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2,078 comments Add your comment
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
4:44 pm
That’s not the point I’m trying to make, Anders. In a vacuum, Esco-for-Youk makes a lot of sense, but when you consider the fact that Esco plays top-notch defense at a premium position, finances, and the fact that you have a halfway-decent 1B with a good glove and a SS replacement in Diory Hernandez who is, at best, a replacement player, plus the fact that Yunel will make the league minimum next season, and that Youk will make 10MM next year and 12MM the two afterwards, then it moves into more of a grey area category. That’s more of a fantasy league proposal than a real one. Keep Yunel at the league minimum and use that 12MM (that you hypothetically have if you’re acquiring Youk) to get that bat elswhere. Your club is overall stronger for it.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
4:44 pm
I just don’t think these guys are very good hitters. Chipper is. McCann is. Escobar could be. But Matt Diaz is a part-timer for a reason, and Kelly Johnson has never, I’m sorry to say, impressed me. Casey Kotchman has no power. Jeff Francoeur is feast-or-famine, mostly famine of late. Garret Anderson will turn 37 in 15 days.
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
God did not bless me with the privilege of being Jeff Francoeur’s teammate. I have hated God for years because of this, but I’m sort of coming around to the idea that maybe I just wasn’t worthy of being in His (Francoeur’s) presence. We all have our crosses to bear. My cross just happens to be unbelievably soul-crushing.
PWHjort
June 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
I’d trade Escobar and Kotchman plus some for Youkilis and Lowerie.
Efrim
June 15th, 2009
4:46 pm
Anders, Escobar > Ellsbury. But I get your point. Red Sox wouldn’t make a deal like that. Overall, I have a hard time seeing them come to an agreement on a deal like that. They’d probably offer Bard, Bowden and Lowrie for Escobar. Maybe Wren would make a deal like that, but I sure hope he wouldn’t. Gotta get back something more of a sure thing for Escobar in a trade. Like Buchholz, for example.
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
4:47 pm
PWH–I’d keep Esco and Kotch and use that extra money to acquire a big bat for the outfield.
Random
June 15th, 2009
4:49 pm
MFin04 (June 15th, 2009 3:58 pm): “First of all Tex is a 2nd half of the season kind of player. So your “stats” aren’t that legit.”
Fool — that is exactly the point I was making. Here, lemme say it again:
In 2007, the Braves were 5 games over .500 BEFORE they got Tex. AFTER they got him (and his wonderful “2nd half of the season kind of” performance), they were only 1 game over .500.
Not legit? Two full seasons with the same team, with Tex and without Tex. Out of 324 games, the Braves won 79 games WITHOUT Tex on the roster, and 77 games WITH Tex on the roster.
And you DO realize that if the Braves HAD signed Tex, they would NOT have been able to sign Kawakami OR Lowe, OR have traded for Vazquez. Or done much else at all — they may not even have been able to afford to sign Ross or Anderson or trade for McLouth.
Back to your kitchen, you slovenly and slothful wench! Bake us a pie!
“So if we could trade Kotchman for Tex straight up this year would you do it (with money, etc aside)?”
With money, etc aside? Why, with money, etc aside, I’D be playing first base for the Braves and batting clean-up behind Chipper and ahead of Ted Williams. Ty Cobb would be leading off, with Joe Morgan batting second. (FJM — R.I.P.!!!)
Kid, you’ve got to start doing a better job at distinguishing between fantasy and reality.
(Sheeeeeeesh!!!)
Warhead
June 15th, 2009
4:51 pm
Sure, I’d trade Escobar for Youkilis, but Theo would never do that.
I would trade Escobar for Bucholz, however, especially if the Braves could get Jed Lowrie in return. He may not be the hitter Escobar has the potential to be or have quite the range at SS, but I think he’d be a more sound defensive player and make fewer blunders. He’d be OK with the bat, too.
But I really like the thought of running Hanson, JJJ, Lowe and Bucholz out there as my 1-4 for the next three years.
getsomepower
June 15th, 2009
4:51 pm
People, I know Red Sox would never trade Youk for Escobar, just like I would not do Escobar for Buchholz. They have depth in their lineup. I would take one of them. Would Lowell be willing to play 1B?
Wren in Doubt
June 15th, 2009
4:51 pm
A few pages back it was stated that the next two weeks will determine the season. Sorry but the last two weeks determined the season. We played approximately .500 ball against the weak sisters of both leagues save the Brewers.
The next two weeks will simply determine whether we finish third or fourth in our division.
Question of the Day
June 15th, 2009
4:52 pm
How long do you think this Escobar to Boston rumor goes on for?
MFin04
June 15th, 2009
4:53 pm
Random you jump into the middle of conversations, without seeing what the point of the conversation was.
The point wasn’t that the Braves should have signed Tex and not all the pitchers.
The point was if Tex was on this team that the Braves have right now, would they be a better team and win more games.
Answer that question, because that was the WHOLE 2 sentence convo we were having.
