2016 Atlanta Braves thread
- Thread starter TarHeelNation11
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It depends on where you live in the state. D.C. and Baltimore are closer for a lot of us. I followed/follow the Braves because of the Super Station.
Also, @coolwaterunc , if you are allowed to listen to the radio at your work desk, I'd strongly consider streaming 680 The Fan (http://www.680thefan.com/) tomorrow. Chipper Jones will be a guest co-host on the "Front Row," a show that goes from 9:30 - noon on Fridays, and at some point, Fredi will be a guest on the show.
Do they keep a podcast archived? I avoid listening to anything while I'm work because it's way too distracting...not that this message board isn't or anything.
Sometimes. I don't really check to see. They do have a new website though so maybe they are starting to archive stuff. I know they archived that John Hart interview the other day I posted a link to.
Erick Aybar was scratched from the lineup because he had a chicken bone removed from his throat. You can't make this up.
Like I said before, when he's on, he's really good, when he's not, he's one of the worst in baseball. The dude MUST find a way to keep his team in the game when he doesn't have his best stuff. Otherwise, he's bullpen bound. I haven't lost faith in him yet, but he has to figure that out.
It's starting to scare me how FAR away the Braves are from being competitive. Don't get me wrong, I'm still on board with the overall plan and I've liked the majority of the moves, but I'm starting to get concerned. We have no power hitters in the entire organization. Zero. That's terrifying.
And so you look at the pitching because that's the strength we've been playing to.....but is it really a strength. Everyone thinks the starting rotation is starting to come together, but is it really? Folty is a complete question mark. Who knows if he will pan out. Personally I think no. He may, but it's an unknown. Wisler has shown to be really good so far, but that's also not guaranteed to last. He could just be on a hot start. Let's assume he pans out though for argument's sake. That's two of the five spots settled: Teheran and Wisler.
And that's making the unlikely assumption that Teheran isn't traded. So you have maybe two starters figured out, no power hitters at all, no 3B answer and no longterm catcher. And all of that is assuming Mallex, Swanson, and Albies all pan out. AND Freeman is going to be a $20m 1B soon if you keep him.
Are we in trouble? Sure seems like it.
Oh I'm definitely worried, and I think the FO is starting to believe this isn't as easy as they thought it was going to be. I'm concerned about the pitching, but we still have some good ones down there, with Kolby Allard being the crowned jewel. I really don't believe a lot of the prospects are going to be the key to our future, at least not directly. I'm really interested to see what goes down during the next two offseasons. I'm eager to see if we go out and get some pieces or continue to tear down the team. We're going to have a better idea about where this franchise is after winter.
I've been thinking recently...is it really a good idea to trade Teheran? Are we undervaluing him too soon? The guy is quietly putting together a really good season. His ERA is at 2.73, and that's damn good. He's only what, 25? Can he actually get better? Has he really peaked already? I think we forget that just because he's been here a few years, he's still young. I mean, the dude isn't going to blow you away, but he just guts it out every single time. If Folty has what Teheran has in his chest, he'd be a bonified ace. Are we giving up on Teheran too soon?
Chase d'Arnaud...I like this dude. Not as an everyday player of course, but he looks like a solid bench option.
I hope the Braves get good soon because I want to see Arodys Vizcaino get more chances. That dude is straight nasty.
Yup they're going to be pushing hard for a starter. And they have the prospects to make it happen. If it's Teheran, I'm fine giving up any prospects other than Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi. Teheran is solid, but I'm only giving up Moncada or Benintendi if it's bringing back Chris Sale or Jose Fernandez.
I'm aware of that, and I think they'll get Viz, or at least someone will. I can't see them trading Teheran now. We're loaded with pitching prospects, but you need someone to build the staff around. Teheran has proven he can be the guy.
not giving up Anderson Espinoza either or should I say don't want to..
The Red Sox will have to give up Benintendi to get Teheran. Braves GM John Copollellacan'tspellhislastnamelella won't do it unless we get Benintendi. Braves need bats desperately.
