Is the rebuild in trouble?

[Southcack77]

for the record this is what the Braves had in 2016 if they did nothing:

2016 2017
Freddie Freeman 12m 20m
BJ Upton 15 m 16m
Kimbrell 11m 13m
Chris Johnson 7m 9m
Andrelton Simmons 6m 8m
Julio Teheran 3.3m 6.3m
Alex Wood 500k 2.8,
*Gattis 3.2m 5.2m

57.7m 78m

So:

C - Gattis (I guess?)
1B - Freeman
2B - Peraza
SS - Simmons (great defensive shortstop)
3B - Chris Johnson (cut by Indians in 2015, because bad)
CF - BJ Upton (one of worst players in baseball)

SP - Teheran (up and down)
SP - Alex Wood (pitched 70 IP in 2015, 60 IP in 2016, currently on DL in 2017 after 48 IP)

Very possibly I've forgotten some pieces, but that doesn't seem like a team that's likely to be near .500 any time soon. Honestly, they are probably just as bad in 2016 as they actually were, and worse in 2017 and 2018 then the Braves figure to be. Maybe they win 10-15 more games in 2015 and at the very best get bounced in the wild card? Would that really have been better?

 

[sturg33]

I think this is such a silly argument, we had to rebuild, so many of those assets we had weren't going to re-sign here and then what??

We'd be a bad team with a much shallower farm system if we had continued trying to compete without the capacity to do so. I

It wasn't "so many assets"... It was Heyward and Upton. Kimbrel, Gattis, Wood, and Simmons were all under long term control. Why couldn't we use Markakis/BJ money to lock up Upton or Heyward? Why couldn't we have held on to them to try to make another good playoff run (like we did in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)?

We're paying Markakis & Kemp $29M this year... we could have afforded one of our own.

While it's true that may not have been the right decision, it was at least an option... and hey ward and Upton both had good years in 2015 again. At the very least, we could have traded them at the deadline if we weren't competitive.

I think our ORGANIZATION would look a lot better today if we had Heyward/Upton, Simmons, Kimbrel, Wood, Gattis, Peraza today. The big wild card was whether we still would have been able to trade-rape Stewart... which we can't assume in this alternative reality.

But the strength of our farm system today lies in our top 5 - which in my opinion are Albiies, Acuna, Allard, Soroka, and Matian. We also would have had a 1st round pick last year, even if it wasn't Anderson.

The other strength of our farm system is depth.. which is great, but I'd rather have a competitive major league team with top heavy farm than a ****ty major league with a good depth farm system (most of which will never pan out into anything).

Just my $0.02... but I think most people think we're in good shape because of all the selling we did. In reality, we missed on most of the big trades, but may have salvaged a disaster with Dave Stewart.

 

[Southcack77]

It wasn't "so many assets"... It was Heyward and Upton. Kimbrel, Gattis, Wood, and Simmons were all under long term control. Why couldn't we use Markakis/BJ money to lock up Upton or Heyward? Why couldn't we have held on to them to try to make another good playoff run (like we did in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)?

We're paying Markakis & Kemp $29M this year... we could have afforded one of our own.

While it's true that may not have been the right decision, it was at least an option... and hey ward and Upton both had good years in 2015 again. At the very least, we could have traded them at the deadline if we weren't competitive.

I think our ORGANIZATION would look a lot better today if we had Heyward/Upton, Simmons, Kimbrel, Wood, Gattis, Peraza today. The big wild card was whether we still would have been able to trade-rape Stewart... which we can't assume in this alternative reality.

But the strength of our farm system today lies in our top 5 - which in my opinion are Albiies, Acuna, Allard, Soroka, and Matian. We also would have had a 1st round pick last year, even if it wasn't Anderson.

The other strength of our farm system is depth.. which is great, but I'd rather have a competitive major league team with top heavy farm than a ****ty major league with a good depth farm system (most of which will never pan out into anything).

Just my $0.02... but I think most people think we're in good shape because of all the selling we did. In reality, we missed on most of the big trades, but may have salvaged a disaster with Dave Stewart.

How could BJ's money have been used to lock up Heyward or Upton? that doesn't make sense.

Markakis makes 11 million which is not anything near what Upton or Heyward make.

Heyward made 21 million in 2016 and 28 million in 2017.
Upton is making 22 million.

How would the Braves have trade raped Dave Stewart without any of the assets they sent in the deal.