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
4:53 pm
Sure, I’d trade Escobar for Youkilis, but Theo would never do that.
In this hypothetical, Esco-for-Youk really doesn’t make sense for either club IMO.
Thrillhouse44
June 15th, 2009
4:54 pm
Question of the Day, longer than your name implies.
Capt Obvious
June 15th, 2009
4:55 pm
OK — Here is the REAL UPDATE
I talked to my cousin whose friend’s friend’s brother’s father-in-law knows someone in the Braves front office. He gave me the scoop on what’s going on. Of course he was mad that I posted our last conversation here on the blog but I drank a few beers, watched some “Mythbusters” on TV and he forgot about it. LOL.
There may or may not be a trade made between now and the trade deadline. If there is a trade made it will involve players that are either on the Braves major league roster or in the farm system. Those players would be headed from Atlanta to lets just call it “Destination X” in exchange for a player or possibly more than one player. The player(s) the Braves get in return would be someone who could help the team.
From what I hear, Francoeur may now be aware of the fact that he’s struggled mightily since the end of the 2007 season. I doubt he’s even considered that thought until recent trade rumors hit the media (nevermind previous trade rumors that swirled regarding him). This could be what lights a fire under him but then again, it could cause him to press even more and spin further into decline. I have a feeling he’ll either play better or worse because of this.
I hope my source doesn’t get mad at me for posting all of this excruciatingly detailed inside info on a blog. But I’m willing to take that chance. If he gets mad I’ll just get drunk again and he’ll forget about it and give me more of this awesome inside scoop.
(Don’t ask me for even more details on this INSIDE SCOOP. I can’t give any more details because it would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, assuming anyone here actually buys my crap, that I actually have no inside source and that I’m just making all this up off the top of my head. Uh-oh, I already told more than my source wanted me to tell! LOL)
Efrim
June 15th, 2009
4:57 pm
With Beckett set to be a free agent after 2010, Wakefield – old, and Dice-K….um, terrible. I’d be shocked to see Theo trade Buchholz at any point. It’s like the Braves trading Hanson. Ain’t happening. My guess is he’d offer players like Hagadone, Anderson, Bowden, Bard, Lowrie, or Reddick.
Anders
June 15th, 2009
4:58 pm
Efrim- I’m taking all the pitching I can get. It’s the most valuable commodity in baseball. Especially in this new roid free environment. Pitching can always be moved for bats – not so the other way around imo.
Theo Epstein
June 15th, 2009
5:00 pm
You statheads amuse me.
I want winning ballplayers.
Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips are geniuses.
That Eckstein kid is a winning ballplayer. He may not be good enough to win you a game, but he’s a winner.
Warhead
June 15th, 2009
5:02 pm
Steve from OH … Yeah, Youk-for-Esco was completely hypothetical on my part. My original question was if you were the Braves GM and you could trade Esco for Bucholz, would you do it?
I think I would do it without getting a SS in return, but I know I would if there was a way to get Lowrie included in the deal, too. I love Escobar’s talent and I think we’re really starting to see the kind of hitter he can become this year. But for my shortstop I want someone you can count on in the field, someone who is going to have their head in the game 999 times out of 1,000.
As a fan obviously on the outside looking in, I get the impression Escobar’s “maintenance” is going to be quite high in the coming years because he’s not shown very much baseball maturity from last year to this year. I think that’s going to be a big problem long term. I say if you can get a potential No. 1 or No. 2 in Bucholz for him now, you do it and figure out the SS puzzle as you go.
Random
June 15th, 2009
5:03 pm
flange1 –
De nada, compadre.
Btw, did you check that first link way up in the long, pasted post? It’s supposed to go straight to the Comments page for that article — I was wondering if it worked?
PS: Oh, and by way of clarification — I posted that BP excerpt under the doctrine of Fair use of copyrighted material, which allows the use of protected materials for noncommercial purposes such as peer review and commentary.
Totally legit. (I think.)
AGTFan
June 15th, 2009
5:03 pm
Just curious. Does the advent of fantasy baseball cause baseball blogs to be dominated by silly trade talk?
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:04 pm
Efrim–say we got Lowrie, and two of Bowden/Anderson/Reddick for Escobar. This doesn’t really help our club on the field right now, but it gives us a LOT of options in moving players. What would you do?
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
5:05 pm
I don’t think so, AGTFan. I think fans now are as dumb as they’ve always been. There’s just a lot more information out there for people to get dumb with.
getsomepower
June 15th, 2009
5:05 pm
I think Frenchy would be revitalized if he played for the Red Sox.
Anders
June 15th, 2009
5:06 pm
AGTFan – Silly trade talk predates fantasy baseball by about 50 years so I’m gonna go out on a limb and say no.
getsomepower
June 15th, 2009
5:06 pm
Chop Chop – Yankee fans are lol
FloridaBrave
June 15th, 2009
5:06 pm
Agreed, Efrim. In looking at this from the Red Sox perspective, I certainly wouldn’t trade Bucholz, Masterson, or Bowden. I think they should be untouchable for them- those three in your rotation? WOW.
