The Braves need to do a better job with the draft. The farm teams have not been near as strong as in the past. Scouting is so important. Build through the draft and then add one or two impact type players. Also do a good job of trading for young talent (ex. John Smotz). The Braves have kind of neglected this and it has shown.
Wren don’t trade anyone besides Lowe,Gonz0,k k ,Mclouth. Wait till june. Save the money. And get a healthy player this time. Prado lf 3b need a cf. But I like Ankiel for now.
U can’t get nothing for nothing!
U can’t trade nothing for something without pay ing the difference in value.
U can’t win a horse race with a old nag!
U can’t win the Nascar Championship driving a VW !
U can’t fool the FANS they are not Stupid!
U can’t win with rejects.
U can’t put fans in the seats with bad (players).
U CAN GO ON AND ON BUT U GET THE MESSAGE.
U are a Braves Fan and want a Winner but look what we got…………Cheap A@@ owner and management.
Andrew Jones seems to be the best choice . He is only 33 years of age . He played well over 100 games this season . He had a healthy Average of around 230 . He was a well all around guy .
what is the deal with the anti Jones return ? He seems to be the best choice in my view .
This is a update on some changes
1st base ….Derek Lee < Only choice in my view . He will have healthy thumbs next year
batting coach ..Otis Nixon
Center field …Andrew J
That team would be 50% times stronger than the 2010 team in my view
Maddux. He is the only pitcher to have two straight years with an ERA of lower than 1.7 since 1918. Records for greatest ERA separation from second place in the MLB were set and hold to this day. At the time of his fourth straight unprecendented at the time Cy Young sportswriters said they should stop giving him the award because it doesn’t even honor him, the award itself should be named the Greg Maddux award. More than 90% of the people said that they would want him most to pitch a must win game 7. Now THAT is destroying your competition.
How are you going to improve a “punch less outfield” by playing McLouth in it ? Also he can’t throw the ball even to the cut off man. Wren says they can’t deal him so they got to play him.
Hey Chipper….give some serious thought to keeping your butt on the ranch hunting deer and retire. If you do come back….do not spend the whole season whinning again about how this might be it for you. And…shave that goofy hair growth on your chin.
Lee’s going to want big money, he won’t be back. But we need to offer him, so we can get a draft pick. We need to reload our system with as many picks as possible. We need to make up[side high school picks like Lipka last year. I look back at what the Angels got out of the picks for Tex and it makes me sad. Would be nice to have a guy like Trout coming up in the system right now. If you look at what has panned out for us the most over the last few years, it’s been high school kids. I wouldn’t mind a college guy that’s ready for the upper level, but not these guys that are starting out in A.
Atlanta should should trade Tommy Hanson for a granted closer that throws 103 mph . They need a closer . And if I would trade anyone it would be him . They already have the big 3 ..Derek Low , Kenshin Kawakami , Hudson ..Plus Kenshin will be the next amazing starter . He is going to have one heck of a year next year i bet . I think they need a closer
Just wondering if any body on this board thinks andrew jones is available. I havent heard if he still playing or if he is available would certainly like to know if anybody else has info on andrew. Just a thought !
1st ….. .Derek Lee
2n ……. orlando hudson
3rd ….. .Chipper Jones …< Welcome back
short stop ….chris woodward
center field …Andrew Jones
Right field ….Jason
Left .. Not sure
Batting coach …Otis Nixon
Bench Coach …Jeff treadway
That would be the best idea …That is if they want to win the whole thing tho ..Not just a playoff run
October 16th, 2010
4:42 pm
Just wondering if any body on this board thinks andrew jones is available. I havent heard if he still playing or if he is available would certainly like to know if anybody else has info on andrew. Just a thought !”
I was wondering the same thing!!! He might hit .320 and belt 25-32 HR next year if the Braves sign him.
Atlanta has not been to the world series in 11 years . This team right now needs a major adjustment . power hitting is a rare event in Atlanta in my personal view . That is the only reason I keep saying bring Andrew Jones . Andrew is a proven power hitter . And a golden glove winner in the field
If Andrew Jones comes back to the Braves that would solve the outfield problem . He would catch anything and stop many base hits or ball base hits that should have been outs and was called hits . He also could have a breakout season . Chipper returns ..breakout season …And they could show the other guys how to grove the ball like old times . Its just the solid math and understandings how to build a roster of not just power players but proven history
Andruw Jones will be a free agent after the World Series and he only signed for $500,000 this year, so he would probably come pretty cheap. Lets face it, a player with the defensive ability that Andruw still has with a batting average of .230 with 19 homers and 48 rbis in only 328 at bats while playing only half the time is a helluva lot better option than anything we saw last year. The team is not going to pay big money to get a proven star in here, so we have to settle for the next best option. If Jordan Schafer isn’t doing well by then, I would love to see Andruw back in a Braves uniform, especially without Pendleton screwing with his swing. A full season in center and Andruw would hit at least 25 homers and 85-90 rbis, even if he hits only .230 again. To me, that is a no-brainer.
And for those that are clamoring for Derrick Lee to be resigned, are you out of your ever loving minds? Freeman has nothing left to prove in the minors. He is a great defensive first baseman with a lot of upside offensively. Play him while he is making the minimum and allow him to grow into a bonafide major leaguer. Lee has had it and we’d have to pay him too much to sign him, even if he signs for only a few million.
Btw, Otis Nixon for hitting coach? Really? First of all, Nixon was a slap hitter with speed. What can he possibly impart to anyone that would benefit them? He had a lifetime batting average of .270. As a slap hitter with tons of speed, seems to me that he should have been closer to a .300 average, plus batting from the left side. Secondly, he isn’t even involved in baseball. He is studying to be a preacher. Thirdly, Nixon seeing a baseball diamond with those foul lines would make his nose start running cause he would want to snort them. Stop talking about Nixon. It can’t and won’t happen. You’d have a better chance of getting Ted Williams head to be a hitting coach.
Atlanta braves fan of the south…. u r an idiot, Charlie Liebrandt is left-handed so he obviously can’t play third base… other than that, everything else is spot on!
I did not know that about Otis Nixon. well they could still get a few choices of a batting coach but it will be hard. If they can not get Otis . I would go after David Justice or fred mcgriff to be there batting coach. Those 2 players are on the same teams that otis played for so there part of the best of the best of the braves.
Trade Gonzo…anyone who does not run to first assuming an out especially in playoff game and would of been safe needs the same fate as Yunnel. Lazy player
His Braves won went to the playoffs 15 times . He had 64 Brave players from 1990-2010 to make it to the All star team to play from the Braves . Under him the Atlanta Braves won the world series in 1995 . And Under him from 1991-1999 They went to the world series 5 times. The Braves was the Team of the 1990s . Having went to the world series more than any time and having won every title and having won 1 world series And he was the best ..But now its a new time ..but they have not been to the world series in 11 years
trade lowe + prospect to the yankees for brett gardner (LFer with great speed) and javy vasquez (pitches much better in the NL) then trade beachy and infante/another prospect for kemp (the dodgers want to get rid of him) If any team is willing to eat lowes contract it’s NY, and they’ll be in need of a pitcher especially after javy’s horrible season. I tried adding up the money and i don’t see this extending it much more than last years, especially if we can find a way to get rid of mclouth or kawkami (or both) but you gotta admit, this would be a pretty good roster lineup:
AVG HR RBI OBP SB
Brett Gardner .290 7 60 .390 48
Martin Prado .310 17 70 .355 05
Jason Heyward .304 29 104 .410 21
Chipper Jones .284 20 78 .428 05
Brian McCann .292 23 95 .395 04
Matt Kemp .290 28 101 .350 26
Alex Gonzalez .251 17 72 .300 03
Freddie Freeman .267 17 72 .332 02
ERA W-L IP SO / BB
Tim Hudson 3.33 17-6 211 133/71
Tommy Hanson 2.76 18-8 222 214/58
Jair Jurrjens 3.03 18-9 208 170/65
Javier Vasquez 3.45 15-10 225 230/52
Mike Minor 3.85 14-11 198 171/68
DOB,
Thanks for the blog. As a Braves fan it is required reading. Acknowledging the top guys like Werth and Crawford are probably not gonna be Braves’ options, who do you see them potentially targeting? Will they try the recycle bin again like they did with Glaus? What do you think are the odds Kawakami and Atl may reach an agreement to get him back to Japan if he can’t be traded?
I fail to understand why you are stuck wanting to have a hitting coach that just happens to be an ex-brave, especially with no experience as hitting instructors. That was Pendleton’s problem. He was hired to a position without knowing what would happen. If I were the Braves, I would try and rehire Don Baylor. Him or Chris Chambliss.
Having an ex-brave player as the hitting coach for the 2011 Atlanta Braves would bring experience of a guy who was part of a championship club and could be a hitting coach that understands big plays .
My own suggestions .
1. Otis Nixon < Fastest and best base stealing Brave
2. David Justice < Won world series with Braves . One of the best players ever!!! Hit 40 home runs 2 seasons < 7 time play offs < 2 world series
3. fred mcgriff < 10 seasons with 30 or more home runs .
having a hitting coach is good . But having someone with that kind of on base expercence that those 3 guys ive named . is un heard of . but im not the Atlanta braves . so I can not choose who gets to be the hitting coach . I just express my ideals .
That was my final comment by the way . so take it with a grain of salt . or think about what ive talked about . Its worth a look . at the ideas of the hitting coach and my roster I posted . by .
Ab of the south- really andruw is done. He couldnt play everyday and we got plent of 250 hitters thst cant play everyday… He was one if ghe greatest to ever suit up as a brave. But really dude he aint what we need anymore… We need an every day player that can give us 25-30 homers and 100 rbis. Whether we can afford that is the question… It will be best served by other than AJ. His stardom is finished. Hes through. Ni longer in the braves needs or wants. Time to move on dude… It aint happening
Frank Wren said: ““I think Alex will be what he’s always been. He’ll be somewhere between .260-.270, hit 15-20 home runs, drive in 70, 75, 80, and play really good shortstop.”
=====================================================================\
Huh? I think 240 – 250 with very low OBP and 10 – 15 HR and 50 – 60 RBI with average defense will be more like it. In other words, Gonzalez will be a serviceable shortstop, while Escobar will likely be the 2nd shortstop the Braves have traded away since 2007 who will make the AL All Star team. A horrible trade, one that the Braves will be paying for for years to come, and all to placate a manager who had badgered Wren to trade Escobar because he didn’t like him, a manager who will no longer be here.
Was in Vietnam and then went to Cambodia, now in Australia. You’re absolutely right- the Bravos team in the playoffs was a shadow of the one that led the division for three months.
Two movies to keep an eye out for (may already be out on DVD in the US)- Animal Kingdom (gritty Australian crime drama) and That Evening Sun (great independent movie with Hal Holbrook still shining after all these years).
Well Braves have a manager; Thank goodness it was not T.P. boy what a flop
as a hiting coach; and F.G. keeps him for Hubbard ha,ha,ha:
The Don Baylor suggestion for help is a great idea; Love the F.G. deal; Freddie
name Baylor your bench coach, hitting, and tell T.O. coaching first is his job period! Remember his theory as hitting coach? Leave players along until ask for his help; does this mean that when they get to first they ask him when to go to next base or just use common sense yo use their little league knowledge to act on their on ability!
T.P. needed to be gone F. G. use a injured player (ir) to coach first!
another money savior to purchase a player to improve Braves scoring ability.
Thinking on the K.K….. Japan needs a good pitcher for semi-help! Can’t believe Braves gave a contract for him; would have thought Braves mhad signed Cy Young! Some one oe who ever pulled this boner needs to be out of baseball!
At times it would be great to go back to the days of “One-Year Contracts”. This would releive the excess baggage situations every team falls into.
At times, we see teams spend more time/effort getting rid of baggage rather then the effort needed to adding the final punch needed.
I stilll can’t believe Glenn Hubbard was let go. Somebody tell me what the problem was. I hope the errors we made after the all star game was not the reason. Look at who made them. All were second teammers last year.
If you read Cot’s baseball contracts, you can see every contract of every player on the Braves and every other team. If you look at closely, we will take off the books the following: Wagner-7 mil; Saito-3 mil; Glaus- 2 mil; Diaz- 3 mil. That is 15 million available for a star outfielder that we desperately need without raising payroll. We can sign Jason Werth imo for 15 mil per year for 3 years to play CF. He will hit 4th or 5th, supply the right handed power we need, and take a key player away from the Phillies in the process. If Chipper retires, we have 13 million more to get Uggla to play 3rd or 2nd and move prado to 3rd, for 10-12 mil per year, and add additional RH power. Either way, we can have a strong line-up. Our total payroll without Werth , including Chipper and our obligations to McClouth and KK is 78 million. We can afford Werth and we need him. If we can trade KK or McClouth, and get rid of the 6.5 mil we owe each, we can pick up substantially more to improve our team.
Bravo Nam: We saw Animal Kingdom a few weeks back while it was on briefly at Atlanta’s Midtown Cinema. Great movie. And do yourself a favor and see The Social Network. Definitely should get an Oscar best-pic nomination.
Wow, the retard, douche bags, and kiddies are ou in force on the old MIB blog. These are perhaps the most ignorant roster FA signings posts of all time. We just got rid of our Matt Kemp, in Yunel. Andruw Jones is a platoon player ar best and no longer a CF.
Cody Ross or someone of his type is a more realistic fit.
Why would the braves try and impro ve their OF? They have not tried in years, you lame Atlanta area fans don’t shop up to games, and we have no desire on the team to win. No hustle, no passion.
Shin-Soo’s available and good no doubt but…..
another LEFT handed bat. That would be Freeman, McCann, Heyward and Choo as your middle of the order guys. Not something Wren’s gonna be interested in doing. We need a right handed Power outfielder- dream would be Kemp. Rasmus would be a great addition but i hope we don’t give up JJ for him. But lets sit back and enjoy the Phillies lose this week, then enjoy the World Series before these trade rumors take center stage
Have to question Wren’s judgment on trades — we should have held out for Cody Ross and got him before the trade deadline instead of getting Farworthless Ankiel. By the waiver date it was clear the Ankiel deal was not working out and they should have claimed Ross off waivers as the Giant’s did. We might still be playing. I have no confidence in Wren’s ability to provide for the near term future with trades or signings. Too many failures and/or mediocre results — Glaus, Ankiel, Cabrera, Lee. The one success he had – Wagner – only stayed 1 yr instead of 2.
Have to question Wren’s judgment on trades — we should have held out for Cody Ross and got him before the trade deadline instead of getting Farworthless Ankiel. By the waiver date it was clear the Ankiel deal was not working out and they should have claimed Ross off waivers as the Giant’s did. We might still be playing. I have no confidence in Wren’s ability to provide for the near term future with trades or signings. Too many failures and/or mediocre results — Glaus, Ankiel, Cabrera, Lee. The one success he had – Wagner – only stayed 1 yr instead of 2. — Charles
Charles, the Braves had a better record than San Francisco when the Giants claimed Ross on waivers in mid-August. In fact, Braves had better record than anyone in NL except San Diego, at that time. The Giants claimed Ross in order to block the Padres from claiming him. Once the Giants claimed him, the Braves couldn’t have gotten Ross in a waiver trade, because they were behind them in the claiming order.
Dave, you must be out of your mind. I wouldn’t let Nate McLousy cleats ever touch fair territory. He’s worthless. How much proof do you need. As for the rest of the outfield, other than Heyward and Diaz you can eject the rest of them Cabrera can’t hit or field. What are you going to do with Glaus, another bust. He sure as hell can’t play first base and the rookie “phenom” has never shown that he is a phenom. Remember Laroche. That’s all that needs to be said. The Braves minor leagues are woefully short of line players. This is not a one year fix, it’s a five year fix. And Chipper, even if he plays, for how long–100 games; I doubt it!
Either upgrade with a proven guy like Wren or just stick with what we have. Don’t chase some reclamation project. McLouth is a much better reclamation project than paying for a 2nd one.
Dont see many fillies fans around specially since the Giants sent Haliday to his 1st post season loss. Amazing how the pitching changes Wehen the umpire makes you throw the ball across the plate for real strikes. Giants fan
for another week. Then back to Go Braves!!
This really rubs it in that Schafer went off the reservation. Imagine if that kid could have put it together? We’d just need a power bat in LF and this club would be stacked. Argh. Argh, indeed.
Ryan Ludwick might be a possibility, and maybe the whole thing of being creative and not having enough money to go after a big time FA bat is just a decoy to get other continders of the Braves “tail”.
Everybody has forgotten Jordan Shaffer. He is coming back from a serious injury that was made worse by the Braves playing him. Ankiel is fast, strong arm and should be put in left. He will hit if given the at bats.
J.J. and Nate for Kemp, Liberty needs to up payroll to at least 98 million or get out as attendance this year proved that the fans will buy tickets if the product on the field is worth going to the ball park, increase payroll to give us a chance at getting a good left fielder and this team can compete for a world series championship, be cheap and try and win with great pitching which a lot of teams now have and lose because you cannot score runs, fairly simple decision, as a fan if the Braves do not get some hitters I will not be going to any games at Turner and hope the rest of you fans do the same as if Liberty wants to be cheap then they will not be getting any of my money.
The payroll budget will not increase. It is nice to dream about big names but the contracts for McLouth & KK bring you right back to reality. I can see them essentially paying KK to not pitch if there are no buyers for his services, but they can’t afford to eat both contracts. A very realistic opening day roster could have Heyward in right, Schafer in center and McLouth in left. (yes all left handed bats). That would not be a bad scenario at all if Jordan & Nate can both return to form and be healthy. I would look for the Braves to add a veteran 32-35 year old left fielder on a one year deal near the end of spring training if either McLouth or Schafer have a bad spring. (If they both have a bad spring the Braves are in big trouble.) I’d like to see the Braves sign someone like a Andy Marte to play every 4th or 5th game and 3rd and spot start at 1st if Freeman struggles against lefties.
576 comments Add your comment
Hit A Single
October 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
The Braves need to do a better job with the draft. The farm teams have not been near as strong as in the past. Scouting is so important. Build through the draft and then add one or two impact type players. Also do a good job of trading for young talent (ex. John Smotz). The Braves have kind of neglected this and it has shown.
bo
October 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
Wren don’t trade anyone besides Lowe,Gonz0,k k ,Mclouth. Wait till june. Save the money. And get a healthy player this time. Prado lf 3b need a cf. But I like Ankiel for now.
Vote Early
October 16th, 2010
1:50 pm
U can’t get nothing for nothing!
U can’t trade nothing for something without pay ing the difference in value.
U can’t win a horse race with a old nag!
U can’t win the Nascar Championship driving a VW !
U can’t fool the FANS they are not Stupid!
U can’t win with rejects.
U can’t put fans in the seats with bad (players).
U CAN GO ON AND ON BUT U GET THE MESSAGE.
U are a Braves Fan and want a Winner but look what we got…………Cheap A@@ owner and management.
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
2:21 pm
Andrew Jones seems to be the best choice . He is only 33 years of age . He played well over 100 games this season . He had a healthy Average of around 230 . He was a well all around guy .
what is the deal with the anti Jones return ? He seems to be the best choice in my view .
This is a update on some changes
1st base ….Derek Lee < Only choice in my view . He will have healthy thumbs next year
batting coach ..Otis Nixon
Center field …Andrew J
That team would be 50% times stronger than the 2010 team in my view
Romo is fat?
October 16th, 2010
2:27 pm
Maddux. He is the only pitcher to have two straight years with an ERA of lower than 1.7 since 1918. Records for greatest ERA separation from second place in the MLB were set and hold to this day. At the time of his fourth straight unprecendented at the time Cy Young sportswriters said they should stop giving him the award because it doesn’t even honor him, the award itself should be named the Greg Maddux award. More than 90% of the people said that they would want him most to pitch a must win game 7. Now THAT is destroying your competition.
Jonny Brave
October 16th, 2010
2:29 pm
I would sign Maggs and Crisp, along with Dotel for the bullpen.
Jonny Brave
October 16th, 2010
2:30 pm
Oh, and I want to keep Lee at first and Freeman in the minors.
bobbymahlon
October 16th, 2010
3:44 pm
How are you going to improve a “punch less outfield” by playing McLouth in it ? Also he can’t throw the ball even to the cut off man. Wren says they can’t deal him so they got to play him.
Jim Shorts
October 16th, 2010
3:45 pm
Sounds like another boring ass year shaping up! I am sick of this product.
bobbymahlon
October 16th, 2010
3:47 pm
Jonny Brave : Why would you keep Freeman in the minors, he has proved he is the best first baseman in the the International League.
Pepe Frias
October 16th, 2010
3:48 pm
Hey Chipper….give some serious thought to keeping your butt on the ranch hunting deer and retire. If you do come back….do not spend the whole season whinning again about how this might be it for you. And…shave that goofy hair growth on your chin.
Braves Fan Lost In Ohio
October 16th, 2010
4:01 pm
Hey Pepe, how ’bout you show our future HOF Third Baseman some respect.
