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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
7,602 comments Add your comment
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
12:17 am
I like Wren & think he’s made some very good trades since he’s been the GM here, but I have some issues with him right now. Why in the world would he not keep in contact with LaRoche? Isn’t LaRoche a laid back Cali boy with a very good attitude & he seems really mad, hurt, whatever? That makes it obvious Wren can be a real prick that might lack some communication skills.
Second beef I have to this point with him is why Lowe is still not been traded? I know, I know, jumping the gun here because “IT’S NOT EVEN JANUARY YET” and I’m just an eager fan that knows nothing, but My God…. trade the man for some used Francoeur bats & lets get thing damn thing going.
OK, OK, he could have a deal in place for him as I write, but drama does seem to find Wren quite a bit, doesn’t it? Makes you wonder.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
12:18 am
“Chip was fired from all his jobs. Braves, TBS everything.”
becuase he’s awful
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
12:21 am
If you’re going to pay Delgado you might as well pay ADD LaRoche — better glove and not coming off an injury.
Noah
December 19th, 2009
12:22 am
It doesn’t matter if the player is nice and laid back…its usually about the agents and top dollar this time of year.
I know we don’t need the position per say but I like what Orlando Hudson brings to the table. He got $3 million last year, one year deal, maybe less this year. That said I do like Infante and Prado. Glaus sounds good as a backup to Chipper if he is willing to not play everyday.
Noah
December 19th, 2009
12:24 am
A Bomb: LaRoche wants 3 years, Delgado would probably be 1 year and more power potential. BTW, no one has said they won’t go after LaRoche. Right now it sounds like teams are only kicking the tire on him. For not much more then what LaRoche is asking you probably could get in on Holliday or Bay, albeit maybe an extra year.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:26 am
TnBrian
Actually, what I wonder about most is why can you be so damned stupid? Wren told LaRoche’s agent at the end of the season what their plans were. He doesn’t owe him anything more than that.
And secondly, my guess is that some other team has to WANT to make a trade FIRST, before a deal can be made.
“OK, Mr Angels’ GM, dammit, let’s get this trade done RIGHT NOW. No more excuses, my bloggers are getting impatient.”
I know some folks from Tennessee. You don’t do your state any favors, Brian.
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
12:26 am
Noah, my point was that LaRoche seems disrespected some & probably thought the Braves of all teams would give him more attention seeing as how they could really use a guy like him next year. I’m not so sure money played a part in his comments.
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
12:26 am
What LaRoche wants and what LaRoche gets are going to be two different things.
No one will give 3 years to someone who has yet to produce for a full season.
Look for 1 and an option. But his market is not as good as HE thinks it is.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:27 am
A Bomb
Haven’t you heard. Adam wants 30 million for 3 years. Hell, let’s just sign him. Lowe or no Lowe!
Would you guys get a grip!
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
12:28 am
“For not much more then what LaRoche is asking you probably could get in on Holliday or Bay, albeit maybe an extra year.”
???
Laroche – 3/30
Bay – 5/65
Holliday – 8/128
thats a big difference
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
12:30 am
Actually Wayne he wants $31 million-plus. What a joke.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:31 am
Last I heard, Frank Wren works for John Schuerholz (sp), not the DOB blog crew.
Noah
December 19th, 2009
12:33 am
Unbelievable:
Understand. Forget years though and its LaRoche at 10 to Bay at 13 million to Holliday at 16 million. Haven’t seen anyone offering Bay 5 years and don’t think he will get it.
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
12:34 am
YOU TOLD ME, WAYNE!
Man alive, you can’t give your strong opinions on here without somebody going off about how stupid you are & how they’re going to set you straight, blah, blah, blah. Look, this forum is about opinions & as long as you try & keep them clean & stay off politics they get posted.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:37 am
A Bomb
It is clear (to me, at least) that the Braves aren’t comfortable making a move before shedding some salary. You could see it in the way they dealt Soriano a couple of days after he accepted arbitration.
