I don't like the Braves either.

As for Tex vs. Kotch...yes, right now, Kotchman is not an offensive powerhouse like Tex. Is he garbage? No.

Kotchman was one of the jewels of the Angels minor league system on his way up 3 years ago. I first read his name in an article on fantasy keeper leagues back in 2005. The guy projects to be a solid defensive 1B, with potential for .320/30 HR/110 RBI when he gets full seasons and good experience under his belt. Not bad for a position in the lineup where you need production on offense. It's not superstar #'s really, but if he can do that for 10 years in his career, he's made someone a pretty good consistent offensive force. He was the #13 overall choice by the Angels in the 2001 draft, straight out of HS. He's not terrible, he just has less experience and seasoning than Teixeira.

This year's the first season he's had a chance to start full-time at 1B (see where I said he played in 137 games last year but platooned/pinch hit a lot of those games). In Tex's situation coming up thru the ranks--in 2001, he was drafted out of Georgia Tech 5th overall by the Rangers (after his Jr. year--he was voted Nat'l College Player of the Year). He rocketed thru their system as a power bat, and only spent 1 year in the minors. He was a blue-chipper that played at a position of need for Texas...so they moved him up through the system quicker than what the Angels did Kotchman. The only season that he's had less than 500 AB's in a season was last year when he went from Texas to Atlanta.

By comparison, due to health complications (mononucleosis mainly), Kotchman had 443 AB's in platoon time in 2007, most in his career. He's on pace this year to get approx. 600 AB's. If you look at those extra AB's and the fact that he'll hit lower in the lineup, it's no stretch to say he could make it to 20-25 HR's this season, and only improve upon those power numbers hitting 3rd/4th/5th in that Atlanta lineup when everyone's healthy.

Also note that in 2006, the Angels moved Darin Erstad back to CF from 1B to make room for Kotchman before he got a bad case of mononucleosis and had to step away to get healthy again--only got 29 AB's before getting sick. Darin Erstad's been an all-star--he's not chopped liver. The fact that they moved a guy like Erstad to make room to get Kotchman in the lineup tells you what the Angels thought about him.

Kotchman may not ever hit 43 HR's in a season. But if he hits more than 43 the whole time he's in Atlanta, that's more than what they most certainly would have gotten out of Teixeira this season, since he would have walked out via free agency after this 2nd half anyways...and that makes the trade worthwhile, and a good one, for Atlanta. Both of them are what they are...Kotchman's a consistency guy across the board (when healthy), and Tex is a power guy. Both play solid defense. They're comparable because they play the same position...but they are different.

I've said enough...I've enjoyed the conversation man.