Braves rumor

[BoomBoom]

I assume this would only apply for games where Gattis needs a breather from being behind the plate, and that Laird has not fully recovered from getring knocked on the jaw a couple days ago, so he will be DL'd with CB called up to take his spot

[smootness]

They won't call Bethancourt up to simply be a bench guy. He needs the PAs.

The Braves are in a tough spot right now. Gattis' only logical place in the field is at catcher, but they have this defensive whiz in the minors whose only value comes from being behind the plate. I know they like Gattis' offense and Bethancourt's defense enough that they don't want to give up either one, but they may have to make the decision at some point.

Personally, for as much as I'm drooling over Bethancourt behind the plate, I don't think we could afford to lose Gattis' bat anytime soon, so if a move had to be made eventually, I'd wait until Bethancourt has proven he can hit well enough and trade him for another bat, preferably at 3B or in the OF.

But it's a tough spot for sure.

[KB21]

A better comparison for Bethancourt is Salvador Perez. Benito had more pop in the minors, and Salvador may be the best defensive catcher in baseball not named Yadier Molina.

[msstate7]

They won't call Bethancourt up to simply be a bench guy. He needs the PAs.

The Braves are in a tough spot right now. Gattis' only logical place in the field is at catcher, but they have this defensive whiz in the minors whose only value comes from being behind the plate. I know they like Gattis' offense and Bethancourt's defense enough that they don't want to give up either one, but they may have to make the decision at some point.

Personally, for as much as I'm drooling over Bethancourt behind the plate, I don't think we could afford to lose Gattis' bat anytime soon, so if a move had to be made eventually, I'd wait until Bethancourt has proven he can hit well enough and trade him for another bat, preferably at 3B or in the OF.

But it's a tough spot for sure.

I wonder how wren looks at gattis long term. You've gotta think gattis is gonna get better and better offensively. Will he develop defensively? I really don't see how we can hold onto both very much longer.

[smootness]

I wonder how wren looks at gattis long term. You've gotta think gattis is gonna get better and better offensively. Will he develop defensively? I really don't see how we can hold onto both very much longer.

The thing is, he's already a viable catcher. It would be great if he does continue to develop defensively, but he's not really hurting us there as it is. And I definitely agree on his offense. All signs suggest he's going to be a very valuable catcher for a while. I would guess Bethancourt ends up being the same.

It's a good problem to have, but it is a problem because I would love to keep both. But I just don't see it as possible.

Our problem is that our best hitter is a 1B, so he blocks guys like Gattis who don't excel defensively. You can try to hide someone like that in LF, but it still hurts you. I'm really frustrated that we signed Chris Johnson, too. He's negative value with the glove and the bat...that signing made no sense.

[Fred Garvin]

BJ has to go. He made two critical errors this weekend - just boneheaded fielding plays. Currently, hitting just above .200. He has become a total liability.

[War Machine Dawg]

The thing is, he's already a viable catcher. It would be great if he does continue to develop defensively, but he's not really hurting us there as it is. And I definitely agree on his offense. All signs suggest he's going to be a very valuable catcher for a while. I would guess Bethancourt ends up being the same.

It's a good problem to have, but it is a problem because I would love to keep both. But I just don't see it as possible.

Our problem is that our best hitter is a 1B, so he blocks guys like Gattis who don't excel defensively. You can try to hide someone like that in LF, but it still hurts you. I'm really frustrated that we signed Chris Johnson, too. He's negative value with the glove and the bat...that signing made no sense.

Chris Johnson has been nothing but solid since coming over from the 'Stros. Sure, he doesn't have a whole lot of pop that most CIF's have now, but he hits for average and gets big hits.

Gattis is a damn good defensive catcher. I don't know where this idea has come from that he's not that good back there. Personally, I think he's better than Mac was defensively. And while Mac wasn't great, he was very underrated as a defensive catcher. I think too much stock is put into a catcher's defensive ability based solely on their percentage of base runners thrown out. El Oso Blanco should be a big part of the Braves' plans moving forward.

[War Machine Dawg]

A bigger problem that I think deserves some discussion: The Braves have done a very shitty job of evaluating and developing OF talent. Schafer looked like he was going to be big time, then got hurt in his very first MLB game, tried to tough it out, and has never really recovered since. JHey is very good but that's about it. And there's no one in the farm system currently that's generated any sort of buzz in the OF. That's why we had to overpay to sign a marginal free agent OF and give up some prospects to go get Justin Upton. Although I do think Justin has been worth it overall. Still, the Braves have GOT to start nailing the evaluation of elite OF talent if they want to improve.

Also, where the hell is Terdoslavich? Dude looked like he was on his way to being a serious player last year. I'd love to get his bat into the lineup.

[msstate7]

BJ has to go. He made two critical errors this weekend - just boneheaded fielding plays. Currently, hitting just above .200. He has become a total liability.

He also made a great play last night. I don't know why I hold out hope on bj, but I do.

[msstate7]

Chris Johnson has been nothing but solid since coming over from the 'Stros. Sure, he doesn't have a whole lot of pop that most CIF's have now, but he hits for average and gets big hits.

Gattis is a damn good defensive catcher. I don't know where this idea has come from that he's not that good back there. Personally, I think he's better than Mac was defensively. And while Mac wasn't great, he was very underrated as a defensive catcher. I think too much stock is put into a catcher's defensive ability based solely on their percentage of base runners thrown out. El Oso Blanco should be a big part of the Braves' plans moving forward.

