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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,712 comments Add your comment
DAP
April 30th, 2009
12:32 pm
efrimI don’t think the Braves will be major players in free agency given the contracts they picked up this past offseason.
yeah, they dont need to be. (because of the contracts they picked up) all they really need is a closer and maybe a outfielder, and they will have PLENTY of resources to do that with.
so back to the semi-original topic…considering all that, why do you think they wont resign soriano or gonzalez? they have the money, the need, they know and like both of them for the job…?
varoadrunner
April 30th, 2009
12:32 pm
Cardinals had 11 LOB – Braves had 18
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
12:34 pm
DOB – AROD juiced in HS and is a congenital liar, mark my words
The poor old semi-busto Yanks…….. they still do NOT understand that us dumb NY imports WILL NOT pay even a measly $1250 for a game (so grateful they cut the price from $2500, feels cheap now)….
I went out to Shea II, SHEATY Field yesterday to see a game and to watch JOHAN play…… nice stadium, awesome for the fans and I got a great seat for $32 from a scalper……..
Now the mutts truly suck, they have more problems then we do
I proudly wore my Braves gear and got an earful, well until PUTZ did his name proud…….. a lot of fun that…… watching those FISH fly
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
12:35 pm
And another $275M for 10 years of a guy with an effed hip.. LIAROD
That is worthy of the worst trades of all time along with ENRON and WORLDCOM
monty
April 30th, 2009
12:38 pm
Ross has played well, but I was a little(ok a lot) dissapointed last night in (what was it? the 8th inning) with runners on that he took two very hittable looking pitches for strikes(hanging slider and a slow curve), especially for 3rd strike and swung at a ball in the dirt. Put a little pressure on this team and they seem to WILT.
flange1
April 30th, 2009
12:38 pm
DAP,
You didn’t ask me, but here are my bullpen thoughts!
IF Soriano and Gonzo pitch well until the All Star game with no injuries to either, I think the Braves will use one or the other to trade for offense. Maybe add a KJ or a JoJo, enough talent to get someone who can hit and play defense. Hopefully RH and hopefully who can contribute for a couple of years.
Then I think whoever is left, the Braves will consider resigning if the price is right. They do not like to spend HUGE money on closers, so they might end up letting the other guy walk and trading for a new guy…
Or they think Moylan can handle it….
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
12:41 pm
Has anyone tried the grilled KFC chicken yet?
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
12:42 pm
JoJO may be another lefty late bloomer, remember GLAV was bad for 1 1/2 years and then hit his straps…… Reyes has looked much better with that nasty change-up working well
Coach (2010 or bust)
April 30th, 2009
12:42 pm
Give it up for Frank Wren.
Tom Glavine can’t go, Campillo is on the DL, Kawakami has shoulder fatigue (whatever that means) but is still scheduled to pitch.
Our GM stockpiled pitching with Jo-Jo Reyes, Tommy Hanson and Charlie Morton just a phone call away, we are sitting pretty in the starting pitching department.
On the flip side, we are averaging 4.04 runs per game. With that, I would say the Braves train has left the tracks and is piling up as we speak.
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
12:46 pm
Coach – FW gets an A- from me this/last year
It would be an A+ if we would have let Garrett respond to treatment and had DL-ed him earlier
I am very concerned and have been for some time that our injured players do not get left out until they are almost 100%…….. simple 2 week things become 1/2 year things with continued missed games instead of one little period of missed action…….. that really jacks me
monty
April 30th, 2009
12:48 pm
varoadrunner
the official boxscore from last night’s game list ATl. had 11 LOB(left on base) St. Louis had 4, which is different than total men who reached base.
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
12:59 pm
DAP, I just don’t see the Braves giving out tons of money to either. Soriano is still a huge injury risk. I suppose they could sign Gonzo, but it all depends on the market and his compensation status.
Original Jon
April 30th, 2009
1:03 pm
Jersey Gil, I say again, could you please repeat that?
TnBrian
April 30th, 2009
1:06 pm
Tomahawkin, those games against the Nats in Was. were pretty embarrassing. I have to say though, even though these frustrating loses mainly because the lack of offense, things aren’t bad at all. It’s April, and hopefully McCann and Garret have gotten the DL thing out of the way, and also gives Wren an early look at what might need to be done before it’s too late.
