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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
7,407 comments Add your comment
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
December 24th, 2009
5:26 pm
I like Wagner/Saito over Soriano/Gonzo and they cost $4-5 million less.
Jay212033
December 24th, 2009
5:28 pm
Also worth picking up.
Method Man and Redman – Blackout 2
Ghostface Killah – Ghostdini Wizard of Poetry In Emerald City
FEAR
December 24th, 2009
5:33 pm
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum – totally agree wit that
richbrave
December 24th, 2009
5:35 pm
GLENN MILLER – Greatest Hits.
HARRY JAMES – Songs ‘39-’42.
DAVE BRUBECK – Take Five.
AHMAD JAMAL – Poinciana.
HERBIE MANN – The Village Gate.
RAMSEY LEWIS – The In Crowd.
STEELY DAN – anything they did.
GROVER WASHINGTON JR. early stuff, and WINELIGHT.
THE CRUSADERS – Street Life.
GARY BURTON and CHICK COREA – Crystal Silence.
PAT METHENY – As falls WICHITA, So falls WICHITA FALLS.
DOWN TO THE BONE – Manhatten to Staten.
AdirondackDave
December 24th, 2009
5:36 pm
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
KJM
December 24th, 2009
5:40 pm
Javier Vazquez is 33 years and he JUST had his best year. He probably will never repeat season. This isn’t Tommy Hanson or Jair Jurrjens with bright, long future. If you look at his career, an “up” year is usually followed by a “down” year..good move (2001: 16-11, 2002 10-13; 2004 14-10, 2005 11-15; 2007 15-8, 2008 12-16). 2003 and 2005 were not very good either. He’s the Atlanta Falcons of pitchers.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
5:40 pm
How many of you bloggers if presented with clear and logical thinking would change your mind about the moves the Braves made thus far?
Norton2010
December 24th, 2009
5:45 pm
Mets have…
C Santos
1B Murphy
2B Castillo
3B Wright
SS Reyes
LF Pagan
CF Beltran
RF Francoeu
Nats have…
C Flores
1B Dunn
2B Harris
3B Zimmerman
SS Guzman
LF Willingham
CF Morgan
RF Dukes
They are pretty well matched lineups in my opinion. Mets may have bigger stars but I don’t think of Pagan and Murphy as everyday players. On the Nationals side the only one I don’t see as an everyday player is our good friend Willie. And the Mets may have a true ace in Santana but I think the Nationals have a deeper staff with Lannan, Marquis, Zimmerman, and possibly even Strasburg.
Norton2010
December 24th, 2009
5:46 pm
Francoeur…my bad.
nolie
December 24th, 2009
5:47 pm
Rich now that’s some great music buddy . I have all of that and tons more
nolie
December 24th, 2009
5:49 pm
He’s the Atlanta Falcons of pitchers KJM
what a total load of horse manure
Jay212033
December 24th, 2009
5:50 pm
Billy
Like I said before the only issue I have with what Wren has done so far is signing Wagner and Saito before knowing if Soriano or Ganzalez would accept arbitration. The Vazquez trade wasn’t good value for 1 yr/11.5 mil of Vazquez, who knows if he’ll be able to repeat his 09 season plus the players we got in return could be used in other deals as well. Signing Glaus for a 2 mil base salary is awesome as well.
Chop Chop
December 24th, 2009
5:52 pm
Wagner: $6.75 million in ‘10
Saito: $3.2 million in ‘10
Soriano: $6.1 million in ‘09
Gonzo: $3.45 million in ‘09
We’re replacing our late-inning tandem from last season with another one that will be making similar money. Will we get similar value?
That’s the question.
keylargo
December 24th, 2009
5:54 pm
I can tell the days are getting longer already so Spring is right around the corner! Forecast for Christmas day here – 80º and partly cloudy.
Chop Chop
December 24th, 2009
5:57 pm
One last Merry Christmas…
Merry Christmas!
Catch y’all in the New Year.
