Obviously this was due over a week ago, as things popped up into my personal life. But finally, we have arrived from the first OOTP post.
As a small note, when preparing for this, I accidentally deleted the original Braves file, so I had to make a new one. The goals were a bit different (no upgrade at SS this season, no acquiring a MVP award winner, and championship in the next four seasons instead of five), but for the purposes of this simulation I went with the original guidelines set out.
Now, in order to address the overall depth of the upper minors, I essentially resorted to the trade version of mass shitposting in order to see who would bite. As you might expect, a ton of trade ideas were shot down, and in many cases the GMs decided to not discuss any further. However, a few trades did end up occurring, which were varying shades of understandable…
Traded RHP prospect Ricky DeVito and RHP prospect Alec Barger to Houston for OF/SS Myles Straw, LF Ross Adolph, and SS Jeremy Pena
DeVito looked good this past year while Barger was able to hit 96 in Danville, and both were good enough to be included on Fangraphs’ Braves prospects list less than a year after being drafted. In particular, DeVito at least definitely has a realistic chance to make the majors in either a backend starter or relief role depending on how his command/control and changeup develop. However, I’m fine making this trade because Straw provides useful defensive versatility and speed, and while it makes for awkward positioning since he’s better suited for center and right field (which belong to Waters and Pache), I’ll definitely take the awkwardness if it provides better depth. Meanwhile, Pena looks to be a defensively-minded utility player, with a small chance that he might be good enough to be a low-tier starter, while Adolph looks like a low-tier fourth-outfielder type with a good approach but very little power.
Traded RHP Gabriel Noguera to San Diego for INF/RHP prospect Jake Cronenworth
Noguera looks like a depth pitcher overall, with the main thing of note being a previous drug-related suspension. In return, the Padres seemed very willing to give up Cronenworth, who provides value as a two-way player who can play all over the field. He may be serviceable at best at shortstop while likely being a middle reliever at best pitching-wise, but that combination itself makes for a useful roster spot as long as the two-way player rules are met.
Of course, if you think this trade is a bit silly, then you’ll be shocked by…
Traded RHP Felix Hernandez and RHP Hayder Ortiz to Chicago White Sox for C prospect Yermin Mercedes, C prospect Seby Zavala, LF prospect Jameson Fisher, 1B prospect Gavin Sheets, and DH Daniel Palka
Lol.
In all seriousness, there is no reason why this trade should have happened, but I’ll gladly take it. Felix is on a minors deal, and I’ve long been skeptical of him doing well this year (ST performance or no), so I was thrilled to get any decent value out of him. As for Hayder Ortiz…the only thing that convinced me that he actually existed was a Spanish-language interview from last month. As in no news, no Fangraphs page, no B-R page…just that interview.
But in return for a near-ghost and Hernandez, I love the return. Mercedes and Zavala are both bat-first catchers who might be better fits at first (similar to their now-former teammate Zach Collins), and while OOTP is very low on the latter, I’ll gladly take the extra depth, especially since the next-best option after Alex Jackson is Sal Giardina. (It’s also worth noting that Longenhagen apparently is "all in" on Mercedes per a recent Fangraphs chat, so we might be seeing him on the CWS prospect list.) Fisher is a former college catcher who already took that positional step and who had a decent year at A+, but apparently there are concerns from past injuries. Sheets is a 1B-only prospect who had a good year at AA and might be tapping into his power, although he’ll be blocked by Freeman at the majors level. Lastly, Palka is Castellanos-esque defensively (has played OF but is really a DH) while likely being a platoon guy with strikeout problems at best. The collection itself might not be thrilling, but when looking at what I gave up for them, I don’t think anyone will complain.
Traded C Drew Lugbauer, C Jonathan Morales, and LHP Filyer Sanchez to Tampa Bay for OF prospect Cal Stevenson, OF/1B prospect Brian O’Grady, LHP Ryan Sherriff, and LHP Aaron Loup
Some may be a bit wary of trading two catchers and reducing depth, especially given my comments for the previous trade, but I think it’s more than justified here. Morales became a bit more expendable after acquiring Mercedes and Zavala, and he looks more like an org catcher than a prospect at this point. As for Lugbauer, while I was a fan of him before, this past season was just terrible for him, and between his poor offensive performance and not playing a single game at catcher in 2019 (and as such might not even be considered catcher depth at this point), there’s a strong chance he’ll just flame out. Meanwhile, Sanchez has produced pretty meh results overall while being stuck at the rookie level for just about his entire career. Overall, there’s not much value given up.
