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2,500 comments Add your comment
Flat Bill Kid
June 3rd, 2009
8:17 pm
FW in the interview on PTV didn’t sound like he was looking to deal from all the talent we have left for another bat. I could be wrong but thats how I heard it.
Cameron
June 3rd, 2009
8:17 pm
I can’t believe we traded for McLouth. I can’t believe the Pirates even let him be available. He is the guy on that team that I would build my team around. Great defense, hits for power, and steals bases. I have him on two of my fantasy teams, this guy is the real deal. He has been a little dinged up this year, but when he gets it going WATCH out. And, we keep Frenchy, Diaz, and GA. Nice move. Very nice move. We may not be done, either.
MFin04
June 3rd, 2009
8:17 pm
And for the record its Nate McLouth (One “c”)
Gordo
June 3rd, 2009
8:18 pm
Looks like we traded a Tommy for a Tommy Gun!
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:18 pm
‘The Braves are now my favorites to win the World Series in 2010′
You’ve got to be kidding. They’re not favorites to be a wild card team, let alone a World Series contender. This team is driven by the $. Not the will to win.
Patric
June 3rd, 2009
8:18 pm
no way should Mclouth bat leadoff he belongs 4th of 5th
Schafer's Facial Expression
June 3rd, 2009
8:18 pm
Gordo, how bit this: traded Tommy Done for Tommy Gun.
Yeah? Yeah?
Braves202947 formerly known as Braves20
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
Hopefully Frank Wren will shortly be shown the same sort of loyalty as he has shown to two Hall of Famers this year.
Goldenglove002
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
I think McClouth should be in the leadoff spot, not middle of the lineup. He will be a more powerful leadoff batter, but his speed (which is more effective than his power) would become wasted hitting back there. He’ll get RBI opportunities if they bat Kelly and Kotchman in the back of the lineup now, as our pitchers actually can do a very good job of getting down the sacrifice bunts. Only other option I could see for him is moving Chipper out of the 3 hole and putting McClouth there, but I don’t like that option as much.
TnBrian
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
I’ll say McLouth bats cleanup for awhile, when/if Wren makes a trade for a more powerful hitter, then NM moves to leadoff.
Steve from OH
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
Slugger, FW actually said that about McLouth and SB%? Nice. That guy has an idea of what he’s doing…
I see he got Coach’s memo on the June freight trains (scary!), based on what he said on the TV feed.
Schafer's Facial Expression
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
Mike, you seem like a retarded person.
Chip Caray is a BUFFOON
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
Someone really should keep an eye on Joe Simpson. Take away his razor, sharp objects, etc. Keep him away from rooftops, and windows in tall buildings. Poor guy.
abwright
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
DirtyYuni, 8:14 pm…”Out of curiosity, though, where does McLouth bat? First? Fourth?”
Frank Wren was just in the booth with Chip and Joe. His first statement was something like, “We haven’t had a legitimate lead off hitter since Furcal left. McLouth fills that need if that’s where Bobby wants to put him.”
TennesseePaul
June 3rd, 2009
8:19 pm
“As it stands, Smoltz and Glavine may have bitter feelings toward the Braves and choose to go into the HoF wearing anything but a Braves uni”
Not even possible. The policy for the HoF has always been “primary” team for the cap, but a player could ask for a different team. However, in 2001 this was changed so that now the HoF picks the team. No way will Glavine go in as a Met when his best and most productive years were as a Brave, the years he made his hall credentials. Same goes for Smoltz.
keylargo
June 3rd, 2009
8:20 pm
McLouth, Escobar, Jones, McCann, Anderson/Diaz, Johnson, Francoeur, Kotchman
RC
June 3rd, 2009
8:20 pm
Based on his player profile and projection on Baseball Prospectus, McLouth is about 5 runs below average defensively, but more than makes up for it with his offensive abilities. Great move by the front office, especially with the favorable contract he’s got.
