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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,421 comments Add your comment
Jeff R
December 10th, 2009
9:41 am
Soriano, despite posting good numbers last season, has never really impressed me. He’d go through spells, especially in the late summer, when he seemed to have lapses of concentration which caused him to blow a game.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 10th, 2009
9:42 am
Wow, the Moron Brigade showed up in force here last night I see. I guess all those screaming about this trade last night have been dismissing the constant warnings that the Braves were NOT going to get an impact player or top prospect for Soriano. I think Wren actually did well to get a guy that could be on the roster opening day while paying none of Soriano’s salary. It’s especially funny to read those few that insisted that the Braves should have gotten Pena, Crawford, or Upton for him.
I guess when DOB and the national reporters were saying that the Braves weren’t going to get an impact player for Soriano, a lot of people just stuck their fingers in their ears and started humming so they wouldn’t have to hear reality.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
9:42 am
Chavez made $0.402M this year.
VP
December 10th, 2009
9:42 am
jaysonstark:
Ruben Amaro Jr, on likelihood of a big Phillies deal (I.e. Halladay):”I don’t think there’s any likeliness”
bravofan
December 10th, 2009
9:44 am
OJ: I didnt say that they had a bad staff I basically said they will be lethal with Hamels, Halladay, Lee, and Happ
Voice from the past...
December 10th, 2009
9:44 am
Mariners acquire Texeira!
Uh, Kanekoa Texeira from the Yankees in the Rule 5.
I thought I’d do that before Mr. O’B did…
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 10th, 2009
9:45 am
Any pitching trade will only free up salary for Wren/Braves to move forward…So if your p*ssed about the Soriano trade…wait until you see who we get for Lowe/Vazquez.
This blog is going to be interesting…cause it ain’t going to be a whole hell of a lot in my opinion…unless we use them in a package along with soe prospects.
The Braves need money…and that money will be used to sign a free agent…such as M. Cameron or M. Byrd….F. Wren has already backed off on getting that bat via trade.
I think that was a big statement he made yesterday…
Slowhiteguy
December 10th, 2009
9:46 am
Voice from the past…agreed.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
9:46 am
bravofan, I am saying, that to get Halladay, they would have to give up Hamels and Happ, at least Happ anyways. So you cant have all of them on the same staff when it wouldnt happen that way.
Braves 4 Life
December 10th, 2009
9:46 am
Kansas City Royals just released Mike Jacobs. He could be a cheap 1st base/Depth option for us bad average .228 but he hit 19 homers in only 434 ABs. He hit for a .247 average and 32 homers a year before with FLA. Should be cheap and we definitely need some help at 1b.
bravofan
December 10th, 2009
9:47 am
VP: I do not know how likely it is either if I was a bettin man I would betcha that they aren’t going to seriously pursue him
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 10th, 2009
9:47 am
Just because the guy had one good solid year in the National league does not make him the next coming of Nolan Ryan
Come on man, are you seriously saying that the guy sucked up until last year? You might want to do some research before you answer that.
Let's Put Our Heads Together, and Start a New Rumor up
December 10th, 2009
9:47 am
Does Chavez have any options, or do we have to keep him on the ML roster?
Chris B
December 10th, 2009
9:47 am
Travis,
Honestly, I’ll take a team that scouts well, drafts well, and manages their team wisely within the limitations of their budgeted payroll over a team whose strategy is predominatnly spending whatever it costs on high-priced free agents and trading your farm system for players that other teams already developed. An unlimited payroll cheapens the victory to me, because then you’re the team that is supposed to win. In that situation, losing is an embarrassing disappointment and winning is just “well, duh.” I can’t wait for the Braves to surprise everyone and win a championship with their current strategy. It is so much more rewarding.
Sidenote: In today’s market, Vazquez’s numbers last year make him just as valuable as these sports writers are projecting. I don’t know why you would think any differently.
