Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,625 comments Add your comment
Lew
December 14th, 2011
12:22 pm
It’s definitely Lou/Earl.
No need to put much thought into comebacks when there isn’t any substance to respond to. If ranting about the Braves true salary level is all you’ve got, you won’t get much in return. You’re so freaking intelligent, you better bring more than you’ve shown today.
George
December 14th, 2011
12:23 pm
Very good story by DOB on CONRAD. BROOKS is a good guy, wishing him the very best at getting a job somewhere in baseball.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2011
12:25 pm
DAP: prados offensive numbers are better, with slg% numbers being basically the same.
Jones has actually slugged slightly better than Prado in his time in the majors… and that’s at a younger age (Jones being 2 years younger). Jones has more HR power than Prado. Because of that I think going forward Jones will slug higher than Prado. The average and on base abilities though, not so much.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
12:25 pm
looks like you are really lowering the bar for what we get back for prado and/or jurrjens.
Just being realistic given the fact that both spent significant time on the DL last season… and the season before that.
If both were healthy and coming off good years, then yes, absolutely, ask for more more more. Sadly that’s not the case.
Again, for the 3rd or 4th time, I do not think Jones alone is worth both Prado and JJ. Get one of the Orioles top 3B prospects (they have 3 in their top 10) and perhaps another prospect and I think the deal would be a tough one to pass on.
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
12:26 pm
Five big trades that should happen
December, 14, 2011
Dec 1412:04PM ET By Jim Bowden
Trade 3. Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles
Braves acquire: OF Adam Jones, 3B Josh Bell
Orioles acquire: RHP Jair Jurrjens, 3B/OF Martin Prado
In this four-player trade idea the Braves get a much-needed right-handed bat and above-average defender in Jones to help balance out the lineup and solidify their outfield. This could mean moving Michael Bourn to left and allowing Jones to play center. Bell would give the Braves depth at third base and an option for the future since Chipper Jones can’t play forever. The Orioles would immediately improve their starting rotation with the 25-year-old Jurrjens, who went 13-6 last year with an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 1.22. Prado would be an upgrade at third base for the Orioles in the short term or give them an option at second base if Brian Roberts continues to spend time on the disabled list.
Lew
December 14th, 2011
12:28 pm
Murph – Depends on when that 3B prospect is ready for prime time.
As for Prado staying helathy. An infection from sliding to catch a ball and a hip pointer and strained oblique from laying out parralellel to the ground two feet in the air and falling right on the hip doesn’t indicate injury proness, but hard play. Would you rather he didn’t go all out and play like a wimp?
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
12:29 pm
Prado and Jurrjens for a career .275/.319/.437/.756 hitter?
Is this some sort of practical joke!?!
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
12:29 pm
Jimmy: very interesting.
1. do you have a link to the article? what are the other trades?
2. do you have a link to free beer?
thx.
CB
December 14th, 2011
12:31 pm
He is going to move Bourn and let Jones play center? Really?
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
12:33 pm
Five big trades that should happen
December, 14, 2011
Dec 1412:04PM ET By Jim Bowden
Trade 2. New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners
Yankees acquire: RHP Felix Hernandez
Mariners acquire: RHP Ivan Nova, C Jesus Montero, RHP Dellin Betances
Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik says he’s not going to trade Hernandez, but if the Mariners eventually want to become legitimate contenders they might have to. A blockbuster four-player deal with the Yankees would point the Mariners in the right direction. Nova and Betances would go right in a young rotation of Michael Pineda, Danny Hultzen and Jason Vargas a formidable five that should develop into a quintet of 15-game winners. Montero would give them a long-term middle-of-the-order bat they would control for the next six years. And with the money saved on Hernandez, they could put that towards signing Prince Fielder. The Yankees on the other hand would have one of the best 1-2 punches at the top of the rotation in C.C. Sabathia and Hernandez and instantly improve their chances of getting back to the World Series.
