Around Baseball 2024 edition

I know he used to leap a lot as part of his showmanship personality.. it is about the spectacular versus the efficient. I wish Andruw could teach what he did.. he didn't care about making a play look spectacular but more about making a spectacular play look easy. I would love to see a study (I feel it could be done easily) where running through a play is just as similar to all these sliding/jumping catches... it is the same thing, imo, as sliding into first.. it was proven it doesn't really get you there faster. I have watched the play in 2019 a 100 times and there is zero to convince me that he simply running through that play would have made the catch more probably and easier versus that stutter step then jump crap he did..

Ronald says he still plays the game with the same passion as he did as a 12 year old.

I would say his outfield defensive route running to balls is probably the one thing in his game that's still comparable to a 12 year old. That and maybe all the injury teases that aren't injuries and just him being dramatic.
 
Ronald says he still plays the game with the same passion as he did as a 12 year old.

I would say his outfield defensive route running to balls is probably the one thing in his game that's still comparable to a 12 year old. That and maybe all the injury teases that aren't injuries and just him being dramatic.

I think we'll just have to accept that the way he plays the game the way he wants to play. And he's earned the right to play the way he wants to.
 
We're still a good bit away from the trade deadline, so it's still another month before the trade market is crystal clear. There are a few teams though we already figure will be sellers.

Marlins: They've already dealt Arraez, but you have to figure they are not done. Luzardo and De La Cruz are possible candidates.

White Sox: Are they going to have a fire sale?

Rockies: Not sure how much they have. I'm interested to see if they try to unload Kris Bryant.

Mets: Always something with them, it seems.

A couple teams that could be interesting to see what happens with them:

Blue Jays: Disappointing season so far. Have seen George Springer connected to the Braves.

Rays: Just not the same team in past years. Have heard Zach Eflin rumors. Randy Arozena?
 
I think we'll just have to accept that the way he plays the game the way he wants to play. And he's earned the right to play the way he wants to.

So, just to make sure I am getting what you are saying, you think he should continue to play reckless because he has always played reckless and has two brand new knees because he played reckless. Is that what you are saying??
 
So, just to make sure I am getting what you are saying, you think he should continue to play reckless because he has always played reckless and has two brand new knees because he played reckless. Is that what you are saying??

That is, in fact, not what I said.
 
I do think winter ball needs to be a no go from here on and the Braves need to enforce it. His body needs rest just like everybody else’s and especially as he gets older.
 
McCutchen and Winker are my tops 2 options at the deadline. Neither one should cost much to acquire. I don't see us realistically replacing Arcia. He's had some terrible luck and his underlying stats aren't really any different than previous seasons.

If we add a pitcher, I hope it is someone like Eflin, whose cost should be minimal. With the rates that TJS are happening, it probably wouldn't be a wise investment to trade multiple top prospects for someone like Luzardo
 
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That is, in fact, not what I said.

it is in fact what you said. my analogy is you go to one of your delivery drivers and say: "Richard, you are 24 and just totaled your second car to go along several traffic citations, but you have done your job pretty well so you have earned the right to drive the way you drive..."

Acuna hasn't earned the right to play stupid.. he can still be a great player (hopefully) without all the stupid antics and risky base running.
 
McCutchen and Winker are my tops 2 options at the deadline. Neither one should cost much to acquire. I don't see us realistically replacing Arcia. He's had some terrible luck and his underlying stats aren't really any different than previous seasons.

If we add a pitcher, I hope it is someone like Eflin, whose cost should be minimal. With the rates that TJS are happening, it probably wouldn't be a wise investment to trade multiple top prospects for someone Luzardo

I like Winker, but don't trust McCutchen to hold up personally. But I like your thought process on these.. the Braves are not really in position to trade for anything major imo.. they can't deplete the farm completely for a bandage for this season. Let Arcia be and maybe address this offseason.. Get a mid level player for the outfield and maybe another mid level pitcher that would be maybe 4th in line for a postseason start.
 
it is in fact what you said. my analogy is you go to one of your delivery drivers and say: "Richard, you are 24 and just totaled your second car to go along several traffic citations, but you have done your job pretty well so you have earned the right to drive the way you drive..."

Acuna hasn't earned the right to play stupid.. he can still be a great player (hopefully) without all the stupid antics and risky base running.

No, it's not what I said at all.

I don't think he should play reckless at all. I don't see how it is useful to steal bases in ST. I also don't think it is smart to play these Venezuelan games in the off-season, which are the equivalent of rec. league games. And I think the additional value the stolen bases create in the season simply isn't worth the injury risks they create. I hope management can get him on board with protecting his body better.

But ultimately, Ronnie is gonna play how Ronnie wants to play. Management can suggest all they want, but he's earned the right to play how we wants to play. Maybe that's selfish of him. But conversely, the Braves have been paying arguably the best player in the game relative peanuts for about 7 years now, and will continue to pay him well under market value for the foreseeable future. So the Braves don't exactly have the moral high ground on that front.


And bitching about it into the ether of the internet isn't going to change anything either. So, what I am saying is that maybe accepting that this is who Ronnie is would be more productive than trying to wish he was someone different.

Sort of similar to how Andruw was treated by fans and the media back in the day. Everyone thought he should have been better than he was instead of accepting and appreciating what he actually was.
 
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Can kelenic play rf? Maybe move him and Duvall's platoon to rf and get mark canha. He gets on base, and he does well vs lhp and rhp. He'd be cheap too imo
 
Can kelenic play rf? Maybe move him and Duvall's platoon to rf and get mark canha. He gets on base, and he does well vs lhp and rhp. He'd be cheap too imo

I wanted him before the Mets got him.. then a few good years with them.. but I didn't think he was still playing well.. I actually don't even know where he went.
 
It's neglible after this season, but we are currently carrying a lot of dead money as a result of acquiring him because we are paying players that are playing somewhere else.

Yup. This was the worst season to have s star player (let alone two) go down from a money perspective with Kelenic. A lot of money is tied up into him that could have helped replace Acuna or Strider. Arcia is also looking like an upgrade candidate.
 
I have faith that Kelenic is starting to figure things out after the swing change this spring. Over the last month the K-Rate is down substantially and the power is up substantially. Progress. He probably won't develop into the breakout 4-5 WAR player we had envisioned when we traded for him, but I think he can be a solid bat with plus defense, which is valuable while he's cheap. The lite beer version of Joc Pederson
 
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