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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,707 comments Add your comment
Brave Hokie
November 30th, 2011
12:44 pm
Heartless losers…
No matter what they do, it will end in failure.
Tomahawkin
November 30th, 2011
12:44 pm
I don’t believe in the Betancourt hype yet until he wows the hell out of me at the Big league level…
He could turn out to be another Jarrod Saltalamacchia…
Just Saying…
DAP
November 30th, 2011
12:44 pm
lew TV market and city population are two entirely different creatures.
thats true, and we are talking about media market, not population.
RC
November 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
If TV market is the overirding decider on how much revenue a team should have, then it’s based on TV contracts and NOT on attendance.
TV market is not the overriding factor, but it is a major factor. It’s an even bigger factor for a team that owns it’s own network, like the Yankees with the YES Network. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship in that the network only exists because of the Yankees, and the Yankees can afford to spend a ton on players because the network make so much money. One of the shrewdest moves Stienbrenner ever made.
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
Practically impossible to see all the ramifications that could impinge on the sanity of extending or not extending McCann, at whatever price. If the team is cranking Uggla, Heyward, and Freeman in the middle, with another thumper at LF or 3B, then a great hitting catcher takes you from good to great, offensively. That kind of scenario makes him almost as valuable as if he were hitting in the middle.
On the other hand, if the team is still treading water offensively, then there’s really little choice but to sign him. Either way, his stick makes him an extremely valuable commodity. Even at premium prices in his 30s.
Tomahawkin
November 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
DAP
You Have not been Bozo’d…
Trust me, I know…I got Bozo’d for 10 weeks at the during the last month of the season…
CB
November 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
Efrim, makes more sense to give him 1 year less and go with a slightly higher contract. 4yrs-60million makes more sense to me.
DAP
November 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
atlanta is a major market, period.
Tomahawkin
November 30th, 2011
12:48 pm
CB
Co-Sign on that 12:45 post
Im not a Fan at all of giving out deals of more than 3 years…The Derek Blowe Deal was bad enough
DAP
November 30th, 2011
12:48 pm
and when i say the braves are a major market team, i mena they are a team in a major market, which is a fact. i dont mean they are a top 10 grossing team, or top 10 in attendance, or whatever. that not what “major market team” means.
ROSS
November 30th, 2011
12:51 pm
GOTS TO SIGN MCCANN…EVEN THOUGH, WITH HIS ERRORS,PASSED BALLS, WILL NEVER BE A GOLD GLOVE, ONLY BRAVE WITH A CHANCE AT A GG IS FREEMAN…
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
12:51 pm
You mean like the 48 games Mac had at AA (age 21) before his callup, going: 265/.359/.476/.834 ??
Do you even remember why he was called up, nathan? Or does it just not matter, for the point of your remark?
If Bethancourt can throw up an .800+ OPS in any 50-game stretch at AA, then you can make some comparison, however ill-advised. Until then, not so much.
Tomahawkin
November 30th, 2011
12:51 pm
Didn’t the Braves have a Slight Decline on attendance in 2011?
I Still cant Believe the Gutless promoters had the Nerve to announce that they were selling their 2012 tickets the day after our epic CHOKE-JOB…
Ease
November 30th, 2011
12:51 pm
I would venture to say that TV markets are just as, if not more important that actual population numbers. Its a fan base that is the attraction that you can reach countrywide vs. solely local attendance.
CB
November 30th, 2011
12:51 pm
I am ashamed to see the name Hokie affiliated with that whiner post at 12:44. Change your name,Bozo.
Rick
November 30th, 2011
12:52 pm
“Why not let it play out? See how he performs next year, see how healthy he stays along with keeping a close eye on Bethancourt. If Mac can’t stay healthy and Bethancourt progresses just like Mac did…. why on earth do you shell out 14-16 million dollars for him at that point?
Like I said. It might very well be worth every penny to lock Mac up long-term and keep him a Brave forever. At which point you could move Bethancourt to the outfield or trade him.
But why all the hurry and fuss to do it early?”
This is basically how I feel. Let’s see how they both progress in the next season, with the expectation to exercise McCann’s option in 2013, and then continue to see how they both do in that season.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
12:52 pm
That kind of scenario makes him almost as valuable as if he were hitting in the middle.
