan fits the TLR mold -- a veteran with some skills
who can fit into the offensive and defensive scheme. Is he
Scott Rolan at Scott's best? No. Can he play D like Scott
as his best? No. But can he produce O and D close to
what Scott Rolan can produce now?

Good Question. I'd call it 60-40 "yes."

+++
My guess on the PTBNL -- at least players similar in quality
that Walt probably will have to give up:

Relief Pitchers: anyone on the Memphis staff. The Phils could use
some help NOW in their bullpen. But they would have had to move
immediately to pick up someone who could be put on a post-
season roster, like a Falkenborg, Cate, or a Worrell. So I'm kind of
surprised that didn't happen. I don't think Walt would expose Perez on a list.

Which leads me to believe -- if it's a pitcher, it will be someone
down in the system who can help out the Phils next year or the
next. So any of the relievers at Springfield could be there, including
Motte, though I personally would prefer to see what Motte can do,
and I'd rather keep McClellan around for another year or two also.

Starters? Not Hawksworth, but Parisi, Haberer, Narveson
are good possibilities.

Position players:
Infield: newly acquired Barden (3b) might be useful to the Phils.
Also, E. Gonzalez (2b) or McCoy (mid-IF).
I would hope that Hoffauir and Craig and the ss at AA (whose
name eludes me for the moment) are not on the list.

Outfield:
Not sure -- after the top couple of OF prospects -- how they are
ranked in the system, but I would think that, for Branyan, Walt may
have had to expose Haerther and Marti. I would hope that
Schumaker, Mather, and Stavinhoa are not on the list.

Catcher:
Please, not Anderson, Yarbrough or (my defensive specialist) Pagnozzi.

Likely as not, the Phils will go with a pitcher -- that's what I would
do, but then, I'm just a lowly fan, with little to do on a Saturday
morning, putting my 2 cents out there!

--ArRedbird

[BrotherBri]

Let me preface my comments by reminding you all how much I hate strikeouts. HATE them. Argued forever with jdb and others that strikeouts DO hurt more than other kinds of outs. And Branyan is a strikeout machine that makes Preston Wilson look like a contact hitter.

That said, I think this pick-up is actually quite good. Branyan can play a number of corner positions, and does hit with power. Against RHPs, the Cards can run out an order that starts with Miles, Ankiel, Pujols, Edmonds, Branyan, Duncan. And maybe, just maybe, TLR will realize that it will be important to rest Pujols once or twice down the stretch, and Branyan's power just might allow him to do it, particularly if Speizio is back to play 3B.

Most importantly, this pick up does more to move Scotty toward the surgery he must have ... and before too much rest and rehab time is wasted on some futile attempt to play now. So, all in all, a pretty good pickup.

You'll just have to calm me down when he strikes out four times in a critical game.

[tulcard]

I am not/was not in favor of this deal as stated, but the man does deserve a chance as we all do....we'll just have to see the result....hopefully he'll change my initial reaction....

[ArRedbird]

BroBri,
well said.
With RBranyan we get what we get.
(There are good reasons and bad
to explain why he's played for so many teams!)

Let's see -- 3 k's = the golden sombrero.
What's 4?
Perhaps 4 k's =

[AutobodyCAD]

Chris Narveson: I almost forgot about him. He did fairly well in his time with the big club, IIRC. How has he done this year in Memphis?

[Coop]

It seems that Narveson may be very fragile. He has rarely been on the mound. I think he is going to pitch sometimes, then he's not there.
Is there really a Chris Narveson?
I have really wanted him to do good.

I am serious when I say, I wish the Cardinals would really investigate their whole physical amd medical system. I wish they would pay Mike Marshall and let him give consultation to everybody in the organization. Just do it. If they don't agree, just continue to struggle along with our MASH unit.

[BleacherBum593]

Narveson has been out quite abit with an the dreaded "oblique" injury to his left side. He made 9 starts this year for Memphis - throwing 1 of 2 complete games by the Memphis staff (Keisler had the other). 45.2 IP, 3-2 w/l, 5.72 era, 1.36 WHIP, 35 k's. He's been on the DL twice (5-11-07 to 7-4-07 and from 7-21-07 thru today.

Overall, I like the RB signing. Insurance against anything further happening. Good power bat off the bench. Currently, it looks like its Ryan's job to lose the 3B position. I don't think that's going to happen.