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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
776 comments Add your comment
Chief Rocka
December 23rd, 2011
4:42 am
The braves will be fine, as with very year we will find out the trade when the Braves make it and the fans will be excited. Frank Wren will get the player nobody expects but find themselves thinking the Braves will get to the playoffs. I think they will field a team that can take 1st or 2nd depending on how much the manager pushes them.
Kyle
December 23rd, 2011
6:08 am
Who is spending their hard earned money to see this same old crap with the same ending since ‘66 except for one strike shortened year?
Ted
December 23rd, 2011
6:08 am
“:Wren has noted more than once that the Braves had baseball’s fourth-best record on Aug. 26″
And I’d like to note to Wren, once again, that it is irrelevant what the Braves’ record was after 132 games and all that matters was their record after 162 games. 7 weeks ago the Bills were 5-2 – think they are touting that fact right now?
The Nats and Fish being better makes it harder to win games in the division. Meaning a team that won 89 is now looking at 85 wins – all thanks to Wren and company doing jack squat. But, hey, they “like” the team. Awesome. I’ll “like” watching him get fired when the team gets a real owner who doesn’t accept mediocrity and hires a competent GM who understands what it takes to win.
Until then, as Braves’ fans have been doing in larger numbers, I’ll pass on giving them my money. Maybe if enough fans vote with their paychecks, change can happen.
Disgusted
December 23rd, 2011
6:18 am
What starting pitching depth is anyone talking about. You have Hudson and Hanson comminf off injuries and a bunch of untested kids assuming that JJ is moved for a package of eehhh—potential.
Liberrty Media is a joke, and they are like a deadly disease that will not go away.
dap01
December 23rd, 2011
7:01 am
Let’s get a good outfielder, we will have plenty of cash after all of the salary dumps. Let’s give Hicks a chance at SS. Pastornicki is not ready and Hicks can hit better than the names our cheap owners have hinted at getting.
Hey Liberty, how are those season ticket sales going? You are not going to fill up a stadium like this. Horrible management!
Bobby Cox fan club
December 23rd, 2011
7:08 am
Instead of Wren farting around and doing nothing waiting for a trade to materialize that will never happen,why not offer Cody Ross 2 yrs and $8 mil, with incentives that could bring it to $10 mil.I saw he wants a 2 yr deal.Offer Ryan Theriot $1.5 mil with$.5 incentive and the problem is solved,Wren can then go back to sitting on his hands,farting around doing nothing and BS everyone and wait for Spring training.
Lil' Barry Bailout
December 23rd, 2011
7:13 am
“The fact is we like our team,” said Wren
————————-
Again with the mouse in the pocket…who’s this “we”?
Another year of inflated expectations from a slightly above average pitching staff, and a wing and a prayer that a whole bunch of everyday players have breakout seasons or make miraculous recoveries from last year’s injuries.
Prediction: Fail.
Bill M.
December 23rd, 2011
7:16 am
The only solution to the Braves problrm is to clean house. Starting at the top with Liberty Media and all the way to FG. I would keep the young pitching staff along with Heyward, Uggla & Freeman. Time for Chipper to retire and McCann has done about all he can do. Now is the time for McCann to go. Hudson should go after next season. JJ & Prado must go because we know that their feelings toward the Braves are not good. After last season’s choke job, it’s time to move forward with a new owner, management and new players. The team as it is now, will finish above the Mets and that’s not good. I have been supporting this team since 1966 but no more untill big changes are made. It’s just boring to go to the games and tired of losing.
jy
December 23rd, 2011
7:29 am
The sky is falling!!!! Could you ever write about anything positive in Sports?
ta99
December 23rd, 2011
7:32 am
Updated: Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals too?
joe
December 23rd, 2011
7:35 am
the Braves will be challenged offensively again. I’m not convinced that Heyward will be consistant and Bourn is a nice gap hitter but I don’t see a lot of pop in the lineup.If you count on a 40 year old for your 3 hole you are in a bunch of trouble.
