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
Jbailz
January 3rd, 2012
6:21 pm
Bat – You aren’t missing much, he has a few songs that I like. But I’m one of the apparently rare 28 year olds that respect and appreciate where Country Music came from. I guess I have my parents to thank for that. My first cassette tape was Alabama from my dad.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:25 pm
not to disparage Alabama, but they were kinda poppy country too compared to earlier stuff IIRC
jmart1951
January 3rd, 2012
6:26 pm
Nolie,
Don’t they need a backup center fielder? Also isn’t Reed better than Diaz?
Even if they had to pay $1.5 mill to get him wouldn’t they be in a better situation now than before.
Sure, Diaz might have to be released at some point in Spring Training or thrown in on a deal somewhere, but the object is to make incremental moves that make your team better whenever possible.
Jbailz
January 3rd, 2012
6:27 pm
For a kid in the 90’s they were as country as it could get without going back farther.
Grizzled Veteran
January 3rd, 2012
6:32 pm
I usually love the off-season, but this is the worst ever – and not just with the Braves,but for most of baseball. Somebody do something! Start a fake trade rumor, anything. The wilder the better, say Jose Bautista for half the Braves farm system. Yeah, that sounds good. Somebody get it started and by morning it will life of its own.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
Like I said, I really liked him last July, but Reed is not much of a CFer, not someone you would want to depend on if something happened to Bourn. and he misses a lot of games
with Diaz already getting paid he is not likely the guy they would be all that interested in, certainly not to the extent that your first post would indicate IMO
Jbailz
January 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing Joey Bats in our OF… I think it’d help put some butts in the seats…
UGA1999
January 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
The Braves are about to be sold….that is why nothing has been done…..Shhhhhhh
Jbailz
January 3rd, 2012
6:40 pm
UGA – Don’t tease..
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
hey I liked Alabama when they came out in 1980, but certainly not as hard core country as what I was used to from the 50s on.
McFann O O o
January 3rd, 2012
6:43 pm
Mark Bowmen When building a roster, you don’t necessarily want to be utilizing the word “if” too frequently. But when it comes to the likes of Heyward, Prado and even Brian McCann, the Braves are not going too far out on a limb when assuming each will bounce back from last year’s struggles in expected fashion.
Why would you say “even Brian McCann”? It’s not at all going out on a limb to guess he’s going to bounce back…
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:44 pm
how did that guy change his career so dramatically so late in life?
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
is Big Mac toast???
CB
January 3rd, 2012
6:47 pm
The owner of the Nationals,Ted Lerner,is 85 and worth $3.3 billion. Why would he be worried about over paying for Prince? Dang,he will probably not live to the end of Fielder’s contract.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
If I was in that situation I’d spent whatever it took to leave a winning legacy in my wake
McFann O O o
January 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
nolie—
No! What are you talking about?
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
6:51 pm
just thinkin’ ’bout Bowman’s words of wisdom McF.
McFann O O o
January 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
nolie—
Hmm…well, that could take a long time, then…
CB
January 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
nolie,take him a long time to go thru 3.3 billion. I would do the same thing.
Ray
January 3rd, 2012
7:01 pm
In response towards Reed Johnson, none of us know whether Wren put an offer on the table for him. He made it pretty clear that he preferred to stay in chicago. Bottom line as far as our needs, we do not know who Wren has put offers in to or not. There MAY be 3 or 4 one yr deal offers on the table for Cody Ross including from the Braves. Ross not taking them because he wants more. Bottom line is we do not know. We don’t know the conversations with teams or agents.
Puma
January 3rd, 2012
7:02 pm
CB – is he single? That’s the question,
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
7:03 pm
I’d spend it on a rollercoaster in my backyard
Jeff R
January 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
“But when it comes to the likes of Heyward, Prado and even Brian McCann, the Braves are not going too far out on a limb when assuming each will bounce back from last year’s struggles…”
To paraphrase the immortal Frank Wren, it’s time for Heyward to cross the threshold… from big time prospect to regular producer.
