Braves Catching Future (PART ONE)

[50PoundHead]

Have a feeling Herbert is going to need at the very least 3 more years. Contreras might even pass him.

All depends on the catch-and-throw aspect. Contreras is probably 3 years away as well.

[nsacpi]

I hope we extent the late bloomer this off-season. It should be a high priority. He can help provide a bridge since we do not have a catching prospect in the high minors. Scivicque might make it as a backup, but pretty unlikely as a regular.

[Chico]

I hope we extent the late bloomer this off-season. It should be a high priority. He can help provide a bridge since we do not have a catching prospect in the high minors. Scivicque might make it as a backup, but pretty unlikely as a regular.

I am all for extending Flowers. However, I would look in to Lucroy this offseason if he is traded and does not cost a pick. He's averaged 3. 5 wins over 5 years before this year. I don't know what happened, but you don't fall of a cliff like that. Even with age regression he could come back and have a decent 3 to 4 year stretch. If we could get him in a buy low situation I'd go for it and trade Flowers at his peak.

[Chico]

Have a feeling Herbert is going to need at the very least 3 more years. Contreras might even pass him.

I'm almost 100% sure Contreras is our catcher of the future. I feel like I need to change my name to something like Ventura stolen bases.

[nsacpi]

I am all for extending Flowers. However, I would look in to Lucroy this offseason if he is traded and does not cost a pick. He's averaged 3. 5 wins over 5 years before this year. I don't know what happened, but you don't fall of a cliff like that. Even with age regression he could come back and have a decent 3 to 4 year stretch. If we could get him in a buy low situation I'd go for it and trade Flowers at his peak.

catchers do sometimes fall off the cliff like that

i would re-sign Suzuki at a nice raise and extent Flowers

[nsacpi]

I'm almost 100% sure Contreras is our catcher of the future. I feel like I need to change my name to something like Ventura stolen bases.

that's a lot of pressure to put on a kid...don't do it

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

that's a lot of pressure to put on a kid...don't do it

Luckily Ventura's English is iffy according to the Talking Chop guys, so I doubt he knows about this.

[nsacpi]

Luckily Ventura's English is iffy according to the Talking Chop guys, so I doubt he knows about this.

someday he will find out and require long-term care

[thethe]

Luckily Ventura's English is iffy according to the Talking Chop guys, so I doubt he knows about this.

All of our board subscription fees go to translation scripts for the Latin fans.

[JohnAdcox]

catchers do sometimes fall off the cliff like that

i would re-sign Suzuki at a nice raise and extent Flowers

This. THANK you.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

someday he will find out and require long-term care

At least I didn't make my name Randy Ventura's All Star Teams, I guess.

[smootness]

Flowers needs to be extended. Period. There is no other realistic stopgap as good.

And we only hope he's a stopgap. There's no catcher in the minors that we feel good about at this point, and none that are close.

[rico43]

Don't need a stopgap if Suzuki is full-time (which I would consider).

Pretty amazing so many people are projecting Contreras (19) for catcher of the future with Gutierrez (17) blossoming. Last year, the chic catcher to discuss was Jonathan Morales (22). Herbert, as I pointed out above, is 20, hit .410 in June and has gone on to drive in 7 runs in 17 games so far in July.
With Cumberland, Jackson, et al, getting much more into the groove, it's plenty OK with me to have several guys with tools to do the job. But catch-and-throw is the toughest part of the game to find at the MLB level, and Herbert is closest.

[smootness]

Herbert has plenty of time and has a lot of good things to work with. But the bottom line is, we have no catchers in the system who are currently looking like good bets. We have some guys with talent, but they're mostly young with plenty of questions marks.

[Chico]

Have a feeling Herbert is going to need at the very least 3 more years. Contreras might even pass him.

We seem to be stockpiling C prospects and I'm ok with that. We'll hit on one or two. That's also where a lot of LF options come in to play. I'd do the same with 3B for the same reason. You don't groom a LF. One just ends up making sense.

[SJ24]

Gutierrez is the ticket. Kid's a monster.

Bump. Abraham threw out another base stealer today in the GCL.

Abraham is currently batting .266 in the GCL with a 17.1% K%.

He and Contreras are two of the best under-20 catchers in the world. Both from Venezuela: Gutierrez is from Caracas and Contreras is from Puerto Cabello (same as Kevin Maitan).

Contreras is the brother of the Cubs' Willson Contreras, who himself is a monster.

[SJ24]

Gutierrez had a hit last night and 2 more today. Average is up to .274. 16% K%.

He needs to be in Danville before the season is over. Physical specimen.

[SJ24]

I could see Gutierrez being our version of Gary Sanchez.

[clvclv]

catchers do sometimes fall off the cliff like that

i would re-sign Suzuki at a nice raise and extent Flowers

Will have to get him to agree to a number change - looks like we'll need #24 available for a young OF no later than June at this rate. LOL.

[nsacpi]

Will have to get him to agree to a number change - looks like we'll need #24 available for a young OF no later than June at this rate. LOL.

young outfielder to get special 007 number...first tri-numeric number in major league history to mark ascent of the uber Trout