After 4 unremarkable minor league seasons, Phil Gosselin had an eye opening 2014 in his second tour at AAA Gwinnett. Gosselin, who turns 27 in October, batted .344/.379/.487 in a not insignificant 378 at bats. Promoted to Atlanta, Gosselin held his own with a .266/.310/.320 line in 128 at bats. The Braves 2010 5th round pick out of the University of Virginia, Gosselin plays all the infield positions and also spent some time in left field.
Gosselin’s .487 slugging percentage at Gwinnett was driven largely by 29 doubles, and he does not project to hit with enough power to start outside of the middle infield. With the acquisition of Alberto Callaspo and with top prospect Jose Peraza in waiting, it appears Gosselin’s role now and ongoing will be as a bench player who can back up at multiple positions. Gosselin came in as a defensive replacement for Tommy La Stella several times last season, but posted a below league average range factor at all his positions (in limited innings, to be fair.)
We have 4 years of minor league data that tell us that Gosselin is not likely to be a factor at the major league level, and one intriguing outlier in 2014. An optimist would note that Gosselin is approaching what should be his peak offensive years, and wonder what the 2nd base position will look like after evaluating the spring training performances of Gosselin, Callaspo, and the newly acquired prospect Jace Peterson.
I’ve decided to call Phil Gosselin “White Greg White” as an homage to Gregor Blanco.
Ouch!
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/atlanta-braves-rebuild-will-hinge-on-success-of-young-pitchers-010415
@ryan c, previous thread (not at you so much as prompted by what you wrote)
Reason for the Heyward trade that makes sense: the org wants young, cost-controllable arms. It’s a decision I disagree with vehemently in this specific instance, but it’s an understandable, defensible decision. I don’t like it, but I get where the Johns are coming from.
Reason for the Heyward trade that doesn’t make sense: the org wants to transition to contact hitters. Of all players who batted with the Braves this season, the lowest k-rates belonged to Simmons and La Stella. Expected. The next lowest? Jason Heyward. I wouldn’t go quite so far as to call Heyward a contact hitter, especially as it’s a recent development for him, but in the context of his team he made pretty good contact.
So I hope it’s just all the analysts who are citing it as a reason a little misguidedly, and not the front office itself not really looking at the facts.
It’ll be nice having Markakis because he’s a pretty alright hitter, because he’s (reportedly) a good guy, because he’s a little older/wiser than our other regulars, and because he’s less likely to kill us with a strikeout in a big spot. It’d be much nicer if he was a complement to a team that was making an effort to compete this year.
I don’t think the Heyward trade has anything to do with the transition of hitting coaches. At the end of the day, Heyward would still be in Atlanta if he was under team control and the organization would love for him to be. Truth is, he’s a FA after next season and will be looking at a $150M payday. That’s the only reason why he was traded.
Harang to the Phillies for 1/5M.
The Braves traded Jason Heyward because they didn’t believe they could afford to extend him. Thus they flipped him for a commodity they value (cost controlled young pitching.)
The Braves replaced Jason Heyward with Nick Markakis because they are making a consolidated effort to acquire more contact oriented hitters, having been burned by the “Ks and HRs” profile of Wren’s tenure (notably the Uggla and the lesser Upton.)
If they could have signed Heyward for something similar to the money they paid Markakis, they would have extended him, because as you mention, he was one of their few “contact oriented hitters” the last few years. (They may have then signed Markakis to play LF to replace the greater Upton, and traded Gattis for young pitching.)
Right, that’s what squares with reasonable thinking. So where’s the noise about contact coming from in a couple of the articles folks have linked? Is that just sportswriter speculation or are they getting a wind from the source?
Harang at that price could be a nice piece to have around the trade deadline. We have cash to spend so Im not sure why we didn’t bring him back.
So where’s the noise about contact coming from in a couple of the articles folks have linked? Is that just sportswriter speculation or are they getting a wind from the source?
I’d say it’s probably informed speculation. The Braves hired Kevin Seitzer to replace their hitting coaches. Kevin Seitzer preaches contact and line drive power to the gaps. The Braves one major free agent signing was Nick Markakis, a contact hitter with mostly line drive power to the gaps.
#8
Maybe the Braves thought that Harang wouldn’t take a one-year deal? Sure seems like a missed opportunity.
#2
Here’s a video of Rosenthal outlining the Braves’ offseason moves.
