GDT : Braves @ Yankees

[Enscheff]

Can Santana back up center a month till acuna is up? Lane looking like he may not make it

Definitely. I think Tucker is set for LF, and the battle is between Santana and Lane for backup CF.

When Acuna comes up the OF shuffles accordingly, and it doesn't really matter who joins Inciarte and Acuna in the OF for the rest of 2018 because the real LFer will be acquired next off season.

[jpx7]

I don't care about the rules and how it impacts my team. It's bush league and I don't support it.

It is bush-league—it’s terrible labor policy, moreover. And I support rule-changes to eliminate this kind of service-clock manipulation. But while these cost/benefit factors are still inscribed in the rules, it’s foolish to the point of heinousness for a smaller-market team like the Braves to ignore them—especially in a season that isn’t all too likely to be competitive, even with an extra month of Acuña.

[50PoundHead]

Truly, they are both no Mike Hessman.

There is only one Mike Hessman and there are no comparisons.

[jpx7]

There is only one Mike Hessman and there are no comparisons.

Sic transit hessmania mundi.

[thethe]

One hot summer and a good spring training doesn't really scream that someone is ready either, if you want a baseball reason.

He has had very few AAA at bats. Keeping him down wouldn't be the worst thing from a baseball perspective. Just like having Soroka spend a year in AAA with less stress and more controlled innings would not be the worst thing.

I'm for giving the kids the ball when they show they are ready. Afterwards let the chips fall where they may. Braves could be a dark horse wc te this year.

[thethe]

It is bush-league—it’s terrible labor policy, moreover. And I support rule-changes to eliminate this kind of service-clock manipulation. But while these cost/benefit factors are still inscribed in the rules, it’s foolish to the point of heinousness for a smaller-market team like the Braves to ignore them—especially in a season that isn’t all too likely to be competitive, even with an extra month of Acuña.

I think it fosters a relationship of mistrust between player and team which is a factor down the road.

[Enscheff]

I'm for giving the kids the ball when they show they are ready. Afterwards let the chips fall where they may. Braves could be a dark horse wc te this year.

Luckily for Braves fans, that outdated thought process has been completely purged from the organization.

[nsacpi]

I'm for giving the kids the ball when they show they are ready. Afterwards let the chips fall where they may. Braves could be a dark horse wc te this year.

i do not approve

[Julio3000]

I think the reasoning is going to be that Jr. needs a few weeks in the minors to learn to wear his cap "correctly."

[nsacpi]

I think the reasoning is going to be that Jr. needs a few weeks in the minors to learn to wear his cap "correctly."

Yes. And he needs to work on his socks too. When he has that ironed out we can call him up.

[JohnAdcox]

According to you, every Braves prospect is on his way to becoming a top 50 guy.

Don't worry, I won't go find another half a dozen quotes from you to show how silly you are. Everyone already knows.

Don't laugh. By the end of the spring, we'll have 60, maybe 70, 75 guys in the top 50.

[Skeeter31]

I think it fosters a relationship of mistrust between player and team which is a factor down the road.

But from the Braves perspective they need to think of the future. If most of the kids pan out, they’re all going to be ready for FA around the same time or within 2-3 years of each other. To lose that extra year of free control of Acura for 2018 is useless. Even if this team were a dark horse WC contender, which they’re not, it wouldn’t be worth giving up a year of his control. The Braves will not be able to afford to resign Acura if he turns out to be what he’s predicted to be. If he’s going to be as good as Trout or Harper, there is no shot that the Braves will have the funds to sign him once he hits the FA market. So we might as well keep as many years of control as we can. Plus the Braves will have Albies, Gohara, Soroka, Wright, etc all becoming FA around the same time as well.

[thewupk]

I think it fosters a relationship of mistrust between player and team which is a factor down the road.

It's not. If a player wants to test FA he will test FA. If a player wants to sign for security they will sign for security.

[msstate7]

Has any player been extended before their first mlb game?

[Southcack77]

It's not. If a player wants to test FA he will test FA. If a player wants to sign for security they will sign for security.

Helped not one iota with Heyward, thankfully.

[Enscheff]

Has any player been extended before their first mlb game?

Only once: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/astr...jon-singleton/

[Runnin]

I think it fosters a relationship of mistrust between player and team which is a factor down the road.

Players expect the front office to do what's best for "the team".

[striker42]

Only once: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/astr...jon-singleton/

That worked out well

[thewupk]

Helped not one iota with Heyward, thankfully.

And Francoeur. Braves have gotten a little lucky in that dept.

[thewupk]

That worked out well

It's an interesting concept. Would you offer Acuna a 7 year guaranteed deal right now? That would give the Braves the same amount of control and he could start the year in Atlanta instead of Gwinnett. Tack on a couple of option years to potentially buy out some FA years.