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378 comments Add your comment
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:33 pm
northbeach Scott- I keed hoping if I ignore the Escobrat posts, they will end. They just don’t get it.
Tim
July 31st, 2010
6:34 pm
stupid trade giving up Blanco for Ankiel. Ankiel only has 4 hrs. Farnsworth for Chavez is probably a wash.
ReddJonn68
July 31st, 2010
6:34 pm
Well Jesse Stone if it were not for a decent spring J-Hey would still be on the farm, if not for Chipper & Hank joining the bandwagon. Booby is still in charge of every move made below him. I say Collins is gonna come back to haunt us.
StingerSplash
July 31st, 2010
6:35 pm
Yunel needed a change of venue. He needed to go, and the Braves needed him to go. There’s no guarantee his hot streak in Toronto would have occurred in a Braves uniform.
Besides, since the trade, the Blue Jays have had nine games against the Orioles and Royals.
I’m just glad the Braves were able to get anything at all in return for Gas Can.
1eyedJack
July 31st, 2010
6:35 pm
The playoffs are about pitching and the Braves are still susceptable to left-handed pitching. Come to think of it…there’s plenty of left-handed pitching in the NL East they’ll have to navigate first.
Loved Blanco…great heart, good kid. We need power if we can’t play small ball.
Chavez for Farnsworth…thank you Drayton.
Collins, we’ll, I don’t think height precludes one from throwing the ball over the plate, and 96mph, he’s got to be freaky. Sorry kid, we hardly knew ya.
come on bobby
July 31st, 2010
6:35 pm
Like someone said The bad call by ump. The Mgr not getting JJ out of game in time. Milkey’s was just a slip, it happens.
Ist base is a BIG DAMN PROBLEM…Bring Up Freeman!
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:35 pm
Yeah, no other GM or scout in baseball would’ve traded Blanco for Ankiel, right? Sarcasm off.
Nick Blase
July 31st, 2010
6:36 pm
How many games does Bobby Cox have to give away from GROSS mishadling of pitchers before the fans just stop coming. This has been going on for years!! The Braves have a great team that is being choked by a manager who should be a spectator. A retard could see JJ was getting pelted today. His pitches had flattened out. Obviously, neither McDowell or Bobby could see it. Can we please get a manager who is not just a “nice guy”, but is ready to take a great team to the “Big Dance”, cause it ain’t Bobby!!! Merry Christmas, Cincy, Philly and St Louis. The braves are giving you all early gifts by getting out of your way, since Bobby is taking them to the sewer!!!
David O'Brien
July 31st, 2010
6:36 pm
Some of you have asked about what the scouts are telling me on the youngster we got from Detroit…I am having trouble with the wifi here at thr Vortex and cant get to Rosenthals or MLBTraderumors or even Bill Shanks website so ill have to get back to you. I am due a few days off here Monday so I will try and track some stuff down after I catch a show next week.
Rhino
July 31st, 2010
6:36 pm
Hopefully Farnsworth pitches like he did the last time he was in Atlanta.
http://www.rhinorant.com
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:36 pm
Listening to Thom Breneman, who is a Reds announcer, you would think the Reds had all the best players and is the best team ever in baseball.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
6:36 pm
Troy Glaus just really effin sucks. It’s like only getting two outs (or even one out) when Glaus is scheduled to hit in an inning. He sucks at 1B too. I can’t even stand the sight of him anymore un less he is on the bench.
BravesFan79
July 31st, 2010
6:38 pm
Ankieldidroids: Arent there more than enough people in sports to hate. I mean you got Pacman Jones, Vick, Josh Howard “we all know blacks dont do the pledge of allegiance, screw America”
Travis Henry and his 11 kid by 11 women “but judge i done spent all my $ on ice so no i kant do no child support” Out of all the athletes that are truly scumbags… you pick on someone that possibly did roids to come back from a serious injury so he could pitch again. You never heard Ankiel throw teammates under the bus, beat women, womanize, spread diseases like AIDS like the ex NFL players, no… hes a good guy, and a great guy to have in the clubhouse. But i guess you gotta find something to be negative about huh?
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:38 pm
ReddJohn- Do you really think Heyward would still be on the farm now? or is that just a retarded statement you made to fit your argument?
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:38 pm
What would it hurt for the Braves to give Freddie Freeman a try? He could’nt do any worse than Troy Glaus. Right now he is about the most pathetic player in MLB. Flashed real quick in May but has burned out with bad knees.
Andy
July 31st, 2010
6:39 pm
Folks, this is a great trade for the Braves. Ankiel was a starting OF for the Cardinals just two years back and can stroke the ball. We got him for a fourth OF that was really a AAA outfielder and a minor league pitcher that is a wild card but will probably stay in the minors. Getting Farnsworth for Chavez means we definitely got the better end of this trade. Farnsworth is a great reliever that we will need down the stretch. The only weak reliever we have now is KK. He will be used when the starters have a bad day as a long middle reliever and that’s it.
StingerSplash
July 31st, 2010
6:39 pm
Glaus is in serious need of a day off.
Harrison Coburn
July 31st, 2010
6:40 pm
This is a good trade by far for the Braves, no question. Yea, maybe Farnsworth had a bad game in the NLCS, but closers blow saves. Not only that he is not our closer! He is a great middle releiver who has posted a great ERA, and he completes the Braves bullpen filling in that joke they call Jesse Chavez. And with O’ Flaherty sick as hell, we need some bullpen depth. Ankiel might not be the best option but he has been red hot since July 22, and he had a phenomenal 2008 season, in only 120 games. If he stays healthy he will helo this team dramatically, especially with the health problems our outfield has had this year. Be honest whooo would you rather have on the hill this NLCS, Chavez or Farnsworth. NO Question. And both players have contract options for next year. Also we acquired the 8th best prospect in the Tigers system, who could very much affect the future of the Braves. IF your going to complain about anything, complain about losing Mitch Jones. Thank you Atlanta
come on bobby
July 31st, 2010
6:41 pm
Thats what he gets paid for kerryb.
Should have pulled jj after he was hit.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:41 pm
Kawakami in the pen. When we wave the white flag, it has a large red circle in the middle.
mscoast brave
July 31st, 2010
6:41 pm
Heck is LaRoche available
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:41 pm
Dunn just made Voto look bad.
tim golden
July 31st, 2010
6:41 pm
At least Ankiel can throw a baseball straight – bench Melky – laughing after his bad throw – and Glaus at first – why didn’t we get a first baseman. Glaus is a joke. Batting 100 for the last two months and batting fifth with no homers. Coming on Wren – you tried to give him another chance – move on…..Adam Dunn at first – gives us power. You need a centerfielder and first baseman.
1eyedJack
July 31st, 2010
6:43 pm
I have been told that Glaus is a second half player. Well, somebody needs to b1tch slap him and wake him up. Call up Freeman and let’s see what he can do. Arbitration be d@mned! We need a right-handed bat with power, and he would certainly be better with the glove.
StingerSplash
July 31st, 2010
6:44 pm
Ankiel will help but the Braves still haven’t addressed the need for a right-handed hitter.
Maybe someone will tell Melky tonight that the series is really over and he’ll leave for Atlanta early and we won’t have to watch the specter of that … throw … again.
dw7782
July 31st, 2010
6:44 pm
what a croc, this is just a plain stupid trade.
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:44 pm
I think Ankiel will be good here. He’s been hurt most of the year and has played only 27 games. Also, did’nt have much protection in that lineup. I know he has a cannon for an arm so between him and Heyward teams are going to have to think twice about running. Farnsworth has been good for the Royals all year. Our pen is going to be loaded with power arms.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
6:44 pm
One cool thing about trading Jesse Chavez is that the Braves got one of the few good games out of him last night. It will probably be two or three rough outings for Chavez for the Royals before he has another good game again.
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:45 pm
Freeman is a left handed hitter.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:45 pm
we got better in the pen, and we got an outfielder who is a bona fide major leaguer, not a AAAA player. How is it stupid?
Rooferdawg
July 31st, 2010
6:46 pm
This is from MLB.com
The Tigers’ big activity at the non-waiver Trade Deadline was simply competing a minor transaction. Detroit traded outfielder Wilkin Ramirez to Atlanta for a player to be named or cash.
Detroit must choose the player or the cash by Nov. 20.
The Tigers designated Ramirez for assignment on Wednesday to make room for Jhonny Peralta on the 40-man roster. Detroit had 10 days to try to trade him or outright him to Toledo, but they got the deal done in three.
Thus, Ramirez went from the starting lineup in the 2010 Futures Game to the waiver wire to a new organization in less than three weeks. He entered Saturday with a .230 average between Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie, homering 19 times with 56 RBIs. He also has struck out 144 times in 400 plate appearances.
It’s a microcosm of Ramirez’s career to date. He has tremendous power and speed potential, evidenced by a 19-homer, 27-steal season at Erie two years ago, but has never put it all together for a breakthrough as a professional player.
For all the ups and downs of Ramirez’s career over seven Minor League seasons, he’s still just 24 years old. A change of scenery could be the spark he needs to reach the potential the Tigers saw in the multi-tooled athlete they signed as a teenager in 2002.
ReddJonn68
July 31st, 2010
6:47 pm
Nick Blase right on point how much loyalty do you give someone who has underachieved. I’m sorry guys Cox definitely would have been replaced on any other MLB team. The press conference would have went something like this ” Bobby has done a fine job for this organization, but we have decided to go in another direction ….etc,etc”
rob
July 31st, 2010
6:47 pm
1eyedjack – he is a second half player – second half of may. He is just as bad as mcOUT now
1eyedJack
July 31st, 2010
6:47 pm
D@mn, well, then that sucks but hey, give him a shot anyway.
come on bobby
July 31st, 2010
6:48 pm
Everyone almost on Braves are lefties. kerryb – Freedman can hit!
SoCalBrave
July 31st, 2010
6:49 pm
I can’t believe all the negative thoughts about this trade!! Blanco is a nice bench player, good as a pinch runner, defensive sub, but he will never an everyday starter… Tim Collins has great stuff, but he’s not gonna be a starter in the majors, he’s gonna be a relief pitcher, he’ll have a nice carrer, but it will be a short, injury plagued one because he’s only 5′7″ 155lbs!!
That being said, what wins in october is the bullpen, and now we have arguably the best one in the NL. I wish we would have gotten a right handed hitter, but Ankiel is killing it at the plate right now and should play center everyday. Platoon Diaz and Melky on left and use Melky to give some days off to Ankiel and Heyward. That also allows us to use Hinske on first more often and give Glaus a much needed rest.
I would grade it a B- trade.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:50 pm
These are the same folks that were whining last year when we traded Kotchman for Laroche.
rob
July 31st, 2010
6:51 pm
if we kept Laroche we would be at least 4-5 games better
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:52 pm
come on Bobby, the poster said he was a right handed hitter, I was just corrected him.
come on bobby
July 31st, 2010
6:52 pm
Mitch Jones…..better than Wilken R.
ben
July 31st, 2010
6:52 pm
Not as much I hated the Escobar-Gonzalez trade…but I still don’t like it. I don’t see Ankiel being a big-time contributor with his bat (he’s coming back from injury, after all). And Farnsworth…he left us for the Yankees, as I recall. He sure choked it up against the Astros in the playoffs…so not really a big time pitcher. Didn’t we score off Farnsworth this year, already?
And just when I thinking that Blanco could really help us, the Braves (because they are stupid and incompetent) trade away one of the few highlights of our offense, lately.
You know, I really just want the overachieving team that we had in the 1st half of the season. I want all the same players…I know, wishful thinking.
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:52 pm
correcting him.
come on bobby
July 31st, 2010
6:54 pm
kerryb, I’m just playing with u man..no problem here friend.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
6:54 pm
lol – And if the Bravos get in a pinch with the bullpen they can always bring in Ankiel to pitch.
RT
July 31st, 2010
6:54 pm
The Braves should only play two outfielders,we dont have a centerfielder.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:54 pm
Mitch Jones- Older than Ramirez. Ramirez at 24 has potential. Mitch Jones has reached his. AAAA player.
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:55 pm
Ben, why so negative? I guess you think we should have traded all of our top pitching prospects for some big name high priced player.
.
July 31st, 2010
6:56 pm
Is it AAA or AAAA ??????
kerryb
July 31st, 2010
6:56 pm
No problem. Just thought you misunderstood my comment.
northbeach Scott
July 31st, 2010
6:56 pm
Actually Gregor Blanco was a 6th/7th OF for the Braves. While he could have filled some of the CF void and he had a nice 2010 stint with the Braves (a bit of Lightning in a bottle) he was basically a AAAA ballplayer. As someone mentioned we sold high on him.
Chavez still has some upside, but he is irrelevant in the scheme of the roster of Braves pitching talent. Do not mention the R. Soriano deal, that was not a straight trade as the Braves got something rather than losing Soriano to FA for nothing.
Ankiel played in the right spots (to Bobby’s credit he is exceptional at this) can help the Braves more than Blanco. He is a superior fielder and superior arm with some HR pop. If he is garbage, then the Braves simply release him after the season. Low risk and some upside, but not sexy.
Farnsworth is a fine 4th of 5th reliver. Certainly better than Chavez. Good low risk/cost move. Look for more to come over the waiver wire in August if this team does not get it together.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:56 pm
It’s AAAA. Good in AAA. Not good enough at MLB level
come on bobby
July 31st, 2010
6:57 pm
Thanks Jesse.
ben
July 31st, 2010
6:57 pm
At one point or another, we had the right pieces. If we just added a little here and there, it would have been fine. We had LaRoche and Escobar. But nope, we didn’t think they were the right fit or we didn’t want to pay them fair market value.
For the return on investment, Glaus has been fantastic at $1.75 million. Contrast that with Chipper Jones–$14 million this year, .251 BA, 7 HR, 42 RBI…we could have got 2-3 good players for that money.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
6:58 pm
…..and AA is where this pennant race will drive me.
.
July 31st, 2010
6:59 pm
AAAA is Majors —right? never heard it said like that. Thats cool
did you know
July 31st, 2010
6:59 pm
there are 3 managers who have won 500 more games than they have lost……only one has managed in the past 75 years.
and some idiots that last played baseball before the age of 10 think they know more about the game. If he isn’t a great manager why has no one else accomplished that? And, LaRussa and Torre among others have managed more games.
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
ben- Laroche wanted a multi-year deal here. That would’ve blocked Freeman. As far as Escobrat….nevermind.
Robert
July 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
Chippers problem? He’s old and does not believe in conditioning during the off season. He hunts.
For the folks that think Blanco couldn’t play every day, look at Prado. I believe he had the label as a good back up IF. Blanco had put forth a strong effort this past off season and it showed during his time with the major league club. Prado would still be riding the pine of KJ had not fallen into a slump. I’m not implying Blanco is the next Willie Mays but he could put up solid numbers. Similar to Victorino with less speed. We didn’t need an all star at every position, just consistancy.
Truth Seeker: We all know players actual size are “tweeked” so they fit into the acceptable range. Collins put up solid numbers. Always has. He may fizzle but it is hard to believe giving up a lefty prospect for two rental players is not in my line of thinking. If this trade would have included Cody Johnson and one of the lefty starters in A ball I think the trade would be a sucess. Hard to give up a guy that obviously has the know how on pitching. His strikeouts are one thing. The lack of walks are what make him a “pitcher”. Don’t care how tall he is.
Bob Horner
July 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
I miss Andrew Jones in CF…..and I wish I was KK…I sit down all day making millions…and when somebody talks bad about me I can’t understand it because I can’t speak English…
Jesse Stone
July 31st, 2010
7:01 pm
when you hear someone called a 4A player, it’s not a compliment. It means they have reached their ceiling.
Joe
July 31st, 2010
7:01 pm
Wren still look for player on waivers.
Bob Horner's perm
July 31st, 2010
7:03 pm
Millar talking about mens hair cuts made him sound like a weirdo…
Joe
July 31st, 2010
7:03 pm
Need a home run Now!
ben
July 31st, 2010
7:04 pm
kerryb…not trying to be a downer. Actually, all these years, I supported Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones. But when a team is doing well (at the All-Star Break), then you leave it alone. What you don’t do is go trade your MVP player from last year (Escobar) and bring in somebody older and less talented.
For whatever reason, this Braves team was getting it done and you don’t mess with that. Remove a player, then put in someone else, and maybe it doesn’t work as well as it used to.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
7:04 pm
We had LaRoche and Escobar. But nope, we didn’t think they were the right fit or we didn’t want to pay them fair market value.
You can’t give LaRoche a 3 or 4 year deal when you have a phenom like Freeman waiting to take over next season. Sure, LaRoche signed a one year deal with the Diamondbacks but that was after no one else offered him the multi-year deal that he was looking for in the offseason.
t goldman
July 31st, 2010
7:06 pm
Clay is right. Farnsworth gives us a RHP for set up and Ankiel beats Melky all day long – worth the shot………..
Joe
July 31st, 2010
7:06 pm
Maybe Ankiels plays tomorrow?
J-Hey takes a call three down the middle.
Wat Wat Wat
July 31st, 2010
7:08 pm
i smell d/l for glaus and freeman getting a chance at first.
Glaus is not at a MLB level right now, that much is clear.
ijudgenot
July 31st, 2010
7:09 pm
StingerSplash
July 31st, 2010
6:39 pm
“Glaus is in serious need of a day off.”
Exactly, does anyone else get the feeling that Wren is managing this team by making roster moves. Escobar is not hitting at all and has a bad attitude in field and on bench but Bobby keeps playing him, so Wren trades him to Toronto for Gonzalez. McLouth is stinking up the league but Bobby keeps playin him, so Wren sends him to the minors. Chavis has been horrible in relief but Bobby keeps bringing him in, so Wren trades him away for Farnsworth. I would have loved to have seen Blanco back up at Atlanta, but i think Wren knew that Bobby would have played him sparingly again. Now he needs to figure a way to get Glaus to slip on a banana so that he can put him on DL and bring up Freeman.
ben
July 31st, 2010
7:10 pm
While Kawakami has stunk it up this year, he and Lowe are virtually identical in terms of ERA and WHIP. I don’t really understand why you pitch Lowe and not Kawakami. If you’re gonna make Lowe “earn” his money, you might as well do the same with Kawakami. Neither are top of the rotation starters, but at least, Bobby Cox should be consistent.
mike lum
July 31st, 2010
7:13 pm
How many of you complaining about this trade were saying we needed to make a trade to keep up with the Phillies? What were you expecting? The Braves have to give up value to get value. Over the years they’ve done a great job of not giving up much. What has Salty of Andy Marte done? Elvis was traded six years ago, Wainwright longer than that.
It’s great the Braves are doing everything possible to win this year, but no one will remember that in six months. I just didn’t see many available outfielders with stats much better than what we have.
I am ready for Melky to go away. That play today reminded me of when the Braves were losing a hundred games a year. Hope the braves Ryan Church him…just go away. Give me Hinske and Diaz. Obviously, Glaus is playing hurt.
FlaReptile
July 31st, 2010
7:14 pm
Can Wren make a good trade??? Not only is this trade irrelevant. That means the Escobar trade was straight up. Are you serious!!!
bobby
July 31st, 2010
7:16 pm
Dang, I can’t believe the Braves didn’t make the KK and McL to the Reds for Votto and Cueto. Heard the Reds wanted to send Rolen also but wanted Chavez added but FW wouldn’t make the trade.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
7:18 pm
Exactly, does anyone else get the feeling that Wren is managing this team by making roster moves. Escobar is not hitting at all and has a bad attitude in field and on bench but Bobby keeps playing him, so Wren trades him to Toronto for Gonzalez. McLouth is stinking up the league but Bobby keeps playin him, so Wren sends him to the minors. Chavis has been horrible in relief but Bobby keeps bringing him in, so Wren trades him away for Farnsworth. I would have loved to have seen Blanco back up at Atlanta, but i think Wren knew that Bobby would have played him sparingly again. Now he needs to figure a way to get Glaus to slip on a banana so that he can put him on DL and bring up Freeman.
lol – Wow, ijudgenot, it sounds to me like you do so judge, quite a bit actually. I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you, my friend, I’m just messing with you because I got a kick out of reading your post based on your username. You may have to change it to ijudgenot not.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
7:19 pm
Oops, syntax error, darn HTML.
SoCalBrave
July 31st, 2010
7:21 pm
@Ben: LaRoche wanted a 3-4 year deal at 10mil per… the only reason why he signed so cheap with AZ is because we signed Glaus and the 1B market dried up after that. If he would have told the Braves that he would take 3.5 mil for 1 year, he’d be a Brave now… Escobar is playing good right now because we traded him, he wasn’t happy or confortable or felt misunderstood with us, that’s why it was clear to everyone that he wasn’t even trying anymore.
@Robert: the difference between Prado and Blanco is that Prado is an infielder. If Blanco was a SS, then his .265 BA and .310 SLG wouldn’t be so bad… but he’s an outfielder and those numbers just won’t cut it in the Majors.
Bob Horner had a big fro
July 31st, 2010
7:22 pm
I like the deal. I have followed RA for a while (had him on a couple of fantasy teams) and he has power. There was a steriod issue with him though, but he still hit for power after that went away, so it wasn’t like that was the reason he hit HRs. Also love seeing the bullpen move. Our BP arms are getting tired, and we need another couple of guys up there. Would also like to see KK released and then bring up someone from Gwinnett to add one more arm. All around, a good move. Could we have gotten a big-time bat? Yeah, but we would be regretting it two years from now with the talent we would have swapped. Solid day from Wren, but the key to everything is Chipper and Glaus. Those two have to get it going – and soon.
boots
July 31st, 2010
7:25 pm
Sorry to see Melky make such a little league play today. But I am much more disappointed to see him laughing about it in the OF. Dude, this is a pennant race and the Phillies and Mets are riding up behind you. Take this seriously, or turn in your hat and let Ankiel play.
Tony Cloniger
July 31st, 2010
7:27 pm
Who needs trades when you should play like Cincinnat………………..hit the opposing teams starting pitcher and get him out of the game.
Bobby shouldnt have put him back out. Maybe Washington will take care of our dirty busniess again toinght.
TOMY FOURNIER
July 31st, 2010
7:29 pm
sheeeeeeeet
Barry Bonnell
July 31st, 2010
7:30 pm
Enter your comments here
boots
July 31st, 2010
7:31 pm
Hey, DOB, what is up with beaming our two starters for two days in a row? Is that to be allowed? I would like to have seen someone brought in from the bullpen and taken it to the next Reds batter. I guess we dodged a bullet with the recent MLB decision in our favor, and it would have looked bad, but two days in a row? Come on, this is the major leagues. Hell, let Melky Cabrera throw the ball at one of the Reds’ fans at least. He might actually hit somone…
Bob Horner had a big fro
July 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
@ boots – lol.
yo mamma
July 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
its a scratch deal. its explained well here:
http://thebravechop.blogspot.com/
Lifelong Dawg
July 31st, 2010
7:45 pm
Bad trade. Feels like they did it just to say they made a deal.
bravesfanfromnc
July 31st, 2010
7:45 pm
Interesting trade. The Braves have not lived by the long ball all year now we trade for a “home run” hitter in Ankiel??? Better in the bull pen but it was not the need, better hitting was and we get a converted pitcher???
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
7:46 pm
Can Wren make a good trade??? Not only is this trade irrelevant. That means the Escobar trade was straight up. Are you serious!!!
No, Actually that means that todays trade was straight up. Gregor Blanco for Rick Ankiel and Jesse Chavez for Kyle Farnsworth.
Although with the liability that Escobar had become for the Braves, I believe the Braves would have gotten the better end of the deal even if they would have traded Escobar for Gonzalez straight up, in effect that deal becomes Escobar for Gonzalez and Tyler Pastornicky, who also came over with Tim Collins in that trade.
I find it amusing that you are in fact complimenting Frank Wren when you are trying to criticize him.
CJ
July 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
Getting Farnsworth for chavez is great, the other part of the equation is not that bad either. Ankiel has more power than Blanco. I agree that I would rather Nate get his swing fixed, maybe trade him, fat chance, and Ankiel get it going. If McClouth and Ankiel can have pretty decent power 2nd halves then Heyward, Mcclouth, and Ankiel in the outfield isn’t that bad even though it is an all lefty outfield.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
I’m good at algebra today but boy do I suck at HTML!!!
jim jones
July 31st, 2010
7:54 pm
Frank Wren…. What an idiot!
rc35
July 31st, 2010
7:57 pm
Farnsworth has never been dependable, but neither was Chavez, so I guess that might even out or turn slightly to the Braves’ advantage. I HATE seeing Blanco go. He was producing this year; Ankiel may or may not, but I surely wouldn’t have rolled those dice.
