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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,098 comments Add your comment
David O'Brien
December 3rd, 2009
10:12 am
TennPaul: Your 9:42 was quite funny.
Anders
December 3rd, 2009
10:12 am
OJ- Gonzalez rejecting arbitration makes sense. I think it would be a mistake for Soriano. I don’t think teams view him as a true closer yet nor has proved to be reliably healthy over the life of a contract. He should take the $8 mil from the Braves. Brian Cashman said they’re will be crossover type relievers left out on the market not because of the money but because they’re not worth the draft pick. I think Soriano will be viewed as one of those.
David O'Brien
December 3rd, 2009
10:16 am
I love how people are quoting other teams’ officials saying Soriano and/or Gonzo will leave via free agency. No sh$#. The Braves have already made it clear, and Wren reiterated yesterday, that they fully expect both pitchers to leave via free agency. There’s no doubt at all.
Anders
December 3rd, 2009
10:18 am
Tennesse Paul- I’m not sure the Braves will get the real Wagner character as he’s winding down his career but if they do just wait until Escobar non-chalants a two hopper into a game costing error a couple of times with Wagner on the hill. Trust me the real Wagner would let fly on that. He is what he is. He’s not always right but has always been outspoken.
David O'Brien
December 3rd, 2009
10:19 am
The way ol’ Billy Joe Shaver sang and danced last night at his ATL show, he might be right. “I’m gonna live forever….” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeJ4kp1AwY4
David O'Brien
December 3rd, 2009
10:20 am
Was that Anders dressed as the elf yesterday, causing the mall evacuation?
Moe Berg
December 3rd, 2009
10:24 am
So the Mets big acquisitions are signing Alex Cora and being near to a deal on Henry Blanco….perhaps, Wilpon is starting to feel the squeeze of his bad Bernie Madoff investments?
bruce
December 3rd, 2009
10:24 am
OK I am putting my Willie Mays autographed photo back on e-bay. (joking)
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
10:24 am
or we could see this scenario, Lowe is not traded therby having to keep his salary.
Wren has to get creative, and deals
Yunel,Kawakami,and minor leaguer to Bosox for Bucholz,Delacrmen,and Bard. salary dump of course on KK.
Then flips Bard and Sammons to K.C for Alberto Callaspo
and signs Holliday and Laroche.
How would that suit you guys?
Still got six starters tho
Maybe dont sign Laroche, and deal Bucholz, and
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
10:26 am
Anders-I never saw another team’s fan so concerned about their competition and their every nuanced move. Tell you what Dude. I won’t comment on the Mets’ plight the rest of this winter. No comments on any personnel moves, real or imagined. Let’s see who you try to use as a whipping boy for the Mets’ dysfunctionality next year since you don’t like what I have to say about them, despite the fact that lo and behold, I was right. They didn’t win diddly, did they?.
Anders
December 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
DOB- Nice to hear from you. Anyway, did you get a chance to comment on your thoughts regarding Wagners “character”. You know with him being the central character in what you repeatedly called a “dysfunctional clubhouse” up there in the big city? Remember that whole Jets/Sharks thing from a couple of years ago?
Or does that all just wash away when he dons the Tomahawk?
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
10:29 am
So many scenarios, so much to do, and none of what we would like to be done but,so far Wren is a damn genious
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
10:29 am
joebrave-way too long a chain of assumptions and not many of them are all that realistic. Sorry, Don’t see any of that happening. But I don’t really think you were serious, were you?
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
10:29 am
Or does that all just wash away when he dons the Tomahawk?
Hey, it could. It did with Sheffield when he was on the Braves.
Anders
December 3rd, 2009
10:30 am
Hey Moe – How’s about we let the teams at least get to the GM’s meetings before we call it a bust -OK?
The Braves were desperate for a closer and had to make the move. This isn’t about the Mets being behind the market – not yet anyway.
CB
December 3rd, 2009
10:31 am
Gee,I can’t believe you guys didn’t understand the lipstick reference. The lipstick was on Cameron to make him look prettier,you know like Sarah, oh hell,never mind.
