AA's Failure

[striker42]

Let's look at the scope of AA's offseason failure. It's actually quite impressive.

The OF:
We had an open OF spot giving us a real chance to improve the lineup. What does AA do? He brings back Duvall trying to explain it was health problems that caused his struggles and then re-signs Markakis. Instead of upgrading he literally brought back the same guys who are good bets to decline. Duvall was so putrid in spring he didn't even make the roster.

The Rotation:
You can blame some of this on injuries to Folty and Gaus but injuries is a big reason why you need another proven starter. We're going to be starting Kyle Wright in our third game of the season. A guy with a bright future but still in need of polish.

The Pen:
The bullpen got zero attention this offseason and it shows. Carle, Jackson, and Tomlin made the opening day roster. Over a third of our pen spots were won by guys who shouldn't be pitching on a major league roster. How can all those guys make our roster while not signing a single legitimate reliever? This might be the biggest failure of any GM in baseball this offseason.

The Bench:
AA being convinced Duvall was going to bounce back had us scrambling at the end of ST. Camargo going to the bench helps but there's no real power threat off the bench (even with Joyce hitting the HR today).



AA's failure this offseason was enormous. Not every hole on a roster needs a $20 million fix. The lack of getting role players that cost $2 to $5 million a piece has left us with a roster full of holes. Holes that have been made worse with injuries.

Honestly, if AA was fired tomorrow I wouldn't be upset. I realize he hasn't been at the job long but whiffing so many times this offseason is just embarrassing.

[nsacpi]

AA took the sort of approach (emphasis on getting value) that I've been advocating, so I can't really complain. Sam Freeman over Luke Jackson is the one decision that doesn't make sense to me. Joyce could turn out to be a good bench bat. A lefty bat actually makes sense on the bench to go along with Camargo (switch who hits better righty) and Culberson (righty). I presume Camargo showed well enough in the outfield to convince management that he should be the one who spells Inciarte and Markakis against lefties.

[Hudson2]

Not getting 1 bullpen arm is inexcusable imo. We needed to get at least 1 reliable arm and he failed period. At the end of last season nobody in baseball or this board would have guessed we had Markakis and Duvall both coming back but that disaster happened also. Instead of value I would have rather overpaid and got a legit hitter than went the path he did. He had A pretty bad offseason imo and more depends on Donaldsons health.

[nsacpi]

Not getting 1 bullpen arm is inexcusable imo. We needed to get at least 1 reliable arm and he failed period. At the end of last season nobody in baseball or this board would have guessed we had Markakis and Duvall both coming back but that disaster happened also. Instead of value I would have rather overpaid and got a legit hitter than went the path he did. He had A pretty bad offseason imo and more depends on Donaldsons health.

I kept banging the drum for Bud Norris. It was a bit of a joke, but I did think an extra bullpen arm would be a good idea. The pen ain't bad with Minter and O'Day. But you have to assume a certain amount of attrition.

Hopefully Parsons and/or Sobotka step forward and give us some good work this year. I'm guessing Jackson and Carle are the guys sent down when Minter and O'Day return. And let's not forget Winkler, who I like better than Jackson and Carle.

[Hudson2]

I kept banging the drum for Bud Norris. It was a bit of a joke, but I did think an extra bullpen arm would be a good idea. The pen ain't bad with Minter and O'Day. But you have to assume a certain amount of attrition.

Hopefully Parsons and/or Sobotka step forward and give us some good work this year. I'm guessing Jackson and Carle are the guys sent down when Minter and O'Day return. And let's not forget Winkler, who I like better than Jackson and Carle.

I was cool with Norris too, heck anybody that would have helped would be a welcomed addition. But to not get just 1 guy was pretty bad. Bullpen arms were pretty cheap this offseason and that just pours even more salt in the wound.

[Pacheaholic]

AA took the sort of approach (emphasis on getting value) that I've been advocating, so I can't really complain. Sam Freeman over Luke Jackson is the one decision that doesn't make sense to me. Joyce could turn out to be a good bench bat. A lefty bat actually makes sense on the bench to go along with Camargo (switch who hits better righty) and Culberson (righty). I presume Camargo showed well enough in the outfield to convince management that he should be the one who spells Inciarte and Markakis against lefties.

There is a huge difference between value and cheap. The Braves were super cheap and tried to make the excuse that they were looking for value.

[striker42]

There is a huge difference between value and cheap. The Braves were super cheap and tried to make the excuse that they were looking for value.

This. I understand trying to get good value and making the money we have go as far as possible. But there comes a point where you have to fix the holes even if you're not getting the value you want.

If someone goes grocery shopping, looks for sales, and tries to find good deals, that person is looking for value and making their money go as far as possible. When someone refuses to buy food because they don't think the sales are good enough and starves to death, that person is an idiot.

AA took the latter route.

[Jay212033]

This offseason was a complete failure! AA failed to address the teams biggest needs and he can give me all the excuses he wants but he completely whiffed!

