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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,193 comments Add your comment
McFann Ô
November 10th, 2009
9:37 am
Oh, and the Silver Sluggers will be announced on Thursday, I believe. BMac’s got it in the bag, but they’ll prob’ly give it to Yadier anyway.
brent a.
November 10th, 2009
9:39 am
8:02 AM . . .
. . . and quite possibly the greatest pro basketball player of all-time.
Which he was considered to be in the mid-1980’s, before a player’s marketability became a key metric in evaluating his greatness.
Get well Kareem!
Go Lakers!
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2009
9:40 am
What if Tebow got the Silver Slugger for NL Catcher? That’d be the ultimate slap in the face.
McFann Ô
November 10th, 2009
9:42 am
jeffrey d–
Tebow? Who’s he?
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2009
9:44 am
Tebow is the man even Urban Meyer swoons for
http://www.orangeandbluehue.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/tebow-walks-off.jpg
And the man that I’m so glad is about to graduate.
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2009
9:46 am
Wait, is that Urban Meyer? Oh well…you get the point.
Matt Layne
November 10th, 2009
9:49 am
The mets are suffering from big time money problems. Frenchy might be the biggest bat they have in the coming years.
McFann Ô
November 10th, 2009
9:50 am
jeffrey d–
I was only kidding…I know who Tebow is. Not bad for a home-schooler, eh?
TommyP
November 10th, 2009
9:53 am
DOB: Good stuff with Kenny Williams. Any chance you could do the same with Texas’ GM on his thoughts on the former Braves prospects they acquired in the Tex deal?
This offseason is so unpredictable…. Wren is going to have to get creative this year. If Vazquez goes, the hitter should be pretty solid. If Lowe goes, it’ll probably be to clear salary for a FA????
No idea right now…
Isenberg
November 10th, 2009
9:57 am
Ridding of Vazquez, in my opinion, would mean the difference between a World Series birth and another mediocre season.
Al for ATL
November 10th, 2009
9:57 am
Love me some Mad Men. I have a total girl crush on Joan.
There are enough teams looking for starting pitching and few enough quality free agents, that eating some of Lowe’s salary in a trade might work but I think he’d be a last option for a lot of teams – kind of like he was for us last year. He’s not too old to have a rebound year, and he’s a good enough pitcher to do it. There will be teams later in the winter/early spring that wouldn’t mind having Lowe for 3 years at $9-10 mil a year.
Brewers probably wouldn’t trade Braun for anyone, but maybe Corey Hart?
ChopShop
November 10th, 2009
9:59 am
This Ryan Braun talk is laughable. He’s not going anywhere, my friends. IF Atlanta could trade for Braun, it would cost players that no one wants to mention. It sure wouldn’t be the littany of Jo Jo Reyes and his type.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:01 am
DOB, question for you…..I know how much you Loved Will Ohman, and I’m not trying to start 800 comments like we had last year, but it seems consistent with their strategy (ie: Proctor) to stockpile good arms in the event we lose both Gonzo and Sori. I know you had pretty regular contact with the dude while he was in Atlanta, and I’m sure he regrets turning down their initial offer last year. What are your thoughts on an incentive-laden deal for a guy coming off surgery??? Same would apply to X. Nady. I know the braves coveted him when he was in the ‘Burg, and even liked him in spring training this year. He seems like a no brainer to me. Thoughts????
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:02 am
and sorry….’Burgh I guess….my b
ChopShop
November 10th, 2009
10:07 am
What about Brad Hawpe? The word is that the Rockies will listen on him. What would it take to land Hawpe?
RC
November 10th, 2009
10:08 am
JReeves,
While I also like the idea of bringing back Ohman, I don’t know if I see the Braves carrying 3 lefty specialists in their bullpen (which is the way that Logan and O’Flaherty were used last year, and Ohman the year before).
Chessboxin'
November 10th, 2009
10:09 am
How do I say this? How do I say this?
Knowing all that, Kenny Williams nevertheless traded for Jake Peavy.
Kenny wants us to believe he knew all along Vazquez would have the ERA he had in the NL East, but was only incapable of putting up the ERAs he was putting up in the AL.
Maybe true.
But why then trade for Jake Peavy? Wouldn’t the same also be true of Jake Peavy, but maybe even more so considering the pitcher friendly home park Peavy was pitching in in San Diego?