In exchange, I was able to get two fringe prospects, and more relief depth. Stevenson is likely the biggest get, and while he lacks power while having defensive concerns (Fangraphs goes so far as to say he’s positionless), he can hit, which gives him a likely fourth outfielder ceiling. O’Grady is a bit of an oddball with experience at first and at all three outfield positions, which makes him useful as a bench piece or possible depth. Sherriff had some interest as a relief piece when coming up through the Cardinals system, but now has to prove himself as fully healed from injuries. Lastly, Loup has had years of major league experience, though his overall effectiveness has been a bit limited. Regardless, a good haul overall.
----------------------------------------------------------------
So, after the following moves, I replaced Hech at SS with Swanson, installed Riley as the full-time 3B, and placed a Markakis/Duvall platoon for DH instances. Additionally, per FrozeMyBlood’s suggestion/possible joke, I reduced the sac bunt rate before reinstating Snitker as the decision-maker for the lineup decisions.
So, how’d it go for the first week?
As a note, I add commentary as it goes, so you get my reactions as they happen.
--------------------------------------------------------------
March 26: Braves 2- 6 Diamondbacks
Well, shit.
The Braves struck first in the second inning with a Camargo triple followed by a Swanson sac fly to left, but everything came undone in the fourth inning as a six-run fourth inning forced out Soroka, as the Marte pair of Starling and Ketel, Nick Ahmed, and Christian Walker all scored extra-base hits while Peralta and Escobar also provided singles. While Greene, Dayton, and Melancon pitched well afterwards, the damage was done. Camargo scored the other run in the seventh inning as his HBP was converted by d’Arnoud and Riley singles. Freeman and d’Arnoud both had multi-hit games, while Acuna also had a good day with a single and two walks\
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Following Opening Day, C Spencer Kieboom, 3B Zack Cozart, and 2B Scooter Gennett all came back to agree to minors deals, although in the last case he is still unavailable for several months.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
March 27: Braves 3- 4 Diamondbacks
While it wasn’t a terrible game, the Diamondbacks got to Max Fried enough to earn a second win. His first inning was marred by a Starling Marte HBP converted into a run through a Walker double and a Ketel Marte groundout. While he was able to retire the next five batters, the Braves’ struggles with starting pitchers hitting continued with a MadBum home run. A fifth inning single by Peralta was converted on a Starling Marte triple, which in turn was scored on another Walker double, and while the inning ended without further incident, that proved to be the last inning for Fried. A Hech double at the top of the next inning was converted after a wild pitch and a Markakis RBI groundout to second, and the Braves threatened again in the seventh inning after an Acuna walk, an Albies double, and a Camargo triple. Sadly, a Flowers flyout and a Hech groundout squandered further opportunity, and after a quiet eighth inning, the game ended in embarrassing fashion when Ozzie’s two-out walk was wasted after he was caught stealing to finish the game.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
March 28: Braves 1-8 Diamondbacks
For fuck’s sake.
Folty had a terrible day, as his bleh outing only followed with worse news. The scourge of Sterling Marte continued with a leadoff double in the first followed later by scoring on an Escobar single. He landed himself into hot water the following inning with a walk-double-walk sequence by Kole Calhoun, Kevin Cron, and Nick Ahmed, only escaping unscathed with a fielder’s choice and two strikeouts. Thankfully, the third and fourth innings were uneventful, but tragedy followed after a Starling Marte double (because of course it’s him) when he left with an injury, later revealed to be a ruptured finger tendon needing three months of recovery.
Unfortunately, the struggles didn’t end there, as Greene got lit up with the parade of a Peralta single, Ketel Marte double, and Escobar double, which got scored on a Kole Calhoun sac fly. Dayton too was plagued by the Martes, with a walk to Sterling soon followed by a Ketel double, the former of whom scored on a wild pitch. Even Melancon couldn’t escape, suffering an Ahmed double followed by a Walker home run. The Braves couldn’t manage much on their end, with Acuna’s 7th inning homer accounting for their one run.
--------------------------------------------------- --------------
Following the game, Folty was placed on the 60-day IL, with Newcomb being called up to replace him.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
March 29: Braves 9-3 Diamondbacks
Halle-fucking-lujah.
The Braves got their revenge for the past few days, as Bryce Wilson pitched a good 6 2/3 innings of two-run work to get the win, and contributed with a two-run double of his own off of Luke Weaver. Even after he got knocked out, though, the Braves didn’t let up, courtesy of a Flowers sac fly to center to score Acuna in the fifth, who nailed a grand slam in the following inning off of James Sherfy. Melancon’s command wavered a bit in the eighth inning, which was exacerbated a bit by Vogt’s double, but the Braves were able to hold on for the win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2 of this week coming either tomorrow or Thursday, depending on my schedule. Unfortunately, while typing this up while working, I accidentally went ahead with the next few days, so the next one will be an analysis of the series against the Padres as a whole. After that, however, more changes will be coming. First and foremost, taking the lineup decisions out of Snitker’s hands.