John Adcox
December 10th, 2009
9:48 am
The Braves now have one more arm of bullpen depth than they would have had if they hadn’t offered arbitration. They have the payroll flexibility, which is of course what they wanted. Not outstanding, but it gives options. Good move. Solid work, and finished quickly so it doesn’t roadblock other moves.
Jeff R
December 10th, 2009
9:52 am
Not so sure that Wren will move Vazquez for anything just to free up the budget. Plus, moving Vazquez doesn’t give Wren the big savings that he needs.
Losing Lowe pockets the Braves something in the neighborhood of $35-$45 million (depending on how much of Lowe’s contract they eat).
Vazquez is just a $11.5 million one year savings.
Lowe will go, I think, for a couple of solid prospects.
wjones
December 10th, 2009
9:53 am
Those who claimed that Wren should have waited it out to see how the market developed are not paying attention. There is a glut of closers out there available, folks. Wren scooped up the two he was trying to get, letting Gonzo and MFIKY right away what the deal was so they could go ahead and make their plans. If we hang onto MFIKY, and the other closers “establish the market”, then MAYBE we get lucky and find a team left out in the cold, like we were last year when we settled for Loaf as a left-fielder and had to pay above market for Lowe. MAYBE we get lucky and find a team with an injured closer. Or maybe we find no takers at all, and are stuck with a $7-8 million hit on our budget, and have to deal the rest of the offseason minus that financial flexibility. Which also means that we would have to settle for less on offense, or be forced to wait again. How did THAT work out last year?
Soriano’s salary slot was taken by Walker. Gonzo’s slot taken by Saito. If you keep MFIKY, then you either give him the slot occupied by Moylan, or the spot occupied by Medlen, and you diminish available salary either way.
bravofan
December 10th, 2009
9:54 am
Interesting article how Lackey is available but Lowe’s price is right! http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091207&content_id=7767930&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
VP
December 10th, 2009
9:55 am
I just hope the Angels don’t get Halladay. That would kill the Lowe market.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
9:56 am
Jeff, Lowe will go for Jesse Chavez type players, if we are lucky. No team is going to give up a couple of solid prospects and take on Lowe’s contract. Not gonna happen, unless Braves eat about 3 million a year on Lowe.
reason
December 10th, 2009
9:56 am
I say we dump Lowe for as many high end prospects as possible without eating any contract. And try our best to put quality on first base… no less than roachy (all in all he’s pretty good). And leave the outfield to mcClouth, Diaz, Heyward, and Schafer.
I think Schafer is still the centerfield of the future here. Last year with the injuiry didn’t give us a clear picture. He might not be what he was in ST or the first week of the season, but I think he’ll be a solid bat.
By the end of the year a starting outfield of McClouth, Schafer, and Heyward sounds pretty strong. I think we make the playoffs with the same line up we ended the year with… and that outfield would be an improvement on it. Plus that leaves plenty of money to get quality at first and some to pick up needs midseason.
Jeff R
December 10th, 2009
9:56 am
Opposing GMs realize that Wren has to move Lowe (or Vazquez, but Lowe is the priority). Lowe is going to attractive because a GM with a pitching need isn’t going to have to give Wren top value in return for Lowe.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
9:56 am
bravofan, dude, you are late on all the news arent you?
Jeff R
December 10th, 2009
9:58 am
Frankly, if it wasn’t a matter of budget, I’d rather Wren off-load Kawakami and keep Lowe. That would be one heckuva 1-5 rotation.
Jeff R
December 10th, 2009
10:00 am
O.J.
Agree with you about what the Braves will eat financially. When I say solid prospects , I’m not talking top talent. Probably middle range prospects in the lower minors.
