Certain not ideal, but not completely a gut punch either. I still have hope for both Newk and Wight. Newk was essentially a 2 WAR starting pitcher before last year. I feel pretty confident he can be a league average SP again.
And Hamels missing a bit of time is to be expected, as he's pitched less than 150 innings 2 of the last 3 years. Just hope it isn't a major injury.
Last edited by Carp; 02-12-2020 at 11:09 AM.
jpx7 (02-12-2020)
He’s old. If he can pitch well half the year...call if a success. Important for him to teach Fried.
That's why Felix Hernandez is in camp.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
Doesn't sound like this is a major issue. I think everyone can take a step back from the ledge. Hamels has been doing this for like 20 years so I'm not too worried about him needing a full ST to get ready.
jpx7 (02-12-2020)
Hamels can take all the time he needs to get ready. Hernandez/Newk/Wilson/Wright/Touki can all fill the void...
He needs to be fully healthy when he comes back.
Get off my lawn!
jpx7 (02-12-2020)
Yeah, Newk was a reliever last year so the sample wasn't all that big, but his BB/9 has decreased every season since he's been in the majors. If he could put up a 3.5 BB/9 this year, I think that'd be good enough to be a very good #4 or #5 in our rotation.
I'd rather be in a situation where he could stay in the bullpen, because I think that is probably where he's best suited at this point. But I'm relatively confident in his ability to hold down the back end of the rotation for as long as we need him to.
JohnAdcox (02-12-2020)
jpx7 (02-12-2020)
Newk probably gets the edge for me as well, but honestly I prefer to view that group as a whole rather than individually. I don't have an extreme amount of faith in any one candidate, but I have a ton of faith in that group's ability to collectively provide a good back end starter for us. Some come with more risk, but higher upside. Some come with a higher floor, but don't offer much beyond being a solid #5 or maybe #4. But viewed as a whole, I would be extremely surprised if one of them didn't come up and provide solid value for us this year.
jpx7 (02-12-2020)
Braves should visit with the Dodgers about the Pederson/Stripling trade. The Dodgers situation hasn't changed, they need to move some payroll and really have no room for either.
While we don't know who the 2 prospects going from the Angels to the Dodgers were (or the prospect going back from the Dodgers) in the failed Angels deal, I think it pretty safe to assume that it wasn't Jo Adell, the only top 100 guy the Angels have. Given that, it might be possible to swing a Camargo, Wilson, Jenista trade with Pederson and Stripling coming back.
The Braves would have an OF of Ozuna, Acuna, Pederson with Muk and Duvall backing up and Pache and Waters in AAA. Stripling slots into the rotation early, maybe moving to LR later if Hamels is OK.
The Braves then move Inciarte as part of a different trade, maybe for a 3B.
I think Camargo is expendable because he's not the long term answer anywhere and may not even be the short term answer at 3B. If the Braves HAD to they could play Hech at SS and Swanson at 3B until Riley comes around or they have to make a move at the break. The offensive difference between an Ozuna, Acuna, Inciarte OF and an Ozuna, Acuna, Pederson OF more than makes up for the loss of Camargo short term IMO.
JohnAdcox (02-12-2020)
Well, the Dodgers reportedly had an agreement in place with the Angels Pederson and Stripling for Rengifo and two minor leaguers. Rengifo is a not-quite Camargo. So that leaves the two minor leaguers. If you take Jo Adell out of the talks, which has to be done, then any two prospects that the Angels would have included would likely be no better than the two I included from the Braves.
To believe your stance that the Braves wouldn't likely be better would be to believe that Camargo and Inciarte return to 2018 form. And with Pederson improving and going into his age 28 season, I'm not sure even THAT would be good enough.
To me, this is about short and long term roster management. Inciarte has no [place on this team long term. Short term, yes, but there are options if he wasn't around. As for 3B and Camargo, do you really think that is the plan?
Wasn't the package for Pederson just Luis Rengifo? If so, I think offering Camargo, Wilson, and Jenista to allow the Dodgers to get under the luxury tax while getting back a guy who doesn't platoon well with our current outfield mix doesn't seem like a terrific idea and a pretty substantial overpay to a team with the Dodger's motivations.
JohnAdcox (02-12-2020)
Nah, that wasn't quite why I have doubts. I just think the drop in defense from Ender/Acuna to Acuna full-time and the drop from Camargo to Adeiny would wipe out nearly all of the one win improvement we'd get from turning Ender/Markakis/Duvall into a full-time Joc.
Carp (02-12-2020)