Braves

[msstate7]

Folty was actually hitting 98 in his last batter. I think he's just starting to scratch the surface on his potential.

Slighted my man, huh? Haha

Yeah, I'm loving him.

[msstate7]

Perez is the one I'm most interested in though. I really, really like him. I think he could be our next medlen. He doesn't beat you with power, but he's gritty as hell and just knows how to get guys out. He may or may not be a starter for us long term, but he's at this level to stay imo. Prove me right, Williams

[KB21]

Perez is the one I'm most interested in though. I really, really like him. I think he could be our next medlen. He doesn't beat you with power, but he's gritty as hell and just knows how to get guys out. He may or may not be a starter for us long term, but he's at this level to stay imo. Prove me right, Williams

I think he is a guy who will be a long term long relief/spot starter. I'm really hoping the braves beef up their pitching prospects in this draft. The lower minors needs an influx of talent.

[msstate7]

I think he is a guy who will be a long term long relief/spot starter. I'm really hoping the braves beef up their pitching prospects in this draft. The lower minors needs an influx of talent.

I don't think you have to worry about that with hart. He's always looking for pitching and I like it

[smootness]

I think he is a guy who will be a long term long relief/spot starter. I'm really hoping the braves beef up their pitching prospects in this draft. The lower minors needs an influx of talent.

You keep saying this, but I don't understand it. We have as much pitching talent all throughout the minors as just about any organization in baseball. We have Sanchez in A, Sims and Grosser in A+, and Fulenchek, our top pitcher from last year's draft, hasn't even thrown yet this year. And that doesn't include all the young arms we have in AA, AAA, and Atlanta.

We'll obviously get our share of pitching, but our system is far more barren in terms of legit bats than arms. We have to use some of our top picks on high-upside bats.

I agree on Perez, though. He'll get passed by some of our other pitching prospects before long.

[trob115]

Slighted my man, huh? Haha

Yeah, I'm loving him.

Yeah just busting your balls haha. Hopefully Tehran gets his stuff together and we could be looking at our best complete rotation since the late 90's.

[shoeless joe]

You keep saying this, but I don't understand it. We have as much pitching talent all throughout the minors as just about any organization in baseball. We have Sanchez in A, Sims and Grosser in A+, and Fulenchek, our top pitcher from last year's draft, hasn't even thrown yet this year. And that doesn't include all the young arms we have in AA, AAA, and Atlanta.

We'll obviously get our share of pitching, but our system is far more barren in terms of legit bats than arms. We have to use some of our top picks on high-upside bats.

I agree on Perez, though. He'll get passed by some of our other pitching prospects before long.

IMO high picks should ALMOST always be used in arms. Stockpile the pitchers cuz young pitching can be traded for whatever else the team needs are.

[KB21]

You keep saying this, but I don't understand it. We have as much pitching talent all throughout the minors as just about any organization in baseball. We have Sanchez in A, Sims and Grosser in A+, and Fulenchek, our top pitcher from last year's draft, hasn't even thrown yet this year. And that doesn't include all the young arms we have in AA, AAA, and Atlanta.

We'll obviously get our share of pitching, but our system is far more barren in terms of legit bats than arms. We have to use some of our top picks on high-upside bats.

I agree on Perez, though. He'll get passed by some of our other pitching prospects before long.

You do realize just how slim that is, right? Atlanta is probably in the bottom half of the league when it comes to overall minor league pitching talent.

[smootness]

IMO high picks should ALMOST always be used in arms. Stockpile the pitchers cuz young pitching can be traded for whatever else the team needs are.

This is just not true. Teams like Atlanta who are not major-market teams have to rely on their farm system for most of their talent at all positions. You can't rely on trades to bring in all of your bats.

Look at what teams like the Cubs and Red Sox are doing. Hitting is at a premium all around baseball right now. If you don't have much of it, you're at a big disadvantage.

I'm all for drafting arms, but it has to be balanced, especially given the current state of our system.

[smootness]

You do realize just how slim that is, right? Atlanta is probably in the bottom half of the league when it comes to overall minor league pitching talent.

Hahahaha this is insane. The Braves have a top 5-10 minor league system right now, and that is based almost entirely on our pitching talent.

There aren't any more than 3-5 other systems in baseball who can compare with a list of Folty, Wisler, Banuelos, Jenkins, and Fried in terms of high-upside pitching prospects. And that isn't even taking into account that our top 3 major league arms are all 24 years old.

[msstate7]

6 PM
@KevinMcAlpin
#Braves have signed catcher Ryan Lavarnway to a Minor League deal. He will be assigned to Gwinnett.

[KB21]

The Braves have 1 pitcher in their system right now that is considered to be a top 100 prospect in baseball. Matt Wisler.

Lucas Sims has fallen out, and he is by far the best prospect they have in the lower levels.

[dawgs]

This is just not true. Teams like Atlanta who are not major-market teams have to rely on their farm system for most of their talent at all positions. You can't rely on trades to bring in all of your bats.

Look at what teams like the Cubs and Red Sox are doing. Hitting is at a premium all around baseball right now. If you don't have much of it, you're at a big disadvantage.

