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4,717 comments Add your comment
nolie
January 5th, 2012
6:35 pm
I think KLaw is as right as anybody and moreso than most
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
6:37 pm
PL was right 99% of the time
nolie
January 5th, 2012
6:37 pm
“When I say that Phrase That Pays, I’m Usually Dead On!”…Tomahawkin’
Yeah… Uh… That’s not true. Pepperidge?…BAS
OUCH!!!
nolie
January 5th, 2012
6:39 pm
wow that’s even better than my 98%…….
sri
January 5th, 2012
6:45 pm
I think these two articles (notes about the Braves and Pastornicky) by Jonah Keri, accurately summarizes the frustration felt by most of us here…
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7303082/national-league
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/13403/mlbs-ten-possible-accidental-starters
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
6:48 pm
But not better then my 100%
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
6:48 pm
Crap….99%
VaBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
6:51 pm
Steve
That wasnt me. I said Keith Law is right most of the time.
CB
January 5th, 2012
6:59 pm
sri,good articles. Thanks.
Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
7:02 pm
Didn’t say it was you. That was ccrider’s post I copied.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
7:11 pm
I’m not sure about trading JJ or MP for Jackson. He has tools no doubt but Ks a lot and fell back pretty bad last season. Was that a case of the league catching up to him? Hard to tell.
His minors numbers were decent though nothing special .288 .356 .410.
I can see both sides, why some might be interested and why some would pass.
I think right now I’d be leaning away from making a deal especially if it did not also return a decent prospect. JMO.
Bat Masterson
January 5th, 2012
7:21 pm
keylargo
That could be attributed to a sophmore slump in which we saw what Heyward experienced last year and Jackson had better numbers than Heyward last year minus the K’s. _ BravePack
Did Austin Jackson play all of last season with a screwed up shoulder? I ask, because you keep comparing him to Heyward, but I have not seen anything that says Jackson was injured. I do see that he is a strike out machine 3.5 k’s to 1 bb ………… 5k’s to 2bb in the minors ………. Maybe his injury is he’s blind.
kenhotlanta
January 5th, 2012
7:22 pm
BAS:
Re your squeeze Charlize: Please do not EVER look at any pictures of her without make-up for you own sanity. With make-up she is one of the most beautiful stars in the world, but you don’t want to see her without. There are pictures out there of a camping trip she was on probably a few years ago…do not look, pass on by. Just trying to help you maintain your fantasy, mine is Jennifer Love Hewitt, so I know how important this stuff is.
keylargo
January 5th, 2012
7:27 pm
Bat – Jackson actually had more strikeouts in 2011 than in 2010 when he had the most K’s in the AL. 170 (most in AL) in 2010 and 181 in 2011.
ernesto
January 5th, 2012
7:30 pm
Did Infante sign anywhere yet? He seems to be just what we need.
Bat Masterson
January 5th, 2012
7:31 pm
key_
I’ve never paid any attention to the guy. I see he is fast, hell 21 triples in 2 years and gets 44-48 extra base hits, but my god 180 k’s. I’m pretty sure I would hate him.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
7:34 pm
no way has Jackson ever been compared to Heyward in baseball circles. minor league numbers are not close
even last season Jason’s OPS+ was higher than Austin’s was. and their two year numbers are not close at all
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
7:37 pm
I think KLaw is as right as anybody and moreso than most
Totally agree, nolie. And Steve from OH summed it up quite nicely as well.
ccrider and Gone Viral are the two posters I can remember that never cared much for Law. Still never heard a good reason why they don’t value his opinion. Oh well.
Bat Masterson
January 5th, 2012
7:38 pm
Jackson has struck out almost as many times in 2 years as DiMaggio did his whole career.
keylargo
January 5th, 2012
7:38 pm
Bat – Mark Reynolds is in the same category with 407 K’s the last two years, but he had 69 HR’s in the same period. The DBacks traded him to Baltimore for two low level pitching prospects.
Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
7:41 pm
Still never heard a good reason why they don’t value his opinion. Oh well.
We all know why. Because he seems like kind of a douchebag and doesn’t give every Braves prospect a glowing review. That’s why.
And because he uses them new fancy stats, he doesn’t know anything about baseball, scouting, or chewing a good can of dip.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
7:41 pm
I think that CCR and GV are not really stats guys, most of the folks that I have read who rake on him are more traditionalists.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
7:42 pm
Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
7:42 pm
Not that I dislike CCR or GV (I do enjoy their posts quite a bit), but that’s the prevailing feeling I sense.
