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3,133 comments Add your comment
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
1:12 pm
The Braves WILL NOT be okay if Jurrjens going down for an extended period of time.
In other words, Jair Jurrjens is the key to the team’s success in 2010? His presence or absence is the determining factor?
You bet.
ugaaccountant
February 16th, 2010
1:27 pm
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
12:20 pm
It’s just a little premature to already write Medlen off as a starter after just one season. Have you forgotten? He was the best pitcher in the minors even including Hanson at the time. Just remember, he got the call first.
If you really believe that the Braves called him up first because he was “better” then I’ve got some oceanfront property adjacent to Turner Field I’d like to sell you.
They called up Medlen because they needed to fill another couple of starts prior to Hanson being safe from becoming a super 2. It was a $ decision.
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
1:30 pm
That’s not “Doom and Gloom”my friend– those are just some pretty dang valid arguments.
Yeah, well, optimism is thinking all that could go right, will; and pessimism is thinking all that could go wrong, will. You got your homer-rose-colored-glasses-Pollyannas, and you got your just-bit-a-lemon-face-I’m-a-realist-doom-and-gloomers. Both types are on tilt most of the time, and both types are as close to being right as Warren Buffet is to being poor.
We’ve had a nice respite from the “I’m a realist, not a pessimist” types over the offseason, but now we have just a smidge, just a wink, just the barest flutter of a butterfly’s wings of adversity, and the naysayers rise up on a pedestal to proclaim the end of it all. And this in response to an MRI, is all, LOL. Have mercy, but what will you guys be like when somebody actually gets hurt?
Debbie D.
February 16th, 2010
1:30 pm
IT’S OVER!!!!!!!!
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
1:31 pm
No UGA, actually it was both reasons. They wanted to wait a bit on Hanson and Meds did have better numbers at the time of the call up. Get your story straight
Andy K.
February 16th, 2010
1:32 pm
ugaaccountant, however at the time, Medlen was on fire in the Minors and had been pitching quite well, so it was an even easier decision to make
Piedmont Blues
February 16th, 2010
1:34 pm
Jimmy Joe,
I’ll grant you this. Jair has experienced shoulder problems (as DOB pointed out), so any time he’s having more trouble, it’s worrisome. If the shoulder is “structurally sound,” as the team docs said, then he could be fine, but the club may have to watch his workload. And hope this isn’t going to be a chronic problem.
Still, I recall some folks in near-panic over the winter because the Braves hadn’t already signed Jurrjens to a lifetime contract …
DAP
February 16th, 2010
1:34 pm
im not completely on buzzkillington’s side on this one, but if we do lose jurrjens for the season (a bit premature speculation at this point) it really hurts the braves. there are things that could make up for it, but if it happens, the braves would be out their two best pitchers from last season. someone will have to step up.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
1:35 pm
O.J.-
Accountant is correct, remember, they were waiting on Glavine so Hanson could mature and not be a Super 2. Medlen didn’t project like Hanson so Super 2 was not the issue with him.
Piedmont Blues
February 16th, 2010
1:35 pm
DAP,
Jurrjens lost for the season? Have you seen the MRI? Jeez.
Piedmont Blues
February 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
Dr. Andrews,
Are you telling us everything?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilGGP9BDZs
Braveheart
February 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
If Jurrjens is Llewelyn, is Bobby the Sheriff? If so, and if Jair needs major surgery, do we blame the Coen brothers for lazy writing because Jair’s season didn’t die in an epic shootout in front of a thousand eyeballs, but rather unseen by everyone but a few surgeons standing around an operating table? And would those surgeons be considered the Mexicans?
StingerSplash
February 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
You know, every once in a while, the Braves will miss on a draft pick (Mike Kelly, anybody?). And then, there are those occasions when a decent pick never really pans out and finds he’s better at something else.
Like the 13th round pick from 1982. Some kid named Urban Meyer.
