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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,454 comments Add your comment
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:01 pm
Enter your comments here
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:02 pm
1
coach
May 29th, 2012
2:08 pm
Trade Heyward, Minor and whatever else it would take, to Minnesota for Span, Willingham and pitcher Scott Diamond. Span plays RF until next year then takes over in CF. Willingham plays LF and Prado to 3B.
Others to consider: Zach Grenkie and Cory Hart from Brewers.
Murph
May 29th, 2012
2:10 pm
Now that would be one interesting trade
bravesgrl4life
May 29th, 2012
2:10 pm
Jason Marquis is a free agent.
Murph
May 29th, 2012
2:11 pm
What would the Cubs do with Simmons given that they already have Castro for the next several years?
cricket
May 29th, 2012
2:12 pm
Jason Marquis is a free agent
i pointed that out few days back. with his numbers, unfortunately, he’ll fit right in
cricket
May 29th, 2012
2:15 pm
2 SS infield – revolutionize baseball
FEAR
May 29th, 2012
2:15 pm
over under on Braves win tonight?
Venice Jim
May 29th, 2012
2:17 pm
43.2…
N8
May 29th, 2012
2:19 pm
Oswalt is the perfect choice for Wren.
That doesn’t mean his the best option. Or the pitcher that would net the best results.
But for the Braves are trying to do short term (win in Chipper’s final season), and long-term (build a strong nucleus based around their promising yet unrefined young talent)……
…. SIGNING Roy Oswalt will only cost money. Obviously not my money. But simply just money nonetheless.
it would allow them to hang on to anybody that they recently have deemed “untouchable”, which clearly somebody like Greinke or Dempster would cost (along with the money of their bloated contracts).
Oswalt might not be what he used to be. Hell, clearly no guarantee that he even impacts the Braves the way he impacted the Phillies a couple years ago for the stretch run. But he’s likely a better option than sticking with Minor or calling JJJ back up, imo.
And signing him allows them to take a “wait and see” approach on BOTH Jurrjens and Minor (and Teheran for that matter – whom both the Cubs and Brewers would likely ask for in a potential Dempster or Greinke trade).
Find the money and sign Roy Oswalt Wren. Might be the only way to save your job. Both in the short term and the long-term.
Jimmy
May 29th, 2012
2:20 pm
JoeKNows – ‘fraid not. Can’t find anything on that “deal”.
Venice Jim
May 29th, 2012
2:20 pm
Not gonna happen…
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 29th, 2012
2:23 pm
Notice how Fredi apparantly got fired up over Francisco’s bat flip in Cincy, but barely utters a word about all the mental errors? OH, except that rookie kid at SS – easy target. Yeah, wasn’t Dan the Bicep Man’s fault, now was it?
My point is that it shows this man is more concered about his image to other managers and umps than showing passion and care about his own teams play. The catch is that the dummy is too stupid and slow to realize he’s looking like a complete FOOL to his own teams fans and I’m pretty damn sure his players, too. Hopefully Wren and JS are at their peaks with this guy. Time to show this dude the door.
cricket
May 29th, 2012
2:24 pm
oswalt is expected to take a month after signing to be pitching ready in majors. does this matter?
anyway, rangers will sign him so the question is moot.
Murph
May 29th, 2012
2:25 pm
You know when I’ll know that Fredi is about to get canned? The day he comes out publicly stating that his job is secure or that he isn’t worried about his job security.
I’m sure Wren is just waiting for a reporter to ask Fredi about it, so he can quickly follow Fredi’s statement with one of his own.
N8
May 29th, 2012
2:27 pm
Or as coach has suggested. They could “give up” on Heyward and go for it this year. Hoping the some team hasn’t been paying attention to his production and they could still “sell high” on Heyward’s hype.
I’m all for using the 6 years that a team is allowed to decide what to do with a player. Not too many chipper’s around.
Meaning to assume that a kid like Heyward is going to be a Brave for 20 years and go into the HOF as a lifelong Brave is silly. To assume any kid is going to come out of the gates the way Pujols did and continue that? Also silly.
But it’s also silly to just hand those kids the jobs without competition and make them EARN the playing time.
I’m all for keeping Heyward “just in case” he eventually does bust out. Even if that means he busts out in year 6 and then signs a huge deal elsewhere.
I also, however, I’m NOT for just plugging him into the lineup for 160 games the next 3-4 years regardless of his production. there has to be other options available.
When the Braves signed Mondesi and Brian Jordan. They eventually let them go to call up a RF in AA (Frenchy) and cut ties with those guys.
They weren’t that much less productive than Heyward has been. At some point it is the Braves RIGHT to either send him down to figure it out. Or bring in another player to compete or even eventually replace him. Then they have to have the knowhow and guts of WHEN to replace him.
Is it too early to flat out “give up” on Heyward? Absolutely.
Is it too early to “give up” on him being a productive Brave and trading him for somebody that might be more productive? It’s NEVER too early to improve your team.
Even if it means hurting the feelings of the golden child.
If Wren could use Heyward to trade for Greinke and then sign Greinke to an extention? How in the world can anybody complain about that?
DAP
May 29th, 2012
2:29 pm
i wouldnt sign him for more than a couple mil if i were the rangers. they dont need him.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 29th, 2012
2:31 pm
Oswalt? Please. Every damn year people here rant on and on, obsessing over a player we have no shot at. I could see mentioning a time or two to see who’ll bite, but day after day is so redicluous and loony. Ya know how many team who have more money and let’s face it, just plain better than Braves are, are after him?
He’s a big time injury scare anyways.
Shaun
May 29th, 2012
2:31 pm
Perhaps this is true. He reasonably expected Heyward to be the best hitter on the team one year ago… but now we learn that all along he reasonably expected Heyward to be not more than what he is today… easily not the best hitter on the team.
TennesseePaul, I would never have expected any hitter on the team to be better than McCann or Chipper (when he’s in there).
John A.
May 29th, 2012
2:31 pm
as we all know these problems existed during ST and nothing was done to correct the situation saying “it’s only spring training”, but now we’re moving to mid season and the problem has gotten worse. Let’s face it gang….JHEY is not going to be the superstar we all had hoped for. Major League pitching is doing him in……and our back-up players are dismal at best. This is the result of standing pat when fine tuning shuld have been the firt order of business.
With Frank Wren at the helm things have steadily gotten wore since his promotion……now we are seeing the results of his abilities. That said coupled with Freddi shortcomings we are in serious trouble. The farm system has been depleted by bad trades, and lack of signing talented players, and this again has happened under the leadership of Frank Wren.
ncscoots
May 29th, 2012
2:32 pm
Is it too early to “give up” on [Heyward] being a productive Brave and trading him for somebody that might be more productive? It’s NEVER too early to improve your team.
Wow. I mean, even for you…wow.
Murph
May 29th, 2012
2:33 pm
How in the world can anybody complain about that?
Incoming “Greinke is a head case who couldn’t handle the pressure of Atlanta” comments.
I brought him up last week and was lambasted for it. My point was, if Greinke wants to play someplace without a lot of fan pressure or media pressure, Atlanta is perfect for him. Nobody in the city of Atlanta actually cares about the Braves… what else could he ask for?
Jimmy
May 29th, 2012
2:33 pm
DAP – You right. What the Rangers really need is another bat.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 29th, 2012
2:33 pm
Heyward just isn’t very good. Not yet. He may never be anything close to a “star”, but impossible to tell for sure. He’s for sure not that good right now.
cricket
May 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
what else could he ask for?
lots of money. replace Fredi with co-managers George and CTB, release Phat Mac and sign Greinke with money saved plus money not spent on Lowe and chipper.
Waffle House or Bust
May 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
Everyone points the finger at Fredi or the players but Wren is the one who put this crap together. How much longer is that idiot going to control this team?
Fredi, Lowe, McOut, Uggla, Kawakami… COME ON!!!
Bat Masterson
May 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
TennesseePaul, I would never have expected any hitter on the team to be better than McCann or Chipper (when he’s in there). _ Shaun
That may be, and I’m not going back to look it up, but I seem to recall you spending the spring before last claiming Heyward should hit second because he was the best hitter on the team.
Jimmy
May 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
Heyward is having a tough year. I remember reading how he was working on his swing during the offseason.
The only person that has has a worse first three month of the season is New Mexico Lee.
Waffle House or Bust
May 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
Heyward is a star and playing under a manager that demands 100% on the field will bring that out of him. Unlike Fredi that wants everything to be cool in the lockers and drink beer.
cricket
May 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
this is funny, from HBT -
Nationals and Orioles: We want the cable company in North Carolina to carry our regional sports network so that our fans in that great state can watch their O’s and Nats play! And [cough] so we can make some more money!
The Local Cable Company: We don’t want to carry the Nationals and Orioles. No one likes ‘em down here.
FCC: Yeah, what they said.
Court: We agree. No one should have to broadcast Nats and O’s games in North Carolina [judge does Tomahawk Chop, checks his tee time at Augusta National].
Nats and O’s fans who live in North Carolina: Well, I guess we should just watch them on MLB.tv then. Thank goodness there is a means for people who live far from their team’s home to enjoy the games all the same!
Major League Baseball: North Carolina is Nationals and Orioles territory! You can’t watch Nats and O’s games there unless you do it via your local cable company! Sorry! You’re blacked out!
Fabulous system we have here.
Jimmy
May 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
Well done Bat. I think I remember that too.
I mean, you read it everyday, for ten straight days, it kinda sticks.
Shaun
May 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
Bat, maybe the best combo of on-base and slugging. Not necessarily the best hitter if only looking at one or the other or overall offensive value.
cricket
May 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
i never liked the managers that demand only 97.8%
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
PASTORNICKY to 3B and AL SIMMONS at SS next season.
Seriously, with the way ERNESTO MEJIA is beginning to dominate in AAA, they are going to have a real problem at 1B next year. His bat and glove are going to be hard to keep down on the farm much past this season……if he keeps this up, that is. The guy has a decent glove, he hits for average, he hits for power, and he hits when the chips are down. he also can steal a base when no-one expects it. He is a product of our DSL program. And he’s age dated @ 26.
46 G, 175 AB, 26 R, 55 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 13 BB, 32 SO, 4 SB, 2 CS, .314 BA, .378 OBP, .537 SLG, .915 OPS, 1 E, 260 Chances, .996%.
Russell Bell
May 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
That may be, and I’m not going back to look it up, but I seem to recall you spending the spring before last claiming Heyward should hit second because he was the best hitter on the team.
Yeah, I seem to recall Shaun talking up a storm about Heyward hitting second… at the time, I agreed with him.
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
2
DAP
May 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
N8 When the Braves signed Mondesi and Brian Jordan. They eventually let them go to call up a RF in AA (Frenchy) and cut ties with those guys.
They weren’t that much less productive than Heyward has been
actually, thats wrong. heyward hasnt been nearly as bad as mondesi was. and the braves kept brian jordan all season, and actually brought him back the following year.
Murph
May 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Bat, maybe the best combo of on-base and slugging. Not necessarily the best hitter if only looking at one or the other or overall offensive value.
I really need to start keeping records like Random and some other people do on here… ’cause I know for sure you’ve said multiple times that Heyward was the best hitter on the team, that he should either be hitting 2nd or 3rd (or even leadoff).
Bat Masterson
May 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Spare me Shaun. You were adament that “the best hitter” on the/a team hit second.
ncscoots
May 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Yeah, I seem to recall Shaun talking up a storm about Heyward hitting second… at the time, I agreed with him.
That would not have been a “reasonable expectation”.
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
Say, what’s our record with 19-20% of the divisional season already played? Oh, yeah, small sample size. So far, smell the sample size would be more correct.
David O'Brien
May 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
NEW BLOGGAGE
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/05/29/braves-search-for-answers-as-skid-grows-era-climbs/
Murph
May 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
Pastornicky to 3B? So… the lineup would look something like this?
1. Simmons
2. Prado
3. Freeman
4. Uggla
5. McCann
6. Heyward
7. Pastornicky
8. Constanza
Yikes!
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:54 pm
3
flange1
May 29th, 2012
2:54 pm
Sorry Shaun, you have now lost any of the remaining credibility that you ever had.
Gone……
You are now the same as Lou Vales and Paulie Dentz.
A lot of mouth and zero credibility.
Bummer
richbrave
May 29th, 2012
2:57 pm
Shaun, Lou, and Paul…..the obstreperous trio. Heh!
Shaun
May 29th, 2012
2:58 pm
When the Braves signed Mondesi and Brian Jordan. They eventually let them go to call up a RF in AA (Frenchy) and cut ties with those guys.
They weren’t that much less productive than Heyward has been
Jordan’s 2005 OPS+: 65
Mondesi’s 2005 OPS+: 63
I’m not sure what you’re looking at, N8.
TOMY FOURNIER
May 29th, 2012
3:03 pm
I hate the Phillys with all my heart…but I hate Freddy Monkey Donkey Gonzales more than that!!!
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 29th, 2012
3:06 pm
cab and some others can irate you with such stubborn positivity, but holy hell if everybody was as down and miserable as a lot of us are then you’d have a heck of a world to live in.
MDBravesFan
May 29th, 2012
3:49 pm
As I live in DC area, way I figure it, I’ve got about 7 years to endure the rise of the Nats and my youngster’s excitement over them (which I’ll have no choice but to encourage). Hopefully at that time, Braves’ mgmt will be replaced and figure it out and it won’t be so painful to watch. Seems like a long time but it was an even longer time before ‘95.
monty
May 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
I stated at the end of last season that what the Braves needed in 2012 was a proven # 3 or 4 starter more than anything else.Trade 1 or 2 of the youngins for a proven innings eater who could win 14 games, sign him to a 3 year deal. Honestly I don’t know if that would have been doable or not, I’ll admit I don’t get into the contractual side of the game but I would have preferred a proven commdity over 2 in the bush.
Looks like now they will have to make Medlen into a starter, just to see if he can excel there. Something I felt strongly about from the beginning. But now we’re almost a 1/3 of the way into the season. Huddy and Beachy should excel, maybe Hanson too, his track record is good but he looks to be getting by on his curve ball alone. Much more so than in the past.To me doesn’t look anything like his former self. Minor is a head case, and Delgado has potential someday to be a decent regular, but don’t think it will be this year. You win with pitching is the old adage. Don’t think we have near enough right now, but Oswalt isn’t the answer. Inject Medlen and hopefully catch lightening in a bottle, and maybe pull off a trade at the deadline if we’re still in it. Looks like our best bet is to throw 5 guys out there who stand a good chance of winning, right now we have 3.
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
May 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
Damn those birds can hit a baseball. Might not win this one
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May 30th, 2012
9:04 pm
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