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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,933 comments Add your comment
Jeff R
December 21st, 2011
7:00 am
“If Wren, trades J.J.,and Braves need a pitcher. Edwin Jackson would be as good idea to replace J.J. at a reasonable cost.”
– Ward
Ward, Wren’s not trading Jurrjens (if he manages to do so) to replace him with anyone outside the organization. The Braves – as you should know – have a big stable of very talented younger arms. Jurrjens’ replacement will come from among that group. Right?
Ray
December 21st, 2011
7:27 am
Gary you are right. Tampa and Atlanta both are listed as having two of the top minor league systems with highly regarded prospects. Tampa’s payroll is lower than atlanta’s. bravshoo Yankees are not giving up Gardner and Nunez for that package, no way no how. The obvious statement is that it has been extremely quiet and that frustrates us all. Even DOB and Bowman talks about how they won’t complain about an over busy offseason again. Here is what we DO NOT know. We don’t know how close Wren has been to making a trade. Rockies as an example.. what we don’t know is that for JJ or Prado, the rock’s could be not willing to give up a fair return for either or both. Outside of the Rockies does anyone know of the conversations Wren has had with teams? hmm no you don’t. Many many on hear ripped Wren a new one during the pursuit of Griffey jr, Peavy and Furcal a few years ago. Blamed him for messing it up by showing his hand publicly. Now that he doesn’t play out his negotiations out in the public any more, many get upset about that. Cashman learned and will not make his moves and negotiations public. Whether you are a Wren fan or not, he does do a good job when it comes to trades and what he gets in return.
TeheranTime
December 21st, 2011
7:33 am
I can respect keeping things quiet if that’s what Frank Wren and company are doing. I just don’t like the tone of “we like our roster as it is currently constructed” when you were horrible offensively last season and failed to make the postseason.
Billy Walsh
December 21st, 2011
7:34 am
Girardi has a huge man crush on Gardner. He’s not going anywhere. I heard Keith Lockheart is available.
TechRon
December 21st, 2011
7:48 am
The right strategy would have been to fire Gonzalez and get a real manager. Frank Wren should have been demoted to latrine orderly. They should move McCann while he is still extremely valuable, along with Heyward, who will never hit now that the world knows his weakness. Of course, they have not done anything, so look for more of the same. I am still hopeful about our pitching now that Lowe is gone. Hitting is likely to be the same pitiful performance. Speaking as someone who liked them all the way back to Milwaukee, they have lost me (at least for now).
Pitching Don't Fix EVERY Problem
December 21st, 2011
7:50 am
Historic meltdown in September + “we like our roster as it is currently constructed” = Wren not taking his medication and a lump of coal in the Brave’s fan’s stocking this Christmas.
Ray
December 21st, 2011
8:00 am
T Time.. what do you expect Wren to say? He is not saying that the Braves are set and ready to go. I personally like how the current roster is constructed, doesn’t mean its complete. What he is saying is not a negative. And before those post…. he is not making the moves to get the club better. I will answer that this way, he is not making a move JUST to be making a move. Look at the teams that have made the moves so far this year, most of them have been the most desperate too. Teams with a solid foundation generally move a little slower. I am guessing if Wren had said that we have a solid foundation but we need to make moves and adjustments to reach the next level, then the criticism would be a little less… oh wait forget that last statement. Some one here just want to complain no matter what happens. IF Braves won a World Series in 6 games, they would complain because the Braves didn’t win it in 5.
Kat
December 21st, 2011
8:06 am
Top 50 was fun to read through.. now if there was a top 20 of 2011 concerts that’d be cool too.
smyrnabob
December 21st, 2011
8:37 am
Thanks for the baseball update, it seems to be slower than normal off season so far. We are going to have to face it that the Braves are going to have to rely on a lot of young players and pitchers this year. After Cleveland’s pitcher and last decade’s MVP comes off the books in 2013, the Braves will be sitting pretty with proven young talent and a few bucks to fill the gaps. I still wonder if taking a run at Yoennis Cespede will happen, but I imagine the KK bust may have scared the Braves off of those type gambles.
