Braves fans

Amazingly, we are now only one game below .500. We are only 6.5 games out of a wild card spot, 7.5 games out of the division, and are close to a Freeman return. And the Colon experiment has finally come to an end.

Do y'all think we are buyers at the deadline?

We have a nasty stretch coming up that I guess will end up defining that. Houston for 2, @Nats for 4, Arizona for 3, Cubs for 3, @Dodgers for 4, and @Arizona for 3. I mean that's one nasty stretch right there. If we can come out of that stretch alright I think we've got a real playoff chance

I doubt we buy, unless we can get a guy with a few years of control.

This week is huge is we have any aspirations for the playoffs. We need to get within 5 games going into the break imo

Biggest of those are the four at nationals. Have to take 3/4. Think we have a better chance of winning the division than getting a wildcard.

Sonny Gray was the interesting one for me. He's got 2 arbitration years then becomes a free agent. He would be a possibility. Got a 4 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. That's pretty decent on a bad team. W-L record doesn't mean anything on that team either.

They should stand pat as far as any big trades go. Their big deal was getting Adams. If Teheran and dickey keep throwin well enough and the youngsters keep looking like they belong it could continue to be an interesting year.

They need pitchers. They are in the shopping mode. I hate to see Acuna or some of the other minor leaguers be traded, but they are building for next year.

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Originally Posted by parabrave

They need pitchers. They are in the shopping mode. I hate to see Acuna or some of the other minor leaguers be traded, but they are building for next year.

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Acuna, allard, soroka, Albies, wright, and maitan should be absolutely, positively unavailable unless the angels wanna give us trout haha

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Originally Posted by MetEdDawg

Amazingly, we are now only one game below .500. We are only 6.5 games out of a wild card spot, 7.5 games out of the division, and are close to a Freeman return. And the Colon experiment has finally come to an end.

Do y'all think we are buyers at the deadline?

We have a nasty stretch coming up that I guess will end up defining that. Houston for 2, @Nats for 4, Arizona for 3, Cubs for 3, @Dodgers for 4, and @Arizona for 3. I mean that's one nasty stretch right there. If we can come out of that stretch alright I think we've got a real playoff chance

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yeah, that stretch is brutal. if they come out of that in striking distance, then they will be tentative buyers. by that i mean they will buy only pieces that improve them over the next 3 years. they will be looking for controllable starters, and short term 3B. that's it, they are set everywhere else. i think acuna is untouchable, but that's it.

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

yeah, that stretch is brutal. if they come out of that in striking distance, then they will be tentative buyers. by that i mean they will buy only pieces that improve them over the next 3 years. they will be looking for controllable starters, and short term 3B. that's it, they are set everywhere else. i think acuna is untouchable, but that's it.

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I agree with you here. Whatever they are buying isn't truly for this year. If we get someone to help get to the playoffs then he is really a piece for the next couple of years. This team isn't going to the World Series this year but it could lay a foundation to compete for it next year.

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

yeah, that stretch is brutal. if they come out of that in striking distance, then they will be tentative buyers. by that i mean they will buy only pieces that improve them over the next 3 years. they will be looking for controllable starters, and short term 3B. that's it, they are set everywhere else. i think acuna is untouchable, but that's it.

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I agree with basically all of this. I think Wright is in that category too of untouchable. But I agree we aren't going to get a rental pitcher. Got to get something longer term than that so we can have 2018 and 2019 be contending years as well without having to make a ton of moves.

If we can go .500 through that stretch, I think we've got a real chance to sneak into the playoffs in this weak league. That would give us opportunities to play above .500 baseball after that stretch against worse competition which could put us squarely in the playoff conversation.

Not sure how you guys can see Albies as expendable. He's finally getting healthy from elbow injury and he's killing it now. Not only getting multiple hits a game, but also showing some pop (3 HRs in last 9 games/6 total on year). 20/22 in SBs and oh yeah, he's 20 in AAA! Albies, Swanson, and inciarte up the middle is gonna be outstanding.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Not sure how you guys can see Albies as expendable. He's finally getting healthy from elbow injury and he's killing it now. Not only getting multiple hits a game, but also showing some pop (3 HRs in last 9 games/6 total on year). 20/22 in SBs and oh yeah, he's 20 in AAA! Albies, Swanson, and inciarte up the middle is gonna be outstanding.