Prado will bounce back… and likely in a uniform other than the Braves. McCann needs to avoid the dinky injuries and he’ll produce up to his norms.
CB
January 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
Puma,no. Were you wanting to be the next Anna Nicole?
Abwright
January 3rd, 2012
7:11 pm
Blurry vision when facing a 90+ mph fastball, concussion, badly pulled oblique=”dinky injuries”
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
7:12 pm
not a ferris wheel Jeffrey???
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
7:13 pm
I leave work at work
George
January 3rd, 2012
7:16 pm
If MARTIN read the front page of this, he must really feel wanted by the BRAVES It says they are still trying to trade him. MARTIN should not even want to play for BRAVES the way they are treating him.
Jbailz
January 3rd, 2012
7:16 pm
You have a ferris wheel at work Jeffrey?!!?!??! Awesome!!!! Lol
Couch Tater
January 3rd, 2012
7:17 pm
BAS –
Ha! I ain’t got nothin’. CWS is out of my Adderall. Besides, that Pappadoppagapoulas fellow still has me gigglin.
Makes me wonder if Matsuzaka Gyro would be a good name for a Greek fast food joint. I like the thought of Moussaka from Matsuzaka’s.
Ee-ro? Ji-ro? Gee-ro?
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
7:20 pm
I’m head ferris wheel supervisor, Jbailz
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
7:21 pm
Denying Jeff Bagwell would be a travesty
January, 3, 2012
By David Schoenfield
In spring training of 1991, Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe wrote a glowing profile of Jeff Bagwell, suggesting that the Red Sox would one day lament the trade of Bagwell for 37-year-old relief pitcher Larry Andersen.
“Bagwell could be big one that got away,” read the headline.
The story appeared in March. Bagwell had yet to play a regular-season game in the major leagues, but the picture was already clear: Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman had made a mistake of potentially historic proportions.
“Jeff Bagwell owned New Britain,” wrote Ryan. “He hit .333. He led the Eastern League in hits and doubles. Everybody said he was the best prospect in the league, maybe the best in all of Double-A. A year or so in Pawtucket, and then The Bigs.”
Bill James raved about Bagwell, foreseeing him as a hitter capable of winning batting titles. “Gorman has heard it all,” wrote Ryan, “and he is quite prepared to live with the consequences of the deal. ‘In the seven years I’ve been here,’ (Gorman) contends, ‘I don’t think any young player has come back to haunt me yet.’”
Last year, his first time on the Hall of Fame ballot, Bagwell received 41.7 percent of the vote. As Hall of Fame chances go, that isn’t necessarily a distressing starting point. Jim Rice got 29.8 percent his first year. Goose Gossage received 33.3 percent and Gary Carter 42.3 percent. Andre Dawson didn’t begin much higher, at 45.3 percent. Bert Blyleven notoriously started at just 17.8 percent. The writers would eventually vote all those players into the Hall.
The vote total, however, drew outrage across the Internet, and understandably so. For a player of Bagwell’s abilities and accomplishments to receive such a low vote total was … well, something of historic precedent.
Using Baseball-Reference’s ranking of players via its Wins Above Replacement statistic, Bagwell rates as one most dominant players since World War II. Here are the position players ranked Nos. 11 through 30 and how many years it took them to get voted into the Hall of Fame:
Would you vote for Jeff Bagwell as a Hall of Famer?