Couch Tater
December 21st, 2011
8:53 am
So, you want to buy season tickets? Maybe, you can sell a few to recoup part of your investment.
The Braves are one of a growing number of teams that are employing paperless tickets. This season, the San Francisco 49ers began offering fans the option of purchasing restrictive paperless tickets for its home games.
Earlier this year, the Braves launched an online ticket exchange, but whether the paperless tickets can be resold through the site was not disclosed.
Restrictive paperless ticketing systems have drawn the ire of the consumer advocacy group Fan Freedom Project (FFP), which has argued repeatedly that such tickets limit what fans can do with them once they are bought.
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/Atlanta-Braves-to-sell-restrictive-paperless-tickets121211746
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
8:55 am
Reds getting Shaun Marshall for Travis Wood and two prospects. Good trade for Theo, as Marshall is a free agent at the end of 2012. Garza, Dempster, Zambrano, Wells, Wood rotation. Although Garza is probably going to get traded within the next couple weeks.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
8:57 am
Sounds like Beltran is going to sign this week. Rays, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Red Sox apparently interested.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 21st, 2011
8:58 am
Sweating Bullets…”They are like the do nothing congress. I guess Wren has already started hitting the holiday eggnog by now. Probably steeling his nerves for that big Ronny Cedeno bidding war that will surely take place!”
What is wrong with you people? Why does everyone have this misconception that doing something is always better than doing nothing. I contend, regarding your congress analogy, that doing nothing is exactly what our congress should be doing. Every time they try to do something, they screw things up worse than they were before, adding more layers to some system that’s already too complex.
Wren has said repeatedly, he will not make a move unless it improves this team. They don’t have the budget to invest multiple years and dollars in any free agents. They are not going to trade Prado and Jurrjens for a meager return just to please the fan base.
I actually think the roster, as it stands right now, is already better than the opening day roster last year for the following reasons:
1. Bullpen: Medlen/Vizcaino > Sherrill/Linebrink
2. Rotation: Minor/Teheran/Delgado > Lowe
3. Center field: Bourn > McLouth (understatement of the century)
4. Bench: Diaz > Mather
tiger297
December 21st, 2011
8:59 am
couch – its what I’ve done for the last few years (selling tickets to help cover my costs). Stubhub is nice (although they take 15% off the top) and works very well. I selected the paperless tickets this year we will see how that works out.
O.J.
December 21st, 2011
9:00 am
I am starting to agree with everyone that says we dont actually have to make a move. The more I think about it, the more I am ok with it. I mean, think about this, the reason for our collapse was bad situational hitting and Derek Lowe. We fired Larry Parrish and traded Derek Lowe. No doubt that Martin and McCann will be back to normal, and Heyward shouldnt be as bad with a new hitting instructor. The rest of the team was ok offensively, just died at the end, along with a bad bullpen performance. But with Derek Lowe gone, the pen shouldnt need as much work as before. So i am ok with no moves being made.
Couch Tater
December 21st, 2011
9:01 am
…and here’s the ticket from Biz of Baseball.
http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5556:lwib-the-challenge-of-secondary-ticketing-for-mlb-plus-tidits&catid=67:pete-toms&Itemid=155
VaBravesFan
December 21st, 2011
9:05 am
Good Morning Everyone. I’d like to see Wren sign Wilson Betemit and Ryan Theriot. Both should fit in our payroll. Betemit is a switch hitter who can back up Chipper, Keeping Prado in LF fulltime. He can also play Corner Outfield if needed and 1B/2B. Solid bench guy. Theriot is prolly the best hitting shortstop on the market for backups. Gritty guy with no power but hits for decent AVG/OBP. Cody Ross would be another option instead of Wilson Betemit. But Ross will cost more IMO.
tiger297
December 21st, 2011
9:06 am
also the story we are being told (we will see how it works out long term) is its actually easier to transfer tickets. Today for me to transfer my tickets to someone I have to either meet them in person and exchange the hard tickets or pay ticketmaster 4.95 with the new package I can transfer the ticket to your credit card at no cost. I’m sure some folks it won’t be the right choice but it looks like it will work for me.
