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3,788 comments Add your comment
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:27 pm
I think if they offer 5.5mil they will win
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:30 pm
This is part five of a five part series of posts that will examine the most pressing questions for the Atlanta Braves this off-season.
Question Five: Do the Braves have any money to spend?
Count me among those who just assumed that the Braves would have more payroll flexibility next season. Count me among those who would be wrong. Here’s how:
Coming off the books will be $7 million from Kenshin Kawakami. About $2 million the Braves were paying Scott Linebrink. The $6.5 million the team was paying Nate McLouth, minus the $1.25 million buy-out for declining his 2012 option. The $1.2 from George Sherrill, $2 mil from Peter Moylan (who I assume will be non-tendered, though he may be re-signed to a lower salary), and $2.5 mil from Alex Gonzalez. That’s a rough total of around $20 million coming off the payroll.
But the Braves have already committed money to players that will add to next year’s payroll. Dan Uggla’s salary will increase by $4 mil. Brian McCann’s will increase by $2 mil. Michael Bourn will essentially replace McLouth’s salary, and likely make somewhere around $7 million in 2012 after arbitration. Jair Jurrjens will probably add another $3 million to his salary after arb, Martin Prado will add around $2.5 million to his salary, and Eric O’Flaherty will add around $2 million. That total comes to around $20 million of additional payroll that was not a part of last year’s team — essentially wiping out all the savings the Braves would get from the salaries coming off the books.
My math may be off here and there, but the general idea holds — the Braves will not have any wiggle room to add players with their current salary structure. Over the last few days we’ve been talking about the need to add a reliever or two and possibly some more offense, but doing that by taking on salary does not seem like an option for Atlanta this off-season; not without clearing payroll first.
I’ve also focused on several trades the Braves could make, and if the team wants to add any player making more than the minimum MLB salary (around $400,000), then they are going to have to part with some of their higher priced players. I’ve mentioned trading either Tommy Hanson or Jair Jurrjens, though I reasoned that Jurrjens was more likely to be moved. With the added salary that he will be making, Jurrjens looks like the prime trade candidate if the Braves wish to add players.
Martin Prado was also someone I identified as being a player that could likely be traded. And just as his value to another team in the infield may be worth that team giving the Braves a good return, his expected salary next season makes his departure a more likely move by the Braves.
This makes it even more of an imperative that the Braves try to unload at least some of Derek Lowe’s salary. That may be the hardest mountain to climb of the off-season — the team certainly couldn’t move him either of the last two off-seasons — but clearing even half of Lowe’s $15 million would give the team enormous flexibility to add a player or two. Still, it’s highly unlikely that will be possible, and so moving Jurrjens and/or Prado look like the best trade options on the team, if the Braves are to make any moves.
Then again, the Braves could simply stand pat and not do much of anything. With little flexibility in the payroll to add players, the front office may decide that Fredi Gonzalez and company have to try and win with the team they currently have. But in a season that saw the team undergo one of the worst collapses in the history of sports, will fans be happy if the composition of the team doesn’t change? Injuries and ineffectiveness down the stretch aside, some fans will simply not be satisfied if changes aren’t made. The real question may be, “how will the players respond if they show up in spring training and all 25 faces are the same?”
Let the most uncertain off-season ever for the Braves begin.
http://www.talkingchop.com/2011/10/13/2487447/top-5-off-season-questions-for-the-atlanta-braves-5
If everybody thinks like that then I may be the one who is wrong.
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
1:30 pm
I’m not a betting man…but it was pretty darn clear after the Braves series in St Louis, that the Cardinals were going to win the Wild Card, and very likely make the World Series.
jb
October 17th, 2011
1:31 pm
@9:29..agree- Fredi voted a share of Cards WS play-off money…
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:32 pm
nolie – If they do, it will still be considerably more than a $4-5 mil award. Think of the presentation Boras gives at arb. He’ll make a much better case for more bucks than I have.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:34 pm
I think he is pretty close on the money figures. Without a budget increase or a very savvy trade we ain’t likely to add all that much IMO
Gary O
October 17th, 2011
1:35 pm
McFann,
Honestly, he’s really only had two “bad” Septembers: 2010 and 2011..
The problem is, it’s been the last 2 Septembers in a row. So will it be a trend going forward?
“That leaves Jurrjens, who will make $6-7 mil in arbitration and can be replaced with in house options.”.Lew.
