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3,789 comments Add your comment
Arkansas Transplant
October 17th, 2011
12:00 pm
flange1, Thanks. And your right about humor, it helps in many ways.
Lew, Thanks. I’m trying my best to hang in there. Some days are better than the last. Just talked to him and he said he was able to eat breakfast this morning and was feeling alright today. It’s the ups and downs that really take their toll.
Murph, Thanks, And your right about seeing someone bigger than life as you grow up and then seeing them completely waste away in front of your eyes.. sorry to hear about your father.
P-T, Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.
McFann, Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.
You guys are definitely great and I really do appreciate all of the kind words and words of encouragement. Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot. Thanks for sharing, it helps more than you’d amagine.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
12:01 pm
I think that’s too much for Alex Gordon.
Agreed. That’s way to much for Gordon. A team doesn’t get too much service time from Gordon and if per-chance he has cleaned up his swing, he’ll go for the contract reducing the chance he sticks with the team he is traded to. Conversely, if he hasn’t figured it out, you’ve dumped talent and time for a dud. A left handed dud at that. The Braves have plenty of lefties. If they are looking for more production in RF as Wren says, I’d venture a guess that it will be in the form of a right handed hitter to platoon with Heyward.
unbelievable
October 17th, 2011
12:01 pm
Arkansas got it right. The Braves dont need a 4th OF’r that can spell Heyward and Prado. They need a legit everyday LF’r and move Prado back to the super utility role. Prado could find 120 games giving days off to our regulars at 3B/2B/1B and LF.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
Conrad needs to go, his defense is just not good and his scouting report caught up to him, you know that one that says “don’t throw him fastballs”.
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
ncscoots I’m pretty sure that the best September that McCann has had occurred in the year he caught the most games.
His best September was 2006— .304 AVG, .347 OBP, 9 Doubles, 8 homers, 27 RBI, and only 14 Ks. He only caught 124 games (118 starts, 99 CG) that year (missed 3 weeks with an ankle sprain in late May/early June), which is actually rather close to this year’s games played—126 games, 118 starts, 111 CG.
He had a good September in 2008, as well—that was the year he caught the most games of his career: 138 games, 132 starts, 116 CG.
Honestly, he’s really only had two “bad” Septembers: 2010 and 2011. 2010 he made up for by being the only guy on the Braves to hit well in the NLDS…
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
Tomas, even if the Royals were to take a gamble on a pitcher coming off a knee injury for the second year in a row, it’s not their M.O. to take a gamble on one that is a second-year arb guy, nor to trade away young talent. They generally trade for good young guys who are going to be cheap major leaguers for several years.
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
12:03 pm
And to be fair….outside of David Ross, the ENTIRE bench needs to be reconstructed….
I mean cmon here….
You had a guy who didn’t get a single big hit past June (Hinske), a guy who should have been sent back to AAA (Constanza), a guy who lived on his 2010 resume and would be lucky to be in AAA (Conrad), a has been guy who was a complete shell of himself (Wilson), a guy who apparently lost his soul, testosterone, and supply of power in Pittsburgh (Diaz), AND the handful of characters that were shipped in and out over the year….
The entire bench needs to be fixed with some speed and guys that actually make contact instead of guys that hit .220 and may run into one every once in a great while.
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
12:04 pm
Arkansas Transplant—
No problem!
Prayer is a powerful thing…sometimes not answered they way we’d like, but it always helps nonetheless.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
12:04 pm
Ross, Diaz, Conrad, a utlilty infielder and 4th outfielder for the bench.
I could see Conrad and Hinske getting cut.
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
Sadly, we’re stuck w/ Diaz now….
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
I think the Royals have Danny Duffy, Felipe Paulino and Luke Hochevar in the rotation for 2012. Montgomery and Odorizzi ready by late 2012 or opening day 2013, potentially. Lamb working his way back from TJ surgery. I’d shoot higher for pitching than a Mike Minor type. That’s a weak division and Dayton could challenge by next year with a good offseason.
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
12:06 pm
Ugh….
Anyone…ANYONE who believes Conrad should be on this team next year either needs a complete brain scan or is happy w/ mediocre results.
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
12:07 pm
Sorry…I think that came out a little insensitive, but I didn’t mean it that way…
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:07 pm
Who’s down to bring back Jamie Kotsay to Atlanta? Anyone?
