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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,898 comments Add your comment
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:03 pm
jason
I looked at the lineup and said “what willingham cleanup?” It would work if Willingham made pitchers pay when they walked Chipper, and if Willingham got hot, McCann would just rake in the #5 hole. B-Mac is the perfect 5 hitter in my opinion.
jason
June 29th, 2009
12:04 pm
getsomewins, Just the threat of a 20+ HR hitter behind Chipper everyday wpould be enough for him to see some better pitches.
jason
June 29th, 2009
12:05 pm
BMac is a better 5, or even 6 considering that he doesn’t play everyday.
N8
June 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
Does the Nat’s lineup suck THAT BAD? How in the world does Willingham have 6 HR and ONLY 9 RBI in 21 gaes batting 5th this year?
Wow. I though our order sucked.
That all beings said, I’m not sure I give up on Schafer for him. If we give up on Schafer, it has to be a massive upgrade.
Don’t give me, that Willingham would be an upgrade over Jeff. ANYBODY would be. So why trade Schafer to upgrade over Jeff? If we trade Schafer, the player has to be an upgrade over Schafer’s UPSIDE. I don’t think Willingham is that player.
With Loaf coming around, Jeff is the obvious bat in the OF to replace, and KJ in the infield.
It’s repitition, but simply eliminating those automatic outs from our lineup, would give us good odds on winning more games than we lose from here on out. I’m not gonna predict a .600 winning percentage and what not. But I think we’d win more than we lose, with “league average” hitting at RF and 2B.
Of course, with Loaf in LF, it means we need to carry a defensive replacement for him in the late innings (something Infante could do when he is back – while not great, he is much better than Loaf).
But Schafer for Willingham? No thanks. To me that has the makings of Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell.
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
Prado should be playing every day and hit second. Period. Every time he plays, he makes something happen. He goes the other way when hitting in the 2 hole and moves McLouth, who seems to get on base on a regular basis, over into scoring position.
KJ is a liability right now and has no place in the lineup anymore. Same for Frenchy. Time to get rid of the dead weight.
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:09 pm
N8
You’ll see how often we get Willingham out this weekend.
Anders
June 29th, 2009
12:09 pm
Salamander – I think your 11:54 post has merit. Now that we’re well into the “post steroid” era for the most part, baseball on a whole looks different to me than it did through the 90’s. It’s back to basics. Fundamentals and execution. I happen to like it. For example I’m glad a single stolen base can once again make all the difference in a game. In the 90’s you’d leave him anchored on first knowing you had 7 different guys who could drive him in with the long ball. Teams seem to be back to creating runs rather than sitting back and waiting for the explosion.
Willy Wally
June 29th, 2009
12:10 pm
Every team dreams of building with a young catcher, young shortstop, young centerfielder, and young starting pitching. We’ve got McCann, Escobar, McLouth, Jurrjens, Hanson.
But nevertheless we’ve got absolute morons saying that for the right package, I’d trade these guys. This is like 10 or 15 years ago some genius Yankee fan saying that for the right package I’d trade Posada or Jeter or Bernie or Pettitte or Rivera.
MFin04
June 29th, 2009
12:11 pm
CB – I agree. This team plays horrible baseball. They won a game against the Red Sox because they got lucky and hit 2 homers, while holding them to one run.
They don’t execute fundamentals, and they never add on to leads when they should.
Bobby continues to swing away with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs, and won’t bunt.
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:12 pm
Willy Wally -
If George Steinbrenner wasn’t suspended in the 90s, he would have traded every single one of them. Bob Watson built those Yankee championship teams that beat us, and he got fired.
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:13 pm
What if Braves traded Glavine, Avery, Pete Smith, Smoltz, Blauser? Where would we be then?
N8
June 29th, 2009
12:17 pm
getsomewins, maybe I will. But if that’s a post saying how good he is. The stats for this year state that we’ve gotten him out 10 times in 13 AB’s (.231 BA), and he’s been on base 6 times in 16 PA (.375 OBP), via his 3 hits, 2 BB and 1 HBP.
Against us, he has a SLG percentage of .308 and an OPS of .683.