He’s a catcher hitting .850. If he does that in 2012, then he has a lot of value. However…
Even at premium prices in his 30s.
Ain’t no way I’m paying him 18-20 million a year for six years(2013-2018), scoots. Especially if Heyward, Freeman have big 2012’s and look like they can anchor this lineup for a while.
Juan
November 30th, 2011
12:53 pm
Lew..here the TV market Rating by City…Atlanta is # 8
Rank Tv Metropolitan Market Regions / Areas
1 New York
2 Los Angeles
3 Chicago
4 Philadelphia
5 Dallas-Ft. Worth
6 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
7 Boston
8 Atlanta
9 Washington, DC
10 Houston
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
12:54 pm
Cubs and David DeJesus – 2 years, 10 million. First signing for Theo/Hoyer regime.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
12:56 pm
LF Soriano, CF Byrd, RF DeJesus, 3B, SS Castro, 2B, 1B, C Soto.
Cubs still have plenty of holes. I can’t take them seriously with Darwin Barney at 2B…..
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
So, 13 teams are eligible for the lottery picks and the Braves just missed the cut.
DAP
November 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
by the way, the lowest ranked media market with an MLB team is cincinatti, projected to rank 35 in 2012.
ahead of them on the list are non-mlb cities like salt lake city UT (33), Columbus OH (32), Hartford CT (30), Nashville TN (29), Indianapolis (26), Charlotte NC (25), Raliegh-Durham (24), Portland OR (22), Sacramento CA (20), and Orlando – Daytona Beach – Melbourne FL (19)
RC
November 30th, 2011
1:00 pm
Efrim,
For a team that’s not likely to compete in 2012 anyway, Barney is a fine option for 2b. He’s a 2nd year player with decent contact skills who can provide good defense and 2b or SS. Perfectly acceptable short-term solution at 2b.
He reminds me a bit of a young Omar Infante, just making a lot less money.
N8
November 30th, 2011
1:03 pm
Yeah scoots I do. My home state boy “freight train” Darin Erstad leveled Estrada at home plate. So the NEED to call up Mac was obvious. He exceeded expectations, never looked back and NEVER played an inning of AAA ball.
What’s your point? Until Mac gets seriously injured, the “need” to call upon Bethancourt early won’t be there.
But my point remains lock solid. Until Bethancourt shows he has no business being a big leaguer, the NEED to lock up Mac before he hits free agency is also uneccesary.
Big Nick
November 30th, 2011
1:04 pm
Prado, Hoover and Spruill For Smith, Blackmon and Rex Brothers
Then
Jurrjens for Scutaro, Bard and B prospect
Bullpen will be super tough which will be needed since the rotation will be so young.
Lew
November 30th, 2011
1:05 pm
Well, If that is the case, then it’s even more mystifying why teams like The Rays, The Nats and the Stros are so high on the list of TV Markets and even lower on the payroll scale than the Braves.
N8
November 30th, 2011
1:07 pm
So scoots. Since you brought it up. You answer my question. What does Estrada getting leveled and Mac getting called up early, have to do with signing Mac to an extention before it’s needed to be done?
Somebody simply made the comment that they aren’t “sold” on Bethancourt until he hits AA pitching. I simply responded (with a tinge of sarcasm) that Mac didn’t do much in a very small sample size at AA.
VERY relevant as far as I’m concerned. Because the poster who stated that, likely wasn’t “sold” on Mac when he was coming up to replace Estrada.
Not sure what’s so damn hard to see in that remark.
Lew
November 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
And if you look at that list and accpet Atlanta as the 8 team, you still have ten teams ahead of the Braves, as three of the top cities have two teams.
So, in essence, the Braves are the 11th highest in TV share and 15th in payroll – hardly that big a difference.
Daybed Wagmoe
November 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
With Albert Pujols being a free agent this offseason, I wonder if there are any teams out there in need of a 3B that would consider asking him to move back to his old position and sign him. One team that I would think have the resources and movable pieces would be Philadelphia.
Think about it — Pujols in Philly’s bandbox of a stadium. The Phillies, a team that, last year, had a solid lineup that would, at times, go missing. Right now, Placido Polanco is their 3B, and he’s due about $6.4 million next year.
