Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,249 comments Add your comment
Coach
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
Great move, He plays exactly the way I tell my kids not to play. Smirk on the face, pouts, no hussle. I don’t care how much talent the guy has…I’m glad he’s someone else’s problem.
LizDawg
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
Great trade! Way to go Frank Wren and will be glad to have the World Series back in ATL!
NO MORE BOBBY
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
Once again I predicted something right on here and you guys laughed at me. Told you Escobar was gone around All Star break.
When are you people gonna learn I know what I’m talking about?
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
Yunie’s first half stats -0 HR, .238 BA, .334 OBP, .284 SLG.
Not much need for Gonzalez to improve on that line.
Stuart
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
hmmm… so we get an older shortstop who will need to be replaced in the next few years… too bad we gave away elvis andrus (the all star) because yuni was supposed to be our future at that position… (whoops..!)
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:31 pm
No More Bobby-Well, you know what they say about broken clocks?
NORRIS
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Interesting that everyone said we didnt need another left handed bat and thats what we got.
Nick
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Lew! I TOLD YOU!
Greg O
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Nice story that appeared in Baseball America about Tim Collins back in May:
Blue Jays Score Big With Little Lefty Collins
By Kevin Gray
May 19, 2010
MANCHESTER, N.H.—Tim Collins is building a career in the largest city of New Hampshire, but his profession doesn’t involve a hammer and nails.
That was the original plan.
Undersized and undrafted, Collins was set to become a carpenter upon graduation from Worcester (Mass.) Technical High in 2007. He enrolled at Rhode Island CC, but two weeks before classes an American Legion baseball game changed everything.
The 5-foot-7 lefty made a relief appearance on a mound in Worcester, striking out 11 of 12 batters and freezing them with a big league curveball.
Luckily for Collins, then-Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi was attending the game to scout 6-foot-7 lefty Keith Landers, now a sophomore at Louisville.
Within days, the Blue Jays signed Collins, who, despite not having an agent, landed a $10,000 signing bonus and a contract that includes four years of college tuition ($7,500 per semester) down the road.
“I was never on the radar,” said Collins, who went 91-5 and threw a no-hitter in high school. “I was all set to work a construction job for the summer and the rest of my life. That’s what I went to (Worcester Technical High) for. Baseball was kind of a hobby.”
Little Guy, Big Numbers
The skinny southpaw reported to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League at age 17 and created a Disney-like story with every strikeout. In the past three seasons, Collins struck out 221 batters in his first 152 pro innings. Lefties hit a paltry .117 against Collins, primarily a setup man for Double-A New Hampshire this season.
Collins, 20, is one of the youngest players in the league, and, though small in stature, his strikeouts per nine innings (13.6 the past two seasons) stands head and shoulders above most full-time relievers in the minors.
Collins can get ahead with a four-seam fastball, clocked at 90-92 mph and occasionally touching 93, and deceive hitters with his 12-to-6 bending curve. The curve’s unique action makes it difficult to distinguish from a high fastball—until it’s too late.
“If you look at his career numbers, they’re actually pretty sick,” said Blue Jays pitching coordinator Dane Johnson. “They’re better than Hall of Fame numbers, though, obviously, it’s been done in the minor leagues. As long as he keeps counts in his favor and incorporates that curveball into the game plan, it’s going to be a long day for hitters. Down the road, I see him as a guy that’s not only capable of getting lefties out but righties as well.”
Collins mixes in a changeup and is working on a cutter he has yet to use in a game this year. An extremely high leg kick helps him generate velocity from his small frame. Imagine a whip that starts at his feet and ends at his hand, explained Fisher Cats pitching coach Tom Signore.
Collins can’t help but admire Tim Lincecum and Billy Wagner, with whom he shares much in common. And not just a lively fastball.
“Obviously, they are not your average pitchers, being a little shorter, but they are really hard throwers,” Collins said. “I’m the same way as far as trying to get everything I can out of my body.”
Rigorous offseason workouts at Cressey Performance in Hudson, Mass., helped Collins increase his weight to 172 pounds and his vertical leap from 33 to 37 inches.
An outstanding athlete, Collins was also his high school’s quarterback. Only a lack of size kept him off big league draft boards in 2007.
