Braves release Saito, Cabrera

And yet, somehow, the Braves were still overwhelming winners in the Vazquez trade.

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Got to be an affordable R.H., power hitting outfielder out there somewhere. or 2.

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Melky, we hardly knew ye… good riddance.

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Personally, I would like to see Frenchy return and play left field. He has had some troubles over the last two years and his confidence is shaken and his swing out of whack, but I still think that in the right setting he is good for a 250 average and 18 homers with above average defense. And, the price could be right.

I would like to see some speed (real speed) in center…perhaps 40+ stolen bases. Neither Ankiel nor Mclouth are the answer and with Schafer still attempting to find his game without HGH he is still too much of a risk.

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no more first pitch grounders to 3rd with risp and the game on the line? please….don’t take that away!!!!

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Watching Melky try to run down anything hit to the outfield was painful. Dude looked like he was running underwater.

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Hey Dave. Any reasons we jumped the gun on melk? I figured he was going to be non tendered, but it sounds like frank and co have something up their sleeves. Thoughts??

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Maybe some of us should furnish all of the Braves HGH for a few years. Make up for those playoff and WS losses to roiding teams: Yankees, Yankees, Blue Jays, Twins, Cards, Astros, Marlins.

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Without Melky, who will we have to hit balls that are pounded into the dirt in front of home plate?

I think that Ed Mangin requested that Melky be released for the good of the dirt in front of home plate. I doubt it could have survived another year of Melky’s 35 hop groundballs.

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Wow, Melky’s only 26? He played like he was 46 and at the end of his career. Good luck finding a new contract when teams can pull up someone out of triple A and get the same results paying the league minimum.

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Keep Diaz and Heyward.Let the others go,go,go,gone!!!Even though he is obviously not an everyday player Diaz has been good off the bench.I really hope we don’t sign Andruw Jones.What about Jim Thome will he be available?

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Good riddance, Melky.

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ARE YOU KIDDING, SOME ONE SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FRENCHY RETURN TO THE BRAVES….OMG! NO WAY! MILKY WAS SO OUT OF SHAPE HE COULDNT EVEN BEND OVER FOR A GROUND BALL, WHEN ARE THE OTHERS LEAVING…AINT KEE ILL, MCLOUSY, GONZALERRA ss, DLEE, DIAZ, SEND UM ON THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

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Melky took some of the weakest swings i’ve ever seen. When he popped out to the opposite field on a 2-0 count in the NLDS, he was gone in my mind.

What a waste of space…

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matty ross, you smarta&&

We got Mike Dunn…a flame throwing lefty with nothing but time/potential in the future (b/c you can get guys who came up in the 8th and throw 95-96 in every corner)

On top of that we got Vizcaino who projects to be a fine major league starter.

What did the Yankees get? Oh yeah…Vazquez is what…not even in the starting rotation.

Just damn…just b/c Melky was a bust (overall) for the Braves.

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If Frenchy comes back then we might as well sign Norton to play 1st base.

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Headline I saw: “Fonda, Turner reunite to save the planet… ”
*****************************
I vote the “mouth of the south” and “Hanoi Jane” reunite to save the Braves . . .

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I actually didn’t mind Melky, I just felt he was miscast as a starter. I think he’s a fine fourth or fifth outfielder. Good glove, versatile, and a decent enough hitter in a backup role. I hope he can catch on somewhere that’s a better fit for him than Atlanta was.

Now that Melky is gone, I wouldn’t mind seeing us try to move Diaz either. I like Diaz, but I think we’ve been so committed to playing him in a platoon role that it’s prevented us from going out and pursuing an everyday left fielder. Aside from Heyward, I think we need to start over with this outfield. It’ll be tough because of McLouth’s immovable salary, but hopefully we still see a big shakeup.

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We don’t have to watch Melky hit routine grounders anymore. AWESOME!!

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Melky applied for a job as a pizza delivery guy, but flunked the audition. The pizza was eaten by the time he got to the customer’s house.

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MattyRoss

Braves also got Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino in the deal. Those two guys were the targets of the trade, especially Vizcaino, a top pitching prospect. To act as though we traded Javy Vazquez straight up for Melky or that Melky was the prize of the trade is just pure ignorance.

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I agree with Jim, except that we are probably going to find no one that wants to eat McLouth’s salary, including the Braves. That means you probably have McLouth, Infante and Heyward as the outfield. If McLouth comes around, that could be a good outfield. The real point is Infante has shown he is an everyday offensive player who needs a position.

If we can get some power in left, McLouth might be a good 4th outfielder. He can play all three positions and has good speed. He needs to separate his offense from his defense so his offensive struggles don’t cause his defense to suffer. Being a 4th outfielder might also take some pressure off, and revitalize his game. The real stroke of luck will be finding a power hitter for left.

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Give it up Duncan. You are right. I’ve tried explaining this a dozen times since the trade, and still some dufus still refers to the trade as Melky for Vazquez. We got Vicaino, who was the Yankees’ top pitching prospect at the time, as well as Dunn, who is gonna be great.

MELKY was the throw-in.

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Bulldog,

Jim Thome in the OF? You serious?

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More headlines I would like to see:

Glaus Released…

Derrick Lee signed by (insert any team but Braves here)…..

McClouth Retires….

Ankiel Shipped to (insert any team but Braves here)…..

Chipper Retires….

Braves get Andrus in swap for Gonzalez…

Ok, the last one was a dream sequence……

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“Cabrera could have expected a raise…”?

Huh? Are you kidding me? Oh, that’s right. Union man. Never mind.

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Wonder what would have happened if the Braves had Cody Ross in the playoffs. Seems to be working pretty well for the Giants.

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Interesting portion of a story written by John Shea, writer for the San Francisco Chronicle describing the Phillies approach in facing Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants in Sunday’s game. Note the reference to (and the difference in) the Braves’ approach. Not a Pendleton hater but I won’t miss him to be sure.

“One night after Tim Lincecum outdueled Roy Halladay in what was to be the Mother of All Pitching Duels, Roy Oswalt bettered them both Sunday, lasting eight innings and surrendering one run and three hits.

Sanchez wasn’t so fortunate, facing a lineup that was far more patient than Atlanta’s in Game 3 of the Division Series. The Braves chased most everything Sanchez threw near the plate, especially his sliders, and he struck out 11 and walked just one in 7 1/2 innings.

The story was different in Philly, where Charlie Manuel reminded his hitters beforehand that Sanchez led the league in walks and was susceptible to a high pitch count with a bit of plate discipline.

One night after the Giants carried out a game plan of aggressive hitting against Halladay, the Phillies did the opposite and made Sanchez work. The lefty struck out the side in a hitless first inning but required 35 pitches to get through it. Long plate appearances made Sanchez labor and assured the Giants’ bullpen would be active.

Manuel wasn’t hiding his strategy, saying before the game, “We’ve got to make him throw the ball over the plate. He’s got a real hard slider, and it’s a late-breaker. If you watch his games, the hitters chase – especially when he gets ahead of them. They chase his slider a lot, down and out of the strike zone. At times, he can get wild. He’ll walk some guys, usually around four or five. Maybe even more.”

In many ways, that was the old Sanchez. On Sunday, he walked three. To his credit, he rebounded from a sloppy start and lasted into the seventh – one batter too long, it turned out. Through six, Sanchez had surrendered two runs (one earned) and four hits. Manager Bruce Bochy let him start the seventh, and Oswalt – of all people – singled on Sanchez’s 100th pitch.

