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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,779 comments Add your comment
David O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
11:19 am
The Braves draft strategy has changed. It is not the same draft strategy that gave them Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Hanson(draft and follow), etc. and so forth. This is the cause for concern among Braves fans that actually follow the minor leagues, Rule IV draft, and International free agent market. — Efrim
Bottom line: Braves have more young talent in their organization now than they’ve had in many years, whether or not you like how much they’ve spent on international signees or how they’ve drafted in last few years. Recent position-player draft picks such as Pastornicky, Terdoslavich could be contributing and/or even starting at the big-league level soon, and Lipka also shows good potential and dynamic athleticism. He and Pastornicky have speed the Braves have lacked from draft picks for quite some time.
As for pitching, the Braves have more quality young pitching than any other organization in the majors.
Oh, and the Rule 5 draft is a joke, has been for years. So few players come out of it to have any impact with the picking team that the thing should be abolished or changed drastically. There’s a reason that growing numbers of team officials around baseball are halfway out of the hotel before the last Rule 5 pick is made. Fewer of them care than do outsider observers who for some reason continue to obsess over it.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:20 am
Draft strategy changes and should change year to year. Your not always going to have the same needs from one year to the next.
I disagree with this because I think you should take the best player available. Just because we have a ton of pitching doesn;’t mean that a RH pitcher should not be taken next year. This isn’t the NFL – and to be honest, it should be best player available there too.
RC
January 20th, 2012
11:20 am
Draft strategy changes and should change year to year. Your not always going to have the same needs from one year to the next.
I will jump in and disagree with this statement. Unlike the NFL or NBA where players contribute right away, the time it takes for a player to reach the majors in MLB means that by the time they get there what once was a “need” may no longer be. Getting the best player available should always be the strategy….it’s simply a matter of how you evaluate “best”.
Caveat: I guess the strategy could differ slightly if a system had no pitching prospects, or not hitting prospects. But on a position by position “need” basis, it’s simply a bad idea.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:20 am
Keith Law as an example? What is the common quote attributed o Law here on the blog? “KLaw – Braves suck”.
RC
January 20th, 2012
11:21 am
Recent position-player draft picks such as Pastornicky, Terdoslavich and Lipka could be contributing and/or even starting at the big-league level soon.
Pastornicky not a Braves draft pick. Acquired via the Yunel to Tornoto trade.
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
11:23 am
Shaun – “especially for a team with the resouces of the Nationals” BINGO, WE HAVE A WINNER.
It boils down to limited resouces, and how you choose to spend them. The Braves do not have unlimited resouces…and must prioritize. For example, would you prefer that the payroll was $75M so we could spend the extra on drafting high upside potential, and pay big signing bonuses? Efrim, are you listening?
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
11:24 am
Lew, I don’t know many “draftniks” who criticize the Braves. They do mention that they have rather boring drafts and that they don’t get a lot of high up-side talent because of their unwillingness to go over slot. But I think most people in the know, that I’ve heard talk about the Braves’ drafts, also realize that they’ve done very well in the draft.
ncscoots
January 20th, 2012
11:24 am
Really odd time for some hear to be criticizing the Braves’ drafts, when they’ve actually built their minor league system to point where it’s widely regarded as one of the best five in baseball, and among the top three according to some who rate such things.
The criticism comes from the perception that the policy of the Braves’ draft is now risk-aversion, rather than risk-taking. It remains to be seen if the last couple of drafts were only influenced by circumstances into taking high-floor draftees, or if the org intends to continue to do such as a matter of course. The new CBA ramifications also muddy the waters.
The fear among those of us who voice this criticism is that the org willl no longer have as high a probability of producing above-average, let alone elite, ML players from the farm, should this high-floor philosophy hold. I think that’s a legit concern, given the last couple of drafts..
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 20th, 2012
11:25 am
Oh, and the Rule 5 draft is a joke, has been for years. So few players come out of it, it should be abolished or changed drastically.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
With the exception of Dan Uggla, Shane Victorino, Josh Hamilton, Johan Santana and Scott Podsednik. So yea, the rule 5 draft is few and far between but every once in a while somebody strikes gold.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:25 am
Oh, and the Rule 5 draft is a joke, has been for years. So few players come out of it, it should be abolished or changed drastically.