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/7417714/v37106865/rosenthal-breaks-down-the-braves-offseason-moves
Braves must be ready to put Hale back in the rotation until some of these other guys (Manny, Jenkins, Sims, Fried) are ready.
Obviously, we will not know if this winter was a success for the next few years, but what will determine if it is a success or not. Basically, we got 2 MLB ready players in Shelby Miller and Jace Peterson. Outside of those two, we got 2 good pitching prospects and 2 good everyday player prospects.
More than likely, Shelby Miller will be in our pitching staff come 2017 still. I do not know enough about Jace Peterson to know what he will be doing come 2017.
Will this winter be considered a success if at least one of the two between Fried and Jenkins have made it into our rotation by 2017 and at least one of the three Jace Peterson, Dustin Peterson, or Malex Smith is in the starting lineup come 2017?
I just wonder because of how hard it is to make it into the show. I would say that if you have Shelby Miller in the rotation and got two other starters whether it be pitching or in the field starters with the control we will have on them is a nice winter. Am I wrong about this or should we expect more of those prospects to work out than that?
Two average-to-good starting pitchers and one good starting position player out of the trade crop is a good return, given that we traded just one year of Heyward and one year of Upton, and assuming that keeping them wouldn’t have given us a chance to resign either.
From what I read, Dustin Peterson could be our starting 3rd baseman in a couple of years if he can sure up his defense. Malex Smith looks promising, too. It would be interesting if all of these guys worked out. If 2017 starting pitchers include both Fried and Jenkins with Dustin Peterson and Malex Smith serving as everyday players with Jace Peterson as our super utility guy, the new front office would look like a bunch or geniuses.
I doubt this happens, but it would definitely be interesting.
The rotation for 2017 currently lines up something like:
1. Julio Teheran
2. Alex Wood
3. Shelby Miller
4. Mike Minor
5. (Pick one: Fried, Banuelos, Sims, Miller, Hursh)
This offseason has been an effort to move that fifth spot lottery ticket from 1 in 10 (Lucas Sims or bust) to 4 in 10.
It also bears mentioning that Jace Peterson has played nominally as many minor league games at 3B (16) as he has at 2B (26.) He’s a SS by trade (330 games) but obviously isn’t moving Andrelton off of that spot in Atlanta’s infield alignment. I mention this because it makes him another option for in the “future 3B” spin-the-bottle. Right now, they team has two infield positions locked in stone: 1B (Freddie) and SS (Andrelton.) They have an open competition for 2B (Callapso, Peterson, Peraza) and 3B (Johnson, Callapso, Peterson, Peterson.) If Peraza demands the starting spot at 2B this year then Jace Peterson becomes more of a 3B option as well.
EDIT: And White Greg White
White Greg White would be a good guy to have at NCS@WFF
C1 Bethancourt
C2 Pierzinski
1B Freeman
2B Callaspo/Gosselin/Peterson/Peraza
SS Simmons/Peterson
3B Johnson/Gosselin/Callaspo
LF Gattis
CF Upton
RF Markakis
OF4 Almonte
OF5 Cunningham
UT Terdoslavich/IF guys
SP1 Teheran
SP2 Wood
SP3 Miller
SP4 Minor
SP5 Banuelos/Hale
RP1 Kimbrel
RP2 J. Johnson
RP3 S. Simmons
RP4 J. Russell
RP5 Avilan/Kohn
RP6 Vizcaino
@2, Rosenthal contrasts the Braves’ all-in investment on post-TJ pitchers with their decision to let go of J.R. Graham, who had shoulder problems. The thing to remember is that shoulder problems are far worse than elbow problems. As my doctor uncle once explained it to me, there are just a whole lot more moving parts in a shoulder. Pitchers with shoulder problems rarely get back to where they once were; pitchers with elbow problems often do.
There is no reason to assume that the Braves were irrational in their decisions to bring in Max Fried yet let go of J.R. Graham.
Banuelos needs a year at AAA before he’s ready for the show.
SN: My IPhone autocorrected Banuelos to “Beanie Lots.”
Christian Bethancourt is the new Hank White. (Henry Blanco)
19-good list needs Grilli though.
I can’t keep track of random relief guys, and see little reason to put effort into it until late in spring training. But yeah, dump Kohn or Vizcaino (maybe send him back to AAA and try him as a starter again?) and insert Grilli.
@19
I do not feel any worse about that lineup at the moment than I do about last year’s opening day lineup.
