2023 prediction

thewupk said:
What blinders? IMO the talent on this team is 2nd to only 98 in Braves history. We are loaded.
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I hope they prove to be that good. But the Mets added, Philly got better after handing us our tails, and what did we do? Where are we better? Catching? Maybe the pen? We subtracted yet again. We have a bench player replacing an All-Star, another year of counting on a guy that should have retired after 2021, and two corner outfielders that should be released under normal circumstances. Half this board will be calling for the release of Rosario and Ozuna three weeks in. Strider and Fried can't pitch every game. Do you really call that loaded?
 
VirginiaBrave said:
I hope they prove to be that good. But the Mets added, Philly got better after handing us our tails, and what did we do? Where are we better? Catching? Maybe the pen? We subtracted yet again. We have a bench player replacing an All-Star, another year of counting on a guy that should have retired after 2021, and two corner outfielders that should be released under normal circumstances. Half this board will be calling for the release of Rosario and Ozuna three weeks in. Strider and Fried can't pitch every game. Do you really call that loaded?
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Mets and Phillies are good teams but they are dealing with significant injury issues.

If everyone was healthy, I think the Mets are close to the Braves (Phillies are 1 tier below imo). With the way things stand now, the Braves are clear favorites, especially when you add in the track record of 5 consecutive divisions.
 
It should be noted for our resident dissenter that both the analytic folks (Fangraphs) and traditional (MLB.com, ESPN, Athletic) have the Braves rated as the best team in the NL.

It’s weird to think this team isn’t loaded honestly.
 
chop2chip said:
It should be noted for our resident dissenter that both the analytic folks (Fangraphs) and traditional (MLB.com, ESPN, Athletic) have the Braves rated as the best team in the NL.

It’s weird to think this team isn’t loaded honestly.
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Some people just feel we aren't loaded because we lost Dansby and didn't really replace him at SS.

Murphy acquisition has been big time underrated. And if Rosario and Ozuna show life then SS will be the only real problem.

The more I look at the team the more I like it. I didn't want Dansby back anyways. It's just funny to have been reading for months on here about how we're screwed because AA didn't solve SS and LF. And then we're still rated by some places as the favorites to win the WS and many preseason rankings have us as the best team overall.

Acuña being BACK is going to do wonders. Let's hope Ozzie comes back strong too. Olson looking MVP caliber too.

If Morton rebounds then we're looking really strong in the rotation. My only wish is Soroka returns and quietly has a 2019esque season.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
I hope they prove to be that good. But the Mets added, Philly got better after handing us our tails, and what did we do? Where are we better? Catching? Maybe the pen? We subtracted yet again. We have a bench player replacing an All-Star, another year of counting on a guy that should have retired after 2021, and two corner outfielders that should be released under normal circumstances. Half this board will be calling for the release of Rosario and Ozuna three weeks in. Strider and Fried can't pitch every game. Do you really call that loaded?
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What the Phillies did in the playoffs don't matter for 2023. They were a lessor team in 2022 and didn't do enough to close the gap.

But yes this team is loaded. It's why we are projected to have the most wins in the league. 6 guys could be easy Allstars in the lineup. Fried and Strider are top 10 pitchers in the NL.

You were wrong last year about this teams talent level and are wrong now when it's literally staring you in the face.
 
How did we get better:

1. get a full season of MH2
2. get a full season of Strider
3. healthy Acuna
4. the olly we all hoped for
5. Murphy looking to be a beast (already looking for crow to eat)
6. healthy Ozzie


The Faillies didn't hand anyone their ass.. we limped into the playoffs with our 2 best starters sick and hurt and our 3rd baseman lost at plate. it was bad timing for that serires. happens.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
I hope they prove to be that good. But the Mets added, Philly got better after handing us our tails, and what did we do? Where are we better? Catching? Maybe the pen? We subtracted yet again. We have a bench player replacing an All-Star, another year of counting on a guy that should have retired after 2021, and two corner outfielders that should be released under normal circumstances. Half this board will be calling for the release of Rosario and Ozuna three weeks in. Strider and Fried can't pitch every game. Do you really call that loaded?
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The Mets are way older than us. They did add Verlander, but they lost DeGrom.

Our core is much better than Philly or Mets.

I feel our team can afford to lose a player or two with injury, whereas with the other two teams, a lot has to go right for them to keep pace with us. If we're really getting pre-injury Acuña as he's looked recently, then that's going to be a massive massive upgrade.

