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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
312 comments Add your comment
Wes
December 9th, 2010
1:21 pm
Matt Diaz will never be an all-star or even remotely close. If you wrote that without a smile on your face, you should be ashamed of yourself. He’s a non power hitting outfield who can’t stay healthy, even in part time play.
And I STILL have never seen a bat swing a man as hard as his swings him.
Nice guy or not – Bye, Matt. It was the right BASEBALL move. Good to see the Braves actually making BASEBALL moves. Been a while since we’ve seen that.
Ben
December 9th, 2010
1:25 pm
@ navigator, because inventing the modern pitching staff, and mid market franchise model deserves the “stupid is stupid does” quote.
Diaz will only become an all star because the pirates have nobody else to offer and Bud Selig has a “no team left behind” rule for the All Star game. He’s a great 4th outfielder. Infante may well become a 2 time allstar, but Uggla’s abilities are far more valuable to the braves than Infantes were or would be.
The Insider
December 9th, 2010
1:29 pm
Braves are in trade discussions with the Red Sox for Jacoby Ellsbury. Talks involve Beachy, Bethancourt, Young, and Marek. Not sure if all will be included or are just being discussed. More to come!
NORRIS
December 9th, 2010
1:31 pm
why would the braves be looking at schafer. the guy stunk it up last year before he was injured again.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
1:34 pm
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
11:25 am
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Pearl Harbor?
Forget it, he’s on a roll.
Babs: Greg, honey, is it supposed to be this soft?
J-bone
December 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
Prediction: Next big move will be for a veteran closer.
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
NORRIS: He was never NOT injured last season.
NCC
December 9th, 2010
1:39 pm
Ramblingman thinks he is DOB. He is trying to give a answer for ever question are statement.
He is at work not working but playing on blog. The Boss is going to fire his ass for stealing time.
The NCC is checking now.
NORRIS
December 9th, 2010
1:42 pm
DOB. They sent him to double A late in the year. I was thinking he had another injury. Either way, to look at him as an option when he was not even good enough to play aaa ball is crazy.
jbailz23
December 9th, 2010
1:43 pm
Why is everyone so quick to throw McLouth out and bring in Ellsbury? Nate had better numbers than Ellsbury last year and has almost the same numbers in 6 seasons as Ellsbury has in 4. McLouth is an all-star that had a bad year and everyone wants to throw him out. Give the guy a shot this year and lets see if we get the McLouth of 08, if we do then we get a 20+ HR, 90+ RBI, 20+ SB CF and we have one of the best OF’s in the league. What other outfield compares to J-Hey, Prado and McLouth if he gets back to form. That’s 3 all-star OF starters. I think the biggest question is if Prado’s going to be playing 3B more than LF if Chip is hurt.
eskippy
December 9th, 2010
1:51 pm
Twenty four spots are set. If Chipper is ready, Conrad makes the team. If Prado starts at third ,Shafer makes the team. Let’s talk music.
NORRIS
December 9th, 2010
1:54 pm
Why do people think schafer is going to make the team? He would have to really do well in spring training and last year he was demoted to AA.
It would be nice if he returned to form but dont bet on it.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
December 9th, 2010
2:00 pm
Lotza y’all know your stuff, but summa y’all are puuuuuuure idiots..
Just thought I’d set the record straight.
Poorbrave
December 9th, 2010
2:01 pm
Hate to see Diamond go to Twins but Braves got two pretty good pitchers back in draft 5.
Milkey and Frenchy go to Royals..looks like family reunion.
Braves headed home happy..
Thanks again DOB for Winter Meetings info and have a safe trip home..it cold!
Skeezix
December 9th, 2010
2:08 pm
Will miss Matty. Since it seems like we are stuck with McOut and his 190 BA—I hope Fredi has a plan to fix his uppercut swing.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
December 9th, 2010
2:13 pm
“Since it seems like we are stuck with McOut and his 190 BA—I hope Fredi has a plan to fix his uppercut swing.”
He does. It’s called Gwinnett County.
Justafan
December 9th, 2010
2:15 pm
You right NY BRAVE ..
Curt
December 9th, 2010
2:17 pm
Did no one (or very few) see how McClouth’s swing and his approach at the plate changed when he came back last year and did you not notice how his batting average for that period went up?