steve
December 23rd, 2011
7:47 am
Everbody griping about Liberty Media,Frank Wren, and Freddie G it could be worse Atlanta Spirit Group,Rck Sund, and Larry Drew
fordcobra
December 23rd, 2011
7:47 am
Get a Owner from this area with deep pockets!!! Now!!! Has anyone calculated what it will cost for Chipper to play a game. Since he is at $15M? and he will be lucky to play 90 games???? Management talks about the 4th best team in baseball for most of last season, that is history. This is a game of what have you done for me lately? When the Braves came to the East they were the man, now they are the goat. I heard wild thing on MLB make a astute observation, that was that the Phillies made the decision to go out and spend money to build a team that wins and the results have been a full house for don’t recall the number of years. Anyway winning breeds fans. Just venting, Merry Christmas to All.
ccrider
December 23rd, 2011
8:01 am
look on the bright side – maybe the bravos will do so poorly that they can justify firing the frediot at season’s end
Cecil34
December 23rd, 2011
8:05 am
I am glad Wren likes his team as is; I don’t think that many others that pay to go to games feel totally the same way….
Obviously Wren is handicapped by who the ownership is, and obviously why no moves have been made so far.
After ‘12, if there isn’t improvement, expect some heads to roll, most notably FG’s…..
wardenerd
December 23rd, 2011
8:07 am
the truth is only jean dixon can predict next year. If the players do their best we win if they don’t hit and hit into double plays we lose. There are alot of question marks but every team has them. Watch and enjoy and we always have the court jester in foolish fredi G
sad
December 23rd, 2011
8:17 am
so what happens on the nights that McCann is sitting and chipper sits too. You know they like to do that. Then you have a lineup that is so weak a minor league team can compete. You got to have some pop in the outfield. We have none. This team is marginal at best…
Formerly Known As BravesfaninWis
December 23rd, 2011
8:25 am
“The fact is we like our team,” said Wren, who said the Braves might be better off going to spring training and seeing how some of their own players do before addressing their priority needs and seeing who might become available to fill them.
You Frank Wren are a f’n idiot. Sorry, but liking a team that had that big of a collapse and doing absolutely nothing other than replacing a very good defensive SS with a rookie that has from what I have heard very shaky defense, is a pipe dream that is about to blow up in your stupid face.
Every other contending team in our division has gotten stronger with the exception of the Braves and this fool still believes the Braves will contend? A team doesn’t have that big of a fall and you chalk it up as a fluke. You go out and do what the Marlins, Phillies, and Nationals have done and add players that will help your team. Did Frank Wren do that? No he didn’t because he is living in Franky land and not in reality. Yes the Braves have some very good players, but these players did let one hell of a big lead in the WC race slip away and did absolutely nothing night in and night out but FAIL even though they knew what was at stake.
Sorry Wren, but this is not a team that you leave as is and hope they will win. Last time I checked, it was fan attendance, merchandise, parking, and all the other stuff you baseball players and executives expect the fans to buy in order to live your lavish lifestyles. You guys are putting that in jeopardy because a REAL fan of this team wouldn’t spend their hard earned money to watch a team like this. When attendance is down, I hope heads start to fly.
Dozer
December 23rd, 2011
8:35 am
Duh – gotta tip your cap to the Braves – they sell “pretty good” every year and get away with it…..
Andy
December 23rd, 2011
8:53 am
DOB
I know you aren’t a big downloadable music guy but now through the end of January Amazon has several of your top 50 albums this year on sale for $5. Also many of the other artists you like are on sale as well. Almost all of the Avett Brothers albums are on sale which I am going to jump all over. (Thanks for recommending them by the way. They are my favorite band now.) Good chance for some people to check out some of the music you recommend on the cheap. These will download straight into itunes so it’s completely compatible.