LOL
George
December 14th, 2011
12:33 pm
I don’t understand why FRANK WHEN is convinced PASTORNICKY can handle the job at SS full time this year. PASTORNICKY is not neary as good as FURCAL was as a rookie stepping right into the starting role. FW let A-GON get away, he should have kept him, A-GON was very good in the field and while he did not hit for ave he did show some power. FW please do something about SS, PASTORNICKY is not ready for starting role.
Bobby Hill
December 14th, 2011
12:33 pm
Lew,
I didn’t say the team was rebuilding now or even a few years from now. I said it was inevitable that it would happen eventually. All team have to go through rebuilding phases unless you can spend 150+ million every year on payroll.
My point was that because the Braves are in a “win now” phase of the cycle it doesn’t make sense to cut corners right now.
brian
December 14th, 2011
12:33 pm
agree with most of what Bowden said except moving Bourn to LF. Bourn should stay in CF with his range but that would give a dynamic OF of Jones, Bourn, and Heyward
O.J.
December 14th, 2011
12:35 pm
MFin04, why is it a joke to you? Adam Jones is trending upwards, not done, and he is only 26, dude will probably hit 30 homers this year, maybe more if he is in Atlanta, where the ball tends to fly a little bit further during the summer months.
Lew
December 14th, 2011
12:36 pm
Bobby Hill – Again, why are they in “win now” phase? That would apply only if they were an older team (like the Phillies) and have aging stars whose performances were bound to decline radically due to age or infirmity. The Braves are NOT in this type of situation in that they have a very young core of players, quite a bit of young pitching and the lessening of substantial payroll within the next two years.
BravePack
December 14th, 2011
12:36 pm
Orioles fans seem to think that it isn’t Jones but Markakis that might be traded. They are saying even though the owner like Nick that the power isn’t there or hasn’t been the last couple years for a corner OF. If it’s for Markakis I say go for it. The Braves can afford his contract, especially after this upcoming year.
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
12:37 pm
Jimmy, what about 1, 4, and 5? or are you just teasing us?
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
12:40 pm
OJ – his numbers are terrible. Eerily similar to Jeff Francouer. Can’t get on base and strikes out a lot.
George – “PASTORNICKY is not ready for starting role.” Well neither was A-Gon, but we tried that experiment and it failed miserably. Why not try a young kid with the ability to steal 30-40 bases who won’t cost the Braves much money at all?
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
12:41 pm
fire the beer meister. get the one from Milwaukee.
brian
December 14th, 2011
12:41 pm
Markakis would be a huge get for the Braves as well. If the Braves could add Jones or Markakis and a prospect or Bell for Jurrjens and Prado then they should proceed. The Braves would then have to focus on adding Punto as a backup IF and Vazquez as a 1 year starter to bridge to Delgado and Teheran. Vazquez was such a good influence on Jurrjens I wouldn’t mind him interacting with the Braves top young pitchers either
DAP
December 14th, 2011
12:43 pm
10paul Jones has actually slugged slightly better than Prado in his time in the majors… and that’s at a younger age
notice i said “basically the same”. jones beats prado by 3 slugging points, which is insignificant. not to mention prado is doing it at turner field, where its harder to hit than camden yards.
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
12:44 pm
yawn, nothing will happen until it gets MUCH warmer. Why do a deal when several key pieces of your team are NOT ONLY under contract, BUT ALSO hurt or recovering.
recovering? I guess one day, I hope to be a recovering person…
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
12:44 pm
Adam Jones (6 seasons) .275/.319/.437/.756
Jeff Francoeur (7 seasons) .270/.313/.433/.746
So maybe we should try to package Jurrjens and Prado for Frenchy.
Bet the Royals would do it!
bobbyc
December 14th, 2011
12:44 pm
How bout this Prado Jair Pastornicky and Zeke Spruill to Baltimore for Jones Hardy and Josh Bell.
George
December 14th, 2011
12:45 pm
Do not trade MARTIN because we do not know how much CHIPPER can play this year, If we are going to make a offer to BALT for JONES lets offer HEYWARD.
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
12:46 pm
Mindless, come on Jimmy, about those other fantasy trades…..
CB
December 14th, 2011
12:47 pm
You guys wanting Markakis need to look at his salary.