Pierson Brave
June 3rd, 2009
8:21 pm
all you idiots the braves wont win the division its belongs to the mets this year mclouth please with chipper out again chipper wont play 100 games this year the braves will finish in 3rd place and chipper can go and work in his mom and dads fern farm where he belongs chipper is finished.so are the sorry braves they are 4.5 games out today by july 2nd they will be 10 games out game over, trade hanson to the yankees so we can win another world series losers. willieg
Guess you have never heard of the Double Dime? Dolt!
Schafer's Facial Expression
June 3rd, 2009
8:21 pm
Even if Smoltz and Glavine went to the hall as a Red Sock and a Met, well, that’d be just two more butthurt egos baseball may as well know the truth about.
proeye
June 3rd, 2009
8:21 pm
David O’Brien
May 23rd, 2009
12:10 pm
Woogidy, Pirates aren’t trading McLouth, from what I was told this winter. He’s one you build around, not trade.
**** This is really funny! ****
RC
June 3rd, 2009
8:22 pm
TennesseePaul is right. The HOF changed their policy after Wade Boggs went into the Hall as a Devil Ray (they paid him a LOT of money to do it).
Pete Townsend
June 3rd, 2009
8:22 pm
PICTURES OF LILY.
LILY, OH LILY.
Roman Gal
June 3rd, 2009
8:23 pm
Pat
You obviously didn’t read what I wrote…“gold-glove notwithstanding”.
(I guess my hiatus from the blog for a few days didn’t last very long)
Goldenglove002
June 3rd, 2009
8:23 pm
Anyone here think Wren can trade for another hitter? I mean, we have the prospects to do it (and there were a few rumors about Dunn being available earlier today, whom I wouldn’t mind in LF and the 4th spot in the lineup, but I digress) but do we want to move more pitchers. Maybe if the Braves end up leading the division closely at the trade deadline, but outside of that I would want to save some now that one move has been made.
Bust all Unions
June 3rd, 2009
8:24 pm
Francoeur-Hernandez-Blanco-Pitcher
What a black hole.
N Nine
June 3rd, 2009
8:24 pm
no way should Mclouth bat leadoff he belongs 4th of 5th
McLouth stole 23 of 26 last season. We need speed up top and we all know KJ does better down in that lineup. Yunel is the only option but he’s not really that quick. I think McLouth should leadoff and that’s what will probably happen…
AGTFan
June 3rd, 2009
8:24 pm
I guess Wren decided we didn’t have enough left handed hitters, so he sold the farm for another one. Two bone headed moves in one day. I like McLouth, but we gave up way too much for him. Now Hanson gets to the bigs with ten times as much pressure.
TennesseePaul
June 3rd, 2009
8:24 pm
Mr. McLouth has bat in the 1,2 and 3 holes most of his career; predominately leadoff.
I think he will be leading off this year as well. AND THAT IS PERFECT!
That would move KJ down lower in the order making the line up just a bit more dynamic.
Can’t help but wonder though… McLouth is a centerfielder…. that was Jordan’s spot… Poor kid really stunk it up so bad a two year replacement was brought in.
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:24 pm
Schafer:
Get back to the fries and stay off the web, sport. Jobs are scarce and fired fry chefs are not very upwardly mobile. I’d stick to your day job if I were you.
scottbravesfan
June 3rd, 2009
8:25 pm
Man this lineup is awful.
Bobby's Cox
June 3rd, 2009
8:25 pm
I bet chipper doesn’t get hurt for a while…he seems really happy to be a Brave according to Wren, after last nights game, and he’s the one veteran Brave that’s still a Brave. Maybe he hurt that toe before the game from all the jubilation.
Bust all Unions
June 3rd, 2009
8:25 pm
Why would you bat someone with nearly twice as many homeruns as anyone currently on the Braves leadoff? So he can hit with no one on?
