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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,421 comments Add your comment
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 13th, 2009
5:58 am
Yey!
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 13th, 2009
6:53 am
RHR,
Can you post all those Believe photos you made? I could use a laugh…
Max
December 13th, 2009
7:02 am
John Paul Morosi of Fox Sports says when we do trade Lowe it could be to the Angels or Mariners. He said we could get Juan Rivera from the Angels (.287 BA, 25 HR, 88 RBIs, .332 OBP) or Jose Lopez from the Mariners (.272 BA, 25 HR, 96 RBIs, .303 OBP). I’d be happy with either one, but Lopez plays second so we would have to move Prado to 1st or LF.
Max
December 13th, 2009
7:10 am
Also, if we then moved prado to 1st, we could sign Nady to play left.
1. McLouth
2. Prado
3. Chipper
4. Lopez
5. Mac
6. Yunel
7. Nady
8. Heyward
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 13th, 2009
7:23 am
Better chance of dealing for Rivera than Lopez
ncgary
December 13th, 2009
7:41 am
why not lowe for brett gardner from the stankees, they need pitching , gardner isnt the power bat but hes a speedster with potential and cheaply controlled
semiballcoach
December 13th, 2009
7:43 am
the braves need a 1B with more power than prado will provide, especially when chipper might struggle to hit 20, it might work if they could get uggla…that way we might expect 75 hrs from the infield
CB
December 13th, 2009
7:57 am
The case of Jonny Gomes is intriguing, why did the Reds give up on a player who hit 20hrs and had a low salary? I know his defense is weak and a few on here say he is a Milton Bradley type head case. I did not find anything in his history that implies that he has a problem with his fellow players. I am thinking he would be a good investment at 2-3mil as a LF possibility or 4th outfielder and pinch hitter.
darrell starks
December 13th, 2009
8:04 am
Frank wren is a horrible gm.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!
darrell starks
December 13th, 2009
8:05 am
THE BRAVES NEED POWER BAD AND DONT HAVE ANY.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!
Jimmy Joe
December 13th, 2009
8:08 am
Matt Capps was non tendered. Anyone who thinks Wren didn’t jump the gun on Saito isn’t paying attention to the relief market.
Burdell
December 13th, 2009
8:23 am
Of course, it’s easier to “pay attention to the relief market” after it’s already developed. Too bad Wren doesn’t have a crystal ball to see what the markets will look like a month from now.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
8:33 am
If we could get Jose Lopez or Jaun Rivera for D. Lowe i’d say do it. we would be adding a good player and saving money at the same time. Prado can move around the field any given night. So it would work.
I wouldnt mind seeing the Braves go after a couple cheaper options with some power potential. Johnny Gomes comes to mind as CB said. Alot of guys that will recieve low salarys have some good power potentail.
I think Wren should add one more veteran reliever, Like Wil Ohman someone that would only require a minor league deal with a spring invite. Cause he would come very very cheap and could prove to be valuble and there are alot of names out there that could come cheap.
Jay212033
December 13th, 2009
8:36 am
Lowe plus 5 mil per for Juan Rivera would be awesome.
Sign Xavier Nady – 2 yr/ 8 mil contract.
Sign Johnny Gomes – 1 yr/ 3 mil contract.
Sign Jack Cust – 1 yr/ 3 mil contract.
Extend Javier Vazquez – 3 yr/ 33-36 mil contract.
Lineup:
McLouth – CF
Prado – 2B
Jones – 3B
Rivera – RF
McCann – C
Escobar – SS
Nady – 1B
Gomes – OF
Bench:
Ross – C
Infante – Super Utility
Diaz – OF
Cust – 1B/OF
B. Jones – OF
Starting Pitching:
Vazquez – RHP
Jurrjens – RHP
Hudson – RHP
Hanson – RHP
Kawakami – RHP
Bullpen:
Medlen – LRP/SS
Acosta/Chavez/Abreu – MRP
Logan/Hyde – LOOGY(until Proctor is ready, and I know Proctor is a RHP)
O’Flaherty – MRP/SUP
Moylan – SUP/MRP
Saito – SUP
Wagner – CP
NCBravesFan
December 13th, 2009
8:43 am
CB: Gomes struggles against RH pitching (career .224 hitter with a .311 OBP against righties). So if the Braves were to offer him a contract he’d most likely be a bench player in my opinion.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
8:46 am
Jack Cust is a worst fielder than Adam Dunn, i do like his power tho. But the way i see it he the Strikeout king 3 years running and if he’s getting limited playing time and PH opportunites in Atlanta he’ll be worse. He needs alot of AB’s for his numbers to look ok. He will most likely get a DH job in the AL. But i’d sign him for 2 mil or less lol.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
8:49 am
NCBravesFan
Yeah i seem him as a platoon/bench type player as well. But he does have power. I just dont see the Braves adding a true bopper to the lineup. So they should go after a couple 20 homer type guys. I think they should be all over Mike Cameron cause he plays great D and will hit 25 homers.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
8:52 am
When teams non-tender a player can they still resign him after???
