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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,493 comments Add your comment
TheOnlyBravesFan
May 14th, 2012
12:51 pm
You mean if he keeps one hopping throws over to first base like he’s been doing all season?
No, I meant more about him having terrible range at 2B… If he can’t cover that adequately, then how will he do in LF?
If/When Simmons is brought up, Pastornicky is more likely to be moved to CF, if Bourn goes, or made a super utility player.
CrαZy
May 14th, 2012
12:51 pm
Someone mentioned JJ taking Chad Durbin’s spot on the roster?
Minor has allowed 21 runs over the last 16 IP. If Minor continues to struggle I could see JJ taking Minor’s spot in the rotation!! He was pitching great to start the season, but it’s been bad lately. I Think he’ll get at least a few more starts to get it worked out.
Travis
May 14th, 2012
12:51 pm
Biggest and best move the Braves could make is resigning Bourne. I know it would be expensive but no way this team continues it’s success offensively if it doesn’t have a Bourne/Furcal quality lead off man. Bourne is the closest to a 5 tool player the Braves have had for a long time. 4 years and 52 mil and he might take it. Might be tough to sign him and after his last interview in St Louis he pretty much told us how hard it is to do what he does. Someone will pay. And dearly!
monty
May 14th, 2012
12:52 pm
For me Pastornicky is the proverbial “gamer”. He doesn’t seem to excel in any particular phase of the game but he couples his marginal talent with a strong amount of competitive spirit and determination and baseball understanding(coaches son?)that he can, and often does, rise above general expectations.
phil
May 14th, 2012
12:53 pm
Durbin’s pitch count?
Huh?
I think he threw all of 2 yesterday.
Move Uggla to CF and Bourn to 2B…..Bourn’s speed will come in handy there defensively chasing those infield pops….
Lew
May 14th, 2012
12:55 pm
Pastornicky in center? I’m really doubting that one. Has he ever played center field before? I’d imagine that if he hasn’t then he’s going to take a good bit of time out there before he will be vaguely effective. And his bat hasn’t been all that good – certainly not enough to overshadow a poor defensive performance in CF.
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
12:56 pm
CrαZy
May 14th, 2012
12:51 pm
Someone mentioned JJ taking Chad Durbin’s spot on the roster?
“Minor has allowed 21 runs over the last 16 IP. If Minor continues to struggle I could see JJ taking Minor’s spot in the rotation!! He was pitching great to start the season, but it’s been bad lately. I Think he’ll get at least a few more starts to get it worked out.”
Good Point, Minors struggles have gone overlooked because he has been given great run support in his last 2 starts…
Jeff R
May 14th, 2012
12:57 pm
Minor has allowed 21 runs over the last 16 IP. If Minor continues to struggle I could see JJ taking Minor’s spot in the rotation!!
Agreed.
raleighbravefan
May 14th, 2012
12:57 pm
A healthy Moylan would be a good addition to the BP. I don’t know if we will ever see JJ again. Time will tell.
CrαZy
May 14th, 2012
12:58 pm
Bourn’s speed will come in handy there defensively chasing those infield pops….
If you put Bourn at 1B he’s fast enough to run after bad throws and still beat the runner back to the base!! There may be value in that!!
Jeff R
May 14th, 2012
12:59 pm
Pastornicky in center? Not out of the question, but I think Wren will look elsewhere when Bourn skips town this coming winter.
Frankie Wren
May 14th, 2012
1:00 pm
Got to love how the offense has been responding when other teams cut into leads. Putting a run across the board or two the following inning does wonders for confidence.
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:00 pm
raleighbravefan
“A healthy Moylan would be a good addition to the BP. I don’t know if we will ever see JJ again. Time will tell.”
Good Point, one would be wise to bank on Double J getting traded at the deadline…because we have a logjam of starters…
David O'Brien
May 14th, 2012
1:01 pm
Just got off phone with Boras. Haven’t been any Bourn negotiations yet with Braves.
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
Frankie Wren
“Got to love how the offense has been responding when other teams cut into leads. Putting a run across the board or two the following inning does wonders for confidence.”
Co-Sign, and I like the Fact that they made Cy Wainwright work and got him out of the Game by the 6th inning!!!
Got Heeeemmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!
brian
May 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
nothing wrong with taking a flier on Pie in AAA. I would not pencil him in for anything on the major league club and I am sure the Braves brass has not. If he regains his form that made him a highly thought of prospect then he is a bonus for the Braves.
