Say this for the Atlanta Braves. They won’t let us dismiss them, even though there’s no way they can actually make a playoff run. Right?
I was ready to throw in the playoff towel last week before the two wins over the Nats. When it’s all said and done, the game three win by Manny Banuelos over Max Scherzer might go down as the season’s most important.
The rookie lefty’s impressive debut only reinforced just how bright the future is and how quickly John Hart and his staff turned it around. Atlanta fans, after more than a decade of winning divisions, have obviously been spoiled (even taking into account the annual postseason flop), which makes putting this season in perspective hard on some folks.
Even if the Braves lose 90 games – still a very realistic outcome – this season will go down as a tremendous success. The team has managed to keep its fans interested while continuing to make moves for the future.
There isn’t a team in baseball, not the Mets, Nationals or Dodgers, that can match the Braves’ future starting pitching depth.
The list begins with the three 24-year-olds that head up the rotation: Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and Shelby Miller. Teheran has been frustratingly inconsistent but he’s still got ace stuff and only needs to fix a few things between the ears. Wood also seems to get thrown off track easily, but those are things experience usually fixes. And Miller has been better than even advertised, even though the team can’t score for him.
You then add the guys who have been called up this year: Banuelos, Mike Foltynewicz and Matt Wisler. Each has great stuff and there’s no reason to believe they won’t continue to develop. Here’s the great part, that’s six guys with front end of the rotation stuff.
Doesn’t mean each will make it. Remember how highly-touted Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens were? It wasn’t long ago when Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor were the next great Braves’ pitching trio.
Which is why that depth is so crucial. Take those top six and add Tyrell Jenkins, Max Fried, Touki Toussaint and Chris Withrow, each acquired this year by Hart and each among the team’s top prospects. Then there’s Lucas Sims, the 21-year-old former top prospect who was injured in a bus accident this summer, and Jason Hursh, the team’s top pick in 2013, each still highly thought of.
And, finally, throw in the team’s top two draft picks last month, Kolby Allard and Michael Soroka. Baseball America suggests Allard could easily be the Braves’ top prospect next year.
Arms aplenty, and the real key here is the team can target those it thinks will fill out the rotation in the future, move a couple to the bullpen and use some of the others to acquire bats and still have ample depth in the minors.
Take this season for what it is, Braves fans, and get ready for the arms race.
John Hart’s emphasis on scouting the international market begins to pay off.Braves hit international market
The Braves just hit it big in the annual international signing period, a greatly overlooked part of baseball, and are likely to make an even bigger splash next year.
The organization, with Hart leading the way, has put a much greater emphasis on scouting teenagers in Latin America and the Caribbean – athletes not eligible for the Major League draft – and it paid off July 2 when the team landed two of the top prospects.
A pair of 16-year-olds, infielder Derian Cruz and outfielder Christian Pache, were each ranked among the top-10 available prospects by different scouting services. Each is, of course, very raw, but the risk (around $3.4 million) is well worth it.
The process is rather complicated, but each team gets a pool of money it can spend based on its finish last season. The penalty is stiff if a team goes over that total, which the Braves did. However, to avoid the penalty (which could have doubled the total outlay), they had to acquire more pool money, which they did with a trio of trades.
The big news is that, if you believe the rumors, the Braves have already locked up next year’s top international prospect, Venezuelan power-hitting shortstop Kevin Maiten. ESPN’s Keith Law reportedly has been told by more than one scout that the Braves have agreed to pay more than $4 million for Maiten’s rights.
Of course, such early signings are illegal (wink, wink) but if it happens he’s the type of future game-changer the organization hasn’t seen in a position player for some time.
Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) in their game Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, in Atlanta.Hawks emerge as winners in free agency
It’s tough to see DeMarre Carroll leave, but there’s no way the Hawks could afford a $15 million a season for a guy they were barely paying $2 million. He leaves a fairly large hole at the three spot but if Thabo Sefalosha is healthy then the loss won’t be as painful.
Carroll’s departure aside, the team did well in resigning Paul Millsap and acquiring Tiago Splitter from the Spurs for, it’s being report, basically nothing. The upgrade in Splitter over the departed Pero Antic is amazing.
Splitter, coming from the sister Spurs, can fit in Mike Budenholzer’s system easily and gives the Hawks rebounding, defense and improved passing from the post. He and the recently-signed 7-foot-3 Edy Taveres should greatly enhance the team’s inside defensive play, a black hole this past season.
It also allows the Hawks to play Al Horford more at power forward and should keep he and Millsap a little fresher as the season goes along.
Now, can the team’s offense survive Carroll’s absence if Sefalosha isn’t healthy or teams find they can sag off him at the 3-point line? It’s a good question and it might lead the team to fire its one big bullet.
If a small forward has to be acquired, the Hawks have a great trade piece in either Jeff Teague or Dennis Schroder. Personally, I would hate to break up that duo since the Hawks have an advantage on nearly every opponent at point guard, so we’ll see.