Tommy T
December 3rd, 2009
10:33 am
Anders,
Since you are questioning Wagner’s character, please aloow me to ask you a question. Was Wagner wrong in his criticism of Mets players for not facing the reporters? From afar that seemed to be a central point of contention in the Mets clubhouse. In your mind, was Wagner out of line?
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
It’s starting to look like LAA could be a potential player on Lowe,Seattle aparrantly wants Lackey very bad.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 am
Realistically, how much money have we got to spend. I’ve got figured up we are at around 90-91 million right now. I know we had around 100 mill last year and it was supposed to be an increase.
We are probably not gonna dump Lowe and we are going to trade Vazquez most likely, taking 11 mill away to around upper 70s to low 80 mill. So we have what? Around 25-30 million to work with?
I really wish we’d put a deal together to get Carl Crawford but I don’t see it happening, I really don’t want Cameron in Atlanta.
My dream would be to sign Bay and I think Wren could do it, by the way guys, stop putting Holliday in your hopeful lineups, he is the most coveted free agent, the Braves cannot afford the bidding war the Yankees and Sox are gonna be in over him. Sox winning since they lost Bay…
Realistically we give Cameron 2-3 years 8-9 million per year even though that is way overpaying…
Dotel will get 2 years 4-5 million from us, again over paying as this seems to be how Wren is doing things.
We’ll probably trade Vazquez for some outfielder that seems overrated but they try to pass it off as a big aquisition…We have to eat Lowe’s Salary….I think I’d just like to release Lowe and eat it without him killing our team next year…
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 am
Lew, heck no! however it would’nt surprise me if McLouth was moved!
GboroBravo
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 am
9:35am: MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki hears that the Phils are close to signing Polanco to a three-year deal worth $18MM. The contract, which is pending a physical, includes a mutual option for 2013.
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
Maybe deal for Overbay,and sign Holliday/Rodney! moving Lowe for specs
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
Question for someone who knows more than me.
With Liberty Media required to own us until the end of 2011, for all the tax breaks, does anyone see them selling us to Arthur Blank, who would actually put the money needed to contend up like Ted did?
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:40 am
Gboro: I’m hearing 2 years 10-12 million on Polanco
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
JoeBrave-Well, it wouldn’t bother me if they DID move McLouth as he was extremely disappointing last year-especially at The Ted. However, from comments Wren has made, I think he really likes Nate (and it was a good, unexpected deal he pulled off) and expects that there will be considerable improvement, so I’m doubting he’ll be dealt this year. But I guess stranger things have happened many times in the past and could very well happen again.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:44 am
Does the thoughts of giving up the 20th overall pick who in the past years has proven like 60% chance of getting a player between the talent of Pokey Reese and CC Sabathia at that number not scare anyone?
And for a 38 year old coming off Tommy John and with a month of pitching afterwards? Then the realistic idea of bringing in Dotel for an overpaid salary too. I think I may crap my pants more in the 8th and 9th next year than I did last year when Gonzo would walk the bases loaded in a one run game and then strike out 3 in a row..
Nova Scotia Steve
December 3rd, 2009
10:46 am
Here’s hoping to Wagner being the closer we all want him to be. I think as long as he’s healthy…we’ll be alright.
So let’s sign M. Cameron and Adam LaRoche (or someone who can put up LaRoche type numbers at the plate).
I think we could quickly shape into a play-off team Cameron, McLouth and possibly Heyward to begin the season…WOW…Could be the first time i’ve been excited about our outfield in a long long time.
And yes I realize in order to do this we may have to trade Vazquez/Lowe…But if we have to…we have to
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:47 am
McLouth doesn’t really impress me. I thought it was a good aquisition based on his rep but then I started looking at his numbers and they just don’t impress me at all. Francouer has the same potential as him given we have a hitting coach that can crack him. I wouldn’t mind seeing him go but we have to have someone who can replace him, which we don’t at this moment. Almost wish instead of McLouth in that trade we would have picked up Nyjer Morgan..