DOB,
Any idea/guesses about what kind of salary JJ might get?
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:36 pm
I do not see any GM giving us much in trade for JJ at this point.
Snotboogie
October 17th, 2011
1:36 pm
Can it really be? Is he actually that obsessive?
I’m pretty sure it is him. He had put some other derogatory thing on it earlier in the season and even came on here to link to it and gloat. Poor guy.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:37 pm
Tomas – Whoever wrote that article comes pretty close to all I’ve been saying – with the exception fo trading Prado. Yes, they’d save a couple of bucks if thy did trade him – maybe. They would then have to find a full time Left fielder – likely someone making as much as Martin AND a thrid base replacement for a year older Chipper who already is playing on knees that could go at any time.
Not so sure they really save anything by trading Martin.
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:37 pm
Yeah I hate to admit, but gondee the talking chop dude makes a lot of sense. Can the Braves even sign Alex Gonzalez, and a backup IF……
Bat Masterson
October 17th, 2011
1:40 pm
Dan Uggla’s salary will increase by $4 mil. Brian McCann’s will increase by $2 mil
Yeah, you can probably throw in 2 out of the 3 million bonus Heap could earn, too.
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
1:41 pm
“I do not see any GM giving us much in trade for JJ at this point.”
Praise the Lord because there is no player that we could get in return for him that would be more valuable that Jair. The guy was a top 5 pitcher in the NL the first half of the season…and was dirt cheap.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:42 pm
nolie – Maybe so, but they WILL get a return and salary savings of – at least – $5 million. Still, it’s only one of a very few ways for the Braves to free salary room.
However, they COULD just go into 2012 with what they already have and just adding a shortstop. The pen is covered. The rotation is covered and so is most of the starting lineup and bench if worst came to worst.
Got to figure that the Braves were pretty close to the playoffs, shouldn’t see an epic collapse like this again (only happened several times in modern MLB history) and have almost the entire team returning.
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
1:42 pm
MFin04 October 17th, 2011 1:30 pm
I’m not a betting man…but it was pretty darn clear after the Braves series in St Louis, that the Cardinals were going to win the Wild Card, and very likely make the World Series.
Rangers in 6
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:43 pm
Prado getting a raise of 2 million is another extreme to me. They just don’t deserve that kind of raise.
I really believe that if this team player to their full potential they really wouldn’t need to sign anybody. But Prado needs to start hitting 300 again, Chipper needs another season like the one he had, McCann needs to be the first half McCann, Heyward needs to bounce back, Uggla needs to be more consistent, and Freeman can’t fall victim to a sophomore slump.
They need money for a SS and a stronger bench, so around 7 million.
AZBravoFan
October 17th, 2011
1:43 pm
So over the last couple years the Braves stockpiled starting pitching on the thought that you need pitching depth to get through the regular season. So as we found, that was a good call. However, I think the season turned more on the injuries of Sherrill and Linebrink. Say what you want about them, but when they were healthy in mid-season they were pretty effective and reliable. They eased some of the load on the Big Three and they helped bridge some of Lowe’s crappy starts and keep the game close. And of course they were a big reason for some of our extra inning wins. I think the Cards have shown the importance of bullpen depth. They added a bunch of bullpen arms at the deadline and collectively they’ve been the star of the post-season. Perhaps FW should have done the same when he realized the starters weren’t eating innings and the back end of the pen was gassed. The 2 V’s helped some, but a couple more experienced arms might have been useful.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
1:46 pm
IMO JJ is too potentially good to just dump for salary and a question mark player and I do not thing they would get more.
anything is possible of course but I’ll be surprised if they trade him
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:51 pm
tomas – What you can’t seem to understand (or maybe just come to grips with) is that whether or not you, Me or anyone else thinks the arb awards are ridiculous is immaterial. It’s the way the process works and that’s pretty well all there is to it. If it were unrealistic then why do the same figures keep appearing in the analyses?
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
nolie – Again, maybe so. However, there are few ways to increase payroll flexibility and trading JJ makes more sense than other options – he’s the only one making an appreciable amount of money that could really be traded and replaced from within – unless Frank Wren can talk the ownership (or their reps) out of another ten mil or so.
