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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,555 comments Add your comment
Bay Area Steve
November 3rd, 2011
2:18 am
Atta boy, noles.
And, since you’re feelin’ better, might you tell cab and ‘OB to knock it off with the third-person? Thanks.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
2:21 am
Some one Used Ward jr. Earlier on the blog,and that wasn’t any of my post,so just ignore the Ward jr. I probably pissed some one off,so they couldn’t handle it,and acted like a child…..
Bay Area Steve
November 3rd, 2011
2:24 am
I’d like to revise my worst-of-Wren’s-few-bad-moves:
I though it was dumpin’ Sori, but y’all’ve made me realize it was dumpin’ Tex. Draft picks, Ef, college or otherwise… Casey Kotchman can stick his this-year-ridiculous BABiP up his behind. Man, was that dude unwatchable…
Bay Area Steve
November 3rd, 2011
2:25 am
Don’t knock acting like a child, Ward. A lot to be said…
And, how were you using ‘too’ correctly earlier? You imposing again?
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
2:32 am
If you are trying to get rid of me….. It won’t work!
Bay Area Steve
November 3rd, 2011
2:33 am
Moe,
I think I love you for the ‘West Wing’ mention. Please forgive the ‘Lit Moe’ stuff. It comes from envy. Let us bring Tom O’ into the WW family. Television at its best…
Bay Area Steve
November 3rd, 2011
2:41 am
‘OB,
‘Preciate the ‘Rising Stars’ mention. Still providing insight, even after abandoning us for the dregs of Twitter, and while ‘vacationing’ yet again…
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
2:41 am
Grady Sizemore is the target for the Braves as of now. Braves might pick him up for 5 million…..
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
2:43 am
Johnny Bench career in Sept/Oct .257 .336 .447 .783
Mac career in Sept/Oct—————–.262 .334 .419 .752
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
2:45 am
nolie: Good to see you back,and if this is true. It’s going to surprise everyone. Never expected to see that this could happen! Grady Siezemore from Cleveland.He’s the main target,as of now.
Bay Area Steve
November 3rd, 2011
2:49 am
Nice to read the name, noles. For reals. And tell Jake (and, for the first time ever, I think I can speak for the collective), thanks for the updates. Good cat, that Jake… ‘Night…
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
2:55 am
When healthy Grady Sizemore can be one of the top best players?
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
2:56 am
where are you seeing that ward? Mot so sure I believe that, lotta questions there with him
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
2:56 am
Wow!!!! If the Brave get Sizemore? That would shock me?
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
2:58 am
Hey Mr. nolie. Welcome back, good sir.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:00 am
nolie: Go to World Wide leader In sports ESPN,and Click Braves,and sroll down to Grady Sizemore Pontential Target!
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:09 am
nolie: You can’t miss this……..
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
3:09 am
That link goes to a blog, Ward. Thats a fan site, not fact. It like someone linking this blog for facts.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:13 am
Mitchie-Sand: How accurrate are they?Thats the question?
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:15 am
no reason in the world to think they are accurate at all ward. too many health questions for the Bravos IMO
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:16 am
Hi Mitchie, thanks. how ya doing in the new post over there?
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
3:17 am
Thats a great site. Dont get me wrong, but its purely speculation. Those guys know their stuff.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:18 am
Imagine what would happen if that happened? The blog would go nuts…..
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:22 am
been three full years since Grady put up decent numbers at all. can we be sure he will ever be that good again?
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
3:24 am
It good nolie. Ive been out here almost two months now. Im getting the hang of things. The weather is finally cooling off out here, which is nice. When I got here it was 120 in the shade. Im forecasting lows in the 70 this weekend! It should be nice.
I dont get much time on the old blog here these days, but I still pop in from time to time. Mostly I scroll and roll, checking up on things. Im kinda gald I missed the collapse while I was in transit…
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:26 am
That’s what the story posted .It would be a good risk,or bad risk?.
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:31 am
“the story” is just some guys opinion of what he would like to see happen, it has no ties to even a rumor AFAICS. It would be a high risk/potentially high reward gamble.