Moe Berg
December 3rd, 2009
10:47 am
“With Liberty Media required to own us until the end of 2011, for all the tax breaks, does anyone see them selling us to Arthur Blank, who would actually put the money needed to contend up like Ted did?”–Bob
I know nothing more than you on this, but Arthur Blank’s shares of Home Depot are worth less than half of what they were when he bought the Falcons (just based on share price and excluding dividends.) No idea what that does to his cash flow but he might want a bit of a rebound in stock price before any big purchases.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:48 am
DOB: do you see Heyward on the team opening day or waiting until June like Hanson to avoid making him a Super 2?
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:49 am
Moe Berg: yeah I undertstand that logic but as a Braves fan its been too long since we had ownership that cared about the Braves and its kinda discouraging..
wilymo
December 3rd, 2009
10:49 am
How concerned are people in regards to Bobby killing Wagner’s arm or upsetting him by using him to protect 8-3 leads? Most people’s analysis is talking about back-to-back days but Bobby had Gonzo and Sori pitching three and on occasion four days in a row (Sori in LA). Does anyone have concern?
ncscoots
December 3rd, 2009
10:50 am
so I’m doubting [McLouth will] be dealt this year.
Make an assumption that Wren gets an offensive bat for the OF, and McLouth becomes expendable in direct proportion to Jordan Schafer’s progress in AAA this year. Me, personally, I’d prefer that Schafer spend most of the year on the farm, but, eventually, he’s in CF. Then, it’s a matter of whether McLouth’s bat plays well enough in LF to supplant whoever is there when Schafer arrives. If not, there will be plenty of trade partners for a package that includes him.
dgd
December 3rd, 2009
10:52 am
I like the Wagner deal and the picks for Gonzo and Soriano will more than compensate for the first rounder going to the Red Sox. The guy doesn’t suffer guys who don’t give it their all, however. I think that fiery attitude is just what the Braves need.
Saw Roseanne Cash last night performing with just her husband. Played over half of the songs from “The List”. Really good show. Great banter between them on “Sea of Heartbreak” when her hubby got to sing the Springsteen part…
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:52 am
I’m not high on Schafer’s bat. He’ll strikeout in key situations more than Andruw did..
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:55 am
on the forum I am a member of the consensus from people with great knowledge of the Mets and Astros say Wagner struggles in big situations much like the word on Vazquez struggling in big games from White Sox and Yankees fans.
I’m just not huge on this deal for the price we gave…
Don
December 3rd, 2009
10:56 am
Actually, baseball’s silly season began several months ago – The Braves signed Bobby Cox for another year.
Bravesguy
December 3rd, 2009
10:58 am
Fun Billy Wagner piece in Sporting News Today:
http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20091203/?pg=4&pm=1&u1=friend
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
Ding dong Don,dude shut up!
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
I hope after next season Cox will be in a position to put are farm system back among the elite status it once was. Can’t remember what position he will be in but after some of the deals are farm seems awfully thin like now we don’t really have any candidates in our farm to make reliable relievers for a couple of years. Miss the days where someone was always tuned up and ready to come in and make an impact.
Bravesguy
December 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
Enter your comments here
CB
December 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
Gee,what is a day without Don.
Joebrave
December 3rd, 2009
11:00 am
Cox may be old, but he is damn sure Hall of Fame!
wilymo
December 3rd, 2009
11:02 am
I don’t think the money for Wagner is bad at all. I’m also not convinced we’ll be getting 4 picks for both Gonzo and Soriano. Wouldn’t surprise me to see the teams that are in on Holliday, Bay, and Lackey end up with those two (Ana, NYY, Bos, etc) meaning we’d end up with that team’s second rounder. Also there are several teams that are in the first half of the first round that might be interested in which case we’d end up with later picks as well.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
11:04 am
Our 20th pick is the only one that really concerns me. I mean what was Hanson, a 7th round pick. We have a nack for finding diamonds in the rough but 20th overall has put out some players in the past 10 to 15 years…I think we’ll regret it…especially if we cna’t get a teams first round pick…
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
11:05 am
you guys do realize that if a team that has picks 1-15 signs either Gonzo or Sori, that we get their second round pick instead of their first as well, so I’m hoping Gonzo doesn’t return to the Pirates or someone else in that range..
ncscoots
December 3rd, 2009
11:07 am
I’m not high on Schafer’s bat. He’ll strikeout in key situations more than Andruw did..
