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2,690 comments Add your comment
Salamander
November 17th, 2009
8:38 pm
I picked up Them Crooked Vultures album after seeing you mention them DOB… and after I read about who is in the band. No sh!t, John Paul Jones? Nice. The album definitely has a Zep vibe to it. Solid rock album that’s worth checking out.
Bear in Heaven’s new album is still blowing my mind. Not for everyone, but pretty accessible. Electro-rock-pop with psychedelic undertones (Krautrock perhaps). I think I mentioned them a couple days ago, but whatever, plugging them again.
nolie
November 17th, 2009
8:38 pm
are not going to be a threat in the postseason, even with too many good starting pitchers.
ah yes. just like the 83 win Cards team of a few years ago or the WC winners. Many GMs have said,, postseason is a crap shoot, anyone can win once you get there, but you can’t win without getting there first. The odds are better for some and less for others perhaps, but a short series can go either way.Totally spurious argument.
Piece
November 17th, 2009
8:40 pm
Jason, thanks for the info. Seems like kind of a crappy system, looking at what happened to the Blue Jays last year. Thinking they have the second best FA pitcher on the market, and knowing that he was leaving to go somewhere else, and all they got (other than the sandwich pick) was another THIRD round pick?!
For my money (and clearly it’s not my money) I’d say offer arbitration to Soriano and Gonzalez. At least one of the two is definitely not coming back (given the need for closers this offseason, and the caliber of both of ours). But like someone already mentioned, if the worst case scenario is that Soriano is the closer for another year (at 8+ million), we could definitely do worse. We would still get a 1st round pick for Gonzalez, and we probably would have paid at least 5 million for any other FA closer (and you’re unlikely to get one THAT much better than Soriano, inconsistencies aside).
I predict that the Braves won’t offer arbitration to Soriano, but will to Gonzo, and they’ll both sign elsewhere for multi-year contracts.
HomeofdaBrave
November 17th, 2009
8:41 pm
People continuously talk about how good the offense was in the second half. It wasn’t. Yeah, it was better than it was in the first half (but that’s not really saying much) but the offense was still extremely inconsistent. They’d look like a championship team for a couple of games and then turn around have a hard time scoring two runs in the next 6. Even with the first half struggles, The Braves still had a really good shot at making the playoff. In fact, they SHOULD HAVE been in the playoffs (in the last couple of months in the season, they were even consider the favorites to win the WC) but the offense let them down. I would not feel comfortable going into next season with this same punch-less team.
And the fact that they most likely will not re-sign Adam Laroche, Gonzalez, and Soriano makes it even worse, considering those three were instrumental to the Braves’ second half surge.
This just reminds me of last off-season when people believed the Braves didn’t need another hitter because they were 3rd or something in runs scored in ‘08 and that they scored more runs after they traded Tex.
See how that worked out?
Eric from MO
November 17th, 2009
8:45 pm
Home wasnt it the 2nd best offense in the 2nd half? Sure there was some games where they only scored one or two runs but all teams have that.
Lew
November 17th, 2009
8:49 pm
tr-Not commenting on the Tex trade-it is what it is, but as to none of the players having done anything yet-I thought I just heard that Elvis Andrus came in second in the AL ROY voting? Thought Feliz kicked some butt earlier this year, too.
GboroBravo
November 17th, 2009
8:53 pm
DOB just saw the trailer for Crazy Heart w/Jeff Bridges, dont know if you have seen but it has the Wrestler feel to it but about a broken down country singer (Bridges) anyway take a look here:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3193439513/
richbrave
November 17th, 2009
9:03 pm
Hey MIKE MINOR, you are a bust of a pick. What a waste. You’ll never make it in this league.
DAVE, make sure MINOR reads this O.K.?
Mike Minor
November 17th, 2009
9:08 pm
richbrave is a waste of a blogger.
Mike Minor
November 17th, 2009
9:09 pm
Screw you guys, I’m going to use my left-handed scissors for awhile.
tr
November 17th, 2009
9:15 pm
Lew, didn’t say they hadn’t done anything yet – just not very experienced. They’re obviously talented, especially Andrus. Just saying that he’d still be behind Yunel as a Brave, as Salty would be behind McCann. Feliz has pitched a whopping 31 mlb innings. And Harrison was 4-5 with a 6.11 era.
