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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
163 comments Add your comment
billy bob bobble ball
January 14th, 2012
2:20 pm
The question keeps coming up re “Chipper’s backup at third,” when it should be “who will Chipper backup?” I’m sorry, I love him, but CJ is done, and if he starts 110-130 games at third next year, he’ll compile a .240 BA, 12 HR, and maybe 50 RBI, with mobility akin to an elm tree.
A fact that our columnists, to my knowledge, never bring up is that the president of Liberty Media makes over $100M a year, while limiting the Braves player payroll to what, $80-90M yearly. As fans, we are being short changed, and this is why, while I follow the Braves on TV, I refuse to spend a dime at the Ted until LM is run out of town, and a responsible, committed owner buys the team. I would encourage others to do likewise.
bvillebaron
January 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
Pissed Off Fan:
No one said that Wren should trade just for the sake of trading, huh. That is exactly what your numerous critical posts want him to do. Neither you nor I know what Wren has been offered for the two guys he apparently was willing to trade–Jurrjens and Prado. I understand his willingness to trade JJ, but I never did understans why he would want to trade Prado.
Did any of the following ever occur to you: (1) Wren hasn’t been offered value for either JJ or Prado because their market value is low due to injuries and/or poor performances last year; and (2) this is January 14, 2012 and the season doesn’t start until the begining of April.
Look, everyone knows this team could use a right-handed power hiting leftfielder, but tell me who was avaiable on the free agent market who wasn’t overpriced and/or overrated (e.g. Willingham, Ludwick, etc). I too was/am intrigued by the Adam Jones possibility, but if the reports are true who in their right mind would trade Jurrjens, Prado and two of their premium prospects for him?
Having said all that, why don’t you tell all of us who Wren should have acquired this year and at what price instead of just complaining all the time?
cowdogit
January 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
Can’t blame Liberty,Fifteen million to Chipper, a part time player at best that can’t run. Ten million paid to Lowe to pitch for another team. Twenty five million would restock the braves with some good young talent. St Louis refused to be intimidated, and refused to spend a stupid amount of their payroll on an aging super star.I see good young talent in the near future for ST LOUIS.
bvillebaron
January 14th, 2012
3:49 pm
cowdogit:
Valid points and no one ever said Wren was perfect–no GM is. One could also argue that the Cardinals should have spent the money they paid Holliday and Berkman on Pujols.
Runner-
January 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
The Braves have been steadily dropping in payroll each year. Once a top 5, even 3 at some points, team in payroll in the league, they are now somewhere around the middle.
Even though we unloaded on D-Lowe’s contract, we haven’t made even a decent offseason acquisition. Granted, this may all be the doing of Frank Wren and his preparing for the onslaught of players we will have to sign in the future (Beachy, Minor, Teheran, Delgado, Pastornicky, Heyward, Freeman) and is avoiding locking up another long term player.
Either Wren is playing this smart, or Liberty Media has us on a tight leash.
chipper say we better team then Phillies
January 14th, 2012
3:58 pm
Another lousy Job By Liberty owners and Frank(clyde-crashcup)Wren great signin of rejects n as Prince fielder is out there Wren is farkin on sports writer but kissy poo for Braves…chipper will say we better then Phillies n Marlins and Freddie Gonz. will tip his hat to other dugout when Lose and Ozzie Guillen will shot a Bird at freddie also.Top winners Phillys nats and Marlins are top Loser and tied with Oakland GM Billy beano gas here is Frank Wren..71-91 season folks Marlins will win 96-66 in 2012 Phillies be at 101-61 and Nats at 87-75 for season n last is Mets at 68-94 at least braves be keepin them warm…Oh and lovely shout out as Prince fielder will sign with St.louis soon not texas as u think..He wants get to world series real fast now!
