This is our 2nd Braves Spring Training Roster Talk since games started and 3rd overall. Here are the first 2 installments if you’re late to the series:
Braves 40-Man Roster and *Non-Roster Invitees
PITCHERS
- Ian Anderson
- Victor Arano
- Tucker Davidson
- Grant Dayton
- Jasseel De La Cruz
- Max Fried
- Luke Jackson
- Chris Martin
- A.J. Minter
- Tyler Matzek
- Charlie Morton
- Kyle Muller
- Sean Newcomb
- Philip Pfeifer
- Will Smith
- Drew Smyly
- Chad Sobotka
- Mike Soroka
- Josh Tomlin
- Touki Toussaint
- Jacob Webb
- Bryse Wilson
- Patrick Weigel
- Kyle Wright
- Huascar Ynoa
- *Thomas Burrows
- *Carl Edwards Jr.
- *Daysbel Hernandez
- *Kurt Hoekstra
- *Connor Johnstone
- *Nate Jones
- *Nolan Kingham
- *Freddy Tarnok
- *Victor Vodnik
- *William Woods
INFIELDERS
- Ozzie Albies
- Johan Camargo
- Freddie Freeman
- Austin Riley
- Dansby Swanson
- *Ehire Adrianza
- *Bryce Ball
- *CJ Alexander
- *Sean Kazmar Jr.
- *Jason Kipnis
- *Pablo Sandoval
- *Braden Shewmake
- Jake Lamb
OUTFIELDERS
- Ronald Acuna Jr.
- Abraham Almonte
- Travis Demeritte
- Ender Inciarte
- Marcell Ozuna
- Cristian Pache
- Phillip Ervin
- *Justin Dean
- *Michael Harris
- *Trey Harris
- *Drew Waters
CATCHERS
2021 Braves Spring Training Roster Predictions: The Locks
Starting Pitcher: Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Ian Anderson, Drew Smyly (1 spot available)
Relief Pitcher: Will Smith,Chris Martin,Tyler Matzek,Josh Tomlin, A.J. Minter(3 spots available)
Position Players: Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Travis d’Arnaud(6 spots available)
Positions of Need
Here are the needs as I see them:
- Backup Catcher
- Utilty Infielder
- Starting Outfielder
- Backup Outfielder
- Bench Bat
- Bench Bat
- RH Relief Pitcher
- RH Relief Pitcher
- Relief Pitcher
- Starting Pitcher
Braves Roster Talk: Starting Pitcher Candidates (1 available slot)
- Bryse Wilson: 20%
- Kyle Wright: 40%
- Tucker Davidson: 0%
- Jasseel De La Cruz: 0%
- Kyle Muller: 0%
- Phil Pfeifer: 0%
- Touki Toussaint: 0%
- Huascar Ynoa: 40%
Breadown: Both Wright and Ynoa looked great in their last appearance and recency bias is going to win out when it comes to these rankings. Muller was strong, pumping 98 but I feel he’s way down the chain for now. Bryse Wilson is on the outside looking in again as his stuff just didn’t look like the blip we saw in the playoffs.
Braves Roster Talk: Relief Pitcher Candidates (3 available slots)
- Victor Arano– 30%
- Grant Dayton– 10%
- Jasseel De La Cruz– 0%
- Luke Jackson– 25%
- Kyle Muller-0%
- Sean Newcomb-10%
- Philip Pfeifer-0%
- Chad Sobotka– 5%
- Touki Toussaint-30%
- Jacob Webb– 50%
- Patrick Weigel– 10%
- Huascar Ynoa– 25%
- *Thomas Burrows– 0%
- *Carl Edwards Jr.-50%
- *Daysbel Hernandez-0%
- *Kurt Hoekstra– 0%
- *Connor Johnstone– 0%
- *Nate Jones– 30%
- *Nolan Kingham-0%
- *Freddy Tarnok-0%
- *Victor Vodnik– 0%
- *William Woods– 20%
Breakdown: While I think the Braves still go the route of veterans out the gate, William Woods at age 22 is making a strong case for a RH bullpen spot. Sure, it’s unlikely but we never know the shelf life of these young hurlers with elite velo and Braves are desperate for RH relief. Crazier things have happened. Nate Jones has now had 2 good outings and Arano has made it to camp and looked good once and bloody awful once. I’ve made no real commitment to anyone (hence the highest candidate being 50%) and it sure does look like it’s a full-on tryout for the last 3 spots.