Lift and Tuck
June 3rd, 2009
8:26 pm
Joe Simpson is not dangerous to himself or anyone else. Just a hopeless homer who grovels for his job every night. I thought he was going to propose to Frank Wren.
JJ
June 3rd, 2009
8:26 pm
AGTFan –
Dang….I thought GT folks were supposed to be smart. Oh well, there’s always one in the bunch I suppose.
scottbravesfan
June 3rd, 2009
8:27 pm
Wade Boggs went into the hall of fame as a Boston Red Sox. It was Dave Winnfield who was paid by the Padres to go into the hall as a Padre. Not Boggs.
Eric from MO
June 3rd, 2009
8:27 pm
Was at work then ate dinner and I dont feel like reading the whole blog so if this has been asked Im sorry, but how many years do we have til McLouth is a FA?
David O'Brien
June 3rd, 2009
8:28 pm
Some quotes from wren before I write trade story:
“He’s a guy that we’ve identified over the past year would be an ideal fit for our club. He gives us that speed and defense component that we’ve lacked, and he also gives us a guy that we control for four years – this year and three more. He’s under contract, and we just felt he was the ideal player for us. As we got deeper into conversations over the weekend, we realized there might be a chance we could acquire him.”
On trading Gorkys:
“Center field is a position where we have some depth. We’ve got obviously now Nate McLouth, we’ve also got Jordan Schafer. So we feel like that’s an area of depth in the organization, if you’re going to make a deal you’re going to do it in those areas.”
On getting McLouth so relatively early in season:
“I didn’t expect it, to be honest with you. A week ago I didn’t expect to be able to make a deal for a bat this early. I thought it would be later in June or July at the very earliest. This happening this early is opportune for us, because it gives us a lot more of the season to put our team together and give us a chance to win games.”
A guy you build around?
“He’s a solid part of a team. He’s an All-Star and a Gold Glove at a key position up the middle. He is one of those foundational players you love to have.”
Is he the “big bat” you wanted?
“He hit 26 home runs last year and drove in 94. He has pretty good plate discipline. His walks and strikeouts are pretty balance. And his stolen bases, he has the highest percentage of any active player since 2005. I don’t think he’s ever been thrown out by a catcher. He’s been picked off a few times, but he’s an accomplished base stealer.”
Does this move and the Glavine/Hanson thing signal you think you can compete this year?
“We’ve always felt that way [that they could compete this year]. We just didn’t want the season to be too far gone before we made moves, if there were moves to be made. And I think over the weekend, talking with a lot of our guys, our advistors and staff, and Bobby, we felt that if we could make some aggressive moves we could really improve our club and put us in good position. And part of that was evaluating our pitching and evaluating who gives us the best chance to win every fifth day. We like our starting pitching. Tommy Hanson just continued to dominate. We felt that putting him our rotation strengthened our rotation as good as anybody’s in our league.
“Our bullpen has been strong, so if we could shore up our offense it would put us in a strong position. And this really helps do that.”
On getting a guy like McLouth: “It’s hard to find five-tool guys. They’re hard to find and they’re hard to acquire.”
Why they were willing to give up good prospects:
“This is not to rent a guy for a year. This is not to get a guy who’s going to be a free agent. This is a guy that’s going to be here for four years. And so, that makes all the difference in the world. And an area where we have a lot of depth, I think more so that just about any other organization, is young pitching. We have great depth there, and we’re gonna pick seventh in the draft next week and I’m sure we’ll get some more. Roy Clark and his guys have identified some guys that we really like, so, if you’re going to improve your club that’s how you’re going to do it.”
BravesFanChris24
June 3rd, 2009
8:28 pm
Jon Heyman was just talking about this whole situation on MLBN.
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Lift and Tuck– Agree. Think they’re going away for a weekend in the near future. Wait until he gets word that he’s be relegated to the Fox broadcast-only in a cost-cutting move.
Efrim
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Mclouth is NOT that good of a defensive centerfielder. Not according to defensive metrics. If you believe in that sort of stuff. Schafer, when he is ready, should be in center with Mclouth taking one of the corner outfield spots.
