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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
215 comments Add your comment
old timer
December 13th, 2011
12:29 pm
Absolutely gotta bring back Conrad. You just can’t replace a guy who strikes out half the time he pinch hits and can play all infield positions better than I can. I mean better than I can now, not better than when I played for the Bird Cage bar in Hayward, Calif. back in the ’70s.
Mitchell
December 13th, 2011
12:31 pm
Great. So the guy who didn’t give up a home run for all of 2009 is likely gone.
What more does one team need to win games?
We’ve only had Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, Billy Wagner, Saito, Medlen, Venters, O’Flaherty and now Kimbrel setting up or closing out games, not to mention Moylan, over the past four to five years and we’ve made the playoffs how many times?
Slim pickin’s, I know. It’s tough to win with names like that.
And if it wasn’t for that fing retard of a manager, who chose to leave in a defensive liability at second base in the 9th inning of Game 3 against the Giants, after stealing the momentum on one swing of the bat and possibly a win, Brooks Conrad would be better known for his game winning grand slam in May of 2010 that capped a seven run comeback.
Or any number of his post 7th inning home runs.
There’s a reason guys spend nine years in the minor leagues. Maybe he’ll have a chance to play somewhere but it’s safe to say he made the most of his one chance with the Braves, except for his much publicized defensive failures at the end of Bobby Cox’s final season.
At least he never lost a ground ball in the gd lights for f’s sake.
Steve
December 13th, 2011
12:39 pm
“the Braves, whose pinch-hitters were 15th in the NL in average (.175) and 16th (last) in OBP (.239).”
Are you kidding me? Pinch-hitters are typically in for one of two reasons .. to replace a pitcher, or for the left/right matchup. I don’t have time to look at the stats, but it seems to me we need to just let our starters stay in longer and nix this whole left/right matchup thing. Do the AL thing and leave your BEST players int he game longer.
Santa
December 13th, 2011
12:44 pm
I know what you Braves fans want for Christmas and I would fly to Atlanta and get rid of Frank Wren for you, but there is a shortage of reindeer and so I am stuck at the North Pole.
See Ya Fredi
December 13th, 2011
1:04 pm
Santa, take Fredi first~!!!
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
1:09 pm
Screw the tigh-waded budget. You need a shortstop to round out the team so go get a good one like Rollins. stop searching the dumpsters and pool halls for a shortstop !
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
1:12 pm
Simply trade Jurkoffjens & Prado for draft picks or minor league prospects and use their money saved to sign Jimmy Rollins. Being a GM is overrated.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
1:14 pm
Okay i’ll do the math fer ya. Prado likely gets 4.5 million in 2012,Jurrjens likely gets $5 million in 2012. That’s $9.5 million combined. Trade the two for zero salary in return (prospects). Just sign Jimmy Rollins for $9.5 million. Boom !
bvillebaron
December 13th, 2011
1:29 pm
Taliban Blows:
The Braves rightfully have no interest in Rollins whose skills are in steady decline. By the way, are you one of the guys who continually criticize Wren for sigining Lowe and Kawakami to bad deals?
JIM BRADY
December 13th, 2011
1:34 pm
Enter your comments here
Occupy Frank Wren
December 13th, 2011
1:39 pm
I’m sure you’ve heard that Johnny Rocker admitted to roids? Apparently pressure to succeed made him do it (along with the fact that “everyone else” was too). Although when asked if roids made him a better pitcher, he said…
“No. Can I throw 3 or 4 mph harder because of it? Yes. Was my breaking ball better because of it? No. The reason was (for taking it) with my teammates and their confidence laying on my shoulders, with the coaching staff and their confidence on my shoulders, with the millions of Atlanta Braves fans, I am not going to step on that mound with that kind of responsibility with my gun half loaded. Knowing the people I am going to be facing, I know what they’re doing; I am not coming to the mound halfcocked.”