But something that makes sense for both teams, IMO.
SS Yunel Escobar and RF Jeff Francouer for RHP Manny Delcarmen/Daniel Bard, SS Jed Lowrie, RHP/SS Casey Kelly.
The Red Sox can afford to trade one of their young relievers with Papelbon, Ramirez, Okajima, and whichever one they don’t trade at the back end of their pen. On the flip side, the Braves are going to need a closer next year with both Gonzalez/Soriano hitting the FA market and both Delcarmen and Bard have the potential to fill that role. Lowrie replaces Escobar at SS and Casey Kelly is a high upside(#2 SP?) low minors prospect. Red Sox also buy low on Francouer in the deal.
Efrim
June 15th, 2009
5:07 pm
Theo Epstein, you’d never say that. You love statheads and prospects. I mean, that’s what makes you the best, right?
Anders, like I said, it’s like the Braves trading Hanson. I know Buchholz has struggled and been sent back down, but he is still highly regarded by just about everyone. No way they trade him. From a Braves fan point of view, Buchholz really is the only one I’d consider dealing Escobar for(and more, of course). I could care less that the Braves have no room for him in their starting staff. You make room. Take the most value you can for a player that’s as valuable as Escobar.
Capt Obvious
June 15th, 2009
5:07 pm
By the way, if you guys didn’t get my 4:55pm post, it’s a take off on this post from earlier today
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2009/06/14/chipper-looking-to-bust-streak/comment-page-15/#comment-144676
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:09 pm
Warhead, the only way I’d do it is if I got Lowrie and another piece back in the deal and I knew I could unload Vazquez or Kawakami (or both) for outfield help. I love Bucholz, but he really doesn’t help our club right now unless we can move some of that pitching depth for bats, which I think we can. A trio of JJ/Hanson/Bucholz with Huddy and Lowe there too looks pretty good. Still gotta get bats though, and that deal in itself takes away from that goal.
Random
June 15th, 2009
5:12 pm
MFin04 –
There is no point — it’s a pointless discussion.
Mainly, it’s all hypothetical and suppositional and nonfalsifiable.
But also, it’s pure fasntasy — there is no way the Braves could afford both Tex and the rest of “this team that the Braves have right now”.
Why don’t you ask whether the Braves would be better if they had ARod and Manny with “this team that the Braves have right now”? It’s no more or less silly and time-wasting.
In other words, that question is not only unanswerable (”Mainly”), it also not even worth being answered (”But also”).
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:14 pm
And yes, I realize that I am overvaluing Escobar a bit, but IMO Frank Wren should do the same thing. LOTS of names and scenarios flying by, and my brain is too fried right now to process it all, LOL! I’ll let y’all do the thinking, and I’ll just read it.
Capt Obvious
June 15th, 2009
5:15 pm
I just talked to my source in the Braves front office. He says that the chances of the Braves trading for Manny, A-Rod or Tex are very slim.
Efrim
June 15th, 2009
5:15 pm
Steve from OH, honestly, I think Reddick and Bowden are overrated prospects. Heard way too many people think Bowden is nothing more than a 4/5 starter. Lars Anderson, yes, I’d take him in a heartbeat. Reddick is a nice player, but I’d need more. I’d want Hagadone back in any deal. So if the Braves really, really thought they needed to move Escobar and thought the Red Sox had a package of players that would suit them, then I’d ask for Lowrie, Lars Anderson, Nick Hagadone, and a 4th pitching prospect not named Bowden or Buchholz. I think that’d be fair for both sides. Lowrie moves into SS. Anderson and Hagadone aren’t as far off from the majors as people think. Hagadone had TJ surgery, but appears to be throwing really well right now. Just my preference though because I’ve heard too many negatives on Bowden and Reddick. Sox have a great system.
Warhead
June 15th, 2009
5:16 pm
I don’t think talking an Esco for Buchholz trade is silly and wholly unrealistic stuff, personally. I think it’s a trade that fills a huge need for the Red Sox and gives Atlanta a tremendous amount of options and flexibility to continue improving their ballclub for this year and beyond.
It’s not like it was suggested they trade Francouer for Bowden or Masterson or Buchholz.
I’m saying Escobar’s value is probably at its highest right now — save for his lapses here in the past week. Going forward, do you think those lapses will fade and he will become a reliable and dependable cornerstone, or will he continue to make too many of the blunders a MLB shortstop should not make? Escobar fills a huge hole for the Red Sox; Buchholz would make a nice addition to the Braves stable.
Born2Buzz
June 15th, 2009
5:17 pm
Here’s a serious question for folks on here with way more baseball knowledge than i have, would Escobar’s lack of focus (brainpower) be less of a detriment at 3rd than SS? Let’s face it, Chipper is getting old and cannot be counted on as our 3rd baseman for more than another year, if that. If we moved Escobar to 3rd and had a steady fielding SS, move Chipper over to 1st, would that work?
