Acuna to AAA

I don't understand how Eloy is ranked higher than Acuna. Acuna has better stats at a higher level at a younger age.

He was one rung ahead of him to start the season and I don't think 3 months is enough to justify anything different. Eloy has likely gone from a 60 FV player to a 65 FV player and Acuna has gone from a 55 FV player to 60 FV player. If Acuna continues to hit well at AAA the remainder of the year you may see Acuna catch Eloy as a 65 FV player in the offseason. I wouldn't be shocked by that at all.
 
Why everyone mentioning Archer. He is not available, they are near contention....it would take a bigger package than Quin.
 
Jake: Thoughts on Acuna’s bump to Gwinnett? Do the Braves see Andruw 2.0 in him?

Keith Law: I think they’re rushing him. He’s a hell of a prospect, but I don’t get the urgency here, and I’d like to see him struggle at a level and then have to stay there long enough to make adjustments at the plate, since he’s not very patient or selective.
 
Dusty: Do you agree with the aggressive promotion of Acuna to AAA? Think he sees the majors in 2017?

Keith Law: I assume this is the plan for them – probably was all along. It’s not like he dominated high-A to justify the first promotion, so this must be a “get him to the majors” agenda.
 
Dusty: Do you agree with the aggressive promotion of Acuna to AAA? Think he sees the majors in 2017?

Keith Law: I assume this is the plan for them – probably was all along. It’s not like he dominated high-A to justify the first promotion, so this must be a “get him to the majors” agenda.

He's on a very similar track to Albies. I'd be very surprised if Acuna was called up to the majors this year or played the whole year in the majors next year.
 
He's on a very similar track to Albies. I'd be very surprised if Acuna was called up to the majors this year or played the whole year in the majors next year.

albies has like 3+ years of MLB at bats. Acuna doesn't have 1. They are the same age but nowhere near the same experience.
 
Dusty: Do you agree with the aggressive promotion of Acuna to AAA? Think he sees the majors in 2017?

Keith Law: I assume this is the plan for them – probably was all along. It’s not like he dominated high-A to justify the first promotion, so this must be a “get him to the majors” agenda.

I think KLaw is right on this. He is being rushed needlessly.

His BABIPs this year...

A+: .411

AA: .396

These are incredibly unsustainable values, and they have "only" resulted in OPS's of .814 and .895.

He should have stayed in AA until his BB rate got back over 10%, and his K rate fell below 20%.

At least they didn't trade him (or Albies) for Q...I guess I should be thankful for that.
 
Jake: Thoughts on Acuna’s bump to Gwinnett? Do the Braves see Andruw 2.0 in him?

Keith Law: I think they’re rushing him. He’s a hell of a prospect, but I don’t get the urgency here, and I’d like to see him struggle at a level and then have to stay there long enough to make adjustments at the plate, since he’s not very patient or selective.

I suppose that the Braves could be looking for the level that will consistently cause him to make adjustments, but I agree with Law that this unnecessarily rushed. By promoting him, they let hype build and momentum for him to be pushed up to Atlanta. I don't know why they would want that particularly with the contracts they have in place in 2018.
 
Paddy: Why is Robles ranked higher than Acuna? Acuna seems to be a better hitter and has played at higher levels?

Keith Law: I dispute that he’s a better hitter, and he’s played at higher levels because they’re rushing him up the ladder. I think Robles has a better approach and is presently a better defensive CF.
 
The more I think about it, if I'm rushing prospects it's pitchers. Pitchers are the ones one pitch away from crazy injury.

Harry trade idea:
Get gray for Anderson and gohara
Flip gray and Tehran to the astros for bregman plus the farm

Infield of bregman Swanson Albies Freddie backed up by comargo

Of inciarte plus astros guys. Acuna a shot. Maybe keep Acuna down some

Pitch
Folty
Newcombe
Vet on pillow deal. Guy like arrietta looking for a year to up value
Dickey
Best of allard soroka wright.

The next year rotation is
Folty
Neck
Wright
Allard
Soroka
 
Dusty: Do you agree with the aggressive promotion of Acuna to AAA? Think he sees the majors in 2017?

Keith Law: I assume this is the plan for them – probably was all along. It’s not like he dominated high-A to justify the first promotion, so this must be a “get him to the majors” agenda.



Don't forget Ozzie was dominating AA last year until a trip to AAA cooled him off. I could see Acuna being on the same path.
 
how do we know this isn't a frenchy situation? I honestly don't know. I don't watch the games.

If someone just throws junk balls will Acuna walk? Frenchy couldn't.
 
I really like the idea of Anderson and Gohara for Gray and then flipping Gray. Oakland may want a lower level prospect to go with the two, so you may not get Gray without adding in a 3rd player of some sort.

I'm not sure Teheran and Gray get Bregman PLUS the farm. You may get Bregman plus one other high upside/potential player and a lower level guy. I say go for Bregman and Tucker. Maybe I am valuing the prospects much more than the proven commodities.

Why are the Astros wanting both Gray and Teheran in this scenario up 16.5 games? Why wouldn't they do two separate deals if they did rather than for some strange reason paying a premium for them packaged together?
 
