10:10 pm December 19, 2011, by David O'Brien
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6,933 comments Add your comment
spike
December 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
That’s a shame Efrim – he’s a terrible sportswriter, but that’s just sad.
Zing
December 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
This is kind of funny, guys– the Braves are suing Disney to prevent Pixar’s use of the name “Brave” for their new movie. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/The-Braves-have-a-problem-with-the-name-of-Pixar?urn=mlb-wp28853
MFin04
December 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
I like both Prado and Heyward, and if we want to quote their pre-2011 numbers, that is fine, but at least give me last years numbers as well.
2011
Heyward .227/.319/.389/.708
Prado .260/.302/.385/.687
Both of those are unacceptable for starting MLB corner outfielders. If both of them post pre-2011 numbers, we will all be ecstatic. But there is a chance that at least one of them puts up 2011 numbers, and we are once again in trouble.
nolie
December 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
2010: Heyward
2011: Freeman
2012: Pastornicky
2013: The Terd
2014: Simmons
2015: Bethancourt…murph
I SERIOUSLY doubt that the Terd will be starting on an MLB team in 2013, that’s laughable.Haha
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:00 pm
Who is Ben Duronio, and how much is his life savings worth?
flange1
December 20th, 2011
3:01 pm
Cody Ross wants only 2 years now, not 3…..
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:02 pm
Matt Diaz vs. LHP in 2010: .273/.318/.512(130 PA’s)
Matt Diaz vs. LHP in 2011: .295/.336/.356(143 PA’s)
Seth Smith vs. RHP in 2010: .261/.335/.513(343 PA’s)
Seth Smith vs. RHP in 2011: .299/.365/.526(384 PA’s)
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:02 pm
What makes you think Uggla would do good in LF??? I can think of 52 million reasons why thats a bad Idea!
Webster
December 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
Where does this Torii Hunter rumor come from? Someones imagination? Could we get Ben Zobrist from TB?
Murph
December 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
I SERIOUSLY doubt that the Terd will be starting on an MLB team in 2013, that’s laughable.Haha
I’m sure many thought the same thing of Pastornicky last season……
Lollygagger
December 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
flange1: Funny how lack of interest will make a player change their demands and wishes, isn’t it? I say wait him out til he will accept a one year deal under which he agrees to wear jersey number 0 and replace his last name on said jersey with “Martin Prado’s Bitch.”
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:06 pm
Disagree. Fans actually drive an organization. Without fans there is no baseball team. People stop showing up, they lose revenue, the team goes under. So yes management does work for the fans. And after last years EPIC collapse, they might want to consider buying back a little bit of the fans loyalty by spending some money ($2-3 million extra) to make this team a playoff contender..MF04
only in the most round about way. the FO of any successful team attempts to improve it but pays no attention to specific fan desires s to how they should do that
Webster
December 20th, 2011
3:06 pm
I know McCann has no speed, but with a training program could he eventually be moved to LF before he is an old broken down catcher
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:07 pm
wanna place a wager??
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:08 pm
I’m sure many thought the same thing of Pastornicky last season……
Most evaluators have always liked Pastornicky – at the very least as a really good utility player. I’ve heard some less than positive reports on Terdoslavich on both his defense and offense. Plus, he was old for his level of play this past year, whereas Tyler was very young to be in Double-A and Triple-A.
old man
December 20th, 2011
3:09 pm
Adam Jones.
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:09 pm
I’m sure many thought the same thing of Pastornicky last season……
True!!! But the Terd will be playing his first full season as a third baseman. He better play 1 hell of a year if he’s gonna be the man in 2013 after Chipper retires…. if he retires???
flange1
December 20th, 2011
3:09 pm
LOL lolly!
Murph
December 20th, 2011
3:10 pm
The Terd will be on the Braves’ roster, for better or worse, in 2013. Bank on it.
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:11 pm
TroyRenck Troy Renck, Rockies
by ajcbraves
No chance RT @ajcbraves: They say unavailable. Their top pos. prospect. RT @KCH_76: @ajcbraves @aznchuy Think we could get Arendo w…
Yeah, I agree. Arenado is too valuable to them. But then I saw this tweet from some other dude:
@jfreemyer
Jordan Freemyer @TroyRenck @KCH_76 Getting Arenado would almost certainly require giving up Heyward.
