IF You Believe...

[clvclv]

In the pitching that's coming, this team's not that far away.

Really is that simple IMO.

If Folty and Wisler can take the steps forward that would be realistically expected, not ALL of the prospects have to reach their absolute ceilings.

Thankfully we're in the position to spend money (or prospects) on bats instead of arms.

[smootness]

Yeah, the rebuild is going according to plan. Not everything has worked out obviously (Olivera, some of the prospects), but on the whole things are going well, and our vision of having a stable full of young pitching is coming to fruition.

[emk418]

In the pitching that's coming, this team's not that far away.

Really is that simple IMO.

If Folty and Wisler can take the steps forward that would be realistically expected, not ALL of the prospects have to reach their absolute ceilings.

Thankfully we're in the position to spend money (or prospects) on bats instead of arms.

Last thing we should do this offseason is bring in short term back end starters just to help win a few more games. We've invested a lot in Folty, Wisler, Blair, Newcomb and we need to make sure they get their experience next year.

I still think Folty is the best of our young pitching

[thewupk]

Last thing we should do this offseason is bring in short term back end starters just to help win a few more games. We've invested a lot in Folty, Wisler, Blair, Newcomb and we need to make sure they get their experience next year.

I still think Folty is the best of our young pitching

Depends what the teams goal is. I like Folty out of our MLB ready young crop. Still think our best is in the low minors.

[Hudson2]

Really none of the top prospects we've drafted or acquired have been a bust. They are all doing well. Blair is the only one that comes to mind that has struggled.

[Horsehide Harry]

Depends what the teams goal is. I like Folty out of our MLB ready young crop. Still think our best is in the low minors.

I agree.

I think Newcomb can be really good but will likely need 2 more years in the minors to get there.

I don't believe in Gant, Whelan, Perez, Jenkins, Ellis.

I think Wisler can be a fine 3/4.
Blair I am beginning to think he will become a casualty of lost confidence.

I think the majority of the future rotation will come from Allard, Touissaint, Fried, Soroka, Anderson, Wentz, Muller, etc.

Because of that, I don't see the real future rotation being that close, likely 1.5 to 2 years away. Because of that I think "trying to compete" next year is premature and likely will force some missed opportunities because the team will hang on to some trade chips in the name of competing in 2017 instead of trading them for value.

[nsacpi]

There is a lot of uncertainty about pitching prospects, more than with hitting prospects, but to me the pick of the litter in the Braves system are Allard and Soroka. After those two I rate some of the guys who have already pitched in the majors (Teheran, Folty, Wisler) above the prospects on the farm. Those are the five I expect to have the most success as major league starting pitchers going forward.

The two dark horses I would put small side bets on are Gant and Povse.

[depley]

There is a lot of uncertainty about pitching prospects, more than with hitting prospects, but to me the pick of the litter in the Braves system are Allard and Soroka. After those two I rate some of the guys who have already pitched in the majors (Teheran, Folty, Wisler) above the prospects on the farm. Those are the five I expect to have the most success as major league starting pitchers going forward.

The two dark horses I would put small side bets on are Gant and Povse.

I would have to add Max Fried to that list, So far I think he is maybe the best of the guys in the lower minors.

[Chico]

I would have to add Max Fried to that list, So far I think he is maybe the best of the guys in the lower minors.

I think Fried will move up quick. His thing is just being healthy. He was a top 10 pick for a reason.

[rico43]

I agree.

I think Newcomb can be really good but will likely need 2 more years in the minors to get there.

I don't believe in Gant, Whelan, Perez, Jenkins, Ellis.

I think Wisler can be a fine 3/4.
Blair I am beginning to think he will become a casualty of lost confidence.

I think the majority of the future rotation will come from Allard, Touissaint, Fried, Soroka, Anderson, Wentz, Muller, etc.

Because of that, I don't see the real future rotation being that close, likely 1.5 to 2 years away. Because of that I think "trying to compete" next year is premature and likely will force some missed opportunities because the team will hang on to some trade chips in the name of competing in 2017 instead of trading them for value.

