GDT 7/18/21: Braves @ Rays - New look lineup

[clvclv]

Shanks' dream is Kimbrel and David Bednar (Pittsburgh). I'm not sure either would cost a whole lot in terms of prospects -- especially if you took on most, if not all, of Kimbrel's contract. If you took on Kimbrel's contract, you'd need to either unload a bad contract here (and add a decent prospect to the pot) or try to get Will Smith traded. You cannot have two relievers make roughly 30 million on next year's payroll.

Given the fact that the entire pen needs a makeover - starting with designating roles for each guy and only using them in that role - I just don't see any of the big names since AA is still trying to nibble around the edges and doesn't seem convinced that this team is good enough to push anything other than marginal chips in.

Maybe there would be a chance he could get Yimi Garcia included in a Marte deal since Miami continues to be embarrassingly cheap, but Alex doesn't appear to have any interest in moving Waters or Pache.

Bednar, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, Mychal Givens types seem like the most we can expect, and I'm not sure simply taking pen management responsibilities away from Snitker wouldn't make the situation as much better as trading for one or two of those guys would.

 

[bravesnumberone]

Even with Snit pushing the wrong buttons, particularly with continuing to go to the Minter well, our relievers have sucked at putting hitters away with two strikes. Nibble, nibble, nibble and the occasional bad hanger. Is this partly a Kranitz problem, catcher problem, or are some of these guys just not able to make competitive pitches ahead in the count with two strikes?

 

[NYCBrave]

Silver lining is we are still drawing very solid attendance. Friday and Saturday were near sellouts and Sunday was 34K. 115K fans total for the 3 games series.

Braves are still #1 in avg attendance per game and total attendance. (Obviously the fact that Braves went full capacity sooner than most helped, but we are still outdrawing most teams now that most are at full capacity).

 

[Enscheff]

Even with Snit pushing the wrong buttons, particularly with continuing to go to the Minter well, our relievers have sucked at putting hitters away with two strikes. Nibble, nibble, nibble and the occasional bad hanger. Is this partly a Kranitz problem, catcher problem, or are some of these guys just not able to make competitive pitches ahead in the count with two strikes?

This is close to a good point. Snit makes a lot of poor moves, but those poor moves should not be costing the team games this often. It is really uncanny how often the bad move leads to a loss, and then how often the right move also leads to a loss.

It's the exact opposite of last year when every move seemed to be blessed (right or wrong), and I don't remember ever seeing anything like it.

 

[msstate7]

Silver lining is we are still drawing very solid attendance. Friday and Saturday were near sellouts and Sunday was 34K. 115K fans total for the 3 games series.

Braves are still #1 in avg attendance per game and total attendance. (Obviously the fact that Braves went full capacity sooner than most helped, but we are still outdrawing most teams now that most are at full capacity).

I had a blast Saturday. Got to the battery about 2 and donated plenty

 

[Enscheff]

I would imagine if we did come away with Kimbrel, Smith could be used to get a big bat in the offseason or to reload the farm a little.

So a guy everyone here hates would be enticing enough to another team that they would send a "big bat" in exchange? Probably not...

An acquisition like Kimbrel could allow Snit to slot him in the 9th, and then be comfortable enough using other guys correctly in the 5-8 inning period. It probably wouldn't help Snit make correct moves, but we can hope.

 

[bravesnumberone]

So a guy everyone here hates would be enticing enough to another team that they would send a "big bat" in exchange? No...

An acquisition like Kimbrel could allow Snit to slot him in the 9th, and then be comfortable enough using other guys correctly in the 5-8 inning period. It probably wouldn't help Snit make correct moves, but we can hope.

Well I've been assured on here more than a couple times that the advanced stats show Smith has been "really good" this year. So if that's the case, then no, I don't think it's out of the question that he could fetch a bat or a decent prospect as part of an offseason trade. Not suggesting a 1-for-1. I would not be opposed to keeping both Smith and Kimbrel, but the point made about two relievers making a combined $30 million is valid.

 

[bravesfanMatt]

great, let's get another guy who is 'slotted' into a roll so we can continue to use the bull pen like it is 1990. No thought of an opener, not thought of using your best guy in the 6th/7th or even 8th inning when a game is just as in balance as the 9th... I adamantly hate the term closer and the save stat... We have lost more games in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings this year than we have in the 9th. Our whole BP philosophy is so archaic that it makes me not want to ever watch another game.

 

[50PoundHead]

great, let's get another guy who is 'slotted' into a roll so we can continue to use the bull pen like it is 1990. No thought of an opener, not thought of using your best guy in the 6th/7th or even 8th inning when a game is just as in balance as the 9th... I adamantly hate the term closer and the save stat... We have lost more games in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings this year than we have in the 9th. Our whole BP philosophy is so archaic that it makes me not want to ever watch another game.

I guess almost all of baseball is still playing like it's 1990 then. You see closers sometimes in the 8th, less frequently in the 7th, and (unless I've totally missed something) never in the 6th and that's the pattern for even the most analytically-driven teams. This is the same gripe that has been batted around for a decade or so, but if it had any traction, more teams would be discarding the current common practice.

 

[bravesfanMatt]

I guess almost all of baseball is still playing like it's 1990 then. You see closers sometimes in the 8th, less frequently in the 7th, and (unless I've totally missed something) never in the 6th and that's the pattern for even the most analytically-driven teams. This is the same gripe that has been batted around for a decade or so, but if it had any traction, more teams would be discarding the current common practice.

Agreed but most every team used to not use that closer until you had a lead. Now every team realizes that you probably need to use him even in a tie game. I think saying a guy is a this inning guy is dumb. The game should dictate who is pitching but most and especially our manager are too dumb to read those situations.

This year is a perfect year to dick around with the bp roles. Use openers Make guys go more innings with more games off. At this point could it get worse if you tried something different.