Originally Posted by
Millwood1Hitter
Anyone hear his conversation on 680 The Fan today? Interesting to say the least and the guy is really clueless, I'm paraphrasing but here are some answers to the questions:
On possibility of handling match ups and platoons at 5 different positions?
Fredi: As a manager that's exciting, it really is. You never know how we might look one day to the next. You're able to mix and match on any given day and give a different look. But it's not always strictly about numbers or certain match ups, you have to go with you're gut and put them out there and see what they got. Some won't understand at all, but I told John and John, it's like when I was 3rd base coach and whether or not to send a guy on a potential possible play. How do you know if you're gonna score that run or not not send him, you don't, so you send him and sometimes he scored and others he doesn't and you look like an idiot. But you don't know for sure how it's gonna work unless he goes. That's the situation were in. I remember when I 1st came here, and Bobby was the master in these situations. Chris Hammond was trying to make a comeback, and you're thinking this guy could be someone who might be valuable to get a Mo Vaughn or Jeremy Burnitz out, and there's Bobby bringing him in a tight spot to get Mike Piazza or Scott Rolen and I'm like what the hell, the Hammond goes on to have the best year of his career, maybe one of the best relief years ever, and that's because Bobby put him in the best position to succeed."
On what to do with BJ and what role he envisions him in?
Fredi: "First the guy is immensely talented, he's just struggled a little here and there and put to much pressure on himself. When you look at him, his build, his skillset you see someone who needs to be at the top of the lineup. That's where I'd like to
see him stick."
On trying to construct the lineup with so many new faces.
Fredi: "That's hard and easier. We no longer have a bunch of guys that only want to hit here or there or do this or that. We have great flexibility. We can manufacture, we can bunt, we can pinch hit to get a more favorable matchup. It's harder because I'm not overly familiar with a lot if these guys and what they can do, but we will run them out there and see what they got."
On losing Heyward and Upton and having so much talent come back.
Fredi: "On one hand you're sad, on the other you're exciting, but when we sat down at the end if the season we knew it wasn't gonna work. For whatever reason it didn't work. But I think the thing that is exciting is the pitching, the young pitching with so much upside. That's what this organization was built upon and were getting back to that. You don't need to
worry about scoring runs when you're throwing a quality pitcher out there everyday. You know if you somehow get 1 or 2 across the plate you're gonna win more often then not."
On the large number of Braves pitchers going under the knife for TJ surgery?
Fredi: "it's pure bad luck, nothing more, but we believe if something is not right, get it out of the way and come back stronger. It easier to come back when you're 21 or 23 then as if you're 29 or 33 or whatever. Shae just felt a twinge, and we said let's get it out of the way, rehab, and come back better than ever. We have great depth in the pen, I'm really exciting about Grilli and Johnson. Going into the offseason I told John I've always wanted a Kevin Gryboski heavy sinker ground ball guy and that's Johnson, were gonna love him, he looks phenominal.
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