Spring has Sprung

[Super]

He's struggling right now for whatever reason.

yeah dude, no one said "actually he's mashing right now!" he's obviously not hitting well. it just means nothing and doesn't matter.

[nsacpi]

Just in... Snitker considering going with Markakis in RF to open the season due to Acuna's poor spring.

It's important to start planning ahead.

[Carp]

Ok fine. they are trying to hit balls into the OCEAN. Indian ocean.

Is that ok?

Pretty sure they prefer to be called Native Americans.

[Carp]

Acuna has struck out 11 times in 25 PA this spring. I don't think it's crazy at all to question what's going on. Look at acuna's 3 ST stat lines prior to this year... they look nothing like this one. As I said earlier, I'm not freaking out about it, but I also don't buy in to he's practicing his swing and misses. He's struggling right now for whatever reason.

ETA... I do expect Acuna to starting mashing soon

He hit like ass in AAA for awhile too when he didn't make the club out of ST. I'm sure he's working on some things, but ST stat lines are extremely meaningless.

[UNCBlue012]

Acuna has struck out 11 times in 25 PA this spring. I don't think it's crazy at all to question what's going on. Look at acuna's 3 ST stat lines prior to this year... they look nothing like this one. As I said earlier, I'm not freaking out about it, but I also don't buy in to he's practicing his swing and misses. He's struggling right now for whatever reason.

ETA... I do expect Acuna to starting mashing soon

Talking about it this much is quite literally freaking out over it. lmao.

[msstate7]

Talking about it this much is quite literally freaking out over it. lmao.

Got me. Going to doctor to get prescription to Xanax... can't sleep, can't eat... Acuna's K numbers are consuming me

[bravesfanMatt]

If acuna had 5 bombs and hitting .400 there would be10 pages of how he is going to rake but when he struggles it is meaningless. Yeah he will be fine but the justifications is always funny to me. It is like when a guy struggles is AAA he is working on something but when he is dominating then he is ready to move up.

It is ok to point out that acuna is garbage right now. It is ok to wonder if he has a hiccup in his swing or something nagging him. But I don’t see anyone panicking at this point. Just saying he is hitting like ass right now.

[Super]

He hit like ass in AAA for awhile too when he didn't make the club out of ST. I'm sure he's working on some things, but ST stat lines are extremely meaningless.

before being called up his rookie year, he was hitting .211 with a 64 wRC+ in games that actually counted.
the Braves obviously didn't think there was anything wrong because they called him up...and iirc he did pretty well once being called up.
but yes these ST stats are *definitely* worth talking about

[Carp]

It's probably due more to lack of effort/trying to not get injured than him simply struggling or having an injury or something. And that's not meant to be a criticism, btw. I'm sure he's working on some things in his own way, but I doubt that many players with starting spots locked up are out there giving it all they got during ST. ST stat lines are extremely meaningless for the majority of players for this very reason. Javy Baez hit like ass in 2018 ST and finished 2nd for MVP that year.

[Carp]

before being called up his rookie year, he was hitting .211 with a 64 wRC+ in games that actually counted.
the Braves obviously didn't think there was anything wrong because they called him up...and iirc he did pretty well once being called up.
but yes these ST stats are *definitely* worth talking about

If I recall, there were reports he looked bored in AAA. I could see that. Not a great characteristic you want to see out of a prospect, but he was 20 years old, so it's hard to be too negative on him.

[Carp]

before being called up his rookie year, he was hitting .211 with a 64 wRC+ in games that actually counted.
the Braves obviously didn't think there was anything wrong because they called him up...and iirc he did pretty well once being called up.
but yes these ST stats are *definitely* worth talking about

If I recall, there were reports he looked bored in AAA. I could see that. Not a great characteristic you want to see out of a prospect, but he was 20 years old, so it's hard to be too negative on him.

[salmagundy]

FWIW==

The following are out of options.

Adam Duvall, LF
Luke Jackson, P
Grant Dayton, P
Mike Foltynewicz, P

[msstate7]

FWIW==

The following are out of options.

Adam Duvall, LF
Luke Jackson, P
Grant Dayton, P
Mike Foltynewicz, P

Dayton is probably only questionable for spot, right?