The Phillies may not have room for Pujols in their payroll, but they could probably move players to make room. Which players? Well, Utley for one — who is due $15 million in each of the next two years, and Polanco could switch back to 2B. Or they could move Polanco. Or Cole Hamels. But if you were a Phillies fan (I’m not – I hate the Phillies), wouldn’t you want Pujols in your lineup, even if his defense there would be atrocious?
I’m sure that the realistic chances of that happening are very, very slim, especially since they signed Papelbon, and they already have a lot of big contracts on the books. But after surprising everyone by signing Cliff Lee last offseason, perhaps it wouldn’t be the craziest thing to happen.
RC
November 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
Big Nick,
I think the overall value of your two trades is pretty much right on, but it appears to me that the Rockies deal is too much of an overpay for the Braves, while the Red Sox deal is not enough of a return for the Red Sox.
DAP
November 30th, 2011
1:15 pm
lew And if you look at that list and accpet Atlanta as the 8 team, you still have ten teams ahead of the Braves, as three of the top cities have two teams.
So, in essence, the Braves are the 11th highest in TV share and 15th in payroll – hardly that big a difference.
good point, actually 4 cities ahead of atlanta have 2 teams, that makes us 13th in tv share…but still a major market team. :- )
sidslidkid
November 30th, 2011
1:17 pm
Lew, the Braves are the 12th highest in TV share.
1 New York (1. Yanks and 2. Mets)
2 Los Angeles (3. Angels and 4. Dodgers)
3 Chicago (5. Cubs and 6. White Sox)
4 Philadelphia (7. Phils)
5 Dallas-Ft. Worth (8. Rangers)
6 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (9. Giants and 10. A’s)
7 Boston (11. Red Sox)
8 Atlanta (12. Braves)
brian
November 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
I miss the talk about where Jurrjens and Prado are going to be traded. I don’t like beating up on Big Mac.
Whether it is Brian or any other player, the Braves will have a plan to fit players under their payroll. If someone/anyone would take up too much of the payroll, the Braves will let him walk. At the least, the Braves will have at least an unofficial ceiling to their payroll if not a strict cap on their salary, so the management must always field the best team for the money. Comparisons to chipper are worthy as Chipper took a home town discount to stay a Brave. McCann could price himself off the Braves or the Braves could decide they could use that amount of money elsewhere to better improve the team.
I like Brian and hope he stays a Brave throughout his career but the economics of baseball combined with any wear and tear effects on production will impact whether McCann stays a Brave or not.
Lew
November 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
DAP – Thirteenth of thirty teams is top tier? I don’t think so. Atlanta is exactly what I said – a mid market team.
brian
November 30th, 2011
1:21 pm
per ESPN rumor mill:
The name of Martin Prado has been bandied about as trade bait for months, and the Atlanta Braves should receive plenty of inquiries at the winter meetings for the 28-year-old who was essentially miscast as a left fielder last season.
Prado remains a priority for the Colorado Rockies, where he could play second or third base. Troy Renck of the Denver Post says the issue is whether the Braves would deal Prado without receiving a center fielder in return. The Rockies reportedly have made Dexter Fowler off limits, offering Seth Smith instead. Renck says the Rockies also are reluctant to include Georgia Tech product Charlie Blackmon as part of a deal with Smith.
The Detroit Tigers, who are looking to upgrade at second base and third base, also are interested in Prado, reports Jon Paul Morisi of Foxports.com.
My take:
No way do I take Seth Smith for Prado. If the Braves pry away a CF as part of the package then maybe. I still think Detroit will give us the best return
Mark's for the Braves
November 30th, 2011
1:21 pm
We need McCann! Negotiate a contract with him during the 2012 season!
Jbailz
November 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
Does anyone that is calling for Mac to be traded and Ross start remember how sad it was to see Ross come to the plate while Mac was out with an oblique? I think he had the bases loaded 4 times and grounded into DP’s on 3 occasions. There are 2, maybe 3 better defensive catchers in baseball and not a single better offensive catcher. I do find it funny that everyone who complained about Gonzo being a liability with his bat but a good defender now want to trade one of our best bats for better defense. Well which do you want? Good offense or good defense, sometimes it’s hard to find both. You trade Mac and you’re trading the person that is our Chipper for the next 5 years. Bad idea. Mac has HOF talent. Let the kid play, maybe move him to 3B but for hecks sake don’t trade him!
RC
November 30th, 2011
1:26 pm
brian,
What do you think that Detriot would be able to offer for Prado?