How would the Braves have filled out a rotation?

 

[sturg33]

How could BJ's money have been used to lock up Heyward or Upton? that doesn't make sense.

Markakis makes 11 million which is not anything near what Upton or Heyward make.

Heyward made 21 million in 2016 and 28 million in 2017.
Upton is making 22 million.

How would the Braves have trade raped Dave Stewart without any of the assets they sent in the deal.

How would the Braves have filled out a rotation?

Upton was off the books at the end of 2017... So you can plan for that.

I don't care enough to go back and look at 2015 options but the Braves could have filled out a rotation... if they tried to... It might not have been good, but it could have been done. I'm not pretending like I have all the answers... but the 2014 wasn't very different from the 2013 team, who won 96 games. Or the 2012 team, who won 94 games. Sorry to say, but a team that has Freeman, Simmons, Upton, Heyward, Gattis, is a lot of talent in a lineup. We decided to blow it up.

The results of blowing it up aren't that impressive to me... not nearly as enticing as trying to win again like we did 2010, 2011, 2012, or 2013. Not to mention, we'd still have players like Gattis, Simmons, Kimbrel, Wood, and Peraza, who we could always trade even still today.

 

[Southcack77]

Upton was off the books at the end of 2017... So you can plan for that.

I don't care enough to go back and look at 2015 options but the Braves could have filled out a rotation... if they tried to... It might not have been good, but it could have been done. I'm not pretending like I have all the answers... but the 2014 wasn't very different from the 2013 team, who won 96 games. Or the 2012 team, who won 94 games. Sorry to say, but a team that has Freeman, Simmons, Upton, Heyward, Gattis, is a lot of talent in a lineup. We decided to blow it up.

The results of blowing it up aren't that impressive to me... not nearly as enticing as trying to win again like we did 2010, 2011, 2012, or 2013. Not to mention, we'd still have players like Gattis, Simmons, Kimbrel, Wood, and Peraza, who we could always trade even still today.

The Braves had to make payroll in 2016 and in 2017 during which time Upton would still be under contract.

Sign Heyward to 22 million in 2016 and 28 m in 2017 and the Braves payroll sits at 80 million and 96 million respectively and you still have to sign at least one OF, and three SP, the rest of the bullpen and a bench on about 100-110 million total.

Plus we know that BJ Upton and Chris Johnson were pretty unplayable, Gattis still doesn't really have a tenable position really, and Wood would be injured.

I don't think trying really hard would have allowed the Braves to sign enough guys to be very good under their salary limitations. And there would have been nothing to promote. In fact, even the guys that would still theoretically have been drafted by the Braves or who were already in the system would have been out of the question in 2016, mostly 19 in 2017, and 20 in 2018.

 

[sturg33]

The Braves had to make payroll in 2016 and in 2017 during which time Upton would still be under contract.

Sign Heyward to 22 million in 2016 and 28 m in 2017 and the Braves payroll sits at 80 million and 96 million respectively and you still have to sign at least one OF, and three SP, the rest of the bullpen and a bench on about 100-110 million total.

Plus we know that BJ Upton and Chris Johnson were pretty unplayable, Gattis still doesn't really have a tenable position really, and Wood would be injured.

I don't think trying really hard would have allowed the Braves to sign enough guys to be very good under their salary limitations. And there would have been nothing to promote. In fact, even the guys that would still theoretically have been drafted by the Braves or who were already in the system would have been out of the question in 2016, mostly 19 in 2017, and 20 in 2018.

Heyward was under contract in 2015... we wouldn't have had to extend his salary to your number. You're thinking of 2016. BJ was a playable player... he put up 1.6 WAR in 2015. And I probably don't need to remind you that we're celebrating the possibility of Matt Kemp producing 1 WAR.

There were TONS of starting pitching options on the free agent market going into 2015... People like Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano, Jason Hammel, Ken Maeda, Edison Volquez, AJ Burnett, Brandon Mcarthy, Brett Anderson, (not to mention Scherzer, Lester, Shields, etc).