I hate to use the old Chip Carayism of "it's like trading for a brand new player!" but having Acuña go from decent back to elite is going to be huge. More than makes up for what we lost from Dansby. Olson having a better year, Ozzie being healthy, Austin being Austin, and a full season of Money Mike. How can you not be excited about the team?

You'd have to be a huge Dansby fan to ignore how much better players we have just in the infield alone. Olson, Murphy, Ozzie, Riley are all potential all-stars. Olson, Riley, Acuña all potential MVPs.
 
The Chosen One said:
The Mets are way older than us. They did add Verlander, but they lost DeGrom.

Our core is much better than Philly or Mets.

I feel our team can afford to lose a player or two with injury, whereas with the other two teams, a lot has to go right for them to keep pace with us. If we're really getting pre-injury Acuña as he's looked recently, then that's going to be a massive massive upgrade.

I hate to use the old Chip Carayism of "it's like trading for a brand new player!" but having Acuña go from decent back to elite is going to be huge. More than makes up for what we lost from Dansby. Olson having a better year, Ozzie being healthy, Austin being Austin, and a full season of Money Mike. How can you not be excited about the team?

You'd have to be a huge Dansby fan to ignore how much better players we have just in the infield alone. Olson, Murphy, Ozzie, Riley are all potential all-stars. Olson, Riley, Acuña all potential MVPs.
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Didn't say it wasn't going to entertaining. I'm just not going to be like a kid Christmas morning expecting everything I want to be under the tree because it won't be.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
I hope they prove to be that good. But the Mets added, Philly got better after handing us our tails, and what did we do? Where are we better? Catching? Maybe the pen? We subtracted yet again. We have a bench player replacing an All-Star, another year of counting on a guy that should have retired after 2021, and two corner outfielders that should be released under normal circumstances. Half this board will be calling for the release of Rosario and Ozuna three weeks in. Strider and Fried can't pitch every game. Do you really call that loaded?
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Mets added, but are they better? Diaz is out for the year, didnt add in the lineup. Rotation is the same, lineup is the same and due for serious regression. Philly lost Hoskins, Bryce is out the first few months. Braves will get a full year of Harris/Strider, added Murphy, Acuna looks to be back in his elite form. Olson is hitting like the player we traded for. Will get Albies back. Ozuna and even Rosario look good as well. I'm usually pretty negative sometimes but this team is loaded, everywhere.
 
Braves:
- win 98 games
- win the NL East
- defeat the Blue Jays in six games

Max Fried wins 18 games
Spencer Strider leads the NL in strikeouts and ERA AND wins NL Cy Young
Riley is a top-5 MVP candidate
Acuna, Riley and Olson all hit 40 bombs
My hottest take of all... Ozuna returns to form, it's 30+ homers with an OPS around 800.
 
I'm curious what VA Brave thinks the Mets 'added' other than salary. I'm so sick of the storyline that the Mets had some crazy offseason where they added a bunch of stars.

They paid Nimmo a lot more to keep the same player.
They paid Ottavino more to keep the same player.
They paid Diaz a lot more to have him injured.
They swapped deGrom for Verlander.
They swapped Bassitt and Walker for Senga and an injured Quintana.
They swapped McCann for Narvaez.

The only real additions were Robertson, Raley, and some fringe guys like Elieser Hernandez. If they have a similar year to last year where they get some fortunate offensive production and they largely stay healthy, they'll be good again. If age catches up to an ancient roster, they could have a rotation in August that looks something like Peterson, Megill, Corrasco, Hernandez, Senga.

The Braves roster is in a much better position to improve over last year based excslusively on health of guys like Acuna, Albies, Rosario and a couple extra month from guys like Harris and Strider.

Anyways...

Braves win 102 games and win the East.
Braves lose in the NLCS to San Diego.
I'll say Olson hits 50 homers to just take it a step further than most.
Harris and Acuna both steal 40+ bases.
Kyle Wright and Riley have relative down years.
Eddie Rosario hits 25+ homers.
 
Fellas - don’t respond to him. He doesn’t actually think what he’s saying. He’s just wanting the attention and wanting you to argue.
He has no actual friends based on his behavior on here and thus his need for your arguing.
Cy’s mom won’t even take his calls.
So just don’t respond - he will go away eventually.
Or we can just ban him and not clutter this otherwise awesome community with this drivel.
 
We're honestly on par with what the Dodgers have been for most of the last 5-6 years. Just an insanely deep lineup with all-stars at almost every spot and a very good pitching staff with a lot of depth.
 
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