Atlanta Braves Missed Mark on Archer… but Still Firing Arrows?
![Sep 23, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Sep 23, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Ftomahawktake-com-2Ffiles-2F2016-2F12-2F9559521-chris-archer-mlb-boston-red-sox-tampa-bay-rays-850x553-2482618cdcc57b1b45e64c08dc9637e1.jpg)
The Braves have pursued several pitchers during this off-season – and two specifically by name. From today’s chat session, it sounds like somebody is reluctant to give up on one of those names.
Love him or hate him, you’ve got to appreciate this time that Atlanta Braves GM John Coppolella is spending with the fans.
If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s almost worth joining twitter just to have the pleasure of witnessing this event: it’s called #AskCoppy and messages tweeted to the @Braves account with that hashtag have a chance to be answered.
The forum is great – the 140-ish character limit produces quick responses and pithy comments without too many miscues.
So for over 90 minutes today, Coppy answered literally dozens of questions from fans in what has to be the best interative time anyone in baseball spends with their fanbase – and all with piles of boxes around him as the offices as preparing to move to SunTrust Park after Friday.
Are the Braves Done for the Off-Season?
This is probably the most pressing question, and it can take many, many forms. But certainly, Coppy himself is mindful that the biggest tasks he had in mind are now complete.
So… as @gaaronkirby asked… what is the focus for the rest of the Winter?
Don't do anything stupid. We have gotten better and held our prospects. We want to improve gradually not "win" the off-season per se. https://t.co/7lWKJ8YOy5
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 15, 2016
That by itself seems to say a lot – suggesting that he may just hold his cards close to the vest. Indeed, this later question about getting a third baseman (Trevor Plouffe was named in the inquiry from @kingofgames3) suggests that perhaps the end of the money could be close:
Would rather see about Adonis & Rio while saving our $$ for more pressing needs. https://t.co/KpbepyrOQQ
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 15, 2016
In the realm of trying to stay smart, @Chopshop2015 gave a hat tip to Coppolella for not trading for any pitcher named Chris — whether Archer or Sale. That got this response:
Thanks Chad! I would have loved to have gotten Sale or Archer, but we need to stay discipline & trust in our kids & process. https://t.co/fYPKRJMrX8
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 15, 2016
So does that past tense mean that the Braves have given up on Tampa Bay in the pursuit of Archer? It certainly sounds like it.
However, he chose and responded to these tweets a few minutes later:
(1) From @clvclvWSS: “All I want for Xmas is Chris Archer”
You and me, Chris. You and me. https://t.co/yB9NpT9QW3
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 15, 2016
(2) From @_haleymarie4: “What do you want for Christmas?”
Archer or another ace-type pitcher. In all seriousness, just health & happiness for family & friends. I don't need anything else. https://t.co/0xDclrTbT3
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 15, 2016
Is Coppy still fixated on Chris Archer? I think I would conclude so.
Here’s one more related tweet from @TyGreene5: “How excited were you with the progress Touki [Toussaint] showed 2nd half of last year? Do you see him as potential 1-2?”
Good call, Ty. Touki has as much upside as any pitcher in our system & could be 1-2 type. One internal comp on him is actually Archer. https://t.co/WKPLZTjBy6
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 15, 2016
There’s another Archer reference – used in describing Touki Toussaint, of course, but it’s still an Archer mention.
Anybody ever recall a GM speaking so openly about a player on another team like that before? Usually, we’re left to guess at targets and sniff around the edges of interviews for clues.
Not here. Not now. The man seems to have a bit of an obsession. Don’t sleep on that, for there still might be a major trade to make before the Spring.
Some News of Interest
Coppy also did the Q&A over on @LosBravos, the Spanish language twitter feed for the Braves. There we had this exchange:
Saludos desde México, John! Habrá algún cambio en los uniformes en un futuro cercano? #PreguntaleACoppy
— Macuki Cuki (@srperezpolanco) December 15, 2016
This is one of the questions I had asked over on the English side, but didn’t get an answer on. Here’s the translation:
@LosBravos Greetings from Mexico, John! Will there be any changes to the uniforms in the near future? #PreguntaleACoppy
I think we’re going to change the uniforms, but I do not know the information & will not do it [say any more] now
Aha! A uniform change is coming! Please feel free to speculate wildly about what that might be.
In the meantime… the Braves really, really, really want Chris Archer… but will have to get him smartly… that seems to be the biggest message from this December edition of #AskCoppy.