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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,373 comments Add your comment
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
11:07 am
And Freeman starting out slow…
That seems to mesh well with this team…
Hopefully Uggla isn’t a slow starter too.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
The hate on this blog for Chipper bothers me, he has been our franize player for years. He could have made much more money elseware as a FA. Would the NY fans treat thier fadeing franize player Jeter like we treat Chipper?
Okay, at first I thought it was just a typo, but then you said franize twice
rocky
November 23rd, 2010
11:09 am
The braves need to go after Colby Rasmus or BJ Upton at centerfield. We got a steal in the trade for Uggla only giving up two players….a good utility player(utility being the key word) and a relief pitcher. Here’s a thought bring back Jeff Francoeur. It will give us another right handed bat to add to our bench with some pop. I am not confident Chipper will finish the season and prado will eventually playing third by seasons end. Jeff is a more than capable outfielder. I also wouldn’t mind giving Jordan Shafer another look at centerfield.
LTBF
November 23rd, 2010
11:09 am
P- town:
Freemans stats last year show that.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:10 am
But a lot of the hate for Chipper is based on 1) his large paycheck, 2) his injury history, and 3) his declining production. Which is understandable….if you’re making $15 millionish (I forget the exact amount) people expect you to produce and stay healthy.
P'cola Brave
November 23rd, 2010
11:10 am
LTBF
well with Bobby gone they can’t hate on him. Now all blame will go to Chipper.
rocky
November 23rd, 2010
11:12 am
We need to sign Chipper Jones as our hitting coach but we need to be realistic…he is on the decline and we need to groom Martin Prado as our future third baseman.
JoeFan
November 23rd, 2010
11:12 am
The Braves are on the hook to Chipper for the next two seasons at $14 million per year. If Chipper truly wants to help the Braves he can (1) renegotiate the contract, spreading the payments out over multiple years and thus freeing up salary with which to improve the team or (2) request a trade to the AL where he can serve as a DH and freeing up salary for the Braves. Otherwise, the Braves are are restricted in who they persue until 2013. Under these circumstances and lets not forget Lowe’s contract, it’s going to be interesting watching them try and be competitive while trying to fill potential holes at 3B, SS, LF and CF and maybe 1B. It will truly be a game of musical chairs.
Nova Scotia Steve
November 23rd, 2010
11:15 am
Totally get what some are saying about Freeman – He really didn’t get enough AB’s for us to give a proper assessment.
I just lacking some confidence in the guy. As stated in my post on the last page – I’m more than willing to give the guy a chance….and maybe he is a slow starter at the play like a LaRoche…I know he absolutely tore it up for 2/3 of the AAA season.
I truly wish we could somehow keep Derek Lee tho – maybe that’s me just being greedy. But don’t you think that would be awesome.
Wow.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:15 am
See what I mean?
ncscoots
November 23rd, 2010
11:16 am
And Freeman starting out slow…That seems to mesh well with this team…
Hopefully Uggla isn’t a slow starter too.
Making some reckless November assumptions about Chipper’s health and Nate’s swing, it shouldn’t matter quite as much in 2011 if a player or two start slowly, or even go bad at the same time. For the first time in who knows when, there is some offensive depth to the lineup. That at least gives the team some offensive margin for error.
You get five guys in that projected lineup going good, pretty much regardless of the order, they are going to score some big-time runs. Something slightly less effective than that, and they are still going to score enough most nights to back the pitching. You couldn’t say that in previous years; the major parts of the lineup all had to be going good, all the time, just about.
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
November 23rd, 2010
11:17 am
Braveheart,
On a personal aside, would you borrow all that money to go to law school today? Would you do it the same way? The reason I ask is I have a junior at UGA who is wrestling with that very question right now.
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
11:17 am
Once again I will point out that if Chipper is overpaid now (not my premis), then he was certainly a bargain for all those other years, and the Braves owe him back pay (restructuring his contract twice, giving the team a hometown discount instead of going FA, playing LF for the team, etc.). This debate is getting real tiresome.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:21 am
Honestly, I understand the Chipper criticism…I don’t agree with it, but I understand it.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
11:22 am
nova scotia Freeman didn’t impress me from an offensive stand point one bit.
sorry he didnt impress you in his 24 plate appearances. maybe you should check out what he did in his previous 500.
ya’ll, he absolutley destoyed AAA as a 20 year old. nothing he did in atlanta at the plate should finalize your thoughts about freddie freeman.
the kid has a kevin youkilis type hack and he is going to provide some exciting moments for braves fans in 2011.
BravePack
November 23rd, 2010
11:24 am
Carroll
Do the Braves usually keep contract talks quiet or will there be some rumblings that the media will hear of when they are talking with Uggla’s agent about an extension? Basically what I’m asking is if you will know when talks are going on or can it just come out that he signed an extension?
Chuck
November 23rd, 2010
11:24 am
Hey Carrol! What does it mean to a player when they are put on the 40-man roster? Do they have any perks other than being protected against the rule 5 draft?
dpelfrey
November 23rd, 2010
11:27 am
Chuck, I believe they are also guaranteed the major league minimum, but I could be wrong.
CB
November 23rd, 2010
11:31 am
DAP,good comparison between Youkilis and Freeman. We can hope he has a Youkilis-type career.
dpelfrey
November 23rd, 2010
11:36 am
The Braves could conceivably have four straight top-10 prospects debuting from 2010-2013. Heyward last year, Freeman this year, Teheran next year and Salcedo in 2013.
I know projecting Salcedo this far ahead might be silly, but I’ve seen some video of this kid and he looks like Alfonso Soriano, wiry with a lot of bat speed. I’m hoping last years .239 OBP and 28 errors in 52 games at Rome was some debut jitters. I think this kid will climb the charts this year. Keep in mind Teheran’s first few attempts at the lower levels didn’t go so well either, but he arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball. I think these latin kids take some time to get used to life in the states.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
11:38 am
CB, i sat here trying to think of someone who’s swing looks as violent through the zone as freeman’s. yook came to mind. those guys swing hard.
i dont really expect freeman to OBP the way youkilis does, but i wouldnt be surprised with similar power numbers. ill take 60-70 extrabase hits per year.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:38 am
It took Youkilis 5 years to have what I would consider an above-average season. Except for OBP
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:40 am
Forget what I said…I just noticed all his doubles. McFann would have a field day
dpelfrey
November 23rd, 2010
11:41 am
Oh, make that 5 straight years, forgot about Tommy in 2009.
Husker Tony
November 23rd, 2010
11:41 am
Lets trade for Albert Pujols shouldn’t be too hard to get from the Cards I wouldn’t think.
ncscoots
November 23rd, 2010
11:45 am
i dont really expect freeman to OBP the way youkilis does, but i wouldnt be surprised with similar power numbers.
Put Freeman in perspective. Probably a dozen or so players in his league last year with an OPS over .800, only three of them under age 25, and Freeman’s OPS dwarfed the other two youngsters (Alonso and Montero). Against players five to ten years older.
Even a casual glance at his performance catches your eye, but put it in perspective against his competition, and it’s nearly jaw-dropping.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
11:46 am
DAP
This might make you feel bad about Freeman but if you watch Freeman’s batting stance and swing then watch Rick Ankiel’s batting stance and swing they’re pretty close!! I’m sure that’s not the comparison you wanted.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
11:46 am
What about Kawakami and McLouth for Pujols? Might not be enough….we might have to sign Melky first and then throw him in too.
Carroll Rogers
November 23rd, 2010
11:48 am
BravePack, we usually don’t hear rumblings until they are close to something like that. …
Chuck, that’s a good question. Rule 5 draft is the biggee. Not sure beyond that.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
11:49 am
Jeffery d
I think you need to ask for Rasmus back also if they get Nate and KK
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
11:52 am
Freeman has a wider base but the shoulders, bat angle and violence of the swing are quite similar but the outcome is normally quite different. Freeman = contact/power Ankiel = Breeze
Freeman knows how to use the bat period. I’m pretty confident he can play above replacement level in his 1st year and be a star in the years to come.
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
11:53 am
Ok…
First I hear bring back Andruw Jones…
Then I hear bring back Jeff Francoeur…
Someone just go ahead and finish the trifecta and ask to bring back Kelly…
I KNOW YOU WANT TO
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
P-Town Brave
Sounds goog. Kelly can be the utility IF we looking for
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
goog = good
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
12:03 pm
You think Kelly could play CF?
