Fall League’s in full swing, rumor mill’s about to be

Been waiting to hear word on the signing of Hudson to an extension. From the sound of it last week I would have thought it would be done by now. After last years problems I’m getting worried. Anyone have any word?
RH

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A few simple predictions for 2010 about the players we know will be here. Just for kicks.

Escobar will explode into one of the top offensive shortstops in baseball with a .300+ AVG, 40+ doubles and 20+ homers.

Medlen will be lights out with a sub-3.00 ERA and a 10+ K/9 ratio in whatever role he serves (that changeup is down right filthy).

Hudson comes back and pitches well, winning 14 games with a mid-3.00 ERA.

Hanson struggles a bit in his second season, winning 9-12 games with a mid-3.00 ERA, but still has a 9+ K/9 ratio (he’ll be the victim of lack of run support, the Braves have one each year, so why should next year be any different).

Jurrjens emerges as a legitimate Cy candidate with an 18 win season and sub-3.00 ERA. His K/9 ratio increases as he continues to master changing speeds.

Chipper improves on his 2009 season, returning to a near .300 AVG, but still slugs under .500 for only the 4th time in his career (his power stroke is fading folks).

McLouth puts up a solid season, with 30+ doubles, 20+ homers, 20+ SB and a .350-plus OBP.

Prado channels the great Marcus Giles for a 45+ double season and .290-plus AVG.

McCann gets his first 30+ homer, 100+ RBI season (hopefully because they sign a bit bat to give him some protection and lighten the load on Mac).

Diaz gets limited duty as Heyward gets the call in June (I’m assuming the Braves sign or trade for an everyday leftfielder), but does well in part-time and pinch-hit duties, and wins the award for the biggest fan club at the stadium.

And lastly, Heyward plays in 100 games, hits around .270 with 20 doubles, 10-15 HR and 60-70 RBI, not a bad rookie season at all, but less than what most will predict (go look at Ryan Howard’s rookie season, but take away half the power).

Oh, and Braves fans gringe as Francoeur returns to his pre-2008 form, hitting near .300 with 40+ doubles, 25+ homers, 100+ RBI. Wren gets reamed for the trade as Church eventually gets traded for a veteran middle reliever. Then in 2011 Francoeur repeats his 2008-2009 seasons and we sigh with relief again.

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I find it difficult to understand why the Braves would not be willing to give LaRoche a contract offer of three years unless they (1)think there is a better trade alternative out there (2)think Freeman will provide these type of numbers that Adam will provide by 2011. If LaRoche is signed at a reasonable contract it is not like he is untradeable. It would appear to me that it is a win-win to get Adam under contract.

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tomas-Do you seriously believe that going into the season with an outfield of Diaz, McLouth and Kelly Johnson has improved the Braves at all over last year? All you would have done is trade Garrett Anderson for Kelly Johnson and spent twice as much to do so.

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How would you all feel if this happened?

- Ryan Church gets trade to the pirates for Matt Capps.
- Braves offer arbitration to both Laroche(type B), and Gonzo(type A), they both deny it.
- Braves sign Billy Wagner to 1yr 8 million.
- Braves sign Xavier Nady to play 1B to 2 yrs 10 million
- Braves sign Tim Hudson to 3yrs 27 million.
- Braves trade Javier Vazquez in three team deal that bring Brad Hawpe to ATL(and Vazquez to a team in one of the East or central divisions).
- Kelly Johnson platoons with Matt Diaz in LF.

Braves lineup:

CF Nate Mclouth
2B Martin Prado
3B Chipper Jones
1B Xavier Nady
RF Brad Hawpe
C Brian McCann
SS Yunel Escobar
LF Kelly Johnson/Matt Diaz

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tomas, thats alot for wagner isnt it?

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It is amazing that the Braves plan, worry, fret, etc relating to how to improve the team (trades, free agent signings, making the budget work etc), yet completely ignore the one very simple thing that would do more than all the other things combined to improve the team — Fire Bobby Cox

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DOB

Hearing you go on about Sons of Anarchy makes me think I need to check it out. When it first came on it seemed to me like it was a biker gang drama and if you are into bikes, which you are, it seems like a good fit for you. I am not into bikes so would I be interested in it? We seem to have similar taste in tv dramas so I trust your opinion.

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Don

You are probably smart enough to realize that your desire to have Bobby Cox is probably not going to happen. What I don’t understand is why you would make such as statement, basically showing all who read here that you are not to be taken seriously.

If you want to talk about things the Braves should do, maybe you should start with things that have some semblance of a chance to actually happen.

I love you Cox bashers….you probably didn’t get enough hugs when you were a child.

