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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,175 comments Add your comment
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
12:55 pm
Dan, I’ve thought about that. What if Heyward gets promoted to Double-A within the next month or so and destroys the pitching there for three weeks or a month; and the Braves are hanging in the race but haven’t made a big run yet. Seems it would be aweful tempting to insert him in the lineup like the D-Backs did in ‘07 with Upton when they were on an NLCS run. Not likely but I don’t think it’s out of the question either.
fleming
May 27th, 2009
12:55 pm
Dan Schlossberg – How about Jeff Francoeur, Martin Prado, and a couple of minor-league arms for Roberts?
If you are putting KJ in left and trading Prado then who the heck will be playing 2nd or 3rd when Chipper is out??
Lew
May 27th, 2009
12:55 pm
Steve-Yeah, the versatility thing makes a good bit of sense. At this point, I think having a good PH (even one who was actually performing) is a luxury we can’t afford. Norton is just NOT the plus I thought he would be. If only Garrett would heat up like I think he still can. He hasn’t shown it yet, though.
Daniel
May 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
Lew- He was definitely older than we were lead to beleive.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
If I’m making personnel decisions, I think that I would release GA and institute a Jones/Diaz platoon (or a Francoeur/Jones platoon and play Diaz every day, or simply cycle the three…) before I traded/released/whatevered Jeff Francoeur. Thoughts?
#1 METS TROLL (And Proud Of It)
May 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
LEW…..Do you have any friends that are Met fans?
N8
May 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
Lew, I don’t argue that our farm system isn’t stacked. But I think if there is an impact player out there (I guess maybe we differ on what “blockbuster” means), to be had, I think most teams are going to insist on either Heyward or Hanson, or make us wait until July 31 to see if the bidding war heats up.
But for a team out there to make a huge trade with us, this early, I think they’re gonna want some top end prospects, that are close to ML ready. Not that Heyward is in that category of being almost ready, but you get the picture.
As for the Tex trade? I never thought that Salty was the centerpiece of that trade for the Rangers. He was the piece that Rangers fans “new” that was coming their way, because he had big league games under his belt, and Braves fans hated to see him go, for the same reason. I always felt that Andrus was the “prize” in that deal, but didn’t know much about Feliz, who might have been the guy the Rangers really had their eyes on.
If it were me, and the trades could be done without giving up Heyward and Hanson? It’d trade for Brian Roberts and Derosa. Two pretty versatile guys (infield and outfield), DeRosa is RH, Roberts a SH with speed.
Probably take too much to get them, and probably wouldn’t solve our “power outage”, but both would give balance and depth to the lineup, and open up some interesting options for Bobby, including a variety of platoon options, and PH scenarios.
Like I said though, I doubt Roberts is going anywhere. I think DeRosa could be had, and had without giving up too much. Roberts, not so much. But I think he could be had without giving up Heyward or Hanson, add to that he’d solve our leadoff issue. May have to part with KJ for him, but….
Daniel
May 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
and man is he tearing it up for LA right now.
N8
May 27th, 2009
1:00 pm
In my last post, at the very end, I stated: “But I think he (Roberts)could be had without giving up Heyward or Hanson, add to that he’d solve our leadoff issue. May have to part with KJ for him, but…”
What I should have said was: I’m sure if the package was big enough and had some current major league guys (like KJ or Escobar), Roberts could be had. But the Orioles, if they are even interested at all in giving him away, aren’t going to “give him away”.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
1:00 pm
N8, Lew–Our system is very deep in terms of pitching. In terms of offensive prospects (infielders in particular) we’re very average, and we’re incredibly thin in the middle infield outside of Travis Jones and Brandon Hicks (whatever your opinion on him might be).
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:00 pm
I could actually see Heyward coming up but not until after the July 31st deadline; after the Braves get an idea what it would take to get an impact bat. If they’ve exhausted all other options and are still in the race, I wouldn’t be surprised at all. Yet, I still say chances are slim. Just wouldn’t surprise me if we got to that point.