If you are to believe Kenny Williams, he essentially traded one 4.00 ERA guy in the AL/3.00 ERA guy in the NL who eats lots of innings, never gets injured, only makes $11.5 million, and only had two years of contractual risk attached to him for another 4.00 AL ERA guy/3.00 NL ERA guy who doesn’t eat as many innings as the other guy, who is an injury risk, who makes $16 million, and who has four years of contractual risk attached to him (plus what they got back from Atlanta minus the players traded away to San Diego)?
Basically, Kenny Williams admitted to DOB that in trading Vazquez and trading for Peavy, he made a lateral move in performance while assuming more years and millions more in injury risk. His logic in justifying one trade undermines his logic in the other trade.
Daslied
November 10th, 2009
10:09 am
Somebody on MLBtraderumors.com (in the comments section of the Vazquez post) proposed trading Lowe and “other people nobody likes” for a power hitter. Good stuff, that.
Vampirella
November 10th, 2009
10:09 am
None of this blog-blather matters. The Braves aren’t going to top the Fillies. and, even if they did, they’d lose in the first round. and, even if they did manage to make to the World series, the best team in baseball history would spank their little bee-hinds. I don’t even have to tell you who that is. You might pretend not to know whose your daddy — but you do.
DAP
November 10th, 2009
10:11 am
RC, but logan wasnt up the whole year, and oflaherty was used for more than just lefties. ohman was the same way when he was here. by the end of 2009, we had 3 lefties in the ‘pen…i think it turned out to be a good thing.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:13 am
I agree, it would be in a different role….but if he is cheap, that is the key. Over a 3 year span lefties hit .225 off of him, and righties .277, but with only 2 HR’s in 213 AB’s. Also he only issued 46 walks to both lefties and righties over 417 AB’s…..those are impressive numbers from any bullpen arm. With Logan possibly being non-tendered….it never hurts to approach a minor-league deal with him early, and hope he doesn’t pass it up like last year.
CB
November 10th, 2009
10:14 am
The best team in baseball history,gee I am impressed with your sense of history.
RC
November 10th, 2009
10:16 am
DOB (or anyone else familiar with the rules of arbitration),
Since Kelly Johnson is likely to be non-tendered by the Braves if they are unable to trade him, is it possible that they could approach Kelly with a much lower contract than he’d make in arbitration, but comparable to what he’d get on the open marketplace, or would that be considering “tendering” him and thereby force the team to arbitration. I guess what I’m asking is if there is a way for the team to let him know that they won’t offer him arbitration, but that they would still like to sign him for a lower amount? It just seems like a big hole in the system that the Braves would be forced to pay him $4 mil +, but once they release him another team can sign him for $2 mil, without the Braves having that opportunity.
dpelfrey
November 10th, 2009
10:17 am
JReevesNovember 10th, 200910:01 am
What are your thoughts on an incentive-laden deal for a guy coming off surgery??? Same would apply to X. Nady.
While I hold out hope they will clear some salary and make a run at Holliday or Bay, I have a haunting suspicion signing Xavier Nady will be exactly what will happen. He would be an upgrade over Garrett, but not the big bopper they need to take the load off of Chip & Mac. It could be worse though.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:17 am
I will also state that I am FIRMLY on the X. Nady bandwagon. He is going to be this years sleeper pick. He was a stud before he got hurt, and would add excellent depth. It would be ignorant not to at least inquire on him.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:21 am
RC, the rules of arbitration don’t let the player make any less that I believe 20% reduction in their salary. That is the way it is intended. I may be wrong on the percentage, and I like your way of thinking….but the MLBPA uses arbitration to make their payers more money, that is the purpose for which it is designed.
rdawg
November 10th, 2009
10:24 am
I’ve got to admit, I couldn’t see where all the fuss about Mad Men was coming from after one episode, but after truly diving in this season, it really is an incredible show.
RC
November 10th, 2009
10:26 am
RC, the rules of arbitration don’t let the player make any less that I believe 20% reduction in their salary. – JReeves
I understand that. But is it possible for the Braves and KJ to agree to a contract (avoiding arbitration) of a lower amount? I don’t know if that’s even something he would agree to, but given that his home is in Atlanta I figured he might. Because it’s my understanding that once he is non-tendered he can negotiate with the other 29 teams in MLB, but not the Braves. Is that right?
Uncle Rico
November 10th, 2009
10:27 am
DOB –
what about this scenario?
Boston signs Bay & then trades him to us, along w/Justin Masterson, for D-Lowe, Schafer & KJ?
or maybe a low-level prospect if they don’t want KJ.
any chance of something like that?
