Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,717 comments Add your comment
cosmo
January 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
when vangorder dumped sc gamecocks commitment to go to the falcons – sc got an upgrade with ellis johnson- so a good thing for falcons – maybe not for auburn
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos hinted Monday that Drew Hutchison could reach the majors in 2012.
Yeah, if I’m AA, I probably just sit tight and wait for the calvary to arrive. They have them in bunches in that system. Perhaps more pitching depth at the minor league level than any team in the sport:
Drew Hutchinson
Deck McGuire
Chad Jenkins
Asher Wojciechowski
Justin Nicolino
Noah Syndergaard
Daniel Norris(2011 draft)
Joe Musgrove(2011 draft)
Kevin Comer(2011 draft)
Adonys Cardona
Absurd.
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
2:52 pm
So a gritty, deceptive, polished, left-handed, innings-eater wouldn’t be worth killing.
Killing, maybe. But not eating.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
2:54 pm
Monday June 4th, 2012 – SAY NO to polished, college LH starters.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
2:55 pm
Ah, yes and how can I forget Aaron Sanchez. Absolutely ridiculous.
Bat Masterson
January 9th, 2012
2:56 pm
Auburn probably has better defensive backs than the Falcons.
Patrick
January 9th, 2012
2:56 pm
DOB, do you agree with the Braves decision to keep Vizcaino in the bullpen?
Or do you believe that he should start?
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
2:56 pm
Monday June 4th, 2012 – SAY NO to polished, college LH starters.
No “sneaky-quick”, “good makeup” righties, either. Get me a couple of high-school farm boys who pitched hay from the age of 6 and can throw a bean through the side of a barn.
I’ll worry about whether they can actually hit the barn after rookie league.
JerseyGil
January 9th, 2012
2:58 pm
HOF Pick up imo…Larkin/Morris
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
2:59 pm
Look at their 2010 and 2011 draft classes: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/team/draft.jsp?c_id=tor&year=2010
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/team/draft.jsp?c_id=tor&year=2011
I mean, they failed to sign Tyler Beede and are still loaded. They had 9 of the first 113 picks in 2010 and 8 of the first 108 picks of 2011. For comparison, Braves had 4 during that span in 2010(Matt Lipka, Todd Cunningham, Andrelton Simmons, Joe Leonard) and 3 in that span in 2011(Sean Gilmartin, Nick Ahmed, Kyle Kubitza)
Hillbilly
January 9th, 2012
2:59 pm
No “sneaky-quick”, “good makeup” righties, either. Get me a couple of high-school farm boys who pitched hay from the age of 6 and can throw a bean through the side of a barn.
I’ll worry about whether they can actually hit the barn after rookie league.
Sumbee’s better not be “signable” either. I want risk.
Sopheee
January 9th, 2012
2:59 pm
Oh, happy day. See Bat, dreams do come true. Thank you, Auburn.
JerseyGil
January 9th, 2012
2:59 pm
WOW…Just Larkin
DAP
January 9th, 2012
3:00 pm
keylargo Obviously as soon as a pitcher releases the ball, it is at its’ top velocity, with friction from wind resistance and gravity reducing the speed all the way to the plate.
i dont think so. that ball accelerates out of the pitchers hand before it begins to decelerate, right? im pretty sure it isnt at its top speed at its release point.
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
3:01 pm
Sumbee’s better not be “signable” either. I want risk.
Roger that, LOL.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
3:01 pm
Get me a couple of high-school farm boys who pitched hay from the age of 6 and can throw a bean through the side of a barn.
I’ll worry about whether they can actually hit the barn after rookie league
Agreed. Even though our current wave of pitching prospects are practically still in diapers(Teheran, Delgado, Vizcaino), I think I’m ready for the next crop of high upside guys. Ain’t nothing in the low minors as of right now.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
3:03 pm
Good for Larkin, bad for the HOF ballot to only admit him. Plenty more worthy candidates.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
3:04 pm
Meant voters…
DS1
January 9th, 2012
3:05 pm
So Lew is going to Washington?
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
3:05 pm
Ain’t nothing in the low minors as of right now.
