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Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,373 comments Add your comment
VaBravesFan
November 22nd, 2010
8:16 pm
I see Eric Hinske being the next Matt Stairs type of player. Always have a ML job.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:18 pm
yes Matt has played some second though he is nothing special there.SS? very unlikely, toughest position and needs the most tools. he has never played an inning there. So far Diory is the BU SS and he is not all that good there, but way better than Connie.I hate to think of Hicks making the team
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
8:19 pm
From all reports and stats I’ve seem Hall is above average playing 2nd and 3rd and average at ss. above average in OF…Just saying it a matter of opinion P’Cola Brave. Olney said he was best utility FA available.
Don’t matter if we can’t afford him.
the real Old Gold
November 22nd, 2010
8:21 pm
Please retire Chipper!
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:23 pm
Poorbrave.
Just looking at his Fld % over career. He wasn’t very good at SS last year. Hard to argue hes the best utility guy available. I’d have to agree there. I just don’t think he fits this team as good as other options when money is taken into consideration.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:26 pm
not sure how it doesn’t matter that we can’t afford him since we are talking about improving the Braves
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:26 pm
My worry with Bill Hall being the backup SS is if A-Gon was to get hurt for an extended period of time is Bill Hall the guy we’d want there. Defensively I think hes a question mark there.
rrosson3
November 22nd, 2010
8:27 pm
you people asking chipper to retire are ridiculous..check the braves record without him last year. even if hes struggling he still has a presence in the lineup that can not be matched. pitchers look at the lineup differently. face it chipper is still the man and will produce. HE AINT GOING ANYWHERE!
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:28 pm
Hall is a 220 hitter over the last three years, He’s drawing too much pay based on his production 4 years ago and more.
Greg Mendel
November 22nd, 2010
8:33 pm
A friend of mine once said about baseball: “They could probably do it sitting down.” As another poster said on this blog: “These aren’t athletes, they’re baseball players.”
If they tried to play soccer, they’d die. After being injured trying to tie their shoelaces.
McFann O O
November 22nd, 2010
8:34 pm
Thanks, Chief. I shoulda figgered that one out quicker, I s’pose.
As Richard Widmark said to Ricky Ricardo, “That sorta makes sense…in a crazy, mixed-up way.” 
Nah, I get it…but I was still miffed in 2008 when, ah-heh heh, McLouth got an MVP vote and BMac didn’t. 
DaveFromDallas(NC)
November 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
I think Bowman may be right about the Braves being done with impact moves. Of course, no one had the Braves trading for Dan Uggla, did they? I still say that if the Atlanta team is banking its center field on Nate McLouth, they come up a bit short against the Phillies this season. I know Jason Werth is likely gone, but they have a couple decent bats waiting in the wings. I like Atlanta’s lineup except for center field. Jacoby Elsbury and Grady Sizemore are the most intriguing names I have heard mentioned.
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
8:40 pm
He could back up Chipper so Prado could stay in LF.He’s average last year was 249..not great but 18 homer ! Just how many Braves had 18 are more homers?
Yes, it does matter because Braves are making money and should put up the “best” money can buy. I’m tired of 2nd class players because they’re cheap.Thats not the way to win.
BravoMan
November 22nd, 2010
8:41 pm
“no one had the Braves trading for Dan Uggla, did they?”
I did
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
DaveFromDallas
Neither guy you mentioned (Ellsbury or Sizemore) has much trade worth right now. They both need to prove they are healthy. Their teams know their ability and worth and won’t let them go for less than they should.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
Sizemore will make 7.5mil this year. Since they got Uggly it’s very unlikely they will spend that on one player, especially one with his history over the last two years.
Boston keeps saying that Ellsbury will not be traded, and like Lew I am a bit worried about the two separate incidences of broken ribs last year
Russell Bell
November 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
I dunno about upgrading CF at this point. Bring in a bench bat or 2, pick up a couple of relievers and play ball.