glord1
December 13th, 2009
8:53 am
David O’Brien
December 12th, 2009
12:54 pm
DOB – what is your best guess on what the Braves do with KJ? — glord
As I’ve said — and Twittered last night (you guys gotta get this Twitter thing (smile) — I think they’ll non-tender Kelly if they don’t trade him. Can’t risk a plus-$3 mill salary for a bench player, and they don’t want him to be their starting 2B.
DOB – In the last couple of years I have had to learn to text, blog and facebook and now you are telling me I need to learn how to make bird noises just to follow baseball? Man what happened to the days where I could just read the Gammons Sunday Globe article and know everything there was to know? Man this is getting tough.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
December 13th, 2009
8:56 am
May I ask the Mets fans who insist on trolling our blog and anyone else for that matter a question. If Omar Minaya is this “genius” why is he going so hard after Jason Bay when their starting rotation sucks?!
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
December 13th, 2009
8:58 am
The only way the Braves should trade Lowe for Rivera is if: 1. The Angels take the entire Lowe contract or 2. They send Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar or Reggie Wilits along with him. And no, Angels, we don’t want Gary Matthews Jr. We got rid of our Sarge Jr.
NCBravesFan
December 13th, 2009
9:04 am
VABraveFan: yes, a team can re-sign a player they non-tender.
As for Gomes, it would have to be off the bench I would think. He can’t hit righties very well, and Matt Diaz hits lefties better than he does.
The only rationale for a guy like Gomes is if the Braves don’t think Heyward will be in RF at some point this year – and it sure sounds like they envision Jason out there at some point in 2010.
Gomes would probably get to play more somewhere else than he would here most likely.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
9:05 am
Robert
I think if we eat 9 mil of Lowes contract and aquire Jaun Rivera thats a win for us. were saving 36 million and 12 mil for this offseason to add offense. And with Jaun added that leaves 1B and a bench player with our only holes and we have a very good amount of moeny left to use.
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
December 13th, 2009
9:07 am
Let me throw out a name who could be a huge surprise at 1B. Ryan Garko. This guy is a solid defenseive player who has the ability to hit .300 with 20Hrs. If the Braves could get him on a 2 year contract somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 to $2.5 per year it could be the steal of the offseason.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
9:08 am
NCBravesFan
Yeah your right about that. I hope Heyward crushes in Spring Training and gets the opening day nod. But i think Diaz would be fine in right field for a while so we can delay Heywards clock like we did with Hanson. Diaz will be a great 4th outfielder when Heyward comes up. Diaz is a career 317. avg Pinch Hitter
Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
December 13th, 2009
9:08 am
VaBravesfan, are you taking into account Rivera is getting paid too. I think he is due somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 mil. So after you take that along with the $3 mil (per year) from Lowe that would leave the Braves about $5 mil off that contract. Sure, they could get a player for that money but what kind of calliber would he be?
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
9:12 am
Robert
I was thinking the same thing. Garko is a wild card type player. He can get on base too. career 351. obp. 2 yr 4 mil. looks good to me. He would still be cheap in 2011 to be a bench player if Freeman is ready. This sure does sound like the Braves always looking for bargin players. If he isnt on the mound they wont pay big money for a 1b or corner outfielder.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
9:16 am
Robert
Tons of Players will be geting low salrys with good upside. Abreu last offseason was signed for 5 million and look what he produced. Also we have to think past this season as well, knocking his contract off the books for the next 2 years is huge as well, and adding Rivera for 7 mil, which is what it would prolly cost the same to add a Mike Cameron. I figured we wouldnt even be able to add a good player in trading Lowe so i’m kinda surprised that Rivera and Lopez’s name came up involving Lowe. Cause as it turns out Lowe will net us more than just salary relief. Also meaning Javy Vasquez could be more valuble that what we thought as well.