That right? Schafer has struck out about once every four-plus ABs as a minor leaguer. Probably more than one would like, but he isn’t exactly a whiff machine.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
11:08 am
Bravesguy: pretty cool link, fun to see how much you got in common with some of these guys everything from the singers he llisted to the book he is reading, which i have like 2 chapters left to finish, to tobacco being the considered worst habit he possesses, smallville and csi, the fact that he drives a 2001 model truck when he makes millions…seems like an all around down to earth guy, one of those types you could probably run into on the streets or in town and never realize he were rich.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
11:10 am
ncscoots: has he not struck out more times than games he has played in? I mean in the majors thats gonna equivalate into a few more k’s than the minor league level so you are looking at a 180-200 strike out seasons…
ncscoots
December 3rd, 2009
11:16 am
So, Bob, it’s your contention that Schafer’s 150 ML ABs with a wrist that required surgery are a better indicator than his 1500+ minor league ABs?
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
11:16 am
nvm. was wrong about him striking out in more games than he had played but he has still struck out a lot…and it seems to be a trend in the minors and you can’t expect a 4 year trend in the minors to just all of a sudden stop.
Atbell14
December 3rd, 2009
11:19 am
DOB-
If you get a couple hours, The Slippery Noodle is your kinda place. Live music, oldest bar in Indy, and a bullet hole in the bar from John Dillinger’s gun. Walking distance from any downtown hotel.
I have no affiliation to it, don’t ever go there except for Colts game, just sounds like its the closest to what you would like in town…and we need you to have a good time so the rest of the Indy residents can quit being so sensitive
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
11:21 am
No, ncscoots, I think its a bad sign that he’s striking out at a rate of nearly 1 time per game. I’m not saying I’m not high on him because of what he did with the Braves last year but the fact that in:
05 he struck out 49 times in 49 games
06 he struck out 95 times in 114 games
07 126 times in 136 games all below AA
08 at AA 88 times in 84 games
I mean in those 4 years he is averaging out around 29 games he hasn’t struck out in and I’m concerned for that..I don’t expect a trend like that to end at the Major league level..
klaus
December 3rd, 2009
11:25 am
Including expected raises/arb deals and adding Wagner the payroll is around $82.2 million today leaving $13-14mm left to spend. This assumes Gonzo, Soriano, KJ and Church all walk/traded which is likely if not guaranteed.
If they trade Lowe to say LAA for the reliever Shields (who makes $5mm/yr) they will have $~24mm to spend. Getting Shields in a deal reduces the need to spend much more on the pen so that money can be directed to LF and 1B. In other words you can pass on names like Dotel (mentally tough, not sure?) and Rodney (not bad) unless they are coming here for less than 5mm/yr.
This assumes they are comfortable with a $96mm payroll figure which should easily be the case given comments from McGuirk et al. To go from low to mid 90s to mid-ish 90s YOY is not a big deal.
So Wren could do the following:
Bay (LF) 16-17mm/yr (6yr deal)
Nady (1B) $4mm (1yr with 2yr option)
Atkins OR Glaus (1B, 3B,PH bench guys 1yr deal) – 3mm
Mop up reliever ($1mm/yr if needed)
Putting Wren at $24-25mm in incremental spend bringing the 2010 payroll to $~96mm. Since we have existing & cheap options for the pen you could drop the 1mm mop up guy putting the total at 95mm.