Yes McClouth was frustrating but he had improved and maybe he has or can improve more. People here should give him the same chance that the Braves appear to be giving him.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
2:22 pm
LOL@paddy
Norris, Schafer has been injured or recovering from surgery for the past two years. Discount those stats. Before the injury, he was looking like he was going to fit in pretty well, had made the team and was living up to what people have been saying about him. Let him pick up where he left off. Give the kid a chance to show that he is fully recovered.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
2:31 pm
[the Deltas have been expelled]
Bluto: Chr!st. Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the f….ing Peace Corps.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
2:36 pm
They took the bar! The Whole F..ing Bar!
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
2:37 pm
I see we’re looking at the same website….:-D
J T at Capital
December 9th, 2010
2:41 pm
We have put up with Chipper for the last two years no bat speed we have watch him become single hitter,injury prone,but people still want him come back.Chipper best days are behind him we still have him in our plans for next year. I think we should invite Andrum to spring traning and give him a chance to win a spot on the roster.
STRETCH
December 9th, 2010
2:41 pm
So the Royals might have Melky in LF, Blanco in C, and Frenchy in RF?
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
2:48 pm
Yes Stretch, and Kyle Davies and Jesse Chavez on the mound, Brayan Pena behind the plate, and Betemit at 3rd.
Tim B.
December 9th, 2010
2:49 pm
DOB – I have a stupid, but possibly valid question. Can a player like Shafer win both the rookie of the year award and the comeback player of the year award in the same year? I assume (and I may be wrong) that Shafer did not have enough at bats in the majors to no longer be considered a rookie.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
2:49 pm
Paddy, you’re looking at a website? I’m doing this from memory.
JT, sorry but Chipper has earned the right to come back from his injury.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
2:53 pm
J T at Capital you need to realize there’s a huge difference in the public’s perception of Chipper compared to yours. The little old, blue haired lady in Columbus, when she thinks of the Braves, she thinks of Chipper Jones. That’s how the Braves organization has marketed themselves since the 70’s. The Braves are a family friendly organization. The face of that organization is a good ‘ol boy with a big smile (Chipper) That’s probably why we never heard a lot of stories about his frequent trip to Hooters in his earlier days
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
2:55 pm
Dean Vernon Wormer: Greg, what is the worst fraternity on this campus?
Greg Marmalard: Well that would be hard to say, sir. They’re each outstanding in their own way.
Dean Vernon Wormer: Cut the horsesh!t, son. I’ve got their disciplinary files right here. Who dropped a whole truckload of fizzies into the swim meet? Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween, the trees are filled with underwear. Every spring, the toilets explode.
Greg Marmalard: You’re talking about Delta, sir.
Dean Vernon Wormer: Of course I’m talking about Delta, you TWERP!
wjones
December 9th, 2010
2:57 pm
“ReddJonn68
December 9th, 2010
12:16 pm
@ wjones that is one huge sticking point for me, the amount of money for McClouth. We were not a powerhouse that year, so that is why I felt like platooning guys, picking up a utility guy, or just waiting til the offseason would have worked in our favor. Wren dove in head first & got bit, hindsight is 20/20. There are no mulligans in baseball, but why did Pittsburgh trade an all-star & fan favorite in a bad market city, so easily?”
I know someone answered this question by saying that’s what Pittsburgh always does. In this instance, though, and maybe this new management group is going to change things, the reason that McLough was expendable was that he was holding back their best prospect—Andrew McCutcheon. Trading Nate cleared the way for Andrew to play, and that has been a rare bright spot for the Pirates.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Hoover: They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn’t steal!
J-Man
December 9th, 2010
3:00 pm
J-Man December 9th, 2010 12:40 am “only about 7 teams capable of winning a Championship.”.
Although I agree with you in principle about not having a cap (and it will NEVER change), you shouldn’t try to support your argument with a statement that is so…wrong. Since 1995 (in 16 years), 11 different teams have won the series, with the Yankees and Red Sox as only repeaters. That includes six different teams in the last 6 years. Numbers don’t support your assertion.
Well Blue numbers do indeed show that there are different teams that win championships……. Yes because some years a team like the Marlins will stock up and win then disband their team. But every year the Sox and Yanks are in the play-offs or at the very least have 90 win seasons because they BUY their playoff spot. In the 90s perhaps the Braves did the same thing but the sport of baseball needs competive balance. Now I’m not saying that the Sox or Yanks wouldn’t make the playoffs if there was a salary cap. But if they did it would be because they have a great front office and scouting, not how much money they can throw around.
