4/29... vs brew crew

[Braves1976]

The Braves have gotten the hitting and starting pitching to be in a playoff spot at this point. Big mistakes by our manager and our weak bench and bullpen have cost us some close games we could've won with any luck.

[TheBravos]

Like I said, this team has the talent to go on many streaks. It's consistency they will struggle with.

[cajunrevenge]

Flowers now batting .391/.481/.435. After a solid 2016 I wonder if we might have found something here. Not much power but showing solid obp skills. That goes a long way for an offensively challenged position.

[thewupk]

Looks like we got 2011 Kemp. He must really like playing in Atlanta.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

The Braves have gotten the hitting and starting pitching to be in a playoff spot at this point. Big mistakes by our manager and our weak bench and bullpen have cost us some close games we could've won with any luck.

Yeah, especially that first week we got wrecked by bad sequencing.

[thewupk]

Flowers now batting .391/.481/.435. After a solid 2016 I wonder if we might have found something here. Not much power but showing solid obp skills. That goes a long way for an offensively challenged position.

The lack of power from Flowers this year is odd. I do think he will settle in with a slash line similar to what he did last year.

[Braves1976]

Flowers now batting .391/.481/.435. After a solid 2016 I wonder if we might have found something here. Not much power but showing solid obp skills. That goes a long way for an offensively challenged position.

Yea, a number of players are hitting very well for our team to be under .500 at this point. Kemp going down when he did hurt in that regard too and no surprise it took him some games after returning to get back into form.

I like our starting pitching overall, so if we hit enough as we very well could. Then all you need to do is improve the bench and bullpen and give us someone that can manage both well and we're in the playoffs.

[msstate7]

The lack of power from Flowers this year is odd. I do think he will settle in with a slash line similar to what he did last year.

.777 ops... I'll take that again this year in a heartbeat

[TheBravos]

Looks like we got 2011 Kemp. He must really like playing in Atlanta.

This is what I hoped for....If he has been truthful...he's always been a Braves fan and it's a dream to play here. Outlook can make a huge difference in performance.

[nsacpi]

Can yall not start elementary school fights on my birthday weekend?

make a wish!

[CyYoung31]

Yea, a number of players are hitting very well for our team to be under .500 at this point. Kemp going down when he did hurt in that regard too and no surprise it took him some games after returning to get back into form.

I like our starting pitching overall, so if we hit enough as we very well could. Then all you need to do is improve the bench and bullpen and give us someone that can manage both well and we're in the playoffs.

That's why I've been saying this team is not a contender currently, but if Cerberus up in the FO manages to shore up the pen and defense up until the deadline we may be a team to watch down the stretch. A World Series contender? No. But, quite possibly in contention for the 2nd WC.

If nothing changes, however, we are what a record currently says we are: a below .500 team.

[nsacpi]

Can yall not start elementary school fights on my birthday weekend?

make another wish!

[nsacpi]

Flowers now batting .391/.481/.435. After a solid 2016 I wonder if we might have found something here. Not much power but showing solid obp skills. That goes a long way for an offensively challenged position.

we might have a late bloomer on our hands

[CyYoung31]

Shocking that people can't see the impact that Kemp has on this lineup. Just need Inciarte and Swanson to get going and we are going to win 80-85 games.

Wrong. We will win 80-85 games IF those things happen AND the bullpen and defense stop being a liability.

[thewupk]

.777 ops... I'll take that again this year in a heartbeat

Definitely. Fangraphs did an article over the offseason suggesting he might be a late bloomer....could be what we are seeing.

[nsacpi]

That's why I've been saying this team is not a contender currently, but if Cerberus up in the FO manages to shore up the pen and defense up until the deadline we may be a team to watch down the stretch. A World Series contender? No. But, quite possibly in contention for the 2nd WC.

If nothing changes, however, we are what a record currently says we are: a below .500 team.

we are a 75-80 win team...with luck we will be in the hunt through september...but it will take some luck

[thewupk]

we are a 75-80 win team...with luck we will be in the hunt through september...but it will take some luck

or just more KeMVP protection

[nsacpi]

Definitely. Fangraphs did an article over the offseason suggesting he might be a late bloomer....could be what we are seeing.

strikeouts have been the main issue for him...but last season his strikeout rate dropped to 28.0% from a career rate of 32.0...and so far this year it is 20.4

[CyYoung31]

we are a 75-80 win team...with luck we will be in the hunt through september...but it will take some luck

I see more of a 70-79 win team.

[nsacpi]

or just more KeMVP protection

the whole Kemp thing around these parts is beyond belief...all along a couple things have been pretty evident

1) He hit pretty well in SD which is a very tough hitters park...no one should be surprised that he is doing better in Atlanta

2) Moving to a better hitting environment and also a park that doesn't expose his lack of range as much, it should also not be surprising if he puts up a season in the 1-2 win range

3) Defense does matter in left...and yes his is bad enough to subtract substantially from his overall value...he isn't the only left fielder to suffer from this fact