It’s a good trade. Braves needed an outfielder, now. They needed a younger one who they can control, too. Locke and Hernandez are two top 100 prospects, but Hernandez had no place here, and Locke, well, the Braves biggest strength is starting pitching in the minors, so there ya go. Morton is a back of the rotation starter, in my opinion. But I know some thought more of him.
Releasing Glavine needed to be done, I am not that upset about it. Hanson’s time is now. Medlen moving to the pen gives them more depth.
Flat Bill Kid
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Im glad we held on to Javier V. Glad he didn’t get thrown into a trade for a bat. Look at what happened to the cubbies when they traded marquis. Jason has 7 wins and the cubs are .500 now.
Zephyr 8
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
AGTFan,
McLouth may be a left hander, but he hit lefties pretty well.
AndyC
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Yeah DOB, I do remember you saying that the Pirates would never trade McLouth. Not the first time you were wrong…. OOOHHH BURN!
Just kidding DOB.
The interview that might have been
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Simpson: “Why do you suck so much?”
Wren: “I’m not sure. I never really thought about it before. You know, maybe I have no business being a general manager. Thanks, Joe. You asked the tough question for which I have no answer. It’s time I quit. Goodbye, I have a lot of soul-searching to do.”
Simpson: “You’re welcome. See ya. Can I have your parking space?”
keylargo
June 3rd, 2009
8:30 pm
Does anyone think that Schafer starts playing RF or LF in Gwinette?
RC
June 3rd, 2009
8:30 pm
Don’t be so sure that McLouth is a two-year replacement for Schafer. Remember that he’s played right-field quite a bit in the past few years as well. Just saying…..
Although what’s more likely is that next year is McLouth in left, Schafer in center, Francoeur in right.
OldTimer
June 3rd, 2009
8:31 pm
The Braves have no class. None.
scottbravesfan
June 3rd, 2009
8:32 pm
Mike,
You are nuts if you think this team isn’t trying to win right now. If not Tom Glavine would still be on this team and they would have never made the deal of Nate McLouth. This team is trying to win which is more than some fans can say about their team.
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:32 pm
The interview that might have been
June 3rd, 2009
8:29 pm
Simpson: “Why do you suck so much?”
Wren: “I’m not sure. I never really thought about it before. You know, maybe I have no business being a general manager. Thanks, Joe. You asked the tough question for which I have no answer. It’s time I quit. Goodbye, I have a lot of soul-searching to do.”
Simpson: “You’re welcome. See ya. Can I have your parking space?”
Simpson would never do that interview………but Skip Carey would.
keylargo
June 3rd, 2009
8:32 pm
RC
McLouth plays a much better CF than Schafer. It’s not even close.
OldTimer
June 3rd, 2009
8:33 pm
You just don’t get it. You don’t.
DWW
June 3rd, 2009
8:33 pm
Bravo Frank Wren.
TennesseePaul
June 3rd, 2009
8:33 pm
Ooops… 3 year contract extension. Schafer appears blocked for 3.5 years, including the rest of this season.
But, I’m not sad to miss the next 100Ks in 112 at bats he would bring.
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:33 pm
scottbravesfan- You are nuts if you think this team isn’t trying to win right now. If not Tom Glavine would still be on this team and they would have never made the deal of Nate McLouth. This team is trying to win which is more than some fans can say about their team.
Scott- The Detriot Lions were trying to win. They didn’t because they had a short-sighted GM at the helm. We have something similar going on here.
FloridaBrave
June 3rd, 2009
8:34 pm
Right, Efrim.
We discussed Hernandez’s declining speed and questionable bat. Locke, who has had some poor starts recently, is also super raw.
I was one of those guys who thought a lot of Morton, but I like Hanson and Medlen more in terms of prospects and like you said, we just have so much depth there.