JD
April 30th, 2009
1:08 pm
If A-Rod did use steroids in HS, then I’m pretty sure that’s the first time a high schooler has ever done something stupid.
Jackie Moon
April 30th, 2009
1:09 pm
“what ever happened to working the counts taking pitches. this team swings at everything . its also making things very easy for the opposing pitcher. anyone else agree?”
I agree with this except for when there are 2 stikes in the count. Then we just stand there with the bat on our shoulders and watch the pitch breeze by for strike 3. We are horrible about not swinging if it’s close with 2 strikes.
JD
April 30th, 2009
1:11 pm
But when it comes to swinging at the first pitch, we’re the best in the bigs!
AndyC
April 30th, 2009
1:12 pm
Gummy, you appear to be obsessed with food. You keep asking DOB what he had for breakfast, dinner, etc. Is this a cry for help?
cphizzle
April 30th, 2009
1:13 pm
i had doritos for breakfast Gummy if that makes you feel any better
Chop Chop
April 30th, 2009
1:13 pm
Just got on and saw that you were wondering why a “big Dylan fan” might only like a few songs off of “Modern Times,” DOB. It’s actually more like four or five. That’s four or five out of ten. From my perspective, that’s really good. How many albums do you listen to in a year that have four or five songs that you really like? Okay, bad example. You listen to a hell of a lot more artists than I do and like a hell of a lot more of them than I do. You’re always looking. I basically just crib off your list from time to time because I don’t always have your drive. Escovedo is the most recent example, but you also got me turned on to Zevon a few years ago. That’s probably why I come back to the blog. It ain’t about the Braves talk as much as the chance that I might find some cool music.
The way I see things is that, hell, it’s Dylan. Comparing Dylan against himself is a little different than comparing, say, Nickelback against itself. I mean, comparing steaming **** to cold, runny **** is a pointless exercise.
Anyway, I just like the four or five (or maybe six) songs I like off of “Together Through Life” better than the ones I like off “Modern Times.” If Bobby Z. himself were to get mad about that, he could comfort himself in the knowledge that things are rough out there.
ncscoots
April 30th, 2009
1:17 pm
Perhaps someone needs to re-post Posnanski’s fine article on the count for some of our folks here. And some stats on hitters’ averages when swinging at the first pitch.
Not that I think any of those facts would actually get through to anybody…I just like the tilting-at-windmills feel of trying it (as long as I don’t have to do the research, of course, LOL).
JD
April 30th, 2009
1:26 pm
Ouch. On SportsCenter:
“Two teams heading in different direction, the Cardinals and Braves.”
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
1:28 pm
Naw just you know hungry
…I like doritos, it pisses me off when my hands turn orange though..
I dont think DOB needs food….
abwright
April 30th, 2009
1:28 pm
I find it amusing that many folks on this blog wanted to trade Vazquez before he had thrown a pitch for Atlanta. Now, he’s the golden boy.
Lowe was over-priced and too old. JJ was due for a sophomore slump. JoJo was a head case. Now these guys are great.
Many also want to part ways with Kawakami after four starts and a skipped start. If he’s got a 7.0 ERA after 10 starts, then start worrying. But, I believe that he will make adjustments, and the coaching staff will get a better idea about how to use him, now that they know what they’ve got.
KK is not like JoJo of last year or the Mark Redmond experiment. He’s had ups and downs. Not downs and downers.
I’m as frustrated as the rest on this blog with the weak offense. But…
Chipper has a bruised thumb.
Mac cannot see.
Yunel cannot run the bases and has channelled the old Andruw on GIDP.
Kelly is out due to slump.
Anderson has never really played at all.
Schafer is a rookie and inconsistent.
Kotchman is not hitting for power and is slow.
Frenchy is coming back from a horrible offensive year and has not been consistent yet.
That’s your starting 8. How much offense can you expect with that mess? And the Braves are basically .500 after playing three good games against the best team in the NL (at the moment).
Almost everything on that list of woes is going to turn around. If the team still struggles when that happens, then, I’ll concede that the Braves suck. However, I think the team’s best baseball is yet to come, and I’m still looking forward to this summer.
The bullpen seems to be fixed (fingers crossed). The starting pitching is good and consistent. There is depth in the minors if some wheels start to come off. Over 162 games, these factors will play more of a role in a team’s success than the offense.
