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262 comments Add your comment
htownbravesfan
October 3rd, 2011
6:20 pm
I think there are three areas the Braves need to address in the off-season. The first is offense. Then take a look at more offense. Finally, get some offense. If there’s any money left over after addressing those three issues, put it toward more offense. We won’t survive in the NL East without it.
smallmouth6
October 3rd, 2011
6:21 pm
Buckhead Benny: I agree. It’s a failure of this writing staff, as much as I admire the work they did this year.
htownbravesfan
October 3rd, 2011
6:23 pm
Oh, and Bob, I believe Chipper hit better than .240 this year. Besides, do you really want to get rid of the best all around hitter we had in the last month?
Obee
October 3rd, 2011
6:28 pm
A lot of people love to trash Wren, but find me a GM who has been around for a while and hasn’t been saddled with what turned out to be a bad contract. It just goes with the job.
Rufino Linares
October 3rd, 2011
6:31 pm
ijudgenot, you don’t know enough about sports to be on here. Chipper is about the best hitter the Braves have. Fredi DID drop chipper down in the order for a while. Did you think that he should have dropped him further to the 8th spot? Somehow you blamed McCann’s/Uggla’s/Heywards troubles on Chipper, too. Chipper was about the only thing about this year’s team that was consistent. He gave good at-bats all year. Look at his end-of-yr numbers. Where would this team have been with almost every other 3rd baseman in baseball? Worse off, for sure. Learn the game, dude!
Navigator
October 3rd, 2011
6:43 pm
$14M for a part time player? If I was owner of the Braves, Frank Wren would be looking for his next job.
The Red
October 3rd, 2011
6:44 pm
Has anyone noticed that the only thing the Braves really have a surplus of is 8th hitters?
BartBuzz
October 3rd, 2011
6:49 pm
108th
bvillebaron
October 3rd, 2011
7:07 pm
In response to your post yesterday regarding my comment that it was unnecessary and stupid for Wren to single out Heyward for public crticism that he wasn’t and was only responding to a specific question and that you would post his comments about others today, did you mean his comments in this post about McCann and Prado? Seems to me that he used kid gloves when responding to questions about their lack of performance, but publicly mentions how Heyward isn’t guaranteed a job next year. As I mentioned in my post, it seems to me that there should be very few “guaranteed” jobs next year on this team after this epic collapse.
I never said that Heyward should be coddled and, in fact, stated many times earlier this year that the team should send him back to AAA rather than play him sporadically or, worse yet, do brilliant things like yank him from that Sunday game against the Mets after he hit a homer and two hard balls and then not play him for 3 days.
My only point, which you apparently missed or dislike, is that I don’t think it is either necessary or wise to publicly criticize a 22 year old kid who is one year removed from being the face of the franchise rather than being as publicly dipolomatic about Heyward’s struggles as Wren was when asked specific questions about McCann and Prado.
Columbus
October 3rd, 2011
7:18 pm
Why no questions about Constanza? Heck if he had played instead of Heyward down the strectch I GUARANTEE you the Braves would be playing today….
Young arms playing more innings than they ever had. Pitchers getting hurt. I get that. Without injuries to starting pitching, the Cards nor anyone else had a chance to catch us. What Wren said about the hitting was a wise perspective also.
The hitting sucked early and sucked late. The hitting coach was atrocious. McCann and Prado hurt, especially when Heyward had one of the worst years in history IMO. All those weak ground balls and strikeouts. So when one area is hurting, the other has to pick it up and sadly, the pitching was in no position to pickup the hitting again like it did in the first half due to injuries and tired young arms and a pathetic Lowe.
Perfect storm for a collapse. If Lowe could have pitched a couple of good games OR just Constanza playing just about every day, Braves STILL would be playing however….
Zenman
October 3rd, 2011
7:23 pm
bvillebaron-Excellent comments. Lets all of us strive to provide more of the same.
gcs
October 3rd, 2011
7:32 pm
A bunch of cop-out vague answers. Thumbs down.
.
smyrnabob
October 3rd, 2011
7:33 pm
Frank, use some of the kk and McLouth cash to lure Rudy Jaramillo out of retirement.
Mike Lum
October 3rd, 2011
7:41 pm
Watch out DOB/Carroll/Bradley/Schultz…these geniuses who think Fredi should be fired after one year will probably call for your head, should you write one bad column.
chris
October 3rd, 2011
7:45 pm
NOTHING in this interview gives me any hope for next year….wren and liberty media have never got the memo that you cannot win in MLB with sub par hitting and patch work pitching…we need an overhaul…a big overhaul..get some lumber in here….and dump some high priced salaries…make a fresh start- won’t hurt anything affter this nightmare collapse of 2011. I think the fans would be me apt to forget this year if they see a team on the field we all are confident can HIT the damn ball
Rye Honattus
October 3rd, 2011
7:46 pm
“He put the pieces together, but something just isn’t right.”
