Braves

[msstate7]

FG continues to kill me. He made 2 really dumb moves IMO yesterday:

1. Letting harang hit with runner on 2nd and 2 outs even though harang was over 100 pitches.

2. Letting laird (even though he had 2 hits) bat with bases loaded in the 8th. Sorry, but gattis should hit there.


Bj is back to being bj. I really wish FG would use this lineup tonight and all week:

LaStella
Simmons
FF
Jup
Heyward
Gattis
Cj
Bj

[smootness]

Why would we want Simmons in the 2 hole? And why would we want Heyward to get less ABs by hitting 5th?

The lineup right now needs to be this:
Heyward
La Stella
J. Upton
Freeman
Gattis

[msstate7]

Why would we want Simmons in the 2 hole? And why would we want Heyward to get less ABs by hitting 5th?

The lineup right now needs to be this:
Heyward
La Stella
J. Upton
Freeman
Gattis

I want Heyward getting chances to drive runners in. If you put bj and the pitcher at the bottom of the lineup, jhey doesn't have a chance to drive anyone in.

I don't mind jup 2nd, but I think Simmons could do well in 2-hole. Simmons can get around on a fastball and he'll see plenty in front of ff

[BoomBoom]

How about la stella hitting 9th?

[smootness]

I want Heyward getting chances to drive runners in. If you put bj and the pitcher at the bottom of the lineup, jhey doesn't have a chance to drive anyone in.

I don't mind jup 2nd, but I think Simmons could do well in 2-hole. Simmons can get around on a fastball and he'll see plenty in front of ff

I think he's more valuable getting on base and on the basepaths, though. It's certainly valuable enough to keep Simmons, who will always struggle to have a very good OBP, away from the top of the lineup.

I want Heyward and La Stella getting on base for Freeman, Upton, and Gattis.

In regard to La Stella hitting 9th, I don't want that because it means he will get the fewest number of ABs on the team, and he's been too good a hitter so far for that. I think he's an absolutely perfect fit in the 2 hole for us.

[msstate7]

With walden coming back, who would you send down? I'm thinking wood. I want him getting regular starts till he's needed as a starter for the big club

[smootness]

With walden coming back, who would you send down? I'm thinking wood. I want him getting regular starts till he's needed as a starter for the big club

Possibly, he hasn't been effective out of the pen anyway. I would like for Avilan to go down and work on some things, too. We're going to need an effective lefty out of the pen this year, and it hasn't been Avilan so far.

[msstate7]

Possibly, he hasn't been effective out of the pen anyway. I would like for Avilan to go down and work on some things, too. We're going to need an effective lefty out of the pen this year, and it hasn't been Avilan so far.

Wesley wright (lhp) for the cubs is who we need to go after IMO

[BoomBoom]

I think he's more valuable getting on base and on the basepaths, though. It's certainly valuable enough to keep Simmons, who will always struggle to have a very good OBP, away from the top of the lineup.

I want Heyward and La Stella getting on base for Freeman, Upton, and Gattis.

In regard to La Stella hitting 9th, I don't want that because it means he will get the fewest number of ABs on the team, and he's been too good a hitter so far for that. I think he's an absolutely perfect fit in the 2 hole for us.

Yeah, but he's a rook so id prefer having him lower in the order. And if you're gonna put his empty OBP in the 1st 3, then why not leadoff?

[smootness]

Yeah, but he's a rook so id prefer having him lower in the order. And if you're gonna put his empty OBP in the 1st 3, then why not leadoff?

Fair question, I wouldn't mind La Stella at 1 and Heyward 2. But Heyward has done really well overall in the leadoff spot, and I like the idea of Heyward being on base with no one in front of him clogging it up. I would rather have Heyward BB and La Stella single than La Stella walk and Heyward single, for instance. First example, you're probably 1st and 3rd; the second, you're likely 1st and 2nd.

I don't understand the term 'empty OBP', though. Essentially all you're saying is that they don't have much power. The reason 'empty BA' is relevant is because BA will always be determined, by some degree, by BABIP, which is somewhat luck-driven. And it indicates someone who doesn't have other skills, a la Chris Johnson. But someone who is an 'empty OBP' guy should always be able to get on base.

I will take a guy like La Stella all day over Chris Johnson.

[msstate7]

The problem I have with Heyward continuing to lead off is while he's hitting we're still not scoring. At this point I don't care what changes are made with the lineup. I just want to try something different

[smootness]

The problem I have with Heyward continuing to lead off is while he's hitting we're still not scoring. At this point I don't care what changes are made with the lineup. I just want to try something different

That's mostly because Freeman was in a massive slump, Justin slowed down, and the 2 hole is still a black hole. Moving Heyward to 5 doesn't help any of that.

I think he's more valuable, right now, as an on-base machine than as a run producer. Once Freeman gets it together again and we move someone who can get on base to 2, the runs will come.

[dawgs]

Empty OBP is just means he doesn't have power or speed. His value outside of getting on base is entirely dependent on guys behind him knocking him in.

[msstate7]

That's mostly because Freeman was in a massive slump, Justin slowed down, and the 2 hole is still a black hole. Moving Heyward to 5 doesn't help any of that.

I think he's more valuable, right now, as an on-base machine than as a run producer. Once Freeman gets it together again and we move someone who can get on base to 2, the runs will come.

Jhey
Jup
Ff
Gattis
Cj
Bj
Simmons
Lastella

Maybe if we go with this lineup pitcher can bunt lastella over to get a risp for Heyward. I just want jhey to have RBI chances

[dawgs]

Heyward isn't slugging like he can, and I can't help but think part of that is him focusing on slapping singles and getting on in the lead off spot instead of driving the ball. His SLG is sub-.400, which is pretty bad for a guy his size and talent.

