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4,717 comments Add your comment
DAP
January 4th, 2012
10:33 am
ray I personally like A Jones. I think he would be an upgrade and solve our LF void
what void in LF? we have no void.
chipper’s ACL The “potential” label needs to come off. Reality is to date he’s a little over a .500 pitcher. Terrible at holding on runners. He’s a 6 inning pitcher, has one complete game in his career, and we all know who his agent is.
folks really under value tommy hanson. he was hurt this year, but he is a pitcher that compares favorably to another pitcher people seem to swoon over. david price. hanson is actually slighty better than david price…but hanson gets slammed like hes an underachiever or something. c’mon people.
Arkansas Transplant
January 4th, 2012
10:33 am
Efrim, sorry I didn’t even see that you mentioned JJ to the Yanks earlier. I had mentioned about a month ago that a JJ to the Yanks for a return that would include Montero and either Gardner or Nunez could help both teams next season. I doubt they move one of their top pitching prospects to get a deal done.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:36 am
AT, I don’t think they would move either Montero, Banuelos or Betances for Jurrjens. If they aren’t willing to do it for Garza and weren’t for Gio…..Also, I doubt Cashman wants to move Mason Williams either. Potential stud, that kid.
RC, that makes sense. He’s got some athletic ability and seems to be taking more walks. However he’s pretty damn old for his level. Turns 25 in May of this year, and it’ll be his first trip to Triple-A. We’ll need some new bench pieces in 2013, so that would be a nice role for him.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:38 am
Hanson is a #1 starter when healthy, imo. Best pitcher in the org. A real shame if his shoulder doesn’t hold up. Hurts the Braves future…
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:42 am
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Sources: Talks between #Orioles, #Braves over A. Jones are “nowhere.” Braves will not trade one of top four young SPs for Jones. MORE #MLB
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Taking Jurrjens, Prado makes no sense for #Orioles unless they can get one of those four. Talks fluid, but no current momentum. #Braves #MLB
Couch Tater
January 4th, 2012
10:44 am
Efrim – I found it interesting, the Astros hired Stephanie Wilka. She worked for the Dodgers…for less than her predecessor. About $300,000 less.
…It made the NY Times.
…She’s an attorney and a Harvard grad. haha
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:45 am
Makes sense. Jones isn’t worth one of the Big 4(Teheran, Vizcaino, Minor, Delgado) and I agree that Jurrjens/Prado don’t make sense in exchange for Adam Jones. If they are trading Jones, it should be for prospects.
Bat Masterson
January 4th, 2012
10:45 am
hanson is actually slighty better than david price…but hanson gets slammed like hes an underachiever or something. c’mon people. _ DAP
No kidding! I guess its because he’s a Braves pitcher. And “a little over .500 pitcher”?
That’s just crazy. The year before last give him just decent run support and he wins 20 games. Plus if he’s no big deal who gives a rat’s ass who his agent is.
He does suck at keeping runners close. Gotta give him that.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 4th, 2012
10:46 am
We got Luis Durango
BOOM!
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:46 am
Couch Tater, I saw that. Funny stuff.
Jimmy
January 4th, 2012
10:46 am
Everyone is looking at Baltimore and A Jones.
I wouldn’t be suprised if Wren landed someone who is off the current radar screen.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:47 am
We got Luis Durango
BOOM!
Just another ordinary day dominating this blog for Coach.
DAP
January 4th, 2012
10:49 am
bat He does suck at keeping runners close. Gotta give him that.
good thing is, he doesnt allow many baserunners. fewer than david price, over their careers. hanson has a 1.175 WHIP for his career. thats pretty good.
Random
January 4th, 2012
10:50 am
David O’Brien (January 4th, 2012 10:00 am): “Well said re: Bourn at 9:43 a.m.”
Thanks, DOB.
I love you, man.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:50 am
I wouldn’t be suprised if Wren landed someone who is off the current radar screen.
I know there is still a little less than 7 weeks until pitchers and catchers report, but how many big trades occur in January? I suppose it all depends on the development of the free agent/trade market, but as the days go by, the more likely it seems Jurrjens and Prado will play 2012 in Atlanta.
Bat Masterson
January 4th, 2012
10:51 am
DAP_
Yeah, but when does they steal on him at will. Not they are likely to score anyway, but it makes McFann mad.
