Is all this Braves' rebuilding really necessary?

[zbhargrove]

We can expect Simmons to be league average SS (bit of optimism, but fair). CB will not be a league average offensive catcher.

So a young Heyward can still reach his ceiling but a young Simmons and CB can't... Got it

[gilesfan]

Hopefully becoming a 310-320 OBP guy. Even with that being awful thats a huge help from being out 75% of the time.

With those modest improvements (as GF said with Simmons) I think the Braves will need to bring 1-2 above average offensive guys (I'd look for low strikeout high OBP guys). I think Peraza is an absolute major leaguer and I think we will get one more out of the current grouping of players. I like Petersons statistical profile but dont know enough about him to consider him a sure thing.

Braves will have to fill CF/LF/2B/3B. The kid we got from Houston is a very highly regarded prospect to the point I think we could say there is a 50% chance he makes it. So you are looking at CF/LF/2B. I think those can be filled by 2017 considering Peraza is most likely the future at 2B.

Again, with the pitching that is being assembled we don't need a powerful offense. We need an offense that can work a pitcher and not flail away.

CB aint putting that type of OBP up.

So we have:

C- Below average
1B- League average, hopefully slightly better
2B- Hopefully league average bc will be 1-2nd year
SS- League Average
3B- Hopefully league average bc will be 1-2nd year
LF- ?
CF-?
RF- Probably below league average.

[gilesfan]

So a young Heyward can still reach his ceiling but a young Simmons and CB can't... Got it

Im not sure what I've said about Heyward, but he has not reached his offensive ceiling.

What are Simmons and CB's ceilings?

[zbhargrove]

Right... so 5 years we might be really good again. If these injured pitchers pan out

Quit being so melodramatic about the pitchers... Only one is still recovering and that's Fried. And he should still begin working somewhat next year. None of the others are still injured and tons of teams go after pitchers that have already had TJ surgery. All the pitchers have an extremely high upside. They all won't achieve it but hey are all very good prospects and are not "all injured"

[zbhargrove]

Im not sure what I've said about Heyward, but he has not reached his offensive ceiling.

What are Simmons and CB's ceilings?

Simmons has shown flashes of being a good hitter... CB not so much but his athletic ability and frame suggest he's still plenty young to grow and improve. It's not too much of a stretch to think a new hitting coach could improve their offensive game.

[The Chosen One]

CB's bat speed is awful. Looks slower than Andy Marte's when he came up.

[gilesfan]

Simmons has shown flashes of being a good hitter... CB not so much but his athletic ability and frame suggest he's still plenty young to grow and improve. It's not too much of a stretch to think a new hitting coach could improve their offensive game.

No one said they wouldn't improve. But, expecting them to be good hitters is a stretch.

[thethe]

No one said they wouldn't improve. But, expecting them to be good hitters is a stretch.

I'm certainly not expecting that. I just believe that if you can put together a lineup that doesn't have auto outs in it (Upton/Uggla) that you can succeed without big time hitter. I hope that CB can at least become slightly below average.

[gilesfan]

I'm certainly not expecting that. I just believe that if you can put together a lineup that doesn't have auto outs in it (Upton/Uggla) that you can succeed without big time hitter. I hope that CB can at least become slightly below average.

I don't think you can put together a competitive (consistently) team with no above average hitters (relative to position). Right now we are hoping that B to B+ prospects and future FA signings provide above average production for their position.

[Heyward]

We had to rebuild, the roster as was, was NOT getting it done, plain and simple.

Hart and co have done a great job rebuilding the farm system for future trade assets down the line something we didnt have before.

[skillet]

Damn this is a depressing thread. The vast majority seem to think Hart and company are clueless, that we have severely f'd up and are screwed for the foreseeable future. I don't happen to share those views. We still have a lot of very good, young, team controlled guys on this team, and now have a very good farm system that will only keep getting better.

The sky is not falling. Hart, JS, Coppy didn't get to where they are by being idiots like many on here think.

[BedellBrave]

Damn this is a depressing thread. The vast majority seem to think Hart and company are clueless, that we have severely f'd up and are screwed for the foreseeable future. I don't happen to share those views. We still have a lot of very good, young, team controlled guys on this team, and now have a very good farm system that will only keep getting better.

The sky is not falling. Hart, JS, Coppy didn't get to where they are by being idiots like many on here think.

It is one royal whinefest.

[thethe]

It is one royal whinefest.

They traded Heyward. What an inexcusable offense!!!!!! You would have thought Heyward was a multiple time MVP with the reaction to his trade.

[jpx7]

It is one royal whinefest.

And we can always count on a nice cadre of posters to whine about the whiners.

[NinersSBChamps]

I hate baseball. I hate football.

[thewupk]

I hate baseball. I hate football.

At least we can be negative together this year!

[BedellBrave]

And we can always count on a nice cadre of posters to whine about the whiners.

Glad to be of value. :)

[jpx7]

Glad to be of value. :)

I think we all might set some single-season WhinesAboveReplacement™ records this year.

[gilesfan]

It is one royal whinefest.

People don't seem to like having to watch a 70 win team over the next couple years

[Heyward]

People don't seem to like having to watch a 70 win team over the next couple years

This year, probably, 2016 i think we can contend for a WC spot.