The next step will be putting the tickets on a smart phone (like new boarding pass option at airports).
Lemke's Knuckler
December 21st, 2011
9:06 am
Oh yes, how soon we forget. Going into the 2011 season, here were the burning questions…
1. Is Beachy ready for a spot in the rotation?
2. Can McLouth bounce back and provide stability in center field?
3. Is Chipper’s repaired knee healthy enough to play 100+ games?
4. Can rookie Kimbrel handle the closer duties?
5. Is Freeman ready for the majors?
There are plenty of questions going into 2012, mostly with health for Prado, Heyward, Hudson, Hanson and a rookie shortstop in Pastornicky, but looking back I feel much better about this team right now than I did going into the 2011 season.
CB
December 21st, 2011
9:11 am
Lemke’s, good points.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:11 am
SP – Latos, Cueto, Leake, Arroyo, Bailey
RP – Bray, Arrendondo, Ondrusek, Marshall, Masset, LeCure, Chapman
Reds all of a sudden have a good 12-man pitching staff.
David O'Brien
December 21st, 2011
9:15 am
DOB, I agree that this is a good team with great talent that just fell a little bit short; however, given the magnitude of last year’s failure, I say that Wren MUST make a move to ensure that next season will be different. The Braves faithful can only take so much abuse… — GOP Cannon
So a move, any move, will do the trick? That’ll “ensure” that next season will be different? Even if they trade Prado and don’t appear as strong in LF and backup 3B afterward? Just do a deal, any deal?
CrαZy
December 21st, 2011
9:21 am
Lemke’s Knuckler
I doubt the Braves use Vizcaino in the pen this year… He might be used in the pen later this year, but I think he’ll start the year as a SP in Gwinnett. They still see him as a SP prospect.
David O'Brien
December 21st, 2011
9:24 am
SP – Latos, Cueto, Leake, Arroyo, Bailey
RP – Bray, Arrendondo, Ondrusek, Marshall, Masset, LeCure, Chapman
Reds all of a sudden have a good 12-man pitching staff. — Efrim
Yes, but don’t the first few names in that rotation sound like something that requires prescription medication?
VaBravesFan
December 21st, 2011
9:25 am
DOB
Do you think the Braves have any interest in bringing back Wilson Betemit? I really think we just need to sign 2 bench players. Betemit and a Shortstop.
O.J.
December 21st, 2011
9:26 am
DOB, I agree that this is a good team with great talent that just fell a little bit short; however, given the magnitude of last year’s failure, I say that Wren MUST make a move to ensure that next season will be different. The Braves faithful can only take so much abuse… — GOP Cannon
Wren did make a move, he fired Larry Parish and traded Lowe, addition by subtraction. Firing Parish was probably the best move we could have made.
Honestly, Martin is an All-Star, so I am sure last year was an aberration. JJ, well, he will be gone either next year at the latest, so he is the only one I am ok with losing.
Best trade would be JJ for some solid prospects and a back up infielder. Then you get to keep Prado in left, Bourn and Heyward man the other spots.
Infield is set with Jones, Pastornicky/backup from trade, Uggla, Freeman and McCann.
Starting rotation is still deep and the bullpen has the best relief trio in the Majors.
We dont need a move other than possibly moving JJ for prospects
Couch Tater
December 21st, 2011
9:26 am
tiger – I’ll be curious to see how it works out. College Football will follow suit, if the dough is there.
Lew
December 21st, 2011
9:28 am
DOB – Thanks for the Metal List. The Dude who compiled it is even more hardcore than I am. I’ve heard maybe a half doazen of the albums he listed. Lots of extreme gutteral vocals on the list. I’m not the biggest fan of that tpe of signing, though I do like Mastodon, Megadeth, Arch Enemy and Amon Amarth. They missed out on the new Avantasia though.