BTW, Hanson was 3rd in the NL ROY, but you wouldn’t swap him straight up for #2 Elvis. Or would you? lol
richbrave
November 17th, 2009
9:17 pm
Mike Minor:
Looser loser!!!!!
jeffrey d
November 17th, 2009
9:17 pm
Another reason I avoid online college football talk.
UGA is goning to be smashs bugs and unloading a whooping cans on nerds to makes are seasons.
lpad
November 17th, 2009
9:21 pm
PW Hjort, have you looked at the names on this list before you knocked JJJ, again? Hanson, Zambrano, Lackey, Weaver and Oswalt. Are all these guys overrated, too. Should we trade Tommy as well? All of these picthers have good talent and get results. All of these guys are #1 or #2 starters. So how is JJJ not?
2009 MLB Starters tRA+
Rk. Name – tRA+
t-25. Tommy Hanson – 119
t-25. Carlos Zambrano – 119
t-27. Max Scherzer – 118
t-27. John Lackey – 118
t-27. Jair Jurrjens – 118
t-27. Jered Weaver – 118
t-31. Roy Oswalt – 117
t-31. Randy Wolf – 117
t-31. Brian Bannister – 117
DAP
November 17th, 2009
9:24 pm
PWH, you and I have never had a convo about over valuing jurjens.
jeffrey d
November 17th, 2009
9:26 pm
I like the idea of mentioning Tommy Hanson in the same breath as Randy Wolf
DAP
November 17th, 2009
9:29 pm
PWH, also, maybe we should evaluate jurjens’ REAL production instead of the stats that see if he is lucky or not.
lpad
November 17th, 2009
9:31 pm
Also posting stats from 2008 is kind of irrevelant. Or is he not allowed to improve from his rookie year. Most players gradually improve from their rookie year. i.e. his lower ERA and K/9. I don’t mean to give you a hard time I agree with most of what you post, but your assessment is flat out wrong.
lpad
November 17th, 2009
9:34 pm
jeffrey d
how about john lackey? that’s the point I’m trying to make. these stats are bogus. there is no way randy wolf is as good as john lackey, yet their tRA are almost identical. what does that say?
DAP
November 17th, 2009
9:44 pm
Njbraves, can you define “big bat”? What’s the floor of OBP, slg%, HR, ect, that qualifiesnas a big bat to you? That we will know who we are allowed to bring up for the braves by seeing if they meet your requirements. It seems to me that alot of people claim we need a big bat but don’t qualify what we need with meaningful stats, only with specific players. So let’s find out what numbers you think we need so we can figure this out.
jeffrey d
November 17th, 2009
9:54 pm
I love how you throw around “tRA” like it’s common knowledge.
Maybe I’ll start speaking in Portuguese, and when people say “I don’t get what you’re saying” I’ll just retort “Well that’s because you’re too STUPID to understand something as common as Portuguese. STEWPID!!”
ugaaccountant
November 17th, 2009
10:00 pm
DAP – name value is a big deal at cleanup in my opinion. You want the managers and opposing pitchers scared of facing him, easing the way for Chipper to do his damage. Much bigger deal in reality than it is on paper.
lpad
November 17th, 2009
10:07 pm
hey, you’re speaking to the peanut gallery. i pulled it from one of PW’s posts. All I know is that Lackey, Oswalt and the rest are good picthers and Wolf and Bannister aren’t. Therefore, this stat is right. IT also doesn’t prove JJJ is overrated if he’s tied with the best free agent pitcher on the market this year who is a legit #1.
Eric from MO
November 17th, 2009
10:08 pm
Tr all prospects are inexperienced. Thats what makes them prospects. duh
lpad
November 17th, 2009
10:09 pm
lol, maybe you should start speaking Portugese, but only if you get accents or whatever they’re called right.
lpad
November 17th, 2009
10:17 pm
obviously, i meant isn’t right in my earlier post.
Salamander
November 17th, 2009
10:22 pm
there is no way randy wolf is as good as john lackey, yet their tRA are almost identical. what does that say?
That some forms of statistical analysis in baseball are akin to navel-gazing poetry?
I understand that statistical analysis is an integral part of talent assessment, but some people place way too much faith in its predictive abilities.
There is more to baseball than math.