Juan
December 14th, 2011
12:51 pm
Why Markakis?…becuase he’s from the Atalanta Area?….we don’t need another lefty Outfielder…we need a righthander bat.
ColoradoBravesFan
December 14th, 2011
12:53 pm
Braves should stay away from Adam Jones. Low OBP, not ranked high as defensive CFer, not a great at stealing bases.
At age 25 Prado hit 307/360/451 with an OPS+ of 113. Adam Jones at age 25 hit 275/319/437 with OPS+ of 101. Biggest difference is Jones plays CF and had 2237 ABs whole Prado had 779 ABs.
But if I am looking for who will be the better bat and play LF in 2012, I would bet Prado has an OPS of around .825, while A. Jones is around .775.
I don’t think I would trade JJ straight up for A. Jones. All-star SP is worth more than a .775 OPS, avg defensive CFer that doesn’t steal many bases.
George
December 14th, 2011
12:55 pm
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
12:44 pm
Adam Jones (6 seasons) .275/.319/.437/.756
Jeff Francoeur (7 seasons) .270/.313/.433/.746
So maybe we should try to package Jurrjens and Prado for Frenchy. Bet the Royals would do it!
**************************************************************************
JJ and MARTIN for FRANCOUR? We would be giveing way to much up for him.
DAP
December 14th, 2011
12:58 pm
In this four-player trade idea the Braves get a much-needed right-handed bat and above-average defender in Jones
defender of what, bowden? not center field.
This could mean moving Michael Bourn to left and allowing Jones to play center.
did bowden really say that? really? im having a hard time wrapping my brain around this one.
Gone Viral
December 14th, 2011
1:04 pm
The more this plays out, the more I prefer us to keep what we have. I wouldn’t trade Prado straight up for Adam Jones, much less JJ.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
1:04 pm
Hey DOB… Don’t think my comments or opinion of Conrad are more egregious than that steamer you float out every few months about Mark Cuban or someone of his stature buying the Braves. — Mister Frisky
Oh, really? Mister Frisky, you said that every few months I float some idea about Mark Cuban “or someone of his stature” buying the Braves. So I have a simple challenge for you: Besides last month, when I wondered aloud if Cuban might have interest in buying the Braves — I made clear I had no idea if he did, then contacted him and found out he did not, which I also wrote — please let us know any other time when I suggested that anyone might be interested in buying the Braves.
It doesn’t even have to be someone of Cuban’s stature, as you suggest. Anyone at all. Millionaire, billionaire, individual or corporation. Any party whatsoever that I suggested might buy the Braves.
Actually, try to find a story where I didn’t take the opposite tact of so many others who’ve suggested the team would be sold soon. I have, for the past two-plus years, written that Liberty Media has not said anything about selling and that McGuirk says they don’t intend to anytime soon.
But apparently you have an entirely different recollection of what I’ve written or suggested. So please, I’m not even asking you to find multiple cases — you said I did it every “every few months” — I’m just challenging you to find one other story, just one, where I wrote about someone of Cuban’s stature, or any stature whatsoever, buying the Braves.
And until you do, we’ll all just assume you were going off half-cocked again, spewing opinions and accusations that are baseless, devoid of substance and simply erroneous.
ColoradoBravesFan
December 14th, 2011
1:04 pm
How the H… can Dave Winfield be listed as one of Jeff Francoeur’s “similar” players through age 27? Francoeur has an OPS+ of 92 and Winfield’s OPS+ was 136. That’s comparing a below average ML player to a near HOF player. Maybe it’s all about PAs….
LAUGH OUT LOUD
December 14th, 2011
1:05 pm
http://www.macon.com/2011/12/07/1814110/ownership-situation-hurting-braves.html
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
1:07 pm
No trades can be good. Just ask a Red Sox fan from say, the early 1920’s….
Mitchell
December 14th, 2011
1:07 pm
There was a reason that every teammate supported him and defended him after his gaffes cost the Braves so dearly in the 2010 division series against San Francisco.
Bobby Cox managed the Braves from mid-1990 to October 2010 with three Hall of Fame pitchers, a Hall of Fame third basemen and one of the top payrolls in baseball for much of it and won one World Series.
