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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,690 comments Add your comment
McFann O
November 23rd, 2009
10:01 am
Wayne We are getting excited around here. My son comes home for 3 weeks leave in mid December.
That’s great! Which branch of the Service is he in?
Tommy T
November 23rd, 2009
10:06 am
Crazy Trades,
That may be the most awesome trade proposal I have ever seen!!!!
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
10:17 am
All this Kung Fu Fighting. Can the Kimono Dragons be far behind?
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
10:20 am
Freeman and Vazquez for Uggla. If only I really believed that Crazy Trades wasn’t really serious.
Wayne in Utah
November 23rd, 2009
10:32 am
McFann
He’s in the Air Force, at Ramstein AB Germany.
Hope you folks have a nice Thanksgiving…..
brian
November 23rd, 2009
10:44 am
Crazy trades – if we traded away Vazquez and Freeman, I sure hope we would get a lot more back than Dan Uggla.
Tell It Like It Is
November 23rd, 2009
10:51 am
Its obvious that the Braves cannot afford to sign a big time offensive player within their salary limits.Even if they could, they would have to give up too much in return. That being the case, its best to play the guys they have and hope to stay compeititive and maybe get into the playoffs before the young guys go to arbitration and/or leave for bigger salaries. What other team in MLB has as many top notch players who make the minimum salary of $400,000? Where would they be without Escobar, Hanson, Prado, JJ and hopefully Heyward next year? The Braves are just a farm team for the rest of the league as long as they are owned by Liberty Mutual. IT IS WHAT IT IS.
McFann O
November 23rd, 2009
10:54 am
Wayne–
Cool! I’m working on a drawing right now–it’s a Bald Eagle surrounded by the seals of the different branches (and if it wasn’t for the fact that I chose the wrong color for the Eagle’s beak, I’d be way more pleased with it), so I’ve been real int’rested in these things.
Hope you folks have a nice Thanksgiving…..
Thank you! Same to you!
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
10:54 am
wayne He’s in the Air Force, at Ramstein AB Germany.
i used to live in that area. alot of american military filter through there at one time or another. my brother in law is a pastor at a local church, faith baptist…one of the few english speaking churches off base. (or at least it used to be)
McFann O
November 23rd, 2009
11:05 am
Here’s a close-up of the Air Force Seal. I must say, I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out.
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
11:06 am
Movie recommendation for those who like a good splatterfest horror flick that doesn’t make you cringe and feel as if your IQ has been reduced in 90 minutes: Dead Snow. Rented it from Blockbuster (and I say that because it says “Blockbuster exclusive” on the box, so I assume you have to rent it there). Watched it last night. Loved it. Two words: Nazi zombies. Oh, yeah.
Efrim
November 23rd, 2009
11:06 am
Anyone think the MVP vote today will be unanimous in favor for Joe Mauer? I’m guessing s few are going to vote for Tex/Jeter.
CB
November 23rd, 2009
11:09 am
It would appear the Braves will not try to make any big splashes since the only names we are hearing are Josh Willingham,Mike Cameron and players of that quality. I would rather the Braves would sign LaRoche and go ahead and go young in the outfield with Heyward,Schafer,Diaz and McLouth. This would probably mean they could keep all the starting pitching,waiting for the right trade or using one of the starters in bullpen.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
11:13 am
im starting to think that taking a risk and going for a couple of guys like delgado and dye might be worth it. the way i see it, the braves have a chance to win it all next season. they can roll the dice on some older guys who could be very productive, and not be that much worse for wear in 2011 if it doesnt work out. im not saying i hope thats what happens, but i will understand and will be one board if wren decides to throw caution to the wind and bring in some veterans.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2009
11:13 am
Crazy Trades McGee ……
Please god not Dan Uggla. No Defence and a bat like A. Jones. 25 to 30 Hr per Year 4,000 strikeouts a year and 500 ground ball double plays. There is no way Braves would give Javy away for Uggla.
Efrim
November 23rd, 2009
11:14 am
im starting to think that taking a risk and going for a couple of guys like delgado and dye might be worth it.
No Cameron? Is this the real DAP?
Crazy Trades McGee
November 23rd, 2009
11:25 am
Alright, Alright, you guys got me. How about Tommy Hanson straight up for Uggla then? Is that any better?
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
11:27 am
For the guy who goes by screen name Tell It Like It Is.
You wrote, Its obvious that the Braves cannot afford to sign a big time offensive player within their salary limits.Even if they could, they would have to give up too much in return. … What other team in MLB has as many top notch players who make the minimum salary of $400,000?