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:27 am
And DPelfrey, I am not saying that X. Nady should be our only move in the outfield. I am saying it should be one of 2. Here is how our bench and outfield project with Nady. Everyone talked about the Phillies having a CIRCULAR lineup this year, with no beginning and end. Plug a bopper in the cleanup hole, and you add more depth….stronger bench…..and a more complete team. No disrespect to GA, but at this point in his career, Nady is 10x the player, even after TJ.
Starters:
McLouth (L) – CF $4.5 Mil
Prado (R) – 2B $425,000
Chipper (S) – 3b $13 Mil
POWER RH BAT – Trade/FA (R) LF/RF $9.5 Mil for 3 Years****Something in that range
B. McCann (L) – C $5.5 Mil
Laroche (L) – 1B $10 Mil for 2 Years****If he would accept that and stay
Escobar (R) – SS $450,000
X. Nady (R) – LF/RF $7.5 Mil for 3 years****
————– $50.875 Mil
Bench:
B. Conrad (2B) $400,000
Diaz (LF/RF) $1.75 Mil – Arb Raise****
B. Canizares (PH) $400,000
Infante (SS/3B/OF) $2.225 Mil
Ross (C) $1.6 Mil
————- $6.375 Mil
DAP
November 10th, 2009
10:28 am
RC, i think once he is non-tendered, he is a free agent, and any team can sign him for any amount. this includes the braves. the braves can sign him for the minimum, but they have to do it after the non tender him. the order they do it in is important.
David O'Brien
November 10th, 2009
10:28 am
RC, you wrote: Since Kelly Johnson is likely to be non-tendered by the Braves if they are unable to trade him, is it possible that they could approach Kelly with a much lower contract than he’d make in arbitration, but comparable to what he’d get on the open marketplace…?
Yes, they can talk to him or his agent beforehand, let them know they’d still like to bring him back but at a lower salary than he’d get through arbitration, after he becomes a free agent. He could also agree to reject their arbitration offer, something that’s happened many times with teams in the past. Then they can negotiate another contract or sign another contract for an amount already privately agreed upon. In other words, yes, there are ways to keep him without offering him arbitration.
But on the other hand, Kelly might think he has a chance to make more or have a better role elsewhere, in which case he’d want to use this chance to hit the market by not agreeing to any of the above and forcing the Braves to either offer arb or make him a free agent.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:29 am
RC, no under the collective bargaining agreement, it is not an option to take less…..the players association wouldn’t allow that. Here is the specifics:
The club’s salary offer to a player under its control may not be less than 80% of the player’s total compensation from the prior year, and may not be less than 70% of his compensation from 2 years earlier. These rules, however, do not apply to free agents who are offered arbitration.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:31 am
I stand corrected
David O'Brien
November 10th, 2009
10:33 am
Chessboxin’: Funny you mention that. K. Williams was asked about Peavy after saying all of what I quoted him saying (and more) about the difference in the leagues and players going from one to the other.
HIs response to the Peavy question was, “That’s a different animal.” Meaning, he sees Peavy as being too good for it to matter.
(Of course, others might suggest Peavy was also too much of an injury risk at the point that the trade was made. Either way, we’ll find out over time.)
David O'Brien
November 10th, 2009
10:38 am
JCReeves: You’re correct. You and I are both right, actually: Because if they bring back KJ at 80 percent of last year’s salary, that is “much less” than he’d get through arbitration.
John
November 10th, 2009
10:39 am
Please resign Vazquez Mr. Wren. Pretty Please with a cherry on top.
btw, since you like Christina Hendricks so much you should watch this episode of the show “Firefly”, she is very hot in it:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/4542/firefly-our-mrs-reynolds#s-p1-so-i0
CB
November 10th, 2009
10:39 am
If you were Ken Williams and you made this trade,would you not cover your rear with that kind of remark? The trade might still turn in his direction,but right now the Braves look like the winner.