They Braves actually being interested would depend on their assessment of his health and what he will really be asking for in salary, neither of which does the writer have any idea about.
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:32 am
glad to hear you are settled in and getting cooler, Mitchie . you didn’t miss anything good from the Braves during transit no doubt
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:35 am
It’s an interesting idea and I’m not saying that they shouldn’t do it, just that it seems kinda risky for where the Braves are.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:36 am
Only get ready,because I’m sure we will hear a lot more rumors flying around
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:37 am
nolie: We know Wren does take gambles too.
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:38 am
If Wren works as fast as usual, we may be done shopping B4 a lot of rumors even get a chance to fly
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:38 am
It would be interesting to see how that would even work.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:39 am
Yeah,and no Mathers please…….
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:41 am
yeah, at times he has ward.
It seems to me that Grady will want a team where he can play nearly every day and a contract that will reward him pretty well if he does play every day. Not sure the Braves offer that.
If he does bounce to 2008 and B4 levels he would be a great addition for shur
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:43 am
I kinda like the idea of Beltran as a corner OFer, but he will likely be out of their price range
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:44 am
yeah Mathers was a joke. I ranted against that deal from day one
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
3:45 am
For realz.
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:47 am
Mather and Glaus are more in his gambling price range than Sizemore might be willing to be. we’ll see.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:48 am
nolie: It sure was interesting to read,and will accept anyone with power who can hit……
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:50 am
yeah it’s a good sight. one of their main guys was once a regular here
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:51 am
sight = site
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:53 am
I just miight go down that road if I was Wren? Take a chance on Grady Sizemore?
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
3:55 am
Wasnt the Pwjort or something like that? That guy knew baseball inside and out.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
3:57 am
I’m going to call it a night! Hope to hear some thing tomorow,or in a couple of days,and peace……..nolie have a good one……..
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
3:59 am
well PJ knew stats inside and out, he was kinda weak on the human component, though not as one-sided as Shaun is
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
4:02 am
Correct. He was a a big number cruncher. I do remmeber that.
Ward
November 3rd, 2011
4:03 am
Before I go: I was talking to a friend at work about Carlos Quentin. He’s a White Sox fan,and told me that Quentin would only do good in the 5 spot of the Braves batting line up.Don’t know if Quentin would be a good idea now?peace………
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
4:05 am
you believe too much of what uninformed folks say ward, IMHO.
Nite & piece
nolie
November 3rd, 2011
4:06 am
Well time for some rest again. Take care y’all. TTFN.
Mitchie-sand
November 3rd, 2011
4:12 am
Take care, nolie. Good to hear from ya, ole pal.
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
7:58 am
You’re not going to like the fact that Mac might be “allowed” to walk at the end of his contract to make room for Bethancourt if they feel at that time that he can provide similar production at a fraction of the cost.
Bethancourt is a long ways away, imo, N8. And I see no reason that he’ll provide near the production that Mac will in 2014. Again, McCann’s OPS+ was 124 this past year. I understand concern about aging catchers, it’s a legit concern. Catchers age faster as it’s an incredibly demanding position. All that said, I think the Braves lock Mac up through 2016(his age 32 year old season) or 2017 – and I think that’s the best thing that we can do. A similar contract to Victor Martinez’ deal with Detroit. Thing that worries me is that he may want more than that. That’s where it gets dicey….
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
8:01 am
BAS, thanks for your 1:12am. Very much appreciate your kind words. Gone Viral definitely brings out good debate about the draft, and players development strategy for the Braves.
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
8:09 am
He played 3B most of his life, and only moved to 1B as a primary position last season. In college and first minor league season, he played mostly 3B.
Thanks, DOB. I hope he can stick there. It’d be big for his overall value given the fact that he has very good power.
Ward jr.
November 3rd, 2011
8:12 am
Meh, good morning…
old man
November 3rd, 2011
8:15 am
I just looked over OF free agents:
Grady Sizemore (L,L) (is he really done at 29? Lance Berkman of 2012?)
Michael Cuddyer (R,R) (plays all but SS and C; consistent 20HR/.275)
Josh Willingham (R,R) (29 HRs in 2011)
David DeJesus (L,L) (return to 2010 form? Any better than Constanza?)
