Braves 2018
- Thread starter trefeet
- Start date
Reminds me of when the Bravos had that 13=game winning streak to start the season. Chip Carey said after one of the wins, "Well, win, win, win, win, win. How boring."
Win with the C team against Nola, kind of impressed.
As of right now, we get LA. I don't mind having to play LA or Colorado. I really don't want St. Louis at this time.
If it's LA, I almost hope that they have home-field disadvantage. Both teams have played better on the road this season.
I would love to knock off LA and their ever expanding payroll. They're trying to become the Yankees of the National League.
Current odds to win the NL
Dodgers 2/1
Cubs 9/4
Braves 5/1
Brewers 7/1
Rockies 10/1
Cards 12/1
World Series odds
Red Sox 7/2
Astros 15/4
Dodgers 5/1
Indians 15/2
Cubs 8/1
Yankees 10/1
Braves 11/1
http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/
Dodgers 2/1
Cubs 9/4
Braves 5/1
Brewers 7/1
Rockies 10/1
Cards 12/1
World Series odds
Red Sox 7/2
Astros 15/4
Dodgers 5/1
Indians 15/2
Cubs 8/1
Yankees 10/1
Braves 11/1
http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/
I’m not sure that heals before the season is over unless we go deep.
The Phillies absolute collapse in September is shocking. They're about to get swept again.
I posted in this thread a few weeks ago that I was surprised that Philly had managed to stay in the race to that point because their team statistics ( namely a negative run differential) were not commensurate with their winning record at the time. It is therefore not shocking to me in the least that the Nats have surpassed them and look more every day that they'll finish 2nd in the NL East while the Phillies appear to be headed toward a sub-.500 finish.
But there's a difference between playing to your talent level and completing collapsing.
While I am also a bit surprised by the magnitude of Philly's recent ineptitude, breaks do seem to even out over time. Kind of like scUM's football team last year, you live by squeaked-out wins, and you eventually die by them as well.
Much like a NBA coach shortens his bench in the playoffs, I hope Snit does the same thing with his bullpen and Biddle and Brach don't see the field during the playoffs.
BULLPEN PICTURE
Jesse Biddle's postseason roster candidacy faded over the past couple of weeks and then was further weakened as he allowed a Jay Bruce single and walked Todd Frazier ahead of the homer Mesoraco hit off Brach in the seventh.
Biddle established himself as a reliable reliever most of the summer, but he has retired just one of the past five batters he has faced. He has allowed eight hits while issuing six unintentional walks over his past 6 1/3 innings.
Brach hasn't been much better, allowing 10 hits and issuing two walks over his past 7 1/3 innings.
The best bets to be in the Braves' bullpen during the NLDS are Arodys Vizcaino, Chad Sobotka, A.J. Minter, Jonny Venters, Sam Freeman and Shane Carle. The top candidates for what may be two more available spots are Brach, Toussaint and Max Fried, who might become a more intriguing candidate than Toussaint to be the long-relief option.
A lot more here. https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-teheran-solid-but-braves-lose-to-mets/c-296338366
Okay. Be truthful. How many of you thought the Braves would win 90 games this year?
What a wild almost end to the regular season! Cubs/Brewers and Rockies/Dodgers finished 162 tied. The Braves will get the winner of the NL West. Having that extra game will make them use up a starter in a game they didn't expect to play. The real benefit will be the NL Central winner. They will get the wildcard team who will have used two pitchers.
It's gameday. Need to take at least one in LA. Two would be awesome.
The roster for the NLDS doesn't include Swanson or Duvall? I'm not sure Duvall is a huge loss, but I'm shocked with no Swanson on the roster.
I did forget that Dansby is recovering and still may not be 100%. So, this might make sense for the NLDS. I do like the look of the bullpen better though.
I posted a tweet in the pinned playoff thread that listed the players left off the roster for the NLDS.
Dansby couldn't swing or field the other day. They want him rested and hopefully ready to go in case we get to the next round.
What a season! I think even the highest of expectations was finishing at .500. To win the division and then put up a fight against the mega-payroll that is the Dodgers is nothing to scoff at for this young club. Great season and such a bright future. Very interesting offseason coming up with some major payroll flexibility.
Braves could be active on trade market, may take cautious approach to free agency
Oct. 19: While the Braves may have at least $60 million to address their multiple needs, which include a catcher, a corner outfielder, bullpen depth and a frontline starter, they may take a cautious approach to the free-agent market to avoid deals that hinder them down the road.
"We're not going to just walk in the store and buy because we have money in our pockets," general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "If we don't find the right deal with something we like, there's still other opportunities to shop. There could be opportunities next season. If you start signing guys to big, long deals, if you feel good about the deal, you do it now. I wouldn't force a deal right now that would limit you in years from now."
Atlanta, though, could be active on the trade market, as the club has significant prospect depth from which to deal. Exploring a trade for Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto could be a top priority.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Braves should be completely ruled out as potential suitors for some of the top free agents on the market. While they are unlikely to make offers to Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, they could target left-hander Patrick Corbin, or potentially seek a reunion with closer Craig Kimbrel. Both hurlers would fill needs for the club.
Atlanta also hasn't ruled out re-signing right fielder Nick Markakis or catcher Kurt Suzuki, though they would prefer to add a surefire starting catcher so Tyler Flowers can move to a backup role.
"I don't think with our club, with what we have, that the value is going to be there in the free-agent market," Anthopoulos said. "It doesn't mean it won't. We'll certainly explore it. But if I could sit here in the middle of October, I'd say it's more likely we go the trade route. It's not ideal to give up young assets, but it's also not ideal to do a deal you don't believe in -- that may look good for a year or two, and then in years three, four and five, it does not." More >
Oct. 19: While the Braves may have at least $60 million to address their multiple needs, which include a catcher, a corner outfielder, bullpen depth and a frontline starter, they may take a cautious approach to the free-agent market to avoid deals that hinder them down the road.
"We're not going to just walk in the store and buy because we have money in our pockets," general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "If we don't find the right deal with something we like, there's still other opportunities to shop. There could be opportunities next season. If you start signing guys to big, long deals, if you feel good about the deal, you do it now. I wouldn't force a deal right now that would limit you in years from now."
Atlanta, though, could be active on the trade market, as the club has significant prospect depth from which to deal. Exploring a trade for Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto could be a top priority.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Braves should be completely ruled out as potential suitors for some of the top free agents on the market. While they are unlikely to make offers to Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, they could target left-hander Patrick Corbin, or potentially seek a reunion with closer Craig Kimbrel. Both hurlers would fill needs for the club.
Atlanta also hasn't ruled out re-signing right fielder Nick Markakis or catcher Kurt Suzuki, though they would prefer to add a surefire starting catcher so Tyler Flowers can move to a backup role.
"I don't think with our club, with what we have, that the value is going to be there in the free-agent market," Anthopoulos said. "It doesn't mean it won't. We'll certainly explore it. But if I could sit here in the middle of October, I'd say it's more likely we go the trade route. It's not ideal to give up young assets, but it's also not ideal to do a deal you don't believe in -- that may look good for a year or two, and then in years three, four and five, it does not." More >
Snitker is not among the finalists for manager of the year. I fully understand Craig Counsel but not Bob Melvin over Snit.
