Chipper on knee rehab, Uggla, his new manager and…CMT?

I hope to the good Lord we aren’t done addressing the outfield. And I sure as heck hope we don’t get Kevin Gregg. Not much to love about the 4+ career ERA.

We can only hope the Braves aren’t silly enough to think that Dan Uggla is the only addition this team needs.

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We can only hope the Braves aren’t silly enough to think that Dan Uggla is the only addition this team needs.

Well, I mean we could go out and sign Werth, Lee and Crawford, and make a few trades, but unless you can loan LM a few hundred million bucks and some money for next year’s draft, I doubt that’ll happen. Unless you’re simply talking about adding a bullpen righty and a bench bat, but I highly doubt that.

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Looks like Jacob Ellsbury relationship with the Red Sox is getting worse. Strong Trade Candidate. The Braves are listed as potential suitors. Theo Epstien the Sox GM said the roster is in need of Restocking. What kind of return yall think there expecting. I think with the Braves landing Uggla for 2 non-prospects another trade could still happen if the price is right. Most of us thought landing our big power hitter would have been by trading a Quality Starter or a top prospect and more. But when you land a Uggla type power threat for a Utility Player and a LH Reliever we still have all of our attractive ammo on the trade market to make another deal. Depending on how bad the Sox want to deal him i’m sure the Braves would kick the tires on what kind of return they would want on the Speedy lead off hitter.

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Steve From OH

Is Up In This!

Whats Up Part-Nah! I haven’t seen you on here in a Gripp!

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Steve from OH – The problem is they always are cheap. That is the real problem. Originally in was thought that this team had about 15 million extra to spend. Including Diaz, Hinske, and getting rid of KK the Braves should have around 15 million to spend.

They added Uggla for about 8 million Net. So there should be 7 million left to sign a CF and a relief pitcher. And God forbid we spend 3 extra million to have about 10 million to spend on 2 players.

You can only be cheap for so long. Will the Braves give Uggla a long-term deal? Who knows, but being cheap forever is only going to hurt your chances.

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I see the Thrashers laid a pretty good whuppin on my Red Wings the other night…why don’t more Atlanta people care about them? They’re looking like they have a decent shot at the playoffs this year.

No One in The “A” Cares about Hockey…Its a sunbelt city, hell its still 60 degrees out here…

Fact of the Matter is that Atlanta is the SEC Football Mecca of the South…Anyone who listens to sports radio 680AMTheFan would co-sign on that…

Its a Huge Football Weekend out here in The “A” especially will the Falcons game getting the rave attention…

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Oh Yeah Chuck and Matt on 680AMTheFan kick Ass…!

I will have their show on lock for the next month because I can’t deal with Christmas Music, unless its Christmas Mariah or Boyz II Men…

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MFin04

November 26th, 2010
2:07 pm
Depending on how you define a “healthy” Braves team, I’d put them ahead of the Werthless Phillies.

“To Be The Man, WOOOOOOOOOOOO, You Gotta Beat The Man”—Ric Flair

Phils are the Champs and will be ahead of the Braves til we can beat them in meaningful September games…We still can’t match up to Philly in late season games and we proved that last September…And sure we beat the phils 2 of 3 in the last series of the season but that was because Cholly rest his starters and we played the Phillies “B” squad the last 2 games of the season…Cholly gave Bobby a Farewell gift…

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why don’t more Atlanta people care about [The Thrashers]? Steve-OH

Personally, I think it’s because of their piss-poor marketing strategy. It’s worse than the Hawks’. They really should work on targeting the right demographics and advertising their deals better. Actually, they just need to remind people that Atlanta has a hockey team.

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Just read that Ellsbury really has fallen out of favor in Boston. Will be interesting to see if ol’ Wren kicks the tires. Not expecting it to happen but Wren has suprised us before. Wonder what the asking price is?

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Read the report on Jeter

$25 million a year? In hi absolute prime, Jeter would have had some semblance of a claim to that much in today’s money. Some semblance – not a realistic claim

The 3 years at $15 million per that the Yankees are reportedly offering is MORE than generous

Of course all this is unofficially and rumor, but it appears that unless he is willing to back way off, Derek Jeter wont be playing any more baseball

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And by the way – go Auburn

I say that not because I am an Auburn fan or an Alabama hater.

I say it because a BCS Championship Game without an SEC team would be a joke

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The logic is correct. The math is incorrect.

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Randal Delgado or Mike Minor, Bethancourt, and Marek for Ellsbury. Make it happen!

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Can’t wait for the TCU Boise State National Championship Game!

Anyway the NCAA could make the SEC Championship game and the National Championship game the same game?

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Got to go pick up some Pizza, Beer and Tilapia, BRB in 30 minutes or so…

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D.O.B.

Are They Tasty? You are starting to sound like me, lol

I will definitely have to check out the old James Brown…Not a Fan of Johnny Cash, however…

Oh I I will definitely have to Watch Home Alone later, that is a Christmas Classis for my generation (De-Generation X)

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D.O.B.

Who got you onto that old Soul…?

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cabravesfan

I’m really looking forward to an Auburn-Oregon Nat’l Champ. game. I think Oregon has a real shot this year and I’m an SEC fan. The last three or four years the game has belonged to the SEC. I think this year could be different.

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P’cola Brave -

I’ve seen Auburn play, I’ve seen LSU play, I’ve seen Boise play…but having seen Oregon in person, I don’t know how anyone will beat them this year. They do still have 2 not easy games left, but wow man are they good…

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P’cola Brave -

Can the #1 team in the country really “upset” anyone?

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Contrary to the beliefs of those of you that live in the south, there are college football teams that are as good and better then those that play in the SEC

For the past few years I would say no, this year, yeah. Just because the SEC is having an off year.

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Steve from OH

Yes Uggla will command around 10-11 million but you forgot we trade Infante and Dunn which equal 3 mil. So after it all said adding Uggla cost us around 8-9 million. Marlins take on Infante’s 2.5 and Dunn’s 400k. But I agree we only have around 5 million left to spend.

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I guess we will just agree to disagree

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The SEC East isn’t as good this year, but the SEC West with Auburn, Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas is absolutely LOADED. You have teams like Boise State and TCU playing that schedule and they are a .500 team. Even Oregon isn’t going undefeated playing that schedule.

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Something is missing in Nate’s makeup from when he first arrived. He really started regressing when he admitted to eye problems. Nobody can get inside a guys head and see what he sees. Probably the toughest malady to fix if the player won’t admit to seeing the ball well.

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the player won’t admit to seeing the ball well.
I meant poorly.

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I think that Boston has to have major concerns about Ellsbury’s health just to consider trading him. Not a good scenario.

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Yea I wouldn’t do that unless he [Ellsbury] proved healthy. Thats a steep price.

Not going to have any idea what shape Ellsbury’s ribs are in until ST, probably. I really don’t see why so many bloggerites are hung up on this guy. Unless Boston essentially gives him away, he ain’t worth the gamble right now.

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Ellsbury when healthy is a good player. I don’t see anyone departing with top prospects for a guy who missed a lot of time last year. I don’t know how bad the injury was to say if its worth the gamble so I’ll let everyone else decide. I don’t think hes worth Delgado.

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I hear the Braves pitching prospects names thrown around a lot on here.

What do the Braves actually expect to get out of these guys if/when they are in a Braves uniform pitching?

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I think Teheran and Delgado are expected to be front line starters. I don’t know about Vizcaino or the others.

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Also, I’m hoping Wren doesn’t trade away our starting pitching depth. I wouldn’t make too many assumptions about the starting rotation until we see what we got in the spring. JJ might be rusty and injury-prone again next season, Beachy and Minor are nowhere near proven commodities, and Hudson and Lowe are aging vets.

I’m not trying to suggest that 4 of the 5 spots in the Braves’ rotation are huge question marks going into 2011, but there is some reason for concern. As such, I wouldn’t trade starting pitching depth. Its just not prudent. Sign/trade for a vet. RRP and a bench bat who can play CF and get ready for spring. No need to add another big piece right now.

Save some bullets for the trade deadline or for when a pitcher(s) inevitably gets hurt. God forbid we lose a starter for the season in 2011, but we lost Medlen last year, and JJ went down for significant chunks of the season.

Every year, almost guaranteed that a pitcher or 2 will get hurt and miss significant time. With the big RH bat already in the fold, why trade away pitching depth?

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Dodgers grabbed Jon Garland according to MLBTR.

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Broken ribs twice in two entirely different locations and undiagnosed underlying tissue damage to the ribs in one season. Dude played 19 games.

How often do players with rib muscle concerns (obliques) have recurring issues? How about two cases of broken ribs and bone density issues?

Do we really need more potential injuries on the Braves? Dp we really need to trade good prospects for these potential injuries?

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“What do the Braves actually expect to get out of these guys if/when they are in a Braves uniform pitching?”

Taking from the Talking Chop Website…

Julio Teheran – B/T: R/R, Born: 01/27/1991, Ht: 6′2″, Wt: 150 – After teasing Braves fans with tantalizing scouting reports and short bursts of dominance over the past two season, Julio Teheran finally put it all together for one of the best seasons in the minors this year. He dominated opposition that was generally 2-6 years older than him by using an overpowering fastball that he could spot anywhere along with a solid curve and change. Between Rome, Myrtle Beach and Mississippi Teheran compiled a 2.59 ERA in 142.2IP, 108 HA, 40BB and 159K. The most frightening aspect of his game is that he still has room to improve with a small frame that could add weight, velocity and durability and two offspeed pitches which are good but both have the potential to be plus. Julio has all the tools to be a legit #1 starter with the only flag being his durability after being shut down in two different seasons with arm issues. He stayed healthy in 2010 however, and the results were astounding. If everything continues on course for him you could see him start the year in AAA with a chance to be the third 20 year old to play for Atlanta in 2 years.