TRAVIS
May 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
DeRosa to second, Kelly to left, Diaz to right, Norton DFA and Anderson to the bench.
Lew
May 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
Denizens-It’s been fun. Gotta go trust my eye Doctor knows what he’s doing when he sticks yet another needle in my right eye in the next couple hours. Later.
Lew
May 27th, 2009
1:03 pm
One last comment here.
Steve-And it’s young pitching that other teams will want in return. I think we’ve got the pieces we need to lure a good power bat here. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have a young position player thrown in as part of the deal.
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:03 pm
Dayn Perry threw out Holliday for a package designed around Gorkys Hernandez.
Speaking of Perry, anyone see his April 14 article that the Braves should be favored? That was before the Mets were depleted, too. I think that goes a long way towards showing that anyone who thinks Perry has an anti-Braves agenda is paranoid and biased themselves.
TRAVIS
May 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
Don’t really like Diaz to right but I think DeRosa played some there. That is a servicable but not spectacular oufield and brings a little more power everyday with Diaz.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
Efrim, would a Francoeur-for-Reddick deal make sense for the Sawx?
I think it is a fair swap. The upside of both players (imo) is still tremendous, and the Sawx would be trading a prospect that might end up being their 4th OF next year for 4th OF help now. And we’d get a prospect very similar to Francoeur but with much better minor league numbers.
He wouldn’t help us now (he is in AA, currently on DL with oblique injury I think) but could start in RF next year. Did I mention his throwing arm is comparable to Francoeur’s?
Or would the Sawx laugh Frank Wren off the phone?
fleming
May 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
Steve from OH – Yes the Braves system is deep in pitching but I would want to hold on to Morton if possible and trade from strength in the lower minors. Think what would happen if Glavine can’t make it back and KK’s tired shoulder turns into rotator cup problems. Then we are back to relying on JoJo and Medlin for the 5th starter.
CB
May 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
I brought up the issue in spring training of keeping Josh Anderson instead of Norton and was roundly called stupid here by several people. Who does not wish that happened?
Daniel
May 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
I am not sure about this don’t trade the future for a rental player thing really works. What is the price for a chance at the post season. The issues with the outfield are not going to be solved from within anytime in the near future. Heyward is still likely 2 years away, and as of right now Schaefer seems to be completely overmatched. When you are talking about not making moves to preserve the future, you are talking 2012 at which point this starting staff will look different. I don’t see how we can waste a season with this kind of starting pitching and the Mets and Phils not performing much better. Obviously, there are off limits players in a trade, but for me … Yunel, KJ, Morton, Medlen, Francouer(not worth much), Brandon Jones, Gorky Hernandez, are all available. Surely we can get a solid piece or two for those players.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
Lew–pitchers are always a valuable commodity. Best of luck with your operation. Hope all goes well!
PWHjort
May 27th, 2009
1:06 pm
I literally can’t think of a player more unlikely to be traded than Brian Roberts.
McFann Ô
May 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
On a semi-unrelated note, I did, in fact, get my picture in the paper with BMac. I scanned it into my Photobucket album. Here’s the link.
Thank you. My name is McFann, and I’ll be here all season.
Fleming Just being there is better than not being there at all even if it’s only for one at bat.
Yeah…or even no at-bats. And he was involved in the last play of the game–so when they put that photo in Cooperstown (ya know, it being the last ASG at Yankee Stadium), BMac’s gonna be there and not Martin. Nya!!
But um…Martin does have that big, Dodger fan base, as you said. He gets more media attention, too. I bet when BMac came up to bat in that World Baseball Thing, a lot of people across the country said, “Who?”
I would just love it if he makes the All-Star Team, and in his first AB he smacks an RBI…um–what’s that called again?–double! And Clint Hurdle cann be sitting at home thinking, “Huh…he’s pretty good. Why didn’t I have him last year…? Oh. Right…”
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
CB, how would Josh Anderson help the Braves? He’s posted a .322 on-base and a .358 slugging for the Tigers. He’s what, not even a run better than Schafer? Yes, I really miss Josh Anderson!