VaBravesFan
December 21st, 2011
9:28 am
OJ
I think Jurrjens could be dangled again at the deadline if he stays healthy and productive in the 1st half. Raise his value as well. Regardless of how the team is doing and how the young arms are progressing this should be a option.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:29 am
I’d love to see the Braves acquire a right-fielder and use Prado 5 games a week at multiple positions. However, I’m not sure that Fredi is up to managing his team in that way. It’s the kind of move that would be more easily received by a manager with a longer tenure with his team…not the type of thing it’s easy for a 2nd year guy to suddenly try and do.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:31 am
Yes, but don’t the first few names in that rotation sound like something that requires prescription medication?
Hah! Now that was funny.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:31 am
VaBravesFan,
I don’t disagree that trading JJ at the deadline “should” be an option regardless of those factors, but it won’t if the Braves are in contention. That just not how FW works…if it doesn’t work out it’s MUCH easier to justify holding him than it would be trading him during a pennant race.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:32 am
DOB, kinda random but the list made me think of it…..think you can name your Top 10 hip hop/rap albums of all time? You might of done this before, however I can’t remember it. Doesn’t have to be now – but maybe some time in the future. Thanks.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:35 am
I’m just interested to see what Gonzalez goes for. Garza too. After those two, Jurrjens is the best name out there, imo……although maybe it’s a tie between him and Danks.
unbelievable
December 21st, 2011
9:39 am
Sorry if already posted….
@Tom__Peace: Orioles turn down Braves offer of Jurrjens,Prado, and pitching prospect for @SimplyAJ10 hmmmmmm
tiger297
December 21st, 2011
9:39 am
CT – yeah ticketmaster developed a ticket exhange (I think it was even before stubhub was big) but tickets didn’t move very well (at that time I sold more on craigslist). Stubhub was better marketed and probably not giving as large a share back to MLB as they would like.
I’m pretty comfortable with this I’ve never had problems finding someone willing to buy my tickets and this might be a transition year but for the big games (which is where the sales really come in) people will find you.
What nobody is talking about that is the bigger change from last year is they are enforcing the tiered tickets on season ticket holders for swaps. In the past I could swap any game for any other game (no value difference to me). So I could swap a tuesday night marlins game for a saturday night red sox ticket. This year they have created tiers (A-E I think it is) and I can only exchange within the tier. I can still buy tickets to the bigger games at my season ticket holder rate but I can’t swap garbage games for it. I think this will have a much larger impact on attendance than the paperless tickets will and I’m actually excited about it. Should reduce the number of low priced tickets for the big games which helps me as well.
I don’t do much ticket swapping and actually prefer the weekday games (for one more year at least until my little one starts school). It is much easier to do everything (traffic/parking/food/restroom/seating) when the crowd is smaller.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:39 am
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears the same thing, noting that Beltran is weighing a variety of two- and three-year contract offers from five different clubs. Based on various reports, including Goold’s, the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rays, Cardinals, and one other NL team are believed to be in on the 34-year-old.
Bet that NL team is the Phillies…..
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:40 am
@Tom__Peace: Orioles turn down Braves offer of Jurrjens,Prado, and pitching prospect for @SimplyAJ10 hmmmmmm
That’s awful. Terrible offer, if true.
O.J.
December 21st, 2011
9:41 am
this from Don Connolly “The Atlanta Braves made a run this month for Adam Jones, offering second baseman-outfielder Martin Prado, starter Jair Jurrjens and, eventually, a pitching prospect, and the Orioles didn’t bite.”
Are you kidding me? The Orioles wouldnt take two All-Stars and a pitching prospect for just Adam Jones?? A guy who basically has the same numbers as Jeff Franceour?
tiger297
December 21st, 2011
9:44 am
efrim – who would the phillies let go if they picked up Beltran?
