Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Braves acquire Norton. Who?

So yesterday, the Braves picked up another utility player in a trade with Seattle. They acquired Greg Norton, who by all appearances had been having good results this year with limited playing time. His average so far this year is .438, but just 16 plate appearances. His career average is .253, while playing for 5 different teams, notably the Mariners, Rays, and Rockies.

I have to ask, do the Braves really need another guy like this? The move was apparently made because of an injury to Martin Prado, who will miss up to six weeks with a sprained thumb. The injury left Ruben Gotay as the only backup infielder, until Omar Infante makes his introduction as a Brave, after suffering a broken hand in winter ball, within a week or so. I get that they were short a player for now, but what about a call-up from the minors? What about Brent Lillibridge? I know he didn't do that well when he was last up but have they given up on him? Is there no one else at Richmond?

My concern in this is one I've had before, that Frank Wren is too eager to make moves based on how it should work out on paper. Every Braves fan knows that over the years they've been successful because the players are able to mesh together and most players fit in. The few players who haven't fit in, Lofton and Deion Sanders notably didn't stay around that long. Correct or not, I give credit to John Schuerholz for always keeping these factors in mind when making, or not making, trades. I just wonder if Frank Wren is thinking the same way. Hopefully this move will work out and Norton will fit in, as will all the other players new to the team this year. I just hope Wren remembers you can't just bring any player in and expect his numbers alone to fill a hole, his personality has to fit in as well in order to benefit the team.

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