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2,702 comments Add your comment
RHR
November 4th, 2009
11:43 pm
If I can….make it there……
BravesFanChris25
November 4th, 2009
11:43 pm
2 to go
RHR
November 4th, 2009
11:43 pm
I bet we get to see a Kate Hudson and A Rod kiss!
Jake W.
November 4th, 2009
11:45 pm
“I guess money can buy happiness.
HATE NEW YORK AND HATE THE YANKEES!!!!!”-JUST SAYING
Seriously though, 26 or 27 at this point whats the big difference. They got a lot of them. Having one less would still make them the franchise with the most titles. But one thing is certain, somewhere Lou Vales is still salivating over his marlins having the most success in the redrawn NL East. Phils have 1, Braves have 1, and his Marlins have 2. I bet he’s somewhere terrorizing a Phillies blog right now.
BravesFanChris25
November 4th, 2009
11:46 pm
1 to go
Jim
November 4th, 2009
11:50 pm
hot stove time!!! Less than 150 days to Opening Day!!!
tr
November 4th, 2009
11:50 pm
Out 3. I miss baseball season already!
BravesFanChris25
November 4th, 2009
11:50 pm
Hot Stove Time
JUST SAYING
November 4th, 2009
11:51 pm
At least it wasnt the Braves sitting there watching this.
Doc Holiday
November 4th, 2009
11:52 pm
No “fokin world champions” for utley this year…………….
ozzie
November 4th, 2009
11:53 pm
Reading comprehension Moby. Did I say I didn’t watch the games? I just didn’t see the point in posting. I accepted the team for what it was. Good but not great.
What are you 15yo?
I am also in my 50s and have been watching this club (major and minor league games) since before you were likely born.
Since I have not posted excessively I am impressed with your assertion (clairvoyance) of how much baseball I understand or don’t versus someone who doesn’t know me.
nc is probably a nice guy and I don’t see things dramatically differently apart from FF MLB eta versus Heyward.
The divide is not huge. What I get prickly over is personal jabs or being rude. I come from a generation where idiot and stupid are not tossed around so freely.
Call me old fashioned but blogs and forums toss good behavior out the window.
Signing off until the silly season of trade rumors is over….
All this from a simple comment that FF may not be ready in 2011. Wow. Just wow.
Reread the thread and see who was rude and condescending it wasn’t me. I suggested an idea that was not in the main and the reaction speaks for itself.
ccrider
November 4th, 2009
11:56 pm
Dies Irae, The only reason for the Yankees drought has been poor management and decisions. Every year the gap grows larger between the halves and the middle/have nots. You obviously don’t believe that an unlevel playing is a bad thing for baseball, despite the lack of it in other sports and that is your preference. I think the reason that the NFL and NBA have started to out distance MLB is because fans in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Florida, Cincy, Seattle, Washington, Baltimore, Arizona, Texas, Oakland, Cleveland, Minnesota Etc. have come to grips with unless they win the vitual lottery and all the stars align they have little to no chance of actually winning the World Series and only a long shot of making the playoffs. I am sure you will say ‘what about the Florida Marlins, well the financial gap has become a great deal wider than in 2003. Let’s see in the years to come how many teams not in the top 10 in payroll win the World Series, I would bet None. Maybe then as the fan base in most of the cities I named above will have eroded enough to convince you and others that teams that are the smartest, draft the best, are coached and developed the best deserve winning not just the teams with the biggest financial advantage.
Note to jeffery d; Pardon me, Let me be the first on the blog this year.
RHR
November 4th, 2009
11:57 pm
I guess money can buy happiness.
This is news to you?
J/K
Doc Holiday
November 4th, 2009
11:57 pm
This thing has to stop……….
The amount of money they pay jeter, tex, Arod, CC and AJ to BUY A WS…………..not good……….I have seen lots of WS and you just couldnt feel much emotion coming out from those yankees……….not too much chemistry since only 5 of them have “grown” together (jeter, mariano, posada, petite, maybe matsui)…………it feels like is the AL won another all star game……….doesnt it…………..
RHR
November 4th, 2009
11:59 pm
The only reason for the Yankees drought has been poor management
Their manager still sucks. Just shows to go ya….
Ummm suck it phillies. Suck it anders. I mean really? Y’all wanted to hear phillies fans get to say ‘back to back’? How could any self respecting braves fan want to EVER hear that?
Andrew
November 5th, 2009
12:00 am
yankees will continue this offseason buying more and more…let the rumors fly!
