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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,671 comments Add your comment
Arkansas Transplant
August 31st, 2011
12:15 pm
Hillbilly, I’m with you on Hicks.. much better option in my opinion then Lugo.
Patrick
August 31st, 2011
12:15 pm
The title of this Blog is now appropriate for 2 reasons!
GeorgetownKid
August 31st, 2011
12:15 pm
Welcome back Matty Diaz!!!
You were always one of my favorites.
I haven’t posted on this blog (though I read it every day) in a few years. But I wanted to join the chorus welcoming you back!!
Patrick
August 31st, 2011
12:16 pm
Matt Diaz on twitter:
Heading back to Atlanta, enjoyed playing with the pirate players so much, but id b lying if I said I wasn’t excited. Time to go back home
AWESOME, LOVE IT
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:16 pm
clever McFann. : )
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:18 pm
Love Diaz. Glad to see him back in the fold. He’ll certainly help with depth on the bench and platoon arrangements in the outfield.
And he’s signed up for 2012, so he’ll work great in a platoon with Heyward next season………
Arkansas Transplant
August 31st, 2011
12:19 pm
I’d say the Diaz move was a one up on the Phillies move to acquire Bowker!
monty
August 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
“so he’ll work great in a platoon with Heyward next season………”
Ouch…!!
flange1
August 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
Isn’t the 40 man roster full right now?
I know we have to make a 25 man move to get Diaz on the team, but don’t we also have to make a 40 man move as well?
Welcome back Matt!
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
I do like the move as it gives them an even deeper roster than they had.
Buster on Jamey Carroll:
Source on possible Jamey Carroll deal: “not happening.”
N8
August 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
I actually agree with you for the most part Shaun. But the thing is, his ERA since the break is approaching 6.00. (5.87 I believe).
So that tells me it’s more than bad luck. I totally get that he was getting “good luck” on balls in play, that should have likely led to more hits, thus spiking his ERA a bit. But the HR totals tell me that something is off.
It wasn’t “good luck” that balls weren’t leaving the yard on him through his first 17 starts. That was simply good pitching (while probably not an ERA under 2.00 good – but good nonetheless).
But even when he was pitching well, and those balls in play were become outs, his location was damn near pin point on most occasions. He was using the defense and allowing his pitch counts to not rack up.
Until Bud Selig allows extra outfielders on the other side of the wall, it’s going to be hard to let your defense help you out. LOL
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:21 pm
Ouch…!!
I was joking…..
or was I?
BFChris26
August 31st, 2011
12:21 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5598352
Remember when Matt Diaz helped tackle that fan in Philly
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:22 pm
Wow. 11-24 against the Nationals in their last 35. That is horrific. They don’t even have Harper, Rendon or Stras up yet.
BFChris26
August 31st, 2011
12:23 pm
Wouldn’t it be funny if the PTBNL is Nate McLouth
N8
August 31st, 2011
12:24 pm
In the even that Constanza’s injury is worse than it appears, and Heyward is back to playing more. I could see a Diaz/Hinske platoon for parts of September.
Either way, he’s the best RH outfield bat we’ve had on the roster all year (Mather, Wilkin, Young), so from that angle it gives Fredi some more flexibility to double switch late in a game or simply PH for Heyward against a tough LHP late in a game and not having to use Ross.
We basically have nobody on the bench who is RH to PH late in games. Right now it’s Lugo, Conrad (who stinks this year RH), and Ross. Am I forgetting anybody?
So simply from a depth standpoint it’s a solid move.
Arkansas Transplant
August 31st, 2011
12:25 pm
BFChris26, now your talking…
flange1
August 31st, 2011
12:25 pm
I guess they can move Marek to the 60 day DL to create a space on the 40 man.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:26 pm
And he’s signed up for 2012, so he’ll work great in a platoon with Heyward next season…
Doubtful. Heyward is being non-tendered this off-season.