Lost: Heyward, Justin Upton, Dan Uggla
Added: Markakis, Bethancourt, Whoever wins 2nd base
Retained: Freeman, Simmons, Johnson, B.J. Upton, Gattis
We do project to hit fewer HRs this year obviously, but we, also, project to hit with more contact as compared to last years opening day. Also, we will be getting more at bats out of Gattis barring injury. There is the chance that we end up with a beneficial platoon situation at 3rd, 2nd, or both depending on how spring training pans out.
I do not know what to expect. I know it will be a tough road, but this season will be fun to watch and see how what we do have is managed. At least there is more of a chance on actual shakeups in the lineup as apposed to last year when we just marched the exact same guys out everyday no matter what type slump they were in.
When does spring training start?
The Hawks are good. The Braves are rebuilding. I should put on “Appetite For Destruction” and awkwardly and ineffectively hit on girls. 1987!
@20
Not necessarily with Cody Martin, but I think the Braves took the appropriate risk not leaving JR. protected. It’s highly unlikely that the Twins will keep him on the roster due to health, and Braves can get him back. That’s one side of the argument that could be flipped to Rosey.
@26, that was one of the greatest rock albums ever. Too much Mr. Brownstone for those guys cut their careers short
#28
Actually, I’d chalk it up to LSD (lead singer disease).
27 — Cody Martin seems like a guy who could be included in the competition for the 5th spot in the rotation with David Hale. I think Banuelos needs a full year at Gwinnett.
I love “Appetite.” I can still listen to the follow ups, but GNR really comes down to “Appetite” for me at this point.
I thought Cody Martin was an outfielder.
JOHNSON! CODY JOHNSON!!
“Beanie Lots” works for me.
Let’s just go with Beanie. Simple. Easy. We get it. No one else will.
Appetite for Destruction.
unreal.
I agree with ya Sam, I can listen to the follow-ups but that album is perfect.
Steve Koonin is so good for the Hawks.
Whenever I see Banuelos’ name, I think of pañuelos, which is Spanish for “handkerchiefs,” which, in turn, makes me think of “white flags.” Full moon out tonight!
Thriller, Appetite, Syncronisity, Born to Run and Joshua Tree are the five best albums of the 80s
For me, the ’80s are about The Smiths—Meat Is Murder and The Queen Is Dead—and The Bevis Frond’s New River Head. Also listened to a lot of jazz in my early twenties.
#38
You mean “Born in the USA”?
“Born to Run” came out in ’75.
@38 – Purple Rain and Graceland on line one.
He means Nebraska.
Purple Rain. Master of Puppets. Husker Du never really made a must have album, so much as collections of singles. Same with Minor Threat.
Murmur is up there.
Murmur is way up there.
Like A Virgin. If you’re going to acknowledge the massive pop supernova albums (Thriller) then you have to acknowledge Madonna. Like A Virgin is a better and more important album than Born In The USA.
Ahh yes, the annual ‘Winter Doldrums Music Discussion’ time is upon us. Although, I do enjoy reading the opinions of others, and actually listen to some of the recommendations. Got my first listen to GNR last night – and you guys are correct, it’s a great listen.
No love for Remain In Light? It doesn’t get much better in any decade.
I mean, I get the math and all, but Jesus, the idea that someone is just now being introduced to GNR… WOE! WOE AND EXISTENTIAL CRISIS!! I AM OLD AND SOON WILL DIE!
Braves will likely have the option to get Graham back if he doesn’t remain on a 25 man roster all year.
It is a fool’s gambit to start with. Any one person’s list of the best albums of a 10 year period is going to be more about them than about music available in that decade, per se. Musically, it would be hard to argue against The Cure’s “Disintegration Street” as the “best album of the 80s.” That thing is just sublime as recorded pop music, and represented the clarion call for a certain subset of the decade’s cultural gestalt. But me? I was into metal and punk. Didn’t like The Cure at all. Wasn’t turned onto them as a band until I got to college and some friends were like “no, you’re missing this.”
I’d put “Doolittle” up there, especially if we’re delving into “critically acclaimed (often after the fact) but economically unsuccessful” albums. Or “Pretty Hate Machine,” which I still argue is the NIN’s best album (though I’ll give proper consideration to “The Downward Spiral.”) Jane’s Addiction’s “Nothing’s Shocking” is required reading as well.