Jim Hertel
November 10th, 2009
10:41 am
David, do you think there is a possibility the Braves will kick the tires on Milton Bradley while they are in Chicago? A Bradley for Lowe trade might be one the Cubs would entertain. Lowe should do well with the tall grass in the Cubs infield. Cox has proven that he can handle difficult players, and if it goes bad — all the Braves would have left would be 1 year at 10 mil.
ccrider
November 10th, 2009
10:42 am
DOB, I do hope Kareem Abdul Jabbar is able to manage his leukemia, but as a college player(Not Pro), I have to go with Bill Walton. Abdul Jabbar was an amazing scorer, but Walton rebounded, passed, ran the court, blocked more shots, defended better and still scored. The championship game against Memphis, 44 points on 21 of 22 shooting and 14 boards was the best all around college game I have ever seen.
keylargo
November 10th, 2009
10:42 am
For those of us in or approaching middle age, he was one of the true sports icons of our lifetimes, and quite possibly the greatest college basketball player of all time. DOB
I can tell you never saw Bob Lienhard play center for UGA.
rammerjammer
November 10th, 2009
10:43 am
This is an interesting nugget from the Dodgers Web site, posted yesterday afternoon, titled Dodgers Need An Ace:
“Derek Lowe was a good, durable pitcher, but when the Dodgers signed him, he was coming off a bad season, except for his performance in the playoffs. The Dodgers chose not to re-sign him because he had a questionable work ethic, in their opinion.”
Questionable work ethic?
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
10:44 am
DOB, This KJ talk leads me to questions about the bench then….what are your indications from the Braves brass in terms on needs? Norton walking/retiring is a forgone conclusion, and we have Ross and Infante back. Would they even want KJ back, or prefer to save money there with a Conrad? Also, Bobby loves his veteran PH, but can’t we save around 1Mil by letting Barbaro take a shot at it? What is your thoughts on the bench situation?
ncscoots
November 10th, 2009
10:46 am
HIs response to the Peavy question was, “That’s a different animal.” Meaning, he sees Peavy as being too good for it to matter.
Yeah, kinda. No offense to Vazquez, but, comparing the guy to a healthy Peavy is just a wee bit of homerism. Now, whether Peavy stays healthy enough to still that conversation might be another topic altogether. But both healthy and head-to-head? Sorry, Peavy’s the pick there.
Acorn
November 10th, 2009
10:49 am
why would the braves trade javy? isn’t it telling that people are asking the same questions? the braves should keep vazquez. they aren’t going to get a hitter worth javy and all teams keep their good prospects now. keep javy, trade lowe.
RC
November 10th, 2009
10:52 am
DOB and JReeves, thanks for the answers! And DOB, I agree that it’s unlikely for Kelly to agree to somthing like that since there seems to be a good chance that another team would offer him more money and/or a starting role. Just wondering if the option was there should both parties agree to go that route.
keylargo
November 10th, 2009
10:52 am
MZ – How’s the weather in MS?
DAP
November 10th, 2009
10:53 am
as for the braves bench, johnson is not ideal since he really only plays 1 position. conrad also most plays 2B, though ue is a little more versatile. but the braves have diory hernandez and chris burke in the minors that can cheaply fill that utility infielder role. i think the braves would do better not to have a guy who just pinch hits.
David O'Brien
November 10th, 2009
10:53 am
jreeves: I don’t see KJ as a good bench option, because he plays two positions (OF and 2B), neither of them much particularly well.
Bobby's Belly
November 10th, 2009
10:56 am
Chess / DOB – Vasquez is not in Chicago because of his psyche, not because he can’t pitch. KW has (for now) committed to Ozzie Guillen and Vasquez simply struggled to produce under Guillen (see last 6 or so starts of pennant race in ‘08) – a mgr. who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Good trade for both parties. Braves needed innings. Sox have cheaper / equivalent pitching. Picked up a catching prospect who should be ready in a yr or two just when AJ is ready to be a backup.
RC
November 10th, 2009
10:59 am
Rammerjammer, I agree with you at 10:43. Prior to this article, I’m never seen anyone mention that team officials questioned Lowe’s work ethic (for any team).
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
11:01 am
So then he will be gone, non-tendered or traded for whatever we can get. So being a team with payroll constraints, we have to assume the bench is a place we need affordable “up-side” guys that can multi-task. Here is how it looks right now:
Bench:
B. Conrad (2B) $400,000 ????
Diaz (LF/RF) $1.75 Mil – Arb Raise****
B. Canizares (PH) $400,000 ????
Infante (SS/3B/OF) $2.225 Mil
Ross (C) $1.6 Mil
————- $6.375 Mil
The two question marks lay at the other utility infielder position, and in the pinch hitter. DOB, you think the Braves would let Barbaro have a shot??? We know he can hit, and Bobby seemed to warm to him after a small stint in the bigs last year. I also think he loves Brooks, in a Pete Orr kind of way. I would rather break camp with these guys and save money for the everyday players. You think the Braves are ok with that DOB???