Yeah, but look at the years of control left for all the youngsters who have been graduating to the bigs. I mean, you draft every year, and there’s no reason to not sign good kids, I agree. But you really only need a great class every five or six years, right?
Bat Masterson
January 9th, 2012
3:07 pm
Soph_
What about Mularkey, do you think he’s gone too?
keylargo
January 9th, 2012
3:07 pm
i dont think so. that ball accelerates out of the pitchers hand before it begins to decelerate, right? im pretty sure it isnt at its top speed at its release point.
What would cause it to accelerate after it leaves the pitchers hand. That’s a simple question and unless you can name the force, the top speed will be as it’s released.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
3:08 pm
Braves took 2 high school players in their first 20 picks last year – only signed one of them – 2B Seth Moranda(11th round).
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
3:10 pm
But you really only need a great class every five or six years, right?
I guess….. I think it;s like to have a strong draft.
I really liked what the Braves did on the international front and the draft front 2005-2007. That was a really strong 3 years, imo.
Ease
January 9th, 2012
3:10 pm
What about Mularkey, do you think he’s gone too?
Mularkey left during halftime yesterday…
Bat Masterson
January 9th, 2012
3:12 pm
What would cause it to accelerate after it leaves the pitchers hand.
Trailing wind.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
3:13 pm
Meant time instead of like. Man I’m beat.
DS1
January 9th, 2012
3:15 pm
What would cause it to accelerate after it leaves the pitchers hand. That’s a simple question and unless you can name the force, the top speed will be as it’s released.
If a pitch gets up high enough, it can get caught up in the jet stream and accelerate………..
Bat Masterson
January 9th, 2012
3:16 pm
Mularkey left during halftime yesterday…
Yeah, he raised the white flag on that last
drivepossession before halftime.Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
3:16 pm
Mike Mularkey going to Miami, good new from the dome if that’s correct.
DAP
January 9th, 2012
3:16 pm
keylargo What would cause it to accelerate after it leaves the pitchers hand.
im not a physics guy, and maybe you are, i dont know. but the force would be the pitcher. he puts all that energy into the ball and lets i go, i would think that the whipping force would allow it to accelerate coming out of his hand before the other forces took over. no? if not, then the most accurate way to measure a pitches top speed would be by measuring the speed of the pitcher’s hand, right? im probably wrong. im not all that smart.
DS1
January 9th, 2012
3:18 pm
I think your pretty smart DAP!
Ward
January 9th, 2012
3:18 pm
Hello everyone! I think when the Braves collasped in Septemember. Most of got caught up in all the Free-Agents,or trade,and wanted a change,so badly,and when it didn’t happen,most of us failed to see how good the Braves really are. I know I got caught up in it,and it wont kill me to wait until Spring Training,or All Break to see what happens? I checked out the Braves roster,and what I like is everyone is yoounger,and that is a good sign for brighter things a head.
Ease
January 9th, 2012
3:21 pm
Mularkey is going to interview with Miami…
keylargo
January 9th, 2012
3:24 pm
Bat – a trailing wind of greater velocity than the pitches speed.
Don in TN
January 9th, 2012
3:24 pm
What would cause it to accelerate after it leaves the pitchers hand.
It’s going downhill??
Ward
January 9th, 2012
3:30 pm
Go!!!!!!LSU!!!!!!!!!Should be a good game tonight.
Ward
January 9th, 2012
3:33 pm
All,I’ll talk later tonight when I get home,and Peace My Friends……………
Bay Area Steve
January 9th, 2012
3:36 pm
Too much resistance in the air for the ball to speed up after it’s left the pitcher’s hand. But, it ain’t velocity at the arm, it’s velo at the fingertips.
Bat Masterson
January 9th, 2012
3:36 pm
Ha, I knew I should have thrown in hurricane speed. Cat 2 for Kimbrel, of course I doubt he would be able to stand on the mound.
ROLLTIDEBRAVE
January 9th, 2012
3:37 pm
ROLL TIDE!!! BAMA going for the 14th National Championship in school history and most in NC2A history. Ought to be a great game. My prediction is BAMA 31, LSU 13. ROLL TIDE!!!
