Comments on: Hot Braves still need plenty of help

By: Tell It Like It Is

Tell It Like It Is — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:07:12 +0000

Based on previous discussions about the value of some of the Brave players, I think that the Braves should trade McLouth, Diaz and Church for a big bopper. Everyone knows what great seasons they are having. Their value will never be higher than it is right now. A team could get a whole outfield with one trade. IT IS WHAT IT IS.

By: jj

jj — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:42:38 +0000

DOB,have you any thoughts about or have you heard anything about Conrad learning to play thirdbase or first this winter to make him bew able to step into Prado’s shoes as supersub?

By: Paul Lentz

Paul Lentz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:42:17 +0000

Shaun…….your 2:26pm posting misses the point. A manager plays a VERY KEY role in whether a team stays in the playoff race. He sets the starting line-up (Bobby’s refusal to bench Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur) killed rally after rally after the first half of the season. Matt Diaz was benched in the Chicago series before the All-Star Break despite being in a 13 for 26 stretch….just so Francoeur could “get some at-bats” (direct quote from Bobby Cox, in an interview done by David O’Brien).

Bobby sticking with Jeff Bennent cost the Braves a number of first half games. Sending up Greg Norton time after time is a manager’s decision. Norton’s failure to deliver time after time has stalled a number of potential comebacks.

Taking out Tommy Hanson after throwing less than 100 pitches after 8 innings against Houston in a game he was cruising in is a manager’s decision.

A manager making excuses and coddling his players when they make obvious mistakes only gives them little incentive to change. This Braves team is the worst base running and fundamentally defensive team I’ve ever seen. Our dominating starting pitching is the MAIN reason why we are still alive in this race. Dont forget that.

By: jj

jj — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:38:37 +0000

Just to change the subject,especially about trading JJ.I was thinking when The Braves make it to the playoffs,who will Bobby chose to be our 3 starters?It would tell me a lot about Cox by who he would chose and his reasons for doing it.Who would you go with if you had to make the decision.Me,I would use a 4 man rotation with Huddy,Javy,JJ and Hanson.

By: Paul Lentz

Paul Lentz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:34:41 +0000

keylargo……….also, since the All-Star Break, Greg Norton is 6 for 30 (all singles for a .200 average) with 2 RBIs, and 9 walks.

As far as “extending rallies”, he’s scored only 1 freaking run since the All-Star Break. All he seems to do is “pass the buck” when it comes to driving in runs in key situations.

By: Paul Lentz

Paul Lentz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:29:49 +0000

keylargo……..Greg Norton is not a pinch hitter. At best, he’s a PINCH WALKER. Dude couldnt hit his way out of a paper bag.

It would be nice to see our so called “#1 pinch hitter” actually get a key pinch hit once in a while. The only way Norton gets on base or extends a rally is if the opposing pitcher develops amnesia and pitches him too carefully, resulting in a walk.

By: rammerjammer

rammerjammer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:27:50 +0000

TnBrian,

Your 2:00 post made my point for me. The Phillies, cruising to a second straight division title, are an excellent example of what I’d like to see from our Bravos. We don’t need to go to that extreme, with their massive offense and problematic pitching, but imagine what just one power RH bat would mean to our team.

keylargo,

Braun this year openly criticized Brewers management for not doing more to build a contender. Sounds to me like a guy who wants to compete and win and would be glad to waive his no-trade for the right team.

By: Paul Lentz

Paul Lentz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:27:01 +0000

CB………..while I am disappointed that Bobby Cox is coming back for 2010……I have hope that Frank Wren will rebuild the offense this winter in a similar fashion that he did the starting pitching last winter……therefore making Bobby Cox’s managerial blunders meaningless for 2010.

The key to this is Frank Wren getting rid of the few remaining Bobby’s boys (Greg Norton, Kelly Johnson) and replacing them with quality reserves. Frank Wren will be dealing from a position of strength (surplus starting pitching and salary flexibility) when it comes to either making trades or signing free agents to improve the offense.

By: ncscoots

ncscoots — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:26:56 +0000

Now are you going to let fifth-starter anxiety keep you from the righthand power outfielder you know we have to have?

Nah. You know me, I like to hang ‘em and bang ‘em, LOL. Still…I tend to think of Jurrjens’ ability, low salary, and years of club control as outweighing the pros of a hitter such as Braun. Position players are inherently easier to develop than pitchers inside the system, and I’d say that the next three years offer a better chance of producing an impact hitter than replacing Jurrjens.

Trade a merely good pitcher? I’m OK with that. Trade one who has the potential to be a very good pitcher? I’m probably not so OK. But, I could be overvaluing Jurrjens, too.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:26:07 +0000

I asked this last night and would like anyone who can to answer this for me: I keep hearing how Bobby Cox is a great manager. What I would like to know is what has Bobby Cox this year that has kept the Braves in the playoff chase? Other than stick with Peter Moylan and Garret Anderson……..I feel that most of Bobby’s moves have pretty much backfired. The moves that have panned out….were either made by Frank Wren (against the wishes of Bobby Cox)…..or by formerly bench players forcing Bobby’s hand.

I feel that the Braves are still in the chase DESPITE Bobby Cox…..not because of him. The play of our starting pitching has gotten us back in the race.

What clear-cut and obvious thing has any manager of a contending team done that has kept his team in the playoff race? Anyone who thinks a manager is the primary reason a team is either in a playoff race or out of a playoff race is overrating the impact of managers in general.