The idea that the Braves couldn't have been competitive in 2015 is crazy to me. Just using their actual results:

Gattis: 0.2WAR (but not a good comp bc he didn't play C... he played C in 2016 and put up 2.6WAR)
Freeman: 3.5WAR (in only 118 games)
Kelly Johnson (or anyone): 0.2
Simmons: 3.2 WAR
Uribe: 1.8WAR
Upton: 3.5 WAR
BJ Upton: 1.8 WAR
Jason heyward: 6 WAR

That's a lineup ~21 WAR and a healthy Freeman & Gattis catching (which is what we would expect) adds another ~2 WAR to that

So that's 23 WAR... that would have ranked the Braves 8th in MLB... and that's before adding in any help from the bench

 

[Southcack77]

It is however absolutely correct that the Braves would still in 2017 have Gattis, Simmons, Kimbrell, Wood, and Peraza to trade.

having won 85 games in 2015 and 65-70 games in 2016 when their #2 starter only managed 60 IP, and on pace for 65-70 in 2017 they would have little choice but to trade Kimbrell's expiring deal though you'd think in your hypothetical they would have traded him at the deadline in 2016, which may well be the all time peak for closer return.

But you certainly could trade the Braves assets then when they are mostly older, have fewer years of control, and less favorable contracts. And the return would likely be prospects that aren't likely to be the heart of a winner in the near future.

You've had a one year of hope, two bad years, and then you are starting a rebuild from scratch. That's what your scenario likely would have been.

 

[sturg33]

It is however absolutely correct that the Braves would still in 2017 have Gattis, Simmons, Kimbrell, Wood, and Peraza to trade.

having won 85 games in 2015 and 65-70 games in 2016 when their #2 starter only managed 60 IP, and on pace for 65-70 in 2017 they would have little choice but to trade Kimbrell's expiring deal though you'd think in your hypothetical they would have traded him at the deadline in 2016, which may well be the all time peak for closer return.

But you certainly could trade the Braves assets then when they are mostly older, have fewer years of control, and less favorable contracts. And the return would likely be prospects that aren't likely to be the heart of a winner in the near future.

You've had a one year of hope, two bad years, and then you are starting a rebuild from scratch. That's what your scenario likely would have been.

I agree with this. My only point is that we would have had another shot at playoffs, and I don't think we'd be in much worse shape now.

We'd still have Albies, Acuna, Allard, Soroka, and Matian, 2016 pick, PLUS we'd have Gattis, Kimbrel, Wood, Peraza, and Simmons

That's a better organizational state (IMO) than Albies, Acuna, Allard, Soroka, Matian, Anderson, Folty, Wisler, Olivera, and Newcomb

Would you agree with that assessment?

 

[Carp]

While I love Newcombe as a prospect, I still don't like the Simmons trade. He is a fantastic player that was so fun to watch. Even if you thought he was never going to be any better of a hitter than he already was (a foolish assumption) he is still an all world defensive talent at the most important defensive position. And he is on a great contract.

 

[Southcack77]

Heyward was under contract in 2015... we wouldn't have had to extend his salary to your number. You're thinking of 2016. BJ was a playable player... he put up 1.6 WAR in 2015. And I probably don't need to remind you that we're celebrating the possibility of Matt Kemp producing 1 WAR.

There were TONS of starting pitching options on the free agent market going into 2015... People like Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano, Jason Hammel, Ken Maeda, Edison Volquez, AJ Burnett, Brandon Mcarthy, Brett Anderson, (not to mention Scherzer, Lester, Shields, etc).

The idea that the Braves couldn't have been competitive in 2015 is crazy to me. Just using their actual results:

Gattis: 0.2WAR (but not a good comp bc he didn't play C... he played C in 2016 and put up 2.6WAR)
Freeman: 3.5WAR (in only 118 games)
Kelly Johnson (or anyone): 0.2
Simmons: 3.2 WAR
Uribe: 1.8WAR
Upton: 3.5 WAR
BJ Upton: 1.8 WAR
Jason heyward: 6 WAR

That's a lineup ~21 WAR and a healthy Freeman & Gattis catching (which is what we would expect) adds another ~2 WAR to that

So that's 23 WAR... that would have ranked the Braves 8th in MLB... and that's before adding in any help from the bench

No, I've literally not mentioned 2015 at all except to charitably say the Braves might have won 85+ games that year with the highest upside being a loss in the playoffs.

Heyward refused to sign a below market extension with the Braves, went on the open market and signed a contract that pays him 22 million in 2016 and 28 million in 2017. I don't know what else to tell you except I guess this is your fairy tale.

