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1,268 comments Add your comment
DAP
August 6th, 2009
12:18 pm
in other words, re: my 12:05 post, no long winning streak needed. if the braves just win consistently, they will win 93. pretty good
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:18 pm
RHR McCann and Francoeur never did play above AA did they?
Right, they did not.
Well, actually, McCann has played one game @ AAA…but that was his rehab game, May 7, 2009.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:18 pm
Is there an engineering school at UGA ?
Lew
August 6th, 2009
12:19 pm
TommyP-Re: Ned Yost. I’ll trust that you have the connections. Is he just not well thought of as managerial material in the FO?
Lew
August 6th, 2009
12:20 pm
dogs-Don’t know about UGA, but there is an Engineering school at Mercer (my alma mater), which has branches in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:22 pm
we have 6 for the fantasy footy
4 to go
P-Town Brave
August 6th, 2009
12:22 pm
Can I just say that it looks like #7 picks have turned out very well lately….
-Fielder
-Tulowitzki
-Kershaw
NO MORE BOBBY
August 6th, 2009
12:22 pm
This is THE series where we find out if the Braves are for real or not in 2009.
No more scoreboard watching.
No more injury excuses.
No more we need to trade for this or that.
No more well if we sweep the next team we will only be however many games out.
JUST WIN.
cabravesfan
August 6th, 2009
12:23 pm
RHR-
just to add to McFann’s response- I was always under the impression that many of the Braves top prospects were kept in AA simply because it was closer and the facilities were so much better then the ones in Richmond- made it easier to call them up if needed (someone please correct me if I am wrong- I seem to recall reading this or getting this impression somewhere…) Now that the AAA team is so much closer I imagine that won’t be happening too much anymore…
DAP
August 6th, 2009
12:24 pm
wjones i think im with you on the callup of heyward, though i wasnt before. if its looking like he will be ready next season anyways…why not go ahead? by september he will have two full months of ABs in AA, and if he is still on fire, i say go for it.
cabravesfan
August 6th, 2009
12:24 pm
dogsbrekky-
USC (Southern California) has a great engineering school
Lunatic Fringe
August 6th, 2009
12:26 pm
If you want to be an engineer in Georgia you go to TECH. UGA has some engineering programs, like Agricultural Engineering, but it is not a focus there.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:27 pm
cabraves – I worked at CSFB with several “spoiled children”.
I usually follow UNC in college sports as I was going to go there before hurting my arm as a kid and ended up at Curtin and the Aussie Air Force Academy.
I should really follow a GA school as I follow Braves and Falcons. Just can’t bring myself to follow the GA Tech with that horrid nickname
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:28 pm
Lew: So much to comment on.
Regarding Ned Yost: A player that once played for him said that he absolutely folded under pressure. I thought that was shocking but he was adamant about it.
Regarding Georgia: Caleb King was the highest ranked RB- as a junior in high school. When he transferred to the private school, put on tons of weight, and proceeded to break his leg, he was a shadow of his former self. His SR footage bears no resemblance to his JR footage. Word has it that he’s in the shape he was as a JR (slightly bigger) but I have yet to see the same running back. Richard Samuel will be better, in my opinion. (look out for freshman Ealey)
QB? Joe Cox. His arm is good enough. Great head for the game, tremendous leader in the huddle, very accurate. He got lost behind Stafford but people forget he never lost a game in high school. Broke all of Chris Leak’s records there. He’ll be a good, solid college QB.
WRs: Marlon Brown is the hotshot recruit out of Tennessee. Huge receiver that is very strong. Mike Moore will do well this year and Tavarres King should have a breakout year.
Lunatic Fringe
August 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
dogsbrekky,
I join your football league, then you go and trash my school—how nice is that!
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:32 pm
didnt trash Tech, just dont like the yellow jackets name
My mate’s kids go there and love it
Couch Tater
August 6th, 2009
12:32 pm
I just read on Joe Posnanski’s blog that he will accept a position of Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated. Renew!
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:34 pm
my argument for not following Tech is really very stupid
Lunatic Fringe
August 6th, 2009
12:36 pm
Think of them as the Ramblin Wreck then!
cabravesfan
August 6th, 2009
12:37 pm
I worked at CSFB with several “spoiled children”.
I prefer “well loved”
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:42 pm
Isn’t USC known as the Uni of spoiled children ?? cabraves ??
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:45 pm
“Horrid nickname”? Ah, man, you just went down a couple notches!
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
12:46 pm
RHR: No, Francoeur and McCann did not play Triple-A ball. Jumped from Double-A to majors.