- end soapbox -
P. W. Hjort
November 17th, 2009
10:29 pm
Kansas City Fails To Pick Up Option On Royals | The Onion – America’s Finest News Source
KANSAS CITY, MO—In an expected move Wednesday, the City of Kansas City declined to pick up their 2010 option on the Royals baseball club, ending the team’s 41-year tenure with the Missouri municipality. “It was time to move in another direction,” Kansas City mayor Mark Funkhouser said at a press conference. “There were some vested incentives that would have automatically kicked in if the Royals had finished higher than last place, or won more than one championship in their existence. But we just couldn’t afford to make another mistake like that 18-year extension back in 1991.” The Royals have generated some mild interest from other cities, including Portland, OR and Copenhagen, though the Danish capital is said to be leaning heavily toward acquiring a public pool or parking lot.
Random
November 17th, 2009
10:32 pm
Page 1 Caption: “Schafer and Nixon, Random meeting at furniture store”
Guess which one is me.
(Hint — DOB: “I figured out how to use the PhotoShop editing feature”
tr
November 17th, 2009
10:33 pm
Sorry, but keep up, Eric. They’re NOT prospects any more. They’re major-leaguers without a lot of mlb experience, just more than they would’ve had in the Braves system, where they’d all likely still be prospects! That, after all, was the whole point of the conversation.
duh
Eric from MO
November 17th, 2009
10:39 pm
Yeah no sh!t TR but they were prospects when we traded them 2.5 years ago. How much experience do you expect them to have???
jeffrey d
November 17th, 2009
10:44 pm
lol, maybe you should start speaking Portugese, but only if you get accents or whatever they’re called right.
lol, contrary to my previous post, I’m too “stewpid” to speak in Portuguese. I’m just giving you a hard time…I see the point you’re getting at Ipad.
garyis
November 17th, 2009
10:51 pm
in the ongoing saga of la roche, gonzalez and soriano arbitration somethings seem very clear. the braves need a first baseman next season. i believe the best case scenario for the braves is that la roche agrees to arbitration and nobody else signs him. this gives them a very desirable player without trading prospects. but chance are he will get a multi year offer and the braves get a draft choice.
next is gonzalez. definitely offer him arbitration. on the remote chance that he is not offered a multi
year deal, he would would be a 1 year bargain. of course he will probably get a multi year contract
so the braves get a draft pick.
now you have soriano. suppose the braves offer him arbitration. if you were soriano’s agent would you take a (and this is modest) 2 year $11-12m deal versus arbitration at hopefully $8m. remember,
for arbitration he needs to submit what he thinks he is worth and the braves submit what they feel is
his value. often the players and teams split the difference, meaning he could get $7.5m instead. i
believe $12m is more tempting for him. this probably sets him up for life if he never gets another
deal. and if he has 2 good years he could get a huge contract. i believe it is safe to say he will get his 2 year deal, and if so the braves get a draft pick.(it would would be a shame not to get at least
a draft pick considering we traded horacio ramirez.)
now if the braves were to sign gonzalez and not offer arbitration to soriano the braves get no draft picks. assume la roche signs elsewhere. no draft picks
now go the other way. assume all 3 players sign elsewhere. the braves get 3 first round picks. yikes. that may not be good because to sign all those picks will probably cost $7-8m, which i
doubt is in their budget.
what’s a general manager to do?
tr
November 17th, 2009
10:54 pm
EXACTLY, Eric, duh
Eric from MO
November 17th, 2009
11:00 pm
tr…you are dumb…done talking to you.
Wide Right
November 17th, 2009
11:06 pm
With so much bad news in the world…poverty, war and the AJC’s main story tonight of a national shortage of Eggo Waffles, the posting of a new DOB blog is always a welcome sight. And its especially nice to read that a pitcher such as Lee Hyde, who wasnt on my radar at all, is looking this good.
Also, I am glad to see that Otis Nixon is out and about, seemingly doing well and buying furniture. Its not always easy to find free video of great, historical sports moments on the internet. But at least we can always watch the greatest baseball catch of all time (and one of Skip Caray’s best calls) on OtisNixon.com.