Rule IV(4) draft. That is the name for the amateur draft. Rule V draft is a joke, you are correct, but I never mentioned it.
Recent position-player draft picks such as Pastornicky, Terdoslavich and Lipka could be contributing and/or even starting at the big-league level soon.
Pastornicky was picked up in a trade and I think it’s best to wait on both of those players given the question marks surrounding them after their seasons. I know you’re a big Terdoslavich fan, and the Braves peopel you spoke too might have been too, but pretty much every other analyst or scout I’ve read has more questions about him than Braves people do. When so many others have questions, I tend to doubt the evaluations Braves people may have on him, sorry.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:27 am
RC – You’re right about Pastornicky – but then again, he’s also a case in point that the draft is not the only way to get those prospects into the system.
The end (putting a competitive team on the field at the MLB level) can be acheieved through varied means and focusing on one method doesn’t come close to showing the strength of the sytem. Like I said about unwrapping felines…….
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
11:27 am
DOB, I pretty much agree with your 11:19 comment. But in fairness, Efrim wrote “Rule IV,” and did not mention the Rule 5 draft.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:28 am
Shaun – Maybe so, but I’m talking to Efrim, who does criticize them consistently.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:28 am
Keith Law as an example? What is the common quote attributed o Law here on the blog? “KLaw – Braves suck”.
That;s a joke, Lew. Perhaps an inside joke, however the tone that was used whenever the joke was made should of gotten you to realize that it was in fact a joke. He knows his sh!t, does Keith Law. I can search for some Jim Callis quotes on the Braves 2011 draft if you want – Senior Editor of Baseball America.
DAP
January 20th, 2012
11:31 am
efrim “Another serious question…what percentage of HS “can’t miss” prospects taken in the first round actually live up to the hype, or even make the ML as a regular player?”
This is NOT a reason to stay away from high school players or piutchers in a draft. That’s a terrible way of looking at it
you didnt really answer the question…what percentage? i think its a good question and does matter.
i would say, maybe sometimes you should take chances, and sometimes you shouldnt. it shold depend on your team’s situation, $$$ available, risk/reward, ect.
RC
January 20th, 2012
11:31 am
RC – You’re right about Pastornicky – but then again, he’s also a case in point that the draft is not the only way to get those prospects into the system.
Good point about there being other ways to get talent into your system, however, you have to give talent to get talent. In the draft you only have to give millions and millions of dollars.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:31 am
One question first though: Were Teheran and Delgado drafted, or were they international free agents? I thought they were signed as international free agents, which would remove them entirely from a discussion on draft strategy.
International free agents. But no one here cares about that. “Bottom line” is that the Brave have talent now, so it doesn’t matter how they draft, I mean, these prospects and young players we have will make sure we have sustained success for the remainder of time….
RC
January 20th, 2012
11:32 am
My (smile) didn’t make it on the end of that last post.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:33 am
Efrim – Yeah, I know it’s a joke. Couldn’t resist the temptation to point it out, though.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:35 am
you didnt really answer the question…what percentage? i think its a good question and does matter.
I have no idea. Why are you challenging me on that? You go look it up. College players are usually finished products, yet they have no leverage so they are more signable where high school players can go to college if they don’t get there $ value. High school players can also come up through your system and be developed the way you want whereas it’s not as easy with College guys, I guess.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:36 am
International Free Agents – Yet Another way to get talent into the sytem without drafting them.
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
11:36 am
Opinions are like as….err…noses….Everyone has one, whether it’s Keith Law, Efrim, Lew, raleighbravefan, DOB, or anyone else. So and so “knows his sh!t” is an opinion. Just saying…
DAP
January 20th, 2012
11:37 am
RC I thought they were signed as international free agents, which would remove them entirely from a discussion on draft strategy.
i wouldnt look at it this way. its all part same thing, just like rule 5 and waiver claims, ect. they are trying to get s a system in place to feed the MLB roster. maybe the strategy is go go high up side on the international front, and high floor domestically, where players cost more? and again, this can change any minute.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:38 am
Yeah, I know it’s a joke. Couldn’t resist the temptation to point it out, though.
