MVN - Most Valuable Network

Brewers purchase contract of 3B Branyan from AAA Nashville; option OF Gywnn Jr.

 Milwaukee Brewers

Optioned OF Tony Gwynn Jr. to Triple-A Nashville; purchased the contract of 3B Russell Branyan from Triple-A Nashville.

TG Analysis

A Three True Outcomes hero, Branyan was off to a torrid start at AAA Nashville, pasting PCL pitching to the tune of .359/.453/.693 with 12 home runs in 182 PA. Small sample size issues aside, that translates to a .299/.385/.548 line in the big leagues. The concept of Branyan hitting .299 in the majors is humorous, but the lefty-hitter could be of some use to a Milwaukee roster than leans heavily to the right: the Brew Crew have posted a sickly .240/.312/.390 line against righthanded pitching, as opposed to a more robust .274/.351/.445 against southpaws. Yes, Branyan will whiff early and often, but the 32 year-old has still managed a .240/.352/.496 line against righty pitching over the past 3 seasons. In particular, Milwaukee would be better off platooning Branyan with Bill Hall at third base. Hall can sock lefties (.281/.361/.501 career), but same-side hurlers give him fits (.253/.303/.450). Ordinarily, one might worry about Branyan’s defense at the hot corner, but Hall has been putrid in his own right (-6 Fielding Runs Above Average). Miscast as a center fielder in ‘07, Hall also appears to be out of place as an everyday third baseman.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 25th, 2008 at 11:39 am and is filed under Russell Branyan, Tony Gwynn Jr., Bill Hall, Brewers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.