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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,709 comments Add your comment
JeanE
June 21st, 2012
5:49 pm
Constanza over Diaz, are you kidding me???? I like Jose but after a little bit, his constant bunting and slap hits stop working. He provides a boost, yes, but it always evaporates and that is why he’s never stuck in the Majors. Matty D has done his job against lefties this year, his average is much better than Hinske’s. He is a valuable bench player/RH hitter on this team and is always cheering for his teamates! No way should he be cut.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
5:50 pm
cabraves
yes they did, there were people here saying that they would lose 100 games and be the worst team in baseball and crap like that
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
5:50 pm
Garza can’t be compared to Minor or Delgado simply because they are still an unproven commodity. Garza is a Seven year veteran pitcher in his prime. Dude takes the ball thirty plus times a year and racks ups twenty quality starts, while given run support he will win more often than not.
nolie
June 21st, 2012
5:53 pm
except that pitching prospects are twice as likely likely to flame out to nothingness than position prospects, so it is less risky than it seems
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
5:53 pm
NickB
June 21st, 2012
5:50 pm
cabraves
yes they did, there were people here saying that they would lose 100 games and be the worst team in baseball and crap like that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This 2012 edition will win 85 plus, bank on it. THEY ARE GOING TO WIN, PERIOD. But enough to slip into the playoffs? I’m still not convinced.
TheOnlyBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
5:53 pm
jeffrey-
Really?? People wrote off the season in spring training!
I wrote it off on September 28, 2011…..
nolie
June 21st, 2012
5:54 pm
he is not good enough to give up Delgado or Teheran anybody else prolly
NickB
June 21st, 2012
5:54 pm
Coach
pardon me for not really paying attention to anything you have to say as your past lack of knowing wtf you are talking about has clouded my view of your opinion
Bama Brave
June 21st, 2012
5:54 pm
3 and a half games back is not to far back!
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
5:55 pm
Constanza, quad A material, depth on the chart, nothing more a very useful player for a short period.
cabravesfan
June 21st, 2012
5:56 pm
This 2012 edition will win 85 plus, bank on it. THEY ARE GOING TO WIN, PERIOD. But enough to slip into the playoffs? I’m still not convinced.
And that is perfectly fine and normal. That is what the season is for. They may make the playoffs, they may not. Nobody has to have a definitive opinion yet. It’s those that make the outrageous “they are the worst team ever” type comments that make me roll my eyes
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
5:56 pm
NickB, thanks for making me aware of your ignorance
nolie
June 21st, 2012
5:57 pm
I’m gonna tell Brava that coach is hatin’ on Constanza…
NickB
June 21st, 2012
5:58 pm
so, you are saying that at the present 37-32 record, they will finish the season 48 -45 ? that seems unlikely, even if they stayed at a .536 winning % they would win 87.
No, this team will probably win around 92 games or so (depending on the breaks) and that’s enough to make the playoffs this year
nolie
June 21st, 2012
5:59 pm
85-88 might not be too far off….
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
5:59 pm
85-90 wins, that’s the likely scenario. I predicted 88 last season. Missed it by one game and I won’t miss my 2012 prediction by more than two or three games.
But of course, nobody will remember…….other than myself.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
6:03 pm
forum I’m on did a month by month prediction thread, and so far I have been correct on bot Mar/Apr and May , I picked them to go 14-12 in June , and they are on that pace. I also picked them to go 91-71 this year.
I suspect I will be very close
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
6:03 pm
Constanza is a good tool to have around, it’s just that he’s not needed very much.
But no, I don’t see this team cracking the 90 win plateau. Simply because our division is too damn competitive, and in my opinion….the best division in ML baseball.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
6:05 pm
The Marlins are going to implode like a supernova sometime in July, and the Phillies just don’t have enough offense to win anymore. The Nats….. still hard to tell, and I think the Mets are living on borrowed time right now.
