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Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,631 comments Add your comment
PWHjort
May 29th, 2009
4:57 pm
Joe Fan,
You sort of answered the question I proposed the other day. A way for the Braves to save 3.5 million dollars. The answer: never activate Tom Glavine. Seriously. That’s just a waste of money. If Tom Glavine was named John Smoltz or had a time machine it’d be worth it, but if we keep Glavine active for (60 or 90 days I can’t remember), it’s a waste of 3.5 million dollars. No much more of a waste than giving him the 1 million guarantee he got, but activating him is just a waste of resources. We don’t even need more starting pitching. And it isn’t like Glavine is going to step in and be anything better than mediocre.
cabravesfan
May 29th, 2009
4:59 pm
RHR-
no worries sweetie- I’m still here
N8
May 29th, 2009
5:01 pm
scoots, forgot to add that Morton is/was a GREAT comparison to Smoltz. He might not have the same electric stuff as Smoltz did in 87, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance. So you know the ability is there.
As DOB has stated about Morton’s confidence issue, Smoltz too had issues requiring help of a psychologist. Smoltz obviously figured it out and became better because of it. But it did last into the 90’s. Perhaps, Morton will be just “fine” down the road. But like I said, a team that considers itself a contender, doesn’t have the time to let a guy work out his issues in the middle of a season at the big-league level.
McFann :Ô:
May 29th, 2009
5:04 pm
Daniel I knew you would love that news.
CB–
I will…as soon as this year’s ASG is over…
fleming–
Sounds good to me! Ha, for you guys’ sake, McCann better make the All-Star Team–’cause if he doesn’t…well, you know me…
ncscoots
May 29th, 2009
5:05 pm
Bobby’s, I guess I just didn’t see the premise quite as definitively as you. I see the logic of quantifying the movement each way, but I don’t see vet-vs-prospects quite as black-and-white as you seemed to. That could just be my take on your stuff, LOL. Marchman makes a good case that most mid-season trades are one-sided (not exactly a newsflash), but, supply-and-demand usually forces a premium in almost every business transaction.
In the end, I didn’t see your Hunter Pence trade jumping out at me, I suppose, and you did, LOL. That’s all I meant.
ncscoots
May 29th, 2009
5:08 pm
n8, that’s why I brought Morton up. He does, in fact, have much the same arsenal in his arm that Smoltz did as a rookie. Big heater, plus breaking stuff.
ppaddy123
May 29th, 2009
5:11 pm
N8, man I’ve got to tell ya’…….your posts this afternoon have been really insightful. We forget how things used to be. We forget how bad the Braves organization used to be. We all want instant gratification….now, now, now!
Bobby
May 29th, 2009
5:12 pm
First of all, let me say I disagreed with the Tex trade then and still do now. I was also disappointed we did not give Andruw his comeback attempt. That being said, as disappointed as we all are in Schafer and Frenchy – I am pretty sure we would be equally disappointed in the following numbers…
NAME: BA OBP SLG OPS
Elvis Andrus: .257 .295 .392 .687
Saltalamacchia: .236 .276 .389 .665
Andruw Jones: .233 .361 .367 .728
These are the ‘09 numbers away from the Texas “launching pad”.
We should all do ourselves a favor and check home/road and left/right splits before posting. With that in mind, I do not understand the Braves’ reluctance to platoon Frenchy (respectable .781 OPS vs LHP this year). I would also like to see Schafer and Frenchy given some bats behind them in the order just to see if they could see better pitches. It cannot hurt.
Rob (from SC)
May 29th, 2009
5:16 pm
DOB
When you take feelings out of the equation. Does Frank Wren the Braves higher ups really believe they are a better team with Glavine instead of Tommy Hanson. I would also like to hear what you think.
RoyU
May 29th, 2009
5:16 pm
It’s not the missing bats of Escobar and Infante as much as the consistently non-productive batters (Francour & Schafer) that are in the line-up day after day and the non-productive management that does absolutely nothing about it. At any cost, put them on the bench and get someone that at least can hit the ball!!! I would rather see Diaz chasing 6 balls a game on the ground to the center field wall than watch Schafer fan one more time. There have never been two better rally killers than JF & JS!
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
May 29th, 2009
5:19 pm
Rob (from SC),
Tom Glavine — 300 game winner, sure fire HOFer
Tommy Hanson — Has yet to start in the majors
I’ll take the experience in this one. If Glavine falters, bring up Hanson. Until then, Glavine has proven he’s a winner.
Rob (from SC)
May 29th, 2009
5:21 pm
Glavine has not been a priven winner for three years
Anders
May 29th, 2009
5:23 pm
DOB- I have to tell you I got quite a laugh out of your 3:03. Well timed.
monty
May 29th, 2009
5:23 pm
I saw Salty drop a throw from the outfield on a tag at the plate that would have been a sure out, I believe yesterday, I guess it happens to the best of them. You know dropping tags and losing your footing and such.
Bobby's Cox
May 29th, 2009
5:23 pm
Scoots,
Lol. I see where you’re coming from.
