Why the Braves are benching Orlando Arcia
As the first 24 games have transpired, Nick Allen seems to have supplanted Orlando Arcia as the Braves starting shortstop, and nobody should expect that to change. Allen’s not much to write home about as an offensive player. He owns a putrid .212 batting average with a .540 OPS over his career with zero pop […] The post Why the Braves are benching Orlando Arcia appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.
As the first 24 games have transpired, Nick Allen seems to have supplanted Orlando Arcia as the Braves starting shortstop, and nobody should expect that to change.
Allen’s not much to write home about as an offensive player. He owns a putrid .212 batting average with a .540 OPS over his career with zero pop to speak of. There have been moments for him with the stick early in the season, like his pivotal double in Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals that led to the Braves’ first run, but that’s more of an anomaly. If he does end up starting in Atlanta the rest of the way, he’s essentially going to be an automatic out at the back of the lineup.
But that’s alright, as long as Nick Allen keeps playing elite defense. His fielding run value currently ranks in the 95th percentile, and he’s already recorded 4 Outs Above Average, ranking in the 98th percentile. At a position like shortstop, defense often takes precedence over offense.
Which is why the Braves have been perfectly okay trotting out Orlando Arcia as the starter since Dansby Swanson left following the 2022 season. Arcia, for all of his offensive warts, was above average defensively, but that’s no longer the case. His fielding run value currently ranks in the 24th percentile, and his -2 Outs Above Average has him in the 17th percentile.
So, not only is Orlando Arcia an offensive zero, but he’s also been terrible defensively on top of being an abysmal baserunner. Nick Allen is elite in both of those areas, which is why the Braves are turning to him more often, a trend that should only be emphasized moving forward.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
The post Why the Braves are benching Orlando Arcia appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.
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