A deeper look at 3 negative takes from Atlanta Braves 2019 season

“The only starter that we have that’s worth anything is Mike Soroka”

Whoa. To be clear, I’ve seen this take more than once. It’s like some fans want to take a formula that won the division, turn it upside down and just… start over?

My main thought when I see a take like this, and so very often, it’s not backed up with any reasoning is – what would be your plan if this is what the Atlanta Braves decided to do?

Well, we could just line up prospects and let them have open tryouts. We could easily fill the rotation with Bryse Wilson, Kyle Wright, and Ian Anderson.

Then, if we really did trade Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz, along with not resigning Dallas Keuchel and not picking up Julio Teheran‘s option, you’d have to figure we could either A) acquire a pitcher by trade that could slot in as the fifth starter, or B) spend some money to sign a free agent that’s likely not named Gerrit Cole.

Honestly, typing out the scenario like I did just made it seem really interesting. But interesting doesn’t necessarily mean smart. If we were to deal Fried and Folty, wouldn’t we likely get a similar pitcher back in a trade?

Take Folty for example – good enough to be an All-Star, good enough to pitch one of the best games in Atlanta Braves postseason history, but also inconsistent enough to get destroyed in game five.

Different personnel, similar results, right? I can tell you this, if you replayed game five 10 times, Folty wouldn’t give up that many runs in each of the ‘test runs.’

Chances are, Wilson, Wright, and Anderson are going to get their auditions, or be dangled for trade bait this off-season.

Keeping what we have is way more simple and gives fans like the ones that would make such a suggestion about 10 more decisions to second guess and post on social media about.

I guess these types of fans crave situations like these.