TnBrian
November 17th, 2009
11:08 pm
Really, Wren isn’t in as easy a position as I first thought. You’ve got three big spots to fill with 1st base & the back-end bp guys up for FA. Plus the fact that he’ll have to somehow make time to find a trading partner for Lowe, if that’s their plan. As we watch this unfold I just hope it doesn’t turn into a disaster of an offseason. He did a very good job last year, so it can be done.
braveman
November 17th, 2009
11:10 pm
njbraves @ 3:25,
wow. thank god someone had the balls to say that… you are exactly right. thats why you keep hearing jo jo and medlen for fielder type trades over and over. braves fans for the most part, honestly believe that jo jo and a throw in, could net a big bat. yeah, they are completely out of touch with reality, but they truly believe that every prospect we have is better than any other team has to offer… then you have a small majority of those idiots that believe that our prospects are better than most major league players… its sad… and embarrassing. most fans across all of baseball “overvalue” their teams’ prospects, but braves fans take it to another level.
TnBrian
November 17th, 2009
11:14 pm
braveman, it’s only natural that Braves fans overvalue their teams prospects. Through the 90’s we had prospect after prospect make it big, so I think that’s why.
Eric from MO
November 17th, 2009
11:17 pm
TnBrian plus you have DOB talk about how great they are. Plus the 05 baby Braves didnt help.
Wide Right
November 17th, 2009
11:20 pm
Eric…if you are from MO how come you like the Braves? You got two other teams in that state.
Eric from MO
November 17th, 2009
11:22 pm
Because I grew up with the Braves on TBS. During the summers I stayed with my Grandpa who watched the Braves every night. Did I pass your quiz?
Wide Right
November 17th, 2009
11:28 pm
Eric.
That’s nice. And yes you passed my quiz.
TnBrian
November 17th, 2009
11:29 pm
Eric, not really man. DOB has really praised Heyward & Freeman that I can recall & with good reason seeing as how most all baseball writers have in the last year or so. Good example is today when he says Kimbrel has to work has a ways to go with his control. I don’t know what he said before last year because I didn’t even know this blog existed.
Doc Holiday
November 17th, 2009
11:32 pm
TnBrian,
I disagree………I think we are in a very good position………the hardest part is already covered and we have an excess of those goods the rest of the teams want……….SP…………being patient like a lion waiting for the zebra, is a must………….we will get our prey………just need to wait.
tr
November 17th, 2009
11:33 pm
Eric,
If you join a conversation at the end, it’s not polite to call someone else dumb because you don’t understand what the conversation was about in the first place. Thus, the “keep up” comment after you insulted my intelligence (”Tr all prospects are inexperienced. Thats what makes them prospects. duh”) because you didn’t follow the point of the conversation. You were trying to argue something that wasn’t even an issue of contention AND disrespecting me (”Yeah no sh!t) while you were doing so.
Ignorance is not knowing. That’s not shameful and is very easy to fix. Just ask a question or two and ignorance disappears. Stupidity is lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind. Not so easy to fix. I sincerely hope the problem was just the previous and not the latter.
TnBrian
November 17th, 2009
11:33 pm
I’m going back on youtube to watch the rest of Shawshank Redemption. Love this movie & get it for free. Internet is somethin ain’t it.
TnBrian
November 17th, 2009
11:36 pm
Doc Holliday, hope you’re right. I just seriously don’t think it’s as convenient as you say though. You’re distracting me damnit. Trying to watch a movie here.
Macon Braves (RIP)
November 17th, 2009
11:36 pm
DOB–Just when I thought that a show couldn’t get any stronger, tonight’s episode of Sons of Anarchy just blows me away. WOW, what an EPIC show!! Thanks for turning me on to this show midway through last season DOB! It is hands down the best show since The Wire and The Sopranoes ended in my opinion, and I think it has to be mentioned right up there with them at this point. EPIC!!
Wide Right
November 17th, 2009
11:38 pm
shawshank is the greatest movie of all time..with the possible exceptions of “the jerk”, “planes trains and automobiles” and “Fargo”.
hey, tnBrian…would you say that braves fans who overvalue their prospects are being “obtuse”?
Mitchie-san
November 17th, 2009
11:48 pm
Is AG blocking someone in San Diego? Would Freeman have to be in a deal?
