Speed Kills. But in baseball, it REALLY kills. Defensively and offensively. Disrupts opposing pitchers and bails out your own picture. But we can't get these type players cuz they're too expensive, right?
Eli White, 2026: .246, 6 hr's $900,000in limited playing time because Walt wouldn't play him. Instead, Yaz: slower than a catcher, no arm but he got the job: .224, 12 hr's & $11.5MM/year. Therefore, I do not trust current staff to know ANYTHING about business OR baseball.
Now consider Mateo. Speed plus. For the Braves he had 129 ABs and hit .240. $1,000,000/year. Kim also had 129 AB's, .116, $20,000,000/year. But who is gone? Mateo. When a player who performs does not get the respect from management, they tend to digress. But, given confidence and backing, they tend to excel. The Braves arent winning at business or baseball. Injured to Death Strider, Murphy, Acuna and maybe Riley (50/50). Direction: They need a business plan that matches their baseball plan. And, frankly, the business plan is to hit HR's right now which doesn't match your hitting coach. Suggestion: get players that fit the hitting coach's style (speed, bunt for hits on the shift, etc.) and rid yourself of those who don't. Or, change coaches. They cannot coach ABS Acuna so maybe just don't have coaches!
Haha! You’ve obviously MEVER been on a public company BoD! They don’t give a rat’s rump concerning my opinion or yours. If someone has “rookie” ears on a BoD, he will learn fast to get over it! My opinion stays my opinion.
1. All things considered, 2026 was a fun season, many exciting games, winning a division title, stomping the Phillies in a post season series. But after that it was agonizing frustration - very much predicted by AA himself at the trade deadline with an unspoken message of, "We are a mid market franchise, we can't compete with the Dodgers or Yankees for Free Agents. Our only hope is to be good enough to make the post season and just HOPE, somehow, we get hot (like we did in 2021)".
2. Watching the Braves limp through the Dodger series and watching the Brewers on going exciting play, I would hope AA is losing some sleep over gifting Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers and Wil Contreras to the Brewers. AA should get a case of quality wine each year from the GMs of those organizations.
3. I have always liked Austin Riley, but I'm seriously questioning his intelligence. Chipper has worked with him over several seasons trying to get him to consistently try to hit the ball to RCF and not try to pull everything but he can't seem to understand that. John Smoltz repeated the same incites on TV this past week, repeatedly pointing out how Riley's left shoulder flies open, the bat dips below the ball, and we see another popup or strikeout. His ONE significant hit in the playoffs was the HR to RCF agains the Phils. When does it sink in to his thick head?
4. I would not be disappointed if attempts were made to trade Acuna - as long, of course, as the return brought some legit quality. Clearly he is a gifted talent but has the maturity of a seven year old. His becoming injury prone is not his fault, I guess, but watching him haltingly chase down fly balls is painful and he clearly has shown that he has become a .240 hitter with a few HR's. Weiss was glad to have him back in the lineup after his hamstring injury "because he makes everyone else better". But he didn't, really, and to have him always batting at the top of the order and consistently failing to deliver with RISP can't be tolerated forever.
Another phenomenal piece. Some early thoughts. You need to figure out LF, SS and DH offensively. Somewhere in that mix should be a table setter and a RH bat to "protect" the LH hitters.
Resign Mahle and Dubon. Quick. Iggy back on one year. Keep Suter.
Profar, Kim. Smith, Tellez are roster cloggers. Cut loose
Ozzie is still a bargain and you probably cant replace him right now externally anyway.
2027 is a prove it year for Riley and Acuna. The former would be difficult to trade and the latter I would listen to offers carefully, but I don't see it
Murphy probably has some value. Sign a vet catcher who can handle 60-65 games.
Have a plan to give Olson some innings off.
Give Fuentes a shot at the starting rotation in the spring
If you resign Mahle add another starter. You might want to add a lefty. If Sale goes down in 2027
you will have an unbalanced staff.
Kick the tires on Zach Neto. Power/speed combo and plays SS.
While talking to the Angels ask about Detmers
Randy Arozarena? Solves the LF and right handed bat issue. Maybe Lawrence Butler.
As he has an option left, I tried to stick with the initial five-man rotation without him (or Ritchie). Obviously, they're options and we'll do a piece where we break down all of the guys and what they need to work on over the winter
I think the Braves need to move on from Ozzie Albies and use the money to sign Luis Arreaz. I think they need to move on from Lopez and sign Mahle. I’m afraid that Schwellenbach’s career is effectively over and he won’t be back. I hope I’m wrong. I also don’t count on Strider having any meaningful contribution next year as well.
