I know that this probably will just turn into a back-and-forth discussion between @coolwaterunc and me, but I really do think there's good reason for the rest of y'all (@UNC71-00 and others) to buy in this year.
Coppy is continuing to make amazing moves and the Braves are right on the cusp of being a team that can compete for a wild card spot -- not win a spot, just be in the running for it -- this season, or definitely next.
The Brandon Phillips trade was purely Coppy being Coppy. We get BP for $1 million lol....yes please. It not only covers for Sean Rodriguez while he's out, it also gives Ozzie Albies the freedom to spend all year, or most of the year, in AAA Gwinnett while he recovers from injuries and continues to hone his craft.
I'm still worried about overall team speed, but the Top 6 of our lineup, with the addition of Phillips, is pretty dang solid for a team not competing for a World Series:
1. CF Inciarte
2. SS Swanson
3. 1B Freeman
4. LF Kemp
5. RF Markakis
6. 2B Phillips
Good mix of power and contact. Overall, starting pitcher is still the major question mark of this team. Lots of young, highly-touted prospects in the system, but some of them actually need to live up to their potential. It'll be fun watching Colon and Dickey (if he has anything left) pitch this season.
Oh, and SUNTRUST PARK babay!!! It looks damn good. I can see it from my apartment.
Coppy is continuing to make amazing moves and the Braves are right on the cusp of being a team that can compete for a wild card spot -- not win a spot, just be in the running for it -- this season, or definitely next.
The Brandon Phillips trade was purely Coppy being Coppy. We get BP for $1 million lol....yes please. It not only covers for Sean Rodriguez while he's out, it also gives Ozzie Albies the freedom to spend all year, or most of the year, in AAA Gwinnett while he recovers from injuries and continues to hone his craft.
I'm still worried about overall team speed, but the Top 6 of our lineup, with the addition of Phillips, is pretty dang solid for a team not competing for a World Series:
1. CF Inciarte
2. SS Swanson
3. 1B Freeman
4. LF Kemp
5. RF Markakis
6. 2B Phillips
Good mix of power and contact. Overall, starting pitcher is still the major question mark of this team. Lots of young, highly-touted prospects in the system, but some of them actually need to live up to their potential. It'll be fun watching Colon and Dickey (if he has anything left) pitch this season.
Oh, and SUNTRUST PARK babay!!! It looks damn good. I can see it from my apartment.