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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,373 comments Add your comment
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
1:55 pm
Ease
(clears throat)
Gotta a cold Snot?
Efrim
November 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm
Prado in center field? Yikes.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
2:00 pm
xavier nady, fernando tatis and ty wigginton are also free agents and could backup 1st and OF. garret atkins is available and can do 1st and 3rd for you… all these guys are also right handed. plus the braves have joe mather in the fold.
i think that if the braves decide to pony up and pay hinske, they are showing they value him alot. if they do, thats fine with me.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
2:02 pm
i just have a hard time thinking they need hinske’s spot to be taken by a lefthander, unless they view his role much different than i do….thats very possible.
i consider conrad to be the lefthanded pop off the bench, and hinske to be a part time player with pinch hitting being a side note…i just dont know…
Brave4life
November 23rd, 2010
2:02 pm
DAP
I think this is a lefty plagued bench with Matt Young, and Hinske
P'cola Brave
November 23rd, 2010
2:03 pm
DAP
I’ve mentioned Nady before and people usually hate the idea. But as a backup 1B and OF I think he’d be a great pickup.
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
2:03 pm
MFin04
I am referring not just to Cliff Lee but to the other long term deals as well. A-Rod, possibly Jeter with a 4 yr deal, Tex and I am really not sure Lee can maintain his standard even for the next 5 years. The only good contract they might have by 2014 is Cano and possibly CC.
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
2:04 pm
Lots of sarcasm today. So outragious, it’s hard to believe some don’t recognize it as such.
Hinske wants 2, Braves want 1. It’s a judgement call, and I am okay either way.
Careful what you wish for. Lots of owners, individual and corporate, are not willing to spend what Liberty is, including Time-Warner.
MFin04 – You cannot acurately predict wheather Chipper and Lowe will be “worth” what we will pay them next year in November. For example, I think the Braves were pretty happy with Lowe overall this year. It’s funny that the same people that want to pay FA’s big $$$ on longterm contracts, are the first to complain about the money after the first year or two. Go figure.
P'cola Brave
November 23rd, 2010
2:04 pm
DAP
If your talking RH that can play 1B and 3B throw Cantu in that mix. I just don’t know his price comes down low enough.
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
2:06 pm
Gotta a cold Snot?
You have been waiting to say that – admit it.
I was just making sure you realized he was kidding before the “Prodo” train gained steam.
CB
November 23rd, 2010
2:06 pm
I would prefer to have Ty Wiggington in Hinske’s role,but is more likely out of our price range.
Divisional Recourse: The Digestion of Change | That Balls Outta Here | A Philadelphia Phillies Blog
November 23rd, 2010
2:07 pm
[...] lbs. of fresh Uggla are on the more positive end of their deal, says me and most people involved. Leather Jacket Guy is reporting that Chipper Jones is up and moving around, which is terrible news. If there’s [...]
Efrim
November 23rd, 2010
2:09 pm
The 2011 draft class is anticipated to be very strong, and it may be the last in which the Sox will be able to employ their very successful strategy of paying above slot in later rounds for premium talent that dropped because of contract demands. With the collective bargaining agreement due to expire next November, the draft is expected to undergo extensive revisions as part of negotiations.
An interesting paragraph from Gordon Edes article on ESPN.com about V-Mart signing with the Tigers. In addition to hard slots for draft picks, there is a decent chance that draft pick compensation is eliminated all together, therefore the Braves would have no return from Dan Uggla, should he sign elsewhere. Not sure if this is apart of the draft reconstruction which will happen for 2012, but it’s a possibility…
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
2:12 pm
…..Leather Jacket Guy is reporting that…….
That linked post from above had this curious line in it.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
p’cola and CB,
i think both wigginton and cantu are to “big” for the role the braves need filled. before uggla was traded for, they were more of a possibility, because any back up would be looked at to fill a big roll, and get lots of ABs, but at this point, if everything goes to plan, the guy were talking about wont see much action, so cantu and wigginton probably wont be interested. i think both of them will look to be signed as semi-starters…guys who start at least most of the time.
Gone Viral
November 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
“Lots of owners, individual and corporate, are not willing to spend what Liberty is, including Time-Warner.”
With a payroll of $84.4 million, we were 15th out of 30 teams in payroll this past year, besting the Rockies for $200k for a spot on the upper half of the list. This was down from $96.7 million in 2009, a number that does have some insurance considerations but not enough to counteract the $12 million difference. That is in spite of the fact that management swore we were not cutting payroll in 2010.