As a nats fan, I hope y'all leave him lead off though.

[smootness]

Jhey
Jup
Ff
Gattis
Cj
Bj
Simmons
Lastella

Maybe if we go with this lineup pitcher can bunt lastella over to get a risp for Heyward. I just want jhey to have RBI chances

I'm fine with Upton 2nd, or at least I was before La Stella showed up. I still have no idea why Fredi decided to change it after it worked so well last year.

And until we have other guys who can get on base consistently or until Heyward starts hitting with more power (to be fair, it may have something to do with the fact that he's focused on getting on), it just makes the most sense to have him at the top of the order.

It doesn't do us any good to give Heyward fewer ABs while having guys who don't get on base and aren't our best hitters getting the most ABs and hitting ahead of our biggest run producers.

[dawgs]

IF la Stella maintain a good avg (~.300) AND starts walking like he did in MiLB, he'd be a fine lead off guy with close to a .400 OBP. Then have heyward, freeman, j upton, gattis, Johnson, bj upton, and Simmons.

That's what I'd do so long as la Stella doesn't lose his groove.

[msstate7]

IF la Stella maintain a good avg (~.300) AND starts walking like he did in MiLB, he'd be a fine lead off guy with close to a .400 OBP. Then have heyward, freeman, j upton, gattis, Johnson, bj upton, and Simmons.

That's what I'd do so long as la Stella doesn't lose his groove.

The problem is 3 lefties followed by 5 righties

[smootness]

The problem is 3 lefties followed by 5 righties

That's why you just switch up Upton and Freeman - so then you have L,L,R,L,R,R,R.

Not that bad. You at least have Justin Upon you have to deal with if you're trying to just shut people down with a lefty specialist. And Freeman hits lefties fairly well, I'm guessing La Stella will, too.

[dawgs]

The problem is 3 lefties followed by 5 righties

I'm not a huge follower of righty/lefty splits unless someone is pretty drastic.

Freeman hits righties and lefties good, so that helps.

La Stella has only 1 AB against a lefty right now, and finding splits against MiLB pitchers are harder to find. So no idea where he stands.

Heyward has a pretty big split though.

J-upton hits lefties better, but he's not terrible against righties.

Gattis is better against righties.

Maybe you put j-upton 2nd, then freeman, gattis, heyward, or flip gattis and heyward.

My point is that I'd want guy that can drive the ball in the best position to knock in runs than get too wrapped up in righty/lefty matchups (unless a player's sample size is big enough to clearly show a huge split).

[msstate7]

Really like s. Simmons. Carpenter has probably lost the 8th inning.

[Pioneer Dawg]

Somewhere in their lineup has to be fixed vs righties because they have been the BEST vs LHP and WORST vs RHP.

[Pioneer Dawg]

Walden off DL

Wood to Gwinnett

[KB21]

The problem I have with Heyward continuing to lead off is while he's hitting we're still not scoring. At this point I don't care what changes are made with the lineup. I just want to try something different

The team doesn't take advantage of him being on base. With BJ batting second, he's essentially a rally killer.

[Political Hack]

you have to just scratch the idea of a lead off hitter with this squad and put people in position to produce runs. I feel like the Braves get stuck trying to decide who's the "most like" a lead off guy and using them rather than just finding someone who's going to get on base. I don't care if Gattis bats 1 if his OBP is the highest... because there's not a lead off hitter in that lineup.

[KB21]

Walden off DL

Wood to Gwinnett

Wood needs to get stretched out some at Gwinnett so he will be ready down the stretch. It's hard to imagine Aaron Harang and Gavin Floyd continuing their pitching. At some point, one of them will turn back into a pumpkin the way Ervin Santana has. BTW, the fact that we gave up our first round pick for Santana cost us a chance at drafting Michael Chavis.

[smootness]

you have to just scratch the idea of a lead off hitter with this squad and put people in position to produce runs. I feel like the Braves get stuck trying to decide who's the "most like" a lead off guy and using them rather than just finding someone who's going to get on base. I don't care if Gattis bats 1 if his OBP is the highest... because there's not a lead off hitter in that lineup.

I agree, which is why I like Heyward leading off.

[smootness]

BTW, the fact that we gave up our first round pick for Santana cost us a chance at drafting Michael Chavis.

I like Davidson, though. The only issue with him is whether or not he'll stick at a corner OF spot. Obviously we need him to do that, he's blocked at 1B for a long time.

He has a cannon, but he already doesn't run well and he looks like he could quickly add some more weight. If he becomes too much of a defensive liability in the OF, we'll basically have to trade him.

[msstate7]

Wood needs to get stretched out some at Gwinnett so he will be ready down the stretch. It's hard to imagine Aaron Harang and Gavin Floyd continuing their pitching. At some point, one of them will turn back into a pumpkin the way Ervin Santana has. BTW, the fact that we gave up our first round pick for Santana cost us a chance at drafting Michael Chavis.

This guy thinks Floyd or harang could be dealt for a reliever. I'd love to get a decent lh reliever for harang if possible. This would be ideal IMO so we can bring wood back as a starter

http://atlantabraves.blog.ajc.com/2014/06/09/braves-likely-to-trade-for-needed-bullpen-help/


I really don't wanna deal Floyd though.

What I'd love is a 3-way trade in which an al team (like mariners) get harang, we get Wesley wright, and cubs get prospect