Booby Cox Jr.
chris
October 3rd, 2011
7:47 pm
He needs to have already signed BOURN..nothing against Prado and McCann and the others.but let’s clear the books, start over and put a team together like the Phillies,, lots of lumber, and stud pitchers…and dont look back
LJ
October 3rd, 2011
7:49 pm
Some of you “self appointed experts” need to start watching some “keg of beer” softball games.
Mister Frisky
October 3rd, 2011
7:49 pm
Chipper Iis 40 not 30.He needs to PH or be traded to AL.Braves need help 3b,SS,RF,LF,and 2b.Has anyone been watching the playoffs.We are nowhere close offensively to the 8 teams standing.Everyone under contract is up for discussion considering they all had a role in infamy.
Web Masters
October 3rd, 2011
7:51 pm
“As soon as you hear a team concede the division in august when they are down by single digits then you know you are dealing with losers”
I said this back in August, and was roundly criticized by the inbred mouthbreathers who said we were a lock for the WC. I TOLD YOU SO. In a few words, the Braves were trying to be number 2. And, sure enough, they were, and smelled like it.
Bravefaninok
October 3rd, 2011
7:54 pm
Navigator
October 3rd, 2011
6:43 pm
$14M for a part time player? If I was owner of the Braves, Frank Wren would be looking for his next job.
14 million for the face of the franchise,A sure first ballot HOFer who was one of your most productive players even with the knee injuries…..Say what you want Chipper is an Atlanta Brave until he decides to hang them up.BTW Chipper reworked contracts,signed for millions under market value to remain a Brave,This guy could have left anytime he wanted and got close to Aroid money.If he ever wears another team uniform every front office employee should be FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nevada Roy
October 3rd, 2011
8:02 pm
Prado is a better infielder than outfielder. Figure Jones will be good for 80-100 games; Prado 60-80 games @ 3rd + 20 games @ 2nd (rest Uggla) + 20 games @ 1st (sit Freeman against tough lefties).
Trade for another power-hitting corner outfielder. Give up one of the potential 10-starting pitchers to get someone good with more than a 1-year lease.
jwhite
October 3rd, 2011
8:03 pm
ijudgenot is correct in his assessment. We do not know what kind of job Fredi can do until he tries to be Fredi, not Bobby Cox. He tried to be Bobby because that is what Chipper wanted. The clubhouse belonged to Chipper in 2011. I would like to see Fredi say good by to the Cox era and be his own man in 2012.
Ralph
October 3rd, 2011
8:14 pm
All we need to be a winner is RF,CF,LF, 3B, SS, 2B, C, and 4 Starting Pitchers, sure glad we have Freeman and a bullpen.
Big Wally
October 3rd, 2011
8:28 pm
Lowe will be on this team next year, no one else will take his salary. He can however, be of some use in the bullpen. If the Braves are behind by 5 runs or more, then it is Lowe time. Braves, seldom if ever will come back from a 5 run deficit, so it’s not like we are throwing away potential wins. If they get beat by 16 runs instead of 5 it won’t matter. Plus in blow out games, he can save the rest of the bullpen arms, which we know is not part of Fredi-cats strategy.
Zenman
October 3rd, 2011
8:35 pm
“Keg of beer softball”. Would it be Leinenkugel? If so I’m in.
Mister Frisky
October 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
Aaron and Murphy didn’t finish their careers in a Brave uniform.I wouldn’t mind if Chipper joined them.
darrell starks
October 3rd, 2011
8:44 pm
DOB is very disappointing on not asking the Q about constanza, who was the reason the Braves was playing the best ball of the year when in the lineup, and when INJURED was never inserted back into the line up and the braves went on the worse down fall in years 8 wins and 20 losses.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 3rd, 2011
8:48 pm
Let Chipper become the braves player hitter coach and play platoon at third base, and go sign Aramis Ramirez.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 3rd, 2011
8:52 pm
Prado is young and is good enough to play SS, would like to see him loose at least 10pounds so he can be quicker, and give Constanza the left field position and this team will rock and roll.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 3rd, 2011
8:56 pm
2012 BRAVES LINE UP
1. BOURN CF
2. CONSTANZA LF
3. ARAMIS 3B
4. UGGLA 2B
5. FREEMAN 1B
6. PRADO SS
7. MCCANN CATCHER
8. HEYWARD RF
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!
George Washington
October 3rd, 2011
9:04 pm
HIRE FRANCONA NOW!!!!!!!!
Joey Waddell
October 3rd, 2011
9:07 pm
Your questions were weak!
Zenman
October 3rd, 2011
9:09 pm
Prado, at shortstop, oh yea, that would extend a lot of innings.