I'm all for drafting arms, but it has to be balanced, especially given the current state of our system.

atlanta isn't a NY or chicago or LA or SF or boston, but they are every bit the market or better than pretty much everyone else in baseball. they just choose not to behave like it. no one to blame there but your own management.

but yeah, epstein immediately started hoarding high ceiling bats when he took over the cubs GM spot because it's harder than ever to find bats. you can find plenty of relatively low ceiling guys that'll give you a <4.00 era with a chance for <3.50 with the right breaks these days. they are everywhere.

[msstate7]

7:10 PM
Toscano Update:
?@mlbbowman
Dian Toscano is working out at the #Braves' ST complex. Will start playing Minor Lg. games after completion of some administrative issues

[msstate7]

atlanta isn't a NY or chicago or LA or SF or boston, but they are every bit the market or better than pretty much everyone else in baseball. they just choose not to behave like it. no one to blame there but your own management.

but yeah, epstein immediately started hoarding high ceiling bats when he took over the cubs GM spot because it's harder than ever to find bats. you can find plenty of relatively low ceiling guys that'll give you a <4.00 era with a chance for <3.50 with the right breaks these days. they are everywhere.

I'm hoping when the new stadium opens that liberty media will open up the pocket book more. My real hope is that liberty media will sell the Braves to Arthur blanks

[msstate7]

Looking ahead to '16 bullpen...

Cunniff
Avilan
Withrow -- setup/closer
Simmons -- setup/closer

I figure these 4 are pretty certain.

What about mckirahan? Will he back on the team?

Surely we trade Jim Johnson and grilli.

Vizcaino?

Any reason to think the bullpen will be better next season?

[smootness]

The Braves have 1 pitcher in their system right now that is considered to be a top 100 prospect in baseball. Matt Wisler.

Lucas Sims has fallen out, and he is by far the best prospect they have in the lower levels.

Wrong. Folty was top 100 before the season. Fried has been top 100, around 50-60, and will be again, he's just recovering from surgery.

Banuelos was top 20 at one time and could see himself back in the top 100 at the midsession mark based on the way he's pitched this year. Jenkins should be knocking on the door. And Sanchez is 18 and was already the Angels' #1 prospect when we traded for him. He could easily find himself in the top 100 in a year or two.

Sims is not a better prospect than Sanchez, not anymore at least. And Sims himself was still top 100 by Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com before this season.

Give me 5 other organizations in baseball with 4 top 100 pitching prospects, 1 more that has been in the past and could be again, and 2 more on top of that who are knocking on the door.

[smootness]

atlanta isn't a NY or chicago or LA or SF or boston, but they are every bit the market or better than pretty much everyone else in baseball. they just choose not to behave like it. no one to blame there but your own management.

but yeah, epstein immediately started hoarding high ceiling bats when he took over the cubs GM spot because it's harder than ever to find bats. you can find plenty of relatively low ceiling guys that'll give you a <4.00 era with a chance for <3.50 with the right breaks these days. they are everywhere.

When I say Atlanta is not a major market, in baseball terms, I'm talking about payroll. Yes, our payroll is lower than the Atlanta market might suggest, but that doesn't help in evaluating the resources the Braves have available and the kind of moves they can make.

I'm not talking about who to blame; this is just the reality. With current ownership and budget stipulations, we can't be a major player for big-time free agents. Therefore, we simply have to build from within.

[smootness]

Looking ahead to '16 bullpen...

Cunniff
Avilan
Withrow -- setup/closer
Simmons -- setup/closer

I figure these 4 are pretty certain.

What about mckirahan? Will he back on the team?

Surely we trade Jim Johnson and grilli.

Vizcaino?

Any reason to think the bullpen will be better next season?

I think there is very good reason to believe it will be better. We will probably trade Grilli but could bring him back.

Vizcaino should be healthy and will be a big boost, along with Simmons. Those are two legit back-end arms. With row will hopefully be back, along with Winkler. Then you may see us move a guy like Banuelos there, at least temporarily. And I think it's a matter of time before Hursh, with his 100-mph fastball, is moved to the bullpen.

I doubt Cunniff will be there; he just walks too many. If he is, we have a problem.

I would be excited about:
Winkler
Banuelos
Withrow
Avilan
Vizcaino
Simmons
Grilli

But Banuelos and Grilli aren't likely to be there.

[msstate7]

I think there is very good reason to believe it will be better. We will probably trade Grilli but could bring him back.

Vizcaino should be healthy and will be a big boost, along with Simmons. Those are two legit back-end arms. With row will hopefully be back, along with Winkler. Then you may see us move a guy like Banuelos there, at least temporarily. And I think it's a matter of time before Hursh, with his 100-mph fastball, is moved to the bullpen.

I doubt Cunniff will be there; he just walks too many. If he is, we have a problem.

I would be excited about:
Winkler
Banuelos
Withrow
Avilan
Vizcaino
Simmons
Grilli

But Banuelos and Grilli aren't likely to be there.

I see some value in cunniff. He's very tough on rh batters.

Might not be a bad idea to keep Johnson or grilli if we feel we've got a shot at postseason next year. I certainly wouldn't just give both away for nothing