Braves Exercise Gonzalez’s 2014 Option
December 6, 2012 at 2:01 pm by Andrew Sisson under Atlanta Braves
Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez had his option picked up by the club Wednesday for the 2014 season. Gonzalez has managed the team to a .565 winning percentage in his first two seasons.
Fredi became an easy target for Braves fans after his first season was filled with head scratching decisions. Whether it was the use of small sample sizes, construction of the batting order, the use (not to be confused with the *overuse* of Kimbrel/Venters/O’Flaherty, which I didn’t necessarily have a problem with) of the bullpen, or his love affair with Jose Constanza, he earned himself the wrap of being a poor manager. Tactically, almost all of this frustration towards him was probably well deserved.
However, I believe Fredi did a better job in 2012. There were still plenty of moves that left me cursing at the TV, but at least there were signs of improvement. One that stands out was his benching of Brian McCann in the one game playoff for David Ross. It was a tough and unexpected move considering his past, but it was correct considering the circumstances. Even if David Ross didn’t validate his decision with a home run, it was right call.
Those types of decisions can be somewhat measured. A lot of what I believe Fredi is good at can’t be, which is a reason for him being thought of they way he is. A big part of a manager’s job, like any other sport, is not just the in-game decisions making. For example, how does he interact with each player? How does he handle tough losses in the media? Can he keep control of the clubhouse and the players motivated? There are no real ways to statistically measure these contributions positively or negatively, so they are often discounted. He may tip his cap at the end of games and give the boring, politically correct answer, but he will always back and protect his players in the media.
Overall, it would be wrong not to acknowledge that Fredi is at least improving. That is not to say he is “good” by any means, but I think he is trending in the right direction. It may be selective watching and a small sample of correct moves, but I think decisions like playing Ross and bringing in Kimbrel in the eighth inning, during a high leverage situation, shows he can adapt. There were a number of times in the final months where I was pleasantly surprised with the moves he made. I won’t go back and rehash every right and wrong move, but in the aggregate, he was better in 2012. He will never be the ideal manager we all want him to be, but there are only so many Joe Maddon type managers in baseball. You won’t see many managers willing to push against “the way it’s always been done,” even if it does slightly increase the chances of winning.
At the end of the day, the amount of importance a manager has on team wins and losses is up for debate. What can be mostly agreed upon that a poor manager can hurt more than a great manager can help. When it comes down to it, the players have to play and perform in the situations given.
A couple of weeks ago there was a great article on Baseball Prospectus written by former major leaguer CJ Nitkowski. I highly recommend it as a look through a different window for those of us who like to quantify everything.
Looking forward to this season, a lot of the roles on the team seem to be fairly straightforward. Frank Wren has done a great job so far constructing the team with each player having a clear strength and purpose that should only help with the in-game decisions that are made, especially in the bullpen. He certainly will never be an ideal manager, but after two years, that’s something we should already know. I’m not excusing Gonzalez past decisions by any means, just trying to suggest that they are getting better.
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When it comes down to it, Fredi’s keeps a positive clubhouse, keeps the guys focused on one series at a time, and makes the same moves that 95% of baseball managers would make. It’s really the first two things that we should give him more credit for – perpetuating the team culture that Bobby Cox perfected during his regime.
There hasn’t been any dysfunction among teammates that I can think of during his leadership, and the guys have all adapted easily to Fredi’s version of “The Braves Way” of doing things. I was glad to hear that he’s got them doing more drills, stretches, etc. Although it really seemed like the obvious, easy hire when first announced, I have to say that I’m mostly pleased by the job Fredi’s done, the team that FW has been putting together, and the performance of the team. I just hope we can make a little further into the playoffs this year… it’s tough when our fate comes down to a single game two years in a row!
I think a big indicator is the reaction from the team. Despite my distaste of Fredi, I haven’t heard of one instance of a player criticizing Fredi and anything going on in the clubhouse. That speaks volumes. Of course if we were playing poorly, negativity would be more likely. Bobby was a player’s manager. Hopefully Fredi is learning from the best and becoming one as well.