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
1:57 pm
Braves had a good team in 2011. Clearly, some of the better teams in baseball did not make the playoffs (Braves, Red Sox), or folded in the playoffs (Phils – YEAH!!!!, Yanks, Brewers, Tigers, and D-Backs). It takes more than the best record once a team reaches the playoffs. Momentum and team chemistry often separate good teams from champions. There was something wrong with the Braves in 2011 (aside from injuries which every team must deal with). Even when they looked like a playoff (wild card) lock, I never expected them to do much, if any, damage in the playoffs. This is just my opinion, but I think the team chemistry was not quite right for the Braves in 2011. In 2010, Billy Wagner was a team leader – not only by example, but by the way he took younger players like Venters and Kimbrel under his wing and supported them. Contrast that to Chipper publicly questioning Jason Heyward, or McCann, Chipper, and most of the offense disappearing during the September. And then we have Lowe, who last year led us to the playoffs with a brilliant September. I was wrong in 2011, because I incorrectly thought Lowe would rise to the occasion once again in September. Hudson and Beachy were very good, and the young guns like Delgado showed tremendous poise. I think O’Flaherty, Venters and Kimbrel were great even though they all showed signs of fatigue in September. I was dissapointed when the Braves did not make the playoffs, but I was elated when the Phils got bounced in the first round. All in all, a good year for the Braves. And I am looking forward to 2012. GO BRAVES!
Tomas
October 17th, 2011
1:58 pm
Lew, I’m not saying it’s not possible, it just seems that it’s to much since they struggled with health or performance. Doesn’t fair that they should get those types of raises, but doesn’t mean they wont.
jb
October 17th, 2011
1:59 pm
when was the last time (Potentially good) won anything..
trade Prado for right deal..
trade JJ for right deal..
Almost entire team returning..would really show fans and players how much they want to win..lol
Lew
October 17th, 2011
1:59 pm
tomas – Fair got nothing to do with it – that’s for sure.
flange1
October 17th, 2011
2:00 pm
I wonder if the Braves will try to save some salary by extending the contracts of Chipper, Hudson and maybe McCann.
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
2:00 pm
anything is possible of course but I’ll be surprised if they trade [Jurrjens]
I’ll be surprised if they trade anybody, from the offensive side. As far as I can tell, they have exactly the offensive team they envisioned a year or two ago, brought to completion with Uggla and Bourn.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
jb – Yeah, but a case COULD be made for keeping the same team (minus short stop) that was within two games of the playoffs that had bullpen issues late in the year that would almost certainly be negated by having Medlen, Vizcaino and Varvaro (plus a couple of up and comers in the minors) for the entire year and no Proctor.
Not to mention a healthy Prado, a healthy McCann and a couple better bench options.
jb
October 17th, 2011
2:05 pm
lew- could be..we’ll see.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
2:08 pm
jb – Unless they increase payroll or trade Jurrjens or Lowe, I don’t see much more than minimal changes until NEXT offseason. But I’m actually all right with that. I just don’t see the perfect storm we saw late this year happening again.
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
2:09 pm
“JJ is too potentially good to just dump for salary and a question mark player and I do not think they would get more.”
You can officially say anything to me now and I won’t be insulted.
Finally Jurrjens getting some respect.
cricket
October 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
As far as I can tell, they have exactly the offensive team they envisioned a year or two ago, brought to completion with Uggla and Bourn.
Exactly what I thought. But then, inexplicably the offense did a 180 from last year and stopped being patient and never materialized into what it could have been. Bring back TP
jb
October 17th, 2011
2:11 pm
Agree on increase payroll and moving Lowe are JJ..something has got to give..can’t stay the same and win.
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
2:12 pm
jb: Philadelphia showed their fans that they wanted to win it all by dropping $20+ million on Cliff Lee. How’d that work out for the Phils?
Lew
October 17th, 2011
2:13 pm
MFin04 – Not a matter of not respecting JJ or what he brings when healthy. It’s a matter of options to increase payroll and he happens to be one of the few options the Braves have this winter.
But given Hanson’s injury as well as his own and the lowered return he’d bring as a result, I can see him remaining a Brave and them going with minimal changes. I just don’t see him staying if larger changes are to be made and payroll is not augmented..
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
2:14 pm
Gary O The problem is, it’s been the last 2 Septembers in a row. So will it be a trend going forward?
I say NO!!
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
2:15 pm
Braves need to find a consistent offense that averages about 4-5 runs per game and they will win 90+ games and make the playoffs in 2012
jb
October 17th, 2011
2:15 pm
I would move TP to 3rd base coach and 3rd base to 1st. Wren already has someone in mind for hitting coach..bet on it.
