Spring Training Gamethread/Discussion

stpeteirish said:
well "BJ has looked a ton better" and "ST means absolutely zero" you kind of mitigated your own point.

I'd argue that ST means a lot for a guy like BJ who shat the bed last year. And his good AB's were vs who? One game doesn't mean much, but BJ couldn't hit Lynn's fastball, not even close. He still looks like someone who can't hit a good fastball so he tries to get a walk, and gets called out on strikes a lot.
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It doesn't mitigate my post because I'm talking about his swing... not his end performance. His swing has looked immensely better and I'm far from the only one who's noticed it. So Lynn's not a good pitcher anymore? News to me. Just because he doesn't have a fireball fastball doesn't mean he's not a good pitcher... that's silly.
 
His swing may be better, but he is still striking out at an alarming rate. 11 K's in 34 spring training PA's, a 32.4% clip, right in line with last year's rate.
 
zbhargrove said:
It doesn't mitigate my post because I'm talking about his swing... not his end performance. His swing has looked immensely better and I'm far from the only one who's noticed it. So Lynn's not a good pitcher anymore? News to me. Just because he doesn't have a fireball fastball doesn't mean he's not a good pitcher... that's silly.
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where did I say Lynn's not a good pitcher? He is, and BJ can't hit his fastball. BJ's going to see a lot of good fastballs this year; most major league pitchers have one. If he can't catch up to them he's going back to the bench and we'll be arguing Schafer vs Cunningham vs Costanza vs Terdoslavich vs Pastornicky.
 
Sigh...yesterday is just a reminder that this lineup hasn't changed much from last year. When they're hot, they're going to be clubbing homers left and right. When they're off, well, you're going to see these 15-20 strikeout games and no ability to manufacture runs without home runs.

Braves are 2nd in the MLB in spring training strikeouts and I don't see that changing anytime soon. The team's lineup isn't built very well...part of that is because BJ Upton completely forgot how to play baseball last year(Seriously, besides Rick Ankiel who have you ever seen that had a bigger fall from grace?).

Hate to think a guy like LaStella could be the lead-off hitter this team needs, but they need someone who can get on base, work the count, and make contact badly.
 
PurpleBrave said:
Sigh...yesterday is just a reminder that this lineup hasn't changed much from last year. When they're hot, they're going to be clubbing homers left and right. When they're off, well, you're going to see these 15-20 strikeout games and no ability to manufacture runs without home runs.

Braves are 2nd in the MLB in spring training strikeouts and I don't see that changing anytime soon. The team's lineup isn't built very well...part of that is because BJ Upton completely forgot how to play baseball last year(Seriously, besides Rick Ankiel who have you ever seen that had a bigger fall from grace?).

Hate to think a guy like LaStella could be the lead-off hitter this team needs, but they need someone who can get on base, work the count, and make contact badly.
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6th most walks this spring too. So just like last year, lots of strikeouts but lots of walks too.
 
Hale make pitch today. Four solid innings. I think he would do better than the projection systems are saying if put in the rotation. He seems to have developed a better feel for his changeup at some point last season.

Thomas is another one I'm high on. Even with Beachy and Medlen headed for TJ, I think our starting pitching will be fine.
 
FYI...

The reason I did NOT break down the Thursday box was because there was literally NOTHING positive coming out of that debacle.

Watching the live broadcast, I saw La Stella, Cunningham and Simmons all half-ass plays in the field or on the bases. Simmons, who is a gamer beyond question, might get a pass on his baserunning, but the others made plays worthy of a quick demotion. In fact, were I to base it on yesterday's game, La Stella needs to head back to the minors for some serious work. Not only did he nonchalant a ground ball into a vital error, he struck out twice and hit into a DP in his three ABs. Cunningham, playing right, could not make a short throw for an easy force play as part of a huge St. Louis inning.

Garcia pitched like a has-been; Gearrin could not overcome his defense and Lamm for the third time this spring came into a jam and failed to put out the fire.

To make matters worse, the game was broadcast on the Cardinals' network, and the two guys were oblivious to the face they were also being seen in Braves country, often having Braves hitters bat without so much as giving their name. To make matters worse, instead of showing today's game live, they are REPLAYING that crap, making it four times in the last 24 hours they are showing a game that no self-respecting Braves fans will spend even a minute with on replay.

This has been the worst spring in years for the Braves' TV (or lack thereof). I guess we should be grateful since they have played like doo doo much of the time.
 
Breaking down the FRIDAY box...

Nice bounce back from Thursday cluster bomb (see above).

6-1 win over Rays...

What you hoped to see from Hale: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 K

Scoreless innings from Kimbrel, Avilan (perfect inning), Perez (ditto), Obispo (likewise), Batista (2 K).

Johnson 2-3 (2B)

Heyward 1-3, RBI (.353)

BJ 1-3, OF assist

JoeT 2-2, (HR), 3 RBI (1st HR of spring)

Mejia 1-1, 2 RBI (PH HR), (.323) There is literally nothing more he can do to make the club.

Doumit 0-3, 3 K (not that good a week)

Uggla 0-2

La Stella 0-0, R
 
Jason Heyward is not thinking about working or learning the value and culture of work.

/Paul Ryan
 
yeezus said:
Who is holding back Mejia from a spot on the bench?
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The only defensive position he can play is 1st base and he's not even good defensively there. Had he been in the AL he would have been in the majors years ago as a DH. I don't know why the Braves have never traded him to an AL team and get something good for him. His minor-league numbers the last 2 or 3 years are insane.
 
AUTiger7222 said:
The only defensive position he can play is 1st base and he's not even good defensively there. Had he been in the AL he would have been in the majors years ago as a DH. I don't know why the Braves have never traded him to an AL team and get something good for him. His minor-league numbers the last 2 or 3 years are insane.
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Trend in the AL is getting away from the one dimensional DH. They're using guys who can play the field in a DH rotation, giving 3-4 guys a "rest" day each week to DH.

And then there's teams like Boston, who've already got one, thank you.

From what I've seen Mejia would make Gattis look like a gazelle in the OF. So its tough to justify a roster spot for someone to back up Freddie. But we could use someone who can PH and Mejia might be the man for that job if the other bench guys are versatle.
 
stpeteirish said:
Trend in the AL is getting away from the one dimensional DH. They're using guys who can play the field in a DH rotation, giving 3-4 guys a "rest" day each week to DH.

And then there's teams like Boston, who've already got one, thank you.

From what I've seen Mejia would make Gattis look like a gazelle in the OF. So its tough to justify a roster spot for someone to back up Freddie. But we could use someone who can PH and Mejia might be the man for that job if the other bench guys are versatle.
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But we've already got Doumit who is bat only, even though he can technically play a couple of different positions. We don't need two.
 
The last two years Mejia has put up OPS of .820 and .849 in AAA. Those are good but not exceptional numbers. By comparison, Joey T put up a .926 OPS and Freddie Freeman a .898 OPS as a 20 year old in AAA.
 
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