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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,898 comments Add your comment
o-me
June 30th, 2009
9:47 am
“Bobby is the Key” said JJ. Boys we’re in Big trouble!!!!!
Nate the GR8
June 30th, 2009
9:48 am
Yeah Willy lets get a player who is 30 years old and has been hurt most of his career. He was hurt so much he almost quit. That sounds like a guy I want on my team. Not to mention he has been injured again this year. Just face it he is a walking DL. We already have one frail player on our team.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
9:48 am
Since the INDIANS have the “for sale” sign flashing above their stadium…
what about GRADY SIZEMORE (6 years 23 mil)
If you would like to trade FRENCHY too…What about to ARIZONA for Chris Young? He is having a down year (but 7 hrs) but maybe a switch of those two guys could help them both
Those are outside the box a little…how bout these names also outside the box
MARKAKIS, Scott HARRISTON, MAGGLIO ORDONEZ,
cphizzle
June 30th, 2009
9:49 am
PWHjort…do us a favor and keep your comments between you and yourself
o-me
June 30th, 2009
9:52 am
dream on willy !
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
9:53 am
If Ludwick could stay healthy for an extended period of time he’d be much more than a 1 year wonder. I don’t have any empirical evidence that he can stay healthy but my general position on the issue is that people eventually break out of their injury funk. I DO have empirical evidence that he wasn’t just lucky last year and it wasn’t just a fluke. He actually had a very nice season in 2007 even though he was injured some. And he was killing the ball before he for injured this year. Whether or not he can stay healthy is the question. If the organization thinks he can (they probably have a better idea than anyone here), they should look into acquiring him.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
9:53 am
Team Report
Braves Team Report
Braves Team Report Jun 30, 2009
Technically, the Braves won a series from the Cubs on June 22 when they beat them 2-0 in the makeup of the June 4 rainout at Turner Field. But in reality, the Braves are 0-6-1 in seven series since June 5.
Sure, there are injuries. Everyone has them. But the players who are supposed to be hitting aren’t injured. They’re in the lineup nearly every day and they aren’t producing runs.
The pitching has been terrific, especially by Javier Vazquez and Jair Jurrjens, both of whom have sub-.500 records thanks to a lack of offense.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
9:54 am
Just for the record, I felt sorta bad about the whole spider thing last night…but to be honest, I chickened out. The picture I linked up is a picture of Charlotte from the original animated feature.
I wanted to get a picture of that catcher dude with the long name and photo-shop a spider onto his head, but I figured that was a bit much…plus it was too close to bed to look at a picture of a real spider…
o-me
June 30th, 2009
9:54 am
wait a minute, PWHjort is cool.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
9:55 am
WILLY WALLY and others….what is with so many people’s man-crush on Schafer?
He proved to the Braves’ brass that he can’t hack it! If they felt he was the “CF of the future” then they wouldn’t have traded for a young all-star CF who is under contract for several years!
Face it…Schafer is NOT the answer in the outfield here
Oh and those who are balking at MEDLEN, SCHAFER, and Brandon Jones for DUNN and Willingham….what exactly do you think it would take to get those two players from a team desperate to dump them and start again?
That is a top CF prospect, top pitching prospect, and a B-level oputfield prospect for two guys that have contracts expiring either this year (willingham) or next (Dunn)…throw in JOJO if you want too
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
9:56 am
I’d amend one thing in Doc’s post…
The pitching has been terrific, except for the middle inning relief.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
9:57 am
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090629&content_id=5599516&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
ARTICLE ON CARLYLE AND HIS DIABETES
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
9:57 am
JeffR
you are wrong comparing this year’s Braves to the team that traded for TEX
That team could not pitch so it didn’t matter how much offense they added…this team CAN pitch with the best of them and just needs a little more offense to push them over the top
there is no comparison
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
9:57 am
cphizzle,
Grow up.
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
9:59 am
Are the Gwinnett Braves on television today?