northbeach Scott
December 13th, 2009
9:19 am
How about Bret Butler, Brook Jacoby, and a pitcher to be named for Len Barker? Sounds like a good risk/reward.
ncgary
December 13th, 2009
9:21 am
i like taking a chance on glaus if he can be brought in cheap enough . good insurance in case chipper hasnt got his groove back and still lots of power potential at 1b if needed there.
tr
December 13th, 2009
9:33 am
Gomes can hit lefties pretty well, but so can Diaz. But Diaz hits righties better. Diaz just got a raise to $2.25M.
Several on this blog have suggested signing Gomes at $2M to $3M+. Wouldn’t it: 1) be an insult to Diaz to sign Gomes to a larger contract for the same or lesser role on the team; 2) be crazy to give Gomes more than he would probably get in arbitration?
LongtimeBravesfan
December 13th, 2009
9:50 am
Ryan Garko’s career hitting stats are fairly similar to Adam LaRoche’s:
Garko .279/.351/.441/.792
LaRoche .274/.343/.491/.834
Garko is a year younger, hits right-handed while LaRoche is left-handed and Garko has played a few games in the outfield.
I now definitely understand why the Braves did not offer LaRoche arbitration, which would have guaranteed him something like 8 million.
UNCBrave
December 13th, 2009
9:51 am
Gomes and Cust should be signed by the Braves TODAY!!
Reyes2010
December 13th, 2009
10:12 am
Mets to sign Bay on Monday.
ease19
December 13th, 2009
10:16 am
Sign Xavier Nady – 2 yr/ 8 mil contract.
Sign Johnny Gomes – 1 yr/ 3 mil contract.
Sign Jack Cust – 1 yr/ 3 mil contract.
Extend Javier Vazquez – 3 yr/ 33-36 mil contract.
Gotta say, I don’t disagree with this chap! But with Nady being a Boras client, just don’t see him signing quickly…
ease19
December 13th, 2009
10:20 am
I would even put Jacobs in the mix…low cost and some power, but if we are just talking a stop gap people, why not…?
Efrim
December 13th, 2009
10:21 am
Mets to sign Bay on Monday.
I wouldn’t mind this all that much(even though I know you’re jumping the gun). He’ll certainly help them, but if I were the Mets, I’d want to address pitching first.
Lew
December 13th, 2009
10:30 am
Got to agree with Efrim on this. The Mets’ pitching is their main problem-that and can their players like Reyes and Beltran stay healthy. Not too sure Bay helps them all that much. He also might not hit well in our division-there IS some good pitching there, especially if the Phillies can obtain Halladay and retain Lee and their young guys in the process. Good pitching would help them much more, IMO.
Piedmont Blues
December 13th, 2009
10:35 am
The other thing about Bay — he’s a butcher in the field. Since Francoeur doesn’t cover all that much ground in RF, Beltran better eat his Wheaties.
Piedmont Blues
December 13th, 2009
10:36 am
Citi Field’s a big ballpark, folks.
Joseph G
December 13th, 2009
10:36 am
The answer for first base is sign Garko (2/6) and Aubry Huff (1/5). That is a good platoon and Garko can continue to platoon with Freeman if Freeman should struggle in 2011.
As far as Lowe goes offer him plus 9M (3/year) to the Angels for Rivera or St.louis for Ryan Ludwick.
If niether trade works it is time to offer Javy. Personaly I would rather keep Lowe. There is no guarantee javy resigns after the season and without both Lowe and Javy we must replace 400 innings in 2011. FW cannot take a chance in losing both. He should hang on to Lowe unless he has an agreement already in place with Javy.
tr
December 13th, 2009
10:39 am
Lew & Efrim
Gotta disagree. The Mets need to waste as much money as possible before addressing their real needs. We (most anyway) are, after all, Braves fans!
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
10:46 am
Not sure on the Don Dokken part. That band almost would have been better with Pilson singing, and Don staying at home. Anyhow, go youtube George Lynch and Dave Navarro. Dave Nav must have an internet show where he does intervies and what not, and he has guitarist come on and give him a “lesson”. There’s a clip where Lynch is showing him how to play Mr. Scary. Their rap back and forth is actually pretty funny.