DAP
January 9th, 2012
3:43 pm
i guess it make sense, as the pitchers arm is soft of acting like a whip. the longer it is, the more speed at the tip. did y’all know a bullwhip is actually moving fast enough at the tip to break the sound barrier? thats the “crack!” that you hear when you pop it.
Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
3:44 pm
Ease, don’t jinx it… he’s going to Miami or Jacksonville. Either way, he’s headed to Florida.
Bat Masterson
January 9th, 2012
3:44 pm
Mularkey is going to interview with Miami…
Ease-
I don’t about you, Ease, but I hope they make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Mountain Braves Fan
January 9th, 2012
3:45 pm
Upon further review, I am on board with the Braves pursuing Izturis, so long as the trade price is not unrealistic and we can afford his $3.8 million salary without a “salary dump” trade of either Prado or Jurrjens.
What I would like to see happen then is a good old fashioned shortstop competition during Spring Training with Izturis and Pastornicky competing for the starting job. If Izturis is clearly better or it is even, Izturis starts the season as the starting shortstop and Pastornicky goes to AAA to get more experience (and eliminate the Super Two possibility).
If Pastornicky is clearly better, he should begin the season in Atlanta as the starting shortstop and Izturis becomes the super utility player filling in at ss, 2b, and 3b, allowing Prado to mostly remain in left field (except on days when Chipper and Pastornicky were both out of the lineup). I think Prado would greatly benefit from playing mostly one position instead of being switched around so much.
Patio Daddio
January 9th, 2012
3:56 pm
If Pastornicky earns the starting SS job who wants to take a shot at predicting his seasonal error total
Brave New World
January 9th, 2012
3:58 pm
First of all, congrats to Barry Larkin for making The Hall of Fame. Looking at Larkin’s stats, Chipper should be a slam dunk first year pick when he is eligible.
Sopheee
January 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
Soph_
What about Mularkey, do you think he’s gone too?
Ugh, sadly I think he’s only gone if someone hires him away. I know Jax is (was? who knows after yesterday’s debacle) interested so he can help develop Gabbert.
Brave New World
January 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
While I expect some “fine tuning” before the start of the 2012 season, it is obvious that Braves management feels that the team will be a playoff contender as is. We definitely need more offense, but we seem to have an excess of pitching. If the team makes no major changes, I think we will win about 90 games and make the playoffs. Prado will be healthy and back to being a solid hitter, we will have Bourn for a full year, and Heyward is capable of a breakout year. I think we will be comparable to Philly and better than the Marlins and the Nats, both of whom have improved. The Mets are clearly the divisional doormat.
TennesseePaul
January 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
They don’t rare back and th’ow it.
Ah but they do. It is nothing of grit. Even Randy Johnson had this due to being so friggin tall and lanky. He threw fast. But it appeared even more ridiculous in the batters box. By the time he was done and releasing the ball, his hand was practically already in the catchers mitt. It moved fast yet had a shorter distance to travel than the average bear.
Tomas
January 9th, 2012
4:13 pm
Question: does anybody know if there is a spring training game in Turner Field this year?
Patio Daddio
January 9th, 2012
4:19 pm
This is a site that has all schedules
http://springtrainingonline.com/teams/atlanta-braves-4.htm
Tomas
January 9th, 2012
4:29 pm
Thanks Patio Daddio….That’s to bad, first time going to Atlanta and I’m not going to see them
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
4:32 pm
If Izturis is clearly better or it is even, Izturis starts the season as the starting shortstop and Pastornicky goes to AAA to get more experience
I’ve come around to having The Rev be the starter. What the heck. Get a year of the bigs under his belt, and find out if he’s got the stuff to lead off the year after. You know, just in case Bourn walks.
I mean, he’s going to hit 8, right? I don’t believe the season’s success is going to rise and fall on the 8 hitter. If he can hit some and be north of brutal with the glove, have at it.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
4:33 pm
Former top outfield prospect Fernando Martinez placed on waivers by Mets.
DAP
January 9th, 2012
4:39 pm
efrim Former top outfield prospect Fernando Martinez placed on waivers by Mets.
isnt that the guy they refused to trade for johan santana?
