Maybe Braves get back to LaRoche, maybe not

I agree but they have, in my opinion, more question marks than we need

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Nady and Glaus don’t seem like bad ideas. Seems like the FO is really interested in Nady at least. The Cubs are not likely to trade Lee.

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Nolie –

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TnBrian,

I’ve had you on the scroll list for a while, but that nonsense today, pickin’ at ‘OB. You sir, might be lower that Lentz. And, I really didn’t think that was possible. As far as the stand up: you’re a liar, which is, without a doubt, lower than Lentz.

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Bobby’s Cox,

good call on my opinion of the liqour. Heck, I didn’t even recognize the brands you mentioned. I’m as botttom-shelf as they come.

To be fair, I would take that Maker’s Mark. At the bottom-shelf price, of course.

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Coach,

glad you’re back. To be honest, I don’t often agree with you. But, you’re clear and consistent. That sir, is admirable. I’ll lift a glass in hope that you stay.

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Just a question. The twins need pitching and if we picked up enough money for lowe and a send a prospect we could get dernard span to leadoff anf then sign one of these question mark boppers for first?

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nolie,

I need help with somethin’ (admittedly, many things, but let’s start here).

I don’t understand the 4A thing. Clearly, it happens. Too often to explain away as a guy not given the chance. Now, I’m not a minor league guy, or much of a stat guy (plus that whole intoxication problem), so this’ll have a lot of ramble in it. But, this new 30-some-odd-year-old kid from the Dodgers, or a guy like Canizares, or the countless others…

How does a guy go .900 at AAA, but isn’t given a shot? I’m not talkin’ 400 abs, and fell on their face, but never even given the shot. I mean, it’s not all defense right? We see skillets all over the big leagues.

Can high-level scouts look at a swing and state, that definitively, that dude just won’t produce? Is the level of pitching THAT much lower at AAA.

I just can’t get myself off the opinion that if a guy can go .300/.390/.570 at AAA, he could be a productive big league guy, regardless of glove. I mean, some of the hitters in this league outright suck.

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Me likey the whiskey.

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To all the music cats on this deal, and of course, ‘OB:

Can someone explain the whole CD/record thing to me? I’m not a music guy; never was, probably won’t be. But, I think I know it all, so allow me to try this.

How can a record guy say that they like that recording better? Allow me to use the most recent Beatles example: it seems to me, that the ideal is sitting in a room with the Beatles playing. Isn’t the record guy saying that the ideal is the record? Isn’t he choosing all those artifacts over just sitting in a 100 seat bar, listening to the Beatles?

I just can’t follow the comparison. I can understand, for posterity’s sake, having the LPs, and even listening to them. But to say, definitively, that records are better? That seems like crazy talk. I like Clint Black. I like Eminem. I like E-40. I like Elvis. I want to hear them like I would personally. Not how I would hear them on 40 year old recording technology. How is this even debatable?

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Most major league teams stock their AAA rosters with career minor leaguers, while the true talent lies tucked away at AA. Coach