OklahomaBrave
December 13th, 2011
1:49 pm
Luke Scott was non tendered. Would be a good 4th outfielder and platoon partner with Diaz when chipper needs a rest. I know it’s not sexy but it is realistic. Also keppinger and theriot were also non tendered.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
1:50 pm
The Braves told Conrad to explore the free-agent market, and that they’d be open to discussing a minor-league contract later if he’s interested.
Occupy Frank Wren
December 13th, 2011
1:56 pm
I’m thinking there won’t be much (or any) interest in Conrad. Unless you are around him all year and perhaps can appreciate any “intangibles” or “clubhouse” attributes he may have, his hitting of late and especially his fielding aren’t suggestive of anything worth exploring.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
2:03 pm
DOB, December 11 has come and gone.Any winds blowing about Liberty Media wanting to sell the Braves? — Bill
So far, still haven’t heard anything at all about them putting team on market.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
2:07 pm
Luke Scott’s #’s for 2011..9 hrs and 220 ab but not healthy.
Luke Scott’s #’s for 2010..27 hrs and 284 ba when ok health wise.
Luke had tore labrum in his right shoulder. He had surgery during off season..like DOB said he might fit for Braves if he pass physical. He is LH hitter. He made 6 million last year. — Bill
The more I talk to people, the more it seems Scott is viewed as a DH at this point.
bobbyc
December 13th, 2011
2:09 pm
Why aren’t the Braves making a deal for Hanley Ramirez, yea I know him and FG had problems so what so did Reggie and Billy Martin never got along and they won Championships so why not ask how much or have Wren off this
Miami gets
Jair Prado Hoover and Alteron Simmons
Braves get
Bonifacio,
Brett hayes
Hanley Rameriz
OklahomaBrave
December 13th, 2011
2:11 pm
What about Nelson cruz DOB? Haha
coach joe
December 13th, 2011
2:11 pm
Braun on PEDS… Is anyone clean in baseball …very disappointing…,
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:13 pm
They should take Braun’s MVP away and give it to Matt Kemp. Will Braun be suspended now ? MLB and drug use go hand-in-hand.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:13 pm
Braves dumpster digging again…
Jeff Passan on Roger Cedeno : 72. Ronny Cedeno(notes), SS: Hasn’t figured out how to hit and may never, but his glove should keep him employed.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:14 pm
If your gonna just have a glove and no bat at SS then go with Pastornicky. Jimmy Rollins can hit & field Mr. Wren.
OklahomaBrave
December 13th, 2011
2:14 pm
Why would we want to go ahead a put the marlins ahead of us with that trade? There’s no way hanleys coming to the atl and no way we’re giving up that much in our own division.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:17 pm
Jimmy rollins is in decline but Cedeno is a better option ? Cedeno should be an insurance salesman. Baseball is about hitting and fielding not just one or the other. Players who can’t do both don’t belong in MLB.
OklahomaBrave
December 13th, 2011
2:18 pm
Taliban, I would love to have j roll for two maybe three years but it’s not gonna happen. P Nicky will be our ss next year.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:19 pm
Huge MLB cover up. Every MLB player from 1992 to 2009 used steroids. The Shame-Game continues. Bug Selig should be fired.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:20 pm
Braves might dig deeper in the dumpster and find Rafael Belliard in there…
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:21 pm
Braves owners on a everday Romin Noodles diet…
josh
December 13th, 2011
2:26 pm
Moylan will come back.
Frosty
December 13th, 2011
2:31 pm
So shortstop is not a strong position for Conrad. What is a good position for him?
Stinger2
December 13th, 2011
2:33 pm
I realize many Braves fans have said this over and over many times. So I will say it again. They need a quality power hitting LF who is not from the dumpster. It has been a problem for several years. Does anyone know why Wren will not address it?
