Braves sign Ryan Howard

[Julio3000]

he's not even good at hitting anymore...

Braves seem determined to put together a team in 2017 that would have been awesome in 2005.

I don't know if 2005 Dansby Swanson could get around on Syndegaard.

I'll bet he had the same haircut, though.

[Freshmaker]

I'm all for this, mainly because it means we no longer have to face him. Not a bad addition to the bench/DH imo. Good jerb Coppy

[Braves1976]

I guess I could buy 1 start every two weeks, primary PH'er, designated DH for interleague games. I guess.

Freeman hates days off so where is he going to start to stay fresh? And Nick Franklin would have made a lot more sense given his splits last year. Plus he can play multiple positions and actually hit. Howard has more homerun power but he can only hit righties now and despite the homers his overall numbers still stink. I'd think he'd be even worse starting less here unless we added the DH and I didn't know it. :)

Freeman started 158 games last year while Howard had a .602 OPS pinch hitting while starting a lot more in Philly than he could here. Plus he had zero homers pinch hitting and only two as DH while posting a .513 DH. Howard's success last year was only in starts vs righties at first base and I don't see how that is possible here minus sitting Freeman a lot more of Freeman being injured.

To sum it up, I don't see Howard providing anything minus possibly the small number of DH games and even then only if a righty is on the mound. But after that he'll need to go back down to stay fresh unless Freeman gets hurt because you don't want to sit Freeman for him.

[Coach_Chris]

Ehhhh..... I would still rather have Julio Franco.

[Knucksie]

I'm all for this, mainly because it means we no longer have to face him. Not a bad addition to the bench/DH imo. Good jerb Coppy

Yup, if he shows something in AAA, then he gets called up. Somebody who could end a late or extra inning tie game with one swing.

[Hawk]

Ehhhh..... I would still rather have Julio Franco.

If only to hear Twila Paris again.