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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Let's Go
July 29th, 2011
4:28 pm
Minor, Beachy, Shafer, and one other high A or AA player for Pence (Maybe even Bourn) and Wandy Rodriguez. Houston cuts salary and gets prospects and the Braves get an OF who can hit and a LH starting pitcher.
Bobby
July 29th, 2011
4:28 pm
Jerry Blogger-Only the #3 prospect in all of baseball at the start of the season.
Brava
July 29th, 2011
4:28 pm
Lineup; 1. Constanza cf, 2. Prado 3b, 3. Freeman 1b, 4. Uggla 2b, 5. Hinske lf, 6. Ross c, 7. Heyward rf, 8. Gonzalez ss, 9. Beachy
Trojan
July 29th, 2011
4:29 pm
Constanza can out hit ANY of our outfielders. What does that tell you? Bourne is a great fit for this team. We are slow as fog, we need speed.
Help us out Wren!
Dan_in_NC
July 29th, 2011
4:30 pm
Obviously you morons can’t read…Constanza is with the team in Atlanta, not Durham. DOB tweeted that he will be in center batting leadoff…
I wish Nate would have been DFA…
Bushinyou
July 29th, 2011
4:30 pm
Why is McLouth going on the DL?
Patrick
July 29th, 2011
4:30 pm
Nate to DL, alright! Half the opening day lineup is out, but no worries! Ryan Ludwick is coming to fix everything!
abeeeewright
July 29th, 2011
4:30 pm
Bourn seems to be so over-the-top obvious as the best fit for the Braves (CF, good speed, good OBP) that I cannot believe that Pence even gets the time-of-day (RF, fair speed, fair OBP).
If the only argument against Bourn is that the Braves’ might be giving up on Schafer … doesn’t that apply to Pence in spades? Getting Pence means giving up on Heyward.
If Schafer is the obstacle between Braves getting Bourn and upgrading their OBP and speed, I would really begin to dislike Schafer.
Bourn is likely now far better than Schafer will ever develop into. Pence, who’s having a good year, is better than Heyward in what will probably prove to be his worst season.
Mister Frisky
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
Hudson in CF he carries more wood than 2/3 of the regulars.
longislandbravesfan
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
The suspense is killing me. I don’t want Willingham or Ludwick unless we can get Balfour or Bell in the same deal to help out the ‘pen. Would that have any chance at happening
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
we dont know that macout is headed to the D/L. only speculation
Casual
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
I like Bourn about the best of any of them if he does not cost too much. The speed and the D are unlikely to go in a slump. Just make the lineup more interesting and pitching even better.
Jim Hertel
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
Lew, I really don’t remember that Derrick Lee did much for us last year. He is a good man, but this isn’t church. He certainly wasn’t a difference maker, and that’s what this team has to have to move to the top tier. Otherwise, I see a slow slide down to the finish. We have too many black holes in that batting order to scare anybody in the playoffs.
Andrew in PA
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
Braves may end up need to pieces. Bryd and Reed Johnson.
Craig
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
abeeeewright, do you not remember? We do not value OBP very much.
Snotboogie
July 29th, 2011
4:31 pm
McLouth – DL – abdominal strain.
Diory DFA because Constanza not on 40 man.
Blankster
July 29th, 2011
4:32 pm
Brava
July 29th, 2011
4:28 pm
Lineup; 1. Constanza cf, 2. Prado 3b, 3. Freeman 1b, 4. Uggla 2b, 5. Hinske lf, 6. Ross c, 7. Heyward rf, 8. Gonzalez ss, 9. Beachy
Worst line up in 15 years for the braves??
bvillebaron
July 29th, 2011
4:32 pm
Nice article DOB. Good analysis across the board.
One-Eyed Mac
July 29th, 2011
4:32 pm
Not speculation, DOB tweeted about McLouth, lower abdominal strain.
Jake
July 29th, 2011
4:32 pm
This lineup wins a whollllleeeee lotta games:
Gonzo SS
1) Costanza CF
2) Prado LF
3) McCann C
4) Chipper 3B
5) Freeman 1B
6) Uggla 2B
7) Heyward RF
9) Best rotation in the game.
The Bream Team
July 29th, 2011
4:32 pm
George scored with the Portugese waitress
Patrick
July 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
DOB, I know you mentioned not trading big pieces now but maybe in the summer. But while the Braves are in the position they are in, shouldn’t they go for it now while they are in position?
Who knows what will happen next season.
Plus, they’ll have some money next year: No kawakami, mclouth or alex gonzalez to pay for or linebrink or sherrill for that matter.
So, they don’t neccessarily have to trade in the offseason too.
CrαZy
July 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
All you guys who have been wanting to see Jose Constanza are going to be disapointed. Just another Matt Young…..5′ 9″ 150Lb There’s a reason these guys are still in the minors at 27 years old.
Robert
July 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
“Well, I can’t even think of another reason not to do it. Who are we kidding? Dude’s a stud.”
Michael Bourn is a pretty good player. He is NOT a stud
Matt Kemp is a stud. Albert Pujols is a stud.
Michael Bourn is not a stud
roaddawg80
July 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
He is replacing McClouth
MFin04
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
So Diory is basically no longer a Brave…
AlabamaBrave
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
So that means Gonzo is our SS for the rest of the year and his back-up is Lugo? Yikes!
Brava
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
It’s pretty bad, Blankster. Worried about this series with the Fish. They are hot right now.
Patrick
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
Blankster, yes: I believe so, and even if you were to add Ludwick in there, the answer to your question would still be yes
braves phanatik
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
hahahahahaha @ whoever just called our owners liberty mutal of omaha. damn that made day.
uhh, I dunno
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
Why are the Braves on 4 different channels?
Miss the good ole days when you knew what channel they would be on everynight…..because it was ONE.
Takes a bar/restaurant half the game to figure out which channel they have to change it to everynight also. The amount of time it takes a manager to figure out and then actually change the channel takes an hour.
I hate Liberty Mutual and Braves TV contracts….Bring back the Superstation!
Snotboogie
July 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
All you guys who have been wanting to see Jose Constanza are going to be disapointed. Just another Matt Young…..5′ 9″ 150Lb There’s a reason these guys are still in the minors at 27 years old.
Pfft. That only means that Gartrell will become the new hero.
Free Gartrell !!!
TnBrian
July 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
Constanza? Sorry, never even heard of him. Maybe I have since you have the bloggers who talk lots about minor leaguers, but I can’t recall.
Damn this team can’t stay healthy.
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ
July 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
back to work, yawn, call me if we make a big trade.
cannot go to the TED tonight, my wallet and liver cannot afford it.
Jerry Blooger
July 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
Bobby- I know man but in my little basement he’s not thought that well of. You think he’ll have better career than Heyward?
Bobby
July 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
Jim Hertel-Your memory fails you!
SB75
July 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
If we can’t get Upton at a reasonable price, pass on every one else. Been saying it for over a mounth now, you can’t trade for a corner OF’er untill Chipper decides when he will hang them up. Pence can not play CF, watch him play defense before you reply back. Carlos can’t play center, Ludwick? No Will? No. Bourn? Yes, but cost is the issue. Jason will be in right and Prado in left untill Chipper hangs them up. So no to corner OF’ers. B.J. or bust!
abeeeewright
July 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
Why is that such a bad line-up?
Could have Ramirez instead of Heyward and Lugo instead of Gonzalez.
Maybe Fredo could rest Rossie and play Boscan? Don’t want to tax him since he might have to play 15 games in a row.
The Bream Team
July 29th, 2011
4:36 pm
What do we do if Jeff Porter pulls a hammy running on the field?
Dan_in_NC
July 29th, 2011
4:36 pm
Not exactly heartbroken over Diory getting DFA…he had plenty of chances to be a solid backup to Gonzo at short.
Brave New World
July 29th, 2011
4:36 pm
Not joking here, just want some feedback. Would you make this trade: Heyward, Minor and Shafer for Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn?
TennesseePaul
July 29th, 2011
4:36 pm
Diory is gone and Biff is up! Nice. I’m looking forward to this.
Wonder if his jacket zipper got stuck when he was called into the office to be told of his promotion, resulting in a panic. Perhaps he found a white discoloration near his lip as well?
Bobby
July 29th, 2011
4:37 pm
Jerry Blogger-No, probably not. But he would be better than anything the Braves have in their system for LF going forward. Plus a more valuable asset than Delgado.
noliee
July 29th, 2011
4:37 pm
neither team would make that trade
N8
July 29th, 2011
4:38 pm
“No Way DOB
Didn’t think so. Me either. Thanks for the response.
