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2,690 comments Add your comment
CB
November 19th, 2009
11:14 am
Random, we need you to review Eric’s track record. You out there,friend?
N8
November 19th, 2009
11:15 am
“I just don’t like the idea of bringing him up in April and having to send him back down in June similar to the Schafer situation.” Efrim
Are you of the belief that Schafer sucked and thus his send down? Or that it was due to the injury he has since admitted to hiding?
I’m not trying to argue. But I’m of the belief that without the injury, he probably holds his own all year, and thus was ready for the callup at the beginning of the year.
The fact that they pretty much shut down his AAA season due to the injury, tells me it wasn’t fake.
I’m less concerned with the team going with Heyward at the beginning of the year with an affordable veteran backup as insurance, than I am with them going into 2010 with Diaz penciled in as a fulltime player as Bowman’s article states.
Let’s not forget about Schafer, while we’re at it too. A strong spring puts him back in the mix, imo.
dpelfrey
November 19th, 2009
11:18 am
Wayne in Utah @10:23am
What are you talking about. I don’t play fantasy baseball and do I really have to justify what I said. I’ve never said Wren and Bobby aren’t great baseball guys. I like them both and I’m glad they’re in charge. But I have history on my side to back up my statement that Bobby typically has a guy or two that make us all scream when he calls on them too much. If you need to see the list, here goes…
Dave Gallagher – 1994
Bill Pecota -1994
Dwight Smith – 1996
Ed Giovanola – 1996
Keith Lockhart – 1997-2002
Dennis Martinez – 1998
Terry Mulholland – 2000
Trenidad Hubbard – 2000
Kevin Grybowski – 2002-2004
Darren Bragg – 2002-2003
Jessie Garcia – 2002-2004 (just a continuation of Lockhart, although I liked him)
Shane Reynolds – 2003
Ken Ray – 2006
Chris Woodward – 2007
And the three recent ones I mentioned…
Buddy Carlyle – 2007-2009
Jeff Bennett – 2007-2009
Greg Norton – 2008-2009
The defense rests…
Coach (2011 or Bust)
November 19th, 2009
11:21 am
Lew is correct, most of the big name free agents and rumored to be traded are far beyond the Braves budget. As for trading Derek Lowe, it shouldn’t be a problem. John Lackey is rumored to potentially cost around 17-18 million per season which makes Lowe a bargain. Especially when considering how consistent and durable that Derek Lowe has been over the last eight seasons (He’s averaged 15 wins and 10 losses with an ERA around 4.0 since 2002).
And as for the the free agent bargain bin, there are some cheap rehab projects to be had. Players like Troy Glaus, Khalil Greene and Adrian Beltre are coming off injury plagued seasons and the Braves infield needs help too. I would sign any of the three to a minor league contract with a million dollar base salary if they made the big league team out of spring training.
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
11:27 am
But I’m of the belief that without the injury, he probably holds his own all year, and thus was ready for the callup at the beginning of the year.
N8, I was for a different option than Schafer prior to 2009. Now, I was kind of hoping that different option would of been someone other than Josh Anderson or Gregor Blanco, but that’s a ways back. I think he probably would of been okay. But there really is no way of knowing how he would of done. Would .250/.320/.380 warrant Schafer staying here the entire year in CF? Would he of been better or worse than that? No way of knowing, imo. I’d like to keep Heyward in the minors until June, but that’s just me. I’d rather find an outfield solution and have Heyward push his way to a platoon role with Matt Diaz by June. I think Diaz is a good player, but I still think he is better suited as a platoon corner outfielder, not an everyday guy.
18 Wheels of Love
November 19th, 2009
11:29 am
dpelffrey,
How could you leave off Travis Smith?
DAP
November 19th, 2009
11:33 am
available closers:
Mike Gonzalez
Kevin Gregg
Fernando Rodney
Rafael Soriano
Jose Valverde
Billy Wagner
Chad Cordero
Jason Isringhausen
Brandon Lyon
J.J. Putz
Troy Percival
Takashi Saito
Eddie Guardado
a few ofr these guys are probably washed up (percival, guardado) but they all have closing experience and have been successful doing it at one time or another. the braves ought to be able to find a guy to close for a decent price tag.
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
11:33 am
I would sign any of the three to a minor league contract with a million dollar base salary if they made the big league team out of spring training.