I kinda thought that was the thought process of the organization a year ago, especially with the attempt to bring Raffy back.
MFin04
June 15th, 2009
5:18 pm
LOL, Random it’s a blog, 99% of the things posted on here are absurd. I agree it’s not possible, but that was the question posted to me at the time, and adding Tex to this team would make it better if nothing was subtracted. That was the point.
One thing is for sure, if the Braves could at another bat in LF this year they would be a better team. I’m not sure the likelihood of them doing so, but someone earlier posted, “why spend all the money on pitching” if you aren’t willing to add some more power”.
It seems pointless to not try and add another bat to this lineup if we have the pitching in place.
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:18 pm
Warhead, not saying it’s an unreasonable trade at all. The fact that I’m engaging in this and not being snarky means you can be pretty sure it got me to thinking, LOL! Lots and lots of options and potential matches between the two clubs. Though with the cash, the system and the big-league club Theo currently has, I doubt there’s really a wrong move he can make.
Efrim
June 15th, 2009
5:18 pm
“SS Yunel Escobar and RF Jeff Francouer for RHP Manny Delcarmen/Daniel Bard, SS Jed Lowrie, RHP/SS Casey Kelly.”
FloridaBrave, Kelly was a guy I forgot about. Damn, what a org. I like Casey Kelly too. I don’t think that’s enough. They certainly do match up with us well though. We’ll see.
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:20 pm
Efrim, I’d take Lars in a heartbeat too. But then what happens to Freeman? Can’t break up Salt and Pepper!
monty
June 15th, 2009
5:21 pm
DAP
Having Medlen “take one for the team” against a team that’s having a killer day offensively is what every young pitcher just up from AAA needs, right? Yeh, toughen up! Make a man out of him! Either get with the program or get the yell out! Let them pitch when there’s zero “juices” flowing.(When the game is already lost). If that’s beneficial for young pitchers then that should be the protocal that all of them have to go through straight out of AAA, kind of like a boot camp(after all if it’s good for them, right?) Heck, I guess we should give Hanson a turn since it’s so beneficial the next long relief chance we get when the opposing team is up by 7 or 8 right? “It’ll do the boy good.” I mean if “he has what it takes” he’ll get them out, right? If you can honestly say that was beneficial for Medlen’s psyche then you are a class act. Is that his role? Yes, everyone understands that. If you ask Medlen I’m sure he’s not crying and complaining about it. He did what he was asked to do, if I were coaching however, I would have pitched Acosta sooner considering Medlen walked 5 and gave up 6 hits.. I would place Medlen in situations where he would be pitching where it meant something. If Medlen had started the game and was getting knocked around and walking people left and right, everyone watching would have said why doesn’t Bobby do something instead of letting him get beat up? Right? But because it’s his role as long reliever, it makes it necessary you say. I say different. With the day off today,I believe BC had more options he could have used other than leaving the kid out there for 4 innings when he obviously didn’t have his usually good stuff. But hey, that’s just me.
Anders
June 15th, 2009
5:22 pm
Efrim- setting aside exactly who the Red Sox would trade I think they would overpay (That could mean just trading a prospects at all against Theo’s gut) for a guy like Escobar. While Epstein wants to keep all his prospects the more the Yanks struggle and no other AL team looks great this year is there for the taking and that’s got to be a priority for the Sox. Tough balance, but you have to have the guts of a gambler. Luchino had them a couple of years ago. If Theo sits on his hands and doesn’t win it all on top of him saying he wouldn’t have made the Hanley trade that delivered the last WS that doesn’t bode well for Epstein. He has to feel some of that pressure – no?
TnBrian
June 15th, 2009
5:22 pm
According to Baseball Prospectus the Mariners and Royals have a better chance at making the plaoffs than the Braves…man, how exciting are us Braves fans right now! WOOO–HOOO!!
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:23 pm
Esco’s bat wouldn’t play all that well at 3rd and it would be a serious waste of his defensive ability. I don’t know why y’all are so down on Chipper, he’s been OUTSTANDING for the last three seasons (well, his whole career actually) and I don’t see any signs of him slowing down right now, to be honest. He’s a piece organizations cherish.
FloridaBrave
June 15th, 2009
5:26 pm
I’d jump on that deal so fast, Efrim, and I also think it works for the Red Sox. But to each his own. I think we’d have to get Lowrie back, albeit hopefully not as the most talented piece. Hagadone had TJ surgery so he’s the only one I’m really iffy on. With Papi being finished and Lowell being old, I can see the Red Sox wanting to hang onto Anderson, starting him at 1B, and bumping Youk to 3rd. I also have read the Red Sox want to be careful about their SP depth after the Arroyo incident.
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
I’d cherish Chipper more if we had the DH in the NL.
