The Countdown...

[clvclv]

37 days until Pitchers and Catchers report.

[Tapate50]

Dang!

[AUTiger7222]

First spring training game is February 26th against the Tigers.

[zitothebrave]

I think the arb numbers are more interesting. We still have (correct me if I'm wrong) Medlen, Johnson, Heyward, Kimbrel, and Freeman are not signed yet. Not to mention Pena and Schafer.

Have to wonder if we're considering extensions.

[Braves1976]

I think the arb numbers are more interesting. We still have (correct me if I'm wrong) Medlen, Johnson, Heyward, Kimbrel, and Freeman are not signed yet. Not to mention Pena and Schafer.

Have to wonder if we're considering extensions.

JFYI, Pena has already been signed. It was announced back when they announced re-signing Venters.

[clvclv]

34 days.

[nsacpi]

First spring training game is February 26th against the Tigers.

WS preview

[bravesnumberone]

Time sure has been flying by with this busy offseason!

[nsacpi]

Time sure has been flying by with this busy offseason!

I've occupied myself by coming up with a precise formula that tells you how big a budget you need to be a contending team as a function of how much homegrown cost-controlled talent you develop.

It goes like this:

B = 245 - 27*CC

B is budget in millions

CC = cost-controlled players contributions in WAR per class. There are six cost-controlled classes defined by service time from rookies to the ones in their last year before free agency.

The formula assumes non-cost controlled players cost 6M/win and that on average arbitration eligible players get paid half of their free agent market value.

A contending team is defined as one with an expected WAR of about 40.

Obviously, the better you are at developing cost-controlled talent the less budget you need to contend.

[CyYoung31]

Upsetting performance in the playoffs. What is our response? Lose McCann and Hudson. Boy, I can't wait for April!

We're still going to be amazing. There's that.

[Gary82]

We're still going to be amazing. There's that.

We're still a solid team. A good team. What does that mean in the end? Probably another first round exit.

[clvclv]

[CyYoung31]

I don't expect Uggla on the roster the whole season, so that's an improvement.

Losing McCann will definitely negatively impact the team. Hudson not so much.

[cajunrevenge]

If there is one thing I have come to learn over the past few years its every year is heartbreaking unless you win it all or are so bad that you were never really in contention so it doesnt hurt to lose. The heart breaking losses to end the year might suck but its still far better than having them out of contention by the all star break.

[Gary82]

If there is one thing I have come to learn over the past few years its every year is heartbreaking unless you win it all or are so bad that you were never really in contention so it doesnt hurt to lose. The heart breaking losses to end the year might suck but its still far better than having them out of contention by the all star break.

You're right, but I'm so sick of the first round exits that I'm just not too excited for the upcoming season. That'll probably change when April gets a bit closer, though.

[Gary82]

Losing McCann will definitely negatively impact the team. Hudson not so much.

I'm still not sold on Gattis as starting catcher for the whole season.

[AUTiger7222]

Losing McCann will definitely negatively impact the team. Hudson not so much.

I disagree. McCann missed all of April, did absolutely nothing in the 2nd half of the season and didn't get a single hit in the playoffs. I don't expect a drop off on the pitching side because Evan Gattis received rave reviews from the coaches and pitchers for his game calling abilities and his defense behind the plate was better than expected.

[CyYoung31]

I disagree. McCann missed all of April, did absolutely nothing in the 2nd half of the season and didn't get a single hit in the playoffs. I don't expect a drop off on the pitching side because Evan Gattis received rave reviews from the coaches and pitchers for his game calling abilities and his defense behind the plate was better than expected.

It's better to have McCann than not (ignoring contract quandaries). I'm not saying we'll win less games, but McCann is one of the greats at the position and a leader.

[AUTiger7222]

It's better to have McCann than not (ignoring contract quandaries). I'm not saying we'll win less games, but McCann is one of the greats at the position and a leader.

I don't disagree with McCann being of of the greats of all-time at his position.. But McCann wasn't that guy in 2013. Heck he wasn't even that guy in 2012. The last time McCann was really that guy was in 2011. Over the last 2 seasons combined McCann has hit just .242/.316/.426 (.743). Even last year after missing April he came back strong but then from July 8th until the end of the regular season he hit just .215/.294/.395 (.688) and I have already mentioned the 0-for-13 in the playoffs.

McCann has really had a 2 part career. The part from his first year through 2009 when he put up a great average to go along with the great power numbers. Then there's the McCann from 2010 onward that still hits for great power but struggles to put up the average he once did.

2005-2009 - .293/.356/.497/ (.853)
2010-2013 - .257/.342/.444 (.786)

Yes McCann is a leader but that's one of those unmeasurable qualities that we're not sure how it will effect the team. But Chipper, Ross and Prado were all leaders that the Braves lost after 2012 and they didn't skip a beat. Hudson and McCann are leaders that they have lost after 2013. But the reason I don't think they'll skip a beat again is because they have the experience of playing without those guys and they have the confidence of knowing that they can already win without those guys.

[AUTiger7222]