The Braves Need a Manager Befitting Of Their General Manager

In a recent blurb from ESPN's Jim Bowden, the former general manager cites a source which suggests that former Padres' skipper Bud Black has emerged as the early favorite to become the Braves' manager in 2017.

By ISU_79 on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational
(Crop) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Now, the next Braves manager probably won't matter all that much. Baseball teams, especially at the major league level, don't need Casey Stengel to be successful. Bob Brenly was an atrocious manager and won a ring. It's mostly about the players, their development, and their performance at the end of the day. I'm not saying that some managers aren't better than others - only that the difference is too often insignificant. It's akin to lineup optimization. Does it matter? Absolutely, but it's not really the big deal we make it.

Hiring Black is an acceptable move for a franchise looking for stability. It's also a boring and inconsistent move for the John Coppolella Braves. One of the great things about Coppy is that he thinks outside-the-box. He's willing to try new things, move around pieces, and blend new-age/sabermetric principles with traditional accepted ones. He's the Joe Maddon of general managers and he should have a Joe Maddon of managers leading the club he puts together.

Unfortunately, Maddon has a job and it's a pretty nice one so he the only way he'll come to Suntrust Park is as a visitor. That doesn't mean the Braves should settle on a by-the-numbers pick like Black. If you can't have Maddon, why not hire his understudy? Dave Martinez, who ended his playing career with the Braves, has interviewed for a number of managerial positions, but failed to secure a job as the guy so far. It's shocking for Maddon, who says "he's absolutely ready. Some team’s going to get lucky." Why not the Braves?

Martinez has been Maddon's right-hand man since 2008 and followed Maddon to Chicago after the Rays passed on Martinez as Maddon's replacement. That was despite being endorsed by Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist, and Alex Cobb among others. In fact, it seems like everyone who has been around the 52 year-old is shocked that he hasn't gotten a chance to lead a club already. Martinez is a student of the game and takes care of a lot of the things typically thought of managerial duties, which leaves Maddon free to focus on more pressing issues. The former outfielder knows all of the stats and knows how to communicate them to the players.

Of course, the Braves could eventually settle on Brian Snitker. He was at the helm of a team that went 59-65 after Fredi Gonzalez's dismissal following a 9-28 start. The Braves were especially strong in the second half. The problem with Snitker is that he's more of a placeholder. He keeps his head down, supports his players, and won't amaze with you with any sort of strategy. The offense's play under Snitker is more a product of veterans like A.J. Pierzynski, Gordon Beckham, Erick Aybar, and Jeff Francoeur receiving less plate appearances in the second half. Plus, Freddie Freeman posting MVP-type numbers while Matt Kemp had a big last two months with Atlanta certainly made the offense more dynamic. I just don't see Snitker as a long-term fixture.

Nor do I see the guys the Braves could have gone with before deciding on Snitker as options. Bo Porter has experience, though it wasn't too memorable. Eddie Perez has the sentimental vote, but I haven't read much from him that makes me think he'll bring something unique to the job. Terry Pendleton coached under a third Braves manager during his move to the dugout and with good reason - nobody else has been willing to give him a position with increased responsibilities.

The Braves will also look at Ron Washington and two-time pennant-winning manager has some pluses, though his very public problems could make that a less-than-likely pick.

At the end of the day, I want someone capable of bringing a fresh perspective to the dugout. The Braves followed the book before and were saddled with Gonzalez, a thoroughly unsatisfying manager. While managers are over-scrutinized and given way too much credit for success (subsequently, way too much blame for poor play), the Braves shouldn't play it safe with this choice. Instead, give their creative general manager a creative manager who learned under the best. You won't get a much better option this offseason than Martinez.

2016 Player Reviews: Jed Bradley, Mauricio Cabrera, Daniel Castro

Yesterday, I began a new series in my return to active writing. Over the next several weeks, I will continue to review a number of players who have been on the roster this season for the Braves and could continue with the team in 2017.

Read the previous set of player reviews or click here for the entire series.

Jed Bradley, LHP, 26 years-old

2016 Review: Sometimes, things just sort of work out. After languishing with an ERA near 6.00 since the beginning of the 2015 season with the Brewers organization,Bradley was quietly picked up by the Braves in early June for "future considerations." Bradley came from good stock as he was the 15th pick of the 2011 Draft out of Georgia Tech, but had never lived up to the hype. After changing Southern League squads to Mississippi, Bradley came into his own with over a strikeout an inning while inducing a decent diet of groundballs. After a great run in Double-A, he received a promotion up the ladder to Gwinnett before earning a big league assignment in September. In a half-dozen games out of the pen, he struggled to throw strikes (just a 52% rate), though it should be noted that his walk total (6) is a little inflated by two intentional passes.