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If losing him meant helping us get a Top 20-30 pitcher for a long term deal, then I'm ok losing him. There are quite a few 2B out there you can use to fill a spot for a couple of years while we get ready to bring another one up. But getting top of the line pitching has been something we haven't been able to do. If we get a chance to get an A level pitcher and Albeis has to be in the deal, I would be ok with us doing it as long as we can get that pitcher long term.

I hope Acuna is unavailable. He and Gohra are great at trading barbs with during the games. But then again I thought Andrus was unavailable also

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Originally Posted by MetEdDawg

If losing him meant helping us get a Top 20-30 pitcher for a long term deal, then I'm ok losing him. There are quite a few 2B out there you can use to fill a spot for a couple of years while we get ready to bring another one up. But getting top of the line pitching has been something we haven't been able to do. If we get a chance to get an A level pitcher and Albeis has to be in the deal, I would be ok with us doing it as long as we can get that pitcher long term.

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I'm in no hurry. We have some potential pitchers of that caliber in folty, Newcomb, allard (19 in AA, 3.05 era), soroka (19 in AA, 2.31 era), and wright... even gohara (20 in AA, 2.45 era) to a lesser extent. No way I want to jump the gun when we aren't ready... stay the course bc my list above will have at least 2 studs in it

I would like them to start using Gohra in a closers role. He was throwing 97-99 consistently last week in biloxi.

The trade killing us now was the Alex Wood one. We got freaking hosed on that trade. Alex Wood would be our ace right now and we never have to pay $12.5 million to Colon. This year would be looking a whole lot different had we held tight there.

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Originally Posted by MetEdDawg

The trade killing us now was the Alex Wood one. We got freaking hosed on that trade. Alex Wood would be our ace right now and we never have to pay $12.5 million to Colon. This year would be looking a whole lot different had we held tight there.

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Agree 100%...but if making all those good trades they did make meant one awful one then I'd take it all day.

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Originally Posted by shoeless joe

Agree 100%...but if making all those good trades they did make meant one awful one then I'd take it all day.

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Yeah but it's the one awful one which kills us. We need the nobrainer big deals like Crimedog and Sheffield not the texria(sp) ones. That trade was a disaster for us.

If we are buyers at the deadline, fire the FO. 6.5 games out is not close, and that's with a record better than it should be considering our -36 RD.

We are a halfway decent team that has gotten a little lucky. Even with Freeman, we're not a real threat, and the FO should be smart enough to understand that.

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Originally Posted by MetEdDawg

The trade killing us now was the Alex Wood one. We got freaking hosed on that trade. Alex Wood would be our ace right now and we never have to pay $12.5 million to Colon. This year would be looking a whole lot different had we held tight there.

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Yes, it is looking worse and worse. And then we unloaded HO for Kemp, who, while better than HO, is not good and is costing us more money.

Please buy Cueto, Pence, Nunez, Melancon and Samardjiza

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Originally Posted by smootness

If we are buyers at the deadline, fire the FO. 6.5 games out is not close, and that's with a record better than it should be considering our -36 RD.

We are a halfway decent team that has gotten a little lucky. Even with Freeman, we're not a real threat, and the FO should be smart enough to understand that.

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If we had any pitcher in the world other than Bartolo Colon in his spot, this team has 3-4 more wins at a minimum, which would make us 3 or 4 games above .500. This is not a bad team. It hits for average, it has enough power, and while the pitching staff as a whole isn't great, there are enough middle relief arms to do well enough. Add the fact that Dansby is coming around finally and Freeman is coming back and I think this lineup is pretty decent. Inciarte, Phillips, Markakis, Freeman, Kemp, Adams, Flowers (who very quietly is batting above .300) and Swanson is a pretty good lineup.

