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250 comments Add your comment
Reality-Insider
December 10th, 2010
1:18 am
Wren has done great work this off season especiall in the department of adding or retaining the role players. Searching out and signing the veteran character building leaders, wether they are starters or not is extremely important. Wren is a detail man and because of that the braves will be just fine.
So, I am reality… And reality is telling you braves nation to stop worrying.
Ed
December 10th, 2010
1:41 am
DOB, not obtaining a quality CF means the Braves are not serious about winning the NL pennant. No way can you go into the season hoping that McClouth will revert to his form of 3 years ago. The only hope is Shafer can regain his confidence and become a big time player. And this is assuming Chipper stays healthy which is fool’s gold,
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2010
1:57 am
DOB, not obtaining a quality CF means the Braves are not serious about winning the NL pennant. — Ed
Then I guess they’re not serious, Ed.
It could also mean they’re not going to go $5 mill-$10 mill over the payroll limit they’ve set.
The Grinch
December 10th, 2010
5:13 am
Ed, they spent money getting what they thought was a quality CF in McLouth, a move that was hailed by everyone at the time including myself. It backfired. When his money is off the books next year, if Schafer still isn’t ready then we’ll try again. We can’t just eat multiple bad contracts like the Yankees and Red Sox; we don’t have the payroll. If we did, we’d be unstoppable; Wren would run circles around Epstein and Cashman as a GM with money to burn. How hard is it to find guys with the best numbers available at every position and then grossly overpay for them, regardless if they get along with the media and each other or not? The skill is in making a cohesive and reasonably successful team out of retreads and prospects while keeping a stocked farm system for sustainability and potential bargaining chips. Learn to appreciate what you have, because that’s what we are.
J.D.
December 10th, 2010
6:18 am
Sheesh comments regarding Ed Lucas are very ignorant and simple not true. And unlike Sheesh, I’ve actually seen Lucas play a number of times. Lucas impressed me both at the plate and in the field this past season. Lucas was almost picked in yesterday’s Rule V Draft according to BA, they state about him as follows:
“Ed Lucas, util, Braves: Lucas is an interesting case, in that he was a minor league free agent who played for the Royals for six seasons. The Braves quickly signed him but didn’t protect him, and the 28-year-old Lucas fits the utility profile well. He hit .307/.398/.480 at Triple-A Omaha this season while playing left field, second base, shortstop and third base. Lucas, a righty-hitting player from Dartmouth, has a plus arm, hits for average, controls the strike zone and plays with energy.”
Source link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10641
J.D.
December 10th, 2010
6:21 am
BTW, BA didn’t mention that Ed Lucas is also good at playing 1st base too.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
6:57 am
J Man – If you love the team at 8 positions, and only have a problem at one position, then that is one solid team. Not too many teams with only one problem. That alone would put them in the upper tier. Another point – no matter what, every team always has a position that is the weakest position on the team, even if it’s a great player, by definition somebody has to be the weakest. Last point – you are dead wrong about Schafer. You base your condemnation based on him playing while injured/recovering from surgery.
Ed goes in with the group that only sees dark days ahead and is absolutely sure that everything that can go wrong will. Okay, we got that.
JD – good comments. I think Lucas has a good shot at the utility role. We’ll have to see what he can do in ST.
Kevin
December 10th, 2010
6:59 am
DOB
Has anyone considered the possibility that if the Yankess miss out on Lee,–big if– will they come asking for one of the Braves starters? Would the front office consider moving Lowe and then have Minor and Beachy at the backend of the rotation with possible help at Gwinnett?
BRAVES FANATICUS
December 10th, 2010
7:11 am
Hmm. Why are the New England media outlets reporting Jacoby Ellsbury is being dangled as trade bait?
Jump on it Frank Wren !
Tyler
December 10th, 2010
8:01 am
2010 Offseason Leagues
Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS
NAV LMP .358 45 165 36 59 8 1 5 24 84 29 22 7 6 .452 .509 .961
Matt Youngs stats this winter.
Looks like we may have our back-up if Nate falters and Schafer doesn’t ever pan out.
Strong #’s to back up a very solid year in Gwinnett.
No need to sign another OF unless Andruw comes on the cheap. Andruw would be a decent fit simply for his power from the right side, but then again…that’s why the signed Mathers.
I’m happy with current roster and moves. Would be nice have some insurance for SS/2B, but Wren sounds content with Diory Hernandez.
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
8:12 am
Why do I keep hearing Ellsbury?
Boston has not put him on the market.
Anyways imagine this:
JD Drew in Right (OLD and might need to be replaced soon)
Ellsbury in Center (backup Mike C.)
then you sign a stud left fielder (ala Carl Crawford)
Would you trade your stud CF off an injury? Knowing that eventually someone will be needed to take over JD Drew spot in right field. If you trade Ellsbury then you will have an old CF (Mike Cameroon and old RF JD Drew)
Some of you on this blog are idiots if you think the Red Sox will shop Ellsbury, they will need him to replace their aging Outfielders in 1-2 years.
braveshoo
December 10th, 2010
8:20 am
I really like the moves FW has made. The one glaring weakness we have is in CF, especially if Chipper is out and Prado moves to 3rd. Wrenn does have options if McClouth fails: Jones, Schaffer. However, we will not tender McClouth next year, so we are right back to the same problem unless Schaffer rebounds and wins the job. For these reasons, someone like Cameron or Andrew Jones is not the answer. We need a young CF who can bat leadoff, steal bases, and be under team control for many years. The best options are Brett Gardner of the Yankees, McCutchen of the Pirates, and Ellsbury of the Red Sox. My only concern with Ellsbury is he has injury prone and he will be expensive to keep long term. The best trade bait we have is probably JJ. He is an excellent young pitcher, but we will probably have to pay him 3m this year in arbitration, and a lonfterm contract is unlikely with Teheran and Delgado ready by July of this year. I really think Gardner is the best and most likely option. If the Yankees dont sign Lee, they will need a picher like JJ, and I think then the deal can get done.
lambdabilly
December 10th, 2010
8:23 am
@ Dumb Braves Fan there was a rumor last year about the Red Sox shopping Ellsbury and the braves were linked to that rumor. I don’t see it now and I would start Ellsbury over Cameron any day of the week.
prbravesfan
December 10th, 2010
8:26 am
“Schafer has prover that he can’t even hit AA pitching…….look up his Minor League numbers from last year if you don’t believe me. ”
What part of, he had wrist surgery and it takes over a year for people to get their strength back, do people not understand?
K with a K
December 10th, 2010
8:39 am
I like where the Braves are right now. Why would Frank Wren go make a move for a starting CF or LF now. The lineup is set IMO. Let’s just get to spring training and see how Chipper is doing and go from there.
Sportsradio PD
December 10th, 2010
8:41 am
DOB, thanks for responding first of all. I should have read the original blogger’s comment, I only saw your comment as I was about to close out for the night. Uggla is NOT Conrad, no doubt and I thought I should have said that but only thought of it after I closed out.
Adding a 30 + homer guy especially at 2nd is huge, I do agree w/that point. Actually the main point I wanted to make was; Frank, let’s PLEASE not ignore defense, just as speed gets in the head of the opposing pitchers, poor defense eventually gets in the heads of ours. We now have:
1st-rookie
2nd- below avg. defensively speaking
SS-avg
3rd-very limited range (not a knock, just unfortunatly true)
LF- only a little outfield experience
CF- Mclouth good speed, but has no arm
RF-2nd year guy who one day will be great.
Catcher- veteran
Love your column
kenshin
December 10th, 2010
8:49 am
am i going to pirates or not? i want to pitch in big level again!
TN Stone
December 10th, 2010
8:50 am
Am I the only one that still has hope that Schafer will end up being a solid player?
Tyler
December 10th, 2010
9:03 am
I think Shafer will bounce back. I really think PED’s played a big part, but I do think he has the talent. Personally, he needs to start the season down in AAA regardless of spring. He’s always had a high strikeout rate, so seeing some AAA pitching will probably help his confidence coming off the injury. I do think he’s talented. I’ve have close friends that came up and played with him in Rome. Stated then to watch out for him. PED’s or not, he’ll be a big leaguer.
I think that Matt Young will make the team as a back-up CF out of spring training. Guy had a solid year in Gwinnett last year and has been killing it in winter ball. He’s a contact hitter and doesn’t strike out much. If McClouth falters look for Young to play and Shafer to be called up at some point.
Not Blue
December 10th, 2010
9:42 am
Jordan Schafer = a poor man’s Grady Sizemore. A very, very, very poor and homeless man’s Grady Sizemore.
DaveInDallas(NC)
December 10th, 2010
9:45 am
Wow. I read this blog because their are some well informed and articulate bloggers and I like hearing DOB’s expertise on the Braves. There are some on this blog that make no sense at all. That Atlanta isn’t serious about winning because they didn’t add a 20-30 home run player in center field is an erroneous thought at its core. Look at the whole picture before making such absurd comments. We aren’t trading baseball cards here. Frank Wren and his staff are dealing with real players and real money. It’s not as simple as trading the players you have doubles of for a superstar who hits 40 home runs. You also have to remember that the Braves’ budget isn’t that of the NY Yankees. No one else has that budget. In light of this, look at the moves the Braves have made. Dan Uggla and his 30+ homers are inserted into the lineup at second base. You may debate his defense but I would be willing to bet that it improves this season. You put Martin Prado- an All Star- in LF. He has not played the outfield a whole lot in Atlanta but he has played it pretty extensively in winter ball. The Braves have had a void at first base for a while. They have one of the brighest young prospects stepping in there this season. That leaves center field as the ONLY position of question that does not have a new body in it for the upcoming season. Why? You can’t just go out and get someone just because you want to go out and get someone. You have millions being paid to a player who was reasonably productive until this past season. Nate McLouth had a TERRIBLE season. I will give you that. That’s doesn’t mean Atlanta can- or will- go out and trade premium prospects for another large salary to absorb. If you would a young, inexpensive prospect who will be under your control for a few years, you have to give something to get something. Again, we aren’t trading baseball cards. I’m not GM and you’re not either.
