If we lose this series what then for next year

nsacpi said:
Pretty much agree, but I think at second they will give the internal second base options spring training and the first couple months of the regular season to let someone stake a claim to the job. If no one does so, then I think we'll see a mid-season trade. Wren is comfortable leaving one hole to be filled at some point in the regular season if the internal options don't work out.
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I dont know where you are located but have you personally seen LaStella play or is your recommendation made purely on looking at box scores. I have seen no rating service or baseball scouting report say that he is anything to get excited about. And with the performance of our MLB roster at 2nd surely the front office would have at least seen what he could do in a short stop. Cunningham and Gosllin got that chance.
 
VirginiaBrave said:
I don't know, if the Dodger series proved anything it proved anything, it proved we need a true number one. Medlen's not that guy, Julio could be that guy but not next year. Hudson should be signed to be the number 2. Minor slots in at 3, Medlen/Julio at 4, the other at 5. There is not a guy in that rotation that is a stopper at this point of their career. Go get one!!!
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You lost me when you said bring back Hudson as your #2.
 
Why does BJ Upton have to be given another shot in cf? That's a bad contract even if he has a decent season. If you're moving Uggla, you gotta try to move BJ, too. I think you gotta lock up Freeman and Heyward. Those are the two most important move of the offseason, and in that order. You gotta try to move Kris Medlen, too. His arbitration #'s are about to get stupid high. If you can get Texas to cough up Profar for him, that's be even better, because then you could fleece someone for Chris Johnson. A good average hitter who doesn't walk and has low power doesn't get you very far in life. You could probably get a controllable starting pitcher for him. Bring back Hudson, but with the understanding that nothing is guaranteed. If his sinker is sinking and his slider has bite, he pitches. If he's throwing beach balls, we go with David Hale. You gotta find out where Brandon Beachy is in his rehab, too. If he's on track, you don't worry about bringing in an additional starter. Your rotation looks like this: Hudson Minor Teheran Wood Beachy. I'd go to war with that. If Tommy La Stella lights up the AFL, then he gets the big league ST invite and you tell Dan Uggla his replacement is here, and he has to take the job away from La Stella with his play. Here's where things get interesting; if you can find a taker on BJ Upton, I think the Braves should think long and hard about making Gattis a full-time LF. This is the same team that won a World Series with Ryan Klesko in LF. Then you can keep Heyward in cf and move Christian Betancourt up as your full time catcher. Get some more youth into your lineup and be rid of the BJ stink in your lineup. On a good year he's a .245 hitter, and his career obp is .329. Doesn't really strike fear in the hearts of the wicked. I'm not a BJ Upton guy. Never have been. Next spring your lineup could look like this:

Heyward

Profar

Freeman

Justin

Freeman

Gattis

Simmons

La Stella

Bethancourt

P
 
DaneHill said:
Medlen confuses the poo outta me. Wasn't he NL September Pitcher of the Month two years in a row now? But come that must-needed first play-off game in October, he completely chokes. Is he just not a big game pitcher? I remember Maddux being pretty lowsy in the play-offs too. Oh hey, the Medlen-Maddux comparison continues.... Just very very disappointed in Medlen for the second year in a row after being near-unhittable leading up to the postseason.
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Maddux didn't start with the 6 innings max limit until near the end of his career. Medlen entered with that as the major league norm.
 
Anyone who thinks that the Rangers are going to trade Profar (for Uggla, no less) needs to either

a.) put the crack pipe down
or
b.) go back to chat on his favorite fantasy league board
 
PawPawMaxwell said:
I dont know where you are located but have you personally seen LaStella play or is your recommendation made purely on looking at box scores. I have seen no rating service or baseball scouting report say that he is anything to get excited about. And with the performance of our MLB roster at 2nd surely the front office would have at least seen what he could do in a short stop. Cunningham and Gosllin got that chance.
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I've seen La Stella play. I'm not a La Stella enthusiast either. Read my post and tell me where I'm recommending turning second over to La Stella. Btw it is La Stella not LaStella.
 
PawPawMaxwell said:
I dont know where you are located but have you personally seen LaStella play or is your recommendation made purely on looking at box scores. I have seen no rating service or baseball scouting report say that he is anything to get excited about. And with the performance of our MLB roster at 2nd surely the front office would have at least seen what he could do in a short stop. Cunningham and Gosllin got that chance.
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The cult of La Stella grew this season as the undersized second baseman won admirers in the SL by continuing to play to his strengths, which are hitting for average, lining the ball into the gaps and walking more often than he strikes out. Multiple scouts called the lefty-swinging La Stella the best pure hitter in the league, with one projecting his big league output along the lines of the Mets’ Daniel Murphy, though the body comp doesn’t quite fit. If not for an elbow and hamstring injuries this year—on top of a beaning and broken leg in 2012—La Stella probably would be more highly regarded.

La Stella generates plus bat speed from a wide stance, discouraging pitchers from busting him inside with a short, quick stroke and an unflinching mentality against southpaws. He hit .338 against SL lefties this year and has hit .350 against them in 206 pro plate appearances. Scouts expect 7-10 homers a year but with plenty of doubles. A below-average runner with below-average range at the keystone, La Stella has strong instincts, quick hands and a solid arm to help enhance his defense. He led all SL second basemen (min. 50 games at the position) with 2.78 assists per game and ranked second in double plays turned per game.

No they arent predicting him to be the second coming of Babe Ruth but given our options and limited budget he should get a chance in spring training.
 