load of crap Steve. most every high prospect plays in AAA very few skip it entirely. The emphasis is on different things, but AAA is overalla tougher league than AA. Coach read somewhere it ain’t, and he’s spouting off crap he knows nothing about.
The emphasis in AA is deciding which prospectys are the best and culling the ones from lower levels that they do not feel will make it.The jump to AA is the highest in the minors and because the emphasis is on determining prospects some ffolks think that means it is a tougher league. That is true in the limited sense that each team MIGHT have a guy who jumps straight to the bigs, but not all do. So we are talking maybe 1o guys at the very most who skip AAA, the rest of them spend at least some time in AAA.
Since the emphasis in AA is selecting those best prospects the emphasis in AAA is staockinthe big league team with those same players and other additions.
While the bottom half of the AA roster might contain guys who will never play in AAA or never play well, the bottom half of AAA is flled with guys who are at least good enough to make AAA and with players from outside the organization who show a lot of promise or have gotten to the bigs.
Different intents, but AAA is much deepoer in the roster.and game after game of an entire season you will face the rest of the roster more than you would face the stud in AA.
AAA pitchers have a bigger variety of pitches and for the most part it is an advantage for a young hitter to experience that since 90% of the guys who fail as hitter fail because they cannot hit off-speed and curvy pitches.Sure there are some few who could skip it and it wouldn’t matter all that much, but most benefit from the added at bats. It is usually of more benefit to a young stud hitter than to a young stud pitcher, but it never hurts anybody.
Ok pooh on coach and his parrot-speak of things he has read without citing, but presenting them as his own.
As to your question, really who the hell knows the answer? If they did it wouldn’t happen as often.
As for hitters it is usually the inability to reliably hit major league breahing balls and change ups,With pitchers it is often guys with no real out pitch. The Braves have had a number of pitchers over the year with impressive minor league careers that were built on better than average change up for instance. Since you see so few even remotely decent ones in the lower minors hitters can be completely flummoxed by a decent one. James and hughes come quickly to mind. Their minor league stats were great, but they didn’t have enough other stuff to succeed in the minors.
Also minor league hitters are not as good for the most part at pitch recognition and thus will swing at bad pitches than many MLB hitters will ignore,
In some cases there can be mental/emotional issues, usually a lack of confidence.They react poorly to pressure and/or defeat.
Basicallt they all have a limit at which they can excell like in anything else, and those limits vary from individual to individual.
If a person has never played pro ball at any level, it is amazing how good all those guys are. Guys who never even finish a year in the lowest level will probably be among the best you have ever played with on a semi-pro or summer league. God gives each of us a top limit though and one way or another some guys just rum out of do at AAA level.
As for guys like Mitch Jones never getting a chance. That can be hard to explain without knowing the intimate details of each case. Once in a while a guy fals through the cracks, and other times a guy is slower to reach his peak. For the most part though, talent is so scarce that if a teams leaves them in the minors there are one or usually more than one reason. And it often does have to do with defense.to a degree. Some are so bad that the team feels that their hitting does not compensate. Any scout for instance would tell you that Canizares is a truly terrible defender. He would likely have a better chance to make and stay in the bigs if he were with an AL club, in fact I have often wondered why he signed with the Braves.
I’ve seen Mitch Jones hit and he is pretty decent. When I saw him he was a total butcher in the OF. Torre said he has made progress. also with him, his overall MiLB numbers are good, but he has spent a good bit of time in a hitter’s league in the PCL.
I think he will get a chance to make the team in the spring but I have no real idea if he will or not cause I really haven’t seen him all that much.
No scouts are not prescient to say a guy will never hit, but a negative input from them might lessen his chance at a higher level.
Wow, what a ramble this is.
I quit

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Dear Frank Wren….pull your head out of your ass for one second and listen to a little common sense.

The Braves outfield is a disaster and has been for two straight seasons. That’s the bad news.

This is the good news. It’s fixable and the task really isn’t very difficult. IT REALLY ISN’T.

Jordan Schafer and Jason Heyward as we all know are ready to compete at the big league level. Nate McLouth and Matt Diaz are capable everyday players or back ups.

But the sleepers who can be had for pennies on the dollar or even a bag of baseballs?

Rick Ankiel, age 30. Anybody who can tank as a starting pitcher, go back to the minors and reinvent himself as an outfielder can certainly overcome a nasty crash into a wall. Besides, Ankiel is a fantastic athlete who can play all three outfield positions, has a great arm and is above average defensively. The only drawback is that the Braves need right handed bats and Ankiel swings it from the left side.

Luis Durango. Luis who? That’s what I said until I saw him play down in the minors. The little dude is nothing but a game changer. Blinding foot speed and I’m talking NFL wide out 40 time. Two time minor league batting champion, switch hitter, 232 walks against 193 K’s in five minor league seasons (CRAZY ISN’T IT?), career .328 BA, .422 OBP ( REALLY?), plays all three outfield spots, actually knows how to bunt (which is a lost art) and is a pure lead off hitter. His downside is ZERO power and nobody outside of San Diego has ever heard of the “Panamaniac”.

Xavier Nady, veteran 31 year old corner outfielder coming off surgery with projectable 25 HR – 90 RBI – .300 BA numbers.

Jonny Gomes is 29, he’s Matt Diaz with power and kills lefty’s.

Again, rebuilding the outfield really isn’t so difficult once Derek Lowe is traded.

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OK, that was supposed to be Barney, but I’m not sure it deserves a correction. How ’bout, I’d stick my grandma in LF if she could OPS .900?

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nolie,

just reread, and again, thank you for taking the time. Rambling, to me, is words produced without meaning. Yours had meaning, and I needed them to understand it all.

A final thought…I hate the fact that we can’t believe anything out of these big league manager’s mouths. And, I don’t know if it’s all managers, or if it’s just 6 making me feel this way. But, when I read Torre saying that dude has improved, all I hear is Bobby telling us how great his player is. Can we really trust anything Torre said with regard to Jones?

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That’s another thing you’ve converted me to, noles:

That if a guy got a late start, he prolly ain’t got many years left. (Did someone here really say I can’t say prolly? I mean that’s like two less letters I have to type. We’ll not mention the fact that I’ve typed a hundred more to state this fact.)