Steve from OH
November 18th, 2009
12:03 am
Mike Minor scouting report from Jason Grey @ ESPN:
“Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves: The No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft is a relatively polished four-pitch southpaw (despite his first-inning blowup in the Rising Stars game). He sits at 90-92 mph but showed he could dial it up to 94 when needed. He had good fade on his change, and his curveball was inconsistent but good at times. He needs to improve his fringy slider, but he’s another pitcher who could move very quickly but doesn’t have a huge ceiling.”
nolie
November 18th, 2009
12:05 am
I think we are in a very good position Doc H’
I think it’s gonna be tougher than most people think. Lots of areas need attention, allocating available resources is gonna be tough, and there are any number of things that might go wrong. It’s certainly not impossible, but actually more complicated than last season when reworking the rotation was the big agenda. This year we need a first baseman, a closer, a set up guy and an outfielder and money isn’y gonna be all that loose.
I’m sure Wren will do a good job though
I think Wren will do a good job, but it ain’t gonna be a cakewalk to get all that right.
P. W. Hjort
November 18th, 2009
12:07 am
Is AG blocking someone in San Diego?
Yes. Kyle Blanks.
uga-brave
November 18th, 2009
12:07 am
dob,
saw baseball project’s salute to black jack mcdowell on schultz blog. good stuff.
P. W. Hjort
November 18th, 2009
12:11 am
Steve from OH,
I can’t decide what to think about Minor’s secondary arsenal. I’ve read a few reports that say his slider is his best offering and some that say it’s his worst. They all seem to think his change-up is at least average and his curve is fringe-average. I don’t know. It’s weird to read conflicting scouting reports.
ryan c
November 18th, 2009
12:12 am
dob,
any truth to the braves having interest in derosa?
TnBrian
November 18th, 2009
12:21 am
Wide Right, what did you say? I’m stickin you in the hole you SOB!
Didn’t get Fargo for whatever reason. There’s a dark comedy to it that I just didn’t get. It’s not a bad movie at all, just not one of my favorites. Plains Trains is very funny, like that. The Jerk is so stupid it’s funny. Another one that’s so stupid it’s funny is Major Payne.
Mitchie-san
November 18th, 2009
12:22 am
Thanks P.W. I couldnt remember his name. Well I guess if a trade did go down, (fingers crossed) at least we could keep Freemman or use him in another trade.
nolie
November 18th, 2009
12:28 am
I don’t know. It’s weird to read conflicting scouting reports PW
well not all that weird, scouts disagree about prospects all the time, that’s why each team at draft time has a somewhat different ranking of who they want.
The better scouts turn out to be right more often over the long run, just like in anything else.
. It’s more an art than a science and the fact that it happens for different reasons is one of the things that makes the game of real baseball more complicated and less predictable than fantasy ball.
another thing is that a whole bunch of guys writing such stuff are not professionally trained scouts. Many are kinda self-made. They read a lot and assume they will know it when they see it. Some I’ve talked to are dumber than a box of rocks.
Not everybody can combine visual interpretation with an analytical mind. Left and right both play important parts and many folks are way stronger in one aspect than another.
Good scouts are ‘the most interesting men in the world’
Gone Viral
November 18th, 2009
12:41 am
“I’m going back on youtube to watch the rest of Shawshank Redemption.”
The most recent episode of Cougar Town had a killer bit along these lines. Skip to the 16 minute mark if you don’t want to watch the whole thing.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/105835/cougar-town-dont-come-around-here-no-more#s-p1-so-i0
nolie
November 18th, 2009
12:47 am
you might never think it, but on Internet Movie DataBase-everything yo ever wanted to know about almost every movie and tv show ever produced- 454,000+ voters have rated Shawshank as the best movie ever, right ahead of The Godfather. How ’bout dat?
P. W. Hjort
November 18th, 2009
12:48 am
nolie,
I also think a scout will see a guy one day when he’s got the good slider working and say “the slider is his best secondary pitch”. Then, another scout sees him another day when he’s got the change-up working and says “the change-up is the best secondary offering”. The Indians are installing pitch F/X in their minor league parks so they can cross-check their scouting reports and see if something was different in that outing.
ccrider
November 18th, 2009
12:50 am
It’s hard for me to say this, as much as I like our propsects, but if we could get Adrian Gonzalez for a package of players consisting of Medlen, Schafer, Bethancourt, Prado and perhaps another pitcher not named Teheren or Delgado. I would have to make it. I don’t think Medlen, Schafer or Prado will ever be All Stars, where as Bethancourt might, but at age 18 that’s a lot of projection. As long as we retain Freeman we are still covered at 1st base in case Gonzalez leaves. Schafer is the other one I would hate to lose, but we still have McLouth and many scouts swear that Heyward could play a very good CF, so who knows.