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
7:44 pm
nolie sacrificed number one just so he could display his ‘teen ‘teen love. I’m so proud.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
7:45 pm
Good calls by the both of ya.
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
7:46 pm
Didn’t Infante extend with the Marlins?
nolie
January 5th, 2012
7:47 pm
aw shucks Soph……
nolie
January 5th, 2012
7:50 pm
yeah I think Infante extended last season thru 2013 IIRC
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
7:51 pm
Two years in a row too, I think.
Bat Masterson
January 5th, 2012
7:51 pm
I’m sort of familiar with Reynolds. By that I mean I’ve noticed people arguing whether, or not, it matters if he k’s one out of three times up if he hits a lot of doubles and homeruns.
Pretty sure I’d hate him too.
Webster
January 5th, 2012
7:52 pm
Infante signed for 2 years w/ Marlins
ccrider
January 5th, 2012
7:54 pm
Steve from OH, You made my point exactly. Someone posted that KLaw said Terdoslavich is just another body. My point was Klaw and all the experts are wrong a lot! What % I can’t say.
But, too many on this blog take his and other Draft and Prospect analyst as the gospel.
I will look at his production, the fact that the Braves are pushing him quickly( not a lot of high A league players go to the Arizona Fall League and are being tried at 3B base in hopes of replacing Chipper)! I trust the Braves organization actions more that the pundits.
nolie: I do appreciate stats ,but they do not tell the whole story
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
7:56 pm
womp womp, no Wade or LeBron. Oh well, hope the Hawks still play like they are and don’t let up.
Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
7:59 pm
I trust the Braves organization actions more that the pundits.
Hey, they’re wrong a lot too. Remeber Andy Marte? Even though they traded him, they thought he was gonna be a stud.
JoJo Reyes? HoRam? Frenchy? Many others I’m forgetting? Bueller?
Everyone’s wrong, and nobody’s more wrong or right than the other if you’re taking info from internet sources in my book. The best you can really do is scout these dudes yourself, and then you get to be wrong* a lot too!
*Unless your name is Coach. BOOM?
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
8:01 pm
Schauffeurre
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:02 pm
old fuddy-duddies…….
richbrave
January 5th, 2012
8:19 pm
“………….My point was Klaw and all the experts are wrong a lot! What % I can’t say.
But, too many on this blog take his and other Draft and Prospect analyst as the gospel.
I will look at his production, the fact that the Braves are pushing him quickly……….. and are being tried at 3B base in hopes of replacing Chipper)! I trust the Braves organization actions more that the pundits…………….ccrider
As do I ccr. As i have said here many times, stats are nice and half the answer as to whether prospects rise or fall in this game. Eyes on are essential to a proper evaluation of an individual ballplayer. And then, you’re still wrong at times. If this were an exact science, stats should be enough to evaluate the future of ballplayers.
As for prognosticators, I don’t even countenance them in my evals of BRAVES players. Again, as I’ve said before I’m a what have you done for me lately kind of guy. I make up my own mind as to how things are and do generally trust the BRAVES organization to properly evaluate young talent when they see it. It gives me the willies to think PASTORNICKY is going to be in the line-up on opening day 2012 if he has a bang-up ST, but I trust the management to be right about him.
The last time I had a good opportunity to evaluate players was when the BRAVES were here in RICHMOND. I thought CHARLIE MORTON would become a solid #3 starter in the ML’s. I was wrong. In comparing BLANCO and PRADO, two players with similar stats at the time, I said PRADO was closer to ML ready than BLANCO. I was right.
It’s not an exact science. Those who pontificate as guru’s of future success have about the same track record.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
8:21 pm
I will look at his production, the fact that the Braves are pushing him quickly( not a lot of high A league players go to the Arizona Fall League and are being tried at 3B base in hopes of replacing Chipper)!
He was old for High-A. He will be playing in Double-A as a 23 year old and that isn’t really that young. They sent him to the Fall League because he was actually older than a lot of the talent there, despite only reaching High-A. Age relative to level matters.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:22 pm
Law has changed his thinking quite a bit over the last few years too. He nows pays a lot more attention to scouting and intangibles than he did years ago.
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
8:23 pm
Cheyfuror’s here??
