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3,230 comments Add your comment
CB
October 27th, 2010
12:28 pm
flange1,don’t bring up moving FF to LF anymore – everyone thinks you and I are and idiots.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
October 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
I’ll stop whining about it eventually.
No don’t stop whining. When you get a good rant about Dish going just call them and whine some more maybe you can get a free month like I did.
LTBF
October 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
If Prado were traded I could just see him comming to the Ted and killing us.
Efrim
October 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
An addition of Magglio Ordonez or Pat Burrell types must be accompanied by a Colby Rasmus/Matt Kemp like center fielder, imo. Best case scenario, I think.
Travis
October 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Looks like another wife is making a big differance in where her hubby plays. Although I don’t understand how after sitting in the stands in Philly with those obnoxious fans, Mrs Lee could think Yankee fans are worse. Sounds like someone is making assumptions for a story.
Frankie Wren
October 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
Wow sobering thought. I don’t want to go into next season with Minor and Beachy as your 4 and 5 guys. Not going to happen. JJ isn’t going anywhere IMO. Get healthy and pitch like 2009 and FW has Aces full going into 2011 off season. Trade JJ and get huge bat and roll with Medlen, Minor and one of our studs down in the farm as 3,4,5 starters in 2012.
Soph
October 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
Sad. Get well soon, Pete!
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101027&content_id=15858040&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl&tcid=tw_article_15858040
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
Braves strategy has to be to get younger, faster and better defensively. I love Chipper, but if he’s not 100% I’d rather see him go the Mike Schmidt route.
Build the core of this team through youth, emphasize speed, fundamentals and good baserunning. The focus has always been on pitching…and that’s a good thing. We need to get as many arms in development as possible. I’m tired of seeing the Braves make trades for rent-a-players or for patchwork guys. Trim all the fat next year and stop trying to solve our problems with band-aids.
I’m also concerned about the talk on this board about guys with so-called makeup problems like Kemp and Rasmus. Stay away from punks/prima donnas like this and big ego guys like Jeff. We need to look at the chemistry on the 2010 squad, embrace it and update the talent level with guys of similar makeup…
LTBF
October 27th, 2010
12:38 pm
Get well Pete!
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
704
I agree. We also really need to make a huge emphasis on improving the defense. We gave away too many games because of errors. If we have solid pitching, defense and fundamentals, the offense will be good enough with a few tweaks. Look at the Giants.
nolie
October 27th, 2010
12:49 pm
we gots to wait for July to trade Prado, he is usually hotter in the first half. We can trade him(tic) for an OFer in the middle of next years pennant race
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
12:50 pm
Frankie – Right on about the pitching. I say you keep JJ this year, with Medlen out. 2012, after JJ has proven he is healthy, and Medlen is back, with the young guns becoming available, you get top value for JJ.
2011, you either take a chance on a young guy, or get by with best 1 year guy you can afford in LF. 2012, payroll improves, and you finish upgrading if the young guy(s) haven’t worked out. At least that’s the way I see it. If we are halfway healthy, we should be as good as this year, with 91 wins and post season. If things really fall right, we win the division. Either way, the future looks good for years.
nolie
October 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
An addition of Magglio Ordonez or Pat Burrell types must be accompanied by a Colby Rasmus/Matt Kemp like center fielder, imo Efrim
whatcha smokin’ today bro??? Must be good sh1tt
Efrim
October 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
I’m not opposed to dealing Prado for the right player. I would much rather sell high on Infante, who is a worse offensive player and older. In fact, selling high on Infante by including him in a deal for a bat might make a lot of sense.
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
12:52 pm
Owl – Right that, about defense. Getting regular guys back should help a lot. With the pitching we have, you don’t have to produce a lot of runs, unless you are giving them away to the other team.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
12:53 pm
Owl -
Without steroids the game is going back to the way it was played in the 80s. Speed, defense and pitching. “Big hit” Bobby was a station to station type manager who rarely wanted a steal, hit and run, or even to start a runner.
Gotta get younger, gotta cut down runs allowed. That helps our pitching even more…
Another side note is that guys don’t just magically get bigger and better at 35-36 these days…careers are back to the way they should be, guys start declining around 32-33 or so…peaking around 26-29…
Efrim
October 27th, 2010
12:53 pm
whatcha smokin’ today bro??? Must be good sh1tt
Hey man, I said best case. I don’t think it’s happening, but damn, Magglio or Burrell CAN’T be it this year. It really can’t be. At least go younger with someone who is controllable for more than one season. Or else Wren wil be looking for 4 position players next offseason(left field, center field, third base and shortstop).