Coach, you could be right about the other two, but I’m pretty sure Adrian Beltre is going to get a multi year deal worth millions and not a minor league deal/spring invite.
Wayne in Utah
November 19th, 2009
11:34 am
dpelfrey
Has there ever been a team in the history of baseball who didn’t have a player or two on the opening day roster, or who joined to fill in during the year, that didn’t have an off year???
And the fact that you list the last three with 2-3 years inclusive, does that mean you didn’t appreciate Buddy’s relief and emergency starting work in 2008? How about Bennet in 08? And I guess since Norton sucked last year, that negates the great season he had the year before.
Damn friend, hindsight is 20/20.
I just get tired of the inferences of some that the Braves like to hang onto guys who suck. I guess Conrad would have fixed all ills last year, huh.
Keep it real man.
DAP
November 19th, 2009
11:39 am
bobby’s belly Did you review Eric’s track record?
haha no. im not random or i would go back and check. ill have to take his word on it, but i dont really care weather he thinks he is some sort of braves prophet.
wjones
November 19th, 2009
11:39 am
One thing to look at when teams cry about their bottom line:
There is a little reporting benefit available to teams who have long-term contracts. They can depreciate the contract over the life of said contract, while also expensing the salary as a payroll expense. In other words, a double deduction. Let’s say, for instance, a player was signed to a 4-year, $60 million contract. I know we would never do such a thing, but humor me. So we deduct the depreciation on the contract, let’s just assume straight-line, since that would be lowest. So that’s 15 million. In addition, there would be a 15 million deduction for salary. So a team that earns $20 million could claim to have only earned $5 million, while a team that earned $10 million would be claiming a $5 million loss. And that’s only one contract. What if you also have a $27 million, 3-year contract, a $30 million, three year contract, and a two-year $8 million contract? That’s an additional $38 million in paper losses, assuming straight line, that a team could claim. So a team that actually earned $30 million could claim a loss of $8 million. Interesting, huh?
dmack2027
November 19th, 2009
11:40 am
I’d like to see the Braves take a flier on Delmon Young. He is young, athletic, and right handed. They might be able to get him for Kelly. Wouldnt that be a good flier to take? Kid still has talent, there is no question about that. Plus, he is relatively inexpensive and would not cost much in terms of prospects.
Klaus
November 19th, 2009
11:54 am
wjones – Lowe has a 4 year $60mm contract.
Interesting analysis. I think the players and the owners need more transparency on the financial side.
The next labor agreement is going to be messy and it could be the owners get hung out to dry if any of the Boras’s claims are even remotely true.
More transparency would be good for fans as well. It will keep people honest and provide season ticket holders in particular with info they need before they make a major investment.
Owners and GMs will hate this b/c if they are squirreling away money the gig will be up and fans will vote with their feet.
Given the money fans pour into MLB they have a right to know where its going if not into the product on the field (re: their team).
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
11:58 am
dmack2027, yeah, cause the Twins would really want kelly for D Young, come on now.
Random
November 19th, 2009
12:04 pm
CB (November 19th, 2009 11:14 am): “we need you to review Eric’s track record. You out there,friend?
“
HAI! P&AF.
You talkin’ about Eric from MO?
There may be a conflict of interest — we two have clashed before. I may not be unbiased.
(It ended up with me pointing out to him that his blognomen was invalid — it should be Eric out of Mo by Bo, iaw the international guidelines of animal husbandry nomenclature.)
PS: Oh, my — I see what you mean. He’s Lentzed us: “if you look back on the past year you will find I was right over 90% of the time. I was right on who we would get, who we would not get, who would get traded, when who would get called up, if who would get called up, and where the Braves would finish.”
Well, I might see what I can do.
dmack2027
November 19th, 2009
12:04 pm
It may take more than just Kelly. What I do know is that they have talked of non-tendering him. Also, he would require a LOT less than Nellie Cruz.
jed
November 19th, 2009
12:12 pm
at 24, delmon young’s not a bad idea at all. certainly seems to have more upside than willingham. what’s the story on delgado? is he fully healthy? what does he expect money-wise? his 2008 numbers are pretty great: 38 hr/115rbi/.271 .353 .518 .871.
BravoMan
November 19th, 2009
12:31 pm
It wouldn’t surprise me if Wagner was the first of the Braves off season acquisitions..
njbraves
November 19th, 2009
12:35 pm
Billy Wagner will enrage this fanbase by the first week of June. He isn’t very good, never was very good, and isn’t getting any younger or better.