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
2:18 pm
Bring back TP
If one believes in normalization at all, you could probably hire Pee Wee Herman and the offense would turn around.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
2:19 pm
Won’t the Braves at least get a “cost of living” raise in the payroll? Even a few percentage points could be enough to add the bench player or bullpen arm that they need.
Lew
October 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
scoots -Just so he didn’t have his hitting sessions in a small X Rated theater.
jb
October 17th, 2011
2:21 pm
Braves New World..that has nothing to do with Braves and what Wren can do with 20 million..The ?? dropped trillions on crap but still no jobs..get my point? Its how u spend the money! Look at KK, Lowe etc…high is not always best.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:22 pm
I thought Prado would get 4.5 million and Jurrjens would get 6 million. EOF at around 2.5 million works. All three could be sent packing after 2012.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
If one believes in normalization at all, you could probably hire Pee Wee Herman and the offense would turn around.
Pee Wee: Aaarrrgggghhhh… Heh heh.
Heyward: That’s great Pee Wee, but what about my position in the box?
Pee Wee: La la la….. la la la la… do do do do… la la la… heh heh.
Heyward: Man, you’re an idiot.
Pee Wee: I know you are, but what am I?
Heyward: A crappy hitting coach…
Pee Wee: I know you are but what am I? Infinity… heh heh.
jb
October 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
Lew..a hands on guy..good communicator..X rayed @2;20
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
2:25 pm
That would be fun times at the old ballyard, wouldn’t it, Murph, LOL?
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
2:28 pm
jb: I agree that merely spending money is not the solution. But the braves like any front office want to make their ticket base happy. Lowe has not been the waste of money (until this past year) you think he is. Prior to getting Lowe, the Braves were a losing team. In the 3 years since Lowe has been here, we have had one of the better records in baseball.
jim
October 17th, 2011
2:29 pm
Lew,
If you assume that trading JJ and/or Prado are the only options that the Braves have for reducing payroll and improving the team, and if the Sept. collapse reflects as acurately on the caliabre of the team as the 2nd place standing at the end of August, then there is little reason for optimism next year and beyond. JJ’s first half will get him the $6 million + in arbitration, but his second half injuries and loss of velocity (it was down all year in reality) will limit the return in any trade. Trading Prado is not likely to bring back a better player either.
I would be willing to put a respectable team on the field for 2012 and plan to be competetive for a playoff and beyond berth in 2013. Teheran needs to be in the rotation in 2012, but will probably need a year or 2 (like Glavine, Maddux, and Avery) before he is a premier pitcher (same for Minor, and Delgado and Vizcaino) . By 2013 there may be additional in-house help from Terd…, Simmons, Past…, and perhaps LaStella and Cunningham. By 2013 we may see the Heyward that we were promised in 2010.
However, by 2013 McCann will be a 30-year old catcher on the downside of his career with no other position to play. Uggla will be no better than he was this year and perhaps worse.
I would bewilling to say that the Braves as presently constituted with the minor adjustments of possible Prado/JJ trades will not be competing for a playoff spot in 2012 and will not be as we3ll-suited as a playoff contender as they would be with a more thourough nakeover
1. Bourn — commit to signing him or trade him (I hope they commit to sign)
2. McCann — his value is as high as it is going to be — I would trade him — I don’t think exctending him beyond 2013 is inthe best interests of the team (failing eyesight? Physique not conducive to long career as catcher, with few exception 32 is the age that catchers begin rapid decline, not a strong defensive catcher)
3. Uggla — He is the antithesis of the Pujols, Cabrerra, Cruz, Jeter, Braun type player who has post-season success against good pitching. He was not the appropriate RH power hitter to build around, and if he can be moved an his salary transferred to someone else, then do it for the right trade.)