You add a starting pitcher and maybe a better closer to this team and we are going to win more than we lose down the stretch. That to me makes us buyers. But we have to traverse this tough stretch of teams through July in order to be at that point. If we get to the end of July and we are 6 or 7 games below .500, we sell. If we are hanging around .500, we buy. Those west coast teams have to beat up on each other. Might make room for us to come up from a weak division with some better pitching and steal a spot.

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Originally Posted by smootness

If we are buyers at the deadline, fire the FO. 6.5 games out is not close, and that's with a record better than it should be considering our -36 RD.

We are a halfway decent team that has gotten a little lucky. Even with Freeman, we're not a real threat, and the FO should be smart enough to understand that.

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Obviously I don't wanna buy bc I wanna hold our best currency. With that said, let's say we have a great week, mets help us vs the Nats, and we end up 3.5 out of division

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Originally Posted by MetEdDawg

If we had any pitcher in the world other than Bartolo Colon in his spot, this team has 3-4 more wins at a minimum, which would make us 3 or 4 games above .500. This is not a bad team. It hits for average, it has enough power, and while the pitching staff as a whole isn't great, there are enough middle relief arms to do well enough. Add the fact that Dansby is coming around finally and Freeman is coming back and I think this lineup is pretty decent. Inciarte, Phillips, Markakis, Freeman, Kemp, Adams, Flowers (who very quietly is batting above .300) and Swanson is a pretty good lineup.

You add a starting pitcher and maybe a better closer to this team and we are going to win more than we lose down the stretch. That to me makes us buyers. But we have to traverse this tough stretch of teams through July in order to be at that point. If we get to the end of July and we are 6 or 7 games below .500, we sell. If we are hanging around .500, we buy. Those west coast teams have to beat up on each other. Might make room for us to come up from a weak division with some better pitching and steal a spot.

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You have to take the good with the bad. Adams has been hitting above his head, Kemp was doing that for a while, Phillips has been playing as well as he can.

Sure, if Colon had been good instead of terrible, we'd be better. But again, we are -36 in RD. That is not a .500 team, much less a playoff threat.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Obviously I don't wanna buy bc I wanna hold our best currency. With that said, let's say we have a great week, mets help us vs the Nats, and we end up 3.5 out of division

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We aren't ready to contend. That's the only thing that should be taken into account when deciding what to do at the deadline. You always overpay at the deadline. The Braves being a buyer would be an awful move and would go against what they've been trying to build.

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Originally Posted by smootness

You have to take the good with the bad. Adams has been hitting above his head, Kemp was doing that for a while, Phillips has been playing as well as he can.

Sure, if Colon had been good instead of terrible, we'd be better. But again, we are -36 in RD. That is not a .500 team, much less a playoff threat.

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The RD is inflated because of how awful Colon was. He was giving up more than a run an inning. An above 8 ERA has really messed that up that RD. If you cut that down to just half and had a pitcher that would have put up only a 4.00 ERA over that time, which is still not that great, we are sitting at a RD around -5. That's not that bad, especially considering Freeman's absence, even with Adams doing well, would have scored us a few more runs over the same period of time. So all in all, a 4 ERA pitcher and Freeman in the lineup makes us around a break even RD.

I agree that this team isn't a contender. Starting pitching is not good enough. But the real question is can we do something to improve our outlook for the remainder of the year and for the future without giving up the farm? If we are still around .500 at the deadline, searching for a quality starting pitcher is something we should do. Additionally, it puts butts in seats and sets us up for an up revenue year in 2018. I think there will be deals to be had at the deadline. If they aren't good enough we don't make a move, but if we are in a decent position as far as record goes, I think we would be crazy not to make some inquiries and look to make a move.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Not sure how you guys can see Albies as expendable. He's finally getting healthy from elbow injury and he's killing it now. Not only getting multiple hits a game, but also showing some pop (3 HRs in last 9 games/6 total on year). 20/22 in SBs and oh yeah, he's 20 in AAA! Albies, Swanson, and inciarte up the middle is gonna be outstanding.

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he's a SS destined for 2B with this team because they already have a SS locked up for years. that means he has more value to other teams than to this team. if a team is willing to pay that value, then take it and pick a 2B up somewhere else. that said, make another team pay top dollar or keep him. but since Phillips is gone after this year, he's pretty much locked into their plans unless a team pays really well to get him. all i'm saying is, that as a 2B that can play a good SS, he's not untouchable.