Juan
November 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
Lew
November 30th, 2011
1:05 pm
Well, If that is the case, then it’s even more mystifying why teams like The Rays, The Nats and the Stros are so high on the list of TV Markets and even lower on the payroll scale than the Braves.
Answer is: Attendance…not TV rating….Atl is # 8 on Tv Markets, in 2011 # 15 in Attendance…yes o Middle Market attendance, not in TV rating and Revenue market.Two Different think…
DAP
November 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
lew Thirteenth of thirty teams is top tier? I don’t think so. Atlanta is exactly what I said – a mid market team.
tv share is not market rank, lew. its really not that hard. the braves are in a top 10 media market, even if there are 12 teams in front as far as tv share.
bravesfaninNashville
November 30th, 2011
1:31 pm
Don’t trade Mac. Just don’t extend his contract yet. He’s under contract through 2013 why hurry?
We made the September 2007 Mets look like the 1927 Yankees
November 30th, 2011
1:34 pm
Yadier Molina is the best catcher in baseball, PERIOD. While not the best hitting catcher…he showed in the post season that he’s pretty clutch at the plate.
Also, his defense is outstanding. He shut down the running game of Philly, Milwaukee and Texas in the playoffs. Plus he’s durable.
Does St. Louis win the World Series with McCann as their starting catcher? Nope. Texas would have ran at will against McCann.
If McCann played any position other than catcher…he’d be known as a pretty good hitter….but not one worthy of making $15 mil a year.
DAP
November 30th, 2011
1:37 pm
Does St. Louis win the World Series with McCann as their starting catcher? Nope.
do they barely win the wild card by one game? nope. they run away with it. and yeah, mccann is a better player than molina.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
http://espn.go.com/fantasy/blog/_/name/grey_jason/id/7298641/jason-grey-bids-farewell-loyal-espn-readers
Jason Grey leaving ESPN top become a pro scout for a major league team. Not that I expect many to know who he is…
brian
November 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
I wonder if the Bourn experience will have the Braves shooting for Fowler from the Rockies since the Braves have seen the benefits of speed
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
I can’t believe the Dodgers are going to tender James Loney a contract.
bobbyc
November 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
Sign McCann to a 4 year ext, dangle Bethancourt out for trade bait along with some pitching to a team that needs a catcher down the line like the Mets Yankees or Red Socks. I am not talking a Teixeira kind of deal where we rent a player for a year and half trade him and get nothing I am talking like a Vasquez deal where we got something for him.
MFin04
November 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
“mccann is a better player than molina.”
Yeh, I don’t know about that. Certainly not looking at last years numbers. Both offensively and defensively…Yadier was the superior player.
Depends what it takes to sign McCann long-term….but it seems like he is the type of guy to take less money to stay with the Braves, but I don’t know that I’d overpay to keep him. The guy isn’t in that great of shape, isn’t a very good defensive catcher, and his offense is going to decline.
wtf?
November 30th, 2011
1:46 pm
If I’m Brian McCann I’m wanting to get so far away from this team and would take a pay cut to do it. Atlanta is done for decades in the winner department. Maybe Winnipeg would want the Braves too? Just wishful thinking
Larry30
November 30th, 2011
1:48 pm
This article fails to state that the braves already have a catcher on the team who is much better defensively and is already a better major league hitter than bethancourt, Ross. The notion that the braves would move McCann to first when they have a future gold glover and comparable hitter, freeman, already playing there is absurd. McCann is already a liability behind the plate and doesn’t have the footwork for first base. The only logical move for the braves is to trade him while his value is high and he is under contract. You could probably obtain the outfield “big bat” everyone is always crying for and let some other team worry about a monster contract for McCann. He will most certainly finish his career as a DH and the no brainer is to shop him to the AL and to do it now.
TnBrian
November 30th, 2011
1:49 pm
I would take Jackson or Fowler. Looks like they don’t want to trade Fowler. Maybe Prado for Jackson. Too little amount for DET? I love Prado, but truth is we have a 2nd baseman and nobody should pay $5-6 mill to a utility player, especially our team.
Bay Area Steve
November 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
“If McCann played any position other than catcher…he’d be known as a pretty good hitter”
If Alex Gonzalez played any position but SS, he wouldn’t be in the league.
