Spring has Sprung

jpx7 said:
What logic is there in continuing to throw SP innings at Ynoa, but foreclosing starting for Toussaint?

The former’s future is essentially a fait accompli, and the Braves’ treatment of him last year reflected that. Meanwhile, Toussaint actually has a starter’s repertoire; the question is simply whether he can command it sufficiently with more reps.
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It's been awesome to see Touki flash this spring, it just seems like he's going to have to put everything together for good now at this point because of the numbers game - aside from Newk, he's the one out of the current group that has that feel of a lockdown late-inning option. I don't disagree that Ynoa belongs in the pen as well, but if you look at the entire group of guys currently projected to start in Gwinnett there are 9 SPs there.

It's absolutely true that you can never have enough pitching, but the organization DOES have too many starters at the AAA level. There's no chance that Wright/Wilson/Anderson don't take 3 rotation spots. Assuming Muller doesn't start out back in Mississippi (which I think has at least some chance of happening) four spots are taken. Even if Muller repeats AA, the fourth spot in the rotation likely goes to one of the other lefties - Davidson or Pfeifer. That COULD leave a rotation spot open for Touki - and he's arguably shown enough this spring to deserve that spot - but they're probably at the point that they have to decide whether he's going to be kept in the long run or included in a trade. If they would rather turn some of the other guys (Davidson, Pfeifer, and Muller at the top of the list) into relievers, he definitely should be showcased in the Gwinnett rotation if they're convinced that the adjustments he's made are going to take this time.

The fact of the matter is that we're finally facing the 40-Man Roster crunch that's been coming for awhile, and there just aren't many guys you'd want to expose to waivers to put both Culberson and Solarte on the roster or add both Tomlin and Matzek to the pen. Dayton's really the only obvious candidate to be cut loose to create a spot for someone at this point (although some can reasonably argue that A-Jax is somewhat expendable as well - I wouldn't disagree that he might slide through unclaimed too).
 
clvclv said:
It's been awesome to see Touki flash this spring, it just seems like he's going to have to put everything together for good now at this point because of the numbers game - aside from Newk, he's the one out of the current group that has that feel of a lockdown late-inning option. I don't disagree that Ynoa belongs in the pen as well, but if you look at the entire group of guys currently projected to start in Gwinnett there are 9 SPs there.

It's absolutely true that you can never have enough pitching, but the organization DOES have too many starters at the AAA level. There's no chance that Wright/Wilson/Anderson don't take 3 rotation spots. Assuming Muller doesn't start out back in Mississippi (which I think has at least some chance of happening) four spots are taken. Even if Muller repeats AA, the fourth spot in the rotation likely goes to one of the other lefties - Davidson or Pfeifer. That COULD leave a rotation spot open for Touki - and he's arguably shown enough this spring to deserve that spot - but they're probably at the point that they have to decide whether he's going to be kept in the long run or included in a trade. If they would rather turn some of the other guys (Davidson, Pfeifer, and Muller at the top of the list) into relievers, he definitely should be showcased in the Gwinnett rotation if they're convinced that the adjustments he's made are going to take this time.

The fact of the matter is that we're finally facing the 40-Man Roster crunch that's been coming for awhile, and there just aren't many guys you'd want to expose to waivers to put both Culberson and Solarte on the roster or add both Tomlin and Matzek to the pen. Dayton's really the only obvious candidate to be cut loose to create a spot for someone at this point (although some can reasonably argue that A-Jax is somewhat expendable as well - I wouldn't disagree that he might slide through unclaimed too).
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Culberson and Solarte are never going to both make the roster. Also no way Matzek and Tomlin both make the team. The only way Matzek makes the team would be as the second lefty, but he's not on the 40 man and Pfeifer has been just as good if not better and is on the 40 man. I personally would rather have Touki or Weigel on the team instead of Tomlin. I think Tomlin is a waste of a roster slot.
 
Good things happening on the split squad away team early... Riley with another walk and Pache with a 3 run bomb to center field. Granted, its against a guy who's yet to pitch above AAA but still good to see.

Anderson also looking efficient and filthy in 2 innings.
 
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zbhargrove said:
Boy, no one really banging the door down to take that final utility spot
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At this point I’m hoping they have enough faith in Riley to simply let Camargo take the UTIL role. I was hoping Solarte might show anything, and steal the spot from Culberson; but, given past and (albeit relatively meaningless) current performance, I’m not sure it’s worth bumping anyone off the 40-man to add one of those two (or anybody else).

Maybe we’ll see a trade?

Edit: I see Solarte is 2-2 today, but I’d think he have to look blisteringly good to earn a spot, especially having to leapfrog Culberson.
 
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