Braves dismiss Clark and Bridges

[Deester11]

Braves will not lose the pick. Grievance resolved.

[Heyward]

Braves will not lose the pick. Grievance resolved.

Phew.

[mqt]

I still wonder if the Braves came damn close to losing due to something with Bridges.

[thewupk]

I still wonder if the Braves came damn close to losing due to something with Bridges.

Soon we will hear it was really Bridges that gave that car to Waters.

[Southcack77]

I still wonder if the Braves came damn close to losing due to something with Bridges.

After thinking about it, I just don't see how the decision on what to tender Carter Stewart or the mechanics of it ended up being a Bridges decision.

Once it became clear to the organization that they were not interested in signing Stewart to slot money because of his injury, it had to have become a GM level decision. They had to have put the in-house lawyers and rules people on researching exactly what they had to do to protect themselves.

If that didn't happen, that's more of an indictment on AA than Bridges. But I feel sure that it did happen.

I suspect this firing is more related to general approach to the draft and scouting and possibly simply being organized than it was to any one mistake.

I would think it is more likely the change in course would be related to a failure to implement what AA has said he wanted.

[bravesfanMatt]

Thank god I was wrong. That trip to the dark side was miserable.

[thewupk]

He could also have been tired of all the pitching guys they wanted to use 1st round picks on.

[50PoundHead]

After thinking about it, I just don't see how the decision on what to tender Carter Stewart or the mechanics of it ended up being a Bridges decision.

Once it became clear to the organization that they were not interested in signing Stewart to slot money because of his injury, it had to have become a GM level decision. They had to have put the in-house lawyers and rules people on researching exactly what they had to do to protect themselves.

If that didn't happen, that's more of an indictment on AA than Bridges. But I feel sure that it did happen.

I suspect this firing is more related to general approach to the draft and scouting and possibly simply being organized than it was to any one mistake.

I would think it is more likely the change in course would be related to a failure to implement what AA has said he wanted.

I suppose one could pass negative judgment on Bridges and Clark for drafting Stewart in the first place after failing to do due diligence on his injury status, but the final decision here has to rest with Anthopolous. I've been a big fan of Roy Clark over the years and he won't be out of work that long. Curious to see what direction they go. If the scouts in the field aren't shuffled around, it probably won't have too big of an effect in the short term because there are so many showcases these days that there is a veritable mountain of data on and observation of most draft-eligible players. Interesting angle will be who will be pulling the trigger on the decisions.

[Southcack77]

I suppose one could pass negative judgment on Bridges and Clark for drafting Stewart in the first place after failing to do due diligence on his injury status, but the final decision here has to rest with Anthopolous. I've been a big fan of Roy Clark over the years and he won't be out of work that long. Curious to see what direction they go. If the scouts in the field aren't shuffled around, it probably won't have too big of an effect in the short term because there are so many showcases these days that there is a veritable mountain of data on and observation of most draft-eligible players. Interesting angle will be who will be pulling the trigger on the decisions.

To me the only justification for firing Bridges over the injury itself is if he was completely negligent in discovering it or actively concealed it. I find either scenario somewhat hard to believe.

If the injury situation was presented, holding Bridges strictly accountable for the ligament damage they could not have known about seems unreasonable because the GM would have been a part of that decision and would have been up to speed on the risk.

To me, it makes much more sense that AA wants to change the way the Braves conduct their draft scouting and that he was not sure that Bridges/Clark were the right people. DOB says it was rumored they were gone before they signed extensions.

My guess is that Bridges/Clark were not as receptive as AA wanted them to be.

It's al little like Snitker. Not AA's choice and I'm sure he was skeptical, but he's been retained largely based on his willingness to accept input from front office. (and he won of course).

[50PoundHead]

To me the only justification for firing Bridges over the injury itself is if he was completely negligent in discovering it or actively concealed it. I find either scenario somewhat hard to believe.

If the injury situation was presented, holding Bridges strictly accountable for the ligament damage they could not have known about seems unreasonable because the GM would have been a part of that decision and would have been up to speed on the risk.

To me, it makes much more sense that AA wants to change the way the Braves conduct their draft scouting and that he was not sure that Bridges/Clark were the right people. DOB says it was rumored they were gone before they signed extensions.

My guess is that Bridges/Clark were not as receptive as AA wanted them to be.

It's al little like Snitker. Not AA's choice and I'm sure he was skeptical, but he's been retained largely based on his willingness to accept input from front office. (and he won of course).

At first blush, I agree, but that makes the contract extensions a bit odd. Of course, there needs to be a transition and if there's one area where the transition is likely the slowest it is in the scouting department. I haven't followed the hiring patterns in the scouting department that closely, but if there is a move to newer methods of scouting, that will likely be seen with the area scouts as well. Curious to see if a trend--and what trend--develops.