Maybe Braves get back to LaRoche, maybe not

PhilliesForever

Of course yall are favorites 2 St8 WS apperances bringing home the title 1 time.

One thing that is clear we have the better pitching staff. Yall are the better team, but you can never count out the Braves. The Phillies will never accomplish what we have.

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schaffer and lowe for cruz and saltalmachia back to stop gap at first till freeman is ready?

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VaBraveFan

I would be willing to pay that for him. Just was curious if they Braves would. How greedy would he be though? He might think he could get 8 160 on the open market. Just would be up to him if he would be satisfied with that.

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UNC 53 Texas 65 – come on Carolina!!!

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francoeur sucks

I think Texas doesnt want to move Cruz cause of how low his salary is for his production. It would cost Lowe, Schafer and about 4-5 mil a year of Lowes contract if I was the Rangers.

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Hypothetically, is this a better team than last year with Juan Rivera in left and Xavier Nady at first? Better yet, can we get into the playoffs?

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DOB, In your educated opinion which of the veteran guys, i.e. Glaus, Delgado, Nady, Derosa, do you feel the Braves may be targetting. As secretive as Wren has been this year as compared to last, do you think that their is any weight to speculation by national writers that the Braves may take a run at one of the high-priced guys?

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Billy

I know that for sure makes sense. But another example this offseason are biggest need was what? Adding a big big right? yes What do we do go out and Snatch 2 back end relievers like no tomarow. lol I understand the Braves build teams by pitching first and its always are strong point. But i think they should try and be a bit more balanced.
Could Medlen be a 5th starter for the Braves for sure! Minus Lowe and another unneeded contract leaving the Braves with more than enough funds to keep a slugger on the team for longer than a year.
For example
Not retaining Huddy
Trading Lowe

Vasquez
JJ
Hanson
KK
Medlen

would be our rotation and that still looks good.

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ATTENTION for all those who want Adrian Gonzalez

You do realize he will get about 20 million a year after his two years. He will be gone because we can’t afford him. If we don’t have Freeman in the wings. We won’t have a first baseman

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wjones: my bad. Makes sense.

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MD Fan Club-

Well aware of who has owned the Braves for the past 18 months. That was not my question.

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Not to argue, but he’s what you said: “Do you think the Braves slide over the past 6-7 years is largely the result of the team being owned by Time Warner?” If you wanted to convey your thoughts better, you might have said: Do you think the Braves slide over the past 6-7 years is largely the result of the team “having been owned” by Time Warner? “being” is a present tense, so I read what you wrote.

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Just when I’m ready to leave, they pull me back in

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can grammar police arrest themselves for poor grammar?

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I do not disagree with you VA. But given F. Wrens history of moving quick it would appear trading Lowe is a tough proposition or a deal would have been reached by no.. .Further indication that JV will be traded instead.

While some may argue that the pickup of two relievers should of been left for later, I would point out that FA’s do not normally get cheaper as times passes. The road with out a good back end of the pen has been traveled before and the blog has lit up over it on several occasions, much less resulted in losing seasons. The road with out good quality and durable starters have been traveled before and the blog has lit up over it on several occasions, much less resulted in losing seasons. The road to the playoffs have been achieved with solid pitching, defense and homegrown talent.

While many would argue that we are not a playoff team, I would point out that until last year we were a losing team much less a playoff contender. We made significant strides this year, why ruin an obvious plan by signing a player to another huge contract that could limit another long term winning streak?

Our offense will be fine, especially if Heyward is the real deal. Braves will sign a 1B who is good defensively and we may make a move at the deadline for a bat. Lowe or Vasquez will be dealt for prospects and next year we will trade on those two for more prospects then it will be on. We will make a big signing in one or two years, but not this year.

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This UNC-Texas game has a similar flow to it that the UK-UNC game had….Texas is up double figures in the 1st half….UNC slowly crawls back throughout the 2nd. Can Texas hold on like UK did?

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Don’t think that gets it done. I’m guessing Yunel Escobar for Michael Taylor is where the hypothetical discussion starts.