I’ll gladly roll the dice that the next owners who come actually take pride in the organization more than Liberty has. We saw it with Ted Turner and we see it with Arthur Blank. It’s an abomination that the baseball team of the entire south is treated as a ledger sheet item by Liberty.
MFin04
November 23rd, 2010
2:20 pm
raleighbravefan – Chipper will not be worth what we pay him, that’s a guarantee. This is the same guy that is hurt every single year and is going to come into Spring Training out of shape and have some variety of hunting injuries. Derek Lowe has already shown he wasn’t worth what we have already paid him, but I don’t disagree with the signing. They had to sign someone and they overpaid to do so. But that is what you do in the free agent market. You overpay.
It is kinda ironic that they will overpay Chipper and Lowe, but squabble over a million dollars to Hinske and Diaz. Just pay those guys and be on your way. Don’t low ball them and make them feel unwanted and they leave and go somewhere else. I don’t think they’ve done that to Diaz, but they sure have done so with Hinske and it could cost them one of the best pinch hitters in all of baseball last year. Not to mention he probably should have been starting games in LF for the Braves.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
Hello: I think Matt Young will be great! Remember Otis Nixon he was very short, and made one of the greatest catches ever in center field. He caught the ball….. He caught the ball….Matt young will have more power.
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
This is the same guy that is hurt every single year and is going to come into Spring Training out of shape and have some variety of hunting injuries.
Has he come in to ST out of shape and with hunting injuries before? I dont remember reading about this.
Do you know they are indeed low-balling Hinske? There is a tweet on the sidebar saying that it is not known whether it is a 1 yr or 2 yr offer – the earlier offer was 1 yr 1.5 M (according to Bowman). We dont know what negotiations are happening and teams dont always give what players and their agents ask for initially – it is a negotiation. Doesnt mean he isnt respected or wanted. Can we at least not pull out information from thin air before it’s all settled.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
2:27 pm
raleighbravefan
Don’t tell me you already forgot MFin04 has a crystal ball.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:32 pm
Chipper has no love here.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
Lee just got dumped by the braves. no arbritration is going to be offered.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
If 6′2″ is short, then I must be related to Prodo too…
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
ward
Otis Nixon was 6′ 2″. You think of him as short because he was so skinny from all the cocaine.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
2:35 pm
Dang-it Ease….
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:36 pm
I think Chipper could hit 2.80. 20 homers 80RBI, and 8 stolen bases. Taht would be a solid year, and i would be happy with that.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:39 pm
Crazy; It dosn’t matter how tall Otis is! I was making a piont: Matt young will be better.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
2:39 pm
Uh-oh, ward has don-key disease…he already repeated that…
How awesome would it be if he could 2.80!!!!!!!!!????
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm
Chipper has no love here.
It’s ok Chipper gets plenty of love at hΘΘters.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm
Sorry CraZy, guess I’m quicker on the refresh today!!!
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:42 pm
Crazy: I believe Chipper will pay well, and you guy’s will still complain.
MFin04
November 23rd, 2010
2:43 pm
No one on the team hit .280 with 20 homers and 80 rbi this year. So if Chipper did hit that, we should be ecstatic. Of course if he hits .260 to .270 with 10 homers and 46 rbis this year like he did last year, I’m sure all of us on here will be cheering that we paid him 15 million to do so. And we will encourage his off-season hunting work-out program.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:43 pm
Chipper will play well. I think he’s going to work hard at it.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
2:43 pm
ward
All I said was Otis Nixon was 6′2″ didn’t say 1 thing about Matt!? You were the one making the comparison.
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
2:45 pm
I see ward is in the house, bringing his usual amazing ward perspective to the blog.
ward – “Matt Young is short, but look at Otis Nixon, he was short too but made an amazing catch”
Crazy – “Otis Nixon wasn’t short”
ward – “That’s not the point I was trying make. I was saying the Matt Young will be better than Otis”
everyone – “huh?”
ward – “do you guys think the Braves will trade for Uggla?”
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm
MFin04: That wouldn’t be bad for Chipper either.What Chipper does in his off time is none of our buisness.