Ray
December 23rd, 2011
8:54 am
Formerly,,, why are you freaking out? The season doesn’t start monday. Spring training doesn’t even start monday. My simple question to you is, would you rather wren make a good move lets say in january or early feb, or make a crazy move what the O’s allegedly suggested now? Braves did not and do not have to make the drastic moves as the nat’s or the marlins. Nat’s got a pitcher that has led the majors in walks over the last 2 yrs. the fish pitching staff has broken down the last couple of years. Good move by them bringing in Burele but its not like he is a Verlander or a CC. Braves pitching staff is still better than nats and marlins. We will see that the braves entire pitching staff will be among the top in performance.
Bama Mike
December 23rd, 2011
8:55 am
If you just woke from a 16 year coma and have listened to Frank and Fredi on the local sports talk stations you would believe that we were just one strike away from a world series title vs the epic collapse. Too many if’s for this team to be anything more than middle of division. Hope I am wrong though.
lfp6
December 23rd, 2011
9:01 am
Lose ground? I would have said yes IF Miami had landed Pujols; seeing that he’s an Angel and not a Marlin, I’d say no, especially since the Fish dont have much pop besides Hanley Ramirez.
We *do* need to work on getting a ss, tho. We wont be able to afford Rollins, much to my displeasure.
Ray
December 23rd, 2011
9:02 am
And for those that are saying Wren needs to offer Cody Ross this or that.. how do you know he hasn’t put an offer on the table to Ross. Do we know that he hasn’t,,,, NO you don’t. I am not too concerned about the braves not signing Cedeno at this point. Hicks could probably do just as good if not better than Cedeno defensively and offensively. Now IF the braves do not do anything to improve the team by opening day.. then I will say Wren didn’t do his job. For those that are jumping all over him,, if he makes a move that clearly improves the team, will you give Wren the props or will you just complain because he didn’t do it when YOU wanted.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
9:12 am
PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND:
PRETEND all you want, but the most significant problem for the Braves is being completely ignored.
The Braves now have or soon will have a significant Pitching problem that will make everything else meaningless.
Four out of the Five Starting Pitchers are coming off injuries. (Pitchers coming off injuries are not like position players coming off injuries – A pitcher may never return to being great.)
So you say – We have a lot of additional young, good Pitching depth — This will not make any difference as long as we continue the situation where — of all the Starting Pitchers that we have had in the 6 or 7 years since Leo left as Pitching Coach, almost all of them have become injured.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
9:12 am
PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND:
PRETEND all you want, but the most significant problem for the Braves is being completely ignored.
The Braves now have or soon will have a significant Pitching problem that will make everything else meaningless.
Four out of the Five Starting Pitchers are coming off injuries. (Pitchers coming off injuries are not like position players coming off injuries – A pitcher may never return to being great.)
So you say – We have a lot of additional young, good Pitching depth — This will not make any difference as long as we continue the situation where — of all the Starting Pitchers that we have had in the 6 or 7 years since Leo left as Pitching Coach, almost all of them have become injured.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
9:12 am
PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND:
PRETEND all you want, but the most significant problem for the Braves is being completely ignored.
The Braves now have or soon will have a significant Pitching problem that will make everything else meaningless.
Four out of the Five Starting Pitchers are coming off injuries. (Pitchers coming off injuries are not like position players coming off injuries – A pitcher may never return to being great.)
So you say – We have a lot of additional young, good Pitching depth — This will not make any difference as long as we continue the situation where — of all the Starting Pitchers that we have had in the 6 or 7 years since Leo left as Pitching Coach, almost all of them have become injured.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
9:12 am
PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND, PRETEND:
PRETEND all you want, but the most significant problem for the Braves is being completely ignored.
The Braves now have or soon will have a significant Pitching problem that will make everything else meaningless.
Four out of the Five Starting Pitchers are coming off injuries. (Pitchers coming off injuries are not like position players coming off injuries – A pitcher may never return to being great.)