‘A Crazy Story’
If Collins hadn’t pitched that night in Worcester, he’d probably be framing a house this summer. Instead he’s building another career with the Blue Jays.
“It’s a crazy story. I was 17 years old. I’d never been out of the Northeast,” Collins said. “Suddenly I’m down there in the Gulf Coast League trying to find an apartment.
The diminutive southpaw was mistaken for an infielder on his first cab ride in Florida, and Indians minor leaguers reportedly poked fun at Collins—presumably for his lack of size—before an outing in the GCL.
“He’s a smaller guy, but he pitches like he’s 6-foot-5,” Fisher Cats catcher Brian Jeroloman said. “He has a pitcher’s mentality that when he steps on the mound, it’s his game.”
Last season, high Class A Florida State League hitters batted .199 against Collins, who earned a promotion to the Eastern League and at 19 was the youngest player in the Fisher Cats’ seven-year history. Collins in Double-A was knocked around for the first time as a pro, going 2-3, 5.68 in nine appearances last year, but he entered 2010 as Toronto’s No. 19 prospect.
He breezed through his first nine relief innings this season, allowing two hits and no runs. He hopes to reach the majors as a setup man or lefty specialist.
“It would be awesome. I feel like anybody in Double-A is close,” Collins said. “I’m only 20. I have a lot more to work on, but I guess my goal would be to get there within the next couple of years.
Johnson joked that Collins hopefully will stretch another six inches. Such comments are part of clubhouse culture—and nothing Collins hasn’t heard for his entire life.
“That’s always going to be part of the story,” he said. “I can’t say it doesn’t get old sometimes, but I do get a good laugh out of some of the jokes.”
Kevin Gray covers pro baseball for the New Hampshire Union Leader.
dpelfrey
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Some splits for Gonzalez
.288 avg interleague games
.273 avg on the road (.246 at home)
.319 avg with RISP (1.024 OPS)
.361 avg with RISP & 2 outs (1.106 OPS)
Seems like he’s been pretty clutch this year and has actually done better against NL pitching and away from Skydome. He has been in a cold spell lately, hitting only .215 last 28 days.
SWEET
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Great move! Lose the dead (cross-eyed) weight. Yunel is horrible and getting worse by the day. If we only got a 5 gallon bucket of balls for him, we win!
Braves Super Fan
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Yunel just didn’t get it here in Atl….. the game the other day where his careless toss to Glaus and his
missed call for the flyball were reminders that he is not real focused.
Talent not applied is a waste… Gonzalez will bring 3-5 years of great play @ SS and will be a solid addition to the Clubhouse. Solid Move for Mr Wren.
GTSteve
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
NORRIS
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
I think he bats right
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Stuart-You are perhaps aware that the Braves not only go a SS prospect in the tade, but have picked up several left side infielders in the draft and that they picked up Salcedo, a stud left side infield prospect this year?
Gonzalez only has an option for next year at what Yunel would have made in arb. Not like this is a long term deal or anything or that he has much to live up to after Yunie’s first half sleepwalk.
reality
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
News flash to those fools referencing Wren and the Teixera deal, Wren was not the GM when that trade was made. That move was executed by the great and infallible John Schuerholz.
Braves
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Pretty funny, the idea that Alex Gonzalez is a good player. What do you Braves fans think the chances are that he repeats his performance in the second half? He’s very likely to regress to his typical offensive performance, which is bad.
Listen Up!
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Hey all you naysayers! Remember when Wren signed Glaus and the negativity well was overflowing? Give it a month and then comment. Sounds like a good deal to me. Escobar sticks out like a sore thumb when you consider the overall team personality.
The Bird and Indian
July 14th, 2010
1:35 pm
Can everyone please stop saying Alex is a huge power bat and a great offensive threat. He is a career 294. OBP guy and has never been a power bat until this explosion this year that is bound to cool off.
Frankie Wren
July 14th, 2010
1:35 pm
Hate these Black Wednesday’s after the allstar game. Nothing ever seems to happen.
Gonna Miss Bobby, That's For Sure
July 14th, 2010
1:35 pm
Don’t know what happened with Escobar this year. Aside from his weakened production, he seemed like the one guy on the team who wasn’t enjoying himself. Maybe another guy on the team who’s tasted a World Series before will help get us back where we belong. That whole “intangibles” thing.