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:34 pm
Bartender at Ruby Tuesday’s is a perfect position for Conrad…
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:36 pm
I think they have hard-ons for platooning Diaz like Bobby did with Diaz,Gerald Williams/Klesko and Lemke/Lockhart. See, Bobby still runs the Braves. That’s why they don’t get a LF.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:38 pm
When they said Fredi was like Bobby they meant 1 World Series in 16 years. And I wanted a younger and different thinking manager not a Booby Cox clone.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:42 pm
Conrad really has high expectations. He might be an occassional pinch hitter or a minor leaguer next year. Oh the joy !
hmmmmmmmm
December 13th, 2011
2:42 pm
DOB, I think that a Michael Young for JJ deal could benefit both clubs…..In theory Young can replace Chipper next year as well.
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:45 pm
Fan in bar : “So Brooks, I see you get paid $3 million a year to pinch hit 40 times per year ? Does the bench leave many splinters in your behind sitting so much” ?
Conrad : “Well I’m just glad to be here. Are you crazy ? I make $3 million doing basically nothing all year. I’m gonna ride this horse until it dies.”
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:47 pm
Braves could just let Tim Hudson pinch hit all year and save the $3 million…
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:50 pm
DOB, remember this blog you wrote ? “Winter Meetings could be busy for Braves”
Braves sign a Fish. Yeah, so busy !
Taliban Blows
December 13th, 2011
2:54 pm
Mark Bradley : “The Atlanta Braves: They went to the Winter Meetings and came home without making a trade. The only thing I can think is that some impostor must have gone in Frank Wren’s stead. Heat Index: Is the Tyler Pastornicky Era indeed upon us?”
At least Mark tells it like it really is.
The Barves
December 13th, 2011
3:04 pm
TB sucks, man. Bad troll, sir. Go Braves.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
3:04 pm
Moylan said surgically repaired shoulder feels strong, no restrictions now except no throwing yet. Scheduled to begin throwing in January. Said his goal is be ready for start of season, which would be six months — the typical recovery for this particular arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
The Barves
December 13th, 2011
3:09 pm
Hope Moylan comes back strong. Love that guy.
DOB, right now you are sensing Punto over Keppinger? Neither one is stellar, but Kepp’s OPB looks pretty good. Punto is more of a free swinger if i remember right.
Percy Helton
December 13th, 2011
3:11 pm
I heard that Constanza batted only lefty because he has a knot on his hand and that he is normally a switch hitter. The talk was he would get it operated on now because he got some successful face time in Atlanta. Leaving aside the idea that the Braves might actually view a players’ health like that, does anyone know if Stanz had his operation?
BB FAN
December 13th, 2011
3:13 pm
The Braves still have not picked up a right handed outfielder who can hit lefties or a backup shortstop but there’s still plenty of time left. I like the reports of the Braves being interested in Nick Punto as the back up SS. I think he could be solid in limited playing time.
The OF situation could be simple by (yes, I’ll say it again) signing Andruw Jones to platoon in LF and be a backup in CF and RF. The guy kills lefties and plays adequate defense. He hasn’t signed for more than like $2 million a year the last 3 years so he would be affordable. However, I’ve seen reports that he wants to go back to the Yankees. But I would think it would interest him if Atlanta called.
The other OFers are too expensive and not worth it in my opinion. Carlos Beltran and Cody Ross are rumored to be looking for 3 years. Cuddyer and Willingham are likely to get the 3 years they seek. I think trading Prado might be a mistake unless the Rockies give up Smith and Wheeler. Even then, it’s questionable. He is so valuable at 3B when Chipper needs a rest (~40-50 games).
I wouldn’t mind trading Jurrjens even though he is one of my favorites (my son’s too). He is a Boras client and I really believe Boras hurts the game. I can see Jurrjens having a decent year next year and a great year in 2013 and then leaving for more money (I think he’s a free agent after 2013). Of course, the pitching would be a little thin if they trade him but it might worth the risk if they can get back some real value. Just hope Hudson and Hanson are healthy at the start of the year. Minor, Beachy, Delgado and Teheran look real good. And Medlen could fill in if needed as well.
Enus Stokesberry
December 13th, 2011
3:23 pm
ahh non-tender, i had one in the 2nd grade…i was a beast at duck hunt
Santa
December 13th, 2011
3:41 pm
See Ya Fredi: Okay—I’ll add Fredi to the list.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
3:43 pm
Barves: Punto is far superior to Keppinger defensively, and Braves put lot of emphasis on that from their backup shortstop.
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
3:44 pm
DOB, remember this blog you wrote ? “Winter Meetings could be busy for Braves”
Braves sign a Fish. Yeah, so busy ! — Taliban Blows
Guess you don’t attach any meaning to the word “could.”
ole richie
December 13th, 2011
3:46 pm
if there is someone better than moylo, a better option then it doest hurt me. But the thing is their isn’t. Bottom line. we need someone who can eat some innings and take some weight off eof, venters and kimbrell. @DOB, still surprised the braves haven’t made a run at quienton? any thoughts
Ken Stallings
December 13th, 2011
3:54 pm
Conrad I fully understand. Despite his popularity, in truth he was a marginal PH and his defense is at time game-killing.
Moylan is another story. Unless the Braves have doubts he will recover (and that seems unfounded if such doubts are present), Moylan is an excellent middle-relief pitcher. Failing to resign him appears as just another cost-factored personnel move.
Has anyone received any indications where the Braves’ cost structure is at for next season? Is the money they saved on Lowe’s contract being ear market as pocket money for Liberty Media?
David O'Brien
December 13th, 2011
4:19 pm
Taliban Blows, I owe you an apology. I just went back and saw the long, long series string of comments you’ve made under various names. My bad. I thought you had just come on board for a day or two and bombarded us. You’ve been at it for a long time. Carry on.
Bill
December 13th, 2011
4:34 pm
The White Sox are discussing trade with Blue Jays for Carlos Quentin..the WS said they had to get a young hitter in return.
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
4:36 pm
If were gonna do retreads or dumpster diving, then trade for Omar Infante. We love him and he can play every position except pitcher and catcher, but maybe he can play those positions also.
Bama Mike
December 13th, 2011
4:39 pm
What! No Boots Conrad? Now that is the final straw.
Bama Mike
December 13th, 2011
4:43 pm
Next time Frank Wren goes on sports talk we should have 24 hours notice and place bets on the over/under of the number of times he says the word “if”. I won an office pool $25.00 by betting that Fredi would use the phrase “you know” no less than 30 time during an interview. Final talley 41. Make the best out of every situation I say.
Mark (another one)
December 13th, 2011
4:52 pm
Both moves are understandable. I hope Moylan fully recovers but paying him $2 million to recover is an awful lot to ask of any team. He was our fourth best reliever when he went down, and would still be fourth if he was healthy. The Braves would love to have a healthy Moylan for that role but they need someone to help carry the inning load and Moylan is not that option, yet.
I also love hearing people try to compare the Braves budget to the Yankees. The Yankee’s gross revenue was $105 million more than the Braves (Forbes). Either buy more tickets and jerseys or accept that the Yankees are a large market team and the Braves are in a mid-market like San Franciso, Houston and Philadelphia.
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
4:55 pm
We want the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
4:59 pm
Wow D.O.B. they Wren should have told you he wasn’t gonna do anything. You could be fishing in Montana or chilling on a hammock in a Jamacian beach hotel. But the only fishing you got to do is reporting on a rule 5 draft pick. Remember thats 2 weeks you will never get back sigh
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
4:59 pm
Wow D.O.B. they (Wren) should have told you he wasn’t gonna do anything. You could be fishing in Montana or chilling on a hammock in a Jamacian beach hotel. But the only fishing you got to do is reporting on a rule 5 draft pick. Remember thats 2 weeks you will never get back sigh
Nova Scotia Steve
December 13th, 2011
5:07 pm
We are pinching pennies even more than usual this off-season.
NickB
December 13th, 2011
5:12 pm
I’m not surprised about either non-tender…. Moylan can’t stay healthy (and we have a cheaper /better option in Vizcaino) and Brooks has limited value due to his inability to backup SS. (something I think any teams backup middle infielder should be able to do, even in limited play)
Theriot or Keppinger are better options than Conrad and won’t cost much more than a couple mill at most.