If George Sherrill was right handed, he’d be your mail-man.
If Nate Mclouth was a pitcher, every pitch would be an eephus.
If David Ross played any position but C, he’d be coaching already.
OK, I forgot my point. Too many ifs. Maybe I shoulda just went ‘If my aunt had balls…’
McFann O O o
November 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
Jeff R I believe McCann was sidelined in 2010 with an injury, though I can’t recall what it was.
He missed a couple games when he was having more eye problems, and he also missed 4 games with an injured quad, but that’s all…
I stand by my concern that catchers don’t age well and I’d be less inclined to give McCann another long term deal – one that takes him substantially into his 30s.
Well, I’ve got some money saved up…
Bay Area Steve
November 30th, 2011
1:53 pm
Love me some McCann. Only jersey I’ve ever owned.
But, if Molina hits at all in the future like he did last year, I’m takin’ Molina.
Rick
November 30th, 2011
1:54 pm
“Yeh, I don’t know about that. Certainly not looking at last years numbers. Both offensively and defensively…Yadier was the superior player. ”
Molina hit for a much higher average, but OPS is very similar because McCann took more walks . 814 OPS for Molina, 817 for McCann. Molina had 13 more 2Bs (probably due to McCann going for what seemed like weeks at the start of the season without a 2B) and half as many SOs, but McCann had 10 more HRs, 6 more RBIs, and 24 more BBs.
RC
November 30th, 2011
1:54 pm
MFin04,
I was all ready to dispute your point about Molina offense being up to par with Mac’s last year….and then I saw this:
http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=7007&playerid2=4810&playerid3=&position=C&page=8&type=full
They were REALLY close offensively last year…caught me by suprise. I would note that Mac has been ahead of him every other year, however, and that if I was placing a bet I’d go with the guy who’s career line is on the top half instead of the bottom half. But in 2011 they were really similar.
Bay Area Steve
November 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
I hereby nominate McFann to not be taken seriously until she pesters her folks for driver’s license.
What kind of kid (outside of NYC, maybe) doesn’t want their license? I’m beginning to suspect foul play.
RC
November 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
If Nate Mclouth was a pitcher, every pitch would be an eephus. – BAS
That’s assuming the umpire didn’t stop to call him for a balk prior to his throw, with all the double and triple clutching of the ball before he throws it.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
1:58 pm
Priceless at 1:50, BAS.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:03 pm
Who is taking Alfonso Soriano? Even if the Cubs eat the entire contract, he is terrible.
DAP
November 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
BAS if Molina hits at all in the future like he did last year, I’m takin’ Molina.
yeah, sure. molina only out OPSed his own career average by a little over 100 points. im sure he’ll do alot more of that soon.
c’mon yall. molina had a career year and it still pales in comparison to what mccann has done in his career. mccann is a consitantly good offensive performer.
sometimes i cant believe yall. molina over mccann? please.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
sometimes i cant believe yall. molina over mccann? please
I think he meant it as if Molina could continue what he did in 2011, then he would take Yadi because of his defense.
DAP
Six Year Old Girl at Turner Field Next June
November 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
As Uggla runs out to second base…………………Mommy: What did Cindy’s mommy mean when she said that Dan Uggla’s girlfriend made bad movies?
Ken Stallings
November 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
Based on who the Braves could get and what it would cost them, I’d rather roll the dice with Pasternicky at shortstop and use the extra money to try to get that left field bat, which would allow Prado to go back to being utility man par excellence, and good insurance if Heyward’s doldrums don’t improve.
Jbailz
November 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
RC – All I can see from those graphs is that Molina has had one or two years out of the “poor” section while McCann hasn’t been anywhere near it…
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
not sure why “DAP” went below my remark. Weird.
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
But, if Molina hits at all in the future like he did last year, I’m takin’ Molina
Pretty sure you’ll be saved from making that choice, BAS.
Texas would have ran at will against McCann.
Even if true, so what? You guys get so caught up in the speed thing, and forget that the offensive value of stolen bases is like a splinter in the wood of McCann’s bat.