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
6:10 pm
ass players like dye dero and uggla get a clue mainebrave those are all ass players
monty
December 24th, 2009
6:11 pm
Obviously FW’s game is buying low and selling high. Glaus could be such a deal. And obtaining the hot Yankee prospect deal could be another JJ in the works. But he still hasn’t improved the team for next year.Would any of you bet money(say your farm) that Glaus stays healthy and hits 30 dingers? I didn’t think so. Anyone willing to bet the farm that Chipper returns to say 25 HR’s, 100 rbi, and hit .300? I wouldn’t. I don’t think Hudson will pitch as well as JAvy did but he should win about the same number of games, as pitching well doesn’t always turn into wins,(see KK and JJ)and pitching poorly doesn’t always mean losses. (see Lowe’s 2nd half stats)Where we will be better is the addition by subtraction that took place in MAy/June last year. By demoting KJ,trading JF, and by sending down Schafer and aquiring McLouth. Starting Diaz in LF all season he will out perform Loaf. McLouth healthy he should return to wreaking havoc on the base paths. I would bet McCann hits better(small wager) and that Prado hits around .300 with 35 doubles. Also that Yunell will become an even better hitter.JUry is still out as to Heyward coming in next year and delivering. Although it wouldn’t be hard to at least match what JF gave us before the trade. One more deal for a power left fielder could put us over the top. As of right now the team is better, but not because of what happened this week. Not yet, anyway.
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
6:14 pm
MiamiBrave
December 24th, 2009
4:24 pm
Jermaine Dye has got to be the last piece of the puzzle. He adds much needed power, should come relatively cheaply, and he can play left field or first base. That gives us added insurance in the infield in case Glaus or Chipper get injured. I still question the Hudson over Vazquez choice though. Hudson is coming back from major arm surgery, his batting average against was .295 after coming back last season, and he is getting older. It seems like a pretty big risk to me. I hope it works out, but it doesn’t appear to be the right move based on recent player performa
LOL Dye has got to be the last piece of the puzzle, will you get a clue, and root for the Marlins your home team how bout hey sign Dye for their piece of the puzzle…and your comments about Hudson just prove what a moron you are.
cvbraves
December 24th, 2009
6:21 pm
Believe Wren has done a very good job since being GM.
Re: Vazquez, Logan trade. So far, Wren has received in return Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, Arodys Viscaino plus possibly Troy Glaus…and he still has $7 or $8 million of the money from the trade to spend. Until all the money is spent from the trade, we don’t know who else Wren will pick up…and anyone signed as a result of the original trade(with the money saved) should be considered as part of the return.
Merry Christmas to all.
Inside Guy
December 24th, 2009
6:21 pm
I am not sure what has been said here yet on this topic, but I wanted to share a few things that I have heard. One, no management, Liberty included, would cut the payroll what it would have had to have been cut (if management were finished with offseasons moves) without preparing the fanbase beforehand. That would be disasater. Maybe if you had $2M left, not $12M. (Of course, how much moeny is still left is still a grey area.)
So with that in mind, logic sould tell you that the difference in what the Braves have spent and what they spent last year is siginificant.
Also, if Nady was virtually a lock (assuming he would have run $5M-$6M) and instead after the NYY deal the Braves get $2M Glaus, that tells you every dollar is critical in plans. Which leads me back to my original point. The Braves are not finished and have one more bullet left to be fired.
Do not be surprised to see McLouth or Melky and prospects (either from the NYY deal or those expedible because compensation from the deal) to TB for Carl Crawford.
GDG
December 24th, 2009
6:22 pm
I don’t get the “$7 million” left to spend comment from O’Brien. Early in the offseason, Wren and others indicated the Braves were budgetting about the same $ as last year, reportedly $95 million. By my count, including all the transactions through the Glaus deal, the Braves have about $77 million in contracts. That leaves about $18 million – not $7 million. Can anyone shed light on this?
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
6:23 pm
The NFL pulled in about $3.6 billion and major league baseball about $3 billion in 2000. Both were records. The NFL made $7.6 billion in 2008, and major league baseball’s revenues for 2009 are expected to match last year’s total of $6.5 billion. The economy and other factors slowed growth, but money is still being spent disproportionately in sports compared with other areas. NFL officials aren’t quite sure if their online revenue will ever match the television contracts, but they do agree their Web site offers the most potential growth. The story is mostly the same in major league baseball, where online revenue brings an added benefit of being shared equally among all 30 teams — providing indirect revenue sharing.