Patio Daddio
January 9th, 2012
4:44 pm
Tomas they will be just up the street so you can stll see them.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
4:45 pm
Bowman’s Inbox: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120109&content_id=26289234&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl
If Prado produces like he did in 2009 and 2010, the Braves can live with paying him the approximate $5 million he will earn in 2012. But he would likely then be owed around $7 million as he entered his final arbitration season in 2013.
Many fans have heard Prado’s name linked to trade talk the past couple months and focused on what it means for the immediate future. Wren’s thought process has to also include the kind of long-term planning that accounts for Prado’s future costs.
There’s at least a chance the Braves would not value Prado as a $7 million player in 2013. Thus before they even near a point where they might be tempted to non-tender him next winter, it makes sense to continue monitoring what he could garner via trade.
Mountain Braves Fan
January 9th, 2012
4:46 pm
Patio Daddio
January 9th, 2012
3:56 pm
If Pastornicky earns the starting SS job who wants to take a shot at predicting his seasonal error total
I think the over/under on Pastornicky’s error total would be 30, since he had 26 in 117 games last year at AA/AAA. It would be somewhat dependant on how many games he starts at SS. As I pointed out earlier, Alex Gonzalez, who he would be replacing, had 27 errors in his first season as the Marlins starting shortstop in 130 something games in 1999.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
4:47 pm
isnt that the guy they refused to trade for johan santana?
It’s also the guy, along with Aaron Heilman, that would of netted them Roy Oswalt in a three team trade – but Angelos(Orioles were the oither team) nixed the trade. Can’t remember the other components.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
4:49 pm
I don’t want to part ways with Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado. But what about the traffic jam we have with our starting pitching? I don’t want to see the Braves block the career path of Julio Teheran. He has nothing left to prove in the Minors.
– Michael R., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mark Bowman: There’s certainly reason to wonder how Teheran will react if he is asked to return to the Minors after going 15-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 25 appearances (24 starts) with Triple-A Gwinnett this past summer. At 20 years old, he has proven why he is widely considered the game’s top pitching prospect.
As the Braves map out his future, they have to at least think about the possibility that he would return to Gwinnett with a bad attitude. They have to weigh the same in regard to Randall Delgado, who certainly seemed to be disinterested in some of the Minor League starts he made immediately after making a Major League start this past summer.
With some health-related concerns surrounding a couple projected starters (Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson) and the possibility that Jurrjens could still be traded, there’s a chance Teheran or Delgado would at least be able to begin the season in Atlanta’s starting rotation.
If there is not an available spot for either of these pitchers, the Braves will have to convince both that they will be brought back to the Majors as soon as possible. Like they say, these kinds of things always seem to work themselves out.
Murph
January 9th, 2012
4:50 pm
Why would the Mets place Martinez on waivers? I see that he hasn’t done anything the few times he’s been called up, but he sounds like a guy with at least a tiny little bit of talent, something the Mets don’t have much of these days.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
4:52 pm
Hell, even if Prado hit .270/.320/.420 in 2012, I’d probably still give him the 3rd base job if Chipper retired and have no problem paying the man 7 million. Where the heck else is the money going? A five year deal for Andre Ethier? Please….Somehow, my initial thoughts about landing one of the big free agents with New York and Boston both needing a RF in 2013, aren’t that optimistic.
Lew
January 9th, 2012
4:53 pm
What’s the report on Pastornicky’s defense?Does he have a stone for hands or does he throw a lot away? If his throing is the problem, maybe Freddie at first helps that a good bit like he did with Uggla.
If it’s the glove, maybe some of the errors resulted from really bad infields – especially atm AA and lower. I remember that Macon’s imfield was notoriously terrible and everyne that came through put up lousy error totals.
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
4:53 pm
If Prado produces like he did in 2009 and 2010, the Braves can live with paying him the approximate $5 million he will earn in 2012…
There’s at least a chance the Braves would not value Prado as a $7 million player in 2013.
Oh, there’s always a chance. Efrim and Jessica, after all.
But, come on. If he produces .800+ again in 2012, how is he not worth $7MM? They certainly are not going to trade for replacement performance, at some lower figure. Damn, who would they value at that salary number, LOL?