Stupidity personified. Why would the Braves trade Heyward for Arenado, who hasn’t even seen Double-A? Ridiculous.
StingerSplash
December 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
Read DOB’s top 50 albums while listening to Social Distortion. One of the last great American rock n roll bands.
Bay Area Steve
December 20th, 2011
3:13 pm
Hillbilly,
Well done, man. Squirrel removed, and you kept your sight. Family hero shines again.
And, nice line earlier on the hyphen. I’m not sure that was appreciated here as much as it should have been.
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:13 pm
Webster
I think McCanns only possibilities are C/DH/1B and who knows if he can play 1B??
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:14 pm
Terdoslavich was 22 in High-A this past year. He had an impressive season, but let’s see what he does as a 23 year old in Double-A before placing him as Chipper Jones replacement at 3rd. Not sure we even have that guy in our system. I’m not sold on Joey T, Edward Salcedo or Brandon Drury.
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
December 20th, 2011
3:15 pm
Murph,
I have also thought that Andruw would be a good fit. But the fact that the Braves seem so uninterested tells me that they know something we don’t, and it might be something other than his ability as a ballplayer. Anyway, his return clearly isn’t going to happen.
MFin04
December 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
Efrim – No doubt Diaz/Smith could be a good platoon. But I’ve never really like the platoon. Especially when the game starts to matter, too easy to start pitching around guys and the like. Would rather have a .800/900 OPS guy that can hit both lefties and righties and plays everyday.
Not to mention Braves would have to deal Prado in order to have that platoon which creates a whole host of problems.
Hillbilly
December 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
Efrim, I like Drury, but man…take a pitch, will ya?
Ozzie
December 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
The more I think about it the more I hope Wren does nothing. This team isn’t going to make it deep into the post season. The uber young arms and even current arms apart from Hudson and when healthy JJ cannot get past the 5-6th inning.
That will wear out the pen and equate to more September heartache. We know Mac will fade in the 2H as will Chipper – due to use and age (in the case of Chipper).
So that leaves Uggla to carry the team. I say just Uggla b/c until proven otherwise Heyward is not going to carry anything. Getting his swing fixed will be a success. Fixing it and carrying the team is likely too much to expect. Prado if he stays will be better but again won’t carry the offense.
FF could tool along like 2011 or stumble a bit. Bourn is a run guy not an RBI or a .300 hitter by trade so we cannot expect him to change his game.
Teheran, Delgado, Minor, even Beachy will or at least should have more gas in the tank in 2013 and be able to pitch deeper into games as a rule. That will keep the pen fresh down the stretch and result in a more formable play off team.
So why bother pissing money away on Beltran, a crappy SS in his 30s or any other human book mark OF who will be a platoon partner.
If Wren can trade JJ for some compelling OF or 3B prospect do it but if not just sit tight and look to trade at the deadline.
2012 is not going to be this team’s year with Chipper at 3B (with the money) and a recovery year for Heyward and Prado.
Wren will have 40mm to spend next December (if he still is around) and we could have a new owner so why screw around with dumpster diving FA or desperation trades. Couple 40mm with a pitching staff that should be pitching deeper into games and you could have a very powerful club.
If you can get Myers from KC sure (not likely) or Wheeler + from CO maybe but short of that just admit 2012 is a mulligan year and sit tight.
Juan
December 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
From Yahoo Sport:
•Carlos Beltran figures to agree to terms by Sunday. His market includes the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Red Sox and a fourth team, possibly the Rays. Beltran is weighing two and three-year offers, Brown reports.
Webster
December 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
CraZy– I know he isn’t too “athletic”, but for him to stay in ATL, he is going to have to move from behind the plate. Yes he is a veteran player, but in this case couldn’t he play some kind of winter ball for the experience of playing LF? I’m not saying this or next season but in the not so distant future. At least take fly ball out there.
