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4,652 comments Add your comment
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 9th, 2010
10:48 am
.Don —— Boobies Blunders ——– now its don again! No matter what you change your name to we can tell its you don-key!
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
10:49 am
Moe Berg: Thanks for answering that Cody Ross question at 8:46 a.m. I don’t know how many times I’ve read people ask/criticize why the Braves didn’t get Cody Ross on waivers, when in fact they couldn’t — Giants were ahead of them in the waiver-claim order, because of worse record at the time.
richbrave
November 9th, 2010
10:52 am
Jeff R
November 9th, 2010
9:25 am
From everything I’ve read, it’s the Braves’ front office more than the suits at Liberty Media that have kept the team payroll from rising significantly.
Please, a reference or two or three. I missed that reading. I’d like to eye-ball that for myself.
richbrave
November 9th, 2010
10:55 am
URIBE blew hot and cold in the post-season. I saw whiffs galore, and I remember some clutch hitting. But of course, my short-term memory’s bad. Maybe I’m thinking of someone else.
bravofan
November 9th, 2010
10:56 am
Im ready to see what suprises Wren has up his sleeve this offseason
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 9th, 2010
10:58 am
Richbrave
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/04/18/mcguirk-braves-payroll-hasnt-been-wont-be-slashed/
Scott
November 9th, 2010
11:11 am
If we can get Ellsbury and move McLouth to 4th outfielder status, I would take Burrell in LF all day. That would solve both the lead-off spot and the clean-up spot with the RH we need. I think that is probably the best solution for this team. You just have to ignore the money commitment to Nate and let him ride the pine.
L Ellsbury cf
R Prado 2
L Heyward rf
R Burrell lf
L McCann c
S Chipper 3
L Freeman 1
R Gonzo ss
Bench
McLouth of
Diaz lf rf
Mather 1 3 of
Hinske 1 3 of
Infante anywhere
Ross c
Hernandez if
benchwarmer
November 9th, 2010
11:11 am
Matt Diaz is probably my favorite of Bobby’s favorites. I think he should have played more often. Just love the way the guy hits. He became a pretty fair LFer too. If I were GM I would definitely seek to resign him. He is a quality bench player and when he catches fire at the plate he raises the team.
@WreckBuZZ
November 9th, 2010
11:12 am
DOB,
I think I know what the Braves might do. I think they have the resources to add a big bat and I think they have already begun making moves to make that work.
Based on the information out there on contracts and salaries, I have calculated that the Braves have at least $71,542,000 committed for 2011. That figure does not include Matt Diaz, as I think the Braves are likely to non-tender him. I think they’ll hold off until they see a few more things fall into place, just to be sure, because they like Diaz and if they can’t make a few big things happen, they will like to bring him back as a backup piece.
They are trying to trade Kenshin Kawakami to a Japanese team, and I think that will get done because he doesn’t want to be here and the Braves want to cut ties with his disastrous tenure in Atlanta. I think the most relief we can expect is maybe a third of his contract, around $2,220,111 million. So that would bring the Braves down to $69,321,889 committed before arbitration and any raises to the guys who are non-arbitration eligible.
We know Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado are due for a huge bump in arbitration. Eric O’Flaherty will get a raise too. What those figures will be, I’m not sure. Maybe Jurrjens gets $3.85m, Prado gets $3m and O’Flaherty gets maybe $1.25m. All that gets the payroll up around the $76m range.
If you believe the Braves plan to stay under $90m, then that leaves them somewhere between $9m and $12m to spend, leaving some wiggle room for roster changes during the year. I think that’s enough to try to sign Adam Dunn to play LF and hit cleanup. Offer Dunn a 3-year deal worth $33m with a breakout of $9m in 2011, $12m in 2012 and $12m in 2013 with some kind of club option. If you can get Dunn to agree to less in 2011, then McLouth and Kawakami’s combined $13m will be completely off the books to offset the bump in Dunn’s salary in the remaining years. Dunn is 31 now and would be 34 or 35 by the time the contract is over. I don’t think it’s a bad investment as his type of skill, power shouldn’t decline rapidly between 31-34.