But it just looks like you don’t know what the joke was about. Most of us know Keith Law is pretty smart and gets the draft/baseball overall. He is opinionated and doesn’t have a bias towards any team – which is pretty much where the Keith Law hates the Braves stuff came from. But go ahead, keep thinking you made a smart comment.
ncscoots
January 20th, 2012
11:38 am
what percentage of HS “can’t miss” prospects taken in the first round actually live up to the hype, or even make the ML as a regular player?”
A higher percentage than fourth-rounders.
And a higher percentage than all draftees as a group.
Because the point is to give yourself the best opportunity to make a draft choice count, since the vast majority of those choices will indeed be wasted. You can almost think of it like this: selecting a high-floor kid early in the draft is like bunting a guy over in the first. Taking a high-ceiling kid early is like going for the big inning in the first. Neither approach, or both, may lead to a score, but the second approach will most surely win you more games overall.
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
11:38 am
DAP @11:31 – Pretty much my point…and he DIDN’T answer the question.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 20th, 2012
11:38 am
Yep, college pitchers are more of a finished product. They are also easier to sign. My guess is that the risk is of a college pitcher going bust is minimized when compared to high school hurlers.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:39 am
Efrim – Now you’re grasping at straws.
flange1
January 20th, 2012
11:40 am
Efrim,
I agree with you about the past couple of drafts being different from past drafts. And I agree that I am not thrilled with the new philosophy.
But isn’t all of this going to change with the new drafting rules from the new CBA?
I think we have to see how the 2012 draft goes and THEN get upset with the Braves.
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
11:41 am
For example, would you prefer that the payroll was $75M so we could spend the extra on drafting high upside potential, and pay big signing bonuses?
raleighbravefan, I actually do think it’s often better to spend in the draft than to spend on players in the free agent market. And teams that don’t spend in either market are often the teams that are going to languish in mediocrity.
But the Braves haven’t had to opportunity to draft very high in quite a while, so they haven’t even had the opportunity to draft players nearly as talented as the players the Nationals have drafted. You never know what they would do if they had the opportunity to draft Harper and Strasburg. Maybe they do go well over slot for those players, if they had the chance to pick them.
Basically, teams often get players on the cheap in the draft, even if they do what is seen as overspending. Sure, there are going to be some misses but, if a team drafts the right players, what they spend in total, on the hits and misses, is going to return more for the dollar than what they would spend on players in the free agent market.
It’s the simple fact that a drafted player remains relatively cheap for years and they give a team roster flexibility for a while because they have options. When you sign a free agent, you are usually signing a player past his prime and you have little-to-know flexibility if that player is unproductive, you can’t send him down and there is no room for growth and he’s not young enough to convince another team to take a chance in a trade. Now this is not a strict rule. Obviously there are free agents that are good risks and good investments. But overall, I’d rather see a team allocate its resources towards and build its core in the draft and international markets, while using the free agent market to fill holes.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:43 am
Pretty much my point…and he DIDN’T answer the question.
You were asking me for the exact percentage of what high school players pan out and make the majors. I do not know the exact answer.
Bigwheel
January 20th, 2012
11:44 am
I wish we would have signed Ryan Spilborghs to a minor league deal. Seemed like it would have been a buy low spot, possiby compete with conzstanza for the last spot on the roster.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:44 am
Re-posting my 11:17
I have said that there may be only one, or two other teams that have more talent than the Braves 25 and under – Jason Heyward, Tommy Hanson, Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran, Brandon Beachy, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Minor, Randall Delgado, Tyler Pastornicky – however my point is that their strategy has changed in the draft and that’s concerning. Could be that they wanted to fill the mid levels of the system with some high floor players. I might buy that and we’ll see in June if this is the case. However if they continue to draft college players with limited ceiling, then I will continue to be concerned. That’s all.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:45 am
Now how is that not a legitimate concern?
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
11:46 am
scoots @11:38 – No argument from me with everything you said…and it’s a BIG “DUH” that first rounders are more likely to be successful than fourth rounders…but this ignores the cost…affordability if you will. Even Efrim @11:35 admits that college players have less leverage…that, to me, means more affordability. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have less upside…remember Bob Horner, for example?
