I think Lowe is going to be a lot better in 2010 so I am not so against Vasquez being traded if we can get good prospects in return. But Lowe sounded sore. If it is not about the money for Lowe, then he could renegotiate his contract so that we can keep him. I doubt he is willing to do that. If he did, then a lot of our problems are solved. The money saved and we could trade for a good hitter using Vasquez. Lowe as the fourth starter? Not bad.
i hope the braves sign mark derosa and fill in the rest with farm talent, because the braves over the years have won with there own talent. and also trade lowe for a couple offair prospects.
Most/Many/All of us thought the Cubs would HAVE to eat some salary to trade Bradley, yet they end up with a net of $5M cash in the Silva deal. Maybe, just maybe, trading Lowe could work out without $$$ added!!! And, yes, I’m aware how bad Silva has been.
Good. LaRoche represents the underlying issue with the Braves management. The fact that this city and management is DEBATING about LaRoche IS THE ISSUE. Okay, This guy is a decent ball player…WHOOP DI DOO!
When your GM starts doing back flips about your “power hitting rbi producing first basement” hitting 24 hrs and 80 RBIS, bactting .270-something…YOU’VE GOT A EXPECTATION PROBLEM….systemically.
This team needs ALL STARS. Big time leading MLB calibur hitters. and they just havent had their eye on these the last few years and…COINCIDENCE?…no playoffs.
yes, the Farm can get you a few future stars over time…but you MUST supplement them with leading MLB FA talent on the market to lead division and leagues at this level. that take mooola my frinds. Cash. $$$$
Because APPARENTLY it’s not the coaching staff…or at least that’s what the in-the-tank AJC keeps selling us all.
Frank Wrenn brought in D. Lowe, remember what a big splash was made about the good job he did and now look at where we are with Wrenns decicion, no one wants the guy including Atlanta.
I wonder what great decision he will make this year to improve the club down the road, maybe, just maybe he will extend Bobby’s contract so that we can really be competitive.
i wish the damn braves would do something sick and tired of hearing about it sign dye or laroche, sign derosa as a utility and trade lowe to the angles for rivera
Funny how we are reading about Joe the schmo Posnaski bad mouting Wren, yet said writer provided zero analysis of how Rafael Soriano blew game after game after the AS break where his pre-AS numbers were spectacular and how after the AS break he was WORSE than the guy that FW traded him for… and at 1/15th the cost..
I will take a post Tommy John— Wagner, Saito, Moylan BP at $10-1 over one with MFIKY, Gonzo and Moylan at $14 any day
For the life of me, I don’t understand all the consternation everyone has about Wren…Aside from giving Lowe a little too much money last year, what has he done wrong besides have some deals play out in public last year…The guy we got for Soriano is better than nothing, which is what we would have gotten if he had not offered arbitration…Glavine had the opportunity and his body wasn’t ready or able, if it was don’t you think someone would have called…Smoltzie, and I love what he’s done for us over the years, seems to have hung out with Tiger too much and gotten that same sort of entitlement attitude that whatever he wanted he should get…We offered him a similar deal to Boston…as long as he performed at a corresponding level….He got Laroche, the same one that a lot of you are crying for us to resign, for Casey Kotchmann…he got McLouth for some guys with decent potential.
I say that we be patient and see how everything works out with Lowe and where we go from there. Wren made moves up until February last year to put the team in position to contend, and if Frenchie and Johnson, and Kotchmann for that matter, had played like they did in 2007 I believe that we would have contended for the division…They didn’t and Wren moved quickly, quicker than Bobby, to rectify the situation..
At the end of the day, I feel like we will be improved at 1b and leftfield and have a better bat coming off the bench and Diaz can platoon with Heyward in rf..As usual I am excited about the coming season and am hoping for some sort of Holliday surprise this Christmas season, but am confident in whatever direction we go…
Frank needs to quit playing around with the 30+ age group, he has shown that he can’t come up with a power hitter that has some years in front of him or one that hasn’t come off the injured reserve list.
Bring on the best we have in the minors and remember we have Bobby to guide them thru their formative big league years before he retires- this idea has got to be a winner.
No matter what the pro-Wren people say, the jury is definitely out on him at this point. He’s made some good moves (Jurrjens being a super move) but he’s also made some questionable ones. This offseason may determine his legacy as Braves GM.
So far he’s been with us for two seasons and no playoffs either year. The handling of MANY situations has been pretty poorly done (Smoltz, Glavine, Soriano).
No playoffs this year? We’re either looking at a new GM or he needs to be on a serious hot seat.
We DEFINITELY have enough payroll to field a playoff team. Make it happen, Frank.
Emergency plan…trade Medlen for Uggala…move Prado to first…sign Bay to 4yr 64(he would rather play for us than the lousy Mets) move Lowe to the angels for prospect..extend Javy to a 4 yr 40 mil….Lowes contract covers Bay(minus 2-3 mill that we will have to eat) by back ending it. We woud add some payroll by signing Uggala to a 3-5 year deal. We would have one heck of a team albeit not as good defensively with Prado at first and we would only be adding about 5 mill to the books
hope Wren is fielding offers for Javy and getting those lined up. Im guessing by this time next month he’ll still be trying to deal Lowe to someone and our offense will still be a mess. I wouldnt want his job, but right now we’ve lost
LaRoche
KJ
Soriano
Gonzo
Anderson
Norton (why add him to this list?)
and we’ve picked up
Wagner
Saito
Mitch Jones
Abreu
Chavez
Thurston
2 1/2 months into the still young offseason, but we’ve regressed
I don’t think Lowe for Rivera is happening without us eating contract AND throwing in a prospect or two…If it was the likes of a Stovel or Delgado (either one), it would be one thing…But I don’t know that Rivera is worthy of giving up a Medlen, Kimbrel or Teheran type of guy…I think that Lowe to the Mets for Angel Pagan would be more likely, as we have shown that we can trade within the division, or to the Yankees, although I don’t know who we would get from them since they seem to need Swisher…would anyone be interested in revisiting Lowe for Corey Hart at this point…
December 19th, 2009
9:01 am
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.
Been saying that for it seems like years now. Glad you agree.
The Braves could go the risky route. Sign Carlos Delgado to a 1 year 3 million deal, with games started incentives that can max out his earnings near 6 mil. Or somthing like that.
Y’all are as impatient as 6 year olds at Christmas time. What in the world will you do if Wren takes a week and goes skiing with his family like he did last year? Burn him in effigy and protest for his immediate dismissal? Sheesh.
Since he’s been here, Wren pulled off deals out of nowhere for Jurrjens and Gorkys who he turned over for McLouth (another under the radar deal, that may well pay off, though it hasn’t yet). He grabbed Infante and Ohman and he gave up damned little in the three deals-especially compared to what he brought in in return.
Theman said last year he would revamp the pitching staff.. That is EXACTLY what he did. Yeah, Yeah, I hear all the bitching, moaning and groaning about TOO MUCH pitching and overpaying for Lowe (who STILL won 15 games on what is considered a piss poor season).
He has said that his goals for this season were to shed salary, revamp the pen (both of which he’s done, though there will be more salary shed than KJ and Church) and to improve the offense. Considering his track record and given that Spring Training doesn’t even start for another almost two months, I’d imagine he will be as good as his word yet again.
Nothing to be gained by peeking in Mommy’s closet before Christmas. It won’t get you better presents and you won’t have them any sooner than if you all tried to exert the most elusive of all attributes-patience.
I dont see how a Nady or Delgado can demand so much on the market, Nady is injury prone as hell, Delgado is old and injury prone, Reported that Nady could get up to around 8 mil, hell we should have offered Roachy Arbritration and we would have got draft pick or Roachy for around 8 mil for next season….. 8 million for 25 jacks and 80+ rbi and good defense is pretty good.
I see a repeat like last year, good quality players settling for 1 yr deals at low salarys. (kinda like Bobby Abreu) they paid 5 million for his impressive production.
I see Avatar has been mentioned a couple of times. I saw it yesterday, it’s worth seeing for the visuals alone but the story/script reminded me of a Michael Bay/Roland Emmerich film. Predictable and cheesy.
Vabravesfan-And we’d better find someone to back him up when he misses the games he usually misses-anywhere from 18 games to a full season. He’s done it five of the past six years. Of course, it’s that sixth year that everyone expects. Wonder why?
In his ESPN.com blog today, Buster had a thoughtful intro about Milton Bradley. Here’s the bulk of it:
Difficult teammates come in all forms of behavior. Albert Belle was known as Mr. Freeze to the others in the Indians’ clubhouse because he liked to keep the temperature in the room at something close to what sled dogs could appreciate, and he once reinforced his opinion on this matter by smashing the thermostat with a bat (after turning down the temperature, naturally).
When I covered the Orioles in 1995, those on the team got tired of Kevin Brown’s explosions after he had a tough night on the mound — he’d bash everything from light bulbs to his name plate, and position players muttered that Camden Yards would be rubble if they reacted this way after each failed at-bat. Starting pitchers get tagged as bad teammates probably more than anybody because they have more time on their hands, and if they don’t spend that time in a way that is seen as appropriate — in other words, actively participating in the dugout and supporting teammates during games in which they don’t pitch — they will be seen as selfish.
Milton Bradley was viewed by others in the Cubs’ clubhouse as a difficult teammate, but not because he was seen as a jerk. It’s just that his presence was overpowering, others in the clubhouse say; his unhappiness was overpowering. And it played out every day in the newspapers. Because he was so volatile in his responses to whatever was happening — a flare-up with umpires, booing from fans, a slump that lasted most of the season — the reporters who cover the team naturally did a daily temperature-taking with Bradley, and his unhappiness just fueled this.
His indignation never seemed to dissipate and he continued to be a distraction for teammates day after day, and in a sport where the players work to maintain an even temperament so that they can better handle the 0-fers and the other failures that are inherent in the sport, this was a problem. The Cubs had a terrible season for a lot of reasons, and the Bradley cloud that hung over the team was just one of them, which is why he was sent home at season’s end.
So now Bradley goes to Seattle in a trade, to a Mariners team which, by all accounts, had a tremendous clubhouse culture. Ken Griffey Jr. came in and was a great teammate, and so was Mike Sweeney, and the addition of these two veterans seemed to create a feeling of inclusion, even for Ichiro Suzuki, who in the past was seen as an isolated presence by teammates. Maybe it required a superstar-level player like Griffey Jr. to do that, but no matter how it happened, they had a really good thing going.
Bradley is marvelously talented hitter, which he showed in San Diego in 2007, when his OPS was over 1.000, and with Texas in 2008, when he posted an on-base percentage of .436. Even during what was perceived to be a down year for the Cubs in 2009, he got on base almost 38 percent of the time; he gets hits, he draws a lot of walks. He is capable of being a real force.
But he has been on the move his entire career, and the Mariners will be his fifth team in the last four seasons, and the eighth organization. There was very little interest in Bradley from other clubs when the Cubs made it clear that they had to move him. The Mariners put a lot of money into this deal to make it happen, because they believe in Bradley’s talent, but they also have a lot at stake in 2010 — it’s apparent, from the Cliff Lee trade and the Chone Figgins signing that the Mariners are in a win-now mode — and it’s hard to imagine that they will be as patient as the Cubs were (out of contractual necessity) in 2009.…
players that really interest me – Glaus, Delgado, Laroche
mid interest – Derosa, Nady, Dye
little interest – KJ, Church (bench roles), Damon (very cheap), Nick Green
no interest – Ross Gload (thank you Phils) – still cant believe the Braves wanted to give him regular playing time, Thurston, any other Chris Woodward type player
Ritchie from Scotland: Thanks for that perspective on Avatar. It’s what I was afraid of, just from watching the trailer and some other scenes from the movie. Looks like it’s mostly about the special effects. I’m not big on movies that are more the effects than the story. I might wait to see that one on DVD.
