Braves are STACKED this year. Super excited for this season
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Braves are STACKED this year. Super excited for this season
Pitching still concerns me
I think Chris Sale is exactly what we needed. Another quality arm that has postseason success. Only thing we could use some more bullpen help and another outfielder. Hopefully Arcia plays like he did last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinto
We will see. No doubt the Braves are a playoff team barring some catastrophic injuries. But do they run away with it or have a tight battle with the Phillies.
No doubt the Braves won't miss Eddie in LF. But do we get good, bad, or mediocre Adam? Does Kelenic do anything at all or is he a bust? Does Arcia regress at short? Was last year a mirage for Ozuna or does he return to 2022 form? Can we get 1st half Murphy for the entire season?
If Strider, Fried, Olson, Riley, Acuna, and Albies do their normal thing then all of these are minor concerns. But you gotta think that Matt and Ronald put up unreal numbers last year that you can't expect to replicate year after year.
Regardless it gonna be a fun season.
Why? 1-4, the Braves have the best pitching staff in the league. Strider, Fried, Sale, Morton is damn good. Reynaldo Lopez is the 5th starter and he has tremendous upside, it'll just come down to how he performs as a starter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinto
The bullpen is stacked too.
Only thing that could hurt the Braves is injuries but that's true for every team.
I am anxious to see how Strider does. I haven't watched any Spring training but he supposedly has a devastating curveball now to go with 100 heater.Quote:
Originally Posted by RockyDog
Braves are the best team in baseball. Hopefully they're hot in October... that's all that matters for a championship - rangers 2023 and braves 2021 are good examples; neither were the best teams their years
Watching his new curve reminded me of watching Nolan Ryan. It just buckles your knees and there is nothing you can do about it. Nolan was more of the traditional 12-6, but the effect is just as devastating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe
Let's GO!
Strider's curve is making guys look silly so far
Duvall! Gotta love it.
Unfortunately it looks like Murphy may be out for a while
Sucks, but early in season, so not a killerQuote:
Originally Posted by RockyDog
You have to love the wisdom of Major League Baseball. These guys have been playing games in Florida and Arizona for over a month and then you schedule openers in New York, Philly, Chicago and Baltimore
Braves have opened up a can!
THAT is why you let Fried walk. Even though he got hosed on a strike 3 RIGHT down the middle, he’s not a 20 or 30 million per year pitcher. Terrible effort.
Damn Fried got screwed there.
This Braves team is relentless
Didn't have Max Fried and Aaron Nola giving up a combined 8 runs in less than 2 innings on my bingo card
Lol got that right! They both always struggle early. Kinda like power hittersQuote:
Originally Posted by KOdawg1
Glad we got uncle Jessie back. Dude knows how to pitch and eats innings!
I still like the Braves to run away with the division. Wheeler and Nola are good pitchers but in today’s age of baseball all you gotta do is keep it close until the 5th inning and attack the opposing bullpen. The Braves are built for that.
Bohm is trash at third and the Phillies outfielders have little league arms. That being said I’d rather play anybody else in the postseason.
Signing fried to an extension is a moot point imo bc I think he's headed west. I would absolutely sign him at 20 million though. Bad games happen to every pitcher
Yep, seems Fried has his eyes set on the West Coast. I really hate that.Quote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Can we trade him to the Angels and hope he sticks? I am going to really hate him in a Dodgers uniform.
We could leverage a pitcher right now if we need to, but there's not much to gain unless your rotation somehow gets deeper dealing Fried.
I'll take the Bravos Catchers, primary IF, and 2/3 of the OF over damn near any team in the bigs right now.
Only for the Braves though! It's crazy how good he is as a Brave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Commercecomet24
It’s early but Kelenick has been good. If he and Duvall can combine for 30 HR and 80-90 RBI in the LF spot, this team could be unstoppable.
The Dodgers have spent a ton of money but there is no team close to the Braves 1 thru 9, and I dare say the rotation outclasses most others too
It is amazing! I'm surprised the Braves didn't retain him after last year. He was great before the injury.Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by RockyDog
Yep and good to see you posting, Hack!Quote:
Originally Posted by Political Hack
Uh oh. Strider is going in for an MRI on his elbow. You just had to know this was coming at some point. I guess it’s a good thing that AA didn’t spend $ on Giolito too. I really wish he had pulled the trigger on Montgomery. You would have been the perfect fit for this group and the DBacks ended up getting him for dirt cheap.
It's just a gamble you have to take these days. If it's TJ for Strider, they'll pick somebody up mid-season.Quote:
Originally Posted by RockyDog
Strider has a tear in his tendon in right elbow.
Sucks, but season isn't over. Braves won a WS the same year they lost Acuna for the year. Gotta baby sale and fried some
Need to go sign Trevor Bauer now.
Probably will wait until the all star break to pick up a top arm from a team that's selling.
This is still a top 3 team even without Strider
No way they do it, but man, that would be one hell of a replacement. I wonder if mlb has silently let it be known Bauer is off limits... if so, tell mlb if they let ohtani gamble, we getting Bauer hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by trob115
I would sign Bauer because he doesn't cost anything in prospect capital. A one year prove it deal at MLB minimum and I bet he would accept it just to be back in the league. I bet AA doesn't do it though
You need 3 starters in the playoffs. If they started today, sale, fried, and Morton/lopez is probably as good as anyone. I thought our 3 with strider was the best. Gotta keep sale and fried healthyQuote:
Originally Posted by KOdawg1
I don't trust Sale to stay healthyQuote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Maybe not, but I don't trust any pitcher to stay healthy.Quote:
Originally Posted by KOdawg1
Playoffs are totally random now it seems... Braves had 1 starter in 2021 that was reliable unless you count Morton who got hurt in the playoffs. Rangers basically has 1 in Montgomery unless you count the shadow of scherzer