If Nate looks bad next season, or if Chipper is unable to play, then Wren can try and make a move and add an OF bat early in 2011 or during ST. I know the Braves have young pitching depth from which they can trade, but why deplete pitching depth when there isn’t a burning need (with Uggla now in the fold)?
You can never have enough starting pitching – even if some of the coveted young arms don’t see the ML’s next year, they have a good shot of making it to the Bigs eventually. Better they do it in a Braves uniform. A good argument can still be made for trading the organization’s young pitching for an OF bat, but it would have to be for a stud, which doesn’t include Ellsbury and his injured ribs.
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Poorbrave.
Okay if we sign Hall then we literally have no more money to fill any other holes. Your talking about a back up player here. You have to fill all your holes with the money you have.
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
P’Cola whats your take on BJ and his brother?
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:47 pm
no matter PoorBrave, it is what it is and they will spend what they want not what we want them to..
249 this year, 201 the year B4, 225 the year B4 that. No way is he worth 8.5 mil even if the Braves were willing to spend the money
If he had never had those few good seasons years ago, he would be making half of what he is. which would be more in line with his actual worth
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
Whats the biggest hole we have got to fill? Who’s your answer for that hole?
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
Justin Upton- Young, talented could be a huge star but suffered a sophomore slump. Has a backloaded guaranteed contract that worries me. Overall, very talented guy w/ superstar potential.
BJ- All the raw talent in the world, if he could put it together he’d be great. He just needs to figure out what ball player he wants to be.
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
Poorbrave
Biggest question mark is CF obviously but he will be given every oppurtunity to rebound. I think we have a great in house option for 4th OF in Matt Young. Our bench is terribly weak as it stands right now. We need a BU 1B that can change a game in a PH situation and a backup MIF that has some ML experience and could fill a hole long term if needed. Plus a veteran guy for the pen. We need one legit relief arm to solidify the loss of Wagner.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
coupla head cases
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
nolie…I agree 8.5 is to much but I’d kick the tires with his agent to make sure he wouldn’t take less.
Ok lets move on.
Kat
November 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
Carroll thanks for the nice blog post, welcome back!
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
8:53 pm
whats up kat?
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
Plus who knows how Bill Halls power would translate to Turner Field.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
that would be a good idea Poor, never hurts to check with the agent.
I’m pretty sure more of that goes on with Wren than we are ever aware of.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
nolie:
Do you like LARRY CARLTON? Got a piece of his I like that I’m listening to on PANDORA “Sunrise.” Smooth.
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:01 pm
Nolie hope At 8:54 you’re not being funny..I know Wren and all GM’s do that more than we know. I also know because a fan like a player don’t mean the GM does.
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:06 pm
P’Cola. I like JB and would like to see him playing with Braves but he would have to get over his head case. Young might be the best..no trade.
iopbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:06 pm
Chipper and Frreeman are no certain things so we also need someone that can step in at first or third
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:06 pm
I was humorously agreeing with you Poor. Sorry if it offended you
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:07 pm
yeah rich, I like Carlton a lot . have about a dozen of his CDs on my music hard drive. Great player.
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:08 pm
PoorBrave
I wouldn’t be opposed to a BJ trade but It seems were done making any moves to starting lineup and I read that the Rays are unlikely to move him now.
David O'Brien
November 22nd, 2010
9:11 pm
I think Bowman may be right about the Braves being done with impact moves. — DaveFromDallas(NC)
Dave, it’s no secret. That’s what I wrote last week after the Uggla trade, when Wren made it clear (to us who were there) that Uggla was their big move and that the Braves would now focus on smaller stuff, namely strengthening the bullpen and bench. Those are not big-salary additions they’ll make to fill those needs, but depth moves. And Wren has said repeatedly that they are confident in McLouth after seeing improvement he made in minors last season.
Whether that confidence is well-founded remains to be seen, but they’ve made it clear it’s his job going to spring training, and that if they add a CF it’ll be a backup CF, not a starter.