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
@D.O.B.
What about Double J and Big Red???
Whats The 411?
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:04 pm
But at the same time…As of right now, the team really has no glaring hole…So Wren might hold off on trading Double J until the offseason…
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
1:04 pm
Tomahawkin – I know the deal with Durbin. Just being silly.
Same thing with his “pitch count’ comment. I think he threw one pitch yesterday.
Frankie Wren
May 14th, 2012
1:05 pm
Let’s hold the phone on Pastornicky regarding center field or shortstop next season. See what the young lad does the next 4 1/2 months before penciling him in anywhere. Like what we see so far.
Hopefully Bourn saves a couple multi hit games for the fall. Can’t see him clipping at .330 but some more consistency than when he came over last half would be nice. Guy is hearing cha ching every line drive and not the sound a Louisville slugger makes.
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:06 pm
Wow
Word on the streets (Philly.com/phillies forum) is that King Cole Hamels is seeking a 7 year deal at around 25 mill per year….
Only Whinebrenner and the Yanks can afford that
TheOnlyBravesFan
May 14th, 2012
1:07 pm
It would be a longshot for Tyler to play CF, more likely to be a super sub, I was just throwing that out there. He would need to work on it though. Lipka made the switch from SS to CF pretty well in the minors, so there is a chance Tyler could do it if need be. I think his bat/speed will be too good to not be an everyday player.
David O'Brien
May 14th, 2012
1:09 pm
@D.O.B.
What about Double J and Big Red???
Whats The 411? — Tomahawkin
What’s the info about what?
Frankie Wren
May 14th, 2012
1:12 pm
Rev reminds me a little of Ryan Theriot, can play SS, 2B. Should stick around for awhile.
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:12 pm
@D.O.B.
Any Progress on signing either Big Red or Double J long-term? Since both are his clients…
jeffrey d
May 14th, 2012
1:14 pm
Tomahawkin to English translation: Are the Braves negotiating with Jurrjens or Hanson?
Jeff R
May 14th, 2012
1:15 pm
DOB, has Boras indicated that he’d be receptive to negotiating a deal with the Braves before taking Bourn to free agency?
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
1:24 pm
Go ahead and laugh. But remember, when it happens I’ll be right here to remind ya’ll as to who predicted the future.
You can’t honestly think that the team will replace Chipper Jones with Andrelton Simmons, and call it a day.
brian
May 14th, 2012
1:32 pm
I would be shocked if the Braves were negotiating with Boras for an extension with JJ. I would be very surprised if they are doing that with Hanson
Jeff R
May 14th, 2012
1:33 pm
Simmons will be the Braves everyday shortstop in ‘13 or ‘14. Prado might get the nod at third, when Chipper retires, though not convinced of that. I think Francisco is a backup guy. I believe who plays third for the Braves next year is an open question.
Murph
May 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
I wonder if Minor’s wish to be traded if he isn’t on the MLB roster still applies if he gets sent down for poor-performance?
He’ll either give up zero runs or 9 runs his next time out.
unbelievable
May 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
Enter your comments here
jeffrey d
May 14th, 2012
1:49 pm
Here I kept hitting refresh hoping for a new comment, but it was just “Enter your comments here”
unbelievable
May 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
JJ is going to need more time before he’s ready to replace anyone. Minor still has good K:BB numbers. He’s just paying for every mistake that he’s making right now.
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
I wonder if Minor’s wish to be traded if he isn’t on the MLB roster still applies if he gets sent down for poor-performance?
I think the perception of this play-me-or-trade-me thing is wrong. That isn’t what the kid said. When I read the relevant quotes, I got the impression that this was a kid with the normal human fear that he might not make the ballclub and who would have no actual clue as to why this might be so, if it did occur. The way I saw it, it was “the team might be better off if…”, not “I would be better off if…”.
unbelievable
May 14th, 2012
1:52 pm
Prado will get the nod at 3rd and Gattis may get a shot at LF. Fransisco doesnt look capable of handling the position at this point.
Jeff R
May 14th, 2012
1:54 pm
I want Prado to win the third base job. Still not sure how that plays out, though.
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
1:56 pm
Gattis may get a shot at LF
He has to rake another six weeks at AA and then rake two months in AAA, for that to occur.
brian
May 14th, 2012
1:56 pm
if I were the Braves I would focus on just a few players for long term extensions. As far as starters, Beachy is the one I would focus on right now to sign an extension taking him through his arbitration years and a free agent year or two.