NEW CARS
October 16th, 2010
4:35 pm
Lee’s going to want big money, he won’t be back. But we need to offer him, so we can get a draft pick. We need to reload our system with as many picks as possible. We need to make up[side high school picks like Lipka last year. I look back at what the Angels got out of the picks for Tex and it makes me sad. Would be nice to have a guy like Trout coming up in the system right now. If you look at what has panned out for us the most over the last few years, it’s been high school kids. I wouldn’t mind a college guy that’s ready for the upper level, but not these guys that are starting out in A.
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
4:37 pm
Atlanta should should trade Tommy Hanson for a granted closer that throws 103 mph . They need a closer . And if I would trade anyone it would be him . They already have the big 3 ..Derek Low , Kenshin Kawakami , Hudson ..Plus Kenshin will be the next amazing starter . He is going to have one heck of a year next year i bet . I think they need a closer
Chillahill43
October 16th, 2010
4:42 pm
Just wondering if any body on this board thinks andrew jones is available. I havent heard if he still playing or if he is available would certainly like to know if anybody else has info on andrew. Just a thought !
reagan
October 16th, 2010
4:43 pm
atlanta braves fan of south……………..go back to muttville, will you?…….and get a life.
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
4:45 pm
so this is how I see it
Lineup
1st ….. .Derek Lee
2n ……. orlando hudson
3rd ….. .Chipper Jones …< Welcome back
short stop ….chris woodward
center field …Andrew Jones
Right field ….Jason
Left .. Not sure
Batting coach …Otis Nixon
Bench Coach …Jeff treadway
That would be the best idea …That is if they want to win the whole thing tho ..Not just a playoff run
Thundersticks
October 16th, 2010
4:52 pm
“Chillahill43
October 16th, 2010
4:42 pm
Just wondering if any body on this board thinks andrew jones is available. I havent heard if he still playing or if he is available would certainly like to know if anybody else has info on andrew. Just a thought !”
I was wondering the same thing!!! He might hit .320 and belt 25-32 HR next year if the Braves sign him.
And Otis Nixon should be the new hitting coach.
Rolly
October 16th, 2010
4:55 pm
Atlanta braves fan of south,
Are you on crack? Every time I read one of your posts, I just about split my sides laughing.
Thundersticks
October 16th, 2010
4:58 pm
JOKE OF THE DAY:
“Plus Kenshin will be the next amazing starter .”
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
5:26 pm
Atlanta has not been to the world series in 11 years . This team right now needs a major adjustment . power hitting is a rare event in Atlanta in my personal view . That is the only reason I keep saying bring Andrew Jones . Andrew is a proven power hitter . And a golden glove winner in the field
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
6:12 pm
If Andrew Jones comes back to the Braves that would solve the outfield problem . He would catch anything and stop many base hits or ball base hits that should have been outs and was called hits . He also could have a breakout season . Chipper returns ..breakout season …And they could show the other guys how to grove the ball like old times . Its just the solid math and understandings how to build a roster of not just power players but proven history
jason
October 16th, 2010
6:36 pm
hey manny might be A good addition
Jerry
October 16th, 2010
6:59 pm
Andruw Jones will be a free agent after the World Series and he only signed for $500,000 this year, so he would probably come pretty cheap. Lets face it, a player with the defensive ability that Andruw still has with a batting average of .230 with 19 homers and 48 rbis in only 328 at bats while playing only half the time is a helluva lot better option than anything we saw last year. The team is not going to pay big money to get a proven star in here, so we have to settle for the next best option. If Jordan Schafer isn’t doing well by then, I would love to see Andruw back in a Braves uniform, especially without Pendleton screwing with his swing. A full season in center and Andruw would hit at least 25 homers and 85-90 rbis, even if he hits only .230 again. To me, that is a no-brainer.
And for those that are clamoring for Derrick Lee to be resigned, are you out of your ever loving minds? Freeman has nothing left to prove in the minors. He is a great defensive first baseman with a lot of upside offensively. Play him while he is making the minimum and allow him to grow into a bonafide major leaguer. Lee has had it and we’d have to pay him too much to sign him, even if he signs for only a few million.
Jerry
October 16th, 2010
7:17 pm
Btw, Otis Nixon for hitting coach? Really? First of all, Nixon was a slap hitter with speed. What can he possibly impart to anyone that would benefit them? He had a lifetime batting average of .270. As a slap hitter with tons of speed, seems to me that he should have been closer to a .300 average, plus batting from the left side. Secondly, he isn’t even involved in baseball. He is studying to be a preacher. Thirdly, Nixon seeing a baseball diamond with those foul lines would make his nose start running cause he would want to snort them. Stop talking about Nixon. It can’t and won’t happen. You’d have a better chance of getting Ted Williams head to be a hitting coach.
just facts
October 16th, 2010
8:03 pm
Atlanta braves fan of the south…. u r an idiot, Charlie Liebrandt is left-handed so he obviously can’t play third base… other than that, everything else is spot on!
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
8:08 pm
I did not know that about Otis Nixon. well they could still get a few choices of a batting coach but it will be hard. If they can not get Otis . I would go after David Justice or fred mcgriff to be there batting coach. Those 2 players are on the same teams that otis played for so there part of the best of the best of the braves.
Fins and Chins
October 16th, 2010
8:08 pm
‘Players like playing for him and they respect him as well, what more can you ask from a manager?”
WINNING.. Unlike Booby.
