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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,702 comments Add your comment
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:09 pm
Well for everyone that Complains about LOAF we paid only 2 million for his production , i think we got what we paid for. Just think we paid Kelly Johnson and Ryan Church more than Loaf….
Steve from OH
November 6th, 2009
8:09 pm
Diaz was a negative 5.0 UZR/150 in overall OF play last year. Better than Dye/Loaf…
Piedmont Blues
November 6th, 2009
8:10 pm
tmac,
Explain how Dye is so much better than Diaz as a power hitter. With facts, please.
Jeff R
November 6th, 2009
8:12 pm
Diaz, I believe, will wind up the Braves’ fourth outfielder either this year or next. Not a knock, just with the talent coming up (Heyward and Schafer) and the possible acquistion of a righty power bat outfielder, Diaz drops in the pecking order.
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:14 pm
tmac
Look i said Diaz was a average to solid fielder compared to Dye who is terrible. Dye will hit 250.ish with 20-25 homers (maybe)
Diaz will hit 300. or better with 10-15 homers better defense more speed better OBP.
Dye would be a good fit for the DH spot but we dont have one. Yes i would like to get him for say 2 million at the most, but not 6-8 million. He would offer less protection than McCann as well….
MIBravesFan
November 6th, 2009
8:15 pm
The only possible explanation I can think of for the Dye fascination is remembering him from when he was a Brave early in his career and wanting to believe he would still, now, somehow put up the numbers he put up after he was traded. Big time wishful thinking. No way the Braves go there now, IMO.
tmac
November 6th, 2009
8:16 pm
Isn’t Matt Diaz under contract? cause this whole thing is not about taking Diaz over Dye… to me it’s adding Dye to the lineup.
I also don’t believe anyone can get Dye for 1-2 million… not going to happen. I would pay him 4-6 mil for 2 years, but no more. If he get’s more somewhere else than he should go.
I also hope they sign LaRouch cause he helps the lineup too. But, i am also not oppossed to moving Chipper to 1st base. It may not be a popular mover or Chipper even willing to do it… but that may help the lineup and work better with the time-line for Freeman too. Just a thought.
keylargo
November 6th, 2009
8:19 pm
N8 – I don’t claim to know how they come up with some of the new stats, but they are useful in comparing players who I don’t get to see often. That UZR/150 rating just gives a general idea of what a players’ defense is like. But if Loaf’s defense is like giving the other teams 16.5 runs a season and Dye’s defense is like giving the other teams 24.5 runs, you have to take notice.
It is almost unanimous on this blog that Garret did not play good enough defense to come back and I just don’t think anyone who supposedly is 50% worse is a good choice for any price much less $5 mill or so.
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:20 pm
tmac
Another bad idea…. You must be one of those people that think anyone can just make a switch to 1st base…. like anyone can play the position.
So no to that as well.
Only thing i agree with that you been saying is the team needs power, thats true but not at the despense of the already below average defense.
bravito199
November 6th, 2009
8:23 pm
I think diaz could be dealt in a package with Medlen for Nelson Cruz
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:24 pm
keylargo
The Braves paid Loaf only 2 million, he was what they expected. I’m happy with his production at that low salary. Too bad we didnt pay Abreu a low salry of 6 million and get great production.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:25 pm
I want to believe that Freeman is the real deal, but someone from baseball america said he has slow bat speed. That is concerning. I am a huge prospect guy, but I would sign LaRoche for 2 years if he is willing. I am just hoping that Freeman’s bat speed increases while his wrist improves. Wrist injuries to linger
MIBravesFan
November 6th, 2009
8:25 pm
DeRo on the other hand is a former Brave it makes good sense to bring back, if the salary is right.
nolie
November 6th, 2009
8:26 pm
keylargo, are those the same stats that state that Nate McLouth isn’t a very good CF?
Like I said. I’m a stats guy. So I’m not going to argue with the stats. (N8)
Bill James says that there has been improvement in defensive stats over the last 5 years, but he says that they are still 20-25% less reliable than hitting/pitching ones. That’s one reason why there is often that feeling that you think differently about a fielder than the stats show. Plus defensive are somewhat more subjective too. Take them with a grain of salt still. If they say a player is in the bottom20% over a three year or so span, then he probably ain’t in the top half, and vice versa. They can’t really nail it down all that precisely.