[bravesfanMatt]

I have made my position known about AA. But he couldn’t efficiently address everything listed. The starting pitching was fine. We have the depth to handle the injuries. We should have gotten on reliever at least and then to keep Luke over Sam was dumb. My biggest complaint is not upgrading the offense with at least one more impact bat. Could have been at catcher or outfield.

I also think he played the value game too tightly. He desired value over wins and hopefully it won’t hurt us too much this season. He also has a tricky off season next too. But with a worse FA class. I think his time was this year and he was too conservative or maybe just in over his head. I don’t know.

I still think we are a good club capable of making some noise. Just need things to go right with kids and neck/Mac being good.

[Enscheff]

The failure occurred at whatever point early in the off season when AA budgeted for replacements and severely miscalculated how much it would cost to upgrade cOF.

As soon as he splurged on JD and then couldn’t afford Brantley, the Braves went into scramble mode. That scramble resulted in them grabbing Markakis, and trying to add “a guy with a big salary” to make up for it. Holding back payroll for that big salary (probably Myers) forced the Braves to watch all the value BP arms get signed out from underneath them.

As a result, they ended up with no “big salary guy”, no BP additions, and a pretty bad situation in cOF....and a pocket full of cash.

All because they thought they could get someone like Brantley or Cutch for peanuts.

[Julio3000]

I think AA is good, and the bullpen will be fine when things shake out a bit. It’s certainly fine to wonder why we didn’t pick up a cheap piece or two there, though.

My ire is reserved for ownership, who seems to have the fanbase on a constant bait-and-switch hook for when we’re going to be a top-third payroll.

[The Chosen One]

This team is FINNISH.

Thanks AA

[bravesfanforlife88]

It really is frustrating as a fan. This team has some really good pieces, that with the right veteran additions, could make a deep run.

AA failed to do so and I hope the fans questioning him get louder.

[JxnMissFan]

If the Braves win their next game will there be a thread started about AA’s successes?

[Southcack77]

I kept banging the drum for Bud Norris. It was a bit of a joke, but I did think an extra bullpen arm would be a good idea. The pen ain't bad with Minter and O'Day. But you have to assume a certain amount of attrition.

Hopefully Parsons and/or Sobotka step forward and give us some good work this year. I'm guessing Jackson and Carle are the guys sent down when Minter and O'Day return. And let's not forget Winkler, who I like better than Jackson and Carle.

Luke Jackson has done unclaimed about seventeen times. I have no idea why he keeps getting brought back.

Carle wasn’t terrible last year so don’t mind him in his current role which should be low leverage dude/gwinnett train, but injuries are playing some role there.

[nsacpi]

Luke Jackson has done unclaimed about seventeen times. I have no idea why he keeps getting brought back.

Carle wasn’t terrible last year so don’t mind him in his current role which should be low leverage dude/gwinnett train, but injuries are playing some role there.

I agree Carle > Jackson

but he's still a sacrificial lamb type 8th guy whose main role is to protect the more valuable arms

oh and this

Sam Freeman > Carle

[Southcack77]

I agree Carle > Jackson

but he's still a sacrificial lamb type 8th guy whose main role is to protect the more valuable arms

oh and this

Sam Freeman > Carle

I think Carle and Freeman are pretty equivalent. I'm not really sure why they released Freeman, though. If he hadn't been released folks would probably be complaining about him being a member of the staff.

The problem here is mainly injuries and perhaps will develop into the manager not properly using the resources he has available to him because he has comfort level from habit with other guys.

[nsacpi]

I think Carle and Freeman are pretty equivalent. I'm not really sure why they released Freeman, though. If he hadn't been released folks would probably be complaining about him being a member of the staff.

The problem here is mainly injuries and perhaps will develop into the manager not properly using the resources he has available to him because he has comfort level from habit with other guys.

The next week or so will be a test for Snitker. It is easy to manage a flush pen. But when a couple key guys go down, it becomes paramount to identify who to move into a higher leverage role. I actually don't think it was crazy to bring Carle in during the 6th inning yesterday. But he flunked the test. I think Sobotka and Parsons should be moved ahead of Carle for higher leverage situations that call for a righty. They might flunk the test too, but lets give them the next shot.

[Southcack77]

The next week or so will be a test for Snitker. It is easy to manage a flush pen. But when a couple key guys go down, it becomes paramount to identify who to move into a higher leverage role. I actually don't think it was crazy to bring Carle in during the 6th inning yesterday. But he flunked the test. I think Sobotka and Parsons should be moved ahead of Carle for higher leverage situations that call for a righty. They might flunk the test too, but lets give them the next shot.

I don't one think one appearance is really anything, but given how well Parsons pitched last year and in spring training it would be ok with me if he got more chances early on.

[Jay212033]

If the Braves win their next game will there be a thread started about AA’s successes?

But we won't cause we're getting swept!