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
9:59 am
PWH has empirical evidence? LOL! He sees Steve from Ohio say that all the time, so PWH says it although he has no idea what it means, he just knows it sounds smart. Empirical evidence that Ludwick is more than a one year wonder??!?!?!? Based on his one year sample size?!?!?!? You’re in over your head PWH. Stick to AVG, HR, RBI because those OBP floaties you got wrapped your scrawny arms ain’t gonna save you from drowning in the deeper end of the pool.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:01 am
coach smith,
Two months in the bigs when you’ve never played at AAA and had only 4 months at AA doesn’t “prove” anythig. Except that he wasn’t ready. He’s still the CF of the future. McLouth will shift to a corner when Schafer is ready. Schafer is a true CF, McLouth can’t hack it there defensively.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
10:02 am
Ah, geez, now there’s an article about Francoeur and his “lucky charm”…I only read it briefly…
But hey, speaking of which, these two things pertain to this uh…awkward moment…
Link one
Link two
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
10:02 am
It’s nice that he says this, but there’s no evidence to support that. And one gets the impression manager Bobby Cox knows this lineup just doesn’t have it.
Cox maintained over the first six weeks of the season that he had faith in the hitters he has, and that some players—Garret Anderson(notes) in particular—were getting over spring training injuries and soon would round into form. That hasn’t happened.
But there is no sign of anger or frustration from Cox. He appears resigned to the fact that he leads a sub-.500 team. YAHOO SPORTS
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
10:03 am
WILLY WALLY and others….what is with so many people’s man-crush on Schafer? (COACH SMITH)
Man crush on Schafer? Not me. I’d trade the kid yesterday. Kid in his early twenties who was getting routinely smoked on fastballs? Not very promising when a kid in his early twenties can’t catch up to heat.
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
10:03 am
Coach Smith,
You are correct. That edition of the Bravos had definite weaknesses in pitching. No amount of hitting was going to compensate.
But I’ll get back to my bigger point. One bat isn’t turning the Braves around. The others have to hit, too. They’re not, and it’s not because the line up lacks a power bat who will make opposing pitches change their pitch selection to the other batters.
The pitch selection that Braves’ batters are getting isn’t the problem. They just aren’t hitting. The Braves have the misfortune of a group of guys who are slumping.
Francouer may be the exception. Sadly, he’s simply declined.
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
10:03 am
By The Numbers: 1—Month and counting, since the Braves have won a series, 2-1 at Arizona May 29-31.
cphizzle
June 30th, 2009
10:03 am
ok buddy, i will as soon as you stop making ignorant remarks for what lets see now the 76th regular season game now…your worthless loaf and pathetic francouer comments are starting to get a little old. maybe we should trade you to a blog to be named later
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
10:04 am
LHP Eric O’Flaherty(notes) and RHP Peter Moylan(notes) pitched in their team-high 40th games Sunday when each threw in the seventh inning against the Red Sox. O’Flaherty got one out (he gave up a double and there was a runner on at first due to an error) and Moylan two—getting the inning-ending double play on two pitches.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
10:05 am
I’ll tell you a guy I wouldn’t mind seeing here if for no other reason than to liven up the clubhouse. Eric Byrnes. If the D-Backs agreed to pay a good portion of his salary Byrnes is the type of guy that gives you solid production and is a great clubhouse guy. He is humor and antics keep people loose and maybe he could create a spark!
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
10:05 am
PS–Enjoyed Ms. Rogers’ article on KK!
Andres Thomas
June 30th, 2009
10:06 am
Willy
So the Braves are going to have a 43 year old third baseman in 2015? Niiiice
Rob from SC
June 30th, 2009
10:06 am
Eric Byrnes is out for 8 weeks with a broken hand/wrist
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:07 am
PWHjort
you must be kidding!
you said: “Schafer is a true CF, McLouth can’t hack it there defensively”
I can’t stop laughing
McCLOUTH WON A FREAKIN GOLD GLOVE last year in CF
Schafer can’t hack defensively….how many times did he misjudge balls or overrun them and have them bounce off the wall and allow a triple when it should have been a double?
And the guy CAN’T HIT A FASTBALL…if you can’t hit the fastball you can’t ne in the majors
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
10:07 am
Robert (CITB)–
No…please, no…
Weird you bring him up, though…I just saw his name on some kind of list with 102 other guys.
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
10:08 am
We’ll see about Schafer. Management is still invested in him, I believe. And we’ll see if his being overmatched was a passing moment or a real problem. My guess is he’s back in September.
But trade Schafer? Not likely. Management gave up another promising CF in Hernandez to obtain McLouth.
That makes Schafer The Man for the immediate future.
