Pendleton ready for new role as first base coach

DAP

January 26th, 2011
10:21 am

RC, Braves orginally draft Simmons as a pitcher, but in order to sign he wanted to be given a chance to play SS

there is another thing to consider, where is his heart at? if he doesnt want to pitch, chances are he wont excel at it. i think ive heard some quotes from him talking about how hard he works at hitting because he loves it so much.

Just wonder

January 26th, 2011
10:23 am

yea, Steve you still got it on your face…the egg salad that is.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:26 am

TennesseePaul,

SS depth in the system is currently very deep, but very uncertain as well. By that I mean that there are no prospects without serious question marks, whether it’s the bat (Simmons), ability to stick at SS (Lipka and Salcedo), ulitimate upside (Pastornicky), or inexperience (all of the above).

It’s sort of a transitional year for the Braves to figure out where they are with their SS depth. If a couple of these guys develop and prove they can handle SS long term, the Braves are in great shape. But right now there are more questions than answers.

justafan

January 26th, 2011
10:26 am

DAP is right. The kid wishes to play everyday not just pitch every five.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:28 am

RC – Even if the kids aren’t ready next year, with Nate and Kawakami’s salaries ($14 mil or so) going away next year, the Braves should be able to afford a couple year fix until those kids ARE ready.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:28 am

DAP,

Decent point about what Simmons wants to do. I think more than anything he probably wants to just play baseball, and if it turns out that he is unable to hit enough to be a major league SS then it will be up to him to decide at that point if getting to the bigs is worth giving up being a position player. I would imagine that it will be.

Arkansas Transplant

January 26th, 2011
10:29 am

P-Town Brave, he was 10 in the MLB top prospects ranking that came out lastnight.

Cool to hear about your father. I was trying to get the wife to let me take part in that this year, but was declined. I’m hoping to have a chance next year if they have one.

Don

January 26th, 2011
10:30 am

I Think that Pendleton did a very inadequate job as hitting coach — But am not sure how much of it was because of his lack of ability as a hitting coach or being lazy – and how much of it was a result of the players knowing that they did not have to pay attention to him – knowing that Bobby Cox would not back him up with any kind of punishment or lack of playing time for the players for not heeding Pendleton’s advice.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:30 am

Lew,

I would certainly think so, although I am not sure how strong the free agent market for SS will be. I know Reyes will be available, but I don’t see the Braves committing the years and money it’d take to get him. More likely is trading for a guy who is approaching free agency on a team that is rebuilding (Stephen Drew, I’m looking at you….).

DAP

January 26th, 2011
10:31 am

RC, yeah if he had a choice between pitching and working at home depot, he would probably go ahead and pitch. unless youre chuck james, thats a pretty easy decision.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:31 am

justafan,

If Simmons becomes a pitcher he won’t pitch every five days. He would be transitioned to a reliever.

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 26th, 2011
10:31 am

If and when Chipper retires this season (knock on wood), then Frank Wren will have a sizable chunk of cash to spend. Roughly 30 M by my calculation. So I’m putting in my fantasy vote for Jose Reyes right now!

Buckhead Braves Fan

January 26th, 2011
10:32 am

Coaching takes a back seat when you have a uber talented group like this. They need a good manager to replace Bobby Cox, which I think they’ve acquired in Fredi. Beyond that, the players HAVE to 1: Recognize the potential they have individually and as a team, and 2: Self-motivate themselves as a team to succeed this year. I’ve been a Braves fan for a long time and I’ll admit I’ve said this before, but i truly believe THIS IS THE YEAR FOR THE BRAVES. everything is in place for YEARS of success. look around at the teams that have gone out and tried to BUY their teams, they’re older than our Braves. GO BRAVES!!!!

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:33 am

DAP,

So, so true. I remember when we all thought Chuck James’s….umm….decisions were “charming”. Now I just wonder what’s wrong with that boy.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:35 am

Coach,

While I like the idea of Reyes, I do worry about committing the money he’ll get based on the injury history he’s had.

Also, I think that once Chipper is no longer on the payroll Uggla’s salary picks up a bit. I could be incorrect on that one though.

CB

January 26th, 2011
10:36 am

Lew,you still not planning a spring training trip?