FW’s hands are tied. No salary relief, no big signings or deals. Simple as that. LaRoche’s agent is doing what he is supposed to do. This might be his big chance. BUT, unless you are the Yankees, Red Sox, or Mets; you probably have some salary restraints. Unfortunately for Adam, he is a FA when things are down a bit for players. Only the elite are getting the big contracts. Average players (LaRoche) aren’t getting the big money. Eventually, he will come around to realize that maybe he needs to take less years and/or less salary.
But December 18th is not the day to panick, folks.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
12:38 am
noah, actually is was 5/75 offered to Bay from the Mets
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/mets-offer-five-years-to-bay-will-pursue-holliday.html
and you do have to factor in the amount of years when talking about signing someone
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:40 am
TnBrian
Sorry, but I tell the truth, whether it’s about impatient bloggers or politics.
If the truth hurts, too damned bad! (of course, some might argue that I don’t know sheeyt, and that might be true too!)
But for you to go off on Frank Wren, when in fact he has done a helluva job as our GM, just shows that I am probably right about you.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
12:40 am
wayne, dont try to be the voice of reason here because these people hate that
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
12:41 am
Wayne, read the last paragraph of my 12:17 comment & you’ll see that I said the man could have a deal in place for Lowe. You conveniently chose not to check out that, just me steaming on Wren a little so you can call somebody stupid because you’ve obviously been picked on in your life at some point, so this is a little steaming of your own. You’re a jerk off!
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:42 am
It could be worse Braves fans. We could be Mariners fans. We could be (reluctantly) cheering for Milton Bradley next year!
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
12:43 am
Wayne — I still say Wren’s hands are tied because….
1) He let it leak out that Lowe is the one they want to trade instead of operating silently.
2) He has let Freeman’s name be linked to Heyward so closely that how in the heck are you going to get a proven, productive 1B in here with the idea that you will be gone in 1 year? Stopgap players don’t produce championships, generally speaking.
3) His out is this — Use Lowe and OTHER PLAYERS to explore a blockbuster deal that will bring in what you need. What about a guy like Lance Berkman? Why does it HAVE to be a free agent?
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
12:46 am
Wayne, who gives a rats a** if somebody calls out Wren? I’ve been a big fan of Wren since he got the GM job. It’s ok to question some of his decisions or thought process. Maybe I could word them differently, but I’m sure them man doesn’t read anything we right anyways(he’s got a big time job going in his life) & if he did he’d probably just laugh & hope we all show up at Turner Field anyways. I do like the guy though.
African Safari
December 19th, 2009
12:46 am
Never been to Bangkok before… my buddies have been…they’re pretty good partiers. I know I am in trouble.
I know my nights will be planned..but would also like some stuff to do in the daytime.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
12:50 am
1) He let it leak out that Lowe is the one they want to trade instead of operating silently.
It’s not like it was a secret to begin with.
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
12:52 am
jeffrey d — Not that I’m Wren but if I knew I had a bad contract to get rid of I would tell the media NOTHING until a deal was sealed. The fact that it was officially publicized only hurts your efforts, no matter what is assumed.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:53 am
TnBrian
I read you parting line at 12:17. My point was why do you have to go off ranting about how bad FW was, when in fact, he has been above board with LaRoche and his agent.
Players want to be coddled sometimes. When said player is not your top priority, why would you feel a need to coddle? Does that make you a bad communicator.
Would it have been better if FW had called Adam everyother day and said, “Yep Adam, we are still not really interested in you, until we can figure out how we are going to shed some salary and analyze the entire market. Hope that helps you, son.”
I am over 50, I can’t remember the last time I was picked on. Probably over 45 years ago. I really don’t think that calling you stupid is a response to anything that some bully might have done to me on a playground yard years ago. But thanks for caring though!
My point is this: Do you really believe the BS your spreading about FW? If so, you should actually take a close look at his record. If you still feel like he is screwing up, then I stand by my earlier statement.
Ouch..
December 19th, 2009
12:53 am
At least the Mariners have a chance at their division next year. More than you can say for the Braves.