So folks can speculate all they want — certainly no harm there — but I can tell you the Braves aren’t looking to acquire Rasmus, Ellsbury, either Upton, or anyone else that has a significant salary and/or costs a lot of young talent in a trade.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:13 pm
Danga
November 22nd, 2010
7:35 pm
To be fair, Young’s .385 career slugging percentage probably indicates he couldn’t maintain that kind of power.
Young has become a student of hitting, and it shows with his results over the past two seasons and this year in fall ball. I do think he’s arrived as far as he’s going to go. I’m not sure he’s going to become a MARTEEEEEEN at 28 +, or start blasting away in the power department. Never having seen him except when he was on MLBN this July, I can’t say he’s going to hold his own if allowed to fill a roster spot, but I do say his shot is now or never. And I understand he can play all three OF slots and 2B. I think DOB mentioned something about that. He does possess a solid glove in the outfield, and he’s been raking at a CANIZARES clip in fall ball..
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:14 pm
I guess it’s just hard to give up the dream for a lot of fans DOB.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:15 pm
I like YOUNG and it shows. Of course, I like CHARLIE MORTON too, and look how that’s going.
Efrim
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
The Braves next “impact” move will be mid-season 2011, if a need presents itself. Ain’t happening this offseason. They already made themselves a lot stronger with the Uggla move.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
hey Charlie had some good outings late in the season IIRC rich. He has taent, just a bit of a head case.He might continue to gain confidence.
David O'Brien
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
nolie: yep, understood. Like I said, no harm in speculating (and, as you say, dreaming).
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
I think its hard for some to come to grips with the fact were not the Braves of the Ted Turner days. Plus when salaries started spiking it didn’t do us any favors.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:18 pm
DOB arnt you on vacation? go enjoy yourself!
Efrim
November 22nd, 2010
9:20 pm
And I’d bet Wren pays close attention to that non tender date on 12/2/10. There should be some bench players/bullpen arms that become available at that time.
TnBrian
November 22nd, 2010
9:20 pm
Enter your comments here
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:21 pm
Efrim
Agreed. You never know who will be tendered or not. It could open up a whole new set of names to the discussion.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:22 pm
P’cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
I think its hard for some to come to grips with the fact were not the Braves of the Ted Turner days. Plus when salaries started spiking it didn’t do us any favors.
Well, now that their fearless leader has passed, maybe the STANKEES will back off a bit and cut MLB some slack.
Poorbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:23 pm
Who you gone get cheap to fill bullpen?
Nolie you cool. Yes its hard to give up the dream . If you can’t dream you don’t have anything left.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:24 pm
I wonder if the will non-tender-is that the same as tough?-Phat Albert?
It would be shorter to type “I think they will tough that guy”
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:24 pm
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
hey Charlie had some good outings late in the season IIRC rich. He has taent, just a bit of a head case.He might continue to gain confidence.
Yeah, well he better get a clue quick, he was 26 when he passed through here headed to ATLANTA.
TnBrian
November 22nd, 2010
9:24 pm
I see the Brewers are giving us a little competition for Hinske early on, but I can see Wren upping the offer a little in dollars and he stays on a one year deal. I really like this guy and think it’s important to keep him around.
canadianbravesfan
November 22nd, 2010
9:24 pm
you folks expecting another major move or wanting Chipper to retire are just plain RETARDED
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:26 pm
Yeah, DAVE everybody needs a break. Speaking of breaks………did the old blog set any records with 51 pages and 5,066 hits, or does the AJC not keep tabs on such trivia?
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:27 pm
Poorbrave
I think theres several options. No great difference maker options though. I think Jon Rauch is the perfect addition to the pen. Of course thats just my opinion.
TnBrian
November 22nd, 2010
9:27 pm
Nice to see Chipper focusing most of his energy on rehabbing his knee and getting into shape for the upcoming season instead of all that silly buck huntin’. I mean, that is what he doing, or did I just misread the blog title?
Willy
November 22nd, 2010
9:27 pm
Ive heard no one say this, not even on talking chop. What if McLouth hits say…. .267, 21HR, 78 RBI, 20 SB. We all feel like idiots. Chances of that happening are slim though. Gotta have some OPTIMISM!!!!!!!!!!!