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
1:43 pm
Accountant is correct, remember, they were waiting on Glavine so Hanson could mature and not be a Super 2.
Oh, horsebleep. A conscious decision to keep a ready player in the minors because of an arb year at least two years in the future is so unlike the Braves past organizational philosophy that it barely countenances comment.
Besides, anyone who saw Hanson pitch at AAA early knows it wasn’t a money decision. Some of you guys have developed Super-2-on-the-brain, I think.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
1:44 pm
ncscoots-
If everything you say is true, then why didn’t he start the season in Atlanta?
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
1:45 pm
thickfreakness, no actually, he’s not. IT was both reasons, as I stated before
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
1:46 pm
Piedmont, I think DAP just wanted to remind us that Vazquez is no longer here, hence, Braves are already semi-doomed, skating on the thinnest ledge of competitive ability.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
1:48 pm
O.J.-
“no actually, he’s not”. Not what, Medlen is better than Hanson?
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
1:52 pm
thick, I think you may have misinterpreted my point, which was, the kid wasn’t ready for the bigs in April. I think the initial post was that Medlen came up before Hanson strictly as a measure to preserve Hanson’s arb status, and my response was that Hanson wasn’t up because he wasn’t READY to be up.
Do I think the Braves were heartbroken that Hanson needed a couple of months of seasoning? Shoot, no. Would they make his possible arb status in two or three years a primary reason for bringing him up or keeping him down? Hardly.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
1:52 pm
Markus-I’m not arguing with you about doom and gloom -you’ve alrady made up your mind. Go back to the post I commented on. You’re not bringing up any questions we might have (that I’ve freely acknowledged many time), Dude, you’ve definitively stated (with no room for doubt) that without JJ we’re screwed (your words) and that all our offensive additions would fail and the bullpen we’ve brought in would also fail.
Doom and gloom? Choose your own term then – whatever -but don’t claim you’re just raising valid questions when you already have decided that nothing the Braves might do will be successful. That is the ultimate in negativity and much less based in any kind of reality than what I’ve claimed.
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
1:53 pm
In his ESPN blog today, Buster had this stat, courtesy of ESPN research guru Mark Simon:
\With spring training opening this week, if you ask the question: Who’s going to have the best record in baseball? Well, these are the most seasons with the best record in baseball since the two-league format began in 1901:
Yankees: 30
Athletics: 9
Cardinals: 7
Reds: 6
Cubs: 6
Giants: 6
Braves: 6
Indians: 6
If you’re a believer that the Red Sox or Phillies are legit challengers to beat out the Yankees for the best record, consider this: The Red Sox have only had, or shared the best record in baseball five times. The Phillies have NEVER had the best record in baseball.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
1:54 pm
So the Braves are going to come out publicly and say, “Look we know Hanson is better than Glavine and Medlen, but we have decided to screw him out of a FA year. This is in our best interest, not Tommy’s”.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
1:55 pm
so unlike the Braves past organizational philosophy
“past… philosophy” meaning when el HomeBoy was at the helm? I tend to think the super two has some sway in the matter… maybe not the only reason, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it had an impact… But I doubt any team would ever admit to this. I would think the Union would have some problems with this course of action should it ever be acknowledged by a front office.
raindawg722
February 16th, 2010
1:57 pm
Interesting list. There’s a couple of teams on there that haven’t won a World Series in a long time.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
1:59 pm
but we have decided to screw him out of a FA year
Plus early arbitration…
They were sticking it to Boras, A-Rod, and every other money grabbin ball playin pants wearing mooch out there.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
2:00 pm
Y’all do realize that having questions is something all teams have and that those questions could just as easily work out as not?