I'm not celebrating Kemp putting up 1 WAR, I don't think he should be on the team. However, I think if you deduct the money the Padres paid to get rid of him the Braves are theoretically on the hook for 21m - 3 million - 6 million in 2017. I'm not a big fan of that frame since the Braves have to cut him a check for 18 million, but its one way that people look at it. But again, I hated that deal. If you made me pick between Kemp's contract and Heywards, assuming HEyward doesn't opt out, I'd probably take Kemp's. Because Hayward would be a total albatross for the Braves.

Braves Let Santana go after 2014. If you want him in 2015 and 2016 and 2017, I'll give him to you for the 13.5 million the Twins are paying him.

He gave you 100 ok IP in 2015 and 180 good IP in 2016 on pace for a good season in 2017.

However with him and Hayward you have blown past the Braves payroll limits in 2016 and you have below replacement level players everywhere else. you've also taken Soroka out of your minor league system because he was the comp pick for losing Santana.

 

[Russ2dollas]

While I love Newcombe as a prospect, I still don't like the Simmons trade. He is a fantastic player that was so fun to watch. Even if you thought he was never going to be any better of a hitter than he already was (a foolish assumption) he is still an all world defensive talent at the most important defensive position. And he is on a great contract.

Bowman on MLB tv today said they were concerned his d would go down with age and was vulnerable to injury. Claimed uzr backed up that trend even though he's still a stud

I'd rather have Simmons and have the chance to deal Swanson or albies

 

[sturg33]

No, I've literally not mentioned 2015 at all except to charitably say the Braves might have won 85+ games that year with the highest upside being a loss in the playoffs.

Heyward refused to sign a below market extension with the Braves, went on the open market and signed a contract that pays him 22 million in 2016 and 28 million in 2017. I don't know what else to tell you except I guess this is your fairy tale.

I'm not celebrating Kemp putting up 1 WAR, I don't think he should be on the team. However, I think if you deduct the money the Padres paid to get rid of him the Braves are theoretically on the hook for 21m - 3 million - 6 million in 2017. I'm not a big fan of that frame since the Braves have to cut him a check for 18 million, but its one way that people look at it. But again, I hated that deal. If you made me pick between Kemp's contract and Heywards, assuming HEyward doesn't opt out, I'd probably take Kemp's. Because Hayward would be a total albatross for the Braves.

Braves Let Santana go after 2014. If you want him in 2015 and 2016 and 2017, I'll give him to you for the 13.5 million the Twins are paying him.

He gave you 100 ok IP in 2015 and 180 good IP in 2016 on pace for a good season in 2017.

However with him and Hayward you have blown past the Braves payroll limits in 2016 and you have below replacement level players everywhere else. you've also taken Soroka out of your minor league system because he was the comp pick for losing Santana.

I've already gone way too far down this rabbit hole. We can't rationally discuss hypotheticals bc the decision changed things so drastically.

my ENTIRE point was simply:

- I wanted to reload for another shot in 2015
- We didn't... burnt it to the ground, in order to re-build the farm system
- In retrospect, the yield of that burn down has not resulted in much for long term success from the farm

The strength of our farm system would have remained intact whether we went for it or didn't... and we'd still have tremendous assets to have on the big league club or still leverage for farm assets.

 

[thewupk]

Bowman on MLB tv today said they were concerned his d would go down with age and was vulnerable to injury. Claimed uzr backed up that trend even though he's still a stud

I'd rather have Simmons and have the chance to deal Swanson or albies

Surprised Bowman even knows what UZR is. Still DRS has Andrelton as a powerhouse defender.

 

[Southcack77]

I agree with this. My only point is that we would have had another shot at playoffs, and I don't think we'd be in much worse shape now.

We'd still have Albies, Acuna, Allard, Soroka, and Matian, 2016 pick, PLUS we'd have Gattis, Kimbrel, Wood, Peraza, and Simmons

That's a better organizational state (IMO) than Albies, Acuna, Allard, Soroka, Matian, Anderson, Folty, Wisler, Olivera, and Newcomb

Would you agree with that assessment?

Look, I think the minor league system is clearly much better now than on Earth 2 and I think you agree with that. I'm not sure that's really debatable. Because its the same players except with two or three more top 100 level guys and 10-11 guys that might make a major league roster.

Do I think that having Gattis, Kimbrel, Wood, Peraza, and Simmons with relatively little remaining core is a particularly great or even better core? I don't.