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1597582.html
yeah they are only splitting up 6.5 billion between 30 teams,
whats 213 million give or take a few hundred thousand among friends each year
poor poor liberty media cant spend another 10 million
Salamander
December 24th, 2009
6:34 pm
My favorite 20 albums of 2009 (in descending order):
Absu – Absu
Merriweather Post Pavillon – Animal Collective
Beast Rest Forth Mouth – Bear in Heaven
Embryonic – Flaming Lips
Blue Record – Baroness
Get Color – Health
Fu-k Buttons – Tarot Sport
Fever Ray – Fever Ray
200 Million Thousand – Black Lips
Dark Days/Light Years – Super Furry Animals
Under and under – Blank Dogs
Ambivalence Avenue – Bibio
Help – The Oh Sees
Little Dragon – Machine Dreams
Axe to Fall – Converge
Coalesce – Ox
The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love
jj n 2 – jj
Veckatimest – Grizzly Bear
Unmap – Volcano Choir
Mountain Braves Fan
December 24th, 2009
6:38 pm
I think Frank Wren has done a commendable job to this point considering budget restraints. However, I don’t believe his work is finished. The Braves need a legitimate right-handed power bat in the outfield. Furthermore, they need someone who hits lefties well, given the Braves struggles against lefties and the fact that the Phillies may have as many as three left handed starters in their rotation (as well as the other troublesome lefties in the division like Santana, Lannan, etc…). And the candidates are…
Jermaine Dye–About as sure a bet as there is to hit 30 home runs given 500 at bats. However, Dye is a terrible outfielder at this stage of his career (I mean really terrible), and there is no DH in the National League. He literally fell off the face of the earth in the second half last year as a hitter–.206 with 9 home runs in the second half. He hit lefties pretty well in 2009, but struggled agains righties (.236). At 36 years old, he is probably best suited to a DH role in the American League.
Jason Bay–A career .280 hitter with a lifetime OPS of .896, Bay would make any team’s lineup better. But he isn’t exactly Willie Mays in the outfield, and he wants too much money for too many years to make sense for the Braves. His dead-pull stroke is perfect for Fenway, and Boston needs his bat more than they think.
Xavier Nady–Nady had a career year in 2008 when he hit 25 home runs and drove in 97 in a split season with Pittsburgh and New York. He has only hit as many as 20 home runs in one other season. He is 31 years old and is coming off his second, that’s right second, Tommy John surgery. Given that Glaus has been signed to play first, Nady’s injury history might be more of a risk than I would be willing to take–unless he was really cheap.
Mark Derosa–Derosa is a great utility guy who can play outfield as well as several infield (including first base) spots. At 35 years old, he is no longer a Spring chicken, and last I heard he was looking for a 3 year contract for a little over 6 million a year. He hit 23 homers last year (he only has one other season with as many as 20 home runs), but sacrificed selectivity at the plate and ended up with a .250 batting average. I just don’t see him as a thumper who could hit in the four hole for the Braves.
Dan Uggla–Some have suggested trading for Uggla and playing him in left field or, God forbid, bench Prado and leave Uggla at second base. Uggla is a really bad fielding second baseman (remember the 2008 All Star Game?), and I can’t imagine a position swap to the outfield would help improve his fielding percentage. Last year he struck out 150 times (down from 171 the year before) and hit .208 against lefties for the season. I believe Uggla is scheduled to make around 8 million dollars this year (he made 5.35 million last year). I just don’t see it on so many levels!
And the winner is…
Michael Cuddyer–The Braves need to trade for Twins outfielder/first baseman Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer finished the 2009 season with more than 90 runs, 90 RBIs, and 30 home runs. Only six other outfielders in all of baseball accomplished that feat in 2009: Ryan Braun, Adam Lind, Jason Bay, Andre Ethier, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez. Cuddyer is an above average corner outfielder, is only 31 years old, and hit .307 against lefties last year. He can play first base, as he showed when Morneau was injured. Would the Twins trade Cuddyer? Cuddyer is scheduled to make 8.5 million in 2010, the fourth highest paid player on the Twins roster (behind Morneau, Nathan, and Mauer). The Twins have also already accepted a 2011 option on Cuddyer at 10.5 million. There are a couple of problems for the Twins with regard to Cuddyer’s salary. First, in 2009 the entire Twins team payroll was 65 million. The team has limited dollars to work with. Second, Joe Mauer, the team’s true franchise player, becomes a free agent after the 2010 season, unless the Twins can sign him long term before he tests free agency. Third, the Twins need a center fielder to spell starter Denard Span and improve the defense in the corners (does this not sound like a perfect role for Melky Cabrera?). Fourth, the money saved by trading Cuddyer (both in 2010 and 2011) would free up funds to improve the team in other areas and potentially help keep Joe Mauer in Minnesota. Obviously a few additional pieces other than Cabrera would be needed to get Cuddyer, but the trade would, I believe, be beneficial to both clubs. I could definitely see Cuddyer batting fourth in the Braves lineup (and Glaus hitting sixth).
