No idea at this point. But if they bring back Minor, as they indicate they want to do, and if Banuelos is healthy, they'd already have two lefties in rotation.
Don't know, Braves don't announce their lineup for a 7:10 game at 12:10. Will know in about 3 hours.
Worst since the '80s, I would think.
If it's for two spots behind three you mentioned, I think Minor (if he's re-signed) gets one, and Tyrell Jenkins, Folty, Wisler, Banuelos likely compete for other, and perhaps Max Fried later in season. If Minor isn't re-signed or isn't healthy, that group could compete for two spots.
And we can't just dismiss Ryan Weber, either. He's looked pretty good in his two starts. But those others I mentioned will be competing for spots, assuming all are healthy and back.
Wouldn't expect him to be frontrunner in spring training, but at some point next season I wouldn't be surprised to see him. He'll be 22, still young and, as you noted, inexperienced. But very strong prospect from all accounts. And Williams Perez is another i failed to mention just a minute ago when I was thinking of names off top of my head.
Miller, Teheran, a potental offseason addition, Minor (possibly), Folty, Wisler, Banuelos (if healthy, Perez, Weber.... Braves should have options for rotation next season.
Not hard. Always plenty of relievers available. Braves might've been able to do it last winter if Simmons hadn't gotten hurt, Viz hadn't gotten suspended, and just one of the many retreads they picked up had worked out. (Not talking about Grilli or Johnson, but the other former closers they signed.)
Don't know, will wait to see how he looks after a normal offseason and spring training. But I will say, I talked to Pat Corrales (former Braves bench coach, now scout for Dodgers), who saw him quite a bit last winter when teams were scouting him. Corrales, who does not lavish unwarranted praise on ANYBODY, said of Olivera, "He can hit." Period. So I think he will hit and he's fine at 3B. I think it's just a matter of, at his age, can he stay healthy and maintain his current bat speed, etc. I would add, he's not Scott Rolen, the guy that Braves brass compared him to. No. Not going to be Rolen by any stretch, in my opinion. Certainly not defensively, and not offensively, either.
Mystery Science Theater -- one of the great underrated shows of all time.
You are vastly downplaying the effect or influence that a manager with exceptional people-management skills can have on a team. These guys are with each other far more days and hours than are athletes in other sports, and in more casual settings when manager can have conversations with them individually, etc. And just the general tone that a person like that can have on a ballclub ... you have to be there close to it to see what i mean, I guess. Or talk to people who've played for someone like that. Bochy has it. Bobby Cox had it. Leyland had it. Others have it, or had it, too. And yes, Bochy is also outstanding at managing his bench and bullpen.
Don't think he will in spring training, but by late season he could be knocking at door if there are injuries or underperformers, etc.
Thanks, folks. Great questions, and I appreciate the passion. It's been a bit of a slog the past couple of months, I know.
I think (hope, for his sake) he will do it against the Marlins. If not, his last start would likely come against the Cardinals. So, you can see where doing it against the Marlins and not going into that last start with the streak intact would be a good thing.
Jeff's entitled to his opinion, and he's not alone in that assessment, I'm sure. But I don't agree with it. No manager could have a competitive team with this roster since the midseason trades (and Grilli would've been traded, too, if he hadn't gotten hurt).
By any measure, even the standard stuff such as ERA and opp. batting average, innings pitched, strikeouts/walks, etc., he's not been nearly as good over that span. He's had plenty of solid starts during that span, just not every time out the way he was for most of the first half.
It. Doesn't. Matter. Braves are paying for his next five seasons. He is not the player right now that he's going to be, or should be, after a full winter-ball season -- he's playing in Puerto Rico -- and a full spring training. So it doesn't matter right now if he's playing every day or not. He's not going to be able to work on the stuff in games right now that he'll work on this winter and all spring training. The obsession with having him play every day right now -- I don't get it. He's not a big-impact player right now, but from everyone I've talked to he is a very good hitter and should be at full strength after he's had a normal offseason and spring, instead of the one he had this past year where he was being shuttled around, trying out for teams, his agent negotiatiating deals, him missing spring training, etc.
He's "deserving" of whatever a baseball owner feels he's deserving. It's certainly not for me or anyone but the person who might pay his salary to determine whether he's deserving. If a team president or owner thinks he can help his team and wants to pay him, then bully for him. Why would I care whether he gets another GM job?
No, if what you said happened -- and I'm sure it did or you wouldn't be letting me know here -- then they need to train folks better and emphasize that customer relations has never been more important than right now. Again, assuming things we just as you said they did.
They're not going to get another CF, not unless they trade Maybin. No room for another CF if they don't trade him. Relief pitching, probably another mid-rotation starter, possibly left field and probably catcher. Any or all of those, at this point, I would say are their primary needs they'll look to address.
Don't see how he'd trade both without eating more than $20 million. And they can't afford to keep adding dead payroll when trying to rebuild, IMO. Best-case scenario: One of them has a real good spring, another team has an injury or decides a player they were counting on isn't ready, and that team turns to the Braves and offers to pick up a big chunk of the salary of Bourn or Swisher. Then if the other one can help as a fourth or fifth outfielder -- don't forget Toscano should, presumably, be cleared to play by next year -- then they could keep that one, at least a while to see if he can contribute and possibly drive up trade value a bit, etc. If not, then you have to eat the salary eventually. But I don't think they'd do that right away unless it was just clear the person was taking a roster spot and not going to provide anything.
Nobody thinks trading them "killed" this team, but it was the final straw, IMO, when Freeman was hurt and Grilli got hurt and they had lost all those games before the break and the team was in a funk. That trade was figurative white flag that robbed the team of two steadying veterans and brought ... well, a couple of minor league pitchers, one of whom might someday help in some capacity, but certainly doesn't look like an impact guy.
Could be, sure. A lot of people could be. It's way early. Team will discuss everyone available and start to narrow its list at organization meetings after the season.
