GDT #12, 4/13/'14: Braves (Harang) vs Nats (Gio); No Gattis, CJ, or Uggla

[Heyward]

Good point, though I don't care for Passan usually. Thanks for pointing it out, I just RT'd it.

Simmons is also hitting .306 so far this year to go along with his great defense, etc. Of course he hit a long three run homer vs the Nats today.

He came close early in the game, but it hit off the top of the wall.

[CyYoung31]

Freeman told Chipper: "They have nothing to get me out with."

[Braves1976]

Well, perhaps, but we have no way of knowing that. And if he wanted two years, the dollars are pretty much irrelevant.

While we usually agree, I think you overstate your case a bit here. MLB is a business and we reportedly have budget issues (more for next year than this year apparently). And regardless, the dollars are never pretty much irrelevant IMO. Further, we did offer Huddy two years towards the end but by then it seemed he'd already moved on. Bottom line IMO, this just shows it depends on how highly one values Huddy vs the alternatives, etc. I certainly value what he brings more than most on this forum (and more than Wren did with Huddy coming off injury apparently). But that was true before Huddy left too so I don't expect that to change now.

That said, I am not saying you don't love Huddy nor that you are among those that really underrated him on this forum, etc. I had others in mind with that statement.

PS: I'll also note that Huddy has pitched into the 8th inning every start so far. Given the way Fredi uses his bullpen having someone you can count on to pitch into the 8th regularly means a lot to your bullpen later in the year.

[Julio3000]

While we usually agree, I think you overstate your case a bit here. MLB is a business and we reportedly have budget issues (more for next year than this year apparently). And regardless, the dollars are never pretty much irrelevant IMO. Further, we did offer Huddy two years towards the end but by then it seemed he'd already moved on. Bottom line IMO, this just shows it depends on how highly one values Huddy vs the alternatives, etc. I certainly value what he brings more than most on this forum (and more than Wren did with Huddy coming off injury apparently). But that was true before Huddy left too so I don't expect that to change now.

That said, I am not saying you don't love Huddy nor that you are among those that really underrated him on this forum, etc. I had others in mind with that statement.

PS: I'll also note that Huddy has pitched into the 8th inning every start so far. Given the way Fredi uses his bullpen having someone you can count on to pitch into the 8th regularly means a lot to your bullpen later in the year.

I'll defer to your superior recall, then. :-)

And, yes, the innings he's clocking would mean a lot to us this year, the bullpen being what it is. I expect that we'll make some moves, though.

[Julio3000]

Freeman told Chipper: "They have nothing to get me out with."

Can't say I disagree.

[rico43]

Ban?

Glasses.

[Braves1976]

I'll defer to your superior recall, then. :-)

I wouldn't say that, my memory isn't so good anymore. I am getting old. Maybe that's why I defend old timers so much, lol.

Seriously, we are not going to agree on everything. If we did it wouldn't be interesting. I'm happy that you and I usually agree, at least that's my opinion. :)

[Braves1976]

Can't say I disagree.

No kidding, Freeman is hitting great so far.

[Braves1976]

He came close early in the game, but it hit off the top of the wall.

Right, Simmons has more pop than most expected given what he showed in the minors.

[Braves1976]

And, yes, the innings he's clocking would mean a lot to us this year, the bullpen being what it is. I expect that we'll make some moves, though.

Agreed.

[nsacpi]

Freeman told Chipper: "They have nothing to get me out with."

Speaking of those two, anyone care to guess how their age 23 and so far age 24 seasons stack up in terms of hitting?

[Julio3000]

Speaking of those two, anyone care to guess how their age 23 and so far age 24 seasons stack up in terms of hitting?

Right now, Freddie looks a lot like Chipper did when he was locked in—in total command of the zone, adjusting to offspeed and breaking stuff, picking the one he wants and driving it.

[thethe]

Right now, Freddie looks a lot like Chipper did when he was locked in—in total command of the zone, adjusting to offspeed and breaking stuff, picking the one he wants and driving it.

The one thing I noticed so far this year is that Freemans zone contact percentage is at an incredible 89.3%(Pitchfx). He is also becomign more selective as well. So like you said Julio, he is picking the one he wants...recognizing it quickly out of the pitchers hand and absolutely destroying it. 39% of his contact are line drives so far this year.

You really just could not start the year any better than Freeman has. Well, I guess Utley has....

[VirginiaBrave]

The problem is, the Hudson decision was before Medlen and Beachy went down, plus we didn't know we had a huge budget, so it's hard to call it a mistake that we didn't give Hudson a raise and pay him for 2 years.

I get it, I just think since we suddenly found money for Santana, that some of it should had gone to Huddy. Lloyd should have never been signed and Beachy should have never been counted on for anything.

[VirginiaBrave]

When comes to Freeman, I haven't seen a Brave locked in like this since '99. He and Justin are reminiscent of Chipper and the Crime Dog in '96-97.

[Gary82]

When comes to Freeman, I haven't seen a Brave locked in like this since '99. He and Justin are reminiscent of Chipper and the Crime Dog in '96-97.

I was thinking Chipper and Sheff, but I like that comparison, too.

[VirginiaBrave]

Could've went Chipper/Big Cat as well

[zitothebrave]

I was thinking Chipper and Sheff, but I like that comparison, too.

I was thinking more Chipper and Druw circa 05. And Jason is like Marcus Giles.

[yeezus]

Right, Simmons has more pop than most expected given what he showed in the minors.

He has definitely shown pop but I actually consider it an overall weakness. He looks like he swings hard a lot. I could be wrong. But it looks like he is, and that's why he's had power. I think he could hit more line drives all over the field if he just hit instead of trying to hit it out.

[AerchAngel]

He has definitely shown pop but I actually consider it an overall weakness. He looks like he swings hard a lot. I could be wrong. But it looks like he is, and that's why he's had power. I think he could hit more line drives all over the field if he just hit instead of trying to hit it out.

True, unless he starts k'ing a lot I am not going to worry about it. The drives will come, need Chipper to talk to him about swing plane of his swing. It seems to loop and he rarely misses which is scary. He could hit 20 homers with 50 doubles if he can get it through the zone evenly.