Perspective on the Atlanta Braves rebuild
By Fred Owens
He shoulda done better
The other trade complaint is that Hart/Coppy could have/should have done a deal and lacked the acumen to get it done. Bluntly that’s just plain silly.
Trades require both sides to agree on value. While you may believe that the offer made for a player was poor, it’s wise to remember we have no idea what was offered to whom for which player. We are also not privy to such things as scouting reports and medical examinations, both of which help set a player’s value.
Hart said quite clearly last winter when talk of trading for Jose Quintana was filling the blogs, that they did not value Quintana as they did Chris Sale and weren’t going to pay the asking price. If teams do not agree on value there is no trade.
Even when front offices agree sometimes ownership won’t allow the trade as happened to the Astros when attempting to deal for a pitcher at the deadline. Both front offices agreed and the Astros ready to process it but the deal was nixed by other teams owner.
Give the kids a chance
This mantra’s been repeated since the middle of last year and in fact the kids nearest ready were given a chance. Blair and Wisler had opportunities to grab a rotation spot and failed. Swanson came up and did well but slumped badly this year. Many of the same fans who wanted them promoted turned on them quickly when instant success wasn’t achieved.
The team signed older pitchers to make sure the young arms were allowed to grow at their own rate. That plan only half worked but it was the right idea. Blooding young players too soon can set them back or even permanently damage their careers.
The rule of thumb for pitchers often quoted by former GM’s is that it takes ten prospects to get two major league arms. So far we’re one for three and if Sims hold up two for four. It appears we may beat those odds if we let the pitchers come up when they are ready.