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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,718 comments Add your comment
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
1:58 am
I respect that nolie. Do you think they were seriously dangling him last off season?
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
1:59 am
Totally 100 pct. agree on Liriano.
Lightning in a bottle. Twins want to unload him before he “sucks” again. Plus, IIRC, Twins had interest in Minor last season.
Now if somehow we could swing a Liriano/Willingham deal for say, Minor/Constanza/Ahmed/Northcraft etc ….that wouldn’t be bad.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:00 am
I think Liriano is a risk, but also perhaps the best bang for the buck if he stays like he is lately. on the otherhand if Sheets has another good outing or two I won’t be too surprised if they stand pat with just him
Liriano and Willingham suits me
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:00 am
because prior to his velocity drop he pitched differently, he attacked with his fastball more and often used it as an out pitch, since he has gone to throwing more 2 seamers, it seems like he is over relying on his curve to get outs….
Maybe he will learn how to use the two seamer more as the season goes on…
btw, I thought he was gone after 2014 , I was wrong, he’s not a free agent until after the 2015 season, so I would wait and trade him after next year to maximize the rate of return.
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:01 am
Can they wait that long, nolie? Sheets gets two,starts before they move?
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:01 am
A Bomb
that deal might net us Liriano Span and a relief arm, but Willingham is supposedly not on the market
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:01 am
A Bomb
LOVE tri tip! Man I am definitely going there…………..
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:02 am
no I don’t. I think he was who teams were interested in so you have to listen, and I’m sure if the return was great enough that they would have traded him, but I don’t think they were actively shopping him.
of course for the right deal they should trade him, but he does have some added value above just his numbers due to his versatility
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:03 am
Wayne — went there for the 1st time after watching that with my son — we spent $75 and ate like pigs. The El Torro is unbelievable. So is the Broham. And the onion rings….I gotta stop.
Line is usually long, but worth it by far.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:03 am
I think that they are gonna move for another arm as I don’t think the front office is comfortable with either Minor or Delgado right now.
Hudson
Hanson
Sheets
Liriano/Dempster
Jurrjens
that’s what I reckon happens, the longer I think about it, the less I think a Greinke deal happens
but hell, stranger things have happened
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:04 am
We’ve been hoping all along that Hanson would refine his pitching plan. He’s still young and a pretty consistent pitcher. Just needs to get to where he can last a bit longer more frequently.
Though he hasn’t been as bad as some would have you think this year.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:05 am
Nick — I happen to think a right-handed power hitter to split Heyward and Freeman is imperative. They’re now realizing the golden godchild Dan Uggla is NOT that guy. And that’s going to be a REAL problem for this team going forward. Chipper’s been great, but he’s going hunting.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:05 am
pass on Span I think, big gap in home/away splits.. not a guarantee that he would do poorly, but that always raises questions to me
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:07 am
nolie
I understand your fears on Span, but I reckon the CF options are gonna com down to trades, and besides Bourjos, I don’t know any MLB ready guys worth chasing.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:08 am
They sure sounded like they were in on Greinke a couple of weeks back. But now I’m not so sure.
I have nothing against Greinke, but I don’t think he is that much of an upgrade over Hanson right now. And the money he’d command to keep him?
Nah, let’s see if Liriano or Dempster can be had.
And I’d LOVE me some Willingham, but he has such a sweet team friendly contract, that the Twinkies would be crazy to let him go cheap.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:08 am
How about the one they already have!
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:08 am
Dan is that guy for 4 months of the year and he is staying, but I’d like to see them get a good hitter for Left. course if (when) Bourn leaves they will need a CFer too. not sure that both of those spots will be filled with high quality
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:09 am
I don’t want to stir the debate again, but I see no evidence to think uggla isn’t that guy, though Uggla has always been more of a #5 guy than a #4 guy in the lineup, Freeman is more of #4 guy…
I think they will get an OF bat via free agency , there’s a few to choose from
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:10 am
I like nicks scenario. Add Liriano or Demptster. Starting pitching gets the ticket.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:10 am
I think Uggla’s more of a 5-6 guy, and it’s because of those 2 months he sucks every year. His slumps are extremely damaging at times.