I promised myself I wouldn’t blog today, but yes, you’re right, I would’ve enjoyed that trio (Lynch/Pilson/Brown) tremendously. Those three are pretty doggone good. And yes, I’ve seen that video…it’s pretty good.
Efrim
December 13th, 2009
10:50 am
The Mets need to waste as much money as possible before addressing their real needs. We (most anyway) are, after all, Braves fans!
He’d certainly help them. I just think their offensive issues aren’t as bad as their pitching issues. Right now, they have Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez and Niese as their starting five. Not to mention Pedro Feliciano and Bobby Parnell as their primary set up men for K-Rod. I’d want to add a legit front line pitcher to pair with Santana and a primary set up guy, if I were them.
Efrim
December 13th, 2009
10:51 am
I promised myself I wouldn’t blog today
Why? Study time?
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
10:53 am
Supposed to be, Efrim…
Lew
December 13th, 2009
10:54 am
tr-You’d have a point if, in fact, the Mets EVER made the correct personnel decision. They never do and this time will be no different. Doesn’t matter who they come up with, it won’t be the right signing. It will be, like some NY journalist wrote yesterday (that a Denizen posted here) that whatever they do will be more about putting behinds in the seats than an attempt to do the right thing for the club.
tr
December 13th, 2009
10:54 am
Efrim – “I’d want to add a legit front line pitcher to pair with Santana and a primary set up guy, if I were them.”
If I were them, I would, too. But I’m us, so I want to see them overpay for Bay (and others) and NOT have enough money to spend to upgrade their pitching staff or anything else!
O.J.
December 13th, 2009
10:54 am
Max, Jose Lopez also spent some time at 1st base as well, so I am sure thats where they would use him.
Jimmy Joe, really, you think he jumped the gun because of Matt Capps?? Even though he is older, Saito has much better numbers than Capps ever has had.
Efrim
December 13th, 2009
10:55 am
By the way, why did the Pirates non tender Matt Capps? I was pretty shocked to see that. I know most people give the Pirates hell for their moves, even though I agree with their current strategy. But this move seems strange to me.
Lew
December 13th, 2009
10:56 am
Steve-Actually, the past two Dokken CD’s without Lynch were pretty damned good. Didn’t miss Ole George at all. Haven’t hear any of GL’s recent work, though, but Dokken moved on just fine.
O.J.
December 13th, 2009
10:57 am
Jay, you want a guy who lead the AL in strikeouts the past 3 years(Jack Cust) to come off your bench? Why?
O.J.
December 13th, 2009
10:58 am
Jason Bay at Citi Field doesnt scare me at all. I would be happy with that move because Bay’s homerun totals will drop dramatically there.
Lew
December 13th, 2009
10:59 am
Efrim-They’re the Pirates. Not too sure they will change their ways anytime soon. As soon as someone starts to cost anything at all, they will be gone. Management and the Front Office may change, but until they have an infusion of cash and maintain it, they will keep on being the Farm System to MLB.
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
11:00 am
Jose Lopez walked 3.3% of the time last year. I have no doubt his numbers will improve moving out of the AL (and especially Safeco), but man, if we get him, we’d better hope for a big BABIP year or something.
Lew–huh, I wouldn’t have guessed that. I preferred Lynch’s stuff from the 80’s to the current stuff I’ve heard, though. His tone was so much better then…
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
11:01 am
Bay’s defense would really hurt the Mets at Citi, especially because his HR totals would drop pretty dramatically, I think.
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
11:08 am
Here are some good stats primers for y’all who aren’t familiar with things like wOBA, etc. At the bottom of the page they explain FIP and BABIP as well.
Lew
December 13th, 2009
11:12 am
Steve-I was never as sold on GL as many others were. I thought him a good guitarist, but hardly one of the greats.
Dokken has put out two cd’s in the past three years and both (a bit heavier than the 80’s stuff) was good and their guitarist (same on both albums) was as good as GL, in my estimation.
You might also want to check out two cd’s put out the past few years by Europe as well. They have the same lineup, but have gotten MUCH heavier and less pop star in their old age. Good stuff.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
December 13th, 2009
11:13 am
Yes sir, the free agent bargain bin is slap full with 260 players and counting.