Murph
October 17th, 2011
12:07 pm
Gordon’s sudden surge at the plate would worry me… if he had 2 or 3 years like he had in 2011 under his belt, then sure, yes, please, go get him. I’d like to agree with Shaun and say that he’s figured things out and now is a more complete baseball player, but right now I wouldn’t feel safe giving up any players of substance until I see that he can sustain his new-found offensive prowess.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
The entire bench needs to be fixed with some speed and guys that actually make contact instead of guys that hit .220 and may run into one every once in a great while.
I would think this would depend more on how the starting positions look. If the game is to up offense in the starters at the cost of defense, I could see the bench being more defensive oriented for the late innings substitutions etc.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:10 pm
Tomas – True, but HInske has sucked both years with the Braves in August and September and REALLY sucked bad this year. In 2010 he went 15-75 (.200) and in 2011 he went 5-41 (.121) in August and September for a total of 20-116 (.167) during crunch time when we faded horrendously two straight years.
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
TP-
I am fine w/ that as well as we could use those “defensive replacements” in certain positions late in games…
*ahem cough 3b*
historyman
October 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
Seems the Cards owe the Braves a gigantic favor … like maybe taking on Derek Lowe and his contract.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:12 pm
Y’all – Prado will make around $5 mil in arbitration this year. They are NOT going to use him as a supersub and pay that much for that role.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:12 pm
Lew, to be fair, everybody in the team(except Alex Gonzalez) was a black hole in August and September. — Tomas
Dan Uggla was National League Player of the Month in August. Didn’t struggle until very end of month and for most of Sept.
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
Shaun, could it be that Prado’s walk rate is lower because his hit rate is higher?
Murph, I doubt the two are all that closely related but I don’t know. All I know is that Gordon is more disciplined and has more power/hits the ball with more authority. And if you are implying that Prado’s has gotten lots of hits by swinging at more pitches, I don’t know that necessarily means that Prado is the more talented player at the plate.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
DOB, you’re right, but their MO hasn’t exactly been working out for them the last 30 years. Nobody is trading good affordable young pitching, and off course JJ needs to have a strong spring to make him appealing to teams. He needs to feel strong, and throw back to his usual velocity. If he does that, instead of feeling they should keep him, they should trade him before another injury pops up and really that would be the last straw.
Paying 4-5 million for what would be an Ace in that staff, I have to think they’ll at least consider it.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
Since August 25(Irene or whatever) is what I meant.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
ncscoots: How ’bout not one, but two individual prayer scenes in 15-minute span, every word said aloud both times (I mean, I realize why they did it that way, but c’mon, how many adults pray aloud like that when alone? Once, I can understand, to make clear what’s on her mind. But then he did it, and went on and on and on. Twice in 15 minutes by two different people?)
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
High risk, high reward
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
Conversely, if he hasn’t figured it out, you’ve dumped talent and time for a dud. A left handed dud at that. The Braves have plenty of lefties. If they are looking for more production in RF as Wren says, I’d venture a guess that it will be in the form of a right handed hitter to platoon with Heyward.
Excellent point. Does he really fit this team? I’d rather a right handed stick, as you said. Plus, we have Martin.
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
In addition to some specific needs (corner outfielder with speed and/or power and shortstop), Braves need better team chemistry. Although he is a future HOF’er, Chipper has never been much of a leader. That would not be so bad if Chipper wasn’t such a media darling who loves the attention (not to mention the future baseball writer HOF votes) and loves to run his mouth. He should have been called out by management for questioning J-Hey’s desire to play hurt. I will be very happy when Chipper leaves this team – he’s always been a self-centered player, and now he is in the twilight of his career and lingering on much like Brett Favre.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
From Elias: Cardinals are the first team to be 10 or more games out through games of Aug. 27 or later in either the league, division or wild card race and reach World Series.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
I could see Conrad and Hinske getting cut.
True. Wren could make strengthening the bench a priority. Pretty much said so to DOB with the utility infield comment.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
Tomas – Jurrjens is making over $3 mil already. He will make around 6-7 mil in arbitration this year, because they will look at his 13 wins, All Star appearance and sub 3.00 ERA much more than they will him missing time.
No way he only makes 4-5 mil in arb.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
How about Scott Hairston and Jerry Hairston Jr.? Bring em both in.