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Originally Posted by smootness

Yes, it is looking worse and worse. And then we unloaded HO for Kemp, who, while better than HO, is not good and is costing us more money.

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Hmmm have you see Kemps stats lately? I wouldn't call a 306 BA not good. Matts only problem is he is a hamstring pull waiting to happen. But I guess you would want the Upton brothers still roaming the outfield and their batt buddy Uggla back at 2bd.

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Originally Posted by MetEdDawg

The RD is inflated because of how awful Colon was. He was giving up more than a run an inning. An above 8 ERA has really messed that up that RD. If you cut that down to just half and had a pitcher that would have put up only a 4.00 ERA over that time, which is still not that great, we are sitting at a RD around -5. That's not that bad, especially considering Freeman's absence, even with Adams doing well, would have scored us a few more runs over the same period of time. So all in all, a 4 ERA pitcher and Freeman in the lineup makes us around a break even RD.

I agree that this team isn't a contender. Starting pitching is not good enough. But the real question is can we do something to improve our outlook for the remainder of the year and for the future without giving up the farm? If we are still around .500 at the deadline, searching for a quality starting pitcher is something we should do. Additionally, it puts butts in seats and sets us up for an up revenue year in 2018. I think there will be deals to be had at the deadline. If they aren't good enough we don't make a move, but if we are in a decent position as far as record goes, I think we would be crazy not to make some inquiries and look to make a move.

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If you buy a player with multiple years remaining on their contract at the deadline, you're going to pay an insane amount. If they're young, you're going to give up even more.

It just doesn't make sense for us.

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Originally Posted by parabrave

Hmmm have you see Kemps stats lately? I wouldn't call a 306 BA not good. Matts only problem is he is a hamstring pull waiting to happen. But I guess you would want the Upton brothers still roaming the outfield and their batt buddy Uggla back at 2bd.

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Huh? I don't want either of those things haha. Kemp has been fine offensively. Unfortunately he is horrific defensively. He isn't out there costing us wins overall, but he wasn't worth adding to the sunk cost of HO.

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

he's a SS destined for 2B with this team because they already have a SS locked up for years. that means he has more value to other teams than to this team. if a team is willing to pay that value, then take it and pick a 2B up somewhere else. that said, make another team pay top dollar or keep him. but since Phillips is gone after this year, he's pretty much locked into their plans unless a team pays really well to get him. all i'm saying is, that as a 2B that can play a good SS, he's not untouchable.

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There are some who have questioned his future as a SS and stated their belief that his best defensive position is 2B. And we're not just trying to maximize trade value, we're trying to build a team. Having a great 2B goes a long way toward that.

The difference in value between a good fielding, good hitting SS and a good hitting, good fielding 2B is basically zero anyway.

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Originally Posted by Dawg61

On Cueto, Pence, Nunez, Melancon and Samardjiza

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Are those Santa Claus's "south of the border" reindeer?*




*I know less than dick about baseball....

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There are some who have questioned his future as a SS and stated their belief that his best defensive position is 2B. And we're not just trying to maximize trade value, we're trying to build a team. Having a great 2B goes a long way toward that.

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he has the skills to play SS. if no other team thinks so, then we probably keep him. but if someone is willing to pay as if he is a SS....then he isn't untouchable.

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The difference in value between a good fielding, good hitting SS and a good hitting, good fielding 2B is basically zero anyway.

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wut?

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

he has the skills to play SS. if no other team thinks so, then we probably keep him. but if someone is willing to pay as if he is a SS....then he isn't untouchable.



wut?

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There is essentially no difference in value between a good fielding, good hitting SS (which is basically what Albies projects to be as a SS, though there has been some question about his defensive level at SS) and a good fielding, good hitting 2B, which is what Albies projects to be as a 2B. Being open to dealing Albies simply because we have Swanson would be ridiculous. We have a huge need for a future 2B as well.

Albies' prospect status didn't change at all when the Braves moved him to 2B. Why? Because it doesn't really matter. He projects to be at least plus defensively at 2B.