Arkansas Transplant
December 10th, 2009
10:00 am
For all of you that can’t seem to get this through your thick heads. A trade of Lowe for nothing is better than a trade of Vasquez for the possiblities. There’s 45 million reasons to trade Lowe! Vasquez wants to stay so an extension is not out of the realm of possiblities. Vasquez has always been a very good pitcher. Lowe only has his moments and those moments are getting old and getting old very quickly. As for Soriano, I’m not sure that I would have made the move so quickly. There’s nothing that says we couldn’t have started the season with him and at any given time moved his contract and only had to pay a portion of it. Plus if you move him after spring training, his value would have gone up. On another note, I think we should move to sign Dye to play first and possibly look to sign Nady for some sort of insurance in the OF. But I won’t offer more than 2.5 mil to each on a one year with a possible team option for next year.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 10th, 2009
10:00 am
I just hope the Angels don’t get Halladay. That would kill the Lowe market.
As long as the Angels not getting him doesn’t mean the Philthies do! I’d rather the market for Lowe drop than the Philthies add Halladay to their rotation. Hopefully, if the Angels don’t get him it’s because some other American League team outbid them.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
10:01 am
Geez, you people are so ridiculous or insane with your hopes and demands. High prospects for Lowe AND eat all of his salary??? NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!! You will be lucky to get a team to eat all of his salary and give you at least 2 minor league players, much less high prospects. Come on people, live in the real world, please.
PMC
December 10th, 2009
10:03 am
So the braves got basically nothing for Soriano? In close games he’s not very good and Righty’s are hitting .320 against him. Great. A situational pitcher for an albiet beatup but actual closer.
They would have at least some potential with the draft picks. This was a freaking disaster.
DAP
December 10th, 2009
10:03 am
OJ Come on people, live in the real world, please.
do you know where you are right now?
wjones
December 10th, 2009
10:04 am
After posting, I did want to say that some of the people who were thinking of getting Pena or Crawford in the Soriano deal were maybe reacting to reports of Tampa’s budget squeeze, and hoping they would be willing to unload a big contract on us for his contract. IOW, if Pena is making $10m and MFIKY is making $8m, then Tampa saves $2m, and we get a slugger at first for an incremental cost of $2m. However, despite the logic of that reasoning, I don’t think that’s how the Braves see it. You see, they signed Wagner for $7m, to replace MFIKY. So that incremental cost would now be $9m, not $2m. At least that’s my take on it. Does that mean that the Braves don’t want to go that high? I don’t know. Guess we’ll find out soon, huh?
Arkansas Transplant
December 10th, 2009
10:05 am
I’ll have to retract my Sheets comment from yesterday because it looks as if he’s been smoking something tainted by asking for money in the neighborhood of 12 million after not pitching all of last year.
Lew
December 10th, 2009
10:06 am
TRavis-Dude, dream on. You think there is equity in trading a two year starting pitcher who already won thirty games and is under financial control for four more years, another rookie pitcher who can start or relieve-under control for five more years and a first base candidate who the Brass believes will be a good player under control for six years, for a pitcher we can’t afford even IF he signs a long term deal? Where do you come up with this crap?
PMC
December 10th, 2009
10:06 am
With the amount of money they seem to not have, they might be better off just keeping Lowe and his money because it doesn’t look like this team will be able to score runs AGAIN this year. They are going to need all the pitching they can get.
VP
December 10th, 2009
10:07 am
They would have at least some potential with the draft picks. This was a freaking disaster.
This guy is an actual ML’er. Who know what we get with a draft pick.Some times even the #1 pick can’t make out of A ball. With our coaching staff they will try to make something out of him. He was on the pirates staff for god sakes. How can you expect proper coaching there?
tbhawksfan
December 10th, 2009
10:07 am
Gonzo and Soriano for Wagner, Saito and Chavez plus some payroll savings. Good move. Leaves a good budget for improving the OFF.
Noah
December 10th, 2009
10:08 am
I can’t believe people think this was a disaster. We could have kept Soriano and added no bats if you prefer but the Braves feel adding offense is more important then having 3 closers
VP
December 10th, 2009
10:09 am
Hopefully, if the Angels don’t get him it’s because some other American League team outbid them.
