Bartolo Colon (8) and R.A. Dickey (5) have combined to play for 13 teams but as Mets fans we tend to think of them as ours. So, it was a bit curious when the Braves went out and added these guys to their rotation. On top of that connection, both of these pitchers have another thing in common, as they are both members of the 40-plus club, with Colon turning 44 next May and Dickey having just turned 42.
The last team to have two 40-something guys in their rotation for at least 10 starts was the 1990 Texas Rangers, who featured both Charlie Hough and Nolan Ryan. Hough went 12-12 while Ryan went 13-9 for a Rangers club which went 83-79 and finished third in the AL West that season. Knowing that, how do you view Atlanta’s moves?
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I think the Braves are trying a modest (as in salary) move similar to the Cubs success playbook. Think young position players (Encarte, Swanson, Freeman) and veteran pitchers.
I think it’s more that the young hitters they acquired once they started dumping veterans have more promise than the young pitchers.
Wisler, Folty and Blair spent a lot of time in the majors last year but none of them seem top of the rotation guys. Nothing wrong with having SP3 or SP4 guys but they just don’t compare to Swanson, who looks like a star.
They acted like Sean Newcomb and Touki Toussaint were such steals when they got them. Newcomb had 71 BB in 140 IP in Double-A and at 23 it’s not like he was young for his level. Toussaint had 71 BB in 132.1 IP but at least he was 19.
Braves have some pitching that they drafted themselves that seem promising but still a few years away.
John Hart made his moves, so now its Sandy Alderson’s move or should I say moves.
Its less “just the veterans” and more “just the innings eaters” they need. The vet presence is a total bonus.
I think that they were both good moves. The Braves will probably not contend until 2018, so these pitchers are good veterans to hold them over for another year. Plus, maybe Bartolo will win 20 and the CY.
I think it’s a win-win-win. It’s great for the players to get contracts and opportunities like this at their age. It’s great for the Braves to have relatively affordable stop gaps for a year until some more young pitchers are ready. And it’s great that the Mets will save money by not feeling obligated to bring back a fan favorite that they really don’t need. I certainly understand that it’s a long shot for our big 5 starting pitchers to stay healthy but I think Gsellman and Lugo give us the depth we need for league minimum salaries. The Mets need to focus whatever flexible spending they have on the lineup and bullpen.
We didn’t think we needed Bart this year and look what happened. Going into next year we have question marks about, Harvey, Matz and Wheeler. At year’s end we will crossing our fingers that Jacob has more stamina. Instead of offering $17MM to a second baseman with a questionable back, I wish we had signed Bart– an inning eater and -the leader/co-leader in team wins for the past 3 years
I’m with Matt in that I’m glad he moved on, but I think Alderson saw that he wasn’t necessary any longer and would have saved the money anyway. This time last year, Wheeler was coming back in July and that was all the Mets had. Now, they have Wheeler coming back in March and two young pitchers in Lugo and Gsellman behind Wheeler. Why sign Colon to be the #8 starter?
As for the Braves signings of Dickey and Colon, nice move to get two innings eaters without long term commitments cheaply. Although they aren’t aces, when placed with Teheran and adding a couple of their young pitchers, it gives them a chance in every series. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Braves got McCann and opened their new ballpark with a .500 season and trending up. The NL East is going to the The NL Beast in two years.
Two quality vets, innings eaters, and positive locker room guys. If they bolster the pen, especially middle to late middle, it could work out.
Atlanta fans will like both men.
I don’t think Atlanta is trying to win in 2017, but they’d like to be a little more competitive.
These signings address those goals.
Competent stopgaps.