DAP
November 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm
ease How awesome would it be if he could 2.80!!!!!!!!!????
i think chipper could do it if it werent mathematically impossible. he would have to get almost 3 hits per AB. in the history of baseball, no one has ever gotten more than 1 hit per AB.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:47 pm
Murph: Chipper been getting hammered.
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
2:48 pm
Good point ward. Matt Young will be better than Otis Nixon because Chipper has been getting hammered on the blog.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
2:48 pm
If Chipper payes well the only ones complaining will be the ones not getting paid
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:48 pm
If Chipper stays healthy he could be come back player of the year! Hudson won it this year.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:50 pm
Murph: The more i hear about Matt Young the more i like him.We could have another rookie of the year ?
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
2:52 pm
We could have another rookie of the year ?
Possibly but his name would be Freeman.
Hillbilly
November 23rd, 2010
2:52 pm
Oh no! According to his blog, Peter Moylan went snorkling last week. Sharks! Jellyfish! Sting Rays! Steve Irwin! What the hell is he thinking? Get on the treadmill and cut it out with all the fun stuff, you bum.
Christ, this is ridiculous, this senseless bashing.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:53 pm
Maybe two challenging the spot?
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
2:53 pm
ward, without a doubt. I’m worried that Matt Young’s short stature doesn’t bode will for him, though. When all the rookies stand up on the stage to be voted on at the end of the year I’m betting that the judges will be height biased. Simon Cowell has shown a propensity to vote for taller candidates in the past.
TennesseePaul
November 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm
Chipper will not be worth what we pay him, that’s a guarantee.
This guarantee… is this baseball related, as in, game performance, or business related?
I think it would be rather myopic to only view this from an on-field value level. Chipper will bring in the money even if he isn’t playing up to his 1999 MVP standards. He’s a very important part of the team.
From a purely game related view point, Chipper may not be worth $14M next year. It’s impossible to say right now as that depends largely on his recovery. If he can recover then it should be noted though that Chipper had turned his 2010 season around prior to the injury.
Preceding the injury he had hit:
.296/.384/.487/.870 in the 55 games preceding
.302/.382/.531 /.913 in the 29 games preceding
.333/.411/.556/.967 in the 18 games preceding.
Those numbers would be worth $14M. For reference:
Only 12 players in the NL had an OPS over .870 last season.
Only 7 players in the NL had an OPS over .900 last season.
Only 3 players in the NL had an OPS over .950 last season.
Only 11 players in the NL had an OBP over .380 last season.
Only 18 players in the NL hit over .290 last season with only 11 over .300
So, yeah, if he returns healthy, he could very well be worth $14M. But no one will know until he gets out there and plays. The odds are not easily in his favor, but Hall of Fame players typically defy the odds. So let’s just wait and see.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm
Maybe two challenging the spot?
Yes. You could possibly add Craig Kimbrel as candidate
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
2:55 pm
DAP – BUT wouldn’t that be so cool? Too have something done that was mathematically impossible by none other than Chipper Jones? I mean a hammered Chipper Jones at that! I’ll bet he could even win Rookie of the Year with stats like that!
ward
November 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm
I was once hammering Chipper, and i realized you shouldn’t hammer your best player on the team, and one of the best Braves players in Braves history.
shinburger
November 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm
wow it’s nasty weather here in idaho, most of the state is shut down.What better to do than check in on the blog?
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
2:57 pm
Ease – I’ll bet he could even win Rookie of the Year with stats like that!
Naw. Matt’s got that sewed up.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
2:57 pm
I was once hammering Chipper, and i realized you shouldn’t hammer your best player on the team,
Did anyone tell Werth that?
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
2:57 pm
Ease, I don’t know that Chipper will have enough B.A.R.S. to qualify as a rookie again. He has to get at least 215 and I don’t know that the knee will allow him to be in the lineup long enough to get them. Maybe, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
2:58 pm
Fleming – Chipper’s way taller than Matt…I can just feel it.
Bat Masterson
November 23rd, 2010
2:59 pm
Bat –
I’m all for creative exaggeration, but the use of plethora when even plural didnt apply seemed too much for me to bite my tongue. _ Snotboogie
Rightfully so, I would say. This blog would be a mundane place this time of year without the good natured digs. Well done.
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
2:59 pm
ward, don’t worry, I once hammered Glenn Hubbard, but when he won 1BCoY I was very protracted in my filibustering. What can I say, I am indubious.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
3:00 pm
But Ease
He might burn wear his legs down hitting 2.80 and be shorter than Matt
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
3:01 pm
Do we even know what plethora means?
