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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,625 comments Add your comment
Braint
December 14th, 2011
2:36 pm
Could you imagine Prado’s numbers playing in Baltimore’s ballpark for 81 games a year? Now invision the opposite for Adam Jones — can you imagine his numbers playing in ATL for 81 games?
TheAntiMe
December 14th, 2011
2:39 pm
That’s an awesome Pearl Jam song, DOB.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:39 pm
Markakis is nothing if not durable… that should be a part of the Braves’ consideration given their recent issues with keeping guys on the field.
Even with his numbers declining a little over the last 2-3 years I’d still take him without hesitation. He plays good D, doesn’t strike out much (75 K’s, 62 walks last season), and he fits the bill of a good situational hitter with some pop.
BravesFanLostInOhio
December 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
Really Murph, at this point, I would think Rocker would be at the top of your list
Lew
December 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
Najeh – Whatever Dude. Spout off all you want – I’ve said what’s on my mind – Think of me what you will and I’ll try to muddle through.
Billy Walsh
December 14th, 2011
2:42 pm
We already have markakis on our roster….Prado.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:43 pm
Last year Jones had pretty uneven home/away splits, at least as far as power numbers go. In 2009 and 2010, though, he was fairly close to the same player away from Baltimore as he was when playing at home.
Lew
December 14th, 2011
2:44 pm
Sometimes sunshine manages to seep through the clouds of doom and gloom pervding life – sent a bunch of artwork to another fan – someone I met a Spring Training a couple years back – so they could get them signed at the alumni weekend last season.
Just found out that she got Sid Bream to sign a copy of my Sid Slid/Chip Caray piece. It will make a nice centerpiece to my new collection.
Thank you Mrs. Hall.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:45 pm
I picture Rocker looking at a vial of steroids with the same confused face he’d have if he were looking at a 3rd grade math quiz… no way was the guy smart enough to administer meds without killing himself.
Bill
December 14th, 2011
2:45 pm
DOB, I’ll be the first to say I’m sorry if I’ve ever offended you in any way. I know how hard you work..thanks for what you do. But I still don’t always agree, ok?
VABravesFan
December 14th, 2011
2:48 pm
DOB – sounds to me like you need a vacation. I’m surprised you even humor some of the comments made on this blog.
Earlier, I suggested a trade of Jurrjens and Hoover for Adam Jones – but then I thought the O’s would probably want a bit more than that. The fact that they’re planning on moving one of their best relievers – Jim Johnson – to the rotation makes me wonder if they’d accept a swap of Jurrjens, Vizcaino, and Hoover. Is that too much? I’m probably better off ignoring the idea since it’s only a rumor – just trying to come up with a reasonable trade offer for Jones – not that Frank Wren would ever take advice from a blogger…
Bay Area Steve
December 14th, 2011
2:52 pm
we should erect a blog arch and have a sign saying ” 5 million Clueless heard from” – Lew
Well played, Lew. If only there were some sort of accolade one could earn for such creativity…
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
2:53 pm
Do people even look at stats/track records/anything of value when suggesting trades?
Lew
December 14th, 2011
2:53 pm
BAS – You just gave me my accolade – probably more than I deserve.
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
2:53 pm
It looks like every team in the league is looking for a starting pitcher. Wren should be patient and wait for a desperate team to come calling next week once Gio Gonzalez is traded and Yu Darvish is signed.
DAP
December 14th, 2011
2:55 pm
murph murph now claiming an anti jones conspiracy. oh brother…
Yeah, that’s exactly what I claimed,
yeah, it kinda is. you said jones isnt as bad as “some people want you to think”… so there you go. he just isnt good enough to trade prado or jurrjens for.
it seems like you like adam jones so much, the only way for us to keep you away from him is to put him in a donut case.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
2:56 pm
Bill: Thanks. And I have no problem with you or anyone else disagreeing with me, occasionally or every day. Those arguments/debates are a big part of what makes it fun on here, at least when the trolls aren’t running roughshod.