Buckeye Brave
October 3rd, 2011
9:17 pm
Despite how this season ended I can’t wait until next season. We have three question marks going into next season. They are as follows: SS-do re-sign A-Gon or let Pastornicky take over? RF-can Heyward keep his starting job or does Constanza or a mystery player win it? SP-who wins the 5th spot in the rotation? You have to assume some combination of Hudson, Hanson, JJ, & Beachy in the first four spots. The question of the fifth starter is the least worrisome but the hardest to answer b/c of the great talent. RF is the biggest question by far and will take well into the spring camp to answer. We’ll know before Christmas who the SS will be, and if I were betting man I’d double down on Pastornicky.
ray
October 3rd, 2011
9:24 pm
Wren didn’t answer many questions did he ? he couldn’t explain a lot. he has few answers -as usual.
how long does he get to accomplish anything ?
not bringing back Parrish is only step one.
sounds like Bourne will be gone after next year-like almost all the other free agents to be.
by then, we’ll need a 3B, a CF, maybe a RF, maybe a catcher.
wihtin a few weeks, the collapse will be a distant memory and the team can continue down the road to mediocrity.
Bob the Blogger
October 3rd, 2011
9:28 pm
In September, Constanza hit .174 (4 for 23) with no walks and no extra base hits. He was 0 for 2 in stolen bases, so of the 4 hits he got, he was wiped out twice. Maybe that had somthing to do with his playing time being limited.
Bravos
October 3rd, 2011
9:33 pm
If i dont see bourn and constanza hitting one and two opening day, i quit.
dogman
October 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
Watching Feliz and Elvis Andrus tonight in the Texas victory still makes me sick to think the braves just gave both of them to Texas along Harrison and got nothing in return except a one year rental. They need a shortstop now and look how good Andrus is. Makes me so mad that any team would make such a stupid trade. The other end of that crazy deal plays 1st base for the Rays who are in the playoffs too. I know JS made this lopsided trade and I hope Wren has more sense that JS had. The braves will have to contend with a much better Marlins team as well as the Nationals in 2012 to go along with the Phillies who seem to find a way to win every game. They like the Yankees have unlimited funds to they can get whoever they want if they have a need. Bourne will be gone after next season and then they will need a CF, 3B, and who knows what else by then. I can’t the braves above a 3rd-4th place finish for the next few years unless they drastically improve. They have so many areas to improve on I don’t see that happening.
McCannFan
October 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
Those suggesting trading McCann are PINHEADS! Prior to oblique injury he was a top performer out there. However, even as one of his fans I will be the first to say Brian himself along with the team conditioning guys should focus on getting him AT LEAST 15 or more pounds lighter during the off season….no more excuses Brian on the weight.
Caseyatthebat
October 3rd, 2011
9:44 pm
Wren’s answers sound like a man who is shellshocked. He doesn’t know much. I guess it’s more of the same for next year.
TeheranTime
October 3rd, 2011
10:10 pm
Blah, blah, blah. Same thing every winter.
jester
October 3rd, 2011
10:34 pm
Geaux BRaves- theres always next year(or 5 or ten years from now) not alot will be different next year either, FG is not a good fit in ATL. Poor management, poor ownership, old players taking all the $$ that either just plain SUCK or injuries (old broke down Knees) , will keep this team down for years to come. Still hope Cards eliminate the phillies and Tigers the yanks.
JAFO
October 3rd, 2011
11:17 pm
Now transpose the questions in Boston and the events unfolding, draw your own conclusions. A vote of no confidence. Tolerance of mediocrity. The ‘run’ has been over for years, pedigree means nothing in baseball.
Brave Fan
October 3rd, 2011
11:18 pm
There should be a test before you are allowed to get on these blogs to make sure you know baseball past t-ball.
Trade McCann? – Anyone that says that immediately has no credibility.
Sign Bourn? – If we can, go for it. Going to be hard though. He’ll get huge money. Look around the league and see how many leadoff hitters there are that can steal bases and play great D.
Prado? – Good 3B, Good hitter that can handle the bat.
Freeman? – Really good player(D and bat)
Uggla – Good player. Will never hit for much of an average though. D was better than I thought it would be.
Heyward? – Leave him alone and let his talent show.
We need a SS that can play D and put the ball in play more.
We need a right hand hitting LF that can play.
Somehow get Chipper to retire!
Demand that starting pitchers be prepared to go deep into games next year.
Dump Lowe and Linebrink.
Let McClouth, Conrad, SS from Pitt go.
Put Freddi on notice that what happened at the end of this year can’t happen again at any point of the year. We played awful with no energy and it never changed.
Lastly, Wren needs to talk to players and quit his personal PR blitz with the media to deflect blame. Three things I believe led to Heywards struggles.
1. Playing hurt led to less production as so with anyone.
2. Chipper calling him out at such a young age – publicly. He couldn’t do anything but take it. If he spoke up he’d been made out a baby.
3. Lost confidence. Got jerked out of lineup. Too much talent and hustle to get that.
Lastly, when Shurholtz and Bobby were together I felt like they were in charge and the organization was solid. I don’t feel like that right now
Brett
October 3rd, 2011
11:24 pm
Anyone wonder why chipper was pulled out of the 2 hole in the lineup? we were on a tear offensively I believe when he moved there? why was he pulled out of there? we seemed to slump after that move was made..