FloridaBrave
June 15th, 2009
5:33 pm
I just realized Josh Reddick is a local kid. I’m sure the Braves would like that.
monty
June 15th, 2009
5:33 pm
Escobar isn’t going anywhere unless he gets a bad attitude. He’s young, he’s productive and he’s cheap salary wise. You could not replace him with a comparable productive player without incurring a bunch more in salary.(No money for big outfield bats and a comparable SS too). I wouldn’t be too quick to lose patience because he is producing and obviously it’s important to him to succeed. After all look at how unbearably patient they have been with Frenchy’s total discombobulation!
Steve from OH
June 15th, 2009
5:33 pm
Whatever, Chop Chop.
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
5:37 pm
If I’m Brian Cashman, I approach Frank Wren in the offseason and try to acquire Chipper. I could slot him in DH. After all, Damon and Matsui are free agents this offseason.
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
5:37 pm
Well, that is if I’m Brian Cashman and am still employed by the Yankees.
That may very well not be the case…iffn I’m Brian Cashman.
Supes
June 15th, 2009
5:39 pm
I agree with Anders (the world must be ending tonight),
but the BoSox are the ones under the gun. Not the Braves. Braves DO NOT have to trade Escobar. Boston however desires a player of Yunel’s caliber at SS (and for the price).
If Wren plays his cards right, and Yunel doesn’t slump, but continues to be the Braves 3rd most productive hitter behind Chipper and B-Mac…Wren could actually GET Clay B. from the Sox and Jed Lowry/or another prospect. The way I see it…Wren will be holding all the cards.
Boston will be under pressure, tough division, plus the fact that they lost out to the Rays last year is only going to increase the pressure for Theo to pull out a move for a top tier SS. Let’s face it, Yunel isn’t there yet…but he is near the top 5 SS in the league. Potential is there.
BTW…if Wren can pull out a trade like that, I’d be more than happy with it. Gotta give up something of value to get something…a top tier young pitcher like Clay B. plus another prospect would be sufficient.
Warhead
June 15th, 2009
5:40 pm
Steve from OH … no disrespect taken, my man. Didn’t want you to get that impression! I didn’t think you were getting snarky on me. I like playing the ‘what if’ game, especially if it’s plausible. Seems to me this isn’t an outlandish question. Some others seem to disagree, which is cool. Like the rest of us — save for our buddy Anders (and I do mean that nicely) — I just want the Braves to put a consistent winner on the field again and have a shot to win championships.
aap
June 15th, 2009
5:45 pm
RHR: YOU KNOW MCCANN IS IN 2ND PLACE AND THEY TAKE MORE THAN ONE CATCHER, RIGHT? I’D SAY HE’S GOT IT IN THE BAG!
Thats why I said the Braves have one chance to have a player START in the all-star game! Im sure the coach or players will name him to the team but I was saying he deserves the START!!
rob from sc
June 15th, 2009
5:48 pm
What is happening now to the Braves is what happens to every successful sports team. Every winning team reaches the end of their run. Instead of rebuilding, John Schuerholz got greedy and tried to keep the division title run going. We should have restocked our team aroung Wainwright, Andrus, Saltalamacchia, or traded them for other young prospects. I have complete cinfidence in Frank Wren to rebuild this team. I love Escobar, but I would trade him for Buchholz in a second. In my opinion the first thing this team needs todo in order to move forward is to replace the whole coaching staff. We need a younger manager who can relate to young players. Chipper Jones needs to groom Brian McCann to take over the role of team leader. These young players need to create their own personality and forget the success of the players that came before them
Frank from KS
June 15th, 2009
5:49 pm
Warhead
With all due respect…..losing for three years ain’t nothing. Look at teams like the Pirates and even my home state Royals compared to the Braves being mediocre(sp) for that time period.
Three years ain’t nothing.
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
5:51 pm
I agree, Frank from KS.
I’m a Falcon and Hawk fan. I’m also an Atlanta Thrashers fan. Only two of the last three years have been losing ones. The Braves have a long way to go before they approach the kind of ineptitude I’m used to witnessing from my other teams.
Salamander
June 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
Ha! I just read what Bruney said about K-rod.
I can’t stand the way that guy celebrates – like he just saved the world or something. Of course, as a closer he is rarely (if ever at the plate), so no one can shut him up with a few inside pitches.
Even if it was by a scrub, I’m glad K-rod got called out.
McFann :Ô:
June 15th, 2009
5:57 pm
RHR–
Original Jon
June 15th, 2009
6:03 pm
Yeah right, K-Rod got called out and shortly there after was apologized to, BFD!
richbrave
June 15th, 2009
6:05 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM:
Get ready for the rookies. DANVILLE starts play on the 23rd with a three game set in PULASKI, VIRGINIA.
QUICKIES from the ROMANS:
JESUS SUCRE is still hitting well and for average in 151 AB’s – .331 and .361 OBP, .444 SLG., .804 OPS. Limited power, 50 H, 14 2B and 1 HR. 2 E in 41 games at C.