Arkansas Transplant
July 14th, 2010
1:35 pm
So, is everyone moaning about the escobar trade?
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:36 pm
Nick – I also refer you to my 1:31 post.
reno
July 14th, 2010
1:36 pm
The situation with Jo Jo Reyes had become much like the long-running angst-filled case with Jeff Francoeur – recurrent disappointment after early promise – only on much smaller scale, of course. I don’t think that anyone in ATL ever wanted to see JJ on the mound again in an ATL Braves uniform.
Yunel is greatly talented, no doubt, but struggles with self-conscious, psychological issues. Watch Prado when he has unsuccessful at-bat or makes mistake/error in field – he handles it like a determined, mature adult/professional. Prado’s passion and fire is evident, yet he doesn’t pout and posture, even as he makes it clear that he takes responsibility for his own success or failure. And he quickly puts the failure behind him, not allowing it to “take his head out of the game.” Yunel, on the other hand, struggled mightily with these very challenges that are surely part and parcel of baseball (and life).
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:36 pm
Transplant-Of course. Yunie was the best SS the Braves ever had.
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:37 pm
Hey, this spring, Yunel claimed he felt like he was at home. WE see what happened with his original domicile. Maybe he was trying to tell us something.
STEAL!!!
July 14th, 2010
1:37 pm
HEY FOOL!! YES IM TALKING TO YOU!! LOOK AT THE PROSPECTS IN THIS DEAL! I PITY THE FOOL WHO THINKS THIS WAS A BAD TRADE! YEAH THAT’S RIGHT! COLLINS WILL PITCH WELL IN THE BIGS SOON AND PASTORNICKY WILL BE OUR SS OF THE FUTURE. A STAR SS PROSPECT, INCREDIBLE INFIELDER. ESCY HAD TO GO. JOJO SHOULD’VE GONE A LONG TIME AGO BUT WHO KNEW WE’D GET THIS MUCH FROM EITHER OF THEM? NOBODY FOOL! I ANSWER MY OWN QUESTION AND PRESENT ANOTHER: WHERE ARE THE WREN-HATERS NOW? DID YOU MOVE TO PHILLY WHERE TURRIBLE FANS LIKE YOU BELONG? I HOPE SO! ALL THE FOOLS SHUTUP AND CLAP YO HANDS FOR THESE BRAVES! TOMAHAWK CHOP !!
johnnyd53221
July 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
Braves, even if he does regress he cant be any worse than what yunel did in the first half of the year. 0 homers and was LAST in the league in slugging. His potential is great but it is was just time to cut the cord
Careful With That Axe, Eugene!
July 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
Something that none of the Yunel appologists ever address…..what is the toll of having to coddle, babysit, scold and encourage Yunel on all the other guys in the clubhouse? These guys are adult. It only takes away from a players ability to take care of his own business if he feels like he has to constantly baby his team mate so his team mate doesnt fold.
Don’t believe this happened? Did you watch any of the games where Hudson, Chipper and some other guys in the dugout would have to come over and have a come to Jesus meeting with Yunel if things went badly during a game for him?
Just having another professional and adult in the clubhouse should be an improvement. Less drama should mean better results.
StingerSplash
July 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
I guess Bobby really wanted to enjoy the last two and a half months, so he had Escobar kicked to the curb.
Reality Check
July 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
It’s natural for all of us to dissect this trade, but I think it makes at least a little sense to see how the season pans out before we pass judgment either way. I know this: Escobar rarely gave a 100% effort on the field. Yes, he made some great plays, but he made stupid plays in equal proportion – what if we had lost Glaus for the season on that nonchalant throw the other night? What would all the great plays in the world have mattered then? If you don’t give 100% all the time, it just takes one brain-dead play like that to change everything. And I repeat, he never hustles.
When you go from a player with 0 homers and 20 RBI to a player with 17 homers and 60 RBI, it’s hard to see the negative. Maybe Esco is better defensively, but Gonzalez is adequate. And I’d rather have a guy hitting .220 with 30 homers and 100 RBI any day over a guy hitting .220 with no homers and 30 RBI. The results will tell us whether or not this was a good trade. Let’s just sit back, relax, and enjoy our march to October.
Maurice
July 14th, 2010
1:40 pm
Now can we get another outfielder with power?
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:40 pm
Bird and Indian-ACtually, Gonzalez’s 162 game averages included 17 HR and 70 RBI in addition to the low OBP. Maybe not a power bat, but certainly more than Yunel has provided HR wise throughout his carer and even ONE HR would have beaten his 1st half output. It’s all relative.
Arkansas Transplant
July 14th, 2010
1:40 pm
2 20 year olds in return, does anyone know anything about either of them? I see one is pitching in double A, that’s pretty good for a 20yr old.
Nick
July 14th, 2010
1:40 pm
Are you guys seriously already complaining about Alex Gonzalez? Anything we get from him is going to be better than what Esco was giving us (nothing). We also got rid of the cancer JoJo and ended up getting two good minor leaguers back. Now, Wren just needs to get us an OF and even I will start believing this team can make a run at the WS.
jay dubu
July 14th, 2010
1:41 pm
What is it with Wren and injured players?
@Casey, None of the 17 HR Gonzo has hit will help the Braves in the 2nd half. Let’s see how he does in the NL, and on the robotic Braves.
GTSteve
July 14th, 2010
1:41 pm
Careful With That Axe, Eugene!
July 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
Excellent
Curt
July 14th, 2010
1:42 pm
I never liked Yunel. From the beginning you could tell he had a bad attitude and let that attitude affect his play.
At worst, at the plate this is a wash. The Braves get someone who will fit better in the club house and wont let his attitude affect his defense or hitting.
At best the Braves add power and more consistent hitting, especially with RISP.
Hinske Da Man
July 14th, 2010
1:42 pm
Nice trade indeed. Guys and Gals, this clearly paves the way for Edward Salcedo to be our starting SS in a couple of years.
Gonzalez has a club option for next season which is around the same price of what Esco would have gotten in Arbitration, which is 2.5 million. So bring Gonzalez back and give Salcedo the rest of this season and all of next season in the minors and he will be about 21 or so when he gets to the majors.
Blue
July 14th, 2010
1:42 pm
Yeah, escoBEAST; performance issues from someone who is healthy and playing every day is EXACTLY like the INJURY issues that JJ is dealing with that has the potential to impact every 5th day or so. Nice comparison, braniac.
59bulldawg
July 14th, 2010
1:42 pm
@RRR. I bet you’re right on target with that. It could have been disasterous. I just knew Glaus had broken his wrist. That’s also the same game (I think) where he lost the popup just behind 2nd base. That game was a perfect example of Yunel not having his head in the game. I like the kid but this is a solid trade.
GTSteve
July 14th, 2010
1:42 pm
reposting for you Arkansas
Collins, 20, has appeared in 35 games for Double-A New Hampshire this season, with a 2.51 ERA, a .174 opponents’ batting average and 73 strikeouts with just 16 walks in 43.0 innings pitched. He was named to a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star in 2009 and was named by Baseball America as a High Class-A All-Star in 2008.
Pastornicky, 20, has batted .258 with six home runs, 35 RBIs at 24 stolen bases in 77 games for Class-A Dunedin this season. He was the Blue Jays’ fifth-round selection in the 2008 Draft.
TOM
July 14th, 2010
1:43 pm
And Last year they would have gotten Orlando Cabrera and Matt Holliday. Just another Epic Fail from Wren.
http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2009/7/14/949126/matt-holliday-to-the-braves
Joshua
July 14th, 2010
1:43 pm
What an unbelievable trade. I mean WOW all you can say. 17 HRs from the right side, and 2 nice looking prospects (one of those prospects is another SS for all you “what are we gonna do in the future” people), not to mention another solid looking left handed arm. I don’t think Wren is done yet either – we still have a lot of good trade bait. I mean we didn’t even TOUCH what we assumed would be required to go get that right handed bat we needed. This trade is so good I just cannot believe it.
ACE
July 14th, 2010
1:43 pm
Who traded Adam Wainwright?????
ABravesFan
July 14th, 2010
1:43 pm
Even just basing on 1st half stat, Yunel had a better OBP than A-Gon. Sure, Yunel’s SLG is horrible and A-Gon has those 17 HRs and quite a few doubles, but you got to wonder how much of that is due to the ball park.
Arkansas Transplant
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
Picking up those 2 propects may allow us more options for a power bat in the outfield. But I have to say, I’m not too keen on Hart yet. Not sure that he’s what I would like to see come to Atlanta.
Will
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
This is dumb for two reasons. They are giving up on Escobar too quickly. And they need an outfield bat, no reason they couldnt plug infante in at shortstop everyday if they were tired of escobar.
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
Hinske da Man-That’s exactly how I see it, but with the added extra of a good pitching prospect.
Dave Winfield
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
I think I’d be pretty P.O.’d if I were a Toronto fan right now. Braves GM’s done hoodwinked somebody again! Nice job Wren.
Chris from the Rock
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
Collins has 73 K’s in 43 IP in AA this year. That’s amazing for a guy who is 5′7″. He’ll make Kris Medlen seem like a giant comparatively.
Danno
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
After Yunel nearly broke Glaus’s hand by his lazt throw to first the other day Im glad hes gone. He is a loafer and a head case potentialy destructive to the team. Gonzo gives i\us a bat, good fielding and RBI power.
Hinske Da Man
July 14th, 2010
1:45 pm
Not to mention that if Gonzalez were to not hit a single HR the rest of the way, he would still finish way ahead of Esco in that category this year. Gonzo also has a better BA.
Shaun
July 14th, 2010
1:45 pm
Something that none of the Yunel appologists ever address…..what is the toll of having to coddle, babysit, scold and encourage Yunel on all the other guys in the clubhouse? These guys are adult. It only takes away from a players ability to take care of his own business if he feels like he has to constantly baby his team mate so his team mate doesnt fold.
Lots of speculation, as usual, about Escobar’s attitude and how much of a burden he is. Seems his attitude probably played a roll in the trade but there is absolutely no way to know how much of a roll it played. Can we please stop speculating about this side of things?
How about we talk about Gonzalez’s better UZR/150 and that the Braves gain more power? Again, I guarantee you if Yunel was hitting well above average, he’d still be here, personality issues or not.
TennesseePaul
July 14th, 2010
1:45 pm
Tim Collins… 20 years old. batters are hitting .174 against him at AA and he’s got a K/9 rate of 15.28 and a WHIP of 1.000
CSpin
July 14th, 2010
1:46 pm
Can anyone tell me how often the two teams w/ the best records in the first half of the season actually make it to the WS that year?
Arkansas Transplant
July 14th, 2010
1:46 pm
Here’s a write up I found on one of the guys we got in return.
20) Tim Collins, LHP, Grade C: Continues to put up outstanding statistics, pretty good stuff considering his 5-7 height. Should make a fine LOOGY. Note that other Grade C guys listed below (particularly Ahrens, Dopirak, Liebel, Magnuson, Tolisano, and Pastornicky) could easily slot in here, but I wanted to point Collins out since he’s very interesting.
TennBraveFan
July 14th, 2010
1:46 pm
This is a bittersweet trade in my opinion. The upside for Yunel was tremendous, but he doesn’t have the head to ever reach that potential. Gonzalez is having a career year, but don’t automatically bat him cleanup or anything. Let him be what he is, a 6 or 7 hole hitter that can provide some pop. Lets face it, if he hits 240 with 1 HR and 20 RBIs in the 2nd half he has produced more than Escobar.
GT Fan
July 14th, 2010
1:46 pm
What bothers me is Gonzalez at the plate is basically just like Andruw was when we let him walk. It’s basically a HR or nothing. His average is mediocre, but his OBP is terrible. The only Braves whose OBP isn’t at least 20 points higher are McClouth, Diaz (whose numbers haven’t recovered from his early struggles) and our pitchers. He has 65 Ks to 17 BBs. He’s basically the exact opposite of the offensive strategy the Braves have employed this season.
Shaun
July 14th, 2010
1:47 pm
Not to mention that if Gonzalez were to not hit a single HR the rest of the way, he would still finish way ahead of Esco in that category this year. Gonzo also has a better BA.
Well, if Gonzalez does not his a single HR the rest of the way, that really doesn’t help the Braves too much. All that matters is what these players do from here on out. And I think at worst it’s a wash with the Braves probably having a slight edge given that Gonzalez is slightly better defensively and he has more power.
WTF?
July 14th, 2010
1:47 pm
braves also just traded Brian McCann so they could free up room to sign Deion Sanders and Brian Jordan, so they can try to re-create the same miserable magic of the 90’s
jay dubu
July 14th, 2010
1:47 pm
I like Escobar because he was an original Brave. Some of you have mentioned Frenchy…The Braves got nothing in return for Frenchy and nothing for Tex, and unless the two prospects are super studs, this is a bad trade,.
Besides, who’ll play SS next season?
NO MORE BOBBY
July 14th, 2010
1:47 pm
NO MORE TRADES!!! Or it will funk up the chemistry that has worked so well first half.
basebsports fan
July 14th, 2010
1:47 pm
Now, when do we trade McCLOUTH? I would have made that my first trade.
sports fan
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
Tom-What you don’t seem to realize is that Holliday would have been a two month rental and likely wouldn’t have taken us to the playoffs. All that for ONLY YUnel hitting close to .300. At this point in time we would have nothing from that deal.
This way we have two 20 year old prospects and a SS for next season – kind of like the Glaus addition this year to give Freeman time to develop more. Same with Gonzalez and Salcedo.
The Dude
July 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
Buy High, Sell Low.
How’s that young kid we traded a couple of years ago for a rental…I think his name was Elvis Andrus…Oh yeah, he was in the all star game last night.
OK
July 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
It’s a step in the right direction giving up a little defense for more offense, but I would have liked to see us go for more of a power hitter… if the right deal was out there…
JORDAN
July 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
I DONT LIKE THIS TRADE. ESCOBAR IS HAVING A BAD YEAR BUT IS A GOOD HITTER. I FULLY EXPECTED HIM TO HIT BIG IN THE 2ND HALF. THE RUNS HE SAVES ON DEFENSE IS HUGE. THE BRAVES WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE WHEN HES GONE. I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT JOJO REYES BUT I THINK TRADING ESCOBAR IS A BAD MOVE. GONZALEZ HAS POWER BUT IS A CAREER .248 HITTER.. I BET ESCOBAR WILL ENDING UP HITTING HIGHER THEN THAT THIS SEASON. YEH HE HASNT HIT ANY HOME RUNS BUT I THINK HE WOULDA CAME UP BIG IN THE 2ND HALF. I DONT LIKE HIS LAPSES HE HAS BUT YOU GOT TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD. HIS DEFENSE WAS BEST IN LEAGUE. BAD MOVE BRAVES BUT HOPE IT WORLS OUT WELL
supa
July 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
Keeping to recent form (e.g. McGriff, Tex, Frenchy, Schaffer, Heyward), when we get a new player, I predict that Gonzalez will hit a home run on Thursday.
B-ham Dawg
July 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
bvillebaron… You are crazy. Sure yunel was in the dog house with bobby but if he was producing then he wouldn’t have been traded. as for a powering hitting right hander does troy glaus not qualify?
Bailey
July 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
For those of you questioning Gonzalez’s defense, he has only two more errors than Escobar, and that is on the turf in Toronto. He may only be batting .258, but Yunel is hitting .238. As far as the clubhouse, Gonzalez is from Venezuela, the same country as Martin Prado, so I would assume Prado would not have a problem turning two with a fellow countryman. Now, for those wanting to know future plans, the plan is to figure that out in the offseason. IF Chipper retires, we get a lot of money back to spend for next year, and IF Wren can dump Lowe, they get even more to spend. Let’s not worry about trading one starter for another. If we had traded Escobar for unproven prospects only, that would have been stupid, but this was a good trade for us, but I dont think the Braves are done.
Jerry
July 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
Yunel, had a great glove and a better stick than he has shown this year. He had to go, you don’t make that many mental errors and stay on a team, especially one with postseason aspirations. He obviously wasn’t the same after they dfa’d Brayan Pena. His stats may say otherwise but his demeanor didn’t. Got into a lot incidents and benchings not too far after. Don’t be surprised if he ends up with the Royals, and plays better again. Best of luck to you, Yunel.
kirkinga
July 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
Unless this is a precursor to another trade or series of trades, this move alone is not one that makes the Braves demonstrably better offensively. The Braves don’t appear to be better defensively and may have taken a step back.
I hope Yunel will flourish playing for another team/manager.
With Andruw,,Francouer, KJ, and now Yunel gone, who will be the new whipping boy?
Omar
July 14th, 2010
1:50 pm
Hopefully this is not the only move they make, because we are not the much better with this trade alone.
Shaun
July 14th, 2010
1:50 pm
GT Fan, yes, the Braves are going to have to deal with outs with Gonzalez. But his power helps to make up for that a little. Also, Andruw Jones was an outfielder and Gonzalez is a shortstop. A shortstop that hits like that is not the same as an outfielder who hits like that.
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:50 pm
Shaun-One plus one equals two. No need for a Sabremetric equation to figure it out about Yunie and his attitude.
Pedro
July 14th, 2010
1:50 pm
I don’t know what to think of this deal. I guess it helps for now, but I’d almost rather take my chances with Yunel in the 2nd half. He has good 2nd half numbers in his career. Here are Yunel and Gonzalez’s career numbers:
Yunel Escobar: 27 yr old, .291 AVG / .368 OBP / 12 HR / 80 R / 70 RBI
Alex Gonzalez: 33 yr old, .248 AVG / .294 OBP / 12 HR / 50 R / 55 RBI
Which would you want on your team?
Frankie Wren
July 14th, 2010
1:51 pm
Prado has to be happy having a fellow Venezualan playing side by side(along with Omar).
sicttc
July 14th, 2010
1:51 pm
This is the best possible news!!!!! The “defensive-genius-yet-LARGE-pain-in-the-arse” Yunel is gone. He had to go. A lazy lob to our MVP at IB and damn near knocking him out of the season probably gave Bobby a seizure and was the final straw for Esco. Bobby has a strange comment in the AJC after that game, saying “I have never seen him make a throw like that” (translation: “That SOB just pulled another boneheaded, mental-midget play out of his ass, and I’ve seen enough of them from this POS. He is toast”.
Chemistry is King in the Braves clubhouse, and I think this also has to betray the fact that Esco was disrupting chemistry, a lot more than we would ever hear about outside the clubhouse walls.
Good riddance. Like that scout was quoted to say of Esco: “He isn’t as good as he thinks he is.” Ya got that right.
Frankie Wren
July 14th, 2010
1:51 pm
Omar,
Check the standings lately?
ncscoots
July 14th, 2010
1:51 pm
given that Gonzalez is slightly better defensively
Shaun, is it that you think that if you post that tripe often enough that someone will eventually believe it?
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:52 pm
Jordan-You fully expected Yunel to bounce back? Why didn’t you let the Braves know that?
Shaun
July 14th, 2010
1:52 pm
The Braves don’t appear to be better defensively and may have taken a step back.
Absolutely not true. Again, Gonzalez has been better defensively according to advanced defensive metrics that take into account range and plays made; and this is not based on looking at just this season but the past three calendar years. Check out FanGraphs and you’ll see.
supa
July 14th, 2010
1:52 pm
JS made a lot of stellar moves. He was probably right 80% of the time. No GM can touch that. But his worst move will probably go down as the Tex trade. Netfali Perez and Elvis Andrus are young all-stars. Salty still has huge upside potential. And Harrison is a major league caliber pitcher.
Debbie
July 14th, 2010
1:53 pm
Frank, you just have to kill the party don’t you? Oh last night was so fun. Enjoying watching our boys get to enjoy the all-star game and look forward to winning the world series as the family they have become. Now this! This is such stupid timing and a stupid move. I hope and pray for Yunel that he is able to have a team and management that will appreciate him for the tremendous talent that he is. Yunel used to have to swagger and it was great. The Braves obviously don’t want the strong personality that comes with someone who has swagger so they made him into a lifeless drone. That was frustrating to him and them. I hope Alex Gonzalez is a great fit here. I know the Blue Jays are a very lucky team to get our Yunel.
Lew
July 14th, 2010
1:53 pm
Pedro-We would have preferred the YUnel of the past couple years, actually. Why not look up carrer first half stats and find that Yunels’ were nowhere close?
Pameeeeeeeeee
July 14th, 2010
1:53 pm
I said last week when everyone was speaking to what the Braves needed is that Escobar needs to do something. We could not continue to have a hold in his hitting spot. I’ll welcome Gonzalez.
Before I could get on and congratulate McFann for the McCann MVP double I hear this on 680 at lunch.
I know she always want doubles and darned if that is not what he hit.LOL
Mark Johnson
July 14th, 2010
1:53 pm
Move A-Gon to 3rd and Infante to short…at least next season when Chipper is gone….
Bob Horner's Blonde Mullet
July 14th, 2010
1:54 pm
Yunel was clutch at the plate, but his recent errors cost him. He’ll be great in Canada. Braves will be fine –
Spud Webb
July 14th, 2010
1:54 pm
I love it, yea, wren sucks, I mean, hows this team in first anyways?? LOL, what a bad signing that glaus was and hinske. And jeez, Melky, he had a horrible start…wait a second….Wren knows what he’s doing. Like it or not. He’s on a tight budget and doing very, very well with it. This is why I love atlanta, jump on wren and never get off. And the andrus trade, that was everybodies favorite, JS’s move.
Get it together folks, some of you act like Escobar was the next great thing. Guy is 28 years old and a GIANT headcase. Jeff George syndrome, million dollar athlete, 10 cent head.
Killer81
July 14th, 2010
1:55 pm
He was a head case; but he was also only 24 years old. What have we turned into….Old Players Club, another trade for someone who is a free agent after the season and we don’t have the money to re-sign……
NL East
July 14th, 2010
1:55 pm
Given the times, great trade! I hope the defense is an improvement as well. Escobar can hit, as he proved last year, but the D is questionable from time to time.
Gigga
July 14th, 2010
1:55 pm
From a Toronto blog:
To all those questioning the deal? It’s very simple: Buy low – Sell High. Gonzalez is an old SS who is exceeding his career numbers by a long shot, and Escobar is a young SS who is presently playing below his career numbers. And Gonzalez’ career year isn’t getting the Jays into the playoffs this year, right? Which player with the following career averages would you rather have for the next couple of years?
A) 27 yr old, .291 AVG / .368 OBP / 12 HR / 80 R / 70 RBI
B) 33 yr old, .248 AVG / .294 OBP / 12 HR / 50 R / 55 RBI
The answer is A) Escobar. Smart move, plain and simple
Joshua
July 14th, 2010
1:55 pm
@kirkinga
Ok replacing a guy with 0 home runs with a guy with 17 home runs does not make us demonstrably better? I would love to hear whatever logic led you to that conclusion.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
Gonzalez has a reasonable club option so he will be here next year. I like the deal even though I like Yunel. When you are trying to win, you can’t have your personal feelings wrapped in a player.
MCclouth maybe the next to go, Red Sox maybe?
TennesseePaul
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
News flash to those fools referencing Wren and the Teixera deal, Wren was not the GM when that trade was made.
Depends on which end of the deal you speak. Wren traded a mega-star switch hitting slugger at first base at the trade deadline for not Justin Smoak caliber player. Correct to point out that Wren was not at the helm when the Braves acquired Teixeira for excess depth of Catcher (keeping All-Star MVP McCann), short-stop (keeping Lillbridge and Yunel), and pitchers (keeping Hanson, et al)
JBoog1285
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
Killer81 – Yunel is actually 27.
Shaun
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
Alex Gonzalez’s Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 defensive games: 8
Yunel Escobar’s UZR/150: 4.4
THE OBGYN
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
Bad Trade? Do you watch the games? Esco while he does make some rediculous plays on occasion he goes blank at times. He appears lazy and aloof. A.G. hasn’t ever been accused of that. I see this as trading for a guy having a career year and for a short stop of the future. Jo Jo was more of a trash throw in for us.
It’s a good start for us to be agressive and we didn’t loose any real pieces for the future for a change we gained two.
Gone Viral
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
“And Last year they would have gotten Orlando Cabrera and Matt Holliday.”
And then watched Holliday sign elsewhere in the offseason and get a .612 OPS out of Cabrera this year…
Did you put -any- thought into that post whatsoever?
Shaun
July 14th, 2010
1:56 pm
Alex Gonzalez’s Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 defensive games over the last three calendar years: 8
Yunel Escobar’s UZR/150 over the last three calendar years: 4.4