chipper say we better team then Phillies
January 14th, 2012
4:12 pm
In the other divison remember we have two more wildcard teams this season and be last time we play astros they be in american league west with Texas rangers in 2013…..winners of East 1.Tampa rays 2. Ny Yankees 3.Toronto 4.Boston and last is of course u know whoBaltimore in 2012….Now in central 1. Cleveland 2. Detroit 3. Minnesota 4.Chicago white sox’s and 5…Kansas city royals…..In West LA angels 2…..Texas Rangers 3..Seattle Mariners and 4th with most lost’s since Detroit The Undersized cheap Owners of Oakland A”s 47-115 record… in Central divison in Natl league ….1..Cincinnati 2.St.Louis 3. Milwaukee 4. houston 5. chicago cubs and 6….in last year in divison and movin to american league n being in west in 2013….
Bravesbobblehead
January 14th, 2012
5:08 pm
As a frequent Braves game goer attendance isn’t a issue its the poor ownership of Liberty Media and not investing in a quality product on the field such as a power hitter. People forget it cost $$$ especially for a family. When I go to the games, my tickets are around $40, parking $10, snacks souvenir add $$15-20 so I send my part to support the Bravo’s.
Paddy
January 14th, 2012
5:09 pm
Strange things happen in baseball. Don’t give up on this bunch. Chipper is still the key. He must play 140 games and be productive. If that happens we will still challenge for a playoff spot.
As the great Eddie Haas says; things happen in baseball.
Joshua
January 14th, 2012
5:28 pm
The Braves do not need to trade Prado. It makes no sense. Chipper said he was one of the best players on the team. Fredi Gonzales has said he is the best defensive third baseman on the team. The Braves have to start preparing for Chipper’s retirement. Chipper should be the starter. No one hit better with runners on base than him on the teal last year. And as John Kruk said if 90% of players in baseball hit with the numbers Chipper hit for last year most people would have been content or happy with it. But since it was Chipper they said it was a bad year. By his standards or the ones we have for him, he had a bad season, but compared to most every other player he had an above average season, which was pretty good. What I think the Braves should do is move Chipper to second, because he can hit in any count. Prado is more of an ambush hitter. He excels when he can ambush the first pitch. This is why most experts say he struggled hitting behind bourn, because he had to be patient. I think he should hit third or lower in the order, where he can just go up and hit, and not have to worry about whether or not the person on base is going to steal. I definitely would not trade him, unless the Braves got a starting left fielder and a replacement third baseman for when Chipper retires. I also would not trade JJ. When his knee is healthy, he has been good enough to be one of the Braves top starters. I hold on to him, until a couple of these young guys prove they can pitch seven or eight consistently. JJ has been able to pitch deep into the ball game when healthy. I personally would use him as a starter, but if his knee continues to be an issue, I would put him in the bullpen and see if he can pitch a little at a time. An inning or two every couple of days instead of grinding out six or seven at a time. When he is healthy he has been good. What Wren needs to do is to stop fishing for big bats, but try to find someone that can move runners over consistently and driven them in. The Braves with their line up can hit home runs, but that doesn’t do much good if they are not doing it with runners on, or can’t bring a man in, with a runner on third and no outs.
Nerdbucket Moylan
January 14th, 2012
6:21 pm
At this point we are a third or fourth place team in 2012. Prob 4th place. Unless Wren can get a high obp outfielder for a minor/vizcaino package or something along those lines then Wren just needs to sit tight. Let’s wait for next season when Lowe’s $10m and potentially Chipper comes off the books.
Non-fair weathered fan
January 14th, 2012
7:56 pm
Really folks? The braves were two key injuries away from having a solid playoff run. As a true braves fan you ought to come to the realization now that we don’t spend big. We don’t have to, ATL has a farm system that is top 3 I’n MLB if not #1; a roster that is one of the most well rounded. The offseaon went as expected: deal Lowe, cutloose the weak bullpen help and get prado and a backup SS locked for a season. So come September when Atl is set up again for the playoffs after a solid season, I don’t want to read contradicting comments from you fair weather fans about Wren and this damn good organization
So Cal Brave
January 14th, 2012
8:16 pm
There’s a lot of ignorance in the comments of this blog… Although the fish and the nats have gotten better, it is still a two team race for the division title. We have the best rotation and bullpen combination. We have the best catcher, first baseman, second baseman, and centerfielder in our division. Miami has the best ss and rf, NY the best 3b, and Washington the best lf. Philadelphia has pretty much the 2nd best players at every position and they could make a case for having the best at 2b and rf, and their pitching is also a very close second to ours.