keylargo
November 10th, 2009
11:01 am
Let’s trade Jojo, Medlan, Schaeffer and Lowe for Ryan Braun. Then, get him to play first base and sign him to a cheap extension. Escobar can take Lowe’s spot in the rotation, and Ryan Howard can hit cleanup.jeffrey d
You have captured the fantasy baseball players mindsetperfectly.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 10th, 2009
11:01 am
Derek Lowe did look sort of heavy this season
Daybed Wagmoe
November 10th, 2009
11:02 am
HIs response to the Peavy question was, “That’s a different animal.” Meaning, he sees Peavy as being too good for it to matter.
Yeah, kinda. No offense to Vazquez, but, comparing the guy to a healthy Peavy is just a wee bit of homerism. Now, whether Peavy stays healthy enough to still that conversation might be another topic altogether. But both healthy and head-to-head? Sorry, Peavy’s the pick there.
Could be homerism, but you could also call what Williams is saying homerism as well. Williams can’t say, without there being backlash from fan base and all over baseball, “Yeah, Peavy’s gonna be worse over here in the AL than he was in the NL. We knew that when we made the trade, but we decided to do it anyway. We don’t expect Peavy to be the pitcher he was in San Diego now that he’s pitching in the AL.” Of course he’s going to say Peavy’s a different animal.
Rob (from SC) no more arm brace
November 10th, 2009
11:06 am
I would like to see the Braves sigh Justin Duchscherer and/or KElvim Escibar on the cheap if at all possible. Escobar would make a good short reliever if he is healthy. Same goes for JD.
ncscoots
November 10th, 2009
11:11 am
KW has (for now) committed to Ozzie Guillen and Vasquez simply struggled to produce under Guillen…in 08
Didn’t seem to bother him much in 2007, though…same manager, same team, same league, same ballpark, and he “struggled” to 15-8, 3.74, 200+ K, and 1.14 WHIP. How do you figure that?
Could be homerism, but you could also call what Williams is saying homerism as well.
Sure, LOL, but that doesn’t stop it from being true.
DAP
November 10th, 2009
11:11 am
if the braves dumped kelly and church along with letting norton and anderson go, thats around $9mil of the 2009 payroll gone. that would be enough to bring up two minimum salaries like hernandez and canizares, as well as sign a guy like cameron. all they have to do is find the money to sign xavier nady (i dont think it will take much) and youve got a very good bench. cameron plays center, mclouth right and nady and diaz share left. canizares PH and backs up first and hernandez is the 25th man. then when heyward is ready, you send down canizares and let nady PH and back up first and corner outfield spots.
this gives you such a versatile group, that guys can gets days off without really sacrificing in the field. mclouth can play center when cameron needs a rest, youve got plenty of depth at all the infield positions, and to protect against injury.
the only thing is if nady costs alot more than i think he will, he isnt a good option to become a bench player in the 2nd half.
Same name, different game
November 10th, 2009
11:16 am
Whatever happened to that guy Coach? I always liked his posts.
keylargo
November 10th, 2009
11:16 am
I will also state that I am FIRMLY on the X. Nady bandwagon. He is going to be this years sleeper pick. JReeves
Apparently you have been sleeping since you missed that Nady had his second TJ surgery July 10. It’s claimed that a position player can come back quicker than a pitcher but I think you have to throw those stats out on the second operation. Plus Nady has played 4 innings in 3 years at first base. He is an outfielder and I don’t want to see an outfielder playing 1B. This isn’t Fantasy Baseball.
ncscoots
November 10th, 2009
11:17 am
cameron plays center, mclouth right and nady and diaz share left. canizares PH and backs up first and hernandez is the 25th man.
DAP, you really, truly, by all that’s holy, have to step back a pace or two from the Hot Stove, LOL. The heat’s getting to you, man.
bravosfosho
November 10th, 2009
11:18 am
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had nothing on rod grizzard.
Matt Layne
November 10th, 2009
11:19 am
DOB: If the Nats dont sign Bobby V. do you see him being the Braves coach in 2011?
Bobby's Belly
November 10th, 2009
11:20 am
ncscoots – Not saying the guy can’t pitch. But when the mgr. loses confidence to the degree Guillen did w/ Vasquez it was time to go. On top of that WS had/have cheaper alternatives. Now they have an ace, power arm ……………………… if healthy. Let’s not compare FW to KW, it won’t go well.