For the sake of accuracy, the Braves only had two guys making minimum $400,000 on the opening-day roster, Jordan Schafer and Eric O’Flaherty. But your point (I think) was that the Braves had a lot of guys making barely over the minimum.
Only problem with your point is, most other teams had just as many, and plenty had a lot more than the Braves. (Come to think of it, that’s a pretty big problem with your point, isn’t it?)
OK, here we go. The full list.
The Braves had 11 players on their 2009 opening-day roster who made $500,000 or less, including wide range of players from Schafer and Moylan to Campillo and Carlyle, and Charlie Morton on the DL (Schafer, Campillo and Carlyle would soon go to the DL).
The other teams that had 10 or more players making $500,000 or less on their opening-day rosters and/or DL:
Arizona (10), Baltimore (10), Boston (10), Cincinnati (11), Cleveland (12), Colorado (10), Florida (15; including 9 making minimum $400,00), L.A. Angels (11), L.A. Dodgers (11), Minnesota (14), Oakland (17), Pittsburgh (11), St. Louis (10), San Diego (15), San Francisco (14), Seattle (14), Texas (14), Toronto (10), Washington (15).
That’s 20 of 30 teams, including the Braves.
Three others — Yankees, White Sox and Rays — had eight players making $500,000 or less on their opening-day rosters.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
11:27 am
No Cameron? Is this the real DAP?
haha…you know i almost said “dye or cameron” but i decided not too! :- )
i guess what im saying is, i think the braves need to go for it! in 2010. if that means taking some risks, im ok with it. ive been saying “resign adam laroche, there is no reason not to!” but degado would be cheaper probably, and with a shorter commitment, and could possibly out hit laroche in 2010. he had a good month in 2009 before going down, and he hit 38 homers in 2008. it might not work out, but no matter what wren does, it might not work out, you know? im thinking its ok to take some risk in the outfield and 1st base in 2010, because in 2011, heyward is there, shafer is probably ready to come back, and maybe freeman is close, you know what i mean?
Efrim
November 23rd, 2009
11:37 am
im thinking its ok to take some risk in the outfield and 1st base in 2010, because in 2011, heyward is there, shafer is probably ready to come back, and maybe freeman is close, you know what i mean?
I’m for “going for it”. But there has to be a bat out there to go for. I’m not sure that one exists, but I bet Wren will find one that’s good enough for us to be in the conversation next year.
(this is usually the cue for an optimistic blogger to state: “even if Wren does NOTHING, then we’ll still be right there with the Phillies next year!”)
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2009
11:38 am
Crazy Trades McGee…….
I was thinking we could trade one of the best up and coming broadcasters in baseball Mark Lemke straight up for Dan Uggla. We could even through in Jerome Jurenovich. That should defiantly get the Marlins attention.
Bobby's Belly
November 23rd, 2009
11:44 am
DOB w/ his facts and stats, geez. I come here for the bs.
dpelfrey
November 23rd, 2009
11:50 am
I wouldn’t exactly term signing Delgado as “going for it.” He used to be a legitimate cleanup threat, but 37-year old’s don’t typically recover too well from major injuries, particularly hip surgery.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
11:52 am
efrim I’m for “going for it”. But there has to be a bat out there to go for. I’m not sure that one exists,
but thats what im saying, there are a few “sure thing” big bats, and then there are some guys that might be. thats where delgado comes in. no one knows what he will do, but he could come in and hit 30 homers and drive in 100 for the braves. delgado has like 1 year since 1996 that he didnt slg over .500. thats amazing, and if he seems to be healthy, thats a risk that maybe you take, because adam laroche probably isnt going to do that for you…
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
11:55 am
DAP-Sorry Dude, but Del Gado? Seriously? He played 29 games last year with what may well be a degenerative hip problem. Since 2002-8 full seasons-he has missed at least 20 games each year with the exception of one (funny it was the one before he missed an entire year). We just can’t depend on another often injured “Maybe” type player. We need someone in there playing every day. Let the Mets lowball Carlos. I don’t want him in an Atlanta uni.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
11:55 am
dpelfry, it is “going for it” in the sense you you are taking on risk in order to maybe reap a big reward. if delgado has a good season, which isnt inconceivable, he is a great run producer, which is what the braves need.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
11:58 am
lew, he is possibly a difference maker. if wren signs him, it means he looked into him and decided he was healthy enough. im just saying IF wren goes that way, im ok with it.