I was just mentioning scenerios. If were considering Nady we might as well consider Delgado.
unbelievable
Ross Gload would be replacing Greg Norton as the team primary pinch hitter. He wouldnt be considered a everyday player.
He accepted a 2 year deal worth 2.3 million. If the Braves were offering alot more playing time i’m sure he would have chose Atlanta.
VaBraveFan-Not giving you grief, just mentioning it. I’m somewhat perplexed that we have fits when Chiper or Mac miss a game or three, but we sit here throughout the offseason, wishing for a list of players like Nady, DelGado, Mike Lowell, etc., who have missed an inordinate amount of games over the past three to six seasons-or over their entire careers, like Nady.
If we can’t afford a decent player who is almost guaranteed to make their starts, how in the name of all that is Holy are we going to afford a player who misses time AND suitable replacements for when they inevitably miss the games they miss on an annual basis?
Braves don’t need to wait and miss out on the few remaining free agent OF’s worth taking. They did it with Dunn last year, passing because of his defense and because he hit’s left handed, then ended up signing a left-handed marginal hitter who was the worst LF in baseball. I’d like to see them due any one, if not multiples of the following: offer 2 yr, $20 Million to Damon, 2 yr, $12 million(incentive based maybe mutual options based on playint time) to Nady, or 2 yr, $15 million to Tejada, move him to 3B, Chipper to 1B. Motto is do SOMETHING..we win the division last year if we make a move in the winter to shore up our OF..
“VaBraveFan-Not giving you grief, just mentioning it. I’m somewhat perplexed that we have fits when Chiper or Mac miss a game or three, but we sit here throughout the offseason, wishing for a list of players like Nady, DelGado, Mike Lowell, etc., who have missed an inordinate amount of games over the past three to six seasons-or over their entire careers, like Nady.”Lew
For starters, Chipper is going to make 13 million dollars next year. Once Lowe is traded, that will be the highest salary on the team. I expect the highest paid player to be available to provide the services for which he is being paid.
Do you really think the likes of Nady, Delgado or Lowell are going to receive around 13 million dollars from anybody in 2010?
Part of a big salary, imo, is availability an stability.
As for McCann? Anybody who bashes HIM for missing games as a catcher (and a guy making around 5.5 million dollars) is and idiot. But whent Mac does miss time (not talking about the “eye” thing – just common injuries that come with being a catcher), it does raise the question about why he isn’t moved to 1B.
I realize that he’s considered a great game caller. To me, that is the MOST important job of a catcher. But he happens to be our best hitter (until the real Chipper shows up again). He also was our cleanup hitter last year. So there is that push/pull of whether the team would be better off with his bat in the lineup everyday (along with possible suspect defense at 1B until he got comfortable over there), or with his game-calling for 140 or so games, and perhaps having his hitting be worse than it might be, due to all the nagging injuries.
I’d be curious to see what Mac could do with fresh legs all year, and without all the nicks and bruises a catcher deals with.
But obviously, the Braves feel the team is better with him behind the plate, so I guess that’s fine. Plus with Freeman on the way, no sense in moving Mac now.
But please don’t compare Chipper Jones missing games, the others possible missing games.
Braves have a fewchoices. Trade for somebody that we’re not currently talking about that can provide stability and talen at LF and 1B. Signe the big dogs (Laroche at 1B – and Bay or Holliday in the OF for HUGE money), or take a gamble on some talented, yet aging/coming off of injury veterans that if healthy provide what we need, and if not healthy put us exactly where we are right now….. no other options for those position. The other options is to go with guys in the system.
I haven’t noticed you offering many suggestions, other than continuing to gripe about who Wren should have let Hudson walk, and just got a “damn” bat. Yet, I’ve never seen you suggest who that bat is.
In your opinion, (assuming Lowe is moved), who should the Braves be looking at? If you’ve stated who you like before, I apologize for missing it. Just curious.
VABrave – DOB has referenced several times that they wanted him for a platoon type player, like with Nady at 1st and to give him some time in the OF also. Thats a horrible thing, but we dont have to worry about that any longer
I can’t wait till baseball season starts. THe Braves will be forced to keep an unhappy Lowe in their rotation due to the fact that no one in their right mind is going to make a trade for an old, washed up pitcher, who has a big money contract. Even if the Braves eat a little of the money and agree to trade Lowe for the equivilant of used baseballs. Thanks to that fact, the Braves will continue to be hamstrung by Lowe’s contract, ala Mike Hampton, and be unable to address their most pressing need-offense. Meanwhile, the Mets are going to sign Jason Bay. No one else seems to want him, and he will be an offensive weapon in the lineup with the likes of Reyes, Wright, Beltran, et all. Please do not insult the Mets for their pitching rotation. After the Bay deal is done, which should be any minuet now, the Mets will address the pitching situation. A healthy Ben Sheets, and Jason Marquis and perhaps a few others will solidify the Mets rotation behind Johan Santana. Please do not for a minuet think that what happened to the Mets last year, will have any bearing on how things play out this year. If healthy (and we absoulutely should be this year) the Mets will be a playoff contender.
Face the facts Braves fans, the Mets and Phillies are getting stronger, while you will most likely be in the same boat you were last year. Zero offense, and an even older Chipper Jones. You may as well resolve yourselves to the fact that Javier Vazquez is gone. From Dave Obrien’s blog we see that Vazquez had NOT ruled out waiving his no trade if he can get a big deal out of it. No one wants Lowe, and you will see Vaz one of your most dominant pitchers wearing another jersey next year. Meanwhile Lowe is clearly in a decline and will probably even worse next season, not to mention have a huge chip on his shoulder because the Braves brass wanted to trade him. That Frank Wren looks like the biggest ahole on the planet. Rushing into deals, trying to trade a big name after signing him to a big contract (other FA’s are going to take notice of this you know), and just generally pissing off every player in baseball.
The powerhouse glory of the 90’s is gone. Not only can you not afford the calibre of players, that might return its clubhouse to glory, your GM is alienating the Braves from such players by being a low class jerkoff.
Shoveled at 10 AM – another foot, or so, since midnight. Yardstick shows 21″. We’re about 10 miles west of town in IVY, between 250 and Garth. Billy W’s Winter Wonderland is about 5 miles due west, so I suspect he has even more snow. As best I can tell, Albemarle Co., is closed today. Even Catholic Church has cancelled “all activities” tomorrow. That never happened when I grew up in Boston – Masses were never cancelled. Parishioners walked. I actually go out to a Cistercian Monastery out in Crozet. Trappist Monk says Mass – way down a dirt road. That might be tough tomorrow – sure there will be 30″of snow on that road. Anyway, I’d take a pass on Scottsville until at least Noon tomorrow. As far as innertubing down the James goes – current should be running pretty fast by Monday. Have a Merry.
Reyes2010: The only team the Mets will be battling for the next 3-5 years will be the Nationals (who are getting better). I hope the Mutts sign Jason Bay and Jason Marquis, the two final nails in their coffin. The only decent players the Mets have are Santana, Wright, and K-Rod. Beltran is good but in decline, and Reyes will never be the player he was with his gimp leg. “Carload” Delgado is through, and the rotation is the worst in the NL East. It’s going to be fun seeing the Mutts as doormats yet again.
I still say the Mariners threw in too much money ($9 million reportedly) in that deal. They can thank the worst GM in the last twenty years, Bill Bavasi, for what it took to get rid of that Carlos Silva contract.
Reyes2010 sure is an optimist. After spending $15 million plus a year on Bay, the Mutts are going to be able to afford Sheets, Marquis, AND a few others to put behind their only good pitcher. LMAO!! Sure TROLL, whatever, glad someone is an optimist on here, even if it is a MUTT TROLL…
8 mil for Roachy and then Dealing Lowe saving hopefully another 10-12 mil leaves plenty on a solid outfielder.
If the Braves trade Lowe for prospects, and have around 12 – 15 million to spend, then I think that would be a good route to go. Like you said, Freeman is still very young and you’d like him to develop a bit more before throwing him into the first base job at the start of 2011. Kid is going to be 21 years old at the start of the 2011 season.
reyes i aptly predicted mutts wouldnt choke last year and same prediction holds true this year. mutts no factor at all , so go ahead and spend wilpons taxpayer money , it wont do you any good. mutts sux
maybe instead of looking for a 1b we should put mccann there and ross behind the plate , then get a backup catcher for ross. sign 1 outfielder and keep the pitchers we have until someone comes begging for them
December 19th, 2009
11:14 am
maybe instead of looking for a 1b we should put mccann there and ross behind the plate , then get a backup catcher for ross. sign 1 outfielder and keep the pitchers we have until someone comes begging for them
I like the basic premise of moving our best hitter to 1B therefore killing 2 birds with the single stone..
makes BMAC’s career longer and gets another good bat in the lineup (Ross) and frees up loot for a masher in the OF or 3rd base (move Chip to LF)
the Mets rotation is a mess….. Atlanta prolly has the best rotation in all of baseball. Wren will solify our lineup with some solid guys. We’ll be in the hunt all year while the Mets are battling for cellar dwellers with the Nats.
Do most people on the blog feel that a trade for Lowe will probably be done by Christmas? You have to feel decisions will need to start taking place after then as to what other moves Braves make. If they see they can’t trade Lowe by then, maybe Vazquez will have to go.imo.
ncgary: but McCann has no desire to move to 1B, and Braves have no plans to move him there or ask him to move there. Not for forseeable future, at least….
Listening to Beatles’ remastered Abbey Road. Really is amazing to think it was recorded 40 years ago. And for those Beatles fans who haven’t heard any of the remasters yet, it’s a significant upgrade. Sounds awesome.
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.
————–
In daytime hire a “longtail boat” and take the water tour in the backwaters of the Chao Phraya River. You can get one downstairs at the Shangri-La Hotel. Don’t go on one of the party boats, hiring one yourself is not that expensive. You will see how the water people live and also be sure to ask the driver to take you by the King’s boat house where you will see all those ornate barges. Take your camera along as you will be taking lots of pics.
One day you should visit the “Rose Garden” and see how old time Siam lived. They have working elephants and millions of orchids growing wild as well as many other things to enjoy.
I assume from your comments you are going to Patpong during the day.
Well… my Christmas flight home got canceled, and I’m snowed in until at least Monday. Guess I’ll be spending my weekend with the gf and the blog. Hope something exciting happens soon!
DOBIt’d be a particularly nice state to be a multi-millionaire in; you might even be able to afford a house with a small yard.
And thanks for your 11:31 AM…saved me some keystrokes.
NeightAnybody who bashes HIM for missing games as a catcher (and a guy making around 5.5 million dollars) is and idiot.
True.
But whent Mac does miss time (not talking about the “eye” thing – just common injuries that come with being a catcher), it does raise the question about why he isn’t moved to 1B.
Um…all catchers miss time…that’s unavoidable. Besides, he doesn’t sit for every little thing. He only missed like, one game when he had that sore oblique this past year. He plays through a lot of aches and pains.
I’d be curious to see what Mac could do with fresh legs all year, and without all the nicks and bruises a catcher deals with.
That is a minor point…but still–he’s our catcher. A couple people don’t like him, but what do they know?
But obviously, the Braves feel the team is better with him behind the plate, so I guess that’s fine.
Having moved from Tucker to Houston three years ago, I don’t follow the Braves that much anymore, but I have to say that it’s very cool that you posted a picture of James McMurtry AND song lyrics. James has been one of my musical heroes for 20 years. By the way, my nephew said the same thing you did about Abbey Road. I’ll have to give that a try.