The Cult’s “Sonic Temple” is sublime guitar rock. Van Halen’s “Women and Children First” may have been their last great album.
My bad on Born to Run. I will default to Graceland.
I like Tim a lot.
And Graceland is the best song of the ’80s. I only like about half the record, though.
But who am I to blow against the wind?
Public Enemy “Takes a Nation of Millions…”
See, now you gotta go an bring rap into the mix.
Public Enemy doesn’t do it for me. I know there’s some good rap somewhere in that decade. I haven’t found it yet. I haven’t looked too hard, either.
Paul’s Boutique. Raising Hell. Kurtis Blow. Radio. Follow The Leader. Straight Outta Compton.
(Full admission: I ran through two cassette tapes of LL Cool J’s “Radio.” Just wore the damned things down. “Rock The Bells” still destroys me.)
Hang on there young’un…I hsve heard plenty of GNR on that new fangled ray-dee-oh device I ordered from the Sears N Roebucks! (See what I did there?) It’s just that I never listened to the full album before.
Oh. Good. “Appetite” is a non-stop sonic joy. Start to finish. (Though I still have a mental “flip the record” pause after Paradise City.)
Paul’s Boutique isn’t my thing either. I’ll try the rest some time; thanks.
Speaking of “flip the record” I loved the “Hello CD listeners…” piece at the half way point on Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever (along with the rest of the album).
my 7-year-old likes to crank up “welcome to the jungle.” i’m partial to “sweet child o mine” since we played it in the band i was in in high school. good times.
Rain Dogs, you savages.
Also, no London Calling? No Costello?
I’m so into Mule Variations I can hardly listen to the rest of Tom Waits. It just makes me want to listen to Mule Variations.
And London Calling missed the ’80s by a couple months.
London Calling was released in the US in Jan 1980. It’s uk release was only two weeks earlier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silhouette_(album)
HoF votes released at 2. Looks like 4 go in, while Chass’ Folly comes up just short.
http://deadspin.com/mike-piazza-is-the-only-hall-of-fame-question-mark-toda-1677727583
Hey what if Atlanta is the James Shields mystery team?
@57
De la Soul- 3 Feet and Rising
Ultrmagnetic MCs- Critical Beatdown
Oh, and Dan the Automator- Music to be Murdered By
My 80’s albums of note – uneducated lump that I am –
Murmur
1999
Stop Making Sense (yeah yeah – it’s a concert album. Sue me.)
Nebraska
Joshua Tree
Speaking of the 80’s, Kevin Kinney from Drivin’ and Cryin’ will be doing a few of his tunes with my honky tonk act at the Clermont Thursday.
I like Tim a lot.
Good call.
Get Happy!! may be my favorite double album. All killer.
EVOL and Sister > Daydream Nation
Surfer Rosa > Doolittle
@69, I have wondered about that. While Shields would most likely help us win some games for the next two years, I would be perplexed by his signing. He’s 33, and he reportedly has a 5 year, 110 mil offer. Hard to imagine getting value out of such a contract for a 3-4 WAR pitcher who will be declining from day one.
I’d rather wait and throw scads of money at David Price next year.
I bet it’s the Padres anyhow.
@74, ditto on Get happy!! love – but my copy is a single album.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Happy!!_%28Elvis_Costello_album%29#Track_listing
My ’80s Faves:
The Clash: “London Calling” (released just before Xmas ’79, so I’ve always considered it an ‘80s record)
Elvis Costello: “Get Happy!!” (1980)
Prince: “Dirty Mind” (1980)
Talking Heads: “Remain in Light” (1980)
Bruce Springsteen: “The River” (1980)
The Clash: “Sandinista!” (1980)
Black Flag: “Damaged” (1981)
The Cramps: “Psychedelic Jungle” (1981)
X: “Wild Gift” (1981)
Prince: “Controversy” (1981)
Elvis Costello: “Imperial Bedroom” (1982)
Bruce Springsteen: “Nebraska” (1982)
Prince: “1999” (1982)
Hüsker Dü: “Metal Circus” (1983)
R.E.M.: “Murmur” (1983)
Michael Jackson: “Thriller” (1983)
Jason & The Scorchers: “Fervor” (1983)
Prince: “Purple Rain” (1984)
Run-DMC: “Run-DMC” (1984)
Meat Puppets: “Meat Puppets II” (1984)
Minutemen: “Double Nickels on the Dime” (1984)
Hüsker Dü: “Zen Arcade” (1984)
The Replacements: “Let It Be” (1984)
Butthole Surfers: “Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac” (1984)
Elvis Costello: “King of America” (1986)
Run-DMC: “Raising Hell” (1986)
Camper Van Beethoven: “Camper Van Beethoven” (1986)
Slayer: “Reign in Blood” (1986)
Eric B & Rakim: “Paid in Full” (1987)
The Pixies: “Surfer Rosa” (1988)
Public Enemy: “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” (1988)
N.W.A: “Straight Outta Compton” (1988)
Beastie Boys: “Paul’s Boutique” (1989)
De La Soul: “3 Feet High & Rising” (1989)
It’s been written about a lot, but 1984 was a helluva year for music. I didn’t even include some of the obvious stuff.