Have you heard any players praise him?
Players praised Cox all the time. They’ve been noticeably silent over the last two years on their manager.
Their lack of commenting on him speaks volumes.
Bobby had a reputation for being a player’s manager that took year’s to develop. He earned the praise. If you look around very few players openly praise a manager/coach in any sport unless prompted (Bobby’s praise came unprompted). Dislike, on the other hand, comes unprompted from players all the time. And that’s when a billion rumors come out speaking to a clubhouse in disarray. Just because players don’t constantly praise the guy, the fact that they love playing together and don’t throw Fredi under the bus, means they’re content with him. In the end, that’s probably best, when the manager just exists and is rarely mentioned.
One thing that really irks me with Gonzalez is his affection for fast players who can’t hit. First there was Jose Constanza. Now, a few days ago I read that he would like to have Emilio Bonifacio, who he managed with the Marlins. Bonifacio’s career OPS+ is .81 and his OBP is .329, not horrible, but slightly below league average. He’s not the sort of player you would want to see significant playing time in LF. Then yesterday the AJC reported that the Braves had some interest in acquiring Dee Gordon from the Dodgers. He supposedly can play some LF, but so what? His OPS+ in about 500 major-league plate appearances is .71 with a .299 OBP. Speed is a nice thing to have in a player who can actually hit, but it’s worthless offensively if he can’t get on base.
2 articles into your blog life at CAC and you’re still batting 1.000.
You bring up some important and very valid points in your criticism and defense of Fredi. Many of the bonehead decisions we saw him make in 2011 did not show up in 2012 (notice I said “many” not all). He is certainly making progress toward managing based on the situation and not by the “book” or “gut feeling.”
One thing I’ve pointed out to many people and it’s true across all sports is that the manager receives too much blame for when the team fails and too much credit for when the team succeeds. It really boils down to what you stated toward the end of the post, that being it’s up to the players to perform.
Last year’s team and quite possibly this year’s team are good enough to win it all. Fredi just has to stay out of his own way and let the guys do their job.
One thing to keep in mind though, regarding his relationship with the players, is that we likely don’t know anything about it. We only know what we see and hear in the media. And, if you have a team of true men rather than a bunch of kids (Marlins come to mind), then the players are going to say the right things to the media just like Fredi will. I think we all sensed that there was some distrust among the players toward Fredi, but it never truly came out in the media. But, as long as Fredi and players handle that behind closed doors, that’s all that matters.
All in all, I’m neither excited nor dis-pleasured about the decision. But, I do think it was the right decision overall.
Good post, but “dis-pleasured”?
Yeah, I have to apologize for that one. Think I was looking for “displeased,” but spell check wasn’t helping me out much. :(
Good column. Obviously none of us are overlooking his flaws. I have come to think, however, that all in all I’d rather have Fredi than someone who is slightly more confident technically, but can’t manage a clubhouse. Also agree that at the end of the day there are only so many Joe Maddon’s out there.
Personally, I am very happy they picked up his option.
In my opinion, by far the most important requirement for a manager is an ability to motivate his players, to keep them focused, and to create a team-first environment where the players can fulfill their potential.
Trust me, it is not easy to manage a team of MLB players making anywhere from 0.5M to 13M. These players were superstars growing up, and they have their own egos. And issues. And unique personalities. The hardest part of a manager’s job is to control the clubhouse, to keep everyone focused and motivated to play hard.
By all accounts, Fredi has been very good at the above.
In-game tactical decisions, which are what is discussed in this blog, are important — but a lot less important than the above.
And as noted, Fredi has gotten better at his in-game tactical decisions. If he has shown an ability to get better, their isn’t any reason to believe he won’t continue to do so.