So Glaus injured his shoulder. He rehabbed and returned at the end of the season – rusty, but able to play. He has been totally cleared by the Medical experts and it is an injury that is repairable and not career threatening. Y’all seriously believe he Braves signed him and never watched him work out or hit? Time for a reality check. If there were that many questions, he wouldn’t have been signed. Same with Wagner and Saito has had excellent seasons throughout his entire MLB career -even at hi current age.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:01 pm
ncscoots-
That logic is very easy to follow and admit that I took your AAA look as he was dominating and I do not know how he performed while there. So you meant that he was not dominating there giving the organization reason to believe he needed more time in the minors? If this is your argument, then I agree.
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
2:02 pm
Jair has already flown back here to Atlanta, so we probably won’t have to wait long for MRI results.
Lew
February 16th, 2010
2:05 pm
They’re not screwing a player out of an extra year of arb or closer to Free Agency, they’re playing within the rules and limiting to what the Collective bargaining Agreement gives them. Not a thing wrong with it.
If a player can’t succeed at a certain level for the first six years of their career, do they deserve that long term high end contract to begin with?
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:05 pm
ncscoots-
Hate to be this way, but who really gives a sh!t at this point. The guy is in our rotation as long as he is healthy and effective.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
2:06 pm
If there were that many questions, he wouldn’t have been signed.
Actually, if there were “that many questions” the Braves wouldn’t have offered a contract. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that a guy with no chance of playing would sign a paper guaranteeing him medical coverage and $1.75M in salary. Hell, I’d sign that paper knowing full well I couldn’t play.
That said, there are questions. And I think the Braves thought they were serious enough, hence the low base and 129% more in incentives.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
2:08 pm
They’re not screwing a player out of an extra year of arb or closer to Free Agency…if a player can’t succeed at a certain level for the first six years…
But this is a Braves rookie. He is certainly going to be super good for a super long time. It’s sent down from the heavens and written in stone.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:09 pm
Lew-
I really think Glauss will put up some big numbers. At 33, hitting between Chipper and McCann, he has a lot to prove. When did 33 become old? God, I’m a dinosaur if 33 is old.
Doom
February 16th, 2010
2:10 pm
That’s it folks. Not just ballgame!, but season!
See ya in 2011!
and Gloom
February 16th, 2010
2:11 pm
At least Cox will be retired then!
2011 or bust!
Andrew in PA
February 16th, 2010
2:13 pm
DOB,do you think you’ll have an update tonight?
DAP
February 16th, 2010
2:14 pm
Piedmont BLues, please pay attention to what your reading before responding with a “jeez…”
scoots I think DAP just wanted to remind us that Vazquez is no longer here, hence, Braves are already semi-doomed, skating on the thinnest ledge of competitive ability.
nah, just saying jurrjens going down (if he does…not trying to jump the gun) certinly DOES impact the team in a big way. lets not act like its no big deal.
The LINEUP? guy
February 16th, 2010
2:15 pm
UPDATE? ANYONE? DOB hasn’t posted in 8 minutes WTF?!
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:15 pm
Tennessee-
I would think a guy who was a World Series MVP, countless 30 homer seasons comming off a year in which he didn’t play, with no contract, would have no problem proving what type of player he is in the right situation. The money this year is not the issue with Glauss, the proving that he is worth a bigger contract that will take him to the age of 37-38 is the bigger issue for Glauss.
The HOMER guy
February 16th, 2010
2:16 pm
FIRE DOB!
ugaaccountant
February 16th, 2010
2:16 pm
Super2 has really only become a huge issue league wide in the past few years. That coincides with the timeframe the Braves went from being a top 5 to 10 payroll to a 10th to 15th payroll. This situation isn’t likely to change until we have new ownership so every decision the organization makes is against the backdrop of a middle of the pack payroll.
Plus, with all clubs being somewhat reluctant to bring up prospects, you now get guys called up that are more than ready for MLB the day they arrive. It only took Hanson 1 start before he was among the best pitchers in the NL. Longoria wasn’t too far out of the MVP conversation his 1st year. Howard was MVP in season 2 I think. Lincy Cy Young in his 1st and 2nd full seasons. Etc.