McFann Ô
May 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
Yikes, Lew! Hope it goes well!
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:15 pm
PWHjort, I could see Roberts being traded but I think it would be silly for the Braves to trade what it would likely take to get him. He’s 31 and his $10 million per year (on average) contract runs through 2014. He’s a fine player but not likely to get any better and not likely to be worth the money and the players it would take for the Braves to get him.
DAP
May 27th, 2009
1:16 pm
steve from OH
i wouldnt release garrett, because if are are going to release someone it needs to be norton. have you see his stats? he has three hits.
if i were making decisions, i would release norton, bring up brandon jones, and platoon both left and right field for a bit, all the while mourning the trade of josh anderson.
nothing that barton is doing in the minors makes me think he should spot start for schafer, so were stuck there. but b.jones is hitting very well in AAA.
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:16 pm
ppaddy123… I just don’t believe Wren is showcasing Medlen.
As mentioned, Reyes wasn’t getting the job done. Glavine is rehabbing at Gwinnett. I assume once he feels he can pitch on the big league level, he’ll be back in an Atlanta uniform and Medlin will be back at Gwinnett.
I doubt management resigns Hudson. His price tag is likely high, despite a major injury, and the farm system has some solid pitching talent bubbling to the surface in 2010 and beyond.
I don’t know how management structured the Kawakami deal. No trade clause? Yes, Kawakami had a “lights out” performance against Toronto, but one outing isn’t enough to gauge his value. He has to have consistent solid performances. Otherwise, if he can be moved, I think he would be to make room for Hanson and Medlen.
CB
May 27th, 2009
1:17 pm
Shaun I know the type of player Josh is, he is similar to Schafer. What I was referring to was taking some of the pressure off of Jordan by giving himm some days off. I know who Josh is,just felt both of them should have been kept.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
1:18 pm
I’d release Norton too, but I’m saying if I’m deciding whether to get rid of GA or Frenchy first I get rid of GA.
skeezix
May 27th, 2009
1:19 pm
Except for Diaz, it is okay with me if they unloaded this entire bleeping outfield…..but who’s gonna take this impotent bunch?
richbrave
May 27th, 2009
1:20 pm
Just caught up on the blog from the 11:00 a.m. time period, and was intrigued by DOB’s report on BUDDY. No wonder he had a “pained” expression while pitching. Thanx for the info DOB.
woogidy
May 27th, 2009
1:22 pm
What’s the denziens opinion on a Tommy Hanson + prospects to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez? (I don’t think this will happen by the way, I’m just curious)
a643dp
May 27th, 2009
1:22 pm
We need to get Escobar back he is just as important to this team as Chipper right now. We need to put Kelly back in the 6-7 spot.
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:23 pm
Shaun, is Anderson striking out like Schafer? Is he putting the ball in play? How many bases has Schafer stolen?
Schafer’s got a big upside but he’s not showing his talent much in the early going. Hindsight is 20-20, but Anderson in the outfield mix would have been nice.
DAP
May 27th, 2009
1:24 pm
i hope the braves are knocking down the rockies door for brad hawpe. they could offer the rockies several major league ready players who make the minimum, that will give the rockies salary relief, and players under control cheap for several years.
ncscoots
May 27th, 2009
1:24 pm
Somehow, I don’t think today’s Shaun is Shaun Payne. Am I wrong in that assumption?
N8
May 27th, 2009
1:25 pm
Shaun, I’ll even jump on the welcome back bandwagon. Welcome back.
I think most people that wish Josh would have been kept, were thinking of him as a 4th outfield, thus filling in for Garret when he was out. While he hasn’t been that much better than Schafer, earlier in the year, he was on fire, and certainly having him play in LF might have netted us a couple of more wins in some of those close games.
As for him making a huge impact over 162 games? I doubt it. But judging how Josh came out of the gates, he was ready to play in April, while G. Anderson was not.