Yup. Seems like the legit cleanup hitter we’ve been looking for.
I don’t know what the hell you guys are looking at, but his “career year” is very Francoeur like.
2007: .265/.364/.463/.827 with 21 HR, 89 RBI, 8 SB, 75 R,66 BB, 122 K in 144 games and 604 PA
You’re right. What’s not to love and desire about that?
Anders
June 29th, 2009
12:18 pm
getsomewins- Bob Watson was the GM of those early Yankee teams but make no mistake, Gene Micheal built that team from behind the scenes in Steinbrenners absence. Since the Yanks snuffed out Micheal’s power and gave it all to Cashman a few years back they’be been heading downhill.
Micheals is a really smart baseball man who has a great eye for young talent. I think he became comfortable in the background role he had and didn’t want to rock the boat.
Supes
June 29th, 2009
12:21 pm
I’m not trading Schafer for Willingham.
We know what Willingham’s seiling is…20HR, decent power/slugging percentage numbers and the health questions.
Schafer still has a chance to be a dynamic player for the Braves in the future.
I wouldn’t trade Schafer in any trade that didn’t bring a LEGIT 30-40HR power hitter who was under Braves control for at least 2010.
N8,
Trading B-Mac…like you said, unless it’s a 5 for 1 type Texiera deal where the Braves “get to raid” someone’s farm system with the players of their choosing, not some throw ins…it’s CRAZY talk.
It would have to be an overwhelming offer to give up the best hitting catcher in the NL. I do agree that if B-Mac played in the AL and got to DH…he’d put up some monster numbers for a catcher and have as many HR as Mauer (does this season).
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:23 pm
Anders -
Gene Michael, the former Cubs manager. Steinbrenner had to fall back because the league suspended him, and they built their teams right and won championships. Brian Cashman, the idiot GM that they have now, has no clue how to build a winning franchise from a strong farm system. All he knows how to do is spend money. If he had a limited budget, his team would be garbage.
I don’t want the Braves to become a team who tries to buy success with limited funds. Build it with young talent and sign one or two veterans to take us to the next level.
joe
June 29th, 2009
12:27 pm
You don’t trade B-Mac because he is a catcher, you keep him because he is a catcher. He is arguably the best offensive catcher in all of baseball. Just because he only plays 140 games does not mean you trade him, it simply means that position for the Braves is outproducing every catcher position in baseball. You don’t trade a commodity such as that, for anything or anybody. If his career is 12 years or 15 years instead of 20, then so be it. You build around a strong offensive catcher, not trade him.
cphizzle
June 29th, 2009
12:30 pm
frenchy is not gon be that far off from 20 hr this season i believe so dont waist our time with willingham who has back issues
Heath (Cleveland)
June 29th, 2009
12:31 pm
DOB -
I dream about Salma Hayek all the time. Though, I can not tell you about the dream here…
Tomahawk Talk
June 29th, 2009
12:33 pm
trading schafer for willingham is definitely not the answer for this team.
my reasoning for putting schafer in the lead off spot is because of his speed. I realize Bobby is not the type to have your runners steal a lot but he needs to adapt. Schafer, in my opinion, will get his swing back and will be able to contribute at the major league level. if he got on. id send him. whens the last Brave to have 30+ stolen bases? id love to see that. that would be a huge spark for this team. with McLouth second, you would most likely stay out of double play situations and could use him to run as well. that gives you more runners in scoring position for the big bats of Chipper, Ludwick (hopefully as i put in my previous lineup), and brian mcCann. i think that that lineup will produce enough runs for our pitchers to get the job done.
McFann :Ô:
June 29th, 2009
12:34 pm
Neight–
I didn’t take offense…just was kinda surprised, really…I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world, but that’s just me and my extreme bias, I s’pose. If I even so much as saw a little tiny headline that said, “So-and-so interested in Braves’ McCann”, I’d prob’ly go into convulsions.
Is he so frickin good, that in those 140 games, he’ll give us a big enough lead in the standings to make up for the 20+ games he’ll do nothing more than PH in?