At the end of the day, it’s on him.
Fifteen playoff appearances in twenty years and one World Series, not to mention blowing a 3 games to 1 lead in the ‘85 ALCS.
How could they let him in the Hall of Fame?
To paraphrase Jeff Schultz, it’s the Hall of Fame. Not the Hall of Good in the Regular Season.
Lew
December 14th, 2011
1:09 pm
yet another heard from. Maybe we should erect a blog arch and have a sign saying ” 5 million Clueless heard from”
P'cola Brave
December 14th, 2011
1:10 pm
Jed Lowrie traded to Astros.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2011
1:11 pm
Eerily similar to Jeff Francouer. Can’t get on base and strikes out a lot.
That inspired me to look at the splits. Francoeur is a platoon player. He destroys LHP. For his career .299/.346/.493/.839. Couple him with the correct partner and you get a monster outfield corner platoon.
Adam Jones not so much. He’s actually an inverted split. I don’t trust those to last.
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
1:11 pm
Oops, meant to say that sometimes NOT making a trade can be good…..
Lew
December 14th, 2011
1:12 pm
Shanks and Macon – Right, throw in the paper mills and their stench and you have a trio made for each other.
Mitchell
December 14th, 2011
1:12 pm
Did anybody see the 50 Most Morable Moments of the ’90s countdown on MLB Network last night?
Yeah, neither did I. I mean, it was on but I couldn’t watch.
Mitchell
December 14th, 2011
1:15 pm
If you know what I mean.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
1:18 pm
In this age of blog/Twitter over-analysis, I’ve determined that perhaps five players in all of baseball, maybe fewer than that, could be acquired via trade without upsetting at least 40-70 percent of any team’s fans.
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
1:20 pm
DOB, huge underestimate. Somebody is ALWAYS going to be there to complain or point out some “would be” deficiency……..
Orange Brave f/k/a Billy Jack's BBQ & Shrimp
December 14th, 2011
1:21 pm
(exactly the point of my prior entry)
Here I am agreeing with you — yet, I am complaining
N8
December 14th, 2011
1:24 pm
I love it when DOB goes off….. especially when it’s not directed at me. Much more enjoyable.
Mister Frisky
December 14th, 2011
1:29 pm
DOB lighting me up is awesome.Just made the blogger HOF.
Seattle Braves
December 14th, 2011
1:31 pm
Trading of JJ and/or Prado for BJ Upton seems logical. Tampa wants a SP and we need an OF…
brian
December 14th, 2011
1:35 pm
I would take Adam Jones over BJ Upton anyday
brian
December 14th, 2011
1:35 pm
Frisky – you are confused. It is not the HOF, it is the blogger Hall of Shame. Tell Shaun hi
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
1:36 pm
Macon.com article was a good read. It’s tough when your team thinks that the only way they can get better is by trading away good players.
The fact that we even have to talk about trading Prado and Jurrjens for Adam Jones is absurd.
Keep both of them and sign a guy like Beltran (maybe Rollins or Cuddyer).
Either way, adding one piece and getting rid of 1 or 2 pieces, doesn’t make you significantly better.
Jim
December 14th, 2011
1:37 pm
JJ, Prado, and Pastornicky for A. Jones, Hardy and top-ranked 3B prospect. Sign W. Betimit. Thoughts?
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
1:38 pm
would take Adam Jones over BJ Upton anyday
Less gag reflex?
I might not take Ted Williams’ frozen head over those two, but it’s close. Really, really close.
DAP
December 14th, 2011
1:40 pm
brian I would take Adam Jones over BJ Upton anyday
he biggest difference is upton can actually play CF.
Seattle Braves
December 14th, 2011
1:41 pm
And he can Steal Bases. He adds better POP then Jones too.
BravePack
December 14th, 2011
1:43 pm
David O’Brien
December 14th, 2011
1:18 pm
In age of blog/Twitter over-analysis, I’ve determined that perhaps five players in all of baseball, maybe fewer than that, could be traded for without upsetting 40-70 percent of any team’s fans.
