SS GDT: HOUSTON VS ATLANTA, 110

[rico43]

Houston 000 200 030 -- 5 6 1
Atlanta (ss) 120 000 000 -- 3 6 0


Fiers

vs


ATLANTA (4-12-2)

Bourn CF 1-4, R, RBI
Lipka RF 0-1
Aybar SS 0-4
Schlehuber PH 0-1
Markakis RF 0-3
Kazmar 3B 0-2
Swisher 1B 2-2, RBI, BB
Tuiasosopo 1B 0-1
Pierzynski C 0-3
Odom C 0-1
Francoeur LF 1-4, R
K.Johnson 2B 1-2, R, BB
Brignac 3B 1-2, 2 BB
Perez P 0-1
Astudillo PH 0-1
Frieman 1B 0-2

Perez 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Grilli 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB,, 0 K, HR
Banuelos 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Johnson 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Ogado 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

[nsacpi]

Good to see 3 scoreless innings each from Baby Harang and Banuelos.

[rico43]

Healthy ManBan could make much of this starting pitching conern unnecessary.

[GovClintonTyree]

Healthy ManBan could make much of this starting pitching conern unnecessary.

Happy about that. I'm just wondering if we have seven relievers in camp who can keep their ERAs under 7.00.

"2016 Braves - finding 7 under 7.00"

[zbhargrove]

Happy about that. I'm just wondering if we have seven relievers in camp who can keep their ERAs under 7.00.

"2016 Braves - finding 7 under 7.00"

We have plenty of high ceiling relievers rhat will be fine. Ramirez has been lights out usually. Viz is unreal. Grilli will be fine. Alex Torres will be good. Ruckij has potential. Simmons will be great when he returns. I know I'm forgetting some other real talent. Winkler looks great. Winthrow could be huge mid season. Need one more dominant lefty and our bullpen looks really good honestly

Oh and Ogando has been fantastic and always had the great stuff

We should prob just let JJ go unless someone will trade for him

[GovClintonTyree]

We have plenty of high ceiling relievers rhat will be fine. Ramirez has been lights out usually. Viz is unreal. Grilli will be fine. Alex Torres will be good. Ruckij has potential. Simmons will be great when he returns. I know I'm forgetting some other real talent. Winkler looks great. Winthrow could be huge mid season. Need one more dominant lefty and our bullpen looks really good honestly

Oh and Ogando has been fantastic and always had the great stuff

We should prob just let JJ go unless someone will trade for him

I think your assessment is extremely optimistic.

[nsacpi]

FIP projections from Fangraphs for the guys in contention for pen spots:

Grilli 3.07
Viz 3.26
Johnson 3.71
Krol 3.56
Winkler 3.92
Rutckyj 3.80
Ramirez 3.98
Alex Torres 3.90
Ogando 4.12

I don't agree with some of these projections. But they do indicate that we start out the season with two guys who project to be significantly above replacement level. The rest are a bunch of question marks. I do think two or three will step forward and do a serviceable job. But it is a stretch to say that this pen looks really good.

What I'm hoping for this year is for a couple guys to emerge as solid major league relievers, for Simmons to come back healthy and as effective as he was before he got hurt, and for Viz to build upon what he did last year. That would give us a solid foundation to build upon for 2017.

[zbhargrove]

I think your assessment is extremely optimistic.

Based on past performance... I don't think it is at all

[zbhargrove]

FIP projections from Fangraphs for the guys in contention for pen spots:

Grilli 3.07
Viz 3.26
Johnson 3.71
Krol 3.56
Winkler 3.92
Rutckyj 3.80
Ramirez 3.98
Alex Torres 3.90
Ogando 4.12

I don't agree with some of these projections. But they do indicate that we start out the season with two guys who project to be significantly above replacement level. The rest are a bunch of question marks. I do think two or three will step forward and do a serviceable job. But it is a stretch to say that this pen looks really good.

What I'm hoping for this year is for a couple guys to emerge as solid major league relievers, for Simmons to come back healthy and as effective as he was before he got hurt, and for Viz to build upon what he did last year. That would give us a solid foundation to build upon for 2017.

My point is more we have foundation for a very solid pen next year and beyond. There maybe some bumps in the road in 2016 but we have some big time talent. We aren't competing this year anyways

[UNCBlue012]

I think your assessment is extremely optimistic.

I with my man, Zbh on this one. I'm not worried in the slightest about the BP.

[nsacpi]

I'm not worried in the slightest about the BP.

Is that because you think it doesn't matter since we are not competing in 2016 or because you think we will have an above average pen in 2016. Or none of the above. Or all of the above.

[UNCBlue012]

Is that because you think it doesn't matter since we are not competing in 2016 or because you think we will have an above average pen in 2016. Or none of the above. Or all of the above.

A little bit of both. I like the talent we have this year, but the guy's coming through the pipeline moving forward are more than formidable for our BP.

[bravesfanMatt]

A little bit of both. I like the talent we have this year, but the guy's coming through the pipeline moving forward are more than formidable for our BP.

I think our pen is better just because we don't have guys like Sugar Ray or Cuniff coming in. Is our pen good yet. no, wouldn't say that.. but it is probably average to maybe a little above. I think JJ is cut..but guys like Viz/Grilli/Winkler will be our high leverage guys. Then one or two more will step up and perform.. whether that is Rusky/Torres (2)/Kroll (sp)/or Perez (ManBan)... then mid season Simmons and Withrow should add value to the improved pen. I think our pen will be good by end of season and very good by opening day next year.

[Chico]

I'm not all that worried about the pen this year. We have a lot of arms and collecting these fringe starters is in part to feed the bullpen pipeline.

[nsacpi]

If things go right, for opening day next year we might have something like this: Viz, Simmons, 2 guys from this year's group who emerge, a FA signing, 2 guys who graduate from the minors (this could include Withrow and guys like Paco Rodriguez and McKirahan who are out for the season).

[yeezus]

If things go right, for opening day next year we might have something like this: Viz, Simmons, 2 guys from this year's group who emerge, a FA signing, 2 guys who graduate from the minors (this could include Withrow and guys like Paco Rodriguez and McKirahan who are out for the season).

yup, this is a good year to feel some pen guys out and see what they've got moving forward for when it actually matters.

[nsacpi]

yup, this is a good year to feel some pen guys out and see what they've got moving forward for when it actually matters.

The thing that makes me a bit less optimistic than others about the 2016 performance is that there are probably going to be quite a few that we kick the tires on that won't pan out. It won't be as bad as last year. But to me it still likely adds up to a below average major league pen.

[yeezus]

The thing that makes me a bit less optimistic than others about the 2016 performance is that there are probably going to be quite a few that we kick the tires on that won't pan out. It won't be as bad as last year. But to me it still likely adds up to a below average major league pen.

I think it will probably be below-average, yeah. But we'll be able to throw some guys out there and see what they have for the following years, so that will be good.