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
8:23 pm
I’m not saying Joey T stinks, just saying that he hasn’t even faced Double-A pitching yet and he isn’t exactly an asset defensively. Walk % wasn’t great either. It’ll help a ton if he can stick at 3rd base.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:26 pm
I always have some doubts when it is only the Braves who are touting a guy.
No matter how good the system there is always some homerism.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
8:28 pm
He nows pays a lot more attention to scouting and intangibles than he did years ago.
Could be why he is landing a job with the Astros.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:30 pm
’stros need all the help they can get…..
ccrider
January 5th, 2012
8:30 pm
Steve from Ohio, Don’t you think the Braves scout and analze their prospects endlessly and IF, they jump a high A prospect to the AFL and move him to 3B in hopes of taking over after Chipper reitres, that they believe in him a lot more that KLaw. I trust the Braves personel that see these players all season long more than a prospect guru who sees them MUCH less over a season>
I don’t think that is hating on KlLaw or anyone else its just logical that the Braves know more about their own prospects.
richbrave
January 5th, 2012
8:32 pm
EFRIM:
Re; TERDO
The tale of the tape is coming up this season…….AA. We’ll see if he’s got the juice to keep coming. or whether he falls back into relative oblivion.
BTW, for better or worse, I think the new CBA is going to induce more U.S. players to turn pro at a later age than previously. More JOE TERDS [23] and EVAN GATTIS’ [24] not less. More relience on letting college programs do the early development of players.
Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
8:36 pm
ccrider, I don’t doubt it at all. But even the best laid plans never come to fruition. Hell, the kid could legitimately be a blue-chip prospect and still miss.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:36 pm
I don’t think that is necessarily true CCR. a few years a go on here they were extolling Jones and Lillibridge heavily. Having seen them in the minors I disagreed and got in a lot of arguments about it. neither has been anywhere near what they were saying they expected.
I think you get more objectivity from sources that are not connected to the team, and I don’t mean just the Braves.
Hard to really know cause when 40% of the first round draft choices fail to even see the bigs, there is no way to have any absolutes anywhere
richbrave
January 5th, 2012
8:37 pm
Steve from OH:
It happens
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
8:37 pm
Cool Ranch Doritoes never miss
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:37 pm
there are lots of guys who have good AA years who fail in the bigs
nolie
January 5th, 2012
8:40 pm
and those draft picks are not based on stats…….
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
8:44 pm
Yeah, Baseball America loved Brandon Jones….and Braves people were pumping him up. One thing I’ll miss about Keith Law is that he provides a little more of an unbiased opinion. I hope they replace him with someone good. Prospects and the Draft are followed more than ever. Law has quite a following on twitter.
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
8:47 pm
Yeah, but so does Bieber
kenhotlanta
January 5th, 2012
8:51 pm
Ernie Johnson Jr. said TNT is going to show a tribute to Jim Huber who passed earlier this week. He said it was going to be during the Postgame show, but he didn’t specify if that is after the Hawks-Heat game or the second one. In any event, it would be worth recording, Huber was a one of a kind essayist and commentator and will be dearly missed.
richbrave
January 5th, 2012
8:52 pm
EFRIM:
Heh! Poor BRANDON. The moment he didn’t hustle up that miss in the outfield, I knew he was toast as a BRAVE.
jeffrey d
January 5th, 2012
8:55 pm
If you guys aren’t careful, you’re going to lose me
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
9:02 pm
What happened to the Lion King?
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
9:09 pm
Sounds like Barkley doesn’t care for the Hawks much. Wish he’d give it a rest.
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
9:10 pm
“Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
7:59 pm
I trust the Braves organization actions more that the pundits.
Hey, they’re wrong a lot too. Remeber Andy Marte? Even though they traded him, they thought he was gonna be a stud.
JoJo Reyes? HoRam? Frenchy? Many others I’m forgetting? Bueller?”
“Bueller? Bueller?” lol
jeffrey d (The Lord of the Rings)
January 5th, 2012
9:11 pm
He’s on my other computer
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
9:13 pm
jeffrey d – what Sopheee said at 9:02
ccrider
January 5th, 2012
9:17 pm
nolie, But, don’t you think that the Braves personel people have the best read on their own propsects, than an analsyt that sees them 10 times a year at most.