If, we could get Gonzalez signed long term, then Freeman could be used to fill another need.
It’s awful hard to get a cleanup hitter of Gonzalez’s calibur. One thought I had was what if we offered to redo his contract right away after acquiring him. Instead of paying $10 the next 2 years. we sign him to a 6 year $90 million contract, which would be the same as $5 mill for the next 2 years and $20 million for the next 4 years. It would be a more palatable number per season at $15 million a year. If, Lowe was moved it would make things even sweeter.
Doc Holiday
November 18th, 2009
1:07 am
nolie,
I didnt say its gonna be easy………..as you quoted………I said we are in a very good position. If there is something you better have tons of is SP. Its easier to find bullpen help, or bullpen surprises or bullpen miracles than to get SP miracles or help. Same goes for the offense……….you can always get help from unexpected sources………….Martin………for instance. Matt was not a huge surprise, but you never know with the guy. Same goes for Adam, he came out of nowhere. We can have yunel hit 20 Hr, you never know……..we can have schafer hit 50 doubles………….or martin hit 50 doubles………….but can you get a nobody to win 15 games? that is very improbable. I like better our chances to find 1 or 2 bats and 1 or 2 arms for the pen………..the chance the rest of the teams have to get 2 quality starters………….only the yankees, mets and redsox can do that………the rest only with lots of luck……..like we did last year.
Duke
November 18th, 2009
1:21 am
Clay: how do you want to handle this?
Max: we kill them all.
Quality line
Duke
November 18th, 2009
1:22 am
Jax
Duke
November 18th, 2009
1:23 am
Jax’
Duke
November 18th, 2009
1:26 am
Clay: how do we handle this?
Jax: we kill them all.
Quality line
AZBravoFan
November 18th, 2009
1:34 am
Someone earlier mentioned the D’backs’ Chris Young. Noooooo way! While he’s speedy and has some pop, that guy is a strikeout machine. I think Braves fans would find him incredibly frustrating. We don’t need another Francoeur.
David O'Brien
November 18th, 2009
2:18 am
Jason, thanks for answering that question about protected draft picks, etc….
So the Braves are one of a dozen teams interested in DeRo. We knew that was coming, right? I mean, as we said a couple weeks ago, he’d be a good fit for Braves because he can play first base, the OF corners, spell Chipper at third, etc.
But the fact that 11 other teams (according to his agent) are interested tells you he’ll probably end up getting a three-year deal, or at least two and an option. And he’s coming off a three-year, $13 mill deal. So if it’s something in a similar range, I’m doubting Braves could go there. But we’ll see where the market goes with that one.
Only surprising thing would have been if they had NO interest in DeRo, considering how much he was liked here and how well he could fit their needs.
And for what it’s worth, keep in mind that DeRo’s permanent residence, his offseason home, is up in the northernmost Atlanta suburbs.
David O'Brien
November 18th, 2009
2:23 am
The Jayhawks played like garbage tonight, at least offensively. Most ragged game I’ve seen ‘em play in a couple of years. But they won, and they can use that as a reminder/wakeup call, whatever you want to call it. I really don’t think they can play any worse than they did tonight.
David O'Brien
November 18th, 2009
2:26 am
Alright, time to watch me some SOA.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
November 18th, 2009
2:58 am
When it comes to the subject of Jair Jurrjens, luck just doesn’t apply. However, intelligence and smarts are very much part of his repertoire. The Braves scouts were correct when they advised our front office to pull the trigger, and then we stole the Tigers blind again just like before with John Smoltz.
What JJ does on the mound can’t be summed up with WHIP, FIP, WPA or any other other fancy stat because Jurrjens is a pitchers pitcher. He has a fundamental grasp of how to get hitters out, throws strikes, gets ahead of the batter and pitches to contact. Jurrjens is quick to the plate with an incredibly deceptive arm action and the ability to throw any of his three pitches at any time in the count. But what is so unusual about JJ is this, his change up is actually faster than his slurve and hitters have yet to adjust accordingly. He changes speeds, keeps the ball on the corners and keeps the ball in the park. I could have just said the Jurrjens is Maddux like in his demeanor and it would have explained a lot because JJ pitches like he’s 33 instead 23.