Mike Mike Bo
November 23rd, 2009
11:58 am
BTW, DOB… just replying to a post that you made the other day about Whistler. I was just up there this weekend… Whistler is amazing!!! I go up there about 4 or 5 times a year. But, I live in Seattle so it’s only a few hour drive. Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t mean to rub that in your face. =)
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
11:58 am
I’d rather move Prado to first and sign Uggla (God save me for even saying it) than to sign DelGado.
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
12:00 pm
DAP-He is “possibly” (and more so) an injured season waiting to happen. No way on the face of this earth we’re in such Dire Straights (let’s hear it for Mark Knoffler) that DelGado’s name should even be uttered.
richbrave
November 23rd, 2009
12:04 pm
SWISHER,SWISHER, SWISHER for the BRAVES.
Tennbravefan
November 23rd, 2009
12:04 pm
Remeber me saying it, we will regret not signing Delgado.
Tell It Like It Is
November 23rd, 2009
12:05 pm
DOB,
Thanks for your response. I do not know much about the other teams with minimum salary players nor do I particularly care. Thats your job as the beat writer. I did not know that there were that many mediocre players in the league. No wonder the agents are doing so well. They can set back a pick the best of the litter and run up the salaries.
I am only a blogger with an opinion. The fact remains that the Braves have some very good low salary players who I view as being the nucleus of the team. How many of the other teams have as many players of this caliber? I do not believe that the Braves will be able to sign them when they are eligible for arbitration as long a Liberty Mutual owns the team. That is my opinion. What is your opinion?
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
12:06 pm
haha, ok lew.
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
12:13 pm
ccrider
I agree that we “CAN” afford a big bat if we dump 100% of Lowe’s salary. Anyone who argues against that is not very good at math or doesn’t know what the word “CAN” means.
I like your idea of getting a ML ready prospect like Wood. The fact that he could play 1b and that you are rolling the dice on Delgado all works together quite well. We’d go with Delgado, if he gets injured Wood starts, if he doesn’t cut it go to Freeman.
Kudos on that proposal, I like it even more if the prospect is Gamels instead of Wood. He’s a better bat worse fielder, but overall he’s just better.
Jeff R
November 23rd, 2009
12:13 pm
Geez, it’s a little creepy that Random-san pulls up his achieved exchanges with me and others for a review. Greatest hits medley? Not enough to do in the Land of the Rising Sun, Random-san?
DOB, please correct me if I’m wrong, but there’s no probhibition on Wren’s part for trading Kawakami. Despite the tripe that Random-san and some others have spewed here, Wren can and will actually raise Kawakmai’s name in trade discussions with other teams if he thinks it’s to the Braves’ advantage.
But Wren isn’t actively pushing Kawakami because he isn’t likely to attract what Wren needs: a righty power bat or a closer, unless he packages Kawakami with others. As I gather, that’s not what Wren intends to do. Lowe or Vazquez are more attractive to potential trade partners. And Wren needs to move either Lowe’s or Vazquez’s contract to give him financial operating room.
P. W. Hjort
November 23rd, 2009
12:14 pm
ccrider
Yeah, I’ll be there. I go to all the home games. I’m going to try to get down to Miami if we make it, too.
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
12:14 pm
DAP-I would rather let Diaz play first. I would rather bring Freeman up to play first. I would rather we signed Nick Johnson to play first. I would rather we signed Kevin Millar to play first. Etc. Etc. But pleease Brer Wren don’t throw us in that DelGado briar patch.
Mitchie-san
November 23rd, 2009
12:19 pm
Random-san?
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
12:19 pm
Jeff R: I’ll just say I haven’t heard of any plans to trade Kawakami, and leave it at that. I think they’re focused on trading Lowe and, if that won’t work, then Vazquez. But they’d like to trade Lowe and try to re-sign Vazquez to a multi-year deal.
(But no, at least from what I’ve been told, Kawakami’s background would not have much bearing on whether they would trade him or not. They’re just not planning to trade him because he’s got a reasonable contract and they’d prefer to get out from under the far bigger Lowe deal, and they were genuinely pleased by how Kawakami pitched in his first season over here. If they can’t trade Lowe and clear up payroll, then they’d probably go the Vazquez trade route because they could use him in a deal to get a bat, rather than pursuing a bat with money freed up in a potential Lowe deal.)
Roman Gal
November 23rd, 2009
12:21 pm
Or maybe I should just take the pins out of my Matt Ryan Voodoo Doll? cabravesfan
Yeah…you’d better do that or I might send one of these your way.