Eric from MO
June 3rd, 2009
8:34 pm
I dont think Morton will ever be anything and I wasnt sold on Locke. So in my opinion it was Gorkys for McLouth. With McLouth being here for 4 years plus Scafer we really didnt have a spot for Gorkys. I give the trade a B+ since we did have to give up 3 prospects, however I dont think 2 will amount to anything.
braves phanatic
June 3rd, 2009
8:35 pm
jesus christ, i dont know if some of you know this but when you trade for a guy like mclouth, who is under control relatively cheaply for four years, you actually have to give the other team something in return. yeah, its this new thing going around. its like, one gives and the other receives.
this is a great deal.
Schafer's Facial Expression
June 3rd, 2009
8:35 pm
Old Timer, don’t want it, either. You keep it.
Rob (from SC)
June 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
Gwinnett 9 hits, Schafer 0-3 with a strikeout. I am really pulling for the kid to succeed
MFin04
June 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
I feel bad for Glavine, but I’m so excited by this move I can barely watch tonight’s game.
MiamiBrave
June 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
WOW…left work and all this has transpired…this is nuts
the only thing I wouldn’t have done was the releasing Tommy now…maybe earlier or later…not now…but bringing up Hanson gives another power arm in the rotation..
McLouth…SICK!
GO BRAVOS and GJ FW!
AndyC
June 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
OldTimer
I assume that you are commenting on the release of Glavine?
bravofan
June 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
Thank you it is about time the Braves made a move! It is a good deal for 3 reasons 1 because all those guys involved in the trade are not proven at the Major Leauge Level 2 because the Braves need a Power Bat and you receive that in Nate and 3 I mean for Pete Sake it is Nate Mclouth!! I cannot wait to see Tommy pitch Saturday! I wish the Braves would not have led Tom Glavine on and waiting till the last possible moment that is absolutely classless Wren of course its all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ but show the guy some RESPECT!!!
Sarge
June 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
I want to know more about this McLouth guy.
Is he manly? Does he have chest hair? Would he punch someone in the face for looking at him funny?
Shamus Thacker
June 3rd, 2009
8:37 pm
I take back everything I’ve ever said about Frank Wren. He’s out-Shuerholzed Shuerholz!!
Hell, this is like Christmas in June!
Great kick-off to this blog DOB! Last part was funny as Hell…
Hallelujah!!! Praise The Lawd and FW!!!
New Q place just opened in Cave Spring. Small metal building with less than immaculate windows; CAN’T WAIT to try it!! Rode by today, couldn’t stop, late for prior commitment. Smelled FANTASTIC!!
TennesseePaul
June 3rd, 2009
8:37 pm
Perfect answers by Wren. I am actually very pleased with him for the first time in a little while. I like this. I do not miss those pitchers or Gorkys. I just hope Nate can hold up and keep producing.
Eric from MO
June 3rd, 2009
8:38 pm
Mike how was this a shortsighted trade? McLouth will be a Brave for 4 years. We gave up 3 player who may not amount to anything. Gorkys is probably the only one who has a shot at being a good player.
Sarge
June 3rd, 2009
8:38 pm
What did we give up for McLouth?
The Morton Salt girl?
JJ
June 3rd, 2009
8:38 pm
OldTimer –
What don’t we get? Should the Braves have let Glavine and Smoltz pitch as long as they want to and then retire as Braves even if they have better pitchers waiting? Should they not try to get better and actually make the playoffs? Should their mission statement and focus be to preserve the nostalgic atmosphere presented by “OldTimers” such as Glavine and Smoltz?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then you sir are the one who doesn’t “get it”.
TennesseePaul
June 3rd, 2009
8:38 pm
Another good note, the days Chipper sits, like today, we can bat some one like Nate McLouth third and not have to fret about it.
Efrim
June 3rd, 2009
8:38 pm
“McLouth plays a much better CF than Schafer. It’s not even close.”