Mister Frisky
December 13th, 2011
5:29 pm
Holy crap Conrad gets let go.What will we do without this 230 minor league hitter on our team?Don’t panic Brave fans got several more lousy hitters to fill the void.
Bo
December 13th, 2011
5:39 pm
If money in Braves budget, would be nice to see DeRosa back in Brave Uniform. He can play all infield positions and can still swing good bat. He could be a mentor to Tyler.
Mister Frisky
December 13th, 2011
5:42 pm
Can someone tell me why Conrad was brought back for 2011?
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
5:51 pm
@ Mister Frisky. It was a pity spot because the Braves didn’t want Conrads last MLB moment bbe him giving up all those errors in the divisional series.
N8
December 13th, 2011
6:41 pm
“Moylan acknowledged on Twitter this morning that he’d be become a free agent (non-tendered, in other words).”
Maybe Nickelback could sign him to run security for them.
benchwarmer
December 13th, 2011
7:11 pm
Omar Infante would be nice to have again as a Brave, but I do believe he is set to be a starting position player for a few years and deservedly so. SS is not his best position.
yogi1
December 13th, 2011
7:27 pm
I agree Frisky. Conrad is not even a triple A player. he may be a lower A ball sub. he has always been BUSH league at best
Mister Frisky
December 13th, 2011
7:41 pm
J-Man that’s what I thought.Wren didn’t want Conrad aka E-4 to go Donnie Moore on their watch.
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
7:47 pm
I just saw that the Rockies moved for Tyler Colvin and might try to use him in a trade to the Braves for Prado…….any truth to that rumor????
Mister Frisky
December 13th, 2011
7:58 pm
J-Man latest Rockies rumors is Beltran.
TeheranTime
December 13th, 2011
8:24 pm
YES! The Braves FINALLY did something. Now that non-tendered players are available, expect the Braves to be active. It’s sad. Sad.
Bill
December 13th, 2011
8:35 pm
Nothing sad if Braves can improve.
Art
December 13th, 2011
8:42 pm
Do the Braves really intend on handing the 21 year old Pastornicky the shortstop job.
The Lumber
December 13th, 2011
8:48 pm
Are the Dodgers a team that is looking at JJ or Prado? If so is Jerry Sands a player they would look to move? Bats R, LF,Power, Young and Cheap 24.
phil
December 13th, 2011
9:24 pm
Conman was dumped, finally, to make way for the return of Joe Mather!
Woohoo!
Next year will be many times less painful since it looks fairly clear we won’t have any kind of lead to blow.
phil
December 13th, 2011
9:25 pm
Fire FG!
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 13th, 2011
9:53 pm
cheap beer.
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
10:13 pm
When people on this blog say “Have Faith” and talk about the fans that critize the team ans say that they are not real fans. Well to all of you fans I say that you are lazy and accept mediocrity. Infact even most of the writers in the area have “Drank the Kool-Aid” that Liberty Media has put out. They never call out and question “idiotic” moves. Wren is not a bad GM but when it comes to FA he is suspect at best. But you look at Liberty Media they always go with the cheapest solution and when they do spend money they play that player no matter what (ex. D.Lowe, McClouth, and Kawakami 1st 2 seasons). Look at the dumpster deals they have gone with Greg Norton, Joe Mather, Brooks Conrad, Troy Glaus (excluding May-June 10), Jesse Chavez, Melky Cabera, and Scott Proctor. And the “Blue Light Special” players that ate up payroll without contributing anything but playing them in spite of performance Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami, Nate McClouth, Alex Gongalez, Uggla for the 1st half of the season and Derek Lee. But they kept running out those Payroll fatcats inspite of performance and not letting young talent have a chance. So this is exactly why the TRUE Brave fans are angry and QUESTION Liberty Media. Real fans need to complain more and to ask questions and not feel bad for doing so. Remember we choked up a 10.5 game lead with a month to go and NOTHING was done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE WANT THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
10:16 pm