I would think the Braves actions speak louder in the case of Terdoslavich: High A to AFL, trying at 3B in hopes that he has the fielding skills along with his bat to stick their after Chipper retires.
jeffrey d (Robocop)
January 5th, 2012
9:17 pm
He’s on my other computer.
nolie
January 5th, 2012
9:27 pm
I like to look at the Braves take first CCR then check around and see what others think. If they are about the same I feel the safest, though of course it still might be wrong. When the Braves take is a good bit different I start to worry a bit, because it is not hard to see what you want at times. back in the day I was seeing them come up so I had my own take, the last few years that is no longer true so I check everything that I can.
Whether its scout/stat or team/outsider I’m really only advocating using every resource there is.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
9:32 pm
I’m still somewhat surprised to see Fielder, Jackson, Kuroda, Oswalt, Pena, Madson, Cordero still without teams. Of course, 4 of those guys are Boras clients – so I shouldn’t be that shocked.
Ray
January 5th, 2012
9:37 pm
I know we have started to hear in regards to Fielder but Boras always has a “mystery team” that is in heavy talks with his clients, driving the price up. Sometimes a team bidding against themselves.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
9:39 pm
I like that the Cubs bought low on former highly regarded prospects like Ian Stewart and Chris Volstad. And also got a back end starter like Travis Wood, who is controllable for the next five seasons.
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
9:39 pm
ARod’s signing with the Rangers comes most memorably to mind
nolie
January 5th, 2012
9:41 pm
yeah that signing belongs in the con man hall of fame MiBF
Ray
January 5th, 2012
9:44 pm
Arod got a lot of heat for leaving the Mariners. His original request from the Mariners was not original. He was asking for a minimum of 5 years for his deal. The Mariners were not going to go past 3 yrs. He was not asking for them to go 10 yrs. The Mariners simply stood their ground on 3 yrs and the rest is history.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
9:46 pm
TroyRenck Troy Renck, Rockies
Braves looking for protection at 3B for Chipper RT @BigDix337: Any chance Tracy is packaged in a deal with Smith to send to the Braves?
They have it. His name is Martin Prado.
TroyRenck Troy Renck, Rockies
that’s three first round picks gone in deals: Stewart, Weathers and Reynolds. Can’t keep missing on first-rounders
And Friedrich and Matzek are looking rough right now too, even though I still love Matzek. That’s a lot of cash….
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
9:48 pm
Did P.T. Barnum ever actually say, “There’s a sucker born every minute?” I don’t know, but the Rangers owner at the time (Hicks?) was dang determined he was going to sign ARod and no one was going to outbid him – even if he paid what, over an extra $100 mil to get it done? Take a lesson, Nats’ owners!
P'cola Brave
January 5th, 2012
9:49 pm
I hope Wren has something cooking because here we are in January and not even a minor tweak to the bench. The starting lineup and pitching staff may be fine but that bench is weak.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
9:50 pm
2003 – Ian Stewart
2004 – Chris Nelson
2005 – Troy Tulowitzski
2006 – Greg Reynolds
2007 – Casey Weathers
2008 – Christain Friedrich
2009 – Tyler Matzek
2010 – Kyle Parker
They did get Tulo….and he is amazing.
BFChris27
January 5th, 2012
9:51 pm
OMG, I just read one of the best jokes I’ve ever read.
A lady about 8 months pregnant got on a bus. She noticed the man opposite her was smiling at her. She immediately moved to another seat. This time the smile turned into a grin, so she moved again. The man seemed more amused. When on the fourth move, the man burst out laughing, she complained to the driver and he had the man arrested. The case came up in court. … The judge asked the man (about 20 years old) what he had to say for himself. The man replied, “Well your Honor, it was like this: When the lady got on the bus, I couldn’t help but notice her condition. She sat down under a sign that said, ‘The Double Mint Twins are Coming’ and I grinned.” “Then she moved and sat under a sign that said, ‘ Logan ’s Liniment will reduce the swelling’, and I had to smile. “Then she placed herself under a deodorant sign that said, “William’s Big Stick Did the Trick”, and I could hardly contain myself.” “BUT, your Honor, when she moved the fourth time and sat under a sign that said, ‘Goodyear Rubber Could Have Prevented This Accident’… I just lost it.” “CASE DISMISSED!!
I laughed so hard, I had to share
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
9:52 pm
This just in from Mark Bowman: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120105&content_id=26275486&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl
Prado, Jurrjens could remain with Braves
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 5th, 2012
9:54 pm
“Troy Renck”. There’s a name we’ve read here way more than we probably should’ve in one offseason.
Ray
January 5th, 2012
9:54 pm
Efrim, they miss more often they hit on prospects.
