Braves’ next priority: Improving punchless outfield

They need a big time bat…seems like this has been the case for a long time becase it has. I think deals can be made, and if the Braves have learned anything it’s better to deal than to sign free agents, usually. They have all the capital in world with the top level guys, plus the guys in the middle to low minors who are top prospects. With such a high value on pitching, and prospects in general, it would behoove them to sell high on one they feel may be overvalued.

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Could it be my first first?

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Jair Jurrgens for Matt Kemp. Keep Infante and Gonzalez And sign Carl Crawford……………..PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!

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How about Adam Dunn at first, and putting Freeman in left ?

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I know I’m dreaming but an outfield with Heyward and Crawford would cause Braves fans to come out of the woodwork. It’s really the only hole on the entire team. He would add average, power, and speed – and butts in seats. If I was Wren, I would be pleading case to anyone at Liberty that would listen. He’s the right guy at the right time. How much more payroll are we talking about, DOB? With all of the payroll they are losing (Wags, Saito, Lee), it can’t be that much more, can it?

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im think braves need to pick carl crawford and trade KK and one prospect to the minors for KEMP

and sign one more reliever and its all

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BRAVES 2011

CRAWFORD LF
PRADO 2B
JONES 3B
MCCANN C
KEMP CF
HEYWARD RF
FREEMAN 1B
GONZALEZ SS
PITCHER……..

BENCH

INFANTE
ROSS
HINSKE
DIAZ
MCLOUTH

LOWE
HUDSON
HANSON
JURRJENS
BEACHY/MINOR

MOYLAN
VENTERS
KIMBREL
DUNN
MARTINEZ
MAREK
MATT CAPS.

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How about going after carl crawford … then asking sid bream if he would like to rejoin the braves on 1st base . That would give a good bat . I would also sign Steve Avery or see if he wanted to rejoin for 1 more time if I was in charge . I would also get Chipper to be short stop and put charlie leibrandt on 3rd base . I would ask otis nixon to be the batting coach . That would be a team to take them all the way to the dome

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I wouldn’t doubt that TP is the next manager of the Cardinals when Larussa retires.

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otis nixon would be the choice for batting coach …Plus he could give players tips on how to steal 2n base

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Mentioned this on the other blog – Keep trying to find possible outfield options out there (realistic ones) and name that keep coming back to is Juan Rivera…

Seems as if Angels are wanting to move him. Coming off of a down year may not take much to get him, and hopefully he rebounds in a contract year. Not saying the dude is great, but even if he hits 255 with 17 bombs that’s better than what was out there this year, and doesn’t strikeout that much. Also, can play a little 1st and back up as your right handed bat there when needed. Only makes 5 mil next year…

Definitely not a lot of right handed power options, and I know the Braves have shown interest in him before.

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Unless the Braves eat some of theat contract, Lowe is not going anywhere.

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Kinda sad to see Hubbard get the boot, I was hoping that it was going to be TP.

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Fredi does alot of the little things that Cox never really did (at least in this decade), and that is hit and run, STEAL bases, etc. You add things like this up and you can add at least 10 more wins. Fredi gets the most out of his players.

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Melky’s contract was up at the end of this year, but if Colby is under contract, a trade might be possible.

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Omar is way too valuable in the infield. Sure, he can play the outfield in a pinch, but they need a seasoned outfielder with some pop. I said before the year started that Nelson Cruz would be a great fit, seeing as the Rangers have a boatload of outfielders, but they kept him and look how he panned out.

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Whom ever we get I hope he can steal bases and plays a great outfield cough….cough….. CARL CRAWFORD!

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I was hoping that it was gonna be Fredi. He’s only 46, managed the fish for 3 years with the lowest payroll. Players like playing for him and they respect him as well, what more can you ask from a manager?

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The braves of the 1990s is the name of this game ..We need to remake them some how ..That is why Otis Nixon as hitting coach would be great

Think about how cool it would be…Cox leaves…And a old friend returns …but the chance of a hitting coach coming from the 1990s team is low

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Derrick, you are right in the fact that Omar has proved himself to be a starter, but he isn’t going to hit the 20+ homers that the Braves are probably seeking. He’ll either be regulated as the backup super guy or could be a key piece in a trade that could bring some serious thunder to a low octane lineup.

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TN BRAVES FAN your right. I watched him when the rays played us and Hes awesome in the field. you could play him at cf or left. and would be a perfect leadoff hitter.

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Way too many holes in DOB’s article. Every now and then I’d like to see a little ‘tude in the reporting and questioning.

1. They’re counting on Chipper to be healthy? In what year, 1999?

2. The Braves wouldn’t have been anywhere near the playoffs this year without Infante rippin’ it every game. And he’s not even mentioned in the 2011 plans?

3. They’re counting on McLouth to return to the form he displayed in what, 3 games this year? That’s laughable. These are the same experts who predicted a 35 HR, 110 RBI season from what was left of Troy Glaus.

4. Fredi is accustomed to managing a team that can steal a base. Welcome to the land of slow-motion baseball, my friend.

5. When Mr. Wren offers up Kawakami in a trade, what will be his response when the other GM stops laughing, and says, “Come on…seriously now.”

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I don’t know how much these loser’s make, but, if you get rid of ankiel,cabrera, farnsworthless,glaus,gonzo,k.k. mclouth, and saito, that should release enough money to pick up a good f/a… Maybe Chipper cpould retire, and become hitting coach…couldn’t do any worse than TP…then, ifante can play everyday..enough said!!!!!

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My plan to sign Crawford (ie winning will cover breaking the bank):

1. Convince Chipper to retire after 2011. Restructure his deal and put him on the “Bobby Bonilla” plan. I don’t have a problem with Chipper coming back next year, but it’s hard to see him having much value in 2012 at age 39 at third base. He def won’t have $15m value. He does not now, but he is a Brave for life and he gets paid now for what he did then. I’m fine with that.

In 2012, Chipper, KK and McLouth come off the books.

The outfield is Heyward, Crawford and junk in LF. The infield is Freeman, Lee (if he’d do a 2 year deal for reasonable money), Prado, A Gon, Chipper/Infante. The Catching is set.

It’s hard to assemble good pitching and we have it. It will be gone before we know it. The time to act is now. Keep JJ.

So, basically, 2011 will be a little expensive, but 2012 will return to normalcy. Winning in 2011 will offset the expense. The 2010 would have advanced with Chipper and Prado in the lineup. Imagine what the 2011 lineup could do with a 2nd year Heyward, Kimbrel, Venters, Beachy/Minor in various roles, and Hinkse and Lee coming off the bench.

So, sign Crawford, Lee and Hinske and let’s do this!

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Wonder if we can sign cliff lee for a one year deal

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Enter your comments hereTN Braves Fan

October 14th, 2010
9:51 pm
Fredi likes small ball and Carl would be the perfect lead off guy to get on first steal second and score on a single.

And you know this how? The Marlins didn’t play small ball.

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Tired, no need. We have pitching.

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Do NOT trade Jurrjens!

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otis was fair in the leadoff spot. he was great once he got to first base, but you can’t steal first. i don’t see him being able to help hitters. we don’t want slappers (melky), we want guys that swing the bat AND make consistant contact. did you see how other teams defended melky. it looked like the same shift they used when glavine was at the plate. i think glavine made more contact.

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We don’t need pitching? Hell we won’t ever beat philly unless we upgrade all areas of our team, and stop being cheap

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If we get Crawford, we only need to cover LF with McLouth and Diaz and whomever else we have laying around. So, no Andruw Jones.

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Here is the salary that can go away to pay for Crawford:

Derek Lee 13M
Farnsworth 4.5M
Saito 3.2M
Cabrera 3.1M
Ankiel 3.25 M
Glaus 1.75 M
Wagner 7 M

Total 35.8 M

I know some of this will need to go to other replacements, but we have some very good young players that are already at the minimum and are on contract for a few years.

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No WAY you let this winter go by without getting at least ONE bat for that outfield that is anything less than an EXPONENTIAL upgrade to what we had last season. Get it DONE, Wren. And get out of our business and sell the Braves as soon as possible, Liberty Media; we don’t need Rockies fans holding our team back!!!!

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Omar’s not going to be too keen about coming off the bench. He wants to start. Outfield perhaps?

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I see Omar playing LF, 3b and 2b plenty next year.

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Jerry Fredi had to play small ball in Florida because that is the only kind of players he had – the Fish killed the Braves with small ball when they played each other

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Any thing else would be better than andruw jones ugly swing, I would rather have brooks conrad than him

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Naf – you are right that Lee, Farnsworth, and Ankiel were partial year contracts, but it was the general idea and there is still a lot of $ there

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No dont get me wrong TN we need to spend some of that money and get a BAT

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Count, those three are already out of here and we dont have to pay nuttin

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I would take a shot on Mags if h is healthy

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Manny will be 40 next year. NO. Mags, no. Crawford. Yes. Just close your eyes, make a funny face, sign the check. We will need money one day for Hanson, so, we need to avoid more entagling contracts and ride some of our kids. Maybe Schafer can emerge as a piece in the outfield at some point, though it does not seem like he’s star material anymore.

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GM rulebook, page 1, paragraph 1 – do not trade cheap, proven starting pitching that you have under your control for 2-3 years (i.e. JJJ) if it leaves you with any unproven arms (or rookies) in the rotation. Under any circumstances.

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There is not much available next year.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/2011-mlb-free-agents.html

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Andrew Jones back in center . Otis Nixon as batting coach. My views are going by a 1990s play book . Never change what is still good.

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Wow. Not impressed with the left side of the Braves infield going into 2011. Chipper just doesn’t belong on a diamond anymore (as a player) and Gonzalez is so-so. But Wren is stuck with the arrangement, for the most part, unless Chipper hangs ‘em up.

Outfield… Well, I think Wren will do something to add a power bat, but he’s not going to tip his hand, so we’ll see what develops.

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Chipper is coming back. He is very close to a few milestones, and he was last seen on a field crumpled in a heap. He is coming back, and we owe him that. The KEY is convincing him to retire after next year, and restructure his contract like the Mets did Bonilla – pay him $1m for 20 years or something ridiculous. We’ve seen the best of Chipper, obviously. Infante will not be crying for playing time next year.

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RaleighDawg:Please get spellcheck or a dictionary or both and a legit English teacher. Your spelling/grammar is terrible

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Here is a low budget move with big time OF power potential. Sign Jeff Francoeur (to hit against lefties) and Jeremy Hermida (to hit against righties). Potential would be huge if Fredi could get their heads on straight.

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Uggla has hands of stone. No thanks. We only need Crawford. Infante plays 2nd and 3rd and LF. Chipper plays 3rd when he can. We have plenty of trash to run out into LF next year.

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Chipper Jones is the only player left from the great teams of the lost decade . I think he needs to stay to keep the old blood alive . Andrew Jones is the best choice for center . Think about it . Andrew Jones age 33 in center . Chipper Jones , The Jones brothers return for 2011 . what a show that would be

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fact is. older players get hurt easier, heal slower and don’t come back as good as before. chipper is not the answer. he’ll be a slap hitter stuck in the 3-hole in fredi’s line-up for about 100 games. every time he starts to hit, he’ll pull something and be out for ten games. you know he won’t hustle, he never did. he has been a great player for many years, but he has never been the lead by example leader that the braves need.

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We can all stop the talks of trading Derek Lowe already. He isn’t going anywhere. He’s a gamer and proved that down the stretch for the Braves. Lowe, Hanson, and Hudson are the Braves 1,2,3 punch in 2011.

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Maybe if we get rid of Jason the Choke Heyward then maybe we can get something good in return

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CUTS:

Moylan
Farnsworth
Alex Gonzolez
McLouth (maybe, but his salary could keep him – but on the bench.)
Glaus
Melky Cabrera
Ankiel
Saito

Lineup for 2011:

Prado 2B
Infante SS
Chipper 3B
McCann C
Jason Heyward RF
Freeman 1B
??? CF
Diaz LF

What do ya think?

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Chipper And Andrew could power those braves to a 100 game winning season .

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We are stuck with McLouth, so he joins the pile of junk (Diaz) we run out in LF. That’s fine since we’ll have Crawford in CF. Of course, I’m assuming that Crawford can and will play CF.

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Andruw Jones last 5 years: .262, .222, .158, .214, .203 NO! NO! NO!

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Atlanta braves fan of south

October 14th, 2010
10:46 pm
Chipper And Andrew could power those braves to a 100 game winning season .

Yea they could if it was still the in the late 1990’s but its not and chipper is injury prone and andruw can’t hit to save his life

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i agree about kk. when he had chances to win, bobby wouldn’t use his go to guys out of the pen. he usually put in chavez to give up kk’s runs and lose the games for him. to me it was clear that bobby had something against him.

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Magglio Ordonez and Another star pitcher could put the braves over the hump and Rafael Soriano to close. Kimbrel could be the set up guy

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Good lord you people are dumb:

1) We’re not going to sign Crawford: Angels, Red Sox and Tigers have much more coin than us.

2) Werth is more realistic, but one of the 2 teams listed above who don’t ink CC will get him.

3) Kemp and Rasmus are fantastic ideas, but they ain’t comin’ cheap (i.e. Jurrjens, Delgado Spruill)

In other words, get ready for Magglio Ordonez, Pat Burrell and/or Cody Ross and hope J-Hey turns into the love child of Griffey and Pujols stat…

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Agree pitching beats hitting …he!! no to AJ.

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We don’t have to add anything to the pitching staff. We have 1-4 starters. We have 2 vying for #5. We have a nice bullpen. If we could keep Lee to cover and aid Freeman. Infante backs up Prado and Chipper and would see time in LF. We are stuck with McLouth who would play some LF. Crawford and Heyward ANCHOR the OF and catcher is solved. I like Ross playing once a week. Really, we ONLY have to make one move, sign Crawford.

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Yes it would be expensive, but winning covers the signing. The key to signing Crawford is convincing Chipper to retire in 2012 and restructure a la Bobby Bonilla.

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Jesus is the only one to help AJ..say yes to Greg.

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First of all, I would love it if the Braves would sign Carl Crawford. we need a guy like him who can steal bases, has good speed in the outfield, and is a good leadoff hitter. I think our new closer is going to be Craig Kimbrel.

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Nope rugburn, half the pizza was missing. Hmmmm. Damn Melky.

Another hole in DOB’s article. “Kimbrel has shown he’s ready for the closer role…” well to everyone except Bobby Cox, evidently. Seems as though he was pulled early in a closer-type situation just a few short days ago in one of the HOF manager’s can’t miss, by-the-book, screw-the-stats, righty-lefty moves How quickly some forget.

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Good

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No Andruw Jones please no!!!

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New York will sign Cliff Lee and will probably get Feliz Hernandez so I think the braves should try to get one of them but if they don’t, It will be New York vs Philly again

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Thundersticks, thats probably the way it will happen…but I never like to trade a used car for another used car. Thats what the Braves have done the last 4 years. One Junker for another.

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We need Carl Crawford,but we know the braves are cheap so I don’t see that happening unless they get rid of Nate and Kawakami or Derek not Jair that would be stupid.

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I would like Atlanta to lead the east in Home runes next year . Look guys . I look for power players . I think choosing people that would help the team is a solid idea

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“Hire Greg Walker hitting Coach

October 14th, 2010
11:09 pm
Thundersticks, thats probably the way it will happen…but I never like to trade a used car for another used car. Thats what the Braves have done the last 4 years. One Junker for another.”

I agree. That’s why they SHOULD sign Crawford. They SHOULD have the money given the contracts coming off the books due to free agency, options, and probable non-tenders.

I think how they handle Diaz will tell us a lot. He will be too expensive in his last year of arbitration to be a bench player or even a platoon player. I think they should either keep him and let him start in LF full time or non-tender him. Don’t get me wrong, I like Matty. But its not fair to him at this point to have him in a part-time role.

I could see a trade for Colby Rasmus, Corey Hart, Delmon Young, Julio Borbon, Nelson Cruz, or Juan Rivera. I think these are more realistic options and may not cost Jurrjens to get.

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Wren is a bit too high on prospects and not hard enough on vets. Gonzo is mediocre (he stopped hitting an was an error machine at SS – I really dislike the “trying to do too much” line) and FF had a couple of hits and one homer off a pitcher who never saw the kid before.

Recall Schafer hit a few homers in his first week as a MLer.

FF ML sample size was too small to even make a comment about what he could do next year.

Heyward, who many have said is head and shoulders above FF was a non-factor on this team in Sept and the post season. He was a tired rookie who was over matched by quality pitching. It’s ok it happens but don’t tell us b/c FF was in AAA he will be on a higher trajectory than Heyward given the gap in their respective natural skills.

Wren will end up getting a cheap vet RH 1B during ST or in June when its clear he needs one.

He will trade JJ or one of his prime minor league arms by Jan for a bat.

There is no way around it.

He either needs a 25 mm payroll boost (not happening) or he will have to trade some arms. He is not fooling anybody.

If he doesn’t do this he will have another team which will be running on fumes come August and be in the same sad position of trading for next year’s Ankiel and Farnsworth hoping to catch a break.

The problem is you cannot rely on the Phillies to be injured for the 1H of the season and expect the rest of the NL East to be push overs so by August it may be too late.

Sorry but this team needs a LF, CF, 1B Vet bat backup, probably a new SS, revamped bench and a pen arm.

With an 84mm payroll & 13mm tied up in Nate & KK good luck Frank. Good luck indeed.

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“Atlanta braves fan of south

October 14th, 2010
11:17 pm
I would like Atlanta to lead the east in Home runes next year . Look guys . I look for power players . I think choosing people that would help the team is a solid idea”

I would like to add some power, too. But power cost money and the Braves don’t have a lot. If you think Andruw is the answer, you’re about 5 years too late.

Pat Burrell and Magglio Ordonez are the only potentially affordable free agents out there. This is why I think the bat will have to come via a trade and I still don’t think we’re going to get as much power as we’d like.

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Thunderstick, we think alike..agree

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Hey DOB, how about that Kansas State/ Kansas football game. K-State 59 ku 7. Rough night for the Chickenhawks. Have a good next year, until we see you again in 2011 and clobber you again.

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Pat Burrell would be like chipper Jones . A guy from the 1990s that is still active . However he would help Atlanta . I would like him to come to Atlanta just to make Philly mad .

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I think the Braves should go after Jorge Cantu as the righthanded pinch hitter off the bench and backup to Freeman and Chipper. Then resign Eric Hinske as our lefthanded pinch hitter. Trade Lowe to Boston, who is desperate for starting pitching, for Jacoby Ellsbury. Then take the money we save on Lowe to sign Carl Crawford. Then try to pickup Javier Vazquez for $5MM to replace Lowe.

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got to go…good night.

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This reminds me of car modding. Lots of guys spend $500 here, $1000 there and end up with noisy crap that is not that much faster. Some guys blow the wad on a stage II turbo and rebuild the bottom end and they get real power. The former is called rice, and it’s how the high school kids do it. The latter is how the the big boys do it.

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Buckeyebrave-I like your moves but I don’t think we should give up D Lowe since we have a 3 headed monster in our division

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We have 4 starters. Who wants to mess with that, and why? REMEMBER CHUCK JAMES!

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You guys are dumb we need another top pitcher and you guys know it, there is no way hanson can compete with cole hamels. And sign Javier Vazquez again and thats you starting five

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Hell No!!, I agree with you, I believe the braves and Wren could actually make that work.

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Yes, I know we all like Lowe and how well he did in the playoffs, but I sense he is alot like Vazquez in that we need to sell high. We could always go after Harden, Garland or Jeff Francis to replace Lowe, they’re all free agents. We don’t need any long term contracts, 2 years max, because of all the talent ready to be in the majors within a year or two.

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Hell NO!!

October 14th, 2010
11:43 pm
You guys are dumb we need another top pitcher and you guys know it, there is no way hanson can compete with cole hamels. And sign Javier Vazquez again and thats you starting five”

I disagree. Another year under his belt and Hanson will have a breakout year next year.

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“This is the move

October 14th, 2010
11:48 pm
No way this is happening?? Why it can’t happen? Seattle is not getting better and they want younger talent so why not”

I never said Seattle wouldn’t do it. What I’m saying is Wren will not meet the asking price.

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Buckeyebrave

October 14th, 2010
11:47 pm
Yes, I know we all like Lowe and how well he did in the playoffs, but I sense he is alot like Vazquez in that we need to sell high. We could always go after Harden, Garland or Jeff Francis to replace Lowe, they’re all free agents. We don’t need any long term contracts, 2 years max, because of all the talent ready to be in the majors within a year or two.

No way the braves can compete with Philly if we trade D Lowe, we need another top pitcher and a bat and the braves are ready

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http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101014&content_id=15634616

Contract issues
Free agents: Eric Hinske, UTL; Troy Glaus, 1B/3B; Derrek Lee, 1B; Takashi Saito, RHP; Kyle Farnsworth, RHP; Rick Ankiel, CF

Eligible for arbitration: Melky Cabrera, OF; Matt Diaz, OF; Peter Moylan, RHP; Jair Jurrjens, RHP; Martin Prado, INF; Eric O’Flaherty, LHP; Scott Proctor, RHP

Player options: None.

Club options: Billy Wagner, RHP, $6.5 million (plans to retire); Farnsworth, $5.25 million ($250,000 buyout); Ankiel, $3.25 million ($500,000 buyout); Alex Gonzalez, SS, $2.5 million; Omar Infante, INF, $2.5 million ($250,000 buyout)

Non-tender possibilities: Melky Cabrera

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I never said Seattle wouldn’t do it. What I’m saying is Wren will not meet the asking price.

Wren probably will meet the price if seattle agrees to pay almost all of his salary and you already know he will pull the trigger if they say yes to that demand

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PMC-got to agree friend.

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See this thing about pitching. Great pitching helps. It really does. It keeps you in games.

Pitching by nature… CAN’T win games.. because you have to actually score runs to win.

The Braves NEVER score enough runs. We NEVER have enough offense in this town EVER. If there’s a guy who is a “good guy” who “plays hard” and can’t hit a lick… he’s on this freaking team.

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We need stars not second rate players on the decline, get a star pitcher and get magglio and soriano from tampa bay

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Otis Nixon is the king of stealing bases in the deep south . If u want a team to do that . Hire him as the hitting coach

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Pitching by nature… CAN’T win games.. because you have to actually score runs to win.

Wow guess you didn’t see when the braves lost 1-0 in game one, we couldn’t hit sh!t

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“This is the move

October 14th, 2010
11:53 pm
I never said Seattle wouldn’t do it. What I’m saying is Wren will not meet the asking price.

Wren probably will meet the price if seattle agrees to pay almost all of his salary and you already know he will pull the trigger if they say yes to that demand”

I’m not talking about Felix’s salary. I’m talking about the prospects. Even if the Mariners paid all of his salary, I still don’t think Wren is going to trade Hanson, Delgado, Teahran, plus to get one player.

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I wonder if Wren DREAMS as much as us fans. Sometimes I believe the FANS care more that Management does.

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I personally never saw the “great” defense that Alex Gonzalez was supposed to provide. Didn’t he make 2 errors in the last game? Wasn’t he the guy that failed to run out a pop up or groundball or whatever? I really thought the Braves could’ve done better by trade than the Sea Bass.

If you can’t hustle for 2.5 million, you don’t deserve to be on the field.

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We need Ted Turner back as owner. He lets us spend money to build great teams. Now this Liberty Media keeps a tight payroll and didn’t even show up to any of the playoff games. Or even get Arthur Blank. Both of those guys care more about the team winning than money.

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braves have needed about 2 big bats for about 5 years now, i doubt they get one.

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I personally wouldn’t mind getting magglio in the outfield, he is flying under the radar. I have been reading some posts about felix hernandez and if the braves made that deal it could be huge

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all star game 2011 . I think Chipper Jones could make it . If he bats 320 and gets around 17 home runs before the all star game .

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For about 2 years and then what? Who is going to replace Lowe and Hudson? That would be the Teixeira deal all over again.

We could have a great chance to win it all with a trade like that and plus we can finally win the division again and stop signing these dirtbag pitchers

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After 2011 . The rest of the years are really out if our hands . I think the Braves must win 2011 . All . After that . The best team. I think will be Nationals .

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For the people saying pitching doesn’t beat hitting must didn’t see Philly sweep the reds. They couldn’t hit nuthin, the braves need a top rotation guy. Thats why the braves are out and the phillies aren’t

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Good night all!! Time to hit the sack.

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Oct. 6 Phillies 4, Reds 0
Oct. 8 Phillies 7, Reds 4
Oct. 10 Phillies 2, Reds 0

We need another arm and these scores prove that we do, thats why we are at home now

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WTF?? lets us see on Felix deal……………..

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damn I’m already asleep.
sorry, Let us sleep on the felix deal.

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I think chipper Jones will retire when he can no longer produce a 300 Average season . That remains to be seen . until he is healthy . I think he can last 300 a year season until age 42. But that is just me. we are all free to express out views

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WE WANT ANDRUW JONES BACK!!!!!

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Jeff Treadway would also be a good hitting coach . He was form the 1991 braves team. He batted 320 in 1991 . He was 2n base .

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Chipper Jones for hitting coach

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Chipper Jones can not be hitting coach when he is hitting the home runs . He will be a player for a while . I think he can hit until early 40s. He is still young . late 30s . He is the force of the team

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chipper Jones had 10 seasons batting over 300 . With a few 200s here and there. His life time average is 306. I mean as long as he can have 1 300 average season left even if he has a 200 average a year season . Meaning . He is the best or 1 of the best hitters atlanta has ever had..He still is good

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Chipper Jones still needs to play . Until your done . He is one of the best hitters ever in Atlanta . He needs to play until he cant . so at the end of his time . we can look back and compare how good is was . If he plays a few more years he could get to 500 home runs in his life time

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plus . There will never be another Chipper Jones . I mean there will be new guys come ..But to have a player having that sort of record is hard….we should be asking him to come back …He is on the Hall of fame level . he is the sort of like the derek Jeter of the south. He is a team leader , And a good player

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Chipper Jones can be a hitting coach

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I think its great to hear what the Braves want and what they think they can get blah blah blah…the Braves however will sit on the sidelines as they usually do and watch players like a Crawford, Dunn and any other potential free agents sign with other teams waiting for the dollar amount on that particular player to decline or come down FACT; Liberty Media is CHEAP and they do not care about the Braves organzation…Until Arthur Blank can buy the Braves or someone that cares about winning…the Braves aren’t going to have financial support.

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Ok folks, are y’all going to pay the $100m over the next 6 years for Crawford? Because that’s the LEAST he’s going to get. It’s just not going to happen. I see Yankees or Red Sox, with the possibility of Detroit if they get rid of Magglio.

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DOB, you a fan of Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan? I just got a ticket to see them in Brooklyn on Sunday with my wife and brother-in-law. He’s a fan and said we had to go (and we had no choice cause we’re staying with him for the weekend!). Should be fun. Just listened to a bit now, but it sounds like something you’d like.

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I absolutely love reading the garbage that you idiots write. And by the way, this is only directed at the morons who can’t type complete sentences. It’s hilarious how you think other people are going to take you seriously. Signing Andruw Jones? Trading Brian McCann? Otis Nixon as hitting coach? You guys are seriously retarded.

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Dob,

1 Have you heard that liberty media plans to sell the team? If that happens is there any chance it sells in time for the new owner to spend on free agents.
2. Even if chipper returns the braves have got to find someone who can take over at third when hoss does hang them up. They also need fo figure out if Mycal jones will be ready to take over for Alex after next year.
3. Any idea what fredi thought about Jeremy Hermida. He was just released and might be a nice cheap option for the outfield next year.
4. Regarding trading jj, I think much depends on how long wren thinks it will take Julio Teheran to make it to Atlanta (Delgado too). I suspect that you won’t see a trade like that until they are sure that they can replace jj. I doubt they think beachy is a long term solution for a rotation spot.

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Going to be up there for a week and will get to see Muse twice next weekend too. Really looking forward to that. Should be a fun week of concert going…

Just listened to Deus Ibi Est by Campbell and Lanegan, man does that one have some Johnny Cash sound to it!

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Reality Check!!! If the Yankees want Crawford, the Yankees WILL GET CRAWFORD no matter how much the braves offer, the Yankees can (and will) top it, plus its more attractive for him to go to the team with the best chance at a World Series, and with the team they field year in and year out, that is the yankees.

We all want a power bat but you have to be realistic.

ps whoever said we should trade McCann…SERIOUSLY??

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“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.”

Alex did not perform offensively which you can make excuses for. Say he tried to do too much, blah, blah, blah…but he didn’t perform his strength, defensively! And did anyone see him not run out the crucial at bat in the final game when the shortstop muffed his ball…even the man from 1st made it to 2nd. His range is terrible and lack of hustle is unforgiveable. We need to upgrade at SS.

We need to acquire either Werth or Crawford (I would prefer Werth). If McLouth works hard with the new hitting coach, gets away from his upward swing for the fences, and continues to have the attitude and work ethic he had in August, he may be alright.

Heyward has great potential and should improve greatly…but has got to quit looking at called 3rd strikes, and needs to improve defensively. Yes, defensively. He has trouble playing the warning track and the wall; his inability to break on Huff’s soft liner on Sunday night probably cost us the series. I know I am the lone wolf on the last points, because the Braves so much want him to be the new golden boy (and I, also, wish him great success in Atlanta and a long career), but I don’t think he is there yet (at his age he can develop if he remains hungry).

Get off some of that money and get a productive outfielder without giving up JJ or a prospect. I have never seen a single team that had too much good pitching.

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“Just saying” at 1:52…you took the words right out of me. Another of the great untold stories of the 2010 Braves was Heyward’s poor outfield play. The hype machine told us how great he was. Can anyone recall a memorable play? Other than the oft-repeated line, “Heyward’s throw to the plate is off-line…”

Out of all the subpar outfielders the Braves sent out there this year, only Ankiel was above average…and he was only that; above average. Hinske has no range, and no arm. Diaz is average at best. He made one great throw this year (most were rainbows), and then got pulled for the incredibly awful Melky Cabrera. To think that Melky once roamed the outfield for the Yankees, is as weird as the fact that McLouth won a Gold Glove one year. Evidently they had a drawing for the winner that year.

An earlier comment was on the money. The Braves have had few quality outfielders since Andruw Jones was in his prime….and the HOF trio of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz should absolutely thank him when they’re giving their speeches in Cooperstown.

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We need to get rid of MELKY CABRERA keep matty d in center then go for power hitting CF Andruw Jones and we should be good we would have a gold glove outfield

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DOB sums it up nicely about the Chipper dilemma in his 1;01 am post. Hence, it’s up to Chipper. Hence, I hope sanity grabs hold and Chipper retires.

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Trade McCann, KK & McClouth to Dodgers for Kemp. I know Kemp could be a problem. Trade JJ to Cardinals for Rasmus. You could’t beat an OF of Kemp, Rasmus & Heyward. That would be a great defensive OF. Catchers are dime a dozen. Find a good lefthanded catcher to go with Ross.

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I would release McCloth if it cost me 25 mil, I would release Kawakami if it cost even more. To me, you loose all credibility when you suggest keeping the bum. I believe with all my heart he cost the braves untold games with his lack of hitting. All the games Kamakami lost, how much was that worth. You know if you need a center fielder or a left fielder find them where the Braves found Heyworth and Freeman. Quit giving away the future with all the freaking trades. 3 months of Texiera for a freaking team. And dang, closer to now, who the heck traded for Ankiel and Farnsworth, and at what price. And one last thing. How much has it cost the Braves because Booby Cox evidently didnt care if players were hurt. We could go on till tomorrow. In addition to all else had a star in center, a freaking star. Before the 3rd game he broke his hand, played 3 months, Bobby saying, bum cant play hurt, and now where is the guy? Is he close enuff to still be on earth. I appreciate that you can write, but there might need to be some other requirements for the job.

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CARL CRAWFORD……DO IT. One deal…….done.

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I read in a Japanese newspaper about a month ago that Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Professional League was scouting KK. Can we just trade KK to them? They have Matt Murton, a former McDounough/Tech outfielder. Unfortunately, Murton established the Japanese League record in the number of hits in a season this year, so I don’t think they will give him up…

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would anyone take McLouth if the Braves sent some cash with him?

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stew is so right. We need outfield bats and sitting the cleanup hitter every 5 days is a joke.

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That way their mom and dad can come to one park and see both boys play.

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Then we can get the Laroach boys in here as well and maybe the Giles brothers also. Our lineup could be:

LF – Upton
RF _ B Giles
CF – BJ Upton
1st – Adam Laroach
Catcher McCann
3rd – Andy Laroach
ss – Alex Gonzalez
2nd – Marcus Giles

What a lineup and it would confuse all the other teams.

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We may could even think about bring in a couple of the Molina brothers to catch, but rotate them everyday. Man the other team wouldn’t know what hit them.

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I seem to have missed the name of Infante in DOB’s article. All the little guy did was carry the otherwise comatose offense (with Prado until he went down). IF Chipper comes back and seals his claim to the 3B position (but not necessarily to the 3-spot in the batting order?), we are going to need serious, everready backup for him. Also, I am not so convinced as every one seems to be that Freeman is really ready for the big time on a daily basis. If Lee goes (I had no big problem with him; check stats), and Glaus disappears from the radar screen, another serious backup is needed at 1B. The bench saved what was saved of the Braves’ season this year. Don’t make the mistake of selling all that off for one big (?) bat. And don’t give away the pitching: all those fabled division crowns, it was pitching, not slugging that did it.

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hey total grace don’t forget about the Hoffmans. Trevor as the closer and Glen to coach 3rd.

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In my opinion, it’s going to be nearly impossible to find a right-handed power bat to play outfield and the Braves are going to be lefty heavy regardless of what they do. My suggestion would be to take a flyer on a speedster to hit leadoff. Don’t know who might be available for that role, but this teams need to produce more runs. If you can’t do it with power, then do it with speed. I bet Rickey Henderson is still in shape.

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So I guess they will work in the offseason to find two bats….at least one from the right side.

We need Filet Mignon to compete… but we’re going to end up with cold spam. Oh well. Another owner surely must be around the corner.

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I said the Phillies lineup…one possible Exception (Yankees lineup) especially after they grab Crawford.

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Well, there you go. The MVP of this year’s “playoff” team isn’t even assured a spot in the lineup in 2011.

Instead, Wren intends to trot out an unproven 1st baseman, a pouting, no-contact, error-prone shortstop, a feeble 3rd baseman who may be good for 40 games, a black hole in left field, an albatross in center, Jason “his throw was off-line” Heyward in right, and the poor fielding, 75 RBI cleanup hitting catcher.

That’s where it stands folks, trades must be made.

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DOB….do the regular bloggers disappear in the off-season

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6.5 million for McClouth is unbelievable. Sigh.

Anyone got any roids?

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Infante played very well this year and has played well since joing the Braves averaging over .300 with the bat but is no more than OK with the glove….. I think his versatility and offense are his value…… like him as the top option and a must with Chipper.

Chipper was a great player, now below avg and his salary hurts the Braves….. I know we can blame Lowes, KK, McClouth but we had needs to fill with each of those…… Chipper had a great year, with no power and got a super extension….. Chipper needs to negotiate his retirement….. He can always Farve it……. If Chipper cares about winning CARL Crawford in LF and a trade for Matt Kemp (yeah I dreaming) would allow us to play the weak infield that we have now…….. We must only hope the mets and Phillies steer clear of Crawford

I keep hearing people talk about how great Chipper is…… where are his endorsements?

Freeman and Heyward will probably play well…… Heyward, like Howard did not look great defensively as a rookie but he has got two years to learn on the job…. He looked better than Matt or Melky….

WE will put a poor performing team on the field, no minor leauge help and struggle to make the playoffs….. Pray our pitchers hold up……. Chipper man up Braves/Liberty Media give it up

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I really do not like what I am reading re the infield for 2011.

What I do not like is Gonzalez at SS.

Freeman 1B, Prado 2B, Jones 3B & Infante SS & McCann behind the plate.
Gonzalez can be a backup and pitch hitter along with Conrad.

Trade bait? David Ross deserves a shot to be a starting catcher in the big leagues. He was arguably the top backup catcher in MLB last season.
He hit .289 in the 59 games he played. And the pitchers said they loved his catching.

So who will spend a starting outfielder for a starting catcher and another player to be named later?

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I though ACL took a year of recovery. How would Chipper make it back by opening day?

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Keith Moon lives: yeah that plan worked great with McGriff and Klesko.
Please God, don’t let them trade Jurgens for another 270 hitter from the AL!

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Simply releasing Melky will create an upgrade in the line-up.

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I agree JJ is the guy we want to keep……..Lowe can get us a more quality player from a team wanting to win….. Dodgers? CUBS? JJ if he comes back healthy we can trade him before Boras

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There are a lot of good outfielders available, there are only two (maybe one – not so sure about Werth outside Philly) VERY good outfielders available. Going from lousy to just good would be a large upgrade which should transfer into a few more victories. Also, I wish I shared Wren’s optimism about the shortstop position. Don’s point three above is well taken.

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Reason why Yankees rule and Braves suck: advanced scouts (scouting reports). Getting all the star players in the world won’t help the Braves. Their services are useless if they are lazy and go along with management not using scouting reports. Prado might be the hardest working player on the Braves but majority of the Braves are lazy and lucky due to hunches/gut feelings that paid off until the end. So, Braves go ahead and get a Manny Ramirez type player and you will be sorry. Might as well build organization around Escobar. Lack of utilization of scouting reports is the reason why teams like Washington whooped the Braves. Laziness of going out and partying instead of working on fundamentals is why the Braves were among the league losers in defense.

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Bring up PASTORNICKY today!

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We can’t move Lowe unless the braves pay part of his salary. I wouldn’t mind seeing the braves go after Scott Podsednik or Nady and move Heyward to center. Or stick Freeman in left and bring in Lance Berkman it’d be nice to have another switch hitter in the middle of the lineup

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Berkman will fit well with Braves since he is injury prone and Nady will make Braves lovable losers as ever.Grin and bear it with Freeman at 1b. He did hit a homer off Halladay.

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Braves conditioning of pitchers resemble how the Cubs condition their pitchers. Braves king of the Tommy John procedure.

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hey joe forget how to spell your name girardi

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I can’t get over Nate McOut making 6.5 million! 6 point 5 MILLION! Somebody call the cops!

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The Braves have more problems than just the outfield. Wren is clueless.

Ist Base is a huge need– I guess we plug FF in there.
SS is a need– Gonzalez was useless most of the time.
Lowe much pretty much useless most of the season.
Hanson wilted into nothing late in the season.

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1. Let’s hope Fredi is more of a stickler for fitness than was the HOF manager. McCann, Moylan, Jurrjens, Glaus, Hinske and Diaz…to name a few, all seemed out of shape, and actually gained weight (not muscle) during the season.

2. McLouth in CF in 2011? Oh. My. God. How many balls are gonna fall in right center because he’s having flashbacks of colliding with Heyward. Those two won’t get near each other. File this under “seriously bad ideas.”

3. What has happened to Hinske’s versatility? How can a guy who played 427 games at 3rd base from 2002-04, and 49 games in right field in 2008 suddenly be unqualified to play an inning at either position?

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Hey reggie ….I have been saying the Braves are a SLOW, OLD, over weight team for some time now.

Most look like weekend Beer drinking softball players…….and they play the same way !

Great call !

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What are the plans for Medlen? I know he won’t be available until the Summer, but he was solid while starting last year?

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What needs to happen is Chipper retire and spend that 13 million for an OF position.

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No way the Braves trade McCann or Heyward. Heyward will be cheap for a few years and McCann has already shown this team that he is willing to work for less $$$ in order to play in his hometown. Both are fan favorites (at least they are outside of this blog). No way, no how is either of them going anywhere soon. J-Hey might once he’s free to do so, but not McCann.

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13 million isn’t that much in professional athelete salary terms. See: Nate McOut makes 6.5 million dollars.

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We quit! Fredi says he expects us to not only cover outfield but hit too.

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Don’t trade Jurrjens unless he’s packaged with Kamakaze. It’ll free some dollars.

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What are the Braves paying for their sorry a__ outfield now.

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Its depressing to know going into the Free Agency period that we have no chance to get someone who will instantly improve our team. We will sign someone who was ok 2 or 3 years ago and hope he has a great year. SEE TROY GLAUS, It would be great to actually be ablew to read that ownership caes enough to fund the team. WHERE IS TES TURNER!!!!

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When selecting players-I find that the ouija board works best for me.

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the braves need to do multiple things:
1. trade Lowe high – a 37 year old with a 4.00 era isnt worth 15 million a year. he pitched well at the end of the year, so selling high is a viable option
2. carl crawford is completely out of the question. there is just no way the braves will sign him, so you might as well stop talking about it. jayson werth is also most likely out of the question, but is a bit more of a realistic option. the braves need to invest in a young outfielder who will be with the team for years to come. if they can piece something together for colby rasmus (maybe jurrjens and a prospect), that would easily be their best option and a game changer as he is only 24 and will only get better.
3. if the braves do want to spend money in the offseason chipper has to retire. his contract is absolutely ridiculous. he will get paid 14 million next year to hit .260 with 12 homers and 50 RBI. that contract is just killing us.
4. hanson is our ace of the future. we don’t need to trade for an ace or sign one (not that we could even do that anyways given our budget) because tommy will be one of the best pitchers in the NL within the next couple of years. anyone who thinks we have a chance at getting felix hernandez or signing cliff lee doesn’t know anything about baseball.
5. the braves have to acquire some sort of above average infielder because prado and infante will not have years like they had this year ever again and we can’t count on them to.

what the braves will actually do: get another middle of the road outfielder who will contribute nothing special to the team (cody ross) and call it a key acquisition. then they will make a couple of other insignificant moves and expect to have a team that can compete in the playoffs. the current team has way too many holes, and will have to give up some good pitching in order to fill them

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The problem with the Braves this last season was that they had about 5-6 marginal guys playing the same position that Bobby subbed in and out, and these guys each got paid a couple of mill.

We should just play Infante in left (if Chipper must come back) and focus on signing a very good CF for the money we’d otherwise give to 3-4 guys. Get some cheap depth through the minors or elsewhere.

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First of all, I agree Infante has shown he is a regular. But he doesn’t have a position… what Wren/Fredi should do is announce to the media that Omar WILL play SOMEWHERE nearly every game, good for at least 400-500 ABs… That would work. They’d just need to rotate, play Chipper and Martin about 5 games per week to keep them healthy as much as anything else; there’s 4 starts combined for Omar. Throw him out in the OF once or twice week, too…
If they think he’s going to appreciate gettin 200-250 ABs again, like in the past, he won’t. . Reward the guy for once, all he gets is a bad rap (happened here in Detroit, too).
Meanwhile, speaking of the Tigers, sign Magglio to play left (again maybe 5 games a week). Magglio was a close friend of Omar’s during the latter’s Detroit career and Maggs also (since he is Venezuelan) would connect very well with Prado. Excellent for team chemistry. Sign Ordonez for maybe $7-8 mil. Oh yeah, the Bravos should extend Omar to 2012 right now.

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nique: Brooks Conrad is the definition of “cheap depth”. Might look good sitting on the bench or in spots, but not quality depth when you need him to step up. Infante, Ross, that is quality depth, and they are worth the extra bucks. Diaz was, and might still be. Hinske faded back to the bench, but his bat is extremely valuable. Braves will need to take a flyer on some new faces for the back end of the bench, and it will be interesting to see how they fare. Middle infield should be interesting to watch, and we can only hope for new faces in the outfield.

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How is it that the Braves have 15 million or so coming off the payroll but can’t afford Crawford or Werth?????

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I am shocked at the number of dreamers who actually believe Carl Crawford is an attainable commodity. I must believe that the folks who genuinely believe such a signing is possible are the same ignorant loudmouths who are pleased to see the retirement of the best manager in baseball. There is simply not enough stupidity to go around in this world unless these two schools of thought are coming from the same group of “fans.”

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“DogTheMan

October 15th, 2010
1:21 pm
Its depressing to know going into the Free Agency period that we have no chance to get someone who will instantly improve our team. We will sign someone who was ok 2 or 3 years ago and hope he has a great year. SEE TROY GLAUS, It would be great to actually be ablew to read that ownership caes enough to fund the team. WHERE IS TES TURNER!!!!”

I’d like to actually be able to read your post.

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I think the Braves and Rangers match up great for a JJ/Cruz swap. Braves need offensive help, the Rangers will need pitching help after Lee leaves. Both players are young and cheap. Both have a slight history of injuries, but are very good when healthy.

Then I’d try to sign Javy (or a similar type pitcher; 1-2 year contract) to fill the #4 spot.

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If they would take the risk, Crawford is attainable. If we don’t pick up any more bad middle of the road contracts. McLouth and KK are $6m each, but that is $12m together. Do not trade any pitchers. Get Chipper to commit to retiring after 2011. We owe him 2011. He owes us stepping aside in 2012. So, right there, in 2012, we’d have $30m off the books. Our bullpen is pretty cheap with Kimbrel, Venters, Dunn being so young. We have 4 solid starters and 2 options vying for #5. Resign Hinske to cover 1b and LF. Let Diaz and Lee and Melk Dud go. Force McLouth to play at even a .250 clip. Use roids if you have too. Don’t trade pitching. Don’t do it.

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There is no sell high on Lowe. He’s 37, he’s owed $15m and he’s ours. Seems like McDowell made some “adjustments” and somehow, he wins 15-16 games. Yes, the Phils have the best 1-3 starters, but we have a better 1-4 and a better bullpen. Don’t loose the forest for the trees here.

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I’ve posted the FA list twice in this thread. There is not much available. Crawford is 20HRs, but he’s also good D and good on the basepaths. Burell or Dunn would be a nightmare in the field.

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We would have advanced with even an old Chipper and a banged up Prado this year. We lose Wagner and Saito, but Kimbrel looks ready, and somehow, Bobby did not kill Venters.

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I wouldn’t mind trading JJ if it reeled in a nice outfielder. That is if Medlen were to be available to be in the rotation.

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Medlin is pretty much out for 2011. He did well, but really feel he would have gotten exposed at some point as a starter. I like him in the 2-3IP relief role.

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Because won’t be ready till the second half of the season at the earliest.

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DOB…..it’s this board that needs to be upgraded! Have read some of the dumbest posts of the year in the last few days. Believe we have more than a few mets and phillies fans posting here who are not serious posters. You need an IGNORE feature! YOU on the other hand do a great job. Love YOUR posts.

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Trade Lowe…trade Hanson…get rid of Chipper, by reading these comments, it is my opinion the Braves have dumbest fan base ever. I hope no one on the Braves staff seriously reads any of this crap.

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The nice thing is we don’t really have to do anything but throw money at the problem. Keep the pitching intact. Sign Crawford. Wait for McLouth, KK and Chipper to come off the books in 2012. Sign Hinske and Infante and I guess A Gon since he’s pretty cheap all told. Hey, Yunel, go skrew yourself for forcing us to have to make that trade since you were such a punk.

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Since we have limited funds, how about go after Nady for LF, hes a FA & has power from right side if he can stay healthy, were stuck with McClouth in CF for 6 million reasons, DO NOT put him in LF he might kill himself!

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I don’t know if anyone has thrown it out there but what do you all think of signing Andruw Jones to a minimum contract with incentives? His numbers are pretty much identical to Carlos Pena’s with the only concern being his defense. If he drops more weight, I could see him being an average LFer at best which is more than we need. Other issue would be the ballpark as it’s not hitter friendly so his production might drop a little but signing him with no expectations is worth it for a former Atlanta great.

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Same deal with Glaus and Hinske – they could’ve and should’ve signed LaRoche and had him start all season rather than paying 2 guys to play until Lee got here.

BTW, I think Hinske is great and definitely want him back but we don’t need 4 guys of the same caliber as him on the bench unless we plan to continue to sign re-tread over the hill types who we hope will some how rejuvenate their careers in ATL just because.

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Pretty much all the good players that were put on the waiver wire,Braves failed to do anything about.They wouldn’t get Adam Dunn.They wouldn’t get Ted Lilly. They didn’t get Cody Ross and it was the nail in their coffin. They just sat back and looked to blame their failure on their injuries. They had a first baseman that was playing injured and could only put up Casey Kotchman numbers. They refused other players playing time because of contract incentives. This all looks Pete Rosey if you ask me. Braves are bound to fail because of those with power see it fit for them to do so.

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DOB:……the braves like Pastornicky better than Mycal Jones?!

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Andruw Jones is on the downside of his career but is still better than Milky. A team would be stupid to pay him big bucks. Braves don’t have big bucks and AJONES may just settle for anything.Wren probably won’t return his phone calls though. Wren only wants fresh throw aways. Only reason to get AJONES is to prime the next inline for the show.

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All returning utility players should have to make the team in spring training. No free passes. Remember Francisco Cabrera? Won’t have to worry about Hinske, he will sign elsewhere. He has some market value and needs to get back to the World Series.

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As long as we’re dealing with dream time scenarios, I bet Barry Bonds can still hit.

