Camargo > Frazier

I pulled some stats a week or three ago. Last off-season a legion of impatient, ignorant fans lobbied for the Braves to sign free agent third baseman Todd Frazier, despite the fact rookie Johan Camargo had batted over .300 for most of the 2017 season. Frazier would’ve commanded a large salary. The Braves balked, and instead the former Red signed with the Mets. 

Instead the Braves traded injury-prone outfielder Matt Kemp to the Dodgers for starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy and utilityman Charlie Culbertson. McCarthy ate valuable innings during the first half of the season while younger pitchers readied themselves for the bigs. Culbertson was a sensation, winning games with his bat and playing all four infield positions, some outfield, and even pitching in relief. The corner outfielder the Braves didn’t trade, Nick Markakis, had a career year, leading the league in hits.

In hindsight, should the Braves have signed Frazier? The stats speak for themselves: Carmargo outperformed Frazier at the plate and in the field. Frazier does seem like a nice guy. And he pulled off a switcheroo, getting an out after dropping the real ball after diving into the stands, picking up an unofficial ball, showing the ump, then tossing the contraband back into the stands.

..G...AB...R...H..2B.3B.HR.BI..BB.K

093 342 48 079 16  0  16 53 36 90 TF YTD

115 392 52 108 23  1  15 65 44 89 JC YTD

 

avg.OBP.SLG.OPS

231 308 418 726 TF YTD

276 354 454 808 JC YTD

 

.G…AB..R..H..2B.3B.HR.BI.BB.K

32 116 18 30 08  0   6  21 09 32 TF post all star

43 162 21 51 12  0   6  26 11 39 JC post all star

 

avg.OBP.SLG.OPS

259 323 483 806 TF post all star

315 367 500 867 JC post all star

 

Plus an update on the rookie of the year race. Acuna has pulled ahead of Soto with his tremendous post all star game surge.

 

.G…AB..R..H.2B.3B.HR.BI.BB..K.SB

44 170 36 56 11  1  16 31 19 40 9 RA

43 152 31 45 09  1  07 26 35 42 0 Soto

 

avg.OBP.SLG..OPS

329 404 688 1.092 Acuna post all star

296 428 507 0.934 Soto post all star

 

.G…AB..R..H..2B.3B.HR.BI.BB.K..SB

87 339 60 98 22  1  23 50 31 96 11 Acuna YTD

94 328 63 98 20  1  16 54 68 83 02 Soto YTD

 

avg.OBP.SLG.OPS

289 355 563 919 Acuna YTD

299 419 512 931 Soto YTD