NL East: Braves agree to deal with Prado – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (blog) | philyphills.com
January 14th, 2012
9:12 pm
[...] blog post). The Braves also made a few …Braves seek safety in numbers at shortstopESPN (blog)Braves sign Prado to one-year deal, avoid arbitrationAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 199 news [...]
Henry Aaron's Ghost
January 14th, 2012
10:22 pm
Now that teams know exactly what he will cost them, they may be more apt to trade for him. Before, with arb out there, they might have got stuck with a larger contract. Now they know it is only $4-5 million. But, dudden matter, Braves are going to finish BEHIND Phillies, Nats, and probably the Fish. Their only hope for higher is Fish really do suck and Nats falter, which is doubtful. IF Nats sign Fielder, Braves are 3d in div AT BEST. Another long summer and another that I will not travel 225 miles round trip to watch them LOSE again. So, will save the $4.00 per gallon projected summer gas prices and stay closer to home. Thanks Braves for saving me the money now.
Lobosolo
January 14th, 2012
11:43 pm
Poor whittle Braves fans (!) can’t make it through the winter without continuance of constant cry-baby whining… For the love of Mike, WHY do you blubberers even care… seems your lots in life are to do nothing but whine about a sport your posts indicate you know NOTHING about…. alex, better get another couple of cases of binkies for you and the rest of your miserable ilk… a-WAHHHH, a-Wahhhh, a-WAHHHHHH…
pradostays
January 14th, 2012
11:46 pm
trade jurgens like NOW then hanson
DawgDad
January 14th, 2012
11:53 pm
Count me as one who does NOT want to see Prado traded, but it would clearly be in his best interests to go somewhere he can play second base every day. Too bad that won’t happen here; the Braves would be a better team with him at second.
Signing Wilson was a necessity. The depth chart at shortstop is still insanely stupid.
Somebody put up a post earlier saying Chipper is the key. Well, if Chipper is the key to your success at this point in his career your team is going nowhere.
salespro
January 15th, 2012
12:06 am
Hey DOB! Are you ever going back to work?? Does the AJC really pay you for doing nothing like Frank Wren as HE does nothing, while I pay for my weekly delivery to read NOTHING???
My “gig” pays nicely, btw, per your “advice”. I just need to actually have to WORK for mine.
ajcfan1
January 15th, 2012
8:51 am
Keeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Marteeeeeeeeeeeen!
David O'Brien
January 15th, 2012
1:12 pm
Hey DOB! Are you ever going back to work?? Does the AJC really pay you for doing nothing like Frank Wren as HE does nothing, while I pay for my weekly delivery to read NOTHING???
My “gig” pays nicely, btw, per your “advice”. I just need to actually have to WORK for mine. — salespro
Bitterness and jealousy aren’t becoming of you, young salespro. Keep your nose to your grindstone and you will someday have time off.
I’ll see ya soon. Headed home from Ashville, N.C., where we just ate some killer shrimp-and-grits (with Andouille sausage) at Early Girl Eatery.
vesaversa
January 15th, 2012
2:14 pm
The days of buying a world series ring have long pass . The Yankees and Red Sox doesn’t have a great farm club like the Braves so they will continue to spend the big bucks trying to out do each other . I would like to see the Braves fill those vacancies with some of their young talented farm club players .
vesaversa
January 15th, 2012
2:17 pm
Shrimp and-grits sound great . Keep us posted David O’Brien.