So you say – We have a lot of additional young, good Pitching depth — This will not make any difference as long as we continue the situation where — of all the Starting Pitchers that we have had in the 6 or 7 years since Leo left as Pitching Coach, almost all of them have become injured.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
9:13 am
Sorry for the duplication — Computer Problems
Larry
December 23rd, 2011
9:14 am
Just baffling how so many on here want this trade and that trade when simply replacing the dolt that pitched Venters in his 4th consecutive game with a six run lead, actually batted free swinging, guess jitters Gonzalez, Heywqrd and Uggla at leadoff, and kept bitters that were in horrid ruts in key positions in the lineup for weeks and weeks–just to name a few screw ups–would have resulted in probably 8-0 more wins and challenging the Phillies for the division.
Can’t you goobers see it; can’t you see that our greatest need is a manager with a higher aptitude and the necessary baseball instincts and strategic skills to manage during a game? What is it about a manager who let’s Derek Lowe pitch decisive games in the last week of the season you do not get?
NIce man, yes, but dumb as a box of rocks!
Larry
December 23rd, 2011
9:16 am
…and I hate typing on iPads…sorry for the typos!
ray k.
December 23rd, 2011
9:21 am
The 2 guys who least deserve raises after 2011: Uggla and McCann.
I’m not buying into any false hope this year. As usual, too many maybes.
Maybe Heyward bounces back; maybe Prado bounces back; maybe pastornicky plays beyond his experience; maybe the pitchers all recover from surgery…
Ray
December 23rd, 2011
9:24 am
ray k, please tell me a team in our division that does not have a lot of maybes. A matter of fact tell me a team in the majors that don’t have quite a few maybes? We all could go through every team in the majors and realistically list quite a few maybes including the defending champs the cards.
Mike
December 23rd, 2011
9:27 am
DOB…
Thanks for the reply. You spent all our money!
Makes sense. Sucks…but makes sense. I guess if we really want to go after quality free agents again, we either need a year like next year when we have tons of money coming off the books…..or a new owner.
All I want for Christmas is a new owner for my baseball team.
Slowhiteguy
December 23rd, 2011
9:40 am
As usual there is a lot of finger pointing and “Frank Wren sucks” comments…and I have yet to read one solution, one hint at what Frank Wren should do. Give me one realistic match with another team. Never a good idea to make a trade just to make a trade. Play GM for a day….
John A.
December 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
DP you are absolutely on target. I would also like to add…..until we rid ourselves of Frank, Fredi, and Liberty there is little chance of ever winning. Frank has serious difficulty reckonizing talent that is fading, and Fredi couldn’t manage a Little League game without screwing it up.
benchwarmer
December 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
Hmm? hotstove time has become a source of intertainment just like the regular season for some fans. If some one is not making a move then they are losing? Must keep the hotstove action going or fall behind? While this can be an important time for improving ones team it is not always true that action equals gain. The Braves are solid, not just the big league roster but on the farm too. Solid teams make moves later rather than early because weaker teams come to them and the solid teams get their asking price. Hotstove inactivity is not a sign of failure but a demonstration of strength. DO WE REALLY WANT BELTRAN? for example, Ask Met fans what they think about his service over the life of his latest contract. Not much satisfaction there I believe, and his knees are now gone. Don’t get carried away by hot stove itis. Truth is the East will probably end up about as it has for the last several years with the Nats and Mets going in new directions. The Phils are weaker and the Braves could be better with some strong young starting pitchers.
chc4
December 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
The Braves are clearly losing ground. Anyone that says otherwise is either a fool or just making things up. I suspect we have no plans to re-sign Bourn. We’ll see about McCann. I have very little faith that we are going to do anything except fade into irrelevance.
benchwarmer
December 23rd, 2011
9:43 am
entertainment, I know I can’t spell
Lemke's Knuckler
December 23rd, 2011
9:44 am
I wonder if Don got a shoulder injury bumping into Roger McDowell at the stadium. That’s the only logical explanation for his fixation with McDowell and pitching injuries.
benchwarmer
December 23rd, 2011
9:45 am
The sky is falling
Lemke's Knuckler
December 23rd, 2011
9:48 am
I posted this over in the other blog, but thought it appropriate to put it here as well, since we’re debating whether this club is any better or worse than last year.