At this point, I’d take his speed and defense in LF over Garret. Now if Garret does what he’s “capable” of doing for the rest of the year, we’ll all forget about Josh. But I’m not so confident that that is going to happen anytime soon, either.
Also, I agree on Roberts. Too old, too expensing (salary) and gonna cost too much (prospects) to get. That being said, Lowe is too old and too expensive too. Wren signed Lowe with 2009 in mind, not 2012.
Roberts would be a fine addition for a run THIS YEAR, it’s just a matter of how much Wren is willing to give up to make that run.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
1:26 pm
Josh Anderson has a .680 OPS. Having him in the outfield mix wouldn’t be “nice,” it would be “redundant.”
Pierson Brave
May 27th, 2009
1:27 pm
Halladay or Holliday? Which one? I am confused.
Couch Tater
May 27th, 2009
1:27 pm
McFann
Congratulations! Good pics. How many copies of the paper did you buy?
fleming
May 27th, 2009
1:27 pm
ncscoots – Somehow, I don’t think today’s Shaun is Shaun Payne
No mention of Saber Metrics yet?
Joe
May 27th, 2009
1:28 pm
Parr, Morton Frenchy, Gorkys for Josh Hamilton
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:28 pm
woogidy, Gonzalez will make $3 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010 and then he’s a free agent. Plus he’s not exactly young. I wouldn’t trade Hanson straight up for Gonzalez.
Noah
May 27th, 2009
1:28 pm
I like how Schafer looks. He looks very smooth in the outfield and I think will turn into a solid player long term. Of course this year on offense is another story. Its also hard to gauge guys out of the 8 hole in the lineup
Noah
May 27th, 2009
1:31 pm
Sounds like the Braves would be hard pressed to add more then $3mil in salary. I have a feeling a lot of teams are in the same boat.
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:31 pm
Schafer really needs to be at Gwinnett – for his sake. It won’t happen now, for various reasons, but his early going has been nothing short of pathetic. And I think a lot of Schafer’s potential.
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:31 pm
N8, it’s not just that Roberts’s age or contract. It’s also that the Braves would likely have to give up some pretty darn good young players in addition to his age and contract. If the O’s trade Roberts it will be for at least one guy with the potential to be a very solid everyday player in the big leagues plus another solid prospect or two or three.
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:34 pm
Wren and JS have been burned enough by their “rental” deals. I doubt they’d push the button on a Roberts deal unless the team begins to perform consistently well.
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:35 pm
All the Braves had to give for Lowe was a rather large contract, no players.
RHR
May 27th, 2009
1:35 pm
What’s the denziens opinion on a Tommy Hanson + prospects to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez? (I don’t think this will happen by the way, I’m just curious)
If you’re serious, and i don’t imagine that you are, the answer is a resounding hell no.
We don’t need a 1B, we need an outfielder.
Good luck, Lew.
Good job, McFann.
JD
May 27th, 2009
1:35 pm
Can somebody explain what’s going on with All Star voting? I know it’s always been dumb, but this is just inexplicable. The Brewers are among the top at every position? Hardly any Cubs or Mets are listed. And the catcher voting is ridiculous. What’s going on?
PS – I’m almost positive that this is been discussed, so if it bothers you that I asked a question that was already asked, just take a finger, hit the down key, and read the next comment. I don’t feel like sifting through 18 pages of comments.
woogidy
May 27th, 2009
1:35 pm
Quick trivia question, Who has hit more HR’s this year, Braves or Mets?
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:36 pm
Roberts would NOT be a rental. He’s signed through 2014. He’s just not worth the players it would take to get him when you factor in age and contract.
a643dp
May 27th, 2009
1:36 pm
Does anyone see the humor in Buddy Carlyles neck putting him on the DL. I hate to see someone hurt,but for his neck after all those home runs. I think its because he got whiplash from watching all those balls sail over the wall.