Now that’s the truth. I can’t believe some of you wouldn’t trade for Markakis because he’s a lefty. So what if he’s a lefty if he’s a good hitter. I think I’d rather have Markakis over Jones especially if he has similar stats to Francoeur.
DAP
December 14th, 2011
1:44 pm
bravepack I can’t believe some of you wouldn’t trade for Markakis because he’s a lefty. So what if he’s a lefty if he’s a good hitter.
congratulations. you have some sense. :- )
Brava
December 14th, 2011
1:47 pm
DOB,
Very good blog and a nice tribute to Conrad. Almost made me sad that the Braves non-tendered him.
… Then I came back to my senses.
P-Town Brave© Its Clobberin' Time!™
December 14th, 2011
1:47 pm
This may sound crazy to some but I’d rather deal JJ for specs and keep Prado and go at it for 3 years w/ signing Beltran than trading BOTH and only getting Adam Jones….
Adding Beltran and keeping Prado while only subtracting JJ makes us better (IMO) than subtracting both JJ and Prado and adding Adam Jones.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
1:47 pm
He adds better POP then Jones too.
The Braves were third in the league in dingers, even with neither Chipper nor Heyward cranking as many as 20. There’s plenty of sock on the club, no reason to be trading a piece or two to get a guy who is going to hit fewer than McCann, even. What help is that?
@Fredo, Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2011
1:48 pm
@Lew
At 10:59, you question my thought on ‘why the true budget for this franchise would be such an important topic inside of forum, discussion like this blog.’
And then, at 11:09, inside this very same blog, someone under the same name, Lew, posts the following:
“Next year the Braves could have as much as $30 million coming off of payroll and they have five or so young pitchers who are highly thought of (by all of MLB, not just a few fans) that won’t even go to arbitration for another three or so years – much less be eligible for Free Agency. Add to that the fact they have numerous middle infield prospects, a second year first baseman and a third year Rfer…..not to mention a 28 year old All Star catcher.”
I am assuming that these two posts were made by the same person. If not, my apologies. But there is some real irony here.
You also asked the following: If you knew the answer, would you be any more likely to attend games? To watch them on TV? Would you like the team any better, the players they have or the total product they put on the field?
Will the quality of your life improve? Help you feed your family or to determine if you can afford to buy Christmas presents for your neices and nephews?
Would it make you feel better about how much they DO spend if you knew to the penny what tht figure was?
I am not even sure how to respond to that. I guess the answer is maybe, I guess, though those very questions could be applied to reupping of Brian McCanns contract, or whether or not the Braves trade for Adam Jones or whether the Braves might make some noise at the winter meetings. Yet, not knowing those answers does not stop us from venturing guesses or swapping opinions on such topics.
Everything, EVERYTHING, this team does at this very moment in this offseason revolves around where this front office stands with financial flexibility. I mean, I could follow every question or opinion you will ever pose with your responses above. If that were the case, if you had to apply each thought through your litmus test, why even have this forum?
I know some of you have loyalty toward this beat writer and that he goes above and beyond (and he certainly does) to interact with fans here. But c’mon. You have to see where this paper, its beat writer, being THE SUPPOSED MEDIA MEMBER WITH THE MOST INSIGHT OF ANY OUTSIDE THE INNER CIRCLE, might want to venture a bit farther into this debate of this franchise and its financial backing than the current, “we asked a few times and they don’t want to answer so ‘oh well.’
P-Town Brave© Its Clobberin' Time!™
December 14th, 2011
1:48 pm
BP-
I said earlier this morning….
Only person I even remotely think of trading JJ and Prado to the O’s for is Markakis….
He’s the ONLY guy they have worth those two.
George
December 14th, 2011
1:50 pm
Mitchell 1:07
15 playoff apperences in 20 yrs not so bad. I think it is good. I would much prefer BOBBY as MGR then FAB FREDI we are stuck with for at least 2 more years.
Mister Frisky
December 14th, 2011
1:50 pm
Hey Brian,Like they say out here in Hollywood.Bad press is better than no press.P.S. Mark Cuban is one of the major players to buy Los Doyers.