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:38 am

RC-I’m thinking that our offense will be good enough next year that we can get a great fielding SS to tide us over if a good hitting SS isn’t available.

I sure wouldn’t go for Reyes. Lack of hustle and injury prone ain’t a good combination. But he can run, right? IF the legs are healed.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:39 am

CB-Not this year. Still don’t have my stamina back – among other things going on.

Arkansas Transplant

January 26th, 2011
10:42 am

I think Reyes would come at too high of a price for a player that spends such a great amount of time in the training room.

CB

January 26th, 2011
10:43 am

Sorry to hear that,Lew. We are hoping wife’s health continues to get better,we are debating a cross country trip in April visiting many sites and ending up in SF for the weekend series. May have to give a shout out to BAS when we get there.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:44 am

Transplant – Yeah, he missed 169 games the past two years and even playing in over 130 last year, his speed numbers were way down (those leg issues will do that to you). Stole his fewest number of bases and his caught stealing % went WAY up in 2010. OBP was way down, too.

And let’s remember that he sure didn’t help the Mets to anything more than One division title when they had tons of talent.

braveshoo

January 26th, 2011
10:45 am

I think Reyes would be a terrible fit for the Braves. A great talent, with a bad attitude, and therefore underachieves. Let the Mets or Yankees overpay for him next year.

DAP

January 26th, 2011
10:45 am

id rather hire a defensive whiz like jack wilson and spend the bulk of the money on LF. jose bautista, josh willingham, michael cuddyer, david dejesus, jd drew will all be free agents then too.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:45 am

Lew,

I’m really thinking that Stephen Drew might be a great fit for Atlanta next year, if he doesn’t cost too much in trade. He’s a Boras guy who will be owed $7.75M in the last year of his contract, with a $10M mutual contract for 2013 ($1.35M buyout, but I don’t know that the team has to pay if they pick up their side of it).

He’s also a GA boy, which always plays well with the Braves, and is a pretty well rounded SS, although he doesn’t stand out in any one area.

Also, Arizona is obviously in a rebuilding phase, so they should absolutely be looking to move him before he hits free agency. I actually wouldn’t be suprised to see him moved at the trading deadline this year, to either Atlanta or another contender looking to improve at SS.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:46 am

CB – Maybe next Spring for what the Mayans (or their spin meisters) claim will be our last Spring Training before the world self destructs.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:50 am

RC – Thing is that I’m not seeing them spend anywhere near that kind of money on a couple year fix for SS. $7.75 mil is a lot of money and what Reyes would make (he’s almost at $10 mil now) is way more than they will spend out of a potential $14 mil savings. Don’t forget that Prado will still be in arb – so will Jurrjens (should they retain him) and Moylan and O’Flaherty, too.

I’m thinking they’ll get an older Dude with a good glove (if one of our own is not ready – never can tell, though).

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 26th, 2011
10:53 am

RC, some perspective is in order.

Our Braves have tied up five years and 62 M in Dan Uggla through the age of 35. Jose Reyes is three years younger. That said, if Reyes has a big season in his walk year….he’s gonna get paid regardless. So five years for Reyes in the neighborhood of 70-75 M (from ages 29 to 33) is no a risk than Dan Uggla.

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 26th, 2011
10:54 am

RC, some perspective is in order.

Our Braves have tied up five years and 62 M in Dan Uggla through the age of 35. Jose Reyes is three years younger. That said, if Reyes has a big season in his walk year….he’s gonna get paid regardless. So five years for Reyes in the neighborhood of 70-75 M (from ages 29 to 33) is no more a risk than Dan Uggla.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:56 am

Uggla hasn’t missed 169 games the past two years and Reyes would be making almost as much. NO way.

RC

January 26th, 2011
10:56 am

Coach,

While I could argue that given the injury histories of Reyes and Uggla, Reyes IS more of a risk than Uggla, but that’s not the point I was trying to make.

My point was that due to the fact the Braves have already committed that money to Uggla, it’s a sunk cost. I don’t think they have the funds available for Reyes because they have already spent it on Uggla.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
10:56 am

And posting it twice won’t change that fact.