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
8:11 pm
The Charlie Liebrandt comment was from the other night . I updated the roster tonight
Go Braves
October 16th, 2010
8:23 pm
Trade Gonzo…anyone who does not run to first assuming an out especially in playoff game and would of been safe needs the same fate as Yunnel. Lazy player
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
8:30 pm
Bobby cox …
His Braves won went to the playoffs 15 times . He had 64 Brave players from 1990-2010 to make it to the All star team to play from the Braves . Under him the Atlanta Braves won the world series in 1995 . And Under him from 1991-1999 They went to the world series 5 times. The Braves was the Team of the 1990s . Having went to the world series more than any time and having won every title and having won 1 world series And he was the best ..But now its a new time ..but they have not been to the world series in 11 years
Cody Ross
October 16th, 2010
8:31 pm
ABF South..U sound like a broke record. Man what ever U on really F— your mine up. Same BS over and over. Get real!
Ross just hit home off Holiday
Cody Ross
October 16th, 2010
8:34 pm
Sorry, Halladay correct sp. Home-run Cody…Go Giants……..
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
9:24 pm
I hope Texas wins the world series . They have never won any world series ..Go Texas
NickaD
October 16th, 2010
9:30 pm
trade lowe + prospect to the yankees for brett gardner (LFer with great speed) and javy vasquez (pitches much better in the NL) then trade beachy and infante/another prospect for kemp (the dodgers want to get rid of him) If any team is willing to eat lowes contract it’s NY, and they’ll be in need of a pitcher especially after javy’s horrible season. I tried adding up the money and i don’t see this extending it much more than last years, especially if we can find a way to get rid of mclouth or kawkami (or both) but you gotta admit, this would be a pretty good roster lineup:
AVG HR RBI OBP SB
Brett Gardner .290 7 60 .390 48
Martin Prado .310 17 70 .355 05
Jason Heyward .304 29 104 .410 21
Chipper Jones .284 20 78 .428 05
Brian McCann .292 23 95 .395 04
Matt Kemp .290 28 101 .350 26
Alex Gonzalez .251 17 72 .300 03
Freddie Freeman .267 17 72 .332 02
ERA W-L IP SO / BB
Tim Hudson 3.33 17-6 211 133/71
Tommy Hanson 2.76 18-8 222 214/58
Jair Jurrjens 3.03 18-9 208 170/65
Javier Vasquez 3.45 15-10 225 230/52
Mike Minor 3.85 14-11 198 171/68
ERA W-L IP SO / BB
Craig Kimbrel 2.20 2-2 60 85 / 30
Johnny Venters 2.20 2-2 72 90 / 25
Peter Moylan 3.00 3-2 78 60 / 35
Erik Oflaerety 2.90 1-2 50 50 / 20
Kevin H
October 16th, 2010
10:06 pm
DOB,
Thanks for the blog. As a Braves fan it is required reading. Acknowledging the top guys like Werth and Crawford are probably not gonna be Braves’ options, who do you see them potentially targeting? Will they try the recycle bin again like they did with Glaus? What do you think are the odds Kawakami and Atl may reach an agreement to get him back to Japan if he can’t be traded?
Jerry
October 16th, 2010
10:26 pm
I fail to understand why you are stuck wanting to have a hitting coach that just happens to be an ex-brave, especially with no experience as hitting instructors. That was Pendleton’s problem. He was hired to a position without knowing what would happen. If I were the Braves, I would try and rehire Don Baylor. Him or Chris Chambliss.
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
11:28 pm
Having an ex-brave player as the hitting coach for the 2011 Atlanta Braves would bring experience of a guy who was part of a championship club and could be a hitting coach that understands big plays .
My own suggestions .
1. Otis Nixon < Fastest and best base stealing Brave
2. David Justice < Won world series with Braves . One of the best players ever!!! Hit 40 home runs 2 seasons < 7 time play offs < 2 world series
3. fred mcgriff < 10 seasons with 30 or more home runs .
having a hitting coach is good . But having someone with that kind of on base expercence that those 3 guys ive named . is un heard of . but im not the Atlanta braves . so I can not choose who gets to be the hitting coach . I just express my ideals .
Cody Ross hit 2 hrs
October 16th, 2010
11:36 pm
South, u sick!
Atlanta braves fan of south
October 16th, 2010
11:36 pm
That was my final comment by the way . so take it with a grain of salt . or think about what ive talked about . Its worth a look . at the ideas of the hitting coach and my roster I posted . by .
Chillahill43
October 17th, 2010
1:10 am
Ab of the south- really andruw is done. He couldnt play everyday and we got plent of 250 hitters thst cant play everyday… He was one if ghe greatest to ever suit up as a brave. But really dude he aint what we need anymore… We need an every day player that can give us 25-30 homers and 100 rbis. Whether we can afford that is the question… It will be best served by other than AJ. His stardom is finished. Hes through. Ni longer in the braves needs or wants. Time to move on dude… It aint happening
Pinball34
October 17th, 2010
2:34 am
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH GREGOR BLANCO?
Mark in mid-town
October 17th, 2010
5:50 am
Frank Wren said: ““I think Alex will be what he’s always been. He’ll be somewhere between .260-.270, hit 15-20 home runs, drive in 70, 75, 80, and play really good shortstop.”
=====================================================================\
Huh? I think 240 – 250 with very low OBP and 10 – 15 HR and 50 – 60 RBI with average defense will be more like it. In other words, Gonzalez will be a serviceable shortstop, while Escobar will likely be the 2nd shortstop the Braves have traded away since 2007 who will make the AL All Star team. A horrible trade, one that the Braves will be paying for for years to come, and all to placate a manager who had badgered Wren to trade Escobar because he didn’t like him, a manager who will no longer be here.