Well, yeah, obviously not or we’d be in first by now…
Hey, I know you don’t want him to be traded, and I know this team is desperate, but I don’t think they’re in bad enough shape to start talkin’ about trading their second best (if not BEST) hitter.
But make no mistake. No matter how good Ross performs, he’s NOT Mac
Oh, hey, man, I’d never make that mistake!
(think of your boy – wink – Joe Mauer)
I’d rather not, thank you…
BRB…I may have more to add in a minute…
Tomahawk Talk
June 29th, 2009
12:34 pm
trading b-mac was probably one of the stupidest things ive ever read on this blog
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 29th, 2009
12:34 pm
What makes anyone think Francoeur is going to hit 20 HR this year when it is the end of June and he has FIVE?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MFin04
June 29th, 2009
12:37 pm
Fundamentals are the main problem…moving runners over, bunting, etc.
cphizzle
June 29th, 2009
12:39 pm
frenchy will be between 15-20 hr my bet is he is closer to 20…he is swingin the bat way to well here lately to not to…if your goin by that nobody on the braves is goin to hit 20 this year
Gone Viral
June 29th, 2009
12:39 pm
“Time to reward Yunel for his production and I actually like the emotion of caring about the game. It is refreshing. Winners value winners, not personalities unless personalities would truly interfere with winning.”
Yes, he clearly cared more about the game than himself when he spent the body of two innings pouting about the official scorer’s ruling.
You couldn’t have picked a worse grandiose generality to throw out at a stranger time for a particular player. It’s like saying “Winners never use steroids. Thank God for players like Manny Ramirez!”
Sanjaya and Rosie O'Donell Love Georgia Tech
June 29th, 2009
12:39 pm
Kelly Johnson needs to go. He is awful!
Gone Viral
June 29th, 2009
12:39 pm
“I dreamed we traded for Smoak last night… Premonition?”
Now maybe we can finally get off the island.
N8
June 29th, 2009
12:40 pm
Supes, at least we agree on Willingham, right? LOL!
I’ll say it again. I’m not SUGGESTING moving McCann. Saying I’m open to it, if the package is right.
You guys haven’t been paying attention to the Marlins in recent years, have you? They sell high, and are just as competitive (sometimes more) than we are.
I’m not advocating being a supplier of major league talent for the rest of the league. But there is a REASON that Willingham is not a Marlin anymore.
If you can get 3 above average to very good players in return for one GREAT player, at a lower cost than that one player, who wouldn’t make that trade?
Our days of being able to afford all of our great young players for years to come are long gone. Wren is going to have to be creative until Liberty Media is out of the loop. With Ted or Mark Cuban as an owner? Lock em all up and trade prospects away hand over foot. Be the Yankees. Be the Red Sox. Be the Angels. Be the Mets. Be the Dodgers.
But until then? We should strive to be the Twins or the Marlins. They have the best “blueprint” for teams with budget restraints.
I’m excluding the Rays, because it took them 10 years to get it right. But their core is finally set for a while.
unbelievable
June 29th, 2009
12:40 pm
“Believe it or not, KJ would be an upgrade at second base for the Cards than Skip Schumacher”
Skip’s #’s – .297/.358/.398 .984FLDG%
KJ’s #’s – .216/.288/.362 .979FLDG%
yeah, I guess I could see why the Cards would want KJ still. Maybe we can give them Kotchman, Jeffrey, KJ, and Anderson for Pujols, Ludwick, and Wainright
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:41 pm
N8
June 29th, 2009
12:35 pm
getsomewins, you really need to getsomefacts before you post on this site, especially if you are going to call me out about it.
I’ll post whatever I feel like posting. Don’t really care about how you feel. If you think that I was trying to call you out, then I don’t know what to say.
I said Willingham would be good if he’s hot. R.I.F.
N8
June 29th, 2009
12:42 pm
12:35 post was not me. I’m out for a while (or will just post under another name) for the time being. Anything from “N8″ won’t be me.
L8r.
McFann :Ô:
June 29th, 2009
12:42 pm
Supes–
It’s crazy talk no matter what…
Joe–
Ye-ep.
