When Braves strike out, they go for broke

Hi.

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Joining you? I’ll be up in Mark’s rafters shooting you with my Nerf gun.

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HERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS, Our FREE AGENT OF’S for next year:

Left fielders
Garret Anderson (38)
Marlon Anderson (36)
Jason Bay (31)
Emil Brown (35)
Marlon Byrd (32)
Carl Crawford (28) – $10MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Johnny Damon (36)
David Dellucci (36)
Cliff Floyd (37)
Matt Holliday (30)
Reed Johnson (33)
Jacque Jones (35)
Gabe Kapler (34)
Greg Norton (37)
Wily Mo Pena (28)
Manny Ramirez (38) – $20MM player option
Dave Roberts (38)
Gary Sheffield (41)
Fernando Tatis (35)
Randy Winn (36)

Center fielders
Rick Ankiel (30)
Rocco Baldelli (28)
Marlon Byrd (32)
Mike Cameron (37)
Endy Chavez (32)
Coco Crisp (30) – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout
Darin Erstad (36)
Ryan Freel (34)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34)
Reed Johnson (33)
Andruw Jones (33)
Gabe Kapler (34)
Mark Kotsay (34)
Corey Patterson (30)
Scott Podsednik (34)

Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (36)
Jermaine Dye (36) – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Brian Giles (39)
Vladimir Guerrero (34)
Eric Hinske (32)
Geoff Jenkins (35) – $7.5MM mutual option with a $1.25MM buyout
Gabe Kapler (34)
Austin Kearns (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jason Michaels (34)
Xavier Nady (31)
Randy Winn (36)

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Why did Matt Diaz stray so far off of third base in last night’s climactic 9th inning and get picked off to end the game with the bases loaded in 5-4 game? Why does Greg Norton ever get an at-bat, let alone with two-men on and nobody out? He’s hitting .133 for Christ’s sake (the lowest average of any non-pitcher on the Braves roster. Hell, Javier Vasquez has a better batting average than he does.) How in God’s name do you strike out 16 times against a pitcher that nobody has heard of (Ricky Nolasco)? We know that you all want to make a big play and want to get the offense jumpstarted with one swing of the bat. But swinging at pitches out of the strike zone will not your cause (we’re talking to you, Nate McClouth.)

read our take at:
http://acasualfan.com/

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DOB:

I suggested this on the old one, but would appreciate your thoughts…

You’ve mentioned how difficult it would be to get rid of Lowe’s contract to anyone due to the value vs performance, etc…

And, you’ve mentioned that Vasquez value would seem to be at an all-time high…

What if we took the road of making Vasquez available to teams, but only with Lowe???

Surely there would be some interest and would have to bring home a power bat, and a back end of the rotation SP, etc…, wouldn’t you think???

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Top OF options for next year: No, Cox wouldn’t have Manny Ramirez

1. Vladimir Guerrero
2. Jason Bay
3. Matt Holiday
4. Bobby Abreu
5. Marlon Byrd

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Former BRAVES on other 40-man rosters

N.L.EAST

PHILLIES:

Paul Bako

MARLINS:

Wes Helms

METS:

Elmer Dessens
Jeff Francouer
Gary Sheffield

NATS:

Willie Harris
Pete Orr

N.L. CENTRAL

CARDS:

Mark DeRosa
John Smoltz
Adam Wainwright

ASTROS

Chad Paranto

REDS:

Corky Miller

PIRATES:

Jose Ascanio
Charlie Morton
Tyler Yates

N.L. WEST

DODGERS:

Rafael Furcal
Wil Ohman
Jason Schmitt

A.L. later.

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ROX:

Alan Embree
Jason Marquis

GIANTS:

Edgar Rentaria

D-BACKS:

Blaine Boyer

PADRES:

Henry Blanco
Brian Giles

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1-0 Rockies.

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What do you mean, no one has heard of Ricky Nolasco? Where have you been hiding?