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
3:01 pm
Ease, did you calculate Chippers SWART when looking at the height difference? I don’t believe he’ll have the numbers.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
3:02 pm
Fleming – But if he is hammered and still batting 2.80, maybe he will at least seem taller?
MFin04
November 23rd, 2010
3:02 pm
TennesseePaul – I think the problem with using averages is Chipper only played in 100 games. Which is one reason his average numbers are inflated. But, yeh it is possible that Chipper comes back and plays well. But will he play in enough games to make it worth it? That remains to be seen. Not to mention his defense has been sharply declining over the past few seasons, and injuries to an ACL surely can’t help his range.
Although, his ACL injury could be a blessing in disguise for the rest of his body which got a lot of extra rest this season. So here is to hoping that Chipper comes back rejuvenated. He could without a doubt help this team.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm
Murph: My point is to give Chipper a chance, and if i’m wrong i’ll come on here, and say i’m wrong. It’s really cold in Montana too.Snow up to the door steps.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm
Murph – just taking UZI and WARP into account…
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Obviously, there can be no consisis on the value/cost of Chipper.Is he getting more now than his numbers justify – sure. Is it fair? It is when you view how baseball works (we have a bunch of young guys who are not making nearly what their numbers would justify). Chipper allowed himself to be underpaid most of his career, mainly because he wanted to remain a Brave, live in Atlanta, and play for Bobby Cox. When he signed his final contract (following winning a NL batting title, I might add), he was finally rewarded for his loyalty and service over a cereer. MF04 (and others) don’t like or respect that. They have their opinion and I have mine. That’s fine, except it has become a tiresome broken record (IMO). The fact is that Chipper is under contract to be paid about $14M for the next 2 years. Only thing to change that is if he is hurt and cannot play (he will get paid, but I assume that insurance will cover a significant part of that), or he decides to retire, which would probably include some sort of buyout agreement. This isn’t football, and you must honor the contract wheather you like it or not. I, for one, believe that when you consider the career, leadership, service, and loyalty that Chipper has given the Braves, that he deserves every penny.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
3:10 pm
Dream big, and the the Braves should have success! I got to go to work, but will chat later tonight when i get back. Peace…. Friends!!!…..”Go!!! Braves!!!.”
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
3:11 pm
ward, the eagle has landed. Boris has 2 red shoes.
You know what to do.
Bat Masterson
November 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
and one of the best Braves players in Braves history. _ ward
I wonder what became of the redundancy office guy.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:13 pm
Chipper …. 2.80
I think it’s vertually impossible for a 38 year old all-star 3B to change positions to pitcher and be able to achive a 2.80. No way!!!!!
Murph
November 23rd, 2010
3:15 pm
I believe ward is an Al Qaeda operative using this blog to send out instructions to his cohorts in oddly worded messages. I can’t prove it, but there is definitely something going on.
Is it a coincidence that he posted yesterday and North Korea somehow just decided to shell South Korea for no reason at all? ward, who are you talking to??? What is your mission?
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
3:15 pm
Now I’m really confused. Does Chipper need more rest during the offseason, or does he need more workouts? Its a puzzlement.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:15 pm
***virtually***
***achieve***
Sorry P- Twon more misspelling for you.
Fleming
November 23rd, 2010
3:18 pm
Crazy
If he did do that would that mean that since he is no longer a 3B but a pitcher he would be able to win Rookie of Year.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:18 pm
raleighbravefan
If Chipper’s going to have a 2.80 he can’t be resting and taking it ease he better start working on his curve ball.
Bat Masterson
November 23rd, 2010
3:18 pm
It’s really cold in Montana too.Snow up to the door steps. _ ward
I wonder if they do slab on grade foundations in Montana? We could be talking about drifts up to six inches here.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:19 pm
Fleming
His knee may be eligible.
ward
November 23rd, 2010
3:20 pm
Murph: that was very good. My mission is to be optimistic, and to stand up for my team.loyalty is what being a Braves fan is all about. Every one be cool! “Go!!! Braves!!!.”