Get some other players who know how to hit and BMac’s days off won’t be so bad…
Efrim
June 29th, 2009
12:42 pm
I really doubt that Wren would trade Schafer for Josh Willingham. That doesn’t make much sense to me. I’m not completely against trading Schafer, but it’d have to be for a young slugger who could play a corner outfield spot for the rest of this year and the next few seasons. A controllable talent similar to Schafer. To be honest, I’d like to see an outfield next year of Schafer in CF, McLouth in RF and a thumper in LF.
Gone Viral
June 29th, 2009
12:43 pm
“frenchy is not gon be that far off from 20 hr this season i believe”
Tom Cruise’s belief in Scientology makes more sense than this.
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:43 pm
unbelievable
June 29th, 2009
12:40 pm
“Believe it or not, KJ would be an upgrade at second base for the Cards than Skip Schumacher”
I say that because they really want Schumacher to play the outfield. He was moved to second. Guess I was wrong based on the numbers.
Andy K.
June 29th, 2009
12:44 pm
If we package Frenchie and KJ together, we may be able to get more. Say a Francoeur/Johnson/Reyes to Washington for Dunn and a PTBNL. Then, Prado starts st second, Dunn in RF, call up Chris Burke for bench spot, demote Diory Hernandez, and promote Brooks Conrad.
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:45 pm
Frenchy would have to go on a major tear to get 20 HRs, obviously.
MFin04
June 29th, 2009
12:46 pm
McFann: How about B-Mac for Jurrjens!?!?!?!
joe
June 29th, 2009
12:46 pm
I wouldn’t trade Frenchy’s Turkey shorts to the Marlins for what they produce year after year. I give em props for winning two WS, but still
PWHjort
June 29th, 2009
12:46 pm
I think the only way the Cardinals move Ludwick is if they get Holliday. Which would leave no spot for Schumaker in the OF. Which would make Kelly Johnson a silly trade piece.
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 29th, 2009
12:48 pm
Schafer getting traded isn’t going to happen. Looking at the roster for next season, as well as the rest of this season, the Braves need help in the corner OF spots. Schafer can play center and move McLouth to RF or LF and solve one of those problems.
I can really see Schafer turning into a McLouth type player, with better defense in CF.
joe
June 29th, 2009
12:49 pm
” can really see Schafer turning into a McLouth type player, with better defense in CF.”
Totally agree
cphizzle
June 29th, 2009
12:49 pm
so chippers gonna finish with 18 and frenchy with 10 and bmac with oh bout 18…i thnink not
joe
June 29th, 2009
12:52 pm
Nationals should be able to demand top talent from contenders for Dunn. don’t think Frenchy/KJ/Jo Jo fit that bill.
joe
June 29th, 2009
12:53 pm
Damn, hope everyone is OK from that parking lot. Jesus
getsomewins
June 29th, 2009
12:53 pm
Andy K. -
That begs the question can the Braves afford it.
Let’s hope our next owners are willing to spend a little more money, so we don’t have to ask these questions of affordability too often.
the hope of the braves nation rests in your hands mr hanson
June 29th, 2009
12:54 pm
“frenchy will be between 15-20 hr my bet is he is closer to 20…he is swingin the bat way to well here lately to not to…if your goin by that nobody on the braves is goin to hit 20 this year”
it is very possible that no one on the braves hits 20 homers this year…..
but according to wren and bobby we have 7 players in our lineup that can hit 20.
Carroll Rogers
June 29th, 2009
12:54 pm
thanks for the congrats….arrived home and happy in one piece, happy to report Seattle is a beautiful place to run, and while the race was hard, it was doable. I’m sure the massage I’m getting this afternoon will fix anything that ails me now!
Thanks again…
UNCBrave
June 29th, 2009
1:02 pm
GET ADAM DUNN!!!!!!!!!
unbelievable
June 29th, 2009
1:02 pm
“frenchy will be between 15-20 hr my bet is he is closer to 20…he is swingin the bat way to well here lately to not to…if your goin by that nobody on the braves is goin to hit 20 this year”
when you say recently, do you mean the last 15 days when he’s hit .222 and had a .271 OBP with 1 hr, or do you mean the last 30 days when he’s hit .241 with a .305 OBP with two HR’s??