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
12:35 pm
Twins GM said they will tender Young a contract
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
12:37 pm
It wouldn’t surprise me if Wagner was the first of the Braves off season acquisitions..
Yeah, lets just hand over a first round draft pick. Who needs those……
BravoMan
November 19th, 2009
12:39 pm
Hey im jst reporting what im hearing from research, but we are going to be getting our fair share of picks from Gonzo leaving and possibly Soriano if they decide to offer him arbitration which Bowman thinks they will
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
12:46 pm
So, if we offered arbitration to Gonzalez and he signs elsewhere, we get first round picks, and if we sign Wagner and the Sox offered him arbi, then they get first round picks, right? Question is, who would get the first pick? If its us, I say sign Wagner even if they offer arbi because we would still pick before the Sox.
N8
November 19th, 2009
12:46 pm
DOB, what is MLB’s reasoning behind not allowing draft picks to be part of trades? Seems to work in the NFL. I think teams sometimes would rather have a draft pick than a prospect, because it’s just more guys to draft that fit their approach and they can be in complete control of their development, rather than taking on somebody with upside, but who was maybe taught to do things in a way which they disagree with.
Never have understood why they don’t allow draft picks to be traded.
rammerjammer
November 19th, 2009
12:47 pm
Interesting how Schafer’s wrist is healing ahead of schedule (according to Wren last week) and now Bowman says the outfield “doesn’t seem to be as great of a concern.”
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
12:52 pm
Yanks are letting teams know that Swisher is available.
DAP
November 19th, 2009
12:56 pm
Yanks are letting teams know that Swisher is available.
get ‘em wren.
Insane blogger who thinks Lowe is tradeable
November 19th, 2009
12:57 pm
Swisher for Lowe!!!!
18 Wheels of Love
November 19th, 2009
12:57 pm
Lowe for Swisher/prospect
Sign Wagner
Trade for Willingham
dpelfrey
November 19th, 2009
12:59 pm
Wayne, I’m not talking about guys that had off years. And I didn’t say these guys didn’t contribute at all. I could have included Reitsma in that list, but he had 2 pretty decent years.
I’m talking about guys that it was painfully obvious were not to be relied upon in key situations, that were consistently put out there in key situations. They did okay sometimes, but they were definitely guys that made you say…”here we go again.” I’m sure a lot of other people on this blog would agree.
You’re reading too much into my comments. I think the loyalty Bobby shows to struggling players is admirable. It’s just tough to watch sometimes, that’s all.
Canadian Braves Fan
November 19th, 2009
1:00 pm
that purposal doesn’t do enough to make playoff
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
1:00 pm
Yanks are letting teams know that Swisher is available.
Let’s see, Cashman traded Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez for Swisher last season. My guess is that it’s going to cost a tad more for him this time around.
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:01 pm
Am I wrong for thinking that Matt Diaz could put up similar numbers as Willingham, but with better hustle and better defense.
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:01 pm
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
1:00 pm
Yanks are letting teams know that Swisher is available.
Where did you read this
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:03 pm
DOB, what is MLB’s reasoning behind not allowing draft picks to be part of trades?
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I remember reading before that the reason was that MLB was afraid of small market teams “selling” picks to larger market teams in order to help their bottom line. If that is the reason, it definitely is outdated at this point, because small market teams routinely pass over the top available talent due to “signability”, meaning that the best prospects end up with the large market teams anyway. In my mind MLB should either a)set up a slotting system for draft bonuses (which won’t happen unless the union realizes that veterans are the ones suffering when high school kids get paid $10 million just to sign) or b)allow trading of picks so that small market teams can at least get SOMETHING of value out of a top pick. If you are a team like San Diego with the #2 pick, would you rather be able to trade down and get another couple of prospects, or be forced to use it on the 20th best player available, because you can’t afford to sign 1 thru 19?
dpelfrey
November 19th, 2009
1:03 pm
It’s a twitter feed from Bob Nightengale that MLBTR picked up.
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
1:04 pm
Rob from SC, mlbtraderumors.com. It’s a rumor. One of the hundreds this time of year.
