GDT 4/16; On the Menu: CAJUN FRIED SNAKEMEAT.

[UNCBlue012]

Im finding it hard to blame AA. Sobo looked awesome last year. Biddle is atill really good. Minter should be good.

Winkler is back. Carle should be fine.

Hard to predict what happens with pen arms.

The Braves biggest issue last year was pitching - bullpen AND starters. AA quite obviously leaned on our young arms to further developt. If you have young starters that you know are growing, you absolutely owe it to them to put a good bullpen behind them for support. AA didn't and it could be a legit issue this year. One game doesn't seem like a big deal now, but when we're expecting to be in a two-to-three game dog fight for the division titile with several games, it's huge. This is fully on AA for not making moves when he had the resources.

[Hudson2]

Im finding it hard to blame AA. Sobo looked awesome last year. Biddle is atill really good. Minter should be good.

Winkler is back. Carle should be fine.

Hard to predict what happens with pen arms.

It’s hard NOT to blame AA. Bullpen arms weren’t that expensive this past offseason and we didn’t acquire a single one. Viz and O’Day had injury questions and they was bound to be regression to some of the those guys. He should gotten at least 2 good arms to help the team out.

[Slippyjms]

CK is not the total answer to our BP issues but he’d go a long way towards fixing them. Viz and Minter are not reliable enough to close. Viz can’t go every day and Minter is still working things out. As far as shoring up the pen from there AA could take the same approach as last year.

[Slippyjms]

A bullpen of

CK
Newk
Viz/Minter
Jackson
Biddle
Winkler
6th starter

Starts to look like a pretty viable pen

[Enscheff]

A bullpen of

CK
Newk
Viz/Minter
Jackson
Biddle
Winkler
6th starter

Starts to look like a pretty viable pen

I'm not sure what's going to happen with Kimbrel, but adding Newk and Touki/Wilson to the BP, which is where they most likely fit long term anyways, will go a long ways towards improving that unit.

When the rotation is Folty, Gaus, Soroka, Julio and Fried in the next week or so, and Wright, Tomlin, and Wilson/Touki are still around for SP depth, it will be a good time to transition some of the non-elite young SPs to the BP where they ultimately belong.

If not for the rash of injuries it probably would have happened already. It needs to happen sooner rather than later.

[AerchAngel]

I agree with you Dr. Scheff. Please not making fun of you. I actually like you.

Add Kimbrel, 13/39.

I don't know if it is enough, but that is what he deserves.

He lost some games for Boston in high intense situations. We don't need that right now. I still have come confidence in our pitching coach, but they are still pitching scared. When almost everyone in your bullpen throws 96 to 99 and have some secondary pitch, he is not teaching them right when they walk everyone.

A lot of teams have our hard throwers and don't have this issue. QUIT EFFING WALKING PEOPLE. They in end bite you in the butt as you have learned. CHALLENGE THEM. They hit it out of the park, so be it, just don't walk people in front of them.

[Enscheff]

Fried's FA velocity was down more than 1 mph from his previous 2 starts. Something worth monitoring.

[Buzzworm]

Fried's FA velocity was down more than 1 mph from his previous 2 starts. Something worth monitoring.

No doubt.I noticed it went down significantly after the 1st inning when the trainers were talking to him.
He went from touching 95-96 to 91-92.
Since the Braves let him go back out I’m sure it’s nothing major but definitely something to keep an eye on.

[Acuña’s Bat Flip]

Didn’t someone sign Norris?

[Freshmaker]

Didn’t someone sign Norris?

Player Note Thu, Apr 11
According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the Nationals' agreement with free agent reliever Bud Norris has fallen through.
Advice: Norris agreed to a minor league contract with Washington this past Tuesday, but during the pre-signing physical it became clear that the veteran right-hander was probably still a month away from being fully recovered from the forearm injury he suffered in Blue Jays camp this spring. Norris should be able to latch on with a team -- perhaps the Nats -- once he's in better shape health-wise. The 34-year-old posted a 3.59 ERA and 67/21 K/BB ratio in 57 2/3 innings last season for the Cardinals while earning 28 saves.