Come on Yankees burn the prospects for another big name. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE
wjones
December 10th, 2009
10:10 am
“Lew
December 10th, 2009
10:06 am
TRavis-Dude, dream on. You think there is equity in trading a two year starting pitcher who already won thirty games and is under financial control for four more years, another rookie pitcher who can start or relieve-under control for five more years and a first base candidate who the Brass believes will be a good player under control for six years, for a pitcher we can’t afford even IF he signs a long term deal? Where do you come up with this crap?”
Lew, I agree absolutely. I think most people would bet on JJ being better then Holliday over the next 5 years, maybe 3 years. I think it’s debateable whether Holliday was better than him LAST year. Not to mention cost. And to throw TWO OTHER PLAYERS OF VALUE into the mix? Maybe some folks need to be tested before blogging.
Jeff R
December 10th, 2009
10:11 am
Wren’s going to add a bat, I’d guess Nady, if his arm is healthy. If he adds Nady, I think Wren might skip on re-upping LaRoche for a year or acquiring another first baseman. Nady can play first (which might be easier on his arm, and with Heyward projected to be up sometime in June or July, Wren might be satisfied.
AdirondackDave
December 10th, 2009
10:11 am
Kind of surprised, I did expect a little more for Soriano. But his salary is gone and that’s a good thing. Wouldn’t surprise me to see Chavez added to as a throw-in to complete the coming deal for an outfielder. He doesn’t seem to add much to the really good Braves pen. Frank rolled the dice and didn’t win.. but he didn’t really lose either. This Soriano blip will be forgotten when Lowe is traded and we get some better sticks. FW and his staff have dramatically improved the pitching over the last year and I am hopeful with improvement of the offense this year. Maybe not so dramatic but significant improvement.
AndyC
December 10th, 2009
10:12 am
I think Wren did his best on the Soriano deal. Chavez seems like a good lefty specialist and middle innings guy. Based on Bobby’s bullpen philosophy, that means he probably won’t pitch very often if he makes the team. If he can prove that he can get lefties out he can be valuable.
Random
December 10th, 2009
10:12 am
Jimmy Joe (December 9th, 2009 4:57 pm): “The Braves have a little over 65 million dollars invested in 7 players who are all 34 years old or older(past their prime). 6 out of the 7 are pitchers.”
What’s your point? How does that compare to other MLB teams?
Until you make that comparison, you have no point.
Jimmy Joe (December 9th, 2009 5:15 pm): “Braves have 70% of their payroll into those 7 players. All of which are 34 and older. I don’t care what you say, that’s alarming.”
Perhaps to Chicken Little. Maybe.
But it don’t mean nothin’ ’til you do your homework and show (if you can) how it’s significantly different from most other MLB teams.
Jimmy Joe (December 9th, 2009 7:26 pm): “How can you disagree with what I just posted.”
Oops, sorry — my bad.
PS: Hat tips to RC, Maturin and jjschiller for their eminent common sense and skepticism in the matter.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 10th, 2009
10:13 am
They would have at least some potential with the draft picks. This was a freaking disaster.
You do realize that the Braves WANTED the draft picks. Soriano messed that up by accepting arbitration. Soriano accepting or refusing arbitration was completely out of the Braves hands, therefore the Braves being able to get those draft picks was completely out of their hands as well.
Noah
December 10th, 2009
10:14 am
Chavez is a righty. He throws hard and is young, seems like a good gamble to me.
Lew
December 10th, 2009
10:14 am
VP-You’re right. Some people would rather have that draft pick, who may or may not be a worthwhile player in six or so years than a rookie, who pitching in a hitter’s park with a LH hitter friendly porch, still racked up a .220 something BAA LH hitters in almost 70 innings. No equity there, is there. Lord knows with the likes of Utley and Howard in our division, we have absolutely no need of RH pitchers who can get out LH hitters.
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2009
10:14 am
Trade might not be announced until this afternoon, depending upon how long it takes to do the paperwork after medical evaluations, etc.
