Early Power Rankings

[Enscheff]

FG just released their initial power rankings based on 2024 projections: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraph...the-offseason/

Unsurprisingly, the Braves are clearly #1 since they lost almost nothing from the best 2023 roster.

It is interesting to see the positional rankings here: https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=C

The Braves rank by position:

C - #3
1B - #1
2B - #3
SS - #25
3B - #5
LF - #24
CF - #2
RF - #1
DH - #10
SP - #1
RP - #5

None of those rankings probably shock anyone, but the security of those rankings varies based on the available FAs at those positions: https://www.fangraphs.com/depthchart...n=ALL&teamid=0

While it will be hard for most teams to make ground at very many positions (which is also why LF and SS will be so hard for the Braves to upgrade), there is a large group of 2-4 win #2/#3 SPs that other teams could sign and knock the Braves a few pegs below the current #1 ranking. Yamamoto isn't on that list, but he projects as another 3-4 win SP with potential for more. There are also a handful of RP arms that could boost teams ahead of the Braves, while the Braves are probably mostly done with the heavy lifting in the BP.

Hopefully AA adds a ~3 win guy to the rotation to ensure the Braves have a deep WS caliber rotation.

[cajunrevenge]

Hold up. Braves rank #1 on SP?

[Enscheff]

Yes because they didn’t lose any FAs and nobody else has signed any FAs.

[thewupk]

Hold up. Braves rank #1 on SP?

Name a team with a better top 3 than strider, fried, and Morton right now. Fried and strider are top 5 pitchers in the NL.

[Tapate50]

Name a team with a better top 3 than strider, fried, and Morton right now. Fried and strider are top 5 pitchers in the NL.

High end SP is pretty thin league wide.

[Enscheff]

There are 12 teams within 3 SP wins of the Braves #1 slot. They can all leapfrog the Braves with 1-2 SP signings.

The Braves rank high now because they didn’t lose any SPs to FA more so than them having an amazing rotation.

AA needs to get a SP.

[Carp]

Braves/Riley is 5th at 3b? That seems pretty far fetched. 2 straight season of 5+ fWAR and was at 4.8 in '21. Only Ramirez has more fWAR over that time among 3b's.

[Super]

Braves/Riley is 5th at 3b? That seems pretty far fetched. 2 straight season of 5+ fWAR and was at 4.8 in '21. Only Ramirez has more fWAR over that time among 3b's.

Don’t understand why they expect Devers to out-WAR Riley. And expect Riley’s WAR to drop off so much.

[ixiXSolidXixi]

How you rank LF if we basically don’t have one?

[Enscheff]

Simply clicking the link reveals the answer.

[Carp]

Ngl, I would take that production from Vaughn in LF all day. Doubt it happens though.

[GovClintonTyree]

There are nine DHs better than Ozuna?

[Enscheff]

Very few teams have a set DH. Clicking the link to the depth charts shows how most teams are projected to get value from the DH slot.

[GovClintonTyree]

Very few teams have a set DH. Clicking the link to the depth charts shows how most teams are projected to get value from the DH slot.

Yeah, I get that. I suppose I should have said "there are nine teams whose anticipated cumulative production from the DH position exceeds that of the Braves." But anyway, that's a bit pessimistic for my senses, as is dinging Riley's defense which has evolved into very good/excellent to the extent that we fall to fifth at 3B. These projection regressions confound me sometimes. They've got us #1 but I think they're underestimating several spots.

[thewupk]

Yeah, I get that. I suppose I should have said "there are nine teams whose anticipated cumulative production from the DH position exceeds that of the Braves." But anyway, that's a bit pessimistic for my senses, as is dinging Riley's defense which has evolved into very good/excellent to the extent that he falls to fifth at 3B. These projection regressions confound me sometimes. They've got us #1 but I think they're underestimating several spots.

In regards to Ozuna its pretty simple. They are projecting him to put up career average numbers in 2024. That comes out to an above average hitter. Close to what he did with the Cardinals. For some reason I expect more of what he's done in Atlanta so far. Either really good or really bad. Hasn't been any inbetween with him.

[GovClintonTyree]

In regards to Ozuna its pretty simple. They are projecting him to put up career average numbers in 2024. That comes out to an above average hitter. Close to what he did with the Cardinals. For some reason I expect more of what he's done in Atlanta so far. Either really good or really bad. Hasn't been any inbetween with him.

Yup. Eight years under .800, three years over .900.

[cajunrevenge]

If Ozuna repeats close to his performance it will be the first time he has 2 really good years with the bat in a row. He has had a great year followed by a slightly above average one, but never 2 all star caliber hitting years in a row. Hard to believe he will now in his mid 30's. I hope he does but his past suggests otherwise.