If you get Dunn, then I think you have to seriously consider playing Omar Infante in CF full time. And I think the signing of Joe Mather is the Braves signaling that they are backfilling their super utility man. They already have Brooks Conrad with flexibility, now add Mather and you can afford to use Infante in CF full time. That frees up McLouth to be the late innings defensive replacement for Dunn and as a rest option for Infante in CF.
I think this is a valid option and would seriously boost the Braves offensive output.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
11:14 am
Jon Miller and Joe Morgan’s 21-year run on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” is OVER.
yeah baby!
ABraveforLife
November 9th, 2010
11:14 am
Gooood Stuff!
I would love to see Pods in here…or Rasmus…or Upton, to a lesser extent Kemp and so on. Question is, will Wren move a pitcher to bring one of them in ie Jurrgens? I think he should for whatever it’s worth.
ABraveforLife
November 9th, 2010
11:16 am
Pods…I meant Ellsbury.
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
11:17 am
N8 wrote: In 373 AB last year, Burrell hit 20 HR, had 65 RBI, & batted .252/.348/.469/.817 and he just turned 34, and made 9 million dollars last year.
In 238 AB last year, Andruw hit 19 HR, had 48 RBI (and stole 9 bases), he will turn 34 in April, and batted .230/.341/.486/.827 and he only made 3.7 million last year…. They’re pretty much the same hitter at this point of their careers.
For the record, in 96 games after moving back to the National League, Burrell hit .266/.364/.509/.872 in 341 plate appearances, with 18 home runs. That was while playing for San Francisco, with home games in one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks in baseball.
As for Andruw, I can see a scenario where he might be a decent fit for this team in left field, now that he’s gotten himself in better shape, and in second half last season he apparently figured out how to stop collapsing on his back leg in his swing. But his .219 average and .327 OBP vs. right-handers last season … that’s alarming.
CB
November 9th, 2010
11:18 am
Kemp to a lesser extent than Pods? Ooook
CB
November 9th, 2010
11:19 am
A,makes more sense now. lol
Travis
November 9th, 2010
11:22 am
When the Braves were at their pinacle in 1996, they were third in payroll and first in attendance in all of MLB. If payroll does equate to attendance, then being 13th in attendance with the 15th highest payroll in 2010 seems like you got what you paid for.
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:23 am
I didn’t realize that Burrell had such decent numbers in SF this past year. Wonder what he will require to sign a two year deal?
No thanks on Andruw.
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:25 am
Upton’s attitude scares me. But the young man definitely has some talent. TB would probably want to sell him at full price though.
We need to buy him at salvage title price……..
GM of the Future
November 9th, 2010
11:28 am
First, Mather will be lucky to make the opening day roster as a back up. Second, Stay away from the outfield free agents. They are old, oft-injured and most cost a draft pick. Third, I am concerned that most think the Braves only need 1 starting outfielder. McClouth cannot be counted on for another year. I know we have 7 million commited to him but you can’t keep throwing him out there when he is dragging the team down. Bobby Cox retired, hopefully Gonzo does not have this blind loyalty. We need to trade for a right handed (rules out Rasmus) power hitting OF AND a speedy leadoff hitter who plays OF. We have the trade chips to do it (anyone in the minors not named Teheran). Targets- RH Power Bat- Kemp, Upton, Chris Young from ARI, Carlos Quintin from CHI White Sox. Leadoff OF- Ellsbury, Brett Gardner from NYY, or to a lesser degree Nyjer Morgan (WAS), Coco Crisp (OAK), Julio Borbon (TEX).
bring back blauser
November 9th, 2010
11:29 am
save the money now bank it and sign evan longoria when tampa gives up on him
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
11:30 am
I made the suggestion to DOB about the Braves potentially signing Lance Berkman. Not that DOB would not have thought of it himself, but I suggested the possibility he could play LF. — WreckBuzz
WreckBuzz, I’ll assume you didn’t see these paragraphs I wrote in the blog:
“The switch-hitting Berkman seemed a possible fit for the Braves before they got Joe Mather off waivers from St. Louis last week. But I’m not sure now, if Mather is the backup to Freddie Freeman at first base. Because in that case, Berkman would have to play in left field, where he might be only slightly better defensively at this stage of his career than Garret Anderson was a couple years ago.
“But if Mather is used primarily as an outfielder and possibly 3B, then perhaps Berkman remains a fit. He certainly can still hit and could add plenty to the Braves’ lineup.”
As for Dunn, he’s a poor defensive outfielder, too. Great power, but a team is almost certainly going to overpay for that power with him a free agent and the Nationals hoping to have him back. He’ll be expensive, and again, he’s a bad outfielder — and he’s left-handed. Braves need a right-handed hitter, if possible.
Lollygagger
November 9th, 2010
11:30 am
I hate it when some jerk jumps in at the end of a conversation among others and claims to know what was meant without reading all the posts. -nolie
Amen. I wonder how beat writers like DOB must feel when sites like mlbtraderumors.com take a sentence or 2 of their entire point and make it an official hot stove item?
Jay H.
November 9th, 2010
11:31 am
Ix-nay on Yger-nay Organ-may.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
11:32 am
Awhile back you had a discussion about the clutch pressure hitting of Edgar Renteria which I agreed with. I bring this up because of the prospects of signing FA Pat Burrell, please don’t. He had 13 SO’s in 15 AB’s in the WS that is way way way beyond bad. He’s old he had a hot streak after the trade. so what, who ever signs him will get the Tampa Bay Burrell not the San Fran Burrell.
JonnyVenter'sLeftArm
November 9th, 2010
11:32 am
DOB; do you think Wren will try to shop Lowe again? He was pretty valuable to the team in the second half and you can blame him for the post-season losses as he pitched his tail off…but, would the GM like to move that huge contract if he finds someone desperate? (Say if the Yanks somehow don’t sign C. Lee and Pettitte retires)?
JonnyVenter'sLeftArm
November 9th, 2010
11:33 am
CAN’t blame D-Lowe for playoff lossess is what I meant to say.
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
11:33 am
Going to Helen Ga. this weekend any good Q over there? — Hillbillybrave
Yes, a very good spot we went to last time in Helen — North Georgia Barbecue Company, just a block or so off the main drag.
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:36 am
For the folks that are suggesting dealing Lowe and his 15 million per year contract, do you think that will cause the Braves to want to go out and spend the same money (or more) on a free agent outfielder?
Not going to happen.
If Lowe were dealt, that’d mean the payroll would decrease from 2010 to 2011. IMHO
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
11:38 am
I’d take an “in shape” Andruw Jones over Pat Burrell in a heart beat.
Andruw Jones has tremendous value as defensive replacement so if he doesn’t work out as 120 game starter there is still value where as there is none w/Burrell.
bring back blauser
November 9th, 2010
11:40 am
if any moves are to be made move chipper to lf
deal with tampa bay for longoria at 3b
then sign him to a long term contract
Travis
November 9th, 2010
11:42 am
Chipper in the outfield with a rehabbed knee is not a smart move.
Jeff R
November 9th, 2010
11:42 am
richbrave… I’d have to dig around for the info on team payroll. There’s not one or two articles that layout the case that Liberty Media would be open to larger payroll increases. Just read from time to time that the Braves’ front office saying that no definitive ceiling has been set by Liberty Media on payroll. Of course, proposing big increases in payroll might make Liberty Media push back, but…
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:45 am
Anybody ever travel between Clemson, SC and Helen, GA? About 18 years ago, there was a Q shack out there in the sticks. Can’t remember if it was east or west of Toccoa. On the north side of the road. Didn’t get a chance to stop, as my kids were small and sleeping that day.