Now, in your blog article, you stated that Wren wouldn’t give up any of the big 4 (Minor, Delgado, Teheran, Vizcaino)….
Is it your understanding that Houston wants two of those guys? Because since it’s been mentioned elsewhere that Minor was the missing piece that Wren wouldn’t part with, am I correct in assuming that Delgado was likely ALREADY in that package and Wren wouldn’t add Minor to it?
Or was it simply 3 other prospects besides one of the “big 4″ and Wren wouldn’t part with one of them big 4?
Because as much as I’ve been against getting Pence for two of our big 4 pitchers, I WOULD however, part with one of them not named Teheran for Pence.
Please clarify (if you know the answer) for my own personal satisfaction. LOL
Robert
July 29th, 2011
4:38 pm
“Dominic Brown would be a good addition to the Braves and/or a better trade chip than Delgado”
If the Braves were hesitant to trade Mike Minor to a divisonal rival, then the Phillies are to be expected to be hesitant to trade Dominic Brown to the Braves for the same reason
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander
The Braves dont get to live by special rules
TnBrian
July 29th, 2011
4:38 pm
The Braves will go down to the wire with a trade. Just like last year when it was literally a last minute trade for Ankiel/Farnsworth.
Eric
July 29th, 2011
4:38 pm
What a lineup
abeeeewright
July 29th, 2011
4:38 pm
If the Braves had already traded for Bourn, McNate to the DL wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Lollygagger
July 29th, 2011
4:39 pm
here comes Ludbag and Willingcrap
And there we have it, folks. Who needs John Heyman, Ken Rosenthal and the DOB to give us the news? We have Mister Frisky.
(Actually, I have to admit that I did laugh at those names for a brief moment before I returned to adulthood)
MFin04
July 29th, 2011
4:39 pm
“Not exactly heartbroken over Diory getting DFA…he had plenty of chances to be a solid backup to Gonzo at short.”
Yeh, and A-Gon has had plenty of chances at SS to prove he’s a starter but…
Tick Tock
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
Just don’t do a deal. It’ rediculous the number of injuries. If they trade for a right handed bat, someone will slip on soap in the next couple of days and get hurt.
When does it turn from just being bad luck to being bad conditioning techniques and practices?
Andrew in PA
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
Braves will do something. First priority should be OF that can play CF. Marlon Byrd, Reed Johnson or Michael Bourn. Then we should call the fish and try to get Infante back. He would be priceless to this Braves team right now. See what the Giants did last year. They went for quantity over quality.
boondawg
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
Wow the wheels seem to be falling off. McClouth with an injury? Hum? Bet we are getting a CF’er.
tony austin
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
Wonder if his jacket zipper got stuck when he was called into the office to be told of his promotion, resulting in a panic. Perhaps he found a white discoloration near his lip as well? – Tennessee Paul
Heath
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
I would say based on cost… Quentin is more likely than Pence. I just don’t think Pence is going to happen and I think Quentin is a small chance too. I’ll hold out hope for Quentin instead of “the second tier” guys.
BFChris26
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
I sure hope Wren doesn’t think Constaza is the only move to be done. That would be down right horrible.
TennesseePaul
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
Wait McLouth is injured? That couldn’t possibly be true. Not a chance this guy is injured. He’s 100% healthy. Has been his entire Braves tenure. Not once has he ever had an oblique, abdominal, hamstring, concussion, or any other type of injury at any point ever.
Probably for the best though. Insurance kicks in right? All this weeping and gnashing of teeth due to McLouth’s contract, the amount of time he’s been on the DL bought the buy out of his contract.
Heath
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
Wow…Constanza leading off too. Talk about getting called up.
abeeeewright
July 29th, 2011
4:40 pm
I still think that getting Ankiel again might happen.
Bobby Hill
July 29th, 2011
4:42 pm
Maybe Wren should be looking to sell at the deadline instead of buy?
Blankster
July 29th, 2011
4:42 pm
I thinka big problem the braves have, and have had for a few years, is that they DONT HAVE that STUD. That one guy in the middle of the line up who can hit for average and power. Chipper was that guy before the last 3/4 years. He was a genuine stud. Maybe mccann can be that guy, but then he is out of the line up every 5th day.