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
12:21 pm
Murph, I think power and walking are more closely related because a pitcher is probably going to be more cautions in putting pitching in the strikezone if a guy can really square one up. A power hitter with discipline is probably more valuable than a contact hitter, even one with a really good hit tool and merely above average power. If you throw the contact hitter a strike, there is a good chance it’s going to be an out or just a single, and less of a chance for an extra-base hit.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
12:22 pm
They are NOT going to use him as a supersub and pay that much for that role.
They probably won’t do that as he intimated as much already, but such a decision would have zero to do with Prado’s paycheck.
Wren believed a $7M pitcher in the minors would help the major league team, so that happened.
Wren believes a $15M pitcher not-starting would be better for the team, so that appears to be happening.
So yes, if Prado making $5M, getting 500+ at bats at 3+ positions helps the team, Wren would do it.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:22 pm
(I mean, I realize why they did it that way, but c’mon, how many adults pray aloud like that when alone? Once, I can understand, to make clear what’s on her mind. But then he did it, and went on and on and on. Twice in 15 minutes by two different people?)
Yes, that’s when I started surfing the internet a bit.
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
12:24 pm
Sorry guys, but we really can’t afford to put another LHH on this team….
As bad as we are on that side, we really could more so use a couple of guys that pound LHP….
Sorry but Alex Gordon does not apply to that mathematical equation.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
12:25 pm
The two players’ OBP when HBP is removed from the equation:
Alex Gordon = .334
Martin Prado = .338
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to count HBP in a skill-based stat, at least not to me. Any yahoo can stand over the plate and lean into a pitch.
So again, I’m not saying Gordon isn’t good, I’m just saying I don’t see where he’s clearly better than Prado. They seem pretty close to me.
766
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
12:26 pm
Efrim, Yeah, I think Conrad is gone. I think Hinske stays. It’s clear the Braves don’t have much faith in Conrad as a defensive player and, while he’s an okay pinch-hitter, he’s nothing special. Why waste a roster spot on a guy that basically you are only going to use as a pinch-hitter, unless he’s a remarkable hitter?
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:27 pm
Ten Paul – The point was that with the payroll constraints this year, they aren’t going to spend what they have left (damned little) on someone to play LF full time when said LFer to be better than Matrtin would cost as much, if not more than he’s already making. An argument could always be made he already a supersub since he plays left, third and fills in at first as well.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
Remember in the first half when we were discussing that JJ should have started the all star game, and trades like Matt Kemp for JJ(I was realistic, so my point was that there was no way that would have happen straight up). Should have traded him then, and no we would have never gotten Kemp, but some good prospects/mlb players. Now we’re discussing him being almost un-trade-able because of his injury history.
Braves should jump on the next opportunity they get to trade him
DAP
October 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
leigh Who here thinks that had Jurrjens been healthy during the second half of the season we would have made the playoffs(and had a more rested bullpen)?
So, then why is everyone talking about trading this guy? This is absurd
good point.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
12:29 pm
Plus, we have Martin.
Yep. Another position in his proverbial super-utility tool box. Getting time at all the corners and, if Uggla ever takes a day off at second.
Having a guy like Martin should open a lot of doors for depth on the team as he can play a lot, there appears to be a lot of at bats to be hand in such a role. I think it will depend largely on who is available via trade or FA. I think Wren goes into it looking for his initial target, but could fall back to an alt plan if the market takes a different shape.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
Lew, If JJ ask for 6-7 million, personally they should non-tender him. He’s arbitration should go like his trade value, and since it’s low, he should only get a small raise. If Scott Borras gets him 6-7 million he is just the best agent that ever lived
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
I personally think is what I meant on my last post
dap01
October 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
There is nothing wrong with paying any “supersub” big money. 500 abats are 500 abats, no matter what position a player plays.
Chipper will be out 40 games.
Freeman needs someone to give him a few nights off.
Uggla needs breaks,
Outfielders will be need breaks (especially if Heyward does not improve).
Let’s get a REAL outfielder and let Prado do what Prado does best.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:33 pm
DAP – The talk is a result of the fact that there are very few ways for the Braves to free up payroll this winter – either they can hope payroll is substantially raised, dump Lowe’s salary on someone or trade a player making a sizeable amount of money in 2012 – Lowe, Chipper, Uggla, Hudson or Jurrjens being your only options.
Lowe is porblematic as we all know and MAYBE they could dump him while paying 2/3 of his salary. CHipper and Hudson are ten/fie players and are going nowhere. That leaves Jurrjens, who will make $6-7 mil in arbitration and can be replaced with in house options.