One of the most frustrating things to me is the fans who think Freddie Freeman is a “can’t miss” prospect. I’m old enough to remember Jack Pierce–big, strong 1B who annihilated AAA pitching and then batted .050 (1 for 20) in the bigs. I hope Freddie gets it done, but we had a proven player in LaRoche and decided to let him walk away. Besides, if Freeman wins the Triple Crown next year, that still doesn’t add up to a single win this year. MLB isn’t Strat-o-Matic, where you can mix Chipper Jones’ 2009 card with Martin Prado’s 2010 card and Freddie Freeman’s 2011 card, throw in John Smoltz 2005, and then play your game. You have to play with THIS year’s squad and their current abilities.
CECIL UPSHAW
July 31st, 2010
8:02 pm
@tim,5:39…..YOU SIR ARE SPOT ON!! MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHIN’!!!
Bob Horner's perm @Bob Horner had a big fro
July 31st, 2010
8:04 pm
Bob Horner had a perm…not a fro…he also had a poster of Farrah Faucet in his room….dang I miss those days….long live the late 70’s early 80’s…
is30303
July 31st, 2010
8:09 pm
really really dumb trade . . .
Mekons
July 31st, 2010
8:10 pm
We traded two EXTREME spare parts and an interesting prospect for a reliable bullpen arm and a decent corner fielder. Ankiel has been unhealthy all year, but appears to be healthy now. I doubt either will be back next year, but they sure are useful parts right now.
We may see Heyward in CF, Ankiel in right and Melky/Diaz in left. That would be an upgrade over what we have now. It’s a pity DeJesus got hurt, but this was not a bad fallback position. I just wish we didn’t have to include Collins. He reminds me of a guy named Bill Maloney, a lefty strikeout artist with the Red Sox who likewise didn’t get a shot in the majors because of his size. He played on the same teams as Wade Boggs in the minors and looked like Billy Wagner does now.
For everybody who hates this trade, keep in mind that Guillen is still in KC. At least we got someone who can play in the field and goes all-out. We didn’t have many options that were affordable. Wren did good. Apart from Collins, we didn’t really give up anything. And we have lots of good young pitching.
Peter
July 31st, 2010
8:10 pm
Great to see we gave away a 300 hitter, and scrape the bottom of the barrel !
This Management team is just DUMB !
DoninToccoa
July 31st, 2010
8:18 pm
Trade okay…current games fairly lousy (again) for FAILURE to hit with players on base!!!!! Oh, was thinking that other far eastern pitcher should go too.
ARealBravesFan
July 31st, 2010
8:21 pm
Blanco was a 4th outfielder at best, so stop complaining. You all cry for power when Blanco has none, them go insane when he gets traded for a player who has a .453 SLG for his career in Ankiel. Ankiel has solid range in the outfield and should take some stress off Heyward should he move to center. Farnsworth has been sketchy for his career but is having a good season. Blanco has been sketchy for his career but has had a good year, so why does Blanco get a free pass? Yea, its a risk, a risk that I’m comfortable taking if it means something different than being guaranteed mediocrity from Blanco and Cabrera the rest of the season.
DoninToccoa
July 31st, 2010
8:21 pm
Oh, P.S. Our “big hitters should draw straws and at least one of them needs to start hitting…. (3,4,5, 6 guy’s)!
Skeezix
July 31st, 2010
8:22 pm
Whether or not this turns out to be a good trade depends on Ankiel’s health. I have not been happy with most of FW’s moves, but I like this one–assuming Ankiel is healthy. It strengthens our bullpen and gives Bobby more options in the outfield. I have kinda lost track of Ankiel, but he has been a solid CF w/ an arm (how did you like Melky’s arm today Braves fans?) and has some pop in his bat. If Bobby eventually has to sit Glaus down, he is now in a better position to deal with that situation also.