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:44 am
You have to be kidding me……
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-thoughts-on-prince-fielder-edwin-jackson-roy-oswalt-and-more-20111220,0,5404920.story
Well, Adam Jones is the team’s best trade chip. But unless the Orioles get a front-line pitcher in return, I don’t see them dealing Jones. The Atlanta Braves made a run this month, offering second baseman-outfielder Martin Prado, starter Jair Jurrjens and, eventually, a pitching prospect, and the Orioles didn’t bite.
I have a hard time believing Frank Wren would make an offer like that to the O’s. Makes me think both Jurrjens and Prado are outta here after this and Bowman’s news yesterday.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:44 am
O.J.,
That offer may have not been for JUST Adam Jones. Maybe it was AJ and Hardy. Or maybe it’s an inaccurate rumor to start with, and that offer was never made.
No need to get upset of something like this until it’s confirmed by a more credible source. And even then, be glad they wouldn’t take it if that offer is true.
unbelievable
December 21st, 2011
9:45 am
Efrim, I agree. I would at least like to think Wren would have been asking for both Hardy and Jones with that package. Hey, say thanks to the Orioles.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:45 am
Not sure how Adam Jones in LF over Prado as well as taking Jurrjens and a pitching prospect away make this team better in 2012 or in the long term. Scary talk.
O.J.
December 21st, 2011
9:46 am
RC, I know, not so much upset over it, just cant believe that if that is the case, the Orioles would turn it down.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:47 am
Something had to have been coming back in addition to Jones……
Like Hardy or 3B prospect Jonathan Schoop.
unbelievable
December 21st, 2011
9:47 am
Wren had to be asking for Machado or Hardy along with Jones.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:47 am
That Jones trade proposal could also be read as 2 OR 3 separate trade offers:
“The Atlanta Braves made a run this month, offering second baseman-outfielder Martin Prado,
[THEN]
starter Jair Jurrjens and,
eventually,
a pitching prospect, and the Orioles didn’t bite.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:48 am
RC, I don’t think people are upset over it. It’s a rumor. Fun to dissect. Might not of been true – where there is smoke, there is fire and I’d bet there were talks of some nature with Baltimore…..involving those players in some way.
richbrave
December 21st, 2011
9:48 am
So-o-o, RONNIE CEDENO or RYAN THERIOT for SS? Nobody for LF? And we keep all our prospects plus JJ and PRADO.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:49 am
O.J.,
I can’t believe they would turn it down either. Which is why I don’t believe that offer was actually made, at least in the terms the article states.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
9:49 am
Wren had to be asking for Machado or Hardy along with Jones.
Machado is untouchable like Heyward was. Schoop, however, perhaps could of been apart of it.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:50 am
Efrim,
I agree that they were likely discussed. But I am VERY skeptical that the trade outlined in the article was ever offered. It would signal complete incompetence on the part of both front offices (Atlanta’s for offering it, Balitmore’s for not accepting it).
richbrave
December 21st, 2011
9:51 am
With WREN’s connections in BALTIMORE, I suspect a smokey fire regarding a JONES trade. Too bad the O’s didn’t bite.
RC
December 21st, 2011
9:51 am
Plus, “The Wire” has shown me how reporters for The Sun will make up stories to move ahead
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
9:54 am
New hitting coaches
Uggla better first half (likely)
Full year of Bourn
Healthy Prado
Healthy Hanson
Healthy JJ
Healthy Heyward, with NEW HITTING COACHES
Healthy McCann
Even deeper bullpen
Extra year of experience for FF
More experience for the “kids” pitching
These are the reasons many of us feel really good about the Braves in 2012. Will all these things work out? probably not, but enough to be significant, and to keep us competitve.
That said, there are still some moves to be made (maybe small, maybe big, but all designed to further improve the team) This is Dec 21. Season starts April 5. Why don’t you wait and see what Wren does before freaking out, and trashing the guy. I think he’s done a hell of a job.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:04 am
My predictions: Detroit gets Gio. Toronto gets Garza.