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
9:55 pm
“Efrim
January 5th, 2012
9:52 pm
This just in from Mark Bowman: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120105&content_id=26275486&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl
Prado, Jurrjens could remain with Braves”
That’s just fine with me.
kenhotlanta
January 5th, 2012
9:57 pm
Sopheee:
Barkley and Kenny Smith crucifying the Hawks, and I think they deserve it, at least in the first half. They don’t seem to be in the game at all.
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
10:01 pm
“nolie
January 5th, 2012
9:41 pm
yeah that signing belongs in the con man hall of fame MiBF”
When you get results like that, it’s not surprising he gets kids like Tommy and JJ to sign with him.
How are you doing, nolie?
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 5th, 2012
10:01 pm
WHAT! NOOOO! Make a trade now Wren or we’ll stand outside that stadium raising hell!!
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
10:03 pm
Brian, I was thinking the same thing about good old Troy.
I’m good with keeping Jurrjens and Prado for 2012. If Hanson is hurt, that rotation scares the heck out of me based on the inexperience. Certainly doesn’t look like one of a contender if Hanson is out for any period of time.
Sopheee
January 5th, 2012
10:03 pm
ken – Barkey’s been all over the Hawks the whole game but yeah, their play has been lackadaisical tonight which is embarassing considering two of the big three are out for Miami.
Efrim
January 5th, 2012
10:06 pm
However, I will say that this sort of article from a team’s beat writer comes out and then two days later the same player discussed is traded. Oh well.
Lastly, before I’m off to bed, I really have trouble seeing the Braves acquiring Adam Jones without having to include one of Teheran, Vizcaino, Delgado, Jurrjens or Prado. Just not enough in the system, imo. But ya never know, I guess.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 5th, 2012
10:08 pm
Efrim, oh I know. Hanson’s shoulder worries me and Huddy coming off another surgery. EWWWWW! I want a trade for a bopper, but you win with pitching.
P'cola Brave
January 5th, 2012
10:09 pm
CTB
Hopefully Heyward becomes the player he was suppose to be and we will have our bopper.
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 5th, 2012
10:09 pm
Mickey Mouse ….LF
KA BOOM!
Steve from OH
January 5th, 2012
10:10 pm
Efrim, what’s going on with Sidney Crosby? Is there a timetable for his return…and will he ever play again?
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
10:11 pm
That begs the question – do the Braves really want to acquire Adam Jones? And if they do, isn’t the Braves’ farm system a whole lot stronger than the Orioles’ farm system?
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 5th, 2012
10:14 pm
there is growing reason to wonder if Wren should wait until June or July to trade these players with the hope they will have had time to regain some of their respective values.- Mark Bowman.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What I said too, agreeing with Bowman and I’ll add, Bourn is likely to also get traded before the All-Star break.
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
10:14 pm
Nolie – I really did want to know how you’re doing? It wasn’t meant as an afterthought.
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
10:20 pm
Coach – I just really get a kick out of this assumption that the Braves will be trading players in June or July because why?! That’s right, they will be so far out of contention they’ll be selling!!! Play the damn games!!! The flippin’ Phillies were supposed to be the 2011 World Champs! The season did not follow the “script” did it? How many baseball seasons have ever followed the “script”? That’s part of the beauty of the game!
Coach (2012 Fredi's beisbol fandango)
January 5th, 2012
10:25 pm
MIBravesFan, does Mark Teixeira ring a bell? Impending free agency, too expensive and gone. Micheal Bourn is his carbon copy.
abwright
January 5th, 2012
10:26 pm
Bay Area Steve, January 5th, 2012, 3:36 pm … “Did we choke nearly as bad in 2010 as 2011? I know we got in, but we definitely backed in right?”
Braves finished poorly in 2009, 2010, and 2011. 2009 involved 4 straight losses to the gNats (after they were eliminated).
But, 2011’s 10-20 record in Sept. was the worst of the three seasons.
cabravesfan
January 5th, 2012
10:28 pm
I see that I finished #1 for the year. Do I need to make a speech or something?
Go Me!
nolie
January 5th, 2012
10:30 pm
I think Bowman just read my posts…..
MIBravesFan
January 5th, 2012
10:31 pm
Coach – I am talking about the assumption the Braves will be out of it and therefore trading away players! And if the Braves are contending, they wouldn’t trade Bourn or anyone else! When Tex was traded to the Angels, they clearly were not going anywhere before the trade.