KC
November 23rd, 2009
12:22 pm
I just now noticed that you can click the corner of the “enter comments here” field, and expand the box. I don’t know why it took me this long to notice that.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
12:22 pm
But pleease Brer Wren don’t throw us in that DelGado briar patch.
ill take this to mean you actually DO want to get delgado, which confuses me. oh well. i wonder how long until something actually happens?
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
12:24 pm
Mike Mike Bo: Trust me, you’re not rubbing it in my face at all. Because if I lived in Seattle, I wouldn’t have been able to ride my motorcycle at least 20 dry, sunny days since the season ended, as I’ve been able to do here. For me, that’s more important than being able to board or ski a few more times. I can get my snowboard fix with one trip per year. Need regular rides on the bike to keep me sane, and riding in rain gear in Seattle doesn’t sound too appealing (though I absolutely love your city).
KC
November 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
It seems likely to me that the Braves will end up eating some portion of Lowe’s salary. It’s fairly easy for me to imagine the Angels taking Lowe at 12 mill per season… but a little more difficult to picture them taking on 15 mill per year, coming off a substandard season, at his age.
Fred
November 23rd, 2009
12:27 pm
Tell it like it is, First of all, Liberty Media (not liberty mutual) owns the Braves. Second, what makes you think the Braves won’t be able to keep their good young players after they become eligible for arbitration? Do you honestly see the Braves non-tendering Hanson, J.J., Escobar, Prado, or even Heyward in a few years? Didn’t they sign one of their best young players (McCann) to a long-term deal ensuring he wouldn’t go to arbitration? Didn’t they attempt to sign Francouer to a similar long-term deal when he was productive? If you examine history, the braves only non-tender their less than stellar performers once they are eligible for arbitration (ex: Marcus Giles or KJ who will likely be traded or non-tendered).
Jake W.
November 23rd, 2009
12:28 pm
The fact remains that the Braves have some very good low salary players who I view as being the nucleus of the team. How many of the other teams have as many players of this caliber? I do not believe that the Braves will be able to sign them when they are eligible for arbitration as long a Liberty Mutual owns the team. That is my opinion.
Don’t really see Liberty Media as the problem here. We may not be one of the highest payrolls anymore but we still have one of the larger payrolls in the majors. No not as large as the Phillies or Mets right now but still a nice size payroll. Us not being able to keep are players will have nothing to do with Liberty Media as long as the Yankees are spending because they will be able to outbid everyone if they really wanted the player. So really how does that make us any different than most teams out there right now who have good solid low salary players that once they reach arbitration or free agency won’t be able to afford them. I mean, thats the fact right now and well it is what it is.
cabravesfan
November 23rd, 2009
12:31 pm
Damn you RG! That was so not right!
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
12:32 pm
DAP-The Braves have two 15 game winning pitchers for use as trade pieces. They already have enough $$$$ coming off of the books with our two relievers to get a good closer. Why on earth would the Braves be forced (especially this early in the game) into resorting to Carlos DelGado as an option?
Your suggestion of DelGado and Cameron (though I DO think Cam. is a decent option if nothing else shakes out) seems like a HUGE case of Lowered Expectations to me. I don’t see us getting Bay or Holliday, but let’s see if we can get someone higher up the ladder than those two first before we settle for another Garrett Anderson type player (or worse).
P-Town Brave
November 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
We’ve got salaries coming off the books shortly, lets go all in for Carl Crawford and then grab Atkins to play 1b.
Crawford on this team is a perfect fit, average, pop, lots of speed, and outstanding glove!
Crawford
Prado
Jones
Atkins
McCann
Escobar
McLouth
Diaz
Thats one heck of a lineup, especially when you can add Heyward to it come June if that late…
civilized white trash
November 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
dang its nice to be in this position this year….TO MUCH starting pitching! whether its lowe or javy who gets traded its a win/win situtation for the Bravos this year. Lowe should bounce back and javy still should be dominate so it dont matter who gets traded our rotation is stacked.
TnBrian
November 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
Wonder how bad the Cubs need another starter. If they want a sinkerballer, Lowe is out there for them to take if they’d give Atlanta Lee. I guess a problem would be that they’d want Atl. to pay most of Lowe’s salary on top of Lee $13m which would leave Atl. damn near broke needing still to find a closer & maybe another OF. Not to mention they probably aren’t trading Lee anyways, so I’m feeding off my own stupidity here.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
12:35 pm
lew, youre right, man. just thinking out loud over here.