Randall Delgado — B/T: R/R, Born:02/09/1990, Ht: 6′3″, Wt: 165 – For about 2/3 of the season Delgado was Nightwing to Teheran’s Batman: similar in a lot of ways, not quite as good as the original, but still pretty bad ass. Unlike Teheran, Delgado started the year at Myrtle Beach and was the best pitcher in the league at the time of his promotion to Mississippi. He held his own in the Southern League as a 20 year old with an ERA of 4.74 (though his 3.55 FIP indicates he was the victim of some poor defense). Delgado’s repertoire is similar to Teheran’s with a fastball that sits from 90-94 topping out at 96 with a solid curve and change that he mixes in. The separation between the two pitchers is in their command and pure stuff. Teheran is probably a full grade better in both categories making which means Delgado is just a “very good” pitching prospect. The perfect world scenario for Randall is that his command comes together and one of his offspeed pitches progresses into a true outpitch which would give him front of the rotation stuff. As he is now he is going to be a good #2 or 3 in the majors. Look for him to start 2010 in either Mississippi or Gwinnett depending on how the ML and AAA rosters fall.

Arodys Vizcaino – B/T: R/R, Born: 11/13/1990, Ht: 6′0″, Wt: 189 – The real centerpiece to the Javier Vazquez trade, Arodys Vizcaino was riding a lot of hype coming into 2010 with a few scouts saying he was a better prospect than Teheran. For 3 months he gave Julio a run for his money, highlighted by a 33 inning stint in Rome (across 5 games) where he did not allow an earned run or a walk. He received a promotion to Myrtle Beach and pitched in 3 games before he was shut down for 2 months with an elbow strain. Vizcaino has all the talent in the world with a 90-94 FB and a hammer curveball that is currently the best in the system. Going forward his health and the development of his change are going to be the deciding factors in his future in Atlanta. Will he be a dominant late inning reliever? Or will he be durable and versatile enough to realize his potential as a frontline starting pitcher? Look for him to pick back up in Myrtle Beach next season with a chance to quickly jump to Mississippi if everything clicks.

Brandon Beachy – B/T: R/R, Born: 09/03/1986, Ht: 6′3″, Wt: 215 – The story of Brandon Beachy is pretty well known by now: a Braves scout sees Beachy pitch (after not getting drafted) in a game where he was watching someone else, signs Beachy the next day, he spends two seasons as a solid swingman/closer across 4 levels of minor league ball and then explodes onto the prospect scene in 2010 by dominating as a closer and then moving to the rotation mid-year and becoming more dominant eventually becoming the minor league ERA leader and making 3 starts in Atlanta. Between 3 levels of play (Miss, Gwin and Atl) he never posted a FIP above 2.51 and maintained a K/9 of 9.0. He throws a sinking 2 seam fastball ranging from 92-94, a curve that flashes from solid average to plus and a developing change that was the real key to his break out season and his success in the rotation. No player in the minors made a bigger jump in recognition than Brandon (winning an ERA title can do that) and he will look to deliver on that next season in Atlanta. Most scouts agree that Beachy has a ceiling of a #4 starter or a late inning reliever and those will be his options with Atlanta next season depending on how the roster shakes out.

J.J. Hoover – B/T: R/R, Born: 08/13/1987, Ht: 6′3″, Wt: 215 – Mike Newman of Scouting the Sally called Hoover the “most average pitching prospect I’ve ever seen.” This really isn’t an indictment of Hoover’s talent more than it is a statement that he does a lot of things well but nothing really excellent. There isn’t much room for projection in his frame so what he has now is pretty much what he’s going to have. But that is still pretty good. His fastball ranges from the high 80s to the low 90s and he can spot it anywhere at any time in the count. His curve can also be anything from average to plus and pretty much the same goes for his change. J.J. split the 2010 season between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi and varied between being very effective and very bad from month to month (ERA by month in MB: April 4.79, May 2.86, June 6.17, July 1.22). He had a solid showing in Mississippi striking out 34 men in 20 innings but struggled with his control by walking 15. At this point Hoover needs to learn more consistency (if you can learn such a thing) both over the whole season and across his repertoire. He comes off as a poor man’s Tommy Hanson with slightly worse stuff and command of all his pitches and if everything comes together he could be a #3 starter in the majors. The one thing he does have going for him is he has a pretty high floor. There is a very good chance we will see him in the majors in the next two seasons. Look for J.J. to pick up where he left off in Mississippi in 2011.