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:00 am
JUST SAYING,
IT was ugly enough to watch a yankees-phillies WS…………….. not need to be in the dogout………LOL
BravesFanChris25
November 5th, 2009
12:01 am
RHR
That is the reason I rooted for the Yanks. To not have to hear Philly fans spew that.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:02 am
Whats the easiest job in the world?
Being a yankee scout………….
You just tell the boss who is the best player in the league and he will sign him and congratulate you………LOL
BravesFanChris25
November 5th, 2009
12:03 am
Doc Holliday
LOL
RHR
November 5th, 2009
12:04 am
Why is Tex suddenly the spokesperson for the yankees? ew i cant stand him.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:07 am
RHR,
You have to know there are 2 different things……….one thing is having the phillies repeat and another thing is letting the yankees buy world series trophies…….
We all hate the phillies………..or at least the idea for them to win it back to back, but watching the yankees do this to our sport, it is horrible………….
chip off the ol block
November 5th, 2009
12:11 am
Doc i cant agree more, as much as i hated the phi, i had to put that aside for the WS, i hate that the bankees bought the world series, completely wrong, not like anything will happen tho
Jake W.
November 5th, 2009
12:12 am
I have to agree with ccrider. Not having a salary cap was ok when the Yanks were in shouting distance but they have pulled so far away from the rest of the pack that its ridiculous that Selig thinks his league is fine right now. This isn’t the Yanks fault because they are operating within the rules of what MLB allows them to do. I believe the closest to them in payroll were the Mets and they were still about 70 million back. In the NBA there is only a difference of about 66 million last season between the team with the highest and lowest payroll.
Money makes a difference. Last offseason how many teams could actually go after Sabathia seriously? If the Yankees develop a talent in their system like they did with Jeter and Mariano where are they going to go? They have enough money to lock them up and no one will outbid them. How many more titles would the Marlins have if they could have kept more of their talent? They operate with little parameters to hold them back. But like I said its not their fault because they do operate within the rules that MLB allows.
BravoMan
November 5th, 2009
12:14 am
Rumor Time!!!
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:16 am
chip off the ol block,
All I can give the yankees credit for is……….jeter, mariano and petite………….the rest???
Paying more than 50 millions to corner infielders????????LOL…………..what a bad joke……..
The amount of money spent on AJ? CC?
Posada is nothing but a incredibly bad defensive catcher……….and I mean bad……….mediocre.
This yankee team got lucky by signing CC…………without him…………..they would have failed again……….
RHR
November 5th, 2009
12:17 am
but watching the yankees do this to our sport, it is horrible
Hey the MLB allows it and they have it to spend, do you blame them? Its not their fault other teams can’t compete with their money. Spending a lot of money guarantees nothing, look at what it got the team with the 2nd highest salary…its not like the yankees win it every year, if they did, then you would have an argument but … I don’t blame them. I wish my team could spend like they do.
chip off the ol block
November 5th, 2009
12:17 am
yea Jake i was saying the same thing back in the offseason when they did all of that, its crazy, no other sport has this, look at the NFL any given year anyone has the chance to sign or draft whoever they want, its a fairly even playing ground, completely opposite with mlb
braveman
November 5th, 2009
12:18 am
yanks win the series…
i vomit in my mouth.
bravosfosho
November 5th, 2009
12:20 am
you think tex wishes he would have stayed with us now? hahahahaha
chip off the ol block
November 5th, 2009
12:21 am
haha yea Doc we would probably go through two of their players and match just those to example (CC/aroid) to other’s whole team, and really i’d take other pitchers and 3b over those two
its ridiculous but actually im ready for this season to be done so the offseason to begin
time to count down the Huddy’s announcement
1, 2, 3, 4……
haha
mr baseball
November 5th, 2009
12:22 am
Whenever one of the TV networks/cable sports outlets would do a story on the Lakers after they won another NBA title, they’d frequently play Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” as background music.
Newman has another tune that perfectly fits our wonderful World Series champs.
“It’s Money That I Love.”
The idea of a salary cap is repulsive, but you can sure make a good case for one in any discussion regarding the Yankees. Moreso than any team I can ever recall, they absolutely bought themselves a championship.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:24 am
RHR,
please tell me you are not serious……..
On the other hand…………I AM AMAZED ON HOW THE PHILLIES JUST DEFLATED……….. they never looked like the phillies we saw all year long………. what was the slg for howard, rollins and ibañez this WS? like .200?????????? man……….they just went to sleep.
Too bad we didnt play prado from day 1………..too bad omar had to sit for half a season………….too bad we had CK at 1B for half a season………..those 3 points we pivotal.