Someone’s report about Braves giving up “few hundred thousand dollars” in the deal was inaccurate — no money is involved, according to people from both sides.
Bobby
December 10th, 2009
10:14 am
After Soriano move and assuming Johnson is either traded or non-tendered, then the Braves have $85million committed to current roster (including Lowe). The Braves would also need to basically fill 5 spots (1B, 2-OF, 2-IN) on the 25 man roster. Of course, if or when Lowe is traded this would open a roster spot while lowering committed payrool to approx $70million.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
10:15 am
DAP, I guess I forgot for a minute there, lol
Pat Bound
December 10th, 2009
10:15 am
Because Soriano accepted arbitration we had to cut Ryan Church. Then we traded Soriano. So essentially Frank Wren traded Jeff Francoeur and Rafael Soriano for Jesse Chavez?!
I’m gonna say it again because it’s so ridiculous: Because Soriano accepted arbitration we had to cut Ryan Church. Then we traded Soriano. So essentially Frank Wren traded Jeff Francoeur and Rafael Soriano for Jesse Chavez
Travis
December 10th, 2009
10:16 am
Chris B Analyze the Braves and give me one name (right now) that other teams don’t want to face at the plate or on the rubber. I’m not saying that our pitching staff isn’t good, but the offense is bad enough that other teams just have to wait us out and score 4 runs and win the game. Who do we currently have back to back that teams have to pitch to either guy and get burnt? With no high impact hitter in the line up teams can pitch around someone with no consequence. The Braves need a power threat around the 3-4 hole that has to be recond with for some years to come. Maybe that will be Heyward. Do we know that for sure? Where are the Ryan Howard , Chase Utley, David Wright, Hanley Ramerez type hitters on the Braves? With the Braves best hitter out every fifth game becuase he is a catcher there is no threat. I still don’t think that a Vasquez trade will bring anything close to the free agent hitters that are out there. I might be wrong (and I sure someone will tell me I am) but the Braves are dealing from a point of weakness right now with Lowes big contract ant other teams are going to make them pay.
BravesfaninWis
December 10th, 2009
10:16 am
Great trade by Wren.
The main objective in this deal was making sure that Soriano was not wearing a Braves uniform, and the checks he received didn’t say Braves on them. The only way we had a chance of landing something of importance by trading Soriano was if we added other players in the deal, or took on a portion of Soriano’s contract. I wasn’t expecting much in trading Soriano, and although this Jesse Chavez has struggled, he actually has major league experience which is much more then I thought we would get for him. Plus, TB took on the entire Soriano contract which means the Braves are now completely done with Soriano.
Jesse Chavez most likely won’t even be on the team, and now the Braves can concentrate on getting the necessary offense for this lineup. Great job by Frank Wren.
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2009
10:16 am
Braves actually view Chavez as considerably more than a throw-away piece. They really like his arm and think he could develop into a guy who moves further back into bullpen over time, into late-innings role. Dude throws gas — up to 98 mph.
Considering the circumstances, looks like they actually did just fine in getting rid of all of Soriano’s salary and getting a major-league ready piece who’ll contribute this season.
monty
December 10th, 2009
10:19 am
This move was not about getting a great player in return for Soriano, it was about getting rid of his 7mil or more contract and getting something, anything, of value in return and Wren did. Getting rid of Lowe will be a similar move to free up 15 mil if possible in order to bring a big time player here, just hold onto your seat people!
Random
December 10th, 2009
10:19 am
tbhawksfan (December 10th, 2009 10:07 am): “Gonzo and Soriano for Wagner, Saito and Chavez plus some payroll savings. Good move.”
AND two draft picks.
Even better.
VP
December 10th, 2009
10:20 am
Thanks DOB for providing some sanity around here.
Noah
December 10th, 2009
10:21 am
Random:
AND a pitcher that throws 98 gas and is young…even better
Travis
December 10th, 2009
10:23 am
See, I told you someone would tell me I’m wrong. And where do I come up with this crap? Give me a better scenario and someone will say yours is crap. So welcome to the blog.