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
12:36 pm
I do not believe that the Braves will be able to sign them when they are eligible for arbitration as long a Liberty Mutual owns the team. That is my opinion. What is your opinion? — Tell It Like It Is
My opinion is that the Braves — owned by Liberty Media — are like almost every other team in that they can’t retain all their best players in lucrative long-term contracts. With the exception of the Yankees, Red Sox, and sometimes one or more of the Chicago and L.A. teams, most other teams have a difficult time re-signing more than two or three of their key players to long-term contracts after they get to free agency, or before they reach free agency. Braves are no different than 25 or more other teams in that regard, and a lot better off than perhaps half of those 25.
As for not being able to sign them when eligible for arbitration — not quite sure what you’re talking about there. The Braves have kept their best arb-eligible players. If they non-tender any, it’s been guys coming off seasons that did not merit the salary they’re going to make through arbitration the following year, like Marcus Giles years ago or perhaps Kelly Johnson this winter.
That’s the economics of the game today, and an arbitration system that’s created huge raises for players after they get three years of service, when the team no longer has all the leverage. It’s also a system that’s caused a lot players to price themselves out of a lot of markets if they’re not producing at a rate commensurate with said salary.
The days when the Braves had a top-five payroll year after year under Ted Turner are long gone. And I dare say, not coming back.
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
12:36 pm
DAP-Keep thinking Dude. It’s something the world needs more of.
KC
November 23rd, 2009
12:36 pm
Fred, you are correct. Liberty Media has NOT capped the Braves payroll. They have simply left it to Braves management to take a look at revenue/expenses, and make prudent decisions. Their biggest priority is to see to it the this franchise appreciates in value, and winning is a big part of that.
I can’t figure out why some people are still living in the AOL/Time Warner days, when we had ownership that didn’t want the team, didn’t see it as an investment (as Liberty does), and wanted all expenses at a bare minimum.
At present, the Braves are willing able to spend close to 100 mill per season, that figure is not expected to fall. At 95-100 mill, you still have to be mindful of the budget, and you can’t just go out and bid for top free agents anytime you want… but that payroll DOES allow you make fair offers to you retain/attract noteworthy talent. Especially if you do good job developing young, low-cost talent, which the Braves clearly have done.
TnBrian
November 23rd, 2009
12:37 pm
P-Town Brave, I’m hoping somehow Wren makes a deal for Crawford work without gutting the farm. He did it with McLouth so everybody needs to have faith he can do it with Crawford. That’s if the Rays don’t resign him like DOB was saying they’re probably trying to do & if Atl. is really targeting him that much.
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
12:38 pm
DOB-Good point (your 12:36). The Angels, who most would consider a large market team, came out and claimed this week that they could not afford to re-sign both Figgins and Lackey. It would appear that it ain’t just the Braves.
Roman Gal
November 23rd, 2009
12:38 pm
cab-
Just remember to take those pins out.
(Oh, and if it makes you feel any better, I had to look at that picture too…)
Wayne in Utah
November 23rd, 2009
12:41 pm
Tell it Like it is
I just wish you knew how it is. You would never be happy, no matter what the yearly salary was, huh?
Payroll is not our problem.
Last night I said that the Braves could afford Bay or Holliday. Never did I say that I think they will. I might have said that I hoped they would.
P-Town Brave
November 23rd, 2009
12:43 pm
TnBrian-
This my early Christmas wish and I agree…I don’t mind even giving up Schafer for him as long as neither Kimbrell nor Medlen are mentioned to head that way…
Crawford brings many qualities that Frank wants on this team and a dynamic that this team hasn’t had since Ron Gant played here, and even then, Ronnie couldn’t hold anything close to the D that CC plays.
IF the Braves can get this deal done and extend CC, the outfield of CC/Nate/Heyward will be one of the very best in baseball and give a great core to build around when you consider those 3 plus BMac/Yunel/Prado up the middle of the diamond
In Frank We Trust!
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
12:46 pm
Wonder how bad the Cubs need another starter. If they want a sinkerballer, Lowe is out there for them to take if they’d give Atlanta Lee — TnBrian
So you want the Cubs to take the bloated salary (Lowe’s) that you’re trying to unload, while also giving you a three-time Gold Glove 1B (Lee) who hit .306 with 35 homers, 111 RBI and a .972 OPS last season, and is about as close to a franchise icon as they currently have?
Hey, long as you’re at it, anything else you’d like the Cubs to do in such a deal? Perhaps pay off some of the debt at the new Gwinnett ballpark?