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
12:17 pm
crazytrademan,This might make you feel bad about Freeman but if you watch Freeman’s batting stance and swing then watch Rick Ankiel’s batting stance and swing they’re pretty close!! I’m sure that’s not the comparison you wanted.
yeah that doesnt inspire confidence, but it does make me wonder…why is rick ankiel swinging as if he is 6′5” 230?
its ok to swing hard when you dont swing at everything and your head doesnt pull off like home plate smells bad or something, like ankiel does.
Andrew in PA
November 23rd, 2010
12:19 pm
i would take kelly back in a minute,i think he could start the game in center then nate could finish. Kelly could also fill in at left and second.
Carroll Rogers
November 23rd, 2010
12:23 pm
As expected Braves will not offer Derrek Lee salary arbitration. Braves GM Frank Wren confirmed.
Marie Williams
November 23rd, 2010
12:44 pm
Wow! Chipper even joking about another woman (Carrie Underwood) is sick…Knew there is a reason why my opinion of him as not changes since he went to Hooters. Love my Braves, but not Larry.
GTSteve
November 23rd, 2010
12:46 pm
This is why Ankiel swings like he is 6′5″ 230
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDMitWXKaB0&feature=related
Ahia Braves Fan
November 23rd, 2010
12:58 pm
Carroll Rogers can you take over this blog full time? It is so much more enjoyable and informative to say the least when you fill in. I think you should just take this over completely. No disrespect meant to DOB, but there is no comparison between your blog and his. Great Job!
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
1:05 pm
We could sign Kelly to play LF and put Prado back on the bench as a utility player where he belongs. Don’t know why Cox ever benched Kelly for Prado to begin with. All Prado did was get hurt and loaf around when we needed him the most. We would have been WS champs with Kelly at second last year.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
November 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm
Hey Carroll, what canyou tell us by the newest minor league signings that happened within the last 24 hours:
Via MLBTR
Outfielder Jose Constanza, 27, batted .319/.373/.394 at Triple-A for the Indians;
28-year-old infielder Ed Lucas hit .307/.398/.480 at Triple-A for the Royals;
Utilityman Wilkin Castillo can catch and play in the infield and outfield, but hasn’t hit Triple-A pitching
Shawn Bowman, 25, hit 22 homers at Double-A.
Nick
November 23rd, 2010
1:11 pm
Heyman reporting Hinske has signed with Brewers.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
November 23rd, 2010
1:16 pm
Low balling Hinske, and now he is headed to Milwaukee. Now i think you have to sign Matty Diaz
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
1:16 pm
Wow – Aubrey Huff went from a 1 yr 3M deal earlier this year to a 2 Yr 22 M deal today. Good work by the agent.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
1:21 pm
We would have been WS champs with Kelly at second last year.
Yeah now we have to waste our money on Dan freakin Uggla this year!!! We could’ve made a deal for a new LF and left Kelly at 2B for the 2011 season. Then we would’ve had the best bench in baseball next year (Prado and Infante) and as we all know a great bench is the most important thing when trying to win a championship!!!!
If only Bobby and Frank knew what they were doing.
↑↑↑↑ oozing of sarcasm ↑↑↑↑
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
1:24 pm
Low balling Hinske, and now he is headed to Milwaukee
I don’t really think the Braves really really wanted Hinski!! We really need a RH back up at 1B not another LH.
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:25 pm
Crazy-
You I get…(too well sometimes
)
Fleming, I’m not so sure he IS joking…
cj
November 23rd, 2010
1:25 pm
hinske is reportedly going to sign with the brewers. i just dont get it, where did the braves payroll money go? you got about $5 million to spend and you spend only $1 million on hisnke? where you gonna get a bat off the bench like hinske????
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:25 pm
Crazy-
Who could we get that is THAT solid at THAT cost?!
Nova Scotia Steve
November 23rd, 2010
1:27 pm
We need to offer Hinske two-years – the market seems like it’s widening up for this guy.
If Matt Diaz can earn $2.5 million for hitting lefties well and acting as a part-time player – I think Hinske is deserving at at least $2 million per -season.
