Spring Training 2015
- Thread starter Hawk
- Start date
We had one but traded him to St Louis. EY is not good. Melvin is not good. The odds of the Braves having a good leadoff hitter this year are very low.
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
So you see one of Almonte or Goss not making the team?
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
Somebody’s just keeping the spot warm for Smith.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Kinda wish we had gotten to see more of him
I'd like to believe that they saw al they needed to see and that it only further strengthened the point that he will be the CF of the future. For this season though they needed to see who could emerge as a viable short term candidate.
I just don't think Almonte has hit enough to make them feel comfortable with him.
C- Bethancourt
1B- Freeman
2B- Peterson
SS- Simmons
3B- Johnson
RF- Markakis
CF- EY
LF- Johnson
Bench - Pierzynski, Gomes, Callaspo, Gosselin, Cunningham
SPs- Teheran, Wood, Miller, Wandy, Stults
Pen- Kimbrel, Grilli, Johnson, Avilan, Cunniff, Feigl, and I'm afraid Martin even though I wish they'd send him to Gwinnett to stay stretched out.
Vizcaino and Kohn have just walked too many guys to be trusted to this point, so you could probably get away with giving Parsons a couple of starts in the event you needed to go to someone other than Folty or Banuelos while stretching Martin back out before Minor gets back or if something happened to Wandy or Stults. I'd personally rather trade or cut Stults loose and keep Martin in the rotation, but I'm just afraid that's not going to happen since we'll also have to let Wang go soon.
If Folty's still struggling with command and location come June, I'm not sure they don't make him a reliever for good and stretch Martin back out anyway. I think they've seen him enough at this point to understand that if he's not mowing people down consistently by then that it's time to maximize his arm at the back of the pen - a 2016 pen with Kimbrel, Grilli, Folty, (a healthy) Simmons, and Vizcaino would be close to unhittable and would allow Fredi to almost rotate them nightly like a platoon in the 8th and 9th to keep them all rested and healthy. I also wonder if this isn't the year that they transition Mauricio Cabrera to speed up his timetable and add him to that mix before the new park opens now that there's more SP depth in the system.
weso1
<B>Clique Leader</B>
I wouldn't be surprised if Hart tries to trade for Bourjos here at the end of spring. Probably could get him for nothing prospect wise if we take on his full salary. Which we should be able to do now that Russel was released.
Obviously not the greatest player ever, but possibly a player who is available and can play a decent CF and platoon with EY Jr till Melvin gets back.
Obviously not the greatest player ever, but possibly a player who is available and can play a decent CF and platoon with EY Jr till Melvin gets back.
I realize DOB says they're actually looking for that kind of stopgap, but it just doesn't make much sense IMO (and he's DOB after all). If you're going to give up ANYTHING prospect-wise to serve as a backup for EY, you might as well give up enough to go get Jackie Bradley and make EY Gomes' platoon partner. I'd hold onto everyone and see if you can't get by with Cunningham or call Perez back up. Otherwise, EY in CF and KJ in LF at least projects to give you more offensively than Bourjos.
Then dont look at Eric Young
Peter B would probably come cheap. Him in center with a KJ/Gomes platoon in left is something better than awful, which is a start for this offense. EY can serve as 4th/5th OF till Upton returns and then figure out which one to cut.
Or just be patient. I guarentee there will be a centerfielder that gets cut that would be an upgrade over EY.
Or just be patient. I guarentee there will be a centerfielder that gets cut that would be an upgrade over EY.
What is the reasoning?
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
For why I think it's dumb, or why they did it?
I guess their reasoning is money, though they seem happy to waste it on the likes of Callaspo. No way Russell didn't have trade value even now (and more once he had his typical performance for the first half).
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
How do you go from the top lefty in the pen to earning a shot at the rotation to getting released? Only sense it makes is Fredi sense. I think the reverse splits from last year just confused the **** out of our extremely flawed leader.
If the Braves are willing to give Jim Johnson a chance to rebound from his putrid 2015 (protected by the feeble belief that he can be shipped off for prospects, eventually) then Russell should have been afforded the same opportunity to rebound ... from a rough spring.
I like Feigl, but what's the rush here?
I like Feigl, but what's the rush here?
Apparently not if the Mutts aren't even interested in him.
Seriously, getting upset over cutting James Russell when he's hiding an injury (84-88 mph fastball) is almost as bad as getting mad about trading Anthony Varvaro. These guys grow on trees, and our scouts find the good ones better than anyone else does - no need to pay for them. I was personally surprised they agreed to the deal to keep him initially to be honest.
What better time to find out if he could be a longer-term piece than when you're not going to contend AND he saves you some money???