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Coach,

I think my only issue with you is that you don’t have the “agree to disagree” button. Dude, nolie’s earned his say. Just state your opinion, and let the chips fall.

Please, sir.

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Angry Lentz and Coach…Guess nothing changes here– or maybe DOB likes the spicy Lentz drama.

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Braveheart,

post something. BAS

yeah he ain’t been around at all lately.hope he is alright.

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Flip the bottle and warship Singletary. You can see the winning fire in him. The old days could be just around the corner, my friend. Better sleep as kickoff is approaching…

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warship Singletary N Nine

is that warship a cruiser or a destroyer? j/k nine

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Does this cat ever sleep?

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Wow, all night blogging. You guys are amazing.

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and you can blow it out your ASS. But I digress, I’m arguing with some hack who has never played the game… Coach

sure coachie poo whatever you say

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BAS,

It always counts if you win!

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unreal video up there. UNREAL. apologies to anyone from Cleveland, I’m a Browns fan so I think I can post that?

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nighty night folks

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Old Gator,

Major changes? The Braves were an 86 win team this past year and the core players are returning. So the need to make “major changes” seems to be reaching. While not close to a World Series contender, they only have to add a few pieces, if any at all, to have playoff potential. Unless, of course, you think they out preformed their talent.in 2009.

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Beckett
Lackey
Lester
Daisuke
Bucholtz
Wakefield

Why would the Red Sox need Lowe? They’re starting rotation is better than the Braves

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Billy, I am glad you are part of the blog now, you always seem to give interesting “postings”. You gave a good summary the other day with our “friend” Paul. I agree with BAS that Lentz should not be banned if there is a way to control his abuse of issues that every other blogger understands is off limits. If stupidity was a reason to kick somebody off the blog, Paul would not be the only one to go, many of us would hit the road. I do believe the Braves do need to make one major change,that cleanup hitter who would be the difference maker in our lineup. We can live with one weakness in the lineup if we had one great hitter,ie Holliday, Bay, Gonzalez, or Cabrera. IMO, we are not championship contenders without this type of player.

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I’d rather not bring in Damon. Even at around two years and 16 million, he’ll cost the team runs with the glove and his production last year was aided by that short porch in right field. If they weren’t going to go two years with Cameron(who in my mind is the better player, offense/defense considered) than I really hope they wouldn’t with Damon.

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Efrim, agreed that one year sounds better, probably for both sides considering that the Braves (and maybe many other teams) wouldn’t want to pony up big $$$ for multiple years. “Abreu’d” sounds about right – sign a smaller, one-year deal, perform well and turn it into a bigger deal next off-season.

That said, I don’t think it’ll be the Braves. At least, I hope not, because it could take a while before he “gives in” to that kind of deal and most of us – even Damon fans – don’t want to wait that long!

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right

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I agree with the crowd saying Lentz shouldn’t be banned. I’ve never seen him post anything worth banning. You may not agree with his thoughts but at least he talks baseball. This blog is often devoid of baseball talk.

Once Holliday and Bay sign, the Braves will move. I really feel that they’re looking to see if the Angels or Yanks sign one of them and then look to deal from their surplus of OF.

As far as Lowe, I really don’t know what to think anymore. Angels also need a starter so they might bite.

But a second “salary dump” this offseason is just going to look pretty bad on Wren. Let’s see…Schuerholz had to do this once in his tenure as Braves GM? (Millwood…and got a solid return in Estrada) This will be Wren’s 2nd in one offseason.

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You know, Escobar could grow into the right handed clean up hitter we need. He was pretty clutch the last couple of years.

Just saying if we get Damon and have to settle for plan e at first base, I think Escobar could handle it well.

Question for DOB, The other day someone mentioned Escobar’s agent was Boras. Thats not true, is it? If it’s not, I think we should lock him up before he really blows up, and I mean blows up in a good way. You would think a guy from Cuba would be all over getting the security of a longer term deal. He may be our future 3rd baseman the way he keeps growing.

Food for thought, off to take care of several things, and then hopefully home in time to watch the Pack.

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While I wont make claims as others have that “I’ll leave if he doesn’t” as that’s pretty childish and only draw the same type of attention Paul Lentz craves. I just wish Paul would understand logic and adapt to when someone is trying to explain to him why he gets so much criticism here. instead he responds like child.

