What We Learned This Year

Four way battle in spring training for 2 spots between Newk, Wright, Wilson and Touki. With Anderson held in reserve for a May/June callup.

It is also worth noting that Weigel, Davidson and Ynoa will be in AAA. During spring training, Touki was given first dibs as a starter. Fried did not emerge until Touki faltered. So there are lots of possibilities. Young pitchers develop in unpredictable ways.

Gross. I want nothing to do with 2 of those pitchers in our rotation to start the year. 1 is good, but we need a rotation upgrade. Are any of them likely to be any better than JT in 2020? Going from DK and JT to two of Newk/Wright/Wilson/Touki is in all likelihood a huge downgrade.
 
I learned that Acuna is our best player. I have a feeling he takes over as the best hitter next year as well. Ozzie is also on a HOF path. Soroka and Fried are the future of our rotation. I'd give Newk another shot to start next year too. We need to make a move for a banger for either 3B or a corner OF spot. Whether that's Donaldson or someone else. Neck can't be starting in 2020.
 
Ignoring moronic comments like “Freeman chokes under pressure because he was bad for 5 games”, the Braves didn’t actually learn much new information this year.

They should have already known the regulars needed more rest.

They should have already known Acuna and Albies were stars.

They should have already known guys like Markakis and Duvall are role players.

They should have already known a healthy Ender is the 2nd best OFer on the roster.

They should have already known Newk was a BP arm.

They should have already known Soroka was a pillar of the rotation.

They should have known all those things because intelligent people have been saying them for a year or more. If I knew these things for over a year, the FO should have as well.

What we actually learned was that Fried was able to add multiple plus pitches and turn himself into a very good SP. The trio of Fried, Soroka and Folty represents a pretty good foundation to build on by adding another DK on a short term deal, filling around the edges, and then seeing what happens with guys like Wright, Anderson and Touki.

We also learned that Riley’s hitting profile needs a lot of work, and we learned it almost immediately. The Braves need a JD or Mous for 3b, and the best OF they can acquire until Pache and/or Waters is ready.
 
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Although he needs some more time in AAA, Riley is ahead of Pache and Waters. He is much more likely to be a factor at some point next year, whether at third or the outfield. And one of the positive developments this year was we learned Riley can play decent defense in left.
 
I think Riley needs to be given some time in AAA to sort a few things out. Contreras will repeat in AA and Lango will probably start off the season in high A. Alex Jackson is a scrub. I think the situation at catcher does in fact merit spending some money on a guy like Grandal. Maybe too many other teams will be in on him. But we should at least kick the tires. Cervelli is not a bad Plan B imo if instead we end up spending big on a third baseman and bow out of the Grandal sweepstakes.

I feel like buying low on Cervelli is possible and a worthy risk. I wouldn't think you would have to go even two years on a guy that it was rumored was giving up catching.

I know Grandal does everything well, but I just struggle giving premium dollars and years to a 30ish catcher. Even though that kind of moves can do wonders for increasing the depth of a lineup.
 
I also learned it was possible to hate the Cardinals that ****er Molina way worse than I already did. Hope the Nats make look like pansies and Soto hits 10 homers and does a different sort of bat flip with every single one. Seriously, eff them and the lucky ass horse with a golden plated horseshoe up its ass that they rode in on.
 
man, i can't stand the Nats. i think i'd like to see them beat the Cards tho. i at least like some of the guys on the Nats like Soto, Rendon, Scherz, and Zimmerman doesn't bother me.
 
man, i can't stand the Nats. i think i'd like to see them beat the Cards tho. i at least like some of the guys on the Nats like Soto, Rendon, Scherz, and Zimmerman doesn't bother me.

I have to agree with this. Other then the fact it's a divisional rival I have no issue with the players besides Strasburg acting like a baby at times. But **** Molina. lol
 
I have to agree with this. Other then the fact it's a divisional rival I have no issue with the players besides Strasburg acting like a baby at times. But **** Molina. lol

Harper not being there makes it easier. for me at least
 
I'd kick the tires on an ace in the off-season. 2 candidates that have seen their stocks fall a bit this year are Blake Snell and Corey Kluber.

I kind of doubt we let JT go. He's a very good 4-5 type of pitcher that eats innings. I guess the question is what do we think JT will get on the open market. If AA doesn't think JT can get 12 million in FA, then it makes sense to let him go. If not, then I think you have to bring him back.

Yes please to Kluber. I think it makes sense to pick up the option on Teheran and make him earn a spot on the roster. I think he could easily be traded at his option price tag.
 
Yes please to Kluber. I think it makes sense to pick up the option on Teheran and make him earn a spot on the roster. I think he could easily be traded at his option price tag.

I think if you are talking about a 12 million dollar player who you think has to earn a spot on the roster that you have cast some definite doubt on the trade value.
 
I think if you are talking about a 12 million dollar player who you think has to earn a spot on the roster that you have cast some definite doubt on the trade value.

I think there’s a difference between earning a spot on our roster and another team’s roster. Perhaps I worded it wrong though. Teheran would be the de facto starter but could be unseated by a prospect that shows they’re ready. I doubt we’d get much back but we could move him and all his money for a 40 FV player easily enough maybe even a 40+ FV player.
 
I think there’s a difference between earning a spot on our roster and another team’s roster. Perhaps I worded it wrong though. Teheran would be the de facto starter but could be unseated by a prospect that shows they’re ready. I doubt we’d get much back but we could move him and all his money for a 40 FV player easily enough maybe even a 40+ FV player.

I'd be fascinated to see what kind of deal Teheran would end up getting if the Braves do not exercise his option.
 
In the same way it took the Coppy sanctions to get rid of the John regime, I hope we can use this collapse as a pretense to get rid of Snit. Would be a pretty great silver lining, hate the thought of his decisions adding drag throughout our window
 
In the same way it took the Coppy sanctions to get rid of the John regime, I hope we can use this collapse as a pretense to get rid of Snit. Would be a pretty great silver lining, hate the thought of his decisions adding drag throughout our window

Snit's moves this series werent why we lost, despite what everyone wants to think. If the Braves would have hit like they did, they'd still be playing.

That being said, i dont think Snit is the manager to take this team over the top. Need to hire a young, forward thinking manager. Not sure AA will fire Snit until he calls it quits.
 
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Snit's moves this series werent why we lost, despite what everyone wants to think. If the Braves would have hit like they did, they'd still be playing.

That being said, i dont think Snit is the manager to take this team over the top. Need to hire a young, forward thinking manager. Not sure AA will fire Snit until he calls it quits.

Agreed on both, he certainly didn't do us any favors this series though. But my main point was this might be the best and last chance to get rid of him which would make this disaster of a week a lot more palatable
 
This year I learned that a toaster is most certainly not a vagina and that a chocolate/saltine cracker combo is surprisingly tasty. I also learned how to properly use the words "fewer" and "less", then immediately forgot.

As far as the Braves go, I learned that the Braves are squarely in the middle of a contention window and they're going to be fine. They have some tough questions to address this offseason, but ultimately the team is just fine.
 
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