In my opinion, 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
Ray
December 23rd, 2011
9:51 am
Slow, you are exactly right. A few weeks ago, I did just that.. played GM for the other team. it lasted about 4 posts. At that time a few wanted Wren Bautista.. I played Bluejays GM and this is what it would take to get Mr Bautista, needless to say that little exercise did not last very long. It takes 2 to make a trade and it takes 2 to sign a FA. IF Wren offered or will offer Cody Ross a deal, Ross has to accept it. We do not know what he has or has not offered any team or any FA.
Brava
December 23rd, 2011
9:56 am
I’m going into the season with lowered expectations because there are just too many questions about this team that will remain unanswered until the season is underway. The biggest being, is Tyler Pastornicky ready for the bigs? On November 8, Frank Wren said he wasn’t, now magically, he is. Next, will Jason Heyward be able to correct the swing that most ML pitchers have had pretty much figured out since the middle of the 2010 season? How many games will Chipper be able to play? Will Dan Uggla take until June to start hitting? Will Huddy’s back, Tommy’s shoulder, and Jair’s (if he’s still with us) knee hold up? Can the young starters go more than 5 innings so we don’t burn out the BP?
I’ve no doubt Prado and Mac will be fine, they both have the track records to give me confidence. I also think Freddie Freeman will be OK because he’s shown the ability to make adjustments at the plate. Bourn is a good player with a solid track record. The bench should be better with the subtraction of Conrad, although Matt Diaz doesn’t thrill me (and will even less if he’s in a platoon with another player in LF and Prado is traded). God forbid.
Lot’s of questions and a division where two teams have made dramatic improvements… just doesn’t get me very excited about the Braves chances this season.
Brava
December 23rd, 2011
9:59 am
Oh, and we have, arguably, the best bullpen in baseball. Didn’t want to leave than out.
Slowhiteguy
December 23rd, 2011
10:00 am
The Braves are in the enviable position, in my opinion, to improve just by that fact that they have very young players! Lemke’s Knuckler has laid it out very well. This team, entering the spring of 2012 is in much better shape than what it entered with in the spring of 2011. Have other teams gotten better? Sure they have…but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Braves are solid. Deep breaths.
Ray
December 23rd, 2011
10:02 am
So many questions… Marlins– will hanley be able to handle 3rd base without being a diva. Will the pitching staff remain healthy at least half the season. Will their new SS stay healthy? Phils, will their age catch up to them? How will howard be coming off major injury? Will their bullpen be more stable?
Good grief Charlie Brown
December 23rd, 2011
10:04 am
never mind that Wren hasn’t made any moves yet this offseason. unless this team magically learns how to hit with RISP, then they will do no better next season.
as far as who should be acquired/traded for: you could get Cody Ross, Seth Smith, whoever…but if they are the only ones getting on base and no one else in the lineup is driving them in, then what does it matter?
@Brava: the bench looks the same to me, a few guys whose combined BA hasn’t topped .220.
Reality Check
December 23rd, 2011
10:12 am
Of course they have lost ground. Anyone can see that. The sad thing is that the ownership DOES NOT CARE!!!
chris
December 23rd, 2011
10:13 am
until we have a change at the top of management i.e. GENERAL manager and front office we’ll keep throwing out a team of retreads from mediocre years past and try to sell it to the fans that we just “LOVE OUR TEAM”….love on Wren…hope the fall to the bottom on the NL East in 2012 dont hurt your backside too much..its going to sting.
bigD
December 23rd, 2011
10:13 am
Do you think wayward will spend any time at all in the off season to improve and correct his short comings both offensively and defensivly. Probably not. These modern players with fat guanteed salaries in the miilions have no reason to try to improve.
chris
December 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
and if we want Jones from Baltimore so bad why can’t we give them a young prospect. While all these kids look great now noone knows their final potential. Its always a risk to trade em yes but its also a risk to hang on to them when you could have improved your club by dealing them.