Don
December 10th, 2009
10:23 am
The formula for winning the Division with Bobby Cox managing is like it has always been and is very simple — Have Pitching so far, far superior to all the other teams that it overcomes his mistakes and incompetency and enables you to win over the long 162 game regular season schedule in spite of his management procedures and lack thereof. Therefore, we absolutely MUST NOT trade away any of our starting pitching if we expect to have any chance at all of winning. As a second reason, there will likely be one or more injuries and/or someone proving to be ineffective.
Tommy T
December 10th, 2009
10:24 am
Just for the record, anyone who thinks the Soriano trade was “stupid” or a “failure” or a “freaking disaster” doesn’t understand how this aspect of baseball really works.
Chop Chop
December 10th, 2009
10:24 am
Random,
Does this team ever fail to impress you?
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 10th, 2009
10:24 am
Considering the circumstances, looks like they actually did just fine in getting rid of all of Soriano’s salary and getting a major-league ready piece who’ll contribute this season.
Agree 100% on this. Most of the sensible folks here understood that the Braves would be coming out pretty good if they got a player back that would even have a chance of being on the opening day roster. Soriano put the Braves in a tough situation (can’t really blame him, it’s his career to do what he thought was best for himself) and I think Wren handled it well.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 10th, 2009
10:26 am
Don, Don, Don…
lost fan
December 10th, 2009
10:26 am
Wren got to go! put some brothers on the team.
Marko
December 10th, 2009
10:26 am
Not a bad trade.
Obviously Soriano is better but getting rid of his salary and getting anything in return was the key. Technically, this trade would be Soriano for Chavez and whoever free agent they sign with the difference in money.
reason
December 10th, 2009
10:27 am
Why is all the 1st base talk about getting a one year player. My understanding is that Freeman might not be ready at the beginning of next season (maybe by June ‘11). If that’s the case we’ll have to do this all over again next year. Why not sign roachy to a two year deal and trade him at the ‘11 deadline if Freeman is ready?
Lew
December 10th, 2009
10:28 am
Random-Yes, it IS totally mystifying that veterans make more than rookies or players not arbitration eligible, isn’t it. Why didn’t the Braves’ sign all that experience to minor league contracts or the ML minimum. I’m certain a GOOD GM could have done it, right?
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2009
10:29 am
Braves lost lefty Edgar Osuna and didn’t take anyone in one of the quickest Rule 5 drafts I’ve ever seen. Lost him to, of course, Kansas City (Dayton Moore).
Osuna, 22, was 22-19 with a 3.37 ERA in four minor league seasons, with 324 strikeouts and 78 walks in 349-2/3 innings.His development stalled after he got above low-Class A, and he was 7-10 with a 4.02 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) in 2009 in high-A and Double-A.
His strikeouts dipped to 105 in 150 innings in 2009, down from 135 in 125-1/3 innings in 2008 at low-A Rome.
Random
December 10th, 2009
10:29 am
Jeff R (December 10th, 2009 9:58 am): “Frankly, if it wasn’t a matter of budget, I’d rather Wren off-load Kawakami and keep Lowe. That would be one heckuva 1-5 rotation.”
Kawakami will not be traded.
Lew
December 10th, 2009
10:32 am
Travis-Are you attempting to win the And Idiot Of The Day Award or something? Dude, we had the number one starting pitchers’ ERA in (at the very least) the National League last year. WE had three starting pitchers with under 3 runs per game ERA’s. WE had three pitchers who won 15 games yet came in third place. Exactly what part of “WE have the best starting staff of MLB” do you not understand? Batters afraid to face a pitcher? Who cares if they’re afraid or not? They still made outs and the last I heard, that was what you wanted from your pitchers-to get outs.