1. Gattis - I don't like him. Never really did. He's turning 31. He bad defensively at catcher and in the field. He's a FA in 2019.
2. Kimbrell - To me closer is one of the least valuable positions on a team. I think he's probably overpaid for a small market team. He's a FA in 2019.
3. Wood - I like him fine, I don't think he's an elite pitcher. He's a FA in 2020 and he's been injured since the Braves traded him.
4. Peraza - Here is a guy that doesn't have power or walk. He's fine when he is cheap.
5. Simmons - His bargain years are gone. He's absolutely a solid SS.

Again, you are probably trading most of those guys anyway.

you are buying one more year of contention and then starting your rebuild two seasons later with two ugly seasons in the books.

 

[Southcack77]

I've already gone way too far down this rabbit hole. We can't rationally discuss hypotheticals bc the decision changed things so drastically.

my ENTIRE point was simply:

- I wanted to reload for another shot in 2015
- We didn't... burnt it to the ground, in order to re-build the farm system
- In retrospect, the yield of that burn down has not resulted in much for long term success from the farm

The strength of our farm system would have remained intact whether we went for it or didn't... and we'd still have tremendous assets to have on the big league club or still leverage for farm assets.

I understand that you would really wanted to try and contend with a flawed team in 2015. I get that.

I also understand that in your view the two or three top 100 prospects and the 10-11 other guys who might make a major league roster obtained through all these trades (and the likes of Folty, Inciarte, Swanson, Wisler, Blair, etc) are not worth much.

I disagree that the strength of the Braves farm system would be intact either way. Because the truth is the guys you have arbitrarily decided will make it may well not. And the guys that you have dismissed may well not. But odds are some of them will and its better to have more options.

I also disagree with you that the Braves were likely to be particularly good in 2015. they had a losing record in 2014 and not a whole lot of obvious options in the rotation in 2015. But it could have happened.

I think the Braves would have been awful in 2016 and 2017, just as awful or worse than they have been. And they would likely get less for the assets they still had now than they did when they were younger with more control.

I disagree that the guys you miss were "tremendous assets". I think they would be aging and more expensive assets that would likely have to be traded or signed to unwise extensions.

-----

I'm not saying that the Braves rebuild is a success or that it will be a success. I'm just saying that if the Braves had done what you suggest they would be in a worse position in 2017 than they are now and would be looking at what ultimately would have turned out to be a longer rebuild.

 

[sturg33]

Look, I think the minor league system is clearly much better now than on Earth 2 and I think you agree with that. I'm not sure that's really debatable. Because its the same players except with two or three more top 100 level guys and 10-11 guys that might make a major league roster.

Do I think that having Gattis, Kimbrel, Wood, Peraza, and Simmons with relatively little remaining core is a particularly great or even better core? I don't.

1. Gattis - I don't like him. Never really did. He's turning 31. He bad defensively at catcher and in the field. He's a FA in 2019.
2. Kimbrell - To me closer is one of the least valuable positions on a team. I think he's probably overpaid for a small market team. He's a FA in 2019.
3. Wood - I like him fine, I don't think he's an elite pitcher. He's a FA in 2020 and he's been injured since the Braves traded him.
4. Peraza - Here is a guy that doesn't have power or walk. He's fine when he is cheap.
5. Simmons - His bargain years are gone. He's absolutely a solid SS.

Again, you are probably trading most of those guys anyway.

you are buying one more year of contention and then starting your rebuild two seasons later with two ugly seasons in the books.

The fact that you act like those 5 plays don't have much value tells me all I need to know. While the Yanks are getting studs for their closers, we're getting Matt Wisler. While Alex Wood is putting up the most dominant season in MLB, Hector Olivera is out of baseball. While Simmons continues to put up 3-4 WAR seasons, Sean Newcomb is walking 5 players per 9 in AAA at age 24. While we struggle to find catching options, Gattis is coming off a 2.5 WAR season as a catcher.

To act like having these guys wouldn't make much of a difference in our current organizational strength is preposterous to me.

Oh well, moving on.

 

[Carp]

Heyward was under contract in 2015... we wouldn't have had to extend his salary to your number. You're thinking of 2016. BJ was a playable player... he put up 1.6 WAR in 2015. And I probably don't need to remind you that we're celebrating the possibility of Matt Kemp producing 1 WAR.

There were TONS of starting pitching options on the free agent market going into 2015... People like Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano, Jason Hammel, Ken Maeda, Edison Volquez, AJ Burnett, Brandon Mcarthy, Brett Anderson, (not to mention Scherzer, Lester, Shields, etc).