Yes
No
11. Joe Morgan, 103.5 WAR (1)
12. Eddie Mathews, 98.3 (5)
13. Al Kaline, 91.0 (1)
14. Cal Ripken, 89.9 (1)
15. Albert Pujols, 89.1 (not eligible)
16. Wade Boggs, 89.0 (1)
17. Carl Yastrzemski, 88.7 (1)
18. George Brett, 85.0 (1)
19. Roberto Clemente, 83.8 (1)
20. Chipper Jones, 82.9 (not eligible)
21. JEFF BAGWELL, 79.9 (41.7 percent)
22. Rod Carew, 79.1 (1)
23. Ken Griffey Jr., 78.5 (not eligible)
24. Robin Yount, 76.9 (1)
25. Frank Thomas, 75.9 (not eligible)
26. Pete Rose, 75.3 (not eligible)
27. Paul Molitor, 74.8 (1)
28. Reggie Jackson, 74.6 (1)
29. Jim Thome, 71.4 (not eligible)
30. Johnny Bench, 71.3 (1)
Wins Above Replacement may not be a perfect statistic, but I don’t think anyone can argue that the above list represents anything other than a list of the greatest players of the past 50-plus years. As you can see, other than Mathews, every eligible candidate cruised into Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility. Furthermore, the following players, all with a career WAR below 70, made it in their first year: Brooks Robinson, Tony Gwynn, Eddie Murray, Willie McCovey, Ozzie Smith, Ernie Banks, Dave Winfield, Willie Stargell and Kirby Puckett.
Yet Bagwell couldn’t receive 50 percent of the vote, which indicates one of two things:
1. A large percentage of voters don’t realize how great Bagwell was.
2. A large percentage of voters didn’t vote for him because he had big muscles.
In 1990, the year Gorman traded him to the Astros, Bagwell played at Double-A New Britain (Conn.). While he hit .333 (second in the league) and led the league with 34 doubles, he also hit just four home runs. This fact has been cited as evidence that Bagwell must have turned himself into a slugger who mashed 449 career home runs with the help of steroids. After all, a year after hitting four home runs in Double-A, he hit 15 home runs for the Astros and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He would end up topping 30 home runs nine times in the major leagues.
You know how many home runs the 1990 New Britain Red Sox hit? Thirty-one. Bagwell was second on the team; Eric Wedge hit five. The team featured eight position players who would reach the majors, including future Red Sox shortstop John Valentin. He hit .218 with two home runs in 351 plate appearances. New Britain was an impossible place to hit. Ryan suggested because of that, Bagwell wouldn’t be intimidated by the Astrodome.
“It can’t be worse in the gaps than New Britain,” Ryan quotes Bagwell as saying. “The ball doesn’t go anywhere down there.”
The year before, New Britain hit 42 home runs. (Mo Vaughn hit just eight.) It hit 34 in 1988. Bagwell, who Ryan describes in the article as having “something approaching a hockey build,” didn’t lack power; he was just playing his minor league games in the Grand Canyon.
Bagwell has denied using steroids. He never tested positive once testing was initiated late in his career. He wasn’t mentioned in the Mitchell report. He played 156 or more games in 10 of his 15 seasons. Other than his freakishly awesome 1994 season in which he hit .368 in the strike-shortened season, his career shows a rather normal curve of improvement, peak value and slow decline starting in his mid-30s.
But he had big muscles.
Since it would seem presumptuous to assume guilt without evidence, I’ll assume the majority of voters somehow missed Bagwell’s greatness, as they did with Mathews for a few years or with Blyleven for so long. These things happen, but fortunately they usually correct themselves. Bagwell didn’t reach the magic 3,000-hit barrier, and he didn’t even hit 500 home runs. Some of his value is tied into being an excellent baserunner and solid defensive first baseman, things that can be overlooked in Hall of Fame voting.
I assume the voters will eventually come around and realize Bagwell is just one of 22 players with 1,500 RBIs and 1,500 runs scored since World War II — his 152 runs scored in 2000 are the most in one season since the 1930s. Of those 22, he ranks seventh in OPS and eighth in adjusted OPS (behind guys named Bonds, Mantle, Musial, Aaron, Mays, Ramirez and Robinson).