Robert
November 19th, 2009
1:04 pm
“Billy Wagner will enrage this fanbase by the first week of June. He isn’t very good, never was very good”
So, being one for fifteen in playoff opportunities qualifies one for sainthood and the Hall of Fame, but allowing only one baserunner per inning and having a career ERA of 2.39 isnt very good?
Gotcha
McFann O
November 19th, 2009
1:04 pm
bravesgrl4life–
Good to read from you, too! Glad things are going well. That trip sounds exciting–and a late Happy Birthday!
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:04 pm
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
1:00 pm
Yanks are letting teams know that Swisher is available.
Where did you read this
It’s on MLBTR, citing a Bob Nightengale story on USA Today.
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:05 pm
Sorry, citing a Bob Nightengale Twitter posting.
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:08 pm
“Billy Wagner will enrage this fanbase by the first week of June. He isn’t very good, never was very good”
Agree that he CURRENTLY isn’t very good (when talking about top tier closers), but to say he never was very good is really ignorant. He was incredible in Houston, and shut down the Braves many times (when the Braves offense was actually a powerhouse).
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:09 pm
I would pass on Swisher. He does not make enough contact. Power is overrated if you strike out too much. Unless you have 40-50 HR power
abwright
November 19th, 2009
1:10 pm
Wayne in Utah, 11:34 am … “Has there ever been a team in the history of baseball who didn’t have a player or two … that didn’t have an off year???
…
I just get tired of the inferences of some that the Braves like to hang onto guys who suck.”
Wayne,
Surely you know that the guy who didn’t play would have had a better season than the guy who did play and had a poor season. In an alternate reality, of course. Since the guy who didn’t play, didn’t play.
I’m sure that Brooks Conrad, the savior of the universe, would never have struck out on a check swing to end the ‘09 season if he had not been sent down to AAA. Had Ol’ Brooksie played the year out in the bigs, he would’uv had his break out season and hit a home run on that last AB.
And the “Wheels of If” spin on and on.
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
1:13 pm
Keith Law just put up an article on ESPN.com(Insider only):
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4670463&name=law_keith
He thinks Gonzalez and Soriano are the top two free agent relievers on the market. In the comments section below he was asked if the Braves should offer both arbitration and he stated that he’d absolutely offer on both and take either back on a one year deal. But I’m really not sure if he is thinking about the Braves finances/needs when making that reco. I do agree with him about Gonzo and Soriano being the top two relief pitchers on the market.
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:14 pm
as much as Greg Norton sucked, he was not the reason we missed the playoff’s
rammerjammer
November 19th, 2009
1:15 pm
Here’s a quote from a Monday MLB.COM article about the Yankees:
“Landing a right fielder would allow them to deploy Nick Swisher as a full-time DH who wouldn’t have to come out of tight games for a defensive replacement.”
Fruitcake
November 19th, 2009
1:16 pm
Jason Bay rejected a contract offer from the Red Sox worth close to $60MM over four years, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. We’ve heard for a while that Bay wants to test the free agent market, so the Red Sox suspected Bay might turn their offer down.
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:16 pm
Soriano just rubs me the wrong way sometimes. I hate how he shows no anger after blowing a game. I like a fiery closer
DAP
November 19th, 2009
1:22 pm
although jonny gomes has more power potential than swisher….swisher is probably more of a sure thing…i like them both.
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:24 pm
Soriano just rubs me the wrong way sometimes. I hate how he shows no anger after blowing a game. I like a fiery closer
Huh? Soriano looks like he’s ALWAYS showing anger. He may not be “fiery”, but he’s at least smouldering
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:31 pm
RC
Soriano looks like he is going through the motions out there.
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
1:31 pm
Agree that he CURRENTLY isn’t very good – RC
HUH, did you check his stats after he came back this year?
He had a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3rds innings with 26 K’s and a .154 BAA. Yeah, he CURRENTLY isnt very good.
Look up numbers before you post a non factual statement.
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:32 pm
Soriano looks like he is going through the motions out there.
Yeah, but the motions are striking people out with 96 mph heat and then staring them down. What else do you want?
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
1:33 pm
Oh, and he was also throwing 97 mph. 97!!!!!!!! for a left hander is awesome!!!
DAP
November 19th, 2009
1:33 pm
rob from SCHe does not make enough contact. Power is overrated if you strike out too much. Unless you have 40-50 HR power
he had a .371OBP last year. who cares how he made his outs? 126Ks to 97BB is very good.