Big B CH 99
December 19th, 2009
12:53 am
I fear that the Braves aren’t looking for a stop-gap, I think that they’re planning on Freeman being the everyday 1B, next yr, & that’s a HUGE Mistake, Schafer anyone. We all know that they’re planning on Heyward being the everyday RF, I think that’s a mistake also, but he’s probably more ready than Freeman. They think that they can go cheap by planning on the 2 young guys playing everyday.
I’d re-sign Adam for 2 yrs (option for more), let him help mentor Freeman, and if Freeman’s ready by next yr, you can trade Adam.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
12:55 am
I do like the guy though. TnBrian
You sure coulda fooled me……
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
1:00 am
Wayne, you’re right, I’m wrong. I’ll just agree with you…. nah, that wouldn’t be fun, would it?
“You sure coulda fooled me”
Really? Whatever, you’re my elder & on a computer or not, I’m going to repect my elders. But, I’ll bet you’d be surprised that I’m no dummy. Actually, the smartest one in my trailer park. Take it easy Wayne.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:06 am
Brian
Sometimes on a blog, we say things to folks that we would NEVER say to their faces in a million years. I know I am as guilty as the next guy. Sorry to be such a pain in the azz. I just grow tired of the whining.
You are probably about half my age, and I know I was less patient at 27 than I am at 54. Sorry if I got out of hand.
Hey, I have lived in a trailer before!
As a matter of fact, I tell my kids that the perfect place is a single wide with a 7 bay metal building out back for all your stuff. My wife doesn’t agree. A double wide is just showing off!
Paul Lentz
December 19th, 2009
1:06 am
Wayne in Utah……..your 12:37am posting pretty much echos what I’ve been saying all along. Aint JACK happening until the Lowe situation is resolved. How much of Lowe’s contract that the Braves are willing to eat………OR…………whether they are forced to trade Javier Vazquez instead………..will determine how much money Frank Wren actually has to improve the offense.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:08 am
But I don’t take back anything I have said to the low life Paul Dentz though!!
BravesfaninWis
December 19th, 2009
1:08 am
So if the Braves aren’t going to go after any FA big bats that can actually help this team out until they find a trade partner for Lowe, what happens if that takes a while to do? Then what happens when all the FA bats that can help this team sign with other teams? It means we will be the same old Braves team since we won our last division title.
Obviously Wren is not doing his job the proper way if he still hasn’t found a legit trade partner for Lowe, or moved on to the idea to trade Vazquez. Free agency started a while ago, the winter meetings we just a little while ago where Wren could have talked to any teams GM about trades, and here we still sit wondering if we might actually be a contender this year. I tell ya, its getting old spending all the money I do each year on the MLB Extra Innings package and the expense of traveling over 400 miles to go to the Brewers/Braves game in Milwaukee every year just to watch this team try not to finish in last place in the division. If they don’t do something quickly before the best options sign elsewhere, I am not wasting my money on them in any aspect this year, its as simple as that.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:09 am
speaking of the devil……..
Magnum TA
December 19th, 2009
1:10 am
Paul any idea how much we will have to spend if we trade Lowe for only prospects and do not eat any of his salary?
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:11 am
But I don’t take back anything I have said to the low life Paul Dentz though!!
aww, and RIGHT after he agreed with you.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:11 am
Wisconsin
How many times now have you threatened to leave Bravestown? Don’t let the screen door hit you in the azz on the way out.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:12 am
jeffrey
Pretty good, huh!
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:14 am
Paul, if you have a sense of humor, you had to love that one!!!
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:17 am
everyone should read PLATE APPEARANCE’S post at 8:36. could not of said it better.
i really think wren is gonna grind this thing into the ground. the dude has the tact of a broken chainsaw.
Wayne in Utah
December 19th, 2009
1:20 am
uga
FW might be grinding this into the ground, IF he was the guy with the control. He is just playing his hand, which has it’s limitations. Paul L would tell you that sometimes, you gotta play the hand you have. You can only bluff so much, but in the end, you gotta play the hand you were dealt.