CB
May 27th, 2009
1:38 pm
Steve from Ohio, the discussion was would you rather have Josh A. or Norton? It was not meant to be anything else on my part. Schafer for the future has more upside, but I feel Josh would have allowed Jordan some days off. He has to feel tremendous pressure knowing the Braves have nobody else.
Mike S
May 27th, 2009
1:38 pm
Scoots, Fleming, you missed Shaun yesterday; lots of talk of OBP and Frenchy never doing much in that department. It’s definitely Payne. But I am glad he’s back. Always good insight, just has to be taken with a grain of salt, due to his obvious love affair with stats over human observations (I’ll take both thank you very much).
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:38 pm
What rental deal have burned Schuerholz and Wren? Maybe I’m missing some but I can’t think of any obvious ones. Seriously.
Steve from OH
May 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
CB–how ’bout Josh A. or Brandon Jones?
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
Giving up a potential ace (Hanson) for a qucik fix in the outfield would be very short sighted. I think Heyward has a better than a fifty-fifty chance of being the everyday LF in ‘10. Schafer is much better than he’s playing, and I think he’ll eventually live up to his billing. Frenchy is another story. We’ll see if he picks up his game in the next weeks before trading deadline.
MFin04
May 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
If the Braves really needed to call a player up, can Greg Norton be sent down to AAA? If so, it doesn’t make sense to get rid of GA or Frenchy. Norton is the most logical guy to be sent down or let go. With Prado’s ability to play first, we have no need for 3 guys that can play 1B. Prado can pinch hit, and at this point is a better pinch hitter than Norton. (The guy was clutch last year though, so I’m not knocking him being on the team, just isn’t performing this year.)
Bottom line is this team can’t be completely fixed from within. The Braves may be 2 to 3 pieces away from competing/winning the division, but the Braves more than likely only need one of those pieces to come from outside the organization via trade or free agency.
The combo of Medlen/Hanson/Glavine should be able to fill 2 spots of 5th starter/middle relief that we need.
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
Mike S, what are stats but human observations in bulk form?
Mike S
May 27th, 2009
1:42 pm
That’s how SkyNet started Shaun…
JD
May 27th, 2009
1:43 pm
Schafer is much better than he’s playing, and I think he’ll eventually live up to his billing Jeff R
You mean he’ll be flat?
a643dp
May 27th, 2009
1:45 pm
Woogidy
Braves 33 Mets 31 but :
Braves ops=.339 mets ops =.366
Braves ba=.262 mets ba =.284
Braves bb= 169 mets bb = 195
Braves sb= 10 mets sb = 40************ unreal
N8
May 27th, 2009
1:45 pm
Shaun, I’m aware of the fact that we’d have to give up a really good prospect, if not many good prospects to get Roberts. That’s why I typed:
“Also, I agree on Roberts. Too old, too expensing (salary) and gonna cost too much (prospects) to get. That being said, Lowe is too old and too expensive too. Wren signed Lowe with 2009 in mind, not 2012.”
I’m also aware that Wren didn’t have to give up prospects to get Lowe. But one could make the argument that at age 40 (how old Lowe will be at the end of the contract), his 15 million dollar salary, will be less likely to be worth it, than Roberts making 10 million at age 35.
Note, I said “could be”. Lowe very well may still be well worth 15 million at the end of that deal. But make no mistake about it. Wren didn’t care about Lowe’s “value” at the end of the contract. He HAD TO make the deal that big, to get Lowe to sign NOW to help this team in 2009.
woogidy
May 27th, 2009
1:46 pm
Shaun, he’s got a club option for 2011.
RHR, The Braves need a power bat, where ever that may be. If you trade for a guy like that, you find a spot for him. I am just saying. I don’t think it would happen at all. I just want opinions and to contradict opinions for conversation.
N8
May 27th, 2009
1:46 pm
Mike S., your 1:42 was very funny. Well done.
