Hart: Braves 'Lethargic', Needs Changes
- Thread starter CrimsonCowboy
- Start date
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
Overhaul, no.
But we need to upgrade at 3B, CF, and possibly one of the corner OF spots if Jason or JUstin get dealt plus have to replace almost 400 quality innings from Harang and Erv without alot of payroll flexibility.
57Brave
Well-known member
I count 4 positions that need upgrades. 3B,CF, 2B and catcher. Gattis is not an MLB front loine catcher and I've been disappointed with Bethencourt this time around.
That is 1/2 the team and 3 of 4 up the middle.
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
I agree on 2B/C too but Peraza/Goss/TLS will most likely man 2B next year.
C i agree on because Gattis lets too many wild pitches get past him and i worry about his health but not much realistically we can do here. There's not much at C in FA other than Russell Martin.
But yeah it will be an interesting offseason given we dont have much money to use with Uggla taking up 13 mil sitting on his butt, and probably having to eat a chunk of BJ's deal too.
Fortunately there looks to be alot of quality SP's. Wont be in the mix for Lester, Scherzer or Shields but plenty of others we could get on 1-2 year deals like Liriano, Volquez, Peavy, McCarthy, Hammel, and others.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
How many guys do we have with above average speed? I count only Heyward and M. Upton.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Heyward, Bossman, Justin, and Simmons. TLS is about Average, Freddie and Gattis are molasses but that's expected for C and 1B. Johnson and TLS are the only ones slow for their positions. Jason and Justin though are well above average for their positions. Simmons is a junk baserunner but he's fast.
I think we're fine in the speed department, I bet they use this as a method to get rid of TP though. Or move him around more.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
Heyward, BJ, Justin, Bonafacio, and Peraza if he is on the roster next year.
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
57Brave
Well-known member
Peraza is not a Major Leaguer yet. LaStella might become a utility player but as of now he is a poor defensive 2B (hard to be a utility man that plays only 2B) with borderline ability to get the ball out of the infield on a regular basis. Bonafacio I doubt wil go north with the team next year - he cant hit either.
Team speed to me means baserunning instincts. 1st to third speed which, Freeman does as well as anyone on the team not named Heyward.
The coaching staff outside of Eddie Perez can all go to. I don't uderstand the love affair with McDowell. Starting pitchers fall apart in the 6th. At least the ones that aren't on the 2nd or third Tommy john. The bullpen is errratic outside of Kimbrell.
McD has had Mnor on his staff for what, 3 years now? When MM came back and was slated to miss aa start he credited Earvin Santana with getting him adjusted. I have never heard a pitcher sing the praises on McD.
Team speed to me means baserunning instincts. 1st to third speed which, Freeman does as well as anyone on the team not named Heyward.
The coaching staff outside of Eddie Perez can all go to. I don't uderstand the love affair with McDowell. Starting pitchers fall apart in the 6th. At least the ones that aren't on the 2nd or third Tommy john. The bullpen is errratic outside of Kimbrell.
McD has had Mnor on his staff for what, 3 years now? When MM came back and was slated to miss aa start he credited Earvin Santana with getting him adjusted. I have never heard a pitcher sing the praises on McD.
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
He probably spits on them. Especially Wood.
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
Too bad we don't still have JJ.
Jurrjens?
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
Yeah. People always claimed he was the fastest person on the roster and one of the fastest guys in the league. He certainly never showed it on the field.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
If that's the case, then all of the guys I mention still qualify.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Simmons and Justin Upton aren't what I would call fast.
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
They arent slow.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
Really? Justin has put on a couple pounds since he came over, but he can still fly.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
Was looking at some things on fan graphs and I noticed that as a team the Braves got the best production from first base (Freeman + 8 at bats by the Terd Burglar). Freeman leads in OBP by a whopping .021. Leads in wOBA and run creation as well. No one can blame him for this mess.
Runnin
Well-known member
Pretty good for a somewhat "down" year.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
You said above average. They're both above average. We have 2 guys who can fly (Jason and Bossman) and they have good speed. No they're not super fast. But it's not like our team is Jason and Bossman then a collection of Brian McCanns.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
I'm agreeing with Hart's position that this is not a particularly athletic set of baseball players. I will give you Justin Upton, but Simmons is not particularly quick on the basepaths. This isn't all that odd. He's a great defender for a number of reasons, but he doesn't appear to have anything other than average straightline speed.
Again, Heyward is our toolsiest guy across the board, but other than that, this isn't a team you can do a lot with given its weaknesses with contact issues and lack of team speed.
z, I think you greatly overrate this team's ability. It's a flat-out bad mix of players. Some of these guys may be more valuable surrounded by different guys, but it's a "Call Dr. Longball" team and Dr. Longball decided to disconnect his phone this season.