4/26 Minors ... Check out these starters' ERAs!

[bravesfanMatt]

Considering Ozzie is only 19, it's reasonable to think he may grow more.
He's a beast tho.

I am not sure Ozzie will get much bigger.. I am fine with a gap power/speedy guy that plays good defense and has a good arm... hopefully with Swanson we will have two.. Swanson should have a little more power with less speed. But both will be in top 10 on the MLB 100 mid season update..

[smootness]

If only we hadn't donated Simmons.

We could have moved Dansby to 3rd and had the all Curacao DP combo.

Having Swanson and Albies makes it less impactful to also have Simmons, not more.

The value of all 3 is maximized up the middle. And with the general lack of power we have, we need more pop in the infield. Having Swanson over Simmons and then a 3B (Ruiz if he keeps hitting, or a FA) should increase our ability to hit as well.

[Preacher]

I haven't watched a ton streaming, but anybody have any insight into why Albies isn't stealing much? Only 2 swipes on the year and he's been caught 3 times.

[bravesfanMatt]

Having Swanson and Albies makes it less impactful to also have Simmons, not more.

The value of all 3 is maximized up the middle. And with the general lack of power we have, we need more pop in the infield. Having Swanson over Simmons and then a 3B (Ruiz if he keeps hitting, or a FA) should increase our ability to hit as well.

I agree.. SS and 2B are the premium on the infield.. not only are they up the middle, they are your cut off men.. Now neither of Swanson nor Ozzie have Simmon's gun.. but hopefully they both hit better and off set that.. What the Braves need at 3B is a power bat that is serviceable to good defender. Then FF to come back around and our infield will be top of the class good.-- **edit.. a catcher would be nice too..

[bravesfanMatt]

I haven't watched a ton streaming, but anybody have any insight into why Albies isn't stealing much? Only 2 swipes on the year and he's been caught 3 times.

#BravesWay..

no, I think Ozzie just picks his spots to steal.. he is facing better competition, so give him some time.. by May 1st last year, I think he only had 5 or 6 steals and 4 CS..

[UNCBlue012]

Albies is pretty incredible. We haven't had a hitter as pure as he is in a while. Jason was pretty awesome coming up, but I had issues with his mechanics, I see nothing to pick at with Albies outside of power - which he could be a 5-10 HR guy with his contact as is.

[Preacher]

#BravesWay..

no, I think Ozzie just picks his spots to steal.. he is facing better competition, so give him some time.. by May 1st last year, I think he only had 5 or 6 steals and 4 CS..

True, its so nitpicky to look at stolen base numbers for a 19 year old that is terrorizing pitchers in AA. He's been incredible so far.

[Preacher]

double post

[clvclv]

Ozzie has more power than our major league club.

Now, now...Frenchy and Stubbs have "big-time power" - the opposing Pitchers just have to have exceptional enough control to hit their bats!!!

[sturg33]

Albies is pretty incredible. We haven't had a hitter as pure as he is in a while. Jason was pretty awesome coming up, but I had issues with his mechanics, I see nothing to pick at with Albies outside of power - which he could be a 5-10 HR guy with his contact as is.

Interesting... so you were watching Heyward's games in the minors and had issues with his mechanics?

[bravesfanMatt]

Rio was named to MLB pipeline's team of the week after hitting .480 in 7 games..

[clvclv]

I would be very reluctant to trade either Sims or Folty. Sims has put up 31 Ks in 19 innings so far this year, and Folty is probably going to be a late inning reliever.

Still daydream about how amazing the pen could be if Julio, Newcomb, Blair, Wisler, and whomever weren't traded out of the Gant/Jenkins/Ellis/Barker/Povse crowd (or a vet) could fill out a rotation until you could add one or two of Fried/Allard/Soroka and you had a pen consisting of...

Viz
Simmons
Sims
Folty
Paco
Withrow
Banuelos (if he could stay healthy enough to even become a pen piece)


If we'd ever start transitioning some of these high-end arms instead of grooming them to be traded, you're looking at seriously dominant staffs from 1-12.

[Hudson2]

I'd rather trade Sims as a starter then put him in the bullpen. He's a starter imo.

[Julio3000]

I wouldn't worry too much about Albies SB numbers at this point. Remember, he skipped a level, and he was one of the three youngest guys at low-a last year. Like the previous poster sad, he's adjusting to a higher level of competition, and he's crazy young for the level where he is playing--and thriving.

I think it's more pertinent to note that he's hitting the **** out of that higher level of competition.

He may not end up being a huge SB guy, but I wouldn't put it past him. He's a hell of a ballplayer.

[bravesfanMatt]

I have no earthly idea where to put this.. but I was reading an article about minor leagues and got sucked into one of the side videos..

I forgot what the article was about even.. but this is my new future ex wife..

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/...deo-vine-hawks

[50PoundHead]

I have no earthly idea where to put this.. but I was reading an article about minor leagues and got sucked into one of the side videos..

I forgot what the article was about even.. but this is my new future ex wife..

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/...deo-vine-hawks

We used to call that Viking Style!

[NYCBrave]

Am I crazy for thinking Ozzie could be Jose Altuve? I would be ecstatic with that, obviously.

Well you have to realize that when Altuve was 19, he was playing in short season ball (He hit 3 homers that year). He didn't reach AA until he was 21. His age 20 season playing between lo-A and hi-A, he hit 15 home runs, then had 10 the following year as a 21 year old splitting between hi-A and AA.

Will be interesting to see if the power does develop for Albies like it has for Altuve (who already has 5 HR this year!!).

[CJ9]

Dansby RBI double in the first inning.

[bravesfanMatt]

Povse is at it again..

47 pitches.. 35 strikes through 4 innings.. 2h/1ER/0BB/4K..

[bravesfanMatt]

T. Jenkins trying to get noticed.. if he could throw more strikes he might make some noise..

6 innings complete.. 5H/2BB/3K ZERO Runs!!! 1.71 ERA.. most likely done 97 pitches with only 55 strikes..