DAP

January 26th, 2011
10:58 am

coach So five years for Reyes in the neighborhood of 70-75 M (from ages 29 to 33) is no more a risk than Dan Uggla.

no, actually it is. dan uggla has been consistent and injury free in his career. jose reyes has been up and down and has been very injured recently. he may end up being fine, but he is certainly more risky than someone like uggla.

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:00 am

Lew,

You could be right about getting an older SS with strong defense. My suggestion of Drew is based more on what the Braves might do if Gonzalez reverts to his career norms next year and the Braves are still in the hunt near the deadline. Because the Gonzalez who played the first half in Toronto last year didn’t resemble the Gonzalez from previous years very much at all. And considering that Drew is only set to make about $4.65 million in 2011, I could easily see the Braves upgrading from Gonzalez at midseason to make a playoff push.

braveshoo

January 26th, 2011
11:00 am

I am very bullish on the Braves prospects this year. I like what Wren has done, and I think we are poised for a big year. My primary concern has been CF. However, if they use Nate/Jones/Schafer right, i think we will be OK. I would bat Prado 1st, and our Cf 2nd. Nate’s job would be to bunt alot, moving Prado to 2nd after a basehit, and moving him to 3rd after a double. If Prado doesnt get on, he Nate should still try to get on any way he can, and use his speed to steal bases and get in scoring position. Any HRs he hits will be a bonus .
I think Gonzales will use Nate in this way, and that should help him and the team
The biggest question mark we have is the BP. Last year we were better than anyone in the BP, and this enabled us to win a lot of games late.This year, our BP could be just as good. The talent is there, but we are very young and inexperienced in the BP, and only time will tell if our potential there turns into production we can count on.

Don

January 26th, 2011
11:01 am

“Everything is in place for years of success”
Your rose colored glasses must really be thick – When the Braves do not have a Centerfielder and may not have major league quality players either offensively or defensively at either Shortstop or Third Base – and how productive the rookie First Baseman will be offensively is unknown. Even more significantly, with the injuries they have and with Lowe being a year older, the starting pitching has question marks past Hudson and Hanson.

McFann O O

January 26th, 2011
11:01 am

Steve McP Pitchers and Catchers do not report for another 3 weeks

Gaaaaaaa!! Dang, feels like it’s been 3 weeks for a bout a month now!!

[In the voice of Gru from Despicable Me]: Oh, I don’t like this month…this is going on forever!

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:03 am

I’ll go you one question better on Reyes. The Mets have a ton of bucks coming off the books after this season. If Reyes is so good and such a difference maker (not sure why so many think so – he didn’t take the Mets anywhere), why don’t the Mets re-sign him long term?

I bet he’s traded at the deadline this year.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:05 am

And not to Atlanta.

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:06 am

braveshoo,

I REALLY hope that Freddi’s gameplan in 2011 isn’t to have to #2 batter “bunt a lot”. To voluntarily give up an out with the heart of a very strong order coming up is not a very high percentage play, especially in the early innings of a game. Assuming McLouth or Heyward are batting #2 (the most likely candidates), they have the power and speed to break open a game in the early going if Prado is on base….you don’t want to sacrifice the opportunity for multiple runs in order to score 1 run in the first inning*. Wait until the 7th inning or so for that type of strategy.

*Note – This strategy could potentially change when facing Halladay or Lee.

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 26th, 2011
11:07 am

All righty then. The pro’s and con’s of Jose Reyes.

Players with speed and power retain their skills the longest.

Players who rely just on speed must develop an extra skill, like a refined sense of the strike zone or an infusion of power, to last. Otherwise, once such a player loses a step or two, he’ll steal bases less effectively, won’t be able to leg out as many base hits, won’t reach as many balls in the field, and will quickly assume a spot on the bench.

Simply put, if Reyes is healthy in 2011 the young man is going to get paid handsomely for his five tool skill set. If not, all bets are off and Reyes won’t get much more than one or two years guaranteed.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:08 am

Players who are fast retain their skills IF they don’t injure their legs. Reyes tore a hamstring off the bone. Remember Ken Griffey Jr. after a similar injury?