There are more than a few decent players available too….
Juan Uribe, 16 HR’s, 55 RBI, .289 BA and a solid utility player for 2B-SS-3B.
Troy Glaus, coming off an injury plagued season after shoulder surgery. He’s a vacuum cleaner at 3B might be interested in 1B and is worthy of a minor league contract.
Rick Ankiel. The ex-pitcher turned outfielder is one hell of a fine athlete. And again, another solid player coming off an injury plagued season with nothing but upside.
Jonny Gomes, who doesn’t need a little thump in the line up as a platoon fourth outfielder?
Khalil Greene, this SS is a head case but he also cranked 27 HR’s with 97 RBI two years ago and plays good defense. Minor league contract anyone?
Scott Olsen, lefty with a big curve ball and is just 26. C’mon he’s a lefty!!!!! Another minor league reclamation project?
Kiko Calero. Why hasn’t anybody snatched this veteran right hander up yet? 60 innings out of the Marlins bullpen, 1.95 ERA with a solid 3.24 career ERA.
Kelvim Escobar. He won 18 games in 2007 with an ERA of 3.40 and has basically lost two seasons with shoulder injuries. Another minor league contract waiting to be doled out.
Chan Ho Park. Another solid season as a long man/reliever out of the bullpen. He just should not be allowed to sit in the free agent bargain bin much longer. 2008 – 3.40 ERA and 95 innings. 2009 – 4.43 ERA and 83 innings.
Hey Wren, hurry up and dump Derek Lowe and then go shopping already!
AdirondackDave
December 13th, 2009
11:15 am
It would surprise me, in a couple years when no one is looking, if the Mets move the fences in to accommodate their “home run” hitters.
UNCBrave
December 13th, 2009
11:16 am
The PHILLIES are making a move at HALLADAY
The METS are going after BAY
The BRAVES are sitting on their HANDS
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
11:16 am
Lew–I don’t know if I consider him one of the true greats, but he’s one of my favorites for whatever reason (and he’s a helluva player too). I never liked Europe at all, but maybe I’ll see if I can check ‘em out.
Jake W.
December 13th, 2009
11:21 am
I agree with those who say that the mets first priority should be pitching. Outside of Johan none of their other starting pitchers last year were that good. Jason Bay is a good player but moving from the AL East to the NL East should hurt his homerun totals. Not only is the mets homepark citi field pretty big but parks in the NL east in general are much bigger than AL East parks. Yankee stadium, Fenway, and Camden are small parks. Tampa Bay and Toronto are both domes, no outside effects. Only hitters park in the NL East is Philly. I expect his power numbers to drop.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
December 13th, 2009
11:25 am
UNCBrave, that’s because Lowe has to be moved before anything else of significance can be done. Frank Wren has to fix his own foopah.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
December 13th, 2009
11:29 am
Jake W…….. Exactly. The Metro’s play in a pitchers park and that’s what they need first.
Klaus
December 13th, 2009
11:36 am
At least the Mets are going after a legitimate impact bat in Bay. We tend to down play anyone we cannot afford like an economically challenged person saying a Benz is over priced and not a any better than their Dodge Stratus.
It’s ok from a “dealing with it” perspective but it doesn’t make it true. People lower their dreams to fit their income every day. They shouldn’t but they do.
If the Braves had Blank behind the wheel we would not be so ready to dismiss the capability or impact of some of the top FA YOY.
It’s a self defense mechanism everyone employs from time to time.
Some guys are not worth it no matter what your payroll may be but every expensive player is not so easily replaced with 2-3 cheaper variants.
I have never been a fan of 3 guys for the price of one for the same money strategy. I can see the comfort and security of it (most people are very risk averse) but I see it as throwing good money after bad.
I would rather pay for quality than have to reload every few years for guys I know are not impact players and or long term solutions to a problem.
I tell you this, I suspect behind closed doors Wren would give his right nut for Holliday but he lacks the support of Liberty to make it happen.
As a result he and most of the fan base are aiming lower and trying to convince themselves the DFA/ non arb lists have hidden gems in there somewhere.
“One man’s garbage is another man’s gold” is a risky and often a season wasting concept IMHO.
I don’t ultimately care b/c I know better days are ahead with guys like Heyward coming up and contrary to their recent comments I see Liberty selling the Braves as soon as the economy picks up.
