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3,709 comments Add your comment
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
1:04 pm
say they sign hamilton and upton. think about that…that would be fun.
Depending on what they do this offseason, I see some sort of trade netting them a long term, younger option at one of those positions – most likely CF.
Ease
December 2nd, 2011
1:04 pm
who was the last big name, high worth FA the Braves brought in? Not via trade, but signed off the open market?
I thought Loaf From His Blackberry was pretty good. I mean, a Blackberry was sold back then.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:05 pm
So is your argument that all this improvement in the division only effects the Braves? What about the cumulative effect on the other teams in the division?
No cumulative effect, Bat. Realists know this. Try to keep up.
“I’m not a pssimist, I’m a realist.” INAPIAR. Pronounced “een-app-ee-yar”.
Jbailz
December 2nd, 2011
1:06 pm
Can we send the big 3 to Toronto for Joey Bats?
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:12 pm
Can we send the big 3 to Toronto for Joey Bats?
Unfortunately, Bautista has not yet reached the HVWNBH point. Toronto, reluctantly, will hold on to him for a spell, in the hopes that they eventually will be able to get more than a couple of AA scrubs for him.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
1:15 pm
Capuano wasn’t as bad as his ERA indicated, I think. However, 2 years, 10 million from him just continues the ridiculous moves by Ned Colletti. Mark Ellis? Juan Uribe? Tony Gwynn Jr.? Andruw Jones/Manny Ramirez deals? Non-tendering Russell Martin, yet, tendering James Loney a contract? The worst “never talked about” trade in years – Casey Blake for Carlos Santana?!? Similar to how Wade just got his walking papers when Crane took over, the new owner should go with a fresh start when they take over. Colletti is not a good GM.
AFAN
December 2nd, 2011
1:18 pm
Wrenn sure is sitting on his hands in regards to short stop. He either really thinks the kids are ready or he really thinks he has a shot at something big.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
1:19 pm
Sorry, that was a bit harsh on Ned. But I haven’t really liked any move except extending Kemp. It’s a tough situation he’s in there, I guess. However, his payroll is more than what Wren has to work with and they aren’t in the same league as baseball execs given their body of work as GM’s.
Bat Masterson
December 2nd, 2011
1:20 pm
I’ll try to work on developing tunnel vision, scoots.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:22 pm
Bat, just use this mantra to focus:
“Everything that happens in baseball is bad for the Braves.”
For those times when you don’t have time for the full mantra:
“I Blame Keith Law.”
In no time, you, too, will be able to see thunderstorms in every puffy cloud.
semiballcoach
December 2nd, 2011
1:25 pm
joey bats was helped by the man in the white suits giving signs
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:27 pm
joey bats was helped by the man in the white suits giving signs
Maybe they should have told the other 8 guys about the white suit.
abwright
December 2nd, 2011
1:29 pm
I’m not really following the other teams in the NL East that closely. But, it seems that the Phils might be a little weaker (remember that Oswalt is also gone).
We’ll see what’s up with the Marlins when they make some moves. I doubt that their new stadium will change the culture in Miami and they won’t draw that much.
Mets are rebuilding. Once they remove the shackles from the big contracts and resolve their Madoff losses, they’ll start to come back.
Nats are probably over-spending their revenue streams. They might have a good year or two before the losses from the big FA contracts start to cheapen them in other areas. If they can generate revenue before that happens, then they may be a long term force in the NL East.
Braves have most of the elements of a successful team (pitching, bullpen, pretty good core of position players) within their payroll limits. They will need to replace something each year for the next several, but they seem to be on track to maintain a fairly high level of play.
I suspect that Fredo, if the Braves under-perform in 2012, will be history.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
1:29 pm
Winter Meetings preview from Heyman: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/12/02/winter.meetings.preview/index.html?eref=writers
In his blurb about the Yankees:
There isn’t necessarily a great match with the Braves, who seek a young outfielder and shortstop (the Yankees do have shortstop Eduardo Nuñez) plus more for Jair Jurrjens, so perhaps a deal for the White Sox’ John Danks, who New York likes, might wind up making the most sense.
Wow
December 2nd, 2011
1:30 pm
The homers obviously aren’t going to admit it, but this division is getting tougher and tougher. The Braves can easily finish 3rd or lower next season. The Phillies are the Phillies, no matter what happens to them, they still win and the Marlins and Nationals will be a lot better.