2017 Projection: Was it good luck? Better coaching? Change of scenery to an area where he was successful as a Yellow Jacket all those years ago? Whatever the case, Bradley went from roster fodder to decent performer in short order for the Braves after the trade. Now, the real challenge begins - can he repeat his success? He throws a quartet of pitches beginning with a 90 mph fastball that has good sinking action. None of his secondary pitches are graded as plus options, but he can throw his slider, curve, and change for strikes. Bradley is unlikely to reach his mid-rotation ceiling that he had when drafted, but could be an effective swingman in the majors - especially if he shows some ability to get lefties out at a nice clip. The Braves like Bradley, but he's unlikely to place high on the depth chart right now and could be primed to be designated for assignment if a need should arise, which would expose him to the rest of the league.

Mauricio Cabrera, RHP, 22 years-old

2016 Review: I love this description of Cabrera's fastball from Brooks Baseball. The pitch "is a real worm killer that generates an extreme number of groundballs compared to other pitchers' fourseamers and is thrown at a speed that's borderline unfair." You can fall in love with Cabrera's fastball (he actually throws two), but don't ignore his 91 mph change-up or his 85 mph slider. He's not a one trick pony and major league hitters can attest to that because they simply could not figure him out after his late June callup. Expected to continue his control issues that have plagued him in the minors, Cabrera threw strikes with more frequency than he ever had before.

2017 Projection: Cabrera's sudden discovery of the strikezone is not that abnormal. Catchers frame pitches better in the majors, umpires call strikes better, and pitchers have more resources to help them succeed. Plus, arriving in the majors is part of the maturation process. We saw it with Craig Kimbrel after the man with the sketchy hat (it's a joke!) struggled greatly with his control in the minors (2009 BB/9 of 6.8 per nine), but once he settled in the bigs, he found his footing. A similar fireballer like Cabrera could have similar luck and continue to throw a lot of strikes - though I am not predicting the kind of success Kimbrel had. Cabrera is part of a glut of talent in the later innings with Arodys Vizcaino (presumably) and the returning Jim Johnson that should make things difficult on the opposition in 2017 if everything works out like the Braves hope. Which it won't, but it's October and we can dream.

By Keith Allison on Flickr (Originally posted to Flickr as
"Daniel Castro") [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Castro, SS, 24 years-old

2016 Review: In the slightly-altered immortal words of the late Dennis Green, Daniel Castro is who we thought he was. That's okay, too. Castro plays a solid shortstop that has included 115 errorless chances over the last two years in the majors. He's great at second base and good enough at third base. However, he simply has no bat. Well, that's not accurate. He has one, but it's more for decoration than anything. I'm not being harsh on him because, like I said, it's okay that he's a strong defender. He gives you a very capable late inning replacement should you be forced to carry him on your roster, but you have to limit his at-bats better than Atlanta was able to do this season pre-Dansby Swanson.

2017 Projection: Castro has another option year remaining, though his limited skill set means that his stranglehold on a 40-man roster spot is tenuous at best. If he lasts the offseason, Castro will enter spring training as a long shot to join the 2017 roster, but that's the way it ought to be. The Braves just don't have room to carry a Rafael Belliard in today's game for the full season. That leaves Castro at Triple-A providing depth in case of injury. In all likelihood, provided Castro lasts the offseason, the less we see him in 2017, the better the Braves' luck has been.

Thanks for reading and feel free to hit me in the comment section or on Twitter if you have any questions or comments.

2016 Player Reviews: Jesse Biddle, Aaron Blair, Emilio Bonifacio

I'm back. That was the longest shower of my life.

In all truth, a few personal issues have taken much of my focus away from baseball and the Braves over the last few months. I will not be going into it here, but I miss writing about the Braves and a lot has happened since I last updated my blog: the Matt Kemp trade, the promotion of Dansby Swanson, the international signing period, closing time for Turner Field, and playing spoiler over the last few weeks of the season.

To reacquaint myself with the team, I figured a player review series was appropriate. Each player in this series could return to the Braves in 2017 (though some definitely shouldn't). I will be covering two-to-three players each article and will head down the roster alphabetically.