Run all you want; it almost never matters when it comes to actually crossing the plate. Bad for a catcher’s self-esteem, maybe, but a cold beer and a wifely neck-rub pretty much takes care of that “problem”.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
I guess the Cubs could bring up Brett Jackson to play CF and move Byrd to LF if they can find a taker for Soriano.
raleighbravefan
November 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
The most important thing when considering “market size” is REVENUE. Braves #10 in tv market, #12 in tv share, and #15 in attendance. I suspect that adds up to pretty close to middle of the pack revenue wise. Add to that the fact that a (very) few owners (maybe 2-3) are willing to make no profit or even lose money. All this means that the Braves payroll is probably about right. Like it or not…of course none of us likes it…but then, as I’ve said before, a different owner could very well spend less.
Lee in S GA
November 30th, 2011
2:20 pm
Agree with N8…no need to rush this. Ride the year out…see out he performs and if he stays healthy. Also agree that 3 years should be the limit no matter what….if he refuses and he might well so be it. First base (w/Freeman) and LF (just don’t see this at all) are out of the question for him.
Bay Area Steve
November 30th, 2011
2:21 pm
“Pretty sure you’ll be saved from making that choice”
No doubt. Career year. All that.
I’m just a sucker for the chest protector block, and throwing behind runners. After seeing the stats on blocked balls, I suspect the two are pretty even there. Molina just does it the way we were all taught. McCann is all glove, all the time, and is incredibly good at it. But Molina’s tossin’ the ball around like it’s practice. Loved throwin’ behind people…
McFann O O o
November 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
Bay Area Steve I hereby nominate McFann to not be taken seriously until she pesters her folks for driver’s license.
Is that all you got? Come on…
My parents aren’t the issue, anyway—it’s me. It’s all on me…
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
I don’t think Mac is going to sign a three year extension. It has to be at least four years with an option year(2018) attached.
Bay Area Steve
November 30th, 2011
2:24 pm
“any chance Uggla to LF, Pastornicky at 2B and Simmons at SS next season”
This is what ‘OB has abandoned us for. Seriously.
Bay Area Steve
November 30th, 2011
2:25 pm
Murph,
Ship McFann your old PS2 and a copy of Need for Speed, would ya? Let’s show her how not to be scared of a little traffic…
Coach (2011 Fredi G. FAILED)
November 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
Even if true, so what? You guys get so caught up in the speed thing, and forget that the offensive value of stolen bases is like a splinter in the wood of McCann’s bat.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>….
HAAAHAAAAHAAAA!!!!!!
LMFAO!!!!!!!
scoots just made my day with that little nugget of red neck logic
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
Molina just does it the way we were all taught.
Yeah, I know. But you can like both blondes and brunettes, right?
The differences between McCann and Molina make for good bar conversations.
(By the way, that toujours thing? I was playing off Bonaparte’s quote: “L’audace! Toujours l’audace!”. Might have been a reach, though, LOL)
nolie
November 30th, 2011
2:27 pm
He isn’t atheltic enough to play LF …Efrim
now I sure do not agree with that statement, almost anybody can play left field. you don’t need speed and you don’t even need an arm. Easiest position in baseball to play and he is not THAT physically challenged
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
This is what ‘OB has abandoned us for. Seriously.
Social media. Can’t live without it?
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
just made my day with that little nugget of red neck logic
Always glad to help you out, Coach.
I know from long experience that there’s little hope of enlightening you, but, there may be other folks who can be, LOL.
Murph
November 30th, 2011
2:29 pm
BAS, good idea… although I believe McFann would learn more about driving from Grand Theft Auto.
Arkansas Transplant
November 30th, 2011
2:32 pm
RC, tell you what I’d do.. fixing the Braves in the near term and long term.
Trade a package of Prado and Bourn to Detroit for a return of Jackson and Castellanos. This would allow us to replace Bourn with a comparable toolsy cf that would be under team control til 2016. Castellanos would give us a great prospect to take the 3rd base job once Chipper retires.
Then I would package JJ, Lipka, Hoover and Chapman and send them to KC for a return of Myers and Crow. Myers obviously would be the LF of the future and Crow would give us a power right hander to couple with Venters in the late innings, and also could possibly move to the rotation down the road.
Those 2 moves would free up around 25 to 35 million on the payroll allowing us to be more aggressive on the free agent market. Maybe allowing us to sign someone like CJ to match with Hudson at the top of the rotation. That would give us a great 1, 2 punch at the top righty, lefty.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:34 pm
now I sure do not agree with that statement, almost anybody can play left field.