So what does this tell me? They wanted to wait on Hanson for the $$$$. His scouting reports were at the top of the game and his AA, AFL, spring training and AAA stats are all public record to view and realize that JoJo-Morton-Medlen-Glavine etc. were simply not better options.
Hanson was the first braves prospect in the Liberty era worth worrying about this for. Heyward is the second.
I’ll put my reputation where my mouth is. If Heyward hits only reasonably well, he still will not break camp with the team. I’ll say that’s between .270 and .330 in spring training, with corresponding success in obp, slugging, on the basepaths, in the field, etc. If he has a ridiculous spring, yes the organization will be forced/shamed to call him in. Or if he struggles it’s reasonable to leave him down. But the most likely result, something like .300 avg. with moderate power and good defense/speed, will see them find a reason to leave him down.
It’s clear as day to me that they aren’t viewing this through a 2010 filter but a next 7 years filter. Incidentally, I prefer the next 7 years filter because I plan to be a fan all that time and I don’t see our salary constraints easing anytime soon.
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
2:19 pm
It amazes me how quick everything turns to horrible. All hes doing is flying back to Atlanta to have a precautionary MRI. Could it be bad yes but it could just be inflammation. Don’t have a cow people.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
2:20 pm
No, uga is not right.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:26 pm
accountant-
During “the run”, did we ever start real well or did we survive to burst open in the second half? Hell, last year was almost a carbon copy of previous title success, but we let the lower tier teams dominate us. I could see us break camp with Diaz, Cabrera, McLouth and Schafer. Would we be any worse off if Heyward didn’t appear until June?
Matt Berliner
February 16th, 2010
2:30 pm
Yo DOB – How come the Braves don’t have a DVD of any kind available? Are there any documentaries or specials in the pipeline that you know of? Surley the 90’s gave us some great material that would be worthy of a DVD release. 1991/92 World Series, 1995 world series. Anything.
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
2:31 pm
Thick
I can promise you Schafer won’t break camp w/ the Braves unless Diaz, Cabrera, McLouth, or Heyward go down w/ injury.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:33 pm
ncscoots-
Just checked Hanson in 2009 at Gwinnett – 66 IP and 1.49 ERA. Gotta go with the accountant from UGA on this one. He did dominate there, was better than Glavine or Medlen, so there was no reason for him not to be in the rotation on April 14th, 2009. Unless, they wanted him under control for an additional year.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
2:34 pm
Matt Berliner, Dude, just do a google search if you really want to find out.
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
2:34 pm
thick, roger that, re your 2:05.
DAP, just messin’ with ya, bro, LOL.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:35 pm
P’Cola-
OK, I’ll hold you to that absolute.
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
2:36 pm
Yo DOB – How come the Braves don’t have a DVD of any kind available? Are there any documentaries or specials in the pipeline that you know of? — Matt Berliner
I’ve not answered you the previous times you asked me this question because 1. I have no idea if the Braves have any DVD available; 2. if they don’t have one now, did they have one during the ’90s that’s just out of production now?; and 3. if neither of the above is the case, then why not? Sorry, but I have no answers to any of those.
ugaaccountant
February 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
And in fairness, Medlen was having a very good couple of weeks right before his callup. He earned it also, just Hanson earned it first and more.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
2:38 pm
thickfreakness, here a bit from a Mark Bowman article when Medlen got called up
“Hanson, who is widely regarded as one of baseball’s top right-handed pitching prospects, will take a 1.99 ERA into his start on Saturday for Gwinnett. In 40 2/3 innings, he has registered 57 strikeouts, issued 13 walks and limited opponents to a .186 batting average.
While those numbers are impressive, they’ve been bested by Medlen, who has won each of his five decisions and recorded 44 strikeouts while issuing 10 walks in 37 1/3 innings. The youthful-looking hurler has limited opponents to a .152 batting average.