I guess they hoped that guy would be heyward….
glove51
July 29th, 2011
4:42 pm
I’d rather have Diory than Lugo personally.
abeeeewright
July 29th, 2011
4:42 pm
Since it was fairly certain that the Braves were going to move on something in CF, at most “Can’t Stand Ya” will be patrolling out there for two days.
coach
July 29th, 2011
4:42 pm
If Canstanza does bad tonight then he will be known as Can’tstandya tomorrow.
TennesseePaul
July 29th, 2011
4:43 pm
I sure hope Wren doesn’t think Constaza is the only move to be done.
Yes. I’m pretty sure this is it. The FO played this one close to the vest to prevent the competition from figuring out the weapon they already had.
MFin04
July 29th, 2011
4:43 pm
When the heck did McLouth get hurt?
And seriously? The cost of the Braves getting a CF just went up when we DLed both of our CFs in one week.
boondawg
July 29th, 2011
4:43 pm
I just jumped on the Bourn bandwagon.
Bobby
July 29th, 2011
4:43 pm
Brave New World-Upton is 26 not 28.
Brave New World
July 29th, 2011
4:44 pm
Mister Frisky, when you get a chance, would you mind fixing the debt crisis? – you could not be any worse than what’s in Washington.
billmaier
July 29th, 2011
4:44 pm
dave glad you would trade minor for a bat– you should be in wren’s place and wren fired if that is the only thing holding up the pence deal. How does wren explain- please ask him where minor fits in in the future now next year and the proceeding years?– if he cant trade lowe then you have the five starters back next year plus medlen 6-2 and the braves were 10-1 when he started in 2010. plus everyone has projected that teheran willbe in the rotation in 2012- so counting minor that is 8 starter for five postions and you have teheran and viziciano, oberholtzer,hoover, spruell, gilmartin for possible future years plus thos pitchers drafted this year and in future drafts- if wren won’t answer dave or somebody please answer that question where in the world does minor fit in with all that depth- when we need a righhanded bat now and the future
Veer
July 29th, 2011
4:44 pm
YES CONTZANA IS HERE!!!! I BEEN LOBBYING FOR HIM TO COME TO MLB FOR PAST 3 MONTHS. WHAT A PLAYER HE IS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANTED BOURN? WELL GUESS WHAT??
THIS GUY IS THE 2ND COMMING TO BOURN!!!
THIS WORKS OUT AS GOOD AS A TRADE!!!!!!!!!!!
YA!!!!!!!!
TnBrian
July 29th, 2011
4:44 pm
boondawg, yep. A CF is coming to Atlanta in any trade now that both of ours are hurt. Just too obvious. Betting Bourn and probably a platoon guy like Ludwick or Willingham. The RP thing will have to wait.
That’s my prediction and I’m sticking to it … for now.
Ed
July 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
Can the Braves teach Jordan to play shortstop ???
RC
July 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
Whoever we get had better be able to leadoff, because apparently that’s where Fredi hits the CF….
abeeeewright
July 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
You almost want to feel sorry for McLouth (not really). He was going into a huge pay-day next year ($10M+), but will now be lucky to catch on with any mlb team for the league minimum.
bravesgrl4lifeeee
July 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
has it been posted on here that Nate went on the DL with an abdominal problem?
jebstuart
July 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
TO Chris from the Rock RE: your quote
“and as a sidenote, if Pastornicky keeps it up, he might be ready to man SS come April as well. He’s killing it at AAA, hitting well over .400, albeit in just over 30 ABs.”
Someone has to teach him to play Short first. Terrible Arm, lacks range or doesn’t hustle but he can hit singles.
No, No, No
July 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
Constanza batting leadoff………..COME ON MAN
Jerry Blooger
July 29th, 2011
4:46 pm
Uh Oh here comes Coco
Elmer
July 29th, 2011
4:46 pm
Who would want McC. or Shaf ?
Dumbfound
July 29th, 2011
4:46 pm
Talk about getting free agents and trades, It looks like Mr. Blank wants a superbowl title. The Falcons sign Ray Edwards and I believe the Falcons are the mystery team After Nnamdi ! Can you say Superbowl rather than World Series ?! Okay Wren, The ball is in your court Now ! What are you going to do ?!?!
Brave New World
July 29th, 2011
4:47 pm
Bobby: You are right and I am wrong. Thanks for the correction. Upton has a world of talent, but he has yet to be the player everyone was hoping for. Maybe a chnage of pace would help him. If he comes here, I’m sure Larry Parrish will make him a better hitter (LOL).