P. W. Hjort
December 24th, 2009
6:41 pm
Just don’t see the Twins trading Cuddyer. They need to add bats, not subtract them.
P. W. Hjort
December 24th, 2009
6:43 pm
Did we ever get the financials on Joe Thurston or Troy Glaus’s incentives?
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
6:57 pm
ncgary,
You can average that to two hundred million per team but how much does the Yankee, BoSox, ChiCubs Bring in by them selves? Guaranteed the Braves did not pull in 200 million. Check this out:
Avg ATL ticket price: $17.05
Avg ATL attendance: 29,304
Home Games: 81
Total aggregate Revenue from ticket sales: $40,470,289.20
You think the Braves sold $160,000,000 worth of jerseys, hot dogs, and beer?
Sources:
http://teammarketing.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Fan%20Cost%20Index/MLB/MLB%20FCI%2009.pdf
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
O.J.
December 24th, 2009
6:59 pm
How is this for a trade idea?
Melky, Jesse Chavez, and a minor leaguer for Uggla. Either Uggla or Prado can learn left field and the other can play 2nd.
Any thoughts?
O.J.
December 24th, 2009
7:01 pm
Oh, and Uggla’s defense in LF couldnt be any worse than Garrett’s
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:03 pm
NY Yankees:
Avg Ticket: $72.97
Attendance: 45918
Total games; 81
Total aggregate Revenue from ticket sales: 271,401,553.26
We wont take into consideration how many D. Jeter Jerseys were sold alone.
How bout them apples.
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
7:03 pm
yeah it could oj, what is it with all you people and wanting uggla?????? It’s not going to happen and it shouldn’t happen, he’s not worth trading people and 7 million a year at the least so it’s stupid OJ
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:03 pm
its tv revenues for the most part,
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:04 pm
That acutally Amazes me the Yankees cover their payroll just with ticket sales. GS is loaded.
Loogy
December 24th, 2009
7:04 pm
Guys, screw the trade route. I don’t want Uggla and his awful D. Just keep Cabrera as the 4th OF and sign Nady. You save prospects etc. that way.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:05 pm
ncgary,
How much do you think the Braves get from FSN and Peachtree TV?
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
7:05 pm
why would the marlins trade uggla for melky and chavez?????? So they get rid of 30 homer run power for 10 home run power all to save 2 million or so, yeah you are really bright OJ
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:05 pm
probably close to 120 million to your other question yes
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:06 pm
Just did a search of TV revenue for Atlanta Braves and got the blog as the first hit. Go figure.
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:06 pm
tv revenues from fox and all national syndicates are split up evenly
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:08 pm
cable deals are negotiated individually, detroit tigers for instance receive 40 million annually from fox midwest for 10 year contract
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:09 pm
atlanta is hard to find info on them
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:09 pm
Only thing i could find for media revenue was
The Braves receive $13M annually from their radio rights deal
http://www.mlb4u.com/licensing.php
tr
December 24th, 2009
7:10 pm
richbrave
Loved your list, especially the swing and jazz
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:13 pm
I think the Braves are neutral in revenue sharing. That only effects top and bottom teams and if any in middle is negligible. National TV rights not sure about that.
But I think the point is clear the Braves probably operate at a small profit relative to their gross revenues. I do not see them making 200 million. If they did the value of the franchise would be higher than 474 million.
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:14 pm
you can follow this google links through all the pages and may find atlantas, but theres some pertinent info in it , you just have to sift through all the junk to find it
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=television+contracts+shared+by+major+league+teams&start=10&sa=N
N Nine
December 24th, 2009
7:14 pm
DOB I saw you’re going to Whistler/Blackcomb! Wow, what timing! Just this past month the mountains received a record amount of snow (18 Feet/M). You’re going to the best overall mountains in North American to go along with the best conditions ever.The resort itself just got suited up for the 2010 Winter Olympics.You lucky dog
You will love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snowiest month ever:
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/media/news/season_2009-10/091201.htm
The Few, The Proud
December 24th, 2009
7:17 pm
I don’t know who’s seen it yet but Avatar surprised me by being a really good movie. Saw it last night. It’s kinda like a sci fi Dances with Wolves.
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:17 pm
dont kid yourself even with the marlins drawing less than 10,000 a game , owners are getting at least 150 million gross annually
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:18 pm
Not worth that much of my time.
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:19 pm
the last time i could find the national contract that all teams were splitting it was 4 billion, and thats been several years ago
NCBravesFan
December 24th, 2009
7:19 pm
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Hope that the upcoming week is filled with much cheer and happiness for you and yours.
