The Atlanta Braves - Hello darkness

Someone mentioned that if you are looking for something positive in regards to Strider, he is currently the only starter in baseball to have a 50% whiff rate on 2 different pitches.

So the makings are still there to be a TOR pitcher. He just has to dial in that command, which has been dog **** for about a month now. And that's not uncommon for pitchers the first year back after an arm injury. We should have just stuck him in the pen or just let him a pitcher that goes for 2 times through the order and that's it. The Rays took that approach with Drew Rasmussen last year, who had the same brace procedure in 2023. That path seems to have worked out well for them.
Didn’t he have a million vs the Rockies?? Or a few game stretch vs a few terrible teams?

For me yes the command stinks, but just look at the hitters, they don’t fear any pitch from him right now. Slider is a cement mixer and all the fastballs are belt high. Even at his best, he wasn’t spotting up, but beat them with velo and much sharper slider
 
Lopez is at $14M ($11M against the luxury tax) if they move him to the pen, which I don't think is impossible if Waldrep continues to shine.
 
Jimenez at $9M
Bummer at $9.5M (LOLOLOL)
Johnson has a $7M team option
Lee is arb-2 eligible
I think Kinley has a $5M team option with a $750K buyout
Yeah the pitching overhaul that it’s going to take is just not going to happen. Couple that with the major rotation worries and we won’t be very good next year either
 
Yeah the pitching overhaul that it’s going to take is just not going to happen. Couple that with the major rotation worries and we won’t be very good next year either

Pen could probably be fixed pretty easily. Johnson, Jimenez, Lee, Bummer isn't a bad support group. Just got to be smart and efficient (which AA isn't, so...) and can still be solid.

Starting rotation is in a weird spot: Sale/Strider/Schwellenbach guaranteed spots with Waldrep looming with a strong September. Holmes is opting to rehab. They got Lopez coming back. They need to add depth but could in theory not have a spot if Lopez comes back as a starter. That's why I was fine trading Sale for assets. But that would require some actual long-term thinking.
 
If you put Holmes and Lopez in the pen, and if they have no ill affects from this years injuries, then that would 2 huge boosts to the BP. Wentz also seems to be pitching his way into the 2026 pen. But you can't bank on all those things happening. We need bodies, and not Davis Daniel type of bodies.
 
Sale Schwellenbach Strider FA Waldrep/Wentz

Lopez, Holmes, Jiminez, Johnson, Lee, Bummer, Waldrep/Wentz

Pitching will be fine. Make 1/2 total impact signings in either group.

The real issues are shortstop, second base, and how you feel about profar, Harris and Riley.
 
Sale Schwellenbach Strider FA Waldrep/Wentz

Lopez, Holmes, Jiminez, Johnson, Lee, Bummer, Waldrep/Wentz

Pitching will be fine. Make 1/2 total impact signings in either group.

The real issues are shortstop, second base, and how you feel about profar, Harris and Riley.

You can't have 4 black holes in your lineup every day. It can't happen. They did for 3 months at LF, CF, 2B and SS. Profar and Harris seemed to fix two of those. Other than Bichette, there isn't going to be a good hitting SS on the market. Albies is most likely cooked. And if Riley/Olson are just good, not great, it's even more imperative to build a strong lineup 1-9.
 
Sale Schwellenbach Strider FA Waldrep/Wentz

Lopez, Holmes, Jiminez, Johnson, Lee, Bummer, Waldrep/Wentz

Pitching will be fine. Make 1/2 total impact signings in either group.

The real issues are shortstop, second base, and how you feel about profar, Harris and Riley.
Just depth issues, more of the same unfortunately. All jokes aside, I think Spencer will figure it out regardless of getting his top end back or not. They have to get a FA for insurance tho
 
I’m out on the 2 catcher thing, but could be convinced on Profar, the Mike changes, and Riley actually caring next year

They need Riley and Olson to be monsters, not good hitters. I don't like the Murphy/Baldwin DH/C thing, but AA won't admit he made a mistake about Murphy so that's just going to happen.
 
Anyone in here going to Atlanta? I'm considering the trip in a couple weeks.
Initially planned to but tickets didn't fall to a price point that brought us joy. Bet there will be cheap ones flying around somewhere though.

Little dude said he'd rather try to visit ole Neyland later in the year anyway.
 
Initially planned to but tickets didn't fall to a price point that brought us joy. Bet there will be cheap ones flying around somewhere though.

Little dude said he'd rather try to visit ole Neyland later in the year anyway.
I won't wind up at this one but beating Oklahoma again at night in Neyland in dark mode will be an awesome atmosphere.
I want to go to Neyland, but prices are stupid.
Arky and OU would be the 2 choices for me.
 
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