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DAP, i understand what you’re saying, but watching him pitched this year, he looked like he hadn’t lost a beat. Throwing 95-97 with an excellent slider. It’s like Tim Hudson, he looked healthy, in less than 10 starts and he is getting 9 million. Wagner actually had an option for next season worth 8 million. He would only agree to a deal to the Red Sox if the declined his option because he wants to be a closer. Knowing the Red Sox, there’s no doubt in my mind they would have picked it up.

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Um, what?

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lew lineberger,
I DON’T KNOW WHO WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO MARK TER* IS OR IF WE CAN AFFORD HIM. ALSO, WHY ARE WE YELLING? AND WHY AREN’T WE CAPITALIZING Javier Vazquez’s NAME?

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Honestly, the bullpen scares me the most. I think the offense will be much improved, performing like they did the second half of this season, even without adding a big bat. If the Braves can’t resign Gonzo or Soriano, then that has a domino effect on the rest of the guys. I think Moylan will be good again in whatever role he serves, but who knows how well O’Flaherty will fare in a more demanding role.

Balance is the key. I think it would be a waste of resources to hold onto all 6 starters with the thought of “sure would be nice to have that extra guy if someone gets hurt.” The Braves have some internal options for a 4th or 5th starter, even if they trade 2 of their current starters (I’m thinking Medlen or Carlyle/Campillo if they bring one or both back) and it’s never hard to pick up a 4th/5th type guy off the scrap heap or trade a low/mid level prospect for one. It’s much harder to add an impactful reliever or bat without giving up key prospects, so I would rather see them address those needs in the offseason by trading starting pitching (either direct trade or just to clear salary space for free agent signings). I know this is nothing new, but there seems to be some debate over whether it’s a good idea to trade 1 or even 2 starters, and that’s my 2 cents worth.

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dpelfry, i agree i want to have a strong bullpen. a good bullpen is so important to a good team, and some will disagree with this, but you can get a dependable bullpen by getting the right guys. i really hope wren gives some attention to the bullpen this offseason. (im sure he will)

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Oh, before I forget, I’m suppoed to say you can follow me (and Carroll, when she’s with the team) on Twitter

Who the hell are you and what did you do with DOB?

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dpelfrey (November 4th, 2009 10:07 am): “”

Oh, yeah — what with Lowe, Vazquez, Hudson, Jurrjens, Hanson and Kawakami, the Braves currently do have too many starting pitchers.

They could very easily trade away two of them, ’cause they’ve got Buddy Carlyle and Jorge Campillo on the back burner?!?!?!?

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Hey DOB any thoughts of using Kawakami in a closer role. He is a big game pitcher and has the veteran pressence (since he pitched so long in Japanese league) that could be well suited in the late inning situations. I read somewhere that his first innings stats are amongst his best.

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The Braves cannot give up pitching with Bobby Cox as manager. The only way to have a possible chance of winning with Cox is to have pitching so far far superior to the other teams that it overcomes his management procedures and lack thereof and makes it almost impossible to lose the Division over the long 162 game regular season. In addition, probably at least one of the pitchers will go down to injury. Anyway, the major problem with the offense is not the need for an additional hitter but rather having a manager who knows how the manage the offense.

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dpelfrey (November 4th, 2009 10:07 am): “Balance is the key. I think it would be a waste of resources to hold onto all 6 starters with the thought of “sure would be nice to have that extra guy if someone gets hurt.” The Braves have some internal options for a 4th or 5th starter, even if they trade 2 of their current starters (I’m thinking Medlen or Carlyle/Campillo if they bring one or both back) and it’s never hard to pick up a 4th/5th type guy off the scrap heap or trade a low/mid level prospect for one.”

Man, dude, the Braves sure could have used you at the helm in 2007 instead of stupid Schuerholz or wrongwrongwrong Wren.

The best they could come up with off the scrap heap was Mark Redman, Lance Cormier, Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle.

(Oh, I forgot — it’s Buddy Carlyle’s availability that’s gonna allow the Braves to trade Lowe and Hudson, right? My bad.)

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I didn’t insult anyone and I have posted on here for years. I haven’t posted that much this year b/c I was not thrilled with .400-500 baseball season that was only preventted by a 15-2 run in September.

If you follow this discussion nc was quick to be condescending re: other people’s FF opinions. I don’t do that as a rule. I post opinions I don’t judge others.

Being a “regular” on a blog does not come with preferred/implied status and when you start taking yourself seriously as a blog sports expert you tend to become condescending. That’s all I am saying…

This is why I don’t over post and drift in and out. Being involved every day on every little point can narrow your perspective and create group think.

Not always but it can.

