You put him at 215-220 pounds, with another 10-15 pounds of muscle on him, and he's going to drive...

You put him at 215-220 pounds, with another 10-15 pounds of muscle on him, and he's going to drive some balls out of the ballpark. That will come. I want him to stay with what he's doing right now. He's in a BP group with some big boppers, but I tell him, "You can't worry about what they're doing."

Former big-leaguer Mickey Brantley on son Michael, who looks more underrated every day.

almost 3 years ago Jay 49 comments 0 recs |

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It says something good that of our big four acquisitions; Santana, Laporta, Brantley and Valbuena, Laporta is the guy i’m least excited about watching.

by APV on Feb 26, 2009 8:14 PM EST reply actions

Precisely. It’s not as if Laporta is disappointing, not in the least. These other guys are very, very intriguing

by OddlyGaussian on Feb 26, 2009 8:46 PM EST up reply actions

este.

by Brick. on Feb 27, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions

Glad to see this is catching on.

by supermarioelia on Feb 27, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions

and that I don’t even mention last year’s 1st round pick, the Chisl, who actually had a very good debut

by APV on Feb 27, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Just got me to thinking about all the fretting the pundits have done about Brantley’s power. My instinct is that you don’t sweat the power numbers from a 21-year-old if everything else is there, but it’s sure comforting to think that every day, his Dad has been telling him not to try to hit home runs. Just think how much better Lofton might have been with a Dad like that!

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 26, 2009 8:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

As a 10 year old first getting into baseball back in 1995, I was very confused when my dad would groan whenever Lofton hit a home run. (Aren’t home runs good?) I figured out eventually that Lofton hitting one home run was a harbinger for a month of Lofton swinging out of his shoes to hit long fly balls. Yet, he was still awesome.

by OddlyGaussian on Feb 26, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions

Or Willie Mays Hayes!

by mjschaefer on Feb 27, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

/drools

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 26, 2009 8:46 PM EST reply actions

When I saw Brantley yesterday, my first thought was Bernie Williams. Is that bad? or good?

by APV on Feb 26, 2009 8:55 PM EST reply actions

Bernie Williams was real good and probably the jackass I hated the least so I think it’s good. I had to leave yesterday before Brantley came in so I can’t comment on the comp.

by ClarkM on Feb 26, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

I hope he’s faster than Bernie, but man I would take it

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 26, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

Bernie Williams is IMO a borderline Hall of Famer, so I’d be ecstatic if has even 75% of Bernie’s career.

by Ryan on Feb 26, 2009 10:17 PM EST up reply actions

Hell yes.

Bernie was a great, great player for a good eight years or so. A real force.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 26, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

I hated him for a lot of reasons—in my younger days I always disliked beloved players from teams I hated—but the one that always sticks out in my head is breaking up Bartolo Colon’s would-be Yankee Stadium no-hitter.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Feb 26, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

Bernie always had my grudging respect. Like Ryan, I see him as being very similar to HOF player.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 26, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions

Haterespect

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Feb 27, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

I like this.

by hans on Feb 27, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

But can Brantley play guitar?

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Feb 27, 2009 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

From Castro:

Michael Brantley is not on that BA list, but he probably should be. Because of his build, his maturity, his skills and the fact that he’s only 21 and still improving, some higher-ups around here are starting to think he might be the best player the Indians acquired last summer.

by Roger Dorn on Feb 26, 2009 9:46 PM EST reply actions

And half of you wanted Taylor Green. I’m not going to forget that.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Feb 26, 2009 9:48 PM EST reply actions

I can safely say I was on the Brantley bandwagon as soon as I had the list

by Roger Dorn on Feb 26, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

I did, but that was over Cain…

Knowing we’d get Derosa and Valgood, would anybody have preferred Green? I sure wouldn’t have. It was a need-based thing.

Now, on to getting Gutz back…

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Feb 27, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

Green was years away regardless. It was not need-based for anyone who really thought about it.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 27, 2009 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

i think i was guilty of that at some point, and so glad to say i was wrong.

by Brick. on Feb 27, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

If Brantley develops any kind of power, then he’s going to be a really good player, even if he’s a left fielder or even a first baseman. Great plate discipline and good speed is a rare combination.

by Ryan on Feb 26, 2009 9:51 PM EST reply actions

I honestly can’t remember ever being this excited for the entire organization. I was too young to realize it in the mid 90s

by Roger Dorn on Feb 26, 2009 10:05 PM EST up reply actions

A good question would be, when was the farm system strongest: start of 1992, start of 2003, start of 2009?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 26, 2009 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

I smell a Jay/Adam breakdown coming up…

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Feb 26, 2009 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

Unless this is without the use of retrospect that breakdown would have to wait several years.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Feb 26, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

I want you to know that I wrote a sweet review for the annual and when I submitted, the internet froze out and the review was lost. Since I made it long, I haven’t regained the motivation to re-do it yet

by Roger Dorn on Feb 26, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

Um … thank you?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 27, 2009 12:51 AM EST up reply actions

i was hoping it would bring us closer to the post you were going to make if we had 10 reviews

by Roger Dorn on Feb 27, 2009 1:10 AM EST up reply actions

Just the fact that this might require further analysis, just to determine for sure, makes me really happy. They certainly have a better top level team compared to ’92 or ’03.

by JK in CBus on Feb 27, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

Is there a chance he becomes a 1B? I thought that the OF was his jam and that he was pretty solid out there?

This is the guy that’s an absolute thief on the base paths, right?

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Feb 27, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

It’s hard to imagine how he ends up at 1B, because if it’s him or LaPorta for 1B and LF, it’s pretty obvious you put the faster guy in left.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 27, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Sounds like a guy to be reckoned with next year. I like it. Maybe we re-think where LaPorta fits in next year. LaPorta replaces Garko and Brantley replaces Dellucci? I agree that the farm system is amazing right now. If you haven’t bought the Indians Annual yet, you’re missing out. I can’t put it down.

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder

by jerseywahoo on Feb 26, 2009 11:25 PM EST reply actions

I’ve been on the Brantley bandwagon since the day the CC trade went down. His low K rate and advanced level (for his age) just jumped out at me.

I was actually surprised at how built he was (when I saw him play Wednesday). I was expecting a reedy-looking guy (ala Barton).

by Toxicadam on Feb 27, 2009 9:01 AM EST reply actions

I love Brantley. That I got to see him play a few innings this week cemented that.

by Ryan Kelsey on Feb 27, 2009 10:44 AM EST reply actions

I’ve only seen one at bat so far, where he stroked a single up the middle and pointed his front foot towards first before his swing finished. I thought it was very Loftonesque, and got excited.

Have yet to see him catch and throw – any initial reviews there? I kept thinking last year that if they were working him at 1B there must be a weakness in his OF play.

by mcrose on Feb 27, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions

I think it was more a crowded outfield and the fact that he was injured. They wanted to get him some more PA without having him run around so much.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Feb 27, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

I saw him make one grab in center and his arm looked decent. His throw was stronger than a Sizemore throw

by Roger Dorn on Feb 27, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

I certainly don’t think he’s going to be a good centerfielder based on what I’ve heard.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Feb 27, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

so, lastoria has reached #20. Jordan Brown. really?

Outlook: Brown embodies exactly what the Indians lineup needs. While the Indians could use a little more thump in the lineup with a big power bat, probably their biggest need is for a hitter that hits around .300 who can consistently put the bat on the ball.

by Brick. on Feb 27, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions