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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,361 comments Add your comment
dpelfrey
December 2nd, 2010
9:40 am
The BA prospect list for the Braves comes out in a few weeks, so I wanted to put this out there for discussion…
You think about the past several years, and all the “future stars” we’ve seen rise briefly then crash and burn (Francoeur, KJohnson, Davies, Schafer, Escobar), and it’s really a testament to how well this organization is run considering they were still able to put together a playoff caliber club this past year. A lot of people are so critical of the team’s management, but we should feel grateful that this organization can withstand all of those “should have beens” and still remain competitive.
I’m crossing my fingers that the new generation of “future stars” such as Heyward, Hanson, Minor, Kimbrel and Freeman don’t suffer the same fate. I’m cautiously optimistic this group will stick, but past lessons learned are always in the back of my mind.
The Braves have had nine top-25 prospects (per BA) since 1999…
1999 – Bruce Chen, #4, flop
2000 – Rafael Furcal, #8, six good years in ATL, but not phenomenal
2002 – Wilson Betemit, #8, flop
2003 – Adam Wainwright, #18, great pitcher only for someone else
2005 – Andy Marte, #9, flop
2005 – Jeff Francoeur, #14, rose briefly then flopped
2006 – Jarrod Saltalamacchia, #18, traded still hasn’t produced
2008 – Jordan Schafer, #25, flop so far but still has time
2009 – Tommy Hanson, #4, good so far
2009/2010 – Jason Heyward, #5/#1, good so far
2011 – Freddie Freeman & Julio Teheran both top 10?
Before those guys were Chipper and Andruw, so if I’m looking at patterns, I’m hopeful that Hanson/Teheran/Heyward/Freeman are the other bookend to Andruw/Chipper, putting behind a decade of mostly flops.
DS1
December 2nd, 2010
9:44 am
How many more years will it take to purge the Braves organization of the evil influences of the dreaded “Booby Cox”? So long as we have Chipper, and probably Mac and Prado and Moylan and Ross and Heyward and……..
BC has ruined it for me until around the time of Heyward’s retirement, I guess.
I wonder if he had enough influence over Freeman during that September callup to screw him up for life.
I sure hope Santa Claus realizes I’ve been a good boy this year too!
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
9:45 am
Apparently Mike Schmidt had more HR than Murph for the 80’s – Five of them (313-308).
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
9:49 am
dpelfrey- That list is only relevant if you mention the other players who were on it an what they managed to do with their careers and not just Braves’ prospects.
I’d bet that no one has an appreciably better record in this category than the Braves, who seem to have home grown teams throughout the past 20 years, 15 of which were successful.
DS1
December 2nd, 2010
9:50 am
While Murphy was my favorite Braves of all time, I personally think his swift demise in his early/mid 30’s was the deciding blow in his HOF decision.
Blyleven I think is more deserving. And maybe Morris.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
9:52 am
And the poiint you seem to be making is that the Braves are not very good at player evaluation, when it could well be that Baseball America tends to overrate prospects all the time.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
9:55 am
DS1- Jim Kaaat (one of the best fielding pitchers of all time), Blyleven (best curve I ever saw), Jack Morris (lead the AL in wins for years), Dick Allen (never saw a player in person who hit a baseball harder) and likely a few more should be in their IMO.
I like that they try to keep the HOF exclusive, but they tend to be a bit anal sometimes in this pursuit and keep it way too exclusive.
Dead Horse
December 2nd, 2010
9:57 am
Good point on the over-rating Lew… wouldn’t it be nice to have an outfield of Heyward, Frenchy, and Jordan, if the last 2 would have been as good as promised
Fred
December 2nd, 2010
10:00 am
DS1, You must be delusional based on your 9:44 AM post. Do you really think that as long as Prado (an all-star), Heyward (an all-star and 2nd in ROY voting), McCann (4 time all-star), and Moylan (an excellent relief pitcher based on his stats) are on the Braves the team will suffer because of the “evil influences” of Bobby Cox? Don’t you realize the Braves made the playoffs this year despite significant injuries, and that they improved their line-up for 2011 with the Uggla trade? Since you are so concerned about Cox’s influence, why don’t you just root for another team until all of the current Braves have retired?