Maturin
December 10th, 2009
10:32 am
Sounds like we got Acosta for Soriano :/
VP
December 10th, 2009
10:32 am
Buster_ESPN:
Heard this: The Yankees are in the process of negotiating with Johnny Damon’s camp.
Ron H
December 10th, 2009
10:35 am
lost fan
“Wren got to go! put some brothers on the team.”
Yeah, let’s put Mike and Greg Maddox on the team!
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 10th, 2009
10:36 am
Don: “The formula for winning the Division with Bobby Cox managing is like it has always been and is very simple”
Have enough pitching so that when our regular guys have their pitching arms amputated because of overwork…we have enough guys in our minor league system to get by.
Bobby
December 10th, 2009
10:39 am
Once the Braves decided Soriano was not part of the 2010 bullpen, then the two outcomes most of us considered was nothing (do not offer arb) and 2 draft picks (offer arb). Looks like Wren received a young arm somewhere in the middle of those two outcomes, so that cannot be the disaster that some on the blog are claiming.
Lew
December 10th, 2009
10:39 am
Travis-Welcome to the blog? Excuse me? Did I just arrive or was it you? You are aware that from the end of June last year, when we made some changes to our lineup, that we played the best teams in all of baseball even for the balance of the season? Even without the vaunted offense you think is our God Given right? Maybe it is you who needs to do a bit of analysis before you run your mouth and act as if you really do have a clue.
Gee-We played the big boys even and had the best ERA in the league. Yep, we’re a hopeless case with zero chance of success. According to you, we can’t match up to the Mighty Phillies, yet we beat them in the season series last year and-even if they get Halladay (they won’t)-we will still have a better rotation than the Division Champs. Yeah, you’re on hell of an analyst.
Thrillhouse44
December 10th, 2009
10:39 am
Wren got to go! put some brothers on the team.
The Ripkens are too old. Same with the Alomars. How about Jason and Jeremy Giambi?
Thrillhouse44
December 10th, 2009
10:40 am
Ah, Ron H is faster with the wit than am I.
Ron H
December 10th, 2009
10:41 am
Thrillhouse44
Ah, Ron H is faster with the wit than am I.
B)
Herschel Talker
December 10th, 2009
10:41 am
DOB – very well said in your 1:29am post. Most of these people are idiots.
Arkansas Transplant
December 10th, 2009
10:43 am
DOB, where exactly did you find the stat of 98 mph? I haven’t seen anything about 95.
Greg in TN
December 10th, 2009
10:43 am
Morning denizens…
Looks like Soriano is heading to St Pete while FW again joins the hunt for more bats. I like the fact that Jesse Chavez has a mid nineties heater and a good changeup, but I like the idea of Tampa Bay taking on all of Soriano’s contract much more. It’s the latter that will benefit the franchise more than the former IMO. Anything Chavez gives this team is icing on the cake.
DOB: I didn’t realize until reading the release from the Hall of Fame regarding the Veteran’s Committee voting that John Schuerholz was a member of the committee that voted on executives and pioneers. I know you haven’t had any time other than staying warm and chasing down leads in frosty Indy, however if you do find out anything from him in terms of his thoughts on the vote (if he would even volunteer anything), I’d be interested in hearing about them. He had a lot of great things to say about the late Royals owner Ewing Kaufmann in his book and to MLB.com after the vote.
DAP
December 10th, 2009
10:44 am
andy and adam laroche are a pretty good combo. andy hits more like a 2nd baseman though.
Marko
December 10th, 2009
10:45 am
Andy and Adam LaRoach would be some helpfull brothers to have. Andy can spell Chipper at 3B.
DAP
December 10th, 2009
10:46 am
mike jacobs officially released. not a bad bench option. better than gload, maybe.
PMC
December 10th, 2009
10:46 am
I’m glad the braves got a hard thrower…. but seriously. .320 to righties and bad in close games.
The braves are in close games almost every single game. So this guy yes a major league pitcher… is going to be simply a situational pitcher to lefties if he’s on the team. Yes it’s a major league pitcher yes they dump salary (which is good and sad at the same time) Soriano had to go somewhere…. but A closer for a situational pitcher is not a good value move. This is a salary dump mostly as the Lowe trade would be.