We need a cleanup hitter who’s right-handed.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:11 am
I have never been into them getting Greinke unless he will sign a very team friendly extension which I see no reason that he should do so. I have worked with anxiety prone folks and it seldom disappears completely.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:13 am
A Bomb
Bourn is going to be overpaid, we shouldn’t be the team to overpay him, if he will take 5 years $65 mill, yay, but any more than that in years or $$$ later
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:14 am
I think Uggla is the guy to fit between Heyward and Freeman. But I’m not opposed to an upgrade though.
But I think nolie is right, if Bourn leaves we will not be getting two “beasts” for LF and CF.
And I’d overpay a bit for Bourn if it were my money. Not a ton, but some.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:15 am
Swisher makes the most sense for an offseason free agent LF bat, he’s a pretty good switch hitter and his decent defense in RF will be above avg defense in left,
but boy the word is he’s just a piece of work in the clubhouse, not a jerk, the way I saw it quoted by an unnamed player was “He’s always wanting to “bro it down” and it get’s exhausting”
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:16 am
I agree Nick, hard for me to imagine that Bourn will continue at this level for an extended time. If he did he would be worth a lot and I think some rich team will take a chance that he will. thats the biggest problem with the Braves salary limits, they really caint afford to replace a guy who has a big contract if he does not perform,
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:16 am
Boras is going to be looking for 15 million per for Bourn. He might be worth 12-13. Do you overpay a “leg” guy? I’d be afraid at anything over 4 years. But I’ll bet he’d get 5.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:17 am
And as I keep saying,”beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
See what happens to this team without his bat, his speed and his Gold Glove defense. He has been a home run. And as critical as I usually am, he’s worth overpaying.
But they won’t do it because they’ll want the popular 5-day-a-week catcher. I understand. It’s safe.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:18 am
In my perfect scenario I’d have this lineup next year 9pardon the rosterbation)
Simmons
Prado
Heyward
Swisher
Freeman/Mac
Uggla
Mac/Freeman
Bourjos
I think making Simmons a leadoff man makes sense, he has speed and he makes good contact
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:18 am
Please explain “bro it down” to some of us old farts……….
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:20 am
Crawford’s had 2 easy years in a row. Wonder how much cash the Bosox would send over with him?
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:20 am
Braves caint really afford to “overpay” anybody. pay him for what he is doing now, and get what the rest of his career has been like and we are seriously screwed. Seen way too many guys get it on in a contract year and then regress. and as far as I can see there is no logical reason for me to conclude that he will stay above the mean for the next 4 or 5 years
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:21 am
I don’t really know what “bro it down ” means either…. I’m guessing he gets all “sup bro! how’s it hangin..” and douchebags it up and is all high energy and annoying, I guess kinda like Jeff Spiccolli from Fast Times at Ridgemeont High but in a more modern, MMA shirt kinda way?
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:21 am
And as I brought up last night, check out some of the great base stealers. Speed drops off probably age 35.
Bourn — Prado — Heyward is the best top 3 we’ve had in a lineup in a decade. Incredible chemistry thus far. You keep the pieces together.
Bourn’s speed will keep those extended slumps down, and whoever he signs with will instantly become a serious World Series contender — assuming you believe San Francisco or Washington.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:21 am
I’d welcome Schafer back if we lost Bourn. Even with the K’s. He can go get it pretty good.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:22 am
here is the urban dictionary definition of Bro Down: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bro%20down
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:23 am
I’d love to be able to hand onto Bourn, but in my heart, I think he’s a goner.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:23 am
I think it is WAY too early to think that Simmons will hit enough to be an effective leadoff hitter. Was not around the league even once but was in his first slump already when hurt.of course its too early to say he won’t either. I’d leave him at the back for awhile yet
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:24 am
Thanks for the enlightenment Nick! Bro……..
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:26 am
Hell, you guys know this boils down to me being more of a “move the lineup” guy versus you guys “hit the ball 500 feet” guys.
I love speed, line drives and crooked numbers. And Bourn has been absolutely fantastic. Teams can be defined by leadoff guys — Lou Brock, Paul Molitor etc……Bourn is just blossoming now. And I’m so impressed that he’s doing this in a contract year when pressure is at its highest.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:26 am
If we lost Bourn and didn’t get another speed burner for the lineup, I’d just shift everybody up 1 notch.
Marteen, Heyward, Freeman, Uggla, Mac, etc.
