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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,538 comments Add your comment
Matt Diaz
August 11th, 2009
11:21 am
I hurt my neck looking over my shoulder…….
Ben
August 11th, 2009
11:25 am
I have a gut feeling that Chipper will be our starting 1st baseman next year. I think the Braves feel that Freeman is at least a year away. Prado or Infante will be considered for 3rd. base.
CB
August 11th, 2009
11:25 am
Steve, Church would be my insurance in case Heyward or Schafer don’t work out and can play any position,Diaz really can’t,nor can Infante well.
Steve from OH
August 11th, 2009
11:32 am
CB–yeah, I guess. I haven’t really thought about the makeup of the bench so there might be room. I would disagree with one point though, that Diaz really can’t play the OF well. IMO, he’s really improved with his defense this year and I think he’s about average in a corner spot (probably not enough arm for RF though). If you’ve got room for both of them, great, but if I had to choose one I’d take Diaz because he hits lefties so well.
BravoMan
August 11th, 2009
11:33 am
CB,
I respect young ideas cuz they do make since. I don’t know about young Heyward next year. Idk if he’ll start or if they’ll play it like how they did Hanson. We’ll know in time. Same goes for Schafer as long as he gets healthy. Church is a solid 4th OF and he will be very useful. Diaz should take the place of Norton, and if Heyward were to start he’d take Anderson’s spot on the roster next year. I do however see Medlen going back to AAA and coming back up as a starter. It’s kinda like the Yanks situation with Joba, they love him in bullpen but was ment to be a starter.
Shamus Thacker
August 11th, 2009
11:37 am
Hudson, at the moment, is a complete unknown. Shouldn’t we wait to see how he does in a few ML starts before discussing trade scenarios? I love the guy, but what has he done for us lately, and how do we know he’ll return to pre-injury form?
Vazquez has been our savior. He’s done MUCH for us lately, and all year long. Any scenarios that I conjure will involve keeping him.
We have young guys on the way from the farm. We should be patient. We should hold on to the major cogs that have resurrected our season. Help is on the way in the hitting department.
Patience. Patience people…..
Steve from OH
August 11th, 2009
11:39 am
Shamus–yep. If Hudson can’t get back to form then this disussion becomes a waste of imaginary computer ink.
Matt Diaz
August 11th, 2009
11:43 am
Braves play next 12 of 15 games at home.
boonie27
August 11th, 2009
11:43 am
CB
August 11th, 2009
11:13 am
I guess I am in the minority,but next year I think the Braves should go young in the outfield with Schafer,Heyward and McLouth. I would keep Church as 4th outfielder,Diaz as pinchhitter. I would try to keep starting pitching strong and let Medlen play a stronger roll in bullpen.
This outfield would be ok if we could get a big RH bat for 1B. We need to try and swing a deal for Paul Konerko in the offseason. The White Sox will surely be trying to shed some payroll after adding Peavy and now Rios. Konerko or Dye would be nice to have next year.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2009
11:43 am
N8: but I didn’t say the Braves would probably split with the Nationals “because that’s what the Braves do.” That was my point. Follow along here.
Point was, the Braves might just be switching it up a bit, breaking from recent bad tradition, surprising us by not laying an egg on a West Coast trip after losing the first game of each series, etc.
I should add, if they split a two-game set with a team that comes in with an eight-game winning streak, it wouldn’t exactly being spitting the bit, you know? If they split with the Nationals and win at least two of three from Philly, that’d not be terrible.
But I’m sure they think they can win at least four out of five in these two series, in whatever combination.
braves4ever
August 11th, 2009
11:44 am
Start the McLouth-Shafer-Heyward bandwagon ,”its coming soon to a field near you”
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2009
11:46 am
dmack: I’ll ask, but that Cuban lefty is 21 and Yunel’s 26 and been off the island for six years. So I kind of doubt they ever played together.
Rob from SC
August 11th, 2009
11:48 am
Is Infante getting activated tonight?
Matt Diaz
August 11th, 2009
11:48 am
DOB Do think when Bobby Cox came out to argue the blown strike call (Fri) might be the turning point of the season? Kinda like when Patton slapped the coward in the Hospital tent.
Steve from OH
August 11th, 2009
11:49 am
Start the McLouth-Shafer-Heyward bandwagon ,”its coming soon to a field near you”
Buddy, that bandwagon has been established and I’ve been on it for a while, LOL! The prospect hugger in me is excited about our young core of Heyward, Hanson, Schafer, Freeman, JJ, Med, etc., but the nagging realistic tendencies in the back of the ‘ol noggin tell me that those days aren’t quite here yet. Seems to me like starting JH, FF and JS in AAA next year ain’t a bad idea, though I wouldn’t be shocked to see them open the season with the club. IMO the former is more likely though.
Johnny Quest
August 11th, 2009
11:50 am
My sentiments exactly, Matt.
Daslied
August 11th, 2009
11:51 am
I’m guessing you could keep Diaz as a backup 1B, maybe? I know he’s played one or two games there. I like Church as the 4th OF. The 2010 OF is a crapshoot at this point – Schafer? Heyward? Schafer being ready will be a huge thing – I certainly hope he is. I could live with an OF of McLouth, (improved) Schafer and Church/Diaz. I’d love to see Heyward in there, but only if there’s no reason to keep him in the minors anymore.