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:47 am
It’s a lot less of a legitimate concern when there are other ways of acquiring talent – which the Braves take advantage of.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:49 am
But isn’t all of this going to change with the new drafting rules from the new CBA?
I think we have to see how the 2012 draft goes and THEN get upset with the Braves.
Please see my 11:44. Here’s the thing. When I post ONE thing that questions the Braves draft and Lew goes off talking about waiver wire pickups and how much talent we currently have, it really screws my original point up: The Braves draft strategy the last three years has changed, and that’s alarming for any organization. We will see in 2012 where the CBA has changed some rules, and perhaps the Braves feel they have filled the mid-levels with depth(which I still disagree with). Hopefully they will stock the lower levels.
DAP
January 20th, 2012
11:50 am
efrim I have no idea. Why are you challenging me on that?
not challenging you, i just think its a good question, and you didnt even address it. all you are saying is
“its a bad idea, terrible way to look at it!”
well, the person didnt make a claim, they asked a question. a good question, actually. its almost like you just think we should agree with you because you say so. someone asks you a question about the draft, your area of expertise, and you just say they are looking at things the wrong way. its just a question.
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
11:50 am
what percentage of HS “can’t miss” prospects taken in the first round actually live up to the hype, or even make the ML as a regular player?”
High school, “can’t miss” hitters taken very high, like first few picks, succeed quite often.
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
11:51 am
Shaun @11:41 – All valid points (amaizingly) …However, I never advocated overpaying for free agents.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:52 am
When you post ONE thing about the Draft? Dude, you consistently lead ther blog in posts and a large percentage of them deal with the draft. How many top ten lists have you posted on this bog alone?
Dude, you are obsessed with the draft.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:53 am
It’s a lot less of a legitimate concern when there are other ways of acquiring talent – which the Braves take advantage of.
This is why a page has been taken up. This exact comment which is laughable. Waiver wire pickups, and trades when the team rarely, if ever, trades players for prospects. Lew’s belief that the Braves draft has less meaning because they can stock the farm or major league roster with players from waiver wire pickups……seriously.
I am done for now after this one. Good day to you all. Panera is calling me.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:54 am
its just a question.
11:43am
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
11:56 am
Shaun – I find “quite often” to be a relative term.
Efrim – I consider the term “alarming” when considering our draft during the past 3 years, to be, at least, an overstatement.
Shaun – I don’t want to be near this blog if the Braves actually DO lower their payroll to $75M, for ANY reason.
DAP
January 20th, 2012
11:56 am
ok, efrim, im looking through top 10 picks over the last 20 years or some and im noticing ALOT of college pitchers. id say 80% of the pitchers drafted are college guys.
alot of no namers in the top 10 picks, too.
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
11:56 am
Efrim, I don’t disagree that the Braves should have been more aggressive in the draft (under the old system where teams were allowed to spend what they wanted in the draft without repercussions). But I also think it’s hard to draft huge-ceiling talent when you don’t draft all that high. When you draft lower, it probably is better to go for the lower-risk guys, in many cases.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:56 am
Efrim – My post about waiver wirte claims was at 9:10 this morning and never referenced anything you had said prior to it. Had nothing whatsoever to do with anything you posted. Go back and look it up again.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
11:57 am
Dude, you are obsessed with the draft.
Honestly, this is lame. Why is my heavy interest in the draft and prospects a bad thing? Why do you feel that’s bad, Lew? Because you think waiver wire pickups are just as good away to input talent into the major and minor league rosters? Sorry, I disagree with that opinion and is why a page was taken up. You believe there is nothing to be concerned about, and I do.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:58 am
Efrim does not do well when anyone disagrees with his resident obsession.
Murph
January 20th, 2012
11:59 am
Is there a percentage on the number of players drafted in the first round who go on to above-average MLB careers?
Seems to me that taking a multi-million dollar gamble on a high school kid is a big risk, especially given the Braves’ economics over the last few years.