DAP
November 10th, 2009
11:21 am
what, scoots? i thought anything was possible and imagination runs rampant in november?
Chessboxin'
November 10th, 2009
11:24 am
Homerism is what hitters call pitches they hit off Peavy when he’s not at Petco.
His HR9 rates away from Petco are twice what his HR9 rates were at Petco.
2.82 ERA/2.85 FIP at Petco.
3.79 ERA/4.19 FIP away from Petco.
Petco Peavy is a park adjusted fraud.
DAP
November 10th, 2009
11:26 am
keylargo nady has logged 543 innings at 1B in his career. he isnt a complete stranger to the position.
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
11:27 am
DAP
I think if we open the season w/ Diory Hernandez and Barbaro Canizares on the 25 man roster, we are going to be in some trouble…..
I think we can do better on the bench.
Jeff R
November 10th, 2009
11:27 am
Sorry to read about Kareem’s illness. He was great, though I’d put Wilt Chamberlain right up there with him.
I’d be willing to see Wren package Lowe or Kawakami and a solid prospect for a younger righty power bat. But I wouldn’t want that package to include a pitching prospect, unless he’s a second tier prospect.
I don’t know if Schafer is considered damaged goods right now, but if Wren could move him as part of a package, I could live with it.
18 Wheels of Love
November 10th, 2009
11:28 am
My opinion on Lowe is that his mechanics were off on the days he pitched poorly. He would fly open towards 1B on many occasions. I just wonder if he was aware of it or if that is just how he has alway spitched?
ncscoots
November 10th, 2009
11:30 am
what, scoots? i thought anything was possible and imagination runs rampant in november?
Absolutely, LOL. And I give you points for imagination, never doubt it. It’s just that imagining an OF with McLouth, Cameron, and Nady, plus a bench of Barbaro and Diory, doesn’t strike me as reaching for the stars, exactly.
But when the mgr. loses confidence to the degree Guillen did w/ Vasquez it was time to go.
Oh, I don’t disagree with you on that, at all. Didn’t mean to imply otherwise. Just pointing out that Vazquez has been able to do well in the same conditions as in which he has performed less well.
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
11:32 am
DAP
I know you love Cameron and Nady, but they are guys that we might settle for, if we can’t get better players. Nady would be a long shot.
If Nady could come back to his bat of 2008, then I would love to have him in the lineup.
Cameron is said to want more money than the Brew Crew was willing to dole out. Is that a guy we want to go for? I think he might end up back in San Diego.
I would offer alternatives, but to be honest, I get dizzy thinking about all the possibilities. I think it might just be best for me to wait until the first move or two, then try to figure out what is next.
HEY, I have a great idea!!! Why don’t we trade Escobar and Jurrjens for a BIG bat!
(OK, OK, just kidding!)
bruce
November 10th, 2009
11:33 am
Dave — It is so good to read the blog this morning and to begin the exciting time of news and interviews and preparation.
My Kareem story is that I was so impressed how humble and soft spoken he is in person. I paid for one of those autograph sessions and brought a rally towel from a Lakers finals game back in the Detroit years… 87-88 I think when I was working in LA for a year, had autographs on it from Brent Musberger, Chuck Daley, Adrian Dantley and maybe a Laker or two… and asked him to sign it… he was just a kind man who was patiently dealing with all the people in line, admittedly he made money, but he was very gracious. He seemed that way on TV this morning when I saw the very end of his interview. Impressive.
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
11:34 am
18 Wheels
So, are you saying that Lowe did poorly on those starts because his “fly was open?”
DAP
November 10th, 2009
11:34 am
wayne i dont think an opening day bench of infante, hernandez, diaz, canizares, ross is too bad. especially if weve got an outfield of nady, cameron, mclough, and laroche at first.
and once heyward comes up, i really dont think a bench of infante, hernandez, diaz, nady, and ross is bad.
im guessing your biggest problem is with hernandez, since you cant think canizares will have trouble filling greg norton’s shoes….but keeping mind that we would have hernandez as the third option at SS and 2B, and the fourth option at third base. he would be the back up of the backup. you like chirs burke better? whoever this player is (the 25th man, back up of the back up) needs to be making the minimum.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
11:35 am
Keylargo, Nady is said to be progressing well from his second TJ surgery, and is supposed to ready for Spring Training. I also think he is the CAPABLE of playing both outfield and 1B. The key here is depth, I’m not saying he is a gold glover….or even a starter for that matter. I wouldn’t say that Matt Diaz can play CF, but he handled himself well last year….therefore adding more depth to our bench. In the same light, I see no reason why adding Nady to the Bench if the contract is reasonable does not make PERFECT sense.
keylargo
November 10th, 2009
11:37 am
DAP
He (Nady) is primarily an outfielder. Like I said 4 innings in his last 3 years at first. 543 innings is 60 games.