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
10:10 am
Management is envisioning a Heyward, Schafer, McLouth OF…
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:10 am
If you think McLouth deserved that gold glove you have no idea what you’re talking about.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:13 am
Jeff R
how is Schafer “the man of the immediate future”?
guys..McClouth ain’t going ANYWHERE
He is 27 years old, and all-star, and gold glover, with power who HAS 3 MORE YEARS ON HIS CONTRACT and I think he’ll even be extended after that
Those factors make him the man of the immediate future as well as the present
Doc Holiday
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Markakis——-BAL
Huff————–BAL
Ross———–FLA
Dye————CWS
Choo———-CLE
Cantu———FLA
Upton———ARZ
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Are the Gwinnett Braves on television today? (ROB FROM SC)
For a second, I cared about the answer to this, but then I remembered that the Atlanta Braves were on television today, and no longer cared what the hell the junior varisty was up to
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
I didn’t realize he was hurt. And is that list the same one Sammy & Arod were on?
Nate the GR8
June 30th, 2009
10:17 am
You are passing judgement on a kid who had never played more than 60 games above AA ball until this year. WOW!! you have no idea about baseball then.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:17 am
Worst argument I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess that was the last refuge of someone defeated in an argument
He won the GG…he is BETTER than Schafer in the field and at the plate…get over it
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:10 am
If you think McLouth deserved that gold glove you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Guessing Game
June 30th, 2009
10:18 am
Does anyone realize that the Braves would be better in the long term if they trade Vasquez, Soriano, and Gonzalez?
They don’t want to trade any prospects for a big bat. So they are just waiting for Kelly Johnson, Casey Kotchman and Jeff Francoeur to start hitting. Not going to happen.
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
10:18 am
Management intends on playing Schafer in CF and moving McLouth to RF or LF. Francouer is history. Heyward… Don’t know which corner is the better fit for him.
That’s management’s intention, but things could change.
McFann :Ô:
June 30th, 2009
10:19 am
Robert (CITB)–
Hmm…I think they were on it. I know I saw Clemens, Bonds, Pettitte, Nomar, Byrnes, and Hampton. There were some other guys I recognized, but I can’t think of them right off hand…
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:20 am
Every statistic disagrees with you, coach smith. He was well below average in the field in 2008.
Frank Wren's mind
June 30th, 2009
10:21 am
(If us and the Phillies play .500 ball the rest of the way till the trade deadline, I’ll make my play then and trade more prospects for quick fixes. Bobby and Chipper are all that is important. We need to win for them, while they are still around and kicking.)
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:22 am
I am passing judgement on an ARROGANT KID, who has already cheated, acts like he is entitled, and CAN’T hit a fastball (that is baseball basics) and made mental errors in the field
When McCann, Frenchy, and Escobar came up, they hadn’t exactly played tons more ball than Schafer….Niether had Andruw
Sometimes you have it and sometimes you don’t
He might be an okay player down the line but I would take McClouth for the next 8 years over Schafer
Nate the GR8
June 30th, 2009
10:22 am
Clearly Coach Smith is one of the worst coaches in little league history. His team has not won a game in 10 YEARS! Why you ask?? Because he can’t judge talent. He thinks just because you are a 22 year old who has never played above AA ball until this year and you struggle in the big leagues that all the sudden you are terrible.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
10:24 am
That list wasn’t real. It looked like someone had gone down the roster of each team from that season, and just picked out who he thought was using. Why else would the list be done almost team by team? That’s not the way they’d be listed. Some blogger looking for attention just went down the names on each roster amd fingered who he thought was the most likely.
Why else would someone be named twice on that list? It just so happens that this particular player played on two teams that season. That’s where the blogger screwed up and gave away how he came up with those names. He went roster by roster and picked names out and forgot to double check for a player being double named which would be a dead give away for his method of making up the names
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:24 am
Jeff R
I’m sorry are you a member of Braves management?
How do you know they intend to move McClouth to LF and play Schafer in CF?
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:25 am
Willy Wally,
My thoughts exactly. I don’t believe for 1 second that list is real.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
10:26 am
I still say any trade will be an under the radar move. One that will not get a bunch of fanfare. Guys like Willingham, Spillboroughs, Thames and Dukes will be the type of player the Braves go after. I still say a straight up trade of Francoeur for Delmon Young would be a good one. Frenchy needs a manager like Gardenhire who doesn’t take any crap and will make it clear to him to either straighten up or find himself bagging groceries. And Young could use a guy like Cox who could redirect that anger and attitude and make him focus more. I think Gardenhire’s approach with him only isolates him more. Young can be a superstar!
Jeff R
June 30th, 2009
10:29 am
Coach Smith… Hmmm? I read?