BravesfaninWis
November 19th, 2009
1:35 pm
I see that this was already posted, and I agree with the others here for the trade.
Lets get Swisher from the Yankees and give them Lowe. We get our power hitting OF who happens to be a switch hitter so we won’t have to worry about the different pitching matchups.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
Random
November 19th, 2009
1:37 pm
P-Town Brave (November 19th, 2009 10:45 am): “BTW, anyone thought of doing a blog weekend trip where a bunch of us out of towners can all make a trip down to the ATL and meet up? Well, those of us that get along…I mean I wouldn’t want Random to show up just to kick my *ss.”
Surely you don’t think that would be my only reason for going?
Rob (from SC)
November 19th, 2009
1:39 pm
RC
November 19th, 2009
1:32 pm
Soriano looks like he is going through the motions out there.
Yeah, but the motions are striking people out with 96 mph heat and then staring them down. What else do you want?
A closer who doesn’t go on homerun binges
10
November 19th, 2009
1:39 pm
Soriano, Gonzalez, Moylan – $18 million projected combined salary, 223 innings combined, 2.74 ERA, 2.97 FIP. They can keep them all for what they were willing to pay Burnett last winter, with about the same number of innings, and a far better run prevention performance. Would you like to let an ace with 225 innings with a 2.74 ERA walk out the door, when you can keep him for $18 million?
If Soriano and Gonzalez walk, and Vazquez gets traded, you’re letting 370 innings of a sub 3.00 ERA walk out the door.
Lowe, Kawakami – $23 million combined, 350 innings, 4.31 ERA
Vazquez, Soriano, Moylan – $25 million projected combined, 370 innings, 2.80 ERA
And somehow Lowe and Kawakami might still be here while the other 3 won’t.
Keeping Lowe and Kawakami and losing Vazquez, Soriano, and Gonzalez is about a 50 run or 5 win loss for the same number of dollars. Foolish. Vazquez better get you back a league minimum making 5 WAR player to make up for that loss.
Trade Kawakami and Lowe, offer arbitration to Gonzalez and Soriano, and keep Vazquez.
10
November 19th, 2009
1:43 pm
Soriano, Gonzalez, Moylan – $18 million projected combined salary, 223 innings combined, 2.74 ERA, 2.97 FIP. They can keep them all for what they were willing to pay Burnett last winter, with about the same number of innings, and a far better run prevention performance. Would you like to let an ace with 225 innings with a 2.74 ERA walk out the door, when you can keep him for $18 million?
If Soriano and Gonzalez walk, and Vazquez gets traded, you’re letting 370 innings of a sub 3.00 ERA walk out the door.
Lowe, Kawakami – $23 million combined, 350 innings, 4.31 ERA
Vazquez, Soriano, Gonzalez – $25 million projected combined, 370 innings, 2.80 ERA
And somehow Lowe and Kawakami might still be here while the other 3 won’t.
Keeping Lowe and Kawakami and losing Vazquez, Soriano, and Gonzalez is about a 50 run or 5 win loss for the same number of dollars. Foolish. Vazquez better get you back a league minimum making 5 WAR player to make up for that loss.
Trade Kawakami and Lowe, offer arbitration to Gonzalez and Soriano, and keep Vazquez.
dpelfrey
November 19th, 2009
1:43 pm
Swisher wasn’t very good last year when it counted. Situational splits from 2009,
Bases empty: .875 OPS
Runners on: .855 OPS
RISP: .741OPS
RISP w/ 2 outs: .583 OPS
It should be noted that last year was not in line with the rest of his career in these situations.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
1:43 pm
dpelfrey wrote: Speaking of McCann’s eyesight…DOB has anyone talked with Mac after his lasik? I’m curious if he’s taken batting practice yet and how things went.
I had lasik 6 years ago. It’s still some of the best money I’ve spent, but I lost a lot of depth perception, especially at night. I can’t play outfield anymore during night games, I misjudge fly balls and look like a douche. Or maybe I look like a douch to start with and missing a fly ball just brings attention to that fact. That’s not for me to judge.
I haven’t talked to him, but word from Braves is that he’s doing fine, normal. He played in his celebrity softball game (at night) without glasses, which is probably a good indication.
Sounds like you (dpelfrey) had just about as bad an experience with Lasik as possible, man? Who did yours, someone doing out of some strip-center storefront shop?