J-Man
December 9th, 2010
3:05 pm
Lets say in 5 years that Jason Heyward is the best player in the league. With Ken Griffey Jr. type of numbers .300 50+ HR 125+ RBI’s. And is now a free agent do you think he will stay here or take a 10 year 300 million dollar contract from the Sox or the Yankees. Now this is a hypothetical but in any case if a team has a franchise player and the Yankees or Sox want him he will go there because no one can compete with that money, To emphansize my point Cliff Lee will take a 6 year $140 million contract to play for the Yankees in the next few days. WE NEED A SALARY CAP!!!!!!!
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
3:10 pm
“J-Man
December 9th, 2010
3:00 pm
But every year the Sox and Yanks are in the play-offs or at the very least have 90 win seasons because they BUY their playoff spot.”
Totally agree. I imagine it’s hard to be a fan of a small market team. And, as such, it has led more and more people away from the game. There was a time in baseball when just about every team thought it had a “chance to go all the way this year” I seriously doubt many teams feel that way any more. Any organization that is interested in putting a competitive team on the field isn’t interested in winning. They simply want to keep fans interested enough to buy a ticket. And while we find fault with teams like the Red Sox and Yankees for throwing their money around…….they’re trying to “win it all” every year.
J-Man
December 9th, 2010
3:11 pm
I mean why even have an All-star game any more just have the Sox play the Yanks
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
3:20 pm
This is a problem that has been argued back and forth for quite a while. While I agree it’s hard to be a fan of KC or Pitt…or heck for that matter, even TB or Atlanta…this is the result and the fault not of the Yankees or the Red Sox. As much as I dislike the Yankees, I can’t fault them for their owner spending what they want on the team. Nothing is stopping the other owners from doing the exact same thing.
I like the compromise that MLB has been trying to achieve with revenue sharing, salary taxes and such. Where they fail is in the TV revenue side. Why was Atlanta not allowed to keep going with TBS while NY was allowed to rake in tons of money from YES, and the Sox with NESN. Yes, I know they are “regional” but they are making a killing from those. Oh, and by the way, why isn’t WGN considered the same as TBS? Yet the Cubs and White Sox continue to make money from them.
The bottom line is not that the Yankees or Sox have bad owners. The Braves do. The Marlins do. KC, Pittsburgh, etc.
J-Man
December 9th, 2010
3:26 pm
I don’ t blame the Yankees or Red Sox. I blame Major League Baseball, for not implementing Revenue sharing and a salary cap. I mean the Sox and Yanks do have a right to throw their $$$$$ around. But it kills the product in the other 28 markets. BTW Ramblingman you are right WE DO HAVE BAD OWNERS (LIBERTY MEDIA)
J T at Capital
December 9th, 2010
3:26 pm
I have been a die hard Brave fan since Braves move here. I know how people feel about Chipper things change we found that with Glavine,Maddux,and Smoltz some tough decision are going have to be made if Chipper go spring traning don’t produce. Do keep you keep him and pay him because little lady Columbus. Back in day owners own teams it was prestige thing now this a bussiness. I am a big Chipper fan always have been.
J-Man
December 9th, 2010
3:28 pm
But we need a mininum Salary cap because of teams like Florida and Pittsburgh that intentionally cut their roster to make a profit and don’t try to win.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
3:32 pm
J T at Capital as long as the Braves owe him $28 MM……they’re gonna’ run ol’ smiley face out there whenever he can play. The VAST majority of Braves fans STILL want to see him. He’s past his prime. So’s Derek Jeter. But they’re both icons where they’re respective teams are concerned.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
3:33 pm
I am a capitalist at heart and hate regulations on free enterprise. As such I am totally opposed to a salary cap. It would not serve the purpose. It would only punish the owners who are acting in the best interests of their team while leaving alone those owners who hurt their teams. I could grudgingly get behind the idea of a salary floor. But to get that, I think the revenue sharing should be revisited and tweaked.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
ramblingman, dude, I usually agree with you, but I can’t on this subject. In MLB the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. And while this happens the fan base continues to be eroded. J-Man is right on the mark when he says the Yankees and Red Sox buy their way into the playoffs most years. The only competition is “who has the biggest bank roll”. Sure there will always be a year when the San Diego’s in the league will surprise us, but look what has already happened to them. Adrian Gonzalez is gone because they knew they couldn’t pay him “market value” These smaller market teams have to give up their good players to the big market teams for prospects. Once the prospects do well…..they have to trade them again. It’s an endless cycle with no end in sight. It’s wrong!