They will invest just enough to satisfy Selig and when their sales window opens in 2011/12? the Braves will be sold. Until then they could very well be one FA/major trade move away from a ring.
Liberty and as a result Wren is content on making the Braves incrementally better, a Blank or Cuban would want to make them great.
I can wait a few more years for great.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2009
11:42 am
We’ll get a new blog up later today. Been a ridiculously hectic past few days. When we finally got out of house to go to movie last night, few hours of relaxation felt like a vacation.
Jake W.
December 13th, 2009
11:57 am
At least the Mets are going after a legitimate impact bat in Bay. We tend to down play anyone we cannot afford like an economically challenged person saying a Benz is over priced and not a any better than their Dodge Stratus. -Klaus
I thinks its the point that their larger need is pitching. No one said Bay is a bad player but the facts are is that he is moving from a hitters park to a pitchers park and that could hurt his numbers. Its not the price tag people are dissing. When the mets got K-Rod that made sense, they needed a closer and he was the best one on the market. They need starting pitching now more than they need an outfielder. It would be like the braves pursuing Lackey. We need offense. Lackey’s a good pitcher but our number one need is offense.
tr
December 13th, 2009
11:59 am
U deserved it, DOB. I don’t troll, but have to figure that other teams don’t have a DOB like you!
MZ
December 13th, 2009
11:59 am
DOB ——-
you see “A Serious Man” yet?
Eric In Albany N.Y.
December 13th, 2009
12:00 pm
do people honestly think that the mets will end up with bay? wouldnt he want to compete? wouldnt he want to go to a place that will be best for his career? i think the mets are to vocal and to early to compete for bay. i doubt the mets get bay! just doesnt seem like the place he even wants to be.
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
12:01 pm
The BRAVES are sitting on their HANDS
Do you honestly believe this?
jeffrey d
December 13th, 2009
12:02 pm
Soph and jeffrey d,
Why did Lentz’s post bother you so much? JJ
It’s not that it bothered me. I don’t agree with it, but I can respect others’ opinions. It was just completely out of place.
Blogger 1 I think we should sign Cameron.
Blogger 2 You’re retarded. Cameron is awful.
Paul Lentz HERE’S what I think about Jesus…
joerochester
December 13th, 2009
12:04 pm
Arbitration makes no sense to me. How does a guy do less and make more?
bob
December 13th, 2009
12:04 pm
I have a serious question to ask here. Why does everyone want to extend Javier Vazquez. He pitched great last year. A year in which I would call flukish. He posted a FIP well below anything he has ever done in his career. He is 36 and there is too much of a status quo to expect a FIP under 3.00 ever again…when he had never posted far below a 3.50 in his entire career. I just don’t see extending him and paying him for what he did in one season.
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 13th, 2009
12:04 pm
Come on Braves fans!
We gotten to close to 50 to stop here!
KEEP POSTING!
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 13th, 2009
12:05 pm
KEEP POSTING!
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
12:06 pm
Lentz’s problem is that he knows less than he thinks he does, and compounds it with talking way too much. At least I can admit I’m and idiot.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
12:06 pm
UNCBrave
The Braves are being smart, once Lackey is signed Lowe will look much better. Dealing Lowe will open up the payroll where we can go shopping. We signed Wagner and Saito, Traded Soriano for a good arm, our bullpen is set already and that was very fast. Be patient
jeffrey d
December 13th, 2009
12:07 pm
Steve – it’s only about 3.5 months, or 105 days, until first pitch, and all we have to show for it is 3 relievers.
I think the people who complain about the lack of moves (and by lack of moves, I mean the fact that there’s still questions in the OF and 1B) the Braves are making don’t understand how long the offseason is and how long it can take for things to unfold. I can kind of understand the viewpoint because the Braves haven’t played for over 2 months, but we may not make the final move until Spring Training.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2009
12:07 pm
UNCBrave: The Braves are sitting on their hands, huh? That’s what you think Wren and his staff have been doing? Sometimes I forget how perceptions can be so utterly the opposite of reality. Thanks for the reminder.
If you had any idea how many conversations they’ve had trying to move a pitcher…
You can’t force other teams to do things, you know? You can’t force a team that thinks it’s got a shot at Lackey, or Halladay, to instead make a play on Lowe. That’s the reality. Don’t know what else to tell you.