Offer him $3.5 million over two-years with incentives that give him the opportunity to earn more…
CB
November 23rd, 2010
1:28 pm
Where are we seeing Hinske has signed?
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
1:29 pm
P-Town
Who’s joking. You know as well as I do that Prodo has utility written all over him and Kelly would have been an All Star if Bobby would have let him play
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
1:30 pm
No disrespect meant to DOB
Yeah, no disrespect, DOB. Your blog’s just a lot better when someone else writes it (SARCASM, btw)
Travis
November 23rd, 2010
1:31 pm
Not seeing anything that suggests Hinske signed with the Brewers.
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:31 pm
Um…
Fleming…
Its ————-> way to the looney bin
Nova Scotia Steve
November 23rd, 2010
1:31 pm
CB – He hasn’t signed but it seems the Brewers are pushing for him. GM Doug Melvin confirmed they made him an offer.
I don’t think he has signed or anything is imminent – from what I’ve seen through twitter and mlbtraderumors
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
Where are we seeing Hinske has signed?
So far nowhere except the blog troll’s post. So nowhere of importance really.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
i cant decide what i think about hinske….i think i would stick to a one year deal with him…not sure though.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
1:33 pm
Um….
P-Town
Went there and they said they were saving the only bed available for someone named P-Town Brave.
Gone Viral
November 23rd, 2010
1:34 pm
I cannot wait for Liberty to sell the team. John Malone is worth $2.5 billion and they’re still nickel-and-diming the Braves all over the place.
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:35 pm
Yikes!
I knew I probably shouldn’t have brought it up earlier and left the door open for the Kelly Johnson *ss kissing fan club…
CB
November 23rd, 2010
1:35 pm
SB,I knew who posted it- just trying to nip it in the bud. Nip it,I said nip it in the bud.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
1:35 pm
P-Town
Not saying I wouldn’t want him I’d love to have Hinski back. But, if other teams are making multiyear contracts and the Braves are only giving him a 1 year deal it could be a sign to how much the Braves really want him. He is a great pinch hitter and emergency 1B/LF but I do think we need someone to back-up 1B that is RH. I guess Mather is that guy right now!?!?!
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:36 pm
GV-
Yeah, that guy’s more frugal than Matlock.
Travis
November 23rd, 2010
1:36 pm
He isn’t much worse than Anderson as far as range in LF and he has played a decent first base but he has a sweet compact swing that produces hits when they are needed. Proffessional back up type player. He’s far better than Norton and Ankiel off the bench but less than Infante. By quite a bit.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
1:36 pm
P-Town
Don’t you just love it when someone makes a post that is so obviously sarcasm and some people just can’t seem to understand.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
1:37 pm
By the way Hinski hasn’t signed with anyone yet and Heyman hasn’t said jack. Ignore nick the dick!!
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
1:38 pm
Who’s joking. You know as well as I do that Prodo has utility written all over him
Sounds just like the guy we need…Who is he anyway and where exactly does he play? Or he just a hobbit with a cousin named Frodo?
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:39 pm
Crazy-
Yeah, I guess he is…
Flem-
Yeah, well, its hard to see sarcasm online…
Thus why I’d like to invent something and make millions to show sarcasm…
Anyways, there’s that and well, you can never tell because there are still Kelly lovers out there…I mean like I said in my 1st post, there are ppl suggesting that we bring back AJ and Frenchy…
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
November 23rd, 2010
1:39 pm
I liked KJ but the goal was to get more right handed, KJ hits the ball hard and fielded his position well but was not better than Prado. Would not be suprised to see him back after Chipper retires, playing the OF though
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
1:40 pm
I guess Mather is that guy right now!?!?!
Apparently it is this fella name Prodo…Any info on him?
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
1:40 pm
P-Town
Maybe calling Prado Prodo would be a clue
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
1:41 pm
CB
I was trying to be subtle about it but looks like Crazy took care of that emphatically.
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
1:41 pm
Ease
(clears throat)
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
1:42 pm
Prodo is a mix between an infielder and a hobbit
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
1:43 pm
Jeffrey
Yeah and he has this magic ring.