*All ages are as of opening day, 2017.

Jesse Biddle, LHP, 25 years-old

2016 Review: Who that? Oh, you probably forget all about Jesse, didn't you? Picked up on waivers last March 19th after a month-and-a-half stay in the Pirates organization, Biddle was a consensus Top 100 prospect until the 2014 season. Before coming to the Pirates, Biddle was with the organization that drafted him back in 2010, the Phillies, and he was a fairly intriguing prospect before he went under the knife for the dreaded Tommy John surgery about a year ago. He spent 2016 rehabbing and was not included in this fall's instructional league roster for the Braves.

2017 Projection: Biddle was a big prospect once for a reason and could be a sleeper if the Braves can both right the ship with him and develop his skills. He throws a heater in the low-90's and also possesses a nice curveball. His changeup is good enough to make him a three-pitch pitcher and if he can bring along his slider, he'll have another weapon to confuse hitters. The problem for Biddle is two-fold. First, he's in a system with younger, better prospects who need innings and chances to show their worth. The other issue with Biddle is found in the business side of things. Biddle must be re-instated from the 60-day DL after the World Series concludes. If the Braves choose not to do so, I'm not positive of what happens next. My best guess is that he would be designated for assignment and moved through waivers. Provided he made it through, he could be outrighted to the minor leagues with a likely destination of Mississippi to begin 2017. That is...if another team doesn't pick him up in the Rule 5 (which is unlikely if he already made it through waivers). That's a lot of words, I know, but hopefully it was clear enough. Biddle still has potential, but he's not going to be a big piece that the Braves are going to try extra hard to hold onto.

By Editosaurus (Own work) [CC0],
via Wikimedia Commons

Aaron Blair, RHP, 23 years-old

2016 Review: Acquired in the Shelby Miller trade, Blair looked decent to begin his career, but things unraveled quickly for him in his fourth start and his ERA stayed over 7 for pretty much the rest of the season. In late June, the Braves sent him to Gwinnett for further seasoning. Unfortunately, his minor league numbers were not that good, either. In his defense, a .358 BABIP isn't easy to deal with and his FIP was far more acceptable at 3.38. He returned for a spot start in late August and received a three-start run over the final two weeks with the big-league club where he was decent, bad, and pretty good - in that order. In the season's penultimate game, Blair mowed down the Tigers with a career-best 10 K's. Before that, his personal high was 5.

2017 Projection: Ending the year on a positive note helps - just ask Matt Wisler from last year. It gives you a bit of a leg up, but Blair simply looked meh outside of that outlier final start. Even when he was good, it wasn't all that much to write home about and too often when he was bad, he was really bad. Most of the time, he nibbled, walked too many batters, and got himself in situations where major league hitter thrive - facing a rookie pitcher trying desperately hard to throw strikes rather than focus on pitching. Of the 14 homeruns he served up, eight came with at least one runner on base and just as many came with Blair trying to hold onto a lead. Blair has a lot to clean up before 2017, but again, ending the year on a positive note could be a catalyst for the right-hander. His spot on next year's roster is far from assured, but fortunately for him, I can say that about many starting pitchers in the mix. The Braves will almost certainly add at least one starter for 2017 and Blair will have plenty of competition for any open spots in the rotation, but he's earned a long look.

Emilio Bonifacio, UTIL, 31 years-old

2016 Review: After returning to the Braves last offseason, Bonifacio was cut in the spring before being brought back for minor league depth. He was solid for Gwinnett and gave them someone capable of playing center field (although, not very well). Gwinnett used eight guys in center field and only three probably should play the position so Bonificaio wasn't a terrible option for them. Along the way, he received two different stints with the Braves where he played left-and-center and was used often as a pinch hitter because that's what you do with a career .258 hitter with no power.

2017 Projection: One of the few Braves free agents, Bonifacio will likely catch on somewhere, though a triple slash of .242/.290/.320 since 2013 and just two steals over his last 70 major league games won't help him attract much of any attention. He could return on a minor league deal and share a room with Kelly Johnson this spring because that's a thing the Braves do.

Well, that's it for my first post back. I can't promise I will get back to posting every day, but I hope to make it through the roster by the time the World Series concludes and get started on a Top 50 Prospect list as well - along with the usual opinion and analysis of Atlanta Braves decisions and possibilities. Hope you guys enjoyed and remember to like and share through social media if you did. Thanks for reading!