So, yes, Bagwell will eventually get elected to Cooperstown. Because he wouldn’t be denied admittance because he had big muscles.
faninva
January 3rd, 2012
7:21 pm
The owner of the Nationals,Ted Lerner,is 85 and worth $3.3 billion. Why would he be worried about over paying for Prince? Dang,he will probably not live to the end of Fielder’s contract. – CB
I paid one of his real estate co.’s rent for 4 years. If the nats do get Prince, I would like to formally apologize to braves nation for any role i might have had in Prince landing in DC
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
7:26 pm
Barry Larkin deserves Hall of Fame nod
January, 2, 2012
By David Schoenfield
There seems to be a widespread assumption that Barry Larkin will get elected this year to the Hall of Fame. After all, he is the highest-ranking player from last year’s ballot who didn’t get in, and without the addition of any strong new candidates this year, it ostensibly clears his path to Cooperstown. The Baseball Writers’ Association hasn’t failed to elect at least one player since 1996, so the conjecture is Larkin will jump from 62.1 percent to the necessary 75 percent.
I’m not so sure.
Here’s a look at the past 12 players the BBWAA has elected other than those who made it in their first year of eligibility, with each player’s year of election, how many years it took to reach 75 percent of the vote once they had reached 60 percent and their percentage increase in votes once they crossed the three-quarters threshold:
Player Year 60 to 75 Gain
Bert Blyleven 2011 3 5.5
Roberto Alomar 2011 1 14.3
Andre Dawson 2010 2 10.9
Jim Rice 2009 3 4.2
Rich Gossage 2008 2 14.6
Bruce Sutter 2006 1 10.2
Ryne Sandberg 2005 1 14.9
Gary Carter 2003 2 5.3
Carlton Fisk 2000 1 13.2
Tony Perez 2000 4 16.6
Don Sutton 1998 2 8.4
Phil Niekro 1997 2 12.0A couple of notes here. The “momentum” theory of voting certainly holds true. In the past 25 years, only four players who reached even 50 percent of the vote have failed to get voted in by the BBWAA. Jim Bunning, who reached 65.6 percent on his 10th year on the ballot but never made it; Orlando Cepeda, who didn’t reach 50 percent until his 13th season and maxed out at 73.5 percent in his final year (Bunning and Cepeda both eventually made it via the Veterans Committee); plus current holdovers Larkin and Jack Morris.
While that’s a positive sign for Larkin, as you can see from the above chart, not all the players made it immediately upon reaching 60 percent. The average percentage gain in election year for those 12 was 10.8 percent, so if Larkin receives that increase, he’ll fall just short.
That could be problematic for him, because beginning next year the ballot starts getting crowded with strong candidates: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza, Craig Biggio, Curt Schilling and Sammy Sosa in 2013; Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Mike Mussina and Jeff Kent in 2014; Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Gary Sheffield in 2015; Ken Griffey Jr. and Trevor Hoffman in 2016. So while the momentum theory is true, it’s also true that a candidate’s vote total can fall or rise based on the caliber of competition on the ballot. It’s certainly possible that if Larkin doesn’t make it this year, his vote total may end up stagnating for several years.
Now, as for his qualifications … Barry Larkin is easily qualified for Cooperstown, even by fairly tough Hall of Fame standards. He hit .295 and topped .300 nine times (among shortstops, only Luke Appling, Derek Jeter, Arky Vaughan and Honus Wagner had more .300 seasons). He was a 12-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, won the 1995 NL MVP Award and ripped out 2,340 hits. He did everything well — hit for a little power, stole bases, drew some walks, ran the bases well and was a solid player. At his best, he was not only the top shortstop in the National League, but one of its best players — according to Baseball-Reference wins above replacement, he ranks as one of the NL’s top 10 position players in six seasons.
That’s one of the strikes against Larkin — there isn’t one single skill that makes him stand out, like Ozzie Smith’s glove, Cal Ripken’s durability or Robin Yount’s 3,000 hits. The other strike against him is he was injury-prone throughout his career and topped 140 games just seven times. Despite that, however, he did play 2,180 career games, which would place him 10th among the 19 current Hall of Fame shortstops. Larkin’s B-R WAR of 68.9 wins places him seventh among Hall of Fame shortstops, and the only two who began their careers after World War II are Ripken and Yount (who spent the second half of his career as a center fielder). Even if you include Jeter and Alex Rodriguez (who will end up with more games at third base than shortstop), you’re talking about Larkin as a top-10 all-time shortstop.