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“Atlanta braves fan of south

October 15th, 2010
3:17 pm
2011 Dream lineup

My dream Line up

3rd base ….Chipper Jones
1st base ….To be named later …Un known
2n Base ….orlando hudson
short stop ..chris woodward

Center Field …Andrew Jones
Left field Johnny Damon

Bench Coach …Jeff treadway
Batting coach …Otis Nixon

That is the line up ..That I think would take them to the top”

LMAO, again!!!!!! Oh, wait. You’re still being serious?!?!?!?

You forgot to include Sid Bream at 1B.

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For those complaining about Alex Gonzalez, consider this: How many other shortstops can you find me that play good (if not great defense) while hitting 23 home runs and driving in 88 runs who are only making 2.5 million dollars. Simply put, the Braves have a bargain at a premium defensive position for next year, assuming Alex is able to repeat his numbers.

If you assume that Nate will be in CF, the Braves only have one opening, and that is in left field. I do not think Wren will feel comfortable trading Lowe or JJ until he is sure that Teheran and/or Delgado are ready to make the jump. Wren learned this year that what once looks like a surplus of starting pitching can evaporate very very quickly. This means you have find a left fielder before the season begins.

I think the Braves ought to see what the Cardinals and Dodgers want for Rasmus and Kemp respectively. Both have had very public problems with the organizations. We all know what this can mean for a player, as we saw Yunel get traded for these reasons.

I wonder if the Cardinals would trade Rasmus for Prado and maybe a middle level prospect. The Cardinals need middle infield help, and if the Braves think that Infante can play second every day, it might be a good time to sell high on Martin. Martin will be getting a substantial raise next season via arbitration. The Dodgers need all sorts of help, and maybe they would sell low on Kemp.

I also wonder if the Braves would consider bringing Andruw back on a low, incentive based contract. You can say what you want to about Andruw, but his power would have been a welcome addition in left field this year.

You could also sign a guy like Jeremy Hermida, who is only 27, as insurance. I wonder if how he and Fredi got along during their time in Florida together.

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Money coming off the Braves’ books

Wagner = 7.5 million
Saito = 3.5 million
Melky = 3.2 million
Glaus = 2 million
Farnsworth/Ankile = combined 1.5 million they paid

that is a CERTAIN 17.7 million off the Braves’ books..So….WHY can’t they sign Werth or Crawford???????

Sign one of those guys and bring Andruw Jones back for the minimum problems solved

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Thundersticks

But Andrew is not just a player. He is a Hall of fame player

Every player goes into a slump . This could be his break out season ,

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.Don(key) – You are doing a bit right? The Braves only have three major league quality players? The three you mentioned are all stars. Alex Gonzalez was second in MLB for HRs by shortstops. Freddie Freeman dominated AAA. Omar Infante was third in the league in hitting. McClouth and Chipper are all stars looking to come back from injuries. Don’t let facts get in the way of your posts though. These are all trash players according to you. What team has a superstar at every position? I’m sure your xbox team is great and all, but this is reality.

…and Lowe not productive? Even without the 31 wins in two years he more than proved himself again in the playoffs. Again, don’t let facts get in the way.

…and Bobby Cox is responsible for pitchers leg injuries now? I took the bait though. You have to be doing a comedy routine.

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Clicked on the Keith Richards/Mick Jagger story on “The Buzz” on the ajc.com front page. Hardly ever click there, but this was the Stones.
So Keith Richards gave up drugs four years ago after falling from a tree in Fiji and needing brain surgery. I guess maybe turning 63 wasn’t enough to convince him to give up drugs.
And though he calls Jagger “unbearable” (really? a rock n roll prima donna front man “unbearable”? Next, you’ll hear Eddie Van Halen saying David Lee Roth likes being the center of attention. And did you know Jerome Bettis played the Super Bowl in his hometown? But I digress…) they’re thinking about another Stones tour.
Please. God. No.
I love the Stones. The show I saw with them and Living Colour as the opening act is still hands down the best rock n roll concert I’ve ever been to.
But come on guys … even Gordie Howe retired. Even Gaylord Perry walked away. Even Brett Favre hung it … no, wait, he hung something else.
G’night, drive home safe! Don’t forget your tip your wait staff!

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You know what, Jeff, MattE Diaz is not punchless, he missed 42 games with that infected thumb/surgery and he still gave the Braves everything he had! And if his last play is that wonderful outfield assist to gun down Pat Burrell, so be it!! We love ya, MattE!!!

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Braves 1990s season Records
wins losses
1991 …94 68 went to world series
1992 …98 64 went to world series
1993 ..104 58
1994 .. .68 46 < Strike …No one knows how many wins would have took place
1995 ….90 54 went to world series
1996 ….96 66 went to world series
1997 …101 61
1998 …106 56 < Had the best team ever…
1999 …103 59 went to world series

Those teams was hitting teams . what we need is to bring the hitters back

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There will be blood.

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That is why Atlanta must get Andrew Jones . And have Otis nixon as hitting coach . Otis can help players learn the tricks and trade on how to steal 2n base . And maybe even 3rd base . And Andrew could have a Home run season and bat over 300 . Chipper returns to have a breakout year. All the rotation stays healthy and strong . 2011 could be when Atlanta returns to the world series for 1 last ride into the sun set

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I would love to see the offensive philosophy change. We need speed and the ability to create runs when everyone is in a hitting slump. We need to break up the opposing pitchers rhythm and cause a little Chaos on the base-paths and then “POW” with the long ball

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OK, here goes…….

Trade for Dan Uggla while negotiating a two or three year contract extension through 2012-13. Stick his butt in LF and leave him there. If it takes a top pitching prospect, so be it. Sign Coco Crisp as a back up and trade for my man Luis Durango as insurance in triple A. Ditto for Rick Ankiel, minor league contract and an invite to spring training. DUMP Diaz and Melky. Keep McLouth.

Dear Frank Wren, how bad do you want to see a Braves team succeed in the post season? Everything I just said involves power, defense, speed and youth. No way can the combination do anything except succeed.

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How do you Remake something that was successfully powerful and on target major league teams was had from 1991-1999 ..You could start by adding a outfielder that could have a breakout year

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I posted Andruw Jone’s batting average earlier in this thread. He’s done. Even at his best he was streaky and strikeout prone. He is an AL player from here on out.

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“Nate McLouth will be back because he’s owed a $6.5 million salary in 2011, plus a $1.25 million buyout of a $10.65 million option. He’s virtually untradable after hitting .190 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 85 games, so the Braves hope he plays like he did for a brief stretch in September after returning from the minors.

He can play center or left, so at least they have flexibility in the search for outfield help.

Wren cautioned it could be difficult to land a power bat. But the Braves need to add at least one productive outfielder after getting little offense in center and left most nights from the combination of Melky Cabrera, McLouth, Matt Diaz and Rick Ankiel”.

Wow, just reading that is discouraging. In my view, not one of those players brings anything to the table and further, not one of them should be on the roster next year. If they really want to improve this team, as you correctly point at the beginning of the blog, they need to improve this “punchless” outfield; doing so in my opinion means replacing all the aforementioned stiffs while retaining the only real Major League quality player, Heyward.

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Com’on Liberty media Open the wallet a little bit more, if not it will be the same Movie we are all tired of watching again and again and again…..
WREN DO NOT TRADE PITCHING, See what happenned with Vazquez trade, we got a disaster on Melky Cabrera!!!!

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I’m ok with A Gon at $2.5m. Of course, the real reason is we have A Gon is that Yunel was a little biitch and really has us over the wheel now.

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Last year they were doing everything they can to try and move Lowe, now he finally has some value and we are going to eat his salary ? Please move him while he has value don’t touch jurrgens and of course it goes without saying Kenshin goes too.

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I’m totally disgusted Wren wants Alex-G back…..
Can’t he see Alex-G is no damn good…..

And let’s all hope Wren kicks Melk-Dud to the curb….I would retain Ankiel if he would take a pay cut….Ankiel would be a useful role player….

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Nolan just threw out the first pitch tonight,(owner) at 90 mph.

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No way McOUT is on this roster next year.He is by far the worst outfielder in the national league.

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Smoltz is calling the Yankee-Ranger game on TBS

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i think escobar is an extremely talented ss who we should have kept. it didn’t help that the braves are such a bunch of lollygaggers. he thought he could too. with bobby in charge there was no fire or passion and especially no hustle. prado, diaz, and occasionally j-hey were the only ones to run out grounders (ankiel too). the examples of chipper, bmac, a-gon,melky(the list runs long)etc. do not breed winning baseball teams. hopefully fredi will pull some of these guys for poor effort.

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Holy crap Frenchy took a pitch!