Travis
November 23rd, 2010
3:22 pm
The “worth” of a lifetime franchise player like CHipper goes beyond on field production. It’s all we fans really care about but his involvement in the community, (and I don’t mean at Hooters)player mentoring and his appeal to the fan base mean money in the bank too. He’s the last guy standing from the old Braves and some fans appreciate his tenure.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm
Be nice guys
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
November 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm
ward=whoosh?
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
3:27 pm
Chipper can’t get ROY, even though he got cheated out of the one he should have gotten, but maybe he can get both come-back player and Cy Young. With 2.80 as a pitcher, it’s possible. With 2.80 as a hitteer, he would be the greatest hitter of all time. By a mile. (Ty Cobb = .367) Plus, he would have done the impossible.
jeffrey d
November 23rd, 2010
3:30 pm
If you’re going to pick on a guy for misplacing a decimal, maybe you shouldn’t say “hitteer”
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
3:31 pm
Travis – Well said. I find that our opinion is mostly an “old guy” position, and that the young guys view it differently. I predict that one day many of them will change their viewpoint, as well.
Andrew in PA
November 23rd, 2010
3:31 pm
I cant see Ski signing with the Brewers. He is a winner and the Brewers are not. Unless they offer like 2/5 i just cant see it. I would have no problem offering him 2 years at 3mill.
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
3:32 pm
jeffrey d – Fair enough. I appologize. It’s all in good fun, at least on my end. BTW, I readily admit to being the world’s worst speller, and the problem is magnified when it involves typing.
Andrew in PA
November 23rd, 2010
3:37 pm
OVER OR UNDER
Heyward adds 15 pounds of muscle this offseason (hopefully hes working out with Freeman)
Travis
November 23rd, 2010
3:39 pm
It seems that Hinske has dedicate himself to playing for every team in MLB. Strange way to see the world. He could have just joined the Navy.
RC
November 23rd, 2010
3:41 pm
Heyward adds 15 pounds of muscle this offseason (hopefully hes working out with Freeman)
I’d be happy if he just came to camp in shape and healthy. Remember when Francouer added 15 pounds of muscle over the offseason? It’s not always a good thing for a baseball player.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:42 pm
jeffery d
I think everyone was just having a little fun I like the extreme optimism ward brings I don’t think anyone really dislikes him except for murph!!!
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
3:45 pm
Heyward adds 15 pounds of muscle this offseason (hopefully hes working out with Freeman)
Heyward and Freeman adding muscle?OMG. I cant believe it. Why do they always have to come to ST out of shape! Looks like they care less about being fit for the season and more about the gym in the offseason. Why cant they just sit at home, eat cereal bars and play Xbox or something.
coach joe
November 23rd, 2010
3:47 pm
Travis: Funny
Travis
November 23rd, 2010
3:47 pm
This could be an interesting season if Freeman, Uggla and Heyward start hitting some bombs. Sure will take the pressure off of the pitching staff. Still would like to see make a surprise move in CF but not really as pressing as before. I’d rather have a good 3rd base backup like Hall than be moving Prado all the time. Time will tell.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:50 pm
Heyward adds 15 pounds of muscle this offseason (hopefully hes working out with Freeman)
Obviously Heyward and Freeman would have no time for hunting if this was true!!
Bat Masterson
November 23rd, 2010
3:51 pm
I think Chipper could hit 2.80. 20 homers 80RBI, and 8 stolen bases. ward
Well ward has posted this exact comment more than once, he could have fixed it if he cared to. Maybe he just copies and pastes to save time.
MikeInFl
November 23rd, 2010
3:53 pm
Yeah, Heyward was clearly a little overmatched on that 476-foot HR on opening day. I expect at least 490 on opening day next year.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
November 23rd, 2010
3:54 pm
Maybe he just copies and pastes to save time
ward = .Don’s son?
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
November 23rd, 2010
3:58 pm
Nate is short. CUT HIM!
Snotboogie
November 23rd, 2010
4:00 pm
Nate is short. CUT HIM!
That isnt going to help. He’d get even shorter.
raleighbravefan
November 23rd, 2010
4:01 pm
maybe ward = .Don (or whatever he is calling himself these days). Haven’t really heard much out of him lately (I’m NOT complaining).
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
November 23rd, 2010
4:03 pm
Travis
It seems that Hinske has dedicate himself to playing for every team in MLB. Strange way to see the world. He could have just joined the Navy.”
I the Navy paid MLB-type wages, I’d have opened this post with “Ahoy There Mateys!”