2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

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  • DonkeyJote
    All Star
    • Jul 2003
    • 9189

    #76
    Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

    Originally posted by thefakeJTS
    I think Uggla would be better at leadoff than anyone on the roster if Simmons doesn't hit well there. He strikes out a lot, but he does take tons of walks too.
    Walks don't really matter. It's OBP that matters. So while Uggla walks a lot, his OBP is still at around .350 over the last 5 years, and only .329 over the last two. The 4 years before last year (which I'm chalking up as an anomaly due to injuries), McCann posted a .362 OBP (with a .482 slg, which is also higher than Uggla). Even with McCann's power being sapped last year and having just 4 extra base hits in the last two months of the year, he still ended up with a higher slg than Uggla.

    To me, it's about who's the third best hitter on this team. I believe Justin Upton is #1, and Heyward is #2 (as much as I love Heyward, I don't trust him nearly enough at this point in his career to call him the best player on a probable playoff team). If McCann is #3, I probably bat him leadoff. If you think it's Freeman, I probably put him at cleanup, and have Heyward leadoff.

    It's all moot anyway. Fredi is going to write a traditional lineup (and truthfully, the difference between an optimized lineup and one where you draw names out of a hat is only worth 1 or 2 wins throughout the season at most) because he's more of a traditional guy, as are Wren and Sheurholtz.

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    • TheMatrix31
      RF
      • Jul 2002
      • 52920

      #77
      Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

      Yeah, I don't think configuring our everyday lineup is that much of a big deal. That should work itself out. I'm more concerned with substitutions, days off, and that sort of thing.

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      • DonkeyJote
        All Star
        • Jul 2003
        • 9189

        #78
        Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

        Originally posted by TheMatrix31
        Yeah, I don't think configuring our everyday lineup is that much of a big deal. That should work itself out. I'm more concerned with substitutions, days off, and that sort of thing.
        Yeah, I'm more concerned that the righthanded half of the 3B platoon is a career .255/.294/.372 against lefties. This team has a very weak bench. It's probably going to be the Johnsons, Janish/Pastornicky/Pena, Schafer/Constanza, and Laird. I don't feel good about that. And the starting pitching depth has largely evaporated.

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        • aukevin
          War Eagle, Go Braves!
          • Dec 2002
          • 14700

          #79
          Originally posted by DonkeyJote
          Yeah, I'm more concerned that the righthanded half of the 3B platoon is a career .255/.294/.372 against lefties. This team has a very weak bench. It's probably going to be the Johnsons, Janish/Pastornicky/Pena, Schafer/Constanza, and Laird. I don't feel good about that. And the starting pitching depth has largely evaporated.
          Yeah an early season injury in the rotation will really hurt the Braves. I hope we get a good Minor all this year.

          Atlanta Braves
          - Auburn Tigers - Nashville Predators

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          • TheMatrix31
            RF
            • Jul 2002
            • 52920

            #80
            Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

            I'm nervous about this bench. I don't think it's "bad" but it doesn't inspire much confidence. Perhaps a trade in Spring Training can bolster it?

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            • LowerWolf
              Hall Of Fame
              • Jun 2006
              • 12270

              #81
              Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

              The bench scares me. If Francisco starts, there's really no lefty on the bench. I'd love to sign Thome, but in the NL you need a guy who can play the field every once in awhile, and I'm not sure he can do that anymore.

              Comment

              • DonkeyJote
                All Star
                • Jul 2003
                • 9189

                #82
                Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                .
                Originally posted by LowerWolf
                The bench scares me. If Francisco starts, there's really no lefty on the bench. I'd love to sign Thome, but in the NL you need a guy who can play the field every once in awhile, and I'm not sure he can do that anymore.
                Yeah, in the last 5 years, he's played 5 games in the field (1 at 3B in 2011, 4 at 1B last year). And in the last 4 years since he's become a part time player, he's only 16/81 (.198) as a PH with 2 HR. No thank you.

