Spring Training 2015

buck75 said:
Pretty sure the Bourn quote was about EY but Gonzalez said it. Hart may have said it too.
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Right, but y'all are talking about a recent Bourn quote. The one being asked about seemed to be the earlier one by Hart about Smith. That quote came not long after the Justin Upton trade along with maybe some similar since. Plus since then McDaniel and others covering Braves prospects have noted that multiple Braves execs have compared Smith to Bourn (Hart was the only one I heard do so).
 
MadduxFanII said:
Look, can we all just agree that every fast black guy is basically Michael Bourn and move on?
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No, we can only agree that "every fast black guy" that bats left handed is basically Michael Bourn and move on. :icon_biggrin:

Seriously, what you say does fit the Fredi quote and is basically how I took it.
 
Braves1976 said:
@mlbbowman

Early prognosis is Upton will be sidelined until at least May 1. #Braves
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Apparently Callapso showed up looking fat and out of shape. Naturally in a camp loaded with guys we can cut without eating their salary Callapso has a 3 million dollar Major League deal.
 
stpeteirish said:
Apparently Callapso showed up looking fat and out of shape. Naturally in a camp loaded with guys we can cut without eating their salary Callapso has a 3 million dollar Major League deal.
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Someone has to replace the fat boys we lost, Callaspo is just one of those that is up for the job! :)

PS: There's no truth to the rumor that Callaspo told Fredi "I'm so fat you'll have to play me at third base."
 
Been slammed at work this week so just now catching up on some of the news and notes from this week. I was very impressed with some of the things Gomes is saying. I think I'll grow to like him.
 
I tend to agree with the big guy on this. I only feel comfortable with Perez and / or Cunningham at CF for an extended period of time. Putting EY or Almonte there sporadically should be fine, but we may need coverage for 6-8 weeks.

@mlbbowman

I'd say Eury Perez is the early favorite to begin the year as ATL's CF. Outside of Cunningham, the other candidates are defensively flawed
 
dak said:
I tend to agree with the big guy on this. I only feel comfortable with Perez and / or Cunningham at CF for an extended period of time. Putting EY or Almonte there sporadically should be fine, but we may need coverage for 6-8 weeks.

@mlbbowman
I'd say Eury Perez is the early favorite to begin the year as ATL's CF. Outside of Cunningham, the other candidates are defensively flawed
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I agree that EY and Almonte are more corner outfielders and that Perez is a better option defensively. But Bowman isn't even considering Hunter who did get a Spring Invite and can play centerfield better than those two. Further, I agree that Perez is the early favorite but in order to start for us he'll need to do better vs righties. I expect a platoon in CF to be most likely.
 
stpeteirish said:
Apparently Callapso showed up looking fat and out of shape. Naturally in a camp loaded with guys we can cut without eating their salary Callapso has a 3 million dollar Major League deal.
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Correct. However, I'm more than willing to bet that they're not going to let that get in the way of progress (whether we all agree with it or not). If Peraza and/or Peterson are impressive enough to force their way onto the roster, I doubt very seriously they'll let that $3 million keep them from getting their feet wet this season.

While you'd love to have that money back to spend elsewhere, Alberto has been a place holder since before the ink on his contract was dry.

Of course that $3 million would've been particularly handy the way things might work out if you're part of the crowd that REALLY wants to be competitive this season - combine it with the potential $2 million committed to Wandy if he doesn't win the 5th SP job and you'd be halfway to paying Olivera's salary this season if we were to sign him for 3 or 4 years (assuming the Dodgers don't go nuts obviously - if he were going to get the rumored money that has been speculated about, I think you'd have to pass altogether. He really would complicate things moving forward when Peraza's ready if he or Johnson wasn't willing to move to LF).

Vs. RHP

LF- EY, CF- Perez, 1B- Freeman, 2B- Olivera, RF- Markakis, 3B- Johnson, SS- Simmons, C- Bethancourt

Vs. LHP

CF- Perez, RF- Markakis, 2B- Olivera, 1B- Freeman, LF- Gomes, 3B- Johnson, SS- Simmons, C- Bethancourt
 
clvclv said:
Correct. However, I'm more than willing to bet that they're not going to let that get in the way of progress (whether we all agree with it or not). If Peraza and/or Peterson are impressive enough to force their way onto the roster, I doubt very seriously they'll let that $3 million keep them from getting their feet wet this season.