Wren can aim higher and potentially land Bay if he can move Lowe and keep around 10mm in salary. For this reason jumping on Cameron now or next week would be foolish IMHO. Keep tabs on him and a dialog open but focus on moving Lowe and the market develop.
He can also move Vaz (right away) for quality prospects and get Bay since the math works there as well.
Cameron is fine but Wren has the room to land Bay unless somehow Bay draws 18-20mm/yr offers which he won’t no matter who is involved.
With Bay the winner will be the one willing to do 6 yrs versus 18-20mm/per IMHO.
Patience will be rewarded over the next 4 weeks. Wren needed a closer and there were limited options. He has made that move. He should pause now and watch things develop IMHO.
The only move I would make now would be Nady or Glaus as potential 1B guys who are cheap. Atkins needs to be released I won’t trade for him.
Desibrave
December 3rd, 2009
11:28 am
DOB,
I was listening to you on XM yesterday when you shared your views on the MVP voting where you had a minor slip when you said Albert Pujols instead of Joe Mauer and you corrected that the next second. If Chip Caray was in that situation he wouldn’t have realized that he made a mistake. Chip would make several such mistakes day in and out and thats the main reason I was happy that I wont be hearing to Chip anymore.
Matthew
December 3rd, 2009
11:28 am
DOB,
If Adam LaRoche ends up going elsewhere, is there any chance that we can get Adam Dunn to come and hit home runs (and strikeout) for our team for a change?
bravofan
December 3rd, 2009
11:32 am
Joebrave:agree that Bobby Cox is definitley a Hall of Famer!!
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
11:33 am
you can’t expect a 4 year trend in the minors to just all of a sudden stop.
Not always, that’s why you’re in the minors – to improve your game and get better. That’s like saying just because you color outside the lines in kindergarten that it’ll never change.
Jake W.
December 3rd, 2009
11:35 am
“I don’t think teams view him as a true closer yet nor has proved to be reliably healthy over the life of a contract. He should take the $8 mil from the Braves.”- Anders
I think a team like the Cubs would view him as a major uprgade over what they have now. Not to mention his numbers. The guy in 8 seasons has a career ERA of 2.92. He may not get a 3 year deal but I can definately see him getting a two year deal. When healthy the guy is very reliable. When healthy a lot of players are good.
Oh yeah, and on Wagner going off on Escobar if he has a miscue, unless the guy has sharpened up on his spanish that is going to be one interesting conversation.
wjones
December 3rd, 2009
11:36 am
“If Chip Caray was in that situation he wouldn’t have realized that he made a mistake. Chip would make several such mistakes day in and out and thats the main reason I was happy that I wont be hearing to Chip anymore.”
I agree basically with what you said. I, too, tire of Chip and his “goat laugh”. That being said, however, I would take him over Bob Rathbun. I don’t know the others on the list of 11, but I assume Rathbun is on it, and without knowing some of the others I’m not wishing Chip to disappear just yet. Sometimes the devil you know…
bravofan
December 3rd, 2009
11:37 am
players apparently want the first series to be 7 games. look at the article pretty interesting http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10463280/New-MLB-union-head-eyes-added-playoff-games
beekay
December 3rd, 2009
11:38 am
For those that haven’t been too high on Nates performance as a Brave remember that he was battling nagging injuries the whole second half of the season. In think if he stays healthy he will have a much better year…I could see .280 24 hrs 80rbi’s 30 sb’s and good defense
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
11:44 am
scoots-If Schafer is projected as a #1 or #2 hitter, that should equal around 600AB and a 25% K rate works out to about 150 K per year. That’s a hell of a lot of K’s-especially for a high order hitter.
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
11:57 am
beekay-I’m not so sure that McLouth’s stats really back up your contention that he was bad because of injuries.
When traded to Atlanta on June 2, his numbers were .256 BA, .349OBP, .470SLG% and .817 OPS
When injured and missing time starting August 8, his numbers were- .258BA, .345 OBP, .441 SLG%, and .786OPS-virtually the same numbers as in Pittsburgh-slightly lower.