BravoMan
December 14th, 2011
1:51 pm
Markakis FTW
ole richie
December 14th, 2011
1:52 pm
id rather not have anyone that plays for baltimore
Bat Masterson
December 14th, 2011
1:53 pm
It seems no matter how many time Adam Jones gets shot to pieces here he keeps coming back. Damn guy must be a zombie.
Steve from OH
December 14th, 2011
1:54 pm
I think Adam Jones still has a lot of upside and would be a nice pickup, but his performance to date certainly hasn’t been nearly as good as many think.
@Fredo, Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2011
1:54 pm
And, for the record, I like Frank Wren and I for one don’t think 90-plus million dollars is anything to sneeze at. I like this roster, short one more bat and would like to see a defensive first SS in there rather than sacrifice that that for someone who may just run into one every once in a while. My frustrations lie with my expectations of this paper and this position of covering them 24, 7. Maybe its misplaced, I don’t know. And there could be a millions reasons why things are done the way they are. And I am sure DOB is the nicest dude on the planet, with all kinds of good deeds and best intentions. But, in opinion, compared to other baseball markets, this paper falls short in its coverage. But, what do I know. I can answer that: nothing. DOB could tell me to pound sand and he would be well within his rights. It is what it is. I am a grounded fan, enjoy consuming all that goes with the offseason and will watch, whether its 90 wins or 90 losses.
Seattle Braves
December 14th, 2011
1:55 pm
@ncscoots
Im comparing Upton to Jones. Not to the Braves..
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
1:56 pm
It seems no matter how many time Adam Jones gets shot to pieces here he keeps coming back. Damn guy must be a zombie.
I’ve kept him off The Sushi List because there was the tiniest sliver of possibility that he might actually figure it out and do something with himself. A few more mentions here, though, and I might have to reconsider.
It’s not personal Peter Moylan – it’s just business | The AustralianBaseballDigest
December 14th, 2011
2:04 pm
[...] O’Brien writing for the Atlanta Braves blog discusses the situation regarding the future for Peter Moylan following the Brave’s decision [...]
Chop Chop
December 14th, 2011
2:04 pm
I just want Jurrjens and Prado out of here. We’re not going to pay either of those guys long-term, so we might as well get the type of guy Wren wants so we can fail badly enough for Smilin’ Frank to get fired.
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
2:04 pm
Even the homers on the blog would still be upset if Wren just signed Nick Punto and used Jose Constanza as a fourth outfielder. He’s gotta do something more than that for me to like this team in the NL east in 2012.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:05 pm
I think Adam Jones still has a lot of upside and would be a nice pickup, but his performance to date certainly hasn’t been nearly as good as many think.
It hasn’t been as bad as many others on here would want you to believe, either.
Patrick
December 14th, 2011
2:07 pm
chop chop,
I think the moves that Wren have made have been good.
I seriously don’t think the amount of money he gets to spend is in his control though whatsoever.
You should be wanting Liberty Media gone or Terry McGuirk
Chop Chop
December 14th, 2011
2:09 pm
Punto’s got a ring. He’d bring a championship pedigree to our club. You can’t put a price on something like that.
Seattle Braves
December 14th, 2011
2:10 pm
just make a move to make us happy
BB FAN
December 14th, 2011
2:10 pm
I like Adam Jones as a solid player. I’ve seen him play in Baltimore a few times over the last two years and he’s solid, not great, but solid. The only thing I worry about is his Home/Road splits. It seems like Camden Yards help his stats a lot. But I would probably still trade Jurrjens OR Prado for him but not both. Even straight up would be a tough call because of Jones’ splits. Wren might need to get a prospect in return as well. If he trades both then he needs to get Jones and like 3 very good prospects.
1995 was 16 years ago
December 14th, 2011
2:11 pm
The more I look at it, the more I think Jones wouldn’t be a great fit for this team. Haven’t we had our fill of guys with good power and poor on-base skills? Jones is a great athlete who definitely passes the eyeball test, but it seems like his excessive strikeouts and inability to take a walk would wear on the fan base pretty quickly.