Perhaps that is one reason than many like the fielding bible results. It is a combination of stats and experienced guy’s perceptions both?
tmac
November 6th, 2009
8:28 pm
Piedmont Blues- last 4 years:
Diaz Dye
2006 7 hr 32 rbi slg .475 44 Hr, 120 RBI slg .622
2007 12 hr 45 rbi slg .497 28 hr 78 rbi slg .486
2008 Hurt- throw them out. 34 hr 96 rbi slg .541
2009 13 hr 58 rbi slg .488 27 hr 81 rbi slg .453
Also Dye lead the “eye test”, which is baseball knowledge and not just stats. Jermaine Dye is a better power hitter, PERIOD. Diaz hits for higher avg, no question, but that is not what this lineup needs. We’ve had that the last 4-5 years…= no playoffs.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:28 pm
I would not trade Medlen or Diaz for Cruz
We need Medlen for the bullpen because it seems like we are going cheap in that area
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:29 pm
MIBravesFan
Good point about DeRosa, Say we cant sign Rochy back, We sign DeRo to play 2nd and move Prado to 1st, there could be tons of different defensive looks to use. DeRo can play just about every position like Infante and Prado so it could work.
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:31 pm
tmac
your correct Dye is a better power hitter than Diaz, but Diaz is the better total player.
We should look for better options for the Power hitter. Dye is a DH
keylargo
November 6th, 2009
8:36 pm
VaBraveFan
If you go back in the blog to last off season you would see that I voiced my support for Abreu early and often. My logic was simple in that he could still hit and he could still run – enough to end up with 30 last year.
Garret was a disappointment from the start with his laid back attitude, poor start and pulled calf muscle. If you remember, he was basically a last choice after Griffey bolted to Seattle. I do think he made $2.5 mill though, which was a giant salary cut from the Angels in 08. I don’t know that he was ever happy in Atlanta.
bravito199
November 6th, 2009
8:36 pm
I don’t think we have to go cheap if can move one of our starters and im of the few who think that Derek Lowe is still a valuable comodity
N8
November 6th, 2009
8:37 pm
Coo Kelargo. Thanks Nolie.
tmac
November 6th, 2009
8:37 pm
VaBrave- No, i’m not just another person that thinks any position change is easy for anyone… It was just a thought if the Braves don’t sign LaRouch…
Look, i am sick and freekin tired of not being in the playoffs. I am also sick and tired of watching a below avg lineup get more hits than the other team and lose because we left 10 men on base…
I will take a little less avg for more power production any day of the week.
No team is going to trade us power for avg… so why do we covet avg over power?
I say to Braves management: spend some money and improve this offensive lineup and keep as much of the pitching as we can… then we will have a chance.
N8
November 6th, 2009
8:38 pm
Should have read “cool Keylargo”.
Time for bed.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:39 pm
bravito199
I think people are looking at Derek Lowe in the wrong way. There are teams that would love to have Derek Lowe on their team. He is a solid pitcher. We just have better options.
We don’t need to get a good package back for Lowe. We just need to clear his 15 million contract. Then we take that money and sign Bay or Holliday. Teams are willing to take on whole contracts if they are not required to give up top prospects in return.
N8
November 6th, 2009
8:41 pm
“DOB makes a great point as well he was a DH and got to rest all the time and just bat, just think about how bad his bat could be if he has to run around the outfield and stand during defensive innings.”
I’m not trying to nitpick (uh….yeah I am, I guess). But Dye played in 140 games, starting 133 of them in RF and 7 games as the DH.
Chipper played as the DH in 3 of the interleague games, to put it into perspective.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:41 pm
Although I can’t wait for Heyward to arrive, I love how Diaz plays the game. He always takes the extra base. Goes first to third on outfield hits, and can steal bases. I hate the way his arm plays in RF, but he should only play LF. He plays with grit (like Swisher)
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:44 pm
Keylargo
I was a huge Supporter of Abreu!!
They paid the man 5 million for this!
