August 1, 201412 yr He's saying that having the best pitching staff doesn't always equate to a pennant. Like the Braves in the 90's and early 2000's. Underachieved a lot with Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz once the postseason started.[/quote Exactly.
August 1, 201412 yr BJ has given the Braves his career averages' date=' or close, since the beginning of July. He's not hitting with as much power, but he's getting on base more often. With that said...He's still hitting .215 for the season.[/quote'] But he also leads MLB in strikeouts and had struck out 7 of his last 8 AB's. Definitely took a step back.
August 1, 201412 yr Plus you gave up next to nothing. I'd be happy if I'm Atlanta or a Braves fan. Especially since the Braves have Bethancourt. Giving up a catcher doesn't hurt all that much.
August 1, 201412 yr But he also leads MLB in strikeouts and had struck out 7 of his last 8 AB's. Definitely took a step back. He's going to strike out. Still like what I've seen from him over the last month...well at least when compared to the previous year :lol2:
August 1, 201412 yr He's going to strike out. Still like what I've seen from him over the last month...well at least when compared to the previous year :lol2: Can't strike out as a lead off guy though and he had cut that down until recently. Falling back into old habits is what's worrisome.
August 1, 201412 yr I understand that David Price should have been traded but come on now, you should have gotten more than that. Nobody was offering and, with Price eligible for arbitration before next year, the Rays couldn't afford to keep him. Silverman/Friedman and the farm system they've built have earned my trust. When they lost Will Myers, I honestly thought the season was over. The Rays went 17-6 in July. They're 30-14 in their last 44. Joe Maddon is a magician. Cobb and Odorizzi have both pitched as well, if not better than Price in the last 30 games. Chris Archer has been more than adequate and Hellickson is back. Balfour looked good against the Brewers the other night in relief and Probie (Jake McGee) has been lights out as a closer. Smyly will move nicely into the #5. I'm OK with what they did.
August 1, 201412 yr Can't strike out as a lead off guy though and he had cut that down until recently. Falling back into old habits is what's worrisome. He has been facing Beckett, Grienke and Kershaw. He's been better at lead off than anyone else they have put there this season.
August 1, 201412 yr Just saying that having the best pitching staff in baseball doesn't always equate to winning your league championship as those Braves teams and their fans would tell you.! I realize they didn't win it every year with those pitchers, but didn't they win 5 pennants in the 90's?
August 1, 201412 yr I realize they didn't win it every year with those pitchers' date=' but didn't they win 5 pennants in the 90's?[/quote'] Not sure. They had some great teams no doubt, but it's all about who is hot at the right time. The Cards have proven that true twice the last few years.
August 1, 201412 yr Nobody was offering and, with Price eligible for arbitration before next year, the Rays couldn't afford to keep him. Silverman/Friedman and the farm system they've built have earned my trust. When they lost Will Myers, I honestly thought the season was over. The Rays went 17-6 in July. They're 30-14 in their last 44. Joe Maddon is a magician. Cobb and Odorizzi have both pitched as well, if not better than Price in the last 30 games. Chris Archer has been more than adequate and Hellickson is back. Balfour looked good against the Brewers the other night in relief and Probie (Jake McGee) has been lights out as a closer. Smyly will move nicely into the #5. I'm OK with what they did. When everyone knows you have to trade a player, the offers are significantly less desirable than if you really don't have to.
August 1, 201412 yr When everyone knows you have to trade a player' date=' the offers are significantly less desirable than if you really don't have to.[/quote'] That is true, but Seattle did a much better job than the Rays did, and they only had one team they could trade with.
August 1, 201412 yr Allen Craig has never played more than 134 games and is 30 years old. His power has diminished and if he can't stay healthy in his 20's what makes you think he can in his 30's? DH should help him. Cardinals get rid of 22 million in payroll as well. This move was more about Mo forcing Matheny's hand in playing Oscar Taveras. Craig has done a ton for the Cardinals and everything but no way you play him over Adams and if Taveras is who they think he is, he's a better option in RF. Reminds me of Moneyball when they trade Pena. The issue here is value. Craig has hit every year through college, minors, majors, until this year. He obviously has a mechanical issue with his swing due to the foot injury and he hasn't been able to figure it out. Richard Justice said the same thing last night. When he gets another offseason of rest and works out his swing he will rake. If Oscar hits and Adams hit, then it starts to look ok to trade Craig. But as I said above, the issue here is value. The Cardinals still had 3 more years on his relatively cheap contract plus an option year. Kelly started 15 games last year, went 10-5 with a 2.69 ERA. He's only thrown 30-40 innings this year I think due to the injury but he has great upside. And again, the Cards had 4 more years of club control for Kelly. As one analyst on MLB said last night, I might have traded Craig for Lackey, or Kelly for Lackey, but not both for Lackey. There is way more value with 4 years of club control for both guys than a 35/36 year old Lackey with one more cheap year on his contract. The Cardinals had to get more for those two guys. The Red Sox have to be celebrating that trade and will be the next 4 years.
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