More on the LaPorta situation...

It is pretty well known that Matt LaPorta will be on this squad next  year and that Mike Cameron's $10 mil option will be bought out, leaving CF open.  Tom Haudricourt is suggesting that Melvin is mulling around moving Corey Hart to center, Ryan Braun to right and leaving LaPorta in his currently trainee position.  I'm a little frustrated with this, but the corner outfield positions are pretty reasonable to learn on the fly.  The big thing is the first step.  You need to get a jump on the ball.  We watched Billy Hall struggle for about a month before he turned into a damn good defender.

I haven't really thought about this too much, but Ryan Braun has a cannon.  If he's on target, it's pretty fun to watch.  The thing is, he's not always on target, and teams are going to push him to get the ball in quickly and accurately.  The Brewers are just asking for extra bases at two different positions: C and LF.  Unless Braun gets his act together quickly, I think we're going to see quite a few singles turn into extra base hits.  I kind of question his fly ball judgement as well.  While a lazy pop fly in the infield is kind difficult to judge, he clearly got flustered during some of those last year.  We need someone who will know exactly where that ball is going right off the bat.  Even more, we need an outfield and a middle infield that communicates.  I'm scared to see Braun collide with Cameron or JJ because these guys haven't played long enough together.

I will say this though, the range of the OF with Braun, Gwynn, Cameron and Hart is absolutely amazing.  These guys should track down a log of balls.  If they lean a bit to the left field to help Braun, you won't be seeing nearly as many extra base hits in the gaps as you're used to.  I think Braun will come around, but we'll have to deal with a month or two of growing pains like Bill Hall.  And then the following year again with LaPorta, who we cannot bring up unless he plays every day.  Any way you look at it.  Gwynn looks like he'll be the odd man out and have to deal with backup duties for some time.