Bochy immediately summoned the bullpen, but the four-run rally was underway. Four pitchers threw in the inning, which was highlighted by Jimmy Rollins’ three-run double off Santiago Casilla.

Maybe it would have been a better ending for Sanchez if the Phillies were more free-swinging like the Braves, but several Philly hitters said the goal was to not do Sanchez any favors.

“You make him throw strikes, and when he throws ‘em, hit ‘em,” Placido Polanco said. “When he threw that slider, we tried to lay off it.”

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The Braves did not steal the FSU chant. It was brought here by former FSU player Deion Sanders during the 1991 season.

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Heyward’s issue like Frenchy is a crappy hitting coach, which the Braves have dealt with. Heyward would be good to give Chipper a call this winter for some instruction.

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Forgive me Gunther. I did not realize Thome could not play the field anymore.GuesS he is better suited for DH.

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Cabrera is fat. I have no patience for that.

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“OBP” oops, not OBO

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Somebody needs to talk Edgar Martinez into being the Braves’ hitting coach. That guy was a GREAT hitter.

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I admit I was one of the nabobs who questioned the Vazquez trade last year and I admit that I was wrong. It worked out best for the Braves in the end. Melky – yeah, I never thought he would amount to more than a warm body in the OF and that is what he was. But Dunn was pretty valuable and will be valuable next year. Vizcaino may be a front-line starter in a couple of years after Lowe and maybe also Hudson are retired.

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Frenchy has hit 11,15,13 homeruns in the last 3 years.We don’t need him period.Another free swinger off the bench.Nope.Nada.

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I still haven’t gotten over the Jermaine Dye trade much less the Tex trade. Hell, I still have gotten over the Len Barker/Brett Butler trade of my childhood.

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Much rather have McOut.

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Does anyone ever get a pay cut in baseball any more?
If Melky played in the fifties, he’d be reduced.
I guess that means when Nate’s contract is up, he’ll be due for a raise.
I was watching baseball’s goldena age and they said Maris was MVP in 60 and 61, but couldn’t get a raise either year from his $100,000 because Mantle didn’t ask for one. Wow, how times have changed.

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Can we please go after Carl Crawfor Hard!!!!!!!!!!! Please for the love of god can we get a speedster who also hits for average and has a lil pop??? I don’t care about the Tigers or Yanks or Red Sox that might go after him. Lets show him why the Braves are the best choice!!! Get it done Wren!!!!!!

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DOB, have you heard any whispers of people questioning Melky’s work ethic since he’s moved south? He had a banner year in NY last year, then gets traded and seemingly lets himself go. I mean, you could see if from your couch.

Any whispers?

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Go Bravos.

They’ll go after Werth and Crawford right after Lowe and Chipper are gone. There ain’t no money for it. It aint gonna happen. May as well start looking at the second tier FA like the rest of us.

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no its a GREAT sign. maybe we might get some good outfielders!

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Milton Bradley is the last guy we need, you guys are dumb.

There is going to be some decent options vis trade sometime this offseason. Hopefully Wren goes after a proven started and stop d*cking around with platoon guys(Melky, Diaz, Ankiel). These types of players don’t workout in everyday roles. If you take all of their 3-4 mil salaries and spend it on 1 good starter you could get something.

When is the last time this team had a solid Outfielder that was a threat at the plate?

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at first i thought we should keep milky,but if he;s not going to hit or perform,than i think it was the right move. diaz should be the next one moved,because he didn;t much for the whole year. i like the moves so far.wren seems to be doing fine as for now. Go!!!! Braves!!!!

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If the Braves want to be better, they need to steal players away from teams like the Yankees and Phillies do? And do not give me that () they have more money than us ()!!!

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I must agree that Melky needed to go. I really think that the Braves should clear all their outfielders except Heyward, who has limitless potential but did poorly himself for long stretches. The Braves just don’t have any real hitting to speak of. Outfielders must hit, period. They dont have to hit 300, but if they dont they need to hit with some power. Conrad had a good year with clutch pinch hitting, but his awful defense means that they cannot possibly play him in the field.

They had a great outcome with pitching this year, even with key injuries. Wagner and Saito were awesome, and now they are both gone. Hanson was far better last year than this, we can only hope that he recovers. Only Hudson showed that he was top drawer through the whole season, though I have to admit that Lowe really put it together at the end. Pitching needs some adjustments, but it should be ok.

I really think that they need to go with Freeman at first and get rid of Lee. Keep Prado, Infante, Heyward, McCann, Ross for sure and hope Chipper makes it back. Hinske was a good pinch hitter. The rest of the guys can be replaced. They do not HIT. Braves need to face that they have the worst imaginable hitting and do something about it.

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Good move on Melky, 3 months late. All you folks who want Chipper back so badly in 2011: did you see him (try to) play the past two years? Did you see him struggle to swing the bat? Did you see his incredible lack of range at 3rd base?

If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then by all means bring him back. But while we’re lining up players for their past glory, let’s bring back Aaron, Niekro and Murph too.

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Jason Werth? Too expensive? Not fast enough for center? How about Heyward to center?

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actually, after listening to Chipper talk about hitting and his evaulation of hitters, he would make a very good hitting coach. In fact, much of the reason that McClouth hit better when he came back from Gwinett is due to Chipper.

Not sure why people are thinking that Lowe is going anywhere. first, he has a salary that most will not pay. Second, Lowe was by far the best Braves pitcher from Sept on. Lowe changed they way he approached hitters and also started using the change up a little more and this changed everything for him.

The Braves will not move Lowe. Now Jurgens is another issue. With Minor, Beachy and Medlen, the Braves and afford to let go of Jurgens which I think they will do

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“He played some at all three outfield positions, though not particularly well at any.”

Haha. Tell us how you really feel, DOB.

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Melky is and always be a lifetime .240 or .250 hitter with no power. He is also a defensive liability as evidence by all the balls that went over his head, into the gap or even in front of him. You don’t win championships with him or those like him in your lineup. Any replacement should be an upgrade. Getting Prado back will be a relief, as he was our steadiest player all season. We need a CF and LF badly, and need to start grooming someone to step in at SS.

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Vazquez 2010 WAR: -0.2
Boone Logan 2010 WAR: 0.4
total: 0.2

Cabrera 2010 WAR: -1.2
Dunn 2010 WAR: 0.1
total: -1.1

So, in 2010 anyway, that trade cost the Braves a win and didn’t really effect the Yankees. Of course, that ignores the fact that Vizcaino was the centerpiece of the trade–and that Dunn has barely scratched the surface of his potential.

Also, for the record, Kawakami had a better year than Vazquez. 4.56 xFIP for KK, 4.90 xFIP for Vazquez. Kawakami had a positive WAR, 0.8, whereas Vazquez was, as mentioned, negative.

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AJ hit 19 HR in only 328 PA’s….Heyward hit 18 HR in 623 PA’s.

We could probably get AJ for less than $1million (he made $500,000 this year.) He would be a huge upgrade defensively and power than anyone we put out there this year.

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Larry, I agree with everything you said except the Pence thing. Why wouldn’t we be able to go after Pence?

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we can get Carl Crawford. we have a good shot at him.

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Sign Pat Burrell…

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Larry M, well said. I would add that getting older players is not a good idea. It is time for the Braves to get younger, not older.