Random Prospect Sunday - Omar Obregon

Switch-hitting middle infielders with a good hit tool are always worth an extended look - even in a system that has both Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson. While Omar Obregon isn't close to reaching their prospect status, he has done enough to warrant some attention as we head into the summer of the 2016.

(For some pictures of Obregon, click here.)

Born April 18, 1994 in Nicaragua, Obregon comes from a nation that has rarely produced any decent major league bats. Only one player was both born and raised in Nicaragua and received at least 2,000 career plate appearances - Everth Cabrera. Just that is enough to work against the young infielder. Nevertheless, the Braves during the Frank Wren years loved Obregon's game enough to sign him when the 2011-12 international free agent period opened up.

After a year spent in the international complex, Obregon was added to the Dominican Summer League squad in 2012 as an 18 year-old. Walk numbers are very unreliable at that level because of the wildness from opposing pitchers, but he did walk 21 times to just 19 strikeouts. However, aside from two doubles, most of his 25 hits were of the single-base variety, giving him an ISO of just .021. Weight room much? A promotion to the states in 2013 with the Gulf Coast League Braves saw his numbers fall at the plate (this time, he had one triple and 24 singles).

The 2014 season would see Obregon  rebound to hit .297 with a .384 OBP - with the assistance of 24 BB/25 K rate. He also upped his ISO to a bit more respectable (.049). Another move that may have helped is that the Braves were able to move him off shortstop, where he really doesn't have the arm, and more him over to second base - especially with Albies joining him in Danville. While it decreases his overall value and certainly, Obregon can play shortstop, it's a bit of a stretch for him.

The following season saw Obregon jump into full-season ball with Rome. In 119 games, Obregon slashed just .274/.336/.317, but did swipe 31 bases after just 17 steals in the previous three years in short-season ball. The unfortunate thing was that Obregon was caught 19 times, which is a terrible stolen base rate. After spending the spring with Team Nicaragua in their efforts to qualify for the next World Baseball Classic, Obregon joined Carolina to begin this season and has displayed improved extra-base skills with a nearly .100 ISO so far. Yes, that's pretty terrible, but it could be a sign that Obregon is maturing a bit. His skills on the base pathes continue to need work (2-for-6 in steals so far).

I'm providing a more robust scouting report to Outfield Fly Rule so please check that out for more information, but suffice it to say, what we have seen is what we get with Obregon. Defensively, he's smooth at second and while his arm isn't plus-grade at short, it's plenty good at second base to make all the plays. He shows good instincts with the glove. The Braves have used him at both corner infield positions. I think his arm is good enough for spot duty at third, but no more than that. He's a bit on the short side to play first base, but it's good to see him get work around the infield as his pathway to the majors will be as a utility player.

His best case scenario will be to follow the Martin Prado path. Let me say that it's unlikely he will ever match Prado's pop and so Obregon will likely be limited to being only a backup. With that in mind, Obregon could succeed in that role. His best offensive tool is his hit tool as he has good bat control. With a switch-hit bat coming off the bench and a penchant for putting the ball in play, Obregon could find enough green grass to rack up some hits. He's unlikely to walk much, but with his quick-and-compact swing, he's unlikely to strikeout much either. He has good speed, but lacks the instincts and/of confidence to turn that into successful steals.

All in all, Obregon is part of a good collection of talent that is in the 45-60 range as far as a Top Braves Prospects ranking would look. Similar to Luke Dykstra, there is enough hear to see Obregon progressing into something useful - but also not enough hear to think that is very likely.

For more on Obregon, remember to check out my scouting report. In addition, here are some old videos of Obregon.

2016 Draft: Day 2 Sees Braves Budget Their Funds

Yesterday, we saw the Braves make a total of eight selections to go with the four they made Thursday as part of the 2016 MLB Draft. Thursday was all about going big and manipulating the draft to their liking. Friday was a lot different as the Braves picked seven college kids from a variety of programs along with one high school player. Not only did they grab a a lot of college guys, their final five selections were all senior (i.e. easy to sign). Let's dive in.