Bat Masterson
December 2nd, 2011
1:31 pm
Speaking of blaming Keith Law, scoots, I ended up with the revised edition of The Dark Tower, volume one. So I blame him for that.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:33 pm
The guys on MLBN were gushing on Valentine last night. Oh, the press conference won the hearts and minds, he’s matured a lot, he knows his craft, blah blah blah. All the while I’m thinking, “yeah, you can put lipstick on a pig, too, but that don’t keep him from smelling like a pig.”
You can dress Valentine up in a big-league uni, but, no matter how well it’s tailored to fit him, he’s still going to be bush-league underneath. A man can’t run from his nature.
abwright
December 2nd, 2011
1:33 pm
It’s funny, during the 14 year Braves run, everyone else said, “The Braves are the Braves. They just keep winning.” Until they didn’t.
Phils will crash and burn at some point (likely not next year).
Mountain Braves Fan
December 2nd, 2011
1:34 pm
AT-Detroit would use Prado at 2B. Peralta plays SS, 3B, and a little 1B. Saving $1 million by trading Peralta for Prado would help Detroit pay for Reyes. Detroit has Inge under contract next season at $5.5 million to play 3B.
LEW-Peralta is only making $1 million more than Prado in 2012. The trade would (1) give the Braves a top quality SS, a position Prado can’t play, and (2) give Pastornicky more minor league experience. And Peralta could take over for Chipper at 3B in 2013.
Trading for Peralta is a luxury move. A quality LFer would still have to be obtained. My preference would be to trade for (1) Nick Swisher or (2) Carlos Quentin. Either trade is doable because both will be free agents after next season.
Bourn
Peralta
Jones
Swisher/Quentin
McCann
Uggla
Freeman
Heyward
Pitcher
A guy can dream, can’t he?
David O'Brien
December 2nd, 2011
1:34 pm
Buster’s ESPN LA story on Magic Johnson trying to buy Dodgers with a group that includes former Atlanta Braves/Hawks/Thrashers (and Washington Nationals) president Stan Kasten:
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
Archive At a time when Major League Baseball wants to restore the Los Angeles Dodgers’ brand following years of damage under the ownership of Frank McCourt, Earvin “Magic” Johnson — arguably the most popular athlete in the city’s history — is a major player in a group that wants to buy the team.
“I’m a big baseball fan,” Johnson said by phone Friday, “and you think about what the Dodgers have meant to baseball and to Los Angeles, and that part’s a no-brainer. … I’ve been to that place [Dodger Stadium] hundreds and hundreds of times, every year.”
Johnson was approached about a month ago by Stan Kasten, the former president of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals — someone Johnson has known for about 30 years, and who once offered him a job to coach the Atlanta Hawks. Mark Walter, the CEO of Guggenheim Partners, a private global financial services firm, is the money muscle behind the group, which is called Guggenheim Baseball Management. According to a fact sheet about the group, Guggenheim Partners has more than $125 billion in assets under management.
As Johnson described it, their ownership of the Dodgers — if it happens — would work this way: Walter would write the big checks; Kasten would oversee the baseball operations; and Johnson, who recently sold his ownership share of the Lakers, would work as a president or vice president on both the business side and in recruiting players, when needed.
“I want to win,” said Johnson, who met with six different groups of potential bidders for the Dodgers before joining forces with Walter and Kasten. “We want to win. Not only do we have the guy who can write the check to buy the team, but we have to have somebody who can acquire quality people and talent, and Stan knows how to do that better than anybody. … We’ve got a great plan.”
Major League Baseball has shaped ownership groups in the past, picking someone from one bidding group and coupling that person with another. With the Dodgers going through bankruptcy court, though, the process for purchasing the club is expected to be more draconian, and based more on financial might than the whims of MLB. After a small group of potential buyers is selected for auction, the winner is likely to be based on which group submits the highest bid.
The sale process for the Dodgers could begin as soon as next week, when financial details of the team will be released to prospective buyers. The Los Angeles Times reported in Friday’s editions that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban intends to bid for the Dodgers.
Johnson, 52, played 13 seasons for the Lakers and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. He has been an enormously successful businessman since retiring, and has always had a passion for baseball, from his first days playing the game as a gangly first baseman in his home state of Michigan, to the days when he followed the Detroit Tigers — to this day, he ticks off the names of Tigers players like he was talking about family relatives — and to the days when he played for the Lakers and attended games at Dodger Stadium.
“People forget — when I was here [as a player], that was in the heyday of the Dodgers, Ron Cey and Steve Garvey,” Johnson said. “I used to go to their games, and they’d come to our games. They were the one organization that everybody talked about. We want to bring us back to that.