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
4:58 pm
they have to at least think about the possibility that [Teheran] would return to Gwinnett with a bad attitude. They have to weigh the same in regard to Randall Delgado
Better to know it now, then, if they’re going to get attitudinal. Tell Julio to put that bad attitude into fixing his breaking ball, why dontcha?
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
January 9th, 2012
4:59 pm
You know, its never too early to throw out a line-up on the old blog. It kind of puts a whiff of springtime in the air:
1. Bourne CF
2. Prado LF
3. Jones 3B
4. McCann C
5. Uggla 2B
6. Freeman 1B
7. Heyward RF
8. Pastornicky SS
So, if the Seth Smith deal gets done, the only way it makes any sense is if they get a CF along with him that the Braves think can replace Bourne in 2013. If this deal has Prado going to the Rox, then who bats 2nd? That really might be putting a lot of pressure on Pastornicky, but do you really want to see Heyward batting in that spot again?
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
4:59 pm
Hmmm, never really thought about what Teheran and Delgado might think if they were asked to work in Gwinnett to start the year…..
As Bowman said, I’m sure it will work itself out, although to be honest, I hope that doesn’t mean their is room in the rotation because of injuries: Hanson(shoulder), Hudson(back surgery), or trade(Jurrjens).
Michael C.
January 9th, 2012
5:00 pm
I have to disagree with Bowman when he says, “If Prado produces like he did in 2009 and 2010, the Braves can live with paying him the approximate $5 million he will earn in 2012. But he would likely then be owed around $7 million as he entered his final arbitration season in 2013. There’s at least a chance the Braves would not value Prado as a $7 million player in 2013″. If he produces 3-4 WAR like he did in those years, what organization wouldn’t value that as a $7m player? If he had produced is 2009 or 2010 OPS last year, he would have led the team.
DAP
January 9th, 2012
5:02 pm
As the Braves map out his future, they have to at least think about the possibility that he would return to Gwinnett with a bad attitude.
oh yeah? sounds like a trade candidate.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:02 pm
Tell Julio to put that bad attitude into fixing his breaking ball, why dontcha?
I was thinking the same thing. Howard’s home run hasn’t landed yet, Julio. And Randall, you had a 14/18 BB/K ratio in 7 starts. Both of you could use some more work on command and your breaking pitches.
ncscoots
January 9th, 2012
5:03 pm
but do you really want to see Heyward batting in that spot again?
Somehow, I don’t think there are going to be six better hitters than Heyward in 2012, on this team.
Random
January 9th, 2012
5:03 pm
Re-post to remove hyperlinks:
Arkansas Transplant (January 6th, 2012 3:58 pm): “does this help?
“Prado in 2009, 128 games played, missing 20 percent of the season. In 2010, 140 games played, missing 13 percent of the season. In 2011, 129 games played, ,missing 20 percent of the season.
“JJ, (based off the 36 starts normally made by a 1 through 4 starter), In 2008, 31 starts, 13 percent missed. In 2009, 34 starts, 5 percent missed. In 2010, 20 starts, 44 percent missed. In 2011, 23 starts, 36 percent missed.
“Looking at both of these players from the time they began to play regularly, either in the rotation or in the lineup, have repeatedly missed a pretty high percentage of games. Apart from JJ in 2009, leading me to the assumption that there is equal risk playing either and hoping they stay healthy and not miss extended time.”
Not so fast.
In 2009, Prado was still a bench/utility player. He started only 105 games — 17 at 1B, 61 at 2B and 26 at 3B. He took the field in a total of 133 games. As a bench/utility player.
So for a bench/utility player to have played in 133 games is to his CREDIT, not to his detriment. He did not “miss 20 percent of the season” — he was available for 153 of the 162 regular season games. He was unavailable for only 9 games in 2009. (baseballprospectus.com/card/ & Prado.)
In 2010, Prado started 139 games — 97 at 2B and 42 at 3B. He was unavailable for 21 games.
In 2011, Prado started 127 games — 2 at 1B, 35 at 3B and 90 in RF. He was unavailable for 31 games. (Because of the flukey staph infection.)