People get fooled by a 1B’s stats because while he can make routine plays without costing the team, where a 1B really makes his money is by digging out bad throws and turning them into outs. You see those short hops starting to turn outs into runners on second base and the 1B does not get the error, his other infielders do.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
11:39 am
Personally, I would rather sign a veteran guy from a Craig Counsell mold than go with Diory. He proved he can handle himself with the glove, but he can’t hit his way out of a paper bag right now. Maybe next year, I would use a one year veteran.
18 Wheels of Love
November 10th, 2009
11:42 am
Wayne,
Maybe that affected his aerodynamics?
DAP
November 10th, 2009
11:42 am
keylargoLike I said 4 innings in his last 3 years at first. 543 innings is 60 games.
so what? he has been viewed as a backup 1st baseman basically his entire career.
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
11:43 am
DAP
Problem with having a guy like Hernandez on the team (unless, of course, he learns how to hit major league pitching), is that ultimately, he DOES get used. Infante goes down the past two years. Escobar, for all his greatness, DOES miss games due to nagging injuries (or an injured psyche, whichever).
And for Canizares replacing Norton. I don’t want anybody replacing Norton. I want someone hitting like Norton did in 2008. I don’t see that a career minor leaguer is going to fill that bill. I think I would rather see Conrad up before either of those two guys, and he leaves much to be desired. Chris Burke??? Big question mark.
I just think that your bench guys get enough playing time and PH at bats that you can’t expect to have a championship caliber team with those two guys on your roster, that is all I am saying.
I just think we can do better….
Would you pay 1.5 million for a top notch pinch hitter? Would dang sure pay for himself over the course of the year.
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2009
11:46 am
Not bad for a home-schooler, eh?
Oh, you make me smile, McFann
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
11:47 am
18 Wheels
The older I get, the more I am afflicted with that same issue. And it definitely affects your aerodynamics for shure!
wjones
November 10th, 2009
11:47 am
“Matt Layne
November 10th, 2009
11:19 am
DOB: If the Nats dont sign Bobby V. do you see him being the Braves coach in 2011?”
What kind of coach are you talking about? Third base coach? First base coach? Bench coach? Hitting coach? Pitching coach?
I don’t think he would be interested in coaching, but he definitely would be listening if they wanted to interview him for manager.
However, I’m not sure what JS’s or FW’s opinion of him personally is. I can pretty much guess what BC thinks of him.
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2009
11:48 am
Shure…
Mid Town Joe
November 10th, 2009
11:48 am
DOB
When talking about the great Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, we must not forget his great movie appearances in “Airplane”, and “Game of Death” with Bruce Lee.
AustinBrave
November 10th, 2009
11:49 am
I would love to see Nomar as our utility guy. Plus he went to Georgia Tech he may want to come home.
rammerjammer
November 10th, 2009
11:50 am
Hey, if Nady wants to sign for Scott Proctor money, I’m all for it. What’s that? His agent is Scott Boras, you say?
(cough, cough)
Uh, never mind.
dap01
November 10th, 2009
11:52 am
When healthy Peavy was a great pitcher but from the first day he arrived in the big leagues, people have said that his mechanics would lead to bad health. That seems to be the case.
As of now, I would rather have Javy. He wants to be here and he is doing great. Peavy did not want to be here and he is not doing so great.
I take Javy!
wjones
November 10th, 2009
11:53 am
“Personally, I would rather sign a veteran guy from a Craig Counsell mold than go with Diory. He proved he can handle himself with the glove, but he can’t hit his way out of a paper bag right now. Maybe next year, I would use a one year veteran.”
Weird thing about Diory, when they were forced to bring him up, they seemed a bit concerned about his defense, but needed him because he could play short, and hoped his bat would override any defensive shortcomings. Turns out, after batting around .370 in Gwinnett, he couldn’t get up to .200 for the big club, but handled the glove pretty well. I don’t think we can expect .370, nor should we, but surely his numbers in Gwinnett translated to a decent hitter, so the fact he “got his feet wet” last year could help him to be a decent option off the bench this year. After all, his bad MLB numbers were a much smaller sample than his terrific AAA numbers.