DaveInDallas(NC)
December 10th, 2010
9:50 am
I am interested to see who takes over at third when Chipper Jones retires. I really get the feeling that he wants to rehab so that he can retire on his terms. No one wants their last season to be marred with injuries. I think he’ll hang them up after this season.
Navigator
December 10th, 2010
10:04 am
Simple statement: The Braves are not serious about contending if Nate McLouth is still in center field. He got sent to the minors for his failure to perform. A contender would have packaged him with an allstar like Infante to rid of him, but the penny counters refused to understand that sunk cost is just that, lost forever.
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2010
10:11 am
Simple statement: The Braves are not serious about contending if Nate McLouth is still in center field. — Navigator
The operative word is simple.
Like Ed’s 1:41 a.m. statement was simple.
Nova Scotia Steve
December 10th, 2010
10:13 am
This Jacoby Ellsbury crap seriously makes me want to throw-up….
Do you “fans” read absolutely ANYTHING about what the teams manager and general manager say about their plans.
I’ll say this slowly….Nate….McLouth…..and the CF job….in Atlanta…..is his……to lose….
Meaning he’s going to have to fall completely flat on his face and he’ll still probably get another chance at it. I also understand that Frank Wren door is always open for business especially if a deal presents itself that makes the Braves club better – and makes sense. Frank will pull the trigger.
But does trading Ellsbury really make any sense for the Red Sox??? I certainly don’t think so….some other team would have to blow them away with prospects to replenish their system after the Adrian Gonzalez trade – I don’t think the Braves are about to do any of that.
I think Mike Cameron might be more of guy they would look to deal – older, makes more cash etc etc.
Nova Scotia Steve
December 10th, 2010
10:15 am
I also understand that we need some type of back-up plan in case McLouth falls flat on his face but it sure as hell ain’t going to be Jacoby Ellsbury.
The Grinch
December 10th, 2010
10:19 am
Navigator, I’m sure they tried as hard as they possibly could to get rid of him. I’m equally sure no other team would have been dumb enough to burn a roster spot by taking him. We would have essentially had to give away an All-star just to get rid of him, and we can’t afford to do that. I’m as upset as anyone he’s still here but there isn’t much we can do about it but hope Schafer or Young beats him out in ST, which shouldn’t be hard to do.
dap01
December 10th, 2010
10:25 am
I say let Young and McLouth REALLY compete to see who is best. I would rather have anyone other than the terrible cf that played for us last year.
Battle it out during spring training and not in the real season.
Lost navigator
December 10th, 2010
10:25 am
Ummmm, guess the Braves didn’t contend last year with Nate not performing either? Funny, I thought sure I saw them in the playoffs. And my momma told me if you’re in the playoffs you are contending and momma don’t lie. Actually if it wasn’t for a couple errors and poor calls a 2nd base they probably would have beat the eventual WS champions. For you idiots to say we have no chance if nate doesn’t perform is hilarious!!! SanFran had more holes in their lineup than swiss cheese last year and somehow won it all?? Every team in baseball (including the Yankees) has a few weaknesses. Sure glad the navigator is sitting on his couch in his boxers and not navigating the offseason moves for the braves!!
stew
December 10th, 2010
10:26 am
DOB
Prado is a second baseman playing left field. I know he’s played there in winter ball. He is basically a punch and judy. McLouth hasn’t displayed any kind of arm at all. That’s the reason I dismiss him not for his offensive woes. Ellsbury has to prove himself healthy and productive as does Schafer, although Ellsbury is the more accomplished of the two at the major league level. Even if Chip is healthy, we have to find a bonafide replacement with power at third base. I don’t believe Prado is the answer at third. Maybe a platoon in CF of McLouth and Andruw might work. Otherwise I favor Cain, McCutchen, Rasmus, either Upton, or Braun. I’d give a lot for Braun or J. Upton.
The Grinch
December 10th, 2010
10:26 am
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against McLouth personally and I’d love to see him have a good year for obvious reasons. But Oy Vey, he’s been terrible at Turner Field. And count me among those who don’t think we need to give up the farm for Ellisbury. Schaffer is no more or less of a chance and he’s already here.
stew
December 10th, 2010
10:27 am
We need blue chip players not fill ins.