That’s a Hall of Famer. And I think the voters will agree, with Larkin inching past 75 percent.
CB
January 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Pirates sign JoJo Reyes – probably win a couple against the Braves this year.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
thank goodness the Mets sdidn’t sign him or we would be doomed to last place fur shur…..
Mark Duncan
January 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
DOB, I have not posted yet this postseason but after hearing all this garbage about trading Prado I feel that I must say something. Prior to hurting his finger against Cincinnati in 2010 Prado was undeniably the best player on the team. One key hit after another and more than adequate play at second. His enthusiasm and well documented love for the Braves were there for all to see. The staph infection this past season hurt his effectiveness but he still produced more than not.
Though born and raised in Albany, New York, I became a huge Atlanta Braves and San Francisco 49er fan. There have been highs and lows for both teams. Hell, I was calling for the arrest of O.J. Simpson back in 1978. After the miserable choke of this past year and the only news so far is the attempt to trade the best player from the playoff season of one year ago. For some guy named Smith. What is the rationale behind this. Is it money or is Wren reverting to his days in Baltimore where he was famously duped by a radio caller commenting on a player who didn’t even exist. Granted he has made some good moves but to trade Prado in my opinion would be damaging to the Braves for ‘12 and beyond. PS Love the Stones unreleased tracks from Some Girls. Go 49ers!
Blog Monitor
January 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
yeah, come on DOB, you have all the answers for these non trades, proposed trades, trade rumours, FA signings, FA non signings, salary limits, etc..
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
Mark Duncan, you can answer your own question. If Prado is traded for a clearly inferior player, it will be a salary dump. There is no other reasonable explanation. We can only hope it doesn’t happen because I agree with you about his value to the Braves.
glord1
January 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Mark – Could not agree with what you said more. Marteen would be one of the last Braves I would ever trade. He is a flat out baseball player and a joy to watch play. I can not believe that some other team is not offering a ton for a guy that could put up 15 hr 70 rbi and a .300 ave as a 2B. I hope the Braves are smart enouth to hang onto him.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 3rd, 2012
7:58 pm
glord1, how do we know other teams are offering plenty for Prado? Might be all about trading JJ for an OF and keeping Prado as their plan. We’ll get answers soon. Has to be this month sometime. I mean pitchers and catchers report February 20, or somewhere around that time.
JJ is gone, Prado back in utility role is my conclusion.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
Wren hasn’t made many salary dump trades. Lowe was a salary dump, but he was also a suck dump. The only other one I can think of was Soriano.
George
January 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
Brava 7:50
AGREED, MARTIN must feel he is unwanted by the BRAVES.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:02 pm
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120103&content_id=26255886&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl
Nothing really new…..
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
nolie, please. You too? The Mets? Yeah, right. They’re rebuilding for God’s Sake. You as a former scout oughta be ashamed of a comment like your 7:36. Hopefully your former colleagues don’t get wind of that. Ouch to your rep.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
Almost all of his trades helped (or meant to help) the Braves
Uggla, Jurrjens, McLouth, Vazquez, Vizcaino
glord1
January 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
Brian I dont think teams are offering alot for Prado. I think he is extremely valuable and should bring a haul if he was traded. His downside is he seems to get banged up and miss time. His upside is he can hit anywhere in a lineup except clean up and can play 5 positions. I expect him to go 15+ Hr, over 70 RBI and hit .300 again. The guy just needs to stay healthy, play one spot and be left alone.