It was a little different then in the organization, in that they had their top young prospects in Double-A at the new park in Mississippi, closer to home than the decrepit facilities at Triple-A Richmond. With their spanking-new park at Triple-A Gwinnett, only a 30 minutes up the road, the Braves are putting more young prospects there than before, it’s now back to being a regular progression up the ladder than it was when the Triple-A team was in its last, dying days in Richmond.
That said, once a guy gets to Double-A, if he’s an advanced, exceptional talent like Heyward, he can jump directly to the majors without a stop in Triple-A. It’s not going to happen very often at all, but it could with him.
But it should be noted, for general purposes of discussion, that things have changed since the Braves moved their Triple-A team to Gwinnett. The Triple-A roster isn’t filled with aging journeymen minor leaguers, former prospects and six-year free agents the way it used to be. There’s actual good, young prospects there.
keylargo
August 6th, 2009
12:46 pm
TommyP
You omitted A J Green at WR. 6′ 4″, 210 lb Freshman of the Year in the SEC.
Nova Scotia Steve
August 6th, 2009
12:46 pm
ummmm
Heath
August 6th, 2009
12:46 pm
Boooo!
The Marlins are up 2-0 already.
Booooo!
ernesto
August 6th, 2009
12:47 pm
Okay, I know I’m late to the party on this one….but is the back end of MFIKY,
“I’ll Kill You”.
If so, I think I can work out the rest.
cabravesfan
August 6th, 2009
12:48 pm
Isn’t USC known as the Uni of spoiled children ??
dogsbrekky-
Only to those unfortunate enough not to get in there
Kevin In Chatty
August 6th, 2009
12:49 pm
DOB: On Soriano and Laroche
Are either considered Type-A free agents after this year?
Do you expect the Braves to pick up Tim Hudson’s 2010 Option? If not, will that allow them to resign Soriano?
Would love to hear your thoughts,
Thanks!
Tomahawk1310
August 6th, 2009
12:51 pm
DOB
Whay are your thoughts on bringing up Heyward and giving the team a little push for the playoff run?
Nova Scotia Steve
August 6th, 2009
12:51 pm
Kevin in Chatty….
Soriano would be a Type A free agent I believe.
And Adam LaRoche just feel short of being a type B free agent…
As far as your other questions I don’t think I can answer…I hope we pick up Hudson option. But I’m with everyone else on this blog that says…its either Vazquez or Hudson…I don’t know if we can keep both
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:55 pm
keylargo: I didn’t omit AJ Green. I commented on questions the Bulldogs have. Everyone knows about Green.
DOB: “The Triple-A roster isn’t filled with aging journeymen minor leaguers, former prospects and six-year free agents the way it used to be.”
Canizares, Wes Timmons, Chris Burke, Brandon Jones (DONE as a prospect), JC Holt, Brian Barton, Brooks Conrad, JC Boscan, Clint Sammons, Gregor Blanco, Antonio Perez….
Care to re-think that statement?
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
12:55 pm
Kevin: LaRoche certainly isn’t a Type-A free agent, but could be a B (they go on two-year stats compared to other free agents at the position)
Soriano missing most of last season hurts his classification. Not sure where he’ll end up. Couple of folks here on the blog follow that stuff very closely, though, and can probably let us know.
I think if Hudson has no problems with his arm after he returns, if he looks good in his month or so with the Braves, then they’ll exercise the option. $12 mill still reasonable for a pitcher of his ilk. But they need to see him pitch. And, of course, he has the right to decline the option even if they exercise it (I don’t think he would, but he can.)
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
12:55 pm
DANGIT, Willingham!!
TBrown
August 6th, 2009
12:57 pm
Never thought I’d ever see “Marlon Brown” on this blog. Very good friend of mine.
Heath
August 6th, 2009
12:57 pm
Boooooo!
GDP with bases loaded for Was.
Boooooo!
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
12:58 pm
TBrown: If he can pick up the offense like AJ Green did last year, he’ll be a beast this year.
Henry V111
August 6th, 2009
12:58 pm
Sadtoseeitthisway, It is time for all Escobar Haters to see his value to this team offensively and defensively. I have stated on this blog repeatedly that Escobar and McCann are the only two stars on this team, and I believe McLouth and Prado may be close. It is time folks stop hating on this guy, all the national Sports Reporters rave about the guy, yet he gets no love from Braves Fans. He is flashy yes, but as Wren and others stated, this is a cultural thing, and this is how the Cubans play with a lot of excitement. It was not surprising that Furcal did not want to come back to the Braves, despite his love for Bobby. He does not forget the way yu’all turned on him during his dark hours.