Bay Area Steve
December 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
“it seems like you like adam jones so much, the only way for us to keep you away from him is to put him in a donut case.” – DAP
Low blow. Time out. Take all the time you need…
Murph
December 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
he just isnt good enough to trade prado or jurrjens for.
I disagree, as do others who aren’t a part of the Anti-Jones Defamation League that you’ve formed.
it seems like you like adam jones so much, the only way for us to keep you away from him is to put him in a donut case.
That reminds me of the movie Scott Pilgrim Vs The World when the blond guy tries to insult Scott and it just leaves everyone looking confused.
Todd Ingram: Tell it to the cleaning lady on Monday.
Scott Pilgrim: What?
Todd Ingram: Because you’ll be dust by Monday… because you’ll be pulverized in two seconds. The cleaning lady? She cleans up… dust. She dusts.
Scott Pilgrim: So, what’s on Monday?
Todd Ingram: ‘Cause… it’s Friday now, she’s the weekends off, so… Monday, right?
jfp
December 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
PAYROLL ALERT.
When the Atlanta Braves are evasive about their payroll, that is just a polite way of saying I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU AN ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT. Pretty simple, huh.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
DOB your pissed off today!
But i’m pissed off at you! But that’s only because you didn’t hang out with me this summer on my Atlanta trip, and introduce me to the team, and get me free stuff, hit the club with Freeman and Kimbrel, or go hunting with Chipper. Yeah I expected all that…so…
Pearl Jam song day! YES! Something good is going to happen on a PJ day! Although I would have posted Indifference lyrics myself.
old timer
December 14th, 2011
3:01 pm
Maybe Conrad could jump into the GOP primary. He certainly qualifies as a non-Mitt they’re looking for, and the job pays about the same as the Big League minimum.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
That reminds me of the movie Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
Touting Adam Jones and watching Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.
The man has no shame.
Jimmy Crack
December 14th, 2011
3:03 pm
First off…you do a good job on this blog O’Brien.
Baseball is such a dragging, plodding, torturous game. Just reading this blog makes me feel like baseball needs a “timing” makeover. Here’s some things I would change…
1) Get rid of intentional walks. If the pitcher makes a 4-finger symbol, the batter takes first base.
2) The pitcher only gets 2 throws to first base to hold a runner. After that, each throw to first base counts as a ball. This gives the runner has the some advantage later in the batter’s count. If they call a pitchout…fine, as it is counted as a pitch for a ball in the count.
3) Make relief pitchers ready to go from the bullpen (except injury substitutions). No on-field warm ups. It would create “reliables” or relievers who don’t allow walks to come in if the bases are loaded.
4) 5 foul balls maximum per batter. On the 5th foul the batter’s out.
5) Enforce the time restrictions for batters between pitches and make pitchers accomodate a ready batter.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:05 pm
Touting Adam Jones and watching Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.
The man has no shame.
I don’t care if you don’t like me touting Adam Jones, but if you’re going to insult Scott Pilgrim VS The World then you and I are going to have issues.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:05 pm
5) Enforce the time restrictions for batters between pitches and make pitchers accomodate a ready batter.
Impossible…..you have to step out, un-velcro then re-velcro your batting gloves twice per pitch then adjust yourself. You can’t speed that up…
Bay Area Steve
December 14th, 2011
3:06 pm
Damn Jimmy. And I still rail against the DH. What are you tryin’ to do to my game, man?
Dragging, plodding, torturous? Why watch at all?
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:07 pm
then you and I are going to have issues
Issue up, then, bandido.
(I’ve never seen it, Murph. The trailers were enough to make me consider spending that 90 minutes elsewhere, LOL)
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:10 pm
I don’t know about you guys, but the ball & chain takes one look at the TV, and if she for one second can see a dragging, plodding, torturous baseball game……..i’m left alone to enjoy it. That’s how it was intended from the start.