Ray Pugh
November 10th, 2009
11:56 am
A) Lowe does not have negative trade, especially in a offseason lacking quality starters (his FIP was a solid 4 flat, which also suggests the possibility of bounceback year).
B) One thing none of you are thinking is that he can be flipped for PROSPECTS if we offset some of his costs.
C) THEN, FW flips said prospects (and maybe one of our own) for a Nelson Cruz, Dan Uggla.
OR
D) Trade Lowe straight up for Carlos or Derek Lee (if he’ll waive his no trade clause)
OR
E) Dump Lowe on big market taker and use the salary to sign Bay. And YES, he is worth the money he’ll command (to us at least).
In any of scenarios A-E: Bravos 2010 NL EAST CHAMPS
McFann Ô
November 10th, 2009
11:56 am
jeffrey d–
Thank you!
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
11:59 am
jeffrey
maybe I should have said “fore shore”?
Wayne in Utah
November 10th, 2009
12:02 pm
A little rainy over in Pepsi Cola Florida…
P. W. Hjort
November 10th, 2009
12:03 pm
NL DH argument:
Every idea is always met with some opposition. Nothing passes unanimously. And there will certainly be people who are opposed to the NL adopting the DH rule. However, the first reason that I think the NL will adopt a DH is because the DH position is good for players. It extends the careers of aging, positionless sluggers. When the right circumstances come around, one of them will find himself out of a job. He’ll then start to complain about the NL not having a DH, which will begin to formalize the polarization on the issue. And while initially some players will be opposed to it (likely the majority), eventually they’ll gravitate towards favoring the DH, due to the fact that it’s financially favorable for the players. The pitchers wouldn’t care, they’re getting paid market rate, regardless of the market. The owners could benefit from sticking an aging star in their DH spot for a season to sell a few thousand more season tickets. Ultimately, I think it makes economic sense for baseball, all around, but the support of the players alone might be enough to get it done.
Secondly, in general, when a firm position is breached, there is a natural tendency for sentiment to drift away from the original position. Change always leads to more change. Since the AL has established the DH, I think the general opinion on the issue has drifted from almost exclusively unfavorable to perhaps even 50-50. And I think it will continue to gravitate to the point where a firm majority of the baseball world will embrace the idea of implementing the DH rule in the NL.
keylargo
November 10th, 2009
12:06 pm
I would agree that Nady would be acceptable in LF if he is healthy. But I don’t see it in Spring Training. I just think it will take more time to heal the second time around. But, again, if he is ready to play 100% effort in LF, I would like to have him.
But on the other hand, how long can you wait to know if he will be 100% in Feb or March? If you sign him in December, I don’t think you can project that. Do you want to wait until Feb and find out he has had a setback and will not be ready? We did that last year and had a year of Garret Anderson. And I sure am not open to the thinking that he can play 1B if he is not ready for LF.
I think it very wise to sign LaRoche for 3 years and have my worries be about having two first basemen instead of not having any if Freeman does not pan out.
dmack2027
November 10th, 2009
12:09 pm
First of all, regarding the Vazquez deal, I think people discount Boone Logan as a meaningless throw in. Logan is a LHP that throws in the mid 90’s (from a 3/4 angle) and a decent breaking ball. Not many guys feature that kind of (closer) ability. I hope the Braves find a way to keep him in the ‘pen.
Nelson Cruz would be ideal. I wonder what it would take to get him. It certainly helps that the manager is less than thrilled with his approach at times. A player being in a manger’s doghouse can dramatically decrease the value.
If the Braves acquire a young outfielder (like Cruz), one has to wonder about the Braves’ plans for Jordan Schafer. If you agree Heyward will man RF for years to come, and Nate McClouth will be in one of the other OF spots, that leaves one OF position open.
David O'Brien
November 10th, 2009
12:11 pm
Let’s trade Jojo, Medlan, Schaeffer and Lowe for Ryan Braun. –keylargo
Good idea. That is, if the Brewers were going to trade Braun. But as I and 75 others here have said repeatedly, they are not doing that.
JReeves
November 10th, 2009
12:14 pm
True, Brewers won’t….but I bet you Texas would take that for Nelson Cruz…..Take out Medlen and I do that in a second.
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2009
12:17 pm
keylargo?? That was MY retarded proposal!!