RHR
November 5th, 2009
12:27 am
yanks win the series…
i vomit in my mouth.
Where do you usually vomit?
Yeah Doc, I’m dead serious.
Jake W.
November 5th, 2009
12:28 am
chip off the ol block
NFL is probably the most balanced league in terms of payroll and its no coincidence that they do have the most parity. For me really this isn’t even about my braves but teams like Kansas City and Pittsburgh. I know their organization has not been run well but they can’t cover up some of their bad decisions like the Yankees can and they have to pay for them with down years. There are 8 playoff spots every year. This is the league out of the big 3 major sports with the least amount of qualifiers for the postseason. How do you keep the interest of these franchises and their fans and how do you honeslty sell them on the opportunity to compete most years. I know a lot of experts say its good for the Yankees to win but I think its to the detriment of the league as a whole to allow them to win the way they do.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:30 am
besides the 5 HR utley hit or whatever the number was………he didnt look like utley to me………..they just didnt work the count……….the only guy that did look like a philly was werth………he went deep into the count 90% of the time, oh and ruiz…………all the others played like they were out of it right from the beginning. They looked tired…………And pedro was a mistake today………he should have hit the showers after the 2nd inning.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:33 am
phillies took it to 6, but I always felt they we exhausted.
Nick from PA
November 5th, 2009
12:34 am
I wonder how heavy a $210 million dollar world series trophy is?
Nick from PA
November 5th, 2009
12:35 am
gas: $2.75 a gallon, flatscreen tv: $500 dollars, world series tickets: $1500 dollars, the yankees winning the world series: priceless…wait no, i mean $210 million dollars, my bad…what was i thinking??
Bobbito Heat
November 5th, 2009
12:36 am
5 points were pivotal… you got 3 of them
The other 2 points are dealing with Frenchy and Schaefer for the first half. Add Mclouth and take away the Frenchy disappointment as well as wrist/roids wonder boy along with your 3 points of Prado, Omar, and Roche!
Dies Irae
November 5th, 2009
12:41 am
all the whining about money sounds like a lot of sour grapes tonight. It is what it is and it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Deal with it. In the 40s and 50s they were in the World Series almost every single season. They missed about 2 in over a decade and a half. The once and future kings.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:45 am
Nick from PA,
It weights the same as the one we didnt won.
Doc Holiday
November 5th, 2009
12:49 am
Bobbito Heat,
sure, I agree
Logan
November 5th, 2009
12:54 am
Who picks up the tab for those world series rings? The gold alone is going to set somebody back.
Andrew
November 5th, 2009
1:00 am
Javy for Jayson Werth?
N8
November 5th, 2009
1:04 am
“gas: $2.75 a gallon, flatscreen tv: $500 dollars, world series tickets: $1500 dollars, the yankees winning the world series: priceless…wait no, i mean $210 million dollars, my bad…what was i thinking??” Nick from PA
Yeah but…..
They spent 1.373 BILLION dollars on payrol from in between their 2000 and 2009 championships. Which averages out to 173 million per year.
During those same seasons (2001-2008), the Braves spent 747 million on payrol (93 million per season), and won the same ammount of championships.
Doesn’t always work. Hasn’t for the Yankees in almost a decade. Still gotta play the games. Just think. The Braves 2009 opening day payroll was at 96 million dollars, some 105 million below the Yankees opening day payroll.
Had Wren spent (or been allowed to spend), about 10 million more on a cleanup hitter, and at the same time eliminating Jeffrey from the everyday lineup (where he did more harm than help), the Braves make the playoffs and while possibly not winning it all, the whole world would have seen what we all already know, the Braves had the best pitching in baseball. Maybe not the best pitcher or two (hard to argue against CC or Cliff Lee – or even Lincecum & Cain, Carpenter or Wainwright).
But 1-5 in the rotation (hell, 1-6 in the rotation), 1-2-3 in the bullpen? Not even close. Did ANY of you get the feeling watching this WS that the Yankees and Phillies had a better pitching staff than us? Again. Not even close.
But both of those teams are more capable of scoring runs with the the top 3-4 guys in their order than we are with all 8.
They both play pretty solid defense. They both hit the hell out of the ball. The both can mash. Oh, and their mashers are good hitters too. They know WHEN to go for the pound-ball.
So by all means. All you guys saying we can’t win without Javier Vazquez at the top of the rotation. Hogwash. Our rotation is STILL better than Philadelphia’s even if you simply minus Vazquez out of the equation and insert Hudson.