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2010
3:54 pm
Tim B.: Schafer had too many PAs to be a rookie again.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
3:57 pm
Oh, and one other thing….the reason we have regulations, as a society, there is always going to be “the person” that will try to screw, manipulate, side step, or other wise ignore the rules. Regulations and regulatory bodies are put in place to watch out for ALL OF US!
blazerpunter
December 9th, 2010
3:58 pm
The difference is that the Yankees own YES network and at one time TBS and the Braves were both owned by Ted Turner. Once Ted starting selling his companies to AOL then they called the shots on the programming for TBS and other networks and they chose re-runs of Seinfeld and Friends over the Braves. The Braves did not own their station and therefore could not call the shots.
Now if Liberty wanted to create a TV Network and showcase the Braves on it then we would control the revenue, etc.
Ben
December 9th, 2010
4:07 pm
ppaddy123
question, who are you referring to? im intrigued!
December 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Hoover: They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn’t steal
Curt
December 9th, 2010
4:08 pm
Enter your comments here
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
4:11 pm
Ben
December 9th, 2010
4:07 pm
ppaddy123
question, who are you referring to? im intrigued!
December 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Hoover: They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn’t steal
We’ve been running “Animal House” dialog
Curt
December 9th, 2010
4:34 pm
Otter: This is the way I used to touch Vaughn
Shelly: I know
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
4:35 pm
Paddy, do you not agree that a floor will have more impact than a cap? Punish (or regulate) those who cause the harm by having such low payrolls, not those who are willing to spend what it takes. Plus, that would deter some of these corporations from getting into the business IMO.
And no, I am not saying no to all regulations. I was saying that in most cases, a lot of regulations wind up costing the little man and doing more harm than good.
Blazerpunter – no, they forced TBS to drop the Braves because it was “national” programming while YES and NESN are “regional” programming like FoxSports South or Peachtree. Ted putting TBS on satellite programming was visionary and I truly believe they wanted to punish him for being so far ahead of everyone else. Of course, they did not touch WGN even though it’s exactly the same. Oh, and WGN is not owned by the Cubs or White Sox.
This is quite the sore subject with me. I honestly believe they just did not want the Braves to show up the beloved Yankees and Sox.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
4:35 pm
Road Trip!
Do you mind if we dance wif your dates?
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
4:41 pm
Curt
December 9th, 2010
4:34 pm
Otter: This is the way I used to touch Vaughn
Shelly: I know
Vaughn?!!!
I think he meant Fawn!
Curt
December 9th, 2010
4:43 pm
ppaddy, I was pretty sure its Vaughn but it might be Fawn
took me a while to rememeber Shelly’s name
old timer
December 9th, 2010
4:48 pm
I remember being happy when we traded for McLouth. Thought we had a leadoff guy who could hit for power and would therefore draw a lot of walks. What happened to his bat, I don’t know. I assumed he was better defensively than he is. You don’t slump on defense. The guy is just below average. People, we are a team built mainly on pitching. Like in ‘91, we need to play good defense. If we are going to end up with Prado leading off and can’t afford to pay an all-round center fielder, then we can just get someone to play great defense and hit 8th. Those guys come cheap, and would be really valuable for a team like this with a fine starting rotation even without a lefty, and a dynamite bullpen. We lost to the Giants on defense. Next year, we just need to play excellent behind that pitching, and score three or four runs a game. Phillies are fading. This division is wide open.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
4:50 pm
ramblingman…..with a floor, the smalls will still have to trade their top players to get prospects to keep the cycle going. The Braves are a classic example of a team forced to trade. Remember back in the day when Maddux surprisingly accepted arbitration. The Braves had to scramble to trade (enter his name here I can’t think of it) to make payroll. Teams like the Pirates and Royals are making money but their production is not sustainable. We all like to root for the underdog, but these underdogs can’t even put up a fight.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
4:51 pm
It was Fawn.
how about this one…
Mine’s bigger
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
4:52 pm
How would a salary floor force the Braves or any other team to trade a player? I’m talking a minimum payroll, not a max
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
4:56 pm
Fawn Liebowitz……….blown up in a kiln explosion!
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
5:06 pm
I understand. I was trying to point out how excessive spending should limit a teams ability to “own the rights” to all the best players. You want the smalls to pay more….I want to even the playing field. $90-100 MM max or whatever the economy dictates. Players don’t want it; I understand that. But aren’t we all sick and tired of seeing the best players year after year go to the big market teams. It’s killing the sport. Could you imaging if Green Bay had a baseball team? Put a cap on team salaries and they would have a chance coming out of spring training like everyone else. Without the cap we end up with teams like the Royals, marching out 3-4 retreaded former braves. Players, if they had performed well, would still be with us or traded away because we couldn’t afford them!