Sure, I’d love for them to get the big names and make a splash, but I don’t think that a majority of those big names go on to MLB stardom. For every one 1st rounder, big name, can’t miss guy taken there’s a few late round or undrafted gems that somehow end up being the cornerstones of winning teams.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
11:59 am
I don’t think it’s bad. think you take it to extremes and reallyu don’t like anyone qwuestioning your deeply held beliefs and you steadfastly refuse to see any other way of doing things other than your own
David O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
11:59 am
The great Etta James is dead. Rest in peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YApNirMC9gM
Blind Squirrel ( AKA CB)
January 20th, 2012
12:01 pm
I love this place. No grays, only black or white.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:02 pm
Efrim does not do well when anyone disagrees with his resident obsession.
Again, re-posting my 11:17:
I have said that there may be only one, or two other teams that have more talent than the Braves 25 and under – Jason Heyward, Tommy Hanson, Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran, Brandon Beachy, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Minor, Randall Delgado, Tyler Pastornicky – however my point is that their strategy has changed in the draft and that’s concerning. Could be that they wanted to fill the mid levels of the system with some high floor players. I might buy that and we’ll see in June if this is the case. However if they continue to draft college players with limited ceiling, then I will continue to be concerned. That’s all.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:03 pm
What? No gray? Thought we had lots of LOF’s here with plenty of gray.
DAP
January 20th, 2012
12:04 pm
efrim Now how is that not a legitimate concern?
i think its toally fine for you to be concerned. honestly i do.
but im not. and thats ok too.
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
12:04 pm
Murph, well, you look at guys like A-Rod, Griffey, Justin Upton, Chipper…it’s probably worth taking a risk on extreme can’t-miss types. And it’s probably wise to take risks on a few in the lower picks of the first round or in later rounds, depending on the player. But I suspect that if a team doesn’t have a really high pick, it’s probably not worth going crazy on the high up-side high school guys that are not quite in the elite class of high school talent.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:04 pm
Efrim – Yep, I would imagine that anyone here this morning with more than a first grade reading comprehensionlevel realizes you have concerns.
flange1
January 20th, 2012
12:04 pm
RIP The great Ms Etta James.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:05 pm
I don’t think it’s bad. think you take it to extremes and reallyu don’t like anyone qwuestioning your deeply held beliefs and you steadfastly refuse to see any other way of doing things other than your own
When your position is that there are other ways to fill talent into the major league roster such as trades, waiver wire claims, etc., I laugh to myself because you actually believe that the draft isn’t the single best way to flow talent into your organization. My point is that the Braves draft strategy is concerning to me, and because the draft is the best way to get talent into your system and I’m a Braves fan, then why is that so hard for you to understand my opinion?
David O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
12:08 pm
I love this place. No grays, only black or white. — Blind Squirrel
Absolutely. I’ve said that before. In a world of mostly grays, conversations here are all or nothing, black or white, good or horrible with nothing in-between (where most matters actually reside).
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:09 pm
Yep, I would imagine that anyone here this morning with more than a first grade reading comprehensionlevel realizes you have concerns.
Yeah, I mean I’m passionate about the Braves, so in turn it concerns me. I’m on this blog and I care about my favorite team – so I’d assume that means I care. But you can go the route you are, I guess.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 20th, 2012
12:09 pm
Bigwheel
January 20th, 2012
11:44 am
I wish we would have signed Ryan Spilborghs to a minor league deal. Seemed like it would have been a buy low spot, possiby compete with conzstanza for the last spot on the roster.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
For that matter, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Keppinger. Wilson Betemit, Edgar Renteria and Juan Pierre are still flapping in the win. While we have the likes of Matt Diaz, Jose Constanza, Jack Wilson, Drew Sutton and Jordan Parraz competing for bench spots this year.
I can’t tell ya’ll how excited I am over our deep “Veteran” bench
Murph
January 20th, 2012
12:10 pm
RIP Etta James… At Last was the song Mrs Murph and I had our 1st dance to.
I bet she makes me watch our wedding video tonight. She’ll get teary and end up blowing snot bubbles all over the couch, I’ll have to sit there and act sympathetic for 20 minutes or so, all the while I’ll be thinking about the stupid mall level in Modern Warfare 3 and how I can keep from having my butt handed to me when I manage to sneak away and get a game in.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:11 pm
Dude – You do realize that the Braves DO draft players? You just aren’t in agreement with who they draft. They don’t want (or have the money) to spend as much as some feel they should – BUT, my pointy is that they augment their draft in other ways.