Bottom line focus on the idea not the person. In other words don’t judge and or create artificial reverence or clout for one poster. It’s better for everyone.

No one is being paid here but DOB and if you don’

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Random…you missed my point, and also excluded the fact I listed Medlen as a first option and also a midseason free agent/trade pickup as another option. I don’t like those guys either, but they are options and can eat up some innings in an emergency situation. And I stress “emergency situation.” If I remember, they fared pretty well in 2008 in a similar situation.

With all the days off, a 5th starter is really only needed 10-15 times a season. To get to the postseason (which is the goal, right?) a team does not need 5 good/great starters. They just need 4 of those (which is exactly what they will have if they trade 2 of the current guys) and someone to eat innings whenever a 5th guy is needed.

Having 5 good/great starters would be a nice commodity, but will backfire if the money invested in those 5 guys doesn’t allow Wren to improve the offense or the bullpen. Capiche?

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Very excited to hear about Havana. I was back in Atlanta this past summer and went to Havana’s and saw a shell of a restaurant. One of the last places I went to before moving away a year-and-a-half ago. Glad to know I can go on future trips back.

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Trade for Mike Lowell for 1B

Isn’t that that old red sox guy who claims to be 36 but looks 56? And who was out with a back problem most of the season? I’m not sure of his last name but that can’t be him …. so who is Mike Lowell?

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Dave, I could be wrong, but I believe Billy Wagner has an agreement with Boston that they will not offer in (ARB). I believe that was a condition of him accepting the trade from the Mets last Summer.

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Lew, GA was a liability defensively, his range was so limited, that even Kelly with no extended experience on the outfield, would have done a better job. If you trade Kelly know, what would you get? Kelly was in a rumor last year that involve the Cards trading Ludwick in exchange for Kelly. That’s how much he was valued just a year ago. Non-tendering him is just too painful, when you know what he can do. He was making 2.8 million this year, it’s not a huge raise to 3.5 million.

I’m not saying that’s the answer to braves offensive problems. Not at all. The answer is trading Vazquez for an good hitter, and signing a 1B or OF. And they also need to sign a closer. What they do with Kelly is insignificant to what they need to do solve the team’s offensive woes.

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When you list the dumb moves and trades made by Wren, be sure to add the signing of Lowe. It was not a good choice at the time of the signing, as some of us pointed out, and it looks equally as bad now.

Of course, nothing can top the Drew and teixeira trades for sheer stupidity.

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Random, I never said to trade Lowe and Hudson. Do you even read the entire posts or are just picking out comments to attack. The starting pitching is overstocked. The offense and bullpen (assuming Gonzo and Soriano walk) are lacking. It only makes sense to balance those areas out. Even you, in all your wisdome, cannot argue with that. Well, you probably can, but you shouldn’t, because I’m right.

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Chipper has already came out and said that if they trade vazquez that will upset a lot of people in the clubhouse. He is a winner. He should stay and they braves need to find a different way to get that big bat. Sign laroche and trade for the big bat with other means than vazquez. Team chemistry is a big reason we were still in it at the end

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Jamal Crawford was a great addition for the Hawks. He’s instant scoring and takes a lot of pressure off Joe Johnson because teams use to focus on him. Now they have Bibby and Crawford as other scoring options and Crawford also seems to be creating a lot of scoring opportunities for his big men.

I really don’t get why anyone would want to stick KJ in the outfield. His numbers really are no more different than Church and this is someone who actually does play outfield positions pretty well. If you’re going to keep KJ to play out there you might as well keep Church over him because he actually plays all three positions.

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Random-Not in any world based on reality that I’m familiar with. Medlen as an option? Sure. MInor or someone else from the minors? Maybe. But Carlyle and Campillo? Onl,y if Wren completely loses all sanity.

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dpelfrey (November 4th, 2009 11:09 am): “I never said to trade Lowe and Hudson.

No, you didn’t. All you said was “The Braves have some internal options for a 4th or 5th starter, even if they trade 2 of their current starters”, without specifying which ones. I mentioned Lowe and Hudson just as likely f’rinstances. Who did you have in mind — Jurrjens and Hanson?

“Do you even read the entire posts [Yes, I do] or are you just picking out comments to attack.”

And yes, I am picking out comments — to attack, to ridicule, whatever.

(I have to — not everything you say is stupid.)

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KC: ummm how about NO!!

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Lew (November 4th, 2009v 11:17 am): “Not in any world based on reality that I’m familiar with.”

It’s dpelfrey’s world — we just pick out comments to attack or ridicule.

