50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Sign me up for the 26.8 career bWAR! Leave out the blips of malingering and attitude issues and we're all good.
2024 Minor League Thread
- Thread starter 50PoundHead
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Sign me up for the 26.8 career bWAR! Leave out the blips of malingering and attitude issues and we're all good.
Tapate50
Well-known member
And that whistling!
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
I seem to remember that Braves' 2004 2nd-round pick Eric Campbell got really riled up during the short stint that he and Escobar played together at Danville in 2005 because of Escobar's whistling. Escobar was only in Danville for a couple of weeks, but I seem to recall that he and Campbell almost came to blows over it.
Campbell was another guy who hit his ceiling in AA, but man he had solid power numbers in both A-ball and Independent League ball. AA is--and pretty much always has been--the level at which guys get sorted.
Tapate50
Well-known member
I remember him having a shot. But I also remember getting that Campbell confused with the dozens others that came after him thinking he was still hanging around some teams system.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
The Mets.
I always got him confused with Brandon Drury for some reason.
Hope you’re wrong on this one, Cajun.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
I don't think he is Vines.. he sits 93-95 right now.. with a plus slider. I am not sure if he has any other pitches or movement on anything, but I would assume a tier up from Vines and could be better but until we get some stat cast.. who knows.
Deester11
Well-known member
Braun is nothing like Vines (IMHO). Initially Braun had no defined out pitch but he threw 4 pitches. He does sit at about 93 more than 95 but he holds his velo well. The difference is, he's throwing a more refined slider than he threw in college and it's become a good out pitch. When he does ramp up his velo, he's not sacrificing command. He's around the plate and gives me Swelly vibes with the amount of pitches he can command. (Not Swelly athletic/pitching wise), just that they are not afraid to throw any pitch at any time. Vines was and had always been about his changeup. Braun has a toolbox that can be intriguing if he makes adjustments like Swelly.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Veras was a useful player… his defense was probably better. Nacho has more power potential and is much bigger.
Prado lite is a better comp imo
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As long as he isn't Rey Sanchez offensively, I would be ok with that.
Hudson2
Well-known member
Nacho will be able to help us either as a super sub type or as a valuable trade piece. I’d rather trade him in the offseason in a package for either a SP or a SS upgrade and use Arcia as the super sub. Bichette will be available and so will Crochet. Either one would help us out.
See what Waldrep and Nacho can get us in a trade. The Braves should be shopping in the bench aisle in free agency.
It's funny that it's taken injuries all over the field to get players that would make a quality bench. Kelenic/Laureano/Merrifield all have the makings of solid bench guys. Kelenic will still be around. Merrifield doesn't make sense unless Arcia is moved back to the bench. Laureano may want to try to start somewhere.
The more I keep thinking about it, the more I like the idea of trading for Correa and having Minny eat a [portion of the remaining contract. Minny has a potential in house replacement for Correa with Castro so Nacho could be appealing to them as a 2b option. Of course we would need a suitable back-up for Correa as well since he misses 20+ games per year.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
It should be an interesting off-season with all the money coming off the books and the additional leeway seeing the Braves won't be paying guys to play elsewhere next season (which makes the Kelenic deal look better). I've been complaining about the bench all year and I think keeping Alvarez around and have him develop a bit more at Gwinnett may be a strategy worth following. The Braves have been aggressive with him and that may have stunted him a bit as he moved to the AAA finishing school. He might be valuable as a three-position IF back-up in time. Same goes for Baldwin at catcher, whom I am more bullish about.
Of course, if someone bowls over the Braves with an offer and Alvarez is part of the package going elsewhere, they certainly have to consider it. That said, I don't see teams beating down the door for Alvarez. I think he's a mid-level prospect and those guys usually qualify as throw-ins. If the Braves move any of their prospects, I imagine it's going to be some of their second-tier pitching prospects (Hackenberg, Braun, Kuehler, etc.) unless, again, someone bowls them over and wants Smith-Shawver or Waldrep.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
I don’t necessarily disagree on your assessment of Alvarez but I think he is looked at more favorably by some talent evaluators out there. Fangraphs have him at 56th overall in their in season top 100 update as an FV 50. So, we really don’t know how all the front offices may view him. It could be smoke and mirrors but what he’s doing at AAA is pretty impressive.
Also… Fangraphs put Baldwin at #35 in the top 100.
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Tapate50
Well-known member
His profile has improved some with this AAA numbers. Unless the evs are that low. His mlb cup of coffee not withstanding.