DAP
December 14th, 2011
3:12 pm
haha, nice, murph.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
scoots, I know you’re more of a Terms of Endearment guy, but Scott Pilgrim VS The World is one of the most creative, awesome movies I’ve seen in the last couple of years.
One you should see before commenting on, at least.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
if she for one second can see a dragging, plodding, torturous baseball game
The pace of the game is the beauty of the game, from where I sit. But, then, I’m a Red Smith fan.
One man’s plodding torture is another man’s graceful leisure, I reckon.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:14 pm
I almost just typed Scott Proctor instead of Scott Pilgrim and it made me feel icky.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
One you should see before commenting on, at least.
I trust you, Murph, but I believe I’ll have to pass on Mr. Pilgrim. Maybe at some later date.
BB FAN
December 14th, 2011
3:17 pm
A closer look at Adam Jones Home/Road splits for the last 3 years:
2009 Home – 246 AB, 67 H, 12 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 42 RBI, ,272 AVG, .331 OBP, .480 Slg, .811 OPS
2009 Road – 227 AB, 64 H, 10 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 28 RBI, .282 AVG, .340 OBP, .432 Slg, .772 OPS
2010 Home – 287 AB, 89 H, 14 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 39 RBI, .310 Avg, .360 OBP, .467 Slg, .827 OPS
2010 Road – 294 AB, 76 H, 11 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 30 RBI, .259 Avg, .289 OBP, .418 Slg, .707 OPS
2011 Home – 287 AB, 81H, 18 2B, 1 3B, 19 HR, 55 RBI, .282 Avg, .323 OBP, .551 Slg, .873 OPS
2011 Road – 280 AB, 78H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, .279 Avg, .316 OBP, .379 Slg, .694 OPS
2011 is the biggest difference but for all three years, there’s a big difference in the kind of hitter Jones is at Camden Yards than he is at other ballparks. Camden Yards is known as a hitters ballpark so it would worry me if Wren trades for him. Of course, that’s a big if. Who knows whats going to happen.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:19 pm
scoots, you’ve always got an open invite to come over to Casa de Murph for movies and popcorn.
We could start with Scott Pilgrim VS The World and then follow it up with Kung Pow, maybe end the evening with Kingpin or The Naked Gun, depending on what the 3 year old wants to watch.
Old Monty
December 14th, 2011
3:19 pm
At the risk of raising DOB’s hackles (and, admittedly, I’m just a casual reader of the blog so I don’t know if restrained tone of Najeh on this specific day is representative of his usual posts), but I do see ND’s one point on breaking down what we know of current individual Braves salaries and then speculating on what might or might not be reasonable expectation-wise for adding players/salary to next year’s roster. I trust DOB instincts and ability to provide a reliable guess based on his knowledge and would read/absorb the information with understanding that it was his opinion and subject to change based on the whims and actions of the Braves organization.
In doing so, it might give some of his contacts in the organization the ability to leak him additional information as to whether or not he was off base/close on his guess without drawing the wrath of the Liberty Media parent. Considering that it can’t be much more than a 10-12 million difference one way or the other, such information wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that deals with the club on salary matters (agents, other clubs, etc) anyway.
It might be worth a shot.
Ward
December 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
Hello everyone! Murph buddy how’s it going? I happen to agree with your post about Adam Jones.We would have one heck of a line up with him,and Bourn together,and people have no clue when they bash Adam Jones.
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
“A closer look at Adam Jones Home/Road splits for the last 3 years”
Ok, not that I want to read all of that, but I’m betting it confirms he still sucks and isn’t worth Prado OR Jurrjens.
Gone Viral
December 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
The best gift I ever gave my wife is a Ramona Flowers star purse.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:22 pm
After the crazy cold / hot / cold streaks from the past couple years bringing on both Glaus and Uggla I’d be happy with a guy that just plays consistant.