Let me at least attempt to brainwash you then. Pence could play Center while we let Schafer season more in AAA. He can bat leadoff. He can steal bases. That’s 3 things this team lacks. His .300 avg is the 4th thing we lack, and him hitting RH is a 5th.
Then you bring up Brandon Jones to play RF, who i’m sure will hit more HR than Francouer right now. Yes, that’s another LH bat, but you take away schafer (a LH bat) for the time being and give up a good piece in the trade (sorry to say KJ), which is another LH bat, and we all agree is streaky, as is our lineup. You replace him with Diory or Prado or Infante when he’s healthy, which are 3 more RH solutions. Making sense now? In the offseason, like Marchman & Wren say, is when you get the power bat. Pence is just a tweak, which you do in the middle of a season, but he can be an effective one.
I’m just saying a trade like that is more likely than adding a big bat, and Pence fits the mold. Houston already has Bourn, and they don’t have a great 2nd baseman. We add in pitching which they lack as well, and it’s a good and even trade in my opinion. We can’t get a big bat now, or it will be dejavu all over again like the Tex trade.
Whether you agree on Pence or not, at least tell me you agree with the reasoning my friend.
N8
May 29th, 2009
5:24 pm
You know, the other thing to consider, is that in order to start another long run of success, this team might actually NEED to be worse, before it can get better.
By that, I mean, drafting high, due to poor record. Look what it did for the Rays eventually. Now, I realize the the MLB draft isn’t quite like the NFL draft, and those prospects can take years to contribute. But let’s not forget how many “attempts” we had at high draft picks in the late 80’s and in 1990 with Chipper.
So, by finishing middle of the road, after spending money on free agents, you forfiet those mid to late 1st round picks in compensation to the free agents former team. Then if the free agents don’t pan out and give you playoff appearances, you’ve not only spent big bucks on those guys, but you’ve actually set your team back a few steps. Thus, the need to sign MORE free agents (or trade top prospects for ML ready players).
I don’t know about you all, but I sure would love to have SD State’s Stephen Strasburg within our sights in this year’s draft.
CCjacket
May 29th, 2009
5:25 pm
Does anyone have a realistic idea of what it might take to get Derosa? He could play 3B for all the games Chipper misses, SS for all the games Esco misses, and 2B the rest of the time. His bat is better than anything we have in the lineup right now except for the 2 guys mentioned and BMac.
And, DOB – or someone –
why exactly can KJ not go back to the OF, where he played until he
was moved? His defense was better there than at 2B, and what little
pop he has is better than what we’re getting from Diaz/GA.
Anders
May 29th, 2009
5:25 pm
Glavine has not been a priven winner for three years (Rob (from SC))
Seems more like 7 years – but maybe that’s just me.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
May 29th, 2009
5:26 pm
N8,
There is no point in having Strasburg on the draft radar, Washington already said they are taking him.
Bobby's Cox
May 29th, 2009
5:26 pm
P.S. scoots, after you read my previous novel, tell me where’d we be if we had Nelson Cruz in RF or Ludwick which I lobbied for in the offseason… I’m not as amateurish as I seem…but whether or not those trades could actually be pulled off is another story. These are the types of deals we have to make IMO.
Rob (from SC)
May 29th, 2009
5:26 pm
I nominate Bobby Cox to be the next Rockies manager
RoyU
May 29th, 2009
5:27 pm
This team could do nothing worse at this time than bring up Tommy Hanson. If we are going to expect Major League results from him, we need to give him Major League support and we don’t have it!!!
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2009
5:27 pm
NEW BLOG
TnBrian
May 29th, 2009
5:28 pm
Who cares if Glavine comes back and takes the 5th spot in the rotation? Really, I’m thinking Medlen is either trade bait or headed for the pen soon and Hanson gets more exposure in AAA to work on what little he needs to work on. Problem has been the offense and aside from pitchers like Medlen and Reyes who’ve lost us games, the pitching is and will be fine. I think the Braves get in on Derosa pretty heavy here soon and ship Vazquez/Hernandez/2-3 lower prospects for a seious masher for the OF/IF this summer. Then, you will see Hanson with the big club. No sense on rushing him right now. Probably smart to bet that Hudson or Hanson go to the pen when all is right with Huddy come August/Sept. Heck, maybe Glavine goes to the pen instead…always nice to have a loaded pen.
CB
May 29th, 2009
5:35 pm
A lot of us old timers were fans when the Braves were a really,really bad team and never left but did what I think real fans do, which is root for the team. Of course we did not like seeing them lose,but we hung around long enough to enjoy when we did start winning. What I read on this blog during games at times is despicable, personal and hateful things I wouldn’t say to Charles Manson. We who love the game of baseball do not need to give in to this,we can have intelligent, fan-filled conversations here without sinking to their level. For all those who have these conversations do not be discouraged,we will prevail.