Hard to believe you include Jenkins with that group. He is merely a guy who has progressed in a steady but unspectacular manner. He was the organization's pitcher of the year last year, he has been Gwinnett's top winner despite a month in the big leagues, and he stepped up with a lock-down performance before 9,500 people in Charlotte to put Gwinnett in the playoffs in a winner-take-all game.

That he had his confidence shaken for a short time in the big leagues hardly makes him unusual. What he is, is perhaps the best athlete in the bunch who will grow into a major league pitcher.

I do wonder if it will be with the Braves. He seems like he would be an attractive trade chip this winter.

I assume your "etc." is Weigel, Sims, Sanchez?

[rico43]

I think Fried will move up quick. His thing is just being healthy. He was a top 10 pick for a reason.

I believe holding Fried back at Rome all year was a tremendous decision. His 11-K, 1-BB effort the other night in the semifinal clincher was a totally dominant performance limited only by his pitch count.

[Hudson2]

We better have a really strong bullpen when a lot of these guys arrive. With as many as they strikeout their pitch counts will rise quickly.

[Southcack77]

Hard to believe you include Jenkins with that group. He is merely a guy who has progressed in a steady but unspectacular manner. He was the organization's pitcher of the year last year, he has been Gwinnett's top winner despite a month in the big leagues, and he stepped up with a lock-down performance before 9,500 people in Charlotte to put Gwinnett in the playoffs in a winner-take-all game.

That he had his confidence shaken for a short time in the big leagues hardly makes him unusual. What he is, is perhaps the best athlete in the bunch who will grow into a major league pitcher.

I do wonder if it will be with the Braves. He seems like he would be an attractive trade chip this winter.

I assume your "etc." is Weigel, Sims, Sanchez?

He gives up a lot of hits and doesn't strike many guys out. I think he's a reliever.

[UNCBlue012]

I would have to add Max Fried to that list, So far I think he is maybe the best of the guys in the lower minors.

I agree. I think Allard and Fried are the best in the minors personally.

[Horsehide Harry]

Hard to believe you include Jenkins with that group. He is merely a guy who has progressed in a steady but unspectacular manner. He was the organization's pitcher of the year last year, he has been Gwinnett's top winner despite a month in the big leagues, and he stepped up with a lock-down performance before 9,500 people in Charlotte to put Gwinnett in the playoffs in a winner-take-all game.

That he had his confidence shaken for a short time in the big leagues hardly makes him unusual. What he is, is perhaps the best athlete in the bunch who will grow into a major league pitcher.

I do wonder if it will be with the Braves. He seems like he would be an attractive trade chip this winter.

I assume your "etc." is Weigel, Sims, Sanchez?

So far, at the ML level he walks more than he K's. I haven't looked but I seriously doubt there are very many pitchers in the ML who do that whether they are starter or reliever. If call that an aberration and point to his minor league numbers, he still doesn't K many and again, I don't know that there are many ML pitchers who have a K/BB ratio that bad.

To me, he needs a strike out pitch to be successful.

[Hudson2]

I'd rank the minor league pitchers in this order.

Allard
Soroka
Fried
Newcomb
Weigel

[goldfly]

I'm just glad we finally got rid of Fredi

everything else is just gravy

:)

[Russ2dollas]

I think jt, folty and wisler will be good. Think we will sign a vet. We have a million options for a 5 guy.

I think the pen could be very good. Need health but viz, Simmons, winkler, minter, Cabrera are some power arms.

I hope we will have a major upgrade in defense by at least having Swanson over aybar and anyone over ajp. Maybe big upgrades on d at third and lf. Albies would upgradev2b.

[The Chosen One]

[UNCBlue012]

I'm really high on Folty. I really like Wisler and I think his ceiling could be higher than a lot of people think, but he has to really work at it and harness his stuff. Folty just had the stuff and needs to stop being mental.