Round 3, 80th overall - Drew Harrington, LHP, Lousville, Jr. - Overshadowed on a Cardinals team by higher drafted righties Nick Burdi and Kyle Funkhouser, Harrington moved from the bullpen this season and excelled as a starter with a 2.08 ERA in a tough conference while surrendering just three homeruns. He was actually their ace, but of course, that doesn't necessarily translate to pro ball. Many believe his future will be in the bullpen and I'm inclined to agree. That doesn't make this pick bad - just curious at first look. Baseball America had Harrington 124th on their pre-draft Top 500 so one might call this pick a reach, but the Braves will make some concessions to get their prize trio of prep arms signed so if they save money with this slot (worth $788,800), the Braves will be happy. Harrington works off his fastball, which gets good late movement, and then mixes in a slider. Both pitches have enough projection to help Harrington become a high leverage reliever.

Round 4, 109th overall - Bryse Wilson, RHP, Orange High School (NC) - Good value from a guy who was absolutely lights out in high school. The biggest question attached to Wilson is will he be able to develop a third pitch at some point so he can have a future as a starter? If not, the Braves have another reliever on their hands - though Wilson has been clocked with better velocity and the slide piece flashes plus potential. Ranked #93 by Baseball America, Wilson is committed to UNC, but I imagine if the Braves were trying to go underslot here, they already have a deal pretty much agreed upon. Wilson is athletic with a smooth delivery, but again, unless he adds a third pitch, the Braves spent their third and fourth round picks on relievers a year after drafting A.J. Minter #75.

Round 5, 139th overall - Jeremy Walker, RHP, Gardner-Webb, Jr. - Another pitcher, but this time, the Braves grab a small college guy. I couldn't find a lot on Walker, but it appears he can reach the mid-90's with his velocity and seemed to take a nice step forward this year in the Big South. He upped his strikeout total to 8.88 per nine (two more per nine than he had in 2015). He has great control and a nice slider to go with his fastball. I assume he has a change-of-pace, which will prompt the Braves to try him out as a starter. This is one of those moves where I trust the Braves because Baseball America had him ranked about 200 picks before the Braves grabbed him.

Round 6, 169th overall - Matthew Gonzalez, 2B, Georgia Tech, Sr. - An 11th rounder by the A's in 2012 who became a Yellow Jacket rather than signing, Gonzalez spent four years improving his game until a breakout campaign as a senior where he posted a .199 ISO and made a lot better contact. Defensively, he's got the skills (moreso at second or third), but will he hit enough? Last year, he did and if he continues to bloom late, the Braves got themselves a righty with some pop.

Round 7, 199th overall - J.B. Moss, LF, Texas A&M, Sr. - After moving to center field, Moss blossomed for the Aggies this year with a .325/.416/.486 slash. The ISO of .161 was just eight points better than last year, but the overall results were much better. He also went from six steals in nine attempts as a junior to 16 successful steals in as many attempts.

Round 8, 229th overall - Taylor Hyssong, LHP, UNC Wilmington, Sr. - Spent a year at Pitt Community College before transferring to UNCW in 2015. Last year, he got a chance to pitch more, but mainly as a reliever. Interestingly, his LinkedIn page says he was seeking an internship after graduating with a management degree from UNCW. He tossed three scoreless innings against UNC as they beat the nationally-ranked Tar Heels in May. Nothing really stands out in his numbers.

Round 9, 258th overall - Tyler Neslony, RF, Texas Tech, Sr. - The Braves try their luck again with a college senior with big numbers in his final taste of college ball (.308/.398/.526). He actually hit well during his entire career in Lubbock. He'll be limited to the corners and he might have more power in his bat than we saw in college. If so, this could be a sneaky good pick for a smart and committed ballplayer. That said, Neslony is not that different from any number of college bats that are selected as seniors in the 6th-to-10th round range - they would have been drafted higher if they had enough believers. Neslony didn't, but he'll have a chance to prove he has more to give.

Round 10, 289th overall - Marcus Mooney, SS, South Carolina, Sr. - You got to like a kid who comes back as a senior in a big way. Mooney hit just .213/.275/.296 as a junior and tore his hamstring. But he would come back in 2016 and slash .311/.408/.478. So, kudos on that. Mooney hit for no power in college (just 2 HR in 757 AB) nor did he flash much speed.

After a brilliant first day, the second day screamed of restraint so that the Braves could sign their big pieces. They settled for college guys who would be easy to sign over talent that was much more thought of. I like both Harrington and Wilson - especially if the latter can progress into a starter. Gonzalez has some intrigue, but the rest of the Top 10 rounds were just not overly exciting picks. The rest of the draft is free from the slot bonus rules, which might allow Atlanta to get a little bit more creative with their drafting because Day 2 was just...meh.

