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3,230 comments Add your comment
Murph
October 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
Anyone know much about Cory Harrilchak? Looks like he’s doing pretty well in the AFL right now.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:19 pm
I don’t know that answer Ds, though he did have some hitting talent, and of course OBP was not stressed as much back then. It will indeed depend on his approach not his previous ability as a hitter.
The reverse is sometimes true, some gifted hitters do not make good coaches because it all came so easily to them.
N8
October 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
“But it went on to say the difference between a fully maximized lineup order and the worst possible one was only about 15 runs over the course of the season.” Danga
I think in the grand scheme of things, with all of the hitters being fairly equal, that’s probably true. But here’s something that might refute that comment.
In the month of July, Prado had 6 HR and 9 RBI. In June and July combined, he had 9 HR and 17 RBi.
After moving to the 3-hole in August, he had 2 HR and 23 RBI.
One could argue that the lineup could have maximized a bit more by having guys on base for those HR. For example, Chipper had 10 HR and 46 RBI. Where did he hit?
Two ways to solve this. Get another leadoff hitter that gets on as much as Prado and drop him in order. or Make the lineup deep enough so the 7-8 hitters get on base enough to take advandtage of any HR hit by Prado when not leading off the game.
I like Prado in the leadoff role. But the problem last year was that his OPS only trailed Heyward and Mac’s. And nobody on the team had a higher SLG percentage. So one could argue that the lineup was not being maximized with the best slugger at the top of the order (especially with the crap we had batting 7, 8 and 9 in front of him).
Of course, June and July is when this lineup really took off and he was batting leadoff? So what do you do? But I think that’s when you can look at Chipper’s numbers and see that he really took off then, as well has when Heyward moved to the 2-hole.
Anyway you sliced it, the 3 most dangerous hitters in the Braves lineup were batting 1-2-3. which was a good thing.
DS1
October 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
Murph
Good question on Harrilchak. Oft times the AFL is the last step in an invite to spring training. It will be interesting to see what the kid does in the spring.
David O'Brien
October 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
Someone asked about Dan Uggla earlier. So here’s something from Marlins beat writer Joe Capozzi of Palm Beach Post on Twitter:
Will Marlins keep Dan Uggla if no multy-yr deal reached?
team prez David Samson: We’ll cross that bridge when we get 2 it but right now we r stil hopeful.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
In general the time that Presley was in Florida they were not as good an OBP team as Atlanta has been
N8
October 26th, 2010
6:28 pm
Thanks for the link nolie. Those are awesome looking. Pretty cool. Might have to buy one for display and one to use.
jeffrey d
October 26th, 2010
6:28 pm
I was just looking through a few Braves stats on Yahoo Sports, and when you try to “Select Player” from the roster, it doesn’t have Chipper or Prado listed. I know they’re hurt, but why wouldn’t you want to look at their stats? Plus Medlen’s listed. And so are Melky and Saito. Just found that a bit odd
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8621;_ylt=ApN5yKsvweiqekuLoekVfEuFCLcF
Murph
October 26th, 2010
6:29 pm
Braves’ AFL Highlights:
Harrilchak – .464 AVG, .531 OBP, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Young – .452 AVG, .521 OBP, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Pastornicky – .429 AVG, .455 OBP, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI
I don’t know what kind of pitching they are facing, but those are some decent numbers to start out the AFL with.
Efrim
October 26th, 2010
6:29 pm
I think the thing I want of a hitting coach is to stress the importance of getting on base. And also, be able to work with young, raw players to develop their hit tool further. Not to say TP didn’t do that, but those are a couple things that come to mind when thinking about hitting coach. To be honest though, I’m just not sure how much of an overall impact they have….
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:30 pm
de nada N8.when I got the ad, I thought of you right after I thought of Sheila.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:32 pm
lots better places for stats than Yahoo jeffrey. baseballreference or ESPN are both way better. In fact when I think Yahoo-which is admittedly not often- baseball does not come to mind at all
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:33 pm
A few people at my work knows Jim Presley in a somewhat personal way. I believe that their uncle/father knows Presley’s family. It’s a pretty cool story and legit too.
