Are we good enough to win in 2020?

Austinfan 2020-01-01 17:42:19 UTC #41

It was definitely a problem for players transitioning up the minors, then suddenly having to handle a slick ball which made it hard to throw good breaking stuff.
Hopefully the league will standardize the balls this year throughout the majors and minors.

Taudawg 2020-01-04 18:30:36 UTC #42

Still a couple months to make changes. The J.T. trade didn't happen until 7 Feb.

There's a chance the Nationals and Braves take a step back. If the Nationals go into 2020 with Castro at 2b and Cabrera at 3b, that's weaker offense and defense. Doolittle showed some cracks in 19. The Will Harris signing looks good on paper, but he is 35 and could end up being their Robertson, Hunter, Neshak. Scherzer could be dominate once again, but he turns 36 next season and at some point he will age. The Braves could certainly be weaker without Donaldson and I'm not sure a good Hamels (age 36) is better than Keuchel+Teheran. These other teams have some holes and what if's of their own.

If we get something closer to 2018 Nola, and improvement from Wheeler, I like our chances.

zambonir 2020-01-04 19:00:44 UTC #43

I think the Braves are gonna get Donaldson. Or the Nats still might! No way Cabrera is their 3B (though he did put up more WAR than Segura last year).

But who knows, maybe after all that we wind up with Kris Bryant and trade for a starter.

Taudawg 2020-01-04 19:42:12 UTC #44

For 2020 I hope Donaldson doesn't return to the Braves or go to the Nats, but long term I sort of hope he does. He is now projected/rumored to get 110 mil over 4 years. I can't see that working out in a couple years. He's 34 and his road/home splits suggest SunTrust park may have inflated his numbers some.

There are some other what if's when it comes to both teams. I just went for the highlights. I wouldn't expect the same output from the Brave's Catchers in 20. McCann gave them a nice swan song, Markakis is 36 and Inciarte seems be trending in the wrong direction. I guess I feel their current depth chart doesn't appear much better.

Same thing for the Nats. Presently of course. I mean Kurt Suzuki, Howie Kendrick, Max and others have to age at some point. Right? lol.