However, we are currently about 3-4 hitters away from “keeping up” with either of them (Phillies & Yankees) in a slugfest.
Vazquez might very well be our best pitcher. I’m not arguing that. But if he brings us the cleanup hitter we’re missing. I’ll take my chances with what’s left in the rotation and an improved lineup.
Wouldn’t you? It’s not like we’re swapping out Vazquez for Jo-Jo, or HoRam. If it makes you feel better, tell yourself that everybody in the rotation is being “bumped up” a spot and Hudson is the new 5th starter.
Because clearly at no point was Hanson being counted on to carry this team last year. He was the 5th starter by default. He got the least starts.
So, if Javier leaves, the rotation goes JJJ, Hanson, KK, Lowe, Hudson. It’s just an order. But like it or not. That is a damn solid rotation that can eat innings, keep their team in games, and with even a little run support, WIN a lot of games.
But not if Brian McCann is the cleanup hitter.
ccrider
November 5th, 2009
1:14 am
So Dies Irae; Are you waiting for the good ole days of the 40’s and 50’s to return? Are you a fan of competitive imbalance? Or are you a Yankees Fan?
P. W. Hjort
November 5th, 2009
1:16 am
I previously said that Proctor would be under team control as an arbitration eligible player in 2012 if he missed a month in 2010. This is incorrect. He got credit for a full year of service in 2009 on a major-league DL. He has 5 years, 10 days of service. He needs to miss 22 days in 2010 to be under team control as an arbitration eligible player in 2011. After which, he’ll be a free agent.
Bobbito Heat
November 5th, 2009
1:17 am
Now!!! We can let that Hot Stove discussions begin!
I’ve heard alot of talk about Javy. And like everyone else I would love to keep him. But at the same time, I can understand if Wren trades him. BUT, if what the rest of the bloggers on this site say is true… (Vazquez for Gamel and Hardy, or for Upton, or for Ludwick) then count me out. The whole point of talking about a trade involving Vazquez is for a big bopper to put in the middle of the order. None of what anyone has suggested has been that.
If that’s the case, I’d much rather just keep him in the rotation and take my chances with LaRoche and Diaz.
If it were up to me though… Knowing Lowe would be hard to move and Vazquez would be hard to give up, Wren should look to package either Medlen or Kawakami along with another OF prospect such as Jordan Schaefer or Cody Johnson for “the Big Bopper” that we need in left (possibly Nelson Cruz or something comparable) or maybe a firstbaseman. I love Diaz to hold down right ’til Heyward’s ready to go, and that would take a lot of pressure off Heyward when he comes up in June too. Nontender Kelly Johnson (Prado is THE GUY) and Ryan Church unless you can trade them. And lastly offer Gonzo arb and try to resign him. Along with Moylan, O’FLARES, and newly aquired Proctor, that’d be a stout pen. Forget about Wagner! 8M! That’s nuts! I’d rather resign Soriano for 7M! But Wren shouldn’t bite on either. Stick with Gonzo and if not he shouldn’t look at Wagner, especially if Boston offers him arbitration. 8M plus a 1st round pick… maybe if it was 2003!
nolie
November 5th, 2009
1:17 am
(N8)
my only cavil Nate is will Javy bring back the stud cleanup hitter we really need? I’m not so sure he will.
There aren’t that many teams that he can be traded to or that can afford him, and I’m not so sure that any of the ones that can will give up a big basher. Swisher for instance while a decent player is not the one guy who is gonna put us over the top especially if we do not re-sign Rochey.
In some ways I think Wren has a tougher job this winter than he did last year.Most anything he did then was an improvement, that’s not necessarily gonna be true coming up.And despite all the beaming optimism voiced about this coming season, I see plenty of things that could go poorly.
N8
November 5th, 2009
1:39 am
I agree nolie. I don’t think he will either. But if he does, Wren HAS TO jump at it.
As I stated over the weekend (Maybe last week?), the perfect world, has Wren simply “dumping” Lowe on whoever will take him and if they give us anything or anybody other than the salary relief, great. If not, use the extra 6 million he just saved (difference in Hudson’s alleged 9 million dollar salary vs. Lowe’s 15 million), to sign somebody better than what we’ve got.
Any improvement across the board in LF will. If Chipper gets back to being Chipper, that will help. If a Diaz/Church (or whoever) platoon in RF is what it takes to keep RF warm until Heyward is ready. That will be better than Jeff was in April, May and June. Add to that, having Prado everyday at 2B should be an upgrade over what KJ gave us for 2 months.