No, but seriously: I’m not a proponent of Lasik, but that’s just because I’m used to wearing glasses and contacts and don’t want anyone cutting on my cornea or whatever. But the vast majority of what is probably hundreds of players who’ve had it, have no problems or very insignificant problems. Which is why McCann’s problems last year were news — well, that and fact he’s an All-Star and Silver Slugger hitter who had to go on the DL.
I’ll try to call McCann soon to see if he’ll comment. But it sounds like he’s doing fine.
keylargo
November 19th, 2009
1:44 pm
Having read your comments this year, I couldn’t let you get away with your LentzLike claim of being 90% correct.
Here, you and another blog wizzard “Dadgum” discuss the braves outfield situation. Actual HR’s Diaz 13, Anderson 1, Schafer 2 Francoeur 5 in 304 ab’s as a Brave
Eric from MO
February 22nd, 2009
11:05 am
Dadgum,”I like Anderson/Diaz in LF, Shaefer in CF, and Francouer in RF. In fact, that group should have an over/under of 50 homers. I’m taking the over.”
Eric from Mo
I will take the under. I would guess Diez gets 8, Anderson gets 4, Schafer 12, and Francouer (I will give some benefit) 20. That adds up to 44. With all that being said I would still rather have these guys than Anderson, Nady, or Swisher because I still dont believe they would improve us much, if any. With these young guys we get speed and they dont cost us anything.
Eric from MO
February 24th, 2009
11:10 pm
justdoit why would you spend 20 million on Lackey? 4 years ago he was good but his last 3 seasons not so much. Last year he pitched only 108 innings and the 2 seasons before that he had ERA over 3.6. Not saying he is terrible but his last 3 years havent been that good.
Now Lackey is the #1 free agent pitcher in baseball. Great talent evaluation.
Eric from MO
February 20th, 2009
10:39 pm
OldTimer I think many would agree with you that the Braves wont make the playoffs but why will they be worse. Give us something that is going to make us worse. I personally think the Braves will win 80-85 games.
What happened to the 86 you shamelessly told the blog you predicted today?
Eric from MO
March 22nd, 2009
2:45 pm
Just think if we didnt sign an outfielder like I said all offseason we could afford Ohman. Damn! I really wish I wasnt right all the time.
12.1 innings in 21 games in 2009 for Ohman. We sure could have used him.
Eric from MO
March 26th, 2009
6:45 pm
For the record I wanted Anderson to get the job at the beggining of ST.
240 .276 .304 .580 in 118 games. The Braves sure could have used this production out of CF
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
1:45 pm
Macon Braves: yeah, I got into Modern Family after hearing so much good about it. Missed the first few episodes but have seen all the others. This week’s was very good. Ed O’Neil’s got a great character. But his chunky stepson is the best.
dpelfrey
November 19th, 2009
1:45 pm
That said, Swisher would be a definite upgrade. I’d be interested to see he’s available from a source other than a twitter feed.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
1:46 pm
N8: I was just surprised that Bobby finished ahead of Fredi Gonzalez, that’s all I was saying. And, to an extent, Charlie Manuel.
BravoMan
November 19th, 2009
1:47 pm
Personally I think Swisher is a little goofy but Wren was in the race for him last year before he was delt to NY so you never know…
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
1:48 pm
Monty, Prado is a legit 5-11, perhaps a little taller. He’s not 6-1, but he’s also not 5-9.
The reliever, Kimbrel, is also listed as 5-11 and looks to be about an inch or so shorter. Very common in baseball and other sports to give them an inch or two.
Tommy Hanson isn’t his listed 6-6. He’s about an inch shorter than that.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
1:50 pm
Daslied: First time I saw the name Bean Stringfellow, I thought it was a typo. Maybe Ben, I thought.
Can you imagine the night Mr. and Mrs. Stringfellow decided that “Bean” was a perfect name? Or maybe it’s short for something else, though I can’t imagine what.
Stringbean Stringfellow, perhaps?
dpelfrey
November 19th, 2009
1:51 pm
DOB, lasik wasn’t that bad and I had it done at a reputable place.
Like I said, it’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent. With everything in life, there are pros and cons. I don’t have to mess with glasses or contacts (which is good since my eyes were so dry before the surgery I couldn’t wear the contacts). I’ll take the starbursts at night and less than stellar depth perception any day. To me, it’s a fair trade-off. And I don’t typically play outfield (not that I’m playing now with 3 kids under the age of 5), so it’s not a big deal.
lavell12
November 19th, 2009
2:00 pm
DOB
Who gets traded, Lowe or Vazquez? What type of deal could we get in return?