I just hope he is not traded.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
Pretty sure nolie’s comment is dripping with sarcasm
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
George, when you think about it, it’s baffling that Wren would even dangle Prado out there. When healthy, he’s one of the best players on the team. You’re right, I wonder, if he isn’t traded, how all this will affect him.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:08 pm
I wonder what people will say if we get to Spring Training and Drew Sutton is the projected back up SS and Jose Constanza is the 4th outfielder……..
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
8:09 pm
Who said that Wren is dangling Prado. Its been stated several times that he isn’t throwing names out but is listening on players. The only one I see him actually trying to move is JJ. Obviously Prado has appeal to other clubs due to his versatility and above average offense at 2B. But if the Braves were serious in moving Prado he would be gone by now, the fact that he is still here shows the value the Braves place in him.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
January 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
“Pretty sure nolie’s comment is dripping with sarcasm”
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
I certainly wouldn’t be surprised by that, Efrim.
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:13 pm
Who said that Wren is dangling Prado.
DOB, Bowman, Renck, and a lot of other writers.
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:16 pm
If the Braves weren’t serious about trading Prado, they would have quashed the rumors. They were very quick to dispel the rumor about JJ, Prado and some pitching prospects being traded to the Os for Jones.
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
8:18 pm
Brava
I don’t remember one time where DOB has stated that the Braves have ‘dangled’ Prado. Other teams have called on his availability but I have yet to see a verified report stating that the Braves were shopping Prado. Dangling him and listening are two different things. If they were dangling him he would undoubtably be gone by now. The fact that the price to acquire him is where it is is a sign of the Braves reluctance to move him just to move him like Lowe. Now I agree that I’m worried w/ how Prado will handle seeing his name in rumors but I don’t believe its the Braves trying to move Prado as it is teams looking to acquire him.
PD
January 3rd, 2012
8:18 pm
After the season Wren announced every player was available and he would listen to all offers and would make a move only if it improved the team & there were no untouchables. Sorry if you have forgotten that or missed it.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:19 pm
Wren’s not going to trade Prado unless it strengthens the team. If it was Prado for Smith straight up, don’t you think the Rox would accept that, twirl their moustaches, and do a “Meh Heh Heh!!” laugh in a heartbeat?
Wren won’t do that trade because it hurts the Braves.
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:19 pm
I’m not going to argue about semantics. Prado is clearly being shopped. You can be in denial about it. I’m not.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
P’Cola, Wren could be waiting to get the best possible deal for either. Teams get desperate in Jan…….oh forget it. I don’t really believe that.
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
8:25 pm
Brava
Don’t know what reports you’ve been seeing but if he was being shopped he would be gone. No doubt they are listening as he has been attached to rumors w/ several teams. Two totally different scenarios. Not saying he won’t be moved, though I find it unlikely at this stage of the game unless a replacement is brought in beforehand.
ncgary
January 3rd, 2012
8:26 pm
and the operator says 40 cents more, for the next 3 minutes
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
Matthew Diaz @diazfoundation 10m
Standing behind 4 indecisive old people at this coke machine is my personal nightmare. What’s yours? pic.twitter.com/Wx3mx5Yt
I wanted to answer You and Seth Smith platooning in LF, but I’m just not that mean.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
JJ is gone, Prado back in utility role is my conclusion….CTB
nah
Steve
January 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
Hope Bourn puts together a stellar season and the Braves feel obliged to move him at the deadline for a couple of top prospects. It could happen and wouldn’t bother me at all seeing as how I feel that we won’t re-sign him if he goes the free agent route.
The fact his career average OBP is 3 points behind Andruw Jones (even with all of Andruws sorry years added in) that tells you that Bourn still isn’t the OBP machine that he needs to be. While he is better than we have had in quite a few years and is hitting his best years .. there is simply no reason to give him a contract in the 6+ million per year range and I think he will be wanting FAR more than that. We can let him walk .. but I would much rather get some compensation at the deadline .. especially if our season is tanking.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
I really don’t think we’ll be “tanking” at the deadline
Sopheee
January 3rd, 2012
8:36 pm
Stop it you kool-aid drinker.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:36 pm
At the All Star Break last year, the Braves were 3.5 out of 1st place and had the 4th best record in baseball. And that was with Lowe stinking, McLouth tanking, and Uggla under .200
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:37 pm
danconnollysun Dan Connolly @
@ATL3124 Realistic in that Orioles have a talented young CF and Braves have a boatload of young Ps. But Os want a ton 4 him.