Depending of course on who else we signed/traded for.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:26 am
Schafer? Gawd no. guy is a 620 hitter, that’s just terrible
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:28 am
Hey I love Bourn as he is right now too, a lot, I’m just fairly certain that he will not keep it up long enough to be worth what he will get
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:29 am
A Bomb
Don’t disagree. Just don’t think that the Braves will be able to bid that high to keep him. Unless given an edict from the player (Kenny Rogers and Carlos Pena), Boras ALWAYS sends his guys to the highest dollar amount bidder.
And all the bullshyt that Tex was saying about always wanting to play for the Yankees. He’d be saying the same thing about Cleveland if they’d paid top dollar.
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:29 am
Lots of fears,about Bourne having a year beyond his ken, but I wonder how much he benefits hitting in front of Prado? He must be seeing some really good pitches this year.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:30 am
nolie
I wouldn’t bat him first if I had him. I’m thinking that if we get a good hitting LF’er, we are going to have to settle for a good glove in CF.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:31 am
I’m not much of a believer of the “protection” theory. Stats don’t seem to bear it out, but who knows?
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:31 am
Still wouldn’t hurt me if we overpaid for a guy like him after we burned money on alleged ballplayers like Lowe, Kawakami etc. Still think we’d get a ton of production.
Look what Bourn is getting to hit with Prado behind, as opposed to what he got with Keppinger etc. I think it depends on what Bourn wants. Boras doesn’t help, of course.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:31 am
Prado is a good leadoff guy too, I like Heyward 3rd though with his power… Freeman is too much of a free swinger IMO, to hit higher than 4th
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:32 am
he would have to be the greatest glove in the world to make up for his hitting. I would like to think they could do better than that.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:33 am
nolie
neither am I, lots of evidence points to it having a somewhat psychological affect on pitchers, but only with super premium players (like say Hamilton, Cabrera,Pujols..etc)
Maybe they will sign Bourn, it wouldn’t ruin my life if they did (even IF they overpaid a bit) it does mean that left field is coming via trade though, and for a cost controlled player.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:34 am
What’s the line on Michael Saunders of the Mariners? Or maybe Gutierrez? I know they’ve both been hurt some.
Who’s the better defender? I really don’t understand all that advanced defensive mumbo jumbo.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:35 am
wouldn’t ruin my life either, but us old f@rts are paid to be skeptics
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:35 am
I know it’s hard to tell, especially since he’s a free swinger and strikes out a lot. But I can’t help but think that pitchers are careful not to walk him. If he gets signed to a team with a lousy two hole guy, we can staticize.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:36 am
Damned glad I’m not the GM!
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:37 am
A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing……….
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:37 am
Hey he’s the one who created this situation, let him figure it out. Maybe today will start Wren on his own personal winning streak because he’s had a bad season (until today).
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:38 am
If the team can get Heyward and Freeman to sign extensions that buy out their arb and a year or two of free agency, they might be able to have Bourn AND Mac, that means no free agent pitching of any merit though. It also means trading somebody we won’t like trading to acquire a LF’er worth a darn
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:38 am
Gutierrez had an awesome 2009, the last few are not nearly as good but still pretty decent.
Saunders is not nearly in that range at least according to Fielding Bible
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:39 am
wow I sure disagree with that A-B
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:40 am
I think wren has done a really good job considering that payroll hasn’t gone up on this team for 12 years…..
rebuilt the farm from the pit of blackness JS left it in
hasn’t hamstrung the team with long term $100 mill deals
hasn’t made any terrible trades
he’s had some free agent signings that didn’t work out as well as we’d hoped. But every GM has those and often they are for much bigger money and years
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:40 am
Any Cody Ross talk on the blog? He had quite a few admirers last year.
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:41 am
Thanks nolie. I thought Gutierrez was a good glove. I think he’s been hurt most of the past 2 years if memory serves.
Gotta run folks. It’s been fun. I HATE off days! Damned lazy players……….
Do they realize what their laziness does to some of us?
:wink;
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:42 am
isn’t he the one who said he turned down a multi-year deal from Wren for a one year deal with Boston?
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:42 am
Night Wayne
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:43 am
nite DS1
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:43 am
Wow. The lure of bobby valentine…
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:43 am
Yep, but it wasn’t really meant in that manner, I think he was told he’d have more playing time in Boston an was probably hoping he could do what he’s doing, put up good numbers in a good hitters park and parlay that into a better starting job next season
DS1
July 16th, 2012
2:44 am
as he leaves: LOVE me some Cody Ross. But he supposedly turned us down last winter for the Red Sox. Bet he’s regretting that move now.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:45 am
prolly Nick, but just the fact might have turned off some of his previous adherents here on the ol’ blog
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:45 am
What’s his bro-mometer reading, nick?