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:03 pm
lavell12: If I knew who was going to get traded between Lowe and Vazquez, I’d write it. I don’t. No one knows yet. The Braves would like to trade Lowe rather than Vazquez. But first they’ve gotta find a taker for Lowe. And if they exhaust that search or think there’s not going to be a good deal out there, someone who’d take all or most of Lowe’s salary, then I think they’ll trade Vazquez. But I the third week of November isn’t when they have to decide that, fortunately for them.
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
2:04 pm
lavell12, DOB knows about as much as you do at the moment, and besides, this has been mentioned and talked about for weeks.
Eric from MO
November 19th, 2009
2:05 pm
Keylargo I said under, which I was right.
I stil wouldn give Lackey 20 million. Dont know what your arguement there is.I even said he wasn terrible just wouldnt give him 20 million.
As for wins go look on opening night, which is what I said, and you will see I said 87 and they ended up with 86. I made my prediction after ST.
As for Anderson, that was better than Schafer. He was our best option at the beginning of the season. We didnt have McLouth. If we did I would obviously picked him. Wasnt an option.
Nice try though.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:08 pm
Lincecum wins in one of the closest races ever over Carpenter and Wainwright. That’s way I thought it should and would go.
beekay
November 19th, 2009
2:08 pm
We need to offer all three players arbitration….Gonzo will get multi year offers and turn us down, Soriano should most likely get offers elsewhere, and if he doesn’t , I’m fine giving him 8 mill to be our closer over one year vs someone like Billy Wags….Roachie would be worth one year and 8-9 mill to keep the seat warm until Freddie arrives in 2011. Worst case scenario we will have Sori and Roachie for a combined 16 mill and a first round pick for Gonzo, then all we need is a power hitting OF and we have a solid team
O.J.
November 19th, 2009
2:09 pm
DOB, any way of knowing what place Jurrjens and Vazquez placed in the voting?
10
November 19th, 2009
2:10 pm
Who wasn’t predicting something between 82 and 88 wins? So big deal you predicted 87 wins. The whole world was predicting around that.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:10 pm
Only the second time that a pitcher has won the Cy while not having the most first-place votes. Lincecum had 11 first-place votes, while third-place finisher Wainwright had 12 first-place votes.
Only other time a pitcher won without most first-place votes? Glavine in 1998, when he had 11 and Trevor Hoffman had 13.
DAP
November 19th, 2009
2:11 pm
eric from MO if you make a whole bunch of contradictory predictions, a few of them will come true. you are going to tell us now which predictions count towards your being right 90% of the time? just admit that it was a ridiculous thing to say and we will move on.
Daslied
November 19th, 2009
2:11 pm
Dang, DOB on the Q&A assault!
Thanks.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:12 pm
By the way, Vazquez got one second-place vote to finish a (very) distant fourth with three points, and Dan Haren got one third-place vote to finish fifth with one point.
So it was near-unanimous that Lincecum, Carpenter and Wainwright were the top three, in some order.
(voting goes five points for first-place vote, three for second, one for third)
lavell12
November 19th, 2009
2:16 pm
Where did JJ finish?
Eric from MO
November 19th, 2009
2:17 pm
DAP I dont know how I really made a bunch of contradicting predictions but fine. I dont care.
Gary O
November 19th, 2009
2:17 pm
DOB,
Have you seen the article where former football players are complaining about your Jayhawks coach?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4669621
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:19 pm
O.J.: The only two votes that anyone got besides the top three were Vazquez, with one second-place vote to finish in fourth place overall, and Dan Haren, with one third-place vote to finish fifth.
It’s not the like the MVP race, where voters vote for a top 10. Only three make ballot in other awards, and in the Cy Young race voters clearly almost every voter saw those three — Lincecum, Carpenter, Wainwright — as the top tier.
Too bad Vazquez (or Jurrjens) didn’t get good run support, or they could have won at least 18 games apiece and been a lot closer in the voting.
RC
November 19th, 2009
2:23 pm
Where did JJ finish?
Tied for 5th. He tied with Manny Acosta (technically true).