Also, I don’t want to give up on him after having such high hopes, but Weigel just doesn’t look like the same pitcher post-surgery. This makes me sad.
Braves Roster Talk: Catcher Candidates (1 available slot)
- Alex Jackson– 40%
- William Contreras– 60%
- Shea Langeliers– 0%
Breakdown: I don’t think anything has changed here, and while Shea Langeliers might be the best defensive catcher of the 3, I cannot imagine they’ll be clearing a 40-man spot for him.
Braves Roster Talk: Infield, Outfield, and Bench (5 available slots)
- Johan Camargo– 25%
- *Ehire Adrianza– 50%
- *Bryce Ball– 0%
- *C.J. Alexander- 0%
- *Sean Kazmar- 0%
- *Jason Kipnis– 65%
- *Pablo Sandoval– 35%
- *Braden Shewmake– 0%
- Cristian Pache– 90%
- Abraham Almonte– 10%
- Travis Demeritte– 10%
- Ender Inciarte– 40%
- *Justin Dean– 0%
- *Michael Harris– 0%
- *Trey Harris– 0%
- *Drew Waters– 0%
- Phillip Ervin- 75%
- Jake Lamb- 70%
- Guillermo Heredia– 30%
Breakdown: My gut tells me Ervin, Lamb, Adrianza, Kipnis, and Pache are the 5, but there’s a part of me that feels it’s a true tryout and, if so, Kipnis hasn’t performed and might not make it. Also, there could be a fringe addition and subtraction that occurs before the team goes north. For real though, the aforementioned 5 brings balance to the roster and 2 capable defensive utility players (one OF and 1 IF) in Adrianza and Ervin. On a side note, Ender hasn’t played in a week and isn’t in today’s lineup. My hope is that he’s been traded and Braves are just waiting on medicals for the return, but admittedly it could be injury.
I too hope that Ender has been traded.
I think if healthy that Webb is a 90% to make the team, he’ll be the second most high leverage RHP in the pen.
@2
I think you’re likely right and I should’ve put his % higher.
Sent out 2 more Hammers hats to Braves Journalers today! Thank tfloyd and MarsPR for the orders.
RAPSODO
Making money without trying to.
After today’s performance, Wright’s stock has to have gone up some. He may finally be ready to grab a spot and not let go. It’d be pretty good if Wright could force Smyly into being a highly paid middle reliever.
https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/ender-inciarte-injury-might-give-cristian-pache-starting-job
@5, great story — thanks for posting!
Nick Markakis has retired.
https://www.mlb.com/news/nick-markakis-announces-retirement
Many thanks to Nick for his contributions in Atlanta, and congratulations for his fine career.
Nick Markakis has retired.
And the announcement was going well until it rolled over to the right side.
Congrats and enjoy life after baseball, Kakes.
But thank God we can finally move past the beat writers drooling over his Stoic Professionalism™.
Braves are apparently interested in Maikel Franco. He had a good 2020, but nothing really changed about his batted ball profile. If they’re really in on him, it’s likely a MiLB deal.
A marker in our baseball lives, quite unlike any other in as much as the qualities and standards he projected were above his innate abilities to perform them at the levels he wished. You always thought he knew that but his pride insisted he contribute.
Appropriate don’t you think that he waited until the last days of spring in case we bit once more, might need him like last year. An exemplar of all that is best in a greedy game.
Braves starting with 33% capacity at Truist Park games for 2021 season! Get your tickets now.
