The Kids Are Alright

[totdprods]

3 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

My hope is that all three of Neto, O'Hoppe, and Schanuel are going to be somewhere in the "quality regular to borderline star" spectrum, or 3-5 WAR in a prime season. O'Hoppe seems to be the keeper, and reminds me a bit of Jason Varitek in terms of his ability and leadership.

The pessimist in me says more like 2-3 WAR, or solid regulars. But Neto and O'Hoppe are pretty much already there, and Schanuel over the last month has been there, so I think 3+ WAR is quite possible, even probable. But I don't see any of them being bonafide 5+ WAR stars. Maybe a career year around that.

 

It’s how you build a good core though. They don’t need to be stars necessarily, just consistently slightly above-average for a floor, which seems to be taking shape, even for Schanuel. 

I think Perry might take an outfielder with his first pick, so he can feel like he’s addressed the up-the-middle part of the club and have some balance in his core. A catcher, a shortstop, a 1B, and a CF (or corner outfielder if he thinks whomever defers to Trout still). 

[Angelsjunky]

1 minute ago, totdprods said:

It’s how you build a good core though. They don’t need to be stars necessarily, just consistently slightly above-average for a floor, which seems to be taking shape, even for Schanuel. 

I think Perry might take an outfielder with his first pick, so he can feel like he’s addressed the up-the-middle part of the club and have some balance in his core. A catcher, a shortstop, a 1B, and a CF (or corner outfielder if he thinks whomever defers to Trout still). 

No doubt. While we have to admit the 2002 run was a bit flukey, it was basically a ton of 2-4 WAR guys, with no one over 4 WAR.

A few months ago it looked like JJ Wetherholt had enough questions to fall as far as 8th, but there's no chance of that now. 

[totdprods]

Just now, Angelsjunky said:

No doubt. While we have to admit the 2002 run was a bit flukey, it was basically a ton of 2-4 WAR guys, with no one over 4 WAR.

A few months ago it looked like JJ Wetherholt had enough questions to fall as far as 8th, but there's no chance of that now. 

Not far removed from what Atlanta has done either. 

I think whomever they draft will probably fill an immediate need. We’re short enough everywhere that basically anybody will have near-immediate utility. A Ward trade could up the need for an MLB-ready OF in the draft though. Moniak and Adell are clinging on. Adams doesn’t offer anything. Rada isn’t ready. Pillar is probably dealt soon and Trout’s still out. I wouldn’t mind giving someone like Orlando Martinez or Gustavo Campero some LF ABs to close the year and see what happens, but, also seems to open playing time for an OF draftee, or even Nick Kurtz in the corner OF somewhere.

[Angelsjunky]

1 minute ago, totdprods said:

Not far removed from what Atlanta has done either. 

I think whomever they draft will probably fill an immediate need. We’re short enough everywhere that basically anybody will have near-immediate utility. A Ward trade could up the need for an MLB-ready OF in the draft though. Moniak and Adell are clinging on. Adams doesn’t offer anything. Rada isn’t ready. Pillar is probably dealt soon and Trout’s still out. I wouldn’t mind giving someone like Orlando Martinez or Gustavo Campero some LF ABs to close the year and see what happens, but, also seems to open playing time for an OF draftee, or even Nick Kurtz in the corner OF somewhere.

I'd say if there's any year that you shouldn't consider need at all, it is this year. Draft the best available prospect. If it is very close, go with the bat.

It is crazy where we're at in terms of the outfield, versus a few years ago when the Trout-Adell-Marsh tandem was going to be an outfield for the ages, and then Ward started playing well and for a bit there it was over-crowded. Now...what a disaster.

[Angelsjunky]

4 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Not far removed from what Atlanta has done either. 

Yeah, the Angels are basically the Braves, if they had a younger version of Trout, several more netos, and an actual pitching staff.

(not saying you're making the comparison, I just couldn't resist)

[totdprods]

5 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Yeah, the Angels are basically the Braves, if they had a younger version of Trout, several more netos, and an actual pitching staff.

(not saying you're making the comparison, I just couldn't resist)

The execution hadn’t been there, but, I see a lot of comps. Trout and Acuna, phenomenal but injured-often. Perry prioritized locking in a few long-term, young core players as mentioned. I think the all-pitcher draft was an attempt to start building a crazy deep pool of arms. He was never going to get a rotations worth in one draft, but I remember a few years back looking at the Braves’ farm and every rotation from MLB down to AA or even A+ was stocked with guys throwing 100+ IP and sub 4.00 ERA - seriously, every rotation spot. It was wild. And they dealt a lot from that pool.

[Angelsjunky]

5 minutes ago, totdprods said:

The execution hadn’t been there, but, I see a lot of comps. Trout and Acuna, phenomenal but injured-often. Perry prioritized locking in a few long-term, young core players as mentioned. I think the all-pitcher draft was an attempt to start building a crazy deep pool of arms. He was never going to get a rotations worth in one draft, but I remember a few years back looking at the Braves’ farm and every rotation from MLB down to AA or even A+ was stocked with guys throwing 100+ IP and sub 4.00 ERA - seriously, every rotation spot. It was wild. And they dealt a lot from that pool.

You mean Perry was the dumb guy in the Braves' front office that they made fun of behind his back, but picked up enough to try a really bad version of Braves strategy?

[totdprods]

5 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

You mean Perry was the dumb guy in the Braves' front office that they made fun of behind his back, but picked up enough to try a really bad version of Braves strategy?

Pretty much.

[arch stanton]

I think Neto took a big step in semi-abandoning the high leg kick. Now you never know when something might click for him and he raises his game another notch