CB
May 27th, 2009
1:47 pm
Steve- Brandon would have been no problem. I also wish we had not signed GA after seeing his lack of effort on defense. Brandon could have given Jordan a day off if necessary.
woogidy
May 27th, 2009
1:48 pm
a643dp, no extra credit for you. The Braves have more HR’s than the Mets. That was the question. I was just shocked to see that.
Couch Tater
May 27th, 2009
1:49 pm
Something I’ve been considering is the possibility of trading one of our closers (who will both be free agents) for a rental bat. Thoughts?
JD
May 27th, 2009
1:49 pm
643 – I hope you mean OBP. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if our OPS was .339…
Threadkiller
May 27th, 2009
1:50 pm
Want to Guarantee a playoff spot? Perhaps win the division?
Frenchy, Jo Jo, and another lower pitching prospect for Adam Dunn!
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:50 pm
Super Tex was a crummy deal. If you’re the old Shaun, we’ve been over this before. Wainwright for Just the Dough Drew is another.
DAP
May 27th, 2009
1:51 pm
Braves ops=.339 mets ops =.366
i dont think that that is possible.
ncscoots
May 27th, 2009
1:51 pm
It’s definitely Payne.
Tone’s all wrong, doesn’t “sound” like the same guy. Spouting OBP has nothing to with it; heck, every idiot here will run out an OBP argument in an instant, whether it’s relevant or not, whether the poster has a clue or not.
If it is the same guy, maybe his sabbatical included getting park-adjusted or something.
N8
May 27th, 2009
1:53 pm
Scoots I agree, it doesn’t have the zip that Shaun used to fire off. I know it’s hard to tell in a blog format, but the “writing” and manner in which he states his point, seems more reserved than Shaun was.
choppertochipper
May 27th, 2009
1:54 pm
The Braves made their bed when they opted to shoot their wad on starting pitching. They completely ignored the glaring needs of the outfield, and decided to hope that Frenchy could turn it around. Well, now they are talking about trading Frenchy, which does nothing but create a glaring hole in RF. Now we are stuck with this outfield. We can talk about all the “big trades” all day long, but by the time teams decide to start dealing the Braves will be so far out of contention, it just won’t make sense. This is a team that can not score runs. This is a team that is reliant on their pitchers throwing complete game shut outs. The Braves can not survive this for long. The Mets and Phillies haven’t really gotten hot yet, but when they do, it will separate the rest of the division, with the Braves in the middle of the pack. If the Braves do somehow get a trading partner for a bat immediatly, the other teams are going to know that the Braves are desparate, and start asking for the moon for their players. At this point, the Braves are going to have to bite the bullet, and go with what they have, because it is not worth the prospects, for a rental and a maybe. All this talk about trades is pointless, because it is not going to happen.This is your 09 Atlanta Braves, a .500 team at best, that is not going to the post season again. If only Wren had signed Dunn, Ibanez or someone like this instead of uneccessarily throwing money at Kawakami, Glavine, and Anderson, we would be much better off, and even might be considered favorites. Now, it is time to just wait for the Hanson, Heyward, and Freeman show, and hopefully by then we will be back in the playoffs conversation.
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:54 pm
Sabbatical… or confinement?
CB
May 27th, 2009
1:54 pm
ncscoots if it is him why would he mind saying yes? no answer- no.
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
1:55 pm
Maybe people re-live the Tex deal and think the Braves got burned. They gave up a catcher when they already had one of the best young catchers ever. They gave up a pitcher who is not exactly dominating (4.6 SO and 3.1 BB per 9). They gave up a light-hitting shortstop when they already had two solid young shortstops in Escobar and Lillibridge. They gave up another decent but not really dominant pitching prospect in Beau Jones. Neftali Feliz and maybe Saltalamacchia are the only players who clearly could be stars. They got Teixeira for about the equivalent of a full season and he played as well for the Braves as he played his whole career. (.295/.395/.548 for the Braves and .289/.378/.543 for his career.) It’s not Teixeira’s fault that the rest of the team didn’t play well enough or the front office didn’t get better players around Tex. I can understand questioning the deal but it wasn’t a “burn.” I would argue that it made a lot of sense. And maybe I’m missing something but I just don’t see how the Braves are significantly better now or within the next few years with the players they gave up in the Tex deal. I think a better argument is that they could have gotten more for those players than Tex in the sense that they could have gotten younger players and more than just two players.