FYI, I won't do a review for today's picks because many of the 30 or so players won't sign. If I do a review, it will be after we know who signs.

The Braves Draft All the Pitchers

Let's be honest. Yesterday's first two rounds of the 2016 MLB draft were weird.

For all of the talk about the Braves' interest in outfielders Kyle Lewis and Corey Ray, along with pitchers Jason Groome and Riley Pint, the Braves played the long game instead. The slot bonus era has its advantages, but one of its disadvantages is that it rewards teams going "cheaper" with their top pick to spread out funds elsewhere. The Braves played that to the tee with the pick of right-hander Ian Anderson.

A Vanderbilt recruit, Anderson was picked in large part because of a pre-draft deal in place which would allow the Braves to apply their strategy. Even so, let's not ignore that Anderson is a great talent in his own right. Just 170 pounds, he has room to grow into his 6'3" frame and shore up his strength. His fastball has seen a peak in the 97 mph range, but at this point, he sticks in the low 90's. That said, more physical maturation could increase his average velocity a few ticks. His breaking stuff needs refinement (which applies to all 18 year-old pitchers), but it has plus potential especially with his curveball. The sluve/slider needs tightening. He also has a change-up that he has a great handle on. If that's the framework the Braves are working with, they are already ahead of the game.

His delivery is smooth to the plate and quick. He falls off toward the first base a bit, which might be an area the Braves work on to try to make him a better fielding pitching. That said, I think the bigger concern is trying to make sure he doesn't rush his delivery. With that in mind, that's nit-picking what was a solid choice. Granted, according to multiple publications, he doesn't Pint or Groome's higher-end projection, but he brings a great combination of current skills and projection. While many experts had him in the 12-18 overall range, the difference between Anderson and the ones that were projected ahead of him is unlikely to be significant in this draft. All probably have a similar Future Value grade when scouts grade them and there are whispers that the Braves ranked Anderson as the best overall pitcher in the 2016 draft.

The Anderson choice, however, made it more possible to select top talent with their next two selections. First up was Shawness Mission East left-hander, Joey Wentz. Already 6'5" and 220, Wentz throws a low 90's fastball with movement and a great curveball that will be difficult for lefthanders to get a handle on. His change-up needs more consistency, but the good news is that Wentz might have the cleanest and easiest delivery of any pitcher in the draft - especially with his height. Wentz has a profile worthy of a Top 15 grade, but scouts wanted to see him pitch at a big time college program first before advocating their team take him that high. He has been committed to UVA for some time and will take a lot of effort to sign him, but if the money saved from the third pick helps the Braves add Wentz, it works out perfectly.

Wentz did fall because of another reason - he suffered from dead arm in high school, prompting his team to play him at first base to keep him in the lineup. For what it's worth, he's got serious power as a hitter, though he projects as an even better pitcher.

Another good hitter and left-handed pitching option, Kyle Muller was the Braves selection with the #44 overall pick. There are a lot of similarities here to Wentz. Muller might have a bit higher average velocity, though his secondary pitches need more refinement. His regular delivery is consistent and he is deliberate throughout the motion without much unneeded movement. His motion from the stretch  needs work as he flies open way too much as he tries to get on top of his pitches. Muller probably would be a Top 5 pick if he continues on his current trajectory and heads to Texas (and stays healthy), but if the Braves are able to sign him, they have another first round talent on their hands.

The final player the Braves took on Thursday was catcher Brett Cumberland. Outfield Fly Rule's Brent Blackwell commented in their facebook group, "If we could somehow combine Cumberland and Lucas Herbert, we'd have the best catcher prospect in the game." He's not wrong. As highly as Herbert's defense is thought of, Cumberland's bat is just as good - if not better. A switch-hitter with discipline and the ability to hit for average and power, Cumberland belted 16 homers in the Pac-12 last year as a sophomore. But...will he stay at catcher?

It depends on who you ask and also, at least to me, what the bigger concern is. If Cumberland shows a knack for pitch receiving and framing, I can deal with a below-average arm. If both are a problem, it will all boil down to how good his bat becomes. He could certainly be shifted to first base or left field, which could even help his already impressive offensive game.