Despite your deeply held belief that the draft is all, there ARE other ways to compile your talent pool and the Braves do so.
Venice Jim
January 20th, 2012
12:12 pm
Does anyone remember what Efrim said at 11:17? I can’t find it anywhere…
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:12 pm
A disagreement is now wrong here. This is hilarious.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
January 20th, 2012
12:12 pm
Speaking of laughable, the idea that the NFL should change its draft strategy to “best player available” is a real knee-slapper.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:13 pm
And what route might that be, Oh High and Mighty? That I feel the Braves manage to get the talent in the sytem even though you aren’t happy with their draft strategy?
MFin04
January 20th, 2012
12:14 pm
“I love this place. No grays, only black or white.”
So we can discuss Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward, but Martin Prado is off limits. Got it!
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:14 pm
I can’t find it anywhere…
One sec, VJ, let me post again……
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:15 pm
“A disagreement is wrong here”? You mean how you continually hammer me about my optimism and that I don’t feel that the last several drafts have been as devastating as you do?
Hillbilly
January 20th, 2012
12:18 pm
I’ve got a lemonade stand (International signings), a car wash (trades) and an oil well (Draft).
Right now I’m making a killing off lemonade and clean cars. Doesn’t mean I should let the maintenance of my oil well get sh***y.
I think this is all Efrim is trying to say.
Tomas
January 20th, 2012
12:19 pm
Regarding the Braves drafting philosophy, don’t worry about, with the new cba agreement teams have to spend slot money meaning everybody will be on equal circumstances.
That draft BS comes from baseball america, Braves signed Sean Gilmartin in the first round last year, everybody has criticized it, turns out he is a decent prospect on the fast track to mlb. Same goes for Mike Minor.
BA scouts are baffled by Braves scouts. Relax people, believe what you see not what some in the media report.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:21 pm
Hillbilly – Yep, two pages of comments boiled down to one line. Love the brevity.
However, just because you don’t let your oil well dry up, doesn’t mean you can’t make money off the other corporate divisions.while production of the oil is so expensive
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:23 pm
You mean how you continually hammer me about my optimism and that I don’t feel that the last several drafts have been as devastating as you do?
Oh, give me a break. You just “hammered” TenneseePaul yesterday for being a so called pessimist. I don’t disagree with your sentiment that the Braves are going to be damn good this year. I just disagree with your feeling that the Braves will just continue to produce stars because they have before. That’s not a great way of looking at it, and we shouldn’t just stop drafting good players because we already have them. Your argument had that sort of tone and I disagree with it.
Hillbilly
January 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
True Lew, but I loooooove money. And if the opportunity is there to stockpile more, I’m going to squeeze out every penny. Maybe next year we have a crappy lemon crop. I want good quality oil in my storage tanks just in case.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
BA scouts are baffled by Braves scouts. Relax people, believe what you see not what some in the media report.
Gone Viral? Is that you? Hah!
Shaun
January 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
I love this place. No grays, only black or white. — Bling Squirrel
Absolutely. I’ve said that before. In a world of mostly grays, conversations here are all or nothing, black or white, good or horrible with nothing in-between (where most matters actually reside). –DOB
Well, part of it I think a big part of that is the limitation of language and comments. Words usually mean something at least somewhat specific so it’s hard to get a nuanced position across with words on a screen, especially, because you can’t just write a 20-page research paper or have a certain tone come across very well.
Take, for instance, a discussion on here about whether a player is a Hall of Famer. Sure, you can say yes or no and make a case. But you can’t really do an extremely in-depth research paper or article making a case and a discovery whether a player is or isn’t a Hall of Famer in the comments section of a blog.
And when you do write long posts and bring up all the nuances of a position, you often get criticized or get viewed as a geek. Comments sections are limited in making nuanced arguments and discoveries, and are often places where the segment of anti-intellectualism is often the most vocal.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
Hillbilly…………………git’er done! O’yea, ya got any possum for sale?