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
5:09 pm
Otter picks up some girls from Emily Dickinson College by pretending to be the boyfriend of Fawn Liebowitz, a girl who recently died on campus
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
5:12 pm
I just don’t want to penalize someone who is willing to put his money into the team to make it better. Force a team to spend a good amount and you’ll weed out the goobers who pocket the revenue sharing money and wind up with people who care about the game.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
5:12 pm
Oh, and it was Millwood they had to trade. Wound up with an all star catcher though
Mikey
December 9th, 2010
5:24 pm
Hey ramblingman who is a capitalist at heart and doesn’t like regulation. Well baseball my young man has antitrust exemption which means it is not subject to federal regulation. Try starting a new team in Atlanta or any other city. Try to become a free agent after 2 years in the league. Ignore the draft and sign with the highest bidder like the rest of society. Baseball has become a sport of the “Haves and the Have Nots” and it is ridiculous that teams like the Yankee’s & Red Sox can reload year after year with the best talent available and the Pirate’s & Marlin’s have to compete with 10% of their budget. The NFL with their salary cap has parody and success!
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
5:24 pm
Can ANY teams compete financially with Boston and New York? NO. 2 versus 28 and the 2 are reaping ALL the rewards! It’s stupid! No other sporting bodies would allow these two cities the distinct advantage that MLB does.
wjones
December 9th, 2010
5:36 pm
“ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
5:24 pm
Can ANY teams compete financially with Boston and New York? NO. 2 versus 28 and the 2 are reaping ALL the rewards! It’s stupid! No other sporting bodies would allow these two cities the distinct advantage that MLB does.”
Neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox won their division this year, and the Red Sox didn’t make the post season at all. Of course, I agree that more money is helpful, but just saying. Good planning and of course good luck are always key ingredients.
ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
5:41 pm
wjones we have been discussing all afternoon the ability of Boston and New York to buy their way into the playoffs every year. Do you HONESTLY think Tampa will repeat their year next year? Do you think they can keep ALL that good young pitching when they hit free agency? The honest answer is NO!
wjones
December 9th, 2010
6:06 pm
“ppaddy123
December 9th, 2010
5:41 pm
wjones we have been discussing all afternoon the ability of Boston and New York to buy their way into the playoffs every year. Do you HONESTLY think Tampa will repeat their year next year? Do you think they can keep ALL that good young pitching when they hit free agency? The honest answer is NO!”
Oh, I know, and I agree that money helps the cause tremendously. I wish the Braves had the resources that either of those teams have. Speaking of, the Braves got into the postseason the same way the Yankees did this year–via the wild card. And again, Boston failed to make it. As to Tampa keeping the pitching, maybe. It appears that TB is doing a restructuring for next year, in preparation for perhaps being able to afford those guys. Pena gone. Crawford gone. Bartlett gone. Lots of cash freed up. Now it’s true that the Yankees and the Red Sox don’t have to do these kinds of things, but it’s also the truth that TB has made the post season two out of the last three years. Just like the Yankees and Red Sox. Boston, in a panic to return to the post season, has just finished signing two players to contracts for over $20 million per year each, and perhaps more importantly, for 7 years each. These contracts expire when the players will reach the age that Chipper is now. Thank about that. The Sox aren’t paying for the prime years of these players–the Padres and the Rays were the benefactors of that. The Yankees make similar deals every year. They just resigned Jeter to a 4-year contract, and at the end of that contract he will be 40. They signed Rivers, already 40, to a 2-year contract. These are things that Tampa is not compelled to do, and don’t be so sure that they don’t have the better strategy. For all the bluster about the “guaranteed appearances” by the Yankees and the Red Sox, who was in the World Series this year? For all the money they have spent, the Yankees have been in the World Series once in the last nine years, and won one. The Red Sox have been in two World Series in the last 7 years, and won both.
One could argue that the Yankees were much more dominant BEFORE the free agency era. From 1949 to 1964, they were in the World Series 14 out of those 16 years (!!), and won 9 of them. They were famous for making trades with the Kansas City Athletics and other poor teams (the Athletics were called the Yankees farm team), and always coming out ahead. Now the Red Sox were just as rich during those days, and had some great marquee players, but for whatever reason were not able to win games like the Yankees.