Jeff R
November 9th, 2010
11:45 am
Eric in Tampa… If Freeman and a top pitching prospect were the price that the Rays would want for Upton, then the price would be too high. But if the Rays are looking for pitching (Soriano’s gone, I gather?), then Tampa might be willing to deal.
JoeBrave
November 9th, 2010
11:45 am
Fred Lewis anyone?
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
11:46 am
Evan Longoria has been signed by the Rays to the longest contract in franchise history.
That was 2008 for 9 yrs.
He’s their franchise, but I suppose, you can dream if you want to.
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:46 am
Enter your comments here
JoeBrave
November 9th, 2010
11:48 am
JJ to Boston for Ellsbury/F Doubront, any takers?
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:48 am
The blog keeps eating my question about a BBQ place between Clemson and Helen. I guess it’s a communist plot!
raleighbravefan
November 9th, 2010
11:49 am
blauser – Chipper isn’t moving to lf. He has already said so. He did before (when younger) for the good of the team, and it contributed to his injury problems (IMO), and probably has shortened his career. If you are going to make that type of move (and I wouldn’t), you move Prado or Infante.
BTW, it’s not always easy to just move a guy to a new position, and defense usually suffers, even if successful.
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:49 am
I thought we needed some pop out of LF, not a decent backup outfielder (Andruw)? Does Burrell not provide a much higher probability of providing some power over there?
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:51 am
raleighbravesfan
That’s roto-baseball talking there! (about moving guys around like checkers on a checkerboard)
Lew
November 9th, 2010
11:51 am
Lollygagger-Careful there. People here don”t like it when you don”t have complete faith in MLBTR. Of course, like you say, they cherry pick single sentences for their rumors, but they’re right every now and then – sometimes, maybe-, so most think they’re more than worthy.
Couple of points on previous posts – They aren’t going to non tender Moylanm. They need another RHRP to go with him and they don’t want to have to look for two of them. So his walks went up – big deal. He had a rough stretch, he and Roger figured out what was wrong, corrected it and he was quite good to end the season.
Mather is not going to be a starter at any position. He won’t be the next Garrett Anderson and I’d say the majority of us already realized that and didn’t need to be warned.
varoadrunner
November 9th, 2010
11:51 am
Good article DOB. I hope you are right with some of your “ideas”. Could get the Braves beyond the first round next year.
Well done
semiballcoach
November 9th, 2010
11:51 am
the main problem with andruw is too many solo homers
GM of the Future
November 9th, 2010
11:52 am
DOB, what do you think of my suggestions at 11:28?
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:53 am
Lew
Now that you made that bold statement about Mather, he’ll probably get released and go to Minnesota and flat out tear it up for the next 10 years!
Lew
November 9th, 2010
11:53 am
DS1 – It’s not checkerboard baseball if the players you would be moving (Infante or Prado) have considerable experience at the positions they’d be moving to.
Coach13
November 9th, 2010
11:53 am
The Braves can afford to sacrfice the power if they can make up for it with speed. They don’t need all of that pitching anyways. They have at least 4 prospects consdired to be “top pitching prospects” on top of JJ, Hanson, Medlen, Minor. You don’t need 8 promising young arms as potential ML starters. Trade some of the unproven talent and go get somebody that can help this offense.
I’ll sacrifice 40 HR for 40-50 SB and solid D. Rasmus, Ellsbury, maybe even Upton are all good young players, athletic, with alot of upside.
Lew
November 9th, 2010
11:54 am
DS1- Could be, but he still wouldn’t be our next Loaf in that case and I’d be prophetic as usual..
Coach13
November 9th, 2010
11:54 am
Or you could tell Chipper and his .260/15/50 to pi$$ off and use his 14 mil a year to go get somebody a lot younger and able to contribute more than 110 games a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lew
November 9th, 2010
11:55 am
semiballcoach – Not advocating fr Druw, but those solo HR’s were his fault? Damn him!!!! Why didn’t he put runners on before he came to bat. Must be the weight again.
Lew
November 9th, 2010
11:56 am
Coach 13-Apparently there’s something about guaranteed contracts you don’t know about – like we’d owe him the money anyway?
DS1
November 9th, 2010
11:56 am
GM of the future
While I would not claim to speak for DOB, I think your points are valid. I am just not sure if two outfielders are going to be pursued, especially two top notch outfielders. But stranger things have happened.
Personally, I expect that some combo of McLouth/Diaz/Infante will be getting a lot of starts in the ATL Braves outfield in 2011.
DS1
November 9th, 2010
12:01 pm
Lew
As for rotobaseball, I was mainly referring to Chipper to LF. But agreed that Prado and/or Infante might do OK in the outfield if necessary.
Infante has never impressed me with the routes he takes, and Prado I guess has played LF in winter ball some. Not sure what the reports on his defensive capabilities were though.
To be honest, unless you are getting a slugging infielder (read Uggla), why would you move an infielder to the outfield? Prado is more valuable because he plays second and third. Being able to play the outfield only adds marginally to his value, imho.
Owl Hunter
November 9th, 2010
12:01 pm
Coach13
Do you really think that will ever happen?
JoeBrave
November 9th, 2010
12:02 pm
Don’t think we’ll be seeing Diaz back in a Braves uni
GM of the Future
November 9th, 2010
12:05 pm
Or what about Andrew McCutchen? Pirates are always looking to trade their best players. They need young starting pitching more than anyone. Maybe they would even take McClouth back. Ok, now I am getting greedy.
Hillbilly
November 9th, 2010
12:05 pm
Going to Helen Ga. this weekend any good Q over there? — Hillbilly
“Yes, a very good spot we went to last time in Helen — North Georgia Barbecue Company, just a block or so off the main drag.” — DOB
Have I been posting drunk, again? I don’t remember asking that question. And I’m most definitely not going to Helena, GA this weekend.
BAS, what did you put in my drink?
bring back blauser
November 9th, 2010
12:06 pm
ds1
look for shaefer to be in center you are probably right about diaz and mcclouth to platoon in left infante to fill in as utility man at second third and short as well as outfield
raleighbravefan
November 9th, 2010
12:07 pm
Lew – I like both 11:55 & 11:56 comments. I have said some dumb things myself. That said, you shouldn’t talk if you have no clue what you are talking about. This isn’t the NFL folks (Coach13, in this case). You can’t just tell a player under contract to just p___off. Or you can, but you still have to pay him. If you could do that, we would have done it to KK and McLouth before now.
Now I’m waiting for someone to ask why we didn’t pick up Cody Ross off of waivers (again). Darn that stupid Frank Wren. Why doesn’t he know as much as us fans????
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
November 9th, 2010
12:08 pm
I think a platoon of Andruw and McLouth would be a fine thing if Wren could acquire Rasmus.
The Truth.....
November 9th, 2010
12:12 pm
One thing that if for sure…..The Braves will sign either over the hill players or cheap young player who have yet to prove anything in the league.
Terry
November 9th, 2010
12:13 pm
I would think the Braves might be interested in Jermaine Dye. He sat out last season because he wanted too much money so now he might be more reasonable. Supposedly, he’s kept himself in baseball shape.
JoeBrave
November 9th, 2010
12:14 pm
Again Fred Lewis anyone? A.Jones (this ain’t 1998,P. Burrell(kidding right), Rasmus isn’t going anywhere, Braun certainly isn’t! Jordan Schaefer is a definitive WASTE OF TIME!, that leaves 3 potential OF, Kemp, Ellsbury, and Upton, Frankly I would take a platoon of Lewis/McOut in LF, and gain Ellsbury for CF, or either Upton Cf, Lewis /McOut in Lf either way that;s the more likely scenario.
also Look for Arizona and Wren to hook up with a swap of SS, and minor leaguer.
bring back blauser
November 9th, 2010
12:19 pm
you have to face the fact that shaefer will be the starting center fielder on opening day what he does from there is up to him it will be sink or swim
Tom
November 9th, 2010
12:19 pm
DOB–Not sure I understand those paragraphs about Lance Berkman. Are you suggesting that Berkman would back up Freeman at first base? Or that he would play first base instead of Freeman? I’m in agreement that putting him in left field would be an adventure, so where might he fit? His bat is certainly tantalizing.
Scott
November 9th, 2010
12:20 pm
Is Corey Hart still a trade option?
Terry
November 9th, 2010
12:20 pm
If the Braves even consider bringing that little prick Nyger Morgan here, they just lost a fan.
old man
November 9th, 2010
12:22 pm
Wren and Gonzalez have certainly isolated one or two outfielders that they feel are good matches for the Braves, somebody without a Werth or Crawford price tag. They will make an effort to get one. We won’t know until they announce it, and we may never hear if the deal is not right. I could trade JJ if that’s what it took. Bill James on Fangraph has his 2011 projections out, and here are three guys I see on this Board, compared to Werth and Crawford. I don’t vouch for any of this, but it’s interesting:
PLAYER HR R RBI SB AVG/OBP/SLG
SIZEMORE 23 105 81 23 .265 .355 .455
UPTON 16 87 63 40 .255 .345 .419
ELLSBERY 8 102 58 59 .300 .355 .409
CRAWFORD 14 93 71 42 .300 .350 .453
WERTH 28 98 91 14 .275 .375 .493
Lollygagger
November 9th, 2010
12:25 pm
Lew-
I enjoy visiting MLBTR.com at least once a day because I’m a baseball junkie… I absolutely can’t help myself when it comes to being nosey about what baseball writers around the country are saying about the teams they cover and who they’re hearing might be traded/available, etc. They usually don’t “make up” their own stuff, they simply quote blogs and baseball reports from reporters… but sometimes they only get 1/2 of the point and so a rumor gets started that actually wasn’t a rumor to begin with- it might have simply been a baseball writer wondering out loud “what if…”
old man
November 9th, 2010
12:25 pm
Can’t get those darn tabs to come out right when I post.
Anyway, Sizemore gives more power, Ellsbury more speed, and Upton is sort of a blend. Which of them can play CF, and which has the better arm? Anybody know?
raleighbravefan
November 9th, 2010
12:26 pm
The Truth… You may be right ( we will know soon enouggh). I don’t know the exact details about how much $$$ is available to Wren (nor do you) but I don’t know what his alternative is to the statements you made, unless he has the money to spend. Believe it or not, Wren wants to do everything he can to improve this team.
Hillbilly
November 9th, 2010
12:33 pm
MLBTR just doesn’t have the same off-season appeal to me without the daily Chien Ming-Wang headlines. Can somebody show some interest in this dude so we can get our daily fix of juvenile humor, please?
D.J.
November 9th, 2010
12:34 pm
ugh, Helen. I lived in the county for 10 years, and unless Helen has really picked up in the two years since I last visited, I don’t get the appeal. Kind of like the hobo’s Gatlinburg, which isn’t doing so hot itself. Maybe Helen’s worth visiting for a day if you’re staying in the mountains and need some semblance of civilization, but not a whole lot else. However, the national/state parks around there are fantastic, so go ahead and visit sometime.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
12:36 pm
I like MLBTR.com too. But they haven’t reported many rumors in while mostly just stats and procedural moves.
ryan c
November 9th, 2010
12:37 pm
I have a major problem with Alex Gonzalez being our shortstop. I’d love to see us go after JJ Hardy. Alex is at the peak of his value and is cheap. In my opinion, he should be traded before any other teams realize that his power from last year was a fluke.