As talented as Jeff Francouer. And he isn’t really that young.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:37 pm
Oh I’ve got a Kool-Aid water fountain
kenhotlanta
January 3rd, 2012
8:38 pm
nolie: a question and I apologize if you already answered it:
What was your take on how baseball scouts were portrayed in the movie Moneyball? I guess the movie left the impression that most were “old and in the way”, but I was impressed with the actors playing the scouts and how they conducted themselves. I actually came home and looked up the credits, because I thought maybe they used real old time ball players, they just had that look in the movie.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:38 pm
And he isn’t really that young
He’s 26!
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:38 pm
danconnollysun Dan Connolly @
@ATL3124 Agreed. Never said #Orioles would get Hanson. I cant imagine #Braves dealing him. But O’s would b motivated if he were available
Motivated to trade Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, etc. for Hanson?
Brava
January 3rd, 2012
8:39 pm
P’cola, I’m not going to argue over something that’s been reported on extensively, to include right here on this blog. If you want to believe Wren isn’t shopping Prado, that’s certainly your prerogative. I’ll continue to believe he is.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:40 pm
He’s 26!
Not that young in baseball terms……..
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:41 pm
Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman are young. Adam Jones is entering his prime years, imo.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:44 pm
Heyward and Freeman are exceptions. Not many enter the Majors and succeed at 21
ncgary
January 3rd, 2012
8:44 pm
he’s been working and slaving his life away
we gotta get out of this place
Mister Frisky
January 3rd, 2012
8:48 pm
Fourth!As in place.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
8:48 pm
ASK BA
By Jim Callis
January 3, 2012
It would be fair to say that the Athletics had one of baseball’s poorer farm systems coming into the offseason. Following the Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez trades—and to a lesser extent, the Andrew Bailey deal—would Oakland’s system now rank in the top half? How favorably does their new quartet of pitching prospects (A.J. Cole, Sonny Gray, Jarrod Parker and Brad Peacock) stack up against other systems’ top fours?
Dan Thompson
Bristol, England
Jim Callis: Before the A’s added nine prospects in those three trades, their farm system would have ranked among the five worst in the game. That influx of talent will give them a significant boost and pushes them to the middle of the pack. (If I sound vague, it’s because we ranked the systems in the Handbook after the Cahill deal and before the Gonzalez and Bailey transactions. We’ll update those rankings again in the spring.)
Only three other organizations have a quartet of pitching prospects in the same class as Oakland’s. I’d rank them in this order: Diamondbacks (Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs, Archie Bradley, Dennis Holmberg), Mariners (Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, James Paxton, Jose Campos), Athletics (Parker, Peacock, Cole, Gray) and Braves (Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Randall Delgado, Sean Gilmartin). Oakland’s has the best No. 4 pitching prospect of any of those groups.
Elmer Gantry
January 3rd, 2012
8:49 pm
“At the All Star Break last year, the Braves were 3.5 out of 1st place and had the 4th best record in baseball. And that was with Lowe stinking, McLouth tanking, and Uggla under .200″
The first of September the Braves had an 8.5 game lead in the wild card then McCann and the entire offense tanked, Fredi started swallowing really hard and the rest is history.
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
8:50 pm
Efrim
239 players made their MLB debut this year with most being in the 24-25 year range. Adam Jones is still quite young. The fact he will be eligible for FA after his age 27 season shows how early he actually got started. Hes quite experienced for most 26 year old but is coming up to his prime years. The first few years of his FA contract should really be his best.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
8:51 pm
I haven’t watched it yet Ken, but according to beane’s philosophy that’s about how he thought of them at the time. K Law did too at one time but has moderated his stance quite a bit. not sure what Billy thinks now days but he hasn’t been very successful either so who cares?