Bravestillidie
December 19th, 2009
1:23 am
Got a fake DOB spreading fake rumors, make sure to look for the blue marker to show it’s him.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:24 am
stop gap here, stop gap there. exactly who are the people that have closed those gaps in the everyday eight.
ever heard the expression write two letters. well smilin frank, you got one more year before it applies to you.
well then again we have a president in terry mcquirk that forgets that he is the ceo of the braves until the first and the fifthteenth.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:26 am
the mensa members are alive and well on the blog tonight, sans WAYNE of course.
what up wayne. the hawks took out your jazz at the knees tonight.
Jay212033
December 19th, 2009
1:27 am
Would this 3-way deal work?
Angels get:
Derek Lowe – SP
6 mil per
Padres get:
Jordan Walden/Trevor Reckling – SP
Brandon Wood – IF
Jordan Schafer – CF
Kris Medlen – SP/RP
Randall Delgado – SP
Braves get:
Adrian Gonzalez – 1B
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
1:29 am
bbspell22: Yeah, I’m probably gonna have to see Avatar. Might be a bit too sci-fi for me, but it looks interesting…
daybed: that Twitter feed has really been there that long, on the side of the blog for a few days? weird that I hadn’t seen it….
Anyone see The People Speak on History Channel couple nights ago? I DVR’d it, just watched it late tonight. Absolutely brilliant.
African Safari
December 19th, 2009
1:30 am
Since the Braves have pretty much 0 chance of resigning Gonzalez when he becomes a free agent….there really is no point in trying to trade for him…especially with all the talent we have to give up.
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
1:31 am
There you go Jay212033…. thinking OUTSIDE THE BOX!
And I don’t even see Xavier Nady, Marlon Byrd, Josh Willingham, Carlos Delgado or Barry Bonds on that list!
A real deal! Angels might need another player but there’s the solution to this whole thing! Look at the whole roster, package them and pry someone loose!
Brave's Next Power Hitter (?)
December 19th, 2009
1:32 am
If Braves sign LaRoche and get Swisher for Lowe then I am very happy.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:33 am
DOB,
watching the rock n roll hall of fame concert on hbo for the first time.
i am no metal guy but metallica was pretty darn tight.
TnBrian
December 19th, 2009
1:33 am
I don’t know what Wren’s legacy will be when he leaves Atlanta, but I’m betting it won’t be Shuerholz-like. In his defense, Wren’s already had to deal with some messes to clean up from the former GM. There’s no denying that, uga-brave. JJ/Hernandez for broke down Renteria will go down as one of the best in franchise history along side Smoltz if this Jurrjens keeps getting better & better.
Paul Lentz
December 19th, 2009
1:34 am
Magnum TA…………If Frank Wren, by some small miracle, is able to sucker some team into assuming Lowe’s whole contract…….then if the Braves are sticking to a projected $95 mil payroll……..I see Frank Wren having $22 mil available to spend on improving the offense.
The other day I added up the salaries of the 20 players who are a lock to make the roster. The 20 players (without Lowe’s $15 mil) totaled close to $73 mil. By my estimates, that leaves $22 mil to sign a left fielder, right fielder, 1st baseman, back-up infielder, and either another pinch hitter OR another reliever (if the Braves decide to carry 13 relievers).
In the past day, the Braves have signed Mitch Jones (Crash Davis’ protege) and Joe Thurston. Jones could be the power hitting pinch hitter that we sorely lacked last year. And Thurston could be the back-up infielder. If those 2 can pan out (given the fact that they will be making close to the ML minimum)……..that would leave around $21 mil for a left fielder, right fielder, and 1st baseman.
With $21 mil left, I would LOVE to see the Braves make a push for Matt Holliday with a contract offer in the $18 mil a year range. Under that scenerio, I could see the Braves giving Jason Heyward a chance to win the right fielder’s job. Lastly, the Braves would have approximately $1.5-$2 mil left over to find a first baseman on the cheap who can field the ball and bat 8th in our line-up.
