The bottom line appears to be in their development. Looking at the Braves drafts from 1993-1997, of the 33 position players drafted and signed in the first 15 rounds, only George Lombard, Wes Helms, and Mark DeRosa have seen any big league time. True, the emphasis is on taking pitching, but this doesn't mean that they have not scouted and obtained good talent. They just never come out at the other end of the minor league tunnel. A look at the prospects in the system today continues to prove this out.
Good drafts seem to hit the wall.
One professional baseball veteran observed to me that it is like they teach hitters how NOT to hit. Pitching flourishes under watchful eyes of the pitching coaches. Long time Braves minor league pitching coach Bruce DalCanton, who was at Myrtle Beach this year, is a prime example of doing what it takes to get a young player ready. It may be a situation where the Braves feel that stopgaps can be obtained through free agency, and prefer to put more energy into developing pitchers. Or maybe there is lack of patience with the young hitters that they do take.