Soph
October 27th, 2010
12:54 pm
nolie, no more e’s for you!
AJJ
October 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
Lowe for Swisher
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
It’s laughable that people on here want old/slow/declining band-aids like Burrell and Ordonez. It’s all about defense and those guys don’t have it. Burrell’s deficiencies are getting minimized in SF because his bat has resurrected…but it is a mirage, not a long term fix…
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
nolie – I agree about outfield. We are stuck with McLouth anyway, and he could very well be as good as Burrell or Ordonez. We do need a fix for the other outfield position, but Burrell or O don’t seem to be the solution, IMO.
Efrim – You can only deal Infante if you can come up with another “super sub” for insurance against injuries.
Mixxo
October 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
I love Marteen’s game and HBD btw Marteen. Not crazy about trading him, but……..
…he deserves to go to a good, professional team with urgency and passion that can also play defense and hit.
Won’t happen here with this buncha hacks. No Sir.
Best o’ luck Marteeno!
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
704
I just hope that Wren is seeing that, too. We have several ground ball pitchers, and we’ll need more than sollid defense. Hopefully we’ll stay ahead of the curve on the way things are changing. I can’t wait to see how that Ryan Howard contract works out.
richbrave
October 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
wheelwright
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:00 pm
Mixxo
You’re out of your mind. We won 90 games and made the playoffs, and you’re acting like we’re the Pirates. We didn’t win the World Series, but where were we unprofessional? Trading Prado would be an unprofessional, hack move.
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
1:00 pm
Mixxo – HUH?
Efrim
October 27th, 2010
1:04 pm
You can only deal Infante if you can come up with another “super sub” for insurance against injuries.
duly noted…
I think it’s easier to find a super sub than a power bat for LF.
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
Mixxo – I guess the Phillies are unprofessional hacks. They looked worse than we did vs. the Giants, and they had 3 #1 guys as starters. In other words, what the heck are you talking about?
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
1:06 pm
True that. And cheaper too.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
1:06 pm
Owl, I’m hopeful Wren sees that as well. The Phils overpaid for Howard big time, and it will come to haunt them…first of all he’s 31 next month, his defense is so-so and he’s a one of 3 outcome type of player: HR, SO, or BB. Also, have you noticed his walks have really declined the past 3 years (along with his OBP)?
He’ll be done by age 34…mark it down. He already had a bout with injuries this year, it will continue…
Mixxo
October 27th, 2010
1:06 pm
We shave the errors by a third, we win at least 100 games and we’re playing at the Ted tonight.
Trust me.
Ok….and if Chipper and Marteen don’t go down.
Ok….a lotta “ifs.”
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:06 pm
I think Infante is too valuable to trade as well. It would have to be a crazy deal for it to work out for us.
Frankie Wren
October 27th, 2010
1:09 pm
Somebody call up that crazy arse lady that did the infomercials screaming STOP THE MADNESS. Prado trade talk is insane. Blog STOP THE MADNESS!
abwright
October 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
704 and Owl Hunter … talking sense about how the game is evolving (devolving?) in the post-steroid era. Better watch out or the crazies on the blog will get you.
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:13 pm
abwright
I was only kidding. We should trade KK/McClouth/Lowe for Pujols, and if we don’t win 120 games, we should fire Fredi and Wren, and Heyward should be traded to KC for prospects.
Gene
October 27th, 2010
1:13 pm
Enter your comments here
richbrave
October 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
EF:
In fact, selling high on Infante by including him in a deal for a bat might make a lot of sense.
I like that IF we get a solid bat and defense in the OF in return. Down on the farm, WES TIMMONS can play 3rd, and second most nights with solid defense to replace INFANTE. ‘OLD MAN RIVER’ needs to kick up the hitting a notch to be competative at the plate in the ML’s however. Last year, he went from a AAA to a AAAA hitter. His average foir the season was .293, but he tailed off a bit at the end. AUGUST he hit a solid .302 for a good part of the month. If he can approach those levels again consistantly, he would be in the range MARTIN was when he went up. But unlike PRADO, I think this might be the best he’s capable of. He’s 31, but would never approach INFANTE’s 2010 season at the plate in my opinion. He might hit .240-.260 in the ML’s. A singles bench player with occasional power ability could fill-in for INFANTE if he were traded, but I can’t see him ever being what INFANTE is to the BRAVES. But I don’t see many around the majors with OMAR’s abilities to sub either. It’s a real team strength that would be lost in the trade, so the OF’er’s strengths would have to offset OI’s loss.