293. AVG 390. OBP 435. SLG 15 HR 103 RBI 30 SB 152 GMS
only 3 million more than Anderson for that production its nuts the Braves wouldnt pay him more than 5 million. it kills me how tight this team is they count pennies for crying out loud!!
tmac
I agree they gotta pay for Hitting like they do Pitching.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:44 pm
Brandon Hicks might be turning himself into trade bait
Steve from OH
November 6th, 2009
8:46 pm
Gotta say, lots of ideas being bandied about tonight. Love it. None of ‘em are too appealing to me, and I’m way too distracted right now to do the necessary research to make an opinion of my own. I’ve got no idea what Wren will or should do, but I love the debate. Keep it coming, guys…
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:48 pm
Valdez proving he deserves a chance
2009 Winter League
Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
TOR DWL 1 0 0.82 6 0 0 0 2 11.0 5 1 1 0 0 12 0.82 .132
I know he is not a popular choice to fill a bullpen spot, but he deserves a chance to prove himself. He throws strikes. I would much rather have him instead of Manny Acosta
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
8:51 pm
Rob
I agree with that. Sad thing with Acosta is he cant throw so hard, he just cant get his control together….
We need to sign a few veteran relievers, you know how Bobby is with them. We need pitchers he’ll let pitch so we dont burn up 3 guys all season
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:51 pm
Wonder if the Padres would entertain trading Kyle Blanks. I know they would rather trade Headley of Kouzmanoff, but the PAdres lack young pitching. I am not sold on him being able to stay in the OF, but he does add power.
nolie
November 6th, 2009
8:51 pm
(Steve)
I think Wren should trade our starting 8 position players to the Yanks for their starting 8. Actually 6- all FA renewed- we keep Chipper and BMac, they keep Posada and Jeter. Would that meet your approval
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 6th, 2009
8:52 pm
VaBraveFan
Acosta needs to refine his secondary pitches. His slider not really good.
bravito199
November 6th, 2009
8:53 pm
Rob
But i do think we could get at least one valuable piece for Lowe without eating any part of his contract like you said there are a lot of teams that could use a Derek Lowe on their staff
Steve from OH
November 6th, 2009
8:54 pm
nolie–no, I’d want someone more clutch than A-Rod on our team.
Wait a minute…
Steve from OH
November 6th, 2009
8:56 pm
I meant to say that none of the choices were ideal/perfect, but a few would improve the club, btw. Just read the earlier post and it came across in a different manner than I’d intended
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
8:56 pm
How bout a donation for ol F.W. to buy a jar of vaseline and call Dayton Moore, send K.J., Schafer, Jo Jo Reyes to KC for Joakim Soria , then all the damn crazies can stop whining for Billy Wags!
tmac
November 6th, 2009
8:56 pm
OMG, the Hawks are getting blown out in Charlotte. (i just threw up a little in my mouth)
It looks like the team ended the road trip one night early. UGH!
Slow and Slower
November 6th, 2009
8:56 pm
“Although I can’t wait for Heyward to arrive, I love how Diaz plays the game. He always takes the extra base. Goes first to third on outfield hits, and can steal bases.”
Talk about rally non-starters…. the Braves had to be one of the WORST teams in baseball at going first to third on a hit. Seems like there were some stats last year that verified that it took the Braves more hits per run than most teams.
I know the Braves need a big bat in the outfield, but there was nothing more maddening than seeing those slow, club footed guys trot to the next base on a hit! It happened over and over last season! There were numerous times last season when three hits yielded a bases loaded situation. The team has to be able to go first to third more next year or it’s going to be the same logjam as they had this year.
keylargo
November 6th, 2009
8:57 pm
VaBraveFan
I don’t think it was the Braves being so tight with money so much as it was Lowe and Kawikami both accepting contract offers after they had taken on Vazquez’s salary. It was about $35 million all of a sudden. I don’t remember the specifics (and am too lazy tonight to look them up) but the Braves couldn’t withdraw any offers and it skewed the strategy for signing an OFer.
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
8:59 pm
I don’t think Piniero is re-signing with St.Louis, due to the fact Holliday is their main priority, I foresee a swing and miss by them on Lackey, and Lowe shipped out for Ludwick, allowing Atl to re-sign Gonzo, and LaRoche.
pair that with a trade for Soria , and lets go!
nolie
November 6th, 2009
8:59 pm
nolie–no, I’d want someone more clutch than A-Rod on our team. (Steve)
You don’t like an infield of Chipper, Arod,Cano and Tex??
Ok, you have to excuse me, I’m a virgin at this business of suggesting trades.
I’ll try to do better.