If the Braves are able to trade for a RH CF, I’d love for them to get someone like Andruw to platoon with McLouth. He destroyed LHP to a tune of a .931 OPS in 2010.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
12:40 pm
The Royals signed Wilson Betemit to a minor league deal.
WOW …Wilson Betemit…is worth way more than that. Lets go after him now we’ll definately need him after Chipper gets hurt.
Make no bones about it, Chipper IS going to get hurt.
Daybed Wagmoe
November 9th, 2010
12:42 pm
DOB — I’m going through the “gallery” on AJC on rating Wren’s 2010 moves, and if I could offer some constructive criticism, it’s not exactly clear on some of them what exactly we’re supposed to be rating.
For example, the first one has a picture of Melky Cabrera, and the caption reads, “Braves made their first splash in the offseason last year acquiring outfielder Melky Carbrera from the Yankees in a five-player trade. This offseason starts with the release of Carbrera, who hit .255 with four homers in 147 games. Here’s a look at some of Wren’s deals for 2010.”
I’m thinking that we’re rating whether it’s good that Wren released Melky, but the caption doesn’t really make it clear whether we should be rating whether Wren is a Good Man for cutting Melky, or whether he’s Gone Mad for trading for Melky (which, after all, was a deal for the 2010 season). A few of the other ones are pretty clear, but a lot of them are a bit confusing.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
12:43 pm
“I have a major problem with Alex Gonzalez being our shortstop”
Me too, he isn’t worth the $2.5 mil club option. I’d rather see that not yet ready 18 yr old Cuban we signed in 2010.
Wrong way WREN
November 9th, 2010
12:45 pm
It seems to me picking up career minor leaguers and players off the waiver wire means we are going in the wrong direction and we must not have much talent at the minor league level.
I cannot ever remember JS taking a player off waivers??
jerry
November 9th, 2010
12:45 pm
They won’t win the WS whatever Wren does, so don’t get too excited.
Wrong way WREN
November 9th, 2010
12:46 pm
What happened to the 16yr old australian short stop they signed a few years ago?
Lollygagger
November 9th, 2010
12:46 pm
Hillbilly-
Jackass 3 is making millions of dollars in theatres across the country. You’re apparently not alone in your love of juvenille humor… (That said, one can’t help but laugh at least occasionally at the Wang headlines. It’s human nature.)
Hillbilly
November 9th, 2010
12:51 pm
You have a major problem with Alex Gonzalez at shortstop but you would love to see JJ Hardy’s .714 OPS with 6 homers, 19 doubles, and 38 rbi in there?
raleighbravefan
November 9th, 2010
12:53 pm
Most years JS had one of the top payrolls in MLB. He didn’t need to troll the waiver wires. The problem is $$$, not Wren’s judgement. Why is that so hard to understand?
Hillbilly
November 9th, 2010
12:53 pm
Lollygagger, Yeah I know. I’m too old for that crap, but I just can’t fight back a chuckle when I see the words “Nationals offer Wang extention” or something of that nature.
Snotboogie
November 9th, 2010
12:55 pm
I’d rather see that not yet ready 18 yr old Cuban we signed in 2010.
You mean this guy?
Edward Salcedo: (from Dominican Repub) – Rome Braves: .197/.239/.295
Okay.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
1:00 pm
Oops he’s not Cuban. 18-year-old shortstop Edward Salcedo of the Dominican Republic.
“This is a significant signing for us,” said Johnny Almaraz, the Braves’ Director of International Scouting and Operations. “We feel that Edward is one of this year’s most talented prospects. He has outstanding makeup and the combination of his fielding and hitting ability make him one of the top international players we’ve seen in a while.”
I know he’s not ready yet…I just don’t want AG at short all year…ugh.