Daniel
December 10th, 2010
10:31 am
Hot Stove talk is always fun, but one thing we have learned about FW is that deals get done quickly and quietly making the rumor mill kinda useless. I like that juicy bit you dropped DOB about the Braves still talking trade with an unnamed team. Any hints or thoughts? Brewers?
ps: my top 25 year end list is ready to go.
Ted M
December 10th, 2010
10:32 am
The Red Sox have said their starting OF will be Crawford, Ellsbury and Drew.
It doesn’t matter where the power come from, Uggla was a great pick-up in fact he was a major steal as long as we keep him. But, after last season, I thought the Braves needed to add more then 1 power bat and the rankings that DOB just quoted support that. Its just not going to be a big trade or something that would infringe on signing Uggla long term. I think the Braves will find it.
Ted M
December 10th, 2010
10:38 am
While I’ll be rooting for McLouth I just don’t think that “extra” bat is going to come from him.
I wonder how long of shot Fredi will give Nate if he hits around .200?
That would be a good poll: How many weeks should Fredi give Nate to prove himself?
Moonpie
December 10th, 2010
10:40 am
Let’s not forget gang that the Braves have a new hitting coach. With his help Nate might just turn things around. Let’s hope so.
Please!
December 10th, 2010
10:41 am
There is no way to tell if Chipper, Nate, Jordan and Freeman are going to be great are fall on their face. For the Love of “Johnny Cash” tell me how the hell some of you know Schafer going to be great, Nates going to do crap , chipper etc…Wait and see..thank The “Man in Black” Frank Wren is GM and not you.
If someone on teams screws up ..Wren is not stupid. He knows what to do.
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
10:48 am
Wren and Bobby got the Braves to the playoffs with multiple injuries and a terrible offensive ball club. Give him some credit.
Every night the Braves were playing 4 vs 8 on offense (didnt include pitchers)
Center field= easy out
left field = Easy Out
1st base= Lee was a disaster/easy out
2nd base/3rd base= Conrad was a disaster/easy out
and they lost to the eventual World Series Champions and could have easily won the series if not for the terrible offense.
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
10:49 am
and defense
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
10:51 am
EVERY TEAM has FLAWS.
Look at the Yankees, they spend 200 million and all i hear on ESPN is the flaws in the rotation, bullpen. Heck Braves do VERY VERY well with the payroll restrictions. You cant have a perfect team
David O'Brien
December 10th, 2010
10:52 am
Otherwise I favor Cain, McCutchen, Rasmus, either Upton, or Braun. I’d give a lot for Braun or J. Upton. — stew
Nice wish list. Too bad almost none are available, and that you’d have to overpay for the ones that are. Oh, and the Braves say they aren’t looking for a starter, so it pretty much rules out all but Cain anyway. And the Brewers were asking way too much for him for the Braves’ tastes.
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
11:04 am
1st base= Lee was a disaster/easy out
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
24 RBI in 39 games with an OPS of .849 may not be MVP numbers, but trading very little for Lee can not be considered a “disaster”.
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
11:12 am
in the playoffs he only got on base 2 or 3 times in 4 games (16+ ABs)
Ted M
December 10th, 2010
11:13 am
Has Troy Glaus retired? Haven’t heard a thing about him since the season ended.
GAKnight
December 10th, 2010
11:13 am
Dave, you are the biggest “homer” I’ve ever seen! The Braves traded there best utility player (an All-Star) for Dan Ugla. That’s it! They have NO first baseman, and only one solid out fielder. How much evidence do you need that McLouth is a bust, Freddie Freeman has never put good numbers anywhere and Jordan Shaffer is a career 200 hitter. Laroche hit .270 with 30 HRs and 100 RBI. The Braves are too cheap to win. How they won 91 games last year is a mystery to me even with their pitching staff. Cox should have Manager of the Year with that lineup. Oh yeah, we don’t have a 3rd baseman either!
Poorbrave
December 10th, 2010
11:14 am
I like the Braves right now….looking forward to seeing Young, Lucas and new players in camp. I worry about Mathers but if he proves well ..here we go…There is alot of time to get another OF’er if required. Sherrill I hope will return to 09 form and it will be lights out.
cheshire
December 10th, 2010
11:14 am
The CF position is i think still the key to this entire lineup.
The problem is that you’re still going into this offseason with a lot of question marks. Does Chipper make it the entire season? What is fair to expect from Freeman as a rookie? Will Alex Gonzalez turn into the double play, pop-out machine that he became toward the end of last year?
With those question marks looming, you can’t go into the season with another question mark in CF, otherwise that’s half of your lineup whose production is questionable. Wren HAS to get a solid option out there… not an all-star, just someone who isn’t going to hit .179 and be an automatic out the way McLouth is.
