GDT: March 6 Atlanta Braves vs. hated New York Mets, 1:10

[rico43]

Atlanta Braves (1-4-1) 000 004 100 -- 5 13 2

Inciarte CF 2-3, SB (.417)
Swanson 2B 0-2
Bonafacio 2B 3-5, 2 R
Garcia 3B 0-3
Albies SS 1-2 (.600)
Olivera LF 2-3, R, 2 RBI, SF
Swisher 1B 1-3
Brignac PR-3B 0-1, R
Francoeur RF 2-3
J. Peterson SS(!) 0-2, R, RBI, BB (.111)
Ruiz DH 1-4, RBI
Astudillo C 1-3, RBI
Lalli C 0-1

SP: Kyle Kendrick 2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER(3R), 1 BB, 1 K
Chacin 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Krol 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
De La Cruz 0.1 IP, 0 H 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
W. Perez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Rutckyj 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER(1R), 2 BB, 0 K
Jenkins 1.1 IP, 0 h, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

vs

Hated New York Mets (1-1) 210 030 10x -- 7 9 1

SP: Sean Gilmartin 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
7th at Blue Jays (Dunedin)
8th vs. Mets
9th at Astros (Kissimmee)

[striker42]

I hate seeing Gilmartin succeeding for the Mutts. He looked worthless before we dealt him.

[smootness]

I hate seeing Gilmartin succeeding for the Mutts. He looked worthless before we dealt him.

What do we consider succeeding? He was always worthless as a starter in the minors, even in the Mets system. He then pitched 57 innings in relief in the majors and pitched well. So we'll see, but I'm not going to consider that success yet.

[mossy]

Top 1

Gilmartin pitching

Enciarte singles to CF
Bonifacio singles to CF
Garcia pops out to 1B in foul territory
Olivera grounds into double play.

Bottom 1

Kendrick pitching

De Aza doubles to RF
Cabrera 1-2 count flies out to RF. De Aza to third.
Cespedes gets a nice welcome
Cespedes infield hit to right side, De Aza scores. 1-0 Mets
Duda strikes out swinging 2 out
Walker pops a double on the left field line Cespedes to 3rd.
Conforto grounds out to first.

End 1

[mossy]

Top 2

Swisher flies out
Frenchy singles to RF
Peterson 3-1 count grounds out to 3rd, French out at second after 85 foot slide. Peterson to 1st.
Ruiz strikes out on check swing.

End 2

[nsacpi]

Interesting to see Jace at short. This follows an earlier outing in left.

[mossy]

Bonifacio not looking all that impressive at 2nd.

[chop2chip]

Olivera has looked good at the plate this spring. He's using the whole field and not looking to pull everything.

[dak]

I'm not at all disappointed to see Chacin out-duel Kendrick today.

[nsacpi]

I'm not at all disappointed to see Chacin out-duel Kendrick today.

I'm eagerly anticipating how that battle turns out.

[zbhargrove]

I think Chacin is a much better pitcher than he gets credit for since he's not a big power arm. Man Albies is so fun to watch... he has such a fantastic approach for a 19 year old and he can just fly. Would love to see a top of the line up with Mallex Smith, Albies, Swanson, then Freeman

[UNCBlue012]

I'm really encouraged by Olivera early on. His swing looks so good.

[Deester11]

I'm really encouraged by Olivera early on. His swing looks so good.

He has been good offensively. I think he's very capable of being a. .280 hitter. I like what I see.

[CyYoung31]

He has been good offensively. I think he's very capable of being a. .280 hitter. I like what I see.

I just don't understand the point of having him.

[striker42]

I just don't understand the point of having him.

Why we traded for him will never make sense to me. If he was 5 years younger it would have but you're talking about a guy who will be at the youngest 32 before we're competitive. More likely he'll be 33. It was simply a case of the front office being so infatuated with a guy they couldn't think straight. It happens. Probably happened with Arizona and Miller.

But, he's a Brave now. All we can do is make the best of it and hope he hits. Maybe there will come a point where another team makes us a good offer for him and the front office is sufficiently over their man crush that we can deal him.

[striker42]

I'm getting really excited about Inciarte. I especially liked seeing him get a couple hits off a lefty yesterday. If he is able to be just average against lefties he's going to be very, very dangerous.

[CyYoung31]

Why we traded for him will never make sense to me. If he was 5 years younger it would have but you're talking about a guy who will be at the youngest 32 before we're competitive. More likely he'll be 33. It was simply a case of the front office being so infatuated with a guy they couldn't think straight. It happens. Probably happened with Arizona and Miller.

But, he's a Brave now. All we can do is make the best of it and hope he hits. Maybe there will come a point where another team makes us a good offer for him and the front office is sufficiently over their man crush that we can deal him.

See, that's another thing though. Even if the plan is to trade him for prospects, that's some backwards thinking if that was the plan from the beginning. And at best, it was terrible foresight by the front office to think we'd be competitive during his peak years, assuming he had any.

[yeezus]

wait-and-see is incomprehensible to too many people.

[CyYoung31]

wait-and-see is incomprehensible to too many people.

Wait and see what?

[striker42]

See, that's another thing though. Even if the plan is to trade him for prospects, that's some backwards thinking if that was the plan from the beginning. And at best, it was terrible foresight by the front office to think we'd be competitive during his peak years, assuming he had any.

The Olivera trade wasn't the clearest thinking the front office has done. There was a reason you had everyone in baseball scratching their heads. I'm convinced it wasn't based on rational thinking as much as emotion. The Braves fell in love with Olivera when they saw him workout and had to have him but simply didn't have the money. When the Dodgers gave them a second chance they jumped at it. It's the equivalent of going to a dealership to get a nice, sensible sedan and coming back with a used sports car that you just fell in love with the look of.

I don't think the plan is to flip him, I just hope that's what they do. He has an affordable contract and a team wanting to win now might jump at the chance to get him. Even if he only hits for a couple years, the contract is such that it would make sense for a team who is in a championship window.

He just makes very little sense for us. Even if he goes out there and hits .320 this year with a .900 OPS, that's not going to be enough to get us into the playoffs. I don't understand going after a guy who isn't going to be much help until he's 32. Signing Markakis at least was justifiable in wanting to have a veteran influence and not field an absolutely terrible team. Also, we didn't give anyone up for him. Olivera was traded for to be a key part of our rebuilding. If he was 27, it would make much more sense. There's a better than even chance Olivera will be noticeably in decline before we ever field a competitive team.