At the end of the season when he came back healthy his numbers ended at- .256BA, .352OBP, .436Slg% and .788OPS. Virtually identical to his numbers throughout the season with slightly lower power numbers in ATlanta. Not too sure the injury affected those numbers all that much-unless he was hurt all season long.
However, it was his pitifully low .214 BA at The Ted that scares me about Nate. Dude’s supposed to play half hs games there, but can’t hit there worth a damn..
bravofan
December 3rd, 2009
11:58 am
Article about Derek Lowe, Nick Green, and Adam Laroche having adhd and the medicine they take its off of yahoo. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AlGrq1HqM9fvtR4wFzN0pyc5nYcB?slug=jp-stimulants120209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
11:58 am
Meant to say slightly lower in the power numbers post Pittsburgh.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:02 pm
“For those that haven’t been too high on Nates performance as a Brave remember that he was battling nagging injuries the whole second half of the season. In think if he stays healthy he will have a much better year…I could see .280 24 hrs 80rbi’s 30 sb’s and good defense”
so you expect him to put up a career year. He has never batted over .276 and even at that, thats nearly 20 points higher than anything else he has put up. In 5 full years he has batted in the .250s or lower 4 of those. He’s a solid 20-25 homer guy under the right circumstances but batting lead off full time next year I don’t see him going over 15-18. He’s never stolen more than 23 bases in a year, what makes you think he will change that?
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
12:02 pm
I’ve listened to Chip for awhile and I don’t recall him making too many glaring mistakes (I mean, Jon Miller called a Braves starter by the wrong name for half the game). The problem I (and most of us) have with him is he’s annoying. He can call a game and the papers were unneccesarily brutal with him during the playoffs. He’s just…so annoying.
Like I said before, find somebody with personality and baseball knowledge (like Boog!). It’s not like it’s a rare combo. I don’t get why you’d go with nasally Rathbun. Or why the national networks always seem to go with incredibly bland guys. A lot of people watched the horrible Braves teams because of Skip Caray. More recently, Boog’s only been broadcasting the Braves for a couple of years and look how many of our hearts he’s won over.
ncscoots
December 3rd, 2009
12:03 pm
Grady Sizemore (the player to whom Schafer has been most often compared) struck out an average of 140+ in his age 22-25 years in the bigs, with an OBP of .340-.390 or so, with all but 400 or so of his plate appearances at leadoff. Doesn’t seem to have hurt him much.
Fischerking04
December 3rd, 2009
12:04 pm
My wife has All My Children, and I have Lew and Anders.
You guys are great!
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:04 pm
Lew you are right and they mirrored everything he had done except for the 08 season. I don’t think he is more than a .260 20 homer 55-60 rbi guy. He just had one good season from the looks of it.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:07 pm
ncscoots, I say find a player who coupled with the obp, that can at least put the ball in play when he isn’t getting on base. Thats one of the Braves problems is coming thru with at least putting the ball in play when there is a runner in scoring position to give us a better chance of scoring. If we say he is the future, we are just treading water, staying in the same place we were at many points last year where we have a runner on second or third and strikeout and can’t move the guy over….
hotmom
December 3rd, 2009
12:08 pm
I LOVE CHEESE NIPS!
richbrave
December 3rd, 2009
12:09 pm
Tommy P:
RE: WAGNER, ANDERS wouldn’t say so even if he believed it. Note the silence.
dmack2027
December 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
DOB-Do you get any sense what the Braves’ plans are for Luis Valdez? He has great stuff, and I believe he closed at Richmond or Myrtle Beach. He, along with Kimbrel and Moylan, could form a great bullpen going forward.
Maybe both. Agreed on all three counts. VALDEZ should begin to figure in ATLANTA’s plans as the season goes on. Couldn’t put eyes on his play but the stats say he’s climbing. I don’t think his stuff is overpowering, but LUIS can evidently pitch.
ANDERS: Any thoughts on his character now that Cox has basically said he’s just the type of person the Braves like to have in their clubhouse?