The last couple of games there seemed to be some tinkering with the line-up (benching KJ, running Schafer). I think that we’ll start to see some improvement in that aspect of the game soon. OK…it can’t get worse, so that’s not really a prediction.
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
1:29 pm
From Keith Law’s chat:
Braves fan (ATL): Wheeler or Matzek?
Keith Law: (1:27 PM ET ) I really could go either way. Wheeler has more upside, Matzek has more polish. I think I’m a little more comfortable with Matzek, but at the same time, I’ve never seen Wheeler and not been impressed.
Here is to hoping the Braves get one of them in June.
Knowitall
April 30th, 2009
1:34 pm
JD,
I don’t think the story is so much that A-Rod used steroids in high school but the fact that he keeps lying. He went from absolutely not using steriods at all to saying that he used them during a very specific period while he was in Texas. I hope for his sake that the new allegations aren’t true because his entire career would lose credibility. I mean even with Bonds and McGuire there’s a presumption that they were clean at the beginning of their careers and you can see what kind of players they were then. If A-Rod took steroids as early as high school then there is no way to tell what kind of player he might have been without the juice.
cphizzle
April 30th, 2009
1:39 pm
you do have to deal with the orange hands just dont lick and stick back in the bag unless you have full ownership of the bag
DAP
April 30th, 2009
1:39 pm
flange1 i cant believe you dared type to me without being typed to, but ill let it slide.
i cant really see wren weakening the team in anyway at the all start break, but if all the starters are going really well, the bullpen is performing nicely and hudson is about ready to join them, i can see your scenario taking place. there will definitely be some teams interested in getting a good bullpen arm.
i am pretty confident the braves will spring for one of them. they have the money, there is no need to go with an unproven closer…which is what they would get because wren wont be willing trade top pieces.
i dont think moylan is the guy for the closer role, personally.
P-Town Brave (Schafer for leadoff)
April 30th, 2009
1:41 pm
Coach-
I think Frank has done a pretty good job…
The only mistake I think he made was going out and getting 1 bat instead of 2…Regardless of the position (other than 3b) Frank could have grabbed another bat. Look at our positions at this point and tell me other than Chipper who should solidly be at their position?
Even Chipper at times has made me shake my head, BUT I figure he’d be doing much better if we had another bat right behind him in the lineup.
At this point, we are occupying the OF with a rookie in CF and the corners with two players whom right now have 4th OF’s #.
In the infield Kotchman is hitting well, BUT not well enough to be in the middle of the lineup as he doesn’t hit HR or drive in many runners.
Up the middle we have two extremely streaky players whom I’m not sure will reach their potential because at times I can see they’re both lacking in the smarts dept. (esp Yunel).
So while Frank did an outstanding job w/ the pitching staff from top to bottom, I have to say I would give him a B grade simply because he didn’t address the lineup enough and simply played the “what if” game, as in “What if Francoeur bounces back” or “what if Yunel and Kelly finally reach their potential”…
Unfortunately for Frank, we may be left with only what if’s at the end of the year.
Patron Saint of the Lost Art
April 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
Interesting Braves Report on Yahoo! regarding Hudson.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqNHo9bWbcqtO1Xcv3tHyZUR0bYF?slug=teamreports-2009-mlb-atl&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report
MFin04
April 30th, 2009
1:45 pm
I think Bobby has to move David Ross up in the lineup. He is the only player that seems to have some power in his bat right now. Was close to hitting one out last night. Not sure what Casey’s deal with runners in scoring position is…but you’d think he’d have a lot more RBIs right now. Also. Esco is killing us with baserunning errors and double plays. Might be time to think of having a lineup with Prado and Infante in it.
And if Bobby wants to play KJ…then give Esco the night off and try Infante in left…with Prado at short.
P-Town Brave (Schafer for leadoff)
April 30th, 2009
1:46 pm
Efrim-
You study the draft a bit more than I do…can you give me some info on these guys?