I’d honestly be surprised if Jeff does any better than this line at the end of the year. .250/.280/.360 Time to cut the cord and get him out of Atl, he’s not going to improve.
Joe
June 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
Dave,did we not pursue DeRosa? Looks like he was gotten on the cheap and it is frustrating that we couldn’t bring him back.
DAP
June 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
jasonwith JJ really coming on, and what we have seen so far from Hanson, why is there a need to sign Huddy to an extension?
who said anything about that? by the way, wren isnt going to “move” hudson. if hudson isnt with the team next year, his option would simply not be exercised. kinda like cutting him.
the Braves will make a decision on Vazquez or Hudson in the offseason because they will be evaluating Hudson the last two months of the season.
this, i agree with 100%
getsomewinsI think peoples’ expectations of Hudson coming back are way too high. He is coming off Tommy John surgery and I will be very surprised that he just picks up where he left off. Gonzo and Moylan had similar surgeries and it took them a while to get back to their “normal” pitching selves.
both moylan and gonzo came back after a year. by spring training 2010, hudson will be 18 months removed from his surgery. would you say gonzo is back to full strength THIS year? that could be what we will be getting from hudson.
besides, hudson could be not quite as good as usual and still be as good as vazquez. hudson is that good.
ncscoots
June 29th, 2009
1:06 pm
To be honest, I’d like to see an outfield next year of Schafer in CF, McLouth in RF and a thumper in LF.
I guess. McLouth shows plus offense for CF, but I don’t think of him as plus for a corner. Schafer plays at plus for CF (assuming he turns the corner and continues to develop), so that probably makes up for McLouth a little. Still, McLouth at a corner means you still can’t afford a Kotchman-type player at 1B, even if you get a thug for the other OF position.
McFann :Ô:
June 29th, 2009
1:08 pm
MFin04–
Ha…
You’re welcome, Ms. Rogers! Bet Seattle is a nice place to run, but better than this 100 degree heat? Come on!
Glad you made it back in one piece!
McFann :Ô:
June 29th, 2009
1:12 pm
Oh man…it’s acting up…eating my post and not refreshing…
paul
June 29th, 2009
1:15 pm
jared, you should size up another footlong roasted chicken on 9 grain bread.
obp is great but it isn’t the ‘way’ to win if you have 15 errors before the all star break. It also isn’t the ‘way’ to win if you are getting on base because you cannot be a factor on the bases and your team can’t string together hits to bring you in.
chipper is a good offensive player, not great but good. he probably good be a good 6th or 7th hitter on a great club. unfortunately we are counting on him to do more than his 8 hr’s and 31 rbi’s and 15 errors are giving us. If he is going to make public comments about him and mac being the only offense then maybe he should provide some offense. obp is great but let’s take a look at risp, 2 outs and risp, let’s take a look at productive outs and behind in the count batting average… I am sure he is solid, but his production is not making up for the TERRIBLE DEFENSE!!!!! probably time to deal him to the a.l. so he can dh is way into the hall of fame. maybe that is what he is lobbying for behind the scenes
joe
June 29th, 2009
1:15 pm
looks we got another plain ol’ “joe” on the blog
DAP
June 29th, 2009
1:17 pm
scootsMcLouth shows plus offense for CF, but I don’t think of him as plus for a corner.
looking at OPS, he wouldnt be, but, if you factor in that he would turn into a plus defender at a corner (im guessing) and that he steals bases at a high rate, he turns into a carl crawford type (more power, less speed) of left fielder….meaning he has that type of offensive value to the team as a left fielder.
paul
June 29th, 2009
1:18 pm
frenchy is nothing more than an slightly above average arm outfielder with no concept of hitting the baseball. he swings like a gorilla at the plate and that is so unnecessary. braves just suffering from the fact that they have NO competition for jobs.
McFann :Ô:
June 29th, 2009
1:21 pm
OK, so it didn’t eat my post…
Latest voting results for the ASG!