Not saying they will do it, because he might bring little more than salary relief given his injury history and the fact Hanson’s hurt, too, but he is the only realistic option to trade for salary relief that can be replaced.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:34 pm
And they aren’t going to trade Uggla.
jayvee
October 17th, 2011
12:35 pm
Late reading this good post. Thanks, DOB. What I take away from it is this: I know he’s an arch-villian, but the numbers tell what a great manager Tony LaRussa is. I have never cared for his demeanor but his success — and especially in the post-season — is unassailable. Granted, the Cards have been playing like they had nothing to lose for the last month of the season, and have continued to play inspired but loose baseball in the playoffs. But watching the Cards play, I am so impressed with their approach at the plate. They never give away at-bats. They seem to know exactly what the pitcher is going to do. It’s the kind of body language that I can’t recall the Braves having in a very long time. Even when the Braves have won in the post-season, it’s been pitching, not offense, that’s led the way. Braves offense is anemic at best, even when they’re winning!
Moreover, consider that the Cards bullpen has gone through a very long season, yet racked up more outs in the NLCS than the Cards’ starters. That’s a tribute to Dave Duncan and LaRussa — again much as it pains me to say it.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:35 pm
Tomas – You are naive in the extreme if you think that’s a. how arbitration really works or b,. that they’ll non tender him and get NOTHING in return as they would if they traded him (though it would be a small return).
Murph
October 17th, 2011
12:36 pm
But watching the Cards play, I am so impressed with their approach at the plate. They never give away at-bats. They seem to know exactly what the pitcher is going to do.
I think they are stealing signs
George
October 17th, 2011
12:36 pm
Good afternoon y’ll
**************************************************************************
kevin Mckillop
October 16th, 2011
9:15 pm
The braves should drop Jones so we don,t have to put up with the injuries.I would like to know just how many games jones sat out this year.He never was put on the DL like all other players and just sat on the bench and wait to pinch hit.Its really sad but he needs to GO.
**************************************************************************
If you were a real BRAVES fan you would know how many games CHIPPER missed, also you would know how to find out. I will NOT tell you because you are a JERK. I will tell you CHIPPER WAS on the 15 day DL in July and came right back after haveing knee surgery. YOU ARE JUST ANOUTHER CHIPPER HATER.
Arkansas Transplant
October 17th, 2011
12:37 pm
I just think Wren has his work cut out for him, as far as upgrading the outfield. There just isn’t much available on the FA front and not real sure what’s available via trade that would definitely upgrade what we already have.
Russell Bell
October 17th, 2011
12:37 pm
DOB – yeah the first episode of Walking Dead did drag a bit.
I watched it on DVR, and ~30 minutes of the episode was taken up commercials!
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
Murph, I think Gordon is better more because of what he’s likely to do as opposed to what each player has done. It is close, I agree. But I just think Gordon has the better tools and skills.
Regarding HBP, are you removing both PA and HBP from the OBP equation or just HBP? I think by your rationale, you have to remove both, as a player shouldn’t be rewarded or punished for HBP. You probably are removing PA, but just wanted to ask.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
Efrim, my hand is raised re: your 12:07 comment.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
Lew, if JJ were a FA right now, how much do you give him? 6-7 million per year? He’s been injured for the last two season, and lost 4-6 mph on his fastball. Max I give him 5
DAP
October 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
out of hinske and conrad, i think i might keep conrad. the choice is a tough one, but conrad gives you what hinske does at the plate, from both sides. plus he is younger and cheaper. overall he is the more versatile player.
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
12:40 pm
P-Town, Gordon was actually better against LHP than RHP in 2011. But I’ll take BJ Upton as an alternative.
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
12:40 pm
Trading Chipper and Lowe could happen under the right circumstances. Chipper had a respectable offensive year and might be enticing to an American League team looking for a part-time 3rd baseman and DH. Lowe had a miserable year, but he still might make sense as a number 4 or 5 starter for antother team (ageed, we’d have to eat a big chunk of his salary, but getting something for a starter with no role on the 2012 Braves will be better than having around brooding).
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:41 pm
The braves should drop Jones so we don,t have to put up with the injuries.I would like to know just how many games jones sat out this year.He never was put on the DL like all other players and just sat on the bench and wait to pinch hit. — George
Really? Another offseason of illogical “release Chipper” comments?
By the way, George, he did go on the DL — for July knee surgery.