“It was really about who is throwing the best, and in Kris’ case, he hasn’t had a bad outing,” Wren said. “Every time he’s gone out there, he keeps getting better.”
The proof is in the pudding dude.
Half-A-Glass
February 16th, 2010
2:39 pm
Hope JJ is ok, but the down side is even if the MRI shows no problems, doesn’t mean squat. Remember Gonzo’s MRI that showed no problems a couple of years ago? Later tests showed otherwise and the surgery followed.
I personally am not going to start breathing again until JJ is throwing like JJ without much discomfort in about a month.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:40 pm
P’cola-
Just curious, why would our opening day CF from 2009 have absolutely no shot at making the team in 2010?
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
2:40 pm
thick, you’re certainly welcome to think he was ready in April, as is the beancounter. Might want to check some of the game logs, though, rather than his overall. I’m going by neither, only what I saw the single time I saw him pitch at AAA.
N8
February 16th, 2010
2:40 pm
Franchise!
CB
February 16th, 2010
2:42 pm
Major League Baseball!
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:43 pm
O.J.-
“the proof is in the pudding dude” – then what happened, why did Medlen pitch ineffectively the first month eventually moving to the pen while Hanson was dominating ML hitters?
MLH
February 16th, 2010
2:43 pm
Because we have better outfielders now than we did at the start of 2009
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
2:44 pm
Ballgame!
Season!
Franchise!
Universe!
Oh, wait…OK, maybe that’s a little much.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:44 pm
ncscoots-
too small a sample size.
N8
February 16th, 2010
2:45 pm
thickfreakness, I think when it comes to Schafer, the Braves will give him some time in AAA to just play everyday and take the swings he missed out on the past two years with the suspension and the injury.
I think DOB has made it clear, that Wren has made it clear that the Braves are still very high on him, but it was a bit of a stretch for the kid to make the jump last year, missing the 50 games in the minors the year before. To expect him to jump right back in would be silly after all the time he missed with the injury.
I fully expect the outfield to be McLouth in LF, Schafer in CF and Heyward in RF, opening day…… 2011.
Of course, if Schafer just tears it up this spring and shows zero sign of the injury slowing him down, he certainly could break camp with the team. But I don’t think he breaks camp with the Braves to sit on the bench.
He likely would be the first guy called up in the event of an injury to McLouth or poor play from Melky/Diaz. I guess a 3rd option is if Heyward makes the jump and struggle, and Schafer is tearing up AAA, we could possibly see Heyward sent back down and Schafer called up.
But I seriously doubt Schafer breaks camp with a starting job without a major injury to Heyward or McLouth.
Buzz Killington
February 16th, 2010
2:47 pm
“You don’t think the Phillies are thinking the same things: At 38 will Ibanez be the 1st half or 2nd half guy, can Polanco match the production of Feliz, will Rollins OBP improve from a horrid 2009, Is Utley’s hip sound, Is Hamels healthy, Is Lidge in decline, Will Baez be an effective set-up guy, Will we get more offensive production from our catcher, Can we really rely on a 48 yo 5th starter?”
Some of those aren’t even questions. Polanco is much better than Feliz. If he does match Feliz’s production, then Polanco’s having a sub-par season.
And even with Rollins’ poor season, Utley’s hip (and yet, he still hit 30+ HR), Hamels struggling, “no production from there catcher,” Lidge screwing up, Ibanez’s decline in the second half, they STILL won 93 games and the division and went to the WS again. So if those questions are answered, the Phillies are a 100+ win team, instead of a 90+ win team.
But I’ll play your game though. Let’s run through the Braves questions:
Can McCann finally see?
Will Glaus stay healthy? Will he produce?
Was Prado’s ‘09 season a fluke?
Will Chipper stay healthy? If so, will he produce?
Melyky Cabrera, WTF?
Is Nate McClouth actually worth anything?