There is an issue with finding a place to Infante to play. While it is nice to have someone that versatile coming off the bench, I think that Infante has proved he can play and hit every day.

Assuming the Braves want Infante in everyday, that crowds everything up. Do you play Infante in RF and McClouth every day in CF? I kind of doubt it. I think the Braves need and will look for a big bat to put somewhere in the OF. I figure that McClouth will be relegated to the bench.

Of course if Chipper can not play at all or can not play every day then maybe Infante comes off the bench to spell Chipper.

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I think the Vasquez trade is one of the best trade the braves have ever pulled off(just look at the 5.0+ era Vaz sported alst year).

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If the Braves move JJ, there better be a nice return in it. Someone else’s third or fourth outfielder for JJ is stupid.

There are plenty of mediocre replacements via free agent signing. I’m talking about someone of value if they are going to trade him. The Orioles have some nice young talent in the outfield. What would the orioles want included with JJ for Markakis or Jones???

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Colby Rasmus for JJ or Vizcaino and Shaefer?

Chipper has been the best hitting coach the Braves have had the last several years. I’ve read a number of stories about guys who say he has influenced them, spent time watching video and in the cage with them, etc. Diaz, McLouth, McCann immediately spring to mind. For now get Don Baylor or the Pirates old hitting coach (thinking about McLouth).

Can’t Hinske also be the backup 1B?

We could do worse than Pat Burrell, with McLouth a defensive sub out there in left.

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its not about older or younger. Its about getting Better!

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@ Curt – I think Infante will serve the role he so admirably performed for most of this season before being forced into an everyday role: super-utility player. I see him playing 2B, SS, 3B, LF, and CF and giving whoever is playing those positions on a daily basis some rest. He will probably start 5 out of every 7 games at some position.

If McLouth does not perform in spring training, I could see him on the bench as well – a very expensive bench player, but we would have no choice. Basically he would rotate around with Diaz, Infante, and whoever else we add to the OF.

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Man I tell you, I wanted to play for bobby last year around this time had you guys pull the trigger on me, I could’ve helped the post season run for Bobby’s last year. OH WELL, another year and again, Braves country would be nice to be a part of alongside Ankiel and Jey Hey, No one would run on our OF plus I can ensure you a safe #2 man

2011 Lineup

1. Prado/Infante
2. CRAWFORD
3. Jey Hey/Gonzo
4. Lee/McCann
5.McCann/Lee/Freeman
6. Gonzo/Jey Hey/Freeman
7. Chipper/Gonzo
8. Ankiel

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Hopefully, Ankiel & McLouth are next to go !

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We can move Lowe now, give him to Boston for nothing and let them take his salary.
Then go get Adam Dunn.

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Trade Beachy and Vizcaino+ prospect or two for Matt Kemp also.

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Hip Hip….

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Melky hit .274 in ‘09 before the braves picked him up.
Ankiel hit .231 in ‘09 before the braves picked him up.
Alex Gonzalez Hit .238 in ‘09 before the braves picked him up.

Lets not kid ourselves that these guys were huge flops. They sucked before they came to the braves, and they sucked after. Our ownership deserves much of the blame for our offensive problems.

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Anybody else watching the players we gave away in one of worst trades ever stickin to the Yankees. Elvis Andrus is impressive in the field, batting and especially running the bases. Neftali Feliz throwing 100 mph is not too shabby either and whiffing the guy we got for him Teixeira. And these two guys weren’t even the headliner Saltomaccio gone to Boston.

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Atlanta Braves payroll info:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tujElf32-2d237jk3IzWLsg&output=html

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I think and hope Diaz is washed up and sent out. Other than him being relatively cheap and a right handed bat, he does not really contribute enough at the plate and is not that fast in the OF. To me, Henski is about the same in the OF and better at the plate. Henski can also play more positions than Diaz.

When seeking a bat, the Braves are probably going to have to focus on a right handed hitter. Looking over the line up, Freeman, Heyward, McCann and (assuming he starts) McClouth are all left handed. right now, Chipper, Prado and Gonzo are the only right handed bats that would start.

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DOB, I agree on Lowe. since he adjusted in Sept, he has been very good. Assuming he keeps that up and hitters dont or cant adjust, he could and should win at least 15 games next year.

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P’Cola, if we are to sign Werth (a better signing for us than Crawford), it has to be this offseason. He’s a Boras guy and the bidding will start at $140 million over 7 years, and maybe he’ll settle for $90 million over 5. He’s 30 years old and is looking for that monster deal. For that reason, ain’t no way Liberty Media loosens up the purse strings to get him, although he would be perfect. And I think he can play center, as I would rather have left-handed J-Hey in right despite his speed. With McLouth and Diaz platooning in left.

Who was that kid that played so well in CF for us this year when called up from Gwinnett? I’m having a brain cramp. I could see him starting in CF next year and cheap as we are.

Watch Melky go back to the AL and hit .300 with 25 homers next year.

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It seems to me that for the Braves to make money, they should go out and sign a free agent such as Crawford or Werth. Sure, it would cost a lot of money but you would think the Braves would make it back by making the playoffs, even more by reaching the World Series.

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Not that I like him but I actually thought the Braves might keep Melky around just because he is a switch hitter and can play all OF positions.

I am glad he’s gone though. Too much money though for not enough production at the plate and no speed in the OF.

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I still can’t believe that Wren paid me all that money. Ha Ha ha ha

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Toyt – I’d rather deal JJ than D-Lowe. No one will want D-Lowe’s contract, anyway. JJ is more marketable and can get us a good bat in return.

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yellerjacket, as a 10/5 guy, I guarantee Chipper would veto any trade. He wants to retire a Brave.

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Fan, you’re probably right. Forgot about that. Plus as I continue to argue against myself, Chipper really wasn’t in the top 5 of our problems last year. Before his ACL tear he was coming on strong and I think he can still contribute greatly next year. That salary is just so fat.

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The Braves can always experiement by moving McCann to 1b, Freeman to LF and Ross becomes the everyday cathcer. Then all they ned to find is a SS, 3B and CF and backup catcher. Not much to ask. Realistically, they ned to draft, if possible, a kid or kids that are nearly major league ready and fast track them to Atlanta by 2012. Sooner or later, they have to fill these holes and doing it in house is much easier than trying to trade or sign a free agent for them. I believe 2011 is going to be more of 2010 unless the Braves uncover a gem through a trade.

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@ DOB – I’m not sure if I would call Conrad a “no-risk proposition.” I know you love the guy personally, but did you not see Game 3 of the NLDS and his fielding performance? I would definitely say he carries some risk. There are a thousand guys kicking around the minors/free agents like him. That being said, Conrad had some huge hits for the Braves and deserves at least an invite to spring training.

@ yellerjacket – wake up, please. Chipper cannot be traded without his approval which he will not give. He will either be playing 3B for us next year or retired. It is his call.

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If Wren had released Melky a week ago, Braves may have very well won another playoff game. Sadly, Cox could not be saved from himself. Instead, he was allowed to make one final brilliant Cox move, which resulted in Melky getting the most important AB of the series.

On a happier note, BOBBY COX RETIRED!!!

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@JoeFan You’re aware that McCann is a 5x all star at catcher, right? And that Freeman is projected to be an all-star caliber 1b, right? And that drafting position players who project to be big league starters in under 2 years is damn near impossible, right?

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I too would like to see them bring back Franceour and put him in right field where he won a Gold Glove. He is a better fielder and has a better arm than Heyward who could move to left and than we could get a center fielder who could bat lead off in front of Prado. I would also like to see us get a third baseman who has power from the right side.

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I agree re: Conrad, the kid made the team based on his bat, not his glove, and I will always take a switchhitter with power on my bench. I hope everyone lightens up on him. Remember, we have an All-Star second baseman – but he got hurt.

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I don`t see much difference in what will happen in trades or signings in this off season than in what took place last year given the Braves situation.
They are stuck with hight salaries (Chipper/McLouth/KK/Lowe) and cannot
move these players. Results: They will get rid of the likes of Ankiel/Glaus/ Farnsworth/maybe Diaz, etc. but only get about the same medicore grade
of players to relace them. I don`t see the 2011 team winning 91 games
because we have lost Wagoner/Siato. Ventors/Kimbrell may not be as
good as setup/closer. Also, unless Gonzalez is replaced, ss will be another disaster.

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Screw Milton –
AJ = Andruw Jones.

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Melky released???

Best Braves news I have heard in a while!

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@poopsie –

Ankiel is already gone. He is a free agent.

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I think Diaz problem is that he is fat. He was in much better shape last year. This year his big ole belly was hanging over the plate. Is it too much to ask the highly paid players to just be in shape?

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there are truly some haters on this page…give melky some love… you guys talk trash about him yet i dont see you on any major league teams. he has come a long way and has some work to do to improve his skills but he is an overall decent player and deserves more respect than this….MELKY FAN TO THE END!!!!

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Glad to see Saito (an aged injued pitcher) move on. Our set-up man needs to be young and strong. (Venters will do) As for Melky, he was not what the Braves need in the outfield if they want to go all the way. Definately need a POWER hitting outfielder, so hope Wren is willing to pay the price. And whoever messed with Heyward’s bat, should go away! He came to us a good hitter and left struggling. Just leave him alone or let Chipper work with him. Go Braves

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Gregor Blanco!! That’s who I was trying to remember. He can play everyday CF for us. Provided there is an Adam Dunn next to him LF.

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@fan since 1977

You’re right. Great news!

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“Carl Crawford has as good a chance as coming to Turner Field as Ed McMahon has of bringing that big check to your front door.”
**************************************
Soooooo, you’re telling me there is a chance?

Yesss!!

SC Ace

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Who did we deal Blanco to? Was he in the Farnsworth deal?

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Fan Since 1977 – I believe that was the trade he was involved in – either that or the Derek Lee one – I forget which now.

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Fan since 1977 – the problem with that you’ll have to figure out who to send the Royals to get Blanco back, since Wren et al thought Rick Ankiel was a better option…

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SC Ace – I’m sure Wren thought it was a good idea at the time.

That raises a good point – please, Frank, no scrap heap signings this year. If Jim Edmonds’ number is in your phone, delete it.

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This news made me jump up and down happily. I didn’t like Melky in a Braves uniform, and he certainly deserved my wrath the way he played – he played with no heart, and certainly couldn’t come through in clutch situations. “Tying run at second, two out, bottom of the ninth, Melky Cabrera comes to the plate…” pretty much meant the game would soon be over with a groundout.

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Milton –

Lowe can’t be dealt – no one will take that contract – and frankly, I thought he pitched great down the stretch and in the playoffs for us. JJ is the most likely to be dealt.

Our rotation if JJ is dealt will be Huddy, D-Lowe, Hanson, Beachy & Minor. KK is going to have to have a monster spring if he’s gonna get back in the rotation. Too bad we don’t get Medlen back until 2012.

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Lots of holes to fill for next season.
LF, CF, 1B, 3B

Conrad can’t come back. His defense is just terrible and showed nothing when batting 3-4 times a game.
Chipper is a question mark to return. Even if he does, He hasn’t hit well in two years.
Something is wrong with McLouth. Not only can he no longer hit, he’s struggling in center field and looks like he might kill himself in left field. He should go.
Need a closer (Venters?) and a setup man. A rookie at 1B next year … in a lite hitting offense? We need at least one and probably two more legit bats.

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I had two favorite Melky moments this year and by favorite I mean moments that really Pi$$ed me off. The first was Melky’s throw to the RF fence from center with runners circling the bases. If that had been Escobar Bobby would have stabbed him. I really enjoyed watching him laugh after.

My second was being at Turner Field watching Uggla crush a ball off the LF wall and Melky never moved a muscle until the ball hit the wall and bounced toward the infield. Had he broke on the ball no way Uggla gets to second because it waas hit so hard he was barely out of the box when it hit the wall. He would not have scored without the double. His lack of ambition again cost the Braves a run. He got booed pretty bad over that one.

I will not miss him.

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After the retirement talk passed Chipper was one if not the best hitter the Braves had until he got hurt. Is he the MVP player he once was? Nope, but our lineup lost a lot after he went down to injury.

……..

Bull we were better with an injured Prado and Infante….get real

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All I want to hear is when Gonzo is getting his pink slip. Dude sucks…

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This just in, KK was just traded to a local highschool for players to be named later…..

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The Braves have a solid core of Role Players…they have McCann, Heyward, Prado and A hole at third base and LF/1st base…… We take our chances with Freddie, not expecting a superstar, that leaves 3B and LF……. Center field belongs to McOut so Ankiel and Diaz must go to help pay for chipper…… Go with speed and defense until we can knock the old chip off the block

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My husband could tell you, when I saw Melky coming up to bat in the bottom of the 9th, 2 out and the tying run on 2nd in Game 4, I was screaming WTH CAN WE PINCH HIT FOR MELKY???? Please, Bobby, PH for Melky. My heart sank when he indeed strode to the plate.

And for the last freaking time, Larry A, Melky was the throw-in on the deal that brought Dunn and Vizcaiano (sp?) to the Braves. He was not the main objective in that trade.

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It blew my mind when I read that an arbitration-eligible Cabrera could have “expected a raise” from the 3.1 million he made this years. That Four HR’s, .255 BA,.317 OBP, and 47 rbi – merits a raise from $3.1m says something.

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I hope Wren don’t repeat the last two years waiting for the bargain basement outfielders before picking what is left over.

Wren has a simple job, we need a left fielder (should be easiest position in baseball to fill) and a center fielder.

We have two needs. We have had those two needs for 3 straight years.

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some of you people dont know what you are talking about!

1st of all…… swinging at the first pitch is not always a bad thing. Allot of the time, the first pitch is the best pitch that you will get the whole at-bat. So dont get mad at Melkey or Alex for swinging at it!

I think it was a great idea getting read of Melkey. Now the Braves need to
get red of either Nate or Ankiel then see if Worth will play with us!

I know I know…. Heyward and Worth both play right….. Heyward is young…. you mean to tell me he could not play center or left field? Just a thought…

GO JACKETS!!!!

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Hey, bug -

Werth and Heyward can both play either CF or RF, rather have J-Hey in RF cause he’s a lefty.

Oh, and 8 out of 9. GO DAWGS!!!!

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I guess it was predetermined whoever made the last out to end Bobby’s career was automatically off the team.

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Don’t look now but Gregor Blanco hit .274 this season.

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What about uggla at 2nd and prado at third?

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DOB, why does everyone think that ownership will not sign a calibur player of my potential, you need speed, you need leadoff help to allow Prado to hit in the 2 slot when Infante is not inserted, I give you a nice arm in the outfield and with me and Jey Hey in the corners, we have enough speed to pinch towards Center and take away the Deep Ball. The arrival of Carl Crawford could eliminate multiple holes for us, SPEED ON THE BASES/FIELD, LEADOFF W/POWER, LEFTY, AND WILL BUSS HIS BUTT IN THE OFF SEASON ALWAYS TRYING TO GET BETTER!…..NOT TO MENTION, NO OFF THE FIELD PROBLEMS, WHY ISN’T THIS PLAYER A POTENTIAL BRAVE???

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Breaking news:

The Braves sign Keith Lockhart to play 1B. Bobby Cox recommended this move because Keith can also play 3B and 2B.

Great move!!!!

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Bottom line: Melky was a 4th outfielder that never should have been starting for the Braves.

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The Braves will not go after Crawford for one reason: M-O-N-E-Y

Red Sox are going to be in the mix and the Braves are not going to pay 15 Million + for him

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Let me be the new hitting coach,

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Get a good hitting coach first, sign or trade for a power hitting outfielder, hope that McLouth can show his batting form taught by minor league hitting coach at Gwinnett, and bring back healthy the starters from last season. Infante needs to play regularly somewhere or super sub him at 2nd and 3rd bases, shortstop, and outfield, he can hit, work on any weaknesses if any he has but play him almost everyday.

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Bye, Melk…it’s been interesting to watch you play. Somebody will pick him up, he’s young and a switcheroo guy. Needs to go on P90X, though!! I liked Takashi, he’s just a little too old and worn down. Thanks for the innings last season. I, for one, have NOT emotionally moved on. I’m actually watching and rooting for the Giants, because I detest the Phils and I appreciate the class they showed Bobby. Also DeRo is kinda on the team even though not playing right now. Here’s my daily plug: resign MattE D!! He’ll learn any position you want him to. I bet he’d be fine as a backup at 1st, just needs to learn it.

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Will Fredi G. be too afraid to move Chippy from the 3-hole?

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Seriously, we need a LF with pop; preferably right-handed. Who that is, I don’t know.
Secondly, we’d better not count on Chipper; he should be gravy, a bonus. So, that means have a plan B ready to roll; a legit corner infielder with pop; not a middle infielder moved over there to the hot corner for emergency purposes.

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What does it say about the state of the game when Melky could have expected a raise in arbitration of his $3M salary with such an anemic performance? And, what kind of lotto will Lee win (with the Yankees) after the series?

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YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

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For all the announcers saying Posey is the runaway ROY winner (In the Braves series); He’s hit cleanup 6 times and 3rd today (in 7 playoff games) and he has 0HR and 0RBI.

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How Melky kept his spot on the 40 man roster all year long is still a mystery to me.

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How ’bout KK on the mound as starter and Kolb as closer…makes as much sense.

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SR

October 19th, 2010
1:01 pm

SR- Have you watched any Braves games this year…or last year? Your comment about Diaz was totally off base. He has been a huge contributor for this club and is one of the biggest bargains on the team. Not to mention, he may be the best bat in all of the NL against lefty pitching.

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I know that this next comment may draw some jeers but I will bring it up regardless….

What do you think of giving Wilkin Ramirez a few chances in CF. From my observation of his (brief) history he could fit all the Braves needs despite being a little wet behind the ears. Some Positive things to note:

1. He is a CF
2. He is a RH hitter.
3. He has blazing speed (something we need desperately).
4. He hit over .300 in his brief/limited appearances for the Tigers when Ordonez was out.
5. He hit for some power in Gwinnett in his brief time there since coming to Atlanta.
6. He was the #6 prospect in the Tiger’s system

Now the negatives:

1. He is a rookie and a relatively unknown quantity.
2. He is probably not going to be THE big bat we are looking to add, even though he did hit well at AAA and in his brief MLB stint.

After weighing the positives with the negatives I would like to see him in Spring Training and see how he plays. If he looks good then he gives us at worst a decent option off the bench.

Now your thoughts?

(Oh, and thank goodness Melky is gone!!
He was just awful in every aspect of the game. He did not hit for average or power. He was the antithesis of speed. His fielding did not even rise to the level of mediocre and worst of all he showed almost no effort whatsoever and came up laughing every time he made an error.) Why in the world would anyone ever offer this guy 3.1 mil for the above attributes?…

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SO……. WHEN ARE WE RELEASING THAT DEAD WEIGHT ALEX GONZALEZ FROM THE TEAM… THAT GUY BLOWS CHUNKS HARD!!!

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Melky, I am proud of you. I will miss you. Regards, Ted

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Ok, so how did the Braves “release” Saito when he was only on a 1 year contract….and his year is up…..doesnt that make him a free agent anyway? Why is everyone acting like the Braves made this move when all they did was pretty much advise that we wouldnt be extending another contract to him?

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Derek B,

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe ’cause he doesn’t have the 6 yrs in, so that Braves might still control him otherwise? And he just circumvented that contractually?

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I never understood how Melky got so much time in the Yanks’ outfield. He waddles.

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JOD,

1991 called. It wants “blow chunks” back.

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Mitchell, too late “Midtown Fashion Police” A Gonz gots em all.

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Greg Norton is our Hitting coach Yikes!

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[...] GM Frank Wren. According to several news outlets including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions’ David O’Brien, the Braves released right-handed reliever Takashi Saito and catcher J.S. Boscan. The team also [...]

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Do you miss Maddocks’ great pitching? How about Smolts? Ever wonder why Jones almost always got to hit back to back every two or three innings, or why his skin somehow mysteriously sometimes changed complexion?

If you have these problems maybe you should learn who the players on your favorite team are (or were) before commenting about them.

I usually do not mind spelling and will not call it out, but when you do not know or cannot spell our star player’s name it is pretty sad.

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Next step is to sign Adam Dunn as LF. Dunn is the guy who makes the most sense for the Braves in left field. He can’t be a worse fielder than the guys we played there this year and he is only free agent out there who you can pencil in for 40 HRs and 90 RBIs. In reality he fills two needs for us. A left fielder and a clean up hitter both of which we desperately need. He will also come somewhat affordable at $10 mil per season.

Step two is to trade Vizcaino to Marlins for Uggla. We’ve got enough good young starting pitching talent already (Minor, Beachy, Teheran, Medlen, Lopez, Delgado) He’s another guy who could probably sign in the $10-$12 million per year range. You can pencil him in for 30 HRs and 90 rbis. This will then allow us to move Infante to center field and our outfield woes and power shortage are over.

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Infante in center field. COME ON MAN!

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Have a feeling this is going to be a very active off-season for Frank Wren, and sooner rather than later. Somehow he needs to do with the offense what he accomplished with the rotation and the pen last year.

Lowe’s value is up substantially over the previous year. Contract obligation is now 2 years and those 16 wins after 15 the previous year (plus a respectable if not gaudy era) will make him attractive to some teams with cash. I can see the Yankees, maybe even the Mets, taking a close look at Lowe. Maybe Lowe plus a prospect for Swisher?

If Lowe and his contract go, do the Braves consider Javy Vazquez for 4-5 slot? The guy’s obviously a NL pitcher and was a great fit just a year ago. Probably could get him for 2 years or 1+1 option at half the price of Lowe. Makes sense to me. They should still have the cash then to get a second quality outfielder.

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What about Scotty Pods. Haven’t heard much about him and I think he is a FA. Hes a scrappy leadoff with good speed and average. Wouldn’t mind him roaming CF or LF. He wouldn’t be my only upgrade but hes a good place to start.

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THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO TRADE LOWE…. LETS GET IT DONE TODAY!

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Braves fans. You did not give the Giants any chance to beat the Phillies. They may not have the greatest hitters in the game but their getting the job done at the right time. On paper the Braves have better bats than the Giants. Dee L, Jason H and the rest of the team stunk up the joint.

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Please please please resign Hinske!!

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thank God… he was the worst. Even his hits were bloopers and choppers. He probably did not hit five balls hard this entire year. 80% percent of the time he hit little dribblers to the pitcher or second basemen. I can’t believe Bobby played him as much as he did.

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I love Hinske , and remember Glaus carried the Braves the first part of the year until he hurt his knee. After the Lee trade it seemed like the chemistry of the Braves change. Errors went up they did’nt play as a unit. I would not trade any of the pitchers ,you never can have enough pitching . get a one big name centerfielder and go. I would love for Braves to go after David Wright for third base just in case Chipper done ,but I dont know if its possible .

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I don’t read every post but I haven’t seen the obvious mentioned. Chipper Jones retiring is critical to The Braves picking up the needed improvements for the outfield

. Who believes management when they claim they hope Jones comes back ? If they really think it’s in the team’s interest for CJ to tie up 14 million, they’re dumb as post.

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so what do you think this mean for our outfield? id love to see us resign ankiel for cheap as our fourth outfielder, keep mclouth in center (he still has a lot of potential guys dont forget it) and diaz as an excellent bench option, but who do you think the next guy is gonna be to fill the left field role? could it be adam dunn or carl crawford?

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oh…p.s….We can’t afford Carl Crawford or Adam Dunn or Jason Werth.

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Teddy Jack Eddy – You are correct, I am with you on that, but not too many on this blog wants to say that. Sentiments are killing this team, Chipper is Mr. Braves, he has served the franchise well, but his $14 Million will be the reason the Braves will not be able to land a top FA.
At the time it was done I thought it was crazy to tie up Chip for that number for 3 yrs.

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Omar is too slow to play in the outfield.

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McLouth’s $7 million salary should be covered by insurance in the event that he is unable to play due to the onset or occurance of a rare, inexplicable illness.

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Sfblump, I followed the Reds when I was a kid living in Ohio, used to go to old Crosley Field. I’m not sure Honus Wagoner was ever manager–I think Rogers Hornsby maybe is who you have in mind.

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Omar is too slow to play in the outfield…. but he is faster than Diaz

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We’re going to be stuck with Mcclouth because nobody will want him for his 6 Million. This only leaves Left field….Theres not much we can do folks… Chipper, .Kawakami and Mcclouth are killing us.

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I am glad the underachieveing Bobby Cox was our manager. If he underachieved, alot of guys never achieved.

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DOB,First my comments about D Lee last night were answering the previous posters about about the Braves resigning him. I was just stating that it is impossible. 2ND: Don’t the Braves control the contract rights for the CF who defected from the Cuban national team? I believe his name is Gomez? 30 year old right handed bat. He hits for decent average but not a lot of power.I was under the impression that they had visa difficulties and the Braves were keeping him parked in the D.R. until the smoke cleared. If they still have him, why is he not playing in the AFL now?

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[...] releasing Melky Cabrera earlier today, the Braves have also released reliever Takashi Saito writes David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Consitution. Saito pitched well for the Braves bullpen in 2010 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.074 WHIP and 11.4 [...]

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DOB: Any chance Ankiel will return?—obviously not for $6 million option–but at a much lesser salary..

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If Saito can stay healthy he can help somebody. Good live arm when healthy. One thing about Cabrera, he came to play everyday and I don’t know why everybody was surprised by his average, he is and has always been a very average hitter.

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All the people talking about who we traded to Texas….. If we traded Chipper for young, McClouth for josh and Matt Diaz for Nelson Cruz…….. We would be a mucch better team and Andrus would be well just another former minor leaguer…..

The TEX trade allowed them to keep young, Hamilton Kinsler….. We should have dumped the Chip!

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Xavier Nady would fit for a number of reasons (1) RH hitter (2) plays 1B – insurance and spell Freddie (3) plays corner OF positions (4) coming from an off-year in 2010 with Cubs so price will be down (5) missed most of 2009, but hit 25 HR’s in 2008.

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One of the WORST outfielders I have seen. I was sitting in the outfield seats on several occassions and he couldn’t even bend over to stop a ball. Klesko would look like a gold glover next to him.

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Steve, I’m with you – Hinske of all the potential free agents would disturb me the most if he left. The others can go play sub-par baseball for someone else. The miracle of 2010 is that we made it to the playoffs with such a weak hitting outfield. Braves got the better of the deal with Cabby but time to turn new page with a new manager. I just think the problem as it has always laid is at the very top of the chain. Liberty Media has got to get off their “A$#A$#” and spend some moeny if we’re serious about playing beyond October 1 every year. There is some quality out there to get this year but you get what you pay for- if we’re not going to spend some $ then expect a same makeup in the outfield in 2011 as we had this year- just with different names on the jerseys

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Derosa – $6 mil for 2011, one year left on current deal

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just think were we would be if we never traded for teixera we would be the bomb with andrus infante and prado

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Is it just me, or are the announcers really starting to sound distressed at the prospects of a Texas- San Francisco World Series.

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Cabrera’s hit in ninth gives Braves another walk-off win

“Melky Cabrera stepped into the starring role Monday, delivering a bases-loaded, two-run single in the ninth inning to lift the Braves to a stirring 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field.”

I will not miss the Melkster next year but he had a role in this season that, without, would have meant a little shorter season. There were a lot of things the Braves could have done this year had they not been strangled with salary obligations for McClouth and Kawakami. Injuries all season long. They truly battled and I for one enjoyed this season very much and look forward to next year. Good job 2010 Braves!

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who in the hell wants Diaz as your everyday LF? Get a grip

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* you gave me

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On a side note, Yankees are looking terrible in the ALCS. Cano is pretty much having to carry the whole team on his shoulders.

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Who cares about those non-performers. Lets go out & get some speed to pep this club up, New York kinda looks like us, sitting on pins & needles waiting on the long ball. Add one solid power guy next season & get some juice on the basepaths !!!!

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Mark Derosa would be a great option in Left field or third base if Chipper gets hurt

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i think it’s only obvious this is the best decision for the atlanta braves and melky. melky didn’t want to be here. he LOVED it in NY. him and cano were bff’s. i think he purposely played like a lazy fat azz knowing he was garuntteed 3 mil.

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People like Larry A…pretty good example of what I’m talking about.

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Lets set the record straight on the Braves chant.

It was first done by a small group of Braves fans back in 1969 during the post season series against the NY Mets. A nearby group of fans from FSU then took the chant back with them to Tallahassee where it slowly grew in popularity over time.

Then…as was mentioned earlier…Deion Sanders brought the chant back with him from FSU during the 1991 series.

Believe it or not….thats the way it went.

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Can you tell me why we didn’t pick up Cody Ross when the Marlins put him out there. It is the reason that the Giants are still playing and we are not.

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Thoughts on our outfield:

1. Heyward’s best game this year was when he got 4 hits, three slapped on a rope to left. Anybody remember what game that was? As the season wore on, he tried to yank everything to right. But he’s obviously our RF.