Well, he certainly wouldn’t be playing it in 2012. I mean, more like 2018 or something when he is 35 years old and an extra four or five years of catching on his knees, right? I have to imagine he’d be a little worse of an athelete at that point, no?
Bobby Hill
November 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
I think DOB is really reaching for something to write about with this blog. There’s no real news and there’s nothing going on. This whole off season seems to be developing rather slowly for the entire league. I guess those big name free agents are kind of holding up the show.
McCann is under contract for two more years. A lot can happen in two years. There’s no reason to get too worried about it right now. This kind of thing has a way of sorting itself out.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
And do we really want a 34 or 35 year old Brian McCann out in left field? I have trouble seeing it for some reason. I think the National League/no DH thing plays a factor in the long term prospects of extending McCann. I’m for giving him a contract extension, but the higher that AAV goes, the hotter in here it gets.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
Trade a package of Prado and Bourn to Detroit for a return of Jackson and Castellanos.
You didn’t mean to include Bourn in there. Nah. No way. You meant Bullock, not Bourn. Like Billy Bullock. Not Michael Bourn.
Lee in S GA
November 30th, 2011
2:40 pm
And do we really want a 34 or 35 year old Brian McCann out in left field?
————————————–
he!! no I don’t
David O'Brien
November 30th, 2011
2:42 pm
Really Dob? Because I believe Buster Posey was a 23 year old catcher last year when the Ginats won it all… — Chris
And your point is what?
Arkansas Transplant
November 30th, 2011
2:45 pm
Efrim, no I actually meant Bourn. I don’t see Bourn as a long term solution. He’s a free agent at season’s end and I don’t think he’d be worth what it would take to sign him to an extension.
RC
November 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
AT,
I don’t completely hate the JJ-to-KC scenario you proposed, but I don’t see why Detriot would be willing to do the Jackson/Castellanos part of the deal.
Efrim,
34 year old Brian McCann likely wouldn’t be all that bad. We once had Ryan Klesko in LF….got to be better than that.
David O'Brien
November 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
I think DOB is really reaching for something to write about with this blog. There’s no real news and there’s nothing going on. — Bobby Hill
I’m quite thankful that we have a whole lot more fans and bloggers who like to talk about subjects such as the future of their six-time All-Star catcher, rather than folks such as yourself who apparently would prefer to repeat the names of free agents and trade possibilities ad nauseum, even if 95 percent of those free agents and trade scenarios aren’t even remote possibilities for the Braves.
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
2:48 pm
I’m archiving some of these comments, so I can retrieve them easily when some no-lumber defensive whiz of a catcher hits .230 and gets excoriated here by the same folks making the posts I’m archiving.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
34 year old Brian McCann likely wouldn’t be all that bad. We once had Ryan Klesko in LF….got to be better than that.
Yeah, I mean Rhino was 28 years old in his last season for the Braves. McCann will be 34 years old in 2018 and coming off of another 5 years of catching. I guess it’s only one season anyway. I’d just rather that aav to not be 18-20 million as some have suggested – which was my main point That’s a tough pill to swallow for me.
ncscoots
November 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
even if 95 percent of those free agents and trade scenarios aren’t even remote possibilities for the Braves.
…leading to the Occupy Hot Stove movement, prolly.
DAP
November 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
efrim I think he meant it as if Molina could continue what he did in 2011, then he would take Yadi because of his defense.
and im saying thats not gonna happen. there have been plenty of “flavors of the week” catchers come and go with good years since mccann came up and was consistently good year in and year out.
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
when some no-lumber defensive whiz of a catcher hits .230 and gets excoriated here by the same folks making the posts I’m archiving.
Don’t forget with a sub-.300 OBP and a sub-.400 SLG. But it’s cool, as he looks so much better behind the plate than Mac did.
nolie
November 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
Baseball America Best Defensive catcher—not that they could possibly be more knowledgeable than the board haters…..
2010-Molina, McCann, Olivo
2011 Molina, Ruiz, McCann
Efrim
November 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
DAP, yeah, Mac is the best right now. No better catcher in the sport.
RC
November 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
Efrim,
I agree that an AAV of $18-20M would likely be much too rich to keep Mac at. I would expect something in the $16M range to make a little more sense, probably for 4 years with an option for a 5th.
nolie
November 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
Yogi did it.