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:43 pm
Yeah, Heyman has said nothing of the sort…
His last Tweet was about going on 98.5 in Boston and the one before that was about going to his 6 yr old daughters Thanksgiving play…
Carroll Rogers
November 23rd, 2010
1:44 pm
By the way, I asked Wren about Wagner still being on the 40-man roster. He said that’s the case because Wagner’s option automatically vested. He won’t come off the 40-man until he files his retirement paperwork. When I asked if he had any reason to think that won’t happen, Wren said no. So it’s just paper pushing.
Brave4life
November 23rd, 2010
1:44 pm
I say a 2 year 2 million plus incentives would get HInske.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
1:44 pm
Ease,
Now if people think Matt Young is too short what makes you think this (Prodo) cousin of a hobbit will be better?
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:45 pm
Hey, don’t get short with me Mr. Prodo
Yeah, good one Flem…no I apparently overlooked that…
Then again, after the constant use of these names:
-McClouth
-Shafer
-Schaefer
-Ankeel
-Medlin
-Hinski (sorry Crazy)
I tend to overlook name misspellings…
MaconBraves (RIP)
November 23rd, 2010
1:45 pm
Really hope that Wren gets Hinske back, even if it takes offering a two year deal. The guy brings a lot to the team coming off the bench and brings immeasurable positives in the clubhouse.
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
1:46 pm
Cliff Lee apparently offered 6 yrs and wants 7. He’s 32 and wants a guaranteed contract worth over 20M at age 39. If it comes down to that the Rangers would probably be better off not signing him. That way we can all laugh at the Yankees when they trot a bunch of underperforming old and expensive stars in 4-5 years time.
Carroll Rogers
November 23rd, 2010
1:46 pm
Brooklyn Braves Brawler i can tell you Frank says they’re a good group and are the kind of guys they think “have the ability to help us at the major league level at some point.”
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
1:47 pm
A Prodo looks something like this
http://busleagues.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/img_9282.jpg
Brave4life
November 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm
Is Marcus Thames a free agent???
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm
The Brooklyn Brawler huh…
Who are you jobbing to next buddy?
Nice to see you on Old School Raw last week jobbing once again and gettin massacred by Zeke.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm
P Twon
It’s OK!! I’ll pay more attention to name spellings!!
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm
Prodo is probably somewhere between Young and Nate…they are both from The Shire too I believe…
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm
7 years?!
I’m not sure I would give Pujols 7 years
Brave4life
November 23rd, 2010
1:50 pm
GET MARCUS THAMES
P-Town Brave ©
November 23rd, 2010
1:50 pm
Crazy-
Thanks bruther!
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
1:52 pm
P-Town – besides, Fleming is not THAT guy! Gotta know who the troublemakers are…
just occured to me
November 23rd, 2010
1:53 pm
call me crazy, but bringing Andruw back to Atlanta may not be such a bad idea, especially if Hinske doesnt work out. Andruw wouldnt have to be the everyday guy, but he would provide some insurance in CF and a bit of outfield power, perhaps at a reasonable price
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
1:53 pm
Oh and I don’t mean the good kind of trouble like CraZy, myself, jeffrey, etc. like to make…
Brave4life
November 23rd, 2010
1:53 pm
Lefty on mound
Prado CF
Heyward RF
Thames LF
Righty on Mound
Heyward RF
Malouth CF
Prado LF
MFin04
November 23rd, 2010
1:54 pm
Snotboogie – We may be laughing at the Yankees during the last 2 years of the contract, but when they win 2 or 3 world series in the first 5 years they might be a little bit giggly.
It is the same situation we are going through with Derek Lowe and Chipper. We needed them the first two years of the contract, but in order to keep them we had to overpay them the last 2 years. That’s just the nature of long term contracts. Cliff Lee is definitely worth the first five years at that price, so you just suck it up for the last year or two. Plus for the Yankees it is a completely different animal with the amount of money they spend.
The Chipper signing is actually probably worse since it handicapped the Braves this year and possibly next year. It doesn’t really handicap the Yankees that much.
Brave4life
November 23rd, 2010
1:54 pm
Thames crushes lefties in also is a right hand bat that give Freeman some rest if he has difficulty hitting lefties