Shaun
August 31st, 2011
12:26 pm
N8, right. My only point is that we’re looking at a pitcher who is fundamentally a 4-something ERA guy posting a 5.87 ERA in his recent starts…not a pitcher who is a 2-something ERA guy suddenly posting a 5.87 ERA in his recent outings. I wasn’t trying to get Lew started or pick on anyone in particular. Just going right at those who brought up that a pitcher can get by on contact and brought up Maddux earlier in the season.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:27 pm
They don’t even have Harper, Rendon or Stras up yet.
But they do have that dirtbag Danny Espinosa.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:27 pm
Doubtful. Heyward is being non-tendered this off-season.
Hah! He certainly hasn’t been worth the 500k+.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:28 pm
Shaun, what’s your take on Diaz? Scared he’s in a platoon with Heyward in 2012, right?????
Hillbilly
August 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
Matty is 12 for 30 with 4 doubles and 4 walks against Lannan.
Big Nick
August 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
I have a feeling the other move involves Chad Qualls.
monty
August 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
Good thing we don’t have to play the Nats in the playoffs, our cryptonite.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:32 pm
Ross, Hinske, Diaz, Constanza and a player than can play all three infield positions except first.
Or….
Prado/Constanza platoon in LF with Prado subbing Chipper once or twice a week. Heyward/Diaz platoon in RF with Heyward sitting vs. tough RHP’s.
Thoughts?!?!?!
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
And that 12:32 was for 2012.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
He certainly hasn’t been worth the 500k+
Not even remotely. His contract has been crippling this team all season.
Mitchell
August 31st, 2011
12:34 pm
For the record, I could care less about last night’s game but has anybody ever heard of a slugfest?
Why should Jurrjens automatically take a loss just for having a bad night?
He was shakey in Chicago but kept the Cubs off the board and got a win. Anytime that happens, well, almost any time that happens except the last time we played the Cubs, the Braves win the game.
Unless a Braves starter pitches a shut-out it’s anybody’s guess if the Braves are going to back the guy up with any runs.
Never does the Braves offense rush to the rescue of a starter on an off night, regardless of how many off nights JJ has had in the past month.
It sucks.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:34 pm
As currently constructed, we have a 99-100 million dollar payroll for next year. It won’t be that, but all of the projected contractual commitments add up to about that.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:34 pm
with Heyward sitting vs. tough RHP’s
Those tough righties have been feasting on Heyward all year.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:36 pm
Those tough righties have been feasting on Heyward all year.
Hasn’t had a chance.
Patrick
August 31st, 2011
12:37 pm
Thank God! Someone that can hit Lannan
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:37 pm
.233/.322/.427 ain’t as bad as I thought for Jason.
Mitchell
August 31st, 2011
12:38 pm
By the way, please tell me I’m having a bad dream.
Matt Diaz is not returning to the Braves. I didn’t read that.
There was a misprint surely.
David O'Brien
August 31st, 2011
12:39 pm
By the way, Diaz is 12-for-30 against tonight’s starter Lannan.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:39 pm
Efrim, that doesn’t include last night.
Shaun
August 31st, 2011
12:40 pm
http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.aspx?team=Braves&pos=all&stats=bat&qual=0&type=6&season=2011&month=0&season1=2011
TnBrian
August 31st, 2011
12:43 pm
Between a Lugo replacement and a good RP I’ll take a good RP. Lugo is harmless cause he never plays.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:44 pm
Efrim, that doesn’t include last night.
Crud. And again, they fail me.
TnBrian
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Yeah because Diaz will hurt the team so much Mitchell. He’ll just take playing time away from others that will put us in the World Series.
Lord have Mercy …
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Wow, has he really been worth less than a win? Yikes. All sorts of awful.
Mudge
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Based on conversation, I’m sure Shaun wants the pitchers tab, not the batting tab at the link.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
A thorough comparison of Heyward and Prado
http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.aspx?comp=heyward&prado
abeeeewright
August 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
When I say the Braves have looked terrible in their past two games, I mean their defense has been poor, their hitting has been execrable, their bullpen has given up a few runs, and their starting pitching has been mediocre (Huddy) and bad (Jurrjens).