Biff Pocaroba
November 9th, 2010
1:00 pm
PatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrell
PatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrell
PatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrell
PatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrellPatBurrell
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
1:02 pm
or…Wang Healthy, Rested, and Ready for Yanks
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
1:04 pm
D.J., motorcyclists love the Helen area because there is great riding all around that part of the state. We just stop off in the city to eat or whatever, because places are motorcycle-friendly and have bike parking out front, plus a couple of shops where you can buy gear.
Ted M
November 9th, 2010
1:04 pm
Pat Burrell struck out 13 times in 15 WS at bats. You’re freakin crazy. His hot streak after the trade was a mirage.
raleighbravefan
November 9th, 2010
1:05 pm
Ted M – You were serious? I thought you were making a joke about starting
Salcedo instead of AG. BTW, it IS a joke.
AG is not in the top 3 of problems with this team.
Scott
November 9th, 2010
1:06 pm
DOB…
Don’t forget tubin’ the hooch!
DS1
November 9th, 2010
1:08 pm
I don’t like J-Hey either. He looks too confident to me. Let’s trade him for Corey Hart!
C’mon folks, let’s all be OK with Frank working on the REAL problems the Braves have, and not the perceived ones.
Snotboogie
November 9th, 2010
1:09 pm
Pat Burrell struck out 13 times in 15 WS at bats. You’re freakin crazy. His hot streak after the trade was a mirage.
Sample Size.
Plus quoting DOB from earlier:
For the record, in 96 games after moving back to the National League, Burrell hit .266/.364/.509/.872 in 341 plate appearances, with 18 home runs. That was while playing for San Francisco, with home games in one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks in baseball.
It’s actually quite silly to dismiss stats over 96 games and 341 plate appearances as a “hot streak” while putting way too much meaning behind 15 ABs.
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
1:10 pm
Tom, I was suggesting that Berkman could be a good complement/backup to Freeman at 1B, but that if Mather is that guy (and it sounds like Braves want him to be), then I don’t see Berkman being a good fit if only available position is left field. If they didn’t have Mather, I could see Berkman getting at-bats at 1B and LF, and pinch-hitting. But they do have Mather.
Berkman probably needs to go to a team where he can play a lot of 1B and/or DH.
David O'Brien
November 9th, 2010
1:11 pm
you have to face the fact that shaefer will be the starting center fielder on opening day what he does from there is up to him it will be sink or swim. — bring back blauser
No, we really don’t have to face that fact.
ccrider
November 9th, 2010
1:11 pm
My first preference would be to acquire Ellsbury or Gardner, if they are available, to leadoff, play a very good CF and distract the pitchers with their basestealing ability. If, Ellsbury is available, I would love to expand the trade to include Jed Lowrie ( a switch hitter, with double digit HR power, very good defensive shortstop and plays multiple positions). A package of Bethancourt (Boston is desparate for a Future Star catcher and Bethancourt is already there defensively), Vizcaino, Mycal Jones and A. Gonzalez(a backup to Scutaro until Igelsias is ready).
I think Gardner would be just as good, but it might take a bullpen pitcher and Infante, plus prospects to get that done.
The next move would be to acquire Casey McGahee(SP) from the Brewers for Beachy, Hoover and a bullpen prospect. McGahee could move to 2nd this year, while Prado moves to LF. When Chipper retires McGahee moves to 3rd, Prado back to 2nd and by then maybe a LF candidate will have been developed.
Lineup: Ellsbury/Gardner, Prado, Heyward, Chipper, McCann, McGahee, Freeman, Lowrie.
The best part of this all of these players, other than Chipper would be 27 years old and Younger , plus Lowrie, Ellsbury, Gardner, McGahee, Freeman, Heyward are still not arbitration eligible yet!
With all that being said: The more likely scenario, is Boston keeps Ellsbury, trades Us Mike Cameron, for cheap + kicks in salary, then when end up with a McLouth/Diaz platoon in LF.
UGHHHH!