Can Jason Heyward produce on the ML level?
Is Diaz a full-time starter?
Can Lowe bounce back?
Schafer? Yeah right.
Can Hudson bounce back?
Can Hanson avoid a sophomore slump?
Is Kawakami going to be better?
Can Wagner stay healthy? Will he produce?
Can Saito stay healthy? Will he produce?
Oh and the newest one:
Can Jurrjens stay healthy?
Unlike the Phils, if those questions aren’t answered, the Braves will barely win 75 games
BigBadBrave
February 16th, 2010
2:50 pm
DOB
Why do the Braves allow guys like Jair to pitch in leagues during the offseason? His arm needs as much rest as it can get.
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
2:51 pm
N8-
Wasn’t Schafer the longest of shots last Spring as well. I mean, Blanco had torn up the WBC for Venezula, J. Anderson was the man to beat out, I just don’t think you can speak in absolute terms about a guy with Schafer’s talent. He is good, real good and if he is better than Melky, then what do you do?
abwright
February 16th, 2010
2:52 pm
For those wondering why TH didn’t break camp with the Braves in 2009, remember that the Braves had five guys signed to contracts as starting pitchers at the end of camp: Lowe, Vazquez, Jurrjens, Kawakami, and Glavine.
When Glavine was not ready for his first start, the Braves filled in for Glavine with Jo Jo Reyes. When Reyes went down and Glavine was still not ready, the Braves called up Medlen, who was out-performing Hanson at AAA (based on ERA and WHIP), because Medlen had earned a chance to fill in and the Braves did not want to call up Hanson for two starts then send him back.
When the Braves released Glavine, Hanson was given the job to be one of the five starting pitchers.
There may have been a little Super 2 business when Medlen was called up instead of Hanson, but that amounted to two starts.
Based on Spring Training and the first month of the AAA season, Hanson was throwing too many pitches early in games (he only went four or five innings in his first few starts). TH had some things left to work out before being ready for the bigs.
RHR
February 16th, 2010
2:54 pm
I personally am not going to start breathing again until JJ is throwing like JJ without much discomfort in about a month.
There’s one down. Next?
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
2:55 pm
ugaaccountant
February 16th, 2010
1:27 pm
Looks like I don’t even have to respond to this posting, I think everyone else did just fine. Starting with..
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
1:31 pm
Andy K.
February 16th, 2010
1:32 pm
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
1:43 pm
I believe these postings offer my opinion on Medlen and your asinine comment.
Braveheart
February 16th, 2010
2:57 pm
I wish they’d do a DVD remembering Mexican Maddux’s glorious season for the Braves in 2008.
18 Wheels of Love
February 16th, 2010
2:57 pm
Wonder if Wren would consider a Smoltz or a Pedro should Jair be on the DL for some time? Or if he would even do anything at all and just go with Medlin?
Tiger Woods
February 16th, 2010
2:58 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news;_ylt=AmqzZVj0EtaIJdVSiE9mx0I5nYcB?slug=ys-expertpoll-10preseason1-sp
This is a joke, Jurjjens at 30 if healthy?? What you all think?
P'cola Brave
February 16th, 2010
3:00 pm
N8
I figure the outfield to look like that in ‘11 to. With Schafer in CF, McLouth in LF, Heyward in RF but my biggest concern is where the power comes from. Do they promote Freeman and take their lumps with all the young players and hope to be competitive enough or do they hold Freeman down again and search for a power bat for 1B? Just wondering your thoughts as I’ve thought the same on the outfield.
Braveheart
February 16th, 2010
3:01 pm
I personally am not going to start breathing again until JJ is throwing like JJ without much discomfort in about a month.
To which Tim Hudson responds, “I’m only just now pitching without discomfort for the first time since I was 13 years old. I have no doubt however that the daily discomfort will return in, oh, a month or two.”