Arkansas Transplant
December 2nd, 2010
10:04 am
It’d be nice if Mather could put it all together this year. He’s got some pretty good power looking back at seasons past and he really doesn’t strikeout much. I wonder how good he would be in CF though? It seems cf is the only position not really spoken for this season.
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
10:07 am
dpelfry they were still able to put together a playoff caliber club this past year. A lot of people are so critical of the team’s management,
i personally think the job wren has done with this team is fantastic. he came in with a tough job, and holes everywhere. he concentrated on the rotation, and fixed it in one of season. he also fixed and bullpen and bench to the point where last year, both were top notch. now, he has kept the team together for the most part, and added one of the best power hitters in the game, all without touching any of the big-time prospects.
wren has it running pretty god now, and it will be interesting to see the moves he makes to keep it up. we certainly do need a few of these young players to pan out, though. next year’s off season will be an interesting one.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 2nd, 2010
10:08 am
Fred calling Wayne “delusional”…Good stuff in the A.M….
RC
December 2nd, 2010
10:12 am
It’d be nice if Mather could put it all together this year. He’s got some pretty good power looking back at seasons past and he really doesn’t strikeout much. I wonder how good he would be in CF though? It seems cf is the only position not really spoken for this season.
Mather will be the backup for OF and the infield corners. And I know that you think McLouth should be replaced immediately, but the Braves management disagrees, so they are going to at least start the spring with the plan that McLouth is their starting CF.
McFann O O
December 2nd, 2010
10:15 am
Fred McCann (4 time all-star)
Not to be picky, but he’s a 5 time All-Star.
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
10:16 am
brendan ryan just made available by the cardinals. i dont know how much he will make as a first time arbitration guy, but it wont be much. dude is a good defensively and horrible at the plate. he can play all over the infield and even some OF. are we better off just keeping diory?
dpelfrey
December 2nd, 2010
10:17 am
Lew, you completely took that post the wrong way. The point I was trying to make is that the Braves have one of the best organizations in baseball. I agree Baseball America rates prospects as much on hype as anything else. All I was trying to say is I look at that list and I have to temper my expectations about this latest crop of hyped propsects (Hanson/Heyward/Freeman/Teheran). I’m hopeful they have careers closer to Chipper and Andruw instead of the past decade of mostly flops based on their BA rankings.
And Lew, I don’t have time to list all the players from other teams on that list. This is a Braves blog, so I kept it to Braves prospects to make the point that I’m cautiously optimistic about the new crop of talented youngsters. I would guess that you could probably do the same comparison for other teams, and I bet from 1999-2008 few other teams have had eight top-25 prospects and only one of them consistently produced for that organization at an all-star level. At definitely not a team that made the playoffs 5 times during that span.
I think the Braves have one of the the best player development departments. I just think it’s a testament to this organization that they can have flops like Chen, Betemit, Marte and Francoeur and still be one of the best in baseball.
Tone is so hard to express through typing.
RC
December 2nd, 2010
10:17 am
DAP,
I agree. Wren has done a fantastic job in the GM seat for the Braves. He’s not been perfect (Kawakami signing didn’t work out so well), and he’s had a decent bit of luck (not being able to trade for Peavy allowed us to get Vazquez for a season), but in my mind his good moves have drastically outweighed the bad ones (trades for Jurrjens, Infante, Vazquez, Uggla, and signing Wagner and Saito last season).
RC
December 2nd, 2010
10:18 am
Not to be picky, but he’s a 5 time All-Star. – McFann
That brought a smile to my face.
David O'Brien
December 2nd, 2010
10:21 am
This blog is old. Can’t you or Carroll muster up the energy to write another paragraph blog over 4 days DOB ??? — Shamrock Lucky
Perhaps you hadn’t noticed it’s early in the baseball offseason and the Braves haven’t been so much as connected to a trade rumor since this blog was posted Monday night, less than 72 hours ago? Or maybe not, since the extent of what you added to the conversation was a whiny post about how you want something new to read and the Braves aren’t enhancing your hot-stove experience.