Yeah – he sure kept them focused down the stretch in 2011…
That was OBVIOUSLY alllll Fredi’s fault. Come on man, 2011 was an outlier, a losing streak, nothing more nothing less. Fredi can’t hit the ball or throw it. 2011 was a TEAM let down, not just Fredi’s. To say that is a not only a fallacy but unfair to the managerial position.
No one expected another Bobby Cox and it’s always difficult to follow a hall of fame candidate (or maybe some expected him ti be a clone). I think the jury is still out. He has had teams good enough to win it all but is stuck in the best division in the majors. He can’t be faulted for injuries at crucial times and that has been the teams major downfall. FW is trying to make the bench better which will help the injury situation. I still don’t agree with his bullpen moves most of the time and that’s the most important part of managing in the NL. That’s the major reason for my feeling.
Motorcycle Fredi prevents me from being able to take him seriously.
I think I speak for some Braves fans when I say most of my grump with Fredi comes from him just not being Bobby Cox, which is hardly his fault. He definitely got better this past year. I just wish he’d get himself tossed from more than one game a season.
This comment is not related to Freddie, but to some of the moves made recently by Wren. Why can’t we have traded for Ben Revere like the Phillies did? Looks like a great younger version of Bourn who can hit leadoff and much cheaper than Upton. Certainly could have made a deal like the Phillies with Hanson and a prospect. I’m afraid Upton will be a dud at $15M a pop (like Crawford for the Sox). As for getting rid of Hanson, we probably got someone who has to compete with Gearrin for a spot on the team. That is not what I would call value.
You’re looking too much at the surface, like I originally was. Revere does look good in a general sense. But, his OPS numbers are really pedestrian and he has absolutely 0 power… basically leaving him as an occasionaly singles hitter with speed. Essentially, he’s a younger, but neutered version of Bourn. That’s actually not a bad guy to go grab, but not at the price the Twins wanted. It’s likely we would have had to give up Delgado or Teheran and another top prospect. Depending on what we get going forward, one could make the argument for or against not pulling the trigger.
As far as Hanson is concerned, it was a fantastic trade for both teams. Atlanta and L.A. are basically trading risks for potential upside. Hanson is trending down because of his shoulder, but that’s not necessarily an end to a career. He could return to some semblance of form. The same goes with Walden. He was a fairly dominant closer before injury. If he can come back, he would be a fairly dominant set up man, moving Gearrin more to a specialized role. There won’t be a competition, both will be on the team.
Another point to this particular move is the management of available funds. The Braves cleared $4M in salary while only giving back $500k (if I remember correctly). The addition of Walden also makes O’Flaherty expendable… another cost effective move as Eric will be the highest paid reliever on our roster and is basically at the peak of his career thus far. Sell high, my friend.
Hope that makes it more clear.
Roland’s Office’s summary of Braves’ spin on being ok with current roster.
“But hey, the winter meetings weren’t a total loss. Fredi’s option for 2014 was exercised, likely ensuring postseason disappointment over the next two years regardless of who mans LF.”
I think there is a tendency to idealize the job the last guy did and be less forgiving of the guy who currently occupies the seat. Bobby, skilled as he was in managing people effectively, made more than his fair share of in-game gaffes.
And in the era of corporate ownership of the Braves, Bobby’s teams struggled to reach (let alone succeed in) the postseason, particularly once Maddux-Smoltz-Glavine aged out.
This is no a knock on Bobby, who is a HOF manager and deserves all respect. It’s merely to suggest that Gonzalez isn’t nearly as bad as some fans like to believe.
I would have to agree with your assessment, can anyone say “Charlie Leibrandt”?
While I’m not 100% sold on Fredi as the long term manager of the Braves I am some what pleased with his on field improvements last season at least partially. We can only hope the 2013/14 seasons will validate picking up his option. Barring injuries we have the talent to win in arguably the toughest division this year. Here’s hoping FW can pull another rabbit out of his hat by picking up a plus average LF/leadoff hitter and LH bench player to fulfill our needs.