I’d much rather see the Braves spend $22 mil on Holliday, Heyward and a 1st baseman off the scrapyard………then see them spread it out on Nady, LaRoche, and DeRosa. Having Holliday bat behind Chipper and in front of McCann would make for a very potent middle of the order. Heyward could bat 7th and not be pressured to have to put up big numbers.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:36 am
magumta,
why does the lowe thing need to be resolved soon. wren gave him 60 mill just 12 months ago. buyers remorse.
look smilin frank lack of bank made his own bed.
Magnum TA
December 19th, 2009
1:38 am
Thanks Paul.
Jay212033
December 19th, 2009
1:39 am
African Safari
The Braves wouldn’t have to re-sign Gonzalez. Freeman is not in the deal. They could either trade him, which I doubt because we’d more than likely be in the race with him, for specs or when he leaves offer him arbitration and get 2 picks.
Chiba
December 19th, 2009
1:41 am
Go Braves.
Bravestillidie
December 19th, 2009
1:43 am
Lentz –
I would much rather sign 2 od Nady/Swisher/LaRoache etc. let Matt Diaz play left field and sign Vazquez to an extension than have Holliday on the hook for an awful contract. We are a smaller market team than those that can throw around that kind of salary. We tried that with Lowe and looke where we are. Plus, go take a look at the potential Free Agent market for next year and the year after. Wouldn’t want to throw in the big money now and not be able to spend it over those two years. There is much more to be aware of in an equation than x = Holliday = no more money for anything ever. Let’s build a competetive team not a left fielder with some moving parts.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:43 am
keith law who is from boston thinks saito is close to being done. i have not seen the guy pitch enough to draw a conclusion, but dont you think it would of made sense to have at least kept soriano until march or april when other teams might of been willing to give up a little more?
The A Bomb
December 19th, 2009
1:45 am
Lentz — you’re wrong about one thing.
It would not take a small miracle. It would take a very LARGE miracle.
nolie
December 19th, 2009
1:45 am
I’m sorry didn’t we give up 4 really good prospects to get Javier Vasquez Opinion
ah no we didn’t
nolie
December 19th, 2009
1:48 am
ol, and Schafer’s 23. Good try Jeffrey
It was Coach, what can you expect?
Entertaining the board again
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
1:55 am
why do i have this feeling if and when they dump lowe for tiddly winks and eat salary, that wren wont put that money toward nothing more then duct tape, that he says ” at this time we are being finacially prudent and spending money would not be in the best interest toward our long term plans. this gives us flexability to go out there and address our needs during the season.”
nolie
December 19th, 2009
2:26 am
Actually, the smartest one in my trailer park. Take it easy Wayne. TnB
maybe the funniest one too, at least with lines like that one
Redstick19
December 19th, 2009
2:30 am
uga-brave
not really arguing with you, but saving money to spend on what you truly need in mid-season is actually a prudent approach. Better than spending, say, $15 million on big free agent tomorrow only to watch him hit .230 with 10 homers through July. Not saying either approach is the right or wrong one- just saying that there are pros for both approaches… always keep an open mind, brother. Hey, who’s to say Mitch Jones won’t tear it up in ST and hit 45 home runs for us in 2010 as our 1B- and would have been overlooked because we felt obligated to LaRoche or somebody else with an $8 million contract.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
2:34 am
nolie, sometimes they just put it on a tee for you.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
2:42 am
redstick,
i agree. just a little disapointed that we are now a have not.
really not a have not, but a team without a true direction.
too good of a starting rotation to be saddled with so many questions about our everday eight.
rf, lf, and 1b are supposed to be places where you have so-called power guys. if we just had one, a guy that could be a bona fide crusher in the four hole, i would roll the dice and take our chances.
we need a right handed thug in the four hole.
Rhett
December 19th, 2009
2:44 am
A little Will Oldham, a little Sun Kil Moon, a little blizzard in DC…. Life ain’t so bad.
Rhett
December 19th, 2009
2:50 am
There are some times I walk from you, like some passing afternoon….
CharlieAlphaBravo
December 19th, 2009
2:50 am
Slappin’ da bass….