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:28 pm
TnBrian
November 22nd, 2010
9:24 pm
I see the Brewers are giving us a little competition for Hinske early on, but I can see Wren upping the offer a little in dollars and he stays on a one year deal. I really like this guy and think it’s important to keep him around.
Well, at least tey’ve offered. Does the offer then fall to DIAZ by default if HINSKE leaves?
canadianbravesfan
November 22nd, 2010
9:29 pm
how do kick to the curb the leader of this team the last 10 plus years who has redone his contract to free up money for the team. Even if he retires they will pay him something
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 pm
rich we have had 10,00 hits a coupla times on the blog.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 pm
2 things have to happen before any new players join the braves (aside from hinsky) all the free agents need to be not offered arb and Kawakami needs to be “traded or sold” how ever u want to look at it… then the full scope of players for wren and the gang to look at will be ready to be brought aboard. till then Uggla was a nice move!
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 pm
Retarded, retarded, retarded…………the edgy verbosity resounds about the blog like a hollow echo.
Rick_Matula_Tics
November 22nd, 2010
9:31 pm
We should let Bob Horner’s hairdresser play 3d or perhaps Ric Flair’s salon owner. The lack of peroxide or curls has been glaring for years.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:31 pm
I just have very small faith in Nate Mclouth, his hitting mechanics are totally off.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:32 pm
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:30 pm
rich we have had 10,00 hits a coupla times on the blog.
Since the new format…………..I know the old one would have collapsed.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Eric in Albany NY
Hey I live in Albany, NY too.
Willy
November 22nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Nate McLouth: MVP 2011
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:33 pm
Ive heard no one say this, not even on talking chop. What if McLouth hits say…. .267, 21HR, 78 RBI, 20 SB. Willy
those are the type of numbers he used to put up most years (well a little lower BA) so it is not impossible by any means and some here have admitted it. If he hits 250/350/430 or so I will be very happy. Just can’t figure out what hit him.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:33 pm
Willy
keep dreaming buddy, He should set his sights on Come Back Players On the Year.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:34 pm
i sure do! where are you in albany?
Willy
November 22nd, 2010
9:34 pm
thank you, cant understand all the hate. No one has tried harder than him to rebound. Gotta love the tenacity.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:35 pm
Eric in Albany
Colonie, You???
Willy
November 22nd, 2010
9:35 pm
True, it was a joke.
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:36 pm
Nolie
Whats a realistic power number for nate though. Somewhere between 10-15?
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:36 pm
lol grew up in e.greenbush but live in “the beautiful city of” rensselaer rofl
Bigwheel
November 22nd, 2010
9:37 pm
Would picking up ben revere be a splash type move?
Willy
November 22nd, 2010
9:38 pm
I would honestly be sayified if Nate hit .260, 15HR, 68 RBI,…..I think that is truly realistic
glord1
November 22nd, 2010
9:38 pm
Here is what I hope. I hope Chipper is not satisfied that he has 5 or 6 soft tissue injuries a year and comes to camp in tremendous shape.
Unfortunately I do not believe that will happen. My prediction is Chipper will come to camp in “decent shape” (not fat by any means) but will not dedicate himself to being is the best possible condition. He will hunt and go to the CMT awards. If he does not make that dedication this off season it will be the Braves undoing.
Chipper has not taken his conditioning serious for a long time. The days of him coming to camp to play into shape and still be successful have been over for years. This team needs him healthy to be successful because he represents 16% of the teams budget this year. He has been a great player for a very long time but those days have passed. Now he should work to earn his money because he has not earned it the last two years. If he gets hurt again this year I only hope he will have done everything in his power to prevent it.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:39 pm
Eric In Albany N.Y.
Finally a die hard Braves fan in the Albany area
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:39 pm
Brave4life do u know KAT she is from guilderland from what i hear
richbrave
November 22nd, 2010
9:39 pm
25 year-old ORLANDO MERCADO, catcher for MISSISSIPPI/GWINNETT has an 0-3 night with one strike out, .326 BA. So much for fall ball this night.