4. Prado — He does not have a regular position, and his salary will escalte in the next 2 years. If Uggla were traded he coulod be moved back to 2nd base for the next couple of years, but he is not the long term answer for either LF or 3B
I would say all 4 of these players should be considered tradeable
Hanson and JJ could also be considered but have little value now with their injuries — maybe at the trading deadline
richbrave
October 17th, 2011
2:29 pm
Listening to ‘86 1st round, 1st game playoff series between the CHICAGO BULLS and the BOSTON CELTICS being called by……SKIP CAREY. So cool to him him calling an NBA game again.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:30 pm
Braves ages and salary next year:
C McCann – 28 – 10.5m
1B Freeman – 22 – 450K
2B Uggla – 32 – 13.2m
SS
3B Jones – 40 – 14m
LF Prado – 28 – 4.5m
CF Bourn – 29 – 7m
RF Heyward – 22 – 500K
SP Hudson – 36 – 9m
SP Hanson – 25 – 450K
SP Jurrjens – 26 – 6m
SP Beachy – 25 – 450K
SP Minor – 24 – 450K
RP Kimbrel – 24 – 430K
RP Venters – 27 – 450K
RP O’Flaherty – 27 – 2.5m
RP Medlen – 26 – 800K
RP Martinez – 30 – 430K
Brave New World
October 17th, 2011
2:30 pm
Murph: We had Pee Wee Herman in 2011. His name is Larry Parrish.
richbrave
October 17th, 2011
2:30 pm
let’s just wait and see what WREN does. Enough postulating. Later.
richbrave
October 17th, 2011
2:33 pm
jim:
Don’t lose hope. Anything is possible in baseball.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
2:33 pm
I wonder if the Yankees would give us Cano for Uggla and JJ?
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
Relievers – 4.61m
Starters – 16.35m
Position – 50.15m
Total = 71.11 + 15 million(Lowe) + 1.625(Ross) + 2.15(Diaz) = 89.885million + 6@450K(avg.) = 92.585 million
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
let’s just wait and see what WREN does. Enough postulating. Later.
We can always talk about barbecue and banana pudding, I reckon. Did you know that Rick Perry once said that he had had roadkill that tasted better than NC barbecue? True story. Probably single-handedly turned NC into a blue state for 2012.
(FYI, Rufus Edmisten was running for governor in NC once, and, after going through probably a gazillion plates of barbecue while glad-handing across the state, made an offhand remark about being tired of eating the stuff. He lost the election.)
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:38 pm
Yeah, that article was pretty much right on. Braves have little to work with financially. Should have some payroll flexibility next offseason. Could have as much as 40 million to work with if Jurrjens, Prado and EOF are traded before their 3rd year arbitration salaries are rewarded. Or could keep em and have around 20 million to work with.
Gary O
October 17th, 2011
2:39 pm
Wren wants this team to have speed on the bases. Except for Bourn (and Constanza when he was playing and getting on base), is there anyone in the lineup who would be considered speedy on the base paths?
That being said, there isn’t much financial wiggle room, so I think we will have the same players back, but with a full year of Bourn and a new hitting coach, Wren and Fredi will assume players will return closer to their offensive norms.
jim
October 17th, 2011
2:41 pm
ncscoots
Speculating about what the team SHOULD do is much more interesting than criticizing what it does do afterward, and more interesting than anointing barbecue the official food of the ajc blog.
Bat Masterson
October 17th, 2011
2:42 pm
However, by 2013 McCann will be a 30-year old catcher on the downside of his career with no other position to play
Heap ‘ll be 30 in 2014 brother, first year of his extension with the Braves.
Jimmy Joe
October 17th, 2011
2:42 pm
I thought Prado would get 4.5 million and Jurrjens would get 6 million. EOF at around 2.5 million works. All three could be sent packing after 2012.Efrim
Why would you send O’Flaherty off in a trade?
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:44 pm
Heap ‘ll be 30 in 2014 brother, first year of his extension with the Braves
Yes, indeed. Or the second year of a five year contract.
UKUGA
October 17th, 2011
2:44 pm
Sid Bream should be the third base coach. Think about it.
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
2:44 pm
is there anyone in the lineup who would be considered speedy on the base paths?
If you mean first-to-third, second-to-home, sure. Heyward, Prado, even Uggla. Heck, even Chipper, for that matter, if you believe the baserunning stats. The only real slow-foots in the regular 8 are McCann and Freeman.
(Actually, I think Wren said he wanted the team to be “more athletic”, which is not quite the same thing as “speed”.)
jim
October 17th, 2011
2:45 pm
Was there anyone besides Bourn and Constanza who was speedy on the basepaths?
Heyward — Not a big SB threat, but good at taking the extra base — If one looked objectively at his Sept. performance, he probably had as many infield hits as Constanza, and had success in stealing bases.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
2:45 pm
Lowe, JJ, Uggla + $10mil for Cano and Robertson
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:46 pm
Why would you send O’Flaherty off in a trade?