2. I wish Infante had a better OBP, but he is far and away better than Diaz, McClouth, Ankiel, as an everyday player. He’s already under contract. Can he be coached up to play CF? Does he have the arm for that? Anyway, he’s your LF.

3. Center field: Go find a stud who can field and hit and drive in runs. If we had that guy right now, you would say, “D*mn, that’s a great outfield.”

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One more thing:

I like Ankiel for some things. He plays hard, He runs. He fields. Great clubhouse guy. But who taught him to hit? Especially with his speed, why is he trying to hit everything 500 feet? Honestly, he’s going to herniate himself with that swing. I’m no Chipper fan, but he has a great, smooth stroke that gives him a chance to make contact and hit line drives. I wonder what would happen with Ankiel if he spent all winter in an instructional league, with someone who could smooth out that swing. Bat speed is great, but he looks like he is swatting at a horse fly.

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Look for the Braves to go after “over the hill – has beens” and hope for a miracle. Liberty Media is too
stingy, and is complacent with a mediocre team.

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I wish some people more knowledgeable than me would weigh in with an opinion on whether Infante has the arm/speed to play LF.

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Good point about Cody Ross. Braves thought about getting him but didn’t. The Giants did and he paid off by killing the Braves.
If the Braves don’t sign a 30 to 40 homer LF and .300 hitting CF they won’t be any better next year. Why wasn’t Ankiel,Diaz,McLouth released or traded as well ? Melky was very bad but better than those 3 stooges…

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Old Man. To answer your question, no, on both counts. Great utility infielder. That’s all.

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The Yanks trade still a good one despite Melky – especially when the kid involved in the deal advances through the system. You have to accept bad numbers as part of the game but the other outfielders who had bad years at least looked like they were trying and hustling. Melky never did.

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“Cabrera, 26, hit .255 with a career-low four homers, 47 RBIs and a .317 on-base percentage in 147 games (458 at-bats) … He played some at all three outfield positions, though not particularly well at any…
If the Braves had kept him, the arbitration-eligible Cabrera could have expected a raise from the $3.1 million he made in 2010.”

Glad Melky’s gone, but it is a sad state in general when a player makes $3+Million, has a terrible season and then expects to get a big raise in arbitration!
But then there are the remaining 2 years of Nought McLouth’s $6.5M/$10.5M contract!!

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Melky is an ideal 6th outfielder, as long as you only carry 5 on the roster !!!

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What did Joe Morgan say on Sunday night baseball……”With Melky they thought they were getting a guy who would hit 20-25 home runs ?”

HA HA HA……. that was really funny Joe….. Well Melky was first I guess at the Buffet, and LAST probably….. one blogger did state….

Round is a shape !

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Diaz was a back-up in KC. That tells you everything you need to know.

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I think I like Prado at 3rd and Infante at 2nd. Both are shy on power, but we can tolerate that, especially at 2nd, if we can improve the outfield. Chipper needs to graciously retire before he becomes another Favre. I can’t see hoping for him to return and be a real force. It’s time to move on & free up some dineros for use in the outfield. It amazes me that our farm system has failed so miserably at producing outfield prospects. No matter what, I’ll aways remember that bomb that Ankiel hit into the bay in SF – that was spectacular! I think he could be a great 4th outfielder, but I know the McClouth situation has us by the ‘nads.

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Everyone seems to be assuming that the Braves Starting Pitching is going to be great for next season. – I do not quite understand this.
The Braves have only TWO Starters who can really be considered to be good bets (Hudson and Hanson) to be outstanding starting pitchers. Then they have QUESTION MARKS in the other THREE Starting roles.
JJ’s knee injury may not be much to be concerned about, BUT he has never been dependable/effectice since his SHOULDER injury – like he was in his first season. Lowe is old and will be a year older – will He be the Lowe of September or the Lowe of most of the rest of last season or even far worse? Of course, Medlin is injured and out for the season and may or may not even ever be effective again. Minor and the other rookies are promising but unproven.
The Starting Pitching may be good, OR it could be a huge, huge PROBLEM.

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.Don is dead right about the pitching.

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What’s the hold up?

Why have we not released:
Ankiel (a pitcher),
McLouth (minor leaguer),
D Lee ( washed up old man),
Diaz (exposed when faced playoff caliber pitching)
and
Glaus (only because Wren hates people who drive in 70 runs by end of JULY),

oh yea, and Frank Wren ( ruined a first place team with all the CHANGES to a FIRST PLACE TEAM)

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Say goodbye to: Melky, Ankiel, and Diaz. Can we please get an everyday LF with 25 hr power. Can’t go another year with a punchless OF!

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the braves batting average will go up as a whole 25 or 30 points sense t p is gone

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t p ruined a. j. frinchy and was well on his to ruining jey hey

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What we need is a real lead off man and solid cf, when Gregor Blanco was playing CF, we were the BEST TEAM in BASEBALL, Trade Frank Wren for Blanco.

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Bring back Frenchy in left and trade for Blanco in cf and we’ll be just fine as long as we lose the guys who do not belong here!

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Still waiting DOB, go ahead and defend Ankiel, Conrad, and Lee.

There was a reason Lee was waived and every other team in baseball passed on him.

I’m waiting!

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I’m a guy with an MBA and I just don’t get how WREN can say with a straight face that the Braves are subtracting these salaries

7.5 mil for Wagner
3.5 mil for Saito
3.2 mil for Melky
2 mil for Glaus
4.5 mil combined for Lee/Ankiel/Farnsworth (roughly)

for a total of around 17.5 – 20 million dollars off the payroll AND YET the Braves can’t afford either WERTH or CRAWFORD?

Even with arbitration increases the Braves should have 15- 17 mil to spend and ENOUGH with the “insurance” premiums BULL…what is paying equal dollar for dollar?

3 moves to fix the Braves that he should be able to do
Sign Crawford and put him in CF
sign Cody Ross and put him in LF allowing Diaz/Hinske to be on the bench
sign Andruw Jones for the league minimum for some right handed fill in power off the bench

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Why would nobody have any interest in signing Lee?
2x All Star 3x Gold glove
2009: which is LAST year- .306 35 hr and 111rbi
He has already said he was playing hurt all year and still put up serviceable major league numbers. Since when is there no market for such a guy? Remember when we gave Glaus a 2 mil contract to play a position he wasnt familiar with? the year after he played 14 games?

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Big whoop… we get rid of two under performing players, plenty more where they came from. I wonder what we will do with the money we save? Sign a big name first baseman? No… we will have fragile Freddy Freeman at first base next year with his 24 big league at bats and .122 average. Will we sign a big name outfielder… again.. doubtful, I am sure will just bring roid Jordan Shafer back and stick him and his .220 average out there along with Nate “MclOUTth”. Until this organization has a fundamental shift away from trying to make zeros into heroes and actually goes out and signs big name free agents in the off season, the division series will be as far as they can go.

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All these posts about signing Werth or Crawford? These guys are looking for big paydays. Signing guys to long term contracts almost nevers turns out well. Look at Texas. Bunch of young players including 3 ex-Braves knocking the old Yankees around. We are stuck with McLousy and Kawakami due to guaranteed contracts. Lowe was impressive down the stretch, but 15 million a year pitcher he is not. Trading away our best talent for short term hasn’t worked almost everytime I can remember. What works is trading away old talent like Doyle Anderson for John Smoltz.

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We wil lprobably ask Barry Bonds if he has on more year in him. We will get some more cut rate, bargain , basement, low rent players for 1st base and the outfield. You all know it. Just accept it and move on.