On the other hand, Jurrjens was unavailable for the following number of games in the years indicated (baseballprospectus.com/card/ & Jurrjens):
2008: 5
2009: 0
2010: 72
2011: 57
Not a good trend, would you think? (There is NO trend with Prado.)
(See also baseball-almanac.com/players/ & Prado.)
Do you still think that a position player who has hit the DL 3 times in 6 seasons (the most recent of which was inarguably a FLUKE) is to be considered as injury prone as a starting pitcher who has hit the DL 5 times in 5 seasons (plus missing 2010 ST)?
DAP
January 9th, 2012
5:04 pm
lew What’s the report on Pastornicky’s defense?Does he have a stone for hands or does he throw a lot away?
i think what we have heard is that its mostly throwing.
Lollygagger
January 9th, 2012
5:05 pm
Lew-
I had the same thoughts about Pastornicky’s errors being somewhat a result of poor field conditions in minors. Not entirely because of field conditions, but at least somewhat I say. Just like some hitters actually hit better at MLB level than in minors because pitchers at this level have better control and throw more strikes. I seem to recall that Chipper had issues with errors in the minors, didn’t he? I think he turned out OK…let’s give Pastornicky a fighting chance before we just write him off.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:05 pm
Bowman is speculating there. Although, he did mention Delgado disinterested at the Triple-A level, which sounds like some scout said that.
Whatever. Neither was spectacular in their debuts last year, and as much as Minor doesn’t have as high a ceiling, he better friggin be the penciled in 5th starter to start next year. That guy has 0 to learn in the minors.
Random
January 9th, 2012
5:06 pm
Bay Area Steve (January 6th, 2012 3:54 pm): “I made up the numbers. No meaning at all, other than to show both [Prado and Jurrjens] have risk, and I’m not sure the difference is significant, at least for me.”
So, in YOUR judgment, a position player who has hit the DL 3 times in 6 seasons (the most recent of which was inarguably a fluke) is to be considered as injury prone as a starting pitcher who has hit the DL 5 times in 5 seasons (plus missing 2010 ST)?
BAS: “I’ve not got into whether one is more risk than the other. I thought it was clear waht my issues with your response were. If you can’t see that, or don’t want to address it, I don’t know what you want…
“Well, that’s not true. I guess you want: My made up PECOTA prediction: Jurrjens is 78% to make 30 starts. MartyP is 86% to play 150. Is this parsed enough for you? Can we now address my other issues?”
I’m really not sure what your other issues are. Do any of the following come close?
* YourQ: Is Arkansas Transplant a “reasonable” commenter undeserving of being “parsed” or otherwise being held accountable for making rash and foolish, baseless and unsupported, sometimes hysterical and short-sighted comments?
My A: No, not in my experience. Imo, he/she is as fully deserving as MFin04, Jeff321, TnBrian, Brian from SC, Tomahawkin, among so many others. (But no, you’re right — he’s/she’s not a “Don“.)
* BAS: “Why’d you use days, and not starts, or percentages? Why give Prado equal credit when he was a part-timer?”
That was the data most easily available to me. If you want to make a counter-argument based on other data, feel free. (There’s some additional data in my response to Arkansas Transplant at 4:12 today.) (Except that I see now that it is “awaiting moderation”. Probably because of too many hyperlinks. I’ll delete them and try to re=post.)
(And btw, what POSITION player could be any more of a part-timer than a Starting Pitcher?)
Lew
January 9th, 2012
5:06 pm
Teheran comes from a baseball family (Dad played and Uncle and cousin scout/play) and has been brought up to become a balklplayer – he won’t rock the boat.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:07 pm
Prado for 12 million over the next two seasons? I’m down with that. However, if Chipper returns for 2013, we may all be singing a different tune.