Definitely London Calling. Wasn’t the photo on the LP cover taken at The Great Southeast Music Hall (first incarnation)? Sittin’ on the floor, drinkin’ buckets of beer….
#64
Ahh, totally spaced on Tom Waits. I’d go “Swordfishtrombones” & “Rain Dogs” for sure.
#79
Or the Agora?
@79, back right photo is Atlanta. Cover is Palladium NY.
@80 I recall Agora, but can’t swear to it – one of the few things before my time in atl.
King of America
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Pump
Full Moon Fever
Appetite
Back In Black
Brothers in Arms
Agora – http://clatl.com/atlanta/the-only-bandleader-that-mattered/Content?oid=1239820
My barber says Pedro, Johnson, Smoltz and Biggio all get in. Piazza, Raines and Bagwell get close.
I think New River Head was actually released in 1990, but it’s a brilliant album nonetheless. I love The Bevis Frond. Have you listened to his newer stuff? White Numbers and The Leaving of London are terrific.
#80 & #81
XTC at the Agora for the Black Sea record. Also, The Nighthawks (w/Jimmy Thackeray and Mark Wenner) were regulars at the Agora. Thanks for the photo credit correction.
#86
Yeah, Alex, I’ve heard those recordings, though I find myself going back to the psychedelic guitar demolition stuff from Miasma. Oddly, my favorite Frond song is “Waving,” which, as you know, is rather folksy. Love Nick Saloman!
I’ve been converted to a Schilling supporter, despite how sick I became of the bloody sock bit. Also, I never liked Kent; but he’s got big numbers, better than Biggio. And the Fire Dawg probably should get into my Big Hall too.
HoF:
Biggio, Smoltz, Pedro, Big Unit — yup.
Congrats #29
SMOLTZ IS IN THE HALL OF FAME!!
And so are some guys named Biggio, Martinez, and Johnson.
Edit: 82.9% of voters made the right call here.
Now we wait for the Jones boys. We may wait forever for my all time favorite Brave Andruw. Why don’t HOF voters like superior Braves centerfielders?
Do you think he’s kicking himself now for not retiring a year earlier? Could have been a hell of a ceremony last year.
I remember listening to Randy & Spiff in the summertime when mom drove me down to my cousins’ house on the way to her work and they did a parody of the Flipper theme song that went something like, “They call him Smoltzie, Smoltzie…”
Next order of business: The Andruw Jones campaign.
If he had gone in with Glav and Maddux, the “coattails” contingent would be much louder. In terms of personal accolades, going in “by himself” this year is more of a testament to how he is respected as a player in the game than last year would have been.
I think Piazza (obvious HOFer) goes in next year, along with Schilling, and Griffey on the first ballot.
Very happy for Smoltz! Wasn’t sure he’d get in first-ballot (though I was pretty sure he’d get in eventually), but he wound up with 80 percent of the vote!
I don’t think Andruw’s ever gonna happen. I’m also not sure he deserves it. He definitely deserves to have his number retired by the Braves (and I can’t tell if that’s gonna happen or not), but even the huge Braves fan that I am, I don’t think I’d put him in the Hall of Fame. If I would, it would pretty much be due to his 10-year reign as the best defensive outfielder in baseball and not because of anything he did offensively. The end of his career happened, though, and it probably tarnished what was, at one point, a pretty good Hall of Fame candidacy (assuming of course that Hall voters didn’t arbitrarily decide for themselves that he used steroids during his 50-homer season or whatever).
Schilling has almost no shot next year as he only got 39.2 this year, however I think he will take the biggest leap forward with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Johnson and Martinez out of the way.