DAP
October 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
lew The talk is a result of the fact that there are very few ways for the Braves to free up payroll this winter
great point.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
… but the numbers tell what a great manager Tony LaRussa is. I have never cared for his demeanor but his success — and especially in the post-season — is unassailable. – jayvee
Agreed. I was hoping for one more World Series rematch of La Russa vs. his close friend Leyland, who began his major league career on La Russa’s White Sox staff many, many years ago.
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
12:45 pm
jayvee, one thing that shoots a hole in the LaRussa theory is that he was unable to win a Series when the Cardinals were clearly the best team in the NL in 2004 and 2005. He won in 2006, with a rather mediocre team. Some would say that reflects greatly on LaRussa. I’m not so sure. Seems like a manager should have been able to take a team like the 2005 Cardinals to a World Series win, if the manager had that much control over things.
I’m not saying LaRussa is a bad manager nor am I saying he’s a good one. But I think the Cardinals winning the NL pennant this season and a World Series in 2006 has more to do with flukey things than with LaRussa.
I think the NL pennant was there for the taking this season. The Phillies had a lot of holes in their lineup and the Brewers had some talented pitching and a good offense but they lacked pitching depth and their defense wasn’t good.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
Tomas – I’m not an arbiter. Besides, he missed time on the DL twice LAST year and still made $3.25 million in arbitration his FIRST time around. He just won 13 games and posted a sub 3.00 ERA and amde the All Star team and should have been the AS starter.
You seriously believe that they’ll only grant him a $750,000 to 1.25 mil award? Dream on.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
Shaun, good point… I just didn’t count the HBP but didn’t alter the AB’s at all. So that probably makes it even closer between the two.
Again, I’m not against Gordon, I just think he’s too close to Prado to justify giving up anything to get him. I wouldn’t turn off my TV if I saw him coming to the plate in a Braves uni.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:52 pm
Efrim, my hand is raised re: your 12:07 comment.
Glad someone responded, DOB. Was starting to worry about this group!
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
12:54 pm
And I meant, glad at least DOB responded.
Jamie Kotsay should of brought more responses.
George
October 17th, 2011
12:54 pm
Hey DOB,
Your 12:41 makes it look like I wrote the 9:15 pm last night post about Chipper, NOT SO. My comments were below the * lines. I did point out CHIPPER was on DL in JULY. I am not as stupit as you think I am.
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
DOB Cardinals are the first team to be 10 or more games out through games of Aug. 27 or later in either the league, division or wild card race and reach World Series.
Really? Well bully for them…
jeffrey d
October 17th, 2011
12:58 pm
Lester admits beer drinking “wrong”
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7114689/boston-red-sox-jon-lester-admits-beer-drinking-wrong
jeffrey d
October 17th, 2011
12:59 pm
I am not as stupit as you think I am
Is stupid spelled wrong on purpose?
George
October 17th, 2011
1:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:01 pm
Lew, but it’s his second injury in the last 2 years, team might not be so generous this time. And I know he had a 2.96 ERA, which was pretty lucky considering his stuff deteriorated to the extent that it did.
George
October 17th, 2011
1:03 pm
When DOB qoutes people he should do so correctly.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:05 pm
Tomas – Luck be damned – you seriously believe that the arbiter will use that as a basis for his award? And the way it works is that the team puts out a figure and so does the player and the arbiter chooses between the two.
I can pretty well guarantee you that if the Braves throw out an arb figure of $4 mil, they will lose. So will an offer of $5 mil – cause that’s just how it works – go check what other second year abr players made after winning 13 games, making the AS team and pitching with an under 3.00 ERA.
Whether or not you or I might believe this to be equitable is of no consequence whatsoever.
George
October 17th, 2011
1:07 pm
Jeffery
No, I am just a poor speller.
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
1:08 pm
David, truth be known, I haven’t had a chance to watch the Walking Dead episode, yet.
Efrim, responses were limited to your Jamie Kotsay call because, I imagine, folks think her husband would come with her.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
I watched it on DVR, and ~30 minutes of the episode was taken up commercials…Russell
that’s about right for a 90 minute show. an hour show is really only about 41 or 42 minutes anymore at most. another half hour = another 10 minutes or so of ads.
Gee, I can remember when an hour show was over 50 minutes
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
1:13 pm
Murph-
I agree…..there’s something squirrely going on w/ Cardinal hitters….
And frankly, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were stealing signs given its a LaRussa team….
