Arizona Fall League

nsacpi said:
Even though La Stella got off to the hot start and got all the publicity, Kubitza has ended up also having an impressive AFL season.

Kubitza's slash lines: .305/.431/.888

La Stella: .290/.436/.904

Kubitza is a year and a half younger and is also considered to be a better defender at his position. Also has more defensive versatility as someone who can play first and corner outfield in addition to his usual third base.
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I think our fans are going to be surprised when the farm system ranking come around. Braves have a lot of under the radar prospects that are close to contributing at the major league level. The potential stars are in the lower minor leagues but in the meantime there will be several players that contribute at the major league level in a support role.
 
thethe said:
I think our fans are going to be surprised when the farm system ranking come around. Braves have a lot of under the radar prospects that are close to contributing at the major league level. The potential stars are in the lower minor leagues but in the meantime there will be several players that contribute at the major league level in a support role.
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I agree. A lot of years the Triple A team is stuffed with journeymen career minor leaguer types. Next season we're going to have a AAA team mostly made up of real prospects, especially on the pitching staff. Not high ceiling guys, but players who can still contribute as role players at the major league level. Many of them college players taken in the 2010 and 2011 drafts.

I think there has been an overall strategy with recent drafts. The 2010 and 2011 drafts were done with the need to replenish our depth in the upper level minors in mind. Having accomplished this, we've seen more high ceiling/high risk high school players drafted in 2012 and 2013, a trend I expect to see continue with the 2014 draft.
 
I think we have A LOT of solid guys coming in to the upper levels. Like you said, not stars, but solid contributors, and a lot of them.
 
Its those kinds of players that have resulted in the Braves having the most productive farm system in the last 10 years. Just producing solid guys with a sprinkling of stars.
 
Potential pitching staff in Gwinnett: Hale, Martin, Gilmartin, Thomas, Northcraft, Buchter, Obispo, Simmons, Harper, Jaime, Lamm, Hoyt, Schlosser.

We have a bit of a surplus there, especially in terms of right-handed arms. Where possible you trade from areas of strength. We saw a hint of that last year in the Rasmus for Downs trade. I think we'll see more where the surplus of near-major league ready right-handers will be used to fill in whatever holes develop.
 
yeezus said:
I think we have A LOT of solid guys coming in to the upper levels. Like you said, not stars, but solid contributors, and a lot of them.
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That's how the Braves have been drafting for the last 4 years or so. Solid players. It seems like their strategy is to try to keep a few stars and then build around them. For us those guys would be Jason, Justin, and Freddie, and to slight lesser Simmons, Minor, Medlen, and Julio.

Braves would be wise though not to get too wrapped up inkeeping thier pitching together, I prefer the Rays way of keeping pitchers around then trading them for max value to bolster your farm.
 
nsacpi said:
Even though La Stella got off to the hot start and got all the publicity, Kubitza has ended up also having an impressive AFL season.

Kubitza's slash lines: .305/.431/.888

La Stella: .290/.436/.904

Kubitza is a year and a half younger and is also considered to be a better defender at his position. Also has more defensive versatility as someone who can play first and corner outfield in addition to his usual third base.
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There's a reason Tommy got all the Press, because he is major league ready and kept on doing what he does best, hit. Of course there are defensive concerns and a season in AA like he posted in the AFL would certianly bolster Kubitza but to me he ahs the same big question mark as Tommy did going into this year, can he continue his success into AA. If he does he'll be more legit, if he doesn't there will be a huge red flag.
 
nsacpi said:
Potential pitching staff in Gwinnett: Hale, Martin, Gilmartin, Thomas, Northcraft, Buchter, Obispo, Simmons, Harper, Jaime, Lamm, Hoyt, Schlosser.

We have a bit of a surplus there, especially in terms of right-handed arms. Where possible you trade from areas of strength. We saw a hint of that last year in the Rasmus for Downs trade. I think we'll see more where the surplus of near-major league ready right-handers will be used to fill in whatever holes develop.
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Plus Graham at some point.
 
Hale made a strong impression at the end of last season. I suspect he is the one who would start out in the pole position in terms of being the next one to get a shot in the majors.
 
Finall AFL stats, 2013:

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG. SB
Kubitza 19 59 11 18 2 2 1 5 .305 1
La Stella 18 62 6 18 6 1 1 10 .290 1
E. Reyes 14 43 6 11 4 0 0 3 .256 0
Hefflinger 20 `74 8` 14 2 1 1 7 .189 0

G GS W/L Sv. IP H R ER BB K ERA
Northcraft 7 7 1-5 0 18 23 19 16 15 19 8.00
Cornely 11 0 1-0 1 12 10 7 6 13 16 4.63
Jaime 10 0 0-0 0 10 11 8 7 7 15 6.10
Simmons 9 0 0-0 0 10 6 1 1 7 13 0.00
 
skidlee said:
http://berniepleskoff.mlblogs.com/

Bernie Pleskoff blog on the AFL

here is what he said about LeStalla

I don’t see why Braves Tommy La Stella can’t play 2B for the Braves at some point in the coming season. He’s a gritty, hustling contact hitter.
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Braves will have TLS/Pena/Pastor/Uggla compete in ST and whoever has the best one will be the starting second baseman and if all things are equal I think TLS gets the nod.
 
thethe said:
Braves will have TLS/Pena/Pastor/Uggla compete in ST and whoever has the best one will be the starting second baseman and if all things are equal I think TLS gets the nod.
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I mostly agree, with a couple exceptions. If Wren can find a dance partner that will take on whatever he considers to be enough of Dan's contract, Uggla will then be traded leaving those three. I also think Rev and Tommy have a leg up on Pena, whom I think they view and believe brings more value to this team as a super sub than a regular.
 
Can't access the BA Top 20, but La Stella and Simmons are on it (don't know where they are ranked). No Braves on MLB Top 20.
 
There was a lot of talent in the AFL. Much more than in your typical regular season minor league.

I think La Stella, Kubitza and Simmons all advanced their stature as prospects.
 
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