Willy Wally
May 27th, 2009
1:55 pm
Braves, 84 games from May 1, 2007 until they traded for Tex: 4.37 runs per game
Braves, 2009: 4.31 runs per game
The big bat will obviously be the cure all this time around
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
1:56 pm
Enter your comments here
MFin04
May 27th, 2009
1:57 pm
You don’t trade Gonzo or Soriano for a power bat. You don’t weaken your team when trying to make it better. If Moylan, Soriano, and Gonzo were all healthy and lights out, maybe (and that’s a huge MAYBE) you trade one of them. But with all of them having arm issues recently….and with Moylan being iffy, and Gonzo not exactly being lights out, you don’t trade any of them.
Having all 3 is a very nice situation for the Braves.
PWHjort
May 27th, 2009
1:59 pm
Willy Wally,
Look at our team ERA during those spans and you will see that we are much more equipped to make a post-season run.
chipperchop
May 27th, 2009
2:02 pm
MFin04-
We gave Pittsburg a power bat, LaRoche for Gonzo, and I think the Pirates knew something was wrong with his arm. I concur with choppertochipper though-I don’t see us landing a big bat in time to make a difference this year.
McFann Ô
May 27th, 2009
2:02 pm
Couch Tater–
Thanks! Haha…we just bought one. They were almost out of ‘em at QuickTrip.
I think Daddy’s got one at work, though.
RHR–
Thanks!
c jonze
May 27th, 2009
2:02 pm
Brian Roberts was not traded in the offseason, when there was plenty of interest, he was given that big contract extension, and there is no bigger fan-favorite than him. I live up here, and he is one of the few reasons people will still support the O’s. Baltimore’s front office has been a joke for 12+ years, but I don’t think they are willing to move Roberts for anything less than a ridiculous amount of talent. I seriously doubt he is available at all…
Those that miss Josh Anderson probably are missing the one thing that Garret and Greg both lack – versatility. At least that was why I wanted to keep him around. But now, looking forward, we have seen what both these guys have to offer, and it seems like a good time to drop one of them, and try something new.
CB
May 27th, 2009
2:04 pm
McFann was that you in the striped shirt? lol
N8
May 27th, 2009
2:04 pm
If this posts twice, I apologize, but I think the blog ate it the first time around.
Couch Tater, I was thinking the same thing last night. The odds of us keeping BOTH Soriano and Gonzo after the season are minimal, both are gonna want to close somewhere.
So the question, is who do you keep and who do you dump? There are two thought processes to take.
A) Don’t trade either. The back of the bullpen is a strength. It would be silly to trade either of them.
B) It is more likely that somebody (Acosta, Medlen, Hudson down the road), will “step up” and fill the 2nd closer/setup role from within the system than somebody coming up and helping the everyday lineup.
So if trading one of those guys could get us a bat that would be a rental, and the salary would be a “wash”, it might be a safe bet.
The question with that, is what is more important? Having two closers and a weak lineup, or one closer and a better lineup.
One could argue that with a better lineup, the back of the bullpen isn’t as important (assuming nobody else “steps up” in the pen to be a solid setup guy).
Then, we’re back to the question… which one do we keep? Right now, the obvious choice is Soriano. But that could change at anytime. All things being equal, if Soriano is healthy and Gonzo is healthy, I like Soriano as the closer. But neither of them are always healthy. So it’s tough.
If I’m Wren, I at least explore what Gonzo could bring right now in terms of a bat that can help right now. Nothing wrong with looking into it and then pulling the trigger if the right deal comes around.
Shaun
May 27th, 2009
2:04 pm
Willy Wally, first of all why do you pick out May 1, 2007? The season started on April 2.