I still think that the Braves are the best team in the division. Thought it before the season and still think it now, losing Beachy hurts, but i think our team has the most talent top to bottom
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
6:06 pm
NickB, I would invite you to check the remaining schedule, I already have. Believe me, it’s brutal.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
6:09 pm
for what June? 3 at the Red Sox (who we should beat 2 out of 3 IMO) 3 at home against the D-bags (who we should also win 2 out of 3 against) and 2 against the Nats (who, admittedly have owned us)
we had a ppd game on June 1st, so there’s only 25 instead of 26, but I see no reason why the Braves can’t improve there 9-8 June record to 13-12 or 14-11
NickB
June 21st, 2012
6:10 pm
July and August both look like months we can win 17 games in , and with 15 home games in September against a lot of mediocre teams, the Braves could end up with over 92 wins IMO
nolie
June 21st, 2012
6:10 pm
72-90 bank on it!!!
Lew
June 21st, 2012
6:11 pm
scoots – There’s enough Rabbit Hole Sliding here to declare it an Olympic event.
Bama Brave
June 21st, 2012
6:17 pm
What about Brian MacCan for Felix Hernandez stright up?
Murph
June 21st, 2012
6:17 pm
Dude takes the ball thirty plus times a year and racks ups twenty quality starts, while given run support he will win more often than not.
And there in lies the problem… forget about the HR Derby we saw yesterday. If the Braves’ only move before the deadline is for a pitcher, expect the same up-and-down run support that we’ve seen so far. Feast or famine. Shutout or 10 runs a game.
I’d rather go get Willingham and take our chances with JJ/Minor/Teheran/Medlen. All of them, with the exception of maybe JJ, gives the team a better chance at winning that DLowe did down the stretch last season… so we’re already ahead of the curve for 2012.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
6:21 pm
The team is not going to get a starter level bat and then put him on the bench Murph
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
6:35 pm
Murph, well said.
Chipper and Bourn are gone. This we can all agree on. So yes, more offense is gonna be needed.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
6:39 pm
I’m not opposed to Willingham for 2013, I just can’t see a team with the limited budget of the Braves pursuing a guy like that for this season, when they are still 3rd in offense in the NL.
Gone Viral
June 21st, 2012
6:49 pm
“I meant I trade Smoltz to GET Doyle Alexander”
Judas priest, man.
Efrim
June 21st, 2012
6:52 pm
You don’t trade Julio Teheran for the hot player at the deadline in Garza. Look at Wren’s history. He trades quantity in prospects for a player that fills a need on their major league club, and that player may not be as valued by the team trading him:
Tyler Flowers, Brent Lillibridge, Jon Gilmore, and Santos Rodriguez for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan.
Omar Infante and Mike Dunn for Dan Uggla.
Jordan Schafer, Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens, and Juan Abreu for Michael Bourn.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
June 21st, 2012
6:54 pm
There should be a game on in 18 minutes…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
June 21st, 2012
6:54 pm
(16 minutes, but who’s counting?…)
Efrim
June 21st, 2012
6:55 pm
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, there is word that Jordan Staal has turned down a 10-year deal from Pittsburgh.
Not good. Not good at all.
jeffrey d
June 21st, 2012
6:56 pm
Minnesota and Pittsburgh are about to play, McFann. You can watch Joe Mauer.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
June 21st, 2012
6:58 pm
jeffrey d—
Aw, gee, I’d like to, but uh…I don’t know if I’ll be able to get Gameday to work!…
jeffrey d
June 21st, 2012
7:00 pm
Here you go
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=320621123
nolie
June 21st, 2012
7:03 pm
McFann is gonna watch Mauer???
I’m gonna tell Mac…
nolie
June 21st, 2012
7:03 pm
McFann is gonna watch Mauer???
I’m gonna tell Mac…
NickB
June 21st, 2012
7:07 pm
McCann when he discovers McFann has left him for the Twins catcher “well played Mauer….”
TheOnlyBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
7:21 pm
McFann became Mauer’sWomann
Murph
June 21st, 2012
7:29 pm
The team is not going to get a starter level bat and then put him on the bench Murph
They’re going to have to get a “starter level bat” eventually… and given the amount of time Chipper and Freeman have spent on the bench nursing injuries and Fredi’s lack of trust in Heyward, it’s not like Willingham would be another Hinske.
If he were acquired I’d bet Willingham would start at least 3 games a week. And, for the first time all season, the Braves would have a proven veteran WHO CAN STILL HIT on the bench (Willingham or Chipper, depending on the situation).