Again, money helps, but there are only so many positions, and the older the player is the bigger chance for breakdown, and as you can see a player generally has to reach a certain age to get the money. The system is not perfect, but it isn’t as stacked as you might think.
Explicit
December 9th, 2010
6:14 pm
I agree for the most part with the Braves approach with McLouth. We know the talent is there which means that it’s a mental thing for him and I have faith that McLouth is mentally strong enough to pull out of this.
As for a fifth outfielder I would love it if the Braves would give Randy Winn a look. He shouldn’t cost much, has no history of being trouble in the clubhouse, can run and play all three outfield positions and he has experience coming off of the bench.
kelvin cortez
December 9th, 2010
6:19 pm
Wow i would love to see Andruw back with the braves a list one year he’s not gonna cost
lot of money and he will do good for the team being a par time player. Please Frank Wren get it done.
Explicit
December 9th, 2010
6:30 pm
and since we are throwing out lineups I like this one so far with what we have:
1. Heyward – RF
2. Prado – LF
3. Jones – 3B
4. McCann – C
5. Uggla – 2B
6. McLouth – CF
7. Gonzalez – SS
8. Freeman – 1B
1. Hudson
2. Lowe
3. Jurrjens
4. Hanson
5. Minor
Lefties
Sherrill
O’Flaherty
Venters
Righties
Moylan
Linebrink
Marek
Closer
Kimbrell
Bench
Ross
Conrad
Hinske
Schaeffer
Mather
That looks pretty good to me but if I analyze it I say this.
We need the right side of our bullpen to be strong.
We need the bench to be productive on the field defensively and hitting of course so with the exit of Diaz we need someone to step up.
Freeman needs to have a borderline ROY 2011 because IMO he is the wild card in the lineup. With everyone else I feel you should know what to expect.
We need Jurrjens, Minor or Hanson to step up and go to an all-star level to keep the middle to back end of our rotation strong with innings eaters Hudson and Lowe in the front.
We need Craig Kimbrell to be the dominant lights out closer that we all think he can be to ease the loss of a future HOF’er like Billy Wagner.
Braint
December 9th, 2010
6:39 pm
I am hoping for an Andruw signing at 1yr — $750,000 for our 4th outfielder. To read some of the posts on here I believe either some people never saw AJ play that much or have forgotten how great he was. Ask Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine how great he was in the field and how he helped their ERAs. We ran him out of town and called him a bum for hitting 26 HRs and driving in 90+ RBI his final year. Wouldn’t those numbers have been nice the last 3 years — from anyone on our OF.
AJ has slimmed down and is in great shape. he hit 18 HR in 2009 and hit 19HR in only 320 PAs in 2010. For less than a million (and he only made $500,000 in 2010), how could you not want his power, defense and experience to come in and spell Nate or Prado. I think it’s a no-brainer.
ATLol
December 9th, 2010
6:40 pm
Lineup:
1. Jordan Schafer CF
2. Martin Prado SS
3. Jason Heyward RF
4. Dan Uggla 2B
5. Brian McCann C
6. Chipper Jones 3B
7. Freddie Freeman 1B
8. Nate McClouth LF
When Chipper gets injured, Alex Gonzalez comes in at SS and MP moves to 3B
1. Tim Hudson
2. Derek Lowe
3. Tommy Hanson
4. Jair Jurrjens
5. Mike Minor
J-Man
December 9th, 2010
8:02 pm
Hey D.O.B. I’d like you to put a poll question up. And have it say “Are you in favor of a salary cap in baseball?” I’d like to find out the percentage of peope that would be in favor of it, I don’t think I have ever seen a poll on this question and I think it would make a nice social experiment. Maybe you could write an atricle on the salary cap too I’d love to hear you thoughts on it.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
9:59 pm
A salary cap only penalizes the teams that try to do the best for their fans and get the best players which any team should and which any owner can do.
A salary floor would accomplish two goals. First, it would force the lesser spending teams to pump money into the payroll and be more competitive. Second, it would eventually weed out the jerk owners like Loria and even corporations that could care less about the product which would also improve competition.
The answer is to have more teams spending money, not less.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
10:02 pm
And yes I know all about the antitrust exemption in baseball and about parity (not parody) in the NFL. Not sure where you were going with your train of thought but it sounded as if you were trying to say well regulations are already in place so that makes it okay to have lots more.
