Rosenthal: Growing Pains In Atlanta, Or Big Changes Coming?

57Brave said:
The Nats are playing so much better for Williams than Johnson.
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Or maybe they're just playing better and finally starting to realize they're a good team. It takes a while for new teammates to gel and build good team confidence.

Last year with CJ, Simmons and Freeman having career years we appeared better than we actually were.
 
Runnin said:
Or maybe they're just playing better and finally starting to realize they're a good team. It takes a while for new teammates to gel and build good team confidence.

Last year with CJ, Simmons and Freeman having career years we appeared better than we actually were.
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Good points, especially about our guys. I think a lot of folks were optimistic that we'd see a repeat, especially on Johnson. I rag on Johnson a lot and I don't think he's all that good, but he's better than he's played this season. He just seems to be plagued by a Francoeur brainlock. I did think Simmons was over his head last year, but again, I didn't think he'd be this bad. The baseball gods have gotten back at Freeman for when he popped off in April or May about how no one could get him out. He's still had a solid season, but the offense started to get really erratic when he didn't maintain his early season pace.
 
50PoundHead said:
Good points, especially about our guys. I think a lot of folks were optimistic that we'd see a repeat, especially on Johnson. I rag on Johnson a lot and I don't think he's all that good, but he's better than he's played this season. He just seems to be plagued by a Francoeur brainlock. I did think Simmons was over his head last year, but again, I didn't think he'd be this bad. The baseball gods have gotten back at Freeman for when he popped off in April or May about how no one could get him out. He's still had a solid season, but the offense started to get really erratic when he didn't maintain his early season pace.
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I think only the most dense members of the fan base expected anything other than regression from CJ this year. The only question was how much.
 
Enscheff said:
I think only the most dense members of the fan base expected anything other than regression from CJ this year. The only question was how much.
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I expected a regression on Johnson, but not this much. I'm talking more about the people I tangled with when I wrote vehemently against the extension. They still seem to think he's good.
 
I love the Braves and have since 1966. I am also probably the biggest optimist when it comes to trades and the future of the team. HOWEVER, it is time for them to clean up and go another direction headed towards the new stadium. Teheran, Wood, Kimbrell, Freeman, Simmons, Bethancourt and J Upton are my only keepers and nobody is untouchable. Wren and Fredi has to go as well. Just my O.
 
COGPK said:
I love the Braves and have since 1966. I am also probably the biggest optimist when it comes to trades and the future of the team. HOWEVER, it is time for them to clean up and go another direction headed towards the new stadium. Teheran, Wood, Kimbrell, Freeman, Simmons, Bethancourt and J Upton are my only keepers and nobody is untouchable. Wren and Fredi has to go as well. Just my O.
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I think you have to keep Heyward as well but I agree with the rest of your list.
 
nsacpi said:
Keeping Bethancourt rather than Gattis would be a big mistake imo.
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Yep. Bethancourt needs a year as a backup. Gattis/Bethancourt is the right move. You can trade Gattis and go with Bethancourt (if he does a good job as backup) in 2016.
 
I think it's OK to keep Heyward. He is still young and could break out soon. As for Gattis, he has trade value. We need to get away from the strike out guys. It would be nice to get a real leadoff hitter.
 
COGPK said:
I think it's OK to keep Heyward. He is still young and could break out soon. As for Gattis, he has trade value. We need to get away from the strike out guys. It would be nice to get a real leadoff hitter.
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We need to get away from the guys that can't hit at the plate regardless if they K or not. Unless it's a mass overpay in return I don't see how trading one of the few guys that can hit is going to help this team. Gattis, Heyard, Freeman, and Justin aren't the problem. The problem is the other 4 spots are among the worst in baseball.
 
thewupk said:
We need to get away from the guys that can't hit at the plate regardless if they K or not. Unless it's a mass overpay in return I don't see how trading one of the few guys that can hit is going to help this team. Gattis, Heyard, Freeman, and Justin aren't the problem. The problem is the other 4 spots are among the worst in baseball.
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It amazes me that people want to add Bethancourt's .580 OPS to the everyday lineup.
 
Bethancourt doesn't even have 1/2 a season of major league experience, or "sample rate," and at least one of the usual suspects already has his career written off.
 
Knucksie said:
Bethancourt doesn't even have 1/2 a season of major league experience, or "sample rate," and at least one of the usual suspects already has his career written off.
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I'm not writing him off. But I do think he has yet to show enough with the bat to justify inclusion into the everyday lineup.
 
50PoundHead said:
I expected a regression on Johnson, but not this much. I'm talking more about the people I tangled with when I wrote vehemently against the extension. They still seem to think he's good.
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I was one of the ones for the extension. Not because I thought he was good, or even as good as he looked last year. It was because I didn't see anything better on the horizon for the money (I still don't), because the contract looked tradable, and because I didn't see THIS much of a regression.
 
What should we expect out of CJ next year. Obviously something between 2013 and 2014, but closer to which?
 
JohnAdcox said:
I was one of the ones for the extension. Not because I thought he was good, or even as good as he looked last year. It was because I didn't see anything better on the horizon for the money (I still don't), because the contract looked tradable, and because I didn't see THIS much of a regression.
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I know I didn't tangle with you about Johnson. You are consistently polite and these guys weren't.
 
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