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
11:16 am
Let McOut bat 8th. Most 8th place hitter in the NL are automatic outs or they are walked to get to the pitcher.
Popeye Chicken
December 10th, 2010
11:30 am
I think that the Braves should look at Scott Posednik.
E-6
December 10th, 2010
11:30 am
Good grief – unless we open the season with Pujois, Uggla, H. Rameriz and ARod in the infield along with Crawford, Werth and Ellsbury in the outfield, it appears that this team has no chance. Maybe we should also add Cliff Lee.
We won the wild card last year and have strengthened ourselves offensively. Get a grip folks.
Coach13
December 10th, 2010
11:32 am
DOB- I don’t see them making another “big” move, now or at Spring Training, do you? It’s really too bad that we are going to waste 14 mil a year on a guy who might hit .270/15/60, and play about 115 games. KK contract hurts too. Imagine who we could get for appx 20 mil a year.
SR
December 10th, 2010
11:40 am
From out here on the West Coast, thought you would appreciate this gem- the other night on KNBR Sports Radio, they were discussing the amount of the World Series Shares the Giants players were divvying up when Ralph Barbieri asked John Shea of the Chron if he thought the Giants had voted Brooks Conrad a full share!!!!
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
11:47 am
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
11:12 am
in the playoffs he only got on base 2 or 3 times in 4 games (16+ ABs
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
His solid numbers helped the Braves reach the playoffs. Jason Heyward had a .301 OPS in the playoffs. Was he also a disaster last year?
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
11:50 am
Infante- .263 OBP for a leadoff batter in the playoffs. Was he a disaster last year? How many Braves knocked the cover off the ball in the postseason? Were they all disasters?
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
11:58 am
“Dave, you are the biggest “homer” I’ve ever seen! The Braves traded there best utility player (an All-Star) for Dan Ugla. That’s it! They have NO first baseman, and only one solid out fielder. How much evidence do you need that McLouth is a bust, Freddie Freeman has never put good numbers anywhere and Jordan Shaffer is a career 200 hitter. Laroche hit .270 with 30 HRs and 100 RBI. The Braves are too cheap to win. How they won 91 games last year is
a mystery to me
even with their pitching staff. Cox should have Manager of the Year with that lineup. Oh yeah, we don’t have a 3rd baseman either!”
GAKnight, after reading that, I would think a lot of things are a mystery to you.
Ted M
December 10th, 2010
12:07 pm
“Freddie Freeman has never put good numbers anywhere”
Freddie Freeman hit .319 in 461 AB’s w/18hrs and 87 rbi at Gwinnett last year.
Those stats don’t account for a slow start. He finished on major hot streak.
Harpie
December 10th, 2010
12:11 pm
I hope the Braves lose every game this season, for being so stupid as to get rid of Infante. And, Uggla’s defense stinks! The whole thing will come back to bite the Braves in the ass, and I’ll be laughing when it does.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
12:14 pm
I hope someone hands you a glass of warm milk, harpie
Ted M
December 10th, 2010
12:17 pm
Infante’s 2nd base fielding % is exactly the same as Uggla’s. Infante’s fielding % for all positions is worse then Uggla’s.
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
12:21 pm
Harpie, maybe you can become one of the dozens of Marlins fans.
JonnyVenter'sLeftArm
December 10th, 2010
12:24 pm
I do think BoSox will have a crowded outfield; Mike Cameron is probably most-expendable, but he ain’t cheap, so I don’t see us getting him without Mr. Epstein eating a majority of the contract.
Mountain Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
12:37 pm
It seems to me the Braves two biggest potential problems going into the 2011 season are a lack of production from Nate McLouth and a lack of health from Chipper Jones. McLouth should be highly motivated to be productive since he is in the last guaranteed year of his contract. Chipper, if healthy, will produce but will not be an every day player as the last several years have demonstrated. If Chipper is not healthy enough to play, Prado will move to third, taking Chipper’s potential 20+ home run bat out of the lineup. None of the Braves fourth outfielder prospects who would replace Prado in left field can provide that power. Again, these are potential problems. We won’t know if either or both of these are actual problems until spring training and beyond.
One potential solution for either problem is Mike Cameron. He is a former gold glove center fielder who excels defensively and could replace McLouth there if needed. From 2006-2009, while playing for San Diego and Milwaukee, Cameron slugged 20+ home runs per season, so if Chipper is not able to play due to health, Cameron could go to left field and provide the thump in the lineup normally provided by Chipper. Did I mention that Cameron bats right handed?