He does not understand how to have a written discussion with out being offensive.The total disregard for opposing opinions along with his mostly derogatory and insulting comments towards regular and non regular posters should get Lentz’s banned. How many people who would add value do not post because of him. I’m one I think. I, however, know he will never be banned. Further, does surprise me some would attempt to defend a man who constantly uses vulgar and defaming comments in order to criticize or establish his point of view. While he does talk baseball, it’s often times repetitive and obscene with no substantial or informative opinions. He is just as clueless about baseball as the rest of us but claims brilliance. Maybe I’m wrong but I do not see any value Paul “King of Moron’s” Lentz brings to the Braves/MIB blog.

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I really wouldn’t be disappointed if the Braves didn’t do anything but only sign a 1B. I wouldn’t be disappointed with this team.

Lineup:
McLouth – CF
Prado – 2B
Jones – 3B
Nady/Delgado/Glaus – 1B
McCann – C
Escobar – SS
Diaz/Schafer – LF
Heyward – RF

Bench:
Diaz/Schafer – OF
Infante – Super Utility
Ross – C
Mitch Jones – 1B/OF
Clevlen/Young – OF

Starting Rotation:
Vazquez – RHP
Jurrjens – RHP
Hudson – RHP
Lowe RHP
Hanson – RHP

Bullpen:
Kawakami – LRP/SS
Medlen – LRP/MRP/SS
Chavez/Logan/Acosta/Proctor MRP
O’Flaherty – MRP/SUP
Moylan – SUP/MRP
Saito – SUP/CP
Wagner – CP/SUP

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Delgado has been a selfish pri*k his whole career. We don’t need his old sorry washed up communist arse on our team!

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Billy (TBFKB) :

“….does surprise me that some would attempt to defend……….” Good old American principle of democracy BILLY, everybody has the right to make a fool of themselves. Live and let live. Besides, it’s good entertainment when more pressing issues are not at hand, such as the present.

Now over on the WASHINGTON POST’s REDSKINS INSIDER blog there’s a person identifying themselves as “rotfrau” who constantly catagorizes the U.S. governemnt as warmonger, and the president a monkey. The comments on all things American would make your blood boil, so I personally find PL pretty innocuous. Everything’s relative.

Just keep coming back BILLY. I think regulars here enjoy your input. Don’t get disgusted and leave because of a misguided person who really wants to talk baseball, but doesn’t know how within the bounds of convention.

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If anyone reads the Pearls Before Swine comic, check out the strip for yesterday (Saturday, Dec.19). I get this feeling that Rat and Paul Lentz are one and the same.

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Lew, it was perfect.

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LEW:

Morning Lew. Yeah, the heaviest was patchwork so I’m not absolutely certain about APPOMATTOX, but the general was 20″ to 25″over there, and as you know VIRGINIA is one of the lesser states on snow removal.

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CB-Yeah, it was, but may ruin my appreciation of Rat.

richbrave-Thanks, I’ll try calling over there later today. Didn’t want to tie up the lines yesterday. I’m sure that emergency services had their hands full.

Seems the Old Coach is back-along with Luis Durango.

I’ve about come to the conclusion we need to sign Roach for a couple of years at a good salary and just give the corner outfield spots to Diaz and Heyward and be done with it. Get a good utility guy and play some baseball. If Schafer proves ready, trade McLouth later. Trade Lowe for what we can get to help pay Roach. Keep the rest of the $$$$$ for later in the year fixes.

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doug – I think Yunel’s agent is that pissant who also represents Furcal (and my Aussie mate Moylan)
so I would take Boras over that rat effing fink anyday

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Maybe the Durango ate your baby:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghCTZF61ey0&feature=related

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UNCBrave-No, you ASSUME they have done nothing about a RH bat, but have know way whatsoever of knowing WHAT they’ve done. No news doesn’t mean they’re sitting on their hands playing with themselves.

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Lew

December 20th, 2009
10:20 am

I’ve about come to the conclusion we need to sign Roach for a couple of years at a good salary and just give the corner outfield spots to Diaz and Heyward and be done with it. Get a good utility guy and play some baseball. If Schafer proves ready, trade McLouth later. Trade Lowe for what we can get to help pay Roach. Keep the rest of the $$$$$ for later in the year fixes.

And I think you’ve hit up the BRAVES’ plan “C”.

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LEW:

“No news doesn’t mean they’re sitting on their hands playing with themselves” LOL!!!!! Does bring up some rather amusing scenerios does it not? LOL.

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How come some of you are saying you’d rather have Damon over Nady? Could they not get both? At least that’s what I’d like to see. Choosing between the two I’d go for Nady, but one at 1st the other plays LF… problem solved.

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JJ is a great looking young pitcher under team control for 4 more seasons. I personally wouldn’t trade him for Gonzalez, who I believe will be a free agent after 2 more seasons (I could be off on that and would welcome a correction if I am).

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