[Carp]

Dayton is probably only questionable for spot, right?

I don't think Dayton gets claimed. I suppose he could request his release, but considering he's a journeyman and so many teams will have their 40 man rosters set, I'd probably roll the dice and assign him to AAA. Tyler Matzek looks legit. I hope he makes it as the 2nd lefty. I also hope Josh Tomlin is booted to AAA (or booted off the team in general) in favor of Weigel or Touki. Preferrably Weigel given how strong he has looked so far in ST and the fact that I want Touki to get another look as a starter in AAA this year.

Rotation I would assume will be Soroka, Fried, Folty, Felix, and Newk to start the season.

[CyYoung31]

If I recall, there were reports he looked bored in AAA. I could see that. Not a great characteristic you want to see out of a prospect, but he was 20 years old, so it's hard to be too negative on him.

I believe one of our resident experts had it on good authority that he was “silently pouting.”

[clvclv]

I don't think Dayton gets claimed. I suppose he could request his release, but considering he's a journeyman and so many teams will have their 40 man rosters set, I'd probably roll the dice and assign him to AAA. Tyler Matzek looks legit. I hope he makes it as the 2nd lefty. I also hope Josh Tomlin is booted to AAA (or booted off the team in general) in favor of Weigel or Touki. Preferrably Weigel given how strong he has looked so far in ST and the fact that I want Touki to get another look as a starter in AAA this year.

Rotation I would assume will be Soroka, Fried, Folty, Felix, and Newk to start the season.

Not sure what else Weigel can do to earn a spot at this point - disheartening to hear Snitker ramble on that "I think his velocity will get back with work". Unlike most of the 5th-6th inning guys we've had in recent years, he's not walking anybody, not having to wriggle off the hook because hitters are reaching on weak contact, etc.. Snitker rarely uses anybody for more than one inning anymore (Tomlin included), and Weigel's the exact opposite of Tomlin/Webb/Sobotka/Minter who you always worry will put lots of guys on and keep you from holding things where they are so the offense can get you back in a game or that will turn a 5 run lead into a tight game quickly.

With Wright, Anderson, Wilson, Davidson, Muller, and Ynoa (plus potentially De La Cruz) also all likely in Gwinnett, I'm not sure Touki gets another shot to start while he's a Brave - if that is indeed the case, I wish they'd commit to giving him the 9th inning if he gets sent down because I still think he could eventually become a late-inning weapon at the MLB level.

[jpx7]

Not sure what else Weigel can do to earn a spot at this point - disheartening to hear Snitker ramble on that "I think his velocity will get back with work". Unlike most of the 5th-6th inning guys we've had in recent years, he's not walking anybody, not having to wriggle off the hook because hitters are reaching on weak contact, etc.. Snitker rarely uses anybody for more than one inning anymore (Tomlin included), and Weigel's the exact opposite of Tomlin/Webb/Sobotka/Minter who you always worry will put lots of guys on and keep you from holding things where they are so the offense can get you back in a game or that will turn a 5 run lead into a tight game quickly.

With Wright, Anderson, Wilson, Davidson, Muller, and Ynoa (plus potentially De La Cruz) also all likely in Gwinnett, I'm not sure Touki gets another shot to start while he's a Brave - if that is indeed the case, I wish they'd commit to giving him the 9th inning if he gets sent down because I still think he could eventually become a late-inning weapon at the MLB level.

What logic is there in continuing to throw SP innings at Ynoa, but foreclosing starting for Toussaint?

The former’s future is essentially a fait accompli, and the Braves’ treatment of him last year reflected that. Meanwhile, Toussaint actually has a starter’s repertoire; the question is simply whether he can command it sufficiently with more reps.

[UNCBlue012]

Got me. Going to doctor to get prescription to Xanax... can't sleep, can't eat... Acuna's K numbers are consuming me

You're the one who posted about Acuna's not-even-remotely-important Spring Training stats.

[msstate7]

You're the one who posted about Acuna's not-even-remotely-important Spring Training stats.

It's bc I'm freaking out

[UNCBlue012]

It's bc I'm freaking out

Boy, you gonna get this d1ck if you don't watch it