SBNation.com User Blog: ronjba

Braves recent draft history

ronjba — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:39:46 -0000

So let's take a quick look at the Atlanta Braves recent draft history. Now I am no draft history buff, so bear with me on my very brief summaries. At the ends lets ponder a few things.

2009 - With the first pick, the Braves select Mike Minor, who most would agree was a "safe" pick projectable as a no.3 starter. David Hale may be a decent start or bullpen help. Mycal Jones seemed like a reach, as the Braves need middle infield depth and speed. (RSF was fun to check box scores on though, always had 2 hits it seems). This draft is tough to talk about because it’s so recent.

2008 – The Braves lost their first round draft pick (18th overall) for signing Tom Glavine (whom they released). The top 3 picks are in development, Craig Kimbrel is a K artist (and BB artist right now), Milligan may be solid but we haven’t seen solid development from much of this draft. It’s still too early to tell. Best possible player to come out of this draft? Possibly Craig Kimbrel.

2007 – Jason Heyward was a money pick for the 1st round. For some reason he fell to pick #14 and was an easy decision for the organization. Jon Gilmore was traded. Freddie Freeman, from the 4th round, projects to be a solid 1B for the Braves. (Milligan and Kimbrel both drafted but neither signed this draft). Best possible player to come out? Easy, Heyward.

2006 – 3 early picks, Cody Johnson, Cory Rasmus and Stephen Everts. Cody can maul but will he be a mainstay in the majors? Locke was traded, Kris Medlen was drafted in the 10th, Cole Rohrbough in the 22nd. Best possibly player to come out? Right now Kris Medlen.

2005 – Joey Devine (who we’ll always remember) and Beau Jones (shipped as part of Teixeira deal) were the first picks. Yunel Escober was a 2nd round pick, awesome. Jordan Schafer in the 3rd round and then Mr. Tommy Hanson in the 22nd. Best possible player? I’ll just say Hanson/Escobar, tied at the moment.

2004 – No first round pick this season. Eric Campbell was our 2nd round pick. Parr, Pope and Owings drafted this draft. Best possible player? No idea… (but after Campbell was picked at the end of rd. 2, rd 3 contained Wade Davis, Adam Lind and J.A. Happ.

2003 – Two Catchers drafted early on, Luis Atilano and Saltalamacchia (Adam Jones was taken right after Salty). Jo-Jo Reyes was drafted in the 2nd round (the player who makes me the most uneasy when in the game). Salty and Matt Harrison were traded for Teixeira. Best possible player for the Braves? Sadly, Jo-Jo Reyes

2002 – This is as far back as I’ll go. Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann, Charlie Morton, Chuck James. The beginning of the Braves youth movement. Best possible player? Brian McCann.

It seems like in the last 4 drafts, the Braves haven't done that well. Maybe things will change with a new Scouting Director and the end of Draft and Follow in 2007, but it seems as if the last few drafts didn't fill our minor leagues with a ton of talent. Outside of an easy pick in Heyward and Kris Medlen (a current reliever), the Braves do not seem to have a great draft strategy. 2005 had a great draft (we'll take 2 major leaguers every draft), 2004 was really bad and 2003 doesn't look very good as well.

I know there is a lot of talent in the organization, don't go crazy on me. But the best of it seems to be from international signings versus the draft (ex. Teheran, Vizcaino in trade, Bethancourt, Delgado). It also seems to me that the Braves need to take keeping the first round pick more seriously.

Do you think the Braves have been drafting well or have a solid draft strategy for the present day? If you took away international signings do you see the Braves as having a deep minor league system? Do you see the Braves failing with MI depth and speed? Any suggestions?

So let's take a quick look at the Atlanta Braves recent draft history. Now I am no draft history buff, so bear with me on my very brief summaries. At the ends lets ponder a few things.

2002 – This is as far back as I’ll go. Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann, Charlie Morton, Chuck James. The beginning of the Braves youth movement. Best possible player? Brian McCann.

Fantasybaseballcafe's analysis of Braves

ronjba — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:21:08 -0000

So fantasbaseballcafe.com is doing an analysis of all 30 teams, and the first team is the Braves.

A few thoughts on the article.

