Apparently only a subset of posters here have reached that level of enlightenment.
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I agree from an asset perspective. A harder longer rebuild would have in my view been the more likely to succeed. Trading a significant long term asset for short term assets to make a run at a wild card would be pretty foolish, but we also don't have a whole lot of evidence to suggest the front office would do it.
the biggest prospect sacrifices made thus far for immediate respectability are Povse and Yepez.
Trading for Kemp was a big sacrifice I think, but beyond that the Braves have not done much to hamper payroll.
The Braves are 11.5 out of the wild card and 9.5 behind the Nats.
If the Braves make up 8 games in the next three weeks you might have something to worry about, but that isn't likely to happen and I still don't think the Braves would part with anything they see as a long term piece of the organization for anything less than something they think would be a better long term piece.
Every indication to me is that the Braves don't think their window has opened yet. Otherwise they wouldn't have built the team the way they did.
I do think its entirely possible that the Braves decide making a run at .500 is preferable to getting back negligible prospects. I personally would not prioritize that, but I have the sense that the organization wants to let the players and the fans feel like they are trying to help them. But overpay for a playoff run this year? No, I don't see that happening. But I could see them trading for some piece that might help this year and for years in the future.
First pitch at 9 EST.
Career 6.1 K/9 for Maddux, but in his best years he was around 7 K/9—which happens to be exactly what [MENTION=1828]bravesfanMatt[/MENTION] noted "would do wonders" for Newcomb. Meanwhile, if "these things [...] depend" on Newcomb being a generational, all-time talent ... well I won't hold my breath.
Is it okay to wait for at least 5 starts before I judge Newcomb, or is that too weak?