Yes, it is. I think Schafer is slightly overrated defensively, but McLouth is really overrated in centerfield. Just my two cents. But I think McLouth is out future LF, with Heyward in RF and Schafer in CF…….
…….although that is damn good defenisve outfield, because McLouth would be plus in LF.
nolie
June 3rd, 2009
8:39 pm
I think Wren knows our top prospects better than Baseball America. (FloridaBrave)
I saw this and wanted to comment. I don’t agree with you on that point. The Braves always hype their prospects, I think Basenball America always has a better view with no team bias. Look how much hype the Braves gave BJones & Lillibridge a couple winters ago, as opposed to much lower ratings by BBA and MiLB.Com. Gee guess who was right. You can go back through Marte and Betemit and any number of others. I’ll go with the unbiased analysts. jim Callis & BBA does a fantastic amount of research on players talking to everybody, not just the team that has the player in question.
I’m not saying where Medlen might end up or how well he will pitch but I will rely less on biased reports from any team not just the Braves about their own players.
Anyway much of Medlen’s cachet has come lately after the BBA ratings. Hopefully he will live up to your hopes.
bravofan
June 3rd, 2009
8:39 pm
sarge figure that out on your own you should know about this guy!
Tomahawkin
June 3rd, 2009
8:40 pm
Another Night of BS Calls from the umpires….!
Come On Offense…!
Elements
June 3rd, 2009
8:40 pm
J-X: I don’t think getting younger means getting better. Schafer is young but he didn’t make the team better. Not yet anyway. Hanson may be younger and stronger but vets that have playoff experience/success are valuable too – that’s why I think guys like Glavine and Lowe are so impo. (provided they can still pitch!)
I will agree that competitive, good players want to play on winning teams. But I also know that winners have choices – either sign with their home team often in a longer term deal w/ less $ or take big money w/another club. If a winner knows that his home or current team will treat him like crap at some point he is more likely to sign w/another winning team that doesn’t have the same rep. That’s all. Agree?
One thing I’ll admit to – I have to realize the days of guys staying with one club for their entire career is practically over. It seems that I have to be either a Braves fan or a fan of player A, B or C. Oh well.
csg
June 3rd, 2009
8:41 pm
it amazes me how some fans think we are only suppose to recieve the good side of a trade. Guys, trades are suppose to work for both teams. Thats the reason why they are made. PIttsburgh got good talent in return for a player we’ll have under control at a great price until 2012. Good deal for both teams
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:41 pm
I guess whether the Braves make the playoffs or not is irrelevent. If they do, I’ll still be able to walk up the stadium, 5 minutes before first pitch, and get tickets right behind the dugout……….thanks to all you die-hard bloggers that truly believe that Wren has this team on the mend……because you won’t have the common decency to buy a ticket. But you’ll damn sure be on this blog claming you knew this move was the one that put them over the top.
AGTFan
June 3rd, 2009
8:41 pm
I like McLouth. He’s a career .261 hitter, who has a little power. He strikes out about twice as often as he walks. He can steal a base. He’s a good fielder. Hopefully last season was an indication he’s getting better and not an aberation.
I can understand releasing Glavine, but this really rachets up the pressure on Hanson. And in typical Braves front office style, the release was handled with 0 class.
Roman Gal
June 3rd, 2009
8:41 pm
keylargo
McLouth plays a much better CF than Schafer. It’s not even close.
HAH! Hahaha.hah.ha….HA!!
Murph Rocks
June 3rd, 2009
8:43 pm
Sarge — more importantly, is he DOUBLE PITS TO CHESTY????
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:43 pm
Eric- the trade is probably a wash. Time will tell. The dumping of players to save a million is short-sighted. This team has been non-competitive for about 4 years now. I see nothing that makes me think that’s changed.
Eric from MO
June 3rd, 2009
8:44 pm
Nolie you just contradicted yourself. Baseball America had Marte the 2nd top prospect in baseball. Yes, the Braves do overhype their prospects but I think part of that is so they have better trade value.