BMac is 387,720 votes behind Y. Molina. Not too many days left to vote…looks like our mann is gonna be a backup again…hey, better than nothing!
Even still–and despite his struggles this week,
VOTE McCANN 2009 ALL-STAR!!!!
Willy Wally
June 29th, 2009
1:24 pm
Yadier Molina?!?!?!? Geez, what a friggin’ joke
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
McFann :Ô:,
Hopefully BMac heats it up this week against the phils and pulls in a lot of votes to beat out Molina.
STRETCH
June 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
Did anyone see the look on Javy’s face when he hit the dugout on Saturday? Could see the frustration. He was pi$$ed. Right after the game he and Bobby should have walked into Wrens office and asked WTF????!!
Personally i think the each guy should go to the bank, withdraw whatever they can and make their way back to the clubhouse and pass a hat around and whatever they come up with and donate it to a big bat!
DAP
June 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
ive been thinking about an offseason fantasy trade, and i wanted to run it by you guys to see if you think its stupid.
wren trades vazquez and kotchman for prince fielder, and then signs mike cameron to a one year deal (maybe two) with an option.
i think these two brewers give the braves a very much upgraded offense with a very good defensive outfield, with basically three CF, mclouth, cameron, schafer. (if schafer starts in the OF again)
mclouth, escobar, chipper, fielder, mccann, cameron, prado, schafer…that scores alot of runs, i think.
fielder only has 2010 left before he is a free agent, the brew crew might think they have the young hitters to score alot of runs and win alot of games with some pitching.
Nate the GR8
June 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
paul,
Seriously a 6 or 7 hitter….Dude you better check yourself!
Wren in Doubt
June 29th, 2009
1:28 pm
All these players moves suggested may make sense, but another area that needs to be addressed in the off season is the coaching staff. The Braves are very poor fundamentally. And their hitting….
Mid season isn’t the time to do this but the staff needs serious revamping in the off season with an eye towards bringing in the next Jimy Williams who keep us strong in fundamentals and next Don Baylor who improved so many of our younger hitters.
McFann :Ô:
June 29th, 2009
1:29 pm
Buffalo NY Braves Fan–
That would be sweet! Yeah, he totally picked the wrong week to get sick/go into a slump…
Willy Wally–
Ain’t it, though? Oh, but the game is in St. Louis! Bah! So if the game was in Atlanta, would BMac be the lead vote-getter? Wouldn’t I love to know…
joe
June 29th, 2009
1:30 pm
DAP,
I know I wouldn’t do that trade if I were the BrewCrew
Efrim
June 29th, 2009
1:30 pm
ncscoots, well, we traded for the guy, so I guess we are stuck with him….hah. He’s probably just average in a corner offensively. But I’ll take that rather than to see the below average defense in center while having Schafer where?
joe
June 29th, 2009
1:32 pm
McLouth in left, Schafer in center, thumper in right sounds good to me.
but realistically, i think schafer does turn into a McLouth type of player, and perhaps even better from a B.A. standpoint. I’ll take two plus defenders that hit 20 hrs and take away a bunch of hits, and can steal bases. i’ll take that anyday.
Nate the GR8
June 29th, 2009
1:32 pm
Chipper might hit 6th or 7th with a line up of
Rickey Henderson OF
Tony Gwynn OF
Albert Pujols 1B
Hank Aaron OF
Johnny Bench C
Chipper Jones 3B
Ozzie Smith SS
Joe Morgan 2B
Nate the GR8
June 29th, 2009
1:35 pm
That lineup is just perspective for paul who seems to think Chipper is a 6th or 7th hitter.
GTSteve
June 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
If a couple of guys get hot, the Braves can get back in the race without trading anyone, Chipper will get hot, Yunel needs to quit pouting and get his head in the game, and Kelly needs to get hot like he did the 2nd half of last season……it can happen. There is not a bat out there that will make a big enough difference to trade the pitching that Wren worked so hard to get.