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:10 am

2012 Free agent SS:

Yuniesky Betancourt MIL *
Rafael Furcal LAD
J.J. Hardy BAL
John McDonald TOR
Augie Ojeda ARZ
Jose Reyes NYM
Ramon Santiago DET
Marco Scutaro BOS *
Jack Wilson SEA

Although I think it’s fair to say we can probably remove Furcal from the Braves’ list

It’s also odd to me that Gonzalez is not listed here.

Murph

January 26th, 2011
11:10 am

Don, do you expect the Braves to field all-stars at every position?

Check the roster from ‘95… Blauser, Lemke, Grissom… yet they still were able to win the WS. Why? Because they had a great core of players that the team built around.

The Braves do indeed have the start of a new great core of players to build around. McCann, JHey, Uggla, Freeman?, Hanson, JJ, etc.

They can’t all be all-stars, but so long as there are a few and the others are serviceable, the team will be in good shape.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:10 am

And even if he does come back, he’ll command more $$$$$ than the Braves will ever pay for a player whose attitude would be a non starter for the Braves -especially when they won’t have all that much cash available until after 2012..

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:13 am

Lew,

While I don’t think the Braves will be in on Reyes, I do think it’s a bit unfair to cite his attitude as a problem. It may very well be a problem, but the truth is that he speaks very little English, and everything he does or says is dissected by the NY media, which even was able to portray Chipper Jones as a clubhouse problem. Also, many of his attitude problems are related to issues with the Mets’ medical staff, which has enough of a negative track record at this point to assume the player is probably right in any disagreement between the two.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:13 am

Murph – I hear what you’re saying, but Marquis hit .308 in 96 with the Braves with an OPS North of .800 and played a fantastic CF.

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 26th, 2011
11:14 am

Lew, the Braves will have the cash available assuming Chipper retires because both Chipper and Uggla are already under contract for 2012.

TennesseePaul

January 26th, 2011
11:14 am

DAP: there is another thing to consider, where is his heart at?

Pretty sure Natalie Portman already answered that one.

RC: By that I mean that there are no prospects without serious question

That was more of a rhetorical question… but your answer only highlights my point. By defining “very deep” as “no prospects without serious questions” one could say that every position is very deep in the system.

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:14 am

Forgot to wrap up my thought: Reyes might have an attitude problem, but none of us have enough inside knowledge to really know one way or another.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:15 am

RC- The English thing doesn’t work for me. Have you ever seen how many Latino players play for the Mets? How about the Coaches they have? Language should never be that big a problem as long as interpreters are there – and they are – in every clubhouse.

Murph

January 26th, 2011
11:16 am

That’s true, Lew, but in ‘95 when the Braves won it all he hit .258. Just furthers my point that the team doesn’t need hall-of-famers at each position to win.

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:16 am

TennesseePaul,

I would disagree about being able to define every position as very deep. SS is an area where the Braves have a lot of players with a very high upside, which isn’t true for other position in the system. However most of the guys they’ve got are really young, so we won’t know for another year or two just how deep the system really is.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:18 am

Coach – They just went out and singed all sorts of middle infielders in the draft and with FA signings. Given how Wren works with retaining talent, what makes you think they will spend all that money on a SS?

And you ASSUME that Chipper will retire. Even if he does, then you need a 3B (or LF should they move Prado) a SS AND a CF.

I repeat – they will never spend over $10 mil per season for several years (what it will likely take to sign Reyes should he have a comeback year) for a player they may only need for a year or two.

CB

January 26th, 2011
11:19 am

Nate coming back to his norms would really help this lineup,hoping he can prove himself to be a capable lead off guy. I would also flip flop Heyward and Uggla as cleanup hitter,depending on whether Lhp or Rhp. I believe Heyward will take a big step this year in power,25-30hrs at least.

TennesseePaul

January 26th, 2011
11:19 am

Thanks CR. I’m not as sold on these reports though. I’ll wait and see what they turn into over the coming years. There was a time when the SS position was real deep… it had the likes of Yunel and Lilibridge. CF was real “deep” as well… it had the likes of Schafer and Gorkys Hernandez. Catcher was deep what with Salty and Tyler Flowers… Not that I don’t believe the team is excited about the kids they have, but some times it seems the sales pitch is filling out the depth.