GERARDO RODRIGUEZ has lifted his average to .268 recently with 213 AB, .309 OBP, .498 SLG., .806 OPS. Still hitting with power, 57 H, 9 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, and decent SO ratio for a power hitter with 64 and 11 BB. 4 E in 56 games at 1B. .316 in April, .223 in May, and .275 so far in June. Strike-out rations degraded in May-June over April, so the pitchers still know where the holes in his swing are, but he continues to improve day by day.
Chop Chop
June 15th, 2009
6:09 pm
“Sucre” means “sugar” in French.
Jesus Sugar.
That’s a good name.
bravos2249
June 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
# In 2006, they were second in hitting and runs, sixth in OBP.
# In 2007, they were third in OBP, fourth in hitting and runs.
# In 2008, they were third in hitting and OBP, sixth in runs.
You could argue that more than half of those stats come or are a product of Chipper alone…Mac has been great though…
Chipper (2006-2008)
.342/.435/.592 77 homers 263 rbi 233 bb 2 hbp…….15/17 in stolen bases…277 runs
McCann (2206-2008)
.300/.3360/.513….65 homers 272 rbi 133 bb 12hbp…..7/8 in stolen bases…..180 runs
only person with more rbi is Frenchy…7 more than Mac in 437 more ab
only other person to hit .300 is Escobar…but he didn’t play in 2006
Carroll Rogers
June 15th, 2009
6:34 pm
An update on Chuck McMichael, the scout who suffered a seizure yesterday at the game….
Braves scout and assistant to the general manager Chuck McMichael was released from a Baltimore area hospital Monday after suffering a seizure during the Braves game at Camden Yards on Sunday.
McMichael was resting at a Baltimore hotel, Braves PR director Brad Hainje said, and hoped to fly home on Tuesday. He was being treated with strong anti-seizure medication, Hainje said.
McMichael had been taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center Sunday during the Braves’ loss to the Orioles.
McFann :Ô:
June 15th, 2009
6:41 pm
Bravos2249–
Int’resting numbers, thanks for sharing.
I have to say, despite breaking their streak of division titles, the 2006 Braves were more fun to watch–they actually hit, ya know? A ton of their losses were due to bad pitching–the team knew how to score. Yeah, there were times when they didn’t…but I’d really like to see those offensive stats combined with this year’s pitching staff–might be a winner.
dude
June 15th, 2009
6:42 pm
We had 25 tears of a crap team followed by 14 years of a pretty great teams. Cycle is off now and we are going to have to pay the piper for a while. Even the Yanks that won all their World Series’(most recently) dried up. It happens…. but it does suck.
Now we are faced with the NO ROIDS eras again. The only way we can win is buying building on the pitching staff as we did in 1ate 80’s and early 90’s.
Pitching and defense wins chanmpionships. This team is cooked. MOVE on.
McFann :Ô:
June 15th, 2009
6:43 pm
Thanks for that update, Ms. Rogers! Hope his recovery goes well!
BTW–I think I like the Orioles’ park.
N8
June 15th, 2009
6:44 pm
“The point wasn’t that the Braves should have signed Tex and not all the pitchers.” MFin04
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
If the Braves were to have significantly raised payroll, then sure. Lock up Tex. But history is pretty defined on how often a team has won the WS with one player taking up more than 16 percent of the payroll. So at Tex’s current salary, the Braves would have had to raise payroll to around 120 million.
Make no mistake. I agree with you in theory. I think at least one of Vazquez or KK could have been passed on, to add another “10 million dollar” bat to the lineup. But where I disagree with you, is that it needed to be Tex.
Besides. No guarantee that Tex signs that same deal with the Braves. He and Boras both know the odds of a team like the Braves winning with him on their roster, if they don’t raise payroll. The Angels, Mets, Dodgers, Yanks and Red Sox were really the only true destinations, that could afford to put a winning cast of characters around Tex for the money he was asking.
With the guys we have coming soon (Heyward, Freeman and even Schafer), Wren would have been much better off making a short-term splash with a guy like Ibanez, Abreu or Dunn.
bravos2249
June 15th, 2009
6:46 pm
McFann
your welcome
McFann :Ô:
June 15th, 2009
6:46 pm
Neight–
I wrote a post to you here. No big deal, just didn’t know if you saw it.
You know how it is when you type a big thing to somebody and then it ends up that they had left the Blog, anyway.
Efrim
June 15th, 2009
6:49 pm
http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/mental_blunders_tarnishing_esc.html
Bowman with an interesting article. Francoeur for Hermida. Where do I sign? I can’t imagine the Marlins doing that. Same thing with the Ross deal. I like that he chimed in on the Escobar thing. Only team that would make sense would be Boston, in my mind. That said, hopefully Yunel tears it up, doesn’t have mental lapses, and continues to be one of the ten best overall shortstops in baseball, which he is.
N8
June 15th, 2009
6:49 pm
MFin04, I meant to add the additional quote that follows to the beginning of my last post to you. Other wise, it appears, I wasn’t reading either. LOL!
“The point was if Tex was on this team that the Braves have right now, would they be a better team and win more games.”