Sopheee
January 4th, 2012
10:52 am
McFann -
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/us/2012/01/03/ga-black-turkey-vultures-walb.walb
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
10:52 am
hanson has a 1.175 WHIP for his career. thats pretty good.
Especially for a starter.
b
January 4th, 2012
10:56 am
Putting people on the trading block(Prado) because of salary arbitration makes me sick.
Are we going to become the new Oakland A’s?
If Prado is traded, the heart of the team, fans should boycott the Braves.
Then I hope we go back to the 70’s and 80’s and draw around a million fans per season.
Disgusting!
And no one from the Braves, as far as I know, will say why they dumped on Constanza last year.
He should play 140 plus games. Give him a chance.
DAP
January 4th, 2012
10:58 am
mcfann, sounds like the news story describes them as black OR turkey vultures. they dont know what they are.
JoeBrave
January 4th, 2012
11:03 am
B.really? Wow!
Jimmy
January 4th, 2012
11:04 am
In the video, I saw both Turkey (red head) and Black (black head) buzzards. The Turkey has a very keen eye and smell and can find dead animals fairly easy. That’s when the Black buzzards move in and try to run them off.
DAP
January 4th, 2012
11:04 am
b And no one from the Braves, as far as I know, will say why they dumped on Constanza last year.
He should play 140 plus games. Give him a chance.
starting around august 21st, constanza hit .162/.162/.162 with a .324 OPS. bourne was here playing, prado was playing, and heyward from the same time was OPSing around .717 (bad, but better than georgie)
so, does someone from the braves really need to exaplin to you why he stopped playing as much? its pretty obvious, right?
richbrave
January 4th, 2012
11:05 am
“All right Frankie!” Bloodsport.
“We had a [blog] waiting.” Stripes
“A-a-a-a-g-g-g-h-h-h! Tension breaker. Had to be done.” Summer School.
Come on FRANK. The suspense is driving us mad.
“Ya’ gotta’ let me know now, What’s it gonna’ be……boy” Thalia
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:06 am
@DAP, you are right, technically we do not have a void in LF. Do we need an upgrade, I think so. I don’t see the O’s and the Braves coming up with a deal. Mainly because DD is not going to give up their biggest name in a deal unless he is the clear cut winner in the deal. Duquette cannot afford from a public opinion standpoint to let AJ go for a pretty good deal. It will have to be a great deal for the O’s. Plus thats the only way Angelos will possibly sign off on it.
Jimmy
January 4th, 2012
11:08 am
Effrim -I don’t think Wren is serious about Jones. The price is too high and his production is down (K’s are up) in the last threee seasons.
If anything is in the works, I feel it is behind the curtains until announced.
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
11:09 am
For a team like the Yankees … But again, since we have no clue as to the prospects being discussed, it’s hard to say which is more steep.
For a team like the Yankees neither is really “steep” as they’ve shown in the past they can buy their way out of any mistake.
From where I’m sitting, Jurrjens is easily the better pitcher. easily. He has a floor higher than Edwin’s ceiling. I don’t think his knee issue is as big of a concern as many are making it out to be. (Rivals naturally make it to be a big deal in attempt to drive down the price.) To me, looking at those two and knowing the history of Lowe, Burnett, etc. Edwin at $80M+ is a worse deal than trading for Jurrjens. There’s no upside with Edwin.
RC
January 4th, 2012
11:11 am
Efrim,
Jones is old for his level, but I took that to be primarily due to the fact they’ve switched his position 3 or 4 times, before finally deciding he should play everywhere and learn to be a utilty guy. Probably made that decision due to what the org views as his low ceiling….they can get more value out of having him as a cheap bench piece.
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
11:13 am
but as the days go by, the more likely it seems Jurrjens and Prado will play 2012 in Atlanta.
True. As the days go by the more it seems the phrases like “upgrade the outfield offense”, “right handed corner power bat”, “slight increase in payroll”, and many others were… nothing. Wren could have just made farting noise with his hand and it would have carried the same impact and meaning.
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
11:15 am
hanson has a 1.175 WHIP for his career. thats pretty good.
Especially for a starter.
Certainly hope his should is fine and he hasn’t Prior-ed/Avery-ed on us.