Lew
January 9th, 2012
5:09 pm
I don’t care where Heyward hits as long as he’s hitting. I just don’t want to listen to a month long pontification from Shaun about it.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:10 pm
But again, they have 34.2 million for 3 players and no other guaranteed contracts. Even Chipper coming back for 9-10 million and keeping Prado at 7 million can be done. Just not sure they will want a 3rd year of Prado in LF. I guess if he is at an 800 OPS, they’ll be okay with that.
nolie
January 9th, 2012
5:10 pm
I think the over/under on Pastornicky’s error total would be 30,
I’ll take the under
nolie
January 9th, 2012
5:13 pm
As the Braves map out his future, they have to at least think about the possibility that he would return to Gwinnett with a bad attitude…Bowman
baloney, guys get returned to AAA all the time with more pitching experience than Teheran has. If he’s that damn sensitive, which I doubt, he is likely to have problems anyway.
Murph
January 9th, 2012
5:16 pm
I’m not a fan of any lineup that has McCann hitting 4th.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:25 pm
I’d go Bourn, Chipper, McCann, Uggla, Freeman, Prado, Heyward, Pastornicky to start the year.
After Heyward goes bonkers in April and shuts everyone up, adjust the lineup if need be.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:27 pm
I like having Chipper and McCann 2/3 because they work the count better than anyone else in the lineup and don’t have platoon splits. Not to say that others have terrible ones, but I’d like the better OBP guy in the 2-hole over Prado. Plus, that’s a nice balanced lineup to start the year.
Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
5:32 pm
Who are you guys considering to be our production guys? rbi guys in general.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:33 pm
So I thought I got banned from CAC. However, that is not the case. Thought I was just simply for questioning Ben’s stance on trading Jurrjens.
Efrim
January 9th, 2012
5:34 pm
Who are you guys considering to be our production guys? rbi guys in general.
Everyone in the lineup.
nolie
January 9th, 2012
5:34 pm
re earlier Beachy discussion, much of the success he has is due to deception. He gets good arm side run on his fastball though it tops at 93-94 or so and has a good change. Curve is weak, break is not really very sharp. I think he’s a middle guy who would be more effective for the team if he could learn to throw fewer pitches, which I don’t think is really just about wildness
Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
5:36 pm
Everyone in the lineup.
That’s truly not far from the truth.
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
January 9th, 2012
5:37 pm
Efrim,
I don’t think there’s a chance in Hades that Chipper ever, ever bats 2nd. If he’s not good enough to bat 3 or 4, he’ll retire. Too much ego. If he’s going to play, he’s going to be the man. It doesn’t matter how logical something else would be, or even how good he would be at it.
brian
January 9th, 2012
5:41 pm
Teheran definitely could use some polish. I would not worry about a bad attitude from him. easy to tell a kid – you are the best pitching prospect in all the minors and just 20 years old. To make the transition to a dominant MLB pitcher, work on control of the fastball and your breaking pitch. Master the control of your fastball and get a curve to go with your changeup, watch out NL hitters
Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
5:41 pm
Beachy is one of those guys that if he wants to continue to excel will need to develop an exceptional change up and pinpoint accuracy because of his limited arsenal.
nolie
January 9th, 2012
5:42 pm
I don’t think there’s a chance in Hades that Chipper ever, ever bats 2nd. If he’s not good enough to bat 3 or 4, he’ll retire. Too much ego.
what crap. he had 160 at bats from other than the 3 hole last season.
brian
January 9th, 2012
5:44 pm
look for Jack Del Rio to become the Falcons new DC. Del Rio kicked butt as DC at Carolina before becoming the Jags head coach. He obviously has the ties to Smith
brian
January 9th, 2012
5:45 pm
AT – if Beachy were to have better command/control of his fastball and a plus change up, he would be one of the better pitchers around. Hope he spent the offseason working on these things
nolie
January 9th, 2012
5:45 pm
will need to develop an exceptional change up and pinpoint accuracy because of his limited arsenal.AT
he already has an excellent change up, he needs to improve his curve or come up with a good slider. His change is the least of his worries
Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
5:46 pm
brian, I hope they can find someone that can install a more complex defense. We were very vanilla on our coverages and blitz packages this year. There wasn’t much deception.
Arkansas Transplant
January 9th, 2012
5:48 pm
nolie, I’d say it’s a good change up but not an exceptional one.. I just think he can improve upon it and be a little more spot accurate with his command. It would allow him to work on other components of his pitch arsenal.