Thoughts on Minor League Promotions

[weso1]

I'm not sure if Ozzie is as good as Swanson is defensively or on the base paths quite yet. Swanson seems to be further along fundamentally, as he should be. Offensively I think it's close with Swanson having an edge in power, but Albies better at making contact. It's pretty much 1a and 1b. Both have legit arguments to be the first to get called up.

[Russ2dollas]

I'd leave Albies. He's young and AA has a lot of guys w/ stuff. he doesn't need to go to AAA ever.
I'd promote Swanson to AAA if the org is thinking about playing him next year.

I think Morales has to move. We are light on C and he's splitting time with Herbert. He's 21. Move him to AA and see if he can hit and if he can really catch.

Povse looks like a guy to move up if you have a spot to put him.

[Julio3000]

I'm not sure if Ozzie is as good as Swanson is defensively or on the base paths quite yet. Swanson seems to be further along fundamentally, as he should be. Offensively I think it's close with Swanson having an edge in power, but Albies better at making contact. It's pretty much 1a and 1b. Both have legit arguments to be the first to get called up.

Funny, I had the opposite impression about defense.

[weso1]

Funny, I had the opposite impression about defense.

The scouting reports I read all seemed to point out that Swanson was fundamentally sound defensively with an accurate arm. And you look at the stats and that seems to be the case. Swanson is in the .970 - .980 fielding % whilest getting to as many balls as Albies. Albies has been in the .950 - .960 range.

[Carp]

That would be so short sighted.

If they show they are ready, what does it matter?

[Russ2dollas]

I care about control. I don't care about super 2. It seems like the plan is going to be to play guys. If they are good in the first couple of years they will have a chance to sign a team friendly extension. If they do not, then they will get traded.

On the Albies/Swanson SS argument. I thought the issue with Albies at SS was his arm. IIRC his arm is fine. Swanson isn't Simmons by any chance but I think most ppl think his arm is better. That is why I thought most ppl had Swanson penciled in at SS. Otherwise you'd assume most would pencil him at 2B b/c he played it in college and has a bigger frame if you wanted him to try and bulk up and add a little more power

[chop2chip]

Albies has a .906 OPS so far in a league and park that favors pitchers.

Swanson has a .912 OPS so far in a lower league that generally favors hitters.

I like both. But I don't see the argument for promoting Swanson but not Albies. Performance drives 90% of those kinds of decisions.

Promotions shouldn't be made based on batting lines alone. Swanson starting at A ball was viewed as very conservative based off his SEC experience. Albies starting at AA was viewed as very aggressive. I think the idea of holding Albies back and promoting Swanson has to do with placing both players in an environment where they will be challenged, yet will succeed. Albies is being challenged and exceeding. Swanson is exceeding but he isn't being challenged, IMO.

[clvclv]

DOB was just talking to Scott Braun on XM. Said to expect to see...

1.) Jenkins replace Norris in the rotation in the near future.
2.) One of Albies' or Swanson's clocks started if Aybar doesn't get his **** together in the very near-future.

[Tapate50]

DOB was just talking to Scott Braun on XM. Said to expect to see...

1.) Jenkins replace Norris in the rotation in the near future.
2.) One of Albies' or Swanson's clocks started if Aybar doesn't get his **** together in the very near-future.

Ugh

[Coach_Chris]

Dansby is doing well at the plate but needs a lot of work running bases and in the field. He makes way to many mental errors. Some think he is pushing too hard. Not sure if that is that but letting him get better in those areas should be a major focus.

[Braves1976]

DOB was just talking to Scott Braun on XM. Said to expect to see...

1.) Jenkins replace Norris in the rotation in the near future.
2.) One of Albies' or Swanson's clocks started if Aybar doesn't get his **** together in the very near-future.

Wow, that is moronic...

[Garmel]

Wow, that is moronic...

This is DOB that we're talking about. :)

[Braves1976]

This is DOB that we're talking about. :)

Fair point, I am hoping that's the case here too.

[DirkPiggler]

I think this adjustment period is a pretty flimsy reason to start the service clock at the beginning of 2017 for guys like Albies, Ruiz and Swanson. I seem to recall quite a few very good prospects (both Braves and non-Braves) who hit the ground running without needing any sort of "adjustment period." The debuts of Andruw Jones and Jason Heyward being a couple notable examples. Maybe Albies, Ruiz and Swanson would benefit from such a period. But it does not have to be for ALL of 2017. That would be extremely short sighted.

It could happen though. It could be the FO is feeling the heat. It might have taken to heart its own spin about having a better team this year and feel it has some sort of obligation to gin up interest by bringing up guys like Albies, Ruiz and Swanson this year or at the start of next year. That would be unfortunate and short sighted.

My preference would be to bring them up after the Super 2 deadline has passed next year. That would give them enough of an adjustment period. Just pointing out that it's not a slam dunk to hold them back simply because we're looking at another down year. There are valid arguments both ways.

Sometimes I wonder if the Braves did Heyward a disservice by bringing him up so soon. Maybe he could have developed a little more as a hitter with a little more minor league seasoning. While I think we can mostly agree that he's a good hitter, we should also agree that with his physical attributes he should be doing more with the bat, particularly as it pertains to power.

The Johns are probably privately freaking out at the prospect of this team not only being bad, but historically awful. Hopefully it won't lead them to make any rash decisions with the young guys. I'm absolutely against bringing Albies, Swanson, or Ruiz up prior to 9/1/16.