Redstick19
December 19th, 2009
2:55 am
uga-brave
I hear ya, man. I miss the early to mid-90s too. But disagree we don’t have direction… Braves are in great shape with pitching- and remember that’s what made us a great team all of those years. Pitching is there, and now hitting is on the way. Heyward could be really good really fast, and I wish people wouldn’t be so quick to shortchange the impact that Schaffer could have this season. Freeman is on his way and could be here this year or next. Braves are on there way to oevrtaking Phillies and staying there for a while. Phillies’ young studs will become too expensive a few years before ours will!
nolie
December 19th, 2009
2:59 am
Just finished watching District 9 again this time at home and I still think it’s one of the year’s best movies.
uga-brave
December 19th, 2009
3:26 am
nolie, never had much interest in that movie but will check it out.
anyone else looking foward to the hbo series pacific?
gonna be hard to match band of brothers, but i have feeling it will be good.
Loogy
December 19th, 2009
3:28 am
For reasons I don’t know why but w/e I think of DOB talking, the sound I get in my head is the voice of Hunter S. Thompson.
nolie
December 19th, 2009
3:59 am
anyone else looking foward to the hbo series pacific?
gonna be hard to match band of brothers, but i have feeling it will be good. UGA
I’m looking forward to it too, and you’re right, it will be a tough job to be as good as BOB.
Andrew in PA
December 19th, 2009
4:19 am
just got done watching blind side, if you havent seen it already its a great movie
nolie
December 19th, 2009
4:43 am
Where is DOB and why is he not telling us exactly what is gonna happen? What does he think we pay him for, anyway?
santa3247
December 19th, 2009
4:53 am
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in jinhae city southkorea now.
Freeman must need two more years for being ready for major he is just 21 years old, insufficient experience of minor league must make player lack of basis about something.
So braves need LaRoche over two years I think. Without LaRoche Wren would blow off big money only for nothing at all of result.
Now I think Yankees fear Atlanta Braves always and continously requested Babylon for disturb Braves from 21th century.
And just one time’s bad record made Kelly Johnson got out of braves, this is because so many the beauty who love him exist, the bad guy dislike him I think. So many stupid girl reading Kelly’s brain waves so he was from time to time the disperse of mind exist at the game.
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S: Noah’s big flood have the same reason as now melting Ice at north, south pol. Time is near. So santa-clause returned.
nolie
December 19th, 2009
4:54 am
just got done watching blind side, if you havent seen it already its a great movie Andrew
Most who have mentioned it on here have been positive about it.
I saw it and while it is a super feel-good movie, I just didn’t care for it all that much, maybe a B.
Very little real dramatic tension in it. Really isn’t all that much to the Michael character either IMO.
I saw that the real life football players expressed some misgivings about it .
But there is n o doubt if you like feel-good, it will get-er-done for you.
Nice to see Sandra have such a great year
Billy (TBFKB)
December 19th, 2009
5:21 am
The real question is what happens if the Braves do not trade a starting pitcher? Who goes to the bullpen?
nolie
December 19th, 2009
5:22 am
Sorry Andrew that came out more negative than I meant it to. Not putting down your taste in movies.
Elmer
December 19th, 2009
6:14 am
LaRoche would be a bargin. He is just hitting his prime. Too bad!
NCBravesFan
December 19th, 2009
6:51 am
Per Wayne’s earlier comments, not sure what the big deal is here with LaRoche. The guy wants three years and $30+MM, and the Braves want a one or two year solution at 1B as a placeholder for Freeman.
Unless and until one side changes its mind, why would they speak?
tr
December 19th, 2009
7:15 am
Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of having LaRoche ar 1B this coming season. But there are some serious concerns.
1) If the Braves were reluctant to offer arbitration, fearing he’d accept the chance to make $9 or so on a 1-year deal, why would they be interested in a 2 to 3 year commitment at the same or higher rate? See LaRoche’s reported asking price. At the very least, the Braves have to wait for the asking price to come down considerably and settle the surplus of starting pitching/dollars before proceeding with LaRoche or any other 1B idea that approaches such a commitment.