10
November 19th, 2009
2:23 pm
Soriano, Gonzalez, Moylan – $18 million, 223 innings, 2.74 ERA
Moylan – $3?? million, 73 innings, 2.84 ERA
Imagine if your team had an $18 million dollar making, 225 innings eating beast of ace.
And your team decided to turn him into a $3 million dollar making, 75 innings pitching situational set up man against righthanders (not even a closer!!!!).
That’s what the Braves may do next season by only having Moylan.
ugaaccountant
November 19th, 2009
2:25 pm
I just don’t understand guys who want Heyward and Diaz to be platoon players as our #1 plan. Both guys are everyday guys, unless we choose to keep Heyward down in AAA for bs financial considerations.
And the players union needs to address this issue. Teams should not be playing with inferior players due to a shell game on the “super 2″. Also, teams should not routinely “pass” on better players in a draft in order to get cheaper players. I don’t have the answers, but these two areas need some attention.
Smack
November 19th, 2009
2:26 pm
Im in shock. JJ garnered 0 votes in the CyYoung voting and Javy only had 1 second place vote to finish a far out 4th. Only 5 pitchers got any votes, Lincecum, Carpenter, Wainwright, Vazquez and Haren.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:27 pm
RC, you answered the question about where Jurrjens finished by saying:
Tied for 5th. He tied with Manny Acosta (technically true).
Actually, no, that’s not true. Dan Haren finished fifth, behind Vazquez.
There was no sixth-place finisher, since no one else got votes.
DAP
November 19th, 2009
2:28 pm
eric from MOI dont know how I really made a bunch of contradicting predictions
one example is the above quote where you predicted 80-85 wins, and then said opening night, reportedly, 86 wins. those are contradictory predictions. how are we supposed to know which one counts?
DAP
November 19th, 2009
2:30 pm
DOB There was no sixth-place finisher, since no one else got votes.
i think thats the joke, all the other pitchers in the majors are tied for 6th, thus the JJ being tied with acosta reference.
RC
November 19th, 2009
2:30 pm
I just don’t understand guys who want Heyward and Diaz to be platoon players as our #1 plan. Both guys are everyday guys, unless we choose to keep Heyward down in AAA for bs financial considerations.
I agree with you on Heyward being an everyday player, but Diaz is the definition of a platoon guy. He hits REALLY well against left-handers, and is about replacement level against right-handers (with a lot of Ks).
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:31 pm
Smack, look at it from another angle. As I said, you can only vote for three pitchers for Cy Young, not 10 players the way you do when voting for MVP.
So if you’re one of the 32 writers voting for Cy Young, you’re going to vote Jurrjens ahead of any of those first three — Lincecum, Carpenter and Wainwright? Really? Based on what?
If the voting was 10-deep, or even five-deep, I think Jurrjens and Vazquez would have gotten quite a few fourth-place or fifth-place votes. But how do you vote them ahead of any of those other three guys? The ballot has only three spots.
RC
November 19th, 2009
2:32 pm
DOB, you are correct, I cannot add. I was trying to joke that everyone who didn’t get a vote was tied for last, but I guess it doesn’t quite work that way.
David O'Brien
November 19th, 2009
2:33 pm
DAP: yes, it was clearly a joke. I caught that. But he said they tied for fifth. They did not, they tied for sixth, the way he’s viewing it (by getting no votes at all). There was a fifth-place finisher (Haren) who got a vote. So how could JJ, Acosta et al have tied for fifth? That’s point I was making.
N8
November 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
DOB, it appears that Carpenter and Wainwright kind of cancelled each other out similar to the way Gant, Justice and McGriff did in 93. Too many people spread those votes out.
Almost better sometimes for the personal awards to be the only good one on your team. LOL
Efrim
November 19th, 2009
2:37 pm
Ken Rosenthal:
The Yankees’ direction, at this early stage of the offseason, is not clear.
The team, according to one rival executive, plans to pursue free-agent relievers Rafael Soriano, a right-hander, and Mike Gonzalez, a lefty. The Yankees have liked both pitchers in the past.
However, another source with knowledge of the Yankees’ thinking says the team prefers to address any bullpen holes from within, using the same strategy that they employed successfully last season.
I know it’s rumors, but I’m getting the feeling that Soriano and Gonzo won’t be accepting arbitration. It’s like 20 teams are in on these guys. Haven’t heard much on Valverde or other relievers other than maybe Wagner.