Braves

[thedddd]

Last 20 games:

3- 17

Runs Scored: 53 ( 2.65 runs/g)
Runs against: 142 (7.1 runs/g)

I wonder how this is any good for the development of their young pitchers?
I understand making mistakes and learning but there has to come a time where it has to break them.

 

[tducey]

They're terrible, got to think some big changes lay ahead for a team that was so good at 1 time.

 

[Villain]

I still don't know why they signed Markakis.

 

[navamind]

I still don't know why they signed Markakis.

He's had a pretty disappointing career (albeit still pretty good), given how good he was in 07-08. He batted .306/.406/.491 (138 wRC+) and finished 12th among all MLB players in WAR. Since then, he's been a very average player. He's gone from having above average power numbers to having as much pop as Juan Pierre.

 

[HammerDown]

At this rate they'll take over the divisional cellar from the Phillies.

Astonishing.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

To your point about developing young arms, losing a lot didn't seem to impact the Cubs or Astros too much.

Look how Arrieta and Kuechel developed.

 

[Villain]

He's had a pretty disappointing career (albeit still pretty good), given how good he was in 07-08. He batted .306/.406/.491 (138 wRC+) and finished 12th among all MLB players in WAR. Since then, he's been a very average player. He's gone from having above average power numbers to having as much pop as Juan Pierre.

They question is, "why are you signing a free agent when you're planning to rebuild?" His signing did nothing except tie up resources.

 

[navamind]

They question is, "why are you signing a free agent when you're planning to rebuild?" His signing did nothing except tie up resources.

Precisely.

 

[Villain]

At this rate they'll take over the divisional cellar from the Phillies.

Astonishing.

I think they have more to be optimistic about the future than the Phillies, though.

In the infield, Hector Olivera doesn't have to elite to be worth the money on his contract - if he ends up being worthy 2 or 3 WAR for a few season in a row then he's a bargain. Andrelton Simmons is one of the best SS in the game. Jace Peterson is only 25 years old. Freddie Freeman is one of the best first baseman in baseball.

You could do worse than Bourn, Swisher, Markakis, and Maybin splitting time in the outfield.

Matt Wisler, Julio Teheran, Manny Banuelo, and Shelby Miller are good young arms with team control. Maybe Mike Minor can be decent, again? He's only 27.

They have two lotto ticket bullpen arms from the Dodgers in Paco Rodriguez and Chris Withrow - those two can both be stellar bullpen pieces in 2016 (and longer) if they recover well from their surgeries. Both young with lots of affordable years left.

Obviously, I'm playing devil's advocate with and optimistic slant, but Hart could've done a lot worse with this remodel. He's been pretty creative. Getting Wisler from the Padres was an outstanding move. Successfully trading away both Uptons was no small task and I don't think he got fleeced in the process.

I'm not expecting the 2017 Braves to be the like the 2015 Cubs or Astros, but they could be half-decent if they draft well and find ways to keep adding more cheap, young talent. Who knows, maybe they'll be able to sign Eddy Julio Martinez and Shohei Otani.