Thanks Reyes2010 for sharing your dreams with us. We all know the reason you want Lowe to be bad. So your GM doesn’t look like an idiot for signing Perez over him. Lowe though is no idiot and given his feelings that he expressed is probably working hard to get back to form to show that he still is a viable pitcher. If he is still here next season I doubt seriously that Bobby and the boys will let him pout all season. If he’s a competitor like we think he is I doubt he will even let himself pout.
Frank Wren isn’t alienating people as much as maybe just disappointing them. He can’t help it that so many people seem to want to play for the braves and express that out loud and are disappointed when the braves don’t seem to be as eager to bring them back. I know that’s hard to believe since people aren’t really lining up for the mets. Go ahead and pay an arm and a leg for Bay. Its not like you have a Jason Heyward coming up in your system. Let the season speak for itself. Easy to talk big words during the offseason when there really isn’t much to lose. Whether its Lowe or Vazquez that we trade i’ll be happy with whoever we keep because both are good quality veteran pitchers. Lets just say this is a nice problem to have if you have to have one.
Plate Appearance hit the nail on the head. Go back to page 1 and read it — the idea that washed up Billy Wags is the Braves designated closer is laughable. At least Dan Kolb was coming off a career year, not the DL. Frank Wren has been a disaster and has done nothing to improve the Braves chances in 2010. The Phillies make smart moves; the Mets will probably get Bay; the Nats are improved; the Marlins are young and feisty; and we exchange Joe Thurston for Kelly Johnson. Where do I buy tickets?
Well, I for one will be in the Ted for at least a half dozen games this year (yes, McFann, I am pretty sure I am getting the package for Christmas in addition to the jersey.)
“Listening to Beatles’ remastered Abbey Road. Really is amazing to think it was recorded 40 years ago. And for those Beatles fans who haven’t heard any of the remasters yet, it’s a significant upgrade. Sounds awesome.”DOB
As a child of the late 70’s and 80’s, when recording techniques improved(along with technology), I’ve appreciated much of the remastered material that has come out. But I would have assumed by your tastes in music, that you’re a little more old-school and would like the originals better?
One of the guys at one of the bigger studios in town here is what I presume around your age (huge Dylan fan), and obviously doing what he does he has all the newest technology at his fingertips and what not. But he’s pretty adamant that he’d rather not have anybody mess with the “magic” of those original recordings and pressings.
Just figured you to be in that same boat.
“Um…all catchers miss time…that’s unavoidable. Besides, he doesn’t sit for every little thing. He only missed like, one game when he had that sore oblique this past year. He plays through a lot of aches and pains.”McFann
I guess I was including the time he misses due to Bobby giving him regular rest. You don’t see 1B getting regular rest. Should have been more clear. But yest. Other than the eye issue, he didn’t miss much time that wasn’t “scheduled” time off.
My point, ultimately, is that I would love to see what Mac is capable of playing 160ish or so games without the nicks and cuts of a blader…..er…catcher. I think his output and production would be outstanding. He’s that good imo. It’s a shame our lineup has to be without him for 25-30 games because “he’s our catcher”.
If our lineup had 3 or 4 guys (like in the 90’s with Javy), that could carry the load on a daily basis, it would go relatively unnoticed. But because he is not only our 1st or 2nd best hitter, he is the ONLY guy capable of batting in the cleanup spot.
So it stands out more. I guess rather than move him to 1B and getting him more AB’s, Wren just needs to assure that there are 2 or 3 other guys in the lineup that can be big-time hitters.
“Um…all catchers miss time…that’s unavoidable. Besides, he doesn’t sit for every little thing.”McFann
Sorry, meant to specificly address this comment to explain what I meant. I kind of did that. But…
Yeah. I totally get that McCann is one tough/old school SOB who doesn’t want to come out of the game. But even you can’t deny that all of those bumps and bruises affect how he hits.
It’s almost a double edged sword. Perhaps he should come out more often, so that when he’s in there (because he’s relied upon to be the cleanup hitter), he’s as close to 100 percent as a catcher can get during a season. Thus the “regularly scheduled” rest days, I suppose.
But if McCann takes a fould tip off of the his throwing hand, you can’t tell me that that isn’t going to not only affect his throwing as a catcher, but his hitting as well. When was the last time you saw any other infielder take a ball off their throwing hand?
Hope that clears it up. But yeah, with Freeman on the way. I’m totally cool with McCann being our catcher. Just not real cool with our catcher being the cleanup hitter.
As good as the Braves pitching staff was last year, we dont know if they’ll be as dominant next season. Can Hudson hold up for the whole year? Will Hanson have a sophomore slump? What about Vazquez or Lowe? KK should be better, but hitters should have a better scouting report on him too.
Good pitching beats good hitting, but it doesnt matter when when we dont give the good pitchers any run support. Last year, Wren said maybe 7 guys can hit 20 homeruns, and that will probably be his approach again this year.
I just dont see the Braves getting a big bopper. However, if we can improve our clutch hitting and our defense, that alone will be a big improvement (plus no KJ, Frenchy, or Schafer).
I would like to introduce several players’ names to you. These men were instrumental for years to their teams’ offense, but did sit out games each year due to the fact they were catchers. Still, those teams thought they were better to have these men at C than to move them to 1B or LF or wherever. The names?
Johnny Bench
Ted Simmons
Mike Piazza
Thurman Munson
Yogi Berra
Roy Campanella
Gary Carter
These are just a few all-star catchers who were integral pieces of their team’s offense, but whose teams foolishly kept them at catcher. Now there are players like, for instance, Joe Torre, who were moved off catcher, but remember he wasn’t a great defensive catcher by any means (gg notwithstanding) and the Cards needed to open the position for Ted Simmons.
Javy Lopez, for most of his Braves career, took at least a day off per week, since Bobby installed another catcher for Maddux so he could get that automatic day off, but never was Javy carted off to another position, and those Braves teams somehow survived that and made the playoffs each year, as did most of the teams of the above mentioned players.
Also, why would you permenently move McCann to first, when the Braves have been very public about their plans to permanently install Freddie Freeman there when he is ready? Use your heads, folks!
Now, would it make sense to work McCann out at first, so occasionally he could get a start there against a lefty, with Ross taking catcher? Or DH, if playing in an AL park? Maybe so, but to do so I would figure Bobby to utilize either a third catcher such as Sammons, or a multi-position guy who Bobby felt could handle catcher well enough if needed. Bobby has been managing a very long time, now, and I think most of us have a feel for what his roster construction patterns are by now.
Nathan-Full of it as usual Dude. No DelGado and Nady won’t make $13 million, but neither are a season removedfrom a batting Chanpionship and two from a #2 finish in the race. Yeah, he had an off season, but deserves what he got for what he’s given the Braves over the years (remember those years he gave them cash?????). If you begrudge this you just prove yourself to be….. well, whatever. Spout off as you will, but don’t expect me to buy your load of horse manure.
However, to think that Nady or Del Gado is worth even half of that amount (or more at $7 plus mil a year) when they have both missed an entire freaking season in the past year AND have missed as many as Chipper (or more-go check out Nady and DG’s record, if you doubt it) for years, well….. Don’t bother talking equities to me, because you are clueless if you think that compares to Chipper at all.
Boo-yah! Hopefully you’ll get to see some great games! (Should at least be one or two good ones in there, right? )
Neight–
Believe me, I totally see your point…and yeah, BMac would be pretty dang good without having to deal with all the extra bruises and such…but one thing you have to take into account is–how would his defense be at first base, anyway? He was an infielder once–said he and his brother turned the slowest double-plays you ever saw.
I guess rather than move him to 1B and getting him more AB’s, Wren just needs to assure that there are 2 or 3 other guys in the lineup that can be big-time hitters.
Stop being an idiot. Don’t sacrifice the 2010 and 2011 seasons while you wait for Freddie Freeman like he’s going to be some kind of savior (weren’t Franceour and Schafter labeled Saviors-in-waiting?).
Sign LaRoche to 3 years at $8 million. Sign Damon to 3 years at $8 million. Trade Lowe or Vazquez to free up the money for LaRoche and Damon, even if you basically give Lowe away. And if you trade Lowe, give Vazquez an extension–he might like to stay in one place more than a year or two.
LaRoche, Prado, Escobar, Chipper, Damon, McLouth, Diaz, McCain, and the best pitching staff top to bottom can win the NL East, even with the Phillies and their new Halladay toy.
Nathan-On another topic altogether-Just read an article up here about that exact thing-not wanting the “Original” experience to change. I hear what they say in this regard, but having been a Beatle’s fan from their onset in the early sixties, I’d much rather have had all the remastered music (and they DO sound phenomenal). The only thing that the earlier recordings had that the new ones don’t were scratches, pops, crackles (and if you had a good stereo) nuclear explosions when the needle hit a rut. IN addition, you needed a disc preener, anti static fluid, an anti static gun to prepare the (hopefully) clearer sound from the disc (much of the noise was just static picked up from the vinyl by a magnetic cartridge) and the patience of Job to cue tracks or change sides in the middle of a listening experience.
But the cver art was MUCH better in the larger format and you were more likely to have somewhat better liner notes you could actually read (though that may have as muc to do with aging eyes than smaller format.
WTF-I’ll stick with the CD’s. They sound great and that’s what I want-better sound.
Oh yeah, I didn’t say those nicks didn’t effect his game (did I?) Boy oh boy…I know all about the hand/finger thing (course, that time it happened in ‘07 he was trying to bunt…so that would have happened even if he played 1B ).
But if McCann takes a fould tip off of the his throwing hand, you can’t tell me that that isn’t going to not only affect his throwing as a catcher, but his hitting as well.
Of course I can’t…but the way his throwing cann be, who would notice? (JK) Seriously…yeah, it totally has an effect. And he gets hit on the throwing hand a couple times a year seein’ as how he doesn’t keep it hidden all the time when there’s a guy in stealing position…
Last time I saw an infielder take one off the hand…? Hmm…can’t answer that. I don’t watch the infielders as closely.
And you’re right about the double-edged sword. Ha…that’s why I say, “Bat him fifth!” instead of, “Move him to first!”, ya know?
Lack of real movement since Wagner & Saito (apart from a very questionable handling of the Soriano situation) is making the natives restless.
That said Wren better have a grand finale on his planning board which kicks in once Lowe or Vaz is traded b/c if his team comes up empty b/c he goes cheap with bats and is shopping for a 1B and LF next winter he may asked to leave along with Bobby.
Remember he spent 40MM on arms and 5 cents on bats going into 2009 (came in third place, again). He put way too much faith in Frenchie, KJ and Schafer and came up snake eyes.
If he can move Lowe and net 13mm/yr he will have around 20mm to spend. Yes 20mm. As of today the payroll is at 86-87mm (with 6 starters, arbs/raises and new players factored in). They were at 95mm at the end of the season so unless there is a payroll cut in the offing they will have more than 12-14mm to spend after trading Lowe.
The Angels, Mariners and Yankees need a starter and as the options dry up Lowe and Vaz will be in greater demand.
Again whether its 12, 15 or 20mm its all moot. He needs to bring home a winner soon. If he bets it all on Heyward and human book marks at 1b and in LF (and they miss the post season again) ownership is going to give him a long hard stare before the decide to give him the check book again next December.