The draft continues today and the Atlanta Braves could satisfy their fans unreasonable expectations by selecting more bats, but what we saw in the first two rounds was the exactly right way to approach the major league draft. You never reach for current need as it might not be a need when the player you draft reaches the majors. You take what the draft gives you and this draft was big on prep high school arms. The Braves also tried to be creative and hedge their bets with three first-round talents rather than just one. Now, they have to sign those players, but if they do, Atlanta has added a trio of high-reward pitchers to their farm system already bursting at the seems with them. Such moves open up the discussion all the more for trading pitchers. The Braves can better afford to trade Julio Teheran or Matt Wisler and withstand a loss to the system by trading Touki Toussaint or Sean Newcomb.

Also...let's not forget that in addition to the 2016 draft, the Braves will be big players on the international free agent market. Their top target, Kevin Maitan, has higher upside than any player in the draft and the Braves already have a handshake agreement.

Recently, I went over the Best 5 and Worst 5 drafts since 2000. One common theme for the drafts, especially under Frank Wren, was an insistence on drafting for need - specifically guys who were safe bets to get to the bigs. Atlanta acquired so many college arms and bats, but saw many of them max out as AAAA filler. The current Braves braintrust values future overall value versus playing it safe. The Braves will certainly see their fair share of busts from this approach, but their chances of developing an All-Star are much higher this way. While it's impossible to grade the first two rounds a day after they were selected, the approach is a clear A++.

Best 5 Braves Drafts Since 2000 - #1

Best/Worst Drafts since 2000
Worst: #5, 2009 | #4, 2004 | #3, 2013 | #2, 2011 | #1, 2001
Best: #5, 2010 | #4, 2015 | #3, 2007 | #2, 2002 | #1, 2000

The  Best Draft Since 2000...The 2000 Draft

By Keith Allison from Kinston, USA (Kelly Johnson)
[CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Earlier today, I went over the 2001 draft, which I labeled the worst since 2000. What made that draft so frustrating was that despite having six of the first 105 overall selections, the Braves got precious little out of it. It might be equally frustrating that it came just a year after a similar case of a plethora of picks. But this time, the Braves turned it into a big haul, which showed just what Atlanta was capable of doing in the draft. You win some, you lose some.

The final Braves' team of the 90's was also their final chance to claim ultimate glory, but a quick four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees ended that dream. Still, the '99 Braves were a thing of beauty. In his Age-27 year, Chipper Jones had been named MVP. Andruw Jones, five years younger than Chipper, had posted a .365 OBP and his second consecutive 20/20 year. He was already well on his way to being the greatest defensive center fielder in baseball history. The rotation was aging, but had received a boost by a breakout season from Kevin Millwood, who struck out 205 batters. John Rocker replaced an injured Kerry Ligtenberg as closer and dominated. The team was expected to be good for a long, long time.

The minor leagues were stacked with talent from Rafael Furcal to Wilson Betemit to Marcus Giles to Matt Belisle. The Braves looked prime to only add to their already embarrassment of riches. Free agent defections after the 1999 season would give them extra selections to keep cycling through talent. Russ Springer, a good middle reliever, brought back a compensation first rounder (#29th overall) from the Diamondbacks. He also brought a supplemental pick at the end of the first round (#40th). Jose Hernandez, who only spent a couple of months with the Braves, brought the team the #38th overall selection after he signed with the Brewers. The Braves would also receive the Brewers' second rounder, #51st overall. There was literally no penalty for trading prospects for trade deadline talent back then. Atlanta had given the Cubs pitchers Micah Bowie, Joey Nation, and Ruben Quevedo for Hernandez and southpaw Terry Mulholland. They also got #38th and #51st pick. They effectively gave up three pitching prospects for four players. It's no wonder small-market teams hated the compensation system.

The Braves also received an extra fourth rounder, #106, because the Devil Rays signed Gerald Williams. If you ever wonder why the D-Rays needed so much time to be good, 2000 is a good example. Due to signing free agents, the D-Rays picked #6th overall and then took a long nap before their next spot came up - #136th in the fifth round. To compare, between both of Tampa Bay's first two picks, the Braves would draft nine players.

As the first round started, the Braves had a target. Would that target fall to them? They allegedly were spreading news around that Adam Wainwright had some injury concerns related to his right elbow with the hope that it would scare off enough teams to free up the Braves to select the native Georgian. Whatever the truth may be, clearly the Braves were hoping that Wainwright fell to them. The Cardinals passed at #24, the Astros went in another direction at #27, and the Yankees went with the son of Lance Parrish (David) at #28. When the Yankees finished the string of six players who would be drafted ahead of Wainwright, but failed to make it to the majors, the Braves must have been crazy with excitement. They got their guy.