My guess for the IF next year is Chipper, Yunel, KJ and Prado. I don’t see them bringing LaRoche back, unless it’s a 1-year deal, because Freeman might be ready in 2011. It’s the same reason I wouldn’t move Chipper to 1st – if Freeman is ready in 2011 where are you going to put Chipper? There’s NOBODY in the system to take over 3rd. You can’t move Yunel there. I suppose Prado at some point, unless KJ struggles again next year (which I don’t think will happen).
Nice problems to have, though.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2009
11:54 am
Matt, not really. Because they didn’t start a comeback for some time after that incident.
But I do think Kelly Johnson’s two-run homer in that game, which fueled the comeback, might have been a turning point.
Which gets me wondering … If the Braves keep this up, will as many folks point to that K.J. homer as a turning point as they do his dropped popup as a turning point a year ago?
braves4ever
August 11th, 2009
11:57 am
Steve fron OH, I see it out of the gate next year, its part of the winter roster changes, Wren has to decide on GA ,Roachy,Church, and I don’t see him extending GA or Church another year. In a gut feeling sense I agree that 3 months in AAA would be better but that means Wren signs all these players to another year contract, I don’t see that happening.
Daslied
August 11th, 2009
12:01 pm
DOB ~ “will as many folks point to that K.J. homer as a turning point as they do his dropped popup as a turning point a year ago?”
Not with this bunch.
Rob from SC
August 11th, 2009
12:01 pm
Steve from OH
August 11th, 2009
11:49 am
Start the McLouth-Shafer-Heyward bandwagon ,”its coming soon to a field near you”
And I have been calling for Heyward to be in the outfield now since June.
Steve Maybe the people who keep saying Schafer sucks will begin to realize how bad his wrist injury was.
ncscoots
August 11th, 2009
12:02 pm
Which gets me wondering … If the Braves keep this up, will as many folks point to that K.J. homer as a turning point as they do his dropped popup as a turning point a year ago?
…when there are icicles in the underworld, my friend. And maybe not even then.
braves4ever
August 11th, 2009
12:02 pm
DOB,Which gets me wondering … If the Braves keep this up, will as many folks point to that K.J. homer as a turning point as they do his dropped popup as a turning point a year ago?
You betcha, Kelly will be hero the rest of the year, all the KJ haters will be drowned out. Might give you a good story ,”From Goat to Hero”
DAP
August 11th, 2009
12:05 pm
braves4ever
church is arbitration eligible, i believe. i dont see wren non-tendering him. he could be traded, but i think we see church back next season. he is fairly valuable since he can play all outfield positions. garret anderson will not be back, though. i dont see that happening.
the braves basically have 3 spots coming open. anderson, norton, and laroche. i still say sign mike cameron for one spot, and if heyward continues, let him have another spot. we could have mclouth LF, cameron CF, heyward RF, with diaz and church on the bench, and to fill in here and there.
fastasballs
August 11th, 2009
12:15 pm
Every day is a day closer to having our top prospects in a Braves uniform. Like I’ve said before Wren has a tough choice with when to bring Heyward up. I think at this point there isn’t a need, but things can change in an instant.
If Hudson is signed the Braves will have seven legit starting pitchers. The current five plus Hudson & Medlen. I do think the Braves look at Medlen as a future starter. He’s gaining some confidence now out in the pen & if he stays out there next season remains to be seen. I’m sure signing Hudson depends a lot of what happens the next few months because at this point nobody knows.
Wren really is in the drivers seat going into next season as far as the rotation goes. He has a lot of options to work with. How many other teams are as set as the Braves as far as starting pitching goes for 2010?
Lew
August 11th, 2009
12:17 pm
Nothing will ever rival Kelly’s Drop Up in the annals of MIB Blogdom.
Brett Esterson
August 11th, 2009
12:27 pm
I concur, KJ will never make up for that dropped fly ball against Philly last year. Unless he wins NLCS and WS MVP, then I will forgive him forever.
CB
August 11th, 2009
12:34 pm
We have a lot of choices in pitching staff, ain’t it great?
Hillbilly
August 11th, 2009
12:35 pm
Nothing will ever rival Kelly’s Drop Up in the annals of MIB Blogdom.
Adam LaRoche thanks Kelly everyday for taking the MIB heat off of him and his jog to first base.
Original Jon
August 11th, 2009
12:35 pm
you know, I dont want to jinx it by saying this, but, the Braves have had the luxury of having none of their starting pitchers hit the DL this year.. That, to me, especially after last years injuries, is just awesome!!
Nova Scotia Steve
August 11th, 2009
12:36 pm
Leeeetttt’sss Go Braves!
God I’m pumped…For a two game series with the Washington Nationals…
Nova Scotia Steve
August 11th, 2009
12:37 pm
PS…
We’re poundin out the posts on this blog eh
Carroll Rogers
August 11th, 2009
12:38 pm
hey, guess what? new blog is up…..
UNCBrave
August 11th, 2009
12:40 pm
Lannan pitches well against us and that is a concern tonight
ernesto
August 11th, 2009
12:42 pm
I’m not giving up on Schafer, but you can’t say his troubles were all b/c of his wrist injury.
A wrist injury doesn’t make you whiff . Horribly. And often.
He just needed more time.
braves4ever
August 11th, 2009
12:44 pm
If the team has the zeal to play tonight like it is on here then we will take care of business. I hope the hits are as numerous as the blog posts the next 5 games.
I’m pumped too with Tommy Gun going tonight, can’t wait.
Guess I better do some serious work so I can be ready tonight ,lol
The Bird and Indian
August 12th, 2009
8:50 pm
Soph
August 14th, 2009
11:22 am
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