Ryan Doumit (S,R) (OF and catcher)
Matt Murton (R,R) (Georgia Tech grad, 2 insane years in Japan)
Endy Chavez (L,L) (good D in all 3 OF spots, hit .300 in 2011)
Reed Johnson (R,R) (hit .309 in 2011, lot of Ks)
Cuddyer and Murton sound interesting. Would love to here thoughts from others on these, and better options if we are looking at an outfielder.
Ward jr.
November 3rd, 2011
8:22 am
Umad BRO?
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
8:22 am
Keith Law’s Top 10 free agents:
1. Prince Fielder
2. Albert Pujols
3. Yu Darvish
4. Jose Reyes
5. Jimmy Rollins
6. Mark Buerhle
7. Aramis Ramirez
8. C.J. Wilson
9. Carlos Beltran
10. David Ortiz
Ward jr.
November 3rd, 2011
8:22 am
Well, I’m heading off to school, so I’ll be back this afternoon. You can count on it.
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
8:24 am
I kinda like the idea of Beltran as a corner OFer, but he will likely be out of their price range
He’d be my pick too, nolie. But I just don’t see them giving him the cash he wants.
old man
November 3rd, 2011
8:27 am
I was looking at realistic options, money-wise, in my list above.
CB
November 3rd, 2011
8:29 am
Efrim, the signing of Beltran would probably mean a trade of JJ or Prado and team’s willingness to use Pastornicky at SS. I just can’t see all that happening.
Jeff R
November 3rd, 2011
8:31 am
If I’m Frank Wren, I’d have to mull re-signing McCann to a long term deal for big dollars. Not that McCann today isn’t worth good money. But as McCann moves into his thirties, the injuries may increase and his playing time may diminish. Do the Braves want to be on the hook to McCann if that’s the case? Would Wren want another Chipper-like situation where a position player is making far more than what his production merits?
Signing players to long term deals is always something of a gamble, to varying degrees. Best case, I think Bethancourt is two years out. So it would be a tough call on re-upping McCann for what he wants. Should be interesting to try to determine how Wren shifts through the options.
CB
November 3rd, 2011
8:41 am
Christian Bethancourt has a career .271BA,.303 OBP and .675 OPS and we have annoited him as the next great catcher for the Braves. Sorry,I need a little more body of evidence before we put McCann in the trash heap
richbrave
November 3rd, 2011
8:44 am
FALL BALL
ARIZONA
SURPRISE SAGURROS
1B JOE TERDOSLAVICH [.339 BA] 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 S0 – Have the opposing pitchers found a hole in his swing? His average has fallen from the stratosphere, and now looks mortal, although quite good at present. Last night’s hat trick is disquiting.
DOMINICA
EASTERN TOROS
Postponed
ESCOGIDO LIONS
2B/SS DIORY HERNANDEZ [.298 BA] 0-2, 1 BB.
ORIENTE STARS
PH/2B DONEL LINARES [.125 BA] 0-2.
MEXICO
Lead-off CF MATT YOUNG [.268 BA] 0-3.
Lead-off CF MATT YOUNG [.273 BA] 1-3, 1 SO. Double-header.
VENEZUELA
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.281 BA] 0-3, 1 BB, 2 SO.
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
8:47 am
Signing McCann is a gamble, but not so much if he can continue to OPS+ around 120. And signing Uggla was a risk, however Wren did what he had to do to bring in a RHB. I’m not saying I would sign McCann to a six year deal through 2018(his age 34 year old season), although he may want that to sign. After 2012, sit down and try to hammer a four year deal out with a vesting option in 2017.
As far as Bethancourt goes, he just turned 20 in September, and hit .271/.277/.325 in 174 plate appearances in High-A Lynhcburg. He’s a ways away, and I wouldn’t look at his AFL performance and think he can make it to the majors by 2013 or something. I’d say his ETA is more 2014, at best. And I think it’ll take some time for him to hit at all at the major league level.
Efrim
November 3rd, 2011
8:51 am
the signing of Beltran would probably mean a trade of JJ or Prado and team’s willingness to use Pastornicky at SS. I just can’t see all that happening.