DAP
January 4th, 2012
11:15 am
ray you are right, technically we do not have a void in LF. Do we need an upgrade, I think so
but the O’s dont have an upgrade to offer. that convo is a waste of time.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:17 am
As the days go by the more it seems the phrases like “upgrade the outfield offense”, “right handed corner power bat”, “slight increase in payroll”, and many others were… nothing.
You were pretty big on taking those things to heart. I never really was. Not everything our GM says is going to happen.
CB
January 4th, 2012
11:19 am
Random and DOB being cordial – will the Earth stand still?
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:20 am
DAP, they don’t have an upgrade for the price they are asking. But Jones would be an upgrade for the Braves in LF if they could get him for the right price. And I just won’t comment on the convo is a waste of time. Not worth the time.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:22 am
I don’t think his knee issue is as big of a concern as many are making it out to be. (Rivals naturally make it to be a big deal in attempt to drive down the price.)
I don’t know. I think durability is pretty important, and he hasn’t made many starts the last two seasons. Jackson being able to take the ball every fifth day is pretty valuable. Can’t say the same for Jurrjens. And Jackson has been a better pitcher the last three seasons than he was earlier in his career with the Rays, that’s for sure.
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:22 am
Efrim, you are correct. All of our comments on moves are simple guesses. We can somewhat put pieces together with the rumors etc. But none of us have access to the details of any of the conversations that take place.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:24 am
Jones would be an upgrade defensively, but I don’t believe he would be an upgrade with the bat. Prado has had a better four years than Jones has.
richbrave
January 4th, 2012
11:24 am
WINTER BALL
AUSTRALIA – regular season
1B MATT KENNELLY [.274 BA] 1-5.
DOMINICA – playoofs
LICEY TIGERS
3B DONEL LINARES [.143 BA] 1-4, 1 RBI [2].
C-MART [8.10 ERA] 0.2 IP, 1 BB, 2 BF, 1 GO/ 0 AO.
PUERTO RICO
CAROLINA GIANTS – end of regular season
RF BRAIHIAM MALDONADO [.160 BA] 1-4, 2 SO.
VENEZUELA – playoffs
ANTOATEGUI INDIANS
No BRAVES played.
ZULIA EAGLES
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.000 BA] 0-4. 2 SO. His SO-BB ratio is slowly worsening. Somebody has found a hole in his swing. Prolly pressing thinking about getting to the ML’s.
Don
January 4th, 2012
11:28 am
Ordinarly you NEVER trade great pitching – But the Braves situation is not ordinary for 2 reasons:
((1) First of all, these young starters who had already shown they were going to be great – may never return to being great – when they have already been injured and are coming off injuries.
(2) And most significant of all — since Leo left as Pitching Coach 6 or 7 years ago – of all the large number of Starting Pitchers we have had, almost EVERY ONE has become INJURED.
Thus, IF ALL OF OUR STARTING PITCHERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE INJURED, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE – IF YOU TRADE THEM AWAY.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:29 am
Also, at this point, trading Jurrjens for prospects and using the money to “upgrade” the offense doesn’t really make sense. What free agents are out there? None that make it worth trading Jurrjens to free up cash. I suppose we can then trade prospects for a bat, however I;m not sure that makes a ton of sense. Braves have around 87 million in committments for 2012. They had a 91 million dollar payroll in 2011, so trading Jurrjens 5 million+ salary would give them near 10 million to spend…..on what exactly?
Lew
January 4th, 2012
11:30 am
Don – Were you dropped on your head as a child by a pitching coach?
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:30 am
My only point about Adam Jones is he would be an upgrade defensively in LF but I think with his presence he would help Prado as well. Those days when Chipper or Jones or Bourn need some time off, he would be extremely valuable. Prado could get his 20-25 bats a week.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:32 am
Baseball America – New York Yankees Top 10 prospects
1. Jesus Montero, c
2. Manny Banuelos, lhp
3. Dellin Betances, rhp
4. Gary Sanchez, c
5. Mason Williams, of
6. Dante Bichette, 3b
7. Ravel Santana, of
8. Austin Romine, c
9. J.R. Murphy, c/3b
10. Slade Heathcott, of
raleighbravefan
January 4th, 2012
11:34 am
Most of the complaining about Wren is due to the fact that those people are relying on rumor, and assuming those rumors are true. Has there been an actual offer for a deal that is in the best interest of the Braves? NONE OF US KNOWS. Appearantly not, in the view of Wren.