Bullpen management was improved, but then again, without Proctor to throw out there, it was impossible for it not to improve. My jaw dropped the first time I saw Kimbrel out there in the eighth. He was not as bad as last year, and we could do a lot worse.
LOL I remember the game recap after that one and the comments that followed. I think all of us had our jaw on the floor after that one. Sadly, seems like I remember one of our beloved broadcasters questioning the call.
This is an extreme stretch, I’m aware. But, the market for teams needing CF’ers is locking up quickly and Bourn is still without a home. The more teams that fall off the map, the less leverage Boras and Bourn have in negotiations.
Is there a point at which the Braves consider re-signing him (of course meaning his contract demands have severely diminished)?
I know the Braves are saying that they signed Upton to play CF, but that doesn’t mean it’s in stone.
i was thinking the same thing, if the price begins to fall (which i dont truly see) what is the price point we could step back into the bourn market? i see the 12 mil mark for 3 years as the highest we would go, but i think boras would go on a one year deal to rebuild value and the braves would have to consider that
Yeah I was kind of thinking along he lines of 3yr/$30-36M mark would be reasonable, but I think we would have to clear more money for that to happen. Possibly trading EOF as Andrew suggested.
Less than zero chance.
Right… because you’re an expert…
Can’t fault a guy with a different view than yours Michael. I agree with vivabeta as well though
3 years for 10m? It’s not like no one wants him now. There’s a lot of time left. None of the biggest free agents have signed yet besides Upton. Bourn will get something north of 5 yr/75m. I’m no “expert” but just wait and see what happens.
I guess you missed the part where I said, “30-36″ million. The higher end of that being 12 million a year, only 3 million off your prediction.
Thing is, the 5 year $75 million deal is what he is asking for. Even with Boras as his agent, the bigger players in free agency have already filled their CF void, effectively lessening Bourn’s leverage.
I’ll be the first to say that the Braves’ chance of signing him is still very slim, but I do believe Boras will try to get a max 1 year contract if he cannot get the longer, bigger money contract. And that, puts him right back into the Braves’ market. Especially since Wren has already said he would be willing to use a 1 year stopgap.
Slim chance… yes. “Less than 0″… that’s a bit much.
I think it is more likely at this point that Bourn just signs a 1 year deal and gets back on the market next year without Upton and Hamilton. Some team like the Mariners will probably give him a 1 year deal with a high dollar amount. Honestly, Bourn should just sign 1 year contracts for the rest of his career.
That would make no sense for him. He will get at least three years somewhere.
Very unlikely to happen, but it is an interesting question regarding Bourn. If Hamilton goes to Seattle and the Rangers aquire Justin Upton via trade, I don’t see an obvious place for Bourn to land with a big, multi-year contract.
I agree with the post. While Fredi has made some questionable calls, in the aggregate he did pretty well in 2012.
In addition, I think it is fair to say that the response to the Sept 2011 fiasco was an indication of good leadership both by Fredi and Wren. One only needs to look at the Bo Sox to see what poor leadership looks like in that situation. We can debate what role Fredi may have had in contributing to a couple of the losses in that month, but in real life, stuff happens, and the mark of leadership is in the response.
Oh, Chipper..
http://deadspin.com/5966391/fat-chipper-jones-has-divorced-his-wife-and-now-has-a-playboy-model-girlfriend
That’s also one of the worst suits I’ve ever seen. I don’t expect him to Hedi Slimane or anything, but goddamn chipper. looks like he went rootin around in the dumpster behind the men’s wearhouse.
LOL I love the “Fat Chipper” headline.
Yeah… but good god she his f’ing hot. Can’t hate on him for that.
Yeah, to me, it’s just funny how he seems to be following a sort of progression. I don’t know anything about his first wife, but he left her for a Hooters waitress, and now that he’s divorced her, he’s dating a Playboy model. Seems like the next steps would be a stripper (although he might have that one already covered if that’s in her past), a porn star, and finally a prostitute. And as he gets older, it could continue in that direction.
Outstanding post.
