Now that the Braves have an established team, I say we trade Albies, Acuña, Markakis, Swanson, Folty, and Newcomb for some farm league prospects and build a new stadium... who’s with me?
@WCDawg said: @Kirbstomper said: They signed Markakis to a 1 year 6M deal just now. I'm on record as not being a big fan of him, I'm really hoping he is more for OF depth than them planning on starting him. The contract would indicate nobody is expecting much out of him this year. This will prove to be a key move, if he stays relatively healthy of course. WAR is flawed in it's under valuing OBP. I look in context to a lineup. Fill every spot with high on base percentage hitters with some power, you'll score a lot of runs. I think Nick's average OBP over his 4 seasons with The Braves is around 20th in MLB. Not an average if you just look season per season, it's a bit more subtle. Every year different players occupy spots, but Nick is consistent, which raises his average above most players.
@WCDawg said:
@Kirbstomper said: They signed Markakis to a 1 year 6M deal just now. I'm on record as not being a big fan of him, I'm really hoping he is more for OF depth than them planning on starting him. The contract would indicate nobody is expecting much out of him this year.
This will prove to be a key move, if he stays relatively healthy of course. WAR is flawed in it's under valuing OBP. I look in context to a lineup. Fill every spot with high on base percentage hitters with some power, you'll score a lot of runs. I think Nick's average OBP over his 4 seasons with The Braves is around 20th in MLB. Not an average if you just look season per season, it's a bit more subtle. Every year different players occupy spots, but Nick is consistent, which raises his average above most players.
Agreed. WAR and WRC+ are nice in some respects but OBP trumps for me. Not to go all Moneyball on everyone but the most important thing a hitter can do is to not make an out, in most situations that is (love me a nice SAC bunt every now and then).
Call me a homer but I still think the Braves end up with Realmuto. JT has told the Marlins already that he isn't going to resign. AA has been playing the long game with trades and signings. He couldn't have gotten Kakes for just 1 yr @ 4 mill 1-2 months ago. I think there are one or two moves still coming.
@PTDawg said: @WCDawg said: @Kirbstomper said: They signed Markakis to a 1 year 6M deal just now. I'm on record as not being a big fan of him, I'm really hoping he is more for OF depth than them planning on starting him. The contract would indicate nobody is expecting much out of him this year. This will prove to be a key move, if he stays relatively healthy of course. WAR is flawed in it's under valuing OBP. I look in context to a lineup. Fill every spot with high on base percentage hitters with some power, you'll score a lot of runs. I think Nick's average OBP over his 4 seasons with The Braves is around 20th in MLB. Not an average if you just look season per season, it's a bit more subtle. Every year different players occupy spots, but Nick is consistent, which raises his average above most players. Agreed. WAR and WRC+ are nice in some respects but OBP trumps for me. Not to go all Moneyball on everyone but the most important thing a hitter can do is to not make an out, in most situations that is (love me a nice SAC bunt every now and then). Call me a homer but I still think the Braves end up with Realmuto. JT has told the Marlins already that he isn't going to resign. AA has been playing the long game with trades and signings. He couldn't have gotten Kakes for just 1 yr @ 4 mill 1-2 months ago. I think there are one or two moves still coming.
@PTDawg said:
Realmuto would be my second best get after Kluber. Then Kimbrel
You need a few bashers in the line up, but if everybody else is getting on base at a high rate, the team will score a lot and be very tough for even top pitchers to handle. Those Yankees teams of the 90s didn't have any 40 HR guys, some seasons they didn't have 30 hr guys. What they had was a group of high OBP hitters who had great bat control and worked counts.
Edit. The 1998 Yankees that won 114 games and The World Series didn't have a single 30 HR hitter. What they did have is 6 guys with 20 HRs and EVERY regular had at least a .350 OBP.
The early 90s Braves teams didnt have bashers, either. TP and Sid Bream were their lead guys, and we played small ball with Nixon and Sanders. I enjoyed those teams much more than the later days when Cox loaded the lineup and played for the long ball.
@TNDawg71 said: @PTDawg said: @WCDawg said: @Kirbstomper said: They signed Markakis to a 1 year 6M deal just now. I'm on record as not being a big fan of him, I'm really hoping he is more for OF depth than them planning on starting him. The contract would indicate nobody is expecting much out of him this year. This will prove to be a key move, if he stays relatively healthy of course. WAR is flawed in it's under valuing OBP. I look in context to a lineup. Fill every spot with high on base percentage hitters with some power, you'll score a lot of runs. I think Nick's average OBP over his 4 seasons with The Braves is around 20th in MLB. Not an average if you just look season per season, it's a bit more subtle. Every year different players occupy spots, but Nick is consistent, which raises his average above most players. Agreed. WAR and WRC+ are nice in some respects but OBP trumps for me. Not to go all Moneyball on everyone but the most important thing a hitter can do is to not make an out, in most situations that is (love me a nice SAC bunt every now and then). Call me a homer but I still think the Braves end up with Realmuto. JT has told the Marlins already that he isn't going to resign. AA has been playing the long game with trades and signings. He couldn't have gotten Kakes for just 1 yr @ 4 mill 1-2 months ago. I think there are one or two moves still coming. Realmuto would be my second best get after Kluber. Then Kimbrel
@TNDawg71 said:
Can I be greedy and just say bring all 3??
@Bankwalker said: The early 90s Braves teams didnt have bashers, either. TP and Sid Bream were their lead guys, and we played small ball with Nixon and Sanders. I enjoyed those teams much more than the later days when Cox loaded the lineup and played for the long ball.