Bravo Nam
October 17th, 2010
5:59 am
DOB
Was in Vietnam and then went to Cambodia, now in Australia. You’re absolutely right- the Bravos team in the playoffs was a shadow of the one that led the division for three months.
Two movies to keep an eye out for (may already be out on DVD in the US)- Animal Kingdom (gritty Australian crime drama) and That Evening Sun (great independent movie with Hal Holbrook still shining after all these years).
seminoles
October 17th, 2010
7:20 am
Any chance the Dodgers don’t pick up the option on Podsednick? It would be nice to have some speed at the top and he wouldn’t cost a ton.
Jack J.
October 17th, 2010
7:51 am
Well Braves have a manager; Thank goodness it was not T.P. boy what a flop
as a hiting coach; and F.G. keeps him for Hubbard ha,ha,ha:
The Don Baylor suggestion for help is a great idea; Love the F.G. deal; Freddie
name Baylor your bench coach, hitting, and tell T.O. coaching first is his job period! Remember his theory as hitting coach? Leave players along until ask for his help; does this mean that when they get to first they ask him when to go to next base or just use common sense yo use their little league knowledge to act on their on ability!
T.P. needed to be gone F. G. use a injured player (ir) to coach first!
another money savior to purchase a player to improve Braves scoring ability.
Thinking on the K.K….. Japan needs a good pitcher for semi-help! Can’t believe Braves gave a contract for him; would have thought Braves mhad signed Cy Young! Some one oe who ever pulled this boner needs to be out of baseball!
"Mungo"
October 17th, 2010
8:55 am
At times it would be great to go back to the days of “One-Year Contracts”. This would releive the excess baggage situations every team falls into.
At times, we see teams spend more time/effort getting rid of baggage rather then the effort needed to adding the final punch needed.
yogiespeak
October 17th, 2010
9:05 am
Did we trade Medlin? He was something like 13 and one as a starter,
before being injured.
Hit A Single
October 17th, 2010
9:28 am
I stilll can’t believe Glenn Hubbard was let go. Somebody tell me what the problem was. I hope the errors we made after the all star game was not the reason. Look at who made them. All were second teammers last year.
IVAN ...
October 17th, 2010
10:28 am
And thank god for no more TP.
braveshoo
October 17th, 2010
10:56 am
If you read Cot’s baseball contracts, you can see every contract of every player on the Braves and every other team. If you look at closely, we will take off the books the following: Wagner-7 mil; Saito-3 mil; Glaus- 2 mil; Diaz- 3 mil. That is 15 million available for a star outfielder that we desperately need without raising payroll. We can sign Jason Werth imo for 15 mil per year for 3 years to play CF. He will hit 4th or 5th, supply the right handed power we need, and take a key player away from the Phillies in the process. If Chipper retires, we have 13 million more to get Uggla to play 3rd or 2nd and move prado to 3rd, for 10-12 mil per year, and add additional RH power. Either way, we can have a strong line-up. Our total payroll without Werth , including Chipper and our obligations to McClouth and KK is 78 million. We can afford Werth and we need him. If we can trade KK or McClouth, and get rid of the 6.5 mil we owe each, we can pick up substantially more to improve our team.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2010
11:47 am
Bravo Nam: We saw Animal Kingdom a few weeks back while it was on briefly at Atlanta’s Midtown Cinema. Great movie. And do yourself a favor and see The Social Network. Definitely should get an Oscar best-pic nomination.
Northbeach Scott
October 17th, 2010
11:47 am
Wow, the retard, douche bags, and kiddies are ou in force on the old MIB blog. These are perhaps the most ignorant roster FA signings posts of all time. We just got rid of our Matt Kemp, in Yunel. Andruw Jones is a platoon player ar best and no longer a CF.
Cody Ross or someone of his type is a more realistic fit.
jeff
October 17th, 2010
11:58 am
Why would the braves try and impro ve their OF? They have not tried in years, you lame Atlanta area fans don’t shop up to games, and we have no desire on the team to win. No hustle, no passion.
Jason Heyward
October 17th, 2010
12:17 pm
how about trading for shin soo choo?
balla1881
October 17th, 2010
12:40 pm
Shin-Soo’s available and good no doubt but…..
another LEFT handed bat. That would be Freeman, McCann, Heyward and Choo as your middle of the order guys. Not something Wren’s gonna be interested in doing. We need a right handed Power outfielder- dream would be Kemp. Rasmus would be a great addition but i hope we don’t give up JJ for him. But lets sit back and enjoy the Phillies lose this week, then enjoy the World Series before these trade rumors take center stage
Charles
October 17th, 2010
1:33 pm
Have to question Wren’s judgment on trades — we should have held out for Cody Ross and got him before the trade deadline instead of getting Farworthless Ankiel. By the waiver date it was clear the Ankiel deal was not working out and they should have claimed Ross off waivers as the Giant’s did. We might still be playing. I have no confidence in Wren’s ability to provide for the near term future with trades or signings. Too many failures and/or mediocre results — Glaus, Ankiel, Cabrera, Lee. The one success he had – Wagner – only stayed 1 yr instead of 2.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2010
2:15 pm
Have to question Wren’s judgment on trades — we should have held out for Cody Ross and got him before the trade deadline instead of getting Farworthless Ankiel. By the waiver date it was clear the Ankiel deal was not working out and they should have claimed Ross off waivers as the Giant’s did. We might still be playing. I have no confidence in Wren’s ability to provide for the near term future with trades or signings. Too many failures and/or mediocre results — Glaus, Ankiel, Cabrera, Lee. The one success he had – Wagner – only stayed 1 yr instead of 2. — Charles
Charles, the Braves had a better record than San Francisco when the Giants claimed Ross on waivers in mid-August. In fact, Braves had better record than anyone in NL except San Diego, at that time. The Giants claimed Ross in order to block the Padres from claiming him. Once the Giants claimed him, the Braves couldn’t have gotten Ross in a waiver trade, because they were behind them in the claiming order.