John
July 29th, 2011
4:47 pm
Would going after Bourn really mean that they had given up on Shaf? They could always look to move him to left if/when Chipper retires and they move Prado to thrid. Then you have two fast guys at the top of the lineup.
AlabamaBrave
July 29th, 2011
4:47 pm
Pirates are buyers this year who’d of thunk it? They need some more bats. The Cubs are looking to dump salalry. Think the Buccos might make a run at Pena?
TennesseePaul
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
This is hilarious. Bourn and Upton aren’t perfect fits but Carlos Quentin makes sense? The Quentin move would require the Braves to essentially give up on Heyward or Prado for the rest of this season. DOB didn’t seem to have a problem presuming the Braves would do that. Now it’s time to leave what we would do out of the discussion?
uh-oh some body stepped on the toes of Payne’s favorite player ever.
Eric
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
Coco? O heck no
Wookie Ninja
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
Costanza??? WOW! leadoff hitter supremo! Wren sure is a tightass!
RC
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
Looking at Constanza’s AAA numbers….more triples than doubles and HR combined. And he actually seems to have decent periphials. This might not be such a bad thing after all….
MFin04
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
“Nate went on the DL with an abdominal problem”
Was it from all the whining and complaining at balls/strikes and the cut of the outfield grass?
Lollygagger
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
Hey DOB -
I know in your blog you say Pastornicky won’t be ready for SS until 2013, but do you think there’s any chance at all that The Pastor gets a September call-up this year and gets a chance to prove himself for 2012? He seems to be a bit of what the Braves need- a guy who can hit at top of order and use his serious wheels.
boondawg
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
My guess is that Wren has the deal that he wants practically done and is just staying in the Pence talks to drive the price up on the Phillies.
Trojan
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
Micheal Borne is better than any outfielder on the Braves roster. He may not be a stud but he is at least average. No other Brave OF can say that.
Lollygagger
July 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
well, crap. Sorry about all the bold
ronnie
July 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
in typical braves fashion we will pick up whoever is the oldest with the worst avg. because we don’t wat to trade a pitcher who may be great someday.
Joey
July 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
It’s true, Blankster. I did a lot of reading about Balco Labs, that “treated” lots of athletes, including Bonds and Marion Jones, and the owner, Victor Conte gave some eye-popping interviews. He even said something to the effect that he, “created the home run champ.”
HGH not only makes someone bigger, faster, and stronger, it gives them a lot more stamina, speeds up “turn-around” (which like you wrote, really helps MLB players because they play everyday), and last but not least, eyesight. In Balco’s tests, HGH improved an athlete’s eyesight by up to 50%.
So, a hitter not only gets an improved “quick bat” and improved batspeed, but can see the ball up to 50% better. Read some of that and you’ll see why Bonds became superman.
Bet old Hank would have hit 1500 dingers if he coulda got some of that stuff . . .
Nick Saban
July 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
Bourn seems to be so over-the-top obvious as the best fit for the Braves (CF, good speed, good OBP) that I cannot believe that Pence even gets the time-of-day (RF, fair speed, fair OBP).
I just don’t get it either. We need a lead-off centerfielder more than anything. He steals bases as good as anyone. He wins gold gloves. And he also comes cheaper in terms of what we’ll be giving up and salary. Braves management are complete morons for not acquiring this guy yet and looking at guys like Pence, Quinton, and not to mention losers like Willingham and Ludwick, etc… instead.
It’s just insanely stupid.
bring back blauser
July 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
frank wren is not stupid, he knows these other teams are asking a kings ransom for their players because both atlanta and philly are both bidding for the same players. goes back to the fact of inflation supply and demand you want them we got them and we gonna sell to the highest bidder even though what we want is far more than what they are worth. let philly give away the farm for whomever they are targeting. you can bet that the next in line has had a drop in value due to the fact that only one team is there to bid
CrαZy
July 29th, 2011
4:50 pm
Veer,
You’ve not seen Constanza in person have you?
RC
July 29th, 2011
4:50 pm
Would going after Bourn really mean that they had given up on Shaf? They could always look to move him to left if/when Chipper retires and they move Prado to thrid. Then you have two fast guys at the top of the lineup.
Completely agree. It’s not like having 2 elite defensive OF is a bad thing. I see Bourn more as a 1.5 year move, whom you allow to leave via free agency, hopefully once Schafer has developed a bit more.