Freeman is a must – a 5-7 year contract extension. He is a cornerstone for the Braves not only with his offense but his defense as well.
I would also try to sign Heyward to a 4-5 year extension at the right price. I think Heyward is turning it around and still has a very high ceiling though with still much work to do. I do not want to go to arbitration with Heyward simply because I would not want to pile onto his struggles. I think an extension will give Heyward the confidence and the comfort he needs to work on his game rather than worrying about his arbitration years and stats.
brian
May 14th, 2012
1:58 pm
someone mentioned Dempster on here earlier……
If the Braves make a move this summer for either a pitcher or hitter, I would look for Minor’s name to be included there. He does show promise, is lefty, and under team control for years. He will be a valuable trade commodity.
The Braves will not simply trade him because Minor wants to be traded if he is not in the rotation
Tomahawkin
May 14th, 2012
1:58 pm
“Freeman is a must – a 5-7 year contract extension. He is a cornerstone for the Braves not only with his offense but his defense as well.”
Dont be suprised if he gets locked up during the offseason or a year from now. Mainly to advoid all the years that he is arb-eligible…
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
2:01 pm
As far as starters, Beachy is the one I would focus on right now to sign an extension taking him through his arbitration years and a free agent year or two.
Geez, that’s like a seven- or eight-year deal, LOL. Maybe they should let him win 15 games first?
DiamondbackMac
May 14th, 2012
2:01 pm
Yes he will and logic dictates doing so. The Braves will not be going after multiple free agent position players. Budget says as much. Simmons is the SS of the future. Again, logic says so. Pastornicky isn’t playing anywhere else except Atlanta, logic dictates the move to 2B. So again….logic, budget, talent, defense, offense, common sense, team speed, etc.etc.etc.
Logic, logic. logic …… I knew it, Coach is a Vulcan.
DS1
May 14th, 2012
2:03 pm
I would expect that Freeman and Heyward would be another year and a half away from negotiating a long term contract.
Prado and our pitchers are the most pressing concerns after the 2012 season. Mac will be resigned after the 2013 season.
Just one guys opinion.
DS1
May 14th, 2012
2:06 pm
Sorry Coach, but I do NOT see Uggla playing anywhere but second base.
And why do we want to get sign happy with our young players who are still under team control for years to come? With the way pitchers come and go (and their higher incidence of injury), it might be best to just play them out until they are soon to be free agents, then sign them if all signs point in that direction.
And I don’t think a hot month or so will bring the Braves to resign Bourn either. Let’s see how he is doing in late August. Chances are good he won’t resign anyway.
tony austin
May 14th, 2012
2:14 pm
At this point and time there is no way I’d even consider talking to Hanson about an extension. I say let him do his time, thank him and let him move on. He throws way too many pitches, gives up way too many HRs and is a pitch away from shoulder surgery.
cricket
May 14th, 2012
2:16 pm
Rockies may be willing to pay more for Prado this offseason
Bat Masterson
May 14th, 2012
2:16 pm
I think an extension will give Heyward the confidence and the comfort he needs to work on his game rather than worrying about his arbitration years and stats. _ brian
You might be right, but let’s say Heyward has a pretty good year and looks to be back on track. So then he gets a what, $3.5m dollar deal for next year? So then he would be a 23 year old guy that had made about $7m as a pro. I think I would be feeling pretty confident all ready.
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
2:17 pm
He throws way too many pitches, gives up way too many HRs and is a pitch away from shoulder surgery.
A quote torn from the sports pages, only in regard to a then-young John Smoltz.
keylargo
May 14th, 2012
2:17 pm
Only Whinebrenner and the Yanks can afford that
I bet it would surprise Tomahawkin if he knew George Steinbrenner died in 2010.
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
2:20 pm
phil – My comments on Durbin’s pitch count was dripping with sarcasim.
He did, in fact, throw two pitches. One ball and one strike.
It was a joke that he would have stayed in longer, if not for his pitch count. Not to be taken seriously.
Besides, everyone on here knows his pitch count is 11.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 14th, 2012
2:20 pm
jeffrey d Here I kept hitting refresh hoping for a new comment, but it was just “Enter your comments here”
There is a lot of that going around now-in-days…
brian
May 14th, 2012
2:21 pm
scoots you buy out his arbitration years and 1-2 years free agency. That is a 5 year deal next year, 3 arbitration years, and 1 free agency year.
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
Besides, everyone on here knows his pitch count is 11.
Yes. A walk, a hit batsman, two singles, and a dinger. Now universally known as the Durbin Selection (11 pitches).
cricket
May 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
from capitolavenueclub.com -
One thing does remain clear: if the Braves miss the playoffs, poor infield defense will likely be more to blame than anything Fredi does or doesn’t do.
Really? looks like i’m doomed to enjoy baseball as a dumbo fan that doesn’t look everything thru involved stats, just the way guys that created baseball from cricket envisioned..
Bat Masterson
May 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
Yeah, I don’t get worried about extending Beachy either. The Braves still own the guy for almost 5 years.
brian
May 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
Bat – it is security that will help Heyward develop, in my humble opinion. Right now his numbers in arbitration are going to based on what, his last 2 years? give him security, show faith, then have him work to improve without having to worry about the arbitration negotiations
jeffrey d
May 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
I noticed….
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
2:24 pm
I hate to even comment on contract extentions because we always come full circle to McCann. That’s when I become the “enemy within” on the ole blog.
Considering all, and thinking with your head and not your hearts, an expensive, long term extention is not what the Braves should do.
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
2:24 pm
That is a 5 year deal next year, 3 arbitration years, and 1 free agency year.
Seems like more.
jeffrey d
May 14th, 2012
2:25 pm
It’s not thinking with your heart to extend a multiple All Star and Silver Slugger
cricket
May 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
i know durbin is the punching bag here, but if i remember correctly, after his horrendous start, he has blown his assignment in only one game. if this is correct, i guess we can live with him.
jeffrey d
May 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
….who’s 28 years old
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
2:28 pm
The Durbin Selection… let me write that down somewhere.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 14th, 2012
2:32 pm
jeffrey d It’s not thinking with your heart to extend a multiple All Star and Silver Slugger
True that. According to some insiders, the dude’s pretty good at baseball—might be worth keeping…
Bat Masterson
May 14th, 2012
2:33 pm
brian_
Yeah, I get it. Here’s the thing though. In 2008 Jeff Francoeur stunk on ice, right. .239/.294/.359/.653 … Ops+72 …….. He got a raise to $3.375m for that
Heyward was not that bad when he was hurt all last year.
Sopheee
May 14th, 2012
2:35 pm
I mean I drafted the guy on my team but don’t mind me, I used my heart not my head.
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
Ahhh, Durbin’s OK, I guess. If Fredo puts him in the game for the proper situation, he’ll mostly get the job done. But Fredo is plenty capable of going wrong-time-wrong-place with the guy, and Durbin is plenty capable of spitting the bit.
That’s just the nature of the roster spot that Durbin owns, that’s all. And it’s unlikely that that most other guys you could get for that spot are going to be significantly better.
jeffrey d
May 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
I drafted my team out of the emergency room
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
Sopheeee—
Yeah, don’t even bother weighing in on the subject…
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
cricket – I’m being serious right here, I’m a Durbin Dude. It’s like rooting for the underdog. He’s like the kid that was picked last, because no one else was left.
jeffrey d – I know what he is now, it’s the future that has me concerned. And he is a catcher. And we can’t play him at first. And on and on. At least the Twins can use Mauer at DH.
Let’s just disagree to agree on the extension.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 14th, 2012
2:38 pm
Jimmy At least the Twins can use Mauer at DH.
Mauer’s too skinny to make it as a catcher, anyway…
ncscoots
May 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mauer’s too skinny to make it as a catcher, anyway…
…and too tall.
cricket
May 14th, 2012
2:41 pm
sign Mac to extension and if in future if his defense slips, trade him for Poohols straight up…
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
McFann – See, I wasn’t even going there….
Sopheee
May 14th, 2012
2:45 pm
And he has annoying hair.
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
Culled from a story at CBS Sports – Danny Knobler
“We noticed that while nearly every other team in baseball seems to have had a bullpen crisis, the Braves haven’t lost a game they’ve led after six innings — or after seven innings or eight innings.”
tiger297
May 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
I knew it Macfann is a chubby chaser…
brian
May 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
it still would be interesting to see the Braves big board where they list expected rosters for the future. I would love to see their future rotation 3-4 years out and future OF.
Delgado is showing that he can be a solid middle rotation guy in the future and Beachy at least that or more. Teheran will be question mark until he gets extended time in the majors.
Don’t know how the Braves view Minor versus Gilmartin but I don’t see both of them in the rotation.
Hudson probably has a few more years in him and I imagine he will finish his career as a Brave.
Jurrjens will not be a Brave long term and I would be very surprised if he is here another year. Hanson, I believe, the Braves will hold to through the arbitration years to try and better see where his ceiling is unless they get a trade offer they cannot refuse.
richbrave
May 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
Mixxo
May 14th, 2012
12:42 pm
“…….Mac is DONE……get Gattis up here NOW!……”
LOL! Easy MIXXO, let’s see if he can sustain hitting against AA pitching first. He’s got to step up several levels to get beyond a AAAA hitter like ‘the Flailing Cuban’ or ‘Georgie’ CONSTANZA. BTW, if he proves out with a stellar half-season in PEARL RIVER, there’s nothing standing in his way in LF or catcher in GWINNETT. I consider CONSTANZA totally expendible and movable where GATTIS is concerned. As for catcher, SHAWN BOWMAN appears to be his only competition there. J.C. BOSCAN is a 1990’s BRAVES farm-lifer playing out the string. BETHANCOURT certainly isn’t performing well enough at the plate in MISSISSIPPI to get in his way.
Bay Area Steve
May 14th, 2012
2:50 pm
“I hate to even comment on contract extentions because we always come full circle to McCann. That’s when I become the “enemy within” on the ole blog.”
So, nobody was talking McCann. You say you don’t want to talk about McCann. You then immediately tell us, again, your position on extending McCann. I don’t think you’re doing it right.
cricket
May 14th, 2012
2:51 pm
Braun II – AP source: MLB drops Alfonzo’s 100-game drug ban
http://www.ajc.com/sports/ap-source-mlb-drops-1436925.html
Bay Area Steve
May 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
Tater,
Your Mother’s Day tribute was beautiful. Save me a sweet roll.
Hillbilly,
Great line on Gattis’ Meebo Bar. You win, sir.
McFann :Ô: :Ô:
May 14th, 2012
2:56 pm
ncscoots—
That, too—although BMac isn’t exactly short…
Jimmy—
Yeah, I noticed that—nobody around here ever picks on the skinny guys for being skinny…
Sopheeee And he has annoying hair…
…commercials. You said it!…
tiger297—
Hey, there are some cute skinny guys…
CrαZy
May 14th, 2012
2:58 pm
Beachy is the one I would focus on right now to sign an extension taking him through his arbitration years and a free agent year or two.
I don’t like the idea of giving extensions to pitchers when they still have a number of years before they hit free agency!!! Too much of a risk with a low payroll like ours!!
cricket
May 14th, 2012
2:58 pm
chipper needs education from shaun about what really is important as a hitter, may be then he’ll amount to something in baseball
-
He needs 14 RBIs to surpass Mike Schmidt and George Brett for the most RBIs by a player whose primary position was third base. Brett had 1,596 RBIs, Schmidt had 1,595 RBIs and Jones had 1,583, entering Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals.
“That stat right there certainly sets you apart,” Jones said. “Whatever I’m in the top five in, as far as switch-hitters and third basemen, I’m second, third, fourth or fifth — not first in any of them. That one would be a good one to be first in because that’s the name of the game: run production. It’s a goal of mine every game to go out there and produce at least one run.”
David O'Brien
May 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
NEW BLOGGAGE
tiger297
May 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
well i’m not one of them so keep chasing fatties
monty
May 14th, 2012
3:03 pm
My suspicion is that if JJ can start to dominate AAA he will be traded, that is if our SP’s remain healthy, and MM doesn’t fizzle out. I’m not sure the FO felt like JJ did enough conditioning exercises in the off-season.
JeanE
May 14th, 2012
3:03 pm
Yeah, seriously, shut up about Matty D. I note he had a pinch hit the other day, he does everything he’s asked to do, wish he was asked to do more but the reason he isn’t is because everyone is playing so well, he can’t get any AB’s so I can’t complain! (although I do mumble to myself about it) so SHUT UP ABOUT Diaz.
richbrave
May 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
TOMAHAWKIN’:
What’s with the 12:15 p.m.? No love for your old bestist buddy?
Jimmy
May 14th, 2012
3:11 pm
BAS – Check out the post by DS1 @2:03.
Yeah, and I did explain my position, again, as others expressed their view.
But, no more McCann contract talk from me…not today anyway.
nolie
May 14th, 2012
3:14 pm
you don’t need any stats to see that all our infielders are fence posts, all ya gotta do is watch how many balls they don’t get to