Reality Check
December 23rd, 2011
10:16 am
There is no way they can compete with the Phillies and Marlins, and even the Nats. They’ll compete with the Mets to see who stays out of the cellar, yet still people continue to give their support to this dysfunctional organization. I guess that says a lot about the intelligence, or rather the lack of it, of the average Braves fan.
BravesFanSince1982
December 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
DOB – heard a rumor on another site of a possible 3 way trade in the works between us, the Royals and the Red Sox
KC gets JJ
Bos gets Soria
Atl gets Scutaro, Cain, and maybe prospect
Any validity to this?
Ray
December 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
Chris,, how is one of the young teams in baseball a team of retreads? please explain. Good Grief, you are right but that can say about any team. IF a team does not do a good job hitting with risp, they probably will not make it to the playoffs.
Reality Check
December 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
Why not a fan boycott, until the ownership gets serious about fielding a contender?
Wren Sucks
December 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
The Braves will finish 4th in the NL East. The Phillies,Marlins,and Nationals are all now better than them. Thanks for nothing. We haven’t had a star left fielder in 25 years.
63 year Braves fan
December 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
I agree with Michael G time to trade McCann while he still has high value especially to an American
League team (designated hitter). As he ages he will become even slower (if that’s possible) and he is a very poor defensive catcher. He would probably bring a fast, right handed power hitting outfielder which
the Braves sorely need. Go with David Ross (I like him alot and bring along young Bettencourt slowly).
Don't Care Anymore
December 23rd, 2011
10:22 am
FAN BOYCOTT! FAN BOYCOTT! FAN BOYCOTT! Don’t go to games, or even watch them on T.V. Don’t buy any merchandise either. TOTAL BOYCOTT!!!
Slowhiteguy
December 23rd, 2011
10:22 am
That trade makes some sense, just not sure Boston would go with Punto or Iglesias at ss now that Lowrie is gone. Aviles is not ideal either.
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
10:23 am
I won’t be buying any tickets this year. A common feller like myself can see the need of a power bat in LF yet the GM Mr. Wren says standing pat is good. Its sad that a mere fan knows more than the GM does…
Don't Care Anymore
December 23rd, 2011
10:25 am
Ownership doesn’t care. The front office doesn’t care. Why should we the fans care???
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
10:28 am
I’ll take my son fishing instead of to a Braves game. I usually take him to 5 to 10 home games every year. But for the ownership & GM to see 3 teams in their division improve by adding players and for the Braves to do nothing makes my decision an easy one.
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
10:36 am
N.L. East Analysis :
Phillies : By adding Papelbon they’ve solidified the closers role that was shaky with Lidge last year. this should win them 10-15 more games this year.
Marlins : Added Reyes,H.Bell,Buehrle. Buehrle is the key. He will win almost every game he pitches. So that means in a 3 game series chalk one up as an automatic loss (like Halladay with Phillies). They should win 25-30 more games this year.
Nationals : Get Strasburg back and added starter Gio Gonzalez. That’s 2 aces added to a great young hitting team. They should win 15-20 more games this year.
Braves : Added nothing. Lost Lowe & A.Gonzalez. Major question marks in LF and SS. Great pitching but those young pitchers all can’t pitch all at once and none of them can hit. Will likely lose 10-20 more games than last year.
Mets : Lost Reyes & Beltran. Added nothing. Like the Braves they will lose 10-20 more games than last year.
Nativebird
December 23rd, 2011
10:42 am
“Budget-conscious Braves” is the most understated description of the decade. No, sorry, 2 decades. Why you ask? Answer: Simply, We the Atlanta fans allow it. Every team since 1991 continues to be measured against the level of Joke franchise it was prior to that year. John Schuerholz has built a lucrative life around it. He’s the personification of P.T. Barnum’s 1st rule. In sports parlance, simply put: The incredible yearning of a sports fan-base to “not suck” is 100 times more powerful than the desire to win a Championship. The former, however, is the Achilles heel of the latter. Until THAT dynamic changes in this town, nothing else will change about the most under-performing sports franchise in America, The Atlanta Braves.
