What if we didnt break up the band

[cajunrevenge]

Heres how the former Braves from 2014 + Shelby are performing so far this year. Is this even better than what we have on the field now?


Heywood .211/.318/.263 0 HR 13 RBI 21K 4 SB
Justin Upton .246/.263/.351 2 HR 8 RBI 42k 1 SB
Melvin .247/.345/.361 2 HR 11 RBI 29k 6 SB - Sigh -
Chris Johnson .219/.306/.281 0 HR 1 RBI 11k 0 SB
Phil Gosselin .233/.244/.326 1 HR 3 RBI 10k
Evan Gattis .203/.257/.313 1 HR 7 RBI 22 SO
Tommy La Stella .356/.420/.667 2 HR 6 RBI 5 K - 45 at bats
Bethancourt .174/.200/.348 1 HR 3 RBI 5 k
Andrelton .216/.237/.279 1 HR 6 RBI 6 K



Shreve 9.2 IP 4.66 ERA 1.03 WHIP
Kimbrel 13 IP 3.46 ERA 0.85 WHIP 9 saves
Ryan Buchter 13.2 IP 0.66 ERA 1.10 WHIP
Gavin Floyd 12.2 IP 2.13 ERA 0.79 WHIP
Alex Wood 33.0 IP 5.18 ERA 1.48 WHIP
Walden - lolololol
David Hale - 2 IP 13.50 ERA 1 k
Ervin Santana 20 IP 3.15 ERA 1.40 WHIP
Luis Avilan 0.2 IP 40.50 ERA 1k 1blown save
Shelby Miller 23.1 IP 8.49 ERA 19 k

[Millwood1Hitter]

Not good but it's still early. Again, I think the organization did the right thing tearing it apart, it wasn't working as it was, and I don't believe it was going to work going forward. We've already touched on that ad nausem, though.

On a side note, great to see Gavin Floyd back and having some success. I wasn't thrilled when we signed him, but I enjoyed watching him pitch during his short stint here before the injury. Also be interesting to see if Ryan Buchter can keep it up.

[Russ2dollas]

I think we made the right call.

Just wish we had traded kimbrel without bj to get max value. If we were going to suck for most of bj contract then just ride it out

[Hudson2]

The Cubs will probably hope Heyward opts out in a couple of years. I like the guy but not for that much money. You have to stop paying a player on potential at some point.

[UNCBlue012]

I think we made the right call.

Just wish we had traded kimbrel without bj to get max value. If we were going to suck for most of bj contract then just ride it out

I do as well. I get it why we did it, but we could of gotten a HUGE haul.

[KB21]

If the Braves hadn't made the moves they did, I'm not sure what this line up would have looked like. Jason Heyward was leaving in free agency anyway, so we would have gotten the first round pick of whoever signed him. Justin Upton was leaving as well, so that is a 2nd 1st round pick the Braves would have gotten extra this year. I don't know what to make of the reports that the Braves made a play to sign Justin this off season. I still don't believe he would have resigned in Atlanta with the money that got thrown to him.

This would also mean that Atlanta would not have Ender Inciarte as a future CF. There would also be no Dansby Swanson and Aaron Blair.

Honestly, we would be looking at a crap line up likely as well as a crap farm system. The moves to flip the farm system around had to be made, IMO.

[mqt]

Damn, I knew giving away Melvin Upton, Tommy La Stella and Ryan Buchter were the moves that would come back to haunt us!

[Horsehide Harry]

If the Braves hadn't made the moves they did, I'm not sure what this line up would have looked like. Jason Heyward was leaving in free agency anyway, so we would have gotten the first round pick of whoever signed him. Justin Upton was leaving as well, so that is a 2nd 1st round pick the Braves would have gotten extra this year. I don't know what to make of the reports that the Braves made a play to sign Justin this off season. I still don't believe he would have resigned in Atlanta with the money that got thrown to him.

This would also mean that Atlanta would not have Ender Inciarte as a future CF. There would also be no Dansby Swanson and Aaron Blair.

Honestly, we would be looking at a crap line up likely as well as a crap farm system. The moves to flip the farm system around had to be made, IMO.

I think it was the only move. The Uggla, Johnson and Melvin contracts, along with the draft philosophy of low ceiling, high floor, quick to the Majors, and the never ending string of TJ for pitchers who actually could pitch, really hamstrung the franchise.

[50PoundHead]

We could have kept things intact in 2015, but I don't see how they could have put together a pitching staff that would have been able to get us to the playoffs. A lot of things converged all at once. Iffy contracts to Uggla and Melvin. Impending free agency for Heyward and J. Upton. Terrible decision to extent Chris Johnson. If all of these elements hadn't hit in such a short time frame, I think the front office would have had a reasonable chance at moving forward without having to blow everything up, but there was simply too much big furniture to move.

Also note: You can't have Heyward and Shelby Miller on the same team.

[KB21]

Evan Gattis just got optioned to AA as well.

[mqt]

Evan Gattis just got optioned to AA as well.

Supposedly to let him ramp up catching duties, which: lol

[Russ2dollas]

What really killed us were the tj and wren **** the bed every time he paid for a free agent.

I think the only thing to criticise is not going 100% in rebuild. Not maximizing kimbrel. Trading for Olivera. Not getting the first pick x 2 years.

At some point we will have to overpay to get our Lester and hope it works out.

[UNCBlue012]

I'm with you Russ. I think the biggest flaws in our rebuild was the Olivera deal and not maximizing Kimbrel.

That being said, the Kimbrel deal netted us a really good return, even with BJ-Melvin going to San Diego.

Also, I agree on Lester. We really need a TOR type of guy moving forward. I like Julio but he's a number 2 with the upside of a number one.

[emk418]

Definitely made the right decision to rebuild. Just don't love some of the deals.

[KB21]

Definitely made the right decision to rebuild. Just don't love some of the deals.

The only deal I did not like was the Olivera deal.

[thewupk]

The Cubs will probably hope Heyward opts out in a couple of years. I like the guy but not for that much money. You have to stop paying a player on potential at some point.

So Heywards 2015 season was 'potential' ?

[Hudson2]

Heyward isn't a very good hitter and he's being paid like he is. Defense is worth a lot these days.

[thewupk]

Heyward isn't a very good hitter and he's being paid like he is. Defense is worth a lot these days.

121 WRC+ in 2015 with 20+ steals. Define it how you want but his offensive year was worth 20+ million in 2016 dollars.

[Hudson2]

He had a lot better season last year than years past but he'll have to do it more than just one season for it to be legit. He's hitting in a hitter friendly park and a lot of protection in that lineup and is at .211 with 0 homers so we'll see how he fairs when the season is over.

[thewupk]

He had a lot better season last year than years past but he'll have to do it more than just one season for it to be legit. He's hitting in a hitter friendly park and a lot of protection in that lineup and is at .211 with 0 homers so we'll see how he fairs when the season is over.

He also had similar offensive seasons in 2010, 2012, and 2013 as well. So I don't get the narrative that he only did it for one season.