Also Buck Showalter is from Pensacola (where I live), FL. PBS who showed the Tenth Inning documentary will be working on a documentary with some local baseball historians on a Baseball In Pensacola documentary that’s slated to come out in June next year.
There’s a baseball field that’s being built in downtown Pensacola that is hoping to be for a team that will become affiliated with a major league team.
jeffrey d
October 26th, 2010
6:35 pm
I check baseball reference a lot. I still like Yahoo though…I like their “Big League Stew” blog.
Don’t tell Tomahawkin to check ESPN though
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
hope they get a team Chris, watchin’ minor league is a whole lotta fun, even more so if you are lucky enough to get a team affiliated with your MLB fave. course that ain’t likely to happen with the Braves, but it will still be fun
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:37 pm
some team comparisons are easier at ESPN at least for me. I have no interest in the network at all
Playoffs!!!!
October 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
How about some World Series chatter? Will the Giants pitching be able to cool off the Rangers’ bats? Other than Cliff Lee, the Giants pitching is deeper and better, right?
JasonInFL
October 26th, 2010
6:42 pm
Jim Pressley? Really?
Efrim
October 26th, 2010
6:43 pm
I think Rangers in six, but nothing would surprise me.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:44 pm
no Jim Presley
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:44 pm
nolie
Yea. The president of the local team the Pensacola Pelicans is in talks trying to get them to become affiliated. They currently play their games at a local college field here called UWF. The stadium is set to open in the 2012 season and if it does become affiliated, I’m going every chance I get since it’ll be close to me (well not close close, but well within driving distance). Also the stadium will be built on a waterfront property. Could have our own McCovey Cove >_>
TnBrian
October 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
It sounds like Presley will be the new hitting coach. Can’t say I give a crap if it’s Presley, Baylor or my alcoholic brother. Just waiting for that impact bat we acquire.
I shouldn’t diss my big brither that way. He’s a good guy when it boils down to it.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:46 pm
I’m hopin for the NL team but its kinda hard to imagine that SF pitching will continue to be that dominant
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:47 pm
I’m a pretty good hitter myself. I played in some non affiliated youth baseball leagues when I was younger, but my knees got hurt and I stopped playing. I can hit, I just need a designated runner >_>
I am a switch hitter to boot
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:48 pm
does your brother stress getting on base and not making outs Brian? If so sign me up
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:48 pm
I’m an NL fan, but I am rooting for the Rangers. One reason is because I’m a big Cliff Lee fan. I felt dirty rooting for him with Phillies, but now I can do it with a clean conscience. The other reason being the Texas Braves are the next best thing to Atlanta being there >_>
nolie
October 26th, 2010
6:49 pm
I was a switcher too
TnBrian
October 26th, 2010
6:49 pm
I will say though that Gonzalez seems to be calling the shots as far as new coaches go. That’s two of his former coaches on board. Or one that’s about to be.
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:49 pm
I meant to say *I can still hit* in the latter part of my other post >_>
N8
October 26th, 2010
6:50 pm
“Nope, I guess the irony of this all is that while Tex at the time fit the exact description of what we would need in the lineup and what we currently need(power) his numbers in the postseason with the Yanks haven’t been to good at all.” Jake W
What’s scary about that in general, is that we didn’t need anything in the lineup. Team averaged 4.84 runs per game before Tex was traded for. Team averaged 5.30 per game after. Pretty signifcant. But….
They were allowing 4.50 runs per game before the trade. Then proceeded to give up 4.56 after the trade. Those numbers are skewed a bit with a really good Septebmer. Braves best month in terms of “allowing runs” was September with 103 (3.81 per start). But the damage was already done in August after the trade, when the team gave up 148 runs (5.25).
But the point is that not before, nor after that trade did they need a better bat at 1B to legitimately compete. They needed pitching. JS tried to get it. Couldn’t find, so he took the next best thing.
Ironically, there are those who say that Tex did have his hand in Chipper’s batting title, and certainly he did. But Chipper hit .369 before Tex was traded away and .353 after. It wasn’t like he fell off the planet.
He was walked 31 times in 39 games after the trade, as opposed to 43 walks in 89 games before it. So, quite clearly, Tex scared people a tad more than whoever Bobby batted behind Chipper after the trade (don’t remember).
But with or without Tex, Chipper was pretty locked in that year.
TnBrian
October 26th, 2010
6:50 pm
Nah, he just stresses, nolie.
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:51 pm
nolie
Were you better righty or lefty?
I’m a natural righty, but I hit much better lefty. From the right side, I was good for bunting, getting the runner over and hitting gap hits with few HRs. Lefty I crushed the ball every chance I got that the ball was in my happy zone.
Hitting righty my zone was waist high and hitting lefty my zone was at my ankles (not kidding), I would always golf em out.
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:53 pm
Speaking of ankles, too bad Ankiel might not return, could have had the….
Aniel’s Ankles >_>
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:53 pm
Ankiel’s Ankles even >_>
NEW CARS
October 26th, 2010
6:56 pm
DOB,
You are right in your assessment that a guy doesn’t have to be successful as a hitter and I am not familiar with Presley’s work as a hitting coach. I do remember him being the Mark Reynolds of the mid 80s with a ton of ks and not many walks so that would concern me. You’re right about some of the former stars, but I think you might want to relook at the statement about the Splendid Splinter. His Senator teams improved dramatically at the plate under his tutelage, but the rest of the team suffered, much like when he played.
In the end I’m sure Fredi has a lot better idea of what we need in that position than any of us clowns do.
Jose
October 26th, 2010
6:56 pm
This guy is a well Educate Hitting Coach…
Presley completed his education after starting to play professionally, earning a a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in health, leisure and sports from the University of West Florida.
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
6:58 pm
Jose
That’s the place where the Pensacola Pelicans play, UWF.
I’m actually about 10 minutes away from that University.
MikeInFl
October 26th, 2010
6:58 pm
I have one of those too, TnBrian. Fun, isn’t it?
BTW, the JS trade that people should criticize is the one that sent Adam Laroche to Pittsburgh for a sore-armed reliever and a longshot SS prospect.
The miscalculation that Scott Thorman could step in and be an everyday 1b really hurt.
If we pony up the arbitration $$ for Laroche in ‘07, there’s never any need for a Tex trade. We have a solid (if quirky) 1B, and either keep our prospects, or get what we need – pitching – for them.
Bobby's chauffeur
October 26th, 2010
6:58 pm
the FA class looks to be a little bit better.
Bobby Abreu LAA *
Jose Bautista TOR
Carlos Beltran NYM
Milton Bradley SEA
Mike Cameron BOS
Ronny Cedeno PIT
Ryan Church PIT
Jack Cust OAK
David DeJesus KC
Matt Diaz ATL
J.D. Drew BOS
Jeff Francoeur TEX
Jonny Gomes CIN
Gabe Gross OAK
Carlos Guillen DET
Corey Hart MIL
Raul Ibanez PHI
Conor Jackson ARZ
Ryan Ludwick SD
Nate McLouth ATL *
Juan Pierre CWS
Juan Rivera LAA
Cody Ross SF
Grady Sizemore CLE *
Nick Swisher NYY *
Josh Willingham WAS
Now eliminate all scott Boras clients and lets look at what is really available 2012
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:00 pm
yeah the degree in leisure was a toughie too
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:00 pm
Chris, I was a natural RHer and hit better from that side
BravesFanChris26
October 26th, 2010
7:03 pm
Ah cool.
Here’s a funny thing about how I discovered I could switch hit. My coach/manager said I was pressing to much hitting RH and he said he felt that I could probably hit left handed. So he worked with me a few days (yea, days, not weeks >_> ) and I started mashing the balls big time. However, he wanted to see if I could hit LHP hitting lefty and let’s just say, that’s a no go >_>
N8
October 26th, 2010
7:04 pm
“I will say though that Gonzalez seems to be calling the shots as far as new coaches go. That’s two of his former coaches on board. Or one that’s about to be.” TnBrian
I think that’s the only way you can do it as a GM. And if I was hired for a job, but not allowed to bring some of my best people with me, or surround myself with who I wanted, I’m not sure I’d take the job.