Not going to win many games when you don’t hit, don’t pitch, and don’t play defense.
JRW
August 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
Arkansas Transplant – I’d say the Diaz move was a one up on the Phillies move to acquire Bowker!
******************************************************************************************
I don’t think it was a one up. The Phillies needed a left handed pinch hitter and the Braves needed a right handed pinch hitter.
TnBrian
August 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
Always a bi### in the crowd. Can’t be happy. Just be glad your team is making deals to improve in September instead of trading away for next year or 2-3 years from now. All Wren is trying to do is improve our chances at a long post season run. That’s all a fan can ask for.
keylargo
August 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
Diaz is due $2M in 2012.
Frankie Wren
August 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
Put Diaz in RF tonight. Could care less if we lose tomorrow and the series. Time to beat John F’n Lannon. Damn Phillies buried this guy the last two times, not talking Steve Carlton here.
flange1
August 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
You got me TennPaul!
CrαZy
August 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
Any chance they go with 11 pitchers on the post-season roster and carry 6 guys on the bench?
Mudge
August 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
Lannan is 8-4 against the Braves since 2008 (3-0 this year) and 1-12 (1-4 this year) against the Phillies. Makes no sense.
CrαZy
August 31st, 2011
12:54 pm
Hey we could be talking about getting Broken Ankel and Farnsworthless! I like this better!
Hillbilly
August 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
Any chance they go with 11 pitchers on the post-season roster and carry 6 guys on the bench?
With your 5th starter as one of the bullpen guys, I would say there’s a chance.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
TenneseePaul, that was awesome.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
Rick Astley is the premier recording artist of his generation, and I don’t appreciate this buffoonery!
Lew
August 31st, 2011
12:56 pm
Mitchell – Well, if the offense came to the rescue of a poor start by one of our pitchers, then it wouldn’t be an off night, would it?
Big Nick – Qualls would be a nice acquisition, but with Moylan returning? Just don’t see it.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
August 31st, 2011
12:57 pm
10Paul clever McFann. : )
Thanks!
JRW
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
Mudge – Lannan is 8-4 against the Braves since 2008 (3-0 this year) and 1-12 (1-4 this year) against the Phillies. Makes no sense.
*********************************************************************************
For some reason Lannan must be like a deer in the headlights against the Phillies line up. Howard uses him as his personal BP pitcher
Soph
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
Welcome back, MattE!
SoWeGa Fanatic
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
WELCOME HOME, MATTY D! Love it, love it, love it.
JT Grace
August 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
A platoon of Constanza/Prado in LF and a platoon of Heyward/Diaz in RF makes the most sense. I guess that means Conrad is gone. Of course I doubt Fredi realizes that Prado has had a bad enough season to warrant being platooned.
Now all they need to do is trade for Infante to replace Lugo.
abeeeewright
August 31st, 2011
1:01 pm
Just saw the post about MattyD back with the Braves. I don’t care what he did with the Pirates. That is just awesome news. I loved Diaz’s game and was really sad when he departed.
Random
August 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
Shaun (August 31st, 2011 11:55 am): “Lew, right. Jurrjens has pitched fundamentally worse. But he wasn’t as good as his basic numbers suggested in his first 11 starts. That combined with the fact that he’s actually pitched worse, and you get what Jurrjens has done in his most recent starts. I’m not trying to be tough on you. I’m more trying to make a point to all those who thought Jurrjens was something like a poor man’s Maddux.”
“pitched fundamentally worse” = performance on the field? Or “underlying performance”?
“his basic numbers” = “underlying performance” (right?)
“he’s actually pitched worse” = performance on the field? Or “underlying performance”?
“I’m more trying to make a point to all those who thought Jurrjens was something like a poor man’s Maddux.” You have failed to make any point at all until and unless you demonstrate that Jurrjens’ current (post-ASG) “underlying performance” has not significantly declined from his previous (pre-ASG) “underlying performance”.
(And clean up your language — clarify the terms of your argument.)