Ward
December 14th, 2011
3:23 pm
Bourn leadind off,and Adam Jones batting 2nd. Great idea.
nolie
December 14th, 2011
3:23 pm
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 10P
i think Jones slugging % goes down 40 points at least playing in the Ted
Jimmy Crack
December 14th, 2011
3:24 pm
lol Thanks for the replies. I guess I’m just in football mode. Come springtime, I will slow my metabolism down for the Grand Old Game with all its pitchouts, mound meetings, brow wipings and ballscratchings.
By the way, Adam Jones is a great person as well as a great player stuck on a bad team.
Ward
December 14th, 2011
3:24 pm
Just imagine Bourn 1,and Adams Jones 2 in the line up? That would be scary.
Patrick
December 14th, 2011
3:25 pm
Man, outside of south florida and orange county
this has been one seriously boring offseason
MFin04
December 14th, 2011
3:25 pm
“Bourn leading off,and Adam Jones batting 2nd. Great idea.”
Yep gotta love the high strike out, .320 on base percentage guy batting 2nd in the lineup.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:27 pm
Pardon me for not knowing, but the Orioles haven’t been relevant in years…….does Adam Jones hit 2nd in their line-up? I’d love a proven #2 hitter just for Bourn’s sake. I know the Prado lovers will just say it’s him……..but lets move on from Prado. He’s worth too much as an infielder to plug our outfield hole. Loved having him as a Brave but Uggla in, Chipper staying around just doesn’t work for the guy.
Bat Masterson
December 14th, 2011
3:27 pm
1) Get rid of intentional walks. If the pitcher makes a 4-finger symbol, the batter takes first base. _ Jimmy Crack
And eliminate something like this from ever happening again, uh hell no.
A Babe Ruth Story
In 1923, Bassler was part of one of the great trick plays in baseball history. When Babe Ruth came to bat, player-manager Ty Cobb whistled a signal to Bassler and pitcher Hooks Dauss from center field, directing them to give Ruth an intentional walk. When Dauss threw a strike past Ruth, Cobb ran to the infield, yelling at Dauss and Bassler for disobeying his order. When Dauss then threw a second strike past Ruth, Cobb raced in again, stomped around and pulled both Dauss and Bassler from the game. After warming up, the relief pitcher fired a third strike past an unsuspecting Ruth. Cobb reportedly doubled up in laughter, calling it a “once in a lifetime setup play.” (Al Stumpf, “Cobb: The Life and Times of the Meanest Man Who Ever Played Baseball” (1994), p. 350)
Ward
December 14th, 2011
3:28 pm
Saw some Hiigh lights on Adam Jones D,and he can flat out catch the ball.
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:28 pm
The best gift I ever gave my wife is a Ramona Flowers star purse.
That’s awesome! My wife unfortunately hates the movie, not because it’s a bad movie, but because I watch it EVERY time it’s on one of the movie channels.
I’m slightly obsessed with Knives Chau. Just a little bit.
“He punched the highlights out of her hair!!!”
Ward
December 14th, 2011
3:29 pm
Well guy’s I’ll come back later,and Murph be cool,and peace all.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:29 pm
Bat……..great story! Loved that read!
Clearly, we need more trick plays!
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:30 pm
I don’t think Jones fits well into the 2 hole… as others have said, that’s tailor-made for a guy like Prado. Jones would either be a 3 or 5 hitter… or 6 or 7… but not 8.
BB FAN
December 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
I’ll see if this comes out a little easier to read.