Still throwing the “redneck rock n roll fingers”!!
http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/chipper-jones-girlfriend-taylor-higgins.jpg
The three things I measure him by that can be argued are lineup order, bullpen management, and pinch hitting/def switches late in games. The first two have seen much improvement in the first two seasons though there is still room to grow (uggla still batting in the middle and durbs high leverage usage). The one he hasn’t improved on is his pinch hitting subs. The backup catcher not being a viable PH is very frustrating. All in all I think he is a 10-15 range of range of best managers. He’s better than bobby v
That was one of my bigger gripes with Fredi. I did research from the 2011 season on this back in April. I still can’t believe how poorly Ross was used off the bench. I haven’t ran this for the 2012 season, mainly because Ross is no longer on the team, but from memory I believe it did get *better*
http://wp.me/p2lqJ1-1n
Yeah that’s been a source of much frustration over here for Ross’ entire tenure. I’m glad he’s finally playing for a team that might properly use him. I don’t think it got much better in 2012, since I vaguely recall some Jack Wilson pinch hits in high leverage late game situations with Ross still sitting on the bench.
The Simmons safety squeeze bunt call in the play in game was one of the worst managerial decisions that I have ever seen. Did not make sense on any level. Fredi improved last season for sure, but these types of boneheaded moves still leave me scratching my head.
Yeah… that is, quite honestly, the worst call he has made in his short time with Atlanta. That was not a head scratcher.
That was a want-to-pull-out-a-gun-and-shoot-him-in-the-head-er…
I still don’t believe that Fredi made that call, but rather that it was a missed call by Simmons where Fredi was backing up his player.
I’m with you, I believe Simmons thought he could drop one down for a hit not thinking the pitcher would be up with two outs. I believe Fredi took it on himself to keep scrutiny off his young ss. However I say this happen at least twice during in the season and you would expect Fredi to let Simmons know he should not do that with 2 outs and the pitcher on deck.
So I know that Jacoby Ellsbury is available(or at least seems that way). Boston reportedly ask for Cliff Lee from Philly. Given that what would you consider to land Ellsbury here? I know he is an injury risk but he is a stud and could fill the leadoff whole relatively well.
I noticed the White Sox have made Viciedo and De Aza available. I wonder if this means they are jumping into the Hamilton/Bourn sweepstakes?
of the two, I prefer De Aza
Pretty neutral on Fredi. On balance I like the extension. He’ll get even better over time.
The rabid anti-Fredi people, I don’t get them.
I think you don’t get them because they just do not exist.
There is nothing about Fredi Gonzalez to get angry about. There is also nothing about him to get excited about, either.
I am going to withhold from stating a tired cliche after those two statements.
It just really does not matter anymore to me. White bread manager who never does or says anything controversial. Organization ran by some middling corporation. Playing in a stadium named after a man who says ‘I think it is good our troops are committing suicide’.
Choo and Gordon are Prado 2.0 and 3.0. Very similar in ability, but very different from our point of view–rental versus 3 year deal. But they are the two who I think would be home runs for us. Teheran+ for Gordon. Gilmartin for Choo.
A lot of other lesser options I hear about, I wonder, how much better is that than Prado, Johnson, Gattis, Francisco handling 3B, LF? Just save the acquisition costs and go to Spring Training.
My initial response to Justin came without reading the rest of the comments. It would seem my point was already made. WAY TO GO CAC TEAM!!
Michael Young traded to Phillies. Phillies are responsible for 6 million with 1 year left on contract. Most likely could have been had by Braves for a middle reliever. With Braves looking for stopgap option for a year.. This would have been ideal. The Phillies now have made some smart and economical moves. With Ruf, Howard, and Young they are going to score some runs.
Michael Young was worth -2.6 WAR last season and isn’t getting any younger. And he’s joining the Phillies who are already old and decrepit. I’m pretty stoked they made that deal. I would take Juan at 3B over Old Young any day of the week (for $5.5m less).
indeed, they are getting oooold, slowwww and EXPENSIVE awfully quick. Amaro should have been fired 3 years ago with all these stupid contracts he’s dished out.