NO DEAL IS MUCH BETTER THAN A BAD DEAL…WHEATHER A TRADE, OR A FA SIGNING…and you cannot ignore the budget constraints, no matter how much you hate them. Some moves will be made, but it may not happen until near end of ST. We don’t play real games until April.
raleighbravefan
January 4th, 2012
11:36 am
Lew – I figure McDowell must have insulted his wife…Of course being married to him is insult enough.
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:36 am
Before, anyone starts jumping on Dante Bichette as part of a trade. the report on him is he has a big hole in his swing and they have a concern whether or not he can handle higher level pitching. He apparently is not his dad’s hitter.
Random
January 4th, 2012
11:38 am
b (January 4th, 2012 10:56 am): “Putting people on the trading block(Prado) because of salary arbitration makes me sick.
Are we going to become the new Oakland A’s?
If Prado is traded, the heart of the team, fans should boycott the Braves.”
Prado is “the heart of the team”???
What about Chipper Jones?
What about Brian McCann?
What about Tim Hudson?
What about Tommy Hanson, David Ross, Matt Diaz, Jason Heyward or Freddie Freeman???
“Heart of the team”, my ass.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:40 am
Yeah, Bichette, Jr. has some serious holes as a prospect. List drops off after Mason Williams.
74bravesjersey
January 4th, 2012
11:41 am
“B” I’m sorta w/ you, I thought costanza brought nice energy when he was in there, I wish I was a good stats guy, I just looked at costanza’s stats in only 42g’s hitting .303 aint to shabby. Jason heyward (I’m hoping can come through His stats career wise 270g’s played 221k’s. What counts for me is heart,a hunger,( he loved lickin’ that wood) a passion, clutch performance. I’m sure Jason will get through hopefully injury free, but little man jose is a hustler.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:41 am
“Heart of the team”, my ass.
Hah! So true.
raleighbravefan
January 4th, 2012
11:41 am
b – We all love Prado….but Wren must do whatever he feels improves the Braves…That’s his job (BTW, we all loved Infante as well…life goes on).
You are welcome to boycott whatever you wish, including this blog.
heymmered
January 4th, 2012
11:45 am
I really hope Constanza’s inability to take a walk is really hurting him. Someone with that kind of speed needs to be on base.
heymmered
January 4th, 2012
11:45 am
I meant to say I really hope he works on his plate discipline.
RoyU
January 4th, 2012
11:46 am
Trade any and all who have Scott Borass as an agent. Why??? Because if they are any good, the Braves will lose them anyhow! Knowing Borass was his agent, Bourne never should have been traded for in the first place. Chipper is a great person and Braves’ fans have been blessed to have him. However, everyone would be better off if he could be aDH in an american league team where he would spend much less time being disabled one way or another. The same lame thinking that would consider getting rid of Prado will eventually bring the Braves down even further than they have gone in the past 6-7 years. Yes, we have talent, some on the field and some on the farm. Unfortunately we have little in the areas of management and ownership!!!
Jack Lill
January 4th, 2012
11:48 am
They willl not do anything as long as they have Wrem screwing around. They should fire hin. The Braves now are at best a forth place club. He has one of the top center fielders in the game ans he has made no effort to sign him. Wren needs to go
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
11:50 am
Ah, the crazies are in full gear this morning….
DAP
January 4th, 2012
11:53 am
ray they don’t have an upgrade for the price they are asking. But Jones would be an upgrade for the Braves in LF if they could get him for the right price
no, they dont have a player better than the one weve got, period.
i take that back. jj hardy would be a nice pickup. as far as the outfield goes, prado is better than jones.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
11:57 am
Chipper should be traded to an AL team so he can DH.
Prado can be our SS.
Sign Bourn for a discount while they still can.
WOW. These sort of statements fall in the same category. Engage scroll button.
CB
January 4th, 2012
11:57 am
I wonder what it would take to pry Hardy away from Orioles? He would interest me much more than Jones.
Murph
January 4th, 2012
11:57 am
Is Minor really considered one of the “Big 4″ for the Braves? The guy pitched ok towards the end of the season last year, but I wouldn’t hesitate to trade him if it improved the offense. Wouldn’t hesitate a bit.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
11:59 am
DAP
Agreed, that Prado is better than Jones. At least in my book. The proof is in the OPS pudding!