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There’s the Frenchy we all know

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hitting 50 hrs is what finished andruw off as a superstar. talk about a downward spiral. if tp had a few more years with him, andruw would actually be worse than mcclouth. andruw stopped hitting in sept of that year and never started back. hopefully tp finds his niche as a 1st base coach. he’s a quality baseball guy, just not a hitting coach

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no way on andrew jones.

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Hello Andruw Roid Jones…can’t believe no one is talking about this more. He is so NOT an option.

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My last comment . Andrew Jones is 33 . He hit 19 home runs last year . He played over 100 games . He is back people , He is better than ever I think . And it would help the braves to sign him . thank u all

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Thank God its your last comment on AJ..Damn give it a rest. Are you his brother are what?

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DOB and Braves diehards

Been out of circulation for a while, but still been following you all. Great run by the boys given their injuries and lack of hitting talent- I’m proud of the heart they showed all year. A pity they fell short in Bobby’s last year, but at least they made the playoffs.

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The man that brought us Kawakami, McLouth, Caberra, Ankiel, Glaus, Gonzalez, Lee and Farnsworth is now going to trade one of the best young pichers in baseball-good luck Fred!!!

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What a great trade. Andrus doing great for the rangers tonight.

Surprisingly little has been made of Mark Teixeira facing his old team in the ALCS, perhaps because he had stints with the Braves and Angels in between going from the Rangers to the Yankees.

Selected by Texas with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 draft, Teixeira hit .283/.368/.533 with 153 homers and 499 RBIs in 693 games for the Rangers. In the middle of his fifth season in Texas he reportedly turned down an eight-year, $140 million extension offer, at which point the Rangers traded Teixeira to the Braves on July 31, 2007 for a five-prospect package that included Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones.

At the time Saltalamacchia was viewed as the centerpiece of the Rangers’ haul, while Feliz and Andrus were high-upside teenagers at Single-A. Four years later Feliz is one of the best closers in baseball and may win the Rookie of the Year award, Andrus is an elite defensive shortstop and the Rangers’ leadoff man …

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The Braves will be ok,but as I said in a previous post,I wish Wren would not have let BC make those last trades(Escabor & Blanco),because I believe Freddie could have used them.I believe with those two at the top of the order,with Prado,I believe it would have been exciting around here next year.Hey,why not see what you can get for Huddy and Dunn.Most teams need a good starter and lefty in bull-pen.I like Hudson,but why trade youth when as The A’s did,get something before they end up like Lowe,ubtradable.I hope Freddie let Chipper know he is not Bobby Cox and although he is a potential HOF,his days of ease and calling his own shots are over.I believe training camp this year will be a lot different than those of Bobby.There will be more work on fundamentials than working on golf games.I believe Wren will get ample talent here as he has done in past,but I believe CFG will let this TEAM know in a hurry that it’s a new day.NO more favorites,but guys that earn it.I really hope Chipper has one more year in him and we get Mac some help in the middle of the order so he don’t think he has to carry this TEAM.I for 1(one) wish we could work out a deal with D.Lee.I think,if healthy,he is what we need.I believe Freddie is athletic enough to play LF. I saw Yogi and Elston Howard do it and also Hinke,McLough,and Diaz.How hard could it be for a young man with skills like I believe he has to give it a shot?With a healthy and hopeful motivated Chipper,and Lee in the middle of the lineup with Mac and Heyward,Ibelieve we could score some runs and keep our pitching staff in order.Imagine a line-up of Prado,Chipper,Lee,Mac,Heyward,Gonzo,Freeman,McLough(?)and pitcher.I think that would be interesting.Just saying! GO BRAVES

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Little late getting in on this one but here you go. Crawford will not be in Atl. For those of you that don’t follow baseball and suggest he be the lead off hitter he does not produce in that spot in the order. He is a 2 or 3. He will also require a 20-25 mil a tear contract and probably demand an outragous number of years. So if he were signed, and the Braves are required to work within a budget, what room will they have to fill other needs in the near future? Gonzo after ‘11. JJ and Prado salary arbitration. Huddy, Lowe, Chipper after ‘12? So 1/4 of the budgeted payroll will be tied up with one player. That would make real good sense.

On Gonzo, let him walk and take the draft pick. He may not be an A but should be a B. We need some solid draft picks that can advance quickly.Sell high. He has injury issues and had a career year. Won’t be the same in ‘11. Our best trade bait in Infante. Again, sell high. Last year of his contract, will still be a roll player for the Braves next year, and he would be valuable in a trade. After reading some other teams needs TB will be trimmimg payroll. As I stated before, and was stated on MLB, Bartlett should be available and the Rays will need a LF. Possible Diaz for Bartlett? Good glove, speed, and a small ball guy. As far as the OF needs, one CF stands out. Chris Young. Sure his BA isn’t .300 and he will strike out but he has power, speed, and plays strong defense. His right handed bat would fit well between all of the lefties on this team. Could Lowe get traded? I’d sure try. I’d go with Beachy and Minor to start the season. If Tehran progresses like he did this year he may be in Atl by mid season. Only way I’d let JJ goe is if Boras gets out of control, which is possible. It’s a shame both of our studs are under his care.
Last trade thought, Ellsbury. He may be available. So view my lineup with this three additions. Well under budget. All three have speed, play good D, and young enough to keep around a few years.

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40 homers from your entire outfield is completely unacceptable and pathetic, and it was totally foreseeable BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED. Wren should be fired based on his outfield’s output alone.

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If anyone gets a chance to talk to…… Atlanta braves fan of south ……..Ask him how he feels about Andruw Jones… Just curious, since he doesn’t post often….Does he have an opinion on the guy?

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Pitching prospects are much more valuable than hitting prospects. You always have alot of hitting options at the other 8 positions. We should trade off pitching only when we can’t afford someone or when skill starts to diminish. Kind of like what the New England Patriots do in football. Maybe Wren should talk to Demitroff. We are real close to being outstanding. I like Ellsbury too,low salary high upside and a leadoff hitter.

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Here we go again, all the great trades where the Braves trade their crap for some other teams all-stars. All you will get for Lowe will be a Melky type. If the Braves want an outfielder, they will have to pay or trade a stud (top 3) prospect or Jurgens and a top 15 Braves prospect

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It’s Mike Trout and most feel he is untradable at this point.

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Klaus is the only one of you nimrods that has reasoned thus out go back to page 2 and read his comments. The german is genuis. !!! All thus other bs is just that. Im now on the Klaus as GM. Bandwagon!!!! Fire wren. Hire Klaus. He is right on…

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Burrell will be cheaper i think but i would bet cody ross is our next lf he has a history with the new mgr. And reports this past summer had Wren all squirmy about getting him b4we made the ankiel/ farnsworthless trades. The part rhst really stinks is that Burrell was sitting at home and would have helped this team this year. But somebidy in our organization didnt have foresite.. Or fortitude!!! As much as i love these Braves. We are gonna need more than a big outfield bat, i think we are gonnna be looking fir a big bat at 1b i trully hope im wrong. But one home run off of Halluday.!! 22 other at bats didnt. See anything thst impressive… Yea i kno he wuz robbed his 1st and 2nd at bat. But his swing seemed awful long. Kinda reminded me of ROY RU when he was slumping… Go braves. Lets nit just stagnate. Lets move forward. Not stand still or go back.. GO BRAVOS!

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I don’t understand why we are spending half of what the Mets or Phillies are. When did we become a small market team? I know we can’t do $150 million, but why are we below teams like the Cardinals and Astros in payroll. The Braves are making it sound like their hands are tied with the OF situation, but it’s not. Just don’t be so cheap, and who knows if the team actually scored some runs, people might show up and watch.

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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.

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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

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I would sign Maggs and Crisp, along with Dotel for the bullpen.

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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.

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Jonny Brave : Why would you keep Freeman in the minors, he has proved he is the best first baseman in the the International League.

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Hey Pepe, how ’bout you show our future HOF Third Baseman some respect.

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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

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atlanta braves fan of south……………..go back to muttville, will you?…….and get a life.

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“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.

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JOKE OF THE DAY:

“Plus Kenshin will be the next amazing starter .”

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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

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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.

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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!

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‘Players like playing for him and they respect him as well, what more can you ask from a manager?”
WINNING.. Unlike Booby.

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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

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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

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I hope Texas wins the world series . They have never won any world series ..Go Texas

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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?

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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 .

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