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
12:59 pm
TommyP: No, I don’t care to change what I said. At Richmond in last couple years, that’s ALL you had, those type of guys.
You forget, the Braves this season started out with Hanson, Morton, Medlen and Acosta, among others, at Gwinnett.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
12:59 pm
cabraves – we made the junior USC guys get the coffee..
then again we made the junior Harvard guys/gals make the coffee, after getting instruction on how to do it
RHR
August 6th, 2009
12:59 pm
Right McFann. I meant other than rehab games.
keylargo
August 6th, 2009
1:00 pm
NSS – Not everyone on the blog says either Vazquez or Hudson. I would think the best move would be to move Lowe and the $45 million due him in the next three years. But that’s with Hudson being well. This Aug and Sept are so important to solving that. Hudson does not have to be lights out but does need to be healthy.
dogsbrekky
August 6th, 2009
1:02 pm
VH1 just had a very old live clip of Bruce and The E Street Band doing “Born to Run”..
unbelievable stuff
TBrown
August 6th, 2009
1:02 pm
TommyP- See it first hand many times. He’s incredible. Don’t want to set the bar too high, but he has very deceptive speed, faster than he’s given credit for. Good hands and very physical. Great work ethic. He’s the real deal. He and AJ will be very scary(I’m a VOL fan).
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
1:03 pm
RHR–
I know. I was just messin’ around…you know me and my BMac facts.
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
1:04 pm
DOB: Those guys might make brief appearances in AAA but it’s usually due to the fact that the parent club has no slot for them at the moment.
Hanson? That was a financial decision as you reported.
We have TONS of journeymen on the AAA squad…just as most other clubs do. There are more prospects in AA than AAA.
cabravesfan
August 6th, 2009
1:05 pm
we made the junior USC guys get the coffee..
dogsbrekky-
no worries- I make my boss, who went to ucla, get the coffee
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
1:06 pm
I would think the best move would be to move Lowe and the $45 million due him in the next three years. — KeyLargo
Yeah, good luck with that.
Steve from OH
August 6th, 2009
1:06 pm
Soriano projects to be a Type A right now, and IIRC LaRoche is a borderline type B. If he has a big second half, he might make the cut.
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
1:07 pm
TBrown: I’m a Dawg fan living in Vol nation (Knoxville).
From everything I’ve read and seen on video clips, he sounds like a “Michael Irvin-type” receiver. Big, strong, great hands receiver. (didn’t say he was the next Michael Irvin, just that Irvin is the style that he is)
flange1
August 6th, 2009
1:08 pm
Just found a site that has done a reverse engineering on the Elias rankings that determine if a FA is type A, B or nothing.
Soriano, Gonzo = A
KJ, Church, GA = B
Diaz, Laroche = Nothing, but close to B
FYI!
richbrave
August 6th, 2009
1:09 pm
The pressure’s on in this series. The BRAVES almost HAVE to take three out of four to say they have any real aspirations in the 2009 post-season. They’re going to continue splitting with the NL east. They didn’t clean up against the AL. They’ve got to make up ground somewhere. The rest of the NL and the WASHINGTON NATIONALS are the two places left on the schedule where that must happen.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:10 pm
Lew – didn’t know you were a Mercer alum. Good friend of mine has a daughter there now, she loves it.
dogsbrekky – I don’t think UGA has an engineering school, they also do not have a medical school. If they did I wouldn’t have had to follow my husband and graduate at Bama.
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
1:10 pm
TommyP: They didn’t make “brief appearances” there, they began the season there. I’m not going to argue with you. If you believe there’s no difference at all in Braves strategy now that they have their Triple-A team 30 minutes away, if you think they aren’t utilizing and planning to utilize that proximity to their advantage by having more major-league ready players there, then fine. So be it.
If Kris Medlen hadn’t pitched so well and the Braves hadn’t had a need, he’d still be at Triple-A. What’s your point? It was a “brief appearance” only because he forced their hand by pitching so well. If they hadn’t traded Morton, he’d still be there.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
1:10 pm
Dang Marlins…
FaninFaytown
August 6th, 2009
1:11 pm
Tech would be the engineering school in the area. A very good one at that.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:12 pm
If you want to be an engineer in Georgia you go to TECH.
Or Auburn.
Tomahawk1310
August 6th, 2009
1:12 pm
DOB
No comment on the Heyward call-up idea?
flange1
August 6th, 2009
1:12 pm
Here is the site that reverse engineers the Elias Ratings:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17675287/Rankings-072509
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
1:13 pm
Funny, it looks like TBrown at 1:02 is responding to dogsbrekky’s post about Bruce. I read hurriedly, and for a few lines I was thinking he was providing an assessment of the Boss. Good stuff.
richbrave
August 6th, 2009
1:13 pm
Agree with DOB that the LOWE contract practically assures he will finish out his time as a BRAVE. Not blaming WREN. Under the circumstances, the team badly needed to ink a big-time pitcher, and LOWE filled the bill.
flange1
August 6th, 2009
1:14 pm
By the way, the date for that report is 7/25. Look for Laroche in the AL under Boston.