I just don't see the huge rush for some of these guys, but the aggressive promotions have seemed to work well with Acuna (so far), Albies, Soroka, and Allard.... they've all taken to their new leagues pretty well.

The biggest take away here for me is that Acuna just continues to impress people, there was so much hype before the season but I couldn't have imagined he'd be in AAA at some point. Its very exciting to have a potential super-star at the high levels, as much as we all liked Swanson and as much as I still very much love Albies, it just feels like Acuna might be on an entirely different level with his defense+power+speed.
 
I just don't see the huge rush for some of these guys, but the aggressive promotions have seemed to work well with Acuna (so far), Albies, Soroka, and Allard.... they've all taken to their new leagues pretty well.

The biggest take away here for me is that Acuna just continues to impress people, there was so much hype before the season but I couldn't have imagined he'd be in AAA at some point. Its very exciting to have a potential super-star at the high levels, as much as we all liked Swanson and as much as I still very much love Albies, it just feels like Acuna might be on an entirely different level with his defense+power+speed.

None of the above so far has been rushed to the majors with very little time in AA and AAA the way Swanson was. Now Swanson came out of college so he was a bit different. But I think even for college players, at least a year in the upper levels (AA and AAA) is beneficial. Albies has been there for a year and a half so far. He's had some struggles in AAA both this year and last year. And he's worked his way through them. I think going through that in AAA is going to serve him well once he hits the majors.

As for Acuna, the development of his power is the big story this year. Our system has been light on guys with power. I haven't been concerned about that for two reasons. One is power develops later and unpredictably. Second, I think a team can win without much power. Having good productive players is more important than a particular attribute like power. Still, its been a nice development to see Acuna show the kind of power he has this year. He gave a preview of it in spring training.
 
None of the above so far has been rushed to the majors with very little time in AA and AAA the way Swanson was. Now Swanson came out of college so he was a bit different. But I think even for college players, at least a year in the upper levels (AA and AAA) is beneficial. Albies has been there for a year and a half so far. He's had some struggles in AAA both this year and last year. And he's worked his way through them. I think going through that in AAA is going to serve him well once he hits the majors.

As for Acuna, the development of his power is the big story this year. Our system has been light on guys with power. I haven't been concerned about that for two reasons. One is power develops later and unpredictably. Second, I think a team can win without much power. Having good productive players is more important than a particular attribute like power. Still, its been a nice development to see Acuna show the kind of power he has this year. He gave a preview of it in spring training.

I think you need power, but it doesn't necessarily have to be concentrated in the heart of the order.

Very hard though to string three hits together consistently if that is the way you have to score.
 
Why are the Astros wanting both Gray and Teheran in this scenario up 16.5 games? Why wouldn't they do two separate deals if they did rather than for some strange reason paying a premium for them packaged together?

b.c I made it up.

In my made up scenario the Astros are up and don't want to spend too much for Gray. We get Gray. But then the idea of putting Gray and JT together is too strong a pull and they make the move. It might be easier to justify giving up a guy in a monster deal. You can't send Moran to Atl and Oakland, but you can send him to one place.

Those two in one move would almost guarantee things IMO.

It's a made up thing...it's not happening.
 
Not sure that it is a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it just seems like a pointless move that doesn't really have upside (maybe some downside if he struggles?) He did pretty good in AA, but wasn't hitting at a level where you just say he's too good for here, move on. Just seems strange to me. And you can absolutely promote a guy from AA to the majors so it's not that. There is no real rush here. I wouldn't plan to call him up until mid season next year.
 
I have had this conversation over and over in the offseason.

It is possible for a team to win without much power. But the odds aren't good. I don't think it is "Dumb and Dumber" so there's a chance odds, but not good. Right now the above average team HR teams in baseball are:

1. Houston (148)
2. Milwaukee (138)
3. Texas (135)
4. TBR (133)
5. NYY (132)
6. NYM (129)
7. LAD (127)
8. Cin (125)
8. Oak (125)
8. Was (125)
9. Balt (123)
10. CHC (117)
11. Tor (117)
12. Arz (113)

League average is 111.

The Braves have 88, one ahead of Pittsburgh and 13 ahead of the Giants for worst in baseball.

In the bottom half of baseball, KC and STL are the closest to league average with 107. Colorado has 104. Cleveland has 103. Seattle 101. Minnesota 100.

Boston is the real anomaly with 92 just 4 more than the Braves. However, they have the 4th best team ERA in baseball behind the Dodgers, Cleveland and Arizona. (The Braves have the 7th worst team ERA in baseball).

This is one of the areas where I think the whole idea of WAR breaks down. If you have a team where every player is a 3 WAR guy theoretically where one teams players don't hit for a lot of power, have excellent defense and base running where that makes up a significant part of their value, playing against a team of 3 WAR guys who hit a lot of HR, play decent defense and don't steal bases, then the power team will win most of the time because when you hit a single and steal a base there's still a good chance you won't score. Whereas, when you hit a HR you score at least one every time.
 
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