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:20 am

Lew,

I agree that the English thing SHOULDN’T be a problem, but I think that it has become one. My observation is that the Mets org doesn’t do a very good job of limiting media access, so often times a player is asked a question that he may not fully understand or may not be able to phrase his answer in a way that doesn’t incite controversy. Carlos Beltran has run into some of the same issues in NY, and he was a guy that always got excellent makeup reviews in other cities he’s played in.

Maybe DOB or Carrol can give some insight to the state of the media exposure in the Mets clubhouse compared to others? I am simply forming an opinion based on admittedly flawed information, but my point is that we don’t really know the full truth about Reyes’ attitude as fans.

TennesseePaul

January 26th, 2011
11:22 am

RC: disagree about being able to define every position as very deep

I would too, hence I wouldn’t define the term/label “very deep” as “no prospects without serious questions”

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:22 am

TennesseePaul,

The best way to know which prospects the Braves really like is to see which ones they DON’T trade. They are one of the best organizations in baseball at fairly evaluating their own talent.

RC

January 26th, 2011
11:23 am

TennesseePaul,

I guess what I’d say about SS instead of “very deep” is that there are a lot of players with very high upside, and odds are that at least one or two of them pan out.

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 26th, 2011
11:26 am

I repeat – they will never spend over $10 mil per season for several years (what it will likely take to sign Reyes should he have a comeback year) for a player they may only need for a year or two.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lew, I’m not going to argue with such nonsensical thinking. Simply because if Frank Wren has the payroll available, he will spend it. As for the supposed attitude of Reyes…he’s a an All-Star caliber five tool talent. So is Hanley Ramirez. As was Barry Bonds. Teams care far less about an attitude problem when their superstar’s perform up to expectation.

TennesseePaul

January 26th, 2011
11:27 am

The best way to know which prospects the Braves really like is to see which ones they DON’T trade

It’s a general rule of thumb I suppose, but it makes it impossible to gauge the current state of a farm system if you have to wait until the players are traded.
I’m pretty sure the Braves really liked Adam Wainwright though, despite trading him.

Robert

January 26th, 2011
11:27 am

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FIH/is_9_71/ai_n18613528/

The duties of the first base coach

Some of it is pretty comical – stuff the hitter/runner should know unless they are a mental cripple

Anyway – it’s clear the first base coach has some duties but also clear that they are much less vital than say that of the hitting instructor

It’s a good job for a popular rah-rah guy who really doesnt have much to offer beyond his enthusiasm

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:28 am

RC- Well, attitude or no, he’ll still cost more than they’ll be willing to spend. He’s just not the player they’ll target – IF indeed, they target anyone outside of the organization.

I’m still thinking that we’ll have greater insight into who 2012’s SS might be when we see who backs up Gonzalez this year. If it’s one of our kids not name Diory, I imagine that’s who will be the heir apparent.

tiger297

January 26th, 2011
11:28 am

McFann – you absolutely buy your airplane just like a car and the upfront cost is expensive for new but you can find a late model that costs less than alot of new cars. Maintenance and fuel are the 2 really big expenses (unless you keep it in a hanger but I can’t afford that).

BTW anything you want me to tell/ask Mac tomorrow?

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:29 am

We have to consider that Prado and Jurrjens will almost double their 2011 salaries in arb next winter – that right there would add an additional $6 mil right off the bat (so to speak).

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:31 am

Coach – You don’t even want to go the nonsensical route. You’ve achieved pro status there over the years.

You’re thinking about speed and nothing else. They won’t spend the bucks he will cost – espeially given the injury history. Period.

JoeFan

January 26th, 2011
11:34 am

Chipper is owed nearly $30 million over two years. He is not walking away from that money. Even if he retires, he and the Braves will negotiate a monetary settlement. So don’t bank on the Braves having the extra cash to spend until after the 2012 season.

McFann O O

January 26th, 2011
11:35 am

tiger297—

Cool! Thanks for the info. I’ve just been curious about that…ha, doubt if I could ever even think about applying for a pilot’s license—heck, I’m still scared to try my hand at driving a car—but I still wondered how it worked for planes…If you’re a retired pilot from like, the Air Force, and you still have your license you buy it the same way, right? I mean…or do you “get” your own plane for serving?

BTW anything you want me to tell/ask Mac tomorrow?