Mike Minor – B/T: R/L, Born: 12/26/87, Ht: 6′3″, Wt: 210 – When the Braves selected Minor with the 7th overall pick in 2009, there was a bit of an outcry, with some suggesting that the team could have done better than selecting a soft-tossing lefty with little upside. Minor did his best to silence his detractors in 2010, as he started off by attacking the soft-tossing tag by striking out 11.3 batters per 9 innings in 87 innings for Mississippi. Overall with the M-Braves he had a 2-6 record, a 4.03 ERA, and a 1.24 WHIP, and he got even better after a promotion to Gwinnett where he went 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA and a 0.93 ERA in 33.1 innings. His great work, combined with a season-ending injury to Kris Medlen and Kenshin Kawakami’s ineffectiveness, led to a promotion to Atlanta, as he made his Major League deubt on August 9th, just over a year after signing with the organization. Unfortunately, he appeared tired for most of his time with Atlanta. After pitching 124 innings in 2009 between Vanderbilt and Rome, he had already pitched 120 in the Minor Leagues in 2010 when he was called up, and the extra 40 he pitched in August and September appeared to be just a bit too much. Still, he wasn’t awful, putting up a 3-2 record, a 5.98 ERA, and a 1.57 WHIP. Minor found extra life on his fastball this year, leading to the increase in strikeouts, stemming from a change in his arm delivery, working at an arm angle the Vanderbilt coaches had prevented him from using. The new angle let his fastball move from the 88 to 91 range up into the 93 to 95 range with much better movement. Coupled with his tight curveball and solid changeup, both of which he is able to pitch with at different speeds, this was a devestating change. Despite logging just 134.1 innings in the Minor League, Minor really has little left to prove on the farm and seems like the best candidate for Atlanta’s 5th spot in the rotation. Whether or not his velocity will remain in the mid-90s remains to be seen, but he’s certainly a polished, knowledgable pitcher who can live without superior stuff.

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TRavis – Yeah – Just like they didn’t know what they’d be getting with Heyward or Hanson.

I’ve been following ulio Teheran since he was signed as a teenager. The Kid will be a top of rotation pitcher. I’m as certain of that as I was several years back (Efrim, too) about Hanson. Delgado is projected just below Teheran.

Every (well almost) ML Player walked in from the minors as a prospect – it’s kind of a professional hazard, unless you come directly from colege like Horner did, or Strasburg. And even there they were prospects until they’d performed on a ML stage.

Teheran and Delgado will be good. Make no mistake about it. They aren’t being traded for a reason.

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“Contrary to the beliefs of those of you that live in the south, there are college football teams that are as good and better then those that play in the SEC… ”

In its good years, the best of the Big 8 belong on the field with the SEC

Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, and South Carolina would each wax Oregon

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Even a Strasburg type guy is only close to a certainty if he can stay healthy. If Ellsbury hadn’t got hurt we wouldn’t even be talking about a trade.

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did somebody really post that Oregon would go .500 in the SEC!?? wow obviously you havent watched them play much this year..stop drinking so much SEC kool aid

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Beginning of the end for Alabama…

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MFin04

November 26th, 2010
3:32 pm
DOB would give up Delgado for a full rack of ribs I bet.

Dry rub or wet??? I’d send him packing for a years worth of dry rub!

I trust everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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MFin04

Not really sure I understand the logic behind your posts. You know that Liberty Media is not going to increase payroll by much at all. FACT. Why would you be disappointed when they don’t?

Uggla was a phenomenal pickup. Fits our needs about as perfectly as any acquisition could. Sure we’d all love a lead-off hitter who we could guarantee would get on base at a high percentage and create havoc on the basepaths. But nothing is a guarantee.

McLouth will get his shot. If he fails, maybe another insider will get a shot (Mather, Young, Schafer?). If that plan fails, then a trade would be made around the May/June timeframe.

Face it, we got our Christmas present 6 weeks early this year!

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Auburn’s secondary is well uggghhh you know…?

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Though I am now Da Sensitive One, it still gives me a thrill up my leg to see the Yankees/Jeter contract negotiations!

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I’m hoping by tomorrow or Sunday we hear something on Hinske. Maybe hes waiting on more teams to get involved?

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So does Bama move to #2 now…?

Not during halftime, no. Still got another half to play

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Tenn

Not sure I would agree with you that ALL those teams are better than Boise State and TCU, but would not argue that some of them are. Georgia??

And exactly why there should be a playoff system. Teams like Boise State and TCU are both making a mockery of the current BCS system.

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Teams like Boise State and TCU are both making a mockery of the current BCS system.

That’s why I’m pulling for them, Auburn, and all of these big 1-loss teams to win out

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