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:30 am
Nate the GR8
has Schafer done much in the minors (at least compared to what people thought?)
I think he had a sorry year last year down there (.269 average) andhasn’t done anything down there this year (.250 atGwinnett)
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
10:31 am
Does anyone realize that the Braves would be better in the long term if they trade Vasquez, Soriano, and Gonzalez? (GUESSING GAME)
I dunno, man. They might be better off letting them play out their contracts and get compensation picks for them rather than trading them for mediocre prospects who will never be as good for the Braves as Vazquez, Soriano and Gonzalez will be if you let them play out their contracts in addition to perhaps getting 3 or more top 100 draft picks going to the Braves as compensation for holding on to them for the duration of their contracts and then seeing them sign elsewhere
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:36 am
coach smith, Let’s look at something on Schafer from somebody who actually knows what they’re talking about. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. He ranked Schafer as our #3 prospect. Behind Hanson and Heyward, ahead of all the other excellent prospects in our system:
3. Jordan Schafer, CF
DOB: 9/4/86
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Signed: 3rd round, 2005, Winter Haven HS (FL)
2008 Stats: .269/.378/.471, .263 EqA at Double-A (84 G)
Last Year’s Ranking: 1
Year in Review: Last year’s breakout performer missed two months early in the season serving a 50-game suspension for some kind of involvement with HGH—the facts are still not clear. He got off to a slow start due to rust and plenty of distractions, but found a groove in the second half, batting .303/.387/.526.
The Good: Schafer’s tools rate as average or above across the board. He’s a patient hitter with a quick, quiet swing and at least average power. He’s a 60 runner and an even better center fielder because of his outstanding instincts, with one scout adding, “I don’t think I ever saw him break wrong on a ball.” His arm is another weapon due to both its strength and accuracy.
The Bad: Schafer struggled against left-handers in 2008, who found success both in busting him inside and getting him to chase good breaking balls. The suspension seemed to hang over his head much of the year; he was clearly pressing at times, and his body language left many wondering if he was having any fun out there.
Fun Fact: While 12 players have been drafted out of Winter Haven High School, Schafer is aiming to become the first to reach the big leagues.
Perfect World Projection: An everyday star-level center fielder who annually hits .300 with 20/20 power/speed numbers.
Glass Half Empty: He turns out to be a one-sided star in desperate need of a platoon partner, a la Ray Lankford.
Path To The Big Leagues: Gregor Blanco does not provide a significant roadblock.
Timetable: The Braves still have the utmost confidence in Schafer, and while they do not go into detail, they have no long-term concerns about his suspension. Schafer is their center fielder of the future, and there’s an outside chance that the future could begin in April.
Lew
June 30th, 2009
10:36 am
coachsmith-KID being the operative word. He’s 22 years old. Ever heard of 22 year olds (or younger) making mistakes?
Many of us here advocated Schafer starting the year in Gwinnett to get some more experience and to work on his flaws. Most here weren’t wanting to hear it. Now they see why we wanted him to get some more experience-he just wasn’t quite ready..
That being said, why should we just give up on him now? He’s still young, still has the potential he always did and now maybe he’ll get that experience and work on what quite a few of us felt he always needed.
In your first post you claimed he had proven himself unworthy and later you claimed he was a top CF prospect. Which exactly, is it? You can’t have it both ways. You can’t claim he sucks and we don’t need him but then turn around and try to trade him as a “Top CF Prospect”. Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way.
tvsportscaster
June 30th, 2009
10:38 am
rob to answer your question about the Gwinnett Braves and television today, the answer is yes. If you live in the areas that receive CSS, they will be on 2:00, if not, MLB Network is picking up the CSS feed of the game and airing it live. So enjoy.
tvsportscaster
June 30th, 2009
10:40 am
rob, to answer your question about the Gwinnett Braves and television today, the answer is yes. If you live in an area that gets CSS, they will be on there at 2:00, if you live outside that area, MLB Network will pick up the CSS feed and air it live as well.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
10:41 am
Would you make the following deal if the Indians were willing to: Schaefer, Escobar and Medlen for Sizemore and Jesse Barfield.