Blood in the water
June 15th, 2009
6:49 pm
Seems like all the AJC columnists are turning against the Braves.
Ain’t that something?
MolinaFan
June 15th, 2009
6:51 pm
My all-star votes go to Molina.
When McCann starts playing some defense, then I might consider him.
Shirtless Joe Buck
June 15th, 2009
6:52 pm
I’m Joe Buck.
And I look awesome when I don’t wear a shirt.
Maybe you’ll be lucky and see me at the beach sometime.
chipperchop
June 15th, 2009
6:55 pm
Hmmm Bowman seems to think the Braves are going to trade Frenchy to the Marlins for Jeremy Hermeda. Yeah right!!!
dude
June 15th, 2009
6:59 pm
Win …I go.
Don’t win………I go to see the Yanks.
Frenchy Man
June 15th, 2009
7:00 pm
Has he lost his swing?
Can he hit anything?
Can’t he run at all,
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
We’ll just pass him there
why should we even care?
He was turned to crap
in the great Braves nostalgia trap
When he first arrived
he was the future of mankind
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
that he will soon unfurl…
Heavy bat like lead
fills his teammates full of dread
Despite hoping all they can
Frenchy Man strikes out again!
richbrave
June 15th, 2009
7:02 pm
SUCRE. I kept asking my CUBAN wife what it meant and she said, “nada en espagnol.” FRENCH. I knew I remembered the word meant sugar. My interpretation of his name was SWEET JESUS. I guess we’ll all be saying that if he comes up in a few years and hits .350
N8
June 15th, 2009
7:02 pm
McFann, I did “leave” for a while, and I just saw your response. When I return to the blog, I usually work my way backwards. So I would have eventually got to you.
I realize and agree that McCann isn’t as bad as some here claim he is behind the plate. Because at the end of the day, I think the MOST IMPORTANT job for the catcher is to call the game. NOBODY (including the veteran pitchers he’s caught for), has ever accused him of anything less than calling a great game.
As for his blocking of pitches, throwing to 2nd, and blocking the plate? Of all of them, the only one that even remotely worries me, is the blocking the plate. He seems to be a tad more timid than he used to be before getting leveled like he was.
But, I want to be clear. Me wanting Mac at 1B (eventually), has way more to do with me wanting (and this team NEEDING) his bat in the lineup everyday, as opposed to his defense behind the plate.
That being said, I think 1B defense is very important, and often overlooked. So Kotch really doesn’t bother me over there. But it just seems like when Mac is out of the lineup, our offense sufferes considerably (which is pretty self explanatory – he’s the 2nd best hitter on the team). So, by having him catch, our offense is GUARANTEED to “suffer” around 30-40 games per year, and that’s before you factor in DL time or naggin injuries.
When Mauer is not on the DL, the Twins offense is allowed to “roll on” without taking a major cog out of the middle of the order, by sticking him at DH on his “off-days”.
So, by default, in the NL, having one of your best hitters be a catcher, hurts your lineup for about 20 percent of the schedule. We went through this with Javy, and to some extent with Estrada.
Early in Piazza’s career, he averaged around 137 games per year, and he paid the price later in his career. Dude had a good enough bat and approach at the plate, that had he not been a catcher, he could have played until he WANTED to quit. Not when his body gave out.
On the surface, Mac missing around 20 games doesn’t seem like much. But when you miss out on the playoffs by a handful of games, I find it hard to believe that having him get 3 or 4 AB’s in 20 more games, wouldn’t make a HUGE difference along the way.
the hope of the braves nation rests in your hands mr hanson
June 15th, 2009
7:05 pm
the braves have a 8.8% chance of making the playoffs, according to baseball prospectus . if you get a chance take a look at the teams with less than a 10% chance of making it to the postseason (on mlbtraderumors.com) that are mentioned with the braves……sad. very sad to be among those teams mentioned. basically, out of 30 teams we are ranked 22cd? 23rd? only 8 teams make the playoffs….. we are not even middle of the pack right now.
Chuck McCann
June 15th, 2009
7:06 pm
By nature, all McCanns are goofy. Must be in the DNA.
Mitchell
June 15th, 2009
7:07 pm
Everybody needs to vote for the all star game.
I’m stealing all my family’s email addresses to vote as many times as possible.
I know it’s dumb but Yadier Molina cannot be starting the freaking all star game. I know it’s in St. Louis but that’s a disgrace. Brain McCann has to get more votes. Who the F outside of St. Louis would vote for that guy anyway over McCann?
Let’s go Braves fans.
Tommy Hanson is a lard@$$
June 15th, 2009
7:07 pm
Has anyone mentioned the fact that Tommy Hanson is a lard@$$?
Bruce Benedict
June 15th, 2009
7:09 pm
“Who the F outside of St. Louis would vote for that guy [Yadier Molina] anyway over McCann?”
Agreed. I voted for BENGIE MOLINA. How can anyone NOT vote for BENGIE MOLINA?