Yeah, WAGNER and the BRAVES are going to kick azz this season, and not because of BW solely, although he will give us as much as GONZALEZ and MFIKY combined.
SilverKey
December 3rd, 2009
12:09 pm
“Article about Derek Lowe, Nick Green, and Adam Laroche having adhd and the medicine they take its off of yahoo.”
Adderall use is out of control in this country, whether prescribed or not. I just can’t see how being on it can really effect a baseball players performance all that much – all of them have been playing for years…do they really need methanphetamines to help them play better? I just don’t see it.
Fischerking04
December 3rd, 2009
12:09 pm
I was fortunate enough to see Heyward play in my hometown against the TN Smokies a couple of times last year. I can’t wait to see how his skills translate to the majors. I am not nearly as adept as most at evaluating talent but he is clearly going to be a force. He definitely has the “it” factor that you can’t quite explain what it is, but he sure has a lot of it. I really hope he makes the team out of ST.
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
12:10 pm
Ugh, Rathbun. Blah.
DAP
December 3rd, 2009
12:10 pm
lew, nates numbers, mostly his slugging was way down in atlanta vs. pit. everything else was basically the same. nagging leg injuries might have something to do with it, but i believe so did his eye sight. dont forget he recently got fitted for contacts. i would expect nate to stay pretty close to his normal numbers, with a .260 BA, .350OBP, and will hopefully get his slugging up around .450 at least. im also hopeing his legs feel better and he and can get back to his old SB sucess rate.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:12 pm
question on Heyward for some of you Minor league followers. I have heard he has great skills but is there an example of a player we can expect him to be in Atlanta. It gets old for people like me in a position where I can’t see the Milbers play and don’t know what to expect of them…
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
12:12 pm
I will say this about Rathbun – for whatever reason, he’s not that annoying when calling Hawks games.
richbrave
December 3rd, 2009
12:14 pm
LEW:
However, it was his pitifully low .214 BA at The Ted that scares me about Nate. Dude’s supposed to play half hs games there, but can’t hit there worth a damn..
RE: NATE-dog. Scary number LEW, scary. And here’s hoping CHIP JONES has been working on a rebound in the hitting and fielding departments.
O.J.
December 3rd, 2009
12:15 pm
Everyone that is worried about losing our 20th pick should just look at the past picks dating back to 1996
1996 – Eric Milton – (89-85, 4.99 ERA for his career)
1997 – Adam Kennedy – (.277 .330 .391 career numbers)
1998 – C.C. Sabathia – (136-81, 3.62 ERA for career)
1999 – Vince Faison – (9 years in minors, career numbers of .251 .323 .407)
2000 – Chris Bootcheck – (3-7, 6.54 ERA in 6 seasons)
2001 – Jeremy Sowers – (18-30, 5.18 ERA in 4 seasons)
2002 – Denard Span – (.305 .390 .422 in 2 seasons)
2003 – Chad Cordero – (20-14, 2.78 ERA and 128 saves in 6 seasons)
2004 – Trevor Plouffe – (.256 .318 .385 in 6 minor league seasons)
2005 – Mark Pawelek – (6-14, 3.93 ERA in 5 minor league seasons
2006 – Christopher Parmelee – (.250 .350 .449 in 4 minor league seasons)
2007 – Christopher M Withrow – (8-8, 4.55 ERA in 3 minor league seasons)
2008 – Joshua Fields – (.229 .302 .416 in 4 minor league seasons)
2009 – Stephen Jenkins
As you can see, only about 2-3 of players have even panned out and became successful, so far. So basically, its always gonna be a crap shoot, no matter what.
Fischerking04
December 3rd, 2009
12:18 pm
Bob: I’ve heard people say that if you had to compare him to someone it would be D. Strawberry. But most people I’ve heard say that he’s just a special player that doesn’t really follow the specific trend of any player.