Piazza should go along with Griffey and Raines and Bagwell are within shouting distance at 55.0 and 55.7 percent respectively. Mattingly is now off the ballot as it was his 15th year but Sheffield and Nomar got enough to stay on another year. The other new candidates which may garner some support next year will be Hoffman, Edmonds and Wagner. Will be interesting to see what happens with those guys though I don’t expect Wagner will even get the 5%.
If Piazza goes in, does that improve the other usual PED suspects chances? Anyone else a bit surprised at Schilling getting under 40%?
I think the glut of starters the last two years – the true god’s honest inner circle guys (Maddux, Randy, Petey), the other deserving (Glavine, Smoltz) undermined both Schilling and Mike Mussina’s vote totals. We’re through that gate, and the only obvious first ballot option for 2016 is Junior. I think we’ll see both of those guys bump up a little (though I had not realized they were both below 40% – neither will bump up 35%.
The Emilio Bonifacio Era is over in Atlanta.
http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12123112/emilio-bonifacio-chicago-white-sox-agree-one-year-deal
This could be exciting
http://atlanta.suntimes.com/atl-sports/atlanta-braves/7/78/58424/yoan-moncada/
#96
Surprised about Schilling’s low number, yes, because his career was similar to Smoltz’s.
HoF voting on PED guys? No idea anymore.
Just heard an interesting radio interview with NY Daily News baseball writer Bill Madden—Piazza talk is filling the airwaves here—and he says that, barring some new BALCO/Biogenesis-like implication on Piazza, he’ll get in relatively soon, but he doesn’t believe Bonds/Sosa/McGwire/Clemens ever will. To him, it doesn’t matter if the candidate has to wait for enshrinement.
Main reason he says he hasn’t voted for Piazza is that over the years other players have straight-up told him that Piazza was a juicer, and he doesn’t vote for anyone who’s been implicated. But, of course, he’s just one voter.
Andruw supporters should watch keenly the candidacy of Jim Edmonds next year.
Piazza, Junior and Bagwell and/or Raines next year
@99
That seems like someone trying to create a story when there isn’t one. Everything he linked to was 2 months old.
There is some exciting news on Moncada. He’s apparently in Florida just waiting to be cleared to sign with a Major League team.
Also on Moncada: The latest estimate of his price tag is 30-40 million dollars, but that comes with a price much larger than the 30-40 million dollars. Here’s the scoop:
1. Team signing him will go over their int’l bonus money by a wide margin and will be subject to a 100% tax on the money.
2. Team signing him will have to forfeit their int’l signings for the next 2 years that would exceed 300K.
Now #2 might only be a big deal for 1 year because it’s very likely there will be an int’l draft come 2017.
Also, there’s word out there that Moncada’s 30-40 million essentially works as a bonus, not a contract, and when acquired, he’ll be treated just like any other player with 6 years of team control when he establishes himself as a major leaguer. So, if you think about that he’s going to cost 60-80MM + whatever he makes through arbitration. If it comes to 120 million for 6 years, is it worth it?
100% tax? Geez. Essentially we would be paying $40m for a lottery ticket and still be subject to his normal price tag? Yeah, don’t see the 3Johns going that route.
@csg
40 million plus another 40 million, then when he reaches the Majors he’s cheap for 3 years then gets expensive. Plus the Braves would be seriously handicapped next offseason.
Nobody seems to doubt that Moncada is a special player and likely to be worth the money. But yeah, just not the direction we’re going.
If those numbers are correct, Moncada could come close to the same cost as Heyward would have over the next six years? I agree, we won’t go in that direction.
@109
I got confirmation from the guys at Baseball America. The numbers are correct. Oh well, Braves won’t be getting on that.
The data is in, and apparently the way a team that is bad becomes good in the NBA is to cut or release Josh Smith.
@101
I was looking at their careers this morning. To me those are two different arguments.
Edmonds: truly excellent hitter who could also play a little defense (I had not realized just how good a hitter Edmonds was)
Jones: the best defender of his generation, maybe the best defensive outfielder of all time, who could also hit a little
Andruw is to Edmonds defensively as Edmonds is to Andruw offensively: no contest.
I don’t know if the voters will break the arguments down like that; I hope they will. But the perception of Edmonds is that he is a great defensive player, when really he’s only an above average defensive player, just as Andruw is only an above average hitter.
Two very different cases. Both guys are on the fence.
New thread.