Or maybe you’d prefer that they appease those fans who are antsy by signing a hitter for a few million or whatever small amount they have to spend now, rather than wait until they have actual decent amount of money to spend by trading a big-salaried pitcher?
The Braves don’t have the budget or available cash that the Phillies have to spend. Not even close. Or the Mets, for that matter. Again, just reality.
And Gomes and Cust should be signed today, huh? That’s it? That’s your answer to competing with the Phillies? The Braves might have two vacancies — one in outfield, one at 1B — and your solution is to sign Gomes and Cust?
Hey, clearly the answer (as you see it) is to just do anything, sign anyone. It’s Dec. 13, after all. Getting late. After all, there’s only about 165-170 free agents left after yesterday. Pitchers and catchers report in two months. Time to panic and sign someone.
So of all the players available, the best suggestion you have is to sign Jonny Gomes, who struck out 85 times in 281 at-bats last season, and Jack Cust, who hit .240 (albeit with an impressive .356 OBP) while leading the AL in strikeouts for the third consecutive season and was non-tendered by Oakland despite a projected arb salary of only about $4-5 million?
Hey, I think Cust could be a good option for the Braves if they can’t do a little better. He’s got power and draws a lot of walks. But I don’t see why a team should feel compelled to frantically reach out and sign him before anyone else can. He ain’t all that.
And Gomes? Again, could he help the Braves, probably so. He’s got a lot of power. But right now they’re looking for a productive lineup regular, a hitter they can count on in the middle of the order, day after day. Gomes isn’t that. He could help in a part-time role, but right now they don’t know for sure what that role would be (Gload, who they tried to sign, had outfield/1B versatility and has been one of the game’s best pinch-hitters. That’s why they went after him when they did, because other teams were trying to sign him too — and Philly did.)
Cust or Gomes could help, in varying capacities. But sign them both, on Dec. 13? Why would anyone do that, when the Braves are trying to fill important positions?
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
12:08 pm
joerochester
Alot of stuff is accounted, Years of Service in Bigs, Accomplishments, Recent Play, and comparable players salary’s. Thats why you can non tender players and then there free agents and teams can offer the league min or whatever.
jeffrey d
December 13th, 2009
12:08 pm
or later
Eric In Albany N.Y.
December 13th, 2009
12:09 pm
The BRAVES are sitting on their HANDS
hmmm signing Hudson to an extention? getting 2 closers? and adding another pen guy after soriano accpts arb? signing Diaz one more time, and trying to push lowe?
Wren sitting on his hands? i think not! it takes time when you have good chips, like the braves do, to make the right moves and put together a team… its not even a week since the winter meetings!
Relax guys! if nothing happens by january 10th or so then we have a problem as fans… for now? Relax!
TnBrian
December 13th, 2009
12:09 pm
I still find it ironic that we were all reading only a few months ago that the Mets need to start all over because they are a trainwreck of an organization, now they’re going after the second biggest FA hitter on the market. This was written by ESPN writers & even the Mets own people. It’s like they’re so insecure & paranoid that they need to make a big signing because they need their fans to believe in them. After all the choke jobs, bad management & underachievers you’d think they get it.
Bay is overrated anyways. Get him in that monser park & watch his HR total dip & watch his defense be exposed in that big outfield.
Steve from OH
December 13th, 2009
12:10 pm
bob, isn’t the point of FIP to show how much substance (for lack of a better word) is behind a player’s good or bad ERA? I don’t think his FIP, in itself, was flukey…he struck out almost 10/9 and walked less than 2/9…and even his xFIP was only 2.81. Nothing flukey about that. And I don’t see anything in his peripherals to suggest that he’s suddenly going to get worse next year. Everything got better, from GB% to FB% to a normal BABIP (for once). It’s not like he was getting lucky (apart from a good LOB%) from a batted ball standpoint despite his low FIP. He deserved the ERA he posted and he’ll do it again next year.
jeffrey d
December 13th, 2009
12:10 pm
Anybody wanna get UNCBrave some aloe?
Braves Lifer
December 13th, 2009
12:11 pm
Jurrjens4NLCY- Do you sleep man? You posted at 6:30AM and are back at 12 PM. Thats nuts buddy.