“The timing is excellent. We have the right owner, the right baseball man in Stan. I live here, I love it here. We want to make sure fans are safe, and we want to give them a great experience. It might take us a little time, but we want to win.”
Johnson noted that baseball’s free-agency period for this fall has already begun, but that next fall, as a Dodgers owner, “at 12:01 a.m., I’d be on the phone” calling the next players the Dodgers would want to target.
“This is going to be fun,” he said.
Johnson intends to reach out to baseball commissioner Bud Selig sometime after the winter meetings, he said, to talk about his interest in owning the Dodgers.
Bat Masterson
December 2nd, 2011
1:35 pm
The homers obviously aren’t going to admit it, but this division is getting tougher and tougher. _ Wow
Yep, I almost feel sorry for the other teams in the division.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:36 pm
Bat, revised edition better than none at all, LOL. But, that is certainly blame-worthy. Curse that man!
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
1:39 pm
DOB – Thanks for posting. That is awesome. I would love if Magic moved over to Baseball, and Stan Kasten is a highly regarded baseball man.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:45 pm
The homers obviously aren’t going to admit it, but this division is getting tougher and tougher
Well, the division might indeed get tougher, if the Nats/Marlins/Mets do anything of consequence to improve their clubs. They haven’t, yet, except in the fevered nightmares of paranoid “realists”. Why not wait until you see the teams in the division actually do something to improve, before you fret yourself into an anxiety attack, LOL?
keyLargo
December 2nd, 2011
1:46 pm
I will even throw in $20 dollars.
Efrim $20; CB $20
If we could sign him for $12,000,000, we’d only be short $19,960 – to have enough for 1 at bat.
Lew
December 2nd, 2011
1:49 pm
MBF – And they’d STILL need a LFer and a 3B replacement for Chipper and even less cash to spend on them. Not a good move if improvement is what you’re looking for. You might have improvement in one area, but not all three with that move.
Faux Greatness
December 2nd, 2011
1:49 pm
According to Jon Heyman, ” The Braves want a young outfielder and shortstop plus other players for Jair Jurrjens.”
Yeah and I want to hit the Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot but it probably ain’t gonna happen!
As usual, Braves over valuing their own players.
TnBrian
December 2nd, 2011
1:50 pm
aAFAN, I know. I kinda thought he’d have signed or traded for a cheap SS by now. And it will be a cheapy I’m sure from what’s been written so far. Oh well, hopefully he’ll have found this guy and maybe even a LF this time next week. Could even be drawn out until January/February since he doesn’t HAVE to trade anybody.
Bat Masterson
December 2nd, 2011
1:50 pm
scoots,
A really good story. Started slow, but picked up nicely filling in Roland’s history. I’m thinking King may have indulged in some acid in his day.
The guys that keep my yard were trimming the palm trees this week, made me wonder how many miniscule worlds they were destroying.
Gonna pick up volume two this afternoon, thanks for the recommendation.
Mitchell
December 2nd, 2011
1:51 pm
What in God’s name is Joe Mauer ever going to do with $180 million?
Nobody that bereft of a personality should ever have that much money.
AFAN
December 2nd, 2011
1:51 pm
uhm…the marlins have already made moves to improve their club. They did sign Heath Bell which was a big move for them. The nationals are dying to spend money. They will pick up a big bat.
If they get someone like fielder then the nationals could be tremendously changed by that move.
We have to remember that even though the braves have good pitching. We have poor hitting.
this division could become tight very easily.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:54 pm
Gonna pick up volume two this afternoon, thanks for the recommendation
Slightly tougher sledding after the first book, LOL. That one’s the length of a comic book, compared to the rest of them.
Worth every minute and page-turn for me, though; hope it’s the same for you.
(I’ll know you’re hooked when you can recite the Gunslinger Mantra. Worrying about the other worlds alive in your palm trees is a good start, though.)
TnBrian
December 2nd, 2011
1:56 pm
Phillies should be your worry … again. Same thing as last year and the year before and the year before that … WSH, FLA will finish behind us unless we get bit real hard in the ass with injuries. Too tired right now to go into why I believe this. Should be easy to figure though, just some people need constant assurance in their unsure minds, I guess.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
They did sign Heath Bell which was a big move for them
Teams that finish 30 out do not become contenders by signing a closer, my friend. That’s for teams that finish 3 out.