It’s not like he is a PR manager’s dream re: handling of players, communication or seemingly knee jerk reactions. Smooth, great finesse or even shrewd doesn’t describe Wren today. He needs some tutoring on how to play chess and how to evaluate his team.
ozzie – my guess (and hope) is that there is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes. Wren has learned to keep his cards close to his vest. I think Wren and the Braves staff have multiple scenarios for filling the needed positions but all depend on trading a starter first and whether it is Lowe or Vazquez. Once one of those two are traded, the dominoes will fall and probably fast.
He is in no rush nor should he be. Starting pitching is a valuable commodity and as options become fewer and more far between, our pitchers values go up. There is basically only one pitcher left anywhere close to Lowe and that is Pineiro. If Vazquez would be shopped, he would be the top available pitcher right now.
If you are grading Wren he gets an incomplete. Grading his offseason will depend on which pitcher he moves and for who along with how he fills 1B/LF – this will come. Now if we are having these same discussions in spring training, then I will start worrying about the upcoming season
DOB-Will Ms. Rodgers be filling in for you with an ongoing blog while you’re on vacation? Thanks and hope you have a wonderful time away from it all!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
One of the guys at one of the bigger studios in town here is what I presume around your age (huge Dylan fan), and obviously doing what he does he has all the newest technology at his fingertips and what not. But he’s pretty adamant that he’d rather not have anybody mess with the “magic” of those original recordings and pressings.
Just figured you to be in that same boat. — N8
I am, which is why I love the remastered Beatles — because it’s the music as it was recorded, as opposed to what was released on CD before these 2009 remasters. All the previously released Beatles CDs were limited by the technology employed before they were finally given a complete, exhaustive upgrade. The remasters are infinitely superior to the previous CDs.
And if your friend at the studio has actually listened to them and doesn’t think they’re better, well, different strokes and all that. Gotta wonder about his ears if that’s the case, however. If he likes the remastered, limited-edition mono versions (as opposed to the stereo versions), that I can understand. Or if he likes playing the actual vinyl, that I can also understand (I love playing vintage vinyl LPs, just not on a regular basis because the CDs are simply so much more convenient).
But otherwise, I tend to think most folks who criticize the Beatles remasters, who argue that they like the CDs previously available, simply haven’t heard the new ones. Because there’s really no comparison. They blow away the sound of the previous CDs. (I’m not comparing them to vinyl, but to the previously avaiable CDs, since that’s the format that the vast majority of us listen to, for better or worse.)
Oh, and the booklets with photos are a nice bonus.
Doc Holiday………..if you think that the Braves can “do better” than Juan Rivera in exchange for Derek Lowe and his 3 year $45 mil contract…..then you are out of your freaking mind. If the Angels were stupid enough to fall for that, Frank Wren should IMMEDIATELY jump on it.
Rotten stinkin kids! Want Want Want and never give me nothin! Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie but what does ole Grinch get, nothin but stinkin Christmas carols ringing in my ears….. that makes me puke! Sittin around the tree with so may ungrateful people takes away the real meaning of Christmas which is giving ME what I want!
Hey, Frank Wren has impressed me here lately…. looks like he’s learned a lot from me by being greedy and not giving you rotten fans what you want. Good man that deserves The Grinch Medal of Honor.
Looks like you my friend are being a little Grinchy as well…. speak of music that 95% of these bloggers could care less about during a time when they want information on their team. HAHAHA, LOVE IT! Everybody could learn from O’Brien and Frank Wren on how to be a little more Grinchy this Holliday season.
All this talk about not taking on LaRoche seams a bit silly to me. There is no guaranty that Freeman is going to be a major league star let alone even make the team any time in the future and the team should not make plans to insert him at 1B until he has proven himself.
Why can’t the Braves sign LaRoche for 3 years at a reasonable rate and with no no-trade clause (”no no” heh…). If Freeman looks like he is going to be the real deal at some point in the future, then trade LaRoche. If Freeman doesn’t pan out, then we have our man.
Of course the key is “reasonable rate”. So far the asking price is ridiculous but who knows what may transpire as the off season goes along. I suspect that LaRoche may be playing for a lot less than what he wants and at some point we might be able to sign him. But who knows, he is lefthanded and he’s not that great given his huge inconsistencies during the season. Wren may not want the guy unless he absolutely has to take him on.
Hey, I’m no big LaRoche fan, but we all have to face reality. We have a crappy ownership who doesn’t get involved. Corporate teams rarely go anywhere. They have hamstrung the team with an immovable budget and the team has to make hard decisions at times. If there was some flexibility the team could make better moves! After all, all 29 other teams want to wait out the decision on Lowe so they can get a better deal. I think that’s why we are in a holding pattern because Wren can’t get jack much less not have to pay the majority of his contract. If teams knew that the Braves don’t necessarily HAVE to move Lowe we could get a better deal.
We may be stuck with the guy.
Move Vasquez? Hummmm… I’m not sure about this one. While he was great last season, he may regress in 2010 given his track record.Maybe we do need to think about trading him because we may get better value… Eh… Didn’t intend to get into a long conversation about this one…
Why do people keep bringing up Lowe for Rivera? It is not being offered, if it was, he would of done that in a heart beat. He is having problems finding a team to take Lowe without eating much contract. He would trade Lowe for the worst minor leaguer in baseball if they would take on Lowe’s salary. Quit hopinig for unrealistic trades. All we need to do is get rid of Lowe’s salary.
Ok I am sick of all this talk that we need a 30 to 40 HOUR guy! If you look at what has been gone since the last time we made the playoffs it is a true leadoff man aka furcal at the time! If Heyward is truly going to be given a shot I think if you could get Damon cheaper than he wants and let him leadoff, even though is defense is below averager would be ok. Then maybe sign Laroche if you can get rid of Lowe. Honestly I think a trade to the yanks for Swisher to play 1st would be good for the club house and at least you know what we are getting. I personally think our first target this offseason should have been figgins!
jeffrey d…………Keep holding out hope that some SUCKER of a team is out there begging the Braves to trade Derek Lowe and his whole contract to them for their best prospects, lol.
On Brandon Wood there are several reasons why the Braves could get him plus another good prospect.
1. He’s out of options.
2. He’s been given several chances to prove himself and has yet to hit well at the ML level.
3. He’s already 25 y.o.
4. The Braves would be eating 18 mil of Lowe’s 45 mil contract so basically the Angels would be getting Lowe for 3 yr/27 mil which Lowe could easily get on the open market.
5. The Angels are desperate for pitching.
Keep holding out hope that some SUCKER of a team is out there begging the Braves to trade Derek Lowe and his whole contract to them for their best prospects
lol, that’ll never happen. Like CVan said, I’d be happy if we traded Lowe for literally nothing if it would just get that salary off the books. The main purpose of trading Lowe is a salary dump. We shouldn’t expect a decent player unless we shop Vazquez.
Which at first I was all for that. His value is sky high and he’s only under contract for one more year, so we won’t be missing anything after next year. But trading Lowe would mean we get rid of $15 million for 3 seasons.
…speak of music that 95% of these bloggers could care less about — Mr. Grinch
Maybe you hang out in circles where 95 percent of folks couldn’t care less — and by the way, it’s “couldn’t care less,” not “could care less” — about the Beatles. If so, you might try expanding said circles, and your leisure activities.
Jay212033……….interesting 1:12pm posting. However, most of the MORONS on here would hate Frank Wren for making a trade that you proposed in that posting. Reason being: it would make me look like a prophet. The MORONS on here are desperately clamoring for an opportunity to rip me to shreds. They have been saying for weeks that there is NO WAY that the Braves will eat more than $3 mil per year of Lowe’s contract in any trade.
1. He’s out of options.
2. He’s been given several chances to prove himself and has yet to hit well at the ML level.
3. He’s already 25 y.o.
4. The Braves would be eating 18 mil of Lowe’s 45 mil contract so basically the Angels would be getting Lowe for 3 yr/27 mil which Lowe could easily get on the open market.
Sign me up! I don’t see a single downside to this deal!
7,602 comments Add your comment
TokyoBrave
December 19th, 2009
9:06 am
I think Lowe is going to be a lot better in 2010 so I am not so against Vasquez being traded if we can get good prospects in return. But Lowe sounded sore. If it is not about the money for Lowe, then he could renegotiate his contract so that we can keep him. I doubt he is willing to do that. If he did, then a lot of our problems are solved. The money saved and we could trade for a good hitter using Vasquez. Lowe as the fourth starter? Not bad.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
9:11 am
TokyoBrave
I mentioned that a while back and got burned big time.
jerry royster
December 19th, 2009
9:16 am
i hope the braves sign mark derosa and fill in the rest with farm talent, because the braves over the years have won with there own talent. and also trade lowe for a couple offair prospects.
tr
December 19th, 2009
9:19 am
Most/Many/All of us thought the Cubs would HAVE to eat some salary to trade Bradley, yet they end up with a net of $5M cash in the Silva deal. Maybe, just maybe, trading Lowe could work out without $$$ added!!! And, yes, I’m aware how bad Silva has been.
Nativebird
December 19th, 2009
9:20 am
Good. LaRoche represents the underlying issue with the Braves management. The fact that this city and management is DEBATING about LaRoche IS THE ISSUE. Okay, This guy is a decent ball player…WHOOP DI DOO!
When your GM starts doing back flips about your “power hitting rbi producing first basement” hitting 24 hrs and 80 RBIS, bactting .270-something…YOU’VE GOT A EXPECTATION PROBLEM….systemically.
This team needs ALL STARS. Big time leading MLB calibur hitters. and they just havent had their eye on these the last few years and…COINCIDENCE?…no playoffs.
yes, the Farm can get you a few future stars over time…but you MUST supplement them with leading MLB FA talent on the market to lead division and leagues at this level. that take mooola my frinds. Cash. $$$$
Because APPARENTLY it’s not the coaching staff…or at least that’s what the in-the-tank AJC keeps selling us all.
Alan
December 19th, 2009
9:27 am
Frank Wrenn brought in D. Lowe, remember what a big splash was made about the good job he did and now look at where we are with Wrenns decicion, no one wants the guy including Atlanta.
I wonder what great decision he will make this year to improve the club down the road, maybe, just maybe he will extend Bobby’s contract so that we can really be competitive.
fsu7443
December 19th, 2009
9:31 am
i wish the damn braves would do something sick and tired of hearing about it sign dye or laroche, sign derosa as a utility and trade lowe to the angles for rivera
ryan c
December 19th, 2009
9:33 am
i’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. also, i’m sick and tired about listening to braves fans that are sick and tired.
dogsbrekky
December 19th, 2009
9:36 am
Funny how we are reading about Joe the schmo Posnaski bad mouting Wren, yet said writer provided zero analysis of how Rafael Soriano blew game after game after the AS break where his pre-AS numbers were spectacular and how after the AS break he was WORSE than the guy that FW traded him for… and at 1/15th the cost..
I will take a post Tommy John— Wagner, Saito, Moylan BP at $10-1 over one with MFIKY, Gonzo and Moylan at $14 any day
NEW CARS
December 19th, 2009
9:38 am
For the life of me, I don’t understand all the consternation everyone has about Wren…Aside from giving Lowe a little too much money last year, what has he done wrong besides have some deals play out in public last year…The guy we got for Soriano is better than nothing, which is what we would have gotten if he had not offered arbitration…Glavine had the opportunity and his body wasn’t ready or able, if it was don’t you think someone would have called…Smoltzie, and I love what he’s done for us over the years, seems to have hung out with Tiger too much and gotten that same sort of entitlement attitude that whatever he wanted he should get…We offered him a similar deal to Boston…as long as he performed at a corresponding level….He got Laroche, the same one that a lot of you are crying for us to resign, for Casey Kotchmann…he got McLouth for some guys with decent potential.