BravesFanSince80's
January 15th, 2012
4:12 pm
Why do so many people who post on these AJC Braves blogs like to belittle other fans when they ask why the FO hasn’t made any serious moves this off-season? Two teams in our own division made significant upgrades which should concern anyone who follows a team that DIDN’T make it to the playoffs last season. We have, by most accounts, the deepest pitching stable in baseball, why in God’s name can’t we ever part with any of these super prospects and go after a serious bat (by serious, I do not include Adam Jones or Seth Smith) that can significantly improve our offensive production simply by being in our lineup every day. Matt Holiday would be at the top of my list for somebody we could really use in this way. You can’t tell me that St. Lous wouldn’t listen to a serious offer from us on him (or a handful of other big bats on clubs that are clearly starting a transition period) that included a couple of our serious pitching prospects. I’m personally sick of hearing about all out pitching prospects and watching as they slowly make their way onto the MLB roster to only struggle with inconsitency and stamina and not really living up to all the hype around them. I say this where our “deep pitching pockets” are concerned: SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If Teheran is the second coming of Pedro, prove it, trade a guy in the rotation and let him help the club in a real way and stop saying he will and let him do it. If there is no realistic room for him on the club, or if such is the case for any of the other super prospects, TRADE THEM!
Ted Turner
January 15th, 2012
9:22 pm
Shrimp, grits and some buffalo steak and I’m ready to go.
Sorry your guys are stuck with such lousy ownership.
40 year Brave fan
January 15th, 2012
9:59 pm
Ted turner, where are you now? It is a real shame for the good Brave players. They are owned by a Denver, Co. company who brings up talent until they must be paid and away they go. They sign a few crucial names to sell tix but care nothing about championships. Prado is a GREAT player and most teams would sign him long term. They couldn’t trade him so they signed him for 1 year. They need to get rid of Heyward, not players like Prado and ALL-STAR Infante, “clutch” Conrad. Yet another pro Atlanta team who has settled on mediocrity.
Reality Check
January 15th, 2012
10:26 pm
If a healthy 40 year-old Chipper Jones is the “key” to the Braves’ success in 2012, this season will be over by August 1st.
Like the Hawks & Falcons, the Braves are not equipped with the talent needed to reach the big dance, as the opposition has re-tooled while Frank Wren fiddles around.
The pitching will be solid and keep us technically in the race until late summer; but the offense will once again be our downfall.
jc_dawgs
January 16th, 2012
1:52 am
Let me tell all you negative people something…because there is way too many of you.
Vegas knows a hell of a lot more about this team than you ever will. Currently…the Braves are tied for 2nd in terms of the odds to win the National league.
First is the phillies and then the Giants and Braves are tied.
The team got better by subtraction. It happens! Just because they dont go out and pick up this player or that player….you are wanting to write them off. Find yourself another team if you feel that way.
Here is the link….so quit your bitching!
http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/
Jockich Smelley, I
January 16th, 2012
7:43 am
Are the Braves and Falcons owned by the same group?? It sure seems that way…lethargic, lacksadaisical…yawnnnnnnnnn……think I need a nap thinking about these two teams…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzz………….snoring………………
YOU HURT ME FOR THE LAST TIME
January 16th, 2012
7:54 am
is no moves good , damn if i know because you sit on your wallets but make us pay 7 dollars for beer that i threw up watching a team that cannot finish..
YOU HURT ME FOR THE LAST TIME
January 16th, 2012
7:56 am
really atlanta braves really
jfreak13713
January 16th, 2012
8:16 am
A full year of Bourn and hopefully a healthy Heyward could be like making an offseason trade. I hate to trade pitching but JJ hasn’t looked good for a couple years if we trade anyone I would suggest it be him. I think the Braves are in good shape because the Phillies haven’t gotten better and the Marlins are quite there yet.