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
1:58 pm
AFANuhm…the marlins have already made moves to improve their club. They did sign Heath Bell which was a big move for them. The nationals are dying to spend money.
signing bell probably doesnt make them worse (hard to be much worse than they were) but it didnt really make them better, did it? nats might want to spend money but they havent yet.
the braves improved as much as the marlins did so far by trading lowe.
the point is, perhaps the division will improve, but it hasnt yet. so far, no team has reall done anything, so saying that all the other teams are getting better and we arent is false and kinda stupid.
TennesseePaul
December 2nd, 2011
2:03 pm
Bonds, Clemens and Sosa have been implicated in the use of performance-enhancing drugs, allegations they have denied.
Sorry, but Bonds defense in his trail was “Yes, I took roids. I just didn’t meant too so therefore I didn’t lie about it.”
If a man admits to it, he no longer “allegedly” did it. He actually did it.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:06 pm
Reyes makes them a lot better. Does Bonifacio play CF everyday, or does he just super-sub? They need arms too and their farm system isn’t strong(Yelich and Dominguez have value), so they will have to use free agency – which sounds like they are willing to do so.
I’d bet they trade Nolasco too, but only if they sign an arm out of Wilson, Buerhle, Jackson.
AFAN
December 2nd, 2011
2:08 pm
doing nothing doesnt make a team better…actually age catches a few players and that in and of itself can hurt a team from one year to the next. But other teams can improve with age and more fall league experience. So none of us really know until the season starts. but to say that there is no change in the divisional make up is ignorance…
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
Anyone think “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie? I know I do(and I’m not knocking the real purpose of the holiday, however with presents, Santa, Balsam Fur trees, etc. it’s gotten a little out of whack anway).
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
2:12 pm
but to say that there is no change in the divisional make up is ignorance
Ignorance is a curable condition, luckily, and I don’t mind being enlightened. If you can tell me what I’ve missed, I’d look upon it as a favor.
jim
December 2nd, 2011
2:13 pm
Lew — You usually make some good points and are always a good read on the blog, but you are way too optimistic about the Braves’ chances in 2012. There are structural obstacles in 2012 that won’t be hindering the team in 2013.
1. Schedule — Last year the team went 10-5 vs the AL (more to follow, this year they play 6 vs Yankees, 3 each vs Red Sox, Rays, Jays, and Orioles — much tougher schedulevis a vis both last year and other WC contenders.
2. Young pitching — If JJ is traded or unable to perform, the rotation will include Hudson, Hanson??, Beachy, and some combo of Teheran, Minor, Delgado, or Medlen — Teheran and Delgado will need to have their work load checked (and kept below 175 innings) — The young staff needs a year to find its footing in the MLB — recall Smoltz, Glavine, and Avery in 1989-1990.
3. Chipper — Much of the talk, including from you, on the blog is the need to have someone like Prado to cover the 40+ games he won’t be at 3B. Without getting into the discussion of whether Chipper is a net plus or minus, the team needs three people to cover two positions — a structural impediment to making needed improvements.
4. Assuming Chipper retires after 2012, the team frees up 25 million in salary obligations going to Chipper and Lowe. It will have a lot more flexibility next offseason.
5. How good are Terdo, Bethancourt, Simmons, the young pitchers, Pastronicky? They will be all be playing some or all of the year at AA or above, and we will have a better idea next year what to expect from them.
6. I couldn’t find the r3esults vs each team last year, but from memory agtainst the better teams we played: Cardinals 0 -6, Brewers 4-4, Phillies 6 -12, Rangers 1 -2, Angels 1 – 2, Dbacks 3 -3 = 15 – 26,
(I may be off by 1 or 2 games, but well below 500 against the top teams — We also hadlosing records vs. Reds and Dodgers) The record within te division was also below 500 as we were barely above or at 500 with Mets and Nats and did well vs Marlins untill last week of season. (The one good team we did well against was the Giants — although they had their own great collapse a mont earlier than ours and we got to play them in that stretch.
This team is not a 90 win team next season as presently constituted (with the kinds of minor adjustments being discussed here) Wren is much better advised building for 2013 than thinking the current team is a player or 2 away from going far next year. If that means getting something for Bourn now for help in 2013 at the expense of 2012, he would be smart to do so.
flange1
December 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
Bat,
The revised edition of the first book is a little bit longer and fuller than the original. It is actually a better way to start the series than the original first book.
As ’scoots says, they get longer and longer, but they are a great read.
If you are a King fan, many of his other books and stories will have relevance if you are looking. Characters and events from other stories pop in and out of the Tower.