Lew
November 23rd, 2009
12:51 pm
DOB-Maybe not pay the debt, but perhaps they could pay the parking deficit that the Gwinnett County Officials are claiming is still owed?
KC
November 23rd, 2009
12:52 pm
Bud Selig and the owners need to grow a pair, and reign in the Yanks!
During the last real labor negotiation between the players union and the owners, Tom Glavine (then Players Association Spokesman) said that the new luxury tax arrangement the players agreed to would “reign in the Yankees”.
Yeah… that’s worked well, hasn’t it?
I really hope that after this agreement expires, they’ll revisit the subject of reigning in the Yankees. I have spoken with many baseball fans (and FORMER fans) who have been turned off to the game with their teams best players pick up and follow the dollar signs to NY.
While many teams have become better at overcoming the challenges of the payroll disparity, and have learned to somewhat – at least partially – overcome the extraordinarily less than equitable circumstances… it’s still bloody F’ing ridiculous to let the Yankees spend 200+ million, when other teams can’t possibly stretch payroll beyond 60-70 million or so under ANY circumstances.
Having some teams spending 125 mill, and winning teams spending 50-60, is silly enough… but what they continue to allow the Yankees to do is complete and total BULLSH!T.
It’s time for a loose salary cap… or put a 500% luxury tax on anything over 130 mill. If more teams have a prayer of keeping or attracting free agents, it will be a hell of a lot better for baseball in the end.
flange 1
November 23rd, 2009
12:56 pm
I have always been a fan of both Carl Crawford and of Curtis Granderson. Have always wanted both guys to play for the Braves.
But, are either of these guys that much better than Nate McLouth?
I think that Crawford will probably hit for a higher average and hopefully steal more bases. Might be a better OF.
Granderson can’t hit lefty’s so would be a perfect platoon partner for Diaz. But is he worth trading for + paying the higher salary?
To answer my own question, I think the Braves will not acquire either guy because they are too similar to McLouth.
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
1:02 pm
That parking issue needs to be cleared up publicly. I don’t want to hear that the Braves are cheating the County. Working from memory here so it might not be exact, but parking receipts ($4 a car) were supposed to be split 50/50. It does seem suspicious that the Braves cut one check for parking revenue in April or May and then no more the rest of the year? I’m not a Gwinnett resident but the Braves certainly need to live up to the contract they signed.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
1:04 pm
flange 1 I have always been a fan of both Carl Crawford and of Curtis Granderson. Have always wanted both guys to play for the Braves.
But, are either of these guys that much better than Nate McLouth?
granderson, pronbably not, crawford, i think so, yes. not as far as OPS really, but his ability to steal bases adds alot of value not seen in his OBP and slg% numbers.
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
1:06 pm
Agreed KC – I think you’re right that the “luxury tax” or “salary cap” issue will be prominent next labor negotiation. Put that on the table, along with fixing “super 2 status” so that players are called up when they are ready and something to enable clubs to draft the best players not the cheapest.
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
1:11 pm
Carl Crawford is an incredible player, for a manager that will let him steal. He, Michael Bourne, and Jacob Ellsbury are clearly the top of the class “traditional” leadoff hitters in the game. He is the most proven of the three and has a bit of power too. I think if he were under Bobby his SB’s would take a nose dive though.
Granderson is very similar to McLouth in that he’s a leadoff hitter or cleanup hitter, depending on team need. He has more power I think, but isn’t nearly as high a % base stealer. If we got Granderson, I’d want him to be in addition to Mclouth, not replacing him. Grandy would be our cleanup hitter, and leave McLouth at leadoff.
cabravesfan
November 23rd, 2009
1:11 pm
RG-
That does NOT make me feel better- I have that picture (*shudder) seared into my brain now! ARRGGHHH!!!
Daslied
November 23rd, 2009
1:22 pm
Random, for the benefit of ugaaccountant, can you please repost your bit about stolen bases when Bobby actually has people that can do it?
Thanks.
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
Daslied – I’m not here to talk about the past. I just know what I saw last year with nobody running and I don’t trust Cox to get full value out of someone like Crawford.
Couch Tater
November 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
Sad, but I don’t see MLB trying to stop the Yankee payroll.
The meeting of the Yankees’ run to their 27th World Series championship with the Phillies’ attempt to defend their title helped propel a 42 percent improvement in TV ratings for the Fall Classic, the largest one-year increase. There was 30 percent viewership jump for the postseason as a whole. – MLB
Ducking as I hit "Submit"
November 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
The Boston Globe is reporting that Gary Sheffield would “love to” come back to Atlanta. Is there any power left in that RH bat?