But there was one other factor which helped JJ this year, and it was the addition of Javier Vazquez who mentored Jurrjens on some of the finer points of pitching and the results showed up on the mound. JJ nailed down twenty-five quality starts and actually had an equally impressive twenty-seven starts where he gave up two earned runs or less. That’s not luck, it’s called great pitching.
As for those stat geeks who would dismiss the “Quality start” as an accurate barometer of a pitchers performance, talk to Bill James. When it comes to the subject of pitching to contact, Greg Maddux had this zen like comment: my idea of the perfect game is 27 pitches.
………..And Jurrjens lights out performance down the stretch in his last ten starts was money. He posted a stellar ERA of 1.76 and all ten trips to the bump were “Quality Starts”. That said, Jurrjens is untouchable in the same mold as Tommy Hanson when it comes to unfounded trade rumors. The Curaçao kid is money and he’s only going to get better, so enjoy Braves fans!
MZ
November 18th, 2009
3:41 am
I don’t know whether to be mad at myself or completely OK with the fact that I’m just now getting into “Dexter” … on the one hand, the show’s brilliant and I hate that I missed out on the early seasons when they were current, but on the other, I can sit back and watch “Dexter” marathons til my heart’s content
Moby Grape
November 18th, 2009
4:08 am
What JJ does on the mound can’t be summed up with WHIP, FIP, WPA or any other other fancy stat because Jurrjens is a pitchers pitcher. He has a fundamental grasp of how to get hitters out, throws strikes, gets ahead of the batter and pitches to contact. Jurrjens is quick to the plate with an incredibly deceptive arm action and the ability to throw any of his three pitches at any time in the count. But what is so unusual about JJ is this, his change up is actually faster than his slurve and hitters have yet to adjust accordingly Coach
Who’d you plagiarize all that from dude? It isn’t your language. You really should cite your source instead of just stealing it and hoping we will believe it originated with you. Like we’re really that stupid.
Moby Grape
November 18th, 2009
4:11 am
on the one hand, the show’s brilliant and I hate that I missed out on the early seasons when they were current, but on the other, I can sit back and watch “Dexter” marathons til my heart’s content
a lot of fans from the beginning are kinda unhappy with this tear’s show. The marriage to needy Rita is wearing thin on some folks. Me, I’m hoping it gets extremely dark and he kills off the whole fam.
Moby Grape
November 18th, 2009
4:12 am
this year’s show
Mitchie-san
November 18th, 2009
4:14 am
Geez Moby….
Lew
November 18th, 2009
6:02 am
Who is that logical, well-informed poster masquerading as Coach?
Macon Braves (RIP)
November 18th, 2009
8:23 am
DOB–I’m gonna guess it was well worth staying up til 3:00 or so in the morning to watch Sons Of Anarchy last night. I said it last night and I’ll say it again…thanks for turning me on to it, I hadn’t even heard of it until you dropped it on here and now it is one of my favorite shows EVER!!
Rob (from SC)
November 18th, 2009
8:32 am
Scouts say Minor’s best pitch is his changeup. One of the better non fastball pitches in the draft.
Wayne in Utah
November 18th, 2009
8:35 am
The calm before the storm……
Wayne in Utah
November 18th, 2009
8:36 am
Rob
Have you started therapy yet?
Steve from OH
November 18th, 2009
8:38 am
nolie–Jason Grey went to the MLB scouting Bureau’s scout development program. I don’t know if that’s good or not, but he probably knows a little bit, I’d think. Just fyi.
dpelfrey
November 18th, 2009
8:43 am
Mike Minor…lefty…low-90’s fastball…4 quality pitches…what more needs to be said, seriously. That’s the pitching equivalent of a 5-tool player.
Anybody check out The Prisoner on AMC yet? I just watched the first 2-hr episode from Monday and I’m confused as hell, but intrigued nonetheless.
18 Wheels of Love
November 18th, 2009
8:47 am
Lowe for Joba
reagan
November 18th, 2009
9:01 am
On scouting…………whenever someone applies the phrase “doesn’t have that high a ceiling”…..I think they’re really saying….”he cant bring it 98mph”. Well…….how hard did Maddox throw?
GboroBravo
November 18th, 2009
9:07 am
DOB listen to this line up that is going to be touring: George Strait, Reba, and LeAnne Wolmack…..its a bit pricey but a must see.