ENJOY!
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
2:16 pm
AFAN but to say that there is no change in the divisional make up is ignorance…
there has been very little change, other than players becoming free agents. to pretend teams are set and playout the season in your mind in that way is foolish.
as of now,braves and phillies and mets dont even have short stops. are we going to assume the outcome of the 2012 season before we even know the starting 9 of the teams?
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
2:17 pm
efrim Anyone think “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie?
of course it is.
TennesseePaul
December 2nd, 2011
2:18 pm
Colletti is not a good GM.
He hasn’t been all that inspiring. But, since he took over his teams have made the post season 3 times and went as far as the NLCS twice. Wren has scratched out a Wild Card spot and the second worst collapse in baseball history. And Ned did trade Meltdown for Andre, pretty solid trade there.
I’d still take Wren over Needle Nose Ned. But I don’t think Ned’s as bad as you make him out to be. Some of his more questionable moves have been owner motivated. Worst Dodger GM in the last 10 years, to me, is DePodesta. That guy made some bad trades. Bad, bad deals.
AFAN
December 2nd, 2011
2:20 pm
time in and of itself changes a team.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:20 pm
of course it is.
“Now I have a Machine Gun HO-HO-HO.”
Great stuff.
Murph
December 2nd, 2011
2:23 pm
Murph’s Top 10 Christmas Movies (In no particular order):
- Christmas Story
- Christmas Vacation
- Elf
- Four Christmases
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
- Frosty the Snowman
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Die Hard
- Bad Santa
- Gremlins
Mitchell
December 2nd, 2011
2:24 pm
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
They did sign Heath Bell which was a big move for them
Teams that finish 30 out do not become contenders by signing a closer, my friend. That’s for teams that finish 3 out.
The Marlins have won two World Series in two tries in the past 16 years to our one. Considering we haven’t won a playoff series since 2001 that makes them more of a contender than we have been since the ’90s.
With or without Heath Bell.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:25 pm
But, since he took over his teams have made the post season 3 times and went as far as the NLCS twice.
The farm system is in it’s worst shape in a while, and Ned hasn’t helped there. The Ethier trade was very good, and yes, Depo was a bad GM. I just see a lot of the same type moves for middling player on the roster like Ellis, Uribe, Capuano. I know these are relatively minor loves, however he always goes this route it seems. And I don’t think there has been a trade worse than Carlos Santana for Casey Blake – then signing Blake to a three year extension just to save some sort of face, I suppose.
Mountain Braves Fan
December 2nd, 2011
2:27 pm
LEW-I know you don’t want to trade Martin Prado. But you have to remember why the Braves have made him more or less available: (1) They don’t think he is productive enough to be a full time LFer. (2) He is blocked at his best position, 2B, by Uggla. (3) His is mostly blocked at 3B by Chipper. (4) He makes too much money to fill the super utility role. (5) He could really only be a semi-super utility player anyway because he can’t play SS. It is best for both Martin and the Braves to trade him to a team where he can be a full time 2B.
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm
jim I couldn’t find the r3esults vs each team last year, but from memory agtainst the better teams we played
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2011-schedule-scores.shtml
This team is not a 90 win team next season as presently constituted
ok, what are we, an 89 win team? cause thats how many games we won, even with our records against those teams (and yes, you were off by some.)
why does our record against those teams you pointed out have anything to do with us winning 90 games in 2012? braves play a full schedule. picking out teams we struggled against doesnt prove anything. the fact is we won 89 games.
Mitchell
December 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Die Hard takes place on Christmas Eve. Hence, it is a Christmas movie.
Plus, the themes of greed, fractured families and terror are all there.
Not to mention chain fights. And German cigarettes.
Great movie.
MFin04
December 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Braves sign Carlos Beltran yet? Still a perfect fit.
At least we still have Jurrjens and Prado! I guess that is the good news.
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
2:31 pm
mitchell Considering we haven’t won a playoff series since 2001 that makes them more of a contender than we have been since the ’90s.
uh….this is some of the worst logic i have ever seen on the blog. astounding.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
2:31 pm
He could really only be a semi-super utility player
I like this. As far as I’m concerned there is no such thing as a “super” untility player, but I think I can get on board for “semi-super”.
Lee in S GA
December 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm
I almost hate admitting it but “Home Alone” is a good Christmas movie also.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm
uh….this is some of the worst logic i have ever seen on the blog. astounding.