——————————
Shaun (August 31st, 2011 12:12 pm): “N8, right. I understand he’s been getting hit harder. But he also wasn’t as good as his first-half numbers seemed to indicate. So it’s not all that shocking that his results are as bad as they’ve been. Yes, it’s probably a little shocking that it’s been this bad. But the underlying performance of Jurrjens in the first half was that of a pitcher that should have had an ERA approaching 4, if not higher.”
Please show us that Jurrjens’ current on the field performance is not a direct result of a proportionate decline in his “underlying performance” from the season’s first half.
Lew
August 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
JT Grace – Prado will still be playing third when Chipper needs an off day. Plenty of platoon time for Constanza and Diaz in LF.
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
A platoon of Constanza/Prado in LF and a platoon of Heyward/Diaz in RF makes the most sense.
Totally agree. Now, and in 2012.
Mixxo
August 31st, 2011
1:04 pm
Rick Astley is the premier recording artist of his generation, and I don’t appreciate this buffoonery!
JRW
August 31st, 2011
1:04 pm
It’s been all down hill for Lannan since his debut against the Phillies. Maybe they took it personal.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=2110881&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20070726
Lew
August 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
Shaun – Talk about putting words in anothers mouth – Show me one single time where I ever compared Jurrjens to Maddux. All I ever did was mention that Jurrjens keeps putting up good performances (for the most part) despite peripherals that many claim make him a poor pitcher, nowhere near as good as his record.
DAP
August 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
10paul…got me.
MikeInFl
August 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
I know Matt’s a great guy and all, but I’m a little surprised at how eager everyone is to add a .627 OPS (with 0 HR in 200+ abs) to the OF mix. And to pay him $2 mil next year.
I hope to high heaven it works out. Must say I’m a little perplexed at the moment…
abeeeewright
August 31st, 2011
1:07 pm
Am I right about Jurrjens post-ASB?
Start #1 – shelled – goes on DL
Start #2 – shelled – just back from DL
Start #3 – shaky shutout
Start #4 – shelled after long break
Really only one start (last night) to throw up red flags. Start #1 was clearly injury related. Start #2 might be getting strength and feel back. If Start #5 is bad, then it might be time to worry.
Shaun
August 31st, 2011
1:07 pm
Random, Jurrjens has pitched worse. But he also didn’t actually pitch as well in the first half as his basic, “traditional” stats (for lack of a better term) seemed to indicate. So his results are actually more closely matching his actual performance, unlike the first half, and he’s pitching worse; so it’s a combo of those two things.
DAP
August 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
MikeInFl, cause we just like him. many of us mourned his release, though we knew it was necessary. lets hope he regains his stroke with the home team.
Lew
August 31st, 2011
1:11 pm
Maybe returning to Atlanta will put him on an 09 like tear.
DAP
August 31st, 2011
1:11 pm
abeeeewright Really only one start (last night) to throw up red flags. Start #1 was clearly injury related. Start #2 might be getting strength and feel back. If Start #5 is bad, then it might be time to worry.
well thats one way to look at it. weather it time to worry about it or not, though, it will do us no good to worry. jurrjens has about 5 starts before the playoffs begin. unless he is injured, he will make all 5 starts, and we can see how he does. we have a big cushion for a playoff spot, so we can afford to let these guys work out some kinks.
point is, dont worry about it. plenty of time for jurrjens to get it worked out.
Ease
August 31st, 2011
1:19 pm
Braves have DL’d George Sherril retro to the 27th.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
So are we getting Pittsburgh-Matt or Atlanta-Matt?
DAP
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
Enter your comments herei didnt know sherril was hurt…
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2011
1:24 pm
Braves have DL’d George Sherril retro to the 27th.
How do we always find a wasted BP arm to DL when a roster spot need comes up? Hmmm.
Shaun
August 31st, 2011
1:24 pm
Lew, I wasn’t addressing you, per se, with regards to Jurrjens. You jumped in.