I say that we be patient and see how everything works out with Lowe and where we go from there. Wren made moves up until February last year to put the team in position to contend, and if Frenchie and Johnson, and Kotchmann for that matter, had played like they did in 2007 I believe that we would have contended for the division…They didn’t and Wren moved quickly, quicker than Bobby, to rectify the situation..
At the end of the day, I feel like we will be improved at 1b and leftfield and have a better bat coming off the bench and Diaz can platoon with Heyward in rf..As usual I am excited about the coming season and am hoping for some sort of Holliday surprise this Christmas season, but am confident in whatever direction we go…
Alan
December 19th, 2009
9:40 am
Frank needs to quit playing around with the 30+ age group, he has shown that he can’t come up with a power hitter that has some years in front of him or one that hasn’t come off the injured reserve list.
Bring on the best we have in the minors and remember we have Bobby to guide them thru their formative big league years before he retires- this idea has got to be a winner.
TommyP
December 19th, 2009
9:40 am
No matter what the pro-Wren people say, the jury is definitely out on him at this point. He’s made some good moves (Jurrjens being a super move) but he’s also made some questionable ones. This offseason may determine his legacy as Braves GM.
So far he’s been with us for two seasons and no playoffs either year. The handling of MANY situations has been pretty poorly done (Smoltz, Glavine, Soriano).
No playoffs this year? We’re either looking at a new GM or he needs to be on a serious hot seat.
We DEFINITELY have enough payroll to field a playoff team. Make it happen, Frank.
beekay
December 19th, 2009
9:46 am
Emergency plan…trade Medlen for Uggala…move Prado to first…sign Bay to 4yr 64(he would rather play for us than the lousy Mets) move Lowe to the angels for prospect..extend Javy to a 4 yr 40 mil….Lowes contract covers Bay(minus 2-3 mill that we will have to eat) by back ending it. We woud add some payroll by signing Uggala to a 3-5 year deal. We would have one heck of a team albeit not as good defensively with Prado at first and we would only be adding about 5 mill to the books
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
9:47 am
hope Wren is fielding offers for Javy and getting those lined up. Im guessing by this time next month he’ll still be trying to deal Lowe to someone and our offense will still be a mess. I wouldnt want his job, but right now we’ve lost
LaRoche
KJ
Soriano
Gonzo
Anderson
Norton (why add him to this list?)
and we’ve picked up
Wagner
Saito
Mitch Jones
Abreu
Chavez
Thurston
2 1/2 months into the still young offseason, but we’ve regressed
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
9:50 am
…and trade lowe to the angles for rivera — fsu7443
I’m just curious: Do you actually think the Braves have had the opportunity to do that and have so far declined to pull the trigger?
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
9:54 am
VaBraveFan: Good posts at 8:50 and 9:01.
NEW CARS
December 19th, 2009
9:57 am
I don’t think Lowe for Rivera is happening without us eating contract AND throwing in a prospect or two…If it was the likes of a Stovel or Delgado (either one), it would be one thing…But I don’t know that Rivera is worthy of giving up a Medlen, Kimbrel or Teheran type of guy…I think that Lowe to the Mets for Angel Pagan would be more likely, as we have shown that we can trade within the division, or to the Yankees, although I don’t know who we would get from them since they seem to need Swisher…would anyone be interested in revisiting Lowe for Corey Hart at this point…
richbrave
December 19th, 2009
10:01 am
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
9:01 am
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.
Been saying that for it seems like years now. Glad you agree.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
10:07 am
The Braves could go the risky route. Sign Carlos Delgado to a 1 year 3 million deal, with games started incentives that can max out his earnings near 6 mil. Or somthing like that.
Lew
December 19th, 2009
10:10 am
Y’all are as impatient as 6 year olds at Christmas time. What in the world will you do if Wren takes a week and goes skiing with his family like he did last year? Burn him in effigy and protest for his immediate dismissal? Sheesh.
Since he’s been here, Wren pulled off deals out of nowhere for Jurrjens and Gorkys who he turned over for McLouth (another under the radar deal, that may well pay off, though it hasn’t yet). He grabbed Infante and Ohman and he gave up damned little in the three deals-especially compared to what he brought in in return.
Theman said last year he would revamp the pitching staff.. That is EXACTLY what he did. Yeah, Yeah, I hear all the bitching, moaning and groaning about TOO MUCH pitching and overpaying for Lowe (who STILL won 15 games on what is considered a piss poor season).
He has said that his goals for this season were to shed salary, revamp the pen (both of which he’s done, though there will be more salary shed than KJ and Church) and to improve the offense. Considering his track record and given that Spring Training doesn’t even start for another almost two months, I’d imagine he will be as good as his word yet again.
Nothing to be gained by peeking in Mommy’s closet before Christmas. It won’t get you better presents and you won’t have them any sooner than if you all tried to exert the most elusive of all attributes-patience.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
10:11 am
I dont see how a Nady or Delgado can demand so much on the market, Nady is injury prone as hell, Delgado is old and injury prone, Reported that Nady could get up to around 8 mil, hell we should have offered Roachy Arbritration and we would have got draft pick or Roachy for around 8 mil for next season….. 8 million for 25 jacks and 80+ rbi and good defense is pretty good.
I see a repeat like last year, good quality players settling for 1 yr deals at low salarys. (kinda like Bobby Abreu) they paid 5 million for his impressive production.
Ritchie from Scotland
December 19th, 2009
10:13 am
I see Avatar has been mentioned a couple of times. I saw it yesterday, it’s worth seeing for the visuals alone but the story/script reminded me of a Michael Bay/Roland Emmerich film. Predictable and cheesy.
Lew
December 19th, 2009
10:13 am
Vabravesfan-And we’d better find someone to back him up when he misses the games he usually misses-anywhere from 18 games to a full season. He’s done it five of the past six years. Of course, it’s that sixth year that everyone expects. Wonder why?
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
10:15 am
In his ESPN.com blog today, Buster had a thoughtful intro about Milton Bradley. Here’s the bulk of it:
Difficult teammates come in all forms of behavior. Albert Belle was known as Mr. Freeze to the others in the Indians’ clubhouse because he liked to keep the temperature in the room at something close to what sled dogs could appreciate, and he once reinforced his opinion on this matter by smashing the thermostat with a bat (after turning down the temperature, naturally).
When I covered the Orioles in 1995, those on the team got tired of Kevin Brown’s explosions after he had a tough night on the mound — he’d bash everything from light bulbs to his name plate, and position players muttered that Camden Yards would be rubble if they reacted this way after each failed at-bat. Starting pitchers get tagged as bad teammates probably more than anybody because they have more time on their hands, and if they don’t spend that time in a way that is seen as appropriate — in other words, actively participating in the dugout and supporting teammates during games in which they don’t pitch — they will be seen as selfish.
Milton Bradley was viewed by others in the Cubs’ clubhouse as a difficult teammate, but not because he was seen as a jerk. It’s just that his presence was overpowering, others in the clubhouse say; his unhappiness was overpowering. And it played out every day in the newspapers. Because he was so volatile in his responses to whatever was happening — a flare-up with umpires, booing from fans, a slump that lasted most of the season — the reporters who cover the team naturally did a daily temperature-taking with Bradley, and his unhappiness just fueled this.
His indignation never seemed to dissipate and he continued to be a distraction for teammates day after day, and in a sport where the players work to maintain an even temperament so that they can better handle the 0-fers and the other failures that are inherent in the sport, this was a problem. The Cubs had a terrible season for a lot of reasons, and the Bradley cloud that hung over the team was just one of them, which is why he was sent home at season’s end.
So now Bradley goes to Seattle in a trade, to a Mariners team which, by all accounts, had a tremendous clubhouse culture. Ken Griffey Jr. came in and was a great teammate, and so was Mike Sweeney, and the addition of these two veterans seemed to create a feeling of inclusion, even for Ichiro Suzuki, who in the past was seen as an isolated presence by teammates. Maybe it required a superstar-level player like Griffey Jr. to do that, but no matter how it happened, they had a really good thing going.
Bradley is marvelously talented hitter, which he showed in San Diego in 2007, when his OPS was over 1.000, and with Texas in 2008, when he posted an on-base percentage of .436. Even during what was perceived to be a down year for the Cubs in 2009, he got on base almost 38 percent of the time; he gets hits, he draws a lot of walks. He is capable of being a real force.
But he has been on the move his entire career, and the Mariners will be his fifth team in the last four seasons, and the eighth organization. There was very little interest in Bradley from other clubs when the Cubs made it clear that they had to move him. The Mariners put a lot of money into this deal to make it happen, because they believe in Bradley’s talent, but they also have a lot at stake in 2010 — it’s apparent, from the Cliff Lee trade and the Chone Figgins signing that the Mariners are in a win-now mode — and it’s hard to imagine that they will be as patient as the Cubs were (out of contractual necessity) in 2009.…
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
10:17 am
players that really interest me – Glaus, Delgado, Laroche
mid interest – Derosa, Nady, Dye
little interest – KJ, Church (bench roles), Damon (very cheap), Nick Green
no interest – Ross Gload (thank you Phils) – still cant believe the Braves wanted to give him regular playing time, Thurston, any other Chris Woodward type player
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
10:21 am
Ritchie from Scotland: Thanks for that perspective on Avatar. It’s what I was afraid of, just from watching the trailer and some other scenes from the movie. Looks like it’s mostly about the special effects. I’m not big on movies that are more the effects than the story. I might wait to see that one on DVD.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
10:22 am
Lew
I was just mentioning scenerios. If were considering Nady we might as well consider Delgado.
unbelievable
Ross Gload would be replacing Greg Norton as the team primary pinch hitter. He wouldnt be considered a everyday player.
He accepted a 2 year deal worth 2.3 million. If the Braves were offering alot more playing time i’m sure he would have chose Atlanta.
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
10:23 am
I seen Brothers and The Blind Side a few weeks ago both really good movies.
TommyP
December 19th, 2009
10:24 am
DOB: I think the guy stated he wanted Rivera from the ANGLES, not Angels. Don’t be so obtuse.
Lew
December 19th, 2009
10:30 am
VaBraveFan-Not giving you grief, just mentioning it. I’m somewhat perplexed that we have fits when Chiper or Mac miss a game or three, but we sit here throughout the offseason, wishing for a list of players like Nady, DelGado, Mike Lowell, etc., who have missed an inordinate amount of games over the past three to six seasons-or over their entire careers, like Nady.
If we can’t afford a decent player who is almost guaranteed to make their starts, how in the name of all that is Holy are we going to afford a player who misses time AND suitable replacements for when they inevitably miss the games they miss on an annual basis?
Jmell22
December 19th, 2009
10:39 am
Braves don’t need to wait and miss out on the few remaining free agent OF’s worth taking. They did it with Dunn last year, passing because of his defense and because he hit’s left handed, then ended up signing a left-handed marginal hitter who was the worst LF in baseball. I’d like to see them due any one, if not multiples of the following: offer 2 yr, $20 Million to Damon, 2 yr, $12 million(incentive based maybe mutual options based on playint time) to Nady, or 2 yr, $15 million to Tejada, move him to 3B, Chipper to 1B. Motto is do SOMETHING..we win the division last year if we make a move in the winter to shore up our OF..
N8
December 19th, 2009
10:46 am
“VaBraveFan-Not giving you grief, just mentioning it. I’m somewhat perplexed that we have fits when Chiper or Mac miss a game or three, but we sit here throughout the offseason, wishing for a list of players like Nady, DelGado, Mike Lowell, etc., who have missed an inordinate amount of games over the past three to six seasons-or over their entire careers, like Nady.” Lew
For starters, Chipper is going to make 13 million dollars next year. Once Lowe is traded, that will be the highest salary on the team. I expect the highest paid player to be available to provide the services for which he is being paid.