I’m writing something about Diaz later today after an expected announcement from Braves. I’m riting something about Schafer in next two days, and an advance about Winter Meetings for Sunday. Then covering Winter Meetings Monday through Thursday. In the meantime, I’m constantly monitoring wires, making calls to agents and texting and calling players, trying to make sure I get wind of anything Braves might be doing, and answering many relevant questions here and on Twitter. We aren’t going to spend every waking hour recapping every aspect of the 2010 season ad nauseum, responding to every random and usually far-fetched trade suggestion on this blog, or reacting to every groundless rumor posted elsewhere on the internet.
If that’s not enough for you in the first week of December, tough.
McFann O O
December 2nd, 2010
10:21 am
RC—
Sylvester Bill
December 2nd, 2010
10:21 am
Thank goodness for this blog. For the most part,Yankee drivel is kept to a minimum. I get so tired of tuning in to MLB on XM and all I hear is Jeter, Cliff Lee, Mariano, Brian Cashman and who might be there next free agent. I can’t even read the Wall Street Journal without a Jeter and Yankee story.
For those Braves bashers, go find another place to vent. Check on the other team’s blog and you’ll see that DOB keeps us in the loop so much better than most and tires of the same old stuff from people who think we can go 162-0.
Billy
December 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
The Braves have had nine top-25 prospects (per BA) since 1999…
Let’s look at from a different view
1999 – Bruce Chen, #4, Late Bloomer pitched well for Royals 2010
2000 – Rafael Furcal, #8, six good years in ATL, The Braves winning ways ended when he left
2002 – Wilson Betemit, #8, Late bloomer played well for Royals 2010
2003 – Adam Wainwright, #18 Unfortunate trade that ended up unpopular. Braves valued him as 4th starter, which was a crucial mistake as history has proven the Braves talent evaluators blew it.
2005 – Andy Marte, #9, Brad Komminsk revisited
2005 – Jeff Francoeur, #14, He is what he is
2006 – Jarrod Saltalamacchia, #18, Will be given the opportunity to win Catchers job in Boston 2011
2008 – Jordan Schafer, #25, flop so far but still has time
2009 – Tommy Hanson, #4, Is advancing as expected
2009/2010 – Jason Heyward, #5/#1, Had a very good rookie season even with the injury
2011 – Freddie Freeman & Julio Teheran both top 10 So far their performances speak for them.
Choppinmama
December 2nd, 2010
10:25 am
cabravesfan: Don’t you find yourself with more time to read in the bb off-season? I have “The Girl..” series on reserve at the library – quite a waiting list for them. Van Wieren’s book is on my Christmas list, as is the 2 latest Anne Rice angel books.
Sorry you had to downsize the library before you moved. It’s kinda like adopting out your kids. When we retired, I boxed up all of mine and we moved them ourselves in several trips to save $$ on weight charges from the movers!
Billy
December 2nd, 2010
10:26 am
Could not have said it better myself DOB
O.J.
December 2nd, 2010
10:26 am
Shamrock, thats what we in the industry call a BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
dpelfrey – Dude, I wasn’t ragging on you, just trying to make a point about the entire prospect evaluation system by outside agencies – and I see them cited often here and not just by you. Should KJ actually have been on the list? Or Davies?
All that being said, few of that group were elite prospects anyway. Heyward was. Hanson was. Teheran and Delgado are. Wainwright, though no longer a Brave certainly is. Freeman won his league’s MVP Award and though it doesn’t confer startdom, it is a good evaluator.
I think that another aspect might also be included – who did we get in return for certain players? Yes, Salty hasn’t performed, but in the full year Tex was with Atlanta, he certainly performed in star fashion (won’t even worry about the rest of the list – they brought pieces of varying degrees in return.
When you look at all sides of the situation, many times it doesn’t matter how an individual prospects’ career turns out – they could give you a few years of decent production (Like Frenchy his first couple years), or bring a greater return from another team and still not be a force or an elite player as the Farm System exists to fill your parent lub and there are several ways in which it can be accomplished.
And the bottom line here – if we put Teheran or Delgado on the blocks, it doesn’t matter what they might eventually do – they would bring a King’s ransom in a trade – or fill rotation spots in ATlanta for quite a few years.
And let’ not froget Medlen, either. I think we’ll see much more good from him in thefuture and I wouldn’t throw Schafer under the bus yet, either. I think that wrist caused all his issues and if it’s better, he could be quite good.
GTSteve
December 2nd, 2010
10:30 am
Thanks for the work in the offseason DOB
Chuck
December 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
Braves are expected to non-tender Diaz? Man, bad day… Surely they could talk to him and offer something. I’d hate to see him in a Phillies uniform. But, for him, I don’t think he ever got an all-out shot with the Braves, either. They just didn’t like his batting style, and felt that his hustle was too unbridled (my opinion). Too bad for them – maybe he will further blossom with another team, like he sort of blossomed with the Braves. Tough decisions have to be made. Argh.
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
theres a paragraph right there DOB. slap a headline on that sucker! :- )
Headline for DOB's 10:21am post
December 2nd, 2010
10:34 am
Braves Beat Writer BURNS Irish Blogger!
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
10:34 am
As long as I can post, it doesn’t make a difference whehter it’s on a two page blog or an 80 pager. I think there are plenty of updates included no matter how big the blog. Beats hell out of haviung it fold with too many posts like it used to. Let it hit 30,000 posts. Doesn’t make a difference.
Choppinmama
December 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
Stan Kasten’s been all over the Hot Stove programs on MLB channel in the past few days. He sure doesn’t have a voice for radio. Heard his voice from the other room and thought “that has to be SK, nobody else has that weird voice but him.”
He did have an interesting discussion on what goes on in the winter meeting. Said the GMs take about 15-20 front office folks, plenty of computers with the stats on everyone playing in both the major and minor leagues. Said it’s pretty intense for a couple of days, lots gets done in the evening at the bar over a couple of drinks, one-on-one with whomever. Guys get assigned to talk to different teams, spread out among the crowds to pick up rumor bits, then regroup several times a day to discuss the tidbits that have picked and who might be available.
Sounds like a short, concise and serious couple of days to shuffle and trade contracts. Guess we’ll see over the next couple of days.
Keep Matty D!!!!!
raleighbravefan
December 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
DOB – You and Carroll do a fantastic job. I have not found a better Blog or Fan Forum anywhere for any team, in spite of the Trolls and Haters. Keep up the good work, and ignore the jerks.
McFann O O
December 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
OJ Shamrock, thats what we in the industry call a BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone should get him a plate, ’cause he just got served!
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
10:38 am
Chuck – I think Matt’s lack of what you term chance is that whenever he was asked to play full time, he did not perform as well. Couple that with his defenseive liabilities and his lack of defensive versatility and it’s really hard to keep him – though I hate to see him go, too. He’s a good Dude.
LTBF
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
Good morning all
IT would be a great Christmas present for us if we could steal McCutchen from Pittsburgh
Obee
December 2nd, 2010
10:39 am
Braves fans and readers of this blog.
Some of you don’t know how good you have it here.
RC
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
DOB,
You mentioned “an announcement from the Braves”. Have they said there will be some kind of announcement today, or do you just mean that due to the non-tender deadline they will have to decide on Diaz today one way or another?
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
Obee- But some of us do.
Murph
December 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
DOB, you’re so surly in the morning.
Anyone heard any rumors about where Andruw might be headed? Last I heard the Rockies were showing some interest. He’d be a good fit for that park. The high altitude would make him weigh under 280.
raleighbravefan
December 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
Obee and Lew – AMEN
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
10:44 am
choppinmomma, i think ill join you on that keep matty d thingy.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
10:46 am
If only Matt could play something other than the corner outfield spots. Can’t see how they can keep him though, with his complete lack of versatility. They need someone who can play first and center. Matty can’t.
GTSteve
December 2nd, 2010
10:46 am
Murph’s first Zinger of the day
O.J.
December 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
Someone should get him a plate, ’cause he just got served! McFann
nice one!
monty
December 2nd, 2010
10:50 am
I’ll chime in on the great baserunning debate. Great baserunning is a combination of knowng your own ability to get from point A to point B(1st to 3rd, when to steal, when not to, when to tag etc..) and also knowing your opponents abilities to A.(get to a ball), and then to B.(properly estimate how fast the opponent will get the ball back in to the base where you are heading and having a good idea about how accurate the throw will be).
And it all happens in a milli-second, it is pretty instinctive IMO. Misjudge your opponent and or your own ability and you are toast unless the throw is off.You can have average speed or even be slow and be a good baserunner and you can have blazing speed and get thrown out alot too. We all saw where late in the season when McCann was pressing to get us into the playoffs where he got thrown out 2-3 times in a short span of games trying to do too much. But we have also seen him steal a base every now and then by using good judgement about when to run.
Tony Larusa said that his 3rd basemen(Scott Roland?) was the best baserunner he ever saw. He certainly wasn’t the fastest guy he ever coached, but he was obviously good at sizing up the situation and taking advantage of it. Sometimes it’s about a slower runner taking an outfielder by surprise.
Murph
December 2nd, 2010
10:51 am
The work vending machine sells Zingers… the chocolate kind. $1.25 for 3 creme filled logs of death.
LJ
December 2nd, 2010
10:52 am
a thank you to DOB, easy to remember when there was almost no news from Oct to Apr. I don’t write often, but read every day, I even enjoy the idiots, just entertainment. I like Matt too, a class act and a good Christian, he won’t have troubles wherever he goes. I hope he lands a full time job somewhere.
McFann O O
December 2nd, 2010
10:52 am
OJ—
Thanks! One of my cousins said it a couple weeks ago, so I can’t take full credit.
O.J.
December 2nd, 2010
10:54 am
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
10:55 am
DAP-
I’d take a shot at Ryan for a minor league pitcher…
He could certainly be a nice pickup for the utility spot, and I think he’s been given a worse rap as a hitter than he should.
Not much power at all, BUT he did hit .292, had 7 triples and stole 14 bases just in 09 while playing solid D every year.
He could play 2b, ss, and 3b so thats a major plus with SS being his primary…
This is exactly the type of guy I was talking about a couple weeks ago and he’s still young enough at 28 to improve..
A good pickup I think if you get a shot at him.
DMBJAMS
December 2nd, 2010
10:58 am
DOB, did you ever check out Cory Smith?
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:00 am
Oh, and just to add a piece for you stat geeks…
Brendan Ryan was 3 1/2 runs above replacement in 09.
THAT is more than Omar Infante this season (by a 1/2 a run), Kelly Johnson by 2 1/2 runs in 09, and actually even Martin Prado every season…
So its not like Ryan is far from it, and I think he could be solid, especially defensively where he has always been smooth. I can’t find any fault either if Chipper weren’t able to go that Prado could stay in LF and Ryan played 3b…granted, it lowers your offensive numbers, BUT makes you all that much better defensively and provides more speed.
Good catch DAP!
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 2nd, 2010
11:08 am
dude is a good defensively and horrible at the plate.
Regarding Brendan Ryan, doesn’t that pretty much describe Brandon Hicks (he to me is the lost backup here)…
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:09 am
^^ No…Ryan at least established a good season in 09 in the bigs…
What has Hicks had…5 AB’s?!
Bad comparison there Ease
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
11:10 am
p-town, my only thing about ryan is that diory hernandez can play all those positions (though not as well) wont cost as much in salary and wont cost a player. are we better off with diory in that spot, or is ryan worth it?
now, if i thought ryan would OPS .700 and play defense like that, i be more convinced, even thinking he could play SS in 2012 if needed, but he OPSed .573 last year…and though he has been better in the past, that just isnt going to work. if he is only going to backup infield…is diory good enough? im not sure. i bet wren will find out what the asking price for ryan is, though.