While you'd love to have that money back to spend elsewhere, Alberto has been a place holder since before the ink on his contract was dry.

Of course that $3 million would've been particularly handy the way things might work out if you're part of the crowd that REALLY wants to be competitive this season - combine it with the potential $2 million committed to Wandy if he doesn't win the 5th SP job and you'd be halfway to paying Olivera's salary this season if we were to sign him for 3 or 4 years (assuming the Dodgers don't go nuts obviously - if he were going to get the rumored money that has been speculated about, I think you'd have to pass altogether. He really would complicate things moving forward when Peraza's ready if he or Johnson wasn't willing to move to LF).

Vs. RHP

LF- EY, CF- Perez, 1B- Freeman, 2B- Olivera, RF- Markakis, 3B- Johnson, SS- Simmons, C- Bethancourt

Vs. LHP

CF- Perez, RF- Markakis, 2B- Olivera, 1B- Freeman, LF- Gomes, 3B- Johnson, SS- Simmons, C- Bethancourt
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Wany's deal has 2 million in guaranteed money? I thought his was a minor league deal.
 
Braves1976 said:
It is a minor league deal, he said "potential $2 million committed" because that is what he'd get if he makes the team.
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Correct - you still have to budget for his money, KJ's money, Stults' money, etc. in the event they're on the roster - those commitments don't suddenly just disappear because you realize adding Olivera suddenly might just make you much more competitive.

That's the tightrope Hart & Company have to walk at this point - would cutting Wandy, Stults, Wang, KJ, and others loose be worth it if it forced you to put Folty or Banuelos in the rotation before they're really ready? Do you unload Callaspo and/or Gomes on the Dodgers or someone that'd take them as a cheap insurance policy if Olivera's willing to play LF? You'd then be gambling on Peterson being able to handle 2B everyday if Peraza's not quite ready.

Need to be really careful when making these decisions, because the most important thing is that you don't rush all these prospects - the overriding goal is still to prepare them to be ready for big roles by 2017.
 
Fredi told the media today that it will be Perez, Young Jr., Cunningham, and Almonte in the competition for playing time in CF. Bowman also thinks that Young Jr. will bat leadoff, at least against RHP.

"Young is projected to bat leadoff and play left field against right-handed starting pitchers. If the Braves gain comfort with his with defensive capabilities in center field and want him to serve as their leadoff hitter on an everyday basis, there is a chance he could also play center on those days when Jonny Gomes plays left field."

http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/articl...o-fill-in-for-melvin-upton-jr-in-center-field
 
dak said:
Fredi told the media today that it will be Perez, Young Jr., Cunningham, and Almonte in the competition for playing time in CF. Bowman also thinks that Young Jr. will bat leadoff, at least against RHP.

"Young is projected to bat leadoff and play left field against right-handed starting pitchers. If the Braves gain comfort with his with defensive capabilities in center field and want him to serve as their leadoff hitter on an everyday basis, there is a chance he could also play center on those days when Jonny Gomes plays left field."

http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/articl...o-fill-in-for-melvin-upton-jr-in-center-field
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Shouldn't that read "when Jonny Gomes is playing at being a left-fielder?"
 
Dalyn said:
Really hope Cunningham makes the team. I like that kid.
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I like him too, he seems a great kid and hard worker. I see him about the same as Kiley McDaniel: "classic 4th outfielder type fits best in right field, is playable in center field, has excellent instincts to make up for solid average speed; he has just enough hit and power to be a big league option, earning a cup of coffee in 2014." Speaking of Cunningham, I wonder whatever happened to him adding second base to the positions he plays, anyone know? I really thought doing so would help his chances to stick in the Majors. But after working at second last Spring Training he never played it in any games with the G-Braves.
 
It seems Jordan Schafer is missed now that Melvin's hurt according to DOB. He responded agreeing with a fan on twitter that said the Braves wish they still had him given their current options to replace Melvin, lol. I guess Schafer is a stud now that he's hit a little with the Twins (nevermind his overall numbers and career track record). :)
 
Has anybody heard when the Braves are having their annual Photo Day in camp? It was Feb. 24 last year. Eager to see some of these new faces.
 
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