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
3:01 pm
abwright: You are correct on all points (2:52). I wish some of those doing such radical revisionist history on the Hanson callup scenario would read your post carefully. While I don’t doubt that Super 2 might have become a decisive factor if it came down to it, the fact is, the overall set of circumstances — which you described accurately — made the decision a lot easier for the Braves.
Medlen had pitched at least a little better than Hanson in Triple-A to that point; Hanson really took off and started absolutely dominating Triple-A hitters there and going deeper into games after Medlen was called up by the Braves.
Half-A-Glass
February 16th, 2010
3:03 pm
If Schafer breaks camp with the Braves, then it means without a shadow of a doubt that Cox and company feel that ALL… I repeat ALL of Schafer’s struggles were due to his wrist. With the exception of the first week of the season, the guy struggled the entire time he was in the majors. He then struggled when sent back. He finally acknowledged the extent of the wrist injury and went down for the count. He really doesn’t have much to show as for his ability to hit the ball since the injury.
No matter what Schafer does in the spring, I don’t think the Braves can afford to take another chance on Schafer at the expense of one of the other outfielders until Shafer has proven himself again.
To me, 2009 spring training and one week of success at the big league level doesn’t erase the questions and doubts about Schafer’s ability. No matter what scouts say, the only proof of talent is when you arrive at the big league level and perform. Wrist or no wrist, big league pitching found they could get him out inside in no time flat. Wrist injury or not…. he looked pretty pathetic.
But again….. Cox is pretty stubborn. (can you say Kelly Johnson anyone?) If he is determined to break camp with Schafer, he’ll do so no matter what the circumstances were/are of Schafer’s past performance.
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
3:05 pm
Braveheart, I like that (2:57) suggestion. And how ’bout one chronicling the quick rise and fall of Jorge Sosa as a Braves starter?
Better yet, the tumultuous Bob Wickman Era in Braves history, with commentary from Andruw Jones (remember what ‘Dru said about Wickman when the Braves dumped the chunky closer? Classic.)
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
3:07 pm
No matter what scouts say, the only proof of talent is when you arrive at the big league level and perform. Wrist or no wrist, big league pitching found they could get him out inside in no time flat. Wrist injury or not…. he looked pretty pathetic.
So, you would say that his 150 ML ABs on a bad wrist are more indicative of his ability than the 1500 minor league ABs? No matter what the scouts say?
thickfreakness
February 16th, 2010
3:08 pm
Buzz-
“If he does match Feliz production, the Polanco’s having a sub-par season”.
Really: Feliz 12 ML season avg. .254 19 HR 78 RBI
Polanco 10 ML seasons avg. .303 10 HR 62 RBI
Basically, the NL has been below strength for the past 4 years because the Braves have been below strength. The Fillies have been squatters in the Brave’s Penthouse, even the Mets didn’t have the stones and they were better than your Fillies, (admit it, you live in Filly masquerading on this blog as a Brave fan) Your organization is worried sh!tless, why else would you trade one Cy Young for another while dismantling you Minor League system. Your organization obtained Halladay because he gave you one last chance to win the East. Rollins is old and it shows .296 OBP in 2009. Both he and Werth will bolt after this season leaving you with a Rule 5 CFer and a 39 yo LFer.
O.J.
February 16th, 2010
3:08 pm
thickfreakness, Majors and AAA are different dude, at that point in time, Medlen was better than Tommy, but once Medlen got to the majors, dude suffered, whereas Hanson did not.
TennesseePaul
February 16th, 2010
3:09 pm
thick: I’m sure Glaus has his own personal goals and issues. But to suggest the questions surrounding Glaus are minor to moot belies the fact that he signed a heavily incentive laden deal.
“Baseball is too unpredictable to gamble on short-term potential over long-term stability; no one, for example, knew Lee would require foot surgery, however minor. For the Phillies, the first back-to-back National League champions since the 1975-76 Reds, the choices are only getting more complex.