A closer look at Adam Jones Home/Road splits for the last 3 years:
ABs 2B HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS
2009 Home – 246 12 11 42 .272 .331 .480 .811
2009 Road – 227 10 8 28 .282 .340 .432 .772
ABs 2B HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS
2010 Home – 287 14 9 39 .310 .360 .467 .827
2010 Road – 294 11 10 30 .259 .289 .418 .707
ABs 2B HR RBI AVG OBP SLG OPS
2011 Home – 287 18 19 55 .282 .323 .551 .873
2011 Road – 280 8 6 28 .279 .316 .379 .694
The other one was hard to read, we’ll see if this is any better. It’s tough to get the numbers to line up though.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:32 pm
We could start with Scott Pilgrim VS The World and then follow it up with Kung Pow, maybe end the evening with Kingpin or The Naked Gun, depending on what the 3 year old wants to watch.
Could I still have some popcorn, if I just have the lobotomy, instead?
BB FAN
December 14th, 2011
3:32 pm
Oh well, I tried. My point is Jones does have ugly Home/Road splits for the last 3 years. But he might be worth it if the O’s include other pieces.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
3:32 pm
I trust DOB instincts and ability to provide a reliable guess based on his knowledge and would read/absorb the information with understanding that it was his opinion and subject to change based on the whims and actions of the Braves organization.
In doing so, it might give some of his contacts in the organization the ability to leak him additional information as to whether or not he was off base/close on his guess without drawing the wrath of the Liberty Media parent — Monty
Since you say you’re only a casual reader of the blog, I can understand where you would have missed the times that I have provided an estimate of what I believed the team had to spend. After the trade of Lowe, I figured the Braves had $7-8 million, assuming they would not tender Moylan.
So I’d still put it at under $10 mill, perhaps $7-8, though I know some others — including Bowman, if I’m not mistaken — have put it at closer to $5 million. I’ve taken into account projected raises for arb guys and McCann’s raise to $11.5 mill.
None of us knows if those estimates are accurate, because we don’t really know if the Braves will actually raise their payroll a bit from last year, as they indicated they probably would. And even last year, depending upon how salaries are computed, the Braves’ payroll has been reported to be anywhere from just under $87 mill to more than $90 mill. So does that mean they spend a little over $87 mill or a little over $90 mill? We don’t know, because they won’t say.
Hope that helps. Oh, and by the way, no one I know fears the wrath of Liberty Media. They probably don’t even know we exist.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:32 pm
I know the kid’s a future big bat in this line-up but Freeman sure has a great eye, consistant average. Is he ever thought of as playing the 2 hole this season while Uggle/McCann/Chipper plug up the middle? I’d hate to see Freeman buried down in the 6-7 spot….he has such a great approach at the plate.
Jim
December 14th, 2011
3:33 pm
Thanks BB Fan for stats. Question: given his age, does AJ have more upside than downside. I think the former – even in ATL asopposed to Baltimore. If we make assumption that Prado has more value as a 2B than as a LF, or even 3B, and that JJ is healthy but, nevertheless, just one of Braves’ six or seen legit SP for 2012, then Braves have a lot of value to trade. Braves need a power-hitting OF. And, Braves need certainty at SS. That’s 2012. Pastornicky will be a better prospect in 2013, but a 3-year solution – Hardy – is a much better bet. With Simmons in minors, it may be reasonable to pencil him in for 2015, or ‘14 (at 3B). Going forward, Braves need to find 2013 and forward CF and 3B. Betemit is still young. He might be very solid in 2013-2014. Obviously, both teams can decorate around the edges, but this deal, or something like it, is probably a win-win for both teams.
Gone Viral
December 14th, 2011
3:33 pm
Have you read the books? Knives get a lot more play in the books than in the movie.
Jimmy Crack
December 14th, 2011
3:35 pm
Bat, the same thing, sort of, happened to Johnny Bench in the World Series…
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2011/07/08/how-dick-williams-fooled-johnny-bench/
Murph
December 14th, 2011
3:36 pm
I haven’t read the books… will definitely check them out, though.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:37 pm
It’s tough to get the numbers to line up though.
TennPaul has the highly-secret voodoo on that. When you see his moniker, ask him to spill it.