Didn’t read the moniker of the poster, did you, LOL?
raleighbravefan
December 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm
jim – I don’t have time for an ongoing discussion, but my rebuttle to your @2:13 would include the following:
Lowe is gone, and his replacement will likely be more effective. Hanson and JJ may well both be healthy, and have much better 2nd halves.
Some or all of the following will likely be improved – Heyward, Prado, Uggla’s 1st half, Full year of Bourn, Healthy McCann.
Young pitchers and bullpen will have gained experience. Middle relief will most likely be better.
Whatever the solution at SS will likely be at least as productive as AGon.
All that, without even knowing what improvements will be made by Wren before opening day, and before the trade deadline.
So yes, Lew and I (and many others) have plenty of reasons to be optomistic.
jim
December 2nd, 2011
2:35 pm
We’ll see what the Marlins do in FA, but don’t discount the Nats next year — Harper and Rendon are waiting in the wings for 2013, but Ramos at C is a budding star, Zimmerman is NL top 3Bman, The bullpen was the equal of ours, the starting rotation boasts Strasburg, Zimmerman and some decent prospects ready to contribute. Desmond is a big plus over nobody at SS right now, Espinosa is a future star at 2B, Morse is much better than any of the non-LFers currently on our roster, and Werth is not worth the money he’s getting but is not a bad complementary player to have. The Nats are more likely than the Braves to sign a big name FA, and will be favored by most people not living on this blog to finish 2nd in the division next spring.
raleighbravefan
December 2nd, 2011
2:36 pm
A Christmas Story
It’s a wonderful Life
Die Hard
Christmas Vacation
Elf
Home Alone
Wow
December 2nd, 2011
2:37 pm
Arizona finished 27 games out in 2010 and yet, ending up dominated their division a year later. All they did was strengthen their bullpen and change their personnel. Kinda like what the Marlins are doing.
Venice Jim
December 2nd, 2011
2:38 pm
Jayson Stark on why the playoff expansion might not happen next year:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jayson/id/7307141/expanded-mlb-postseason-2012-not-fast
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
[Nats] will be favored by most people not living on this blog to finish 2nd in the division next spring.
Let’s count up in March, shall we? But unless they sign Reyes, Fielder, AND Buerhle, they have as much chance of making the playoffs as the Pirates. For many of the same reasons.
Murph
December 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
Home Alone is a great Christmas movie… forgot about that one.
The 3 year old just watched that the other day, actually. Now when I come home I open up the door and duck, fully expecting a paint can to come sailing down from the 2nd floor into my face.
As much as I love A Christmas Story, it just can’t hold my kid’s attention. Maybe later on, but right now they would choose Elf. Everytime we see a taxi the 5 year old says “Careful, the yellow ones don’t stop.”
raleighbravefan
December 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
Seems to me the pessimists are all making 3 (wrong) assumptions:
1) Replacing Lowe makes no difference.
2) No one will get healthy or return to their norm.
3) Wren will make no additional moves.
As Monk would say, “you may be right, but I don’t think so”.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:43 pm
Many teams are likely to wait until the free agent logjam breaks before making trades, but a number of players could be dealt at the Winter Meetings, including White Sox left-hander John Danks, Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier, Cubs right-hander Matt Garza, Athletics left-hander Gio Gonzalez, Orioles right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, Angels catcher Jeff Mathis, Braves left fielder Martin Prado, and Rockies right fielder Seth Smith. – John Perotto, Baeball Prospectus
MFin04
December 2nd, 2011
2:44 pm
“Jayson Stark on why the playoff expansion might not happen next year:”
Is it because it is the worst proposal in the history of sports?
Mitchell
December 2nd, 2011
2:44 pm
What exactly have we contended for in the past ten years beyond the regular season?
We lost the 2001 in five games. That’s not contending.
We won 101 games in 2003 and lost to the 89 win Cubs, at home.
That’s not even being competitive.
We’re talking about a team that has folded down the stretch two years in a row. We’ve made one playoff appearance in the past six seasons and they couldn’t even clinch it until three hours after the last game of the season… in spite of have a 7.5 game lead over the Phillies in August.
They completed one of, if not the, worst collapses in National League history a little over two months ago as you may recall.
What exactly do you expect them to realistically contend for in 2012 other than the wild card?
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
I could see Ethier going. Not sure the Braves would have interest though as he is owed over 10 million in his final year of arbitration…
Murph
December 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
they have as much chance of making the playoffs as the Pirates
Remember on July 28th this last year when the Pirates were 54-49 and threatening to have their first winning season since the Braves tore out their hearts in ‘92?
