Atlanta Braves Podcast 28: How to fill the lineup holes

Where do the Atlanta Braves go from here to stay ahead of the Phillies?

The Atlanta Braves have a very good offensive team.  This is especially obvious as we saw three different players each homer thrice on three consecutive game days this past week.

That being said, the Braves are also not yet a complete team, and that’s where they may run into problems in the postseason if they aren’t careful.

This was clearly known and understood information prior to the August 31 trading deadline, and yet nothing was done to address the major issues involved.

So from this point, Atlanta will have to deal with those issues internally.

Oh, sure:  they could pick somebody up off the waiver wire between now and mid-September when the playoff-eligibility deadline hits… but:

• There is no one of consequence that will be DFA’d that the Braves could use.
  • That “no one” list definitely includes Johnny Cueto, whose contract might require a wide-body jet of its own.
• If there was anyone who’d be useful and cheaper to acquire, there are 20+ teams who’d have to pass on him before the Braves could get their shot in the waiver-wire pecking order.

So that’s just one of the problems that an inactive (or incomplete, depending on your point of view) trade deadline created for Atlanta.  Fred and I talk about this from several angle.

We also raised the topic of potential playoff matchups and who the Braves might favor… should they stay in first place and get the choice.

Also, Braves Twitter has been abuzz this week about the lack of production from Ender Inciarte, who’s now batting below the Mendoza Line with a .523 OPS.  Yikes.

Were he batting-qualified (he’s not), Inciarte would have the 10th worst Offensive value score (by Fangraphs) in the majors and tied for 6th worst fWAR.

Of course, if he were qualified, those same counting stats would be worse yet.

But here is that podcast for you:  Jake was off this week, so you’re stuck with just the two old crotchety guys.

The direct download link is available here if you prefer to listen in that manner. You can also find our efforts via iTunes, Spreaker, and a variety of other podcast outlets.

Thanks for listening… despite ourselves.