Tell It Like It Is
November 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
DOB,
If economics is the issue, your previous response below is interesting:
“The Braves had 11 players on their 2009 opening-day roster who made $500,000 or less, including wide range of players from Schafer and Moylan to Campillo and Carlyle, and Charlie Morton on the DL (Schafer, Campillo and Carlyle would soon go to the DL).
The other teams that had 10 or more players making $500,000 or less on their opening-day rosters and/or DL:
Arizona (10), Baltimore (10), Boston (10), Cincinnati (11), Cleveland (12), Colorado (10), Florida (15; including 9 making minimum $400,00), L.A. Angels (11), L.A. Dodgers (11), Minnesota (14), Oakland (17), Pittsburgh (11), St. Louis (10), San Diego (15), San Francisco (14), Seattle (14), Texas (14), Toronto (10), Washington (15).
That’s 20 of 30 teams, including the Braves.
Three others — Yankees, White Sox and Rays — had eight players making $500,000 or less on their opening-day rosters”.
If my math is correct, you are saying that 269 players in the league made $500,000 or less on opening day. How does this fit in with Boras’ contention that the owners are holding on to the profits and not paying high salaries? Is baseball suffering from a talent drain with the best athletes going to football and basketball? The teams that keep winning every year have some very good players that draw people into the seats. The other teams(including the Braves) do not have players with name and talent appeal(Jeter, Arod,Utley, Howard, Rollins,Texira) that put people in the seats). Maybe that is why MLB is not as exciting as the NFL and the NBA.
Daslied
November 23rd, 2009
1:32 pm
ugaaccountant – Last year our only real stealing threat, McLouth, had hamstring problems. He was thrown out 1 of 3 times.
You really think that, if Crawford was a Brave, he wouldn’t steal 40+ bases? He’s averaged 50 during his 7 full seasons.
DOB
November 23rd, 2009
1:33 pm
DOB
How important is it that the Braves trade Lowe instead of Vazquez? If the Braves have an offer for say both of them and the offer for Vazquez is really good and the one for Lowe isn’t that good what would the Braves do?
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
Tell it like it is – I certainly don’t have all the figures, but reading this blog you certainly hear about a lot of teams going with “the cheaper player” or “cutting payroll”. It seems likely that there are more “minimum salary” players these days as teams increasingly look to save a buck.
Now I also believe that teams may be LESS profitable than they were before the lockout of 1994 or even during the steroid binge of McGwire/Sosa/Bonds. The payrolls have exploded since then, and i’m not sure attendance and tv revenue would have kept pace. I’m sure Boras has some nice facts and figures, but I seriously doubt the Braves are making as much profit in 2009 as they were in 1999.
ugaaccountant
November 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
I think Crawford stole about 70 last year. For the Braves, yeah around 40. That’s a big difference and I wouldn’t want to pay what it would take to get him and pay his salary if we weren’t getting maximum steals from him.
Jeff R
November 23rd, 2009
1:48 pm
DOB, thanks for clarifying at your 12:19 post.
OldBravesBag
November 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
Hi Dave, Hope you are enjoying your off season. Just wondering if you have heard any rumors about Kelly this month….other than he’s going somewhere else? And speculation on where he’ll end up or if anyone will want him? Thanks….
Daslied
November 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
Tell It Like It Is, you can’t seriously be using salary to determine talent level, can you? Every player, unless they sign a very early long-term deal, make nothing their first several years.
Do Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton, Carlos Quentin, Joey Votto, Billy Butler, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Yovani Gallardo, Pablo Sandoval, Nelson Cruz, Adam Lind and Evan Longoria have less talent because they make $400,000-550,000 a year? Should Lincecum give back his 2nd straight Cy Young Award because he only made $650,000 last year?
It’s just the economics of baseball.
Oh, and by the way – people like football more because baseball is boring to the casual observer.
Daslied
November 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Ugaaccountant – Crawford stole 60 last year. He stole 25 the year before in 109 games. He’s averaged exactly 50 since his first full season. 40 is still a lot.
TnBrian
November 23rd, 2009
2:07 pm
DOB, no, but I’d like to see the Cubs arrange a match between Ted Lilly to fight Escobar. They at least owe us that & more since they also left us with Chip Carey. Something has to give here.
Efrim
November 23rd, 2009
2:14 pm
The Minnesota Twins star was a near-unanimous winner in voting announced Monday by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, receiving 27 of 28 first-place votes and 387 points.
