clvclv (09-29-2016)
The slot money difference is the only issue that really is bothersome. We'll likely be picking in the Top 5, so we'll get a player. We just won't have the flexibility to move money around like we did this year. The important thing to remember (and I've said this before), it's professional baseball. You play to win. For those calling for tank mode, we've been sending Bonifacio up there in key situations and that is at least tank-like. Someone forget to tell him to not get hits.
It's just frustrating as hell to have this team in the #1 or #2 draft slot all year long, then right here at the end of the season we get hot and could slip down several slots in the draft.
I am a champion of wanting the #1 pick. But we have trimmed so much fat off our roster from the 1st half that you can't route to loose anymore. To loose would require guys like Blair/Wisler/Folty/JT/BP/Ender/FF/Jace/Swanson/Adonis/Gant/Neck/Flowers all to do just bad enough to loose. and I don't want any of those guys to do poorly. If Collmenter gets blown up.. so be it. if Boni or Rio struggle, fine.. Recker.. who cares.. but we don't have enough of those guys that will help us lose unless our core struggles.
Like I said earlier, I think I would rather see our core guys succeed now and either have something to look forward to or use as trade chips and replace with upgrades over tanking by playing garbage.
The team that is winning right now will be the foundation of next years team....and a couple of years down the road. Look at this team, imagine a couple of solid additions, with continued progress from some guys in the minors. You don't have to squint too hard to see an upward trend here that should continue for the next few years.
clvclv (09-29-2016)
The most promising thing is that the offense is performing really well, and most of the key pieces will be around for several years...Freeman, Swanson, Inciarte, Kemp. Indeed, especially if you add a quality bat or two, the offense suddenly looks like it could be above-average for a while.
That has been the concern because you feel confident the internal pitching has a chance to be really, really good within a couple years.
While I would love the #1 pick, and it's certainly frustrating to have expected at least a top 2 pick and see it slipping away, the rebuild is suddenly starting to take shape right in front of us. It's not that difficult to see a halfway decent team on the field for 2017 and a competing team as soon as 2018.
Like I said in another thread, if the Braves go 3-2 the rest of the way they finish at 49-48 for the season, since June 14th. That's... incredible.
clvclv (09-29-2016)
Might as well pencil us in for the worst position we can get. We have turned into the Cubs.
bravesfanMatt (09-28-2016), Managuarantano's Volunteers (09-28-2016), thewupk (09-28-2016)
Ahhhh the hell with it. I'm done rooting against us. I can live moving down a few spots bc it is fun seeing what next year could be like. This team has a ton of chemistry and is having a blast right now. Maybe the other teams will win with us.
Everybody winning tonight but the Rays.
Yep, with 4 games remaining, all this winning has finally dropped us to the #3 position.
1. Twins
2. Rays
3. Braves
4. D'Backs
5. Reds
6. A's
7. Padres
If we win our last 4, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if we do, we most likely would drop to the 7th position.
No way we sweep Detroit.
That's true, but this team is playing so well right now with so much confidence, I fully expect us to win each and every night. We've won 9 of the last 10 and are hitting on all cylinders. While it sucks to potentially drop in the draft, I have to admit that it is quite exciting to think about our 2017 team. The additions of Kemp and Swanson have made a huge difference.