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:01 pm
Or maybe no -re-sign of LaRoche, and deal Lowe for Derek Lee.,then swing a deal for Ludwick.
either way with the Phillies window starting to slowly close here we come again Los Bravos!!!!
Steve from OH
November 6th, 2009
9:03 pm
Ok, you have to excuse me, I’m a virgin at this business of suggesting trades.
I’ll try to do better.
Is this the part where you suggest the can’t-miss JoJo, Acosta, Lowe for Justin Upton trade?
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:05 pm
1B.LaRoche
2B.Prado
SS.Y.Escobar
3B C.Jones
Lf-R.Ludwick
Cf N.McLouth
Rf Heyward
C McCann
Deal K.K. to KC with Schafer for Soria.
take a flyer on N.Lowry.
Vazquez
Jurrjens
Hudson
Hanson
Lowry
Medlen
Logan
Weathers
OFlaherty
Gonzo
Moylan
Soria
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:07 pm
Believ that would be one NASTY Bullpen
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
9:09 pm
keylargo
Your right , we wanted to retain Glavine and that made our funding for a OFer below 3 million.
Ownership knows nothing about baseball, when u see a caliber player of Abreu going for 5 million you gotta say to yourself we need that player and what is a few more million to them in the front office??? We needed that pitching, but we soley depended on the rebound of Frenchy which didnt happen….. Ownership wants to win there is no cap whats 4-5 more million hurting??? Put Abreu on the 2009 braves and were prolly the wild card team, Ownership just squeeks this team by as a contending team, every year its the same thing, the Braves dont have the payroll to pay enough for this guy or that guy. And were talking about 3 million in this case.
nolie
November 6th, 2009
9:16 pm
s this the part where you suggest the can’t-miss JoJo, Acosta, Lowe for Justin Upton trade? (Steve)
I don’t know man, that seems like a lot of players to give up and only get one back. Are you sure we wouldn’t be getting taken?
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:17 pm
I wonder if Texas will do Chris Davis heads up for Kawakami.
Steve from OH
November 6th, 2009
9:19 pm
Are you sure we wouldn’t be getting taken?
Well, I have it on good authority from Coach that Wren is and idiot, so perhaps you’re right. Hmm…
alsim
November 6th, 2009
9:20 pm
Shouldn’t Wren be trading Heyward to the Rangers right about now?
.
P. W. Hjort
November 6th, 2009
9:22 pm
tmac -
the Hawks are getting blown out in Charlotte. (i just threw up a little in my mouth)
It looks like the team ended the road trip one night early.
It’s a crime shame, too.
In all seriousness, I stopped watching after Teague came out. He was about the only entertaining thing about that game. And we had looked so good this whole trip….
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:26 pm
Or hell just go ahead and sign Holliday for 6 104mil, and trade for Hoffpauir from Chi to play 1B, and acquire Soria,Weathers.
simple offseason. and the Braves would still unseat the stinkin Philthies, and Maybe Hanson would bean the hell outta Mark Texiera in the 10 World Series, snivelin turd lickin that trophy made me want to puke!
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:28 pm
Hmmmmm?
CF.McLouth
2B.Prado
3B Jones
LF Holliday
C McCann
SS Escobar
RF Heyward
1B C.Davis
Pretty nice line-up
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:29 pm
J.Geils Band is still the shiznit!
brian
November 6th, 2009
9:29 pm
PW – I thought it was a crying shame
Joebrave
November 6th, 2009
9:29 pm
My Angel is a centerfold
Mitchie-san
November 6th, 2009
9:31 pm
I think Diaz will only be traded as a last resort to sweeten a deal. I feel that the Braves love the guy and he will be starting in left or right opening day. You have to figure that Heyward might not be ready. Even if he is, who will play if Nate or whomever we pick up gets hurt. Even if he doesnt start, he is very valuable as the 4th outfielder. Who else can do it? (plus, he’s cheap)
Diaz will be on the Braves at least til the trade deadline.
MIBravesFan
November 6th, 2009
9:32 pm
VABraveFan: “Good point about DeRosa, Say we cant sign Rochy back, We sign DeRo to play 2nd and move Prado to 1st, there could be tons of different defensive looks to use. DeRo can play just about every position like Infante and Prado so it could work.”