I’m a Riley guy, and it pains me to say this. The Braves are stuck between a rock and a hard place with him. He’s not tradeable for anything other than another bad contract. This is a situation where you just have to hope that he returns to form two seasons after a core muscle injury.
Lindsey is 100% correct. They have to add TWO SPs in free agency or trade. I would add that these need to be outside additions, and they also need to resign Mahle. Ideal would be to sign Sonny Gray, trade for Jacob DeGrom, and resign Tyler Mahle.
The best move at SS is probably Peña from Houston.
I’m on the trade for Lawrence Butler train to fix the OF.
Any ideas on who’s a good comp for Mahle? Giolito last season? Probably more concerns about Giolito’s arm health, but his 2025 season was similar overall to Mahle’s 2026. I have to believe Mahle would get a better contract than Giolito??
Disappointed we’re discussing 2027 alreaady, but I rate the 2026 season a success. As Braves fans we’re so accustomed to winning division titles, we probably don’t appreciate them as much as we should. And as baseball fans, we just have to accept it’s a sport with an incredible amount of random events and the results over 3, 5 or 7 game series are subject to randomness.
Agree with your top issues and looking forward to reading and hearing more details. Would like your thoughts on what internal options the Braves should rely upon for the pitching staff. Can Braves convert Fuentes to start games? Can AJSS step into a starting role? I’m a “Yes” on both questions. Can Ritchie or Murphy make it to the rotation? Will Cameniti be ready sometime during 2027? Can other minor leaguers make the jump? Lots of questions for the off-season.
Oh yeah, we're definitely going to do a deep dive on some of the most likely contributors to supplement the rotation and what they need to do to get there
Speed Kills. But in baseball, it REALLY kills. Defensively and offensively. Disrupts opposing pitchers and bails out your own picture. But we can't get these type players cuz they're too expensive, right?
Eli White, 2026: .246, 6 hr's $900,000in limited playing time because Walt wouldn't play him. Instead, Yaz: slower than a catcher, no arm but he got the job: .224, 12 hr's & $11.5MM/year. Therefore, I do not trust current staff to know ANYTHING about business OR baseball.
Now consider Mateo. Speed plus. For the Braves he had 129 ABs and hit .240. $1,000,000/year. Kim also had 129 AB's, .116, $20,000,000/year. But who is gone? Mateo. When a player who performs does not get the respect from management, they tend to digress. But, given confidence and backing, they tend to excel. The Braves arent winning at business or baseball. Injured to Death Strider, Murphy, Acuna and maybe Riley (50/50). Direction: They need a business plan that matches their baseball plan. And, frankly, the business plan is to hit HR's right now which doesn't match your hitting coach. Suggestion: get players that fit the hitting coach's style (speed, bunt for hits on the shift, etc.) and rid yourself of those who don't. Or, change coaches. They cannot coach ABS Acuna so maybe just don't have coaches!
This Board doesn't like you to criticize AA or Management.
Haha! You’ve obviously MEVER been on a public company BoD! They don’t give a rat’s rump concerning my opinion or yours. If someone has “rookie” ears on a BoD, he will learn fast to get over it! My opinion stays my opinion.
Inciteful article, Lindsay.
1. All things considered, 2026 was a fun season, many exciting games, winning a division title, stomping the Phillies in a post season series. But after that it was agonizing frustration - very much predicted by AA himself at the trade deadline with an unspoken message of, "We are a mid market franchise, we can't compete with the Dodgers or Yankees for Free Agents. Our only hope is to be good enough to make the post season and just HOPE, somehow, we get hot (like we did in 2021)".
2. Watching the Braves limp through the Dodger series and watching the Brewers on going exciting play, I would hope AA is losing some sleep over gifting Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers and Wil Contreras to the Brewers. AA should get a case of quality wine each year from the GMs of those organizations.
3. I have always liked Austin Riley, but I'm seriously questioning his intelligence. Chipper has worked with him over several seasons trying to get him to consistently try to hit the ball to RCF and not try to pull everything but he can't seem to understand that. John Smoltz repeated the same incites on TV this past week, repeatedly pointing out how Riley's left shoulder flies open, the bat dips below the ball, and we see another popup or strikeout. His ONE significant hit in the playoffs was the HR to RCF agains the Phils. When does it sink in to his thick head?