From where I sit, the Braves expressing interest in Maikel Franco says more about Austin Riley than it says about Franco.
H/t, AAR
@15: There were plenty of years in which 33% of capacity would have been a gigantic windfall of ticket revenue.
I went to some games in the early 80s that would have been 1% of capacity, it seemed like… 🙂
I went to a Braves/Giants game once at Candlestick when they were both terrible in the mid 80’s. Nearly everyone who was at the game had a front row seat. The bullpens were down the foul lines. I sat down by the Braves bullpen and talked to Bruce Benedict and Terry Forster for a while. They were bored to tears and we were all freezing our asses off when the fog started rolling in.
@17 Maybe it says more about Jake Lamb’s slow start.
Would Franco be better than Camargo?
The guy I see having a great Spring is Sean Kazmar. Seems like he ought to have a chance to stick for a while. I mean what really better candidates do we have for the bench?
Michael Harris and William Woods have looked great. It’s unfortunate that they’re “not ready”.
As soon as the NL makes the DH permanent, either Waters or Harris will join Pache and Acuna in the OF. Either way, we’ll have a great defensive OF.
Franco would be nothing more than a roll of the dice on a 28 year old former prospect. If it were up to me, I’d sign all the 26 – 28 year old former prospects.
An Invocation To the Fates for Opening Day.
Surround us, metaphorically,
with talent we can clearly see
dismissive always as You’re wont
of those who’ll say bye bye but don’t.
Johan Camargo
too good to send out
remember MaMa
She’ll fly in to check he’s still about.
MacKenzie Scot
Melinda Gates you’re not
take your smaller purse, your time is far from run
read the morning paper and see if you’ve won!
I’m shocked that Kazmar is 36 years old. He had a decent year in 2019 at Gwinnett and has been there since 2013. Wow, that’s a long time. In my opinion he’d probably hit slightly better than Adrianza or Heredia off the bench. It won’t happen, but it would sure be nice if he got a shot. His fielding seems to at least be passable.
I knew Kazmar was old but I didn’t think he was that old. Is he the oldest minor leaguer?
I always think of Lane Adams when we’re talking about old minor leaguers since he was ready to quit at 27 or 28, and then he got some cups of coffee the next couple years. But I’d say at 36, you’re starting to get a liiiiiittle old.
When are next cuts?
I remember when Mac joked that Damon Hollins was the mayor of Richmond. Sean Kazmar is the mayor of Gwinnett.
Adrianza is trying to hit his way onto the roster.
Thank goodness.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/maikel-franco-nearing-deal-with-orioles.html
Hey crew, we are getting close to regular games again. Who’s still in to recap?
I’m in.
@ 33,
I’ll take Monday, but at this point, I still haven’t resolved television viewing. I think VPN and MLB TV may be what I have to do.
Thus far, we have 4 recappers for the week and likely Alan for the weekends. That leaves only 1 spot. Who wants it? I’d rather it not be me as I’ll already be providing game threads that’ll likely have Minor League stuff in it.
He was only a young Met hoping for a job.
The count against him was 0 and 2.
See what happens then.
@36
Happy to be available on call usually to plug a gap.
We talked last season having someone to write a short intro about our new opponents at the start of each series. Home and away. Who’s hot, who’s not plus gossip. Profound or irreverent. Has to be good with numbers which rules me out. Volunteer, bet you enjoy it.
@30 So, embarrassing but still funny story about Mac calling Damon Hollins the mayor of Richmond. I was probably 14, 15 years old at the time when I read that on this here website. And I didn’t know he was kidding. So my 14 or 15 year old self is at some Richmond Braves/Jacksonville Suns game, and I was talking to somebody next to me, and I proceeded to mention that Damon Hollins was the mayor of Richmond. The person next to me went silent, probably thinking, “That doesn’t sound right,” but I was like 14 years old and they just let me run with it. It wasn’t my first, and I haven’t stopped speaking mistruths since.
#36
FWIW, I can do the occasional fill-in, if nec.