DAP
June 30th, 2009
10:42 am
coach
i think youre right that defense is a big difference between the braves and giants, but its characteristically simplistic of you to say thats the only thing that is different.
i think the giants also havent played as many great teams as the braves have. the giants played 6 against the A’s, while the braves played the red sox. they have also had alot of games against the padres and diamond backs, two not so good teams, and have played 6 vs the nationals. the braves havent even played the nats 6 times yet.
that, along with the defense, and a few other factors, helps the giants have a better record.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
10:44 am
Normally I’d agree that 4-6-3 would’ve been the way to go on that DP grounder to KJ. The easiest DP in that scenario is 4-U-3. That’s what Kelly was attempting, however the runner was right in front of him, and when KJ went to apply the tag, Youkilis turned back toward first. At that point, we couldn’t have gone 4-6-3 and thrown out Bob Wickman at first. It would have been at longer throw back to second and then the throw to first. Papi is slow, but he beats the throw to first. Kelly made the correct play, just a poor return throw.
ncscoots
June 30th, 2009
10:45 am
an even better center fielder because of his outstanding instincts, with one scout adding, “I don’t think I ever saw him break wrong on a ball.”
…which is something some posters here brought up in the forum, long before he saw the light of day in Atlanta. Which is why I was puzzled to see him make defensive gaffes early in the season. Just way out of character.
PWHjort
June 30th, 2009
10:46 am
ncscoots,
Yeah that surprised me too. They were much more frequent in the first two weeks of the season and in the subsequent 6 weeks he was much better defensively.
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
10:47 am
Which Caray brother is tvsportscaster?
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
10:47 am
Did someone say Medlen was a top prospect pitcher? He has a #5 starter CEILING. We should have no qualms about trading him.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:49 am
LEW
he may be considered a top prospect in TRADE to a team like the NATS but if the Braves thought he was what they expected, do you think they would have traded for a CF who is young and under contract for several years?
If you could have McClouth or Schafer for the next 6-7 years…who would you want?
I’ll take McClouth 10 out of 10
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 30th, 2009
10:49 am
Willy Wally,
The G-Braves are playing at 2PM today, the big club is playing at 7:10PM, does that change your opinion on what they are doing? And I do believe they are on MLB Network today.
Coach Smith,
Schafer has played about 7 games in AAA to this point. He sat out 2 weeks with a sore wrist, and still looked good in the series he played before going on the DL.
As far as trading him, that’s not going to happen for Dunn and Willingham. The Nationals can’t win with those guys in their OF, what makes you think the Braves can?
Next years OF will be McLouth, Schafer, Frenchy (or replacement). McLouth was traded for to be a CF fill in until Schafer is ready, then move to a corner. With Schafer and McLouth as 2 spots of the OF, you have 2 OF’s that have 20/20 potential and should both hit around .300.
Lew
June 30th, 2009
10:50 am
scoots-I was a bit surprised at his outfield play, myself. I think that maybe learning the carombs on anew field and maybe the lighting problems (which almost ALL outfielders experience on playing at the Ted for the first couple times) impacted his defense, as it seemed to be mainly a matter of learning the bounces off the wall. He has the spped and we DID see him make several exceptional plays.
I would really like to see all ML teams go back to performing pre-game defensive drills. Not only has the Braves’ defense been much poorer than it should be, but play around the bigs this year has been pretty bad. Practice makes perfect-or so they say. At the very least, it couldn’t hurt (except Tee times).
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 30th, 2009
10:51 am
One more point for Coach Smith….
It’s not a choice of EITHER McLouth OR Schafer. I’ll take them both, thanks.
Lew
June 30th, 2009
10:52 am
coach smith-Now you’re just parsing. He’s either a Top Prospect at his position or he isn’t. It makes no difference which team he’s on-he is what he is and that’s just all there is to it. Like I said-you can’t have it both ways.
Shamus Thacker
June 30th, 2009
10:52 am
So, Frenchy’s lady bought him turkey-drawers.
Any jack-leg psychologists out there?
Nate the GR8
June 30th, 2009
10:53 am
Baba,
The correct play at the end of the game is 4-6-3. Because the 4-6-3 ends the game. The 4-U-3 is the correct play earlier in the game maybe bc papi is running and does not beat that throw.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
10:54 am
I think Medlen could be better than a #5 starter. I think he could be a solid #3 but no he isn’t in the caliber of Hanson or Price.
I think the Braves plan on bringing back Schaefer this season. I would bet immediately after the All-Star break. The plan could be to make a trade for an under the radar bat. Or I could easily see Diaz being dangled for a trade. Especially to an American League team. I could see an outfield of McClouth in LF, Schaefer in CF and either a Francoeur/B. Jones platoon in RF or a newly acquired righthand hitting RF with Anderson coming off the bench as an excellent pinch-hitter.
