John Schuerholz on Braves Banter Podcast

[Enscheff]

Position player wise they should look to upgrading 3B and possibly catcher. Pitching is where the improvement need to come if they want to contend next season.

Yup, but with the amount of young pitching talent they have I cant see them using resources to acquire big league arms other than the token veteran we all know they are going to sign. Rather than invest in pitching they should wait for internal options to mature.

 

[Horsehide Harry]

I think we could see big improvements at SS and 2B next year. As in 2-3 WAR improvement, maybe more. I guess Kemp won't improve the WAR, but with Inciarte healthy and Swanson there every day, hitting behind those two and Freddie is a good 1-4, IMO. Coppy said today that 2 pitchers and catcher are their focus this offseason. I think in two years, Freddie, Ender, and Julio will still be very good, and we'll have a lot of influx of talent coming in,

Short I can see. I think asking Albies to come in and be significantly better than what we've seen this year out of Jace is unlikely, but possible.

 

[Horsehide Harry]

Yup, but with the amount of young pitching talent they have I cant see them using resources to acquire big league arms other than the token veteran we all know they are going to sign. Rather than invest in pitching they should wait for internal options to mature.

I agree which means they won't contend in 2017 because the best young arms won't be ready.

 

[zbhargrove]

I provided explanation regarding Freeman and Inciarte in other posts.

As for Teheran how do you expect him to get better than he already is? Do you expect his K rate to improve? His BB rate to improve? His era to improve? And how much? Enough were it makes any kind of statistical difference from where he is now?

It's not like he's walking 5 per 9 and would potentially hugely improve by cutting it to 2 per 9. It's not like he's got a huge fastball where better control would raise his k/9 from mid 7's up to 10.

He's about as good as he's going to be right now and odds are that he will get worse not better.

Even if Teheran and Inciarte stay where they are, they should be there for several years provided health (a question mark for any player). I don't care if they don't improve, they are already very good and at 25 years old, likely to stay very good for a very long time. Well past 2020... Freeman should be very good well past 2020 also... sorry man, with what I've seen this year, I'm not playing for beyond 2020 when we have tons of talent in the low minors already and are close to being a decent team now. Yes the second half is a small sample size, but the improvement of the young player is what makes it encouraging... also a managerial change. Yes we are still below .500 the second half, but we have been more than incrementally better. We have been fairly close to a .500 team, yet in the first half we were on pace for one of the worst teams in history. We have a legit shot to improve significantly at catcher, SS, and 2B next year (and maybe even an OF position or two, but less likely obviously although Kemp is an upgrade for a full year over what we've had this whole year)... plus improve significantly in the rotation... I certainly don't see how its a stretch to say we are not near as far off as you're making it out to be.

 

[bravesfanMatt]

is there really a right answer on this. honestly, you could push the right buttons in trades and be in the WS in 2018, or you could stand pat and let talent develop, with just minor moves and still be in the WS by 2018.

 

[zbhargrove]

But even if we are waiting until 2018 or 2019... keeping Teheran, Inciarte, and Freeman still makes sense at their ages... although I'd be most willing to trade Teheran.

 

[thewupk]

Yup, but with the amount of young pitching talent they have I cant see them using resources to acquire big league arms other than the token veteran we all know they are going to sign. Rather than invest in pitching they should wait for internal options to mature.

The only pitching I see worth acquiring with legit resources is the TOR starter. Whether through FA or trade. Not saying that kind of player will be available but that's what you would spend it on. I would stay away from the 2nd tier guys who would want 3-5 years.

 

[smootness]

Everyone talks about SSS except when it doesn't fit the dialog. The Braves are still below .500 since the break. They have had a losing record every full month. Are they improved in the second half? Incrementally. Have they turned some mystical corner? I don't see it.

We're not a .500 team now, I don't think anyone's arguing that. But I do think the team (especially the offense) has shown they could reasonably become something approaching a .500 team without a massive overhaul. Add a quality SP or two, the bullpen will improve on its own, and add another decent bat, and you've got something.

 

[Southcack77]

Not sure Kemp is worth two prospects two months after the Padres paid the braves 25+million to just take him off their hands. Not like AL clubs couldn't have made offers.

 

[Southcack77]

Yup, but with the amount of young pitching talent they have I cant see them using resources to acquire big league arms other than the token veteran we all know they are going to sign. Rather than invest in pitching they should wait for internal options to mature.

I kind of disagree. Can't think of a much better use of salary resources then signing an upper rotation piece. That's where they need the most help and that if anything helps them bring along younger guys.

I think they sign someone like you say though or possibly a cashner type.