I’m not sure about moving Prado (1st base is a better idea than this RF thing that has been floated, but still don’t think so, because he isn’t enough of a power hitter for 1st), but DeRo’s ability to play so many postions and his bat make him a valuable asset.
keylargo
November 6th, 2009
9:33 pm
VaBraveFan
I found this one post in the early spring that talks about the cost of paying Kawakami and that we could have had Abreu (good call) and Will Ohman (nobody’s perfect) with that money. I really thought Abreu was the answer in the outfield and voiced it all spring.
keylargo
March 15th, 2009
11:21 am
2Parc – You could do a lot with the $7 million extra it takes to pay Kawakami over Reyes. In today’s market, that would have been Bobby Abreu and Will Ohman.
P. W. Hjort
November 6th, 2009
9:34 pm
Blog joke, brian.
“Crime shame”, “your and idiot”, “pre-madonna” (uttered by yours truly), and many other presumably formerly unintentionally intentionally misspelled phrases.
McFann Ô
November 6th, 2009
9:49 pm
VaBravesFan He would offer less protection than McCann as well….
Gee, is that possible?
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
9:56 pm
McFann
lol McCann is good and i would think pitchers would rather face Dye the guy i was talking to acted as if Dye would offer so much protection to Chipper.
McFann Ô
November 6th, 2009
10:00 pm
VaBravesFan–
I know…no sweat.
I was just sayin’ that ’cause, oh, Tex said, when he left the Braves and joined the Angels, that he finally had some protection in the lineup…and some people here said that Chipper had an off year partly because he didn’t have much protection in the lineup. Ha! That’s only ’cause pitchers have a warped view of BMac’s ability–when Chipper was IBB’d in front of BMac, BMac had an AVG of around .600.
jeffrey d
November 6th, 2009
10:05 pm
Yesterday I had somebody tell me that they were bustin my chops for only the second time in my life.
The first time? McFann.
Efrim
November 6th, 2009
10:09 pm
Shouldn’t Wren be trading Heyward to the Rangers right about now?
Kind of funny. Except that Wren didn’t make the Tex trade. But still, kind of funny.
VaBraveFan
November 6th, 2009
10:10 pm
McFann
Yep McCann made them pay. But i do think McCann is better suited for the 5 hole. You dont see many teams thats have there Catcher as there clean up man. Yeah teams rather pitch to McCann more than Chipper so they pitched him carefully. Chipper was pressing, he just needs to hit the balls where its pitched and not try and do so much. I want to see the basehit machine like in 2008 lol. Its fine if Chipper only hits 15 homers if he gets big hits and hits over 300. he is doing his job.
Jake W.
November 6th, 2009
10:24 pm
Well let me be one to join with those not wanting Dye here. I know he has more power than Anderson but at this point he is know longer a viable choice to play everyday in the field and not the answer to our problems.
For those still thinking how we could have got Abreu, I think the only way we get the guy is if we overpay for him, similar to what we had to do for Lowe. Some people keep forgetting that last offseason the braves were treated a little bit like some radioactive mess that no one wanted to go near. Coming off a 4th place finish in which we basically lost all of our starting rotation it was a hard sell for Wren to probably convince potential free agents that this was a team on the verge of winning. Burnett chose the Yanks for the money and because he knew they were competitive. Abreu wasn’t getting the type of offers Burnett got but i’m pretty sure given his choice he would rather play for a team that was in the playoffs that year than a team coming off a 4th place finish. We are in a better position this offseason. I think people see the braves as an up and coming team with the pitching we have and some of our young hitters like Escobar and McCann.
TnBrian
November 6th, 2009
10:34 pm
Jake, I agree with you, but you’re trying to reason with the unreasonable on here. Not all, but more than a few are just too damn set in their opnions to look at reality. It seems like a never ending blog battle with some on here to get the facts straightened out in their pea brains.
McFann Ô
November 6th, 2009
10:44 pm
jeffrey d–
Me? Busting your chops? Hmm…when did that happen?
VaBravesFan But i do think McCann is better suited for the 5 hole.
Oh, so do I…big time. I’ve wanted him to bat fifth…since May, 2006, I think. Coulda been April…I forget, one-a those. He was batting eighth, then…
And boy, every time he made them pay, I just LOVED it! Like that extra-inning, tie-breaking homer he hit against the Marlins in Florida. Haha! Chipper was 0-fer and BMac was 2-3 with 2 doubles! But let’s walk Chipper and pitch to BMac. 3 RUN HOMER!! He crushed it, too…it was a beautiful thing.