ChipChop
November 18th, 2009
9:15 am
Let me get this straight. The Braves WON’T work with Paul Kinzer & Arn Tellem. That eliminates some players they may potentially be interested in as free agents or in trades. They DON’T work well with Scott Boras. Who does? But then again, that eliminates players they would be interested in as free agents or in trades. They couldn’t pull off the Jake Peavy deal with San Diego. It’s a good thing they didn’t but Kenny Williams could. Then there is the conversation about “under team’s control” in any proposed deal. The Braves have so many limitations including budget that Frank Wren has to play David Copperfield to get back into the playoffs.
Wayne in Utah
November 18th, 2009
9:15 am
18 Wheels
Do you think the Yankees are ready to give up on Joba? I kinda doubt it. To be honest, I think his best slot is as Mo’s setup man right now.
Do you see Gonzo as being a target of the Yankees to be their setup man?
Wayne in Utah
November 18th, 2009
9:18 am
ChipChop
After what the Wasserman Group (I think I have that correct) pulled on FW last winter, do you blame him?
I think Frank has a better relationship w/ Scott Boras than JS did. Probably hold over bad feelings for Boras handling of Maddux back many years ago.
beekay
November 18th, 2009
9:22 am
Minor’s info #4 prospect
Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2009 (1st round). Signed by: Brian Bridges.
Background: Drafted in the 13th round out of high school, Minor was the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year in 2007 and Baseball America’s Summer Player of the Year in 2008. After a 6-6, 3.90 junior season, Minor signed for $2.42 million, a club record and the most ever for a No. 7 overall pick.
Strengths: Minor’s repertoire consists of four pitches, with his plus changeup rating as his best offering. His fastball has excellent movement and sits in the upper 80s, and he is capable of increasing and reducing the velocity of the pitch to keep hitters off balance. Both his command and control are outstanding, and he didn’t walk a batter in 14 innings after signing. His pickoff move is also a significant weapon.
Weaknesses: Minor still is trying to determine which breaking ball to work with. He threw an above-average slider with good depth during his first two years at Vanderbilt, but he had trouble snapping the pitch and locating it after adding a curveball last spring. He’s not overpowering and his repertoire is similar to that of former Vanderbilt ace Jeremy Sowers, who hasn’t been able to finesse his way past big league hitters.
The Future: After pitching in the Arizona Fall League, Minor could open his first full season in Double-A. His greatest attribute is his overall pitching savvy, which should make him at least a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.
2008 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Rome (Lo A) 0 1 0.64 4 4 0 0 14 10 0 0 17 .208
DAP
November 18th, 2009
9:23 am
ChipChop They DON’T work well with Scott Boras. Who does?
youre thinking of the old guy. wren has a good working relationship with boras.
18 Wheels of Love
November 18th, 2009
9:29 am
Wayne it’s not like they would be giving up on him, they would be getting Lowe in return. It’s just a suggestion…and set-up guys are a dime a dozen. But Joba could come here and be the closer.
McFann Ô
November 18th, 2009
9:35 am
jeffrey d Another reason I avoid online college football talk.
UGA is goning to be smashs bugs and unloading a whooping cans on nerds to makes are seasons.
Whoa…what’s that supposed to mean, anyway?
18 Wheels of Love
November 18th, 2009
9:42 am
Lowe for Joba
Derosa to 1B
Uggla to 2B
Prado to LF
18 Wheels of Love
November 18th, 2009
9:48 am
ChipChop. Wren made the deal with SD, it was Peavy who wouldn’t waive his no trade clause. But yeah, thank goodness he did.
Frank Robinson (Rockmart)
November 18th, 2009
9:53 am
McFann,
I’m not sure what that means, but I hope the dawgs indeed open up “whooping cans on nerds” (GT) as opposed to a carton of “tootsie frootsie ice cream”!
Wayne in Utah
November 18th, 2009
9:55 am
18 Wheels
Prado: Average defender at second, below average in left.
Uggla: Below average at second. ??? in left or at first.
DeRosa: Average at best in left field. Inexperienced at first, probably below average.
Why not keep Prado at second, get DeRosa for left field, and get a first baseman who can actually play the position. A good or better first baseman saves a lot of throwing errors for his SS and third baseman.
Uggla is a huge unknown at any position other than second. He is bad there.
After our adventures with Anderson last year in left field, I prefer to add folks who make us better defensively, if possible.
Your proposal puts 3 people in positions that make those spots worse to much worse than they were last season.