Jim
May 29th, 2009
6:04 pm
Re Jim Edmunds – if you look at his HRs last year on a hitting chart, most were in Wrigley Field where wind blows out many days. I’ve seen many a game there. In Atlanta, I’m afraid that most of those HRs would be warning track fly balls – and that was last year. He’s not any stronger this year. He’s not a solution; not at all.
As I noted a few hours ago, a good team can only carry, at best, one non-performing hitter. With Ice Cold, Norton and JF, Braves have at least three N-PHs. [note: new stat id.] Upon reflection, choice for Braves is either JF or Blanco in CF if Ice Cold is sent down and Norton DFA’d. JF will do better in short run with big team. B. Jones can replace Ice Cold on roster and play RF, except maybe against tough LHPs. Diaz should play LF against anyone he can hit – GA can play out there against the rest of the side-arming RHPs. Whichever is not in lineup would be #1 PH. KJ should play every day and bat 5th or later in lineup. His BA stats at each position in lineup are compelling – +.300 in each slot. Prado should spell CK at 1st, play when CJ is hurt or resting and very occasionally, against a LHP that KJ will have trouble with, play 2B. Prado should also learn to play LF so that he, Diaz (in RF) and JF can start against a dominant LHP. All these moves give Braves a stronger lineup. No one is an automatic out. JF should bat 8th and learn how to take a pitch or be threatened not with Gwinnett, but with Rome or Danville where the bus rides are so much fun. So, my lineup would be:
Esco (SS) R
CK (1B) R
Chipper (3B) L-R
McCann (C) L
KJ (2B) L
Diaz (LF) L
B. Jones (RF) L
JF (CF) R
Pitcher
Lots of LH batters in a row unless CK bats 2d or Prado plays 1B. If Prado plays first, move Diaz to 2d in lineup.
Trade target – a RH hitter with power to bat 4th or 5th. Yeah, easy to find, but to paraphrase one of the dancers in Gypsy, “ya gotta have a [target].”
Trade bait: GA will be trade bait at end of July in Braves are out of race, and perhaps even if they are still in race. GA is a “professional DH hitter.” While I think Ross adds real value to team, he might be offered to a team desparate for a catcher, because of injury, or whatever, in return for a strong RH bat. Agree that Myrtle Beach threesome is untouchable. Heyward – .295/.935, 1HR every 15ABs, born ‘89; Freeman – .289/.799 – b. ‘89; Johnson – .269/.971, 1 HR every 10 ABs, 67 Ks in 179 PAs, b. ‘88. Also, consider Rodriguez at Rome – .275/.872, 9 HRs in 160 ABs, b. .87. Gorkys – b. ‘88; and Canizares, .337/.930, 7HRs/178 ABs, 24 Ks and 18 BBs – now there’s a professional hitter but born in ‘79.
So, above list has three 1Bs – two are expendable: Canizares and Rodriguez, unless anyone has doubts about Freeman. Johnson has too much power at young age to give up on unless a real baseball person would conclude that is K problem will make Ice Cold look like a contact hitter. Gorkys looks like Ice Cold – Lite: .324/.770 – no power. He’s expendable – unless you believe that Ice Cold will never make it. And, we’ve got a bunch of other ML pitchers. Conclusion: Braves have enough to make a deal for power hitting OF – even if you have to include JF in package.
Frank – you’ve done great so far with pitching; now time to turn your attention to hitting.
Hanson v. Glavine: Braves are in a difficult position. They made a deal with Glavine. He’s done his part and in equity deserves one more chance to see if he can perform at ML level. But, since we are sending Ice Cold down, DFA’g Norton and only bringing one player (B. Jones) up, Hanson can start in place of Medlen early next week. If Hanson is great or even good, then no roster move has to be made until Glavine is ready to try it in the bigs. Who knows who will be on DL then? Or, if Glavine is good, then Medlen or someone else (Jo-Jo) goes back down to start for the G-Braves. Indeed, I’d rather see medlen be used in spot/long relief than Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo should continue to be used as a starter in the hope that he retains some trade value.
cvbraves
May 29th, 2009
7:34 pm
Andruw just hit a 2-run shot to left to give Texas 5-3 lead in 9th…followed by a homer to right by Cruz, 6-3.
Mitchell
May 29th, 2009
8:15 pm
The Braves suck. Let’s get a damn win!
Can Yunel and Omar get back into action already? Come on guys, it doesn’t hurt that bad.
I really thought having D-Lowe last night would start off this series on the right foot. We need to get something going before they come home.
JJ’s going to have pitch a perfect game to get a win tonight.
freshd
May 29th, 2009
9:18 pm
DOB, With all the braves injuries on the infield, is there a chance the braves could trade for a guy like Jeff Keppinger. This guy has always hit, but has not really stuck with any team for long. Also he hits righthanded, something the braves need.
Slow Roller
May 31st, 2009
9:42 am
Andruw Jones has a hitting coach now (Rudy Jaramillo)……Frank, please fire Terry Pendleton.
olympics news
July 26th, 2012
1:54 pm
Have you discovered http://olympics.sportrightnow.com? It’s amazing – with tweets, facebook updates, and youtube videos for ALL of the olympic sports.