H2tel, the problem with going the opposite direction is that pitchers are lottery tickets and the Braves so far don't even have any pitching prospects without serious warts. 1st round guys coming off surgery, what a joke.

And even if the pitching prospects were better, the problem is you need a lot more quantity than even the Braves have so far in order to have a higher collective WAR EV than if you went for college hitters and other advanced hitters. Again, due to the lottery ticket aspect.

The Pirates always had great 18-year old pitchers for 20 years. Better than our kids, even. It doesn't have a great shot at working.

So there I am, watching football, and I see THIS scroll across the bottom:

"Braves looking into signing Tim Tebow to a minor league deal, ESPN's Pedro Gomez reports"

please God no

True for some of them for sure. Those warts come with major league stuff tho. We'll see.

Here's an article putting actual percentages on prospect success/failure for those interested. http://www.royalsreview.com/2011/2/1...651.1468784907

Braves just win, win, win. I'm saying please, we can't take it anymore, we can't win anymore like this, Braves, you're driving us crazy, you're winning too much, please Braves, not so much, and they are saying I'm sorry, we're going to keep winning because we are going to make Braves great again.

Already down to the #4 pick, and #7 or 8 is very possible....

Braves remove the interim label with Brian Snitker and name him the permenant manager (with a club option for '18).

Seems good. He's been with the organization 40 years, nice to see him ascend to the top job.

I don't have any egregious bullpen/pinch hitting issues that leap to mind, and the players were over .500 the last 3 months, and finished strong, winning 20 of last 30 and 12 of last 14.

Roger McDowell out, AAA pitching coach Chuck Hernandez to serve in the same role

We'll only go as far as our pitching develops along, and it'll be nice to have that familiarity there.

I have no problem with it. Also like the promotion of Hernandez who obv has a lot of knowledge about the system and will be there to develop the young pitchers coming up.

Ron Washington hiring is interesting. I guess he's the guy if Snitker's option isn't picked up after next season? I have a feeling that's exactly what's gonna happen.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/mlb-tur...omestic-abuse/

I've heard mention of Cox's domestic violence history but I never knew the details. wtf man

bump for BARTOLO!!!

We made a trade with Seattle for 2014 #6 overall pick Alex Jackson. We sent two minor league pitching prospects to Seattle, Povse and Whalen.

Jackson played mostly OF in Seattle's organization, but there's talk of moving him to catcher, which is what he played in high school.

Seems like a good deal. We've got meh pitching prospects to burn, and if we can get back something with upside at a position of need, like C, then I'm all for it.

Jaime Garcia? He's the definition of league average innings-eater.

So the rotation is 1. Julio, 2-4 Dickey/Bartolo/Garcia, 5. Wisler/Folty/whichever young guy is currently up?

I get that we're hoping to flip Dickey/Bartolo/Garcia at the deadline, but I was kind of hoping we'd throw the kids out there and see what they can do, accelerate their learning curve.

Maybe the front office thinks that "league average innings eaters" are an improvement on what we currently have down on the farm, idk. I kinda thought the whole point was to be developing them into Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz.

What kids, though? Folty will be in the rotation. Wisler is pretty much it in terms of a guy who would make sense throwing in there full time to accelerate the learning curve. Jenkins/Blair/Perez etc are all trade fodder quad A, 5th starter or long relief guys.

Sims and Newcomb are close, and actually have some top of the rotation potential, but haven't had success in AAA yet. Maybe by the time next year's trade deadline passes they'll get spots. I'd also watch out for Patrick Weigel even tho he's only had a few starts at AA.

I absolutely love what the front office is doing. They're giving fans something to get excited about entering 2017 while at the same time basically paying for more lottery ticket prospects with the SP signings/trades (after they get swapped next season). And they're doing all this without sacrificing any top prospects.

Now, I won't know what to think if the Sale trade happens. Guessing it'll include Wisler or Folty plus Albies and another couple top 10 prospects. I understand that Sale would be here for at least 3? years but this market right now is just ridiculous. I would wait a year to do something like that.

Also, damn I love me some Bartolo

http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/s...014_braves_sfp

Fangraphs' Braves Top Prospects is up. Very thorough.

Every time I read through these, I see names I've never even heard of before, and I like to think I'm pretty well plugged into the Braves' farm system.

Yes i'm quoting myself

Braves with 8 in top 100 and #1 overall ranking. weeeeeee

Going to be an exciting next 4-5 years

"High-Ceiling Sleeper: Dominican outfielder Cristian Pache has adjustments to make offensively but has made plenty of contact thus far as a pro and has defensive tools reminiscent of a young Andruw Jones. If his offense comes along, he could be an electric player."

I'm hard

ok so with 85 collapsing, I think the braves should move all home start times to 9 pm or later. anyone disagree?

God what a disaster.

85 fire and collapse..not the Braves

Great 4-game sweep to get us back to .500.

Freddie's an MVP candidate, and hopefully this walk-off will wake Dansby's bat up. I'm not too worried, he's BABIP'ing below .180 and his contact rate is fine so that should come around.

I feel like the offense will be just fine, especially when Kemp comes back. I guess the question, in the short- and long-term, is how good will the pitching be.

81-0 at home

jfc every day Bonifacio is on the roster is like a dagger to my cold heart

So Dansby looks legit broken. Should sending him down even be an option?

Not worried about Dansby

His BABIP's .179, HR/FB 4.2% (MLB avg is over 10), just be patient, this is just variance.

As a singles hitter without much power, he'll always be susceptible to the batted-ball dragons

I think moving him down in the order will clear his head and get back on a contact-focused approach

as much as I hate the new stadium (my cobb county tax $) I want to go see it. but damn, tickets are expensive for weekend games!

I went to my first game last week and was blown away.

Park early in the Red Deck right by the stadium ($20 tho)

Get some pizza at Antico outside the stadium (moderately priced)

Chop House Gate opens 2 hours before gametime


Chill watching Harper almost hit the ball out of the stadium with my cookies and cream milkshake I got at the milkshake stand



Watch Dansby struggle followed by Freeman doing what he do




I know Turner Field was a completely viable stadium but it really can't compare to the new park/'The Battery' area. There are about 10 legit hanging out/drinking spots in the stadium and out which will be open by the end of the season. Can't wait for the inevitable Braves crawl when they're out of contention in September.