Tough to commit to anything permanent ATM, but I enjoy doing them when I can.
Jeez, we’re getting close…
I think the Peanut equivalent of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object is the fact that he can’t say a hitter on a hot streak is “silencing his critics” when that hitter is Ronald Acuna.
https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/ronald-acuna-jr-homers-in-second-straight-game
Braves have not let a pitcher hit in a live ST game yet. Also…important info below.
@42
I think I’d let Camargo go
Almonte.
The recappers are set!
Sunday- Rusty S
Monday- Cliff
Tuesday- Alex R
Wednesday- TFloyd
Thursday- Jonathan F.
Friday- Alan C
Saturday- Alan C
@43 I don’t know who we would replace him with on the bench.
If I wanted to infer what their plans for the bench were based on how they’re divvying out PAs, this is how that is happening:
Panda – 26 PAs
Camargo – 22 PAs
Phillip Ervin – 22 PAs
Jake Lamb – 21 PAs
Guillermo Heredia – 21 PAs
Abraham Almonte – 21 PAs
Ehire Adrianza – 20 PAs
Jason Kipnis – 18 PAs
Ryan Goins – 17 PAs
It would seem like they’re at least running Panda and Camargo out there to solidify the third base bench spot. Admittedly, though, I don’t really know what the heck they’re thinking. Middle infield is either solidified with Adrianza, who has been a complete walks machine as well, or they don’t seem to have a great plan. Overall, I trust AA with these things, but the bench just seems so weird with what seems to be a near complete turnover of the entire bench.
@45–thanks, Ryan. Strong lineup overall, although being sandwiched between two all stars like AAR and JonathanF, I feel like Dansby Swanson asked to hit in the 3 hole between Freeman and Ozuna. Am I providing protection for Alex, or perhaps setting the table for JonathanF?
Why isn’t Trey Harris getting any love this spring? He’s hit at every level and is having a great spring.
@47 – Murderer’s Row, but I’ve said too much.
Let the recaps begin.
Along with the recaps, Matt P and I will be providing MiLB updates twice weekly, as well as game threads. Going to be a fun 162!
We may not win a World Series, but this blog is at least the best in the league.
Tfloyd, I’ll be the Lloyd Waner to your Babe Dahlgren.
Alex, if you’re a Waner, you’re at least Big Poison
With that lineup, I probably need to hold out… Unfortunately, my agent sucks. I was going to be represented by Boras, but my finger slipped on the keyboard and I’m represented by Borat.
@54, thanks! I had missed that both Big and Little Poison were on that 1941 Braves team. On June 11 and June 12, Lloyd Waner hit second in front of Dahlgren batting third, but crucially, on May 25, Lloyd hit second, Paul hit third, and the Babe batted cleanup.
The correction is gratefully accepted!
In 2006 Chipper became only the 2nd player to record an extra base hit in 14 consecutive games after Big Poison in 1927.
I think our bench is the weakest link on the team. It is also the easiest to upgrade.
Just saw this headline in my email:
“In Braves’ No. 5 starter race, Kyle Wright and Touki Toussaint get mixed results”
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…
Or, as former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin once put it:
«Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда».
(That quote basically translates as, “We wanted things to be better, but it turned out the same as always.”)
Just a fun reminder: Trevor Bauer has to hit this year.
Headed to the game tonight! Pretty surreal considering how the last year has gone.
@59 – When we hopefully get our rotation fully healthy who will be our 5th starter? We will have:
1) Morton
2) Soroka
3) Fried
4) Anderson
5) Smyley
Due to health concerns I would leave it in that order and consider Smyley the 5th starter. If everyone’s healthy, that has the potential to be a really good rotation.
So, Camargo does look great. Much leaner. But he just kicked it at SS. Very sad.
I’m actually more concerned with his stick. Have you had a chance to see him at the plate? How’s his swing look?
New thread brought to you by JF.
https://bravesjournal.mystagingwebsite.com/2021/03/18/the-hall-of-name/