The problem is Christian is so good defensively. That's why I say gattis has to improve defensively.

[BoomBoom]

I wonder how wren looks at gattis long term. You've gotta think gattis is gonna get better and better offensively. Will he develop defensively? I really don't see how we can hold onto both very much longer.

Pretty easy decision: the Braves need offense more than they need defense. Plus, you have to think of the situation in terms of contracts. There's really no reason to hurry CB to the majors, especially since his bat needs developing, as no matter when he comes up the team has him for 6 years from that point. Add to that that JHey and JUp are signed for this year and next year only. Sign a veteran C next year for one year, with CB in AAA, and for 2016 call up CB as the primary C and put Gattis in LF and backing up behind the plate. Find 2 OFs and let BJ play only when Gattis is behind the plate (Wren is too stubborn to cut him).

[msstate7]

Pretty easy decision: the Braves need offense more than they need defense. Plus, you have to think of the situation in terms of contracts. There's really no reason to hurry CB to the majors, especially since his bat needs developing, as no matter when he comes up the team has him for 6 years from that point. Add to that that JHey and JUp are signed for this year and next year only. Sign a veteran C next year for one year, with CB in AAA, and for 2016 call up CB as the primary C and put Gattis in LF and backing up behind the plate. Find 2 OFs and let BJ play only when Gattis is behind the plate (Wren is too stubborn to cut him).

Gattis was really bad in lf last year. I don't wanna see him in lf after 2 years of catching.

[BoomBoom]

Gattis was really bad in lf last year. I don't wanna see him in lf after 2 years of catching.

upon review, i agree. The defensive metrics say he was pretty bad.

the difference between Gattis' and CB's bat is bigger than the difference between CB's defense and Gattis'. CB is currently putting up a 630 OPS or something like that in AAA. He will spend '15 in AAA, and either that OPS will climb a good bit higher and force Atlanta's hand, or it will not and he will have a long career as a backup catcher. Catchers that hit like Gattis are just too rare to trade away, you don't do it to make room for a guy that can't hit.

[KB21]

Gattis is currently -3 in DRS on the year as a catcher. That puts him 15th among 16 qualified catchers.

[KB21]

Chris Johnson has been nothing but solid since coming over from the 'Stros. Sure, he doesn't have a whole lot of pop that most CIF's have now, but he hits for average and gets big hits.

Gattis is a damn good defensive catcher. I don't know where this idea has come from that he's not that good back there. Personally, I think he's better than Mac was defensively. And while Mac wasn't great, he was very underrated as a defensive catcher. I think too much stock is put into a catcher's defensive ability based solely on their percentage of base runners thrown out. El Oso Blanco should be a big part of the Braves' plans moving forward.

Johnson has a -7 DRS and a wRC+ of 75. He's one of the worst third basemen in baseball.

[msstate7]

Gattis is currently -3 in DRS on the year as a catcher. That puts him 15th among 16 qualified catchers.

Where does he rank offensively?

[KB21]

Where does he rank offensively?

He doesn't rank. He doesn't have enough at bats to rank, which is a problem. If he had enough plate appearances, he would rank #2 in baseball in wRC+ among catchers.

BTW, Fredi has to be the worst in game manager in baseball. Why does he pinch run for Gattis when that run makes no difference in the game? As a result, the game is going longer, and the best hitter on the team is now out of the game. You can bet after playing 2 extra inning games in the past three days that Gattis will not be in the line up tomorrow.

Simmons just saved Laird's lard butt there.

[BoomBoom]

He doesn't rank. He doesn't have enough at bats to rank, which is a problem. If he had enough plate appearances, he would rank #2 in baseball in wRC+ among catchers.

BTW, Fredi has to be the worst in game manager in baseball. Why does he pinch run for Gattis when that run makes no difference in the game? As a result, the game is going longer, and the best hitter on the team is now out of the game. You can bet after playing 2 extra inning games in the past three days that Gattis will not be in the line up tomorrow.

Simmons just saved Laird's lard butt there.

because he won't bat again for at least a couple innings (which likely won't come to pass), and sitting him then keeps him fresh for games later. no objection to the pinch runner, but i would have used Uggla and saved Schafer for when the runner would have mattered more.

[KB21]

because he won't bat again for at least a couple innings (which likely won't come to pass), and sitting him then keeps him fresh for games later. no objection to the pinch runner, but i would have used Uggla and saved Schafer for when the runner would have mattered more.

It is a dumbfoundingly stupid coaching decision to do that, and this is the 2nd time in 3 days that he has done it. In both cases, Evan's spot came up to bat again. Now, down 5 runs after Fredi's dumbfoundlingly stupid bullpen management, the Braves have the pitcher leading off the inning.

[msstate7]

It is a dumbfoundingly stupid coaching decision to do that, and this is the 2nd time in 3 days that he has done it. In both cases, Evan's spot came up to bat again. Now, down 5 runs after Fredi's dumbfoundlingly stupid bullpen management, the Braves have the pitcher leading off the inning.

To me the dumbest move was when we had 1st and 2nd with no outs and we didnt bunt with lastella. I love lastella as much as anyone but bunting was the correct move. It was an awful move and it cost us the game IMO.

I'm also ready for walker to go. This team can't situational hit any better than state '14. It's embarrassing. Jup had ff on 3rd with 1 out and justin is swinging for the fences and pops it up. Does anyone but lastella cut down on their swing with 2 strikes? Give walker a month and lastella will think he's a homerun hitter. I know FG isn't going anywhere, but I'm really hopefully we can walker like today