ALL of that, combined with Hanson in the rotation for 162 games should make this a 90-95 win team right there.
Wren has to figure out the back of the bullpen a bit, and decide who he’s going to go get for LF, along with what to do with 1B.
Half of me says go get Adam Dunn. Put him at 1B and if Freeman is ready before that contract is up, throw him in LF for a season or so.
He’s not RH, but he’d change the lineup enough. Then Wren could go get a Mike Cameron type of guy for LF for some lineup balance.
I don’t think the moves need to be earth shattering. But there needs to be moves. Can’t stand pat again, and I suspect he won’t. The bottom line is that our offense was so frickin’ bad last year, that it’s not going to take much to upgrade it and with our pitching it might be all we need (a minor upgrade across the board – rather than one big bopper). But some power has to come from somewhere.
But to repeat it again. If Wren can find a way to keep Vazquez and dump Lowe? By all means make the deal!
Buzzardbilly
November 5th, 2009
1:45 am
Excellent article! Love the Meat Puppets “Sewn Together” so much. The husband from Boston would be having ten cows if he knew I was reading about the Braves and not his BoSox. But, well done is well done, so I’m posting.
P. W. Hjort
November 5th, 2009
1:57 am
Javier Vazquez $11,500,000
Tim Hudson $9,000,000
Kenshin Kawakami $6,666,666
Jair Jurrjens $400,000
Tommy Hanson $400,000
Peter Moylan $1,500,000
Late Innings Reliever $6,000,000
Scott Proctor $750,000
Eric O’Flaherty $400,000
Kris Medlen $400,000
Boone Logan $600,000
Craig Kimbrel $400,000
Brian McCann $5,666,666
First Baseman $10,000,000
Martin Prado $400,000
Yunel Escobar $400,000
Chipper Jones $13,000,000
Left Fielder $18,000,000
Nate McLouth $4,500,000
Matt Diaz $3,000,000
David Ross $1,600,000
Omar Infante $1,850,000
Brooks Conrad $400,000
Jordan Schafer $400,000
Brandon Jones $400,000
2010 Payroll $97,633,332
Andrew
November 5th, 2009
2:07 am
PW so your saying if we get rid of lowe,soriano,gonzo,church,and johnson ..we can get wagner,keep laroche,and sign either bay or holliday….i would love that
ccrider
November 5th, 2009
2:13 am
P.W.Hjort: Rotation- Great, Lineup -Great, but 1st base shouldn’t cost 10 mill(Nobody on the free agent market worth that-$7 at most, Bench-Mat Young instead of B. Jones, a Ron Belliard or Juan Iribe Instead of Conrad. Bullpen:Brenden Donnelly and Kiko Calero instead of Kimbrel and Logan and we’re in business.
tdmorgan
November 5th, 2009
2:18 am
PW as much as I would like to see Schafer up right away but I’m pretty sure that since he hasn’t had a lot of at bats over the past two years that if he isn’t starting in Atlanta then he’ll be starting in Gwinnett. Other than that, who are you looking at 1B, LF, and closer? I’m assuming its either Bay or Holliday in LF, Laroache at 1B, but who do you want at closer?
nolie
November 5th, 2009
2:32 am
The bottom line is that our offense was so frickin’ bad last year, that it’s not going to take much to upgrade it and with our pitching it might be all we need (a minor upgrade across the board – rather than one big bopper). But some power has to come from somewhere. (N8)
this is what I kinda disagree about. Out offense after we got Adam was pretty decent and if we lose him, I think it’s gonna be haeder than many imagine to upgrade it. Not saying for sure one way or the other, just saying it might be a bit tougher than we think. So far I like Wren so hopefully he will get it done,but I don’t think we are gonna do too much more offensively than replace Rochey’s production at one position or another.I hope he can upgrade two, but with the pen needing to be taken into consideration, I’m not sure it will happen.Some guys seen to think we are gonna be able to keep one spot as good as it was with Adam and still upgrade another one. We’ll see. anyway it’s something to talk about since it has been decreed here that the hot stove part of winter has officially started tonight,
nolie
November 5th, 2009
2:34 am
Peter Moylan $1,500,000
Late Innings Reliever $6,000,000
Scott Proctor $750,000
Eric O’Flaherty $400,000
Kris Medlen $400,000
Boone Logan $600,000
Craig Kimbrel $400,000 (PWH)
I just do not have a lot of faith in that pen my friend.
nolie
November 5th, 2009
2:36 am
also I don’t think Conrad is gonna be up with the big team on a regular basis. too limited
Bobbito Heat
November 5th, 2009
2:48 am
Nolie,
I completely agree. LaRoche is 10 times better than any firstbaseman in free agency. And with Freeman not ready, I don’t see how we have any other option (whoever keeps talking about Nady and Swisher needs to just shut their mouths). Again…. LaRoche is a MUST this offseason!
