Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

[nsacpi]

Remaining decisions

1) Newcomb v Dayton for the last pen spot

2) Camargo v Adrianza

3) PANDA v Lamb v Kipnis for 2 bench spots

4) AJax v Contreras

5) Pache v Ervin for 4th outfield spot

I know almost everyone here is assuming that Pache will make the team, but I think he might be sent down for a month or so until he gets going with the bat. Ervin would play right against LHP, with Acuna moving to center.

[SJ24]

Hopefully we carry Jackson and get that extra year with William.

He's going to be a really good hitting catcher.

Agree on Pache as well. I want that extra year.

[50PoundHead]

Remaining decisions

1) Newcomb v Dayton for the last pen spot

2) Camargo v Adrianza

3) PANDA v Lamb v Kipnis for 2 bench spots

4) AJax v Contreras

5) Pache v Ervin for 4th outfield spot

I know almost everyone here is assuming that Pache will make the team, but I think he might be sent down for a month or so until he gets going with the bat. Ervin would play right against LHP, with Acuna moving to center.

I think Adrianza has made the team. I would move Camargo down to (3) so it's four guys for two positions.

[salmagundy]

I would say that Panda makes the OD roster along with Adrainza leaving Lamb, Kipnis and Camargo for 1 position.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Bryse Wilson options to alternate site. But the Braves have announced they will not use a 5th starter until 2nd time through rotation. So obviously the spot is his.

[mfree80]

I know who makes the opening day roster is important, but it will likely change during the first two weeks, and several times by the end of the first month. A few of these guys will be let go, but most will just go to AAA and come back when needed. There will be guys on the roster who are not in the organization right now.

[nsacpi]

I would say that Panda makes the OD roster along with Adrainza leaving Lamb, Kipnis and Camargo for 1 position.

PANDA being a switch hitter is YUGE. Plus he's had a better spring than the other guys.

[TURBO]

Man I really thought we would at least get 1 bat for the bench

[nsacpi]

Man I really thought we would at least get 1 bat for the bench

PANDA

[bravesfanforlife88]

Braves have selected the contracts of Nate Jones and Ehire Adrianza....Almonte cleared waivers and been assigned to the alternate training site. Touki placed on the 60 day IL with a throwing shoulder strain, not good

[msstate7]

Braves have selected the contracts of Nate Jones and Ehire Adrianza....Almonte cleared waivers and been assigned to the alternate training site. Touki placed on the 60 day IL with a throwing shoulder strain, not good

Damn on touki

[50PoundHead]

Panda's the only guy in the running for one of the bench positions (I am assuming Adrianza has made the team in this scenario) that has shown anything with the bat this spring. If it boils down to Camargo, Lamb, and Kipnis for the last spot and Snitker picks Camargo, I can already hear the complaining that "Snit went with one of his guys."

To be clear, I won't blame Snitker if that's the choice he makes. I think the blame, if this truly rises to the level where blame should be assigned, clearly falls on Anthopoulos for not being more aggressive looking for another solid bench player. Miller and Cabrera were out there and signed for reasonable contracts. Anthopoulos' overall grade has been very good, but he really flunked this spot quiz.

[salmagundy]

So that leaves Camargo, Panda, Lamb, and Kipnis fighting for for 2 spots.

I think Panda has one of those spots locked.

The other 3 have shown little to nothing so that decision should be a coin flip.

[UNCBlue012]

The #Braves today selected the contract of INF Pablo Sandoval, designated OF Phillip Ervin for assignment, and released INF Jason Kipnis.

[nsacpi]

Hope we can hold on to Ervin.

Lamb v Camargo for last spot on bench. Might keep both for now given we have an extra spot to play with until the 5th starter is activated.

[clvclv]

So that leaves Camargo, Panda, Lamb, and Kipnis fighting for for 2 spots.

I think Panda has one of those spots locked.

The other 3 have shown little to nothing so that decision should be a coin flip.

Like him or not and take all the shots at him you like, he probably needs to get one of the available spots. You want SOMEONE coming off the bench that can hit, and he can still do that. Having someone with power in that role is certainly a plus, but you want someone that can keep the line moving if you start a late rally and Adrianza isn't going to keep this up - he's mainly there to be the backup MI. Lamb's too much all or nothing, and we know Camargo simply isn't a threat.

Kipnis isn't much of an option IMO since he's really only going to be a backup at 2B - people want to think he could play a little 3B and possibly in LF, but if they thought his defense was even passable at those positions we'd probably have seen him get some game reps there by now. Instead, we've seen Riley play some OF with Lamb, Camargo, or Panda at 3B.

[clvclv]

Hope we can hold on to Ervin.

Lamb v Camargo for last spot on bench. Might keep both for now given we have an extra spot to play with until the 5th starter is activated.

Would just as soon carry both Newk and Dayton for the first ten days - let's finally move on from Camargo please.

[50PoundHead]

Like him or not and take all the shots at him you like, he probably needs to get one of the available spots. You want SOMEONE coming off the bench that can hit, and he can still do that. Having someone with power in that role is certainly a plus, but you want someone that can keep the line moving if you start a late rally and Adrianza isn't going to keep this up - he's mainly there to be the backup MI. Lamb's too much all or nothing, and we know Camargo simply isn't a threat.

Kipnis isn't much of an option IMO since he's really only going to be a backup at 2B - people want to think he could play a little 3B and possibly in LF, but if they thought his defense was even passable at those positions we'd probably have seen him get some game reps there by now. Instead, we've seen Riley play some OF with Lamb, Camargo, or Panda at 3B.

Bingo and that's why he's out of work and likely close to unemployable at the major league level anymore. Kipnis was a pretty solid player in his peak years, but he's a guy who really has to be a starter at his only position to have value. Maybe the Braves put him at other positions on the back fields and saw he had no positional flexibility, which really wrote the obit.

[clvclv]

Bingo and that's why he's out of work and likely close to unemployable at the major league level anymore. Kipnis was a pretty solid player in his peak years, but he's a guy who really has to be a starter at his only position to have value. Maybe the Braves put him at other positions on the back fields and saw he had no positional flexibility, which really wrote the obit.

I'd even think he might have been an option if there had been a DH this year - he or Lamb could have been the LH options to give Ozuna a blow with Riley moving to LF, but being able to at least fake it at multiple defensive positions is important without that extra spot in the order for a pure bat guy. Lamb, Panda, and Adrianza are at least LH compliments to Riley - Kipnis just wasn't.

[50PoundHead]

I'd even think he might have been an option if there had been a DH this year - he or Lamb could have been the LH options to give Ozuna a blow with Riley moving to LF, but being able to at least fake it at multiple defensive positions is important without that extra spot in the order for a pure bat guy. Lamb, Panda, and Adrianza are at least LH compliments to Riley - Kipnis just wasn't.

Good point on the lack of the DH. As they say about a lot of players "He (Kipnis in this case) plays bat." If he's not good enough to get regular ABs, he's not worth a whole lot.