Heath
August 6th, 2009
1:14 pm
Well…now that it’s 6-0 Florida..here’s to upcoming 4 game win streak for the Fish!
Nate
August 6th, 2009
1:15 pm
Yeah moving Lowe and his contract won’t be easy. But lookign at potential starters next year, Lowe could easily be the fifth best starter on the team behind Jurrjens, Hanson, Vazquez and Hudson. 17 million is a lot of money for a back end of the rotation starter. Considerign the length of the contract, this is a problem that eventually have to be addressed. My guess is that the Braves hold onto him for another year or two and then end up eating a large portion of his salary in a trade.
keylargo
August 6th, 2009
1:15 pm
RHR
UGA does have an Agricultural Engineering degree.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:15 pm
That’s good knowledge on the AA/AAA then and now thing, DOB, thanks.
Steve from OH
August 6th, 2009
1:17 pm
flange–the rankings are league-based, so Roachy has a better shot of being a Type B in the NL IIRC.
keylargo
August 6th, 2009
1:19 pm
RHR
I take that back. UGA has TEN engineering degrees.
http://www.engineering.uga.edu/academics/index.php
DON
August 6th, 2009
1:19 pm
Cannizarez (?) is not your typical 28 year old Triple A player, either…He’s only been in the minors for what, 2 years. And Brandon Jones isn’t a dead fish yet either
Lew
August 6th, 2009
1:20 pm
RHR-Yeah, my wife and I graduated from Mercer (in Macon) in 75. Got married on campus the next day. Theyve got a Med School, Pharmacy School and Law School too. Just added a school of Business and a Savannah Campus. A growing institution.
TommyP-Thanks. Lots of information I didn’t have. It’s tough getting any inside stuff on The Dawgs up here in The Great White North.. I was disappointed last year-thought we had a bona fide shot at the National Tiotle, but it sure didn’t shake out like I had hoped. That Bama game killed us right off the bat.
David O'Brien
August 6th, 2009
1:21 pm
Nate: My guess is that the Braves hold onto him for another year or two and then end up eating a large portion of his salary in a trade.
And the last time they did that was when? Hold on, I think I’ve got it right here … still looking …
flange1
August 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
Steve – very true! If you look at the “number” they give the player, Laroche is very close in either league. In fact if you apply his AL league numbers to the NL, he has a higher ranking than Frenchy.
I believe he will slip up to a Type B. I think he will have a typical Laroche 2nd half!
Lunatic Fringe
August 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
RHR,
UGA does have a small engineering program, with Bio Engineering, and Computer engineering degrees, and they added a Med school this year.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:22 pm
Did I miss someone hating on Yunel?
Yeah moving Lowe and his contract won’t be easy.
Lowe isn’t going to be moved. That’s just not going to happen, not in the next 2 years anyway. There is no way the braves do that.
keylargo – ok but still, offering 1 engineering degree is not the same as having an engineering school.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
1:25 pm
Holy crud! Filly fans, I tell ya…
Yikes.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:26 pm
keylargo – I take my comment back too then.
Frank Wren
August 6th, 2009
1:26 pm
I just call Tech that once a decade school
Jalb3rt
August 6th, 2009
1:27 pm
DOB
Wich FAs do you think the Braves are more likely to re-sign this next offseason?
Lew
August 6th, 2009
1:27 pm
Nate-You’re wrong. The Braves will not eat salary. Besides, you”re acting as if Lowe has been a waste. He’s not. Aside from a couple of bad starts (everyone has them) that have lead to a somewhat higher ERA than we’d like but, he’s been quite efffective and leads the team in wins.
A week or so ago, Nathan posted about how we might get by without as much power out of the 1B position because we got plus power from McCann at catcher. They balance the other out. The Lowe situation is similar. You can afford to somewwhat overpay a pitcher when at least two of your other starters ain’t making diddly (ML Minimum). It balances out.
Our problem is not pitching or how much it costs. It’s offensive inconsistency.
18 Wheels of Love
August 6th, 2009
1:28 pm
2 things Braves don’t do: eat salary and give out no trade clauses. 3 if you include churn out a lot of coaches.
keylargo
August 6th, 2009
1:29 pm
RHR – The other nine were a surprise to me. And I went to school there.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:30 pm
and they added a Med school this year.