74bravesjersey
December 23rd, 2011
10:42 am
Man wren; js; Ya’ll have disgusted a whole lot of braves faithful for what, no results, the braves brass should feel alot of heat from the fan base, yes were anxious, & dang it we got a right to be because were tired of being taken in w/mediocrity. I believe the fan base is fed up, mabey someone out there will do something about it. The heat is getting hotter.
74bravesjersey
December 23rd, 2011
10:42 am
Man wren; js; Ya’ll have disgusted a whole lot of braves faithful for what, no results, the braves brass should feel alot of heat from the fan base, yes were anxious, & dang it we got a right to be because were tired of being taken in w/mediocrity. I believe the fan base is fed up, mabey someone out there will do something about it. The heat is getting hotter.
BravesFanSince1982
December 23rd, 2011
10:43 am
Didn’t the Phillies win like 101 games this year? You’re suggesting they win 116? I definitely don’t see that.
I think the Phillies come back a little to the pack, the Braves remain about a 90 win team, and the Nats and Marlins move up a bit.
Phil 94-68
Atl 90-72
Wash 88-74
Mia 82-80
NY 64-98
Bill
December 23rd, 2011
10:46 am
Fans calling for Cody Ross= last year 240BA,14 hrs, 52 rbi’s…yes he would fit right in with the group we have now…just another no hit guy. Why did SF not resign?
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
10:49 am
Phillies 105-57
Marlins 91-71
Washington 88-74
Braves 85-77
Mets 62-100
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
10:51 am
The offense of Phillies,Marlins,Nats will offset the Braves pitching easily. Remember all the 1-0,2-0,3-0 losses last year ? And we add nothing to the offense this year.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
10:51 am
Anyone who truly believes that Wren will do nothing is an idiot, and hasn’t watched him operate over the last few years. While you babies cry about not signing Pujols, or trading young talent for old, expensive “big names”, Wren is playing it close to the vest as HE ALWAYS HAS. Do you really think he’s just going to spill his guts about the plans he has in the offseason. His job does not entail letting fans know of his every plan and behind the scenes discussion. Despite the collapse, we were a second place team. Hardly an excuse to “clean house.” We’re not the Astros. EDUCATE YOURSELF!!!
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
10:51 am
By the way, Cody Ross and Theriot are garbage.
BravesFanSince1982
December 23rd, 2011
10:52 am
Not sure the Marlins are going to improve THAT much. Buerhle will help, but what can they expect from Johnson? Will Reyes stay healthy? Will an unhappy Hanley be a disruption?
Bill
December 23rd, 2011
10:53 am
Bravesfan82…I’d take that deal..u bet!
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
10:54 am
The Marlins aren’t there yet. Reyes will get hurt, Hanley will get whiny, and aside from Buerhle and Bell, the whole pitching staff has alot of question marks. They will improve, but they won’t win 90 games. The Nats will be better.
Lee in S GA
December 23rd, 2011
10:54 am
Lemke’s Knuckler –
I wonder if Don got a shoulder injury bumping into Roger McDowell at the stadium.
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lol
freshd
December 23rd, 2011
10:55 am
The Braves should have traded for Matt Kemp two years ago when he was on the market. Now the guy is turning into a star.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
10:56 am
Staying home
You have an exaggerated view of how many players a player is worth. If Papelbon was responsible for 10-15 wins alone, he’d be the greatest baseball player of all time. Google the WAR stat.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
10:56 am
* wins a player is worth. My bad
BravesFanSince1982
December 23rd, 2011
10:57 am
I totally agree, Owl Hunter. I think the Nats have moved themselves up now with the acquisition of Gio and the young talent they already have. Would love to see the Phillies fall off and have it be a race between the Nats and us, but they still look pretty strong with that rotation.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
10:59 am
Also, we need several pitchers pitching at one time, and they all have to be good hitters? Do you even watch baseball?