Do you really think the likes of Nady, Delgado or Lowell are going to receive around 13 million dollars from anybody in 2010?
Part of a big salary, imo, is availability an stability.
As for McCann? Anybody who bashes HIM for missing games as a catcher (and a guy making around 5.5 million dollars) is and idiot. But whent Mac does miss time (not talking about the “eye” thing – just common injuries that come with being a catcher), it does raise the question about why he isn’t moved to 1B.
I realize that he’s considered a great game caller. To me, that is the MOST important job of a catcher. But he happens to be our best hitter (until the real Chipper shows up again). He also was our cleanup hitter last year. So there is that push/pull of whether the team would be better off with his bat in the lineup everyday (along with possible suspect defense at 1B until he got comfortable over there), or with his game-calling for 140 or so games, and perhaps having his hitting be worse than it might be, due to all the nagging injuries.
I’d be curious to see what Mac could do with fresh legs all year, and without all the nicks and bruises a catcher deals with.
But obviously, the Braves feel the team is better with him behind the plate, so I guess that’s fine. Plus with Freeman on the way, no sense in moving Mac now.
But please don’t compare Chipper Jones missing games, the others possible missing games.
Braves have a fewchoices. Trade for somebody that we’re not currently talking about that can provide stability and talen at LF and 1B. Signe the big dogs (Laroche at 1B – and Bay or Holliday in the OF for HUGE money), or take a gamble on some talented, yet aging/coming off of injury veterans that if healthy provide what we need, and if not healthy put us exactly where we are right now….. no other options for those position. The other options is to go with guys in the system.
I haven’t noticed you offering many suggestions, other than continuing to gripe about who Wren should have let Hudson walk, and just got a “damn” bat. Yet, I’ve never seen you suggest who that bat is.
In your opinion, (assuming Lowe is moved), who should the Braves be looking at? If you’ve stated who you like before, I apologize for missing it. Just curious.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
10:50 am
VABrave – DOB has referenced several times that they wanted him for a platoon type player, like with Nady at 1st and to give him some time in the OF also. Thats a horrible thing, but we dont have to worry about that any longer
CB
December 19th, 2009
10:50 am
I love to read Buster Olney’s stories,his story about Peter Gammons retirement and what Peter meant to him was absolutely brilliant.
Reyes2010
December 19th, 2009
10:50 am
I can’t wait till baseball season starts. THe Braves will be forced to keep an unhappy Lowe in their rotation due to the fact that no one in their right mind is going to make a trade for an old, washed up pitcher, who has a big money contract. Even if the Braves eat a little of the money and agree to trade Lowe for the equivilant of used baseballs. Thanks to that fact, the Braves will continue to be hamstrung by Lowe’s contract, ala Mike Hampton, and be unable to address their most pressing need-offense. Meanwhile, the Mets are going to sign Jason Bay. No one else seems to want him, and he will be an offensive weapon in the lineup with the likes of Reyes, Wright, Beltran, et all. Please do not insult the Mets for their pitching rotation. After the Bay deal is done, which should be any minuet now, the Mets will address the pitching situation. A healthy Ben Sheets, and Jason Marquis and perhaps a few others will solidify the Mets rotation behind Johan Santana. Please do not for a minuet think that what happened to the Mets last year, will have any bearing on how things play out this year. If healthy (and we absoulutely should be this year) the Mets will be a playoff contender.
Face the facts Braves fans, the Mets and Phillies are getting stronger, while you will most likely be in the same boat you were last year. Zero offense, and an even older Chipper Jones. You may as well resolve yourselves to the fact that Javier Vazquez is gone. From Dave Obrien’s blog we see that Vazquez had NOT ruled out waiving his no trade if he can get a big deal out of it. No one wants Lowe, and you will see Vaz one of your most dominant pitchers wearing another jersey next year. Meanwhile Lowe is clearly in a decline and will probably even worse next season, not to mention have a huge chip on his shoulder because the Braves brass wanted to trade him. That Frank Wren looks like the biggest ahole on the planet. Rushing into deals, trying to trade a big name after signing him to a big contract (other FA’s are going to take notice of this you know), and just generally pissing off every player in baseball.
The powerhouse glory of the 90’s is gone. Not only can you not afford the calibre of players, that might return its clubhouse to glory, your GM is alienating the Braves from such players by being a low class jerkoff.
Enjoy.
N8
December 19th, 2009
10:50 am
Wow. My Gramir en thit last pohst was horabil.
Sorry. I’ll go have a cup (or 4) of coffee and be back later.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2009
10:52 am
Damon is not a fit for this team, Nady does on a 1yr deal but not at $7-8m
Jim
December 19th, 2009
10:57 am
Richbrave:
Shoveled at 10 AM – another foot, or so, since midnight. Yardstick shows 21″. We’re about 10 miles west of town in IVY, between 250 and Garth. Billy W’s Winter Wonderland is about 5 miles due west, so I suspect he has even more snow. As best I can tell, Albemarle Co., is closed today. Even Catholic Church has cancelled “all activities” tomorrow. That never happened when I grew up in Boston – Masses were never cancelled. Parishioners walked. I actually go out to a Cistercian Monastery out in Crozet. Trappist Monk says Mass – way down a dirt road. That might be tough tomorrow – sure there will be 30″of snow on that road. Anyway, I’d take a pass on Scottsville until at least Noon tomorrow. As far as innertubing down the James goes – current should be running pretty fast by Monday. Have a Merry.
Mutts
December 19th, 2009
11:00 am
Reyes2010: The only team the Mets will be battling for the next 3-5 years will be the Nationals (who are getting better). I hope the Mutts sign Jason Bay and Jason Marquis, the two final nails in their coffin. The only decent players the Mets have are Santana, Wright, and K-Rod. Beltran is good but in decline, and Reyes will never be the player he was with his gimp leg. “Carload” Delgado is through, and the rotation is the worst in the NL East. It’s going to be fun seeing the Mutts as doormats yet again.
Chris from the Rock
December 19th, 2009
11:01 am
I still say the Mariners threw in too much money ($9 million reportedly) in that deal. They can thank the worst GM in the last twenty years, Bill Bavasi, for what it took to get rid of that Carlos Silva contract.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 19th, 2009
11:01 am
Reyes2010 sure is an optimist. After spending $15 million plus a year on Bay, the Mutts are going to be able to afford Sheets, Marquis, AND a few others to put behind their only good pitcher. LMAO!! Sure TROLL, whatever, glad someone is an optimist on here, even if it is a MUTT TROLL…
Efrim
December 19th, 2009
11:09 am
8 mil for Roachy and then Dealing Lowe saving hopefully another 10-12 mil leaves plenty on a solid outfielder.
If the Braves trade Lowe for prospects, and have around 12 – 15 million to spend, then I think that would be a good route to go. Like you said, Freeman is still very young and you’d like him to develop a bit more before throwing him into the first base job at the start of 2011. Kid is going to be 21 years old at the start of the 2011 season.
Steve McP
December 19th, 2009
11:10 am
Reyes 2010 – After the Bay deal is done, which should be any minuet now.
I think you are dancing around the subject here
ncgary
December 19th, 2009
11:12 am
reyes i aptly predicted mutts wouldnt choke last year and same prediction holds true this year. mutts no factor at all , so go ahead and spend wilpons taxpayer money , it wont do you any good. mutts sux
ncgary
December 19th, 2009
11:14 am
maybe instead of looking for a 1b we should put mccann there and ross behind the plate , then get a backup catcher for ross. sign 1 outfielder and keep the pitchers we have until someone comes begging for them
Efrim
December 19th, 2009
11:16 am
I think Lowe is going to be a lot better in 2010 so I am not so against Vasquez being traded if we can get good prospects in return.
It all depends on the return. I would want more than what the Phillies got for Lee, which probably wouldn’t happen.
dogsbrekky
December 19th, 2009
11:19 am
ncgary
December 19th, 2009
11:14 am
maybe instead of looking for a 1b we should put mccann there and ross behind the plate , then get a backup catcher for ross. sign 1 outfielder and keep the pitchers we have until someone comes begging for them
I like the basic premise of moving our best hitter to 1B therefore killing 2 birds with the single stone..
makes BMAC’s career longer and gets another good bat in the lineup (Ross) and frees up loot for a masher in the OF or 3rd base (move Chip to LF)
VaBraveFan
December 19th, 2009
11:25 am
Reyes2010
the Mets rotation is a mess….. Atlanta prolly has the best rotation in all of baseball. Wren will solify our lineup with some solid guys. We’ll be in the hunt all year while the Mets are battling for cellar dwellers with the Nats.
CB
December 19th, 2009
11:31 am
Do most people on the blog feel that a trade for Lowe will probably be done by Christmas? You have to feel decisions will need to start taking place after then as to what other moves Braves make. If they see they can’t trade Lowe by then, maybe Vazquez will have to go.imo.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
11:31 am
ncgary: but McCann has no desire to move to 1B, and Braves have no plans to move him there or ask him to move there. Not for forseeable future, at least….
Listening to Beatles’ remastered Abbey Road. Really is amazing to think it was recorded 40 years ago. And for those Beatles fans who haven’t heard any of the remasters yet, it’s a significant upgrade. Sounds awesome.
Reyes2010
December 19th, 2009
11:41 am
Wow you people are not only homers but stupid. Beltran is in a decline? Enjoy finishing in 3rd again with the Braves looking UP at the Mets
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
December 19th, 2009
11:41 am
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.
————–
In daytime hire a “longtail boat” and take the water tour in the backwaters of the Chao Phraya River. You can get one downstairs at the Shangri-La Hotel. Don’t go on one of the party boats, hiring one yourself is not that expensive. You will see how the water people live and also be sure to ask the driver to take you by the King’s boat house where you will see all those ornate barges. Take your camera along as you will be taking lots of pics.
One day you should visit the “Rose Garden” and see how old time Siam lived. They have working elephants and millions of orchids growing wild as well as many other things to enjoy.
I assume from your comments you are going to Patpong during the day.
Macdaddy
December 19th, 2009
11:41 am
Well… my Christmas flight home got canceled, and I’m snowed in until at least Monday. Guess I’ll be spending my weekend with the gf and the blog. Hope something exciting happens soon!
McFann O
December 19th, 2009
11:43 am
DOB It’d be a particularly nice state to be a multi-millionaire in; you might even be able to afford a house with a small yard.
And thanks for your 11:31 AM…saved me some keystrokes.
Neight Anybody who bashes HIM for missing games as a catcher (and a guy making around 5.5 million dollars) is and idiot.
True.
But whent Mac does miss time (not talking about the “eye” thing – just common injuries that come with being a catcher), it does raise the question about why he isn’t moved to 1B.
Um…all catchers miss time…that’s unavoidable. Besides, he doesn’t sit for every little thing. He only missed like, one game when he had that sore oblique this past year. He plays through a lot of aches and pains.
I’d be curious to see what Mac could do with fresh legs all year, and without all the nicks and bruises a catcher deals with.
That is a minor point…but still–he’s our catcher. A couple people don’t like him, but what do they know?
But obviously, the Braves feel the team is better with him behind the plate, so I guess that’s fine.
Glad they got your “OK”.
Chris from the Rock
December 19th, 2009
11:43 am
DOB, did they re-release them with a 5.1 mix, like the Beach Boys did with Pet Sounds?
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
December 19th, 2009
11:45 am
I meant Patpong during the “NIGHT.”