Hillbilly
December 20th, 2011
3:19 pm
BAS, thanks. I figured you would like both of those posts.
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:20 pm
Such silliness Murph……..
DAP
December 20th, 2011
3:20 pm
raleighbravesfan I’m just saying that the payroll is based largely on revenue, not literal market size.
agreed. none of the team who are behind us in attendnace have a higher payroll than we do.
Bat Masterson
December 20th, 2011
3:21 pm
I read him his rights and transferred him to the woods nearby. No animals or humans were injured in the midst of this pandemonium. The elf is day-to-day.
Outstanding story, Hillbilly.
All that hunter training pays off in more ways than just meals. Peta would be pleased as well.
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:22 pm
I’m sure that Mac could play LF, many non-athletic types have over the decades. speed is not an important tool there
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:23 pm
CraZy – Don’t you understand that ANY player can be moved to ANY position, with positive results? You don’t read this blog much do you? In fact, as Webster shows us, it has even been suggested that McCann can play the outfield. (roll of eyes).
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:23 pm
woulda been more fun to use an Uzi, Hillbilly
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:24 pm
Is Don still gonna be the head man in the RF gang “Terdo’s Terds” in 2013??
IABrave
December 20th, 2011
3:24 pm
DOB,
I know its a little late, but I was going to ask for some advice on music. I was going to get my brother the new Black Keys CD for Christmas but just found out he had just purchased it. I didn’t know if you had any ideas on a good CD that is similar to the Black Keys? Thanks IABrave
Murph
December 20th, 2011
3:25 pm
Scenario: Chipper ends this season either unable or unwilling to play in 2013. Prado is going to be stuck playing LF because the payroll doesn’t exist to upgrade, even with Chipper leaving, because CF will take most of the available resources. Who is going to play 3B in 2013?
From all accounts The Terd is further along than Salcedo. Doesn’t seem that far-fetched to me all things considered.
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:25 pm
Hillbilly, yeah, should be interesting to see what he does at Rome this year. Gotta walk a little if you ever want to become a halfway decent major leaguer.
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:25 pm
I love McCann, but…Mac in LF would be like Klesko, magnified about 10 times…not in a good way.
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:26 pm
or onea them full auto BB guns with a 900 round magazine maybe, since it was inside
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:28 pm
Crazy @3:24 – Eliminate “Terdo’s”, and you would be about right.
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:28 pm
Hello everyone! The whole reason why the Braves don’t have money is the bad signings from Nate, K.K.,and Lowe. Most of the money had to paid to the remaining parts of the salary from their contracts.Wren, should do little this year,and wait until The Free agent Market in 2013.Sometimes doing little is better than doing big?Trade only if have too?
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:28 pm
I know he isn’t too “athletic”, but for him to stay in ATL—Webster
When the time comes that he can’t catch anymore… the Braves will move him to 1B unless we have better option already at 1B… If that’s the case we will let him go or trade him to an AL team so he can DH himself into the sunset. I think we have a while before we need to worry about that though.
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:30 pm
There is still some good out fielders out there,so I think Wren should take his time,and build Chemistry rather than big names.
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:30 pm
I should’ve said “move him to 1B if they feel he can play there unless…”
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:30 pm
baloney, there have been an untold number of players in Left who were no better than Mac would likely be. Speed is not a requirement, the only question would be if he could learn to track fly balls well, not about his physical ability. He might not be great but more than likely would suffice
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:31 pm
Prado is going to be stuck playing LF because the payroll doesn’t exist to upgrade, even with Chipper leaving, because CF will take most of the available resources. Who is going to play 3B in 2013?
They have 34 million dollars in guarantees for 2013 and usually have a payroll upwards of 90 million+. Why in the world would they not have available funds to get a 3rd baseman who can play better than Joey Terdoslavich?
60 lb head
December 20th, 2011
3:32 pm
Uggla hits like a left filder.Don’t know if Dan would be good in lf,but Prado is better at 2nd.
McFann O O o
December 20th, 2011
3:32 pm
Crazy @ 2:52—
You’re right…I don’t know why I torture myself so…
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:33 pm
Murph-Agree and I just don’t see the Braves doing much,because of payroll,and it will be enough however to get the Braves by. 5 to 10 million will get a an LF that will just do the job,and get us by until 2013.