He will make more than 3 million as a 7th inning reliever. It’s not a great amount of cash, but mid market teams with lots of minor league reliever depth shouldn’t pay someone that much to work as your third best relief pitcher. I hope Venters and Kimbrel stay healthy enough and our farm produces more good high leverage bullpen options so that we can actually sell high on a pitcher like EOF.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
Lowe, JJ, Uggla + $10mil for Cano and Robertson
Why in the world would the Yankees ever do this?
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
2:48 pm
more interesting than anointing barbecue the official food of the ajc blog.
We’ve been talking barbecue in this forum almost as long as we’ve been talking baseball, my friend. As to “interesting”, most folks here would have to turn to something besides baseball to earn that characterization.
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
2:51 pm
If the Braves don’t make any moves to get better, aren’t they essentially getting worse?
I mean I would think that the NL East is only going to get better and better year to year, right?
So if the Braves don’t upgrade their offense, they are essentially getting worse…
UKUGA
October 17th, 2011
2:52 pm
Gary O,
I think you could add Heyward to the “speedy” category. He’s fast and is an excellent base runner.
Gotta get him on base first, though.
bravos fan
October 17th, 2011
2:52 pm
geez… so many ignorant people on here. don’t people have anything better to do than bash the braves on here? stupid.
Bat Masterson
October 17th, 2011
2:52 pm
Yes, indeed. Or the second year of a five year contract
Could be, Efrim, though if I were Heap I would a contract through age 34. That would be no big deal really unless he gets injured. After all the guy takes pretty good care of himself.
cricket
October 17th, 2011
2:52 pm
Dan Uggla is a post season failure? What are his post season numbers?
jim
October 17th, 2011
2:53 pm
A five year extension for a 30-year old catcher would be a big mistake.
32-33 was the age when many good catchers started a quick decline –
See Bench, Carter, Berra, Campy
Fisk, Rodriguez, and Posada are the exception (Fiske and Posada were in the AL with an opportunity to DL to give off days from catching — all three had more athletic body type than Mac.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
2:53 pm
Why in the world would the Yankees ever do this?
They wouldn’t, but if I were running a Braves franchise in MLB: The Show on my PS3 that’s the trade I’d propose.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:06 pm
Could be, Efrim, though if I were Heap I would a contract through age 34. That would be no big deal really unless he gets injured. After all the guy takes pretty good care of himself.
Yeah, it’ll be tough. Catchers would probably want something through that age and I expect Wren to try and get him under an extension if he plays well next year.
Bat Masterson
October 17th, 2011
3:07 pm
Shultz wrote about the BBQ he had in Nashville Saturday, put up a pic, too. I had some ribs from Lilly’s Q, still I was a little jealous.
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
3:07 pm
jim failing eyesight?
NO!!
all three had more athletic body type than Mac.
Some might say the same about Joe Mauer…and he seems to get injured a lot more than BMac ever has…
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
3:07 pm
unless Frank Wren can talk the ownership (or their reps) out of another ten mil or so.
I don’t think he will. But I also don’t think the posted salary sums are the way the team looks at it. At least, that isn’t how they have said in the past that the look at it. In the past they’ve claimed to average the salaries. And in so doing, they’ve already accounted for most of this and have some room to make moves. But they could just as easily sit on their thumbs and claim the accounting process has changed and now there is no money despite (rolling my eyes) a significant increase in payroll.
The cynic in me says the latter will happen even though the former is found to be true.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
3:09 pm
No baseball ’til Wednesday… sigh. At least the post season will be wrapped up before November this year
Murph
October 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
I think being athletic as a catcher is a detriment… Mac probably has extended his career with the impact-absorbing layer of blubber he carries on his body.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
Ugh. Rosenthal says we are headed for a one game playoff for the wild card in 2013. Awful. Can we just eliminate divisions and go with the top 5 teams in each league then?
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
3:11 pm
I had some ribs from Lilly’s Q, still I was a little jealous.
How’s their banana pudding, anyway?
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:12 pm
But they could just as easily sit on their thumbs and claim the accounting process has changed and now there is no money despite (rolling my eyes) a significant increase in payroll.
Do you really think they look at Mac’s salary next year to be a little over 4 million? I guess, if the averages rule plays true, then it’s true. So stupid, though….
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
3:13 pm
Can we just eliminate divisions and go with the top 5 teams in each league then?