Brave Fan
October 3rd, 2011
11:27 pm
He should have never been put there. A 2 hitter should be able to bunt, hit and run and take pitches. Chipper doesn’t want to do any of those things day in and day out.
chase
October 3rd, 2011
11:32 pm
Sign JIMMY ROLLINS
Trade LOWE and eat the 9 million but get rid of 6 million and him
Kawakami and McLouth and their combined 12 million come off the books
Linebrink’s 3 million is gone
Sherrill’s 2.5 million are gone
That’s around 24-25 million so
Sign Jimmy Rollins for 3 years 27 million
Extend Michael Bourne
Pick up one REAL middle reliever
Take your other 10-12 million and get a big time RF/LF
Bring Andruw Jones back for a multi-purpose outfielder with right-handed power off the bench to go along with ROSS, HINSKI, CONRAD, CONSTANZA, DIAZ etc on the bench
All problems solved
Brave Fan
October 3rd, 2011
11:43 pm
I’d stay away from Rollins, Reyes and Aramis. All 3 have peaked, stay hurt too much, and will get too much money.
Andruw is way too slow. We have enough guys that swing and miss way too much.
ijudgenot
October 4th, 2011
12:03 am
Rufino Linares
October 3rd, 2011
6:31 pm
“ijudgenot, you don’t know enough about sports to be on here. Chipper is about the best hitter the Braves have.”
Rufino,
You missed my point. I never said Chipper was not a very good hitter, because he is. He is and has been a very gifted athlete. His individual stats will someday put him in the HOF. Individual talent though is different than a team player who inspires others to put team first. I know, Chipper restructured his contract a couple of times in order that the Braves could get a high salaried player and he moved to left field in order to get a power hitting 3rd baseman, and that is commendable. However, we must remember that the players that the Braves were trying to get like Sheffield and the 3rd baseman, were acqured to bat behind Chipper. In other words to provide protection for Chipper, so Chipper’s action was a benefit to him personally. Chipper has been a great individual player, who if meshed with other players who did the dirty work, ii.e. move runners by sf, hit and run or hittting behind hitter or just working the count, could produce championships. The problem is that every player that joins the Braves does what he sees the team leader(Chipper) doing. The Braves will miss his great talent when he retires, but ultimately I think they will be a stronger TEAM.
bravesfaninNashville
October 4th, 2011
12:20 am
Heyward just needs to get back to the approach he took when he first came up.. He was VERY selective at the plate and had great strike zone recognition. It seems that when they asked him to be more aggressive he started to swing at pitches close to the strike zone but not strikes… this led to pitchers seeing how far he’d go.. He has also been way to far off the plate probably out of fear that he’ll get jammed and that has hurt his injured thumb in the past. He needs to go back to what got him here and that is a disciplined approach that mashes pitches that are center cut.
jazzward10
October 4th, 2011
12:50 am
Enter your comments here
jazzward10
October 4th, 2011
1:13 am
I can see the braves trading Prado and getting a better run producer.I would try and resign Jack Wilson for a year to play backup third and short cause i would put Pastornicky at short.Prado is not a very good 3rd baseman.Bourn,Jones,McCann,Heyward,Ugga,Freeman,maybe Gartrell or Wilkin Ramirez,Pastornicky will be my lineup.I think they trade JJ.Hudson,Hanson,Beachy,Minor,Teheran starters.Dont see Teheran playing in AAA another year.Nothing else to prove there.Delgado and Vizcaino will start at AAA.Medlen,Martinez,Varvarro,Kimbrell,Venters,O’Flaherty,and Lowe.Diaz,Hinske,Wilson,Conrad,Ross on bench.Conrad and Hinske will have to also have a better year.They were automatic strikeouts late in the season.Its going to be a lot tougher next year playing the Yankees and Red Sox in interleague.
NickB
October 4th, 2011
4:14 am
I think all of the people calling for Chipper’s head are going to be sorely saddened when there’s nobody left to hit with RISP. Hoss was about the only one we had who did it all season long.
Obee
October 4th, 2011
6:23 am
I think it’s funny that people think the Braves might be able to get someone owed millions of dollars to simply walk out the door and retire. Would you retire for the good of your company if they owed you millions and all you had to do was show up?
MikeY
October 4th, 2011
6:47 am
Statistically, this team hit far worse against LH pitchers (.228, dead last in the NL) than against RH pitchers (.250, 11th in the NL). So I agree with the many posters who state that we need a RH or SH bat or 2 or 3 to improve our hitting. May need a platoon partner for Heyward in RF, he hit .192 against LH pitchers.. I am not sure Diaz is the answer for that role, though he did hit . 296 for us against LH pitchers (albeit with no pop).