Hmm…that’s a toughy! Lemme think about that for a minute…

Steve McP

January 26th, 2011
11:36 am

Don’t despair McFann, it is actually only 19 days till P&C’s report, not 3 weeks.

TennesseePaul

January 26th, 2011
11:37 am

We have to consider that Prado and Jurrjens will almost double their 2011 salaries in arb next winter

Prado I could see getting a multi-year deal… if he has a good 2011. That might reduce his immediate impact on the payroll (some of the money could be converted to a signing bonus for instance)
Jurrjens could too, but I doubt it him being a Boras client and a pitcher.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:38 am

JoeFan-Not from Chipper, but Nate and Kawakami’s $14 mil will be gone from the books. There WILL be money, but not nearly as much as Coach seems to think.

I just don’t see Wren drafting all those middle infielders and the going out and spending over $10 mil a season on a long term contract for a SS they may only need a year or so til the kids are ready.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:39 am

Ten Paul – I see the long term deals being handed out the year after next when CHippers and Lowe’s salaries (and maybe Hudson’s) are gone. THEN thy’ll do some locking up.

McFann O O

January 26th, 2011
11:40 am

Steve McP—

Oh, awesome! It’s sounds so much shorter when you put it that way!

Arkansas Transplant

January 26th, 2011
11:40 am

As a replacement option at SS next year, I’d be more inclined for us to trade for someone like Eduardo Nunez from the Yanks than to sign someone that’s going to require the money it would take to bring Reyes here. Nunez would at least give us a cheap option and someone we could move if need be.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:42 am

Transplant – If not Nunez, someone like him would be they way I see them going, too.

Murph

January 26th, 2011
11:42 am

your sensitivity is showing!

Please Carroll, not in front of the other guys. I already told you, while I’m flattered, I’m married.

I asked what year he signed, not when his first season was, so nyah.

Arkansas Transplant

January 26th, 2011
11:43 am

Not to mention, Nunez does have speed for those of you wanting Reyes just cause of his speed.

TennesseePaul

January 26th, 2011
11:44 am

I see the long term deals being handed out the year after next when CHippers and Lowe’s salaries (and maybe Hudson’s) are gone

I don’t know Lew. They just handed one to Uggla even with Chipper, Lowe and Hudson around. The year after next, would mean the winter of 12-13… that’s McCann’s option year. They only have 2.5 players signed for 2013 as it is (counting Sutter)

MikeInFl

January 26th, 2011
11:44 am

Don’t start spending that Chipper money just yet.

Not only is it premature to assume that he retires after this year, but it’s also not a given that he’ll be gone after 2012.

His $7 mil club option for 2013 becomes guaranteed at $9 mil if he plays 123 games in 2012, or averages 127 in 2011/2012.

I’m not predicting he’ll be here for three more years, but it’s in his contract. And I do hope he’s healthy enough to play it out.

Lew

January 26th, 2011
11:47 am

Ten Paul – Well, at the risk of starting another range war, I sill think that they’ll trade Jurrjens next winter with his two years left under contractual control and him about ready to start making upwards of $7 mil. THAT might be where the new SS comes from.

Arkansas Transplant

January 26th, 2011
11:47 am

I’m with you, MikeInFl. I hope Chipper is healthy enough to stick around and play it out. I’m not quite ready to see him walk away.

Robert

January 26th, 2011
11:48 am

“I still don’t get why people think that Pendleton is the worst thing to ever happen to hitting”

He wasnt the WORST. He just wasnt very good. Granted, some players are just not going to listen, but then again some teachers have the knack to tend to make people listen – TP didnt have that.

Just a note – as far as Chipper – he always went to his dad if he had serious hitting issues – so TP gets no credit there

TP wasnt the worst ever – but he certainly bring anything extraordinary to the table as a hitting instructor

Murph

January 26th, 2011
11:50 am

Nothing but love for you Carroll, nothin’ but love… just don’t tell Mrs. Murph.

Robert

January 26th, 2011
11:52 am

“and how much of it was a result of the players knowing that they did not have to pay attention to him – knowing that Bobby Cox would not back him up with any kind of punishment or lack of playing time for the players for not heeding Pendleton’s advice.”

I agree with this.