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:20 pm
anyway you get the idea, media more than pays braves payroll alone , parking concessions tickets and merchandising are all cream on top
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:23 pm
Say the team get 60 million from TV and this is wild guess based on your 50 million number.
40 million from tickets
40 million from vendor sales that every person spending $17 at the game.
20 million from jersey and merchandise sales
That’s $180,000,000
Pay roll $95,000,000
How much in Draft and minor league salaries. (20 million is my esitmate)
How much in Coaches and Scout and FO (5 million is my esimate with Cox making 3 million by himslef)
How much to operate the game (no clue)
How much to market (No clue)
I think you forget just how much money it take to run a baseball team. Its not just about payroll for the MLB team.
The Grinch
December 24th, 2009
7:28 pm
Let’s see, best albums of 2009 according to the Grinch (in no particular order):
Kreator—Hordes of Chaos
Stormnatt—The Crimson Sacrament
Insomnuim—Across the Dark
Slayer—World Painted Blood
Blut aus Nord—Memoria Vetusa II: Dialogue With the Stars
Johnny Winter—The Woodstock Experience
Napalm Death—Time Waits for no Slave
Alison Krauss/Robert Plant—Raising Sand
Steve Kuhn Trio w/ Joe Lovano—Mostly Coltrane
Ella Fitzgerald—Twelve nights in Hollywood
Alestorm—Black Sails at Midnight
Rammstein—Lieber ist fur alle da
The Chieftains—Live from Dublin: a Tribute to Derrick Bell
David Davis and the Warrior River Boys—Two Dimes and a Nickel
Method Man—Blackout 2
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:30 pm
agrred thats gross, and probably around 125k just to operate times 81 games for power and security and incidentals, on top of all the other receipts you were saying
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:31 pm
Fox pay MLB $400 million per year.so each team make $13,000,000 from the National deal.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2516348
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:32 pm
most minor leaguers play for around 20000 a year, there are the exceptions with guaranteed contracts, but 95 % play for that and less
The Grinch
December 24th, 2009
7:33 pm
Oh yeah, just got Leonard Cohen’s “Live at the Isle of Wight 1970″ DVD/CD combo for Christmas. Check it out. After Hendrix caused a riot, he (Cohen) was called out of his trailer at 2 a.m. to come on stage and this set calmed down 600,000 people. Good stuff.
Mario Mendoza
December 24th, 2009
7:34 pm
to FEAR:
yeah, Living Colour came out with a new album this year, its called The Chair in the Doorway, good stuff!
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
7:35 pm
mllb network now gets computer sales and media sales, the national contract just a few years ago was 4 billion annually, i know fox pays each network seperately on top[ pof that figure too. for instance fox sports midwest pays tigers 40 million annually not sure what braves get from fox sports south , but probably comparable
Randy Marsh
December 24th, 2009
7:36 pm
DOB,
Have you done a Best of ‘09: Movies, yet? If not and if you do, gotta put The Road on that list. Excellent movie.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:38 pm
If anyone has a subscription to baseball America and can follow this link http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/
And tell me what the Braves spent on this years draft.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:41 pm
You are going to have to show me a source that’s says 4 Billion annually. Not trying to be mean but that is hard for me to believe.
nolie
December 24th, 2009
7:41 pm
If not and if you do, gotta put The Road on that list. Excellent movie. Randy
did you read the book?
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:43 pm
That is $133,333,333.33 per team. Impossible. The team would be worth a billion dollars if this were true.
N.S.
December 24th, 2009
7:43 pm
Billy (TBFKB)
4,400,500 for 24 picks
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 24th, 2009
7:45 pm
Billy–One small problem with your Yankee ticket sales. If your strictly going by their average ticket price times their attendance, you’re not going to come up with an accurate number. You remember how those box seats behind home plate that were going for thousands of dollars each were being talked about in the press because they were always empty? Those would move the average price up quite a bit, but they weren’t being sold. Not saying that the Yanks don’t make a lot more in ticket sales than the Braves, but I seriously doubt they’re covering their payroll with just ticket sales.
keylargo
December 24th, 2009
7:47 pm
anyway you get the idea, media more than pays braves payroll alone , parking concessions tickets and merchandising are all cream on top ncgary
front office personel, trainers, security, ushers, ticket sellers and takers, club house attendants, parking attendants, umpires, grounds keepers, INSURANCE, WORKMANS COMP, SOCIAL SECURITY matching funds, accountants, 1st class travel, 1st class lodging, water and electric bills………………………………………………………….