I'd take Daniel Murphy over what we have currently.

And I think the Rangers think about Medlen for Profar...
 
nsacpi said:
Pretty much agree, but I think at second they will give the internal second base options spring training and the first couple months of the regular season to let someone stake a claim to the job. If no one does so, then I think we'll see a mid-season trade. Wren is comfortable leaving one hole to be filled at some point in the regular season if the internal options don't work out.
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I think giving BJ one more year in CF counts as the "one hole". Just like last offseason, the resources are there to fix the biggest hole on the team.

So Wren needs to fix that gaping hole at 2B.
 
cajunrevenge said:
The cult of La Stella grew this season as the undersized second baseman won admirers in the SL by continuing to play to his strengths, which are hitting for average, lining the ball into the gaps and walking more often than he strikes out. Multiple scouts called the lefty-swinging La Stella the best pure hitter in the league, with one projecting his big league output along the lines of the Mets’ Daniel Murphy, though the body comp doesn’t quite fit. If not for an elbow and hamstring injuries this year—on top of a beaning and broken leg in 2012—La Stella probably would be more highly regarded.

La Stella generates plus bat speed from a wide stance, discouraging pitchers from busting him inside with a short, quick stroke and an unflinching mentality against southpaws. He hit .338 against SL lefties this year and has hit .350 against them in 206 pro plate appearances. Scouts expect 7-10 homers a year but with plenty of doubles. A below-average runner with below-average range at the keystone, La Stella has strong instincts, quick hands and a solid arm to help enhance his defense. He led all SL second basemen (min. 50 games at the position) with 2.78 assists per game and ranked second in double plays turned per game.

No they arent predicting him to be the second coming of Babe Ruth but given our options and limited budget he should get a chance in spring training.
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Below average runner? He stole 8 bases in 88 games last year while being caught only twice. Not saying he's a burner but I don't think a guy with below average speed does that.
 
nsacpi said:
I've seen La Stella play. I'm not a La Stella enthusiast either. Read my post and tell me where I'm recommending turning second over to La Stella. Btw it is La Stella not LaStella.
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Isnt he an internal option? And btw, its Los Angeles not LA.

J/K
 
OK, here are some ideas from me:

Brian McCann: I love what he did for our team since he broke in, but I'm not paying a catcher in his 30's $15 million on a National League team. So I would let him go.

Tim Hudson: A bit more complicated. Coming off an injury at 38. Though the injury is to his foot, not arm. I would not mind bringing him back on a one year deal. I wouldn't go more than that.

Also let go: Paul Maholm and Paul Janish.

Have to find a way to trade Dan Uggla. Will have to eat a good chunk of that contract, but it has to be done. He is the most disappointing off-season acquisition for Atlanta since Reggie Sanders. Especially is La Stella has a good time of it in the Arizona Fall League. If he shows he's ready, do whatever it takes to trade Uggla.

Even if the Braves bring back Hudson, I still think a top of the rotation starter is needed. Minor and Teheran can be that in the future, but not quite yet. I looked at the potential free agents and went "blah". There is a good chance Tampa Bay will trade David Price. I think the Braves need to talk with them. If the Braves bring back Hudson on a one year deal, like I propose, then I would include Medlen as part of the deal. Tampa is likely going to ask for a catcher. Gattis or Bethancourt will likely be proposed. Tampa will likely ask for Bethancourt, (which I admit, I would have a bit of trouble with) which makes Gattis the #1 catcher in Atlanta. Then Tampa would get their choice of Hale, Wood, or Gilmartin. Obviously, we don't know how likely a deal would be or even how likely the Rays are to trade Price. But if I'm Frank Wren, that conversation has to at least take place.

Not really sure about the bullpen yet. A lot will depend on how and when Venters and O'Flaherty are fully recovered. I would bring back Walden. He was solid before his injury at the end of the season.

I'd bring back Reed Johnson. Elliott Johnson only as a bench player. As mentioned, Janish would be let go.

So the two changes I would make in the everyday lineup would be Gattis at catcher and La Stella at 2nd base.
Heyward
J. Upton
Freeman
Gattis
C. Johnson
Simmons
B.J. Upton
La Stella

If my proposal for the rotation would work, this is what it could potentially look like:
Price
Hudson
Minor
Teheran
Beachy (Hopefully healthy)
 
Imo the best chance of getting Price or another top pitcher is to re-sign McCann and send Gattis as part of the deal. To make the finances work, we probably would not bring back Hudson in that scenario, nor would there be a need to do so if we got Price. Btw, in that scenario I think of Price as more of a two year rental than someone we sign to a long deal a la Verlander or Felix Hernandez.

Gattis and Medlen for Price. Something like that.

Rotation would be: Price, Minor, Teheran, Beachy, Wood. Three lefties but we did that long ago with Avery, Glavine and Liebrandt and had a pretty good season as I recall.
 
Garmel said:
Below average runner? He stole 8 bases in 88 games last year while being caught only twice. Not saying he's a burner but I don't think a guy with below average speed does that.
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That is AA. I don't think anyone is saying that you time him with a sundial. I think they are saying he's not a plus baserunner.

I'm with chopdrew on shopping BJ Upton if anyone would listen. Uggla had one very good month and one good month. BJ pretty much tanked all year.
 
If you look at the Shields for Wil Myers trade, do we really have the prospects to move on Price and more importantly if the prospects are that good will we give up 6 years of each of them for 2 years of Price. I doubt it. Management in Atlanta is not clinging to careers like the bunch in KC.
 
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