Cameron, however, is not without flaws. He will be 37 years old in January and he is under contract with Boston for one more year at 7.25 million dollars. Since Boston acquired Carl Crawford, Cameron is now a very highly paid fourth outfielder and right handed pinch hitter. Because Boston put a serious dent in their farm system in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, and because they have other young outfielders in their system who played last year when Cameron and Ellsbury were hurt, they might be interested in trading Cameron and possibly eating some of his salary. Cameron’s 2010 season with Boston was essentially lost due to a sports hernia (he only played in 48 games) and he is just now beginning baseball activities after sports hernia surgery. Cameron is only a short-term solution, and center field and third base would still be potential problems in 2012. But one player who can solve either of two problems, even short-term, is rare.
Big Jim
December 10th, 2010
12:52 pm
OK Wren is being aggressive.. but the following will have tto happen if the Braves are going to be successful in competing with the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sock long term:
Chipper need to retire, move Prado to third,owners add $25 Million to payroll ( if they don’t the Braves will still be a second rate team and can not win it all even if everyone has a career year) and their whole investiment will go South. Fickle Georgians will not come to the games nor watch the second rate Braves on TV)
The 25 Million +Chipper’s salary should be enough to sign Uggla long term and sign a 30 homer left fielder or a lead off hitter center fielder(without giving us a young starter – you can’t have enough good healthy pitching). Ditch KK and McGoof and use their money down the road to sign JJ, Prado, McCann and other sure to be highly paid free agents..
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
12:55 pm
So many on here have simply decided that there is absolutely zero chance of Chipper, McLouth, Schafer, Young and Freeman having any types of good years. They have decided that Heyward will slump, McCann will falter, Uggla will lead the universe in errors and Gonzalez will turn blind. Then they come on here and play “what if”.
What if this player goes down? What if that player slumps? What if, what if, what if? The answers they have at the ready for their simplistic game of What If are, of course more failure because they determined before the game what the answers should be.
So, okay let’s play What If.
What If Chipper spends time injured? Well, then Prado excels at third, while McLouth moves to LF and Schafer takes over in CF, giving us speed on offense and defense.
What If McLouth doesn’t play well? Well, then, Schafer and Young step up and play pretty darned good and the Braves are fine.
What If Uggla makes an error? Well, then, he hits a three run homer in the next inning to make up for it.
What If McCann doesn’t throw out a runner? Well, then, the pitching mows down the next two batters and McCann later slaps a double driving in Chipper.
What If Freeman can’t hit? Well, then, Hinske and/or Mather will fill in and if need be, Wren goes out and gets somebody to play 1st.
Hey, how about that? I can play the game too.
K with a K
December 10th, 2010
12:56 pm
DOB…have you had any contact with McClouth this winter? Is he changing anything up this offseason, thinking of getting to Dark Star earlier than normal? Also what positions can Ed Lucas play? Thanks for the blogs!
Blackberry Cobbler
December 10th, 2010
12:57 pm
Any Braves lineup with McOUT in it is too weak. Braves need another outfielder with a bat.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
12:59 pm
“Chipper need to retire, move Prado to third,owners add $25 Million to payroll ( if they don’t the Braves will still be a second rate team and can not win it all even if everyone has a career year) and their whole investiment will go South. Fickle Georgians will not come to the games nor watch the second rate Braves on TV)”
Quick, someone call Freddi and Frank and have them cancel the season. No need to play – Big Jim has spoken.
Not Blue
December 10th, 2010
12:59 pm
ramblinman- that was a complete waste of space. Do you not have a job????????
Not Blue
December 10th, 2010
1:00 pm
@12:55…and any other time you pretend to be Blog Sherriff
Horner's Corner
December 10th, 2010
1:01 pm
So DOB posted his annual “Let’s over-hype Jordan Schafer” article and I must add a late comment. Why can’t someone in the Braves organization help these prototype leadoff guys change their approach? Schafer will be a bust (in my opinion) for the same reason McClouth has become one. They swing and miss far too often and they under utilize their speed and base running ability. These guys are too small to be middle of the lineup hitters, so they need to learn how to put the ball in play (on the ground) and utilize their speed. Unfortunately it appears (based on Schafer’s obsession with increasing muscle mass) no one in the organization is telling them so. Their whole approach is an aftereffect of the `roid era and it’s ruining their careers.
Alex
December 10th, 2010
1:03 pm
DOB:I just checked George Sherrill’s stats. It seems he has a career ERA of 3.71 from the seventh through the ninth innings. While opponents have hit only .225 against him in those innings, Sherrill has given up 215 hits and 19 HRs in 259 innings of work from the seventh inning on. Why did the Braves sign a reliever with such a poor track record of giving up clutch hits in the late innings and considering the fact that he’ll be 34 this season, couldn’t they’ve signed someone like Jesse Crain?
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
1:03 pm
awww, look, my own personal attack puppy is back. Cute little bugger isn’t he?
Although from his bark, he sounds like a peekapoo
What if?
December 10th, 2010
1:06 pm
What if Ramblingman drops dead…..