When I said “big bopper”, I was only talking to those who wanted to trade Vazquez. I wasn’t saying we needed one, even though it would be nice.
Will
November 5th, 2009
5:29 am
I was once again right about the Braves, but will get zero credit from this blog. I am an absolute diehard braves fan, but i challenge anybody on here to explain to me realistically how the phillies are not better then the Braves going into 2010. They won 2008 WS, 2009 runner up and bring back basically the entire team. I hope i am missing something here. Braves have a superior starting staff, but they wouldnt beat the phils in a 7 game series with that piss poor offense the braves send out there. Chipper Jones is my favorite player, I also love all the rest of the Braves, but unless they add a HUGE bat their offense still doesnt even compete with phillies, let alone the yankees. I dont care about the payrolls or anything else, all i know as a baseball fan and a REALIST is i love the braves, but they will be lucky to win the division, let alone a world series next year. The yankees just built another juggernaut, and its sickening, but they arent going away anytime soon. If the braves won in 91, thanks lonnie smith, 92, thanks ed sprague, and 96, thanks jim leyritz, then i wouldnt be pissed off. I dont know why everybody on here hates the yankees. This is the first year they “bought” a title.Even the vaunted New York Yankees shook it up with a new manager and it paid off big time. I love the Atl Braves but its so obvious to anybody that watches baseball objectively the braves are so far away from winning another title its sickening.
Rob from SC
November 5th, 2009
6:43 am
Maybe Jimmy Rollins will learn to keep his mouth shut. I am so sick of all the talking coming from him.
Marc in FL
November 5th, 2009
6:58 am
I hope we trade for a first baseman, I don’t know if I can deal with another slow start from our first baseman. I mean, it’s been what, 6 years since we had a 1B that didn’t need half a season to find himself? I predict a pitcher going to the Brewers or Cubs for either Fielder or Lee, and either would be a big upgrade over Laroche or any other FA first baseman.
Marc in FL
November 5th, 2009
7:52 am
PWH, you’re assuming that trade Lowe and 100% of his contract and that Heyward doesn’t start the year in left. One $15mil difference and $18mil difference. I think the Braves will try to get Heyward in LF this year for financial reason, then they can trade for a big bopper 1B and solidify their pen a little more (I think Wren is willing to invest more into the pen than JS was).
O.J.
November 5th, 2009
7:54 am
Thank GOD that that World Series is finally over. Has got to have been the worst World Series that I can remember, there was not a team to root for, at all. I just wanted it to be over with and quick. And it finally is, now we can get the offseason on the way.
O.J.
November 5th, 2009
7:58 am
I hope to see the Hudson extension announced today.
dpelfrey
November 5th, 2009
8:41 am
Oh I love the Hot Stove. Rumors ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. Ken Rosenthal at his best quoting anyone and everyone as “major league sources” trying to be the first to break the story. Tim Brown over at Yahoo pulling rumors straight out of his tail. People I’ve never heard of over at SI.com reporting what they think might happen as prophetic facts (example, the lady that was reporting a meeting b/t the Braves and Aroldis Chapman was imminent). God bless Tim Dierkes over at mlbtraderumors for not charging “insider” fees like the primary sports websites.
Jeff R
November 5th, 2009
8:43 am
I’m hoping that the playoffs are extended to more teams next season so that we can watch Game 7 on Thanksgiving Day. Let’s just have all major team sports go year-round.
I don’t know if Wren would agree to this, but Lowe or Vazquez (probably Vazquez) might better attract a couple of major league ready prospects, rather than going for an established power hitter and… (fill in the blank).
But if Wren could land a quality righty power bat prospect (again, major league ready) and another solid prospect (say, reliever material) that might work.
Lew
November 5th, 2009
8:53 am
Now to the next four months of Hot Stove League, where we can all sit back and listen to Anders tell us what deals are or aren’t feasible.
Lew
November 5th, 2009
8:56 am
Will-You are aware that where the teams will finish the following year is rarely contingent upon how the team is structured the first day of the off season,, aren’t you?