I like Markakis a lot as a player, but again, he doesn’t seem like a great fit for this lineup. He’ll give you better at-bats than Jones, but we’re already pretty lefty-heavy.
As much as I want us to get something done, I want us to get something done that makes us a better team. If I were Wren, I’d probably look somewhere outside of Baltimore.
Bill
December 14th, 2011
2:12 pm
Would love Jones and JJ..it would greatly improve the team.
J-Hey will be back (if not injured) Greg & Scott are already working on that.
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
2:14 pm
If only the Braves could find a way to “acquire” an All-Star Pitcher, All-Star Utility Guy, and an All-Star Left Fielder this offseason we would be good to go.
Eureka!
Jurrjens
Prado
Beltran
Lew
December 14th, 2011
2:14 pm
Najeh – Has nothing whatsoever with DOB and any opinion/comment he;’s made. It has to do with being a fan.
If a person really bases his/her fandom on how much a team spends, then maybe they should be the fan of the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies or maybe the Agels, who spend inordinate amounts of money on players.
The Braves have the fifteenth ( of 30 teams -dead middle) attendance in MLB. They also have the fifteenth highest payroll in MLB. That tells me two things 1. That they don’t have the proceeds coming in to pay a lot more and 2. That they are exercising fiscal responsibility – something almosty always lacking ina good bit of MLB.
And yet, they still manage to contend – they’ve been in the race in all years since 91 except for 08 – even if they didn’t quite make it – and the last couple of years, have managed to remain a VERY strong team for the majority of both seasons.
Now last September was not pretty to watch (and I watched every inning of the monthand most for the year – missing only one game to go to a concert).. In no way was I happy about it. I wish it had been otherwise, but it was not to be. Nonetheless, even with a monumental collapse – something that has happened so few times in all of MLB history that I seriously doubt I’ll ever see it happen again with the Braves – I still realized that there was a solid nucleus on the team, that we have loads of good pitching (starting and in the pen) and only needed a small piece or two to go further this year.
But, then again. I’m a fan. I don’t just come aound when I’m happy. I dont just watch the team when I know they are playing well. I take the good with the bad. I’ve watched them when they won 100 games and I’ve watched them when they’ve lost 100. I’ll do the same as long as I draw breath. Whether or not they spend tons of money, I’ll feel the same about the Braves, either way and will support them.
If you can’t, that’s not my problem, is it?
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
2:15 pm
It hasn’t been as bad as many others on here would want you to believe, either.
When you have a conversation about a player that includes this sentiment, it’s a bad sign, Murph. Even if the guy hasn’t been as bad as some might think, he’s been bad enough to plant the seed of the idea, and this is not the type of player who could be considered an upgrade. He’s Francoeur with a different driver’s license, is all.
DAP
December 14th, 2011
2:16 pm
murph now claiming an anti jones conspiracy. oh brother…
one thing is for sure, trading prado for him would be an over overpay. trading jurrjens for him would be an overpay. any deal that is even similar to something like that would be idiotic for the braves.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
2:18 pm
and used Jose Constanza as a fourth outfielder.
OK, now over that, I’d probably take Ted Williams’ frozen head, LOL.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:18 pm
Punto’s got a ring. He’d bring a championship pedigree to our club. You can’t put a price on something like that.
Rafael Belliard has a ring too…
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
2:20 pm
Rafael Belliard has a ring too…
Call him. I can’t imagine that he’s lost any bat speed.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:22 pm
murph now claiming an anti jones conspiracy. oh brother…
Yeah, that’s exactly what I claimed, slappy. Collusion! Conspiracy! Meetings that I didn’t get invited to! You’re all in this together, you and the rest of ‘em. You’re trying to turn the blog against Adam Jones… and I’m the only one who sees it.
Oh brother indeed.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
2:23 pm
And I am sure DOB is the nicest dude on the planet, with all kinds of good deeds and best intentions. — @Fredo, Najeh Davenpoop
No, I’m not even close to being the nicest on my block or my end of the pressbox. Far, far from it. And not many good deeds, either. Even my intentions aren’t always what they should be.