Hillbilly
December 20th, 2011
3:35 pm
nolie, While it draws a slight grin sitting here imagining a scene similar to Sonny Corleone at the toll station, I’m pretty happy with the results the way it went down. Now put me in some hardwood timber and I’m all about the hail of gunfire and what-have-you.
Patrick
December 20th, 2011
3:36 pm
From Yahoo Sport:
•Carlos Beltran figures to agree to terms by Sunday. His market includes the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Red Sox and a fourth team, possibly the Rays. Beltran is weighing two and three-year offers, Brown reports
That’s crazy. Whichever teams signs him to a multi-year deal, is almost assuredly going to regret it.
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:36 pm
Ward…. Is that why they don’t have money??? I was wondering why… I thought the owner that sits field side every game in that packed stadium (even on weeknights) was just a penny pincher…. glad to know that we’ll have lots of money to spend after we recover from all the bad signings!! How many nights in a row have we sold out again??
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:39 pm
We could see a trade for 3rd base,or some one coming up from the farm again in 2013.
richbrave
December 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
RONNIE CEDANO and CODY ROSS then? Trade JJ for WHEELER and SETH SMITH from the ROX?
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
I’m pretty happy with the results …HB
yeah I would be too. good story.
but them 900 round BB guns are as much fun as can be…
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:41 pm
Crazy – Thats why Wren should look at everything with caution,and don’t put the tean in a world a crap again. I feel your pain.
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:41 pm
Wren should not make any moves for the team unless hevery sure.
richbrave
December 20th, 2011
3:42 pm
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:39 pm
We could see a trade for 3rd base,or some one coming up from the farm again in 2013.
TERDS, WARD?
Patrick
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
DOB, do you have a % available for the # of Boras clients that have re-signed with their home team instead of going into free agency?
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
Wren, should not make any moves for the Braves unless he’s really sure.
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
RONNIE CEDANO and CODY ROSS then? Trade JJ for WHEELER and SETH SMITH from the ROX?
Friggin mutiny if Wren trades Jurrjens for Seth Smith and Tim Wheeler. Wheeler isn’t even a CF long term and also has huge questions about his ability to hit LHP. He may be a platoon corner outfielder…..
richbrave
December 20th, 2011
3:44 pm
DS1
December 20th, 2011
3:44 pm
Darn!
Another top notch backup SS is off the market. The Royals have signed Yuniesky Betancourt!
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:44 pm
The Royals announced that they signed Yuniesky Betancourt to a one-year, Major League contract.
Whew. Dodged a bullet there. Thanks, Dayton.
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:45 pm
Interesting conversation on XM yesterday morning…Their premise was that Marlins should have kept Uggla, not signed Reyes. They would have spent less money on Uggla than Reyes (thus had money to spend elsewhere), and would not have PO’d a volitile Hanley Ramirez. Makes a fair amount of sense.
richbrave
December 20th, 2011
3:46 pm
EFRIM:
O.K. by me. I’m just asking out loud what potential deals may go down. I’m sure you have an opinion EFRIM. What is it? What deal would you make?
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:46 pm
Been doing some thinking. Why trade Prado for a guy who is only slightly better than Prado? Doesn’t make sense to me.Trade J.J.,and put a package with that.
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:46 pm
Did you ride the short bus as a kid?? Or did you suddenly become “special” at an older age???
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:47 pm
our backup SS is gonna be the guy who is so bad that nobody else will sign him
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:48 pm
richbrave, I have no idea. I just don’t want them to trade Jurrjens for Wheeler.
Prado is a different story, as I don’t believe he carries as much value in this current market.
Hillbilly
December 20th, 2011
3:48 pm
Whew. Dodged a bullet there. Thanks, Dayton.
scoots just exhaled, and his blood pressure is on its way back to normal.
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:49 pm
except that Hanley and Uggly already had issues…..