Yeah, that was funny.
Wow
December 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
“The Nats are more likely than the Braves to sign a big name FA, and will be favored by most people not living on this blog to finish 2nd in the division next spring.”
There’s going to be a lot of b&tching and moaning from the kool-aid drinkers when the pundits start picking the Nationals or the Marlins to finish ahead of the Braves.
But hey, what do they know? A good amount of those idiots picked the Braves to make the playoffs this past season…
jim
December 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm
I did not pick out the teams we struggled against — I picked out the teams that led or contended in their divisions — the better teams we played (well below 500)
We can assume that everybody who struggled or was injured in 2011 will do better and stay healthy in 2012, and nobody will do worse. Lowe is gone with his sub 500 record, but JJ 11-3 or 12-3 before the All Star game with the top ERA in MLB for the first half of the season. Hanson also had an All-Star type first half — will we get that performance from either or both of those pitchers next year if they are still around or available? Venters late season woes can be attributed to overwork, but it was also the case that the league began to figure him out — He got a lot of swinging strikes at pitches at the the ankles in the first half of the year — in the second half, many of those same pitches were taken for balls. Both he and EOF were terrific last year, can we assume the same level of performance next year? Will Chipper have a better year next year? — unlikely at his age. Will he have the same type year? Will Freeman have the same or better results next year?
Mitchell
December 2nd, 2011
2:52 pm
“We lost the 2001 NLCS in five games…”
Jesus. I think I’m getting Alzheimers.
MFin04
December 2nd, 2011
2:53 pm
“What exactly have we contended for in the past ten years beyond the regular season?”
The team just needs to continue to make moves if it wants to keep up. This wait and see and hope players return to their made up “norms” is getting old.
Clearly left field and short stop are majors problems. Just fix one of them and see what happens. That really is it. Get an average MLB SS and an above average LF and we will be good to go to compete for the Wild Card.
If we instead try to win with some sort of ridiculous platoon and pick up an average SS, while trading away Jurrjens and Prado, it could very well be a long year with the Braves coming in 3rd in the division.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
There’s going to be a lot of b&tching and moaning from the kool-aid drinkers when the pundits start picking the Nationals or the Marlins to finish ahead of the Braves.
But while I’m moaning about it, I’ll give you credit for the forecast. How’s that?
Plus, that will almost guarantee that the Braves make the playoffs, since the “pundits” are inevitably, and with excruciating regularity, wrong. We both win! How bad can that be, LOL?
JJJ
December 2nd, 2011
2:57 pm
JJ, Venters and Prado for Ellsbury….
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
2:57 pm
WOW All they did was strengthen their bullpen and change their personnel. Kinda like what the Marlins are doing.
except the dbacks had a terrible bullpen. marlins dont…and they havent done anything but sign a closer they maybe didnt need, so far.
jim, the nats have a talented team, and i think they will be very good very soon, but they did not have a bullpen equal to the atlanta braves.
mitchell, We lost the 2001 in five games. That’s not contending.
We won 101 games in 2003 and lost to the 89 win Cubs, at home.
That’s not even being competitive.
you need a dictionary.
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
2:58 pm
scoots, nats are a much better team than the pirates. bad comparison.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
2:59 pm
Jim has it all squared away.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
3:01 pm
Agent Scott Boras is telling teams that Fielder is the last available young power bat until Mike Stanton hits free agency. – MLBtr
I often wonder what people do for him as an associate. Figuring out every major leaguer’s service time, contract, statistics to determine that Stanton’s free agency in 2016 is the next time a power hitter is available. Fun stuff, I’d love it.
DAP
December 2nd, 2011
3:02 pm
jim I did not pick out the teams we struggled against — I picked out the teams
you picked out teams…which is why you made no point worth making. gotta play a full 162, jim.
jim
December 2nd, 2011
3:03 pm
Whoever plays SS next year will be an improvement over Agon….
Baseball games are won and lost in both halves of the inning. Agon had the nasty habit of coming to bat in the middle of a rally too many times last year, but he saved a lot of runs with his D. His range might have been only average, but his ability to get the ball out of his glove and make a throw so quickly increased the number of outs he was able to get over another SS on a ball in the same spot.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
3:04 pm
Oh, JHC…..
http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=5078
E-N-O-U-G-H.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
3:04 pm
DAP, I wasn’t comparing the teams; I was comparing their playoff chances. The weaknesses of both teams for a 162-game season are there to see, if one is willing to look.