Here's a question.....Adonis Garcia, could he become an everyday player for the next couple years? Either at 3B or LF?
I asked myself this same thing the other day, and I have no idea. Adonis is starting to grow on me though. His defense at third has really improved, and I like him over there. I can't figure out if he'll latch on in Atlanta or not, but who knows? If he keeps improving, it could be him that turns into the Cuban sensation that Hector Olivera was supposed to be. The dude knows how to hit, but I'd like to see more patience from him. He could be a .260 AVG, 20 HR guy, and I'd happily take that.
Did you see the Talking Chop interview with Coppy? I love that dude's honesty. He admitted straight-up that the Olivera deal was one he got wrong and wishes he could have back. He didn't avoid any of the tough questions.
I can't find the article but they discussed it on the radio this morning.
ETA: Here it is: LINK
I did hear about it, and I loved it. I think this dude is the right guy to pull us through this rebuild and set us up for a better future than what we had before. You know, maybe actually win a playoff series rather than just making the postseason and then promptly forgetting how to play baseball. I love how straight-forward he is and how he isn't scared of anything. I've agreed with everything he's done so far except for one move, and that's the one he said sucked. I trust what he's doing a lot more than I ever trusted Frank Wren.
I know you were much later than me coming around to accept that Simmons needed to be traded, but I'm so glad Coppy has the guts to make moves like that. You know that I wanted Simmons gone a long, long time ago but I never actually thought the Braves would have the balls to do it. That trade told me Coppy meant business.
Yeah, I definitely disagreed with the Simmons trade initially, but after we made the Shelby Miller trade to get Swanson and everyone else, then it made perfect sense. We traded Simmons, who I still think a one-of-a-kind talent, and we ended up with someone who I think will ultimately be a much better fit in Swanson. It was brilliant.
I don't wanna get into the Simmons debate again, but I still think his awful bat will never ever offset his amazing defense. He's Hall of Fame-caliber in the field but he's utility player/non starter-caliber at the plate.
Folty goes tonight after coming back from injury.
This dude better show me something soon because as I've said repeatedly, I have no faith in this guy. He's a one-trick pony IMO. He throws fast but can't miss bats. He's bullpen or bust for me.
This dude better show me something soon because as I've said repeatedly, I have no faith in this guy. He's a one-trick pony IMO. He throws fast but can't miss bats. He's bullpen or bust for me.
At least the pitchers you're complaining about make half a million dollars a year. We have one making 31 million per year that can't get out of his own way right now...
Dude was shredding guys before he went down. I have a lot more faith in him now that I did before. He's got a nasty breaking ball when he's on, so not sure where the one trick pony part came from.
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt tonight. He's really supposed to be in Gwinnett.
No he isn't. He's supposed to be here. Yeah he got hurt but it happens.
The one-trick pony comes from his inability to consistently work that breaking ball. All he's got is a heater that for whatever reason doesn't fool big leaguers.
We'll agree to disagree. I'm sure skipping a rehab assignment has to have some sort of impact.
His breaking ball still needs a little seasoning, so I wont argue too much. All I know is when he's on, he's nasty. I think the difference between us is you're ready to declare him Kyle Farnsworth during the middle of his first full year in rotation and I'm more willing to be patient. He got off to a rough start, but overall, I like what I've seen in him so far.
I really like Jace Peterson, and I hope he sticks with this team long term. He's the type of player I want on my roster. Hard nosed gritty player with a lot of fight in him.
Here's abother observation I'm gonna throw out there in regards to Folty. I like him a lot better when he's throwing 94-96 with an occasional 97 than I do 97-99 all the time. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but during that good stretch he was on before he got hurt, he was throwing a consistent 94-96 with a little more movement and much better location, which makes his breaking ball much more dangerous. When he tries to throw max velocity all the time, his fastball strsightens out and he dosent know where it's going. That's the main thing I think he needs to figure out. He doesn't need to throw 100 to be good. Throwing 94-96 with good location is MUCH better than a straight 99 down the middle. Once he realizes this, then I think we'll start to see him take off.