They would also get the next guy on their Big Board because the next pick was theirs. Rather than stick with southeastern prep athletes, they bought into the reports of sick power from north of the border and selected Scott Thorman out of Cambridge, Ontario. Eight picks later, they mined the talent-rich fields of Texas to grab Austin-native Kelly Johnson. After the Rangers made their third pick of the first round (of which, they received just three hitless at-bats out of), the Braves picked shortstop Aaron Herr out of Hempfield High School in Pennsylvania. With their two second-round picks, the Braves picked a pair of righty prep pitchers in Bubba Nelson and Bryan Digby. They stuck with the theme in the next two rounds, selecting a total of three right-handed prep pitchers in Blaine Boyer, Zach Miner, and Brian Montalbo - the latter of which would choose not to sign after being pick out of Alaska and would later be picked in the 7th round by the Brewers out of Cal-Berkeley.

What sets this draft apart from others was Atlanta's ability to find value late. Between Chris Waters selection in the fifth round and their 17th round selection, Atlanta failed to add any future major league talent. Keoni De Renne, a shortstop out of the University of Arizona, looked interesting, but ultimately failed like so many of those mid-draft picks. In the 17th round, the Braves added sturdy right-hander Trey Hodges out of LSU. Two rounds later, they picked Western Carolina outfielder Charles Thomas. Hodges would late hold down a middle relief job for the Braves while Thomas had one nice summer in the majors, which the Braves helped turn into Tim Hudson.

The Braves selected ten more players after Thomas who failed to make it to the bigs, but in the 29th round, they picked Seminole State College 1B and sometimes pitcher, Adam LaRoche. It was the third consecutive season LaRoche had been drafted. He had refused to sign with the Marlins in back-to-back years, but the Braves convinced him that his future was in Atlanta just two weeks after drafting him. Just four years later, he would be their regular first baseman. For three years, he blossomed into a steady option at first base before the suddenly penny-pinching Braves traded LaRoche after he became arbitration-eligible and handed the first base job to the guy who was drafted 850 picks before LaRoche in 2000 in Thorman. They later brought LaRoche back during the 2009 deadline to bring stability to their 1B situation, but passed on keeping him. They had their future 1B in the making in the minors (Freddie Freeman) and a long-term deal for LaRoche wasn't in the cards.

LaRoche was the last-of-nine major leaguers the Braves drafted and signed out of the 2000 draft. Waters would leave the organization as a minor league free agent after 2006 and would later pitch in 16 games with the Orioles between 2008-09. Five years after being drafted, the Braves would package Miner with right-hander Roman Colon in a trade with the Tigers to acquire Kyle Farnsworth. Miner pitched in 173 career games, mainly with the Tigers, before retiring. Boyer was a dependable member of the 2005 Baby Braves, but washed out after that. After nearly giving up, he has been a nice story of perseverance since returning to the majors in 2014 with the Padres while posting a 2.70 ERA over 123 games with San Diego, Minnesota, and currently Milwaukee.

Even though this draft would produce some big hits, the trio of Herr, Nelson, and Digby all failed to make it to the majors. Nelson was used as trade bait while Herr and Digby simply washed out. Thorman was handed the 1B job in 2007, but showed that outside of some homers that left the planet, he was not capable of reaching base. His struggles led John Schuerholz to trade for Mark Teixeira. Theoretically, had Thorman been respectable, maybe Schuerholz wouldn't have lost his mind. Maybe.

But regardless, in addition to LaRoche, the Braves had some huge success with the drafting of Wainwright and Johnson. The latter developed into a good second baseman before transitioning into a sought-after utility player. Here is something you should know Kelly Johnson. He is the fourth-best player selected in the first round of 2000 according to rWAR behind just Chase Utley, Adrian Gonzalez, and - of course - Wainwright. Speaking of Waino, Braves fans naturally bemoan his 2003 trade to the Cardinals. While J.D. Drew would help the Braves keep their playoff streak in tact, it was a lot to give up for one year of Drew. However, from a drafting standpoint, the Braves aced this pick. First as a reliever and later as a starter, Wainwright became one of the more dominating pitchers in baseball until this year. The Braves got their man. They didn't keep him, but they got him and he turned out to be everything they thought he could be and more.

Hopefully, tonight's draft yields a solid haul like the Braves got in 2000. Do you agree or disagree with any of my rankings? Let me know! What draft since 2000 should have been named the best? The worst? I'm all ears.