I GUARANTEE, that in 3 years time, they will be eating close to $40m a year in contracts for players that are on other teams. It’s either that or suffer the Philadelphia Old Folks Home.
Looking at the Braves competing, and all mid-market teams competing in the future. Last year the Dodgers had a payroll of 105 million, in 2013 they currently have a payroll of 209 million and they are not done signing free-agents. They also have to pay 20 million in a luxuary tax for a total of 229 million. That could fund 2 1/2 Braves teams. What is more disturbing is that the Dodger’s payroll is completely covered by their television contract which for 2013 is 233 million. So they still have 4 million to play with before using any of the other revenues they will get. The Braves can’t even pay for Uggla and McCann with their TV revenue.
Example 5,245,235,898 of getting screwed by the corporatization of everything. The Braves will be fine as long as they keep a smart and productive farm system. The best example being us paying $500k to get equal or more production out of our potential starting 3B than the Phillies will get for $6m.
Pitching prospects, pitching prospects, pitching prospects.. with a few position players sprinkled in, and keeping a few franchise players. That’s how you win. Just ask the Rays.
Excuse me.. $10m for old Young.
The Greinke deal and the irresponsible spending of the Dodgers for Greinke is really going to hurt baseball.
whenever the team gets new ownership, they will buyout the old TV deal. They will drop the current deal, go to court and pay damages. Then negotiate a new one. They’d be stupid not to.
This sort of stuff happens all the time.
At the risk of showing my naivete, what would it take to get Willingham? I mean, if the Twins are slapping red tags on outfielders . . .
@Karyn
The Phillies tried to get Willingham before they got Revere. The offer was the same or similar to the one for Revere but the Twins turned it down. So my guess is a proven ML starter and another high level prospect.
This is a couple weeks old, but what seems to be the prevailing thought on Greg Maddux taking the pitching coach gig for Team USA?
Any reason to think there may be some mutual interest down the line? Or does he intend to stay out west should he take a coaching position?
I imagine he’s more interested in staying close to home or he would have taken a pitching coach gig somewhere by now.
Vivabeta
I’m not too thrilled with the idea of a platoon with Prado,Reed Johnson and Francisco. I think we need to do our best to acquire a full time starter for LF and give Francisco the odd start. I’m not sure Reed Johnson needs to be playing that often, and I don’t like jerking Prado around.
Plus, they have the money
Yeah we have the money, but not really to lock anyone up 2+ years. I’d rather reserve that for contract extensions and trade deadline emergencies. I totally know what you mean, and I don’t wanna see Reed Johnson playing too much either.. but I just don’t think we will get someone that’s really worth the difference in salary from Juan, and I would rather keep the prospects.
That being said, I CAN’T BELIEVE the package the Rays received from the Royals. Wow. I just wish we were in on it. Dayton Moore has probably seen his last big trade, although they did get your favorite pitcher Wade Davis!
wade davis???? favorite pitcher???
Don’t forget there is that new TV money coming next year. Even if Liberty only allows them to use a little bit of it for payroll, there should be enough to cover some extensions for the kids.
What new tv money?
I was joking about Davis. You shit all over me last year when I was clamoring to sign him so we could move Medlen to the rotation.
*trade for him
League signed a new 8 year deal with ESPN, FOX AND TBS that will be distributed to each team equally, (amounts to around $50m a yr in income) this is about a $25m raise from the prior deal
I’m still on the fence about Medlen, and whether or not he can maintain this high of a level. But I’m notoriously conservative when it comes to these sorts of things….
Yet, I’m notoriously the other way when it comes to bats, so go figure….
I think every young arm is about to fall off or start to suck, and that every young bat is “just around the corner”…
Haha yeah I’m the exact opposite. I thought we were set for year’s with Hanson as our ace and Ive had little hope for our position prospects besides Heyward.