The only player I know of that I would LOVE for the Braves to draft is Mizzou P Kyle Gibson…
Oh, and Donovan Tate…but then again, who doesn’t know him or Strasburg
Run Heap Run
April 30th, 2009
1:47 pm
I don’t know who the web content editor is but I really could have lived the rest of my days without knowing that Elizabeth Doyle vomited when she heard about her husband’s affair. I mean, really?
mbatl
April 30th, 2009
1:47 pm
“there will definitely be some teams interested in getting a good bullpen arm. ” – DAP
The teams looking for a bullpen arm (or a Kelly Johnson type) will be teams in contention and not likely to trade a solid hitter during a pennant race. I say again, if we make a midseason deal for a bat, it will be for a veteran on a losing team that wants to cut payroll, and we’ll give up prospects, not high-salaried major leaguers.
If the White Sox should fall out in the AL Central (and who knows who will win or lose in that division – could be anyone), I could see us dealing a prospect or 2 for Jermaine Dye… pick up 2 months of his $11.5 mil salary, and have a team option on him for 2010.
J Dub
April 30th, 2009
1:48 pm
Monty, I respect your decision to “beg to differ”. Just not impressed so far. Missed you on a previous blog, but yes Albany is home to me.
P-Town Brave (Schafer for leadoff)
April 30th, 2009
1:50 pm
MFin-
Prado would go to LF and Infante to SS before the other way around…Prado’s weakest IF position is SS…
I just don’t understand the stubborn-ness of Cox to say before Wed.’s game that Kelly WILL BE in the lineup Friday…
And then Omar goes 3-5…thats a tough decision there Bobby…
Then again, Bobby is all about planning things out a week in advance, whether they work or not.
I agree though that Yunel needs a few days as well, and we should play Infante/Prado up the middle for the time being…
That being said, we know both Kelly and Yunel will be in the lineup together real soon, AND I feel they should be put in better opportunities to succeed…That would be near the bottom 1/3 of the order…if nothing else, than to take the pressure off.
Chop Chop
April 30th, 2009
1:50 pm
Well, well, well…the Onion’s top story today revolves around a little-leaguer’s curious hero-worship of Chipper Jones.
AndyC
April 30th, 2009
1:50 pm
What do you guys and gals think about the Smoltz story posted on the main sports page? He is being shutdown for a week to let him rest. Is it really just rest or is it a setback in his recovery?
DAP
April 30th, 2009
1:50 pm
mbatl ok, yes. im gonna go with that one. so, we need to start hoping that the white sox drop out of the central race (wont happen, they are to good).
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
1:51 pm
P-Town Brave, I’d go to MinorLeagueBaseball.com where you can find draft reports on most of the top prospects.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
1:54 pm
Can anyone truely say the own a bag of Doritos?
toga party
April 30th, 2009
1:59 pm
Chop Chop, why the link? Don’t you think everyone on here already reads the Onion?
Lew
April 30th, 2009
1:59 pm
AndyC-It makes me really wonder why there were so many reports (prior to his Boston signing)-especially from teammates and coaches-about how he would really be ready to go at the start of the season or shortly thereafter. Then when he signed with the Sox, the line was that he was ready, but since Boston didn’t really need him yet, they’d bring him along slow.
Now they’re slowing him down even further? Something’s not sounding right.
Run Heap Run
April 30th, 2009
2:01 pm
My take was they’re just being cautious, Andy. Either way, I don’t care.
Gary
April 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
Chop Chop that was hilarious.
Bag of Doritos
April 30th, 2009
2:03 pm
I own YOU.
Frankie Knuckles
April 30th, 2009
2:03 pm
The onion is strange brew.
monty
April 30th, 2009
2:06 pm
Just checked Braves stats compared to our opponents in head to head games and was greatly surprised that we have out played our opponents according to the stats. We have more power in head to head games such as HR’s,slugging,doubles,hits and avg. and total bases. We have only scored 5 fewer runs than our opponents. Either there is great hope here or stats don’t mean much. I suppose what this means is our inability to hit when it counts, in clutch situations when it means the difference in winning and losing.
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
More draft stuff:
Keith hears that the Atlanta Braves have been all over LHP Tyler Matzek in recent weeks, possibly more than they have been on local product Zack Wheeler, a right-hander at East Paulding High School in Dallas, Ga. Matzek, who went six shutout innings Wednesday while allowing four singles and two walks and punching out eight, owns a 1.26 ERA for the season. He’s given up just two extra-base hits all year and boasts a 70-20 K/BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings of work. Heading into the final full week of the regular season, Matzek has tossed 14 consecutive scoreless innings.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
2:09 pm
onion dip is good, turner field consessions have a good verison.