The manager is the first to go if things get ugly (unless you’re the Phillies hitting coach). If he isn’t allowed to have “his guys” in place, how can he ever be held accountable by the results?
MIBravesFan
October 26th, 2010
7:04 pm
“Playoffs!!!!
October 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
How about some World Series chatter? Will the Giants pitching be able to cool off the Rangers’ bats? Other than Cliff Lee, the Giants pitching is deeper and better, right?”
If the Giants starters continue to perform at or maybe even close to the level they have, they should be able to contain the Rangers’ bats enough to keep their offense in the games. They certainly seem to have better and deeper pitching, overall. Certainly better than the Yankees had.
richbrave
October 26th, 2010
7:10 pm
McCANN, McLOUTH, LOWE, HUDSON, HEYWARD, ROSS, JONES in the house.
CABRERA, SAITO decisions made.
KAWAKAMI release details to be worked out.
HINSKE, GLAUS, LEE, GONZALEZ, PRADO, INFANTE, ANKIEL, DIAZ, FARNSWORTH, PROCTOR, MOYLAN, O’FLAHERTY, HANSON, MEDLIN, to be or not to be.
JUIRJENS resigned? WAGNER retired?
Lots more decisions to go.
Jake W.
October 26th, 2010
7:11 pm
N8
I guess what I was trying to say is that Thorman wasn’t the answer so first base was a hole, especially for a team that wanted to make it to the playoffs for that two season period of 2007 and 2008. Now though with Freeman coming up it is more apparent now than ever that the other outfield spots that Heyward does not occupy should be where we go to improve our power numbers. Tex has power, but right now first base isn’t seen as much of a hole that it was then.
As you said pitching was our primary weakness but could it be that just one year the braves wanted to see if they could do things the other way and get by with so-so pitching and great hitting? It didn’t work out and Frank Wren made it priority after the 2008 injuries to build the rotation back up and make that the foundation of the team again. I know it wasn’t a gaping hole, first base, but it was a trade that definitely made us better but unfortunately for us it didn’t prove to be a big enough difference maker with the way our pitching was.
Bat Masterson
October 26th, 2010
7:11 pm
“I’m in TN, but can hear Jeff Francoeur laughing all the way up here. Serves the Braves right, as he was treated dirty”
Yeah he was. If they had loved him they would have benched him in 08.
richbrave
October 26th, 2010
7:13 pm
pin-up
richbrave
October 26th, 2010
7:14 pm
pin down
richbrave
October 26th, 2010
7:15 pm
pin hole
richbrave
October 26th, 2010
7:16 pm
pin wheel
richbrave
October 26th, 2010
7:16 pm
72
Playoffs!!!!
October 26th, 2010
7:20 pm
MIBravesFan–
My first impression was that the Rangers would win in 6, but the more I think about it, I think the Giants will prevail on the strength of their pitching.
You know the old baseball axiom-good pitching will always stop good hitting
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:23 pm
there is no always in baseball
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:26 pm
TEST
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:27 pm
TEST
Bat Masterson
October 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
9943
jeffrey d
October 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
there is no always in baseball
Except when Melky comes up
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
TEST AGAIN
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
Melkeynolie
October 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
underline
MIBravesFan
October 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
“Playoffs!!!!
October 26th, 2010
7:20 pm
MIBravesFan–
My first impression was that the Rangers would win in 6, but the more I think about it, I think the Giants will prevail on the strength of their pitching.
You know the old baseball axiom-good pitching will always stop good hitting.”
That’s my thinking, too. It’s going to be a fun and interesting series to watch.
Danga
October 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
I think the Giants have overpitched a bit. Those guys are good, but the aren’t THIS good. Cliff Lee wins twice. Rangers beat up on Sanchez and Colby Lewis pitches a gem in game 7 to make the Rangers WS Champs.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
I’m a big sentence now!
Danga
October 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
Posnanski
Here’s a beautiful thing about baseball: It’s probably happened. Whatever you’re thinking. It’s probably happened. Nine hits in a game? Yep, that happened: Johnny Burnett of the Cleveland Indians smacked nine hits against Philadelphia in an 18-inning game (same game that Jimmie Foxx had six hits, three of them homers, and eight RBIs).*
*Philadelphia’s Eddie Rommel had one of the greatest pitching lines in baseball history that day: 17 innings, 29 hits, 14 runs (only 13 earned), 9 walks, 7 strikeouts, 2 wild pitches. And Rommel — who was 34 at the time and was in the last year of a good career — was used mostly in one-inning appearances that season.
Reporter: Skip, when did you know it wasn’t Eddie’s night?
Connie Mack: I thought after the 26th hit he gave up, he started elevating his pitches. But his stuff was still good.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
I’m red!
unbelievable
October 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
DOB, yes I understand that completely. I just hope that Presley teaches more plate discipline that he showed while playing. Hopefully he fulls understands the value of OBP. Didnt Presley hate playing in ATL? For some reason, I remember something about that
Owl Hunter, I wasnt saying that someone with a bad slash line would be a terrible hitting instructor. I just dont think someone who didnt practice patience at the plate being able to instruct hitters on a good game plan against opposing pitchers. Maybe his philosophy has changed. I just dont care for the idea of him getting the hitting coach job
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
Connie MackBobby Cox : I thought after the 26th hit he gave up, he started elevating his pitches. But his stuff was still good.CB
October 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
I think we need baseball season to hurry up and get here – I am so very tired of the Tex conversations.
MIBravesFan
October 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
Danga – that quote from Connie Mack is priceless!
David O'Brien
October 26th, 2010
7:40 pm
New Cars: I just don’t think there’s much, if any, correlation between the majority of successful hitting coaches, pitching coaches, and managers, and their success as players.
For instance, consider a name that’s been mentioned here a lot in recent years: How did Rudy Jaramillo do as a major league hitter?
unbelievable
October 26th, 2010
7:40 pm
DOB, also whats the teams view point on Timmons. He’s posted OBP of .400+ the last two seasons in Gwinnet. Seems to have decent speed also. How’s his glove? Will he compete for a backup INF job for 2011?
MIBravesFan
October 26th, 2010
7:40 pm
“nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
Connie MackBobby Cox : I thought after the 26th hit he gave up, he started elevating his pitches. But his stuff was still good.”
lol!
Bobby's Cox
October 26th, 2010
7:41 pm
Slice up the Tex deal any way you want. It was a terrible move for a guy that we would have for only 1 season – a guy who we knew we wouldn’t be able to sign because he declined a huge deal from Texas – a guy we knew wouldn’t be worth a lick after the final 2 months after we traded him because he was a historically bad hitter in April and May.
The real problem with the Braves at the time of the Tex deal was the pitching. We got Tex but couldn’t pitch worth a lick the rest of that year and the following. It took 2 years for Wren to come in and bolster the pitching staff without any abundance of prospects for which to trade. The prospects we had we needed to keep for development for our own club, and we couldn’t leverage them.
It’s easy to say things worked out. They have now. We’re in good shape. And so is Texas because of that deal. But, when the organization hints that they are unwilling to make that type of deal in the future, you know even they think it was a sour deal.
And, we did get a lot in return for Tex. Kotchman was the Angels MVP up to that point, and we got their best reliever in the minors at the time. This for a guy everyone around baseball knew we couldn’t resign, nor the Angels probably wouldn’t either. Tex tanked, not only for us, but for Anaheim. He’s a bum, and we gave up our arsenal for us. It would only have been a success had we made the postseason. It was a failure all the way around.
CB
October 26th, 2010
7:42 pm
Bobby was one of Connie Mack’s coaches.