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:12 pm
I like it when the boys play baseball the right way. I also like it when I remember to soak my teeth overnight.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:15 pm
I’ve eaten a lot of bad meat over the years. Especially all those years in the minors. My colon looks like swiss cheese. If swiss cheese was black.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:16 pm
Sorry I got so darn agitated at ESCO the other night. I accidently took some viagras instead of my blood pressure pills.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:17 pm
I’m gonna tell Frank Wren to get that nice colored fella Satchel Paige to maybe pitch for us. Is he still available?
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:20 pm
I have an office and a nice big desk. Not sure why I need a desk. I just use it to stash my Penthouse magazines and bottle of George Dickel.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:22 pm
I’m not looking forward to playing the Dodgers. I hear that Koufax and Drysdale are “lights out” this year.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:23 pm
I like that young Diaz. I believe he’s related to Diazzy Dean.
PWHjort
June 15th, 2009
7:24 pm
Similar players, Francoeur and Hermida. Hermida is a much better player and if he could ever find his power stroke he’d be an all-star. But very similar in that they haven’t developed like their organizations hoped they would. They’re under team control for the same amount of time. They were both born in January of 1984. They were both drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft (Hermida 11, Francoeur 23). Interesting nugget. Every year from 2006 to 2008 Jeff Francoeur’s strikeout to walk ratio dropped. He was at 5.74 in 2006, 3.07 in 2007, and 2.85 in 2008, but he’s gone backwards this year, up to 3.40. Hermida’s, on the other hand, has gotten worse every year from 2006 to 2008. It was 2.13 in 2006, 2.23 in 2007, and 2.88 in 2008. But he has also reversed the trend this year, bringing his strikeout to walk ratio down to 1.64. The strikeouts for Hermida are as low as they’ve ever been, the walks are as high as they’ve ever been, but only 25% of his hits are for extra bases, a career low. Maybe getting him into a more neutral park will help those XBH numbers.
Frank from KS
June 15th, 2009
7:25 pm
N8
Yeah, could ya have imagined if Piazza had been an outfielder, or a infielder like a 1st basemen?
His body wouldn’t have given out AS soon as it did with him being a catcher.
Now see, that’s where I come in on the DH arguement. The DH has prolonged many a career where guys have gotten their 3,000 hits, among other great milestone stats such as 3,000 hits for a career.
Had there not have been a DH, guys like my boy George Brett, Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield….just to name a few may not have gotten to that historical milestone.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:26 pm
I’m pleased that Chris Reitsma is having another great year. He must have like 20 saves already.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:27 pm
-sob- I get -sniff- choked up when I think about -sniff- Chris Woodward. He was like a -sob- son to me.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
And that fella Chris Justice. Didn’t like me much, I think. He was just a hot tempered italian kid.
N8
June 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
Frank, not neccesarily saying which side of the argument I come out on, but that point actually raises a valid argument on why the DH actually SHOULD go away. Would certainly put more teeth into the argument for guys that reached 3000 without ever being allowed to extend their careers with it.
McFann :Ô:
June 15th, 2009
7:30 pm
Neight–
I figured you would, but just wanted to be sure I’d be around here when you got to me.
I think you’re right in saying that calling the game is the most important roll of the catcher. Seems to me that a lot of people on here overlook that aspect of his game. All they talk about is throwing out runners, blocking the plate, etc.–which are all very important, yes, but IMHO nothing outweighs calling the game.
He does need to work a little on applying the tag at home…I s’pose blocking the plate would help, of course. Don’t know that he’s terrified (not that you said he was…), but I’m sure he’s a tad-bit nervous…how could you not be? He’s only humann…
First base defense is VERY important, and Kotchy provides plenty of that. He might be the best defensive first baseman I’ve seen in my short time extensively following this game. Just love to watch him field. As long as we’ve got him at 1B, I don’t see the need for a change…
Yeah, I’d love to have BMac’s bat in the lineup for 150+ games as much as the next Braves’ fan…but I strongly believe that catching is where he’s needed. And who would the Braves have to take his place? Ross…but then who’s your backup? Sammons, I suppose…but while you’d be gaining Mac’s bat for more games, you’d be losing some offense behind the plate. Ross is good, but could he keep that up for a full season? Maybe, maybe not. In 2007 he played a career-best 112 games. Here are his stats/splits for that year. Not horrid…
When Mauer is not on the DL, the Twins offense is allowed to “roll on” without taking a major cog out of the middle of the order, by sticking him at DH on his “off-days”.
Yeah, that’s the thing about the AL–they cann “cheat” that way. Here in the NL, you have to “rough it”…
I mean…I don’t think I’d be completely opposed to him playing around 10 games at 1B a year…heck, Johnny Bench spent some time over there late in his career (OK, he played a few there in his early career, too…). But a complete switch…ngh…not high on the idea.
Grandpa Cox
June 15th, 2009
7:30 pm
I get to be skipper of the all-star team again, right? I’m always the skipper.