Steve from OH
April 30th, 2009
2:12 pm
Efrim, this is a really good snippet from the draft blog:
“Keith hears that the Atlanta Braves have been all over LHP Tyler Matzek in recent weeks, possibly more than they have been on local product Zack Wheeler, a right-hander at East Paulding High School in Dallas, Ga. Matzek, who went six shutout innings Wednesday while allowing four singles and two walks and punching out eight, owns a 1.26 ERA for the season. He’s given up just two extra-base hits all year and boasts a 70-20 K/BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings of work. Heading into the final full week of the regular season, Matzek has tossed 14 consecutive scoreless innings.”
P-Town brave, I really, really hope the Braves stay away from the two Mizzou boys, Gibson and Crow. Not because they’re not good (they’re very good), but because I think they have too many mechanical red flags that lead me to believe that they’ll get hurt down the road (they have mechanics that are a lot like Mark Prior’s).
And I’m apathetic on Tate. Dude has great potential but has some flaws that player development need to fix.
Matzek or Wheeler? Yes please. I’ll take either happily.
MFin04
April 30th, 2009
2:13 pm
I half-way tried to find what the whole A-Roid thing was about on here…but come on…we all knew he was doing them past the date that he said he was. His numbers would indicate that as well as his body type. His story was so garbage anyways…he stopped using them like the day they became illegal or something cheezy and phony like that.
Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)
April 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
monty,
I’ve we’ve scored five fewer runs than our opponents, then we should be right at or just below .500. Which is where the team’s record stands today.
That stat (run differential) seems to be the best number to detemine won/loss percentage.
Eeyore Cox
April 30th, 2009
2:18 pm
Thanks for noticin’ me, my hitters really stink. I think my diaper must be full ’cause I stink, too. Need to get ol’ Garret off the DL so he can change me. He’s “lights out” at that.
Slowly going insane in the membrane, insane in the brain.
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
2:19 pm
Steve from OH, I have settled that I want the Braves to take a pitcher. Ackley has no position, Tate just doesn’t do it for me, and Green is slipping out of the Top-10 due to defensive and power concerns. I just hope either Wheeler or Matzek is there at #7.
Eeyore Cox
April 30th, 2009
2:20 pm
Wait a minute, why are my corn flakes soggy and yellow?
Sethual Healing
April 30th, 2009
2:23 pm
haha great Onion story.
Still my favorite one was about Kerry Wood signing 200-something million dollar deal with the disabled list.
Steve from OH
April 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
Ditto, Efrim. Nolie likes Shelby Miller too, so I’d be pleased with him, too. I think Wheeler will be available at #7, not so sure about Matzek.
Bobby's Cox
April 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
Ken,
Damn, that is a sad story… http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/29/AR2009042904406.html
Thanks for the scoop on who hit it, if it’s not a rumor. The article doesn’t mention it.
Bobby's Cox
April 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
Lots of ties to Liberty University. The University opened in 1974. Sid Bream was their first player to make it to the bigs.
Also, Liberty’s current 3rd baseman, Cody Brown, was coached in HS by Arod’s the same coach who coached Arod in HS.
http://www.liberty.edu/academics/communications/champion/index.cfm?PID=10609&CAID=816
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
God I cant believe you all eat freaken corn flakes!!! CORN FLAKES!!!
SO bland and so depressing…
Eat fruit loops, reese cup cereal, sugar smacks, heck even frosted mini wheats are good…But corn flakes?
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
2:32 pm
Steve from OH, yea, Matzek will probably be gone. But I agree, Wheeler should be there at #7. I’d take Alex White over Shelby Miller.
Bobby's Cox
April 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
Efrim,
I’m hoping on Matzek. It would be pretty cool to have a roster with Marek, Medlen, and Matzek.
AndyC
April 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
I know what you mean Run. It really doesn’t matter about Smoltz, but if he is not able to return, not that I’m wishing him any misfortune, it would make me feel better about him leaving.
flange1
April 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
Efrim and Steve,
Thanks for your draft info! It helps to have least a small bit of rational thought on this blog….
Steve from OH
April 30th, 2009
2:39 pm
I don’t think you can go wrong with either White or Miller. Just depends if you like the college pitcher or the HS pitcher. White is more polished, I think, so he gets the (slight) nod in my book too.