The idea that the Braves couldn't have been competitive in 2015 is crazy to me. Just using their actual results:

Gattis: 0.2WAR (but not a good comp bc he didn't play C... he played C in 2016 and put up 2.6WAR)

Freeman: 3.5WAR (in only 118 games)

Kelly Johnson (or anyone): 0.2

Simmons: 3.2 WAR

Uribe: 1.8WAR

Upton: 3.5 WAR

BJ Upton: 1.8 WAR

Jason heyward: 6 WAR

That's a lineup ~21 WAR and a healthy Freeman & Gattis catching (which is what we would expect) adds another ~2 WAR to that

So that's 23 WAR... that would have ranked the Braves 8th in MLB... and that's before adding in any help from the bench

The problem is we had less than like 25 million, I think, in order to replace 3/5 of our rotation and make any other improvements we needed. And there was zero help coming from the minors at that time. 25 million isn't going to buy you much of a rotation (as we are currently seeing this year) and we had little in the way of minor league currency in order to trade for SP.

Trying to remain competitive would have been a bad choice. The Olivera trade really hurt our rebuilding plans. Wood and Pereza would be very useful pieces on our current team, if not great trading pieces that could have landed us a much bigger fish than Olivera.

 

[Carp]

Bowman on MLB tv today said they were concerned his d would go down with age and was vulnerable to injury. Claimed uzr backed up that trend even though he's still a stud

I'd rather have Simmons and have the chance to deal Swanson or albies

I just didn't see the urgency to trade him. Again, while I love Newk, it isn't like we got an amazing return Simmons.

 

[Carp]

The fact that you act like those 5 plays don't have much value tells me all I need to know. While the Yanks are getting studs for their closers, we're getting Matt Wisler. While Alex Wood is putting up the most dominant season in MLB, Hector Olivera is out of baseball. While Simmons continues to put up 3-4 WAR seasons, Sean Newcomb is walking 5 players per 9 in AAA at age 24. While we struggle to find catching options, Gattis is coming off a 2.5 WAR season as a catcher.

To act like having these guys wouldn't make much of a difference in our current organizational strength is preposterous to me.

Oh well, moving on.

While this is nitpicking your post, Gattis is barely a catcher. He started only like 50 games at catcher last year and was not good.

 

[Southcack77]

The fact that you act like those 5 plays don't have much value tells me all I need to know. While the Yanks are getting studs for their closers, we're getting Matt Wisler. While Alex Wood is putting up the most dominant season in MLB, Hector Olivera is out of baseball. While Simmons continues to put up 3-4 WAR seasons, Sean Newcomb is walking 5 players per 9 in AAA at age 24. While we struggle to find catching options, Gattis is coming off a 2.5 WAR season as a catcher.

To act like having these guys wouldn't make much of a difference in our current organizational strength is preposterous to me.

Oh well, moving on.

Well, first the Yankees didn't get studs for their closers at the same time the Braves traded Kimbrell. It happened at different times. And as discussed recently here, the Braves took salary relief and received a decent haul for him, IMO.

But yes, if the Braves traded Kimbrell in 2017, I would certainly hope that they got a good prospect for him. Just know that that the prospect would likely be a way away and you might have given up on him by the time he got to the majors.

Alex Wood is on the DL after pitching 40 IPs. He hasn't pitched 70 IPs in three years. He's never been as good as he was showing and its unlikely he suddenly got that good. The Dodgers didn't even have him in their rotation plans. I liked him fine. He's not one of the elite pitchers in baseball in my opinion.

Sure the Oliveira trade was bad. What does that have to do with anything?

Simmons is a great defensive shortstop who is paid like a great defensive shortstop. he's getting older and more expensive every minute of the day. I actually think he'll be an above average to great defender at the end of his contract and probably will be worth it. But I'm not especially upset that the's not on the Braves because I don't think he's a great payroll fit for them.

Newcomb is a top 100 prospect with dominant stuff. I'm sorry that you've given up on him.

We aren't having trouble finding catching options. I think Gattis is a DH. I think he's more likely to be out of the league in three years than a 2.5 WAR player.

I think you resent that your favorite Braves were traded for prospects rather than established major leagues that you could see immediately. You are very upset that they flew a white flag rather than gave you one last run in 2015.

That's fair. It's ok to feel that way.