Highlights from Dombrowski & Thomson pressers today -
1- Entire coaching staff will be retained and back, Thomson contract extended,
2- Dombrowski stressed how hard it is to win and highlighted Braves crazy division run which netted only 1 title. Said you need to be playing the best at the right time, that wasn’t the case this year,
3- Offensively, said they will consider lineup construction but want players to use the whole field more. It was brought up that Turner line drive rate is down and his fly ball rate up; they would like to see that flip. Said Bohm, Marsh, and Stott all need to be mindful as well of using whole field. Sounds like roster is largely set other than CF. Did not commit to Hays being back. Sounds like they will evaluate improvement in CF if possible but want Rojas to improve his short game and cutting down his swing,
4- Pitching, 1-4 set, Walker will have an off season program but is not guaranteed #5 spot. Painter will need to be brought along slowly with his innings managed. I would think it’s a Strasburg like situation where I think they would like to limit him to 125 innings max this year,
5- Pen, said they would like BOTH Estevez and Hoffman back but realistically that won’t happen given $$ necessary to bring BOTH back for multi years.
Stott is a big variable for next year. One concerning stat I saw was that on last pitches of AB’s this year at least 93 mph, Stott hit .200 compared to .319 in 2023. I often noted how Stott struggled with the fastball this year. He needs improvement there.