All of this brought to you by the freaking ownership.
O.J.
December 10th, 2009
10:47 am
Hey DOB, has Frank and company left yet? Seems they would be headed home since they aren’t participating in the Rule 5 Draft.
Crazy Trades McGee
December 10th, 2009
10:47 am
Or the Upton Brothers… Lowe plus cash for Brandon Wood + Prospect… Crazy Trade (high pitched, I’m awesome voice)…
PMC
December 10th, 2009
10:48 am
Soriano will probably be “unavailable” for half the season anyway I guess.
sidslidkid
December 10th, 2009
10:49 am
“How about Jason and Jeremy Giambi?” – Thrillhouse44
Perfect! We can fill 1st and LF with them. Plus it will make lost fan happy because they are brothers. We’ll have to release 2 players to find rosters spots for them though… I know! Heyward and Brandon Jones. Will that make you happy, lost fan?
Marko
December 10th, 2009
10:49 am
The Upton brothers would be perfect. Those brothers would surely lead us to a championship. With those two in the outfield, we could probably get away with a 2-man outfield. Those brothers have everything.
ncscoots
December 10th, 2009
10:49 am
I think most people would bet on JJ being better then Holliday over the next 5 years, maybe 3 years.
Well, he might be a better pitcher than Matt Holliday, true. But better than Roy Halladay? Dreaming.
PMC
December 10th, 2009
10:50 am
I have plenty of faith in Wren’s ability. I like the moves he’s made. I just don’t think yet again this year they are going to have the budget to get anyone really capable of making this team competitive in the scoring department. To his credit, he’s rebuilt the heck out of the pitching staff and that gave them at least opportunities.
18 Wheels of Love
December 10th, 2009
10:51 am
I’d love to see Wren hire Cito Gaston as our next manager. He’s a Bobby deciple and maybe tired of living North of the border…and losing.
Random
December 10th, 2009
10:52 am
Noah (December 10th, 2009 10:21 am): “AND a pitcher that throws 98 gas and is young…even better”
Chop Chop (December 10th, 2009 10:24 am): “Does this team ever fail to impress you?”
Which do YOU think is better — (a) four amateur draft picks or (2) two amateur draft picks and an MLB level pitcher with a 98 mph fastball and killer change-up?
Do you know what the odds are for any given 2nd round draft pick to reach the ML level? Less than fifty-fifty, I assure you.
And the actual alternatives were (a) Jesse Chavez or (2) nothing (which is what the Braves would have gotten if they had not offered Soriano arbitration).
You’re not impressed?
D.Lowe For Who?
December 10th, 2009
10:53 am
“Someone’s report about Braves giving up “few hundred thousand dollars” in the deal was inaccurate — no money is involved, according to people from both sides.”
I’m glad there was no money involved. I don’t see how ANY SPIN by the Braves could explain getting a guy like Chavez for Soriano and STILL having to pay some of Soriano’s freight. At least it wouldn’t have been on the level of the Maddux/Millwood arbitration thing.
They can spin it any way they want, Chavez is a throw in no matter what the Braves say. According to the Braves Francoeur was always just a couple of hits away from getting it rolling for the Braves.
Braves management motto: Under all the horse S**T there has to be a pony!
Ryan H.
December 10th, 2009
10:54 am
Draft over….I guess the braves are done dealing for these winter meetings………
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2009
10:55 am
Arkansas Transplant: His average fastball was 94.4 mph last season.
Voice from the past...
December 10th, 2009
10:56 am
How about Kala and Kila Ka’aihue for brothers.
Innocent Bystander
December 10th, 2009
10:57 am
Matt Murton just got dropped by (I think) the Rockies. His brother Luke got drafted by the Yankees in the ‘09 draft. Couple of homegrown brothers from Georgia Tech!