Frankie Wren
October 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
Omar could be a trade chip right now. I wouldn’t deal him unless we get a outfielder in return than maybe. I think our new skip is a big Wes Helms fan and would bring him over here. Sure wouldn’t put Helms as supersub category like Infante.
Gene
October 27th, 2010
1:15 pm
Am I the only one who wasn’t overly impressed by Freddie Freeman’s Sept call-up? I heard all the hype and saw nothing to get me excited, or even encouraged the he is penciled is as a cornerstone next year. What am I missing?
richbrave
October 27th, 2010
1:16 pm
wheelhorse
richbrave
October 27th, 2010
1:17 pm
Gene
October 27th, 2010
1:15 pm
Am I the only one who wasn’t overly impressed by Freddie Freeman’s Sept call-up? I heard all the hype and saw nothing to get me excited, or even encouraged the he is penciled is as a cornerstone next year. What am I missing?
Oh, it’s easy to do the penciling when you’re not FRANK WREN.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
1:18 pm
abwright –
Perhaps it’s time for a change of thought. The sabremetric types have a point although numbers cannot be used as gospel. However, they do come in handy when building a team. The bottom line is that in this day and age, maybe preventing runs is more important than generating runs…
abwright
October 27th, 2010
1:18 pm
Wren gave out some questionable contracts with Chipper, Glavine (bringing him back in the first place), Smoltz. But, in his early days as GM, he seemed to be ham-strung regarding the aging icons on the team.
With all the injuries that come with being over 30 and playing a young man’s game, without the help of the PEDs to accelerate healing, Braves were demolished in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Lowe’s contract is concerning because of his age. But, Wren didn’t have much choice due to the Braves lack of starting pitching at the time.
The big budget teams that are still buying into the over-35 free agent mega contract are going to start sucking air as their flexibility on who they can put onto the field gets compromised by injuries or PED suspensions.
Thinking about how Mike Hampton contributed to the Braves starting pitching fiasco. Couldn’t sign a large contract to replace Hampton because, if Hampton were able to play, you would have too much payroll and too many starters.
Yankees and Phillies are going to regret their big contracts in the near future. Hope the Phils open the check book to sign Werth to a six year deal.
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:18 pm
Gene
Freeman’s September was a pretty small sample size. Prospects don’t always light the world on fire when they are called up. He’ll have growing pains,but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a solid-to-good major leaguer. He crushed a HR off of Halladay, too.
abwright
October 27th, 2010
1:19 pm
Owl re 1:13 … I see the crazies got to you!
Frankie Wren
October 27th, 2010
1:20 pm
Freeman struggled in September. Kid had a monster last couple of months at AAA so that is the hype at 20 years of age, not the Sept call up.
Frankie Wren
October 27th, 2010
1:21 pm
Damn Owl you are on fire today dawg. I’m buying it all man.
abwright
October 27th, 2010
1:21 pm
704 re 1:18 … defense should be cheaper than the 40 HR banger.
I realize that Conrad had the yips in the ALDS, but he showed how bad defense can deep-six a team, on just a few plays.
Just hope Braves don’t get a great defensive player with NO offense at CF, LF, and 2B.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
1:22 pm
richbrave -
Wes Timmons is not a prospect anymore. He’s 31 and in 2009 he had an OBP of .416 while slugging .366. How is that even possible?
abwright
October 27th, 2010
1:23 pm
How many games did Freeman start in Sept? One?
He did hit a HR off Halladay, though.
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:24 pm
Frankie
Even Ankiel gets a home run in the playoffs once in a while.
Smitty
October 27th, 2010
1:26 pm
I think the two young outfielders we should target are Delmon Young and Jacoby Ellsbury, preferably Ellsbury. We need to forget about the long ball and incorporate the steal and hit and runs more. The steroid era is ending at the crazy amount of HR hit in a season isn’t going to be anything ridiculous. Pitching is dominating these days and thats what we need to play towards. Making contact and hitting it to the gaps and running. I understand Ellsbury had nagging rib injuries this past season but he tried to come back twice before it was completely healed. He has had since a month before the end of the regular season to rest and I think he will return to the player he was before the injury.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
1:26 pm
ab – but a guy like Adam Dunn doesn’t solve problems if he gives away more runs than he produces.
I’m with you that we need more offense, but certainly not at the expense of defense. If Brooks went 0 for the NLDS but didn’t make those errors, wouldn’t you say we’d be better off?
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
1:30 pm
It blows my mind that a guy like Jason Bay got big bucks last year and now probably Werth this year. How smart do the Rockies look right now by jettisoning Holliday for Car-Go? The big contracts for guys will continue to fade. Unless you are the Yanks/Sox/Phils…doesn’t make it the right play though…
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:30 pm
Smitty
I’m all about both of those guys. Ellsbury is a real possibility that may not cost us too much. I’m still worried about his health. Young is great, but I worry about what it will take to get him.
unbelievable
October 27th, 2010
1:32 pm
He’s 31 and in 2009 he had an OBP of .416 while slugging .366. How is that even possible? – 704_Brave
well, dont mention that to everyone here who wants Andrus back. He posted a .342OBP and a .301SLG%
Pameeee
October 27th, 2010
1:32 pm
Reporting – Electronic Communications
Email 2000 12 billion 2010 247 billion
Google 100 million 2 billion
Blogs 12 thousand 141 million
Facebook 540 million
Text 400 thousand 4.5 billion
Just received this report this morning and it is astounding. I had no idea that this would ever have happened.
unbelievable
October 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
Smitty, I like Ellsbury if the Braves are going to sit/release McLouth. Braves HAVE to get a RH hitter in the lineup
Mitchie-san
October 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
I want to do laundry with Elizabeth Cook.
Mikeyc588
October 27th, 2010
1:36 pm
From Buster Olney today:
• Just as they did in the series against the Yankees, the Rangers went through a full infield practice Tuesday, including some pitcher fielding practice — something a lot of teams basically stop doing once they leave spring training.
DOB – Can you confirm how often, if at all, the Braves did full infield practice last year or in year’s past? Not trying to open a can of worms here, but I was just wondering if that is something they did regularly under Bobby Cox or not and whether you think that might change under Gonzalez.
Frankie Wren
October 27th, 2010
1:36 pm
Mitchie-san
Naked Twister might be more enjoyable.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
1:37 pm
unbelievable – his (Elvis’) WAR is not very good either. Fielding or hitting. Of course WAR is flawed but that’s for what it’s worth…
tony austin
October 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
I wasn’t too impressed with Freddie either, however I do know he is young and it is a a small sample size. I don’t recall him playing regularly either. With regular playing time maybe he will be okay…we shall see.
If he and Heyward turn out to be monsters, this may be a fun offense to watch.
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
Everything I hear about Freeman leads me to believe that he’s ready. He might not have the impact that Heyward had right away (of course, if he doesn’t hit a 500 ft home run in his first at bat, half the blog will call him a bust), but he proved all he could in AAA. It’s his turn to show and prove.
Travis
October 27th, 2010
1:58 pm
If you go back and analyze this team from last year, you quickly realize the Braves excelled with the bullpen and bench. Come from behind wins and wins with 1 run margin because the pen held other teams got the Braves into the post season. Starters held there own with quality starts and turned it over to the pen. Guys like Conrad, Hinski and Heyward saved out butts a lot! That does not need to change. A bona fide closer Wood would do wonders for this team. Yeah, a certified run producer in the 4 slot would be great but other than Mac who is there?
ncscoots
October 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
The bottom line is that in this day and age, maybe preventing runs is more important than generating runs…
Uh-oh. Danger, Will Robinson, danger.
Preventing runs keeps you from losing, but cannot in and of itself create wins. Two different things.
BTW, the Braves gave up their fewest runs this year in almost a decade, even fewer than last year’s excellent pitching staff. How many more preventable runs do you think can be squeezed out? Not many, is my guess. You want to create some run differential next year, then get a banger with the skill to create those 1.4 runs per offensive event.
Murph
October 27th, 2010
2:13 pm
Anyone down on Freeman because of what he did after getting called up is just silly. Freeman lit AAA on fire, playing everyday, and then got called up and had the odd pinch AB here or there. He’s never been a pinch hitter, he’s an everyday player.
Don’t judge the kid at all on what he did once he made the show. Give him a few months as the everyday first baseman and then we can talk.
Ray Parker Jr.
October 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
Posey playing for a ring and Heyward talking about cereal on his twitter. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
http://twitter.com/JasonHeyward
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
2:25 pm
scoots -
Understand completely where you’re going, but consider this: didn’t the Braves commit the 2nd most errors after the Break this year? Errors lead to missed opportunities, extra batters and potentially more runs allowed. I agree that more runs need to be produced, but just not at the sake of more runs being allowed. I.E. gotta get more well rounded, young players in there who are above replacement value both offensively and defensively.
MikeInFl
October 27th, 2010
2:26 pm
How many more preventable runs do you think can be squeezed out?
Hey, in the NLDS, despite kicking the baseball around the diamond like a bunch of middle schoolers, the Braves gave up just 11 runs in 4 games.
And LOST three of them!
I’ll take a masher or 2 over a new commitment to hitting-and-running, sacrificing outs, and more infield practice during the long season, thank you very much.
richbrave
October 27th, 2010
2:30 pm
wheelhouse
Owl Hunter
October 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
Mike in FL
If you watched the games this season, you would see how many games we could have won if not for errors. A couple errors less, and we could have beaten the Giants. Three run homers are not the only way to win. We all would like a “masher or two”, but this ain’t the steroid era anymore. The game is different now. The Giants are in the World Series, not the Phillies. What about the Yankees and all their “mashers?” It’s not a video game. If we go the “masher” route, who do you suggest? Who would it take to get them? How could they help us get further?
richbrave
October 27th, 2010
2:42 pm
wheel-well
nolie
October 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
wheelwright
ncscoots
October 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
Errors lead to missed opportunities, extra batters and potentially more runs allowed.
Oh, I tend to agree with you, on concept. But, in truth, as pitiful as the defense appeared to be in the last part of the year, it did not in fact cause that many extra runs to be scored. Some of that was luck, some else of it the ability of the pitching staff to pitch around the mistakes.
If it were as simple as shoring up a couple of gloves to complement an already-healthy offense, I’m sure I would be all for it. That, unfortunately, isn’t the case. And the best way to avoid having errors hurt your team, is to have a big lead when they occur.
Besides, look around the squad, LOL. It’s not going to be a stellar defensive squad, just by adding a couple of OF. They’ll be middle-of-the-pack most days, in any event.
Fleming
October 27th, 2010
2:59 pm
Carpenter
Fleming
October 27th, 2010
3:10 pm
1956
mark bradley's 70's fro and mustache
October 27th, 2010
3:13 pm
The braves biggest problem was offense
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
Owl,
My point exactly. Plus we have to realize Liberty owns this team…they aren’t gonna spring for a big name slugger with a big price tag. We have to get economical players who are going to upgrade defensively…I wholeheartedly agree.
And scoots,
Luck can only take you so far…and luck is just that: lucky. Fundamentally upgrading the team defensively and changing the mindset/style with a new regime coming in now is a big opportunity to move closer to what the Rangers and Giants are. Bochy was a catcher, so there’s your pitching/defense and Washington was a speedster/middle infielder, so there’s your speed and defense.
A new era of pitching, defense and speed are upon us. You must realize that if you’re Wren and co.
nolie
October 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
offensive offense
Daybed Wagmoe
October 27th, 2010
3:16 pm
Ray Parker Jr — well, at least JHey’s right. I mean, what’s better than Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
mark bradley's 70's fro and mustache
October 27th, 2010
3:16 pm
We soon will be getting a new hitting coach, and then 10,000 years of winning…
DAP
October 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
ncscoots Doubles hitters should not hit 4, DAP. Sorry.
im not sure how to respond it it other than by saying a slugger is who you want hitting 4th, measured by slg%. a guy who will hit 40 doubles hitting behind prado, heyward, and chipper will drive in a TON of runs. ordonez has power, via doubes and homers, and is a perfect fit for the 2011 braves.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
3:22 pm
DAP -
Ordonez has a bad back, missed half of last season and is a mess defensively. Couple that with his age of 37 next year and he looks like he could be 2011’s version of Troy Glaus or worse: Garrett Anderson.
Gary O
October 27th, 2010
3:24 pm
FW is in a tough spot.
Infante is needed to backup 3B and 2B.
Prado is the team MVP at 2B
Kimbrel and Venters are needed in the bullpen
Teheran and Delgado are off limits.
Vizcaino is not 100%
So who will FW be willing to bite the bullet on?
MikeInFl
October 27th, 2010
3:25 pm
I feel like I’m having my carpets cleaned by the Sunshine Carpet Cleaners.
I get it. Steroid era…over.
3-run homer… bad.
Slg Pct …. sooo 1999.
You guys are spouting some general theory over and over, but not paying attention to the actual team.
1 position is sure to change hands in 2011: 1B. We should see defensive improvement there.
LF may change. Braves made 5 errors in LF last year. Hey, maybe we’ll cut it to 3.
CF may change. 6 of 8 errors in CF last year were by guys who won’t be back.
Yes, I’d like our new OF (if there are any) to be able to catch and throw the ball.
And I do not think Brooks Conrad should be playing in the field for more than about 3 innings per week.
But the biggest problem this team has is run-production. You can cling to your vision of how the game should be played in this strange new era, but that’s the reality.
MiaBchBravesFan
October 27th, 2010
3:30 pm
For the reasons described in DOB’s article, Colby Rasmus will not be a Brave anytime in the near future. I am sure that management will get LaRussa to make nice with a player who will be there longer than LaRussa will.
Will the Dodgers have a fire sale? In the AL, no one had a more unstable financial situation than the Texas Rangers – and look what they did. So regardless of the Dodger’s financial straits, I find it hard to believe that the Dodgers will start selling pieces – especially Kemp.
The Braves desperately need a new CF or LF – preferrably both. The more we harp on either Kemp or Rasmus, the harder the fall of disappointment. Right now, you would be hard-pressed to even guess in what direction the Braves will go in obtaining an OF without having their farm system raped, or taking on significant salary.
Remember, they are going to eat some KK money, as well as have to pay Chipper and Lowe relatively BIG bucks for the next two years. If Wren is smart, he will also find a way to lock up Hanson, then Heyward (a la McCann) within the next two-three seasons. Liberty will not open up beyond $90-$93 mil.
You only hope Wren has learned his leasson and stops buying small pieces of junk. Better to have a young, inexpensive bench and pool those $2-$3 million contracts into one top-tiered, five tool OF…
Whoever THAT may be.
(OH, and Werth is NOT an option! The Phils will not re-sign him; they will put Brown and Mayberry in their OF mix next year – formidable!)
ncscoots
October 27th, 2010
3:38 pm
A new era of pitching, defense and speed are upon us. You must realize that if you’re Wren and co.
Then shouldn’t Wren be looking for OF who can get on base and then steal bases en masse? In other words, put DAP’s doubles guy at cleanup, a couple of speed-merchants at the top, and try to manufacture while the day is long?
I believe you are going to be disappointed this offseason, my friend.
I probably will be, too, LOL, but it’ll be because Wren can’t find some .900 masher he can afford. TennPaul and I will then spit a couple of times, and hope you are right about defense and speed.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
3:41 pm
Mike in FL -
I’m not disagreeing with you at all. Obviously our LF’s last year were dismal…CF too.
That being said, this is a limited FA market and anybody acquired will probably be through trade. The point I’m trying to make is that getting an aging stop-gap veteran with the hopes of production (i.e. Glaus) is not the answer, nor is the tired idea of a platoon.
Fredi and his crew have the chance (with help of Wren) to get out of this “we’re one or two players away” mentality and go as young as we can. That’s all I’m saying…everybody else wants Ordonez or Burrell and I really don’t think they are the answer.
And one last thing about defense, was it just me or did Heyward look lost at times last year in RF? He took some bad lines, got bad jumps, looked unsure on a number of occasions. Overall, he was good but he is definitely not done developing and will be a dynamite player. He was very streaky last year and clearly looked worn out toward the end of the season though…
MiaBchBravesFan
October 27th, 2010
3:42 pm
“But the biggest problem this team has is run-production. You can cling to your vision of how the game should be played in this strange new era, but that’s the reality.”
Frankly, I would love to see the Braves move towards the 1980’s, specifically the style of ball the Cardinals and Royals played during that time. Lots of speed, lots of defense, lots of pitching, and enough slugging to bring the jackrabbits home easily every once in a while.
Make no mistake about it. Bautista’s blowup in Toronto was an anomaly. The 30-35 home run season will be considered excellent, with 40 an MVP season. Those bats are few and far between; teams will need to marry players who can put the ball in play with regularity and speed. The 100 K hitter who does not make contact and hits into DP’s will go the way of the Edsel.