Note that Bourn is under our control for 2012 (last year of arbitration), but he is a free agent in 2013. In fact, everyone is either signed or under Braves control except McLouth (Braves will not pick up his option), Kawakami, Sherrill, Linebrink, A Gonzalez, Wilson. Moylen is arbitartion eligible but likely to make around $2.5M, the Braves are unlikely to pay that so may non-tender him but try to sign him to a less expensive contract.
I really hope Patornicky is ready, He made 26 errors in the minors last year. I think he may still be a year away. I still think SS is a big hole for the Braves in 2012.
Donovan
October 4th, 2011
7:41 am
This Braves team does a historical collapse and the Braves GM fields questions like a Democrat politician. No questions are affirmatively answered and nothing is said of a plan to right the wrongs. His personality is a mirror image of this losing club. What an absolute waste of time for such a Q & A meeting. Ho Humm…
TechRon
October 4th, 2011
8:04 am
#1 priority: Dump the idiot manager. #2Lowe does not wear our uniform next year. #3 Trade Heyward while he still has some value (mostly on potential). #4 Keep Freeman, Uggla and all pitchers except Lowe. Everyone else is considered for trade bait. #5 Everyone who did not help at all this year should be cut.
Braves need to show the fans they have left that they are serious or they are going to have a party that no one comes to. Their collapse was an utter disgrace and I am amazed that upper management could have watched it without stepping in. Gonzalez made a long list of critical errors that require his removal. I say the same for upper management that watched it all fall down and did nothing. Idiots.
Cecil34
October 4th, 2011
8:13 am
A more Big-Blue-Arrow view:
The more distance the Braves put between themselves and the 90’s, and we start to see that the success of the 90’s(and very early 2000’s) was a mere blip on the radar screen of the overall lack of success and direction of this franchise since 1966.
The management of this organization, whether it be a consortium under Bill Bartholomay, or later Ted Turner, or even Kasten, McGuirk/Shuerholtz/Liberty Media era, has been lacking in instituting a long-term plan of success that ensures performing at the highest levels of MLB.
I’m talking World Series here, fellas, not division championships, which, quite frankly in the modern, watered down, over-expansioned era of baseball really are cheap playprettys as compared to the big enchilada.
This organization’s failure to capture but one world series amidst all the division crowns (whoopee) to me is a clear indication of substandard performance in the following areas:
On-field management
Major league personnel management
Minor league personnel management
Budget and Financial management
While it is obvious that some of the correct decisions were actually made from time to time and panned out, more correctly it can be asserted that the overall decision-making process has been off the mark and flawed.
This is to say that Atlantan’s can definitively give the Braves organization as a whole a D+ grade at best.
Thus we arrive at the Great Give-away 2011!
It is apparent to me that Atlantans and the Atlanta media should demand change and seek change at the highest levels of this operation or continue to expect much of the same substandard effort of the last 45 years.
What is really sad and in fact an indictment against Atlanta politicians as well as mover and shaker businessmen in this city is that no one individual here or no group or consortium has stepped forward and tried to put together a deal to obtain the Braves.
It just goes to show that when 30 years of Atlanta mayors go out of their way to rid the city of it’s good ol’ boy network to become the “international city” – folks imported in who could care less about baseball, sports, or any Atlanta traditions – then one reaps the air of indifference to anything that means something to native Atlantans.
Thus the abomination of some out of state corporation owning the Atlanta Braves.
Where is Atlanta’s civic pride? Where are the outraged politicians who scream that a outside corporation is burying this proud franchise?
How about all these Atlanta CEO’s and philanthropists?
It did not have to happen this way, but you can certainly gage the city of Atlanta’s interest by the silence on this issue.
This is your new “Atlanta”…..I know what Hartsfield or Allen would have done, but you won’t ever get that with the bunch in power now both in city government and civic leadership.
New is not always better – and “progress” is subjective.
And Wren’s hands will continue to be tied.
Good luck with that!
Chippers new mentor and agent
October 4th, 2011
8:28 am
Hey Folks, Chipper Jones new agent is non other than The famous Brett Favre, the milker.
Hitler's Cousin Hank
October 4th, 2011
8:35 am
DOB, why didn’t you ask him about Derek Lowe and Jason Heyward ? You know, the big busts this year ?
Hitler's Cousin Hank
October 4th, 2011
8:36 am
Also, for the GM to sit there and say its his plan to play Chipper whenever Chipper can play is sad. The Braves need a 3B that can play every day. Chipper is a liabilty.
Hitler's Cousin Hank
October 4th, 2011
8:39 am
The Braves should get a great hitting former MLB hitter to be the hitting coach. my suggestions are Wade Boggs,Tony Gwynn,Dave Winfield,Paul Molitor,Robin Yount. When you hire a sorry former MLB hitter like Parrish you get sorry results…
Kharma
October 4th, 2011
8:58 am
Not a bad season all things considered. Now the pitchers can start the process of atrophying their muscles instead of learning how to train properly EVERY DAY.