VaBravesFan
December 21st, 2011
10:06 am
Efrim you forgot the Braves. Braves get Jack Wilson..
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2011
10:06 am
to watch the Braves completely fold with an 8 1/2 game lead at the end of August is probably the most despicable thing that I have ever witnessed in professional sports. _ GOP Cannon
Despicable, really? What an odd word choice. You seem to be implying intent, as if the Braves chose to give up their lead, a willful act ……… Took a dive, in the boxing vernacular.
Synonyms: cheap, cruddy, deplorable, contemptible, dirty, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, nasty, paltry, pitiable, pitiful, ratty, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, sorry, wretched
If you want to use a word starting with D how about disheartening, discouraging, disappointing ……..
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:12 am
Sorry, but the Braves never offered Jurrjens, Prado and a prospect for Adam Jones. That’s absurdity personified.
richbrave
December 21st, 2011
10:12 am
Has anybody got a line on the possibility that PRADO has asked for a trade to a team where he can play second? Just a thought. Maybe he finds playing LF and 3B difficult, and a temp move until he can leave town which was discussed with management at the end of this season. When did the MARTEEEEEEEN trade possibility first surface? Was it after the end of the season?
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:12 am
That might be what Baltimore asked for, though.
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:13 am
Bat – Agree. The “collapse” was disheartening and discouraging…AND an abberation, unlikely to ever be repeated…caused by a perfect storm of factors, again unlikely to reoccur. Although some want to fire everyone, and blow up the team, because they can’t get past it, I believe the first 5 months of the season is more indicative of this team than the final month. And, we have already made improvements (see my comments @9:54)
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:14 am
richbrave – Nah – Just don’t see that having happened.
Ray
December 21st, 2011
10:15 am
OJ,, lets say the braves made that offer to the O’s. And the O’s didn’t bite. So do you blame Wren for not making a move or do you blame the O’s for having a high regard for their player. We sometimes forget on trades, it does take two to dance. The O’s regard Jones as their key player. Like it would take a lot for the Braves to want to trade Heyward or Freeman.
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:16 am
Lew – Absurdity, indeed…some peole will repeat any rumor, and others will believe it. Wren was being interviewed recently on XM, and said that some rumors he had heard involved players they had never talked about, or mentioned to any team or agent.
richbrave
December 21st, 2011
10:16 am
LEW:
Agreed. The initial offer maybe. A prospect sweetner possibly, but three for one……absurdity. That request by BALTIMORE was when WREN hung up the phone.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
December 21st, 2011
10:17 am
DOB, any way you can either confirm or shoot down that JJ/Prado/prospect for Jones rumor? If that thing is true than both the Braves and O’s are really stupid. Sorry, but that’s the truth. Why would Wren offer that much for Jones, who is imo a 7th place hitter in our lineup and not even that good defensively?
It can’t be true.
CB
December 21st, 2011
10:17 am
What is wrong with that kind of reporting is that people from other teams might be hearing that BS, DOB or Bowman need to make a call to Wren and have this refuted.
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:18 am
richbrave – Hung up the phone laughing uproariously.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2011
10:19 am
AND an abberation, unlikely to ever be repeated…caused by a perfect storm of factors, again unlikely to reoccur. _ raleighbravefan
Amen
richbrave
December 21st, 2011
10:22 am
Have no fear BRAVES fans,
ADAM MILLIGAN is near.