Bat Masterson
December 14th, 2011
3:38 pm
Fols_
I’m glad you enjoyed the story, I agree it would be fun to see some trick plays here and there.
abwright
December 14th, 2011
3:39 pm
DOB could prolly cut and paste the stuff on this blog about payroll and create an entirely new and uninteresting blog, “Braves Payroll … Still Uncertain. No one will really know til after the Season. Cause, don’t you know, things change! Trades happen! Players get injured and insurance pays!”
Blog after that could be an attendance blog. woo, woo.
DOB, please quit arguing with the idjits! When you cut and paste their gibberish, it pulls down the overall intellectual cred of your response.
abwright
December 14th, 2011
3:41 pm
BTW … Monty’s comment wasn’t one of the idjit comments I was commenting on.
Old Monty
December 14th, 2011
3:41 pm
DOB: It does. Thanks for the info.
raleighbravefan
December 14th, 2011
3:42 pm
As a (nearly) daily follower of this excellent forum, I believe the overwhelming majority of p[articipants fall into 2 groups:
1) A majority of Braves fans here, which I call the “Voices of Reason”, (and we can all name them) Believe that the Braves are a well run organization, and one of the top teams in baseball. Althoiugh improvements can always be made, they are a good ballance of talented young guys, and some very good veterans. Pithcing staff is in top 2-3 in baseball, with the bullpen probably #1. Great talent on the farm. We would all love the payroll to be higher, but it is reasonable compared to the current team revenue. Wren has done a great job with the constraints he has to work with. Liberty Media, leaves him and the FO alone, and lets them run the team. Barring unexpected injuries, Braves should be in the thick of the playoff race again. We also expect wren to make some moves to improve the team.
2) Relatively small group of very loud, unhappy “fans” (who I call the clueless, the whiners, and the trolls, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) who think there is, or should be no limit to the payroll, that Wren, and Freddi are incompetent idiots, and that most of the players are overpaid, and incompetent. They feel that anyone but Wren would have traded almost everyone we have for every player they can think of on other teams, and picked up every free agent available. No move will ever make them happy.
I say to group #2, as Monk would say, “you may be right, but I don’t think so.”
Bat Masterson
December 14th, 2011
3:43 pm
Just imagine Bourn 1,and Adams Jones 2 in the line up? That would be scary. _ Ward
Yeah just thinking about watching those two guys strikeout scares me.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:43 pm
Speaking of attendance, I must say, last summer’s trip to Atlanta was something else.
Weekday series vs the Giants, playoff race on the line, yes I got to see 3 wins, yes I got to see a Prado walk off hit the night after a Freeman walk off hit (on the day I bought his player T mind you)……but man sports just are not the same in an empty ball park.
Hopefully we get off to a great start and get that place some rear ends in the seats!
RC
December 14th, 2011
3:43 pm
Uh-oh….there is a lot less grittiness available on the free agent market now:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/red-sox-to-sign-nick-punto-.html
Slowhiteguy
December 14th, 2011
3:43 pm
Punto signs with Red Sox
BravoMan
December 14th, 2011
3:43 pm
Man I wanted Nick Punto….
daniel buck
December 14th, 2011
3:44 pm
Intellectual Cred….. I believe DOB may even take exception at those words
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
3:44 pm
Carlos Quentin, Andre Ethier, Nick Swisher, Josh Hamilton Those four corner bats will be free agents next offseason. B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan will be the premier centerfielders available. Erick Aybar and Stephen Drew will be the shortstops available. Howie Kendrick and Kelly Johnson are the second baseman. Miguel Montero, Russell Martin, Yadier Molina, Mike Napoli will be the catchers. Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Francisco Liriano, Anibal Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez, John Danks, Fausto Carmona, Ryan Dempster, Jeremy Guthrie, Colby Lewis, Brandon McCarthy, Jake Peavy, Randy Wolf, and Carlos Zambrano for starters. Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Broxton, Brandon League, Huston Street, Jose Valverde, Mike Adams, and Sean Marshall for relievers.