bvillebaron
January 16th, 2012
8:53 am
BravesFanSince80s:
I am not belittling you for thinking the Braves should trade pitching surplus for more offense; I agee with you. The key question is at what price? As I mentioned in another post, it would be great to add Adam Jones. However, if the reported price to acquire him of Jurrjens, Prado and two of their premium prospects is accurate, who in their right mind would make this trade from the Braves’ perspective. The posters I am critical of is those who continually (1) whine about how cheap Liberty Media is (true, but that ain’t changing): (2) absolutely rip Wren for not making a panic trade merely to make them “feel better” and because the Marlins and Nationals have made moves; and (3) think that those moves maks the Marlins and Nationals better than the Braves with their present roster (they do not).
cmc
January 16th, 2012
9:03 am
Bravesfansince80’s,
Matt Holliday? Seriously? The same guy who took himself out if the lineup for Game 7 of the WS? And how do you propose we fit his overpaid contract into our payroll structure? For the record, I have been a Braves fan since the 70’s. Most of you fantasy leaguer know it all’s who post on this blog don’t have a clue. I find it entertaining to read the ignorant and uneducated rants of you “fans” who somehow think you know how to run a baseball franchise. Stick to your Fantasy League and find another team to follow – like the Marlins and Phils since you are so enamored with their offseason moves. Are you reading this, Rafael?
PMC
January 16th, 2012
10:08 am
I’m kind of happy with status quo a this point. They can’t afford anyone better than Prado and he’s already proven his value.
If they hit, they are a playoff team. If they don’t hit, they’ll win 80 to 85 games and finish out of the running again.
They are going to pitch really well again. It’s almost all on whether they are going to be able to score enough to win a ton of close games.
Hesalive
January 16th, 2012
10:26 am
The Braves could win the East with this lineup.
Booby Cox
January 16th, 2012
11:04 am
With the Astros moving to the AL, who’s left in the NL for the Braves to beat up on?
j
January 16th, 2012
11:41 am
We still can’t hit the ball. We need runs!
mpimentel
January 16th, 2012
12:35 pm
hoe good could be been a yankee fan…geez they upgrade they needs in, what 3 hours?…..the braves are looking for a power hitter in almost what, 3 season?
jack wilson to be a mentor…hummm what about miguel tejada, a former MVP player that can play ss,3b and 2b to be a TEAM mentor AND a ledder…
yoenis cespedes are available FW try to make a run of him…
David O'Brien
January 16th, 2012
12:47 pm
jack wilson to be a mentor…hummm what about miguel tejada, a former MVP player that can play ss,3b and 2b to be a TEAM mentor AND a ledder — mpimentel
Tejada a team leader and mentor, huh?
dogsbrekky
January 16th, 2012
1:14 pm
Tejada likes that alternative medicine
Seattle Braves
January 16th, 2012
2:01 pm
Seth Smith is now off the Market. Im glad we didnt go that route.
Seattle Braves
January 16th, 2012
2:03 pm
Seth Smith Traded to Oakland for 2 Relievers
Seattle Braves
January 16th, 2012
2:04 pm
If the Braves could get Houston to pay for Carlos Lee contract this year and some of next year. I would mind a trade for him
Seattle Braves
January 16th, 2012
2:05 pm
HE fits the Bill
LF
RH Bat
RBI Machine
This is exactly what the Braves want from that position.
mpimentel
January 16th, 2012
2:10 pm
seth smith almost in A’s nation…another possible trade in the horizon?…you know, to make others GM think on…to be a mentor you have to teach and try to make young players play the game as the STAR player YOU WAS…
mpimentel
January 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
jack wilson a mentor of what…somebody explaing that to me…a mentor of stay in chape to bat .230 coming from the bench…GET REAL BRAVES FAN WE WON’T COMPETE THIS UP COMING SEASON FOR A SIMPLE REASON…WE ARE NOT CAPABLE TO UPGRADE THE LINEUP…hey FO you were supposed to make this team better remember something: our lovely team COLLAPSE IN LAST SEPT BECAUSE OF OUR LACK OF SCORE…but again who cares? FW I don’t think so…
Chronic Tonic
January 16th, 2012
4:39 pm
Tejada could teach Pastornicky how to use steroids… Wait, Jordan Schafer beat him to it !