–Ken Rosenthal
Maybe I am missing something here in Ken’s article… but weren’t the:
‘77-’78 Dodgers back-to-back NL champions?
‘91-’92 Braves back-to-back NL champions?
‘95-’96 Braves back-to-back NL champions?
And didn’t those all come after the ‘75-’76 Reds?
Josh
February 16th, 2010
3:09 pm
DOB, you headed down to Florida on Thursday?
sidslidkid
February 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
Andruw on Wickman:
“We need guys who are willing to pitch and aren’t just waiting for one situation to come up,” Jones said. “If it wasn’t a save situation, [Wickman] wasn’t happy about [pitching]. It’s not fair to the team. It’s not fair to the manager the way [Wickman] was going about his business.”
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
TennPaul: I’m guessing he meant first back-to-back NL World Series champs since the Big Red Machine.
Braveheart
February 16th, 2010
3:12 pm
Could include footage of Chipper howling in laughter when Wickman fell over
David O'Brien
February 16th, 2010
3:12 pm
Josh: Yes
MZ
February 16th, 2010
3:13 pm
it just keeps getting better … Jason Isbell and 400 Unit coming to Hattiesburg in 3 weeks
stynes
February 16th, 2010
3:14 pm
So I’ll bite, DOB… what did AJ say? I remember it being something about Wickman not wanting to pitch in non-save situations or something like that but I don’t remember AJ’s quote.
lpad
February 16th, 2010
3:14 pm
The Phillies weren’t back-to-back World Series champs
Arkansas Transplant
February 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
Medlen once he got comfortable and settled down, he was very good.
DAP
February 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
DOB I’m guessing he meant first back-to-back NL World Series champs since the Big Red Machine.
that would be right either, since the phillies didnt win the world series back to back…am i misunderstanding something?
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
Wickman didn’t fall over…the big guy just jumped about a foot in the air
Jeff R
February 16th, 2010
3:16 pm
How about waiting for the MRI’s results before having Jurrjens under the knife and out for the season? Geez, a lot of you must really freak out when you go to the doctor with flu symptoms.
If I had to bet, I’d bet Jurrjens winds up resting his shoulder and then focuses more closely on conditioning.
Or he could go on the Kawakami regimen: pitch for 4 1/2 or 5 innings every five days and keep the pitch count down around 60. That’ll keep an arm and shoulder out of danger.
ncscoots
February 16th, 2010
3:16 pm
I’m guessing he meant first back-to-back NL World Series champs since the Big Red Machine.
Well, that would be even worse, LOL, considering they only won the WS once.
Half-A-Glass
February 16th, 2010
3:17 pm
“I personally am not going to start breathing again until JJ is throwing like JJ without much discomfort in about a month.”
Notice I used the operative statement “without much discomfort” instead of without pain.
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from a massage table in the LBC
February 16th, 2010
3:17 pm
While we’re making DVD’s, we can’t leave out the glorious 2009 debut of yours truly in a Braves uniform. An 8 dvd box set should easily cover all my professional at bats and spectacular plays from LF.
dmack2027
February 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
Personally, I find it very hard to believe that JJ could have done any structural damage to his arm in these early stages of spring training. I pitched in college, and for the first few days you really go easy on your arm. It may be different at this level, but I doubt JJ is cranking it up to 93 mph at this point in the year. Hopefully, he just strained some muscle and needs a little rest.
jeffrey d
February 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
Notice I used the operative statement “without much discomfort” instead of without pain.
Not to be rude, but shouldn’t you be passed out by now?
lpad
February 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
DOB, saw your comments about the Hanson Super Two thing and I have a question about Medlen. How do the braves view Medlen long-term? Is he a back of the bullpen guy or a starter?
I think that will really answer the question about the Super Two. If Medlen is viewed as a long-term starter, why did he lose the job after his dominant game against Arizona?
M
February 16th, 2010
3:20 pm
anything on mri results????