Marc in FL
October 17th, 2010
4:25 pm
Our best bet for LF next year would probably be Andruw Jones. I don’t see us competing for Crawford or Werth. We might go for Gomes.
I guess there are some trade possibilities, but I don’t know who.
Glenn in Ga
October 17th, 2010
5:13 pm
If not power, then at least some speed in the outfield? I’d love to see the Braves swipe a few more bases.
gaknight
October 17th, 2010
5:33 pm
Dave, you must be out of your mind. I wouldn’t let Nate McLousy cleats ever touch fair territory. He’s worthless. How much proof do you need. As for the rest of the outfield, other than Heyward and Diaz you can eject the rest of them Cabrera can’t hit or field. What are you going to do with Glaus, another bust. He sure as hell can’t play first base and the rookie “phenom” has never shown that he is a phenom. Remember Laroche. That’s all that needs to be said. The Braves minor leagues are woefully short of line players. This is not a one year fix, it’s a five year fix. And Chipper, even if he plays, for how long–100 games; I doubt it!
Kelly
October 17th, 2010
5:46 pm
Same old thing. Braves will get nothing but has-beens and cheap re-treads. Way to spend money, Braves.
ugaaccountant
October 17th, 2010
6:33 pm
Either upgrade with a proven guy like Wren or just stick with what we have. Don’t chase some reclamation project. McLouth is a much better reclamation project than paying for a 2nd one.
ugaaccountant
October 17th, 2010
6:34 pm
Worth obviously, not wren. oops.
Chillahill43
October 17th, 2010
8:06 pm
Dont see many fillies fans around specially since the Giants sent Haliday to his 1st post season loss. Amazing how the pitching changes Wehen the umpire makes you throw the ball across the plate for real strikes. Giants fan
for another week. Then back to Go Braves!!
count_schemula
October 17th, 2010
10:29 pm
Cody Ross just got expensive.
Gangster Rod
October 17th, 2010
10:49 pm
This really rubs it in that Schafer went off the reservation. Imagine if that kid could have put it together? We’d just need a power bat in LF and this club would be stacked. Argh. Argh, indeed.
Ian
October 18th, 2010
3:51 pm
Ryan Ludwick might be a possibility, and maybe the whole thing of being creative and not having enough money to go after a big time FA bat is just a decoy to get other continders of the Braves “tail”.
Darrel Ormes
October 18th, 2010
5:45 pm
Everybody has forgotten Jordan Shaffer. He is coming back from a serious injury that was made worse by the Braves playing him. Ankiel is fast, strong arm and should be put in left. He will hit if given the at bats.
steve
October 18th, 2010
10:20 pm
J.J. and Nate for Kemp, Liberty needs to up payroll to at least 98 million or get out as attendance this year proved that the fans will buy tickets if the product on the field is worth going to the ball park, increase payroll to give us a chance at getting a good left fielder and this team can compete for a world series championship, be cheap and try and win with great pitching which a lot of teams now have and lose because you cannot score runs, fairly simple decision, as a fan if the Braves do not get some hitters I will not be going to any games at Turner and hope the rest of you fans do the same as if Liberty wants to be cheap then they will not be getting any of my money.
san diego brave
October 19th, 2010
1:26 am
The payroll budget will not increase. It is nice to dream about big names but the contracts for McLouth & KK bring you right back to reality. I can see them essentially paying KK to not pitch if there are no buyers for his services, but they can’t afford to eat both contracts. A very realistic opening day roster could have Heyward in right, Schafer in center and McLouth in left. (yes all left handed bats). That would not be a bad scenario at all if Jordan & Nate can both return to form and be healthy. I would look for the Braves to add a veteran 32-35 year old left fielder on a one year deal near the end of spring training if either McLouth or Schafer have a bad spring. (If they both have a bad spring the Braves are in big trouble.) I’d like to see the Braves sign someone like a Andy Marte to play every 4th or 5th game and 3rd and spot start at 1st if Freeman struggles against lefties.
jackyldo
October 20th, 2010
7:29 am
call the Red Sox they’ll take Jurjens and send you Matsuzaka and Elsbury..
Jawbreaker
October 20th, 2010
4:34 pm
Forget it. Carl Crawford will cost too much. Will have to get a big bat through a trade. You have to give to get.
BravosnumeroUNO
October 21st, 2010
5:46 pm
We need to get Andruw back fa sho for the low and then somebody good in a trade like josh hamilton
BravosnumeroUNO
October 21st, 2010
5:47 pm
ANDRUW
BravosnumeroUNO
October 21st, 2010
5:47 pm
ANDRUW THATS AN EASY ONE!!!!!!