I don’t think the peripherals ever indicated he was a “poor” pitcher. Just that he wasn’t actually going to hold up as a Cy Young contender.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Shah-real to the DL? Applicable as it would allow more players to be eligible for the post-season roster.
Jimmy
August 31st, 2011
1:26 pm
The last time we got an outfielder from Pittsburgh…..
But I’m glad Matty is back.
JRW
August 31st, 2011
1:28 pm
The Hot Dog takes on many shapes and sizes around Baseball Parks.
http://www.delish.com/food-fun/baseball-stadium-hot-dogs?gt1=47001
RC
August 31st, 2011
1:30 pm
Can’t Constanza simply be optioned down to AAA today, and then recalled tomorrow when roster expand? Or does the “10-day” rule apply even though rosters are expanding tomorrow?
Frankie Wren
August 31st, 2011
1:31 pm
So are we getting Pittsburgh-Matt or Atlanta-Matt?
Doesn’t matter. Take this option over Lugo, Conrad, Ramirez, Helms RH bat in a minute.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2011
1:31 pm
RC
He’s have to wait till their season ends.
RC
August 31st, 2011
1:32 pm
Snotboogie,
Regular season, or playoffs too?
Hugo
August 31st, 2011
1:32 pm
As far as PTBNL being Nate McClouth…
I don’t think the Pirates can afford his contract. How laughable is it for that to be true?
BFChris26
August 31st, 2011
1:33 pm
The Giants designated infielder Miguel Tejada for assignment, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
There’s your back up SS option
Efrim
August 31st, 2011
1:33 pm
And to pay him $2 mil next year.
I’m actually pretty surprised by this as well. Mostly because he is a corner outfielder only, and in 2012, we have two regular corner outfielders in Martin Prado and Jason Heyward. If Chipper needs a rest, Prado to third and Constanza to LF. Unless of course, we get platoon crazy.
RC
August 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
Hey, Miguel Tejada was just designated for assignment. Price is a problem, but he is a warm body that can back-up SS.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
Not sure – just repeating what DOB said on twitter. But I would guess that postseason would be included or 10 days – whichever comes first.
Brava
August 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
Just read the great news on the Braves site!! Welcome back, Matty!!!
Frankie Wren
August 31st, 2011
1:35 pm
Maybe Matty D gets a standing ovation when he gets to the clubhouse. He did take out Escobar on a couple of slides this year!
Random
August 31st, 2011
1:35 pm
JT Grace (August 31st, 2011 1:00 pm): “A platoon of Constanza/Prado in LF and a platoon of Heyward/Diaz in RF makes the most sense. I guess that means Conrad is gone. Of course I doubt Fredi realizes that Prado has had a bad enough season to warrant being platooned.
“Now all they need to do is trade for Infante to replace Lugo.”
Infante thru 30 Aug 11 = .278/.321/.360/.681, which more or less represents an expected “regression to the mean” of his career line of .275/.319/.390/.709.
Let no one here ever expect to see again the .321/.359/.416/.775 Infante of last year, much less anything better.
The Braves have already gotten all they ever will from Infante. They surely wouldn’t pay $4+ million/year for a bench player/utility infielder, would they?
RC
August 31st, 2011
1:36 pm
And to pay him $2 mil next year.
I’m actually pretty surprised by this as well. Mostly because he is a corner outfielder only, and in 2012, we have two regular corner outfielders in Martin Prado and Jason Heyward. If Chipper needs a rest, Prado to third and Constanza to LF. Unless of course, we get platoon crazy.
My bet is that next season he’s treated as the right-handed Eric Hinkse…very few starts, but he’s the #1 option off the bench with a lefty pitching.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2011
1:36 pm
Hinske has a club-option for 2012 with a 0.1 M buyout. Wonder if the Diaz trade spells the end of Hinske’s stay.
Hugo
August 31st, 2011
1:37 pm
don’t think the peripherals ever indicated he was a “poor” pitcher. Just that he wasn’t actually going to hold up as a Cy Young contender.
I’m calling BULL$#*T Shaun. You said he was mid to low rotation.