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:50 pm
$40,000,000 ticket sales
$60,000,000 regional TV contract
$13,000,000 National TV contract
$13,000,000 Radio Deal
$40,000,000 Vendor sales
$20,000,000 Merchadise Sales (total wild guess with no supporting info)
$133,333,333 Digital Media
I did not add it all up but your suggesting the braves brought in over 319,000,000 est. in gross revenue. Thats 60% of their estimated worth. I’m not an economics man but from what I understand a very basic assumption of worth 7-10 time gross revenue and that would make the Braves worth 2.2 billion.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:51 pm
Thank you NS
FEAR
December 24th, 2009
7:55 pm
The Grinch – That new Slayer album kicked ass. Ever heard Municipal Waste? they very good also
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:57 pm
Macon Braves (RIP)
Your right its an estimate. But an interesting note. The Yankee payroll was around 209 million. With the tax it brings it up to 230 million. My estimates would have to be off by 40 million or approximately 20%. I do not think their high end ticket sales make up 20% of sales. Yeah I think they pay their payroll with ticket sales alone.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
7:58 pm
or pretty close to it.
David O'Brien
December 24th, 2009
8:00 pm
My parents are out at my sister’s house in Denver for Christmas, and they had ton of snow last night. And my brother and his family are home in Kansas City, where they’re having near-blizzard conditions today/tonight. Snow stretches from Texas all the way north into Canada, just a huge swath of heavy snow. How many of you out there are having a white Christmas? Probably more than would care to, or at least more of the snow that you’d care to have, huh?
Glad we didn’t fly today.
Billy (TBFKB)
December 24th, 2009
8:05 pm
Glad I’m in Vegas away from all white crap. Not trying to be a Grinch but go to Wyoming and work outdoors during the night in the winter and you end up hating Snow.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 24th, 2009
8:12 pm
Billy—Just think about how much those $2,000+ seats bring up your “average ticket price” that you used. They weren’t selling ANY of those seats. They had to drop the price drastically mid-season just to start getting people to sit down there. So yeah, I think your estimate could easily be off by more than 20%. If you took those thousand dollar ticket prices out, your average ticket price would drop dramatically, thus your ticket sale money estimate would drop dramatically. I find it hard to believe that any team would be making $200 million dollars off of ticket sales alone.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
December 24th, 2009
8:14 pm
Wyoming? Working outdoors? In the winter with heavy snow?? Nahh…… Let’s get DeRosa and call it an off-season! DOB can ATL technically afford to match the 2YR/$12 Million deal the Giants offered? Because, obviously I think DeRosa would even take 2YR/$10 Million to come back home to play in ATL and they need him to round this team off….
I ask if they can actually afford to put up another $5-6 Million because I know ATL saved around $8 Million with the Vazquez deal, spent approximately $2 Million on Glaus, leaving $6 Million. However, I think its Buster O has a new INsider post on ESPN today with a question for the title: Braves cutting back costs? I am not a subscriber, so thus, can’t read it… Anybody have access to that?? Hope you all are having a nice evening, wherever you are!
The Grinch
December 24th, 2009
8:23 pm
FEAR: I have not but I’ll check ‘em out.
Billy (TBFKB): Becomming a Grinch isn’t likely for you; all the females in my family are currently taken. And if you were using that as a pejorative, frankly I’m offended.
JDbrave
December 24th, 2009
8:24 pm
FEAR – Matt Palmer is a pitcher for the Angles, he went 11-2 last year so we would not be short another pitcher. thanks
Venice Jim
December 24th, 2009
8:33 pm
DOB – have a great trip, and a Merry Christmas! I think I can honestly say that the blog has probably affected my life much more than any of the other denizens this year (and in a very positive way). Thanks for all of your great work!
Mountain Braves Fan
December 24th, 2009
8:33 pm
P.W. Hjort,
You say the Twins won’t trade Cuddyer because they need to add bats, not subtract them. If you were the Twins, would you rather subtract Cuddyer’s bat via trade in 2010, or subtract Mauer’s bat via free agency in 2011, assuming they can’t afford both, which they can’t?
Trading Cuddyer for Melky Cabrera and prospect(s) would free up about 5 million dollars in 2010, which the Twins could use to add a bat: a DH, which the team has talked about adding but needed $ to get, in addition of course to Melky Cabrera’s bat.