***BlondeBomb***
December 9th, 2010
10:11 pm
Fredi G. is the SEXIEST man in baseball. And, he knows a few things about the game, too. This will be fun.
hAL
December 9th, 2010
11:09 pm
yea tp was a real burner on the base paths what he will bring is how to walk off the field if ypour pitcher dosent protect you boo hooo lol hes a loser and should have bben fired along with his protoge
hAL
December 9th, 2010
11:28 pm
well if pendelton said aj did everything wrong thats the best reason to sighn aj right now pendelton couldent have hit water if he fell out of a boat and teaching it for him is a complete joke as is the man himself a very bad jojke who is the worst representative of braves baseball ever ill even take fat terry forster over walk away terry lol
Scott
December 10th, 2010
8:23 am
I have been opposed to the Andruw idea until recently. Now that Prado is going to LF, I like the idea better because Prado is probably going to be needed at 3rd at least a third of the season, so Andruw in LF batting 6th or 7th doesn’t sound so bad along with getting time in CF via platoon or replacing Nate if he struggles.
Scott
December 10th, 2010
8:31 am
Add Andruw as 4th OF who probably ends up being our LF and so what it takes to get Bill Hall to fill the Infante role from last year. With those two signings, we look pretty good in my opinion…
Projected Line-Up with Chipper:
CF McLouth/Schafer
LF Prado
RF Heyward
2 Uggla
C McCann
3 Chipper
1 Freeman
SS Gonzalez
Projected Line-Up with-out Chipper:
CF McLouth/Schafer
3 Prado
RF Heyward
2 Uggla
C McCann
LF Andruw
1 Freeman
SS Gonzalez
Bench:
Andruw
Hinske
Mather
Hall
Conrad
STRETCH
December 10th, 2010
9:17 am
SCOTT,
Im lovin that lineup, not a lot of overrated overpaid guys, but guys that can play and it once again gives the braves tons of options. Pretty much the lineup i have on my PS (Only difference was i traded McLouth and Beachy for McCutchen). Lets hope it comes to fruition!
jammy25
December 10th, 2010
10:06 am
Bring back ANDRUW JONES #25 hands down he is the greastes and the braves cf sucked for 3 years of him beging gone and if they bring him back i can now start coming back to turners field go ANDRUW!!!!!!!!
Jim
December 10th, 2010
11:17 am
What happens when Schafer and Matt Young outplay McLouth in Spring Training? I think Young and Schafer are better ballplayers than McLouth and McLouth will get outplayed this spring. I hope that would mean that they would dump McLouth and let either Young or Schafer start in Centerfield. We need someone with speed and the ability to get on base at the top of the order. We don’t lots of strike out and warning track power at the top of the order or anywhere else. That’s why I would dump McLouth.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
11:49 am
Jim – Upon whom would you dump McLouth? Or would you simply release him and eat his entire salary?
Jake
December 10th, 2010
11:51 am
GET ANDREW!!!HE HAS HIS SWING BACK!!!
Jake
December 10th, 2010
11:52 am
GET ANDREW!!!HE GOT HIS SWING BACK!!!
Jim
December 10th, 2010
12:05 pm
If I could trade McLouth now or later I would do it. I would dump his whole salary though if I had to. We are paying KK a lot too but no one is saying that guy should be in the rotation. It seems like we are stuck with McLouth in the lineup because of his high salary.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
12:13 pm
Jim – I’m not going to rehash the last several days worth of back and forths on here. Suffice to say that there are some who agree with you and some who don’t.
bring back blauser
December 10th, 2010
1:37 pm
i think that everyone fails to see that mclouth has not been handed the cf position only that with his salary he is there to lose the position. if schafer steps up to the task don’t think that fredi is gonna stand there and play mcclouth just for his salary. but going into spring training cf is his to lose
ppaddy123
December 10th, 2010
2:23 pm
Jim
December 10th, 2010
11:17 am
What happens when Schafer and Matt Young outplay McLouth in Spring Training?
They trade one and keep the other. McLousy will start because they pay him $7.75 MM and they don’t want that money riding the pines!
ppaddy123
December 10th, 2010
2:33 pm
Jim
December 10th, 2010
12:05 pm
If I could trade McLouth now or later I would do it. I would dump his whole salary though if I had to. We are paying KK a lot too but no one is saying that guy should be in the rotation. It seems like we are stuck with McLouth in the lineup because of his high salary.