Thats awesome. About time!
18 Wheels of Love
August 6th, 2009
1:30 pm
Also, how was Peavy traded to the Sox while on the DL? I thought you couldn’t trade someone on the DL?
Shamus Thacker
August 6th, 2009
1:30 pm
Good points Lew
Lew
August 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
18 Wheels-May have had something to do with the fact that he’s signed for a few more years.
RHR
August 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
Me too, keylargo, but I certainly wasn’t an engineering major lol. My best friend from college was and she’s been retired for 2 years. She’s 39. Color me green.
DAP
August 6th, 2009
1:32 pm
natei dont think so. that contract for lowe is security for he and the braves. lowe might end up being the 5th best starter on the team, but he is very solid, eats innings, doesnt get hurt, almost always puts his team in a position to win. in other words, he is extremely dependable, probably will be for 3 more years.
the braves may have over paid a bit (his salary is only $15mil, not $17), but it was a necessary expense. we needed a vet like him.
Innocent Bystander
August 6th, 2009
1:34 pm
I have a friend studying engineering at UGA (I’m studying engineering at Tech). He says it’s much more difficult to land a good engineering job after graduation, simply because most positions in the area end up going to Tech grads anyway. Not sure why anyone would study that at UGA…
Lew
August 6th, 2009
1:36 pm
Shamus-People just don’t realize that Hanson is not costing anything, Jurrjens is not costing anything, Vazquez is a steal at the rate they’re paying him for the results he’s achieving and Kawakami’s salary actually drops next year. Overall, even including Lowe (who is NOT making all that much in the scheme of things for a pitcher of his record) we have an inexpensive pitching staff.
Also, we need to ADD offense and NOT delete pitching. Don’t understand with that conceptwhat is so difficult for people to grasp.
Nova Scotia Steve
August 6th, 2009
1:37 pm
ok…So how big is this series with one of the best teams in baseball…ummm yeah…that’s what I thought.
Frank Wren
August 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
You all are Cox apologists
I agree with everything you said. Truth be told the manager has very little effect on what the team does. The players on the field do that.
Also Soriano hadnt pitched in 4 or 5 days. Was smart to get him some work and keep him sharp
ernesto
August 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
RHR – but then you get that stink on you that no amount of soap can ever wash off. Tragic, really.
McFann :Ô:
August 6th, 2009
1:42 pm
Can’t believe they have FOUR games with the Dodgers…and Chad Billingsley is gonna pitch tomorrow.
TBrown
August 6th, 2009
1:43 pm
Any thoughts on Minor’s record bonus? I may be late on this topic..
Frank Wren
August 6th, 2009
1:43 pm
Do you still get free hotdogs and cokes if you show up at a Tech game?
TommyP
August 6th, 2009
1:43 pm
DOB: My original point was on AAA and AA overall as a general concept for all teams.
AAA is LOADED with career minor leaguers, journeymen, etc. AAA is basically AAAA nowadays.
And if you don’t see my point after pointing out the plethora of journeymen on our Gwinnett squad, we agree to disagree.
Are we using our AAA team differently than before? I’m sure we are and will. My point was if you can MASH AA pitching as a prospect, you’re probably ready for at least a cup of tea in the majors. AAA is a placeholder for the majors, an NFL taxi squad…..i.e. “We have no spot open for you at the moment” for the ones that still possess the prospect tag.
brian
August 6th, 2009
1:44 pm
It will be interesting to see if the Braves can hold onto Hudson and Vazquez while moving Kawakami. Lowe, JJ, Vazquez, Huddy, and Hanson is a dynamite starting 5
John
August 6th, 2009
1:44 pm
Afternoon, all. Quick question (for DOB or anyone else who might have some insight), and I apologize in advance if I’ve missed a discussion on this in recent weeks. Do we know why Cox hits Escobar behind Anderson? The only thing I’ve been able to come up with is that the team’s generally been hitting quite well since the break, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, hitting Escobar fifth would seem to make sense, given that (1) he’d break up the LH bats and (2) he’s a more dangerous hitter than Anderson at this point in their respective careers, whether you want to go by slugging %, BA w/RISP, whatever. Just curious to see what other folks think.
Frank Wren
August 6th, 2009
1:45 pm
this team finished 18 games under .500 last year. Ive got them 2 games over
Thats a 20 game improvement folks
GM of the year is a lock !!!
Chop Chop
August 6th, 2009
1:45 pm
Lew,
I know that, if forced to make a choice, you’d rather have Vazquez over Hudson, but would you rather keep both of them for 2010?