But here’s the thing I can honestly say I do: Work as hard as I can, and for such a ridiculously high number of hours most weeks that you would be embarrassed for saying some of the things you do about me, @Fredo/Najeh Davenpoop. And if you don’t believe me, feel free to email and I’ll give you my phone number, and we can go over exactly what it is that I do in a typical week. (Perhaps versus what you do?) I’m serious about that. We’ll discuss.
Because as I said, I know my limitations, my faults. I’m not the nicest, don’t do the good deeds I should, don’t have the best intentions. You could accuse me of any of those things and I’d not utter a word in disagreement. Just don’t question a man’s work ethic or aptitude when you haven’t even the slightest clue what you’re talking about. And when you’re surely doing anything but work as you hammer away at someone night and day for what you (wrongly) perceive to be their shortcomings.
@Fredo, Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2011
2:26 pm
@Lew,
I have no idea what you are babbling about. I agree with 100 percent of what you said concerning enjoying this team, win or loss. I would easitly put myself in that category. And I have no idea why anything would be your problem. I don’t know you. I think you are confused. I know reading that response directed at me that I am confused.
As a fan of this team, that enjoys offseason discussion, I would like to know where this team is financially, feeling as though that would give me a much better sense of perspective on why the decisions that they may or may not make were made.
I don’t have an opinion of the ownership group. It could announce today that it was dropping payroll to 13 million a year. I just, for the sake of discourse, want to know where this team stands money-wise so that I cna better understand why they do what they do or dont do.
What that has to do with anything you said above, I have no idea. Look, we get it. You like DOB. You think I do not. Its cool. People can disagree on what should be reported and what should not. Its not your problem. Its not my problem. And as long as DOB’s bosses agree with him (which it would seem they do) it aint Dave’s problem. Its a fan forum. Welcome.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
And if you don’t believe me, feel free to email and I’ll give you my phone number
Does that offer stand for all of us, or just the davenpoop kid? We can talk about our work weeks… barbecue… baseball….
You hang up! No, you hang up! Ok, let’s hang up at the same time. Ready… one, two, three… did you hang up? Ah, hehehe. Ok, you hang up.
Braint
December 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
@Ward – You really think there were no Braves who paticipated with PEDs, Steroids and/or Human Growth Hormones? Take a look at the transformation made by Javy Lopez from one off-season to spring training. He was shredded with a very low % of body fat. I’m sure Sheff and Chipper used a form of HGH that could only be monitored through blood work.
RC
December 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
Article of the day:
Why Jeff Bagwell Should Not Make the Hall of Fame: An In Depth Study
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/12/14/2635923/jeff-bagwell-hall-of-fame
Chop Chop
December 14th, 2011
2:32 pm
I know how much money the Braves have to spend. I just choose not to reveal it because it annoys the hell out of a couple of commenters on a blog.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:34 pm
Marcus Giles is at the top of my list of former Braves that I suspect were doping… him and Javy. And Sheffield.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
2:34 pm
As a fan of this team, that enjoys offseason discussion, I would like to know where this team is financially, feeling as though that would give me a much better sense of perspective on why the decisions that they may or may not make were made. — @Fredo, Najeh Davenpoop
I’ll try once more. You never know when it might get through.
Davenpoop, honestly, what part of this do you not understand? We — AJC, mlb.com, various national outlets — have asked countless times in recent years for annual payroll, for the upcoming payroll, for specific or ballpark figures of what the team thinks it might have to spend or its projected payroll compared to the previous years, etc., etc. And the best answer we’ve gotten in years is that the payroll should be the same or slightly above what it was the previous year. And that payroll from previous year, we can only get by adding the salaries ourselves and hoping that we’re doing the accounting using the same methods as the team, since its accounting is all that ultimately matters.
Do you not believe or grasp that they (team officials) decline to give out any specific payroll information, contract information, insurance information, projected room under their self-imposed budget (whatever that figure might be), whether that limit is fluid or set in stone, etc.? Or do you blame us for not somehow forcing them to tell us? Please explain what you expect in these matters, given the team’s stance.
Billy Walsh
December 14th, 2011
2:34 pm
Pass on Markakis. His numbers have declined for the past few years. In a hitters park no less.