When people on this blog say “Have Faith” and talk about the fans that critize the team and say that they are not real fans. Well to all of you fans I say that you are lazy and accept mediocrity. Infact even most of the writers in the area have “Drank the Kool-Aid” that Liberty Media has put out. They never call out and question “idiotic” moves. Wren is not a bad GM but when it comes to FA he is suspect at best. But you look at Liberty Media they always go with the cheapest solution and when they do spend money they play that player no matter what (ex. D.Lowe, McClouth, and Kawakami 1st 2 seasons). Look at the dumpster deals they have gone with Greg Norton, Joe Mather, Brooks Conrad, Troy Glaus (excluding May-June 10), Jesse Chavez, Melky Cabera, and Scott Proctor. And the “Blue Light Special” players that ate up payroll without contributing anything but playing them in spite of performance Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami, Nate McClouth, Alex Gongalez, Uggla for the 1st half of the season and Derek Lee. But they kept running out those Payroll fatcats inspite of performance and not letting young talent have a chance. So this is exactly why the TRUE Brave fans are angry and QUESTION Liberty Media. Real fans need to complain more and to ask questions and not feel bad for doing so. Remember we choked up a 10.5 game lead with a month to go and NOTHING was done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE WANT THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
10:17 pm
Oh yeah I almost forgot,
WE WANT THE F’N TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When Do The Meetings Start?
December 13th, 2011
10:25 pm
Bubba
How can you say the Atlanta sports scene is boring? What about the one Super Bowl appearance by the Falcons since 1966, and don’t forget the Hawks getting ‘close’ to p[aying for an NBA Championship, and the Thrashers and Nordiques drawing those rabid crowds at the Omni and Phillips and the Braves actually closing the deal that one time. We are baically a very attractive and desirable Cleveland without the bad ass lake and the nasty weather. They have the Rock and Roll Hallof Fame but we have the Acquarium and the Olympic site. It’s close as to the professional sports futility but I’m giving it to us based upon Pittypat’s Porch.
Santa
December 13th, 2011
10:26 pm
Enter your comments here
AnOldViolin
December 13th, 2011
10:27 pm
Until we start to pay players for what they do, and not for what we’d like for them to do, we will travel this road year after year (or see baseball fall even lower) and we’ll see families staying at home, watching games on television because it’s too expensive to see a game at a stadium. I wish someone would stand up (someone with clout) and say what we’re all thinking. The “America’s Favorite Pasttime”, has become one of America’s worst nightmares….we can’t keep paying these salaries for men to play baseball, football or Basketball, while raising ticket prices so high that the majority of Americans can’t afford to attend a game……please ! Let’s stop this madness !
Tom
December 13th, 2011
10:28 pm
think back when the braves tried to sign furcal, after that fiasco i believe wren said he would never pursue a play represented by his agents. Moylan is represented by the same firm.
Tech 73
December 13th, 2011
10:30 pm
Actually is 46 years with 4!!!!! pro franchises and only 1 title in 46 years some kind of a record? Cleveland only had a WHA hockey team for a few years, so it’s not like 4 for nearly 46. We must be approaching some kind of a record. Fortunately Tech won that mythical football championship so I guess that can compare somewhat to Ohio State
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
10:32 pm
@ Tom I think that was Schulholtz that said he would never work with Furcal’s agency group
Lee Blanking Corso
December 13th, 2011
10:34 pm
Surely you are not going to compare Tech to Ohio State. That would be like comparing Georgia to LSU, Alabama or Florida. Wasn’t Lester Maddox still making chicken when Georgia last won a Championship?
Bernie
December 13th, 2011
10:42 pm
Moylan has been good for the Braves. Would be nice if he could get back and help the bull pen.
Don’t look for the hitting to improve because Mr. Wrenn is going to sit on his duffs and do nothing except hope the hitting improves. There is no way it is going to improve because the Braves signed now can’t hit. As far as Chipper goes he has been a Brave a long time but he should move on and retire because he is part of the problem because of not knowing whether he can play consistently this year.
