Belt Vs Freeman

[Hammer]

good comp article

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/...reddie-freeman

[Gregg]

Yes it is.

I take Belt. I just home he make the big club so he is in the auction. Otherwise 1st pick in the reserve will grab him.

[cavebird]

I'll take Freeman, but it is close (and purely homerism on my part). The power output of both seems to be the crucial question and is unknown on both sides.

[Sour Masher]

I have both in my minors, so I hope they both pan out. Short term, it is hard to ignore how amazing Belt was last year. He seems to be ahead in the power department. Freeman certainly was no slouch either, outperforming expectations and really impressing at AAA. I think Belt is ahead for right now, but Freeman is still so young, he certainly has the growth potential to pull ahead eventually.

[onejayhawk]

We were discussing Belt in another thread. That article is helpful, on one point especially. Huff is an OF playing 1B, whereas Belt seems to be a natural CI. Much as I shy from predicting prospects get shots in SF (read B Posey), it looks like they may want Belt as soon as possible.

J

[Sour Masher]

Who would Huff bump in the OF if they call up Belt to play 1b? Also, I've read that Belt is athletic enough to play the OF if he had to.

[Erik]

How does Yonder Alonso stack up vs. both of them?

[Don Quixote]

How does Yonder Alonso stack up vs. both of them?

Freeman has the job. The Giants will fit Belt in when they think he's ready, either at 1B with Huff in left or vice versa.

Alonso, OTOH, is completely blocked. The Reds have tried him at other positions and it hasn't worked at all. That leaves him as 1B-only, and some guy named Votto has that job for the next decade or so. The only way Alonso has value is if he's traded to a team that needs a 1B, or if Votto gets hurt.

[mjl]

Who would Huff bump in the OF if they call up Belt to play 1b? Also, I've read that Belt is athletic enough to play the OF if he had to.

I have no f'in idea. I would be leery about drafting any SF position player other than Posey and expecting them to play regularly. For their other position players, they have Huff, DeRosa, Tejada, FSanchez, Sandoval, Fontenot, Burrell, Ross, Rowand, and Torres, and I assume Fontenot won't be starting regularly but for seven spots they have nine guys who will probably be rotating in and out pretty often.

- Mike

[Sour Masher]

So, now that both Freeman and Belt are a go from day one, any predictions on who will end up having the better season?

[joncarlos]

So, now that both Freeman and Belt are a go from day one, any predictions on who will end up having the better season?

I just cut Freeman for Belt in my AFA league, but I think it's close. Freeman is hitting 8th which doesn't help, but the Braves do have a better lineup. Belt might run a bit more and I trust his plate discipline a bit more.

Don't forget, Belt did hit .383/.492/.628 in the Cal League, but it's the Cal League and he was a good college hitter, so that's what he SHOULD have done. Freeman is younger. Belt has more long-term power upside. Freeman will probably have a better AVG despite a worse eye. Belt should have more steals but I think he has a shorter leash.

If I had to pick one I'd take Belt, I think it will be really close but the steals give him the edge.