The other vote was for Miguel Cabrera. I wonder if that writer will get destroyed by their peers?
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
2:15 pm
A voted really put Miguel Cabrera ahead of Mauer on his AL MVP ballot. Seriously.
brian
November 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
DOB – thanks for the blog and continued analysis.
If the braves are successful in unloading Derek Lowe they will not get the impact bat or young major league ready prospect. Where do you see the Braves going next to get a bat? I do not see the Braves going for a big time left field bat (bay or Holliday) and there are not many 1B options that would be an impact. I also do not think we have the young prospects needed to pull off a trade. If they unload Lowe, would they try to move Freddie Freeman for Matt Gamel? Will the Braves take Lowe’s money plus Gonzo/Soriano money and make a run at Bay for LF while having Prado or Diaz play 1B (if the former then giving KJ one more shot at 2B)?
I understand why they want to move Lowe and his contract. I am just having a hard time filling in the rest of the pieces realistically.
Efrim
November 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
A voted really put Miguel Cabrera ahead of Mauer on his AL MVP ballot. Seriously.
I think that’s more insane than putting Wainwright, Vazquez and Lincecum ahead of Carpenter.
Daybed Wagmoe
November 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
A voted really put Miguel Cabrera ahead of Mauer on his AL MVP ballot. Seriously.
Well, yeah. The guy did hit .324 with a .942 OPS to go along with 34 HR and 103 RBI, and he did play all but 2 games this year. Those are MVP numbers, right? I haven’t looked up Mauer’s numbers, but I’m sure that when I do in a couple minutes, they won’t be as good as Cabrera’s.
Seriously though — do we know who cast that vote? Had to be a Detroit writer, right? Isn’t that what happened a couple years ago when A-Rod’s unanimous MVP voting was thwarted by two Detroit-area voters voting for Ordonez?
Chris
November 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
geez, cabrera having that first place vote is worse than jj happ beinging in second place in the rookie of the year award… how can you pick cabrera before jeter, let alone mauer?
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2009
2:29 pm
Daybed: .365 with a 1.031 OPS (.444 OBP) for Mauer, with 30 doubles, 28 homers, 96 RBI and a Gold Glove. Led the AL in average, OBP, slugging and OPS. But other than that…
Tell It Like It Is
November 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
Daslied,
As a casual observer who used to play baseball and grew up during the 50’s and 60’s and 70’s, the baseball and talent of today is indeed boring.
braves fan lmh
November 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
DOB,
I saw that Mark Bowman wouldn’t be suprised if Schafer is traded this offseason. Is this true? and if it is true would he be part of a package for Adrian Gonzalez or another big bat?
Thanks
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
yeah miguel cabrera had a great year, but im surprised he got a first place vote.
Daybed Wagmoe
November 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
Thanks DOB. I was joking, though I probably could’ve been clearer…
Any thoughts that Pujols will be unanimous MVP? I think that Mauer had a better chance at it cause I’m sure that Howard and Fielder will get some first-place votes.
Efrim
November 23rd, 2009
2:38 pm
Mark Bowman:
While looking for a new closer, I’d put Billy Wagner at the top of my list. A Major League scout who saw him during the season’s final weekend told me that the veteran reliever can still serve as a top-notch closer. The fact that Wagner is a Type-A free agent shouldn’t be a great concern. Yes, the Braves would lose a first-round pick if they were to sign him, but they can comfortably pursue him knowing they are going to be doubly compensated when Soriano and Gonzalez (both Type-A free agents) sign elsewhere.
Maybe that means there is an indication that the Braves are going to offer arb. to both Soriano and Gonzo?
Bravoman
November 23rd, 2009
2:54 pm
Dye open to 1B according to trade rumors. That may improve his value for us.
TnBrian
November 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
I like Dye for 1st base. Go ahead & preach about how his achy breaky body is falling apart & he fell hard the second half of ‘09. But you’d be crazy to not at least consider him as a one year gap for Freeman at 1st. Guy still hit 27 HR’s last year & he’s a presence in the middle of any lineup. Go get him Wren.
DAP
November 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
jermaine dye has played one inning of first base in his entire career in the majors. i dont know about that one…..
O.J.
November 23rd, 2009
2:59 pm
Ok, so now Dye is open to playing 1st base, but has only played there once in his Major League Career and that somehow makes his value higher??? What the EFF. But anyways, if he can play first, sign him for first, Wagner to close, and Cameron for LF. Done on offseason.