Occasionally. But not often.
Yes, he could be. Because he's having a good season, only signed through this year, won't draft draft-pick compensation, and will make at least 6-7 times what Harang is making, after Floyd's incentives start kicking in for numbers of starts, etc.
They just gave a three-year extension to their 3B a month or two ago. They didn't do that thinking they might trade for another one soon thereafter.
Our sports writers don't have any affect on the organization. We've all pointed out the Braves' dismal record in postseason series -- 8 consecutive series losses, matching the Cubs record of futility. It's not a sports writer's job to be advocate or harsh critic, but to report on what happens and offer some analysis of why and what might happen next. Columnists are paid to opine strongly and to stir it up, not beat writers.
Needs to be done, but even more importantly, netting should have been raised long a go on the sides of the backstop in most ballparks, where it currently drops from 30-40 feet or whatever it us to about 10-15 feet before it even gets out as far as the on-deck circles in most parks. That's where foul balls are rocketed every game. Makes ZERO sense not to have it as high as it is directly behind plate.
Long as he's healthy and hitting like this, can't see how he wouldn't be.
Hale is best guess. Unless they were sending down Wood to get him stretched out in prep for a trade of another starter, only other option might be DFA Uggla, and I don't get a sense the Brave are ready to do that yet.
No change in the clubhouse. And I say that honestly. People who are glum or angry talking or asking about the team would be surprised to see how well they get along and how the mood doesn't sour in the clubhouse as it does on Twitter or on the airwaves or blogs or chat rooms. In a team with bad chemistry or a few bad apples in the clubhouse, it certainly can and often does. This team doesn't have that issue.
Carpenter is out of minor league options. Would have to first clear waivers.
Is that a question? (And by the way, B.J. was eventually benched last year in first year of the contract, Schafer was playing a lot before he got hurt)
Not many guys of La Stella's skill set batting leadoff two weeks into their major league careers. If I'm wrong, please advise. And yes, I think La Stella could hit at top or bottom of order, given what he does. But again, not many doing it two weeks into their major league career unless they have some sort of unique skill, i.e. blazing speed.
I think however long you feel is suitable time is how you should decide if it's time to judge anyone. But yes, over 6-7 years I think it's fair to judge anyone, for the most part, on their body of work. I would just add, to be fair you cerainly should judge a GM on not just the end results, but in comparison to other teams with similar resources (i.e., similar payrolls) and teams that have drafted in similar situations most years (i.e., not teams that stiink for 4-5 years in a row and pile up top draft picks every year in that period, then eventually have a good couple of seasons on the backs of those players or ones they acquire in trades for those players)
Schafer is in a very tough spot. Deserves playing time, has shown what he can do when he gets it, but he's behind three guys who aren't going to be taken out of the lineup almost ever, and Schafer doesn't hit lefties well, so it doesn't make much sense to sit Heyward against a real tough lefty and have Schafer play, etc.
Oh, and any veteran with that service time can refuse a minor league assignment. But again, it's not going to happen so it's irrelevant.
Not going to happen, so it's irrelevant.
That's not what I said. I said he makes out the lineup. Sure there's "pressure" to play a guy who's under contract for another 3 1/2 years. But that's because he's got to think about the bigger picture, how the team and player will react over this season and beyond. But he's not told by the GM to play the guy.
Have you seen how mediocre/bad rest of the division is? Braves have at least as good a shot as anyone in division of making playoffs. Now, whether they have a good chance to advance once they get there is another story. But anything can happen in the playoffs. Braves and Freddy Garcia were beating Kershaw late in Game 4 of Division Series.
Hard to say, both are top-shelf prospects. And no, next year not out of the question for either, though I'd say Sims unlikely given age and fact he hasn't pitched above A-ball yet. Hursh could certainly be up next year if there was a need.
Because he's been their best leadoff option, and really their ONLY leadoff option until now, if you consider La Stella an option. I really don't, given his lack of speed and fact that he's been in big leagues for a couple of weeks and they'd like to let him continue to do his thing without feeling too much pressure or the need to change his approach in leadoff spot.
Fredi makes out his own lineup.