DS1
December 2nd, 2010
11:11 am
There’s our backup infielder! Brendan Ryan!
Fred, didn’t you see my twisted smiley after my earlier post???
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
11:11 am
ease, i also dont think hicks is all that defensively. i mean, hes not bad, but ryan is really great out there.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:12 am
If you’re going to sign players who had a good year a couple years ago, why not just use your own minor leaguers and save the money and trade pieces.
Really tired of all this “IF he can come back to form”, or “Hope he’s over the injuries” in terms of Braves’ acquisitions. WE have enough of our own.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:13 am
I want to know what they’ve done positively LAST year – not two, three, or four seasons back.
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
11:14 am
jose lopez just got non tendered by the mariners. hes another guy who can play every infield spot, and hes got some pop. 25 homers in 2009.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:15 am
DAP-
Your 2nd point is where I would go with that…
I think Ryan is due for a bounce back .275 type year with solid D, so I think he’d be much worth the risk of a lower/mid end minors player.
Also, in Brendan’s case, I wouldn’t look too much into his OPS as he will never slug very high…i look more at avg/obp and the split between the two…
There’s no questioning his D…thats already there and I’ve seen plenty a web gem…plus I like to think I know him a bit better having seen so many Cards games in the last few years…and he like Rasmus has that LaRussa factor working against him.
I think the move would work out well for the Bravos.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:16 am
Or terms like “He’s due a bounce back year”. AAAAAAArrrrgh.
dpelfrey
December 2nd, 2010
11:16 am
Lew, I’m just using the BA rankings as a tool. Gotta use the info we have, you know. I agree with you 100% about Medlen. I think long term he could be as or more successful that Hanson. And my great hope for this year is Schafer supplants McLouth and shows the form he had in his debut week in 2009. Wrist injuries are tricky though.
But I have to disagree with you about your elite prospect comments. I was young at the time, but if I remember correctly, Chen, Betemit and Marte were thought of as elite prospects. Who’s to say 10 years from now we’re not talking about Teheran and Freeman in the same light? It’s a crapshoot. I love talking about it though and it’s not going to stop me from predicting the 2014 everyday lineup and rotation.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:17 am
Aren’t all those signings this week enough “Lightning In A Bottle” potential? Do we really need more of the same?
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:18 am
Lew-
It wasn’t a couple years ago…it was 09 and he was a stud!
I just think the whole LaRussa thing got to him…
He’s still fairly young at 28 and I think is due to bounce back…
This isnt another Andruw or Glaus or Mondesi type situation…
Lopez wouldnt be bad either but he’ll cost too much and go where he can start IMO.
Rob from SC
December 2nd, 2010
11:21 am
You are doing a great job DOB
If only you also had the power to make Liberty Media raise our payroll even by 10 million
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:21 am
dpelfrtey – Likely a zero sum argiment in the long run. Point I was making is that these rankings are a crap shoot to begin with and there are only a few truly elite prospects to begin with.
Look at the HOF (Elite Players) and think how manyare there compared to all who have signed in MLB in all that time. Then go out and get some dice and roll them. It’s all you can realistically do when all is said and done.
darrin
December 2nd, 2010
11:22 am
Does anyone think the Braves might get in on Grienke hope i spelled his name right since they have such a great relationship with the Royals office just wondering
dpelfrey
December 2nd, 2010
11:23 am
Except for Heyward of course, Lew. He’s already got a HOF spot reserved.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 2nd, 2010
11:23 am
Don’t think it was a bad comparison, but if not injured last year, does he play 2B/3B instead of Conrad or Diory? From what I have heard, from DOB and others, his glove is MLB ready just not his bat. And he has not had the opportunity yet for that many big league at bats…Also, in previous years, when an IF goes down, it seemed like he was the first call-up. And Lew is right about this, he is already ours, so why not save a couple of bucks…
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:23 am
PTown – 09 was then and not last year. I don’t care how many years back it was. Look at Nate.
