Based on what we have now, what’s your ideal lineup for 2016?

[JohnAdcox]

At any point in 2016?

Mine:

Mallex CF
Inciarte LF
Markakis RF
Freeman 1B
Olivera 2B
Garcia 3B
AJ/Flowers C
Aybar SS


I bring that up for three reasons:

1.) Because making up fake lineups when you can’t actually screw anything up is fun, and...

2.) Because I actually really like the top of that order … Freeman would come to the plate with men on base, like, lots. And I’m a huge fan of the contact/speed game.

3.) That said, there’s just absolutely no protection for Freeman, which adds a lot of credence to clvclv’s wilder speculations. Replace Mallex OR (preferably) Markakis with, say, Cespedes, and someone like Wieters later, and it’s a much prettier picture.

Who can do better?

[Chico]

Not sure we'd have 4 lefties at the top. My guess is Aybar would be in the 2 hole

[Russ2dollas]

At any point in 2016?

Mine:

Mallex CF
Inciarte LF
Markakis RF
Freeman 1B
Olivera 2B
Garcia 3B
AJ/Flowers C
Aybar SS


I bring that up for three reasons:

1.) Because making up fake lineups when you can’t actually screw anything up is fun, and...

2.) Because I actually really like the top of that order … Freeman would come to the plate with men on base, like, lots. And I’m a huge fan of the contact/speed game.

3.) That said, there’s just absolutely no protection for Freeman, which adds a lot of credence to clvclv’s wilder speculations. Replace Mallex OR (preferably) Markakis with, say, Cespedes, and someone like Wieters later, and it’s a much prettier picture.

Who can do better?

I'm assuming by your move of Olivera to 2B that we don't have to worry about reality. B/c I think that's a great idea but there is no indication that is even being considered.

Markakis LF
Olivera 2B-------time to earn it big boy
FF 1B
Garcia 3B
Inciarte RF
Catcher
Jace SS------assuming Aybar gets us a B prospect or better
Pitcher
Mallex CF

[UNCBlue012]

Smith LF
Inciarte CF
Freeman 1B
Garcia 3B
Olivera 2B
Markakis RF
AJ C
Aybar SS

[TomahawkCult]

Ideally:

Inciarte 8, Aybar 6, FF 3, Garcia 5, Markakis 9, Olivera (figures it out) 7, Peterson 4, Flowers (loving life in ATL) 2; Pitcher.

[smootness]

Mallex CF
Inciarte LF
Markakis RF
Freeman 1B
Olivera 2B
Garcia 3B
AJ/Flowers C
Aybar SS

This is not bad, but it wouldn't be ideal defensively. I would at least move Inciarte to RF and Markakis to LF, if not Inciarte in CF. And I think Olivera would be pretty poor at 2B. I think Olivera at 3B and Jace at 2B would be better all around than Olivera at 2B and Garcia at 3B.

But if we're going completely ideal, I would say Ruiz bounces back and has a good year at AA and Swanson flies through the system. If we plan on running Swanson out there opening day in 2017 anyway (there are pros and cons to both strategies, IMO, though I would probably prefer to hold him back). And ideally, Mallex will continue to hit and show he can sustain it at the top level. So just talking about 2016 only, I'll say it's this in August/September:

Swanson SS
Aybar 2B
Freeman 1B
Olivera LF
Ruiz 3B
AJ/Flowers C
Inciarte RF
Pitcher
Mallex CF

Is that realistic? Nope. But hey, if we're talking ideal, that's mine. And in this scenario Markakis would be traded at some point.

[clvclv]

FWIW - Garcia's slashing .353/.411/.529/.940 in the VWL as of today.

Not anything to put much weight on, but worth noting at least.

[msstate7]

This is not bad, but it wouldn't be ideal defensively. I would at least move Inciarte to RF and Markakis to LF, if not Inciarte in CF. And I think Olivera would be pretty poor at 2B. I think Olivera at 3B and Jace at 2B would be better all around than Olivera at 2B and Garcia at 3B.

But if we're going completely ideal, I would say Ruiz bounces back and has a good year at AA and Swanson flies through the system. If we plan on running Swanson out there opening day in 2017 anyway (there are pros and cons to both strategies, IMO, though I would probably prefer to hold him back). And ideally, Mallex will continue to hit and show he can sustain it at the top level. So just talking about 2016 only, I'll say it's this in August/September:

Swanson SS
Aybar 2B
Freeman 1B
Olivera LF
Ruiz 3B
AJ/Flowers C
Inciarte RF
Pitcher
Mallex CF

Is that realistic? Nope. But hey, if we're talking ideal, that's mine. And in this scenario Markakis would be traded at some point.

Would love to see Ruiz hit to start this year like he finished last year, but with a little more power

[msstate7]

FWIW - Garcia's slashing .353/.411/.529/.940 in the VWL as of today.

Not anything to put much weight on, but worth noting at least.

Which current mlb (or close to being) brave hitters are playing? Any stats?

[clvclv]

Which current mlb (or close to being) brave hitters are playing? Any stats?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/re...at&id=79d4d1d6

[The Chosen One]

1) Heyward
2) J. Upton
3) Freeman
4) McCann
5) Gattis
6) C. Johnson
7) A. Simmons
8) E. Johnson
9) Medlen

[msstate7]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/re...at&id=79d4d1d6

Thanks

[Julio3000]

1) Heyward
2) J. Upton
3) Freeman
4) McCann
5) Gattis
6) C. Johnson
7) A. Simmons
8) E. Johnson
9) Medlen

Nice call. Kind of a deep cut.

[bravesfanMatt]

Atlanta Braves Weekly Winter League Recap 11/30-12/6: Adonis Garcia stays hot http://www.talkingchop.com/2015/12/7...source=twitter


here is another good source

[depley]

Inciarte CF
Aybar SS/Olivera LF (after Aybar is traded mid season)
Freeman 1B
Markakis RF
AJ C
Garcia 3B
Peterson 2B/Albies 2B (if Peterson swoons again Albies will replace him this year.)
Olivera LF
Swanson SS (after Aybar trade)

[smootness]

Woah now. Even in an ideal, unrealistic world, I can't wrap my head around Albies in the majors this year. That isn't possible.

[Enscheff]

Woah now. Even in an ideal, unrealistic world, I can't wrap my head around Albies in the majors this year. That isn't possible.

It would be beyond pointless to start Albies or Swanson's clock at any point this season. They will start the year in A ball for crying out loud.

[Heyward]

Span CF
Aybar SS
Cespedes LF
Freeman 1B
Soler RF
Olivera 3B
AJ C
Peterson 2B

[zitothebrave]

We need to dump Markakis.

Ideal lineup I guess would be.

CF -Mallez
RF - Inciarte
3B - Olivera
1B - Freeman
SS - Aybar (and Pray for quality)
LF - Markakis
C - platoon
2B - Jace

[smootness]

It would be beyond pointless to start Albies or Swanson's clock at any point this season. They will start the year in A ball for crying out loud.

Albies, certainly. Swanson I think is at least possible. It's unlikely, but starting him late in 2016 still wouldn't add any more to his clock than starting him opening day in 2017, and I think there's an argument for that.