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:46 am
nolie — bad year in that he’s rushed/overvalued his prospects all through the org…..Terdo, the Big 4, etc…. Simmons? Good. But really if you look at the farm it has not really been that great of a year other than some of the Lynchburg guys + Gattis.
Sheets might have changed his luck.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:46 am
Good night Wayne.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:46 am
actually I’m guessin’ not Wayne, he is having a great year up there and will prolly be in line for a pretty decent contract if it keeps up
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:47 am
Booby Valentine talking stink about Youklis.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:48 am
Time for me to get outta here as well. Gotta teach in the a.m.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:49 am
oh, we all know they are going to hate anyone we get sooner or later anyway, and think that Constanza would have been a much better option……rolls eyes lol
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:49 am
Summer gig, A Bomb?
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:49 am
Yes. Paying some bills.
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:50 am
he has to work with what he has, all things considered I think he has been a very good GM though what he tried this year has not worked as well as hoped. But look at the difference between how the Boston situation was handled compared to us and how even with twice the payroll we are having the better year.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:50 am
later Bomb
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:50 am
I’m just saying he hasn’t exactly been King Midas, that’s all.
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:51 am
I hear you. I’ve got SAT prep in the morning. It’s the last week tho. Nite.
The A Bomb
July 16th, 2012
2:51 am
Later all.
Monday streak lives on.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:51 am
It’s fairly remarkable that a team as young as the Braves is 10 games over .500, most teams this young are bad
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:51 am
nope I can agree with that I guess, but I am still pretty satisfied
nolie
July 16th, 2012
2:52 am
well I guess we are closing down the shop for the night. G’night y’all. take care
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:53 am
the 5 youngest teams in MLB:
Royals, Astros,Braves,Mariners, A’s
one of these things is not like the other ones! lol
Woody Woodward
July 16th, 2012
2:53 am
Aloha all.
NickB
July 16th, 2012
2:54 am
later on folks, see ya tomorrow as we try to fill the time , prolly lots of trade scenarios discussed with no game
Mike S
July 16th, 2012
3:52 am
Haha, Nick. I like your “bro it down” explanation at 2:21am, especially the Spicoli/MMA shirt part…
CB
July 16th, 2012
7:14 am
jeffrey d got married?
On a different note, I will sleep better knowing Ward loves me.
Jeff R
July 16th, 2012
7:21 am
A well earned day off for the Bravos, and given they can’t win on Mondays, a godsend!
richbrave
July 16th, 2012
7:23 am
We have got to rest on the seventh day next season…….monday that is. Schedule makers, let’s do it.
Efrim
July 16th, 2012
8:42 am
Freddie Freeman in his last 21 games(88 plate appearances): .342/.420/.579
Brian from SC
July 16th, 2012
8:46 am
Big week for the Braves to keep it rolling against a couple of good teams, and a couple of good pitching staffs.
After this week, starting next Monday, the Braves play a stretch of 23 games, 20 of them against teams that currently have a losing record. It’s the easiest portion of the Braves’ schedule this year. If they can keep some momentum going, they can really go on an extended run.
monty
July 16th, 2012
8:47 am
Does anyone know if we got into a 1 game playoff for the WC would that game be on a Monday?
Efrim
July 16th, 2012
8:48 am
Same stretch(June 19th – present day) combined with Freeman….
Chipper Jones in his last 16 games(69 plate appearances): .400/.478/.633
Jason Heyward in his last 21 games(92 plate appearances): .337/.391/.627
Braves are 14-7 in their last 21 games.
Bama Brave
July 16th, 2012
8:48 am
We Dont Need Another Pitcher. We Need A Left Fielder…….
Jeff R
July 16th, 2012
8:49 am
Freddie Freeman in his last 21 games(88 plate appearances): .342/.420/.579
Per his pattern at Gwinnett and last year in Atlanta, Freeman’s bat is coming to life mid-season.
Jeff R
July 16th, 2012
8:52 am
We Dont Need Another Pitcher. We Need A Left Fielder…….
Not sure about that yet. For Sheets, one game does not a trend make. Encouraging start by Sheets, but we need to see more from him to say he’s a keeper.
And as far as I’m concerned, Jurrjens is still on the watch list, too.