Lew
June 30th, 2009
10:56 am
coach smith-Maybe you missed when DOB was talking about the McLouth/Schafer situation. They ARE planning to move McLouth to a corner spot and play Jordan in Center. Just because YOU think it’s a bad idea doesn’t equate to the Braves doing what you feel is the best move. Many here (myself included) discount Gold Gloves as nothing more than popularity contests-indicating nothing real about fielding capabilities, or even performance (David Wright won a couple?).
Willy Wally
June 30th, 2009
10:56 am
You know Garrett Anderson is a bad defensive outfielder when Matt Diaz is his late inning defensive replacement.
Crazy Trades McGee
June 30th, 2009
10:56 am
Video of the fan who got tackled…
http://blog.masslive.com/redsoxmonster/2009/06/video_tubby_baseball_fan_tackl.html
Not sure how to make it a hyperlink, but you could always copy paste.
jason
June 30th, 2009
10:59 am
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
9:55 am
That post is absurb. FW and BC have said that JS is the CF of the future. That McLouth would be moved tp LF next year. JS didn’t flop. hew as rushed and had an injured wrist. Dunn and Willingham would have McLouth dead from pure exhaustion from have tp glove the entire OF. Have some common sense. Why do you think that Washington thinks that they are OFs of the Future. Dunn is so bad in the OF, that not even half way through his first year, WAS wants to rid him. That’s bad considering how offense they needed going into this year.
David O'Brien
June 30th, 2009
11:04 am
Coach Smith, O’s aren’t trading Markakis, who’s young, highly productive and — this is no small matter — of Greek ancestry (owner is Peter Angelos, and he really likes Markakis; the owners like to keep players he thinks are good representatives of the club, such as Brian Roberts). Or did you think they just signed Markakis to a six-year, $66 mill contract extension in January so they could trade him if they didn’t win the AL East this season? Oh, but the Braves need him. Changes everything….
Indians have given no inidication they are open to trading Sizemore, their franchise player signed to multi-year deal. If anything, they’ve indicated they are not.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
11:04 am
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
you said: “As far as trading him, that’s not going to happen for Dunn and Willingham. The Nationals can’t win with those guys in their OF, what makes you think the Braves can?”
Well sir, that is not even a question. Quite simply the answer is that the Braves have some of the BEST pitching in baseball and the rest of the team is much much better than the Nationals
The Nats can’t win with them because they don’t have the Braves’ pitching and they don’t have Chipper, Escobar, McClouth, McCann to go with them
jason
June 30th, 2009
11:06 am
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
10:24 am
Because that is what the team officals (BC,FW) have said. They said so right after the trade for McLouth.
dawg22
June 30th, 2009
11:07 am
jermaine dye is hitting .287 18hrs 46rbi and they are willing to trade him. Sounds familar and then we win a ws
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
11:07 am
DOB
I was really wishful thinking on those two especially Sizemore…that would be GREAT
With the INIDANS basically giving Derosa away (who they just traded for), I was thinking they were getting ready for fire sale and that the right package (Medlen, Frenchy/Schafer, B.Jones/Blanco, JOJO) could make it hard for them to resist AND SIZEMORE is AFFORDABLE
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
11:09 am
Was there more than one play, involving Kelly attempting a 4-U-3? I left for work and may have missed something. The play I saw was Kelly attempting to tag Youk and throwing to 1st eliminating the force. I feel he made the right play. When a baserunner is right in front of you, instinct is to tag him. We may just agree to disagree on this one.
Lew
June 30th, 2009
11:09 am
dawg22-And Dye costs $11.5 mil this year (minus half) and another $11.5 mil next year. Where do you see the money coming from?
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
11:10 am
Willy, excellent point. I do think Diaz could be good trade bait as part of a deal. Perhaps in a deal with Escobar to the Red Sox for Bucholz and maybe Baldelli?
The idea of Alex Rios intrigues me. If the Jays are willing to get rid of him to shed some payroll, a deal with perhaps Medlen, Escobar and Francouer to the Jays for Rios and a solid prospect?
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
11:10 am
DOB
Have you heard WREN or COX say for CERTAIN that McClouth will be moved to LF next year to make room for Schafer in CF?