Shamus Thacker
June 29th, 2009
1:37 pm
“”If George Steinbrenner wasn’t suspended in the 90s, he would have traded every single one of them. Bob Watson built those Yankee championship teams that beat us, and he got fired.”"
I’m sure Steinbrenner’s suspension kept his hands off the Yankees.
I’m also sure Elvis is alive, well, and sworn-off drugs and saturated fats.
joe
June 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
Nate the Gr8, awesome stuff.
geauxbraves2000
June 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
McFann, I can see why Molina is ahead – look at the numbers:
YM – .277/5/24 – .342 OBP – .378 SLG
BM – .316/8/31 – .405 OBP – .526 SLG
Oh wait, McCann leads in all of those? Hmm.
I don’t know about you, but I sure would like to see a real all star game for once, not the most popular player game.
Crazy Trades McGee
June 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
Nate the GR8, now you’re talkin… Do you think we can trade for those guys?
Logan
June 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
I’m just curious, but lately I’ve seen Chipper use his black bat (that he uses when he bats right handed) when he’s hitting left handed then next at bat he goes back his normal bat the tan one. I remember that he said once that the black bats are a little bit lighter and only uses them for batting right handed.
RHR
June 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
Oh sweet, Chipper has moved into 2nd in 3B all star voting. If he ends up in 2nd place that means he gets in just doesn’t start, right? Mac still in 2nd place too, and it said YM had doubled his lead on him.
Honestly I couldn’t care less if either of them play in the ASG, but I know the players consider it an honor. I think Chipper needs to stay home and rest.
Nate the GR8
June 29th, 2009
1:45 pm
BTW Chipper just beat out Mike Schmidt. Close Vote but since chipper is just a 6th or 7th hitter he wins.
SP
June 29th, 2009
1:48 pm
Don’t think I saw this posted yet, video of Rome manager Randy Ingle throwing the tirade-of-the-year in their extra innings loss to Augusta on Thursday:
http://blogs.augusta.com/node/3046
Doesn’t quite top Phil Wellman’s from last year but not sure what could.
Original Jon
June 29th, 2009
1:48 pm
RHR, just because they are in 2nd place doesnt mean they get in automatically, I am pretty sure of it. The first place vote getters are the starters, yes, but the managers pick the rest of the players, usually at least 1 player from each team. So being in 2nd doesnt get you in automatically, im pretty sure.
jason
June 29th, 2009
1:52 pm
who said anything about that? by the way, wren isnt going to “move” hudson. if hudson isnt with the team next year, his option would simply not be exercised. kinda like cutting him.
DAP, that’s what I was trying to say. Cut me some slack, long weekend watching those Braves.
Chop Chop
June 29th, 2009
1:52 pm
I think Chipper needs to run 3 p.m. wind sprints in St. Louis, RHR</strong.
Chop Chop
June 29th, 2009
1:53 pm
Yes. That was extra strong.
RHR
June 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
Ohh ok, Jon. Well he probably won’t get in then. That’s ok. He needs the rest.
ncscoots
June 29th, 2009
1:56 pm
Efrim, you bet, LOL.
I’ll take two plus defenders that hit 20 hrs and take away a bunch of hits, and can steal bases. i’ll take that anyday.
Sure, as long as there are enough bangers in the lineup. What you do not want is those speedy 20-jack guys as the foundation of your run creation. McLouth and Schafer (at least, as you project) would be excellent complementary players, and their skills at their positions would move a good offense to a very good offense, but they would not move a mediocre offense to good. In other words, a good team doesn’t have either one of them as a primary OF offensive threat.
joe
June 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
ncscoots @1:56…
exactly what i mean. i also said thumper in right, and hopefully not a defensive liability. also, need a thumper at first, and one at third when chipper retires. is that all? oh yes, all should be good defenders. get to work Frank Wren, lol.
Efrim
June 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
Couple of tidbits from Buster Olney’s chat(Yunel stuff):
James (Carrollton, GA) Have you heard anything about the Yunel Escobar situation? The report is he mouthed off to the Press Box after an error was called on him and was then chewed out by Chino Chadiha and he hasn’t played since. Thats a big bat to keep out of the ATL thin lineup…
Buster Olney – James: It’s a situation being watched in other front offices, because you can bet that other teams would be willing to take their chances on a good shortstop who hits .300 with some pop. The fact that they were willing to deal him in the Peavy trade raised some eyebrows — and the fact that the Braves benched him at a time when they’re starved for hits tells you about the level of their frustration.