Its fine if Chipper only hits 15 homers if he gets big hits and hits over 300. he is doing his job.
I tend to agree…besides, homers are rally-killers.
Night, all!
carney Johnson
November 6th, 2009
11:13 pm
no dye!
short deal maybe for konerko.
lowe for adam dunn?
uga-brave
November 6th, 2009
11:22 pm
gotta say no to deero the hero.
hey i like derosa, good dude, extremely hot wife but other then being right handed he is not something the braves should spend money on.
bravo3453
November 6th, 2009
11:27 pm
tmac,
I don’t mean to be rude, but his name is spelled Heyward. Come on, he is the number one prospect in baseball, and he is ours! Learn to spell his name please.
Andrew
November 6th, 2009
11:35 pm
I figure the Dodgers to come calling for Javy V, who could we get from LA?
uga-brave
November 6th, 2009
11:37 pm
andrew,
javy has a no trade when it comes to west coast teams.
carney Johnson
November 6th, 2009
11:41 pm
that’s why the dodgers will take lowe back eventually if we eat some of the contract
Andrew
November 6th, 2009
11:43 pm
wasnt he traded to the DBacks ..or did he get a new deal after that
P. W. Hjort
November 6th, 2009
11:45 pm
Adam Milligan Video | Scouting the Sally
P. W. Hjort
November 6th, 2009
11:57 pm
Andrew,
He was on an extension that he signed with the Yankees when he was dealt to Arizona. He demanded a trade after that year (something post-FA players on long-term deals can do if they’re traded in the middle of their contract) and was traded to the White Sox. Then when the White Sox extended him (after the ‘07 season) his agent negotiated a no-trade clause to the NL and AL West teams.
Reason for this is because Javy’s family (wife, children, etc..) go back to Puerto Rico when school starts and he wants to be as close to them as possible. I doubt he would waive his no-trade clause for most reasons.
Andrew
November 7th, 2009
12:14 am
Thanks for the info PW
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
12:19 am
pwh,
dont rest on wake forest tmmrw. riley skinner is gonna play.
that being said you should beat them by 21 points.
tell me that you do at least go to the games?
Andrew
November 7th, 2009
12:22 am
LA wouldnt trade Kemp or Ethier would they?
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
12:29 am
andrew,
why would they?
Andrew
November 7th, 2009
12:34 am
I don’t think the Braves are going to find that perfect bat,but i know hes 33 and had a bad year last year but i would seriously consider Lowe for Alfonso Soriano..he made 17 mill last year so we would only be paying 2 mill more for him..he still has alot of baseball left and he had 20 dingers in the worst year he’s ever had..i dont know what the rest of his contract looks like tho..in order to trade Lowe i do believe the Braves will have to eat another bad salary..its a realistic thought
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
12:34 am
i guess i am the only person in atlanta that thinks matt ryan is way overated.
he is a rythm qb.
primary receiver, secondary receiver when in the pocket he is good.
chase him from the pocket he gets flustered.
make no mistake, his arm is AVERAGE.
he does have those mental intangibles. that is the tipping point.
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
12:37 am
andrew,
while you are at it check out soriano’s offensive numbers against the braves in atlanta.
the dude owns the ted, but he is an enigma wrapped in a question.
Supes
November 7th, 2009
12:48 am
I would be shocked if Adam Dunn isn’t DH-ing for the Yankees in the near future.
That ought to end that discussing of Adam Dunn here to the braves. Before the season started I wanted him for 1B instead of Kotchman, and who knows how the braves’ season would have turned out with that added power/good OBP in there?
With that bandbox dimention, and not having to play butcher-like defense, Dunn will probably be hitting 40+HR .
Yankees will not keep Damon and or Matsui, freeing up that DH spot.
That’s my guess on the Adam Dunn “question”.
I’m with DOB on Dye, he’s basically Anderson (with a bit more HR power), but he’ll cost more and again are we willing to put up with his defense after the criticism we gave Garret (LOAF)?
Still say that DeRosa could be a viable option, if the price is right.
I’m more intrigued with Ryan Ludwick though…if he can stay healthy…he’d be a good addition. Do the Cards still need an infielder? Maybe a trade could be worked out with Kelly Johnson going over there, perhaps with a reliever (if the Cards wanted more)?