Dumb Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
1:12 pm
Jesse,
you are an idiot. Lee didnt help the Braves make the playoffs. He was version 2.0 of McOut at First base. Lee struck out/ couldnt get the runner over, was as bad as McOut. He was good defensively but I still believe Glaus should have came back after a couple of weeks to recover. Without Glaus we would have never made playoffs
Alex
December 10th, 2010
1:16 pm
DOB: Another option that the Braves could have pursued if they had wanted a third left hander would have been one of their own: Mariano Gomez. Although he is a minor league free agent, in two seasons at Gwinnett he was 11-6 with a 2.44 ERA in 77 games. In 118 innings of work, he gave up just 5 HRs and had 64 strikeouts. Are the Braves planning on resigning him?
Bob
December 10th, 2010
1:17 pm
Alex I would hope so.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
1:19 pm
Alex,
I checked some stats on Sherrill too. Seems LH’s hit .176 against him in his career. Careerwise, the Phillies (all batters, not just LH) have hit .111 against him and the Mets have hit .167. Seeing as how he’ll be a lefty specialist, those numbers might have something to do with their decision to sign him.
Horner's Corner
December 10th, 2010
1:23 pm
I hope Matt Young makes the Braves roster this spring because at least he understands his job. He’s a small dude and knows he won’t hit 40 homers. Instead, he puts the ball in play (minor league career K/PA ratio of .10), gets on base (minor league career OBP of .390) and plays good defense.
For a quick comparison, Schafer’s K/PA ratio is .18 and his career minor league OBP is .326
Also keep in mind that Young has over 1,600 AB’s at the AA and AAA level while Schafer has less than 600.
What if?
December 10th, 2010
1:35 pm
Ramble on.
smart ass is back
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
1:41 pm
Dumb Braves Fan- Your name says it all. Once again, Lee played stellar defense and had an OPS of .849. How is that just like “McOut”? Glaus was on the bench for a reason. Lee was better. Glaus was gimpy. If you think Glaus was better, you really are DUMB BRAVES FAN
Steve
December 10th, 2010
1:43 pm
Overall you cannot complain about the job Wren has done again. Let’s face it until someone with deep pockets purchases the Braves. Wren will have to continue to get economical players but then again we have learned some lessons in trading young talent for a superstar. I am excited about Uggla hitting in our line up and I am excited about EH being back as a Brave!!!!!
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
1:43 pm
Glaus, other than 6 weeks, was a Cigar Store Indian.
MindReader
December 10th, 2010
1:43 pm
This question is intended primarily for Dave O’Brien, but if anyone knows the answer, please enlighten me. Please bear with me while I set up the question.
The problem with trading Kawakami (or any player) is that the club getting him has to take a risk as to how he will perform. Let’s assume for the moment that the Pirates want Kawakami to be a 5th starter. If KK pitches well enough to be the 5th starter, the Pirates would be willing to pay him $3 mil (the numbers are hypothetical to make the point). But let’s say the Pirates are only willing to risk $2 million. In other words, the Pirates are going to discount their offer to account for the risk that KK doesn’t pitch well enough to be the 5th starter. Are the Braves allowed under MLB’s rules to make the following offer: We’ll trade Kawakami and enough cash to pay all but $3 million of his salary. If KK makes the Pirates opening day roster, the deal is final. In that case, the Pirates would pay $3 mil for their 5th starter and the Braves would save $3 mil and everyone is happy. But if KK doesn’t make the Pirates opening day roster (KK is traded or cut), then the Braves will send the Pirates another $1 mil in cash. In that circumstance, the Pirates have only lost the $2 mil they were willing to risk and the Braves have still saved $2 mil. Is that permissible?
This technique would seem to be a way to split the risk with the club acquiring KK and, hopefully, encourage a club that might otherwise be reluctant.
Not Blue
December 10th, 2010
1:45 pm
This question is intended primarily for Dave O’Brien, but if anyone knows the answer, please enlighten me
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
that sentence is the mating call of ramblinman
Coach13
December 10th, 2010
1:50 pm
Mountain Braves Fan- while I don’t think Cameron would be a terrible option I sure wouldn’t give anything of value in return for him. Ellsbury is easily worth 3 prospects and if we could have him for the next 5 years then it is worth it. Ellsbury is a proven major league talent while our prospects are, well, prospects. Unproven at ML level and therefore are a gamble. They might all turn out to be studs but trading 3 potentially good players for an already proven good player (young) seems like a no brainer.
robdawg08
December 10th, 2010
1:51 pm
DOB, wat makes the Braves think that Nate McLouth will return to .280 20 80 ? If you base it on recent play then we expect about .200 from Nate. Is Nate playing winter ball ? He should be.
The point you are missing DOB is that the Braves need 30/100 from 2 OF positions (Heyward should do it) and 2B not just one position alone.
