Who is your pick to have a breakout or career year that we need to be competitive this year. I’m going with Swanson. If everyone else plays to their potential and Swanson breaks out, we’ll have a good year.
Who is your pick to have a breakout or career year that we need to be competitive this year. I’m going with Swanson. If everyone else plays to their potential and Swanson breaks out, we’ll have a good year.
DirkPiggler (02-26-2019)
Albies needs to have an all-around consistent year. Kind of cooled off after the hot start last year.
Forever Fredi
JohnAdcox (02-27-2019)
Kimbrell needs to break the all time save record....
I’m gonna say Donaldson. We paid him a lot for this year and if he has a year he’s capable of then we will he buyers at the deadline.
If we assume that everyone on offense will somewhat match their numbers from last year and Donaldon's healthy, I think one of the pitchers breaking out would really help. It'd be amazing if someone like Touki could come up and give us an all star caliber breakout year to fortify the rotation.
Donaldson. He does what is expected we can live with Nick not quite matching last year and Mac being a downgrade from Zuk. If not we are about to be one hit wonders.
Newk
i say Donaldson too. I think if he's good and healthy the Braves will be right in it.
UNCBlue012 (02-27-2019)
I’ll go with Dansby. If he picks up his offense like he did his defense last year...could be a huge boost to the team.
Sobotka
IF he has a great year then he likely is closer which answers that problem for a while.
You could also say Minter but I don't think they trust his health.
Markakis had his great year last year (half year anyway)
Acuna, Freeman, Donaldson you expect to be great or 2019 is likely a wasted year anyway.
Any of the SP will do but they are each 1/5 of the whole.
cajunrevenge (03-03-2019)
Ender. I trust most of the other players to be who they are. If they are, and Ender can have a monster year...
I'd say one of the young pitchers (Soroka if his shoulder is ok, Gohara, Fried or Touki), and need an MVP year from Donaldson, would also be nice if Ozzie had a complete year and not just a couple good months.
Swanson. The kid had his flaws coming up, but he's underachieved pretty heavily given all the hype. We need to see more from him on offense.
Offensively I would agree with you. However with plus base running and defense he has assured himself of not being a complete bust. He was a 65 FV prospect and those players on average have put up 6.9 WAR in their team controlled years with 18.8% busting (less than 1 WAR). Swanson is at 2.4 WAR with 4 years to go so he's certainly not a bust and I would say a safe bet to get to 6.9 WAR unless he completely falls off offensively to the point he's no longer a starter.
You can see why Swanson was graded that high. Players who play up the middle who do everything well will rack up WAR rather fast. You saw that with Albies last year who was just average offensively on the year.
That said the Braves do have to be feeling pretty good with their current crop of top prospects that have hit the majors. We've had 3 60 FV or better prospects in Swanson, Albies, and Acuna. Looks like we will be getting an average player and two stars out of those talents. Pretty good results for the Braves there.
Sam Freeman is gonna be yuge this year.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
Riley/Pache.
Has there EVER been a statement and question a certain someone should absolutely never have made and asked publicly more than...
Kinda pathetic to see yourself as a message board knight in shining armor. How impotent does someone have to be in real life to resort to playing hero on a message board?