Golden Boy Francoeur did whatever he wanted – he said himself that all he cared about was that “6 had his back”. Well, all 6 cared about was that “Frenchy” was one of the boys – never held him accountable, never forced him to push himself –

The end result -

Rowland’s Office had a link to an article where some folks gave their opinion as to the 5 worst everyday players in baseball

Francoeur was an almost unanimous choice

Robert

January 26th, 2011
11:57 am

I dont particularly like Uggla – I think he is a decent player but people thinking of him as a top level hitter are fooling themselves

BUT

He is a FAR better risk than Reyes

Reyes has a poor career OBP – If he is stealing 60 bases a year, maybe you can live with a .350 OBP

But if he is stealing only 30 AND only getting on base in the .320’s – no thank you

DAP

January 26th, 2011
11:57 am

RC, where’d you get that list? heres the one from MLBTraderumors. gonzalez is on this one:

Shortstops
Yuniesky Betancourt (30) – $6MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Ronny Cedeno (29) – club option
Craig Counsell (41)
Adam Everett (35)
Rafael Furcal (34) – $12MM club/vesting option
Alex Gonzalez (34)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (36)
J.J. Hardy (29)
Omar Infante (30)
Cesar Izturis (32)
John McDonald (37)
Nick Punto (34)
Edgar Renteria (35)
Jose Reyes (29)
Jimmy Rollins (33)
Ramon Santiago (32)
Marco Scutaro (36) – $6MM club option/$3MM player option with a $1.5MM buyout
Miguel Tejada (38)
Jack Wilson (34)

Don

January 26th, 2011
11:59 am

All the talk about retirement for Chipper and having the extra money — Forget it — Chipper thinking of retirement is just that – talk – He is probably not going to walk away from that kind of money – no matter how bad is come back attempt is. Very, very few players would – and you can’t really be critical of them for that. The Braves may very well be stuck with a huge hole in their salary budget with a player who is not really of major league quality either offensively or defensively. And this takes nothing away from his being a great, great hitter in the past.

Robert

January 26th, 2011
12:01 pm

“Players with speed and power retain their skills the longest.

Players who rely just on speed must develop an extra skill, like a refined sense of the strike zone or an infusion of power, to last”

You have just stated the arguement against Reyes

With a career adjusted OPS of 101 and 74 hr in 4200 PA’s, he is hardly a power hitter

If guys with speed and power retain their skills the longest, then guys who have speed but nothing else and have poor plate discipline are the guys who sink fastest

flange1

January 26th, 2011
12:05 pm

Great, it is the Robert and Don show!

Let the Bobby Cox lovefest begin!

cricket

January 26th, 2011
12:05 pm

Darn it Wren, should’ve traded for Baldelli before he retired as a player. We just lost a playoff there.
Now go sign Lastings asap.

Murph

January 26th, 2011
12:06 pm

There’s a few good options on the SS list that the Braves could sign to shorter contracts while they are waiting for one of the many prospects to rise above the others and play his way onto the team.

Murph

January 26th, 2011
12:07 pm

Great, it is the Robert and Don show!

Let the Bobby Cox lovefest begin!

You just killed ward. Congratulations.

Robert

January 26th, 2011
12:07 pm

“Don, do you expect the Braves to field all-stars at every position?”

Murph – The Bobby Cox worshippers are quick to point out that the fact that the mid 90’s Braves teams won the NL East with ONLY 4 or 5 all-stars and future HOFers on the team is proof of Bobby’s genius

By that logic – unless you have a genius manager, you need to have all-stars at every position if you wish to make the playoffs, much less win the WS

flange1

January 26th, 2011
12:07 pm

Don,

I am disappointed that in your posts this morning that you haven’t mentioned that JJJ has never been the same since his shoulder injury.

That line from you makes my day every time I read it!

Robert

January 26th, 2011
12:10 pm

“Check the roster from ‘95… Blauser, Lemke, Grissom… yet they still were able to win the WS. Why? Because they had a great core of players that the team built around. ”

WHAT?

I thought it was because they had a genius manager

I mean, to hear people on this blog, without Bobby Cox, Maddux Glavine and Smoltz wouldnt have been able to find their way onto the field, much less lead a team to a WS title

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