2) While he was “the bomb” as expected down the stretch, his history says he can be just as cold in the first half as he is hot in the second half. If you care to remember, that (the first half) was when the Braves lost their real shot at the East title as well as the wild card.
richbrave
December 19th, 2009
7:20 am
JIM:
How’s the weather where you are? We’ve got about a foot here in RICHMOND’s S.W. ‘burbs as far as I can tell. Was supposed to get to SCOTTSVILLE today. No can do.
LivinInAL
December 19th, 2009
8:03 am
I think Rochy’s, “Should have hit 400″, comment was just Rochy being himself, he has made some funny ones over the years. But regarding contact from the Braves, Glavin ask for it and Wren met with him for breakfast last year, we see how that one played out. Would you sign LaRoche if he agreed to 2 years at $16 million?
Goodoleboy58
December 19th, 2009
8:03 am
Lucky for us LaRoche has ADHD and wont remember if we’ve contacted him or not!
Voice from the past...
December 19th, 2009
8:22 am
Chatted with Gil from Mechanicsville late yesterday… they had already gotten 6 inches of snow and were expecting rain later in the evening and more heavy snow today. How fun for him and Mrs. Gil…
Art
December 19th, 2009
8:28 am
How many prospects have gone on to be busts? Yes there is a possibility that both Heyward and Freeman are busts or it will take 2 or 3 more years for them to be ready. And the Braves in the mean time cannot get a 1st baseman and left fielder to take care of the spots til the prospects are ready. And what if………………
Longwinded B.S.
December 19th, 2009
8:43 am
I understand the holdup on dealing with Laroche is trying to get rid of one of the 8 figure salaries allocated to a pitcher. At that point, we’ll assess the market with the money we have at our disposal, and see if Laroche or someone better fits in our plans, and all that jazz. However, I see alot of dudes saying it’s dumb to sign Laroche to a three year deal because he will block Freeman, and that’s just a horseshit excuse to me.
What would be the great harm if they did sign Laroche to a 3 year deal? What harm can be done to the Freeman kid if you make him spend a full season in AA and a full season in AAA? Ryan Howard had to wait his turn behind Thome, and didn’t get called up for good until he was 25 years old and had fully developed his power and refined some other areas of his hitting. That worked out pretty well for the Phillies. They didn’t waste any service time with Howard before he was fully developed.
The Phillies then traded Thome with some years still remaining on his contract (too lazy to look up how many) to make way for Howard. The Braves can do the same with Laroche if he still has a year left on his contract when Freeman makes it clear with his performance that he is truly ready, and not only kinda, sorta ready if we are patient at the major league level and willing to deal with growing pains and excuses in the hope that at some point during his 6 or 7 years of service time with the Braves he grows into his power potential and matures into his plate patience potential. As we saw with the Baby Braves, that sort of thing, well, nevermind, we all know how that played out.
So what if Freeman is ready with a year or a year and a half remaining on a three year contract for Laroche? You can just trade or dump Laroche at that point like they did with Fred McGriff in 1997, or like the Braves did with Renteria in 2007. They drafted Escobar in 2005 (and had Elvis Andrus too), but still traded for Edgar Renteria even though he had three years remaining on his contract. They knew it wouldn’t take a 23 year old Cuban like Escobar, who had been pretty darn good at A ball in 2005, all that long to get ready, and that an All Star like Renteria would be blocking him, or that an All Star like Giles would be blocking him (who was still good in 2005), or that a Hall of Famer like Chipper would be blocking Yunel. But they made the trade for Renteria anyway.
Yunel was arguably ready with two years still remaining on Edgar’s contract (maybe even earlier depending on what you make of whatever the hell went on with him in AA in 2006). Yunel though was clearly ready with a year and a half left on Edgar’s contract. When Edgar had a year left, they traded him for Jair and Gorkys. What would it hurt to similarly have Laroche around two years from now to trade for some prospects or serviceable relievers or nothing at all but a salary dump? The economy should be better by then. Or at least it sure as hell better be or we’re going to have far more serious problems weighing down our minds than whether Laroche is blocking Freeman.