Gant and Justice were the middle of the order on those teams. They were big on fielding as well. It was decently lineup, with strong fielding and pitching.
@PTDawg said: @TNDawg71 said: @PTDawg said: @WCDawg said: @Kirbstomper said: They signed Markakis to a 1 year 6M deal just now. I'm on record as not being a big fan of him, I'm really hoping he is more for OF depth than them planning on starting him. The contract would indicate nobody is expecting much out of him this year. This will prove to be a key move, if he stays relatively healthy of course. WAR is flawed in it's under valuing OBP. I look in context to a lineup. Fill every spot with high on base percentage hitters with some power, you'll score a lot of runs. I think Nick's average OBP over his 4 seasons with The Braves is around 20th in MLB. Not an average if you just look season per season, it's a bit more subtle. Every year different players occupy spots, but Nick is consistent, which raises his average above most players. Agreed. WAR and WRC+ are nice in some respects but OBP trumps for me. Not to go all Moneyball on everyone but the most important thing a hitter can do is to not make an out, in most situations that is (love me a nice SAC bunt every now and then). Call me a homer but I still think the Braves end up with Realmuto. JT has told the Marlins already that he isn't going to resign. AA has been playing the long game with trades and signings. He couldn't have gotten Kakes for just 1 yr @ 4 mill 1-2 months ago. I think there are one or two moves still coming. Realmuto would be my second best get after Kluber. Then Kimbrel Can I be greedy and just say bring all 3??
One can dream, but I doubt we are paying that price
@TNDawg71 said: @Bankwalker said: The early 90s Braves teams didnt have bashers, either. TP and Sid Bream were their lead guys, and we played small ball with Nixon and Sanders. I enjoyed those teams much more than the later days when Cox loaded the lineup and played for the long ball. Gant and Justice were the middle of the order on those teams. They were big on fielding as well. It was decently lineup, with strong fielding and pitching.
Wow. How do I forget those two? You’re right. That was a pretty balnced lineup of speed and power. Definitely more fun to watch.
@Bankwalker said: @TNDawg71 said: @Bankwalker said: The early 90s Braves teams didnt have bashers, either. TP and Sid Bream were their lead guys, and we played small ball with Nixon and Sanders. I enjoyed those teams much more than the later days when Cox loaded the lineup and played for the long ball. Gant and Justice were the middle of the order on those teams. They were big on fielding as well. It was decently lineup, with strong fielding and pitching. Wow. How do I forget those two? You’re right. That was a pretty balnced lineup of speed and power. Definitely more fun to watch.
@Bankwalker said:
Justice only hit 21 hrs in both 91 and 92. Gant hit 32 in 91 but only hit 17 dingers in 92 with 32 stolen bases.
@Bankwalker said: @Bankwalker said: @TNDawg71 said: @Bankwalker said: The early 90s Braves teams didnt have bashers, either. TP and Sid Bream were their lead guys, and we played small ball with Nixon and Sanders. I enjoyed those teams much more than the later days when Cox loaded the lineup and played for the long ball. Gant and Justice were the middle of the order on those teams. They were big on fielding as well. It was decently lineup, with strong fielding and pitching. Wow. How do I forget those two? You’re right. That was a pretty balnced lineup of speed and power. Definitely more fun to watch. Justice only hit 21 hrs in both 91 and 92. Gant hit 32 in 91 but only hit 17 dingers in 92 with 32 stolen bases.
Justice was a guy that always felt like he was going to be a superstar but never reached that potential, solid player though. Gant was a dead pull guy that I always liked, originally came up as a 2nd baseman and was sent down to Single A to learn outfield.
It all starts with pitching. You've got to have a good starting rotation and good bullpen. We've got some good young guys but need a couple of proven vets on the hill and build off of that
Another year of hoping a has been has one more year left in him. He had a good first half last year and fell off tremendously in the second half of the season. I miss Ted Turner and his money.
@RDDawg said: Another year of hoping a has been has one more year left in him. He had a good first half last year and fell off tremendously in the second half of the season. I miss Ted Turner and his money.
Markakis is not a has been, far from it. Break down most any season by any player and you'll see they have ebbs and surges. It's a 162 game season, every game counts, so helping win games in June counts just like winning games in Sep.
In Nick's 4 seasons in Atlanta.
Pre. All Star Game OBP 2018 - .389 2017 - .364 2016 - .328 2015 - .351
Post All Star Game 2018 - .332 2017 - .340 2016 - .370 2015 - .351
What I see is 3 out of 4 years he has been better before the All Star break than after. He has had good OBP every post All Star break though, and importantly, nothing negative has carried over to the next season.
Markakis hit .323 pre-all star and .258 post. .234 in his last 30 games. 62 vs 31 RBIs before and after the break.
His .323 ba before the break was a career best by 15 points. He hit .308 before the break in 2010 and .301 in 2008. He had a CAREER first half last season, and then became a liability. It was more than “ebbs and flows”.
Let’s hope our young guys can protect him at the plate by getting on base. Albies was the key to Markakis getting off to a fast start last season. An uninspiring, if not disappointing signing. The money was the key. Probably still looking for OF help. At $4 mil Markakis can be a good bench piece if someone else is found near the deadline.
@WCDawg said: @RDDawg said: Another year of hoping a has been has one more year left in him. He had a good first half last year and fell off tremendously in the second half of the season. I miss Ted Turner and his money. Markakis is not a has been, far from it. Break down most any season by any player and you'll see they have ebbs and surges. It's a 162 game season, every game counts, so helping win games in June counts just like winning games in Sep.
This gets missed so often in sports when people talk about being clutch. The games really only matter more in the playoffs.