Run Heap Run
April 30th, 2009
2:39 pm
Wow did y’all see the fiancee the Red Sox owner pulled? She is gorgeous. I can’t believe he allowed his love letters to her to be published, he must be over the moon.
Run Heap Run
April 30th, 2009
2:40 pm
Yeah Andy, I don’t wish him any misfortune either, I’m a big Smoltz fan regardless of who he plays for.
Steve from OH
April 30th, 2009
2:40 pm
Bobby’s, Matzek is my preference (of those that may fall to us) but I think he’ll be gone…
AndyC
April 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
Bobby’s Cox, something similar happened to a guy that worked at my company. We were having a company softball game at a picnic and a ball was hit of the bat that him him right in the chest. He dropped dead on the spot. Something about a shock to the heart that caused it to stop beating. It was f’ed up.
Bobby's Cox
April 30th, 2009
2:42 pm
Gummy Bears,
All those cereals you mentioned contain high fructose corn syrup. Not good. In fact, I’m pretty sure Gummy Bears contain that poison too.
Steve from OH
April 30th, 2009
2:43 pm
Here is an assessment of Kyle Gibson and Aaron Crow’s mechanics:
http://www.drivelinemechanics.com/2008/12/11/690144/pitching-mechanics-kyle-gi
David O'Brien
April 30th, 2009
2:44 pm
Couple numbers from my scoutbox I’m doing now:
The Braves have hit .220 and scored 14 runs durin a 1-5 skid in their past six home games…. They’ve hit a league-low three home runs in 291 at-bats at home this season….
1B Casey Kotchman is 15-for-42 (.357) with seven doubles in his past 11 games, but with only two RBIs in that stretch. The Braves have no homers and a majors-low five RBI from first basemen.
Andy K.
April 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
DOB, is Minor League INF Derrick Arnold in trouble or something? He’s been on the Restricted list for a long time…
Steve from OH
April 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
More Aaron Crow:
http://chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/ProfessionalPitcherAnalyses/AaronCrow.html
Efrim
April 30th, 2009
2:49 pm
June 9th. Very excited. Sadly, this guy won’t appear in the bigs for a while. But it’s all part of that plan to just keep drafting elite talent. Braves farm keeps producing and this team will always have a shot.
AdirondackDave
April 30th, 2009
2:55 pm
Rock on… You make a good point about Vazquez. However, barring physical problems with Hudson in Sept. I do expect the Braves to pick up his option. At his salary, if the Braves choose to trade him this winter or mid-’10, he would be well worth a good prospect (or 2) from a major contender. So the Braves really can’t lose by signing him if he’s healthy and effective.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
DOB please say you dont like corn flakes.
Gummy Bears...Bouncing here and there and everywhere....THEY ARE THE GUMMY BEARS!!!!
April 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
Unfortunately I would trade Martin Prado for corn flakes, I think I would rather have that then him.
Bobby's Cox
April 30th, 2009
3:09 pm
damn OH Steve,
Watching Crow’s arm is making me cringe.
mbatl
April 30th, 2009
3:09 pm
I think (not sure!) that Hudson will reach 10/5 status at the start of 2010. So trading him might be difficult. But, I don’t see us picking up his option with the intent of trading him, so probably not an issue.
P-Town Brave (Schafer for leadoff)
April 30th, 2009
3:11 pm
Steve-
I do agree w/ your assessment, but isn’t this the same thing that was and has always been said about Tim Lincecum?
I certainly wouldn’t want to miss out on a player like that (not saying either will be that good).
jonatuga
April 30th, 2009
3:18 pm
N8
April 30th, 2009
12:43 am
“Where is N8 complaining about Vasquez?” jonatuga at 7:33
Spoke a little to soon, did we? You’re forgiven. NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM! NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!
N8,
From what I remember, your constant complaint was that Vasquez was brought here to eat innings and he was not doing that. Well, he went 8 innings last night, and had one bad inning with several bloop singles that cost him 5 runs. I’ve been impressed and think he was a good aquisition.
ABravesFan
April 30th, 2009
3:20 pm
Move Schafer up in the order keep Infante in the lineup and move Yunel down or out of the lineup.