Ward
December 14th, 2011
3:44 pm
Latest as of 1hour ago Braves offered J.J.and Prado for J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones,and Nolan Reimold. We just have to wait to see what happens now?Talk tonight,and peace my friends.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:46 pm
Uh-oh….there is a lot less grittiness available on the free agent market now
What about spunk, though? Is the market still OK on spunk?
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
3:46 pm
Carlos Quentin, Andre Ethier, Nick Swisher, Josh Hamilton Those four corner bats will be free agents next offseason. B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan, Shane Victorino will be the premier centerfielders available. Erick Aybar and Stephen Drew will be the shortstops available. Howie Kendrick and Kelly Johnson are the second baseman. Miguel Montero, Russell Martin, Yadier Molina, Mike Napoli will be the catchers. Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Francisco Liriano, Anibal Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez, John Danks, Fausto Carmona, Ryan Dempster, Jeremy Guthrie, Colby Lewis, Brandon McCarthy, Jake Peavy, Randy Wolf, and Carlos Zambrano for starters. Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Broxton, Brandon League, Huston Street, Jose Valverde, Mike Adams, and Sean Marshall for relievers.
Forgot Shane-O. Flyin Hawiian.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:46 pm
I live a little too close to Minneapolis…..and when they had a healthy good team….they HATED Punto. I doubt he’d do anything for us to forget Gonzo’s bat.
Slowhiteguy
December 14th, 2011
3:47 pm
Punto 3.5 M 2 years according to Heyman
Efrim
December 14th, 2011
3:48 pm
Two years, 3.5 million for Nick Punto. Looks like it’s Ronny Cedeno or bust.
Bat Masterson
December 14th, 2011
3:48 pm
Jimmy Crack _
Ha, if I ever heard that story I had forgotten it. Thanks, good stuff.
Slowhiteguy
December 14th, 2011
3:49 pm
Ronnie Cedeno?
DAP
December 14th, 2011
3:49 pm
ward Just imagine Bourn 1,and Adams Jones 2 in the line up? That would be scary.
yeah, scary for braves fans. ward, we established before you got here that trading for jones is a terrible idea. its been settled…more or less.
fols does Adam Jones hit 2nd in their line-up?
jones got most of his ABs last season batting 3rd, which says alot more about the orioles than it does adam jones.
BravesFanSince1982
December 14th, 2011
3:49 pm
“Two years, 3.5 million for Nick Punto. Looks like it’s Ronny Cedeno or bust.”
Don’t forget Theriot.
ncscoots
December 14th, 2011
3:50 pm
Two years, 3.5 million for Nick Punto. Looks like it’s Ronny Cedeno or bust
Shoot, he probably wants four-and-two his own self, LOL. I mean, dang. Seems like a SS glove and a pulse gets you that.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:52 pm
Thanks DAP, I thought Rafael Palmeiro was hitting third. That’s about the last time i’ve read an Orioles box score!
Jimmy
December 14th, 2011
3:52 pm
Carlos Quentin, Andre Ethier, Nick Swisher, Josh Hamilton Those four corner bats will be free agents next offseason. B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan, Shane Victorino will be the premier centerfielders available. Carlos Lee and James Loney for first baseman. Erick Aybar and Stephen Drew will be the shortstops available. Howie Kendrick and Kelly Johnson are the second baseman. Miguel Montero, Russell Martin, Yadier Molina, Mike Napoli will be the catchers. Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Francisco Liriano, Anibal Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez, John Danks, Fausto Carmona, Ryan Dempster, Jeremy Guthrie, Colby Lewis, Brandon McCarthy, Jake Peavy, Randy Wolf, and Carlos Zambrano for starters. Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Broxton, Brandon League, Huston Street, Jose Valverde, Mike Adams, and Sean Marshall for relievers.
