Atlanta Braves Take 5: More Questions for 2017

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Sep 16, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) pitches in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Q2: How Long Will This Episode of ‘fortysomething’ Continue?

It shows me how old I’m getting when I refer to a show (that I never watched) that’s now 30 years old.

If thirtysomething was the original, the Braves have gone one (decade) better with R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon. But how long?

With this pair and Jaime Garcia, the answer is probably simple: as long as it takes.

As long as it takes for pitchers on the previous page to prove they are ready for consistent performance on the major league stage against the offenses that they’ll face in the NL East.
As long as the Braves remain competitive and it’s worth keeping them around to insure that whatever magic might be happening continues.
As long as no July contender decides to throw worthwhile prospects in the Braves’ direction as part of a trade offer.

Specifically, these vets were brought in to pitch 200 innings apiece for the Atlanta Braves in 2017. That is happening because nobody did so in 2016.

Heck, the 16 starters combined for only 880 innings – 8th lowest in baseball.

These newcomers will be around until somebody else shows that they are ready to throw 200 innings with an ERA of 4-ish or less.

That ‘s what it will talk to displace these pitchers who’ve already been doing that for quite a long time.