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
you talkin’ to yourself CraZy?
richbrave
December 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
Hey TRADES:
What’s the word on ROBBIE HEFF? Have you talked with his dad lately? Is he going back up to start next season?
Efrim
December 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
Yeah, I kinda think if Ross, Cedeno, etc. were good enough for Wren and his first choice, they would of been signed by now. Clearly they are looking to go the trade route in some way. Or to free up cash first…
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
noile-I hope that’s not the case,but can agree with you on the back up SS. The money is not good for Payroll.
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:51 pm
Funny how many of the same people who bit…err…constantly complain about the “bad contracts’, and having to overpay Chipper, Lowe KK, Etc., Etc., ….are often the same ones who want to sign their favorite fantacy player, no matter how old, injury prone, and expensive they are, and how many years we would have to commit.
richbrave
December 20th, 2011
3:52 pm
EFRIM:
Too bad. I thought you might have a clue.
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
I didn’t realize how bad the Lowe signing,and K.K. signing,and Nate signing put the finances for the Braves in.It really slowed things for three years. 2013 should be better.
DS1
December 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
I think we should sign Prince for a gazillion bucks.
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
I’m sure Reyes won’t have “issues”.
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
There’s no way we can get Beltran, unless he himself sign cheap,but I doubt he will.
Murph
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
2013 3B Free Agents:
Geoff Blum
Miguel Cairo
Brandon Inge *
Maicer Izturis
Chipper Jones *
Kevin Kouzmanoff
Placido Polanco *
Mark Reynolds *
Scott Rolen
Mark Teahen
Ty Wigginton *
David Wright *
Kevin Youkilis *
Of the guys without options, who would you want to see wearing a Braves uni?
DS1
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
Lunch time out west……..
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:55 pm
Rich
Last I heard it looked like he might get to start in High A Lynchberg again… Hope it works out better this time!!!!
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
Murph-Might have to see a trade for 3rd base in 2013.
CB
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
Efrim does NOT have a clue. IBKL
DS1
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
Murph
I’ll take Marteen over most of those guys.
nolie
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
almost every body here bitched about Lowe and KK contracts so that’s not really much of a differential there raleigh
MFin04
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
“I think we should sign Prince for a gazillion bucks.”
We don’t have a gazillion bucks, and there is no where to play him.
kenhotlanta
December 20th, 2011
3:57 pm
Sad news about Bill Conlin. In the days before ESPN and the Internet, the only way to get Baseball news and rumours was to read The Sporting News…Conlin covered the NL and Peter Gammons the AL and they had a column of news and notes every week. I subscribed to the SN and that was the first thing I read each week.
Chris Mortensen was, I believe, the first AJC reporter to write a Notes column when he was the Braves beat writer, and he may have been the first one to do so in the country, but not sure about that. (DOB will probably know). I think he was at the forefront of a trend that has led to the 24 hours non-stop news that we have today and may not have received the credit he deserves.
Journalist Jimmy Smith would know this story, I’m sure.
CrαZy
December 20th, 2011
3:57 pm
Murph
If Chip doesn’t retire it’s because he had a good 2012… if thats the case the Braves will resign him for another year I bet.
raleighbravefan
December 20th, 2011
3:58 pm
Ward – I agree that we will have a lot mor “breathing room” with the payroll after 2012. I also agree that we should be very careful about/reluctant to trade Prado.
Ward
December 20th, 2011
3:58 pm
Murph-David wright comes to my mind for 3rd in 2013.Braves could keep Prado until then?
David O'Brien
December 20th, 2011
3:59 pm
Darlington: I really like the Dawes CD, only got it a couple weeks ago and like it more each time I played it. It was on and off my top 50 a few times, those last 10 spots being so difficult to pick. I ended up with it on my best-of-rest. Really like it though. As for Cut Copy, I don’t have any of their stuff. Can only rate what I’ve got, not enough time or money to get everything.
MFin04
December 20th, 2011
4:00 pm
“I agree that we will have a lot more “breathing room” with the payroll after 2012. I also agree that we should be very careful about/reluctant to trade Prado.”
Not true. This off-season we were supposed to have a ton of money…but low and behold…it disappears magically through “increases and raises”