Next year will be more of the same.
Since Mr McCann is a hard worker he should be doing the same training as pitchers with slight modifications. I’m not sure what his injuries are but he should stay away from rest and cortisone shots.
Kharma2301@yahoo.com
choozer
October 4th, 2011
8:59 am
It’s hard for me to pin it on the pitching because we had 17 games in September when we gave up four runs or less. So that doesn’t indicate to me that the pitching was a problem.
This!
poolcue
October 4th, 2011
9:02 am
2012, another failing year. the braves are in the same shape the usa is in. it is called lack of leadership.fredi has to go.
bravesfansince80s
October 4th, 2011
9:09 am
REALLY dissappointed at a lot of the comments on here. Several of you seem to have some really strange ideas about how defense should be shifted around and a first ballot hall of famer who has played his entire career year in ATLANTA! should pack it in or go somewhere else. Boo! Hiss!
Yes, the upper management really let us down this year. Yes, several players either didn’t play up to potential or had poor offensive years or suffered a major injury. Last time I checked, that happens to EVERY team from time to time, not just our good ol’ Braves.
Going into next season, if we’re stuck with Frank Wren and Fredi Gonzalez (and I have a sinking feeling we will), then there are a few things they can do that will hopefully (certainly no guarantees here) have a positive impact on the club.
1. find some way of dumping Derek Lowe, it will cost us some on payroll, but there is no place for him, either in the rotation or the bullpen, so getting anything for him from a lower-tier club at all is worth considering if a suitor can be found.
2. move Martin Prado back to 2B and restore his confidence and stabilize what will almost certainly be a shaky infield defense (let’s face it, Dan Uggla is lousy at 2B, he may not commit an eye-popping # of errors, but his range is horrendous).
3. move Dan Uggla to LF. if he can play at 2B at all which seems to be an idea he’s managed to keep up for several years now, he should make a perfectly serviceable LF (anybody remember Ron Gant?). besides, nobody seems to care what Uggla’s average stays at, so why should a defensive move have a negative impact on him that anyone would apparently notice?
4. get rid of McClouth (think they’ve already said they were going to), Conrad, Lugo, Alex Gonzalez, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill, Peter Moylan, and any other dead weight that could hopefully clear up enough payroll to sign a SERIOUS veteran arm for the bullpen.
5. tell Jason Heyward that he is our guy in RF and go out there and show us something, we’re behind him 100 per cent and expect and want the best for him!
6. make it very clear to Chipper Jones that the fans of Atlanta want him out there if he has to be helped out there in a wheelchair! (to all of you crying for his trade or retirement, shame, shame, shame!)
John A.
October 4th, 2011
9:10 am
Why were questions asked from “select writers” instead of sports writers as a whole? These questions that were asked were of the “powder puff variety, don’t you think?
Heathcliff Slocum
October 4th, 2011
9:25 am
Interesting piece. The one assumption many made when Bourn was acquired was that the biggest beneficiary would be Martin Prado – a deadly fastball hitter who would see even more fastballs with Bourn on base. Didn’t work out for whatever reason – perhaps the injury. The one move that would interesting if the Braves want to win it all next year would be to make a run at Reyes. With the salaries we’re dumping, he would be affordable. Keeping him healthy is another matter.
DogTheMan
October 4th, 2011
9:40 am
I wonder who will be the reclaimation project this year. Wren and Gonzales will tell us that they are the missing peice and then the project will be gone before the All-Star Break.. They make me sick..
George T.
October 4th, 2011
10:02 am
Prado’s career year seems to be behind him. Braves need more firepoower. However, none of this will help without a culture change in the clubhouse. Fredi needs to move on.
Mitchell
October 4th, 2011
10:19 am
FU Frank.
Maybe we should do these heart to heart talks like each month from now so we don’t end up making a bunch of pathetic excuses after pulling off the biggest choke job since 1996.
Great work all around by Frank, DOB, Bradley, Schultz and the rest of local sports media that refuses to hold people’s feet to the fire.
No offense to Carroll. You get a pass CR. You’re not a total suck up homer like the rest of them.
You just do what you do and don’t act like a cry baby like DOB.
ijudgenot
October 4th, 2011
11:09 am
One of the more bizarre moves by the Braves was the package of additions they added to the roster after September 1. Now mind you, these additions are players that can’t be placed on a playoff roster, should you make it there, so whoever is called up can’t replace a player who is already there. They traditionally are players added who can help you down the stretch drive and allow you to rest some of your starters. Everyone in baseball knew the Braves had a lefthanded dominant lineup and had trouble hitting lefthanded pitching all year. Now the most logical call ups would have been their righthanded power hitters at AAA or AA. At AAA it was Gomez(1st baseman) and Gartrell(outfielder) and at AA it was the 1st baseman whose name I can’t recall, who had a great year in average and homeruns. But the Braves called up none of those. Instead they called up a weak hitting catcher from AAA and a weak hitting shortstop from AA. The Bobby Cox stupidity of caring 3 catchers into playoffs explains Boscan, but Richardson from AA makes no sense. Can anyone tell me if there is a limit on how many players can be called up after Sept. 1?
bill
October 4th, 2011
11:09 am
Jordan Schaefer does not look like candidate for the Braves. Unless he uses coke and play the outfield like Otis Nixon.