In 2011, the extra 7 million saved by trading Cuddyer could be used to try to keep Joe Mauer in Minnesota. There are two other expensive contracts on the Twins payroll. Justin Morneau makes 14 million per year from 2010 through 2013. Joe Nathan makes 11.5 million per year in 2010 and 2011, with a club option of 12.5 million in 2012.
In a scenario of trying to keep Mauer, the Twins would rather trade Cuddyer than Morneau. While the Twins might consider trading Nathan, getting another club to take on 23 million dollars for a closer for two years would be problematic, especially a 35 year old reliever with bone chip issues in his pitching elbow.
If the Twins are really serious about keeping Mauer, trading Cuddyer to the Braves makes a lot of sense. We would be sending back a quality major league outfielder (Cabrera) who can play all three outfield positions, prospect(s), and about 5 million dollars in salary relief in 2010 and 6.5 or 7 million dollars in salary relief in 2011 (when they need the money for Mauer).
The Twins are moving into a new outdoor stadium this summer. They cannot have the potential loss of their franchise superstar player, Joe Mauer, looming over them for the entire 2010 season. They need to trade Cuddyer and get Mauer tied up long term before the season begins. Otherwise, Mauer will most likely be wearing NYY pinstripes in 2011.
Couch Tater
December 24th, 2009
8:33 pm
Merry Christmas. 2007 numbers.
Upshot: Team owners are getting rich like never before. During 2007, revenue for MLB’s 30 teams went up 7.7%, to $5.5 billion. The average team is now worth $472 million, 9.5% higher than last year and 143% more than when Forbes first calculated team values in 1998. Again the Bronx Bombers sit atop baseball with a value of $1.3 billion. George Steinbrenner, who paid $10 million for the team in 1973, could probably teach Warren Buffett a thing or two about investing
http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/16/baseball-team-values-biz-sports-baseball08-cx_mo_kb_0416baseballintro.html
alsim
December 24th, 2009
8:35 pm
Nice shoutouts to Decatur CD and Criminal Records!
Is Pearl Jam still around??
Dent
December 24th, 2009
8:35 pm
Chop Chop
You actually think with the pick up of a pitcher the Mets will have an adequate pitching staff? Aside from the injured Santana there is not one guy on that staff worth a darn. Also Jason Bay is doing everything he can to not go to the Mets! He probably will take less from the Sox to stay. Aside from Beltran and Wright there is not much there. Jose Reyes as talented as he is may end up the third best shortstop in the NL East. The Mets have alot of work to do.
While we are still the second best behind the Phillies, the Mets have quite a way to go to catch the Braves.
David O'Brien
December 24th, 2009
8:36 pm
Chuck James: I think the Braves have enough to match that Giants offer for DeRo, if they want to pay him that much. Just don’t know if they want to make that two-year commitment to him at that price, especially coming off of wrist surgery.
He lives in the north Atlanta suburbs, near McCann. He’s friends with a lot of guys on the team. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s prefer to play here over most places, if money was close to the same. But like I said, not sure if Braves want to make that commitment to him, or if they’d rather spend their money on a one-year commitment to Nady or some other free agent, or perhaps to Uggla if they have a trade in mind.
brian
December 24th, 2009
8:45 pm
what would you do DOB if you were the Braves? DeRo, Uggla, or Nady??
Joseph G
December 24th, 2009
8:48 pm
Is there any chance FW could get nelson Cruz from TX? With the addition of the 2 prospects from NY, it gives FW 2 more options to offer TX. Some have said TX is interested in signing Dye or Vlad, if this is the case would this make Cruz expendable in the right deal? Also TX has said they want to Josh Hamilton to RF, which would create a need for a CF. Coul Melky be included in a package for Cruz?
As for Uggla, who is Atlanta sending to FL, Melky straight up or would more have to be included?
Glaus was a good low risk/ high reward signing. Would anyone also try to sign Aubrey Huff as a possible back up 1st baseman (Glaus could slide over to 3rd to give CJ a rest). Huff could be a bat off the bench as well
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
8:48 pm
billy i cant show you a link to something i read a few years back before bad economic times started up , and before mlb network started national contract was 4 billion, but i dont think that was annual, it was over like 4 years probably.
Chuck James was Solid until the 6th!!!