8o's
January 16th, 2012
6:45 pm
bvillidiot @8:53..what the hell do u know.
cornjolio
January 16th, 2012
8:17 pm
With Seth Smith going to the A’s, maybe Frank Wren can bring back Ryan Langerhans
BravesFanSince80's
January 16th, 2012
11:25 pm
CMC: Holliday is arguably the best hitting LF in all of baseball, why wouldn’t we want IF we could get him and keep him? you’re argument about game 7, while I understand what you mean, has little value to me since his team WON THE FREAKING WS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BravesFanSince80's
January 16th, 2012
11:28 pm
one more thing CMC, thanks for proving my original point, lots a love on here, as always…
BravesFanSince80's
January 17th, 2012
12:17 am
jc_dawgs: I wouldn’t take Vegas’ opinion on such matters too seriously, who knows what motivation dictates the placement of those positions on the odds rackets? Might they possibly be fishing for boobs who take the odds too seriously? Simple truth: as it stands, Miami will hit better than us and should pitch well enough to stay in a LOT of games, so why wouldn’t a Braves fan look at that with concern considering that we didn’t make the playoffs last year either? your argument would make more sense if we’d managed to get in last year, but following the collapse, many have little if any faith in the same ol’ same ol” getting trotted out every day (and yes, I’m aware we no longer have to watch Derek Lowe every 5th day). If we don’t hit considerably better than last year we won’t even come close and I’m not holding my breath on a big offensive turnaround…
David O'Brien
January 17th, 2012
1:18 am
Simple truth: as it stands, Miami will hit better than us and should pitch well enough to stay in a LOT of games, so why wouldn’t a Braves fan look at that with concern considering that we didn’t make the playoffs last year either?</em> — BravesFanSince80s
Do you realize just how far the Marlins finished behind the Braves last season, even after Atlanta’s September collapse? Seventeen games. SEVENTEEN. That’s a helluva lot of ground to make up, my man. And if you think the additions of Buerhle, a strong closer and injury-prone Jose Reyes make the Marlins are enough to give the Marlins 17 games on the Braves, who played the second half virtually without Jurrjens and Hanson, well … I would respectfully disagree. Braves are still clearly a better team than the freshly minted Miami Marlins.
BravesFanSince80's
January 17th, 2012
1:37 am
DOB: didn’t say they’d definitely finish ahead of us, merely said there was cause for concern, still stand by that statement
BravesFanSince80's
January 17th, 2012
1:40 am
Marlins played entire year without their ace and they will definitely out-hit us. That won’t be much of an accomplishment I’m afraid
guy
January 17th, 2012
7:00 am
Mark in WR is right on.Heyward needs to get tougher physically and step up to the plate.Jason,when you step up to the plate,get a hit at least 30% of the time.Also,about 25-30 home runs would help.We’ll see this year what he’s made of.
74bravesjersey
January 17th, 2012
8:45 am
Realitycheck; I agree man,right on!
74bravesjersey
January 17th, 2012
8:48 am
Billy bob bobble ball; U- hit the nail on the head, who should chipper back up?
I hate NY but I respect their sports journalism
January 18th, 2012
7:36 am
DOB – when is your next motorcycle ride with Fredi G? Got your softball questions ready for him?
David O'Brien
January 18th, 2012
1:25 pm
DOB – when is your next motorcycle ride with Fredi G? Got your softball questions ready for him? — I Hate (7:36 a.m.)
Yes, you really do. But that’s OK. Takes all kinds. Thanks for your input.
Reimekandace
February 5th, 2012
9:30 pm
you must read boutique vuitton for more
Nubia
May 5th, 2012
2:11 pm
I live in the KC area so we go to Royals and Chiefs games a few times a year.We don’t have the Home Depot Tool race, we have the catsup, mrtsaud and relish race! *there is really nothing more entertaining to me than running condiments at a baseball game, totally my favorite part!*We also have the T-Bones baseball team in KC, not a major league team but the tickets are cheaper, parking is free and they are so much fun!