Ernest
October 4th, 2011
11:17 am
Just read that ‘blog favorite’ Jordan Schaefer was arrested for drug possession. While I sincerely hope he can rid himself of the demons that seem to hold him back, I still agree that moving him was in the best interest of the team. I only hope the Braves were not aware he was still having problems when they traded him.
benchwarmer
October 4th, 2011
11:20 am
Polskidawg, when did you ever see Chipper dive for a ball at third. If it happened it was a long time ago. Also, Chipper can barely run at all. He is not going to any outfield position.
Packer Ed
October 4th, 2011
11:25 am
Frank Wren has a resume with Brave accomplishments (what are they?) on his resume.
Frank Wren in nothing but a clown and Frank Wren is lucky that he hides under layers of incompetent mangement and owners.
Folks, the Braves are nothing more than a tax deduction or a write off for the current owners.
Frank Wren
October 4th, 2011
11:30 am
I love to sign .220/.230/.240 hitters.
Braves Hitters
October 4th, 2011
11:33 am
Now that Jordan is in jail, who is going to supply us with weed?
b
October 4th, 2011
11:38 am
Again, why no questions on Georgie being out of lineup all of Sept.
What do we have to do to get response?
He did not slump.
Never started two games in a row after he went hitless two games a row in late Aug.
rme
October 4th, 2011
11:43 am
You can not fault upper management for not making the playoffs. They put an excellent team on the field. I have always said you are only as good as your backups. The Braves had excellent rookies coming in and taking over while our first string was hurt. All the rookie pitchers we used need to stay in their roll and become first stringers. They held their own and did an awesome job. Derek Lowe, Linebrink need to go. During the off season it would be nice to have management look at the club and make decisions on who we need to run away with our division. Not just hang in there but go for it all! Resign Bourne, Heyward out, Constanza in…speed with Bourne. A new dimention. Make things happen on the basepaths. Challenge the throws, etc. McCann is OK. Chipper will reurn and give us the strength and leadership as always. Uggly and Alex…I know a lot of fans are saying trade away Alex but what a double play combination. He is magical at SS and saved a lot of runs and games. Freeman…wow…what can I say about a rookie coming in and taking charge at forst when we have not had anyone of high calibre in that position for years. The talent is there, now the big question is can Gonzales manage the team to get the wins we need. I’m tires of waiting 162 games to see if we make the playoffs. It is time to bust out and leave the division behind us. Of course someone has to move Philadelphia to the Japanese league!!!!! Looking forward to next year. Sign Bourne for 3 years!
Tucson AZ
October 4th, 2011
11:43 am
The Braves need to get their starters conditioned so they can pitch at least 7 innings,there is no reason they can’t other teams do it no problem.The team also has to play as a team not as 9 individuals.It is to bad we have to put up with FG for another year,big mistake.At least we got rid of LP.
b
October 4th, 2011
11:43 am
bobtheblogger, those stats for Constanza were almost exclusively in pinchhitting roles.
You can go on any player and get a 4-24 stat.
the point is the team played a LOT better with him in the lineup.
bobby cerasuolo
October 4th, 2011
12:11 pm
First all the things Mr Wren should do is tell Chipper that hes better off using him as a Hitting coach bc i bet he can do a better then Parrish. Move Prado to 3rd, then trade Medlen Lowe and Antoan Richardson to the White Sox for Quentin and Lasting Milledge. Then trade Hanson Diory Hernandez and Matt Young to Fla for Emilio Bonifacio and Brad Hand. Now use Bonifacio at SS put Quentin in RF and put Heyward in LF and put Prado at SS and sign Jack Wilson and We Helm as ulity guys.
phil
October 4th, 2011
12:51 pm
Selected members of the media….
I love that phrase….
In other words, I don’t want to be asked questions I didn’t approve in advance. Maybe I’m wrong about that, but it always looks suspicious. Besides, we already know most of the answers.
Fire FG or be prepared for another disappointing season in 2012.
phil
October 4th, 2011
12:54 pm
Ernest
October 4th, 2011
11:17 am
Just read that ‘blog favorite’ Jordan Schaefer was arrested for drug possession. While I sincerely hope he can rid himself of the demons that seem to hold him back, I still agree that moving him was in the best interest of the team. I only hope the Braves were not aware he was still having problems when they traded him.
