Let's Meet...Joe Borchard!

Joe Borowski seems to have JoBo to himself, but maybe we can this guy Chard. I like that. Sounds like a speed metal band. Tonight at the Civic Center, CHARD!!!!!

Chard just turned 29 around Thanksgiving this year and has been in professional ball since he was the 12th overall selection of 2000. For funsies, the 15th overall selection was Chase Utley. Adam Wainwright and Scott Thorman were 29th and 30th. The ChiSox gave him $5.3 million in a signing bonus so that Chard would give up football (he was Stanford's QB) and Chard would finish 2000 with 27 games at three different levels and batted .311/.388/.456.

After an .885 OPS the following season at AA, Chard dealt with injuries while playing AAA ball in 2002, but still hit .272/.345/.498 and made his major league debut. Getting into his first game on September 2nd against the Blue Jays, Chard hit a two-run homer in his second at-bat. In 37 trips to the plate, however, he struck out 14 times. This would continue. He slumped to a .695 OPS the following season at AAA and his struggles continued through another cup of coffee at the end of the year.

In 2004, Chard righted the ship and hit .266/.332/.495 before getting his first real shot at the majors. His struggles continued to the tune of .174/.249/.338 over about 200 at-bats. After another season at AAA and a small cup of coffee in 2005, Chard failed to make the ChiSox team out of spring training in '06 and was traded to the Mariners because he was out of options. He lasted about a month in Seattle before the Marlins picked him up off waivers.

And that is where Chard has been for the bulk of the last two seasons. After some promise in 2006 with a .230/.322/.400 year after the Marlins got him, Chard was horrible last year, hitting .196/.287/.313 and getting demoted to AAA.

Ultimately, Chard's biggest problem is contact. His K rate in his three years that he batted the most:

2004: 28%
2006: 29%
2007: 34%

When you are missing so much, you won't last long in the majors. However, this was Chard's biggest problem in the minors too so the upside here is minimal.

Chard could have been compared to Jeff Francoeur at one time. Chard walked more, Francoeur made more contact, but both players were rich in natural talent. Now Chard has an opportunity at the current moment to make the most of his portential. After a minor league deal and a spring training invite, Chard joins a good situation for him. He will have to show he can play center, but the Braves have a huge hole there. If Chard can somehow lesson the K's, made more contact, and play some defense, he may get another chance.

Don't count on it, though.