Second of all, that’s sort of a simplistic way of looking at it. Tex hit .317/.404/.615. What did the other players do after Tex got there? Seems more likely that they didn’t perform because Tex clearly performed better than what the Braves had.
P-Town Brave
May 27th, 2009
2:05 pm
DOB-
There really is no questioning the off-season decisions for the outfield are there?!
I mean CMON! The Braves decided to squander a small fee on Garret Anderson, and play the “what if” game with Jeff Francoeur who has been worse EVERY year…this compounds the fact that Jordan is getting his feet wet. IF we had went after Abreu or Dunn and were able to play Diaz at the other OF spot, the magnification of Jordan’s current weaknesses would be much less….but given Francine’s continued struggle in RF and Garret playing like he’s every bit of 37, it makes Jordan that much more important to the team….
So, don’t get me wrong, the pitchers we brought in are good, BUT they can’t fix the fact that Frank and Co. came up with no Plan B whatsoever.
What to do now? Do they overpay w/ prospects, fully knowing that not one but at least two OF positions need filled OR do they stick to their guns and waste a years worth of each pitcher they received while hoping and praying (for the 3rd straight year) that Jeff Francoeur will ever find the plate, Garret Anderson will revert to his days as an Angel, and Jordan Schafer will figure out exactly how to make contact at the plate?
The last scenario…an awful lot of what if’s….
McFann Ô
May 27th, 2009
2:06 pm
CB–
LOL! No, I’m the one in the white hat.
P-Town Brave
May 27th, 2009
2:07 pm
Willy Wally-
Like I said, at this point, we need TWO bats…because we have at least two OF spots to fill, whether it be RF and CF or RF and LF….we just can not continue to send out Anderson/Schafer/Francoeur and hope for the best…
Jeff R
May 27th, 2009
2:08 pm
Sorry, Mini-Me Shaun, it was a burn.
Andrus is a solid defensive shortstop with speed. Not every position needs to be a power position. Escobar has the tools to be good 3B. Salty, despite all the chatter after the trade, could have been converted to 1B. Harrison is young with a lot of upside. Perez is i the same league as Hanson.
Super Tex always had his eyes on the big prize: NYC. The Bravos needed pitching that year to push into postseason; they didn’t have it. Super Tex was a shortsighted trade which the Rangers have really benefitted from…
But we’ve gone over this long ago with the genuine Shaun.
PWHjort
May 27th, 2009
2:08 pm
The Orioles are near the end of a long rebuilding process. Trading one of their mainstays at a premium position is probably not going to happen.
Mike S
May 27th, 2009
2:08 pm
That’s why I love Shaun. He puts something out there like this: “what are stats but human observations in bulk form?”
And then comes back with a brilliant post at 1:55pm. Wholeheartedly agree with that post, even though most here probably won’t.
MFin04
May 27th, 2009
2:09 pm
If the Braves had a power bat in LF or RF, the outfield wouldnt be as much of a problem. Some combo/platoon of Diaz/Brandon Jones/GA/Schafer/Frenchy/KJ/Infante/Prado could fill two of the outfield slots.
CF obviously is iffy, but I think the Braves are content to keep Schafer there and hope he turns it around.
ncscoots
May 27th, 2009
2:10 pm
ncscoots if it is him why would he mind saying yes? no answer- no.
Doesn’t really matter. The blog’s gone so lame, even Payne’s return wouldn’t help much. I was just checking in to see if anything had changed in the last couple of weeks. No soap on that.
Billy Walsh
May 27th, 2009
2:10 pm
Feliz was considered a throw in…in the Tex trade. He is a big prospect but his command has come into question (way too many walks). Lillibridge and solid should never be used in the same sentence. Andrus is going to be a good major league baseball player and could have easily been moved to second base or Escobar could have been moved to 2nd…allowing Johnson to be moved back to LF or been traded for a bat in the offseason. Hindsight is always 20-20…who knew that Tex would be such a mercenary and go to the highest bidder. Does anyone buy that his wife wanted him to be a Yankee?