cajunrevenge (03-27-2019)
When is the deadline, today or tomorrow? And what time? It’s bordering on nonsensical a this point. Everything AA is doing literally makes no sense. From cutting certain players to save money (Freeman), but keeping certain players in the minors and costing us 3 million (Duvall), to not making any sense in the outfield (Joyce) and possibly playing someone who has zero experience there (Camargo), to not signing any pitching help when we have way too many injuries to start the season. AA has made zero sense this offseason. They’ve done the opposite of what they’ve said, and said the opposite of what they’ve done. Sigh.
gcbraves (03-27-2019)
gcbraves (03-27-2019)
I have to agree with this summary of affairs almost 100%. Maybe the plan is so complex we can't possibly understand what's going on.
I will say that there is still time to cut Duvall and save some cash though, so there is a small glimmer of hope that AA rounds out the roster in a logical manner.
The most straightforward solution would have been to grab a RHH 4th OFer like Guyer, and trim away enough fat to afford afford Kimbrel, but AA hasn't exactly spent this off season filling obvious holes with obvious answers. The homer in me is holding out hope that the plan isn't a non-platoon with Matt Joyce in the OF, but I'm running out of ideas.
gcbraves (03-27-2019)
The biggest problem with not grabbing a legit 4th OF is injury. Are we sure we want Joyce, camargo, and Culberson Manning RF for a month if Neck pulls a hammy. I don’t. And I sure don’t want Dufail being called up to fill in. I know 4th OF come with certain flaws, but we don’t even have that.
Coppy
Man...DeGrom's new contract has more than 50 million deferred. Why in the heck would he sign that?
AA is just completely short sighted. I mean if we look at the way AA constructed our team and constructed our off season it's clear to see that that's just his mentality. He paid an aging, oft injured third baseman 23 million and then pretty much closed up shop. He's literally put in the absolute minimum effort across the board. Failed to really do anything after signing Donaldson, failed to upgrade the outfield (hell one could debate he actually made our outfield worse by banking on an aging career year from Muk), failed to do anything with then pen, and failed to do anything when more than half our starters got injured this spring. Does it surprise anyone that he failed to secure a 4th outfielder? Instead he'd rather waste 3 million on a hitter who is so poor he had to be demoted to AAA. He's either blind to talent or he can't swallow his pride about an awful move he made last year. I'd love to be wrong and will admit it if I am, but my g-d he's been absolutely awful at roster constitution/management.
I don't see us cutting Duvall. Optioning him to AAA revealed the plan. They're going to stash him in the minors and give him playing time to "regain his form."
What we're seeing makes perfect sense when you realize that, like many people in high level positions, AA cannot bring himself to admit making a mistake. I'm convinced that AA still 100% believes Duvall is going to return to his 2017 form and show everyone why we traded for him. I think that belief hamstrung us all offseason and kept us from really pursuing an upgrade in the OF.
This is a bad sign for me. GM's will make mistakes. It's when they can't bring themselves to admit their mistakes and understand what sunk cost means that you have problems.
Lineups for both teams released:
Ender
Donaldson
FF
Acuna
Markakis
Albies
McCann
Swanson
Teheran
Phillies...
Andrew McCutchen LF
Jean segura SS
Bryce Harper RF
Rhy Hoskins 1b
JT realmuto C
Odubel Cabrera CF
Cesar Hernandez 2b
Mailel Franco 3b
Aaron Nola P
We gonna have our hands full this 3-game series
The Braves are No. 8 on ESPN’s first power rankings, ahead of the Nats, Phillies, Mets and Marlins.
The bearded closer who's begging us to sign him raises his hand. Lord knows the extra cash laying around can't be used for him bc the Braves would rather put it towards the commercial real estate deals at the battery. Funny thing is by not re-investing it into the team, if we subsequently do worse, we'll draw less fans which will mean less money. Have to spend money to make money. Again, short sighted philosophies.