Paul
December 19th, 2009
11:46 am
Having moved from Tucker to Houston three years ago, I don’t follow the Braves that much anymore, but I have to say that it’s very cool that you posted a picture of James McMurtry AND song lyrics. James has been one of my musical heroes for 20 years. By the way, my nephew said the same thing you did about Abbey Road. I’ll have to give that a try.
TokyoBrave
December 19th, 2009
11:48 am
VaBraveFan – Really? Why would you get burned? Not gonna happen, but you had a good idea!
Jake W.
December 19th, 2009
11:51 am
Thanks Reyes2010 for sharing your dreams with us. We all know the reason you want Lowe to be bad. So your GM doesn’t look like an idiot for signing Perez over him. Lowe though is no idiot and given his feelings that he expressed is probably working hard to get back to form to show that he still is a viable pitcher. If he is still here next season I doubt seriously that Bobby and the boys will let him pout all season. If he’s a competitor like we think he is I doubt he will even let himself pout.
Frank Wren isn’t alienating people as much as maybe just disappointing them. He can’t help it that so many people seem to want to play for the braves and express that out loud and are disappointed when the braves don’t seem to be as eager to bring them back. I know that’s hard to believe since people aren’t really lining up for the mets. Go ahead and pay an arm and a leg for Bay. Its not like you have a Jason Heyward coming up in your system. Let the season speak for itself. Easy to talk big words during the offseason when there really isn’t much to lose. Whether its Lowe or Vazquez that we trade i’ll be happy with whoever we keep because both are good quality veteran pitchers. Lets just say this is a nice problem to have if you have to have one.
Preston Hannatized
December 19th, 2009
11:51 am
Plate Appearance hit the nail on the head. Go back to page 1 and read it — the idea that washed up Billy Wags is the Braves designated closer is laughable. At least Dan Kolb was coming off a career year, not the DL. Frank Wren has been a disaster and has done nothing to improve the Braves chances in 2010. The Phillies make smart moves; the Mets will probably get Bay; the Nats are improved; the Marlins are young and feisty; and we exchange Joe Thurston for Kelly Johnson. Where do I buy tickets?
bravesgrl4life
December 19th, 2009
11:54 am
Well, I for one will be in the Ted for at least a half dozen games this year (yes, McFann, I am pretty sure I am getting the package for Christmas in addition to the jersey.)
semiballcoach
December 19th, 2009
11:55 am
DOB–you got any blu ray audio yet?
N8
December 19th, 2009
12:09 pm
“Listening to Beatles’ remastered Abbey Road. Really is amazing to think it was recorded 40 years ago. And for those Beatles fans who haven’t heard any of the remasters yet, it’s a significant upgrade. Sounds awesome.” DOB
As a child of the late 70’s and 80’s, when recording techniques improved(along with technology), I’ve appreciated much of the remastered material that has come out. But I would have assumed by your tastes in music, that you’re a little more old-school and would like the originals better?
One of the guys at one of the bigger studios in town here is what I presume around your age (huge Dylan fan), and obviously doing what he does he has all the newest technology at his fingertips and what not. But he’s pretty adamant that he’d rather not have anybody mess with the “magic” of those original recordings and pressings.
Just figured you to be in that same boat.
“Um…all catchers miss time…that’s unavoidable. Besides, he doesn’t sit for every little thing. He only missed like, one game when he had that sore oblique this past year. He plays through a lot of aches and pains.” McFann
I guess I was including the time he misses due to Bobby giving him regular rest. You don’t see 1B getting regular rest. Should have been more clear. But yest. Other than the eye issue, he didn’t miss much time that wasn’t “scheduled” time off.
My point, ultimately, is that I would love to see what Mac is capable of playing 160ish or so games without the nicks and cuts of a blader…..er…catcher. I think his output and production would be outstanding. He’s that good imo. It’s a shame our lineup has to be without him for 25-30 games because “he’s our catcher”.
If our lineup had 3 or 4 guys (like in the 90’s with Javy), that could carry the load on a daily basis, it would go relatively unnoticed. But because he is not only our 1st or 2nd best hitter, he is the ONLY guy capable of batting in the cleanup spot.
So it stands out more. I guess rather than move him to 1B and getting him more AB’s, Wren just needs to assure that there are 2 or 3 other guys in the lineup that can be big-time hitters.
ncgary
December 19th, 2009
12:14 pm
any chance ross plays 1b, it would be interesting to see how he responds with full time roll. might get the 25 homers there.
N8
December 19th, 2009
12:14 pm
“Um…all catchers miss time…that’s unavoidable. Besides, he doesn’t sit for every little thing.” McFann
Sorry, meant to specificly address this comment to explain what I meant. I kind of did that. But…
Yeah. I totally get that McCann is one tough/old school SOB who doesn’t want to come out of the game. But even you can’t deny that all of those bumps and bruises affect how he hits.
It’s almost a double edged sword. Perhaps he should come out more often, so that when he’s in there (because he’s relied upon to be the cleanup hitter), he’s as close to 100 percent as a catcher can get during a season. Thus the “regularly scheduled” rest days, I suppose.
But if McCann takes a fould tip off of the his throwing hand, you can’t tell me that that isn’t going to not only affect his throwing as a catcher, but his hitting as well. When was the last time you saw any other infielder take a ball off their throwing hand?
Hope that clears it up. But yeah, with Freeman on the way. I’m totally cool with McCann being our catcher. Just not real cool with our catcher being the cleanup hitter.
Gary O
December 19th, 2009
12:16 pm
As good as the Braves pitching staff was last year, we dont know if they’ll be as dominant next season. Can Hudson hold up for the whole year? Will Hanson have a sophomore slump? What about Vazquez or Lowe? KK should be better, but hitters should have a better scouting report on him too.
Good pitching beats good hitting, but it doesnt matter when when we dont give the good pitchers any run support. Last year, Wren said maybe 7 guys can hit 20 homeruns, and that will probably be his approach again this year.
I just dont see the Braves getting a big bopper. However, if we can improve our clutch hitting and our defense, that alone will be a big improvement (plus no KJ, Frenchy, or Schafer).
wjones
December 19th, 2009
12:17 pm
I would like to introduce several players’ names to you. These men were instrumental for years to their teams’ offense, but did sit out games each year due to the fact they were catchers. Still, those teams thought they were better to have these men at C than to move them to 1B or LF or wherever. The names?
Johnny Bench
Ted Simmons
Mike Piazza
Thurman Munson
Yogi Berra
Roy Campanella
Gary Carter
These are just a few all-star catchers who were integral pieces of their team’s offense, but whose teams foolishly kept them at catcher. Now there are players like, for instance, Joe Torre, who were moved off catcher, but remember he wasn’t a great defensive catcher by any means (gg notwithstanding) and the Cards needed to open the position for Ted Simmons.
Javy Lopez, for most of his Braves career, took at least a day off per week, since Bobby installed another catcher for Maddux so he could get that automatic day off, but never was Javy carted off to another position, and those Braves teams somehow survived that and made the playoffs each year, as did most of the teams of the above mentioned players.
Also, why would you permenently move McCann to first, when the Braves have been very public about their plans to permanently install Freddie Freeman there when he is ready? Use your heads, folks!
Now, would it make sense to work McCann out at first, so occasionally he could get a start there against a lefty, with Ross taking catcher? Or DH, if playing in an AL park? Maybe so, but to do so I would figure Bobby to utilize either a third catcher such as Sammons, or a multi-position guy who Bobby felt could handle catcher well enough if needed. Bobby has been managing a very long time, now, and I think most of us have a feel for what his roster construction patterns are by now.
Lew
December 19th, 2009
12:19 pm
Nathan-Full of it as usual Dude. No DelGado and Nady won’t make $13 million, but neither are a season removedfrom a batting Chanpionship and two from a #2 finish in the race. Yeah, he had an off season, but deserves what he got for what he’s given the Braves over the years (remember those years he gave them cash?????). If you begrudge this you just prove yourself to be….. well, whatever. Spout off as you will, but don’t expect me to buy your load of horse manure.
However, to think that Nady or Del Gado is worth even half of that amount (or more at $7 plus mil a year) when they have both missed an entire freaking season in the past year AND have missed as many as Chipper (or more-go check out Nady and DG’s record, if you doubt it) for years, well….. Don’t bother talking equities to me, because you are clueless if you think that compares to Chipper at all.
McFann O
December 19th, 2009
12:20 pm
bravesgrl4life–
Boo-yah! Hopefully you’ll get to see some great games! (Should at least be one or two good ones in there, right?
)
Neight–
Believe me, I totally see your point…and yeah, BMac would be pretty dang good without having to deal with all the extra bruises and such…but one thing you have to take into account is–how would his defense be at first base, anyway? He was an infielder once–said he and his brother turned the slowest double-plays you ever saw.
I guess rather than move him to 1B and getting him more AB’s, Wren just needs to assure that there are 2 or 3 other guys in the lineup that can be big-time hitters.
That’s always been my theory.
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 19th, 2009
12:22 pm
Challenge:
Switch hitting lineup –
http://tinyurl.com/y8qxya4
Chiba
December 19th, 2009
12:23 pm
Go Braves 2010!
Fire Frank Wren
December 19th, 2009
12:27 pm
Dear Frank,
Stop being an idiot. Don’t sacrifice the 2010 and 2011 seasons while you wait for Freddie Freeman like he’s going to be some kind of savior (weren’t Franceour and Schafter labeled Saviors-in-waiting?).
Sign LaRoche to 3 years at $8 million. Sign Damon to 3 years at $8 million. Trade Lowe or Vazquez to free up the money for LaRoche and Damon, even if you basically give Lowe away. And if you trade Lowe, give Vazquez an extension–he might like to stay in one place more than a year or two.
LaRoche, Prado, Escobar, Chipper, Damon, McLouth, Diaz, McCain, and the best pitching staff top to bottom can win the NL East, even with the Phillies and their new Halladay toy.
FIRE FRANK WREN!
Lew
December 19th, 2009
12:27 pm
Nathan-On another topic altogether-Just read an article up here about that exact thing-not wanting the “Original” experience to change. I hear what they say in this regard, but having been a Beatle’s fan from their onset in the early sixties, I’d much rather have had all the remastered music (and they DO sound phenomenal). The only thing that the earlier recordings had that the new ones don’t were scratches, pops, crackles (and if you had a good stereo) nuclear explosions when the needle hit a rut. IN addition, you needed a disc preener, anti static fluid, an anti static gun to prepare the (hopefully) clearer sound from the disc (much of the noise was just static picked up from the vinyl by a magnetic cartridge) and the patience of Job to cue tracks or change sides in the middle of a listening experience.
But the cver art was MUCH better in the larger format and you were more likely to have somewhat better liner notes you could actually read (though that may have as muc to do with aging eyes than smaller format.
WTF-I’ll stick with the CD’s. They sound great and that’s what I want-better sound.
McFann O
December 19th, 2009
12:29 pm
Neight–
Oh yeah, I didn’t say those nicks didn’t effect his game (did I?) Boy oh boy…I know all about the hand/finger thing (course, that time it happened in ‘07 he was trying to bunt…so that would have happened even if he played 1B
).
But if McCann takes a fould tip off of the his throwing hand, you can’t tell me that that isn’t going to not only affect his throwing as a catcher, but his hitting as well.
Of course I can’t…but the way his throwing cann be, who would notice?
(JK) Seriously…yeah, it totally has an effect. And he gets hit on the throwing hand a couple times a year seein’ as how he doesn’t keep it hidden all the time when there’s a guy in stealing position…
Last time I saw an infielder take one off the hand…? Hmm…can’t answer that. I don’t watch the infielders as closely.