The Freeman kid is only 20 years old, and hasn’t come close to fully tapping into his power yet, and he still needs to learn to draw much more walks if he is to become the future middle of the order partner with Heyward everyone envisions him becoming. Take your damn time. Why does everyone have to spend half a season here, half a season there, and so little time in the upper minors, and get rushed up to the majors? We got Kotsay to be a stopgap for Schafer in 2008, and here we are heading into 2010, and we still don’t have Schafer penciled in as the centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the team. Much of those circumstances were obviously far out of the control of the Braves with the injury and the suspension, but as John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
The Braves don’t just need these guys to be here. They need them to be close to the best they’re ever going to be, and much better than average when they are here. But we don’t need to wait for that. We need to be the best we can be while the kids are figuring that stuff out. When they’re ready, they’re ready, but until they are and just in case they never are, we’ve got to be ready, and not just waiting, and wasting time with a stopgap. Get the best players you can at whatever price you can afford them at, and then the rest usually has a way of working itself out for the best
DWW
December 19th, 2009
8:43 am
Enter your comments here
DWW
December 19th, 2009
8:45 am
DOB,
When a player sends you a text message like LaRoche did about hitting 400, do you ask his permission to print it or do you assume its ok unless he says “off the record”? Just curious.
Doc Holiday
December 19th, 2009
8:46 am
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the D’Backs have made Kelly Johnson an offer. The details aren’t clear, but Piecoro guesses it’s a one-year deal worth $2MM.
Doc Holiday
December 19th, 2009
8:47 am
I dont like the idea of getting Juan Rivera………He is not the guy we are looking for. Cant we do just a little bit better?
layinlow
December 19th, 2009
8:47 am
Wren is an idiot. I had dinner last night with some hard core Braves fans and they both said if Wren trades Vasquez they will not be attending any games next year. I totally agree. I like Hudson but he is 34 and coming off major arm surgery and the Braves basically chose him over Vasquez. They had to know that teams weren’t going to want Lowe because of his high salary. So now were going to end up with Hudson and Lowe when we could have just not re-signed hudson and kept lowe and vasquez. Wren has painted himself into a corner and now he is going to look like a major moron when he is forced to trade vasquez, who was 2nd on keith law’s cy young ballot by the way. Wait and see, Hudson will get hurt next year and we will have to watch Vasquez win 17-18 games wearing another uniform.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
8:50 am
I would jump all over 2 yr 16 mil. That would only be a 1 mil raise for Roachy, he is the best FA 1st baseman out there. Also the way i see it, if Roachy has his usual first half slump, he will still produce better numbers than most of the other options for the first half. Freeman is 20 and 2011 might be a stretch for the kid still. 8 mil for Roachy and then Dealing Lowe saving hopefully another 10-12 mil leaves plenty on a solid outfielder.
layinlow
December 19th, 2009
8:53 am
Art, Heyward is not going to be a bust. His plate discipline is off the charts. This kid is going to hit for high average and he will not strike out very often. Freeman looks good but I can’t say for sure that he will make it. But Heyward is a lock to be a good major league player barring a major injury that could affect his play. When he will be ready is the only question mark about Heyward.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
9:01 am
Jason Heyward could be the next Chipper Jones for this team. The guy’s plate disipline is amazing, and he has all the tools to be successful. He will be the 3 hole hitter for years to come.
Freddie Freeman I think will be a good player. I just think he is gonna need more time in the minors. I think he should come up in 2012 or middle of 2011 if he proves ready.
YankeeDawg
December 19th, 2009
9:01 am
DOB, Howard Zinn is a liberal’s liberal. But I have heard it’s a good book. Small trivia, he taught at a local school in Atlanta, anyone, Beuller? Spellman.
Bomber
December 19th, 2009
9:03 am
Jay212033
good for the braves – good for the padres – but no way the angels would even give up wood staight up for lowe and 6m let alone wood and Jordan Walden/or/Trevor Reckling – if that were the case i am sure the braves would just do a trade with the angels – Lowe for Wood and one of the two. or even Just Lowe with 5m per season for just wood – but i do not see the angels giving up on Wood for Lowe.