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                • Williekemp15
                  Rookie
                  • Jun 2012
                  • 265

                  #83
                  Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                  Originally posted by dingleberryfinn
                  N.L. East 2013 prediction
                  1) Braves
                  2) Phillies
                  3) Mets
                  4) Nationals
                  5) Marlins

                  I;m lookin' for a BIG year from Heyward.
                  Hope to get over to Georgia in April to catch a game against the Royals.
                  Mets ahead of the Nats?? um ok..... Braves fan here and Nats may be best team in baseball
                  MLB: Atlanta Braves
                  NCAA: Tennessee Vols
                  NBA: Memphis Grizzlies
                  NFL: Tennessee Titans

                  Comment

                  • DonkeyJote
                    All Star
                    • Jul 2003
                    • 9189

                    #84
                    Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                    Baseball Prospectus NL East Projections:

                    1. Nationals (88-74)
                    2. Braves (82-80)
                    3. Mets (80-82)
                    4. Phillies (80-82)
                    5. Marlins (67-95)

                    I think the Nationals are a pretty easy group to project. They don't really have too many guys that you could see falling off the map or guys coming out of nowhere or having huge bounce back years. Barring injury, you pretty much know what you're going to get. The only real boom or bust guys on their roster would be Harper, Desmond, and Haren.

                    The Braves, however, could be easily the best team in baseball if everyone clicked like they're capable of clicking. Or, they could be around .500. We have Uggla, Heyward, both Uptons, McCann, whoever plays 3B, Simmons, Teheran, and Minor who we really don't know what to expect. To this point, they all have been up and down, have injury concerns, or in Simmons' case just haven't been around enough yet. Now, granted with Justin Upton and Heyward at least, we know we'll get some production - they aren't really bust prospects, but we don't know if they'll be good, or MVP-caliber.

                    Comment

                    • aukevin
                      War Eagle, Go Braves!
                      • Dec 2002
                      • 14700

                      #85
                      I'm hoping for a lot more than just 82 wins.

                      Atlanta Braves
                      - Auburn Tigers - Nashville Predators

                      Comment

                      • LowerWolf
                        Hall Of Fame
                        • Jun 2006
                        • 12270

                        #86
                        Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                        Originally posted by aukevin
                        I'm hoping for a lot more than just 82 wins.
                        I'd bet the Over on the Nats too.

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                        • DonkeyJote
                          All Star
                          • Jul 2003
                          • 9189

                          #87
                          Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                          Originally posted by LowerWolf
                          I'd bet the Over on the Nats too.
                          It seemed really conservative across the board. Dodgers were #1 in the league at 93. I'd expect the Braves and Nats to both be right around 95 wins.

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                          • TheMatrix31
                            RF
                            • Jul 2002
                            • 52920

                            #88
                            Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                            I thought the BP predictions were pretty low overall too. There's no way the East is won with 88 wins, man.

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                            • thefakeJTS
                              Pro
                              • Nov 2012
                              • 913

                              #89
                              Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                              The bench doesn't scare me that much when Janish is healthy.

                              Gerald Laird
                              Paul Janish
                              Reed Johnson
                              Chris Johnson
                              Evan Gattis/Joey Terdoslavich/Jordan Schafer/Jose Constanza

                              Laird is one of the best backup catchers in baseball. He's definitely not David Ross, but he is more than capable of handling a pitching staff. Janish is excellent defensively, and he can fill in and the loss of offense is offset by his defensive contributions. Reed Johnson is an excellent clubhouse guy, and can start on a lot of teams. Chris Johnson is about right on par with Juan Francisco, and I think we might make an upgrade at 3rd before the deadline. The missing offense with defensive guys Laird & Janish can be offset by putting Evan Gattis and/or Terdoslavich on the bench.

                              We also have guys like Pastornicky, Pena, and Mejia that can be on the bench if someone gets hurt, and I think Mejia would also be a big boost to the bench.

                              The Starting Pitching depth doesn't concern me either when Beachy gets healthy. That leaves Teheran and Gilmartin as number 6 and 7 on the depth chart. I think Gilmartin would be a solid guy at the back end of a rotation. Beyond those guys though, the depth is a little scary. I'm not entirely sold on Graham staying in the rotation long-term.
                              Last edited by thefakeJTS; 02-26-2013, 02:40 PM.
                              Cleveland Browns
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                              • Sportsforever
                                NL MVP
                                • Mar 2005
                                • 20368

                                #90
                                Re: 2013 Atlanta Braves Thread

                                I see Dan Uggla is in mid-season form...0-3 with 2K's yesterday.
                                "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby

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