I don’t see it happening either. Willingham is going to cost less, but he isn’t as good – and may cost a first rounder, whereas Beltran doesn’t cost any sort of pick.
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
8:51 am
That trash heap would be encrusted with Silver…
CB
November 3rd, 2011
9:01 am
No kidding,Ease.
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:08 am
CB before we put McCann in the trash heap
Oh, bad pun alert!!
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:09 am
Nolie Johnny Bench career in Sept/Oct .257 .336 .447 .783……Mac career in Sept/Oct—————–.262 .334 .419 .752
There ya go…
Jeff R
November 3rd, 2011
9:09 am
“Signing McCann is a gamble, but not so much if he can continue to OPS+ around 120.”
– Efrim
If McCann continues. Barring injury, I think he would in 2012. But McCann’s been nagged with injuries the last two seasons. Not deal breaking injuries, but enough to be concerned, I think.
” And signing Uggla was a risk, however Wren did what he had to do to bring in a RHB.”
True, but Wren must have had a few sleepless nights when Uggla was tanking. And the jury’s still out on Uggla, in my estimation. Though Uggla rallied later in the season – to his credit – he was a drag on the offense in the early going and that didn’t help the pitching staff any. My hope is that Uggla is more consistently productive in 2012.
I’m guessing that Wren’s desire is to shed payroll after the 2012 season and then determine his options, including whether re-signing McCann to a long term, big money deal is to the Braves’ advantage. I doubt McCann will give the Braves a home town discount. The next contract is likely McCann’s last big deal. I’d guess he’ll go for the gold.
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:11 am
Lance Parrish won 6 Silver Sluggers…I guess Wren hired the wrong Parish last season. Unless he was confused.
Jeff R
November 3rd, 2011
9:19 am
With all due respect to Brian McCann, I’ll take Johnny Bench’s offensive output AND his great defensive skills any day of the week. Bench was simply one of the game’s greatest defensive catchers. His arm was a a cannon.
TennesseePaul
November 3rd, 2011
9:21 am
He’d be my pick too, nolie. But I just don’t see them giving him the cash he wants.
If I recall, he had trade-veto power at the deadline. And I got the impression Boras was directing him to SF and away from Atlanta particularly because of his pending Free Agency and desires to resign a good contract. Sort of the Matt Holliday tact is what I thought was going down. Obviously he’s older, more injury prone and didn’t preform close to the level Holliday did for St. Louis after he arrived. But… Brian Sabean is the GM in SF and he does have a history for over paying aging veterans. I just don’t think Atlanta is on the Boras/Beltran list of destinations.
TennesseePaul
November 3rd, 2011
9:25 am
Signing McCann is a gamble, but not so much if he can continue to OPS+ around 120.
Isn’t this the case with all players?
Signing ____________ is a gamble, but not so much if he can [continuously out produce the league by 20% or more]
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:25 am
‘Cept Beltran is no longer a Boras client…
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:30 am
Interesting comments regarding the Dodgers signing of Juan Rivera by Jon Morosi…
Barring trades, the Dodgers’ outfield for next year appears set: Rivera and possibly Jerry Sands in left field, with Matt Kemp in center and Andre Ethier in right. If the Dodgers feel strongly enough about Sands’ ability to play every day, they could trade Ethier, who is set to become a free agent after the 2012 season.
Lock him down via trade then resign after 2012, both years solved…
JoeFan
November 3rd, 2011
9:30 am
If Bethancourt looks anywhere near ready when McCann’s contract is up the Braves want put the big dollars into a multi-year contract for an aging catcher with declining skills. The Braves hopefully have learned that baseball is a business not a popularity contest.
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:32 am
Jeff R I doubt McCann will give the Braves a home town discount.
Why do you say that? He wants to stay here. He’s said as much…
TennesseePaul
November 3rd, 2011
9:32 am
unlike the time off during the season that people with typical work schedules call weekends or comp time, unless they’re referring to me, in which case those same people call any day I don’t work during the season a “vacation.”