Bravefaninok
November 22nd, 2010
9:41 pm
canadianbravesfan
November 22nd, 2010
9:29 pm
how do kick to the curb the leader of this team the last 10 plus years who has redone his contract to free up money for the team. Even if he retires they will pay him something
Some people have selective memory about Hoss,Like pointing out his injuries and his current contract wich is actually way less than he should be getting paid when compared to other SUPERSTAR players.
The man earned his contract.
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:41 pm
Brave4life u dont know the half of it… i plan my vacations years in advance to see the braves to see the braves. SF was this yr Seattle Next yr… Miami 2012!
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:41 pm
ERIC
Really?? I lived and went to Guilderland high school and moved to Colonie in the middle 9th grade.
2011 25-man roster
November 22nd, 2010
9:42 pm
C McCann
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
SS Gonzalez
3B Jones
LF Prado
CF McLouth
RF Heyward
UTL Ross
UTL Mather
UTL 4TH outfielder
UTL Backup INF
UTL Pinch Hitter/1st base
SP Hudson
SP Hanson
SP Lowe
SP Jurrjens
SP Minor
CL Kimbrel
RP Venters
RP O’Flaherty
RP Moylan
RP RH reliever
RP Proctor
RP Long man/Martinez/Beachy?
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:42 pm
just depends on how/if he bounces back. I guess thats about the highest odds though P’.
in 400 PAs in Atlanta in 09 he hit 11 homers and 257/354/419. Add 20 steals to that hitting % and I’m ecstatic.
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:44 pm
Chippers rehab will probably force him to come to camp in better condition. I really don’t see anything wrong with him hunting or going to the CMT Awards. These guys do have lifes outside baseball.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:44 pm
Eric In Albany N.Y.
Man you are lucky, I dont miss a game on TV and the only games i have been are at shea or Citi field. I was planning to fly up to Atlanta for the playoffs but…………I didnt
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:45 pm
I really hope Lowe comes back as strong as he ended .
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:45 pm
Brave4life check out this site i got pics up there scroll down and check em out! http://www.ballparkchasers.com/profile/BravesFanInAlbanyNY
Moe Berg
November 22nd, 2010
9:45 pm
Starting to be queries about Boras violating rules of MLB Players Association in his dealings with poor Dominican players. Salcedo is mentioned in the NYT article on it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/sports/baseball/23boras.html?hp
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:46 pm
nolie
Yea I think Fredi will turn him lose a little more and we may finally get to see the speed side of Nate we all looked forward to when acquiring him. I have to say that is one of the things that irked me the most about Bobby’s coaching style was the lack of running.
Efrim
November 22nd, 2010
9:47 pm
It isn’t a big deal, but I still don’t get the Proctor signing. I know, it’s only 750 K. But he certainly didn’t warrant that contract based on last season’s performance, and if it really is guaranteed, well, that’s just puzzling. I’m all for bullpen depth, but that one is kind of a head scratcher….oh well.
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:47 pm
yup rich the old one collapsed around 1000
You gotta just know that david and carroll appreciate the difference huh?
Poor ol’ folks hadta write something new about every day back th
That had to tax the old creativity bone ’specially during the doldrums.
Playoffs!!!!
November 22nd, 2010
9:47 pm
Matt Young. Lefty or righty hitter?? Anyone?
Eric In Albany N.Y.
November 22nd, 2010
9:47 pm
Brave4life i got to go to the last 2 games of the season they were awesome esp when they kicked the phillys butts and ended up in the playoffs i had to be there for the last game of bobbys career
nolie
November 22nd, 2010
9:49 pm
I think David said he thought it was a split minors/majors contract Efrim though i don’t remember hearing anything else about it.
Brave4life
November 22nd, 2010
9:49 pm
Eric
Sweet pics
P'cola Brave
November 22nd, 2010
9:49 pm
Playoffs
Lefty