I completely agree that we will be a good team, even if Juan Francisco started 162 games at 3B. The fact that we may look to optimize Johnson/Francisco makes it even better. The world champion Giants are running out an OF platoon. The Rangers do the same, the Tigers have holes that are filled with replacement level guys consistently put in good spots to make the most of what they do best.
We have players good enough to hold down a lineup, and if we see any kind of improvement from Uggla/McCann we have a surplus of talent in the lineup. We basically conceded our 8 spot almost all of last season with a light hitting SS, and if Simmons can hit any better than Paul Janish, he’s doing his job.
Don’t forget, Matt Diaz played in 51 games last year. We shouldn’t get spoiled and expect every player to be Jason Heyward. Frank Wren is doing a good job putting together a really good team, and it’s ok to send Juan and Reed out there to fill space in between some of our other guys. Who knows, Juan could even surprise us and become a good player.
I am a little scared on the starting pitching front, though. We had the same idea last year that we were set with starters and didn’t need to make any moves. Obviously some bad luck came into play with Beachy getting hurt and Hanson shitting the bed. But am I the only one that thinks we should start looking at some ML ready depth? Or are we expecting Teheran/Gilmartin to be there for that purpose?
I think at this point we have to look at them as our depth, especially Teheran, assuming he doesn’t win the #5 spot out of ST. We were exceptionally lucky to have the depth we had last season, but it’s kinda impossible to expect that annually. And it’s also impossible to assume that the rotation will fall apart as terribly as it did. We basically lost every starter but Huddy to injury or ineptitude that we had to trade for another.
Our bullpen as of now–and healthy–has to be considered the best in baseball. And our rotation come June when Beachy returns, has to be considered one of the best in the game. I’m assuming Beachy returns well, which seems to be common. Medlen / Beachy / Hudson / Minor / Maholm is a pretty badass rotation. I think the improvements made by Medlen and Minor will stick this season.
I know a lot of people probably won’t agree with me on this one, but I still believe that Minor has a tremendous upside if he can put everything together. Maybe not ace caliber, but at least a #2. Think others have put his ceiling at #3.
It will be fun to see if Medlen can keep his torrid pace as a starting pitcher going. I think he will regress some, but still be dominant. All in all, I think we have one of the best rotations even without Beachy. So, when he returns, we’re obviously even better.
Matching up with Strasburg / Gio / Haren / Zimmermann is going to be very very tough. They’re about as imposing as Halladay / Lee / Hamels / Kendrick. We could be as good but that’s a tough call to make right now, though the potential is much better without JJ / Hanson slingin’ their dogshit around every 5 days.
I have to say, it’s not very often a team can bolster their rotation by RELEASING/TRADING two starting pitchers…
Sad, but true.
I think if Minor has a full season much like his second half of last year, then he definitely has #2 upside. I think he’ll do well, considering that once his HR numbers came down to Earth, his numbers and his starts looked a whole lot better. It seemed like Delgado was in the same boat for a lot of his starts last year, too. He would throw 4 or 5 strong innings then give up a 3 run homer and lose the game. I’d expect for both of them to have solid years.
We were fortunate last season to win a lot of games early thanks to the lineup. If the pitching can settle in early, the lineup shouldn’t even need to do much on a regular basis.
Also, whoever wins the 5th rotation spot is a lucky man. If he can get through 4-5 innings, that bullpen will take care of the rest.
Can’t wait to hear the updates on Juan f, Julio, etc..Frank wren and company traveled down to check in on our winter ball players. Hoping Juan takes things seriously and wins third base with solid avg and awesome power.
Bourn probably feels slighted by the braves. Probably. wishing he had considered our offer a little more.I’m sure we offered similar contract to Bj Upton
I would trade Uggla Lipka Rasmus and Fransisco for Edwin Encarnacion, Emilio Bonifacio and John Tolisano or trade Uggla and Lipka to the Cubs for Alfsono Soriano