You’re still doing nothing but hoping he will put up those numbers agina after a poorer season. Maybe he can, but I’m not willing to trade players or put out money for someone who excelled then didn’t.
bruce
December 2nd, 2010
11:25 am
Dave,
Do you think Braves will carry an extra outfielder?
Even with Mather (and possibly Hinske) able to play in/out corners, isn’t Marteeen likely the best fill-in at 1st, 2nd, 3rd if any of those positions are hurt for more than a day? Seems like it would be easier to fill LF than have someone who could fill 1-2-3 like Prado? It would seem like Prado would be our super utility player in that situation. Or is that notion nullified if Hinske signs given that much corners flexibility? I recall you did tell us that Diory was having a very good winter ball experience, so maybe my scenario is not as likely. (ok, I am trying to find a roster spot for Diaz.) Thanks, Bruce
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:26 am
dpelfrey- I hope Heyward does turn out to be that good. Don’t know that he will, but he should be a very good player (if he can keep from injuring himself with those stupid head first slides).
Like I said – get those dice and roll those suckers. Could roll a 7, maybe snakeyes or anything in between. I’m enouraged about him, Hanson, Medlen, Freeman and Venters, though.
I’m sold on Teheran – been watching him since he was signed. He’ll be good.
DAP
December 2nd, 2010
11:28 am
darrin Does anyone think the Braves might get in on Grienke
i dont think so, because they dont have enough money to pay greinke. i do think he would be a great addition to the rotation though. maybe the braves will sign him when hes a free agent. lots of $$$ coming off the books in two years.
Lew
December 2nd, 2010
11:28 am
bruce – If they do, I see it as being someone like Young, who can play middle infield and all outfield positions.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:30 am
Ease-
Hicks was nothing more than a ML pinch runner
Lew-
I don’t consider 2010 “last year” until we get a calendar away from Spring Training
Also, he’s been pretty solid other than 2010 and he’d be a great addition for a utility guy at ~ 1M or less if we don’t have to give up more than 1 minors player…I think we need 1 utility guy that is slick in the field, given all the struggles in 2010 defensively.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2010
11:31 am
Who’s to say 10 years from now we’re not talking about Teheran and Freeman in the same light?
Or even Heyward, for that matter, if you’ll permit me the heresy. Eric Davis had the same type of ceiling attributed to Heyward, and circumstances conspired to turn him into just another good ballplayer.
Buster Posey, for example, looks fabulous after half a season, but so did Russell Martin and Geovany Soto, in recent memory. McCann, meanwhile, rolls along nearly unheralded, stashing Silver Sluggers and AS appearances in his scrap book.
The baseball gods abhor hubris, probably almost as much as BA prospect projections, LOL. Count those chickens when they show up on your plate at supper time; any sooner, you’re apt to end up hungry.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:32 am
Lew-
Also, Alex is very injury prone, and if he goes down, we need someone that can take over SS and that be their primary position…
That only leaves Diory and Brandon Hicks…i don’t like either option all that much.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:34 am
Scoots-
Same can be said about drafts…
Francoeur in the 1st, BMac in the 2nd…
The Chipper v Todd Van Poppel argument
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:35 am
Oh…and let us not forget…
Brad Komminsk and Nick Esasky..
All sorts of variables play in.
Arkansas Transplant
December 2nd, 2010
11:35 am
Sure glad everyone can project so far ahead.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:38 am
ARK-
Hey, I’m lucky if I can project for what tomorrow will be like..
Arkansas Transplant
December 2nd, 2010
11:38 am
Who do all of you project to be our “big” bats in the lineup and what do you contribute that to?