A+ all last season. A resounding .291 BA in almost 300 AB’s. with a .906 OPS in ‘11. I suppose with the caveat that he remains injury free, he sees PEARL RIVER in 2012, and we can finally decide whether he has what it takes to be a ML OF’er. His glove is certainly ready in LF.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2011
10:22 am
@Tom__Peace: Orioles turn down Braves offer of Jurrjens,Prado, and pitching prospect for @SimplyAJ10 hmmmmmm
I’m calling bullsh*t on that one. Wren would have to be a damned fool to offer that for A. Jones.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
December 21st, 2011
10:24 am
Unless Wren had something else lined up in a trade after sending those three to BAL for Jones … still, no way. An awful lot for one player who isn’t even all that special.
ncbravesfan90
December 21st, 2011
10:24 am
Somebody that hit .280/.319/.466/.785 with 25 homeruns and 83 RBI’s on a team that lost 93 games last year would not hit 7th in our lineup, he would hit no where below 5th. He would have had the 2nd most Homeruns on the team last year and the most RBI’s with 83.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:27 am
What is wrong with that kind of reporting is that people from other teams might be hearing that BS, DOB or Bowman need to make a call to Wren and have this refuted.
Totally agree. That’s a rumor that I’d love to see shot down publically.
Steve from OH
December 21st, 2011
10:29 am
Wren better not have offered that for Jones. That’s insane.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:29 am
Somebody that hit .280/.319/.466/.785 with 25 homeruns and 83 RBI’s on a team that lost 93 games last year would not hit 7th in our lineup, he would hit no where below 5th
Yeah, and he would of fit right in with a sad as hell OBP. Jones is overrated to the max.
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:29 am
Bat – And the Orioles would have been damned fools for turning it down.
RC
December 21st, 2011
10:30 am
He would have had the 2nd most Homeruns on the team last year and the most RBI’s with 83.
Although if he had been on this team last year, he probably wouldn’t have that many HR while playing at the Ted, and there is no way he’d have had 83 RBI with the crap OBP the rest of the team put up last year.
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:30 am
ncbraves – You may be right, but still not worth the package mentioned, IMO, unless there was a significant additional part from the O’s…preferably a backup infielder worth something.
Keep in mind also…Baltimore = hitter friendly park, with no pressure to perform.
Slowhiteguy
December 21st, 2011
10:31 am
I cant help but think of the stages of grief when I read this board……love the passion!
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:32 am
Lew, Bat Efrim, et al – Agreed. Crazy rumor…unbelievable offer…and how could it be turned down? No credibility.
Rusty
December 21st, 2011
10:35 am
As a 59 year old man who has lost touch with music over the last couple of decades I want to thank you for giving me a great sampler to find new good music. I am about half way through your top 50 albums for 2011 and have found some fantastic stuff. It’s great. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present. Thanks for listing.
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:36 am
SWG – Always plenty of passion here…much of it misdirected. Plenty of Braves fans, including the optomists and pessimists. That’s great. Also, enough trolls, haters, and whiners to be annoying…but it all adds up to the best fan forum on the internet.
tiger297
December 21st, 2011
10:36 am
so ur batting A Jones ahead of uggla/mac/freeman? seriously that is more ridiculous than the trade proposal.
Unless you are suggesting he should bat 2nd which might be more reasonable aside from his OBP.
Yeah I’m back to its a pretty ridiculous statment
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:37 am
Adam Jones is not on a great contract or that young or anything either. Guy is a free agent after 2013. It’s a ridiculous rumor.
unbelievable
December 21st, 2011
10:38 am
I dont think Wren needs to shoot down anything publically. The trade didnt happen so we dont have to worry about it. Wren isnt responsible for everything that someone writes on a piece of paper, or tweets for that matter.
ncbravesfan90
December 21st, 2011
10:38 am
yeah 2nd would be a good spot for him or between mac and freeman.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:39 am
ajcbraves David O’Brien
At this point, can we drop any notion of Greinke-like package for JJ? Not happening this winter. Teams question health, durability. #Braves
Not happening next summer either, imo.
VaBravesFan
December 21st, 2011
10:39 am
Adam Jones is a breakout candidate for me. I could see him hitting 290/330/480 25-30 HR but about the trade, I just dont see Wren offering that much.