And you’re right about the double-edged sword. Ha…that’s why I say, “Bat him fifth!” instead of, “Move him to first!”, ya know?
wjones–
I think you’re on “my side”, no?
ozzie
December 19th, 2009
12:37 pm
Lack of real movement since Wagner & Saito (apart from a very questionable handling of the Soriano situation) is making the natives restless.
That said Wren better have a grand finale on his planning board which kicks in once Lowe or Vaz is traded b/c if his team comes up empty b/c he goes cheap with bats and is shopping for a 1B and LF next winter he may asked to leave along with Bobby.
Remember he spent 40MM on arms and 5 cents on bats going into 2009 (came in third place, again). He put way too much faith in Frenchie, KJ and Schafer and came up snake eyes.
If he can move Lowe and net 13mm/yr he will have around 20mm to spend. Yes 20mm. As of today the payroll is at 86-87mm (with 6 starters, arbs/raises and new players factored in). They were at 95mm at the end of the season so unless there is a payroll cut in the offing they will have more than 12-14mm to spend after trading Lowe.
The Angels, Mariners and Yankees need a starter and as the options dry up Lowe and Vaz will be in greater demand.
Again whether its 12, 15 or 20mm its all moot. He needs to bring home a winner soon. If he bets it all on Heyward and human book marks at 1b and in LF (and they miss the post season again) ownership is going to give him a long hard stare before the decide to give him the check book again next December.
It’s not like he is a PR manager’s dream re: handling of players, communication or seemingly knee jerk reactions. Smooth, great finesse or even shrewd doesn’t describe Wren today. He needs some tutoring on how to play chess and how to evaluate his team.
brian
December 19th, 2009
12:43 pm
ozzie – my guess (and hope) is that there is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes. Wren has learned to keep his cards close to his vest. I think Wren and the Braves staff have multiple scenarios for filling the needed positions but all depend on trading a starter first and whether it is Lowe or Vazquez. Once one of those two are traded, the dominoes will fall and probably fast.
He is in no rush nor should he be. Starting pitching is a valuable commodity and as options become fewer and more far between, our pitchers values go up. There is basically only one pitcher left anywhere close to Lowe and that is Pineiro. If Vazquez would be shopped, he would be the top available pitcher right now.
If you are grading Wren he gets an incomplete. Grading his offseason will depend on which pitcher he moves and for who along with how he fills 1B/LF – this will come. Now if we are having these same discussions in spring training, then I will start worrying about the upcoming season
bravemandan
December 19th, 2009
12:46 pm
DOB-Will Ms. Rodgers be filling in for you with an ongoing blog while you’re on vacation? Thanks and hope you have a wonderful time away from it all!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
N Nine
December 19th, 2009
12:49 pm
It’s snowing like cats N dogs, time to get the snowboard waxed up and ride the powder!
Billy (TBFKB)
December 19th, 2009
12:49 pm
ozzie,
I think your misguided if you think the Braves will fire Wren. He has done way more good than bad. .
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
12:51 pm
One of the guys at one of the bigger studios in town here is what I presume around your age (huge Dylan fan), and obviously doing what he does he has all the newest technology at his fingertips and what not. But he’s pretty adamant that he’d rather not have anybody mess with the “magic” of those original recordings and pressings.
Just figured you to be in that same boat. — N8
I am, which is why I love the remastered Beatles — because it’s the music as it was recorded, as opposed to what was released on CD before these 2009 remasters. All the previously released Beatles CDs were limited by the technology employed before they were finally given a complete, exhaustive upgrade. The remasters are infinitely superior to the previous CDs.
And if your friend at the studio has actually listened to them and doesn’t think they’re better, well, different strokes and all that. Gotta wonder about his ears if that’s the case, however. If he likes the remastered, limited-edition mono versions (as opposed to the stereo versions), that I can understand. Or if he likes playing the actual vinyl, that I can also understand (I love playing vintage vinyl LPs, just not on a regular basis because the CDs are simply so much more convenient).
But otherwise, I tend to think most folks who criticize the Beatles remasters, who argue that they like the CDs previously available, simply haven’t heard the new ones. Because there’s really no comparison. They blow away the sound of the previous CDs. (I’m not comparing them to vinyl, but to the previously avaiable CDs, since that’s the format that the vast majority of us listen to, for better or worse.)
Oh, and the booklets with photos are a nice bonus.
Now back to the KU-Michigan game.
dogsbrekky
December 19th, 2009
12:53 pm
Dobi – re Beatles remasters… thanks.. I have all the vinyl stuff but have frankly worn em to pieces and you are right… the cds just WERE NOT the same…
my oldesr brother has some rare 8 track pieces on the Beatles stuff that we got from cousins in the old country…. amaznig stuff
I will look to buy the box set now of all the Beatles. remasters… I have played Abbey Road so much I am just sick of it….
Paul Lentz
December 19th, 2009
12:54 pm
Doc Holiday………..if you think that the Braves can “do better” than Juan Rivera in exchange for Derek Lowe and his 3 year $45 mil contract…..then you are out of your freaking mind. If the Angels were stupid enough to fall for that, Frank Wren should IMMEDIATELY jump on it.
Mr. Grinch
December 19th, 2009
12:56 pm
Rotten stinkin kids! Want Want Want and never give me nothin! Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie but what does ole Grinch get, nothin but stinkin Christmas carols ringing in my ears….. that makes me puke! Sittin around the tree with so may ungrateful people takes away the real meaning of Christmas which is giving ME what I want!
Hey, Frank Wren has impressed me here lately…. looks like he’s learned a lot from me by being greedy and not giving you rotten fans what you want. Good man that deserves The Grinch Medal of Honor.
Mr. Grinch
December 19th, 2009
12:59 pm
David O’ Brien,
Looks like you my friend are being a little Grinchy as well…. speak of music that 95% of these bloggers could care less about during a time when they want information on their team. HAHAHA, LOVE IT! Everybody could learn from O’Brien and Frank Wren on how to be a little more Grinchy this Holliday season.
BravesFanForever
December 19th, 2009
1:01 pm
All this talk about not taking on LaRoche seams a bit silly to me. There is no guaranty that Freeman is going to be a major league star let alone even make the team any time in the future and the team should not make plans to insert him at 1B until he has proven himself.
Why can’t the Braves sign LaRoche for 3 years at a reasonable rate and with no no-trade clause (”no no” heh…). If Freeman looks like he is going to be the real deal at some point in the future, then trade LaRoche. If Freeman doesn’t pan out, then we have our man.
Of course the key is “reasonable rate”. So far the asking price is ridiculous but who knows what may transpire as the off season goes along. I suspect that LaRoche may be playing for a lot less than what he wants and at some point we might be able to sign him. But who knows, he is lefthanded and he’s not that great given his huge inconsistencies during the season. Wren may not want the guy unless he absolutely has to take him on.
Hey, I’m no big LaRoche fan, but we all have to face reality. We have a crappy ownership who doesn’t get involved. Corporate teams rarely go anywhere. They have hamstrung the team with an immovable budget and the team has to make hard decisions at times. If there was some flexibility the team could make better moves! After all, all 29 other teams want to wait out the decision on Lowe so they can get a better deal. I think that’s why we are in a holding pattern because Wren can’t get jack much less not have to pay the majority of his contract. If teams knew that the Braves don’t necessarily HAVE to move Lowe we could get a better deal.
We may be stuck with the guy.
Move Vasquez? Hummmm… I’m not sure about this one. While he was great last season, he may regress in 2010 given his track record.Maybe we do need to think about trading him because we may get better value… Eh… Didn’t intend to get into a long conversation about this one…
CVan
December 19th, 2009
1:01 pm
Why do people keep bringing up Lowe for Rivera? It is not being offered, if it was, he would of done that in a heart beat. He is having problems finding a team to take Lowe without eating much contract. He would trade Lowe for the worst minor leaguer in baseball if they would take on Lowe’s salary. Quit hopinig for unrealistic trades. All we need to do is get rid of Lowe’s salary.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:05 pm
He would trade Lowe for the worst minor leaguer in baseball if they would take on Lowe’s salary
But Conrad’s already with the Braves’ organization
jason
December 19th, 2009
1:06 pm
Ok I am sick of all this talk that we need a 30 to 40 HOUR guy! If you look at what has been gone since the last time we made the playoffs it is a true leadoff man aka furcal at the time! If Heyward is truly going to be given a shot I think if you could get Damon cheaper than he wants and let him leadoff, even though is defense is below averager would be ok. Then maybe sign Laroche if you can get rid of Lowe. Honestly I think a trade to the yanks for Swisher to play 1st would be good for the club house and at least you know what we are getting. I personally think our first target this offseason should have been figgins!
Paul Lentz
December 19th, 2009
1:08 pm
jeffrey d…………Keep holding out hope that some SUCKER of a team is out there begging the Braves to trade Derek Lowe and his whole contract to them for their best prospects, lol.
Whoville
December 19th, 2009
1:08 pm
FU Grinch!
jason
December 19th, 2009
1:09 pm
It was supposed to say 30 to 40 homerun guy!
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:09 pm
30 to 40 hours would only get us one game….maybe two. It’d be inexpensive, but I think we need a player for longer than that.
Mr. Grinch
December 19th, 2009
1:09 pm
jeffrey d. says “But Conrad’s already with the Braves’ organization”
Love the negativity, jeffrey d. Keep up the good work.
Jay212033
December 19th, 2009
1:12 pm
Bomber
On Brandon Wood there are several reasons why the Braves could get him plus another good prospect.
1. He’s out of options.
2. He’s been given several chances to prove himself and has yet to hit well at the ML level.
3. He’s already 25 y.o.
4. The Braves would be eating 18 mil of Lowe’s 45 mil contract so basically the Angels would be getting Lowe for 3 yr/27 mil which Lowe could easily get on the open market.
5. The Angels are desperate for pitching.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:12 pm
Keep holding out hope that some SUCKER of a team is out there begging the Braves to trade Derek Lowe and his whole contract to them for their best prospects
lol, that’ll never happen. Like CVan said, I’d be happy if we traded Lowe for literally nothing if it would just get that salary off the books. The main purpose of trading Lowe is a salary dump. We shouldn’t expect a decent player unless we shop Vazquez.
Which at first I was all for that. His value is sky high and he’s only under contract for one more year, so we won’t be missing anything after next year. But trading Lowe would mean we get rid of $15 million for 3 seasons.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:13 pm
Thanks Grinch. I was gonna say JoJo, but he’s actually really good in the minors.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:14 pm
And Grinchy gets a slam and props back-to-back
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2009
1:15 pm
…speak of music that 95% of these bloggers could care less about — Mr. Grinch
Maybe you hang out in circles where 95 percent of folks couldn’t care less — and by the way, it’s “couldn’t care less,” not “could care less” — about the Beatles. If so, you might try expanding said circles, and your leisure activities.
Paul Lentz
December 19th, 2009
1:16 pm
Jay212033……….interesting 1:12pm posting. However, most of the MORONS on here would hate Frank Wren for making a trade that you proposed in that posting. Reason being: it would make me look like a prophet. The MORONS on here are desperately clamoring for an opportunity to rip me to shreds. They have been saying for weeks that there is NO WAY that the Braves will eat more than $3 mil per year of Lowe’s contract in any trade.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2009
1:16 pm
1. He’s out of options.
2. He’s been given several chances to prove himself and has yet to hit well at the ML level.
3. He’s already 25 y.o.
4. The Braves would be eating 18 mil of Lowe’s 45 mil contract so basically the Angels would be getting Lowe for 3 yr/27 mil which Lowe could easily get on the open market.
Sign me up! I don’t see a single downside to this deal!