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:29 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
DSL
G-Men fall again to the INDIANS 4-2
RHSP TODD REDMOND [L 6-5, 3.40 ERA] 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 SO.
RHRP CORY GEARRIN [1.41 ERA] 2.0 IP, no-hits, 1 BB, 3 SO
LHRP DUSTY HUGHES [3.16 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, zeros, 1 BB, 1 SO.
Lead-off CF LUIS DURANGO [.281 BA] 1-5, 1 Outfield Assist [Home plate].
SS TYLER PASTORNICKY [.276 BA] 1-5, 1 2B [11], 1 SO.
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.318 BA] 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B [18], 2 SO.
2B JOSH WILSON [.249 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [13], 1 BB.
3B RUBAN GOTAY [.132 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR [1], 2 RBI [2], 1 SO. RUBEN has a good game raising his BA 44 points in the process.
RF STEF GARTRELL [.242 BA] 1-4, 1 SO.
PH FELIX PIE [.280 BA] 1-1
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:30 pm
OOPS, DWINNETT not DSL, sorry
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
June 21st, 2012
7:31 pm
Dear lord—I leave for dinner, and the whole place goes nutzoid!…
I’m not watching Mauer—I see enough of him in that danged commercial!…
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:32 pm
Will WILLINGHAM come here with a bench-player contract? or be willing to accept one going forward?
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
7:35 pm
Willingham is under contract @ $7mm per, for this year and 2 more from what I gather.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:36 pm
Season will be slightly beyond half way after the BOSTON series. So much for the ’small sample size’ bit. What you see it what you get from here on in.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:37 pm
7 MM doesn’t sound like bench material to me.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:39 pm
SUMMER SOLSTICE is behind us as we head toward the dark days of winter.
VaBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
7:39 pm
Willingham would fit the budget now, they know plenty of money will be off books after to see to be able to forward that cash now if need be.
Chipper is missing plenty of time and there’s a high chance of him being injured again. Willingham would still get a decent amount of playing time, but Diaz’s role would be squashed. While it would add a middle of the order bat now we don’t have a clear cut spot for him so we wouldn’t get full value the rest of the season. The move would be more for 2013 and 14. Willingham is under contract for the next 2 season’s at only 7 million per year which is a good price. He would take over in LF fulltime with Prado sliding to 3rd. We’d still have lots of money to work with and only having CF as the major need.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:39 pm
Next up, Autumnal Equinox
VaBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
7:41 pm
Willingham signed a 3 year 21 million deal with the Twins this past offseason.
George
June 21st, 2012
7:43 pm
Coach (2012 Fredi’s Beisbol Fandango)
June 21st, 2012
5:53 pm
NickB
June 21st, 2012
5:50 pm
cabraves
yes they did, there were people here saying that they would lose 100 games and be the worst team in baseball and crap like that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This 2012 edition will win 85 plus, bank on it. THEY ARE GOING TO WIN, PERIOD. But enough to slip into the playoffs? I’m still not convinced
***************************************************
85 wins is what I said during ST, looks like the BRAVES are trying to make me look good.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:45 pm
Are MATTY D’s days in ATLANTA numbered? He’s still wearing out left-handers, and can play 1st and catch in a pinch.
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
7:45 pm
So I have been catching up on some news, reading articles on yahoo, and for some reason decided to read the comments, too.
So anyway, retiring overseas: Beachfront bungalow in Thailand, $220 a month, new house, $500, live well there on $1000 a month.
Beachfront in Ecuador, $500, live very well there for $800 to $1500 a month. Ecuador’s Social Security medical program for $57 a month.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:47 pm
I vote for spending a lot of that money on re-uping TIM HUDSON, and getting a solid LH starter in the off-season.
VaBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
7:48 pm
richbrave
No, I’m saying that if the Braves were to trade for Josh Willingham that Diaz’s role would decline alot.
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
7:50 pm
SUMMER SOLSTICE is behind us as we head toward the dark days of winter.
Hurricane season just started.
VaBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
7:50 pm
Braves are better off just doing Hudson’s 9 mil option and seeing how things go.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:51 pm
Heh! ‘BAT’s Beach-front Condos’ especially designed by Ecuador for the shrinking American Middle-Class. Come on down and see how far your Social Security check will truly go. Note: Bring your glock and bullet-proof vest.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
7:52 pm
the money is going to go towards signing a LF’er AND a CF’er (unless we make a trade for a guy like Burjos or similar young player. Those are the 2 things we will NEED the most.
Unless, by some odd chance of luck, FW stumbles upon a good 3rd baseman, and we might see Prado stay in left. I doubt that happens though, 3rd baseman are hard to find
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
7:53 pm
VaBravesFan:
Fine by me. Say on oh sage of the AJC.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
7:54 pm
oh and heck yes you pay Hudson for 2013. $9 mill for his production is a bargain
Murph
June 21st, 2012
7:55 pm
I don’t think Willingham would have a say in where he goes or how much playing time he gets…
Sure, he might turn in to a pout-pout fish if he comes to Atlanta and is put on the bench… but I’d bet he’d be on the field at least 50% of the time… and he’d be going from one of the worst teams in the AL to one of the better teams in the NL… and he’d have two years of starting in LF in ATL ahead of him.
So, he might not be all that happy about it, but then again, he might be really happy about it. Hard to say.
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
7:58 pm
It seems there is a large expat community in Ecuador, rich.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
8:05 pm
I would love to have him, but are the Twins really gonna trade him? (they have to understand his production to $$$ value is very high too) and would they want too much for him?
not to mention that I doubt the Twins would pick up any of the $$$ and I don’t want the team spending next years money on this years team.
I think they can find a suitable bench bat and reliever for less $$$ and less a cost in prospects
monty
June 21st, 2012
8:22 pm
4 hours from home for Willingham might make him happy! Family could drive over and watch him play alot.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
8:24 pm
NickB
June 21st, 2012
7:52 pm
“……the money is going to go towards signing a LF’er AND a CF’er (unless we make a trade for a guy like Burjos or similar young player……”
You don’t mind if I don’t follow in lock step there with that thinking do you?
The starting pitching has been the achilles heel of the season to date.
JURRJENS may well be done as a ML hurler. BB’s down, and reasonable expectation will be 2014 before he’s completely back in form.
I say we need a re-sign of HUDDY and a solid LH arm for the next two years until these wet-behind-the-ears kids can transition from throwers to pitchers like BEACHY was doing before being so rudely interrupted.
Will BOURN sign with the BRAVES? Absolutely. Give him the richest lead-off hitter contract ever in the history of baseball and he’s all ours. Somehow, I don’t think that will happen.
Now I’m gettin’ with your program. Is ‘Georgie-boy’ or TODD CUNNINGHAM the answer? Prolly not, at leat, not in 2013. I’m not sure we have a qualified CF’er under our control. So I do think we need a solid replacement for BOURN. At a price, that is.
WILLINGHAM would be a solid get, and would probably be worthwhile in LF. I just don’t know if re-signing HUDDY, securing a needed LHSP, a CF, AND a LF is in the budget.
DIAZ may be what we can afford once again. And MATT might go for a 1.1 million two-year deal. I’m not smiling here. I’m not doing handstands thinking MATTY D will patrol in LF against LH’ers for another two years. Frankly, I’d love WILLINGHAM. He’s a good player and solid citizen.
I’m just seein’ a need in the starting rotation you don’t evidently. Or are you counting on TEHERAN snapping out of his funk, and coming into his own in 2013? I think VIZCAINO is headed to the bull-pen along with MEDS, and maybe MOYLAN.
HANSON has his moments both good and bad, but at least his shoulder appears healed at this point.
Without HUDSON and a solid LH get, who starts the season next year? MINOR, HANSON, JURRJENS, TEHERAN, and DELGADO?
monty
June 21st, 2012
8:25 pm
Braves just need to keep grinding it out, “persistence wears down resistance.”
Woody Woodward
June 21st, 2012
8:31 pm
Too many desperate sixty something male ex-pats in Thailand, Bat. Imagine a neighborhood of Jerry Sanduskys. With no wives..
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
8:34 pm
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
7:58 pm
“……It seems there is a large expat community in Ecuador, rich……”
COSTA RICA, MEXICO, and PANAMA too, but I’m never gonna’ be one of them. I like Virginia in the old US of A.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
8:34 pm
well, if we consider the following probable players gone in 2013(and their salaries):
O’Flaherty(non-tender or trade candidate) $2.5 Mill
Bourn- $6.85 mill
Lowe-$10 mill
Chipper- $13 mill
Hinske- $1.5 mill
Jurrjens (another non-tender candidate if he isn’t moved for wtvr)- $5.5 mill
Wilson- $1 mill
total:$42 mill roughly
(i am assuming the arb for Heyward and Hanson to be consistent with similar players, as well as Pradoand other arb eligible players, and assuming Ross is re-signed for similar as this season or a replacement for same money)
say $13-14 mill in arbitration and raises
leaves $27 million to fill LF, CF and various pen and bench spots
IF they got Willingham for 2013 at $7 mill that would leave $20 mill, I would probably offer BJ Upton (assuming willingham is signed) 5 years $70 mill and then use the rest to fill up the bench and bullpen spots.
However, I would be tempted to trade for Peter Bourjos to play CF from the Angels and offer Josh Hamilton 6 years $135 million. but I’m a dreamer that way!
NickB
June 21st, 2012
8:36 pm
richbrave
I have never advocated getting rid of Hudson btw, he is a tremendous bargain in todays pitching market, I wouldn’t be opposed to a 2014 extension at $9 mill for him, but no longer than that, once guys get to be 37-38, only one year deals are prudent
MiaBchBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
8:37 pm
In 1986, FSU lost to Arizona 10-2 in the National Championship game.
After 26 years, FSU improved – by one run.
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
8:40 pm
Too many desperate sixty something male ex-pats in Thailand, Bat. Imagine a neighborhood of Jerry Sanduskys. With no wives..
Woody_
Good grief. Oh well, I knew it sounded to good to be true. What the hell, I’m still a long way from a SS check anyway.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
8:43 pm
NickB:
just wanted to let you know that i thought your original thesis left something out. The pay-roll laundry list you gave is impressive, and I’m sure if WREN can finagle a new LH, CF, and LF’er he will.
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
8:44 pm
I like Virginia in the old US of A. _richbrave
It’s pretty country up there, rich, no doubt about it.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
8:45 pm
BAT:
Well, I’m livin’ on mine, and I sure ain’t votin’ for anyone thinking to cut the funding for it.
MiaBchBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
8:46 pm
As I read the commments, I have a question: is the present construct of this Braves’ team capable of not only making the playoffs, but making a deep run?
If not, how many players would it take – via trade – to get this team over the hump?
My answers are “no” and “not worth trading what we have”. It’s time to rebuild and restock. Be sellers this year. If the Teixeira trade taught me nothing else, caveat emptor when making mid-season trades to bolster a playoff run. Fred McGriff’s magic does not happen without Glavine-Smoltz-Maddux.
Last time I checked, those three guys are halfway to Cooperstown. No one on this staff is even within the same zip code… ‘cept maybe Huddy.
richbrave
June 21st, 2012
8:48 pm
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
8:40 pm
“……Too many desperate sixty something male ex-pats in Thailand, Bat. Imagine a neighborhood of Jerry Sanduskys. With no wives……” WOODY WOODWARD
Nasty thought BAT, nasty! WOODY with the very evocative phrasing.
usnavyvolfaninva
June 21st, 2012
8:49 pm
Bat M,
Depends on which part… the mountainous part of VA is nice…however, I hate Hampton Roads… but then, that’s probably just b/c I have to work here.
usnavyvolfaninva
June 21st, 2012
8:51 pm
What about Chipper, MiaBchBraves?
NickB
June 21st, 2012
8:51 pm
miabchbravefan
umm, if you go look at the early years of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz you wouldn’t think they had hOF years ahead of them either.
Our team is young, patience grasshoppah, patience.
btw Hanson is a very underrated pitcher by Braves fans.
cabravesfan
June 21st, 2012
8:52 pm
MiaBchBravesFan-
In fairness, none of the starting pitchers other than Huddy has been in the league for more than 3 years. Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz were certainly NOT looking like HOFers after 3 years either (Well, Maddux was certainly good in year 3, but his first 2 were very ordinary to bad) And no, I am not comparing them
usnavyvolfaninva
June 21st, 2012
8:53 pm
MiaBchBraves…
Never mind…got carried away. Just realized you’re talking about the pitching staff
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
8:55 pm
usnavy_
Manassas is the area I’m most familiar with and that was a long time ago.
Bat Masterson
June 21st, 2012
8:57 pm
richbrave @ 8:45 pm
Yep, I hear you.
Woody Woodward
June 21st, 2012
9:00 pm
Seems to me those who would trade Teheran would rather deal him than let him pitch to get the experience he needs. Shortsighted, if you ask me. If we get pushed to the wall on the rotation, I’d rather pitch him than trade him.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
9:02 pm
I concur with Woody, too great of a talent (and only 21 years old folks) to part with for anything less than a superstar position player. I mean it would have to be a Votto type of player
Frankie Wren
June 21st, 2012
9:04 pm
Be sellers this year? Say what???????
Team has over 90 games left and 3 1/2 games out only after 8 game losing streak and losing 7 of 8 recently. Team is anything but resilient. As constructed probably doesn’t make a deep run but add a quality bench player and who knows, a SP somewhere and changes. Reds good, Dodgers good(played them well), Nats are going to be there but not world beaters. Seriously, throwing in the towel before July?????????????????????
George
June 21st, 2012
9:06 pm
nolie
June 21st, 2012
6:10 pm
72-90 bank on it!!!
***********************
Those numbers look about right for next year, sad to say.
Trey
June 21st, 2012
9:07 pm
usnavyvolfaninva, I didn’t like Hampton Roads either. It’s a garbage dump of an area. I just got back from Richmond, which was pretty nice.
Changing Names Because I Can!
June 21st, 2012
9:08 pm
Someone saying contemptuously that some people wrote this Braves team off in spring training. So what? I wrote them off and still don’t think they make the playoffs.
Some people wrote the 2011 team off in spring training last year. Know what? They were right! Doesn’t matter how close they came, they missed the playoffs so the folks who wrote them off were right.
Woody Woodward
June 21st, 2012
9:09 pm
The nba player introductions are ludicrous.
MiaBchBravesFan
June 21st, 2012
9:09 pm
Woody, my point exactly. I also wanna thank usnavy for getting what I meant.
This teams seems to be conditioned under the premise that we reload on the fly, and not rebuild. That model worked great because it hid a WORLD of flaws, not least of which was our flawed and overrated player development (especially in the 2000’s!). The only way to really put this organization to the test is to make this a rebuilding year, rather than add payroll for a flawed run this year.
From JD Drew to Tex to now, each attempt at reload has resulted in a thud. Time to rebuild and let the young ‘uns grow up proper like.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
9:10 pm
and apparently being right is more important to you than the team winning? what a lovely life you must lead
Woody Woodward
June 21st, 2012
9:16 pm
Forgive me for repeating a comment I made yesterday, MiaBeach. The takeaway from the Yankee series is that the team belongs to the young guys as of now. We will rise or fall with Jason, Simmons, Delgado, Kimbrel, venters, Freeman, Hanson. We can’t win on the backs of McCann, prado, and Uggla. They’re important, yes, but the key is the younguns.
NickB
June 21st, 2012
9:20 pm
woody
you are correct, but having guys like Prado, Ugglan Mac are always needed for a team to be successful, you can’t win if the team is too young, and you can’t win (phillies) if the team is too old.
DS1
June 21st, 2012
9:21 pm
Rebuild? Retool?
Ok, here goes my 2 cents worth:
Very young players: Kimbrel, Hanson, Delgado, Teheran, Beachy, Heyward, Freeman, Simmons, Medlen, Minor, Vizcaino, Francisco
Still fairly young players: Venters, O’Flaherty, Prado,
Vets, with good mileage remaining: Uggla, Mac, C-Mart
Maybe a year or two left: Hudson, Ross, Durbin, Diaz
Over the hill last year folks: Chipper, Hinske, Wilson
Are we not a very young team already? Why would you rebuild when you are already extremely young to start with?
This is a year to either stand pat or add a piece or two to possibly help down the stretch.
Count me as 1 fan that thinks we need to develop our own pitching and not trade away young arms for more established arms.
Add Willingham or Headley if you can swing a deal. Maybe someone like Reed Johnson if you want to go on the cheap. Stay away from Dempster and Garza. Look for maybe 1 more bullpen arm that can help down the stretch.