Jimmy
January 4th, 2012
11:59 am
I thought school was back in?
Can’t tell by some of these post. Worse than in-game.
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
12:01 pm
You were pretty big on taking those things to heart. I never really was. Not everything our GM says is going to happen.
Yes. I was big on the offense being addressed and there being payroll flexibility. At a minimum I believed Wren, that something would be done. I trusted the GM would not foolishly think that the calendar flipping would suddenly take an 85 expected-win team into the post season. Perhaps he knew it was a shoe-in that 2012 would have the expanded gimp bracket to allow more losers a chance at the playoffs.
Still though, of everything he said, the only thing that has come to fruition is him sending Lowe away. 1 thing. Gotta think even with your skepticism of all things Wren, you expected a bit more than that. The teams offense was atrocious last year and nothing has been done to address that. Every veteran in the rotation is injured or coming off surgery. Apparently one of them is so badly mauled by the game he isn’t worth more than a non-tender platoon bench player. I don’t see the Braves, as currently constructed, as “championship” caliber. However, I will concede that with the expanded playoffs they could be “contenders” but merely because the bar has been lowered.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 4th, 2012
12:02 pm
Manny Ramirez in LF….
BOOM!
O.J.
January 4th, 2012
12:03 pm
How about Minor and Prado for Jones?
Arkansas Transplant
January 4th, 2012
12:04 pm
Murph, long time no read. How was Christmas and New Year’s? Did you get all of the lipstick removed? That was a pretty funny picture.
Arkansas Transplant
January 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
JJ to the yanks for Montero and Nunez. Montero to LF and Nunez to the bench as a SS backup.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
Is Minor really considered one of the “Big 4″ for the Braves?
Yes, absolutely. Although the Braves really have a “Big 7″ – Hanson, Beachy, Minor, Teheran, Vizcaino, Delgado and Gilmartin.
old man
January 4th, 2012
12:08 pm
Between Jurrjens and Minor I would rather have Minor.
unbelievable
January 4th, 2012
12:08 pm
OJ – No…Jones inst worth a cost controlled big league starter, he’s never put an .800OPS. He doesnt improve our offense over Prado and we lose versatility and a starter. Just doesnt make sense.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:10 pm
Still though, of everything he said, the only thing that has come to fruition is him sending Lowe away. 1 thing. Gotta think even with your skepticism of all things Wren, you expected a bit more than that.
My biggest concern right now is that when Chipper Jones is out of the lineup(happens often), Jose Constanza is our 4th outfielder and if/when Tyler Pasotrnicky stuggles because he is really young as a rookie, minor league free agent Drew Sutton is our SS. Wren is making it seem like these holes can be filled during Spring Training, however I was hoping for a bit more in both these areas. I was hoping for a veteran starting SS with Pastornicky still in Gwinnett. I was also hoping for an outfielder who many felt could step in for Heyward if he continued to struggle and also play LF with not too much of a drop off if Chipper went down. None of these things have happened, so I am dissappointed there. I was just never expecting a “big bat” in a corner like Nick Swisher, Carlos Quentin, etc. Never expected that sort of an acquisition.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
12:11 pm
Folks that think Adam Jones is actually a better hitter than Martin Prado should take a look at their history.
And we want to ADD a pitcher with Martin to get a lesser hitter?? I am baffled? 8 more HR’s per year is not worth the decrease in OBP.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:12 pm
I’d be pretty happy to keep Jurrjens and Prado, sign Cody Ross and Ronny Cedeno and to go to battle in April. I think that’s a pretty good team.
And as for the 2nd Wild Card team – I’ve read that is most likely to be installed in 2013 and not this upcoming season.
Jimmy
January 4th, 2012
12:14 pm
I sign on with Effrin and DS1!
Not a feasible trade. I think it is a distraction tactic.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:16 pm
For fun, my NFL Wild Card weekend picks: Houston over Cincinnati, New Orleans over Detroit, New York over Atlanta, and Pittsburgh over Denver.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
12:18 pm
Efrim
I think Cody Ross is still the best FA answer, but my guess is that FW is more interested in a trade.
But if Ross’ salary demands come down to 6-7 million for 2 years, we should pull the trigger.
