stpeteirish
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Maybe people would respond better if you didn't call people "numbnuts".
You have no idea about my nuts.
Minor Shoulder & Urethra Issues
- Thread starter nsacpi
- Start date
Maybe people would respond better if you didn't call people "numbnuts".
You have no idea about my nuts.
But your point about the most runs is pointless when you see how many innings they pitched. So your point was pretty much pointless.
yeezus
It's OVER 5,000!
Dalyn told me upon joining this board, I needed to send him a pic of my nuts.
Did you not have to follow this rule? If not, why?
I fall victim to this as well but attacking a poster just adds nothing to the conversation. Dalyn was adamant last year about the lack of depth and it came back to bite us in the ass. Now I disagreed with him then and I disagree with him now but that doesn't mean I should say he is stupid and is bitter. This is a great community guys. Lets keep it that way!
Yeah, the starting pitching was pretty awesome last year as was the whole team. I believe the team got better which only means good things!
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Last year we had Tim Corcoran as a starter in the Gwinnett rotation at the start of the season. That was a warning sign that Wren had not built up our starting pitching depth as much as he should have.
This year the AAA rotation will have Hale, Martin, Thomas and either Northcraft or Schlosser. That is better depth than most teams.
At the major league level we have six solid starters: Medlen, Maya, Minor, Beachy, Teheran, Wood and Floyd. I presume Garcia will be in the pen and available to make a spot start.
Our depth is actually pretty admirable. It is true that we don't have a top of the rotation type guy, but that is a different if somewhat related issue. The lack of a guy who can pitch 220 plus innings does put some stress on the bullpen. But it does not really put stress on starting pitching depth. The thing that tests starting pitching depth is starters not being able to make starts. We are fine as long as we have to go no more than seven deep into our starting pitching depth chart. I'm counting Hale as #7. After him, we have a group of guys that are more iffy. I'd rather not that any of them make more than 2 or 3 starts.
Julio3000
<B>A Chip Off the Old Rock</B>
Going into last season, I thought that the lack of depth in the rotation was the team's biggest concern. We ended up ok, despite a season-ending injury to Hudson and having gotten less than expected from Beachy. This season, our depth looks better on paper, albeit the reserves are mostly untested. With the caveat that ill luck could still sink us, I'm convinced that we're better off.
Last year, Freddy make pitch 4 times, and Kameron Loe got a start. With the caveat that having Freddy make pitch in the postseason was not a desirable outcome, we really did ok.
Last year, Freddy make pitch 4 times, and Kameron Loe got a start. With the caveat that having Freddy make pitch in the postseason was not a desirable outcome, we really did ok.
Runnin
Well-known member
No offense but what a fan believes in his fandom is not relevant. What we know is that Medlen can do it for a month. Already 3 National League Pitcher of the Month awards. We've seen stretches of dominance from Beachy too. I'm just satisfied with quality starts and at least 7 innings.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Last year, we were lucky to be bailed out by a kid who was pitching in college in 2012 and had not pitched above low A until 2013.
Being concerned about the quality and readiness of the Braves' SP depth is not negative or unfounded. It's an observation that happens to be true. Yes, the Braves have depth ... guys that can pitch (and potentially, quite well) ... but a majority of that depth is also lacking in professional exposure. Atlanta doesn't want to have to solely depend on guys like Hale, Martin, Northcraft, in crucial mid-season games. Fredi needs to have the ability to yank them if they struggle, hold them to pitch counts, etc. Allow them to develop properly. A contending team doesn't have that luxury.
I like the idea of veteran depth (eg. John Burkett / Ben Sheets) ... guys who have been around the block, whose arms can be taxed, AND can be positive influences on the Braves already extremely young pitching staff.
I like the idea of veteran depth (eg. John Burkett / Ben Sheets) ... guys who have been around the block, whose arms can be taxed, AND can be positive influences on the Braves already extremely young pitching staff.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
To me the best kind of starting pitching depth is young near-major league ready guys in AAA. The reclamation projects occasionally work out but for the most part don't. Look at Mark Mulder for a recent example. I'd be very surprised if Johan Santana contributed anything this year. I'd rather have 5 David Hales in AAA than 5 Johan Santanas.
I would be fine with just one Johan Santana and one David Hale. Johan tutors Hale, teaches him a new pitch (circle-change?), a thing or two about hotel-lobby fame-hoes. Flash forward to late June and Medlen goes down with an injury ... and there's a crucial game against the Nationals coming up -- Santana gets the call, pitches admirably. Medlen's next turn in the rotation is against the Marlins, Hale gets a shot ... also performs well. The Braves suddenly have options. The alternative, without Johan, might be Hale getting the call against Nats and getting shelled. His confidence is shot, mechanics wonky ... suddenly the Braves don't feel confident running him out there and make a desperate trade with the Cubs, sending an injured but extremely talented prospect in exchange for Paul Maholm and a pinch hitter. Or rushing up Martin, Prospect B, C -- guys who are even more unprepared than Hale was.
There's zero harm in bringing in a cheap vet. Did the Mulder signing hurt the Angels at all?
Burkett was a $750K signing. Sheets was a minor league contract. Jorge Campillo. You are right, reclamation projects are iffy, but the Braves talent evaluators are among the best in the game at sifting through the scrap-heap.
Julio3000
<B>A Chip Off the Old Rock</B>
Yeah, there's not much downside to it, and as you've said, dumpster-diving has been a bit of a specialty.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Is Kevin Brown still alive? Seems like we were always jonesing for him in a ATL uniform.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
I agree there isn't any great harm to giving these guys a shot. However, there are only a limited number of slots on a team or in a starting rotation.
We currently have six guys who could start in Gwinnett: Hale, Maya, Martin, Thomas, Northcraft and Schlosser. I'd rather see those guys pitching than someone like Johan Santana. Now if it was a situation like last year where we had Tim Corcoran in the Gwinnett rotation I would feel differently. For me it depends on what we already have before I look for someone like Santana.
yeezus
It's OVER 5,000!
Why do I not know who you're talking about?
Alex Wood
Jaret Wright was another one. You're right about the talent evaluators finding viable starting pitching on the scrap heap, but these reclamation projects tended to be more common during the Leo era. Sheets was one of the few from Roger McDowell.