****************
The guy had an arm covered with tatoos….what a surprise and good riddance.
bravesfaninNashville
October 4th, 2011
12:58 pm
anyone on this blog that suggests that Martin Prado should be our shortstop has lost all credibility in my eyes. He is not a major league SS. Please stop with those suggestions already. We have two second basemen and need to trade one of them (Prado) or live with one of them (Prado) being out of position. He’s had a tough year with the staph infection. Next year we’ll see the real Martin the one who hit line drives all over the field in 2010 or the one who couldn’t even advance runners from second base in 2011. Hopefully we’ll see the 2010 version.
bravesfansince80s
October 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
we seem to be traveling downhill here, why in God’s name would anybody move the personnel we have currently around to a point where Prado has to play SS? that’s insane, I don’t care what your reasoning is.
phil
October 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
Mike Lum
October 3rd, 2011
7:41 pm
Watch out DOB/Carroll/Bradley/Schultz…these geniuses who think Fredi should be fired after one year will probably call for your head, should you write one bad column.
*********************
You were a horrible player yourself, Lum….
When a manager presides over a historic collapse, he should be fired. Then and there.
Until FG is gone, you won’t see me and my family at another game. I’ve urged it before and I’ll urge it again….stay away until FG is gone.
phil
October 4th, 2011
1:01 pm
Prado is a utility player…period. Bench the bum and get a left fielder with some pop and a glove. He can back up Chipper.
bravesfansince80s
October 4th, 2011
1:08 pm
I disagree, two years in a row prior to this one, Prado was one of if not our best offensive player, I say the bannishment to LF affected him even before the infection/injury, and especially so given Uggla’s first half performance. Prado is a good, solid every-day MLB 2B. He will hit for average again and play better defense than the current guy there. Stick Uggla out in LF a la Ron Gant and move on from there. If Pastornicky struggles at SS, Brandon Hicks and Jack Wilson are there for insurance.
phil
October 4th, 2011
1:12 pm
Please never type the words “Jack Wilson” again. That guy was the kiss of death from the day he showed up.
Fire FG….
I could live with Uggly out in LF and Prado back at 2B….
bravesfansince80s
October 4th, 2011
1:13 pm
oh and benchwarmer, you obviously didn’t watch many games this year if you didn’t see Chipper diving for the ball
bravesfansince80s
October 4th, 2011
1:14 pm
Jack Wilson just never got going, give him a full year in Atlanta before passing judgement on the guy, he’s got a great glove and a good approach at the plate, all things needed in a solid backup
phil
October 4th, 2011
1:25 pm
No one on the team got going when it mattered most. Same song and dance every year, just certain different singers and dancers….
Fire FG…
Liberty Media
October 4th, 2011
1:49 pm
We appreciate all of your suggestion box items, and want to thank you for all of your continued support of the product. Our R&D dept is working on virtualizing the Braves, so that each of you can plug & play line ups, demotions, in-game decisions, including post game and post season-didn’t make the post season interviews — complete w/ cap tipping,, and much, much more — so that you the fans we have left end up having the most enriched HD user experience imaginable.
Braves Fan Since 1966
October 4th, 2011
1:50 pm
Let it not be said that the Cardinals backed into the playoffs. They charged into the playoffs throgh the door that the Braves opened for them and then hung a sign saying “Come on in”.
Braves Fan in N.Y.
October 4th, 2011
1:54 pm
buckhead benny is right.
The Braves went south when Costanza was shown the bench.
Damon Dingle Barryhill
October 4th, 2011
2:14 pm
Quit saying “Don Baylor for hitting coach!” on every blog. He is currently employed as the hitting coach for Arizona, which apparently is a pretty good gig. Now pipe down! Let’s get some pop in the outfield (on both corners) and move Part Time Prado back to the middle infield, where he belongs.
Just get the best available hitter, regardless of their OF position
Vedder
October 4th, 2011
2:23 pm
So, if Jorge Constanza had not been benched,,the hitters behind him would have all of a sudden stopped leaving RISP…not likely. As a pure baseball fan, I am actually happy too see the Cards giving Philly all they can handle and being led by guy who does just that ..leads. StL fans were giving TLR a ton of abuse prior to their Sept torrent and wanted to run him out on a rail b/c baseball is the ultimate game of second guessing when things don’t go right ,, but at least they have a leader ,,much like the Rays w/ Maddon. All of these people- many of the AJC writers, who said that Fredi needs to change his approach and become a motivator are fooling themselves if you think someone just flips a switch and becomes a leader or motivator. They might as well hire Tony Robbins to be his bench coach. And on the beloved 1st ballot bowhunter ,, he is part of the problem when it comes to this leadership problem. I think it was clear he and his big mouth caused more harm than good. Being critical of Heyward for not playing hurt…critical between the lines at batting 2nd, so was not supportive of his manager no matter how big a dolt he is….blaming the pitching staff ,,, what a effin’ joke … and these are just the things we heard about. What all did this redneck say behind the scenes to people and that got back to the people he was criticizing?