Yeah…..I don’t think the Braves are going to dump $14.5 MM (McLousy $7.75 MM & KK $6.75 MM) They’re going to eat most of KK’s salary. Maybe we could get Tanya Harding ( 94 Olympics ) to kneecap him before the season and let insurance pay his salary……..I’m serious ;D
Jim
December 10th, 2010
3:06 pm
You are only paying Young and Schafer the minimum. I am willing to bet that both of these guys will play better baseball than Nate McLouth in 2011.
ppaddy123,
They sent McLouth and his salary to Gwinnett (where Young outplayed him)last year. What makes you think they wouldn’t sit his salary on the bench?
By the way, it has been great to read the article about Schafer working on his comeback in Orlando. I know other players go to Winter Ball to work on their games in the offseason. I wonder what McLouth is doing to improve his game? Hopefully DOB will report to us on that soon.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
3:07 pm
I don’t want to see KK sitting there, rocking while holding his leg and crying…
Leon
December 10th, 2010
3:26 pm
Check Diaz stats
He has had several years batting over .300 and good power
2009 was a great year for him
Don’t underrated him
I do understand why he was released though
ppaddy123
December 10th, 2010
3:48 pm
Jim……..the Braves expect McLousy to “return to form” this year. They’re not going to sit him unless he plays as bad as he did to start last season. His performance when he returned displayed a different approach at the plate and it looked like he was trying to hit line-drives, rather than home runs. I hope he can be the player he was when he was a Pirate. Personally, it’s probably a lot easier playing for a cellar dweller when guys get called up from the minors than going to a competitive team. I think he’s been “pressing” since he got here. The Braves got him to be the player he was for the Pirates…….he just needs to figure out who that guy is.
Steve
December 11th, 2010
2:19 am
You geniuses who are complaining about Sheill don’t know what you’re talking about. First of all, ERA is not the best stat to tell you how good a pitcher is performing. Second, he is very good against lefties (he will be the lefty secialist) .. oh .. and Thrid, before last year he dominated both lefties AND righties and saved 31 games for the O’s in 2009. He was a CLOSER two years ago. A decent one at that. We actually may have gotten a bargain at 1.2-1.4 mi! If he ends up going back to his dominant ways (he easily could) the guy will end up signing a huge contract somewhere else after 2011. Bet ya some $$ if that happens it’ll be worth a hell of a lot more than 1+ mil! =)
Steve
December 11th, 2010
2:23 am
Not sure why everyone is claiming McLouth can’t get back to his old self, either. He’s very young .. and has tons of talent. Not to mention he has been dealing with all kinds of issues on the field.
I don’t expect him to lead the league in anything, but it’s quite possible that he’ll at least be a pretty good CF’er next year .. with Schafer playing LF when Chipper inevitably goes down with an injury. This offense .. if those two guys are able to be themselves .. could be extremely good. A complete mirror image of last year’s outfield.
gotigers72
December 11th, 2010
5:40 am
In Fredi I Trust – Thanks for telling the truth about Nate McClouth. He should not be a ML starter for ANY ML team, much less my beloved Braves. I understand that he is getting 7.75 mil, and it would be embarrassing to Frankie Boy if he had to ride the pine. He obviously can’t be traded, so what to do? If you want to have a shot at winning the NL East, you let him ride the pine, or you release him. Let Matt Young try it. He would make the ML minimum, so that would be only 400 large above what Nate is making.
Who would start in CF? I don’t know, but anyone would be better. Hit less than .200, OBP less than .300. LESS THAN .300! Takes bad routes in the OF, and has a fear of throwing the ball toward the IF for some reason.
Come on Frank. You gave him that idiotic contract based on one good year. Now do something about it. Get somebody mediocre to play CF. Because mediocre is better than lousy, which is what Nate has become.
elvis
December 11th, 2010
8:49 am
please give andruw a chance, 10 goldgloves, remember since his departure in 2007, the braves did not have a solid centerfielder, he is in tremendous shape, please freddy ask bobby how he played form him, give him a chance please, # 25
ramblingman
December 11th, 2010
12:19 pm
Declaring that McLouth (if you are going to shred the guy so badly, at least learn to spell his name correctly) is finished and should not be a starter for any team is hardly the truth. It’s an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.
Several people have the opinion that McLouth is capable of righting himself and returning to his former stats. This includes the Braves management. As evidence they point to his stats after his return to Atlanta last fall.
The indications point more to a return to normal than a continuation of the aberrent stats.