AndyC
June 3rd, 2009
8:44 pm
Sarge
Looking at pictures of McClouth on the internet, he does not appear to be overly hairy so you may be out of luck on the chest hair. I can’t speak to his manlyness or his temperament so I guess we are just going to have to wait and see.
Bad Scooter
June 3rd, 2009
8:44 pm
Mike, you should open up your eyes my man. If you knew baseball, you knew how good Nate McLouth really is and how much he is going to help Atlanta.
Capt Caveman
June 3rd, 2009
8:44 pm
I tell you man, some of you guys really crack me up with the conclusions you draw from other peoples actions or comments.
Outfielders are outfielders, not just one position but can play them all. Just b/c this guy is signed for 4 yrs doesn’t mean the Schafer is not coming back. Doesn’t mean that we wont turn around and trade either one of them, doesn’t mean anything except he is here now to play and make us better.
You guys act like once you are a “prospect” you are a superstar in the making and that’s just not true. I will bet that if you asked most of the whiners and complainers on this blog who their favorite QB is in the NFL, most of them would name a backup who’s just waiting in the wings.
I love the way some of you guys talk, like you have all the answers and they are so easy to see. This aint roto or fantasy league, that’s why baseball is america’s favorite and best long term pasttime. No matter what the stats sheet says, you still got to go out and play the game. Forget “any given sunday”, everyday in baseball brings something new and amazing for us to watch and enjoy.
Al’right, I’m done for now.
Go Bravos!!!
Steve from OH
June 3rd, 2009
8:44 pm
McLouth plays a much better CF than Schafer. It’s not even close.
Statistically, Schafer is better. Now, I understand the reservations about defensive stats (and I share them), but if you want to go the scouting report route I’d say that they’ve both gotten rave reviews…
Bobby's Cox
June 3rd, 2009
8:45 pm
I am and have been really happy with Wren. He’s been working hard, and been working smart.
The way I see it, we still have a ton of pitching depth. Medlen i’m sure will be a starter in 2011. We still have Rohrborough, Redmond, Hudson, Parr, and shaky JoJo.
Wren’s strengthened our presence overseas, rebuilt our pitching staff, brought us some speed and power finally, and made our bullpen stronger all at once. If a SP goes down, we have 3 to take his place…
We still have an extra lefty or 2 in the lineup, but have the pieces to make even another move if need be. This is exciting being a braves fan again, and it only took a few hours!
abwright
June 3rd, 2009
8:45 pm
Joe did ask Wren about releasing Glavine. Wren’s answer was something like “Our scouts did not think that Glavine could get hitters out at the major league level.”
Is this PR? Or, did the Braves’ scouts really think that TG was done?
With the pitching depth available to the Braves and with the GM’s job being to put a winning product on the field, how could the GM do anything but release TG and call up Hanson with this information?
They probably should have done it three starts ago, but they gave TG every chance to complete his come-back.
Now, if TG signs with another team and wins 10 games this year, you would have to call the explanation B$. Otherwise, it is what it is.
scottbravesfan
June 3rd, 2009
8:45 pm
Mike,
How is Frank Wren being short sighted? I don’t understand that statement at all. Releasing Glavine, while sucks because I’m a huge Glavine fan, needed to be done. They should have never signed the guy to begin with so he was actually correcting his one big mistake this off season. Calling up Tommy Hanson helps the team right now and for the future. They just got Nate McLouth who is 27 just entering his prime and they did it without giving up a major prospect. Gorkys Hernandez is the best guy the Bucs got and he wasn’t going to start in center for the Braves. Schafer is a better prospect than Hernandez and McLouth is better than both of them. Plus McLouth is under contract for three more years. With Jason Heyward and Freedie Freeman looking like future members of the lineup this team is looking good for the present and the future.