Well hold on there partner. I go on vacation every day from noon to 1, every evening around 5:30 and every weekend. Sometimes I go on vacation during the week. Hell, it’s really a battle to find time when I’m actually working. I am on this blog all day.
TennesseePaul
November 3rd, 2011
9:35 am
‘Cept Beltran is no longer a Boras client…
eeep. Missed that news blip the other day. Take that post back to October 31st and it has total relevance.
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:35 am
McCann is a greedy son of a gun…
He yells, “I AM SPARTACUS,” after each home run.
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:39 am
Neight You’re not going to like the fact that Mac might be “allowed” to walk at the end of his contract to make room for Bethancourt IF…
What an AMAZING bit of mind-reading…
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:39 am
Who’s Spartacus…? Sounds familiar…
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2011
9:42 am
“Familiarity breeds contempt. If Pujols were a Brave people would come here and trash him for something everyday.” Bat
Do you really believe that? I tend to think that failure to produce when all the chips are on the table is what gets people a little miffed. _ N8
Yeah I really believe that, Nate.
People constantly come on here and make comments about Heap that I find ridiculous……… It’s a given that Heap is the worst defensive catcher in the league……….. Heap is a liability behind the plate…….. Heap sucks at calling a game ………. He’s fat ……… he always fades down the stretch …… He does not care ………. yada, yada, yada
It kills me that people will complain about Heap not making a play that no other catcher would make either. Doesn’t matter Heap should make it because he’s a Braves player.
People love to talk about what kind of shape he is in and how if he trained better he would play better, run faster, whatever………..
And Yadier Molina is great, right. Fine, the first time I really noticed Molina I thought he looked remarkably like what my lesbian friends used to call a butch dyke, or stud. Depending on how much hair he’s wearing on his face I still think that. I would think he would be right at home in whatever is the trendy Atlanta lesbian dive today.
As to Pujols, some people would find whatever they think is a flaw in his game and harp on that incessantly.
RC
November 3rd, 2011
9:42 am
Keith Law’s Top 10 free agents:
1. Prince Fielder
2. Albert Pujols
3. Yu Darvish
4. Jose Reyes
5. Jimmy Rollins
6. Mark Buerhle
7. Aramis Ramirez
8. C.J. Wilson
9. Carlos Beltran
10. David Ortiz
Or as I like to call this list, “People that Frank Wren won’t be calling this offseason”.
Nice to see Klaw’s top 50 up though. There are some decent options for ATL in the 11-50 range, and a lot more corner outfielders likely to end up with a part time role that I realized. Not a bad market to be seeking one of those guys in.
Soph
November 3rd, 2011
9:46 am
I see we’re gonna be flinging some bricks around today.
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:47 am
Who’s Spartacus…? Sounds familiar…
Oh the beauty of an innocent mind.
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:47 am
Bat M.—
Great post.
As to Pujols, some people would find whatever they think is a flaw in his game and harp on that incessantly.
He weighs more than BMac.
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
9:48 am
Soph—
I’m armed and ready…
Ease—
OK, then…
Soph
November 3rd, 2011
9:50 am
As to Pujols, some people would find whatever they think is a flaw in his game and harp on that incessantly.
He’s bald! Oh, wait…
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:52 am
He’s taller. And with all the vertical prejudice that gets thrown around, that IS a big deal.
RC
November 3rd, 2011
9:57 am
As to Pujols, some people would find whatever they think is a flaw in his game and harp on that incessantly.
He grew up in Missouri.
Ease
November 3rd, 2011
9:58 am
McFann, have you heard of Kirk Douglas?
RC
November 3rd, 2011
9:58 am
As to Pujols, some people would find whatever they think is a flaw in his game and harp on that incessantly.
His ears are funny looking.
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2011
9:59 am
I am Spartacus!
Soph
November 3rd, 2011
10:01 am
He has a big head.
McFann O O o Get Well Soon, Nolie!!
November 3rd, 2011
10:06 am
Who’s taller? Pujols and BMac are the same height…
Soph He’s bald! Oh, wait…
Hey now…
Ease—
I think I may have…
TnBrian
November 3rd, 2011
10:06 am
Pujols licks his lips too much and he’s slooooooow. Double play machine! UGH!