Forgot Carlos Lee, Marlon Byrd, Melky Cabrera, Marco Scutaro, Maicier Izturis and James Loney. That makes it 45 players in free agency. Pretty good list if you ask me.
Slowhiteguy
December 14th, 2011
3:53 pm
If Punto get 2-3.5M, Theriot would command more. I think he is out.
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2011
3:54 pm
Punto 2-yr, $3 mill w/ Red Sox. Another off the Braves’ list.
Cedeno still available in the backup SS/utility mold. He’s been on their list as well.
BravesfaninWis
December 14th, 2011
3:55 pm
Wasn’t Nick Punto supposedly a target for the Braves as their backup shortstop? Well, he just signed with the Red Sox. Go figure, nothing has been said all week long about the Braves except the usual Prado and Jurrgens trade talk. So while the Braves front office continues to stick their hands up their collective arses, another potential target slips away.
I hope after the Braves crash and burn next season those sorry arse excuses for owners Liberty Media sells the team that actually wants to own a pro sports team for what its actually meant to be and that’s passion for the game instead of a f’n tax break. When the new owners get in, consider firing Frank Wren. He has done some good things, some not so good things, and I know he is handcuffed by the owners, but make a damn move already. I am so sick and tired of supporting this predictable franchise and watching them choke year after year. And yes, I consider making the playoffs and winning your division 14 straight years with only 1 WS Title to show for it as CHOKING.
brian
December 14th, 2011
3:55 pm
at the time Black hit #1, how many other songs reached #1 without appearing on a full album?
BravePack
December 14th, 2011
3:55 pm
Fols
I agree with your Freeman observation and agree. In fact I’ve been saying he will be a better hitter than Heyward in the Bigs. His ability to go the other way like Chipper and hit the gaps is amazing and we have yet to see that from Heyward as far as going to left field. Freeman should be the next great #3 hitter in the line-up after Chipper.
STRETCH
December 14th, 2011
3:56 pm
Red Sox To Sign Nick Punto
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 14 at 2:41pm CST]
The Red Sox have agreed to sign Nick Punto to a two-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). The contract guarantees Punto $3MM and offers him the chance to earn an additional $500K in incentives, Heyman reports.
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THEY DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SIGN SOMEONE LIKE THAT? WHO ARE THEY LOOKING FOR ALEX CORA, OMAR VIZQUEL?!
Fols
December 14th, 2011
3:57 pm
BravesfaninWis
Your all worked up cause they let Punto sign somewhere? Yikes….you needed a few more hugs from your mom.
Fols
December 14th, 2011
4:01 pm
BravePack
Thanks! I know it’s not the long-term but we already know that Uggla, McCann and Jones are the 3,4,5 hitters on most nights.
Freeman can hit 6 and he’d do well, but if he can bat with Bourn bouncing around on 1st base……i’d love to see him in the 2 spot. Only because it’s not his time to take over the heart of the order.
Watching him in the batters box, so solid, you just see why he had success in the bigs. Heyward bounces around a little too much, for a big guy he looks so skinny and dangly up there without any confidence. I’ll take Freeman’s approach anyday. He’s ready, he connects.
nolie
December 14th, 2011
4:02 pm
his could mean moving Michael Bourn to left and allowing Jones to play center. Bowden
this makes no sense since metrics show Bourn as a good defender and Jones as a poor one in CF.
Sometimes i wonder about this guy
TnBrian
December 14th, 2011
4:03 pm
STRETCH, I don’t even think you wanted Punto, you just want to complain.
BravesFanSince1982
December 14th, 2011
4:05 pm
Couldn’t Jones play LF?
I know it won’t happen, but a poster earlier talked about Hardy and Jones for JJ and Prado. Now, that’s a good lineup.
CF Bourn
SS Hardy
3B C. Jones
2B Uggla
C McCann
LF A. Jones
1B Freeman
RF Heyward