Now if you want to talk about short sightedness look at John Schuerholtz and that stupid trade for Tex. That was a Detroit Lionsesque move. Frank Wren has done a great job so far. Getting Jurrjens and Hernandez for Renteria was brilliant and now the McLouth trade. Plus bringing in Lowe and Vazquez was both good moves as well.
cabravesfan
June 3rd, 2009
8:45 pm
Soooo…I leave at 3:00 right after we learn that Tommy got released. I come home at 5:15 and Campillo’s been DL’d again, Medlen has been moved to the ‘pen, Tommy Hanson’s been called up and will start on Saturday, and Nate McLouth is our new center fielder- maybe I should stay away more often
roxtar
June 3rd, 2009
8:46 pm
Defensively, McLouth made one error in 1300+ innings last year. He already has 5 assists this season from center field (second most in MLB). He’s got great range, too. He’ll help you out offensively, but he certainly didn’t win that Gold Glove through the back door.
Mike
June 3rd, 2009
8:46 pm
Bad Scooter- If he hits .250 for the season, he’s .50 better than Schaeffer. But it’s still only .250. Let’s not bet the deed on the house just yet.
Roman Gal
June 3rd, 2009
8:46 pm
I’m leaving before I really turn into a major…moody person.
bravesfanforever
June 3rd, 2009
8:46 pm
Isn’t it ironic that it has been understood that the Braves lack power–especially in the outfield–and so a trade was made to shore up that position and it was suggested by Wren to bat McLouth lead off? How is that shoring up a team’s lack of power when that position in the line up doesn’t require power?
McLouth has been batting third all season for the Pirates. Seems like he would be better in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, or 6th holes. 20+ stolen bases is not a lot and there have been plenty of guys stealing plenty of bases batting clean up. Jose Canseco had a 40/40 season and didn’t bat anywhere near lead off. I think it would be better to bat McLouth lower in the line up. Our biggest deficit in the line up is the bottom half not the top.
I’m really not sure what the point was with Tom Glavine this year. I can only assume that the team was looking at releasing him even earlier, maybe even a month ago and just used him as insurance at the beginning of the season. So looking at this positively, maybe they did Glavine a favor by at least letting him make his come back in the minors so he can sign on with another team. If they would have let him go without even getting a start, no team might have picked him up.
Anyway, it was disappointing to see him go. Too bad that he could not have stuck around to make one more start then retire, but maybe Tom didn’t want to do that.
scottbravesfan
June 3rd, 2009
8:47 pm
Mike,
You do realize that most people on this blog and on Braves message boards are NOT from Atlanta, right?
nolie
June 3rd, 2009
8:47 pm
(I guess my hiatus from the blog for a few days didn’t last very long) (ROMAN GAL)
That’s Good !
Tomahawkin
June 3rd, 2009
8:47 pm
Dammit Why Didn’t Matty-D Go To second on the dropped ball by the catcher, especially with KJ AT third…?
He must be that Slow…
JJ
June 3rd, 2009
8:47 pm
Kelly wasn’t even looking at that passed ball. Was heading back to 3rd with his back to the plate.
FloridaBrave
June 3rd, 2009
8:47 pm
nolie,
Jones and Lillibridge got most of the hype from Baseball America- especially Jones who was our #4 prospect at one point. I got destroyed here one day because I mentioned all that I read saying Braves officials never were high on Jones and everyone threw the fact he was our #4 prospect in my face.
Marte was another one hyped as a #1 prospect. The Braves traded him from Edgar Renteria and everyone screamed bloody murder that we traded our #1 prospect for a veteran SS. Baseball America called him the “next Miguel Cabrera.”
I kind of see what you’re arguing as the opposite. And if that’s true, the Braves could have been hyping them to boost trade value.
Outside the Tex trade, the Braves are one of the better teams at evaluating their own talent, IMO.
No matter how much Callis and BBA study these teams, they don’t have the same information as the Braves’ front office.
Bobby's Cox
June 3rd, 2009
8:47 pm
scottbravesfan,
great post.