CB
November 5th, 2009
8:57 am
Would it be too much to ask to have Hudson signed,LaRoche signed,Lowe traded, our power hitting left fielder signed by lunch time today? Thank you Mr. Frank Wren.
CB
November 5th, 2009
9:01 am
And on a different front- YANKEES YOU SUCK!
David O'Brien
November 5th, 2009
9:16 am
The Hudson thing is done, announcement should come shortly. But we’ve already said that, right? Anyway, it is.
Lew
November 5th, 2009
9:22 am
CB-You forgot to add Vazquez signed to an extension.
Supes
November 5th, 2009
9:22 am
Huddy on 680thefan right now with the Rude awakening. Good stuff. Huddy always a good & entertaining interview.
Jim
November 5th, 2009
9:26 am
Thanks for the good news on Hodson, Dave.
Any idea what their thoughts are re LaRoche? What’s wrong with 3 or 4 years for him as long as there is no “no trade” clause? When does he become 5 & 10?
Thanks
Billy Walsh
November 5th, 2009
9:29 am
Living in the Northeast (NJ) right now is not fun. The local news coverage from reporters who have no clue about the game and will show up to the parade tomorrow because its the “chic” thing to do is utterly nauseating. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Haap did not get a start in the world series. He was the Phillies 2nd best starter.
chip off the ol block
November 5th, 2009
9:34 am
Great new DOB, thanks for letting us know
i wouldnt be surprised if alot of announcements are made today, coming from alot of different teams
O.J.
November 5th, 2009
9:35 am
Jim, the Braves are not going 3 or 4 years with LaRoche when Freeman waits in the wings. And he wont ever become a 5/10 player if he doesnt stay with one team for 5 consecutive years.
Harry
November 5th, 2009
9:38 am
No one ever has disputed the fact that Minor can really pitch. He does a nice job of mixing and locating his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. He has been very impressive in four starts at low Class A Rome (though that’s a small sample size) and in four brief outings in the AFL (a smaller sample size, and you shouldn’t read too much into AFL stats).
Still, Minor doesn’t have a true plus pitch beyond his changeup and his fastball usually operates in the upper 80s. His realistic ceiling is as a No. 3 starter, it’s easier to project him as a No. 4 and it’s not difficult to draw parallels between him and another Vanderbilt finesse lefthander who was a top-10 choice, Jeremy Sowers.
Was Minor a worthy first-rounder? Yes. Would have I taken him seventh overall? Not a chance. One of the reasons teams complain that the draft doesn’t distribute talent equitably is the clubs won’t take the best player available. Atlanta wouldn’t exceed MLB’s bonus recommendation at No. 7, though they mistakenly budgeted for the 2008 figure ($2.42 million) rather than the reduced 2009 number ($2.178 million) because the commissioner’s office didn’t give them the amount quickly enough. That limited their choices, though former Braves scouting director Roy Clark (now assistant GM with the Nationals) was a big believer in Minor. Clark loved Tyler Matzek, too, but didn’t have the budget to sign him.
Lew
November 5th, 2009
9:43 am
Jim-Five years after he signs with and stays with the same team.
CB
November 5th, 2009
9:50 am
Lew,the extension of Vazquez would be great if done at a reasonable rate-3yrs,30mil. Anything above that,I personally would not do. I think he would take that because he says he is happy in Atlanta.
David O'Brien
November 5th, 2009
9:50 am
Huddy didn’t mention on his interview with the new flagship that he still has to get MRI, but he does. And since he’s going to LaRoche’s charity event in Kansas for weekend, that might not get done until he gets back. So there’s a chance this won’t get announced until next week.
Daslied
November 5th, 2009
9:59 am
I like Charlie Manuel, but that poor man sounds just like Milton from “Office Space”.
McFann Ô
November 5th, 2009
10:05 am
Neight and with even a little run support, WIN a lot of games. But not if Brian McCann is the cleanup hitter.
Ouch!
Sorry I missed your posts last night, Keylargo.
Ah feel bad about that…
keylargo
November 5th, 2009
10:07 am
If all I had to do was get a MRI before I could sign my new $30 mill contract, guess what I would be doing today?
Lew
November 5th, 2009
10:08 am
keylargo-Unless there was a chance you wouldn’t pass? Not that this is the case or anything.
Lew
November 5th, 2009
10:09 am
Or maybe giving Wren more chance to make a trade and free up pitching salary?
Daslied
November 5th, 2009
10:10 am
Man, that was quick.
