DOTW 9/23/'13: Playoff Roster - Who Should Be Our 25?

[NYCBrave]

Here's our current roster since we expanded the rosters. Who needs to be our 25 that make the playoff roster? I imagine the toughest decisions will be around whether we're going with 4 starters, and if so who will be the 4th, as well as the back end of the bullpen and possibly the final bench spot. Thoughts?



Pitchers

Luis Avilan
Luis Ayala
David Carpenter
Scott Downs
Freddy Garcia
David Hale
Craig Kimbrel
Kameron Loe
Paul Maholm
Kris Medlen
Mike Minor
Julio Teheran
Anthony Varvaro
Jordan Walden
Alex Wood

Catchers

Christian Bethancourt
Evan Gattis
Gerald Laird
Brian McCann

Infielders

Freddie Freeman
Paul Janish
Chris Johnson
Elliot Johnson
Andrelton Simmons
Dan Uggla

Outfielders

Jose Constanza
Jason Heyward
Reed Johnson
Jordan Schafer
Joey Terdoslavich
B.J. Upton
Justin Upton

[zitothebrave]

This is what I presume we'll go with

SP

Medlen
Minor
Julio
Wood


RP

Kimbrel
Avilan
Walden
Carpenter
Downs
Ayala
Loe/Garcia/Maholm (to pitch the garbage innings)

C - Mac
1B - Freddie
2B - Uggla/Johnson (really hope Uggla starts hitting cause I don't want Elliot Johnson as our starting 2B)
3B - Johnson
SS - SImmons
LF - Gattis
CF - Jason
RF - Justin

Regular late defensive substitutions

Bench

BOssman
Schafer
Laird
Johnson/Uggla

Then the last 2 spots I'm largely up for consideration. I presume Janish has the inside track on one of them as the only real backup SS. Bethancourt would take a miracle to get him and Gattis both on the postseason roster so I'll just presume that won't happen. Reed I think will come down with a phantom injury to make way for Gattis. Though who knows maybe that person to come down with the phantom injury would be Terds. All I know is someone from that list won't make it because of Gattis. Personally I'd roll with one more reliever and then bring Janish. Don't need 3 backup OF with Jason and Justin who'll be starting every game.

[NYCBrave]

It seems like Janish has settled nicely into that pinch runner/end of game defensive replacement for CJ role.

Also, I hate to say it but I'd almost rather see Constanza on here over BJ. It's not like BJ is going to have a chance to catch fire in the playoffs since he won't be starting.

[bravesnumberone]

I think the first thing you have to decide is are we going to go with three starters for the NLDS or four. And then are we going to carry 11 pitchers or 12? I'm guessing Fredi will go with 12, but he's never managed a postseason series so we don't know.

Assuming we do go 12 pitchers.

S1: Medlen
S2: Minor
S3: Julio
S4: If there is a fourth starter, it could be Wood, but I also could see it being Maholm or Garcia. The main reason being with Avilan's arm wearing down and Downs struggling, we may need Wood in the bullpen. But if we're down 2-1 at that point, I don't see how you wouldn't go with Medlen in game 4.

Bullpen:
Kimbrel
Avilan
Walden
Carpenter
Downs
Ayala or Varvaro - Would personally prefer Varvaro, but it'll be Ayala
Wood/Maholm/Garcia

Not even going to include Loe in the discussion.

Lineup
Heyward
Justin
Freeman
CJ
Mac
Gattis
Simmons
Uggla/EJ

Bench
Laird
Uggla/EJ
BJ
Schafer
Janish

And if there are six bench players, it'll be between Reed and Terd. I'm not comfortable with putting Reed in there unless we're able to get him some at bats this week, and that's difficult to do if he can't play in the field.

[50PoundHead]

I can't get a read on Fredi's use of Varvaro, but it would seem that Ayala is preferred.

I'm not much on Eliot Johnson and I don't see how the brass could justify having a $14 million player not on the playoff roster, but that's what it has come to. What a bleak situation.

[Heyward]

Tough.

Mac
Freeman
Uggla
Simba
CJ
Gattis
Heyward
JUp

Bench

EJ
Janish
BJ
Laird
Schafer

Medlen
Minor
Julio
Wood

Kimbrel
Walden
Carpenter
Avilan
Downs
Varvaro
Ayala
Garcia

Could see Wood in the pen as well.

[Nerfherders]

Medlen
Minor
Teheran
Maholm

Kimbrel
Avilan
Carpenter
Wood
Walden
Varvaro
Downs

Freeman
Uggla
Simmons
C Johnson
McCann
Laird
Gattis
E Johnson
Janish

Upton
Upton
Heyward
Schafer

[nsacpi]

Using Wood to relieve yesterday is a tip regarding to management's thinking.

[NYCBrave]

Using Wood to relieve yesterday is a tip regarding to management's thinking.

You think they're seriously considering Garcia/Maholm for the 4th spot, or maybe just preparing for everything?

[nsacpi]

You think they're seriously considering Garcia/Maholm for the 4th spot, or maybe just preparing for everything?

I think it is under consideration.

[57Brave]

God it is fun considering the playoff roster on the 23rd of September .. what a great season

[BlackwaterPark]

Pitchers

Luis Avilan
David Carpenter
Scott Downs
Freddy Garcia
Craig Kimbrel
Kris Medlen
Mike Minor
Julio Teheran
Anthony Varvaro
Jordan Walden
Alex Wood

Catchers

Evan Gattis
Gerald Laird
Brian McCann

Infielders

Freddie Freeman
Chris Johnson
Elliot Johnson
Andrelton Simmons
Dan Uggla

Outfielders

Jason Heyward
Reed Johnson
Jordan Schafer
Joey Terdoslavich
B.J. Upton
Justin Upton

[jcc03004]

Yah 50 I agree, Freddie's use of varvaro is questionable. Varvaro has been great pretty much all year and would prefer him over Ayala. It seems Freddie either throws Anthony a lot or he doesn't use him for 10 games. The question is though who's the set up man carpenter or walden

[NYCBrave]

I have no idea what Varvaro's role is on this team.

[nsacpi]

Ayala is more of a groundball pitcher, which makes me more comfortable with him on the mound in a close game. Fredi has mainly used Varvaro when the team has been behind or needed to rest the rest of the pen.

[Nerfherders]

I find it interesting that most people are leaving Maholm off their playoff rosters, even in favor of Garcia. I'd rather have Maholm start over Garcia any day of the week, especially at home.

[NYCBrave]

I find it interesting that most people are leaving Maholm off their playoff rosters, even in favor of Garcia. I'd rather have Maholm start over Garcia any day of the week, especially at home.

The problem is there won't be an opportunity to start Maholm at home unless you want him starting in games 1 or 2 (no chance) or a do or die game 5.

[bravebonebook]

Garcia did his job but is what he is. AT HOME, I could see Maholm being used. On the road or in a big need for an additional lefty I'd use Wood. I just don't see Garcia on the roster. But I do understand some of Ayala's experience and groundball ability over Varvaro; I just think Varvaro is the better pitcher. This team is covered top to bottom in youth. Experience will not be our strong point. If you want experience, put Huddy down there as a de facto bullpen/ bench coach and choose the pitcher with better ability: Varvaro over Ayala.

[Bdawg2309]

@mlbbowman: "As expected Fredi said Wood's move to the pen makes Freddy Garcia a definite candidate to start Game 4 of the NLDS. #Braves"


@mlbbowman: Wood might have remained in the rotation if Walden and Avilan were doing what they had been most of the season.

[emk418]

Wow Fredi. Freddy Garcia most likely in the playoff rotation?