Thanks in advance
AdirondackDave
April 30th, 2009
3:24 pm
As DOB’s comment above suggests, the offense is really proving to be inadequate, especially at first base and in the outfield. FW needs to work his magic on the offense soon, just as he did with the starting pitching staff. I wouldn’t describe Garrett Anderson as mediocre but he’s not the serious power/rbi outfielder the Braves urgently need. Also, Casey gets his share of hits and certainly has a fine glove and would be great on this club if it got power like it used to in the outfield from Andruw, Sheff, Francoeur, etc. But that’s not the situation now and we need a cleanup type guy at first. I don’t know how much in terms of roster and prospect talent it would take to get Adrian Gonzalez but he’s a guy who, along with Chipper and Mac, and the pitching we now have could get us in playoff contention. If it were my call, I would make about anybody but Chipper, Mac, Schafer, Heyward, and Hanson available to get Gonzalez. Would Francoeur, Kotchman, Johnson, and Morton/Reyes, and maybe a lesser prospect get him? I don’t know but I would sure try if a contract-extension signing window were included.
Sherman to the sea
April 30th, 2009
3:32 pm
Can Ross play first base?
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
3:32 pm
Gummy and others – I am down 28 lbs by NOT EATING CEREAL, sugar, pasta, rice and bread…….. so give the Cornflakes, wheaties and cocoa puffs a miss and reap the benefits
replace them with a good steak and some red wine
ncscoots
April 30th, 2009
3:34 pm
Aren’t many of the folks yelling for Escobar’s scalp some of the same ones who cried about his inclusion in a possible Peavy trade? He was too good to let go for an excellent pitcher then, and he’s a bush-league scrub four months later??
I guess I must not be paying enough attention; somehow, I missed the complete and utter end to the guy’s career.
Piedmont Blues (formerly BravesFan InRockies)
April 30th, 2009
3:36 pm
Adirondack Dave,
I’d be shocked — no, stunned — if the Pads would trade Gonzalez since he has such a sweet (for the team) contract that’s good thru 2011. Especially since they’d be adding payroll to get the package you suggested.
But I fully agree that there’s not enough power in the current lineup. There’s a big hole in the middle of the order when Heap’s not in there. I think Kotchman’ll have enough pop to be a serviceable 6 or 7 hitter. The same for GA if he’s ever healthy or Diaz.
Barring trades this year or FA signings in the off-season, It’s quite possible the Braves won’t have a third big-time run producer until Heyward or Freeman makes it to the majors.
cphizzle
April 30th, 2009
3:36 pm
dogsbrekky you live a sad life my friend
BA
April 30th, 2009
3:36 pm
Gummy bears? Doritos? So this is a chat room now…
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
3:38 pm
cphizzle – yes kind of due to a bout of brain cancer 4 years back, but I am alive brother
and better to give up that sugar and keep drinking that red wine hey !
Nick in PA
April 30th, 2009
3:39 pm
I got pulled over by a cop today.
I think I may have gotten swince flu!
Nick in PA
April 30th, 2009
3:39 pm
DOB,
Who gets called up first, Hanson or Medlen?
ncscoots
April 30th, 2009
3:40 pm
Gummy bears? Doritos? So this is a chat room now…
Oh, no, it’s more a big dining hall, with a buffet lined with bowls of sad and goblets of vitriol. The doom abides.
TnBrian
April 30th, 2009
3:41 pm
DAMN, it’s humid! And DAMN, DOB’s last post made me sick!
dogsbrekky
April 30th, 2009
3:41 pm
Nick I live next to the midtown north precinct in NYC and am stunned that no-one in my area has the pig flu’ yet !
cphizzle
April 30th, 2009
3:41 pm
i heard that dogsbrekky only the strong survive and you sound like one of those…and good choice by the way, im down round 72 pounds but i didnt give up anything but the couch
TnBrian
April 30th, 2009
3:42 pm
I got a joke about Obama that relates to the swine flu, but this ain’t the place for it…
Chop Chop
April 30th, 2009
3:42 pm
AdirondackDave,
Francoeur’s making $3.375 million this season. That will go up in arbitration after this year. Kotchman’s making $2.885 million this year. That will go up next year. Kelly Johnson is making $2.825 million this year. That will go up. It wouldn’t make much sense for the Padres to take on, oh, $7-8 million in new salary (Gonzalez is owed $4.75 million next season) if they’re trying to dump it.