Sickandtiredofnomoney
December 13th, 2009
12:12 pm
I am sick and tired of hearing about how we don’t have a payroll comparable to the Mets and Phillies. How are we supposed to compete then, we clearly they can just go out and sign anyone they want, because the Braves payroll isn’t even “close” to theirs. It’s just like being in the same league as the Red Sox and Yankees. No other team will win jack in that division.
Jay212033
December 13th, 2009
12:12 pm
Man Lowe has been the focus the past two off-seasons but I pray that the Braves will be able to move his contract so the Braves will have the funds to add more than one bat.
jeffrey d
December 13th, 2009
12:16 pm
Sickandtiredofnomoney – Hey, it sucks. But until we can find an owner who will consistently dish out $110+ million (interested?) or until we start filling seats, we’re stuck with only $95 million.
AdirondackDave
December 13th, 2009
12:17 pm
Do yourself a favor and add Dakota Dave Hull to your top 10 guitarists list. Check him out, you can thank me later.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
December 13th, 2009
12:17 pm
No Money? Lame Excuse! with a front office like the mets have they could have a $300 million payroll and they wouldnt win more than 85 games. the phills spend more but that could all go away if they didnt finish in first a couple yrs in a row. id much rather have the braves situation where they are by no means the lowest budget team but have smart and hard working people at the top. the braves have a good franchise cus they have a formula. its gone back as far as 90 or so. id rather have a machine with a practical budget than an unstable team who can only compete if they have money cus they cought lightining in a bottle for a short period of time. braves have it those other teams dont! BOOOOYAH!
TnBrian
December 13th, 2009
12:18 pm
Wren obviously likes to get his business done as early as possible, just judging the last few offseasons. I think if not for trying unload Lowe’s contract he’d pretty much have one big hitter acquired by now. I’m as antsy as anybody, but take a step back & realize what he’s dealing with here. Maybe some of us should find another hobby for a little while until our team can start making some noise.
bob
December 13th, 2009
12:19 pm
Steve- What I am saying is that he has done nothing in his career to back up that he will do that again next year. He’s never posted those type of numbers but all of a sudden after 1 year of posting numbers INCREDIBLY LOWER than years previous, they want an extension. We have young pitchers that should be locked up and get them out of Arbitration before they get to the poiint of asking too much and we wouldn’t be able to do it because of a geriatric starter we signed to an extension but probably wouoldn’t have put the numbers up that warranted his extension.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
December 13th, 2009
12:20 pm
TnBrian! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-MEN!
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2009
12:21 pm
MZ: Yes, saw A Serious Man the week it came out. Loved it. But I like everything by the Coen Bros. Did you see it?
I want to see The Messenger, Invictusand a few that are coming out soon including the new Scorcese thriller, Shutter Island.
joerochester
December 13th, 2009
12:22 pm
Once Lackey gets a huge deal (which I’m sure he will, being that he is the best FA pitcher on the market), Lowe will look like a bargain.
VaBraveFan
December 13th, 2009
12:22 pm
We have enough payroll to win. If payroll determinded winning the Yanks should have more World Series Championships than they have.
Just so yall know i believe the Braves rank 12th in payroll.
Teams like us and below have to be smart with young players and development and get the most out of the youngin’s before the hit free agency. Also lower payroll clubs usually have to decide on 2 players 1 hitter and 1 pitcher to be the cornerstone type. Look at the Marlins the have Hanley locked up but really dont have the payroll to lock up a pitcher (Josh Johnson)
Marlins have a 33 million dollar payroll, we have it good compared to more than the MLB. Think about it put AROD on the Marlins and they have 4 million to fill 24 spots!!
Its not so bad.
Jake W.
December 13th, 2009
12:23 pm
I am sick and tired of hearing about how we don’t have a payroll comparable to the Mets and Phillies. How are we supposed to compete then, we clearly they can just go out and sign anyone they want, because the Braves payroll isn’t even “close” to theirs.
Isn’t this the question that 90 percent of the teams in the league have? We can expect to compete when Bud Selig puts a salary cap on this thing. Its not just us that gets outbid for players. Red Sox are a high payroll team and are good,so are the Angels, yet the Yankees got Teix. Direct your complaints at Mr. Bud Selig who thinks that somehow his league is just fine the way it is. We have a 90 million plus payroll. Imagine how teams feel that don’t even have that and thats most of the league.