Arkansas Transplant
December 2nd, 2010
11:40 am
The way I see it, we’ve still got a lot of question marks concerning this team. And I’m with you P-Town Brave, I have that same problem.
unbelievable
December 2nd, 2010
11:40 am
Jose Lopez put up a .239/.270/.339 line last year. Thats with 622AB’s. He’s got a projected .707OPS for 2011. I dont see the point in him, esp since he cant backup SS
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:43 am
Un-
Yeah, I’m getting lazy…
Anyways, I agree…I feel like this time our utility player needs to first and foremost be slick in the infield and his first position (and best) needs to be SS.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 2nd, 2010
11:53 am
P-Town – Hicks is also 3 years younger than Ryan and his minor league stats (with last season his only taste of MLB before he got hurt) mirror Ryan’s MLB stats, so who is to say that Hicks will not be a viable option?
bruce
December 2nd, 2010
11:54 am
Lew — I had not remembered Young’s versatility, so maybe the problem is already solved. thanks! bruce
Arkansas Transplant
December 2nd, 2010
11:57 am
I see huge question marks all over the field for the Braves next year.
1st Freeman will he live up to the hype?
ss Gonzalez .248 career avg, aside from last year, hadn’t hit more than 16 HR over the last 6 years.
3rd Chipper will he be back? And will he produce like past years?
rf Heyward sophomore slump?
cf Mclouth need I say more?
lf Prado will he be playing here or 3rd? if not, who?
Too me that’s a lot of question marks for this team, not to mention the questions in our rotation. JJ, is he back? How good will our 5th starter be? Lowe, will he be the Lowe of old? Hudson, can he repeat last year?
Snotboogie
December 2nd, 2010
11:58 am
DOB writes better rants than Aaron Sorkin.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
11:58 am
Ease-
Um…because you can’t compare minor league stats to major league stats?
And where did Brandon Hicks hit ~ .290 anywhere?!
Also, you couldn’t mirror those anyways…Brandon Hicks whiffs about 3x as much as Ryan.
Red Knuckles
December 2nd, 2010
12:02 pm
DOB’s rants are classic. I wish some politicians would study the point and profile of a DOB rant. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
coach joe
December 2nd, 2010
12:09 pm
Give it to em DOB.. you do a great job and I love your Tweets…I am probably the only person in New Orleans that would rather follow the Braves than the Saints.. guess I am showing my age.Only old guys like baseball..
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 2nd, 2010
12:10 pm
P-Town – OK, then mirror the minor league stats. Yes, Hicks can’t match the BA, but he has a higher SLG and OPS and similar OBP…My point is only this, Hicks is an in-house guy with just as much versatility as Ryan. So why give up something for a bounce back player, when you already have a guy in system who projects to be very similar? And yes I say projects, because Ryan entered minor ball in 2003 and has been up and down throughout the system wheres as in Hicks first 3 years he has only gone up, ending a relatively full season at AAA. ( I won’t agure the wiff point, you got me there). Just sayin’, Hicks is not to be so casually discounted…
Fred
December 2nd, 2010
12:11 pm
DS1, Sorry, I didn’t see that thing nor am I sure what that means. But now I get that your post wasn’t serious, so I apologize for calling you “delusional.”
dpelfrey
December 2nd, 2010
12:14 pm
Lew, I’m sold on Teheran too. Haven’t seen him live, but I’ve managed to scrounge up enough video online to see that his breaking ball is special.
P-Town Brave ©
December 2nd, 2010
12:15 pm
Ease-
While I agree w/ most of your points there, Hicks is a slob in the field compared to Ryan, and while I appreciate good wood (:lol:) I also appreciate the leather, and given our mental lapses in 2010, we need that from the utility guy more than we need an extra few hr’s.
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 2nd, 2010
12:22 pm
P-Town – Ryan .950 (.979 MLB), Hicks .953 (still minorly speaking of course). Slob? Whose to say Hicks won’t turn out to gain that extra % with some MLB experience? TBD…
David O'Brien
December 2nd, 2010
12:32 pm
Just back from big newsroom staff meeting out in Dunwoody.
Still waiting for expected announcement from Braves that Diaz has been non-tendered. Only surprise will be if he’s tendered, although there’s probably at least a small chance Braves could non-tender and try to sign him at a salary below what he’d get through arb.