Brent (Atlanta) If the Braves are giving up on Escobar, are the Red Sox a good trade partner? Would they give up Bucholtz for Escobar?
Buster Olney – Brent — they’d be a great trade partner. I think that’s why the Red Sox were checking out Francoeur — as possible preparation for a larger deal that might’ve involved Escobar. That’s an educated guess on my part.
True Braves Fans
June 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
Probably too late however, guys we have to do something about Mac being beat out by Molina just because of the fact he’s a Cardinal. Molina is a good defensive catcher, but no one else in the National League measures up to McCann at the catcher position. We all know this.
We need a grass roots situation to spread through all true Braves fan. I’ve voted as many times as I can through all my email addresses. If you know a fan who hasn’t tell them its their duty its McCann’s time to get a start spread this around guys. McCann must start for our National League!!!!
jason
June 29th, 2009
2:05 pm
True Braves Fans, I second that, and I as well have used all my votes up.
Braint
June 29th, 2009
2:07 pm
I was just looking up the Braves 2003 roster after 75 games (the powerful team with Furcal & Giles setting the table for Sheff, Chipper, Andruw and Javy) and I never really thought of Robert Fick as much more than a scrub on that team. Then I realized after 75 games he was hitting .305 with 7 HR and 40 RBI…..Wish we had a scrub like that at 1B.
Chopper2Chipper
June 29th, 2009
2:09 pm
I’ve used all my votes for Mac and Chipper.
jason
June 29th, 2009
2:10 pm
Braint, You remember that play at 1B when he (Fick) tried to go all ARod and knock the ball loose? If you do, do you remember seeing him in a Braves jersey after that?
RHR
June 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
I’ve probably vote 200–300 times for them, I’m getting spammed to death from braves.com and mlb.com on every email account I have and YM still doubled his lead in a week? Feh. I’m done. Everyone knows the ASG is just a popularity contest anyway.
joe
June 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
2003…ah yes, the good ol’ days. murderers row
richbrave
June 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
JARED:
Just being squirrelly. Don’t mind me. The pompous jist of your comment about COX illicited that response. At least, that’s how your words struck me this morning. Not that I disagree with COX’s retirement, just your verbage.
Actually, I also agree with your take on VASQUEZ, and do believe the BRAVES will not keep HUDSON in the long run. They may make a six-man however to accomodate KAWAKAMI in the short term (through 2010). It all depends on LOWE and his stamina through the rest of the season. If he continues down the path he’s currently on, HUDSON stays until other moves regarding him can be made. BUT VASQUEZ appears to be a big part of the solution to our starting pitching position, not the problem.
I like your takes for the most part, therefore, the “savant” term. Sorry for the back-handed nature of my response.
MFin04
June 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
Chipper’s defense has taken him out of being an All-Star in my book.
ncscoots
June 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
joe, I don’t know that you would need thugs at both an OF position and 1B. McCann and Escobar also provide plus offense at their positions, so one of those 20+ dinger guys at one of those spots would probably suffice. As long as there is one absolute brute at the other. Give me that guy flanked by Chipper and McCann, with Escobar and McLouth on the flanks of the middle, and you start getting some pretty good offensive depth.
And I really think that’s why you see the lingering thought that one big bat will be enough to transform the offense. Not necessarily so much the extra offense that bat would bring, but because such a bat would lengthen the lineup and put the current personnel in more advantageous lineup spots. Whether such a move would actually translate to more runs is open to debate, but it’s easy to see how that move is attractive.
Braint
June 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
Jason, I do remember that play (it was bush-league) and understand why he was run out of town.
His numbers kind’a surprised me is all. What I should have said was, I miss that kind of production from a player down in the order. I never thought much of Fick but those numbers were an after thought compared to the middle of our lineup in ‘03.