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Good column by Tom Boswell in the Washington Post today on starting pitcher’s on three days’ rest. My favorite part:

“Since 1999, pitchers starting a postseason games on three days’ rest against pitchers on full rest have a combined 12-36 record.

That’s not bad; it’s abysmal. Yet stark as this statistic is, its message may be even more blunt. Most of those 48 pitchers who started on three days’ rest were star hurlers or close to it. Nobody warps a postseason rotation so a donkey can start on short rest. You only do it for the studs. “

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Flat Bill Kid – I get your point. But Hill was terrible, DeRosa wasn’t great and Marquis was only good for half the season. I’m guessing the impact would be more similar to losing Garrett, JoJo and Lowe than to losing Javy and LaRoche.

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Yeah the Texixera trade anybody remember we gave em Elvis Andrus he was on sportscenters top ten every night remember!?

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Nice DOB. About a year ago I got to see Meat Puppets perform live in Long Beach at Alex’s Bar. That was a fun show. The man can play a mean accoustic guitar. But mainly I learned I didn’t know but five of the bands songs. I thoroughly enjoyed those five songs though. The highlight, to me any way, was see Shakey Hands play. Those guys put on a great show. I recommend seeing them if you get the chance. But alas, I no longer reside on the West Coast. I’m actually right in the heart of Tarheal/Blue Devil/Wolfpack territory, not far from your home town. But it was a needed change with Cali crumbling into the sea fiscally.

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ozzieI was not thrilled with .400-500 baseball season that was only preventted by a 15-2 run in September.

about that…what about the fact that between june 30 (the game after the last interleague game) and the end of september this team went 51-32? thats a very good record over that time. simplifying this team down to a 15-2 run in september is not telling the whole story. this braves team was very good starting around the middle of the season. one of the best in the NL.

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If the Yanks do lose this series, I hope people don’t destroy Girardi. He’s been bad throughout the playoffs, but honestly, what the heck was he suppose to do with the 3 days rest thing? Start Chad Gaudin……against the Phillies?!?! He would of gotten murdered. Gaudin can’t get lefties out. It’s more Cashman’s fault that they didn’t go after a reliable 4th starter around the deadline. The “3 days rest” thing is overblown, to me. It was more of a “you never know what you’re going to get from Burnett” thing. Great one start, awful the next. That’s always been Burnett. If they started Gaudin and Burnett and skipped Pettitte, then people would of slammed Girardi for skipping one of the greatest post season pitchers of all time. No win situation there, imo.

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Efrim, agreed.

The Yankees need 1 more reliable starter, and they’r invincible. Would they consider a D. Lowe and a prospect for Nick Swisher swap?

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DPelphrey: Oh, and Braves fans gringe as Francoeur returns to his pre-2008 form, hitting near .300 with 40+ doubles, 25+ homers, 100+ RBI.

…and a .310 OBP and a .383 SLG and an OPS+ of 73 in 721 plate appearances.

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Lew, you make a decent point but he still produces in the games he plays (kinda like having a Chipper on 3rd and 1st!). He’s only 2 years removed from 120 rbi season.

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The blog becomes less enjoyable with every post of PWHjort. PWH mocks a poster who does not know who Julio Teheran is. Is it somehow an unforgivable sin to not know the name of some 18 year old without 100 innings in the minor leagues?

95% of the Braves fan base has not a clue who Julio Teheran is. It does not make them any less of a fan. It just means they have a life, free of trolling all day on a message board, too busy competing and rising up in the real world to bother pathetically competing to rise up and attain meaningless authoritative status on someone else’s blog.

It must be nice to be a college kid with nothing to do all day and all night. No classes to attend, no books to study, no job to work, no bars to hang out in, no friends to hang with, no woman to get down with. Nothing to do but act like a shut-in plagiarizing stats and scouting reports all day and all night attempting to pass them on as your own original analytical thought.

Here’s some advice, kiddo: Do not authoritatively declare Hicks is a well above average major league defensive shortstop as you did earlier when you have never seen the kid play. You can say from what I hear (and credit the source when you do so), it sounds like this is true of this guy. You can say from what the scouts are telling Mr. O’Brien or what the scouts are saying in other publications, it sounds like this may be true of the defensive ability of Hicks.

But you never do that. Instead, you mock someone and authoritatively state Hicks is this defensively as if you have not a doubt in your mind about it. The truth is that if you were standing on second base and Hicks walked right past you to assume his position at short, and fielded 100 ground balls, you would not have a clue it was Hicks, and you would not have a clue how good or bad he did in those fielding drills.

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Tomas, D-Lowe AND a prospect for Swisher???? REALLY?!?!!

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O.J., who gets ripped off on that trade?

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Where is crazy trades when you need him

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