“The Daily News learned the White Sox have agreed to send second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman Josh Fields to the Royals for Mark Teahen, who is expected to replace Jermaine Dye as Chicago’s right fielder.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/columnists/madden/index.html?page=1
DAP
November 5th, 2009
10:15 am
daslied, that doesnt sound like a great trade for the white sox does it? wasnt fields their top prospect?
keylargo
November 5th, 2009
10:17 am
Lew, I’d pass. Even if I had to buy the MRI clinic.
P-Town Brave
November 5th, 2009
10:24 am
Ok, so the Sox need a 2b now?
Any chance we swing something involving Kelly going the other way and someone like a Konerko coming back?
What else do the Sox have that we could use?
Also, why does this whole Hudson thing leave me feeling uneasy? It seems awfully similiar to the Furcal situation as in it was “supposedly” a done deal.
PWH-
I like your roster and yeah, it will cost about 10 to keep LaRoche for those who don’t understand the semantics of arbitration. I as well like Matt Young for the bench. I like the pen although Proctor won’t be up til May or June more than likely if he is. I like adding Calero as well, but all depends on the money as I’m more interested in giving it to Bay than a 7th inning guy.
Daslied
November 5th, 2009
10:25 am
DAP, I think Fields has been somewhat of a bomb. He was pretty good in 2007, but not since. Apparently not a good fielder at 3B, either.
Anyway, not a very exciting trade, but hopefully it’ll get the ball rolling.
David O'Brien
November 5th, 2009
10:29 am
Here’s something I just wrote for website, gonna be a little longer story later in day:
Being home with his family during baseball season is nice, but pitcher Tim Hudson said he wouldn’t have agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Braves for that alone.
“It’s really convenient from the family standpoint,” he said Thursday. “But I’m excited that I’m going to be with this organization for another three years because I think we have a chance to be really good.
“I’m excited about being able to help the organization get back to the position we used to be in, which is a championship club. To me, being part of that is more special than going through free agency and just going to the team I think has the best chance to win the World Series.”
Terms were finalized this week on a three-year extension believed to be worth close to $9 million annually, but a deal isn’t expected to be announced until Hudson has an MRI on his surgically repaired elbow.
The 34-year-old right-hander said he might not get the MRI until after he returns from a weekend charity event that Braves free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche is having in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Hudson spoke of the MRI as more a formality than anything else, and he’s already undergone a thorough physical exam with a doctor approved by the insurance company that will insure his new contract.
He’s had no problems or setbacks since returning from a year-long rehabilitation following August 2008 ligament-transplant surgery.
Hudson went 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA in seven starts in September and October after coming off the disabled list. The former 20-game winner has a 148-78 record and 3.49 ERA in 11 seasons with the Braves and Oakland Athletics.
Jay212033
November 5th, 2009
10:31 am
How bout KJ and Church for Jenks?
DAP
November 5th, 2009
10:31 am
p-townit will cost about 10 to keep LaRoche for those who don’t understand the semantics of arbitration.
what if he doesnt go to arbitration and just signs a contract? do you think laroche will get $10mil from someone?
Fastball
November 5th, 2009
10:33 am
Keep Lowe as the closer.
Rock On......
November 5th, 2009
10:34 am
The last time the Yanks won the World Series the Twin Towers were still standing. Money can get you competitive no doubt but won’t guarantee much beyond that. A World Series every ten years is a pretty bad return on an investment of that magnitude.
Well what did we learn from this post-season? #1 for me was the umps have a job probably none of us want. It was an abysmal time for them this post-season. Absolutely can’t see MLB sitting around letting the umps get chastized for missed calls again in 2010 playoffs. It hurts the game and taints the results in a short series. With technology what it is, the game of baseball can’t tolerate incorrect calls that can easily be corrected. Baseball needs to institute instant replay in the playoffs for non-ball/strike type calls IMO.
Can’t say it would have made any difference really but, still, not throwing Lee in game 4 was a mistake by Manuel IMO. This series was lost in game 4 without throwing your best pitcher in Lee to even the series. Girardi pulled out the stops by pitching his rotation on three days rest. If Manuel was playing it by the book he needs a new chapter. Advantage Girardi. Now exactly who is it here that wants to trade Vazquez for a big bat?
Rock On......
November 5th, 2009
10:38 am
Trade Lowe, the Braves aren’t paying him 15mil to close or be in the pen when his pitching is no longer suited for that role.
David O'Brien
November 5th, 2009
10:39 am
Keep Lowe as the closer. — Fastball
A $15 mill closer who had a 1.515 WHIP last season with 111 strikeouts and 63 walks in 194-2/3 innings?