Now, either team might be able to turn all that around in a single offseason, and I’d say to that, it’s your money, brother. Bet it like you like it, LOL.
abwright
December 2nd, 2011
3:05 pm
If the Braves trade Prado and Jurrjens for prospects, they have clearly decided to phone it in in 2012.
Since that’s not going to happen, why even consider it?
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
3:06 pm
E-N-O-U-G-H.
Jonny Venters: HVWNBH.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
3:08 pm
SirToYou (at my desk): The Braves are nuts if they are looking for a Greinke type deal for Jurrjens, or will a team overlook his poor peripherals and offer something close to that?
Kevin Goldstein: Nothing wrong with dangling him out there to see if someone bites in a weak pitching market that, right? I agree, they’ll get nothing close to Greinke payment.
jim
December 2nd, 2011
3:08 pm
Those are the very teams one has to play IF you make the playoffs.
Lollygagger
December 2nd, 2011
3:10 pm
there is a HUGE difference between contending and winning. Just because the Braves didn’t win doesn’t mean they didn’t contend. They were in line for a playoff spot last season. Marlins were not. Not even close. So therefore, Braves were contenders. Marlins? Eh, not so much.
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
3:11 pm
Efrim, maybe Duronio has a gene that causes that HVWNBH reflex. You know, like a gag reflex, but worse.
“Hey, Ben! Hank Aaron has two years left on his contract!”
“HVWNBH. Trade him.”
MFin04
December 2nd, 2011
3:16 pm
“If the Braves trade Prado and Jurrjens for prospects, they have clearly decided to phone it in in 2012.
Since that’s not going to happen, why even consider it?”
It seems like that is what they are trying to do. And if all they do get is Seth Smith and prospects than I’d agree that 2012 should be mailed, texted, phoned in.
Ward
December 2nd, 2011
3:17 pm
Hello everyone! My top Ten Christmas movies
1. A Christmas Story
2. TheYear With Out Santa Clause
3.A Christmas Carol – Jim C.
4.Fred Clause
5.Twas The Night Before Christmas
6.Polar Exspress
7. A Chipmunks Christmas
8.The Santa Clause
9.A Charlie Brown Christmas
10. A Garfield Christmas
These are miy faovrite Christmas movies…..
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
3:19 pm
Efrim, maybe Duronio has a gene that causes that HVWNBH reflex. You know, like a gag reflex, but worse.
It’s possible. I get what the kid is saying, but every year we can make this argument for multiple players on a major league roster. The leagues structure allows this and you’ll end up winning 85 games, yet still having a Top 5 farm. Not getting you anywhere.
Also, just so I’m clear moving forward, HVWNBH = which spelled out words again?!?
Tomas
December 2nd, 2011
3:20 pm
Normally JJ wouldn’t get close to a Greinke type deal. Greinke won a Cy Young has great stuff, and was perfectly healthy. But with the limited options in the FA market teams might get desperate, and although JJ has finished injured the last two seasons, teams might be dumb enough to bite. JJ has build quite a resume, they’re even him calling him an ace, and the fact that he is only going to make around 5 million next year makes a very attractive player for teams that lose out on CJ Wilson, Mark Buehrly, and Edwin Jackson, because after those 3 FA looks bad
ncscoots
December 2nd, 2011
3:20 pm
“His Value Will Never Be Higher.”
Tomas
December 2nd, 2011
3:24 pm
The ideal trade would be Brett Gardner, and Eduardo Nuñez for Jair Jurrjens.
Braves get a LF and a replacement for both the leadoff spot and CF in 2013. And a SS that would become a utility man.
Doubt that the Yankees would deal Gardner under any circumstances right now.
Efrim
December 2nd, 2011
3:30 pm
“His Value Will Never Be Higher.” – ah, yes. Makes sense given the conversation today and yesterday. Laziness not to go back on my part.
The ideal trade would be Brett Gardner, and Eduardo Nuñez for Jair Jurrjens.
I’m starting to believe less and less that he gets traded anywhere – Jurrjens that is. But we’ll see. A lot of teams are looking for starters, however will they ante up?
Ward
December 2nd, 2011
3:31 pm
I was just on the Chop Talk,and Beltran was mentioned as the best possible fit.I could see Wren ,signing a Beltran,and trading J.J. or Prado for a good apckage of Prospects.Nothing was mentioned on Wren, getting him though.
Ward
December 2nd, 2011
3:31 pm
Meant to say Package…..