Hillbilly
January 20th, 2012
12:31 pm
git’er done! O’yea, ya got any possum for sale?
…’The **** are you talking about? Go on….
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:33 pm
No, you totally m,isunderstand, but you are pretty well a brick wall when it comes to your beliefs.
What I DID say is that the system will naturally be lesser when you bring up as many front line prospects inas short a time as the Braves have.
Lets take Hillbilly’s oil comparison a step further. You have a huge order for your oil and you just filled it. It will take a while to fill the next order. Unless you have the money to increase production and have the next order waiting on the heels of the one you filled, you will take time to get your inventory refilled.
And what you seem to refuse to acknowledge is that with the Braves, they have a MLB roster to fill and not much money to fill it. They developed all that talent and called it up. Next year will see the savings that the development produced. They will noit NEED that level of production from the farm system for a few more years – plenty of time to develop the next group.
It just is not necessary to have all the players ready at AA or AAA right now. And there’s a god chance that the level of talent is not as bad as you believe it to be.
Murph
January 20th, 2012
12:33 pm
And when you do write long posts and bring up all the nuances of a position, you often get criticized or get viewed as a geek.
Problem is that nobody reads an overly long post, making the problem even worse.
I recommend writing long posts into a Word doc, then just copy/pasting paragraphs at a time as you see fit. Beats having to read someone’s 2000 word explanation on why players out of the DR are superior to players out of Haiti.
Blind Squirrel ( AKA CB)
January 20th, 2012
12:34 pm
I actually have no Bling, barely can put groceries on the table.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:34 pm
If everything is gray, then I really need to stop being the #1 poster here. I mean, I just need to read more, or run more, or do something. I can’t feel gray all the time….that’s just depressing…..
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 20th, 2012
12:34 pm
Possum…….dead road kill
Murph
January 20th, 2012
12:35 pm
Wait, are we talking oil out of the ground, heating oil, cooking oil, or what?
Because I see your points if they are about cooking oil, but c’mon, have you ever been to a Jiffy Lube?
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 20th, 2012
12:37 pm
What’s the best organization in the game the previous four seasons?
The answer should be easy as they play in the toughest division in baseball.
Murph
January 20th, 2012
12:37 pm
Do you guys prefer olive oil or canola oil? My wife is Italian and uses a lot of olive oil… I find that too much olive oil can give me the diddles.
It’s an issue I deal with on a daily basis. Do I tell Mrs Murph to back off the olive oil as it’s giving me the diddles or do I just accept the diddles in order to keep the peace?
Hillbilly
January 20th, 2012
12:37 pm
OK who spiked Coach’s Yoohoo?
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:37 pm
Hey – a bit of optimism takes ta lot of the gray out of the picture. You should try it sometime.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:38 pm
but you are pretty well a brick wall when it comes to your beliefs.
As are you.
And there’s a good chance that the level of talent is not as bad as you believe it to be.
Why?
Blind Squirrel ( AKA CB)
January 20th, 2012
12:38 pm
Nobody should have to deal with the diddles. Grow some.
Efrim
January 20th, 2012
12:39 pm
a bit of optimism takes ta lot of the gray out of the picture. You should try it sometime.
I do, just not about the draft. Clearly you never read my posts then.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:39 pm
Murph – They say that safflower oil is good for weight maintainance too. Stay away from Flaxseed oil, too – bad for the prostate.
Lew
January 20th, 2012
12:40 pm
Efrim – I’m not sure YOU read your posts.
Hillbilly
January 20th, 2012
12:40 pm
Keeping the peace is very important, Murph. It’s the On-Base Percentage of home life.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
January 20th, 2012
12:40 pm
The “diddles”? Is that the urge to have more sex?
raleighbravefan
January 20th, 2012
12:41 pm
I think the “rub” here is that many (you know who you are” wish to argue the ideal, or at least, the desirable, without reguard to economic reality…but economic reality is an integral factor in every decision made by the Braves FO, and MUST BE.
Hillbilly
January 20th, 2012
12:43 pm
The “diddles”? Is that the urge to have more sex?
I started to ask, but I just assumed it was something akin to the green-apple quick-steps.