I think the Adam Jones talk is all smoke and mirrors. I cannot see FW dealing Prado for him. Maybe Jurrjens and a minor leaguer.
10-Paul
You really only have 2 slots to improve the offense. LF and SS. And do you really think you can do better than Prado? Unless we go for a guy like McCutchen, most of the other suspects are lesser players than Marteen.
And with our limited payroll, I really don’t expect much of a SS upgrade over Pastornicky.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
12:20 pm
I’d be OK with Ross and Cedeno, but I expect that we will get neither of them.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:22 pm
I think Cody Ross is still the best FA answer, but my guess is that FW is more interested in a trade.
Agreed. At some point, a trade will be made. I hope….
You really only have 2 slots to improve the offense. LF and SS.
I don’t think TenneseePaul thinks in these terms. I think he wants a outfielder, period. And if that outfielder plays in RF over Heyward, then that’s okay as long as it upgrades the offense. I could be completely wrong.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
12:35 pm
And to be honest, it will be hard to improve at LF without making a big IMcCutchen type player) splash.
But I would have to agree with 10Paul that to add a significant OF’er would be a huge move. Now the question is this: Who decides what qualifies as significant? I guess that’d be FW.
I am OK with Prado moving to 3B when Chipper sits, but we need better than Constanza to fill that void. Maybe Matty Diaz is OK against lefties, but this is where Seth Smith would fit in nicely.
And he could cover RF if Heyward goes down for any reason.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 4th, 2012
12:36 pm
This A.Jones talk is sounding more and more like one of those things that will be nothing more than some little rumor that will be buried in another offseason history book.
Nothing will come out of this. We’re being strung along is all.
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
12:40 pm
Efrim: I was just never expecting a “big bat” in a corner like Nick Swisher, Carlos Quentin, etc. Never expected that sort of an acquisition.
Your expectations aren’t far out of line with mine I don’t think. I see the difference being in the defining of the player value of potential acquisitions and current players. But what you did expect to happen is what I expected to happen. And I don’t expect those pieces to be found in Spring Training either. And that, too me, is disappointing and sets up for a mundane season.
Wayne: You really only have 2 slots to improve the offense. LF and SS. And do you really think you can do better than Prado? Unless we go for a guy like McCutchen, most of the other suspects are lesser players than Marteen.
There is an entire bench worth of potential improvements on this team, not merely the two starting positions. Fortunately some of the bench has been cleared, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean it was cleared for improvement.
And, let’s just say that I think there are more players in the majors that are better than Prado than simply Andrew McCutchen.
…….
If the knock on Jurrjens is his starts/games played/durability, it would seem apt to apply to Prado as well. For he has also been injured the past two years. And worse than Jair, Prado’s numbers have declined with those injuries. Jurrjens actually improved last year from the year before.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 4th, 2012
12:40 pm
Ross won’t happen either. JJ will be traded for some young, cheap player who could maybe get some playing time this year, but they’ll be aiming for him to start or platoon in ‘13. Unfortunately, Diaz will see a lot of playing time this year. UGH!
DS1
January 4th, 2012
12:41 pm
Brian
You might feel like you’re being strung along, but I really don’t.
The moves we have made (or not made) have not been unexpected.
DS1
January 4th, 2012
12:44 pm
No disagreement from me 10-Paul on Prado’s injury history or other OF’er being better than him.
I just think that when you have a pretty tight budget, you’ve gotta dance with the one you brung a bit longer sometimes.
Ya know, to see if they get prettier?
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
12:45 pm
I think he wants a outfielder, period. And if that outfielder plays in RF over Heyward, then that’s okay as long as it upgrades the offense. I could be completely wrong.
I’d disagree in some fashion on SS. I understand and agree with not blocking that position when you have viable minor league candidates. LF I think could be a position to improve. It’s been a black hole for a decade now and I really see no reason why the team couldn’t get a good player for the position. Every year Wren has said the payroll will expand slightly. All those expansions should have been enough to cover the cost of more than a converted utility infielder.
As to playing over Heyward. I’d have liked a guy who could play LF, be right handed, and if Heyward stumbles, be capable of filling in there or platooning. I don’t see Diaz as the first or best option for this. I see Diaz as the guy who takes over in LF if Heyward falls flat and the newly acquired guy moves over to cover.
