Removed this conversation from the Bartlett thread...

Bartlett's UZR has taken quite the plunge the last couple years but is Bartlett or Longoria to blame?

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Disclaimer:  This is not a pro-Upton or anti-Upton post, just a matter of facts to dispute a claim.

I recently heard Wills or Andy Freed say that B.J. Upton was not a patient hitter.  They said he's not the prototypical leadoff hitter because he doesn't see a lot of pitchers.

It surprised me.  Wills and Freed are generally very good, and this seemed like a ridiculous statement.  Later on I heard someone refer to BJ as a free swinger. 

Upton's perception has changed since last year.  He's not the hitter who waits too long and looks for the perfect pitch.  He's now seen as an impatient free swinger.

BJ Upton loves the first pitch, he always has.  In 2007 Upton has swung at the first pitch 35%, then 34% in 2008, and 34% in 2009.  That's pretty consistent and hasn't changed. Could that be what makes him a free swinger?

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The recent Zobrist 30/30 article almost gave me an opportunity to throw out the name "Howard Johnson".  Just saying how HoJo was a three time 30/30 guy would give me a nice flashback to my childhood.

Prior to commenting I decided to give Howard Johnson's stats a quick look and was somewhat surprised to see how his first 30/30 came about...

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Jason Stark on ESPN is reporting that Blake to the Dodgers for Carlos Santana and Jon Meloan is almost a done deal.

If it happens, which seems like it will, it makes a Rays trade less likely.  The highly rumored names are now gone and it seems that any trade that does happen will come from no where.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but does eliminate a lot of the past rumors.

FWIW, Sickles ranked Meloan as the Dodgers #5 and a B prospect, Santana wasn't ranked but looks to be having a good year.

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