4. I would not be disappointed if attempts were made to trade Acuna - as long, of course, as the return brought some legit quality. Clearly he is a gifted talent but has the maturity of a seven year old. His becoming injury prone is not his fault, I guess, but watching him haltingly chase down fly balls is painful and he clearly has shown that he has become a .240 hitter with a few HR's. Weiss was glad to have him back in the lineup after his hamstring injury "because he makes everyone else better". But he didn't, really, and to have him always batting at the top of the order and consistently failing to deliver with RISP can't be tolerated forever.
Another phenomenal piece. Some early thoughts. You need to figure out LF, SS and DH offensively. Somewhere in that mix should be a table setter and a RH bat to "protect" the LH hitters.
Resign Mahle and Dubon. Quick. Iggy back on one year. Keep Suter.
Profar, Kim. Smith, Tellez are roster cloggers. Cut loose
Ozzie is still a bargain and you probably cant replace him right now externally anyway.
2027 is a prove it year for Riley and Acuna. The former would be difficult to trade and the latter I would listen to offers carefully, but I don't see it
Murphy probably has some value. Sign a vet catcher who can handle 60-65 games.
Have a plan to give Olson some innings off.
Give Fuentes a shot at the starting rotation in the spring
If you resign Mahle add another starter. You might want to add a lefty. If Sale goes down in 2027
you will have an unbalanced staff.
Kick the tires on Zach Neto. Power/speed combo and plays SS.
While talking to the Angels ask about Detmers
Randy Arozarena? Solves the LF and right handed bat issue. Maybe Lawrence Butler.
Forgot to mention Brendan Donovan as a low key target
I think Mahle definitely earned the recognition as an impact starter.
Why didn't you include AJSS in the rotation depth? Are you more inclined to use him in the bullpen for now? At this moment, I think I am.
As he has an option left, I tried to stick with the initial five-man rotation without him (or Ritchie). Obviously, they're options and we'll do a piece where we break down all of the guys and what they need to work on over the winter
AA will get outbid.
Because the bosses are cheap bastards😉
Forgot he had an option left. I was thinking next year he had to make The team.
I think the Braves need to move on from Ozzie Albies and use the money to sign Luis Arreaz. I think they need to move on from Lopez and sign Mahle. I’m afraid that Schwellenbach’s career is effectively over and he won’t be back. I hope I’m wrong. I also don’t count on Strider having any meaningful contribution next year as well.
Do you really think that Kim being a free agent this year is a problem?
I’m a Riley guy, and it pains me to say this. The Braves are stuck between a rock and a hard place with him. He’s not tradeable for anything other than another bad contract. This is a situation where you just have to hope that he returns to form two seasons after a core muscle injury.
Lindsey is 100% correct. They have to add TWO SPs in free agency or trade. I would add that these need to be outside additions, and they also need to resign Mahle. Ideal would be to sign Sonny Gray, trade for Jacob DeGrom, and resign Tyler Mahle.
The best move at SS is probably Peña from Houston.
I’m on the trade for Lawrence Butler train to fix the OF.
Any ideas on who’s a good comp for Mahle? Giolito last season? Probably more concerns about Giolito’s arm health, but his 2025 season was similar overall to Mahle’s 2026. I have to believe Mahle would get a better contract than Giolito??
Mets want Skubal and Mahle.
Hopefully Mahle gives Braves a discount for "reviving" his Career
Disappointed we’re discussing 2027 alreaady, but I rate the 2026 season a success. As Braves fans we’re so accustomed to winning division titles, we probably don’t appreciate them as much as we should. And as baseball fans, we just have to accept it’s a sport with an incredible amount of random events and the results over 3, 5 or 7 game series are subject to randomness.
Agree with your top issues and looking forward to reading and hearing more details. Would like your thoughts on what internal options the Braves should rely upon for the pitching staff. Can Braves convert Fuentes to start games? Can AJSS step into a starting role? I’m a “Yes” on both questions. Can Ritchie or Murphy make it to the rotation? Will Cameniti be ready sometime during 2027? Can other minor leaguers make the jump? Lots of questions for the off-season.
Oh yeah, we're definitely going to do a deep dive on some of the most likely contributors to supplement the rotation and what they need to do to get there