I would hope the Braves start drafting more athletic, speedy, contact, line-drive hitters – especially in the OF – within the next several drafts. With Brown and Mayberry, the Phils just might reload long after Howard and Utley have passed their prime years.
Apparently, the Phils know how to draft position players, something the Braves obviously cannot.
DAP
October 27th, 2010
3:45 pm
704_Brave It’s all about defense
maybe you didnt realize, but were talking about baseball, which is not all about defense. there is also offense, and pitching.
Ordonez has a bad back, missed half of last season and is a mess defensively. Couple that with his age of 37 next year and he looks like he could be 2011’s version of Troy Glaus or worse: Garrett Anderson.
no chance of that happening. ordonez is nothing like anderson or glaus, never has been been, never will be.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
Scoots –
I probably will be disappointed this off-season…but it’s fun to dream and hope. I just don’t want to make it down to Disney next year and see a bunch of 4th outfielders and has-beens taking BP. I want to walk out to the back fields and see a bunch of young kids with potential and then see some progress on the big squad.
The past 5 years have been a grueling task of trying to break with the past or desperately trying to hold on to it…we have to re-load, not reminisce.
MikeInFl
October 27th, 2010
3:49 pm
With Brown and Mayberry, the Phils just might reload long after Howard and Utley have passed their prime years.
they will put Brown and Mayberry in their OF mix next year – formidable!
Am I missing something with Mayberry? He’s entering his age-27 season, has less than 75 major league at bats, spent six years in the minors, and only once (in A-ball) OPS’d over .800, and has a .330 career OPS in the minors.
I don’t know the guy. Maybe he’s a star in the making, but it’s not so obvious in looking at his numbers.
MikeInFl
October 27th, 2010
3:50 pm
.330 career OBP in the minors.
raleighbravefan
October 27th, 2010
3:52 pm
MiaBch – You cannot draft top prospects at every position. Braves concentrate on pitchers, and do it pretty well. Top pitchers are harder to collect than top position players. This year, they drafted several infielders. Time will tell. To say Braves obviously cannot draft position players is simplistic, at best, and mostly wrong.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
3:53 pm
DAP –
So a 37 year old like Magglio is totally absolved of injury? I get the fact that he is a .312 hitter lifetime, but he is coming off an injury plagued year…and he’s another year older…
ncscoots
October 27th, 2010
3:54 pm
I want to walk out to the back fields and see a bunch of young kids with potential and then see some progress on the big squad.
Understood. I’m less inclined on the “young” thing, but I get what you’re saying.
You oughta be in absolute love with that bullpen next year, though, LOL. They’ll probably get carded just walking into the stadium.
MiaBchBravesFan
October 27th, 2010
3:55 pm
The excellent pitching the Braves have NOW forces Wren to obtain (a) piece(s) that will either compromise our future (farm system) or our finances (tight budget). Otherwise, I woulld not have a problem with Wren rebuilding with Gonzalez – who knows how after his stint with the Marlins – and allow the Chipper and Lowe contracts to play out. When Chipper and Lowe are gone, that money needs to go into locking up Heyward and Hanson, so any grandiose plans with that part of the budget are accounted for.
The Braves have to get younger, cheaper, and faster – while maintaining their number one focus on pitching, pitching, pitching. If their was ever an off-season to get creative in obtaining that OF bat – especially with the liability of McLouth in the OF somewhere – this is the winter to do so. Rasmus or Kemp will cost A LOT, and I do not want to see the top tiered prospects squandered on a JD Drew / Teixeira gambit.
Watching Feliz and Andrus in a Ranger’s uni makes my blood BOIL.
Wren has to get off his as_ and get better at player development / drafting at the positional level.
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
3:56 pm
Re: Mayberry – the Rangers already gave up on him. He’s another high K, low BB guy with some power and a low OBP. Not thinking he’s the answer at age 27…
704_Brave
October 27th, 2010
4:02 pm
MiaBch –
Couldn’t have said it better. We really got hurt with the Tex/Drew trades and haven’t really recovered. Face it, those rentals HURT, mainly because we had no chance of resigning the centerpieces.
scoots –
With what I just said, I loved the Vasquez trade (minus Melky of course) because Vizcaino and Dunn will be assets in years to come…along with some other new faces (if they don’t throw their arms out due to overuse).