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richbrave, seeing that list reminds me of something: I owe an apology to someone here who knows Wainwright (can’t remember the poster’s name). In a discussion a while back, I said that I didn’t see Wainwright as an ace, the type teams feared facing. It appears I might have been just a wee bit wrong in that, LOL. So, whoever that was, you were right, I was wrong…you got me, LOL.

And, finally, a good word for my boy, Charlie Morton. Since that 10-run debacle in mid-August, he’s averaging nearly 7 IP, to go along with a 3.50 ERA. Not too shabby, for a Dentzian bum. Got to improve his K rate, but maybe he’s on his way.

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Gotta wonder whether not calling up Hanson until June cost the Braves a playoff spot. They were 3-6 when JoJo and Medlen started. They are 12-8 when Hanson starts. Maybe they’d have gone 5-4 or 6-3 if Hanson started in those 9 starts wasted away with Medlen and JoJo. Hopefully, he needed those two extra months of development in AAA. Otherwise Super 2 concerns may have cost the Braves October and who knows when their next best shot will be.

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Since the White Sox picked up Alex Rios from the Blue Jays, maybe they wont want to pay Dye $12M. However, I’m not sure he would be a good fit for the Braves. He’s 36, and may want another long term contract, while we have Jason Heyward who could be our RF as early as June next year.

What the Braves need is a LF. I would say Carl Crawford, but his option is likely to be picked up the Rays. Other than that, I think the Braves best bet will be in a trade. Because they cant afford Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.

Trade Vazquez for a LF, resign Tim Hudson with an incentive laden contract, and resign Adam at 1B.

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I just think the home-road disparity is one of those things that there is no explanation for. It’s kind of like trying to explain it if a hitter hit better on Tuesdays than on other days of the week. It just kind of happens that his good games happen to fall mostly on a Tuesday.

Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there is a reason for the disparity. But what do they do about it even if there is? Because if there is a reason, it’s certainly not obvious so it’s probably not something that could be addressed. I mean, they have to try to acquire the best players that fit in to their situation and play those players.

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Power hitter that may get traded:

- Dan Uggla
- Adam Dunn
- Carlos Pena
- Carlos Guillen

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It’s just what price are they willing to pay. A Javier Vazquez bat, a Kawakami bat, a Kris Medlen bat…

And that might be a good way of looking at it. Good post.

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Braveheart, I am also concerned about them doing the same with Heyward,if he is ready coming out of spring training don’t sacrifice the season for long term extra year. The heck with that.

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O’Brien, I am almost certain Dye will only get a 1-year contract from somebody. He had a rough second half and is a liability defensively. Certainly no more than 2 years. Mike Cameron is only a year older, had a very similar offensive year to Dye (really, the similarity is uncanny), and is light years better on defense.

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JEFF FRANCOUER HAS JUST BEEN TRADED!

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Braves team OPS by inning:

1st – .744
2nd – .819
3rd – .817
4th – .802
5th – .752
6th – .653
7th – .709
8th – .710
9th – .688

That damn 6th inning! They’ve also hit into 22 DP in the 6th, which is the highest total – they don’t have more than 19 in any other inning.

Worst 6th inning offenders (starters):
McCann – .506 OPS in 50 PA
Anderson – .575 OPS in 57 PA
Prado – .488 OPS in 51 PA

Best:
Diaz – 1.013 OPS in 49 PA
McLouth – .965 OPS in 58 PA
LaRoche – 1.704 OPS in 19 PA

Anyhoo…useless stat for the day!

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3-0 Colorado, bottom of the 3rd, bases loaded 1 out, looks like the season may be over folks, officially

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Parra just walked in a run against the opposing pitcher, 4-0 Rockies

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Curt, I cannot see the Marlins trading within the division, especially not to the Braves

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I’m just not sure how much trade value Vazquez has. Don’t see trading him to anyone within the NL East. Don’t see trading him to the AL East since the Yanks and Bosox likely think him soft from prior experiences with him in that rivalry, and it doesn’t seem like it makes any sense for anyone else within that division to trade for him since he won’t put them over the top. He’s got a no trade clause to the West Coast. Yeah, he may waive it, but having to negotiate that waiver discounts the value West Coast teams would be willing to offer the Braves to trade for him.

That kind of just leaves you with the AL & NL Central teams. Right off the bat, you can eliminate Cincy, Cleveland, KC, Minnesota, and the Pittsburgh from likely destinations because of money and/or likelihood that acquiring Vazquez will make any bit of a difference in their chances of success, and also remove the White Sox because of his history with that franchise. Maybe also remove the Cubs because of what his rep is in Chitown, and because he just doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would thrive pitching for an ahole like Pinella. That kind of just leaves you with St. Louis, Milwaukee, Houston and Detroit.

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Preston, why would DOB or any other reporter bring up a non-factoring Norton about just because BLOG central or Braves nation doesnt approve of it??? What an assanine question.

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Trade Vazquez to the Brewers for Ryan Braun, problem solved

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Well, it was a good ride. Might go to the Dodgers/Rox with my Braves hat this weekend anyway, try to give them a little bad mojo. Now that I’m thinking about it…don’t really want to see the Phils or Cards there either. Or Yanks, Sox, Tigers, or Angels. Uhh…go Dodgers?

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curtSure this means we would have to let LaRoche walk but we are already very left handed and signing LaRoche would only add to that problem.

first of all, we are not to left handed, and second, how would signing laroche add to the problem? he is already on the team. as for your idea, id rather move uggla to first than prado.

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YE19

Exactly, no defense, it would be like KJ all over again out there. He is pathetic.

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Trade Vazquez to the Brewers for Ryan Braun, problem solved

Yeah, that’d be nice…..

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If the Brewers would agree to a Javy Vazquez for Ryan Braun trade, I would do that in a heartbeat.. I highly doubt though they would even consider that trade.. Actually, I think they would flat out hang up on the Braves..

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Here’s how far the Mets have slipped. After the Braves swept the Nationals last weekend to drop their record to make the Nationals 9-28 with a 5.68 ERA over 37 games, the Nationals turned around and won three in a row this week against the Mets while holding them to eight runs (DOB’s Blog)

Bye-bye Dan Warthen.

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AZBravoFan
October 1st, 2009
4:28 pm

KK and Medlen have both pitched in the past 2 days.

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Wow! I didn’t even know we had a guy named Clif Sammond!

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DAP- When they get to 50 % off or a $1 I’ll give you a call. {:

BTW- they sold over 3 million tickets this year. I think they’ll be ok.

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Hey, Rally’s back out.

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BTW- I’d can Jerry Manuel too. I’d hire Bobby V back and Rick Peterson for that matter. The guy squeezed 15 wins a piece out of Maine and Perez. The man’s obviously a magician!

Let’s get this party started for 2010.

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Anders: What it the latest on Jose Reyes..Did you think he is lost for 2010?…..

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Bat Masterson: Yeah, but they each probably have 3 innings in them. Doesn’t really matter who pitches after that.

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Ok, Anders, I have a good one for you – I just got into an argument with a guy in my department. He claimed to be a Mets fan throughout the year. Now, he still says he’s a Mets fan but he’s cheering for the Yankees in the postseason. His reasoning is that whenever teams in New York play against anyone outside of New York he has to cheer for the NY team.

I think his theory is pretty stupid. I argued with him for ten minutes about this. Does this make you sick?

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Braun homerun 5-1

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Dear Tim and Jim(From the Other Blog), I don’t know if you are kidding, but if you are serious, I would like to tell you Jeremy Hermida could not hit 30 HR’s if they set up a ballpark in the parking lot behind Houston’s Restaurant on Peachtree. In fact Hermida would be hard pressed to hit 30 HR’s if they put an expansion team on the Sea of Tranquility on the lunar surface.

Jeremy Hermida is an underachieving, oafish, plodding, disinterested FLOP. A FLOP, of such proportion, as to bring into question the method of scouting high school baseball players. EVERY scout who ever files a report on a high school hitter will always have the spectre of Jeremy Hermida lurking in the recesses of his mind.

PLEASE!! PLEASE!! Atlanta sign Jeremy Hermida. Maybe he will take a home town discount but just realize in Hermida’s case the discount would not be worthwhile UNLESS it comes with a $3.00 a year price tag.

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wjones,

No, I think you make a good point and if Bobby was intent on proving that Norton could get the job done it may be something he(Cox) should’ve thought of, but he(Cox) didn’t.

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“Gotta wonder whether not calling up Hanson until June cost the Braves a playoff spot. They were 3-6 when JoJo and Medlen started. They are 12-8 when Hanson starts. Maybe they’d have gone 5-4 or 6-3 if Hanson started in those 9 starts wasted away with Medlen and JoJo. Hopefully, he needed those two extra months of development in AAA. Otherwise Super 2 concerns may have cost the Braves October and who knows when their next best shot will be.” Braveheart

Posted pretty much the same thing on the other blog, Braveheart. Somebody had asked for “one good reason” why the Brave will do better and make the playoffs next year, and I said Tommy Hanson. Having him for a full year will be good for this team.

If you “pro-rate” Tommy’s winning percentage over those 9 starts (that Jo Jo and Medlen made), it would come to 5.4 wins. So worst case scenario, we’re still only two back of the Rockies.

Obviously, anything could have happened in those games. Maybe Hanson loses all 9 of them, and his mental well being is ruined like Joey Devine. LOL

I don’t buy that for a minute. But I’m willing to accept that perhaps while saving money in the future as well, those two months in AAA may have jumpstarted Hanson’s career. Gotta say that to myself or I get pissed off thinking about it.

I stated something along the line of thinking that had Prado started at 2B from get go, and Francoeur been benched a month earlier, along with hanson starting from day one that instead of wondering which handful of games cost us the playoffs, we’d all be discussing and arguing who should start game one of the playoffs as Cox set his rotation up.

IMO, Cox’s stubborness (and possibly Wren/Liberty Media trying to save some bucks and retain Hanson for mone more year – who can blame them even if that is the case?), cost us the playoffs this year. It’s that simple.

Sure, I blame the players that stunk, for stinking. But in the end Cox could have shuffled the lineup more and not been so loyal. I think I posted something the other day that Prado had as many hits in July as KJ did up to July (or maybe it was April and May). Either way, having KJ at the top of the order was borderline criminal.

Anyhow. To make a short point long, I agree with you.

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Soph- There are folks here who have that I’ll root for the NY team mentality when their favorite team is out of it. Trust me I am not one of them. I’m a huge Rangers hockey fan as well. Back in the 80’s when the Islanders played the Russians I used to root for ties and lots of injuries. Does that clear it up for you?

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Dear DOB, You had it right. I NEVER thought they would come this close. They had me scared Blankless. It will be a lot of fun covering them the next few years–Pains me to say that.

I believe you are taking the right tact in mentioning the Braves are going to target right handed hitters WITHOUT naming names. Would not want to aggravate Tim Hudson again. Even if you hear that Holliday is in town to ink a deal and the Braves have him in a penthouse at the Ritz–Don’t Say A Word. Because of course IF he changed his mind it would be your fault.

MAYBE Huddy(Hate silly nicknames) can pitch a year unencumbered and not concern himself with journalistic practices.

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Enter your comments here
First, the Rockies are TWICE the team the Braves are. Not even close.
Next, how does any sane person expect the Braves to make it to the post season stranding approx. 1500 base runners over the season.
Beyond pathetic.

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Soph–

Works for me…During the game we cann alternate between blogs.

And yes, Rally has come back out…he heard about the “attack”, and figured he better be ready…that’s why he’s got his legs spread way out (well, that plus the fact that he’s still nervous).

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The 2 huge differences between the Rockies and Braves:

1) Today through 6 innings, their 3-4-5 hitters are 8-10 with 4 RBI. When was the last time we did that? Would have happened if Escobar and LaRoche moved up in the order but that never happened either.

2) They have 28 homers on the bench with Smith and Gonzales (37 if you add Atkins who started today but sat out most of the year in leiu of Stewart). We have Norton and KJ on ours.

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N8 – You are completely right.

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