I had hoped for such an improvement and a rebound from Heyward which would have rewarded this team with a strong bench and deep outfield. Cody Ross really doesn’t fit that desire. But kudos for Cody. He should hold out for as much as he can. Why the Braves couldn’t afford him at $5M a year for 2 years is a bit weird. They do have a lot coming off the books next year.
ccrider
January 4th, 2012
12:48 pm
I wonder if this trade of Prado is a result of his wanting to play 2nd base and not being happy in a multi purpose role.
Maybe, the Braves don’t want to trade him, maybe they are trying to find a something that will satisfy both parties and that would be hard to do.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:49 pm
JJ will be traded for some young, cheap player who could maybe get some playing time this year, but they’ll be aiming for him to start or platoon in ‘13.
I feel like this would of happened by now, if that was the bounty.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 4th, 2012
12:49 pm
DS1, I don’t want Jones on my team,let me just tell you right now. The guy is just exactly what we already have on the team anyways. The point is to upgrade. Guess what I mean is we fans can get caught up in a rumor enough to where you can get strung along if you aren’t careful. And I don’t think this Jones stuff is going away soon. It will, but more are going to getstrung along, I think.
Random
January 4th, 2012
12:50 pm
Jack Lill (January 4th, 2012 11:48 am): “They willl not do anything as long as they have Wrem screwing around. They should fire hin. The Braves now are at best a forth place club. He has one of the top center fielders in the game ans he has made no effort to sign him. Wren needs to go”
And how do YOU know that Wren hasn’t tried to re-sign Bourn? Do ALL their negotiations go through you?
Y.A.I.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 4th, 2012
12:54 pm
Efrim, Wren will settle pretty soon. He doesn’t trust JJ’s health enough to have him pitch half a season and hope he can give them a first half like last years and then get better value at the deadline. That kid is a walking injury nightmare.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:55 pm
The Tigers are not looking to trade top pitching prospect Jacob Turner, GM Dave Dombrowski told Lynn Henning of the Detroit News.
Makes sense. Why trade six years of Jacob Turner for two years of Matt Garza?
brian
January 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
the Braves are going to largely stand pat. If they get their bounty on either Jurrjens or Prado they will move them but this scenario gets less likely each day.
The only way the Braves make a significant upgrade at LF or SS is to trade one of their 4 young starter prospects, Venters, or possibly Hanson. Wren has not once shown any willingness to deal these players.
Efrim
January 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
Wren will settle pretty soon
I sure hope not.
Random
January 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
TennesseePaul (January 4th, 2012 12:01 pm): “Yes. I was big on the offense being addressed and there being payroll flexibility. At a minimum I believed Wren, that something would be done. I trusted the GM would not foolishly think that the calendar flipping would suddenly take an 85 expected-win team into the post season. Perhaps he knew it was a shoe-in that 2012 would have the expanded gimp bracket to allow more losers a chance at the playoffs.”
Dude, it’s 2012 — Leap Year.
Give Wren that extra day to get things done before you jump his bones.
Kat
January 4th, 2012
1:04 pm
Torre resigns MLB post to join bid for Dodgers
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/01/04/torre.dodgers.ap/index.html#ixzz1iVvJZ9eO
TennesseePaul
January 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
Give Wren that extra day to get things done before you jump his bones.
Ha! Excellent point. And I shall grant him the extra day.
Random
January 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
Efrim (January 4th, 2012 12:16 pm): “For fun, my NFL Wild Card weekend picks: Houston over Cincinnati, New Orleans over Detroit, New York over Atlanta, and Pittsburgh over Denver.”
Yer a hunderd percent correct, except that Cincinnati will beat Houston, and Atlanta will beat NYG.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 4th, 2012
1:09 pm
How do you make them BIG eyes?
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 4th, 2012
1:11 pm
Ha, it’s funny to STILL see people in 2012 evaluating pitchers based on their run support (W-L record).
Why do you think a pitcher’s run support is a valid metric of his value?
Baseball is NOT the sport for the intellectual elite.
Random
January 4th, 2012
1:16 pm
Coach (January 4th, 2012 12:02 pm): “Manny Ramirez in LF….
“BOOM!”
“BOOM!” good, or “BOOM!” bad?
(Me, I think “BOOM!” good. Or even great.)