Kat
January 3rd, 2012
8:51 pm
For college hoops fans Seton Hall is up on #8 UConn by a lot…
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:52 pm
I know everybody’s glass is half-empty with crap, but given the good play of the Braves for 5 months of the season, I’d call that one last month an anomoly.
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
8:54 pm
Correction on that last post. 239 registered their first at bats of their career last year (so some pitchers are in there) but 132 pitchers also made their debut last year.
Kat
January 3rd, 2012
8:54 pm
Michigan State and Wisconsin game is close and more entertaining than the UConn one.. 50 secs left.. 50-49..
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
8:54 pm
man you like Jones WAAAAY more than I do P’
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
8:55 pm
Savannah State at Arkansas is more exciting. Razorbacks up 39-18
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
and speaking of anomalies, i gotta finish of season 5 of Primeval tonight,….. and then have to wait until 2013 for season 6
Sopheee
January 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
The Hawks are starting to pull me in again. I’m always hesitant with them but they’re playing well so far in this young season.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
9:00 pm
Heyward and Freeman are exceptions. Not many enter the Majors and succeed at 21
I don’t know….Jones has had close to 2,500 plate appearances at the major league level and produced a .275/.319/.437, 101 OPS+ line. He’s been a bit better the last three seasons: .281/.326/.455, 109 OPS+(1,758 PA’s). He hasn’t really shown an ability to get on base and he will turn 27 next season. It’s kinda getting close to knowing what sort of major leaguer he is and is going to be. He’ll probably be better offensively the next 3-4 seasons, but his defense is probably not going to get much better and his bat doesn’t profile in a corner outfield spot.
Sopheee
January 3rd, 2012
9:01 pm
Which is why I don’t get that post by whoever it was that whined about how we’re a lousy sports town with everyone letting us down. Yeah, we’re a crapola playoff town but regular seasons are usually a blast with most sports around here. It could be a lot worse.
jeffrey d
January 3rd, 2012
9:01 pm
Me too, Soph
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
9:06 pm
nolie
I do like Jones. I think hes a good major league ball player. If the guy takes a few more walks we may be seeing him in a similar light. And his offense is very good for a CF. I don’t hold him in near as high regard as the Orioles due. I think his defense will translate better to LF than it does in CF. The guy is still young at 26 but coming into what should be the prime years of his career. Through interleague play he has hit well against NL pitching .308 .347 .495 .841 (279 AB). The biggest knock on the guy is his OBP, which who knows what will happen there.
Efrim
January 3rd, 2012
9:07 pm
BA is going to have the Braves org. ranking lower than I originally thought. If they think Arizona, Seattle, Oakland’s Top 4 ahead of ours…
Although that’s probably because of Delgado and Gilmartin’s rankings in comparison to the other #3/4’s they mentioned: Bradley/Holmberg, Paxton/Campos, and Cole/Gray.
PD
January 3rd, 2012
9:07 pm
Adam Jones has finally reached the 20 HR arena for the first time in 6 seasons, never left the teens in HRs prior to 2011 and the Orioles radio guy just said he was a 30 HR hitter.
Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:07 pm
Efrim, no way do I see the O’s giving that up for Hanson. Would I like to see it, probably but the O’s owner has a history of loving certain players and refuses to trade them no matter what the return. Apparently they had several offers in the past for Brian Roberts that were in the favor of the O’s and PA refused to let him go.
nolie
January 3rd, 2012
9:09 pm
I think his defense will translate better to LF than it does in CF. P’
I agree with that but when Bourn goes he would take over CF. and like Surhoff I think his slugging goes down quite a bit in the Ted. The Yard is a homer park most years.
P'cola Brave
January 3rd, 2012
9:10 pm
Looks like Wilkin Ramirez signed a minor league contract w/ the Twins.