December 24th, 2009
8:52 pm
Yeah, I’m definitely buying into the idea of having a well rounded TEAM. Everybody contributes every series type deal. Not relying heavily on 5-10 superstars. I think adding DeRosa’s versatility would be a perfect compliment to round off this team. That roster would define TEAM. Assuming they keep Melky. You have so much versatility and quality and quantity. Bobby would be in paradise. You can manuever DeRosa, Prado and Glaus off 1B. You can strategize Prado, Infante, DeRosa whichever looks good that day at 2B. Let Escobar ride it out at short and if God forbid he were to go down, Bobby has Infante, DeRosa and even Glaus to slot in that day, series, whatever. 3B same type of deal, rest Chipper appropriately during blowouts and have the option of DeRosa, Infante and Glaus if they feel he can handle throwing the ball across the diamond. I am assuming they won’t risk that though…
In the outfield Melky, McLouth, Diaz, Infante, Prado and DeRosa can play all 3 spots and if Melky is on the bench you can use him as a late inning defensive replacement, shift McLouth to LF and take Diaz or DeRosa out…. Even though you would go with Cabrera and McLouth in CF whenever you could. I like the fact that this would keep guys on their toes and make them all feel like contributors and thus would build up the teams chemistry and that is priceless. Because if you look into it there is not one guy in that whole mix of rotating, mixing and matching that would complain. They’re all team players. That is why I am open to an Uggla acquisition, I love his team oriented attitude. DeRosa is the same, as is Diaz and McLouth.
Thanks for the info DOB, I can’t see how that is risky signing up DeRosa for 2 years. He is in his prime and you can always flip him or Diaz at anytime because their versatility and bat are there and the price tag isn’t ridiculous by any means… Again, I really like the way this team is shaping up and the chemistry has the potential to be through the roof!
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
8:52 pm
why would ya want uggla, he doesnt want to switch positions and hes a sorry infielder , where we have alot of groundball pitchers. hed subtract more than he would add to this team
gcs
December 24th, 2009
8:54 pm
DOB says “bold”, I say “reckless”.
Wren did a good job of building a pitching staff, but last winter I questioned throwing so much money at a 35-year old Lowe and a good – not great – Japan League pitcher.
Offensively, the Braves are in the same spot they were a year ago with no power outside of McCann & Chipper. Wren did not address it last winter and Glaus is a BIG gamble and still not enough.
Dumping Glavine and Smoltz were the right moves but he could’ve been a little nicer about it.
I agree with offering Soriano arbitration but I don’t agree trading him for yet another disposable middle reliever (who btw is 0-6 in save opps).
Like his predecessor, Wren cannot seem to nail down anyone at first base. They basically ended up with nothing in the Salty, Elvis, etc. trade with Texas.
Throwing Glaus out there at first and trading JV for prospects appears to me like they are conceding the 2010 season until Freeman is ready – which itself is not a certainty.
Call me when 2011 Spring training opens.
.
JasonInFL
December 24th, 2009
8:54 pm
Still don’t like the Javy trade if we don’t get another good bat…I think that’s all we need…one more bat and we can be contenders to win it all. Wren does make his move with confidence. But, one more bat!
Merry Christmas DOB and the rest of the blogosphere!
ncgary
December 24th, 2009
9:00 pm
crawford and zobritz for prado melky rorhbough arody dunn jojo and cash
TennesseePaul
December 24th, 2009
9:06 pm
Merry Christmas everyone.
So glad to see the Braves pull in Jeff Bagwell to play firstbase. He was great in his youth and prime.
CB969
December 24th, 2009
9:07 pm
Who’s on first?
1999 Klesko
2000 Galarraga
2001 Rico Brogna
2002 BJ Surhoff
2003 Robert Fick
2004 Julio Franco
2005 LaRoche
2006 LaRoche
2007 Scott Thorman
2008 Teixeira
2009 Kotchman
2010 Glaus?
.
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
9:09 pm
team chemistry is highly over-rated. Asked Mark Lemke about it on the Braves radio delay one afternoon he said don’t put much stock in it, he bsically said without naming names, that team chemistry in 91-91 sucked, which shocked me because it looked like they had great chemistry hence the rally caps and such.
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
9:09 pm
91-92***
Ernest
December 24th, 2009
9:09 pm
Good post by Mountain Braves Fan @ 6:38! That is the kind of analysis and research one would expect from knowledgeable baseball fans. It still blows me away seeing the AJC article listing the recent trade with the Yankees listed as one of the worst by Wren, THE SAME DAY AS THE TRADE!!!
J.J.M.
December 24th, 2009
9:11 pm
kid cudi man on the moon
Heyward
December 24th, 2009
9:12 pm
no one is going to call you gcs based on your stupidity.