I know you said that’s where it starts, but I would want a lot more than just Taylor for Escobar. Escobar plays a premium position and still has four years before free agency. Taylor is unproven at the major league level and plays a corner outfield positon. Sure, he has 6 years+ of service time ahead of him, but that really isn’t the only thing to consider.

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you’re

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MD fan Club-

Good point. I should not take such Libertys.

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Many thanks to An Inconvenient Truth, well laid out. I like my crow with a small slice of humble pie, please.

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“from hereafter”…ok that’s the last mistake on my side. Merry Christmas!

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DOB -

KU is going to have its hands full this year against Texas. They look good today. UNC’s porous defense makes them look even better too.

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The Braves seem to have a habbit of putting too much stock on players returning from injury. Wagner & Proctor, are on the clock for the 2010 season.

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This lineup with our staff can win the division BeeKay

you think they are gonna spring for both Bay and Uggla? Sigh.

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I’d like to see Jim Powell call the games on TV

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Thats what i said nolie.
But i say go for ugglaa before bay.

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Sigh. – nolie

That is it? That is all you are going to say? LOL

I actually found it interesting that of all the things that have been said today, you chose that one post to respond to. I was wondering what you would choose to respond to. I guess that one was an easy one to have a concise response to, huh?

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lol so are you CB. We all are.

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CB, I think Ron Gant would make a fine coach. Remember how ticked he looked after the Braves would put on a sh** performance on post game shows? He’d come back with good pointers for the guys. Maybe rub some guys the wrong way to keep their heads on straight would do the team some good. Or, could be a bad thing.

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LaRoche was starting to come around on me. I used to hate his splits and long swing, but he’s turned into a better hitter. Plus he sucked with RISP the first time he was here…a true rally killer. Then the ADD lapses before he was traded.

Too bad for his comments. He’s probably frustrated by the lack of interest in him from around all of baseball. The Braves don’t want to sign him to a 3 yr contract. He needs to understand that. Plus he’s left-handed (tho so is his eventual replacement Freeman). If he had any sense of a brain, maybe he’d understand, or again he’s just frustrated that in another month, his value is going to decline even further when teams, will have more leverage over players.

I’ve read numerous times Wren say they still had some interest in him. That interest would remain if they found a right-handed bat for LF, but if Wren must get a LH left fielder, then LaRoche is gone. I believe Wren when he says he talked to LaRoche’s agent. Maybe LaRoche should hit up his agent, or come down from his 3-yr contractual demands if he really wants to stay.

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Nolie, I noticed that you have been careful with your words. ….And laughing for that matter. When people don’t see something, they determine that nothing is there (or happening, in this case) and when there is such silence regarding trades, the assumptions run wild. Many bold statements… based on no knowledge. Interestingly, some are aware that they are filling in the blanks and yet don’t want to admit it so they get pretty touchy about what others say.

Blogs are an interesting study for both psychology and sociology. Behavioral scientists should enjoy watching these blogs.

Though that is my educational background, I actually come here to get information about the Braves. Imagine that!

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Bobby’s Cox -

If LaRoche would have hit well in the 1st half the last 6 years….his numbers would be so good that we wouldn’t even have a chance to sign him this year….I dare say if he played int he 1st half as well as the 2nd….he would be the top free agent this year.

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I don’t want Uggla…Don’t know where he would fit on our team….Prado is better defensively at 2b and based on last year, the offense would be different but equally productive….How about Glaus and Blalock to platoon at 1b and give Chipper some time off…I mentioned this before, but I think it would be affordable..

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LaRoche always has pretty good numbers despite his first half. If he even hit just a little better in the first half, I think he’d be well over .300 with 30-40 HR.

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…I mentioned this before, but I think it would be affordable..New Cars

I’m not so sure, plus Blalock is not a very good hitter away from Texas. He did better last year, but his history suggests it was likely a fluke. I would consider Glaus if they are sure he is healty though. With Nadu asking as much as he is coming off surgery it’s hard to get a read on what Glaus might want. wouldn’t want both though, and I’m pretty darn sure they aren’t gonna pop for two guys to mostly play the same position.