Thoughts on Ludwick…I’d be interested in someone like Steve from OH (as far as what it would take to get a guy like Ryan here in ATL)?
is Kelly Johnson fair market value straight up or not, considering that Ludwick was banged up and didn’t quite have the year like he did in 08?
Andrew
November 7th, 2009
12:54 am
Ludwick still had 97 RBI last year
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
12:56 am
supes,
with all due respect, i would not give derosa any serious money.
we already are littered with that type of player.
nolie
November 7th, 2009
12:58 am
Ludwick is 31 and has had one good year in 2008. His 09 was mediocre and he has an extensive injury history. I don’t see the attraction, certainly not enough to give up much for. He’s relatively cheap, but you really have no idea what you would be getting. Is that what the Braves should build their offensive season around?
Tomas
November 7th, 2009
1:02 am
How about signing Hideki Matsui to play 1B(not the outfield). He hits a ton be it a righty or lefty . If he plays 1B, then his knees wont be an issue. Having Hideki as a cleanup hitter is a huge step forward.
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
1:04 am
so heres a fun question,
would you trade jjj plus freeman for ryan braun.
the only reason i say braun is because he might be one of the top three right handed outfielders in baseball.
so i know the prospect huggers will blah blah it, but braun is a player.
signed i do believe for three more years. guess who jjj’s agent is.
then again he owes us on the derek lowe thing.
my guess is smilin frank was freaked out after everyone rejected him.
give frank this, CHIME IN DOB, lowe’s best start all season was his first one.
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
1:11 am
here is to hoping that freeman does not turn out to be thorman.
funny thing about this blog, pretty much zero of you have ever seen freeman play or hayward play.
one thing i will never claim, never seen any of these guys play in the minors.
Andrew
November 7th, 2009
1:13 am
if we traded JJ for him i still think our rotation is atleast as good or better then the phillies…man how nice would that offense be..chipper would get alot of nice pitches to hit..then McCann hitting behind Braun
johnbama
November 7th, 2009
1:16 am
so much speculation…..its a fun time of the year. honestly though guys after scanning over a couple of pages of posts some thoughts seem to be realistic when it comes to helping the team and some just plain awful….
dye…really…ok lets add another aging over the hill hitter. i agree on the earlier post he is a dh….maybe a good one….but a dh only.
pipe dreams of LA taking on lowes salary especially for guys like kemp ethier etc.
to me cruz, as mentioned about 3 weeks ago by DOB would be a very solid, younger, athletic add. with him, mcclouth, maybe heyward or schafer you could steal more bases in the outfield thatn the entire team in 09.
closer is a major major issue and honestly think that needs to be addressed first and foremost. whether its a deal for capps, getting wagner or bring back gonzo or soriano that is a issue.
as for the lineup i disagree quite a bit with DOB. look at the angels. sure no series the last couple of years but what they do in a mediocre division (and the NL overall fits that description) adding some speed to jumpstart your offense and put pressure on the defense would do wonders for a brave offense that could not hit the ball out of the ballpark on a regular basis and had outside of mcclouth no team spead at all to speak of. yep, the phils, the team we are chasing for the next few years, can outslug the world when right but at times they also have at least three regs in their lineup that can run (steal 20) and when things are breaking down that helps a ton in manufacturing runs.
i would at this point rather see a crawford in the outfield and laroche at first than dunn at first or cruz in the outfield without another bat to go with them….this piggy backs another point quite a bit earlier by DOB. while we are all wishing for ‘THE” big bat do we really get that much better by adding a dunn, cruz or carlos lee while letting laroche walk and bringing back the ghost of brian hunter at first or, as much as a love diaz, having him as a reg in the outfield.
thoughts?
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
1:17 am
DOB,
said when they did it, gwinett will fail.
minor league baseball is meant to be played in small towns.
asheville, chatanooga, greenville, durham, macon, huntsville, etc.
those communities would wrap their arms around a AAA team.
they all have been subjected to a or aa ball
Andrew
November 7th, 2009
1:18 am
imagine JJ and Hanson members of the yankee staff..how good would that team be
uga-brave
November 7th, 2009
1:30 am
andrew,
imagine us with c.c and burnett. what is your point.
Jay212033
November 7th, 2009
1:32 am
ugaaccountant
You really need to check Teheran and see how many times he went 6+ innings.