LaRussa would piss all over his mother’s grave if he knew it’d get him ahead somewhere somehow.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:13 pm
Trading Chipper and Lowe could happen under the right circumstances…Brave New World
huh? trading Chipper could not happen under any circumstances.he’s 10/5 and has made it abundantly clear he is gonna play in Atlanta till he retires.
George
October 17th, 2011
1:13 pm
Outta here for now. Have a good afternoon y’ll.
jeffrey d
October 17th, 2011
1:14 pm
Bye George
CB
October 17th, 2011
1:16 pm
I was thinking about agreeing with Efrim about bringing in the Hairston brothers but after seeing a picture of Jamie I think I like the Kotsay family plan better.
Shaun
October 17th, 2011
1:16 pm
Murph, front offices are essentially placing bets on which players are going to perform through the lengths of their next contract. They obviously have to also take into account the contract and how much bang for the buck they are getting with players. That’s the way I look at it. And I would bet on Gordon out-performing Prado for the next 2-3 seasons. But I do agree that if the price for Gordon is too high in terms of players, the Braves should move on. Prado is perfectly adequate as the primary leftfielder, plus I’m sure there are other good options that the Braves could realistically get. I would love to see Gordon in a Braves uniform but obviously not at any expense.
George, even if you think Chipper isn’t a great player anymore, even if you think he’s no better than a pinch-hitter type, what good is releasing him? They are still paying him. Even if you think he should be a part-time player (if you look, you’ll see he’s clearly not close to that bad), the Braves would still have to pay him. And if the Braves thought he had as little value as you think he does, I’m sure they could trade him rather easily and get something for him.
P-Town Brave ©
October 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
Funny thing is, people who know who Jamie Kotsay is don’t wonder why Mark’s back is so screwed up….
I mean cmon….if you were him, wouldn’t your back be wrecked?! (Among other things)
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
There is nothing wrong with paying any “supersub” big money. 500 abats are 500 abats, no matter what position a player plays.
Are four PAs from Martin Prado the same as one each from Chipper, Uggla, Heyward, and Freeman? I can assure you they are not. Yet that is what you are proposing, because it would be almost impossible for any sub, super or otherwise, to garner as many ABs as you cite without at least some of them coming at the expense of the regular.
Instead of keeping Prado’s bat relevant to the lineup, you’ll end up reducing the effectiveness of the players for whom he is subbing. That, to me, is not the path on which increased offensive performance lies.
George
October 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
Bye Jeffery.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:19 pm
Lew, a declining K rate, his WAR has gone from 3.7(2008) 3.9(2009) 1.2(2010) 1.5(2011). If I understand correctly ARB is based on the last 2 years, and it’s always a raise over his current salary.
I don’t really know, it just seems that 6-7 million is too much.
CB
October 17th, 2011
1:19 pm
Good to see jeffrey and George are so close.
George
October 17th, 2011
1:20 pm
WOW even Shaun misread my 12:36 post.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:22 pm
IIRC Cox had a winning record Larussa, He certainly had a MUCH better winning % overall
George
October 17th, 2011
1:23 pm
For all of you. My comments were below the 2nd ************** line in my 12:36 post.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
1:23 pm
Efrim, responses were limited to your Jamie Kotsay call because, I imagine, folks think her husband would come with her.
Mark can join her, I guess.
I was thinking about agreeing with Efrim about bringing in the Hairston brothers but after seeing a picture of Jamie I think I like the Kotsay family plan better.
Good choice!
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
1:24 pm
Something about TLR just makes me not like the guy.
jeffrey d
October 17th, 2011
1:24 pm
Well I am on the list
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:24 pm
The Bobby Cox page @ BaseballReference.con is sponsored by a Robert B. who has the following to say :
Someone let Cox into the stadium during a playoff drive and now we are wondering why the Braves are flirting with an epic collapse
Can it really be? Is he actually that obsessive?
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:24 pm
Tomas – All of it is too much. Doesn’t make the arbitration process any different.
Despite the injury time, how many other pitchers won 13 games with a sub 3.00 ERA. And just because some don’t give much credence to either wins or ERA or the All Star appearance, the arbiter WILL.
$6-7 mil may seem like too much, but in the scheme of things, it’s about right for a pitcher with Jair’s numbers
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:25 pm
P-Town Brave ©,
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:27 pm
nolie – Could be, but it IS taking his obsession to new heights.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
1:27 pm
I’m serious though about Scott and Jerry – would be great to have at least one apart of the bench.