P. W. Hjort
December 3rd, 2009
12:19 pm
Everyone that is worried about losing our 20th pick should just look at the past picks dating back to 1996
No. They shouldn’t. That’s silly. They should look at who was available at 20.
I had no idea Denard Span was drafted so long ago. I’m a huge fan of him.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:20 pm
Fischer: I guess thats good if we can keep him away from the cocaine
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
12:22 pm
I will say this about Rathbun – for whatever reason, he’s not that annoying when calling Hawks games.
No, but Dominique Wilkins is. Rathbun just gets a little too excited sometimes during Hawks games.
MVH
December 3rd, 2009
12:23 pm
Random question: is there anyone the Red Sox are not interested in? Seems as though every post on mlbtraderumors.com links one new player to the Red Sox.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:24 pm
searching the web for specific comparisons, there are a ton out there but all of them say they expect him to have a higher contact rate…Think he could be like Chipper with but hit with less average and better fielding?
Lew
December 3rd, 2009
12:26 pm
RichBrave and Bob-Yeah. If I had a buck for every time over the past several years for each Denizen who clamored for us to pick up Kotchman and McLouth, my retirement would be much easier to afford. How exactly did those guys work out? We couldn’t have done much worse had we listened to our Friend Wayne from Utah and gone out and picked up Ryan Freel.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:29 pm
I personally think the Tex for Kotch trade was crazy. I think we could have gotten more if we’d fished him to the Yankees for someone like Montero or Banuelos or both.
Buster Olney
December 3rd, 2009
12:33 pm
Bob, i agree how could we not get more for him?
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
12:35 pm
Bob, i agree how could we not get more for him?
Because he was a 3 month rental.
Bob
December 3rd, 2009
12:37 pm
I mean I know it was only half a season but we all knew he’d be a Yankee anyways, we should have tore into the Yankees prospects. Montero is a great prospect and at that point was way less developed so you could have raided him from them and probably a decent Major Leaguer as well. Maybe even more, especially since the Rays and Sox were both ahead of them, they’d have been desperate to improve, and took a lot from them
TheBrewCrew
December 3rd, 2009
12:41 pm
anyone interested in joining a new baseball forum full of lots of great discussion. Come join us at http://www.baseballhaven.net
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
12:41 pm
Why would the Yankees give up prospects when they could sign him without having to do so a few months later? If I recall, they were 3rd and not too close in the AL East race.
TheBrewCrew
December 3rd, 2009
12:43 pm
if you decide to join, register, then introduce yourselves. We are less than a 2 weeks old and we have a few Braves fans but we are averaging nearly 1000 posts per day and discussion ranges from general mlb to trivia, we have sim leagues, redrafts, and much more.
TnBrian
December 3rd, 2009
12:43 pm
Rosenthal says Cuddyer would be a dream for the Braves. I can’t argue, really, because he can play 1st & the OF & is someone who can give you 25-30 HR’s with a decent average, but I’m sure they’d want Javy & more for him. Would Javy waive his no trade clause to play up north? He played in Chicago, so I guess he would. Not that I want to see him traded, but I probably would for a player like Cuddyer. Or, they could just sign Cameron who can give you similar numbers with better defense while keeping Javy.
Bill M.
December 3rd, 2009
12:46 pm
DOB— Thanks for the site on Billy Jo Shaver–I’m Going To Live Forever. That’s my all time favoriate. Alot of people don’t appreciate his music. I think he’s great. The ol” dude can still perform.
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
12:49 pm
Javy can only veto trades to AL and NL West teams. And Cuddyer had a good year last year, but before that, he looks a little inconsistent. Since 2004 his homer totals go like this:
12, 12, 16, 24, 3 (in 71 games), 32
Sounds a little like Gary Matthews, Jr.
DAP
December 3rd, 2009
12:49 pm
the phillies get polanco for three years, $18mil. does it seem like they have been giving out too many years to free agents lately? lidge, ibanez, now palanco? maybe thats just me. anyways, the phillies add a good fielding, good contact hitter. that lineup does alot of things well, and palanco adds yet another dimension.