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:40 am
Rusty – Good point…I’m and old f@rt, and my taste has always run much closer to pop and softer rock, than to metal an edgy hard stuff…although I like some of almost every category…even rap (not the gangsa variety). I too have lost touch with the current music scene (pretty much anything since about 1990), but this gives me an incentive to sample some unfamiliar stuff.
Bat Masterson
December 21st, 2011
10:41 am
Somebody that hit .280/.319/.466/.785 with 25 homeruns and 83 RBI’s on a team that lost 93 games last year would not hit 7th in our lineup, _ ncbravesfan90
Look I don’t want to be an ass here, but Adam Jones pretty much sucks. He had 618 PA’s last year and got on base at a .319 clip. His best year was .335 OBP, he has never had an OPS of .800.
Last year he had 53 extra base hits in 618 PA’s …………… Jason Heyward stunk on ice last year yet he still got on base as well as Jones at .319 and had 34 extra base hits in 458 PA’s
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:42 am
Adam Jones is Jeff Francouer in CF, except that he’s not a great defender in CF and also hits terribly in CF. I’m not sure why people would think he is better. That CAN’T be what Wren actually offered.
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:42 am
Yeah, Adam JOnes would hit seventh for us.
First of all, BOurn would lead off and A. JOnes ain’t hitting second.
Chipper had a .344 OBP, .470 SLG – both better than A. Jones
Uggla hit more HR and virtually the same OBP after a bizarre first half – and only one RBI less than Jones.
McCann had a .351 OBP, a .466 SLG and .817 OPS – better than A. JOnes.
Freeman had a higher BA (.282), a .346 OBP, a .448 SLG and .795 OPS – all better than A. Jones and hit 21 HR with 76 RBI.
Who do you replace with A. Jones when all had (at least some) better stats than A. Jones did – hitting in a hitter’s park, no less?
raleighbravefan
December 21st, 2011
10:44 am
Efrim @10:39 – I disagree (unusual, I admit) – I think it very well could happen at/near the end of ST, if JJ, Hanson, and Hudson all appear healthy. I think a healthy JJ would fetch a big return in March, or before trade deadline.
Rob from SC
December 21st, 2011
10:46 am
Our team is very good. Our manager abused our bullpen to the point that they had nothing left in September. Our starters MUST GO DEEPER INTO GAMES. Heyward and Prado will be healthy and productive. We have Bourn for a full season, plus Medlen is back.
Our team is already much better than it was at this time last year.
David O'Brien
December 21st, 2011
10:47 am
For those wondering why the Braves don’t have as much money to spend as you might have expected this winter, this might help: When you’re figuring payroll and taking into account salary that was shed and salary added via arb raises, contract raises (such as McCann’s raise from $8.5 mill to $11.5 mill), don’t forget Uggla. He will make $4 mill more in 2012 than he did in 2011. His five-year, $62 mill contract included a $1 mill signing bonus and salaries of $9 mill in 2011 followed by $13 mill in each of the next four seasons.
While the signing bonus is prorated ($200,000 added to each season for accounting purposes), the Braves aren’t using average annual value of entire deal spread evenly over five seasons. For their accounting, he’ll make $4 mill more in 2012 — $13.2 mill including prorated share of signing bonus. Up from $9.2 mill in 2011.
Efrim
December 21st, 2011
10:48 am
Adam Jones is a breakout candidate for me. I could see him hitting 290/330/480 25-30 HR but about the trade, I just dont see Wren offering that much
In almost 1,200 plate appearances away, Adam Jones has hit: .265/.308/.404 for his career.
2008: .254/.300/.408(240 PA’s)
2009: .282/.340/.432(227 PA’s)
2010: .259/.289/.418(310 PA’s)
2011: .279/.316/.379(301 PA’s)
Outside of Camden Yards(a hitters park) – Adam Jones absolutely sucks.
Lew
December 21st, 2011
10:50 am
Rob – Agreed. Plus no Lowe, Sherrill, Linebrink or Proctor so the pen is stronger with Medlen, Fish and Varvaro.