Steve from OH
October 26th, 2010
7:44 pm
DOB–if I might throw another name in to illustrate your point, Rob Deer is a pretty well-regarded hitting instructor in the minors from what I’ve read. Just can’t try to make a connection between the player and the coach a player will be. Just two completely different things.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:45 pm
I guess you are welcome to that opinion Bobbys
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:47 pm
Just two completely different things. Steve
it depends on whether it involved talent or a particular approach
Frankie Wren
October 26th, 2010
7:49 pm
Anybody here into Reckless Kelly? Playing in Buckhead a week from Friday. Suppose to be a good band to see live.
Steve from OH
October 26th, 2010
7:50 pm
The Tex trade? Not great, but not the worst thing that’s ever happened to an organization. We dealt from a position of strength and had the luxury of doing a trade like that to take a run at the playoffs. And we did. I won’t fault JS for being aggressive in that situation. Like they say, go big or go home. And I for one certainly do not miss Harrison, Salty or Jones in the least.
The Kotchman trade? That was the bad one of the lot. Complain about that one, please, if you are to complain.
Steve from OH
October 26th, 2010
7:51 pm
That’s true, nolie. Although no one really wants Rob Deer teaching their minor leaguers his apporach, either eh?
Frankie Wren
October 26th, 2010
7:53 pm
Kotchman? Not a great trade, not a bad trade. Not sure who you were going to get in return for a half season for a guy that only 1 team was really going to have a shot to sign for Megamillions.
Steve from OH
October 26th, 2010
7:57 pm
Eh, like Efrim said, I understand that we needed a 1B, but the Yanks’ first-rounder and a supplemental sure looked good at the time, too. Plus, we totally whiffed on Kendry Morales. That’s not good.
Jake W.
October 26th, 2010
7:58 pm
Bobby’s Cox
We have had Tex for more than a year, what don’t you get about that? The team needed pitching, but maybe just maybe it wasn’t available. It was not apparent that there was zero chance of bringing Tex back but once we had injuries to the pitching we didn’t even have to worry about that. A bad trade is one that you feel the repercussions for years down the road and ones for which you can not recover from. We made the playoffs this year and quite honestly could have gone further if not for the major injuries we sustained.
Right now you’re just coming off like a spoiled fan because if you really want to know what a bad trade is ask Detroit what they could have done with JJ instead of a ss that would be clearly going over the hill. Ask Cleveland how they’re doing with the haul they brought in for CC and Lee. Did the trade work out, no, but not all trades do. That doesn’t make it a bad trade. Slice it anyway you want. The braves were a 90 plus win team this year that made the playoffs and did it on the back of a team mostly filled with home grown talent and some key free agent signings.
Given the injuries we sustained in 2008 even if we had held on to every single prospect which never was going to happen or if we had traded for a starter the first year that we could have seriously had a playoff run was 2009. If we have all those prospects after 2008 you know who we likely swing them for in a trade, Peavy and boy thats worked out for the Sox. Then we have money to spend that we don’t waste on Lowe so we go after who, Ibanez?
nolie
October 26th, 2010
7:58 pm
you have a point FW, when we got him there was at least the thought of a chance of signing him with his wife and Tech. By the time we traded him it was a lot more obvious that only the Yanks -and maybe BoSox if they wanted him-were gonna be able to sign him.
nolie
October 26th, 2010
8:04 pm
wouldn’t it be great if game time was much the same as it is now??
Frankie Wren
October 26th, 2010
8:04 pm
Tex was fun to watch though in second half of 07. Didn’t he hit bombs the first couple of games here? I just remember MFIKY giving up a 4 bagger late and losing in extras in one of those games. Not a great team but a enjoyable team to watch.
Efrim
October 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
I’m just happy the Braves will have a first round draft pick this year. Hopefully they use it on a hitter.
Steve from OH
October 26th, 2010
8:08 pm
True that, Efrim. A 1st-rounder would be a nice change…
Frankie Wren
October 26th, 2010
8:10 pm
Educate me. When did we last have a 1st rounder?
Jake W.
October 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
Tex was fun to watch though in second half of 07. Didn’t he hit bombs the first couple of games here? I just remember MFIKY giving up a 4 bagger late and losing in extras in one of those games. Not a great team but a enjoyable team to watch.
Yeah, it was an offensive minded team and those usually are more fun to watch. We had pretty much fixed our bullpen problems and just imagine if Andruw hadn’t had his numbers fall off, maybe we don’t trade for Tex if he’s putting up his 05 or 06 numbers. Frenchy, KJ, Chipper and Mac were all giving us solid seasons along with Renteria. Maybe you put up with Thorman and go for more pitching but then again Andruw was likely leaving anyway so you trade for a guy you thought you would have a possibility of keeping and that would provide power in his absence.
Bobby's Cox
October 26th, 2010
8:15 pm
I guess Jake is entitled to his opinion, too.
Spoiled fan though? Lol. I wish. I am a Clippers fan after all.
Frankie Wren
October 26th, 2010
8:17 pm
I just remember Renteria getting hurt either the day Tex came over or the following day. That really hurt that team. He was having a phenomenal year and just a great hitter before getting to Chipper. Yunel came in and did a really solid job and I thought he was going to be special. Can’t underestimate what Renteria meant to that club though with his leadership and clutch hitting.
Tomas
October 26th, 2010
8:18 pm
We’ve talked about what it would take to get a guy like Colby Rasmus a 23 yr old CF under team control for the foreseeable future…..
Now what would it take to get a prominent 30 home run hitter(ballpark doesn’t matter) that plays 2B who will make 8-10 in his last arbitration year. It will also eliminate a big threat to the Marlins lineup. If the Braves trade for Uggla they better sign him long term which would require 5 yrs 58-60 million.
Mike Dunn and Aroldys Vizcaino for Dan Uggla.
Bobby's Cox
October 26th, 2010
8:19 pm
Steve,
You can’t complain about the Kotchman trade. At the time, we got 2 good players from the Angels which for them was 2 months of Tex, who then bailed. No one was willing to give us anything as good as that.
They say they did that trade because they had Morales, but even they didn’t know how good Morales would be and didn’t want to rely on that. They were furious when Tex left for NY.
Soph
October 26th, 2010
8:23 pm
Spoiled fan though? Lol. I wish. I am a Clippers fan after all.
Bobby’s – I was about to drop a yikes on you but I realized you do have Blake Griffin this year. He looks good.
Choppinmama
October 26th, 2010
8:24 pm
DOB: This is a sad situation. Did you know him?
“Bill Shannon official scorekeeper at Mets and Yankees games, died Tuesday in a house fire at his West Caldwell, N.J. home. He was 69 yrs old.”
westgadave
October 26th, 2010
8:24 pm
If anyone on the blog can update me I would appreciate – have been out of town for work a good bit the last few weeks and not as tuned in to the old blog as I would have liked…….does anyone know if DOB has heard or reported any info regarding the Braves plans for Matt Diaz next year….was hoping they would keep him around.
Steve from OH
October 26th, 2010
8:25 pm
Bobby’s–yeah true, but if we’re gonna use hindsight on the first Tex trade, why can we not use it on the second Tex trade? I do think that the option of 2 draft picks (provided the Braves would spend on them) was more attractive at the time. Still, whiffing on Morales was bad.
Jake W.
October 26th, 2010
8:25 pm
I guess Jake is entitled to his opinion, too.
Spoiled fan though? Lol. I wish. I am a Clippers fan after all.
Well heck i’m a Hawks fan, never been past the second round and set an ugly history for themselves when they were swept out the second round and each game was a blowout to Orlando. But as a braves fan lets all be honest, we have been spoiled, not by Championships like the Yankees but by an overall well run organization since the 90’s that allows us to look at trades like that and complain when teams like the pirates would just hope to be in a position to think about making a midseason trade that could propel them to the playoffs.
Look, some of these prospects or players were eventually going to be traded. If you know of someone from that time period that we could have traded for instead of Tex that clearly would have made us better then by all means tell me because i’m not seeing it. Or if you’re saying the prospects themselves would have made these current braves better I can’t see that either. I’m just trying to figure out exactly what our alternatives at the time were that you think were better since you think the trade is so bad.