Posted by Rob McQuown on Monday, August 10, 2009 at 6:45 am

Reality caught up with “Team 3″ this week as some good teams took 6 of 7 (http://www.scoresheet.com/FOR_WWW/P_NL300.htm#scores), dropping the team to 18 games back, even in the weak division.  So far, a “Fire Sale” email sent Sunday has received 3 replies.  Here is the keeper situation for next year, still hoping to get more “gold” minor-leaguers and draft picks:

Grade “A+” (2):

SP: Vazquez

Bats: Votto

Grade “A” (5):

Bats: Salty, Gonzalez, Ethier, S.Smith, Dukes

Grade “A-”/”B+” (6):

SP: Maholm

RP: Troncoso, Medlen

Bats: C. Young, Infante, Feliz

Grade “B”:SP: Perez, Martis, Balester, Detwiler

RP: S.Burnett, Bray(?)

Bats: Bonifacio,  Cantu

Grade “C”?:

SP: Randy Johnson (if he doesn’t retire), Rich Hill, Daniel Cabrera,Lowry, L.Hernandez

RP: S.Green, Logan

Bats: Adam Rosales?, Ruiz

Minors (don’t count toward 13): Strasburg, Drabek, Vitters, Lawrie, Elbert

Things are  starting to become more clear.  Despite signs of life in June (.246/.402/.508), Chris Young went into the tank again in July/August.  Even playing CF like Devon White can’t keep a guy in the lineup when he’s hitting .193/.297/.357, and Young is looking like a cut.  He has hit LHP quite well (.247/.396/.468), but with 13 keepers – no way.

Omar Infante’s OPS+ has been over 100 over the span from 2008-present, but Prado’s emergence will squeeze him out of the picture.  Another very likely cut though his tiny sample size in 2009 could allow him to quickly work his way back into Atlanta’s plans and ours – he’s rated as an average fielder all over the place, which is quite useful.

Right now, the upcoming draft picks look like:

42 – Hoping for Vanden Hurk, as he’s been a longtime fave, but he is probably doing too well to drop to pick 3.

43 – Some minor-leaguer

44 – Ryan Tucker?  Another fave.  If he ends the year with >50 MLB inning, he’d have to be protected in the “upper 13″.

1-2: Votto, Vazquez

3- 7: Salty, Gonzalez, Ethier, S.Smith, Dukes

8-11:  Maholm, Medlen, 2 of (Young, Infante, Feliz, Troncoso based on trades)

12: (Vanden Hurk, if we get him)

13: Trade for picks.

14-26: 1 pick per round

27: (pick 44)

28: NO PICK

29: NO PICK

30: (pick 43)

31: Elbert (trying to trade – pick 44 can be kept here if we do)

32: Lawrie

33: Vitters

34: Drabek

35: Strasburg