I keep hearing this from people like it is a done deal that it is going to happen and I am not convinced
Nate the GR8
June 30th, 2009
11:10 am
coach smith,
drop the schafer thing in trade deals its not happening. If you can get Dunn without giving up schafer or medlen or hanson or anybody of significance then i will gladly take him and put him in the 4 hole.
dawg22
June 30th, 2009
11:10 am
DOB are the braves in any trade talks?
Buffalo NY Braves Fan
June 30th, 2009
11:10 am
coach smith,
Ok, you got me there… the Nationals have little to no talent… so lets trade for guys that they can’t win with…. one of which dropped a fly ball, then instead of throwing the ball into the infield managed to throw the ball BEHIND HIM. That’s a guy I want covering some ground in the OF.
You don’t trade top tier prospects within your division, it doesn’t happen.
Feel free to prove me wrong though, list any TOP TIER prospects that were traded WITHIN their division in the last, oh, 8 years.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
11:11 am
Hopefully we wouldn’t throw Esco into a deal to get Rios. We better get Scutaro in return
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
11:12 am
I don’t think ESCOBAR will be traded and the Braves would be fools to do so….he is likely to develop more power and be a 20-30 hr a year guy at SS, who bats .300+, and has a rocket arm and good defense
Salamander
June 30th, 2009
11:12 am
With the INIDANS basically giving Derosa away
The Indians got a potential future closer (kid can hit 98mph), and a PTBNL who Shapiro indicated was a critical part of the deal. The Indians got a very fair deal for a rental player – they didn’t give DeRosa away at all.
coach smith
June 30th, 2009
11:15 am
Salamander
“a potential future closer” and a PTBNL
for a guy who is a 300 hitter with 50 RBI, and 13 hrs
that IS giving him away
Nate the GR8
June 30th, 2009
11:16 am
Baba,
You are talking about the play in the top of the 9th inning. We had one out with Youk on first. Ortiz hits a groundball to KJ all he had to do was turn throw to 2nd and then Diory throws to first. KJ should know that there is 1 out and the easiest play to end the game is 4-6-3. Im not saying the instinct is to tag Youk but you should know the situation before Ortiz hits the ball. Every pitch you tell yourself if the ball is hit to me Im going to do this in this situation. Its not hard for KJ to say to himself if the ball comes to me turn and throw to 2nd.
Guessing Game
June 30th, 2009
11:16 am
Willy Wally –
No way. Those draft picks add to the value of Soriano and Gonzalez. What do they do for the Braves? They never spend money in the draft anyway. They could get some prospects that can be added to Heyward and Freeman and be the 2011 wave of Braves young players.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
11:16 am
Aramis Ramirez
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
June 30th, 2009
11:16 am
Here’s the problem with getting Dye. He is owed a lot of money. The reason the White Sox want to get rid of him is because of that salary. The Braves can’t take him because they also need to shed salary. I just don’t see how that deal would work unless the ownership increases payroll which is HIGHLY doubtful.
What the Braves want to do is either add a cheap player or move a big salary and get a player who costs less. I think that is where Vasquez comes into play. While a team like the Jays is looking to shed payroll they may be willing to make a deal for Vasquez because they need pitching more than hitting to stay in the race right now and Vasquez’s deal expires after next season whereas a guy like Rios and Wells still have multiple years left on their contracts and will be much harder to move in two years than they are now.
TexasBrave
June 30th, 2009
11:16 am
Robert (Chipper Is The Best) – If Schafer is brought back up wouldn’t Blanco be sent back down? Instead of replacing Anderson in LF how about a platoon of Schafer and Jeff? Schafer bats versus righties and Jeff versus lefties. When Schafer is in the game he can play CF and move McLouth to RF with Anderson still in left.
I think one of the reasons Bobby is still clinging to Jeff is that his defense still saves runs and we don’t have anyone who can match the defense that Jeff provides. But if Schafer rights his ship at AAA and is called up, then moving McLouth over to RF with Schafer in CF does not degrade our defense.
Ah, who am I kidding, Bobby loves Jeff and would most likely not go for it.
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
11:19 am
sorry Nate, I disagree. If Youk is right there, which he was, you tag him. That’s what KJ tried to do. I can think of a lot of things to fault him for this season, but I can’t fault him for that.
joe
June 30th, 2009
11:20 am
If Frenchy fails at platooning as well, then whatever little trade value he would have had by the deadline would be even less than nil, right?
Baba O'Riley
June 30th, 2009
11:20 am
the fewer throws you have to make, the better