Felix
December 13th, 2011
10:44 pm
Another day and no surprise—still zip from Braves management.
Here is the script for 2012: Spring training will be hailed as a huge success, but we fans will have the same concerns. Before long it will be April and we will be stuck with the same weak offense we saw all last year. Wren will still be telling us not to worry and repeat his BS about how great the team was for most of last year. Then May,June,July the Braves will whiff away at pitches, strike out, pop up, hit dribblers,blow bunt attempts, struggle to score and finally FW will trade (and overpay) for something we don’t need …and/or some washed up 38 year old one time power hitter. The Braves will fall further behind in the standings and finally they will bring in someone who can really help the offense- but sign him for only the rest of the season. It is all too little, too late, and too much like a movie we have seen many times before.
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
10:47 pm
Heres my guess (and this is just a guess) when Chipper Retires next year expect the to trade for David Wright………..Oh wait thats what a normal team would try to do well heres what will really happen we will sign another bargan basement platoon player
Felix
December 13th, 2011
10:47 pm
And that low down, double dealing, Furcal should never ever wear a braves uniform again.
J-Man
December 13th, 2011
10:51 pm
@ Felix how can you get upset with Furcal lying to Schulholtz in 2008. Didn’t he lie about his agen in the early 2000’s by 3adding 3 years to hi age.
1995 was 16 years ago
December 13th, 2011
11:02 pm
The Braves need to go get Jeff Keppinger. He’s got a quality stick (.281 career hitter, OPS right around league-average) and is the type of hitter who always battles at the plate. Even though he’s not a great OBP guy, he’s walked for his career more than he’s struck out, which tells you how hard he is to whiff. Wren said, correctly, that the Braves gave away too many at-bats last year. If he wants to remedy the problem, Keppinger would be a modest start.
Additionally, he would provide an insurance policy for Pastornicky and could slide to 3B when Chipper needs a day off.
Bravesfan54
December 13th, 2011
11:07 pm
David – start of season “which would be six months” – well, not exactly, isn’t April 1st the start of the season? – ok, so you are off by 2 and 1/2 months big deal. Well, maybe, when you are talking about the value of a free agent who is not going to be ready until six months later – June 1, not April 1.
Bravesfan54
December 13th, 2011
11:12 pm
I understand Brooks Conrad has his cheering section – “workin’ class hero” and all that – and, as a long-term Braves fan, I can remember virtually hundreds…but, sentiment aside, Brooks really doesn’t offer this team a doggone thing – and that is the hard truth of the matter, no matter his ‘grit’, ‘work ethic’,'likeability’ – yes, these “locker room/team chemistry” values matter – but, geesh, David – you gotta admit, the numbers are really pretty sad.
BravesfaninWis
December 13th, 2011
11:24 pm
About par for the course with the Braves. Collapsed miserably last Sept, told the fans that they would address that problem and fix it (they lied) did absolutely nothing at the Winter Meetings, and now are going to go rummaging through other teams junk (aka, the waiver wire) to get the players that they need.
So if these guys weren’t good enough for other teams, how exactly are they supposed to be the missing pieces to the puzzle that the Braves need? With cheap owners, non aggressive front office, and a lack of needing to compete, I am just about done with this team. I as a fan that spends a lot of money every year demands that the team that I support uses that money to field a competitive team. The Braves aren’t doing that, so to hell with them.
AussieBrave
December 13th, 2011
11:54 pm
Unaware of the unwritten rules of commenting on blogs, I will attempt to resist the urge to comment wantonly and limit myself to only the occasional – albeit enormously insightful and occasionally witty – words of wisdom to those that wish to read. I have to admit a bit of shame and fear at Dave’s implied reprimand! :0)
Bill
December 14th, 2011
12:01 am
Josh Willingham to Twins…
Cuddyer to Rockies ? will tell them in next day are two. They also talking to Beltran.
NYY also has interest in Beltran and if he signs with NY, Swisher will be on the market.
Rockies still interested in Prado..