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Nadu = Nady

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Weaknesses for the Braves right now:

1B Even if signing LaRoach, that wouldn’t make 1B a strength.
2B Prado had a few good months. Might pull a Kelly Johnson in 2010.
OF Diaz is our best outfielder right now.
OF McLouth is good enough to be a starter.
OF Unless a great trade happens, will be another weakness.

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15 mill for bay and 7 mill for Ugs should put us very close to last years payroll if we don’t have to eat more than 3 mill of Lowes deal BeeKay

they aren’t gonna bet Bay, let alone Bay and Uggs both

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My think with Blalock is that he is going to be hitting against rh mostly… NC

but he’s still gonna be doing it in a park that is a lot more difficult to hit well in.He is a career .714 hitter away from Texas, that’s terrible especially for a corner infielder. It is true that his splits against RHers are much better. no way to know for sure, just talkin’.

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I only know a couple of scouts, nolie, and none of them subsist on scouting alone. I would be interested to know, about what percentage of scouts have that as their only source of income?

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AFRICAN SAFARI

I posted this earlier and thought you might have missed it.

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 night.

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“ATTENTION for all those who want Adrian Gonzalez

You do realize he will get about 20 million a year after his two years. He will be gone because we can’t afford him. If we don’t have Freeman in the wings. We won’t have a first baseman”

Even if the Braves had to include Freeman for Gonzalez and Gonzo required 20 mil at the end of his contract the Braves should be able to afford it since Chipper would be at the end of his contract and we’d need that big bat/franchise type guy to go along with Heyward, McCann and Escobar. But in the scenario I gave last night we wouldn’t have to trade Freeman.

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Jay212033 ….I’m thinking Freeman is untouchable…..we can’t trade him..we’re not the Yankees…..we need his projected production coupled with his low salary…

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Jay212033

December 19th, 2009
5:40 pm

“ATTENTION for all those who want Adrian Gonzalez

You do realize he will get about 20 million a year after his two years. He will be gone because we can’t afford him. If we don’t have Freeman in the wings. We won’t have a first baseman”

Even if the Braves had to include Freeman for Gonzalez and Gonzo required 20 mil at the end of his contract the Braves should be able to afford it since Chipper would be at the end of his contract and we’d need that big bat/franchise type guy to go along with Heyward, McCann and Escobar. But in the scenario I gave last night we wouldn’t have to trade Freeman.”

IIRC, San Diego has a prime prospect who they would like to put at 1b, which would be the only reason they would shop Gonzo in the first place. That being said, why would they need Freeman? And if Freeman is as important to the Braves as they are saying, why would they either get rid of him or block him with someone young and potentially expensive? And IF the Braves burned that money to get him, you had better believe that SD would ask for a damaging array of young talent. Does anyone here really see an honest scenario where this will happen, or is this just “shooting the breeze?”

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BEAR -

I saw…like the input. I shared with my friend to see what he thought.

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If Russell Branyon played 162 games he could be expected to put up the following numbers provided he performed at a level equal to his career numbers.

.234 BA, 30 HR, 73RBI, 62 BB and 174 K’s. No way do I want someone striking out 174 times and killing that many rallies. That is worse than Francoeur.

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.234 BA, 30 HR, 73RBI, 62 BB and 174 K’s. No way do I want someone striking out 174 times and killing that many rallies. That is worse than Francoeur. BEAR

yup, I have little faith in Branyan, those numbers are kinda exaggerated in a way cause he has had a few years that brought up the averages of a lot of poor years. If he has what for him is a great season then you get decent numbers, but the poor seasons way outnumber the good ones. Box of chocolates ginda guy where two thirds of them ain’t really chocolate but some other dark brown sticky substance

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I blame the fan base for the braves offensive struggles, no one shows up to the games who cheers them on. No fans means no money = mediocre players

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