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It was good to see JC Boscan get to the bigs this season. If his realease will get him up to be the second guy on another team, I say “go for it.” Don’t know if he could make another major league debut at his age, but he’s earned the chance to try if that was he wants……..most importantly, whatever the Braves want.

Domo arigato and sayanora to Saito, he served us well.

As far as MelkDud goes, bye and word to your mother. We’ll know who to hit to when we see you again in the outfield.

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I thought the baby braves was the future of the team in 2005 ? A lot of them are on other teams Wilson Betemit, Pete Orr, Ryan Langerhans, Jeff Francoeu Kyle Davies …There all on other teams . I thought they was the future . I thought THEY was the ones that was the future of the Atlanta Braves .

That goes to show people . The future is never reality until its proven to work .

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Interesting…i’m kinda sad by this? First Braves game I see live in the new Twins ball park and he hit one of those 4 homeruns! lol

Then again I saw Conrad’s suicide squeeze and loved him right up until the 3 error game that may have costed us an entire playoff series (or more).

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Enter your comments here. Is restructuring Chipper’s contract, with his consent,a possibility, in order to give Wren more wiggle room to afford to hire who we need ?

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I think the best thing the braves can do is look at the past . Get Andrew Jones back sign him for 1 year let him hit about 30 or more home runs . Get chipper jones back healthy have him hit 34 or more home runs . I bet Both could have a average of over 310 if they both are healthy . They both work hard for the hits . I would also like to see the Braves Trade for a 103 MPH closer .

I have Updated my dream Lineup for 2011

A closer ….. give John rocker 1 more ride

1st Derek Lee
2n Un known
3rd Chipper Jones

Center Andrew Jones
Left Johnny Damon
Right Jason

Hitting coach…….. David justice
bench Coach ……. Jeff Blauser

I am still trying to make the best roster I can think of . this is my views .

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Well Atlanta needs infield and outfield help I was not impressed with really no one except Mccain first base till third base is open we need players who first and first can hit and play there position’s the Braves can not make any errors in 2011 if they are real in 2011 we need hitting and solid defense what I like about Texesa is that they play to win not freezing up runing all the way home that is baseball so yes the Braves got a 157 days to work out a winable plan to make it to the next level and keep it real with us the paying fan. That is what is going on right now.

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How about this…

Trade JJ, Dunn and Shafer for Matt Kemp
Resign Hinkse
Sign Javier Vazquez
Sign Andruw Jones
Try to trade Kawakami for anything as long as someone eats half the salary
DFA Diaz

Line up

Prado
Chipper (Good OBP and base runner)
Heyward
Kemp (28 homers and 89 RBIS in a down year)
McCann
McLouth/Andruw Jones (this could be a productive 20+ Homer LF combo)
Freeman
Gonzales

Rotation

Hudson
Hanson
Lowe
Vazquez
Minor/Beachy

Kimbrel (Make him the every day closer. I HATE the closer by committee thing)
Venters
Moylan
OFlaherty
Marek
Matinez
Vet from free agent pool

Hinkse
Ross
Conrad
Infante
Jones/McLouth

What do you guys think? All 4 aspects look pretty well rounded to me and this seems doable.

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OT: DOB… Elizabeth Cook is scheduled to perform in our house concert series Oct. 8, 2011. If the Braves aren’t in the playoffs, perhaps you can join us.

We had Amy Speace a couple of weeks ago. Great songwriter with amazing chops. David Olney, with Sergio Webb on guitar, performed in early September. We have the awesome Jimmy LaFave in November.

bowman
– -
“Art will always be Art.” – Goethe

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To those of you who want Chipper back – explain how an injury prone, 39 year old who has to rehab a serious knee can be an every day player. We need his $13,000,000.00 to get a right handed hitting left fielder. With that we can live with McClouth in center.

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Brian… GREAt lead off hitter? Andrus is a good player, but don’t kid yourself.

32 SB 15 CS – That’s not too good.

Average .265 OBP .342 Slugging .301 OPS.643

Sorry, but he doesn’t scream GREAT lead off hitter. Escobar’s three years prior to last year were WAY better offensively than Andrus. I actually wish we’d have kept him a year longer to see if he could have straightend out the butterflies in his head.

Would I take Andrus right now, heck yeah. Is he some all star calibur player? Not yet, no. Though he has a lot of potiential

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DOB – Facts and rational thoughts are not welcome here. This isn’t the MENSA blog. We want knee-jerk, uninformed opinions so we can bash the people who have given us winning baseball for nearly all of the past 20 years.

Seriously, thanks for all the good info and for educating those of us who want to take time to think and deal with reality.

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You have mentioned two or three players that need to go. Diaz and Hinsky needs to stay. Melky and McClouth. We have players in the minor leagues that could play as good as these two. They will be contending next Spring. I do not know what Lee wants to do. Claus would make a good bench man. He can still hit. Just does not have the body. Might be good for two games a month. But I have hopes for the Braves.
It is a shame that their disabled list had to fill up at the close of the season.

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IF MELKY WAS BAD AN “UNDERPERFORMING” I WONDER WHAT THE DEAL WILL BE WITH DIAZ, ANKEIL,MCLOUTH….

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YES TEXAS DID WIN OVER THE BRAVES ON THE TEXEIRA TRADE..NO DOUBT…YOU MUST BE ON CRACK NOT TO REALIZE THAT.

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As an attorney, let me tell you what this is the perfect time for. Which reminds me of a former law partner. When he was told not to end sentences in a proposition, he responded: “OK, let me tell you what this is the perfect time for, a**hole.”

But I digress. This is a perfect time for Chipper’s agent, and Frank Wren, and the insurance company covering Chipper’s potential inability to play due to injury, to sit down together, and place the 28 million dollar problem in the middle of the conference table, and stare at it. And then carve it up. The Braves could end up with perhaps an additional 9 million this year and 9 million next year to put into player salaries. But this opportunity exists only as long as the risk of loss exists for all parties. So prompt action in bringing the parties together is needed. All you would hear is Chipper’s agent issuing a press release that he is retiring due to his career ending injury.

I would volunteer my services, but I’m a complete dumba** country lawyer who doesn’t know squat.

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Frenchy, had a better BA, RBI Total & HR’s than Heyward. Plus he is 10 times the outfielder. But everyone blames Frenchy. True, he needs to grow up, but he is still a better player.

Please take the time to look up some advanced hitting stats so you can know how ludicrous your last sentence is.

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Do the Braves need another RFer.?

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“I don’t get it ………… Frenchy, had a better BA, RBI Total & HR’s than Heyward. Plus he is 10 times the outfielder. But everyone blames Frenchy. True, he needs to grow up, but he is still a better player.”

………………..HAHA

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[...] details here  [Comments (0)]  [link]   [...]

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Hope this is a sign that Fredi wants to go with a younger team than what Bobby liked to have around.

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Look Smart @10:29. McClouth has already been used as a pinch runner earlier in the game.

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Dammit! Melky’s gone?? When runners were in scoring position and he was up to bat, he allowed me to go to the fridge or toilet. Well, at least I still got Ankiel…and McLouth…and Lee…and…

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why fire frank wren for a trade js made lol i dont think wren was even involved in the tex deal in any compasity lol

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I can solve this problem easy$$$$$$$

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For those talking about the value of Diaz, consider his .290 OBP. His arm and defense are below MLB level, he is a pinch hitter at best.

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