1. No one seems to understand the Vazquez trade was mainly a salary dump. This should be more apparent since we traded Soriano for legos and a swing set, but I guess not. In the salary dump we got a sweet pitching prospect, but that wasn't pointed out.

2. "A return to the playoffs is unlikely until those youngsters (not sure who he's talking about) produce." I don't agree with this. The team with possibly the best rotation in baseball and a deep bullpen always have a chance at the playoffs.

3. The never mentioned Chipper Jones. Chipper had a way off year (still with 18HR), but the guy hit .364 for the batting title 2 seasons ago. Let's remember Chipper as Braves fans.

4. He thinks Melky will be in left and Diaz in right. I don't think this guy is studied up like the Talking Chop's peeps. He thinks if Heyward comes up then Diaz loses his job not Cabrera. (I don't think I'm going to study his site for fantasy purposes).

5. "The trade of Vazquez seriously hurt this rotation's depth." It's not like the rotation is weak now, with Kawakami as the 5th starter. We had 6 for sure starters, now we have 5, with Medlen there if we need him. Maybe the writer should write Vazquez and let him know his feelings for him.

And a side note from me, I really really like Prado as a fantasy sleeper this season. He was tied for 10th in BA last season and 5th among 2B in OBP. Very underrated.

Thoughts on the article?

So fantasbaseballcafe.com is doing an analysis of all 30 teams, and the first team is the Braves.

A few thoughts on the article.

3. The never mentioned Chipper Jones. Chipper had a way off year (still with 18HR), but the guy hit .364 for the batting title 2 seasons ago. Let's remember Chipper as Braves fans.

And a side note from me, I really really like Prado as a fantasy sleeper this season. He was tied for 10th in BA last season and 5th among 2B in OBP. Very underrated.

Thoughts on the article?

Is Jordan Schafer really that great?

ronjba — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:25:23 -0000

Long time reader, pretty new poster.

So on Talking Chop I see pretty much everything debated, everything...but when someone mentions Jordan Schafer it comes off like it's almost unanimous that he'll be the future CF for the Braves.

After seeing his stint in the majors last season, I wasn't overly impressed. And since we was caught (maybe debatable, not sure) with HGH maybe he isn't the talent that we thought he once was? I'm just saying it's possible. With a solid talent in McLouth (I think we underrate him here) in CF through 2011 with a club option for 2012, we may not even have a chance to see Schafer until 2013. That would make him 26 or 27 when he gets his first full major league season.

Also, his stats are not that amazing (since off HGH?), his OBP is respectable but historically he's nothing to write home about. Maybe I'm just missing it but maybe we've overrated him here? I was wondering if there was anyone out there with a similar opinion. or if anyone can help me see what I'm missing.

Thanks, and I look forward to doing some more posts and comments in the future.

Long time reader, pretty new poster.

So on Talking Chop I see pretty much everything debated, everything...but when someone mentions Jordan Schafer it comes off like it's almost unanimous that he'll be the future CF for the Braves.

Thanks, and I look forward to doing some more posts and comments in the future.

Is bringing up Heyward and then sending him back down so bad?

ronjba — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:44:44 -0000

Everyone talks about the importance of not having a minor leaguer have to be sent back down after a subpar rookie performance. When did this become such a bad thing? Why is this taboo?

Ryan Braun's and Evan Longoria's are not your typical rookie experience. It takes a rookie time, typically, to adjust to the major league level. If a rookie has a difficult time, what's the big deal with some more seasoning in the minors and another call up?

If it wasn't such a big deal, then everyone wouldn't have to talk about whether it'll somehow magically ruin the talent of someone like Jason Heyward. "Whoops, he had a bad first month, can't send him down because now he'll be terrible forever!" Does anyone have any stats or thoughts on this?

I say bring Heyward up, let's see if he's wasting his talent in the minors, and if he needs seasoning, then send him back down.

Everyone talks about the importance of not having a minor leaguer have to be sent back down after a subpar rookie performance. When did this become such a bad thing? Why is this taboo?

I say bring Heyward up, let's see if he's wasting his talent in the minors, and if he needs seasoning, then send him back down.

Poll

Is sending back down a struggling rookie a horrible thing?

Yes

27 votes

no

82 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed