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2,392 comments Add your comment
Rock On......
November 2nd, 2009
11:51 am
Random…oh yeah, I too would like to see the Phillies win only because it would make the Braves look better. Always pulling for the NL anyway just wish it wasn’t the Phillies. Sort of the lesser of two evils thing I guess.
Rob from SC
November 2nd, 2009
12:06 pm
For the sake of Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees need to make a decision on his future real soon, because he sucks in both roles right now
Rock On......
November 2nd, 2009
12:09 pm
F.Wren….the Braves are not picking up Hudson’s option which I mentioned about 6 months ago that would be the case. I still contend as do many many many others that the Braves do not “NEED” Hudson. The rotation is fine as it is. Probably the best in baseball without Hudson.
With the Braves extending Hudson’s contract they will flip him with Lowe or KK in the rotation. No problem but as I also stated much earlier I didn’t see a scenario with Lowe and Hudson in the same rotation. Still don’t. As long as Vazquez is in the mix the Braves will still have the best rotation.
By all means keep crawling out from under your blog rock to attack my posts. Glad I can supply the denizen fodder for your pathetic existence. Be gone before NEW CARS comes after you with his gun.
hoot
November 2nd, 2009
12:23 pm
Pretty much everything has been said about trading JJ- pros and cons. How about Lowe, Escobar, and a third piece to the Stros for Pence, Tejada, and a third piece. At least the four main characters and then flesh out the deal with prospects each way. i think Pence would be a great pick up, and Tejada could hold short, at least temporarily. Pence, Heyward, McClouth/Schafer… pretty good outfield for the long haul.
Rob from SC
November 2nd, 2009
12:31 pm
YOU CAN’T TRADE ESCOBAR
Random
November 2nd, 2009
12:31 pm
Rock On (November 2nd, 2009 11:44 am): “I am counting on the dominance of Lee before I leave it to woulda shoulda coulda and the different scenarios of winning or losing that brings.”
And that’s where Manuel demonstrates that he is smarter than you.
No “woulda shoulda coulda” about it — starting pitcher a starting pitcher, the Phillies won last night. But they broke down in the field.
“I understand your point about Manuel, but I put my best pitcher out there on three days rest to even the series as opposed to trying to sweep the Yanks with two of those in NY no less.”
You simply don’t know that Lee on three days rest really is your best pitcher, even though Lee on four days rest may very well be.
And why would you put your best pitcher against the Yankees best pitcher? Especially if you think you can beat Sabathia with Blanton (which they nearly did, and missed though no fault of their starting pitcher), you save your 1 & 2 pitchers to face the Yanks’ 2 & 3. You’ve got more than one and more than two games to win.
Random
November 2nd, 2009
12:35 pm
Wayne in Utah (October 31st, 2009 1:22 pm): “Thundersticks
I have a lot of patience in spelling errors too (notice I made fans plural above when it shouldn’t have been). BUT, I love the great gaffes, that end up being blog legends:
‘crime shame’
‘pre-madonna’
‘you are a looser’
and the best…..
‘Your and idiot!’ “
And also let’s not forget:
“For all intensive purposes” (“Its because TP (among others) has turned a kid who came up as a serious power threat into a try to hit the ball up the middle and the other way and just try to make contact kind of player…he is now for all intensive purposes a 7/8 place hitter because of the lack of power…”);
“I’d just assume . . .” (“I’d just assume Kawakami stay in than let Moylan come in with runners on.”);
and “Woah!”
O.J.
November 2nd, 2009
12:35 pm
Makes you wonder if they are gonna sign Huddy and then trade him.
F. Wren
November 2nd, 2009
12:40 pm
Dumb as a Rock on
You can sidestep the issue all you want, but the fact remains that Hudson is going to be in the rotation next year for the Braves. You have told us repeatedly that he was not.
And who are the many many many others that contend we do not “NEED” Hudson ?
As usual, you claim to be the spokesman for so many others when in fact you are simply a lonely little loser trying to act like a bigshot.
McFann Ô
November 2nd, 2009
12:45 pm
Neight–
True. But I just said that ’cause, well…you know who our cleanup hitter is as of right now…
Bat Masterson
November 2nd, 2009
1:02 pm
So Brandon Spikes get suspended for a half against Vandy for eye gouging. That’ll teach him.
Rock On......
November 2nd, 2009
1:16 pm
Random….we will see about Manuel being smart. I will gladly tip my cap to the Phillies if they pull it off but setting up the pitching to win three in a row is going against some serious odds. Manuel is looking more like Bobby Cox every day. Right now Girardi has a huge upper hand IMO by running his pitchers out there on three days rest and he is beating Manuel to the punch.
F.Wren….until you starting adding something to this blog of any substance whatsoever you are coming across as some stupid blog police or whatever. Go back and look over 6 months of blog discussion here since apparently you get off doing that. I said REPEATEDLY that Hudson’s option would not be picked up. Said REPEATEDLY that I wouldn’t insert Hudson at more money than they were paying KK. Said REPEATEDLY that Hudson and Lowe shouldn’t be in the rotation together because I didn’t think they should pay $25 million for the last two spots in the rotation plus the fact they were similar style pitchers. I also said REPEATEDLY that I have no problem with Hudson or any agenda. If Lowe can be moved for some RH lumber and we insert Hudson I have no problem with that.
I will continue to assert that Hudson, when he signs, still has some baggage coming off TJ regardless of whether or not he thinks or the Braves think he is ready. If we did’t sign Hudson it was not the end of the world. By signing him the Braves are saying they don’t think they can be players in the FA market or it is weak. They would rather sign Hudson and take their chances on him and trade KK or Lowe for a bat. I think that will happen now.
As for the many many many others claim, just go back over the discussions dude but that might be tough since you never actually participated in any with any thought at all. That is unless you were posting as another denizen but are using the F.Wren moniker to hide behind.
Rock On…..Every day of my life I am forced to add another name to the long long list of people who can just kiss my a*z-congrats on being the Nov.2nd name F.WREN. You freakin loser!
N8
November 2nd, 2009
1:24 pm
Random, out of boredom I decided to troll through the blog from May 16th (I think that was the date), just to get a “feel” for what was going on then. I found 3 things to be interesting.
1st, this quote from DOB: “After this loss: The Braves have the worst home record (6-10) in the majors, and the second-best road record (12-8).”
Isn’t it strange, funny, ironic, etc… how trends often start early in the year and they are hard to shake? No matter how many times in April and May people say “it’s early, don’t worry or panic”, it’s NEVER too early to worry about possible trends. That one didn’t go away.
2nd, the lineup for the following day:
“1. KJ
2. Escobar
3. Chipper
4. Anderson
5. Kotchman
6. Francoeur
7. Ross
8. Schafer
9. Lowe
Yikes. How did that team win ANY games in April and May?
3rd, I came across this post of mine. It was at the end of the blog, so I didn’t catch any responses to it. But I found it ironic, considering the title of this blog. Was happy to see that my stance on the subject hasn’t changed one bit. Thanks for the find Random.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2009/05/16/another-kid-in-the-clubhouse/comment-page-19/#comment-96655
Wayne in Utah
November 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
Can’t blame Blanton for last nights debacle for sure. I like the Phil’s chances for these next 3 games.
Random:
It’s a crime shame that I can’t remember all the foe paws!
balla1881
November 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
eric byrnes+Prospect for DLowe.
Byrnes could play a strong left field and be an upgrade to Anderson.
His contract expires at the end of this year and would then free up room for Heyward.
Or we could keep Byrnes and do a number of things, this would be great for the organization as a whole.
Rob from SC
November 2nd, 2009
1:34 pm
Byrnes has not been healthy for three years.
Rock On......
November 2nd, 2009
1:39 pm
“And why would you put your best pitcher against the Yankees best pitcher? Especially if you think you can beat Sabathia with Blanton (which they nearly did, and missed though no fault of their starting pitcher), you save your 1 & 2 pitchers to face the Yanks’ 2 & 3. You’ve got more than one and more than two games to win.”–Random
You mean like they did in game 1? Lee gives up ZERO earned runs and beats CC straight up. Blanton gave up 4 runs in 6 innings last night(not exactly great) and Lee said he felt good and ready to go. I don’t have a crystal ball but I bet Manuel comes to regret that decision.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
1:44 pm
Random -
and the best…..
Oh come on… How is pre-madonna not the best?
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
1:49 pm
DAP -
there is a post up at MLBTR about leftfield trade candidates. is there anyone you guys like on there?
A few guys I like. Josh Willingham, Carlos Lee, Luke Scott, etc.. Nobody I love, though. Not like I love Matt Holliday.
balla1881
November 2nd, 2009
1:50 pm
Byrnes has not been healthy for three years.
So i say he’s well rested….he is 33 but the thing is this deal would free up 4 mil, to sign say a better closer, or a big first baseman
Il Cattivo
November 2nd, 2009
1:53 pm
I know there are many fans of the fantastic show “The Wire” on this blog. It’s becoming a socially course at Harvard. I think everyone kinda thought it was a matter of time before that happened anyway.
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/harvard_class_on_the_wire_TxvbS2nzKJOzClVuOxRDmI
ozzie
November 2nd, 2009
1:54 pm
The series is over folks. The Phillies barring a collapse by the Yankees are done.
Note to the Braves – pitching and hitting wins championships. You have the pitching but you need two HR bats (1B & LF) to get back into the postseason (and win).
Diaz in LF and resigning LaRoche or say a Cameron in LF and LaRoche (as another example) will fall short.
Think Holliday or Bay and LaRoche or Adrian Gonzales.
Realistically to win the WS they will need some pairing of those 4 plus Heyward bumping Diaz from RF by the early summer.
Not easy or cheap but nothing ever is…
keylargo
November 2nd, 2009
1:56 pm
Enter your comments here
DAP
November 2nd, 2009
1:58 pm
Not like I love Matt Holliday.
wow, PWH. does he know how you feel?
i like willingham and scott but i think there will be issues dealing within the division when it comes to willingham. WAS will probably ask more from the braves than they would from other teams. scott is a decent player, i guess. as for lee, i dont think he is worth what it would take.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
2:00 pm
Il Cattivo -
Thanks for the link. I’m a huge fan of “The Wire”. Just finished season 4 last night and I’m thinking season 5 is going to be great with the Major Crimes Unit back up and running at full speed.
There are a lot of things to study in that show. Notably the class interactions.
Il Cattivo
November 2nd, 2009
2:00 pm
Edit: Sociology and not socially.
Chopshop
November 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
Baseball America Atlanta Braves Top 10
1. Jason Heyward
2. Freddie Freeman
3. Julio Teheran
4.Mike Minor
5. Craig Kimbrel
6. Christen Bethancourt
7. Randall Delgado
8. Zeke Spruill
9. Cody Johnson
10. Adam Milligan
This list looks a lot weaker than prior years due to trades, graduation to the majors, and prospect flame outs.
McFann Ô
November 2nd, 2009
2:03 pm
The Fillies are so far in the tank they need scuba gear.
I don’t feel any satisfaction. But it’d be a totally different story were it not for the fact that they’re getting beat by the Yankees…
They tried to buy a WS…and it appears the Fillies are printing them a receipt.
Il Cattivo
November 2nd, 2009
2:03 pm
P. W. Hjort:
Season 5 was very entertaining except for the feeling that it is coming to an end soon. Its so gripping while still enlightening, its probably the best ever.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
2:04 pm
DAP
I actually authored this letter (1st video), though originally addressed to Chase Utley.
Random
November 2nd, 2009
2:05 pm
Rock On (November 2nd, 2009 1:16 pm): “we will see about Manuel being smart. I will gladly tip my cap to the Phillies if they pull it off but setting up the pitching to win three in a row is going against some serious odds.”
No, we won’t “see about Manuel being smart”– we already have seen that.
My point is that Manuel’s “gamble” with Blanton already proved itself — the Phillies lost despite Blanton starting, not because of it, and could just as easily have won.
Oh, well — that’s how it goes sometimes. It could have as easily happened with Lee on the mound.
And if it had been Lee, Manuel would have wasted his #1 pitcher. As it is, he’s still got his top pitchers lined up to sweep the next three games. What would be the Phillies chances if Lee had pitched and lost last night?
To repeat — Manuel “gambled” with Blanton and won. (He also gambled on the Phillies’ defense, and lost bigtime.
)
Random
November 2nd, 2009
2:10 pm
N8 (November 2nd, 2009 1:24 pm): “out of boredom I decided to troll through the blog from May 16th [via the "all intensive purposes" link above] (I think that was the date), just to get a “feel” for what was going on then. I found 3 things to be interesting. . . . Thanks for the find.”
I’m proud to serve.
Daslied
November 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
PWH – kudos for the video link. That episode was so funny. “Oh ____, there are stickers.”
Random
November 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Wayne in Utah (November 2nd, 2009 1:28 pm): “Can’t blame Blanton for last nights debacle for sure.”
Tell it to Dadgum.
Wayne in Utah: “It’s a crime shame that I can’t remember all the foe paws!”
P. W. Hjort (November 2nd, 2009 1:44 pm): ” ‘and the best…..’
“Oh come on… How is pre-madonna not the best?”
Number one — that was Gus’s judgment, not mine. My favorite is “for all intensive purposes”.
Number two — And think not that we’ve forgot that it was YOU YOURSELF who all innocent and unawares serendipitously gave us “pre-madonna”!!!
Have you no shame?
(Did you vote for yourself for Latin Club president?)
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:27 pm
I’m here at HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa, spring home of the Cubs, and we’ve made it here with about 10 minutes to spare after the flight arrived ahead of schedule.
Mike Minor and the visiting Peoria Saguaros are about to take on the Mesa Solar Sox in an AFL tilt under a cloudless Arizona sky with the temperature in the low 80s and headed toward a predicted high of 90. Gotta love it. Dry as a bone out here, feels great. About 70 people in the crowd, including at least 15 scouts, who are still arriving.
Don’t have time to get a new blog up before this game, obviously. But I’ll write a new one later today. In the meantime, time to watch some ball in a decidedly more low-key atmosphere than the game I was at Saturday night in Philly….
Nick from PA
November 2nd, 2009
2:27 pm
DOB,
Is Jordan Schafer still a big piece of the braves puzzle for the future, in your opinion?
Random
November 2nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Rock On (November 2nd, 2009 1:39 pm): “I don’t have a crystal ball but I bet Manuel comes to regret that decision.”
Bet not, since Blanton did not lose the game for them. Manuel and Blanton put them is a very good position to win.
No regrets.
RHR
November 2nd, 2009
2:32 pm
It’s becoming a socially course at Harvard.
Heh. You don’t go to Harvard do you?
Jeff R
November 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
Chopshop…
1-5 on the prospects list are looking too shabby.
Rock On......
November 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Random…we can beat this to death (probably have) but throwing Blanton against CC was a huge gamble and, no, I don’t think they lost despite Blanton at all. Blanton was passable and that is about it. Nothing more nothing less. Lee IMO gave the Phillies the best chance to win and having lost game 3 in your own park I feel Manuel erred in his decison. This isn’t hindsight on my part as I have said all along they had to throw Lee in games 1 and 4. I was wrong in my prediction of the Phillies in five games though. Big time.
To even conjure up a scenario where the Phillies are set or even have an advantage over the next three games,well,I am not sure even the biggest Philly homers have that much imagination :0)
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Have you no shame?
Not only do I have no shame, I’m proud of “creating” it.
DAP
November 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
random, maybe manuel regrets bringing in lidge.
CB
November 2nd, 2009
2:36 pm
RHR,he probably went to Georgia.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Wouldn’t you know, neither Hicks nor Freeman is in lineup for the Saguaros. Solar Sox have a few prospects some of you might be familiar with, including 1B Chris Parmalee (Twins), who’s got three homers, 15 RBI and a .634 slugging percentage in 11 games out here, and 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs), who’s hit .333 with no homers in 42 at-bats.
OK, first pitch fired by Tommy Mendoza (Angels), and second pitch hit for a single by 2B Lance Zawadski (Padres)….
But enough play-by-play….
Efrim
November 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
This list looks a lot weaker than prior years due to trades, graduation to the majors, and prospect flame outs.
It’s really just the position players after Heyward and Freeman. They have a nice mix of pitching talent, although so many of them are question marks because of where they were in 2009. I’m sure we’ll know more about them after next season. But it’s good to at least see that we have a few higher ceiling prospects that could add a tick or two of velo if they fill out(Teheran, Delgado, possibly Spruill). Then with Minor and Hoover, you have two guys who probably aren’t as projectable, but may be ready sooner(more of a certainty with Minor). Lastly, they have Kimbrel, Gearrin and Hyde who might be able to contribute to the bullpen in the very near future.
Rock On......
November 2nd, 2009
2:38 pm
Just to be clear, I am not blaming Blanton for losing the game and certainly the Phillies could have won if this or that had happened. Most games are like that. It is just I am not buying that Blanton was their best option to win. Just sayin….again.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:39 pm
Freeman’s average is up to .308 now, with three doubles, a homer, five RBI, 13 K and a .386 OBP/.462 slugging in 39 ABs.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:40 pm
Now it’s about 25 scouts, all behind home plate, many wielding radar guns….
RHR
November 2nd, 2009
2:40 pm
he probably went to Georgia Tech
Fixed.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:44 pm
RBI triple by Chris Heisey (Reds) gives Sags (as someone surely calls them, right?) a 1-0 lead….
They don’t post gun readings here. I’ll talk to a scout or two later to find out about Minor, see what they think about him. Hopefully I’ll see Kimbrel and/or Lee Hyde today. Eager to see both of those guys pitch.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
2:50 pm
DOB -
Sags (as someone surely calls them, right?)
Love it.
Hopefully I’ll see Kimbrel and/or Lee Hyde today. Eager to see both of those guys pitch.
Kimbrel, Hyde, and Lyman all pitched on Saturday, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Though it isn’t inconceivable to think they’ll pitch today. If not, they’ll probably all pitch tomorrow or Wednesday.
ncscoots
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Hopefully I’ll see Kimbrel and/or Lee Hyde today. Eager to see both of those guys pitch.
If it’s Kimbrel, you might want to take a seat directly behind home plate. Might be the safest spot in the stadium, LOL. On the other hand, nobody digs in against the guy, either.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Fastball taken for first-pitch strike by Bryan Peterson…
Minor gets ahead in count 1-2, but Peterson works it full….
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Then pulls a sharp single to right….
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:53 pm
Then Starlin Castro hits a first-pitch single to left, runners at first and second with none out.
(Peterson, by the way, is a Marlins CF who’s hitting .385 with a couple of homers and a .996 OPS.)
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
He just struck out Twins OF prospect Rene Tosoni on a 2-2 pitch changeup, fooled him bad.
Bobby's Belly
November 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
Sounds like Castro could be a star
CB
November 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
Rock On and Random analyzing the World Series-well,they are better than Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver.
Random
November 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
P. W. Hjort (November 2nd, 2009 2:04 pm): “I actually authored this letter (1st video), though originally addressed to Chase Utley.”
Great letter — thanks.
Here’s another good letter — “An Open Letter To Theo Epstein” from FJM’s dak.
Efrim
November 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
Then Starlin Castro hits a first-pitch single to left, runners at first and second with none out.
You hear nothing but good things about that kid. So much so that Cubs fans are thinking they can have him be their starting shortstop on opening day next year. That may be a bit much….
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
Another strikeout, the cleanup hitter Parmalee…. Impressive.
Runners just advanced on a double steal….
In that Saturday game PWH referred to, Lyman got the start and pitched two scoreless innings with three hits, no walks and three Ks, and Kimbrel had two strikeouts with one hit allowed in a scoreless ninth. But the Sags fell 6-0….
chip off the ol block
November 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
thanks for keeping us updated DOB, too bad you aint seeing Jason or Freddin or Cody play today oh well atleast you get to see our pitching, plus i bet the weather’s great out there, its low 60s back here n GA
i love it out west, had the chance to head out to Utah this past summer
ugaaccountant
November 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
keylargo
November 2nd, 2009
9:36 am
Someone, and I won’t name them to protect the guilty, suggested that the Braves go ahead and sign Jason Heyward to a contract to avoid having to deal with the Super Two and arbitration issues. Note that this was back in the summer, almost a year before he will eventually play for the Braves.
Hmmmmm, I wonder who would suggest something wildly unrealistic to do with Heyward?
There is a precedent for signing Heyward to a contract right before he is called up to the majors. The Rays did this with Evan Longoria a couple of days into the 2008 season so they wouldn’t have to wait until mid-june to call him up. He came in and had a terrific season and helped tampa bay reach the playoffs. Now, would they have reached the playoffs anyway without him? In that division, I actually would guess no. Plus the contract he signed looks ridicuously cheap today, relatively cheaper than say Ryan Braun or Brian McCann who signed early in their careers but not that early.
Should the Braves do this? We have a juggernaut in front of us in the Phillies, so every win is likely to be vital. But we also have a perfectly fine incumbent in Diaz to hold the position until Heyward is ready. However, this is assuming we get someone else to go with McLouth and Diaz as we all assume will happen. I am not so sure Church is a “perfectly fine incumbent”, but I assume we get someone and that Church is non-tendered.
Plus, I think Longoria was a few months more major league ready than Heyward was. I personally believe that given his couple of injury setbacks this year that Heyward needs his 2-3 months in AAA prior to coming to Atlanta.
Freeman might be ready by September too, but we’ll likely choose to play the waiting game with him until June 2011. Kimbrel I’d pencil in for our bullpen. If he doesn’t win it in spring training, there’s other internal candidates as well.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
Hang CongerThough Hang Conger would be a pretty sweet name, it’s actually Hank Conger, my typo. Conger, an Angels catching prospect, hit a two-run single to center with two out to tie.I thought Minor was gonna get out of it unscathed, but he did not.That Castro dude, by the way, is leading the AFL in BA so far at .417, with 20 hits in 14 games.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
Chip off the ol block: If you’re expecting update on Cody Johnson, you’re out of luck — he’s not playing out here.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
I bet you and I would make a pretty sweet doubles ping-pong team. We have a table in my garage…I’m just saying.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
There were 37 first-round picks in this league this year, including 15 top-10 selections. This year’s top two draft picks, Strasburg and Mariners OF Dustin Ackley, are both in the league.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
First-pitch groundout to start Minor’s second inning.
Tell you what, my initial impression: Throws a little harder than I expected, and has good presence out there.
As I typed that, he hit Red Sox prospect Ryan Kalish with a pitch. Then he yelled something about not liking his name.
(OK, I made up that part. Just checking to see how many of you are out there.)
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:12 pm
He picked off Kalish and then induced another groundout to end the inning. Good work.
cvbraves
November 2nd, 2009
3:12 pm
Thanks, DOB, for news from Mesa.
ugaaccountant
November 2nd, 2009
3:14 pm
Chopshop
November 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
Baseball America Atlanta Braves Top 10
1. Jason Heyward
2. Freddie Freeman
3. Julio Teheran
4.Mike Minor
5. Craig Kimbrel
6. Christen Bethancourt
7. Randall Delgado
8. Zeke Spruill
9. Cody Johnson
10. Adam Milligan
This list looks a lot weaker than prior years due to trades, graduation to the majors, and prospect flame outs.
I don’t think this list looks weaker at all, just younger.
Heyward, Freeman and Kimbrel seem like locks for the majors now.
Teheran and Bethancourt are the type of prospects that can separate us from other teams. We didn’t draft them, we just found them and signed them internationally. If we do a great job there it makes our draft position less relevant.
Minor esentially replaced Rohrbrough on our internal future LH plan.
Delgado hasn’t really had great stats yet, but there’s other pitchers like Devall or Crim that have good stats so likely at least one will work their way up the system.
Spruill is a legit top 10 talent.
Cody Johnson – I love a guy that led the minor leagues in homeruns for most of the year. I’ll take a .250 average with that kind of power.
Adam Milligan – Even more impressive than he looks since he missed last season for injury.
Plus our 2009 draft class had several impact players that are just not experienced enough to put on this list yet.
Random
November 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Rock On (November 2nd, 2009 2:34 pm): “throwing Blanton against CC was a huge gamble and, no, I don’t think they lost despite Blanton at all.”
Sure they lost despite Blanton — he pitched good enough to win. Manuel bet that Blanton would pitch good enough to win, and he did. Whether his gamble was “huge” or not — Manuel won.
“Blanton was passable and that is about it. Nothing more nothing less.”
They got all they needed from Blanton to beat Sabathia pitching on 3 days rest.
“Lee IMO gave the Phillies the best chance to win and having lost game 3 in your own park I feel Manuel erred in his decison.”
Sure, Lee may have given “the Phillies the best chance to win” last night, but how would have pitching him last night affected their chances to win an additional two games, which they still would have needed? See below.
Rock On (November 2nd, 2009 2:38 pm): “Just to be clear, I am not blaming Blanton for losing the game and certainly the Phillies could have won if this or that had happened. Most games are like that. It is just I am not buying that Blanton was their best option to win. Just sayin….again.”
Listen: You do not play your Ace when a Ten will do.
Comprende?
Remember, they would have still had to win two more games even if they had won last night.
Manuel figured he could get the win last night without using up his number one starter. And he was right — they could have. And then he would still have Lee to throw at them against the Yankees’ #2 SP — better odds than throwing him against Sabathia, wouldn’t you think?
Greg Olson Homers
November 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
Pickoff, NICE! Must have a good move to first. (I love lefties)
chip off the ol block
November 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
DOB, my bad i thought i saw that he was out there somewhere, sorry bout that
Random
November 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
P. W. Hjort (November 2nd, 2009 2:34 pm): “Not only do I have no shame, I’m proud of “creating” it.”
(I will admit that you do evidence above a wise and judicious use of quotation marks. They should be bigger, though.)
Random
November 2nd, 2009
3:27 pm
DAP (November 2nd, 2009 2:35 pm: “maybe manuel regrets bringing in lidge.”
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:28 pm
Clean inning for Minor — weak fly, strikeout looking, and routine groundout. He looks good, using both sides of the plate and keeping hitters off balance.
Random
November 2nd, 2009
3:33 pm
CB (November 2nd, 2009 2:56 pm): “Rock On and Random analyzing the World Series-well,they are better than Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver.”
Which one of us is better than Joe?
Nelson S.
November 2nd, 2009
3:33 pm
Hey DOB, just read on espn keith law that braves are on a tentative list interested in Arolis Chapman. Any truth to this? Or is every team pretty much “interested” at this point.
braves4ever
November 2nd, 2009
3:34 pm
DOB, that was too cute there seeing if we were out there, and awake on the name reference. I would love to be “out there” as you pointed out that’s a sweet place to visit, been there some in the past and it’s just as you say, nice, nice, nice.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
3:36 pm
2009’s number 7 draft pick is relieved by 2009’s number 8 draft pick. That’s gotta be unique, right?
Rock on.....
November 2nd, 2009
3:42 pm
Random…spin it anyway you want but no I don’t agree. That’s OK. I still would have started Lee with hopes to even the series. I would not have started Blanton to accomplish that. They could still win it tied 2-2 and have Lee going in game 7 if need be. Most likely they can’t win it now but I guess stranger things have happened. We’ll see. I will owe you a Big Orange if the Phillies pull this one off not to mention the heckling from a certain denizen troll if I am wrong.
Rock on.....
November 2nd, 2009
3:46 pm
I’ll be McCarver. Actually like his in-game commentary. Brings up situations before they get there and is right quite a bit.
Random
November 2nd, 2009
3:48 pm
I bet our moms would like each other.
nolie
November 2nd, 2009
3:53 pm
I’ll give one free pass the first year they get back in to any hitter hitting only .200. Even our cleanup hitter. (N8)
sorry dude, I don’t believe that for even a moment.
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
3:56 pm
Don’t know if anyone’s mentioned it here, but Phil Rogers wrote in the Chicago Tribune today that he’s heard the Braves are expected to shop Javy Vazquez after the Hudson thing gets done.
nolie
November 2nd, 2009
3:57 pm
makes you wonder if they are gonna sign Huddy and then trade him. (OJ)
no it doesn’t
dmack2027
November 2nd, 2009
4:08 pm
Trading Javy is the right move. Selling high on him.
nolie
November 2nd, 2009
4:12 pm
or Cody play today
did they replace Heyward with Johson?
dmack2027
November 2nd, 2009
4:13 pm
The question is, what piece do you look for in return. Most would say another OF, but that would put the squeeze on Jordan Schafer (who has to figure into the Braves plan).
Bottom line-the Braves are set at most positions (except third) if you believe Freeman is going to be the answer at first base.
Neon Deion
November 2nd, 2009
4:15 pm
Where McCarver at?
ncscoots
November 2nd, 2009
4:15 pm
Which one of us is better than Joe?
Depends…which of you has the better slidepiece?
rico43
November 2nd, 2009
4:15 pm
People seem to keep missing this: DeVall will not pitch in 2010. Tommy John rears his surgery.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
4:16 pm
A pitcher named Richard Lentz just threw two innings for the Mesa Solar Sox.
Mitchie-san
November 2nd, 2009
4:17 pm
Its pretty sweet that you are giving us updates, DOB! It makes me sad though, since the winter league out here is gone and in Arizona now.
nolie
November 2nd, 2009
4:18 pm
I don’t think this list looks weaker at all, just younger. (Uga Acc)
I’d say that is definitely an optimistic take on it. I’d say it’s definitely weaker at this point if for no other reason than that it is so young and thus much less predictable. and I think there are some serious question marks about some of them.
P. W. Hjort
November 2nd, 2009
4:19 pm
rico43 -
DeVall will not pitch in 2010. Tommy John rears his surgery.
Do you have a source for this? I’ve heard this before but not from a reputable source.
ncscoots
November 2nd, 2009
4:19 pm
A pitcher named Richard Lentz just threw two innings for the Mesa Solar Sox.
Holy Mother. Did he throw a pitch he calls the “MORON”? Or did he just verbose the hitters into outs? Oh wait, maybe the hitters just left the box in disgust.
rico43
November 2nd, 2009
4:20 pm
Memo to P.W.
Sure, the average fan doesn’t care about things like scouts who sign our best prospects. But the average fan also isn’t 20 pages deep into a blog in the off-season. You can probably count the “average” fans on this site with one hand.
But as for the below average fans….
N8
November 2nd, 2009
4:22 pm
“sorry dude, I don’t believe that for even a moment.” nolie
Really? Why not? All last winter, and in fact for the past 3 years all I wanted was for this team to be competitive and to dump the dead weight. Starting with Andruw at the deadline in 2006. Then I was certainly in the first group of bloggers that gave up on Francoeur and stated that as long as he was in Atlanta and playing everyday they’d win nothing.
Did you pay attention to my blogging after July once they started play consistent baseball? Hardly zero complaining (other than the at the guys KEEPING US from GETTING TO the playoffs), IE: Chipper batting 3rd, LaRoche batting low in the order, Greg Norton being on the frickin’ roster, etc…..
Believe me. When this team is winning and doing what is expected of them (especially the guys getting paid to carry the team – or guys that have been traded for to upgrade positions), I’m calm, mild mannered and enjoy the games. I started blogging in 2006. See any coincidence with my frustration?
I’ll say it again. If this team gets to the WS next year and our clenup hitter chokes and hits .200? I’ll be OK with it.
Now… if we miss the playoffs by a handful of games, because our 13 million dollar 3-hole hitter has his statistically worst season and our manager doesn’t move him out of that spot? Yeah. You win. I’ll be bitching like there’s no tomorrow.
Have you ever seen me gripe about something and NOT apologize or admit I was wrong if it turns out to be that way? I just did to DOB about Favre the other day. I’ve got zero problem being and admitting I’m wrong when that is the case.
I also have shown ZERO problem praising this team (and individuals) when things are going well. It just so happens that before June 28th of last year, they were on a near 4 year run of under .500 baseball (from August 2005).
So spare me the “all I do is complain” the routine.
All I do is complain….. when it’s called for. I’m not a fair weathered fan. I’m still here through thick and thin, good and bad. I just don’t cut them any slack when they shouldn’t be cut any slack from a fan’s standpoint.
Until half way through the 2009 season, they didn’t deserve any slack.
So, again. If they make the WS anytime soon, that will be good enough for me.