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
1:54 pm
robdawg- I don’t necessarily agree that the Braves need THAT kind of production from the outfield, but definitely more than last year. The Braves’ hands are tied with McLouth due to his contract. It would be almost impossible to trade him given how he played last year.
robdawg08
December 10th, 2010
1:55 pm
Why is it that the CF position can be shaky and questionable on the team when every other position is represented well ?
robdawg08
December 10th, 2010
1:58 pm
I got the feeling from Dave that a buyer might but the Braves and cut the payroll ? That would be insane because fans are smart and won’t support a non-competitive team (A.K.A. Pirates,Royals). Someone with deep pockets needs to buy the Braves like Arthur Blank.
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
2:06 pm
Mindreader – I personally am not aware of any trade ever being set up that way, and am not sure the union or MLB would approve of it. I see your point in it though, and one possible way around it to acheive what you are trying to get at could be that the trade include the infamous PTBNL with the understanding between the teams (as has been done before) that if he performs well, they get a lesser player, or if he flops, they get a better player. That might pass the smell test and be approved as long as that’s not in writing.
trollpuppy, don’t bother. your attacks neither spur me nor dissuade me. you are wasting your time when you could be watching Cartoon Network.
Mike in Canton
December 10th, 2010
2:25 pm
I love all these people clamoring about how bad McLouth has been since he came to Atlanta. Does anyone at all remember 2009?
G AB PA R H 2 3 HR RBI SB CS BB K AVG OBP
84 396 339 59 87 20 1 11 36 12 6 47 70 .257 .354
So he had a bad year. I hated his 2010 showing as much as anyone as my wife can attest. But looking at 2006-2009 and comparing it to 2010 shows that 2010 was the fluke year. Will he bounce back for sure? No one knows, but its his job to lose since the Braves are paying him several million dollars already.
Finally, to all you Schafer haters, his injury to his wrist has caused his poor production the last two seasons and all of you want Ellsbury who broke his ribs and was injured most of last year? Isn’t it ironic as ramblingman has already mentioned that you want to get rid of one player coming off an injury for another?
Jesse Stone
December 10th, 2010
2:27 pm
Mike in Canton- What you fail to mention is that Elsbury has prospered at the MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL. Schafer prospered in THE MINORS FOR ONE YEAR
What if?
December 10th, 2010
2:40 pm
Ram you are the funny Cartoon on DOB network
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
December 10th, 2010
2:54 pm
I’m just gonna sit back and see what Wren actually DOES.
All these what-if scenarios are fun, but only one person knows who’s available and who ain’t, who we can go after and who we can’t. That would be Frank Wren. I’ve learned the past couple of years that he knows a helluva lot more about GMin’ than I do.
Take it away Frank…
dumbassfan
December 10th, 2010
3:05 pm
t-bone…you want freeman to be the second coming of mark grace as your wish list…really? WHY…grace had a great glove but no power and a so so avg….wish for the second coming of frank thomas,jim thome,hell ryan kelsko…but not grace…sorry just my thoughts
Castrologist
December 10th, 2010
3:13 pm
In Frank we trust!
http://castrologist.tumblr.com
dumbassfan
December 10th, 2010
3:17 pm
it amazes me how all of yall keep bashing mclouth and schafer but if either one of them have the years they are capable of yall will be singing there praises…nate had a bad year last year we all know that,but the kid has loads of talent and i think he will have a good year this year,i base that off him having no pressure to excel since everyone already thinks he sux..and i would trade any player in the minors we had to to get grinke,he is an established cy young winning pitcher and there is no guarntee that the kids in the minor will ever play or live up to there potental(schafer) so if you can get a stud major league pitcher then i say get him….THE TIME IS NOW !!!!
Conyers Braves Fan
December 10th, 2010
3:23 pm
DOB: I realize you discounted my post yesterday about
the fact that the Braves still have not made the move they
need most…that being to get a solid hitting outfielder who can hit 25-30 hrs and knock in 100 rbi.
Please give me a second chance: The fact that we have Ugga
who will play 2nd base….not the outfield does not fill the need. We do not have any position outfielder (except RF) who will give the Braves what they need in LF or CF. Sure Prado may be a partial answer but he is very likely not to play in the outfield most of the time given the serious question marks about Chipper. The point I am trying to make is simple: Outfield positions are the easiest to play. Those who play these positions must be solid power hitters. At one time a player could not be a regular outfielder and get away with a BA much less than .300 with 100 rbi and 25-30 hrs unless he was an exceptional fielder and had speed and a great arm. I realize those days are gone but the Braves have the weakest hitting OF in the NL. We need help.
Nova Scotia Steve
December 10th, 2010
3:27 pm
T-Bone – Is that Watkin’s from accounting???
ramblingman
December 10th, 2010
3:29 pm
A 16 year career averaging 12 HR’s, 83 RBI’s and .303? That would not exactly be chopped liver.