To heck with that. I want to see some second-place soul-crushing in that one-gamer, LOL. That’ll teach ‘em not to win the division.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:13 pm
162 game season for a one game playoff? I mean, I know we want to make it hurt when you win the wild card, but let’s at least do best outta 3, no?
Murph
October 17th, 2011
3:14 pm
Ugh. Rosenthal says we are headed for a one game playoff for the wild card in 2013. Awful. Can we just eliminate divisions and go with the top 5 teams in each league then?
How is that supposed to work? There are 2 wild card “qualifiers” who then face off in a single game to decide who goes?
Horrible idea. The lesser team could easily squeak out a single victory and make it into the playoffs only to be destroyed.
Move the Astros, balance the schedule, and then leave the freakin’ game alone. I worry that baseball is headed towards becoming the next NBA. Meaningless regular season, 2 months of playoffs with sub .500 teams in the “postseason”… cripes.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:15 pm
To heck with that. I want to see some second-place soul-crushing in that one-gamer, LOL. That’ll teach ‘em not to win the division.
Ugh. I just don’t like it. Keep as is. Although eliminating divisions has been something I was always for.
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
3:16 pm
but let’s at least do best outta 3, no?
No, dammit! No reprieves! No prisoners! NO MERCY!
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
3:16 pm
“Rosenthal says we are headed for a one game playoff for the wild card in 2013. Awful. Can we just eliminate divisions and go with the top 5 teams in each league then?”
One game playoffs are stupid. Anything can happen in one game and it proves absolutely nothing.
I really wouldn’t mind seeing 6 teams make the playoffs and the top 3 teams getting home field and the ability to pick their opponent.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:17 pm
Hard slotting in the draft, 10 playoff teams with a one game wild card. Just terrible ideas from Bud Selig.
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:18 pm
No, dammit! No reprieves! No prisoners! NO MERCY!
Tons of upset Boston or New York fans….
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
3:19 pm
So if you went with 6 teams….this year it would be Phillies, Brewers, D-Backs, Cardinals, Braves, Giants
Phillies would pick the Braves
Brewers would pick the Giants
D-Backs would get the Cardinals
Bat Masterson
October 17th, 2011
3:20 pm
How’s their banana pudding, anyway?
Well scoots ………………………
by Lindsey G., Miami (17 reviews)
August 05, 2011 – Likes it
Do not miss the Banana Pudding!!! It is phenomenal!!!
Recommend
mobile review
by Jeremy Rockwell (2 reviews)
September 09, 2011 – Really likes it
Hands down a must if you are in the Destin area!! The best barbecue i’ve ever had. P.S. The banana pudding is life changing. Thanks Quito.
Recommend
Efrim
October 17th, 2011
3:20 pm
The one thing I want done in this CBA and it looks like it isn’t happening. PLEASE, BUD. Eliminate draft pick compensation. There is no friggin reason Andrew Friedman and Alex Anothnopolous can beat the system every single year and have 8 draft picks before the Braves get to their 2nd round selection. Elias rankings stink and kill relievers and base-running/defense guys. I hate draft pick compensation with a passion.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
3:21 pm
Under an averaged value method, braves payroll was around $96M in 2010 and has obligated for 2011 at minimum about $80M before raises to arbitration players (includes all contractual increases). So that would leave about $10M to work with.
Murph
October 17th, 2011
3:21 pm
My MLB Playoff proposal:
1. Keep the 3 division winners
2. Add a “Wild Card” team from each division
3. Each Wild Card team draws an MMA fighter’s name from a hat
4. The MMA fighters square off with all 3 in the same ring
5. Which ever baseball team is represented by the last man standing makes it into the playoffs
Makes about as much sense as a 1-game playoff.
McFann O O o
October 17th, 2011
3:22 pm
Thanks, Murph…
MFin04
October 17th, 2011
3:23 pm
I GOT IT!
How about the All-Star game determines which team(s) are the Wild Cards?
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
3:24 pm
I really wouldn’t mind seeing 6 teams make the playoffs and the top 3 teams getting home field and the ability to pick their opponent.
Why not 8? Make September really count, by using it for playoff games.
I love the one-gamer. If luck is going to be such a big part of the process (and it is), then really roll the dice. You don’t win the division? Fine. Here’s one last shot for you. Win or go home. But we’re not going to just give you a playoff spot for being a little bit better than all the rest of the league’s losers. Not anymore. You want it? Come and get it.