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:01 am
BravesFan
With our bad luck against the Nats, I’d be worried about it coming down to us and them. I think the Phils will still finish first, us second, and Nats third. All will be close to each other. Marlins still have a ways to go.
jb
December 23rd, 2011
11:03 am
cry babies for not signing Pujols–lol. OWL…Braves fans never thought Braves would sign any damn body for that kind of money. Braves fans are not stupid! Wren always does–yes he has really screwed up a few times.
You Owl are a homer. Just turn your TV on and go back to sleep.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:11 am
jb
First of all, quit throwing around terms like “homer” until you understand what they mean. EVERY GM has screwed up from time to time, but Wren has done more good than bad. All you have to do is look at the waves of young talent we have coming up. Venters, Kimbrel, Hanson, Feeman, Pastor, Teheran, Delgado, Minor, Beachy, Heyward, Minor, Gilamartin. Do you think he had nothing to do with that? He also got Uggla for nothing, and Arodys for an expensive pitcher on the decline, and Bourn for castaways. I look at things objectively, and not through knee-jerk reactions of overzealous fans. I can go to sleep whenever I want, but you can’t seem to wake up.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:12 am
Simmons, Terdoslavich, Hoover, Bethancourt, Salcedo…
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:13 am
Wren will make a move. It will be unexpected and savvy. You will all find a reason to whine about it.
jb
December 23rd, 2011
11:20 am
knee-jerk reactions of overzealous fans…lol–I guess you “Mr. Wonderful”.
benchwarmer
December 23rd, 2011
11:23 am
Hey everyone get with the season. Way too much Grinchy gloom on the blog today.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:25 am
jb
Didn’t say eveything is wonderful, just looking at the big picture. You should try it sometime.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:25 am
Read this (and pretty much anything else on this blog). It’s interesting.
http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=5162#comments
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:34 am
Name a GM who hasn’t made a bad trade or signing from time to time. Wren is not the best in the game, but he’s better than most, especially with the budget he has to work with. By the way, Liberty allows him to spend what the team makes. Maybe if people support the team more instead of acting like the sky is falling every time we lose, there will be more money to spend. Unfortunately, in this economy, every team can’t afford to spend wildly just because the fans want them to. Some of you could learn a lot from Cardinals fans.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
11:36 am
Staying Home, your estimate of 85 wins for the Braves is probably a lot closer to being right than the other estimate of 90. Even your estimate of 85 may be too high.
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
11:37 am
Owl, I meant Papelbon will save the 15-20 games that Lidge blew last year.
Also what I meant by all the 20 young pitchers was we have a plethra of pitching while LF & SS remain question marks.
Maybe you need to learn how to interpret what bloggers type ?
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
11:38 am
Ignorant Owl. The Cardinals also had the best player in MLB fof 10 years (Pujols).
jb
December 23rd, 2011
11:38 am
Owl, I disagree with your opinions but respect your right to them.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
On the Braves–we’ll see what happens.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:40 am
Staying Home
Papelbon saving all those games is hardly a given, and you’re forgetting that Madson spent time as the closer. What you said in your original post implied that Papelbon will be responsible for 15 or more of the team’s overall win total. I’m not sure if that’s what you really meant, but either way, that’s not really possible.
Owl Hunter
December 23rd, 2011
11:41 am
jb
Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.
Staying Home
December 23rd, 2011
11:41 am
I’m looking at the present picture. I saw decent Marlins & Nationals (Phillies too) teams VASTLY improve while the Braves did not. Will those new players pay off for those teams ? If the stats of those players are true then I say yes. All were stars last year so I don’t see them becoming duds in 2012.
Don
December 23rd, 2011
11:42 am
Yall all have fun
Ingnoring the fact that FOUR out of our FIVE Starting Pitchers are coming off INJURIES – and that out of all the Starting Pitchers that we have had since Leo left – ALMOST EVERY ONE has become injured.
And pretending that this is probably not going to cause us to have significant pitching problems – making everything else meaningless. Our having great depth in additional young pitching talent will not make any difference if we continue the situation were almost every Starting Pitcher ends up being injured.