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2,322 comments Add your comment
shorty
July 18th, 2012
4:51 pm
Fire Fredi he is the worst in game manager in MLB.And has no passion for the game. And send McDowell out the door with him.
Brave New World
July 18th, 2012
4:52 pm
DAP July 18th, 2012 3:38 pm brave new world I’m surprised Melky remembered the Tomahawk Chop enough to diss some fans
did melky taunt fans with the chop? i didnt get to watch the whole game so i may have missed it. if he did, i hope mionr pegs him tonight.
DAP: Yes. Ex-Braves Melky responded to some fans by doing a less-than-respectful version of the Tomahawk Chop (think Rozanne Barr mauling national anthem for his final “touch”).
ncscoots
July 18th, 2012
4:53 pm
Part of Braves Team Report from Chicago Tribune
I know it’s foolish of me to ask, but what the hell does a Chicago writer know about the internal workings of the Atlanta Braves?
Hillbilly
July 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
With Greinke’s history of social anxiety, he certainly would seem to be a better fit in a media market that is calm and laidback in terms of its approach to tough lines of questioning and pressing, 247 coverage.
As long as O’Brien keeps tossing up those softball questions, Grienke would have no trouble at all here, eh, ACE? Wherever you are?
Brave New World
July 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
Our loss yesterday puts us at a pitiful .875 winning percentage for the past 8 games. GO BRAVES!
jeffrey d
July 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
we need a new manager FIRE FREDI
oooooh is that what your all caps name means?
the truth...
July 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
FARCE…………this entire “buying” scenario is a joke. There is no way they are going to get any pitcher for more than two or three months even if they give up the prospects….
Why is it that the memory of the botched Texeira deal is so distant in their memory? Because this “management” group is continually dreaming that we’re only “a player away”….
phil
July 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
shorty – solid at 4:51…
brian
July 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
everybody needs to drop the “we should have drafter trout” instead of minor. 20 teams missed out on him and I would guess that the Angels never dreamed he would turn out as good as he is.
Every MLB team also missed out on Mike, excuse me, Giancarlo Stanton who went in the second round.
How many teams would have rather selected Heyward than their number one pick??
phil
July 18th, 2012
4:56 pm
Melky can kiss our collective feet….
A fastball in the ass would indeed be nice.
ncscoots
July 18th, 2012
4:57 pm
I would guess that the Angels never dreamed he would turn out as good as he is.
That would be incorrect. At least, according to the scouts who brought the kid to the FO’s attention.
jeffrey d
July 18th, 2012
4:58 pm
A fastball in the ass would indeed be nice.
Has that ever happened before?
ncscoots
July 18th, 2012
4:58 pm
A fastball in the ass would indeed be nice.
I don’t believe one there is gonna really hurt the old Melkster.
phil
July 18th, 2012
4:59 pm
Trout and Giancarlo should be Barves….
Period. Shut down the team.
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
4:59 pm
10-day rest period for Greinke. Strange, unless he’s having health issues that aren’t being disclosed.
phil
July 18th, 2012
5:00 pm
I don’t advocate fastballs to the head, thus the ass….
Even better would be Fat Freddie and a cross body block as Melky reaches first, knocking him back about 5 feet, head over heels…..
Shaun
July 18th, 2012
5:01 pm
Pitchers whose average annual performance value was $20M free-agent dollars or more, according to Fangraphs, between 2009-2011 (so $60M or more, total, in the last three full seasons):
Halladay ($96.4M)
Verlander ($94.6M)
Lee ($88.6M)
Sabathia ($81.9M)
Felix Hernandez ($80.3M)
Greinke ($80.2M)
Lincecum ($75.2M)
Haren ($73.8M)
Ubaldo Jimenez ($68M)
Jon Lester ($68.2M)
Kershaw ($68.1M)
Weaver ($65.8M)
Carpenter ($62.1M)
As you can see, Greinke is on the list, comfortably over $60M or $20M/year.
Also, using this rather crude judge, a $20M/year pitcher would have been the 14th-best pitcher in baseball over this span.
Even if you think Fangraphs’ methodology is off, it’s quite a stretch to say $20M/year for the near future is unreasonable for a pitcher like Zack Grienke. Now, whether a team with the budget of the Braves would be wise to spend that much is a different argument. I would certainly argue that they could make it work, and it could make them better if they are wise in other areas.
“[Greinke] has had only one season in nine with an ERA below 3.47, two seasons in nine with a WHIP below 1.200, and has allowed a hit per inning for his career (1,399 hits, 1,395-2/3 innings).” –DOB
If we are going to pay attention to these stats, we can’t ignore that Greinke has never played in front of good defensive teams. That’s not an understatement. He’s truly never played on a good defensive team.
Defense influences all these stats. Teams with good defenses are clearly going to give up more hits and more runs, both earned and unearned. A grounder that a shortstop (say, an awful fielder like Yuniesky Betancourt) can’t get to is going to be a hit charged to the pitcher and may very well turn in to an earned run, especially if the entire team’s defense is poor and if someone like Betancourt is playing such a key defensive position.
We don’t necessarily have to look at some of the advanced defense-independent pitching metrics to see the Grienke has performed better than some of the more commonly relied upon pitching metrics. All you need to look at are things like strikeout rate, walk rate, homerun rate and his team’s defensive efficiency (how good his teams have been at turning batted balls in to outs).
leastof the east
July 18th, 2012
5:02 pm
panic trades don’t work at the deadline. that’s how we lost Andrus, feliz, Salty and Harrison.. can Dempster pitch in a penannt race ? maybe not. can Greinke ? not so sure either.
most of the pitchers they draft are stiffs. scouts not as good as advertised. check out 2006. best one is with Bucs now (Locke) 2008 also so-so in 1st 2 rounds.
can’t they claim Sanchez off waivers from KC ?
don’t trust Wren making any big deals. anyone they acqure won’t likely stay. rentals are a bad idea. Bourn will leave for nothing. who plays CF ext yr ? what about 3B ?
MFin04
July 18th, 2012
5:02 pm
Can you really win World Series if you keep letting your good acquisitions go? I mean Michael Bourn is everything this team wants as a CF and leadoff hitter, but because he costs a little too much we can’t keep him? It seems like if that is the case…it is going to be impossible to sustain a team capable winning of a World Series? Right?
ncscoots
July 18th, 2012
5:04 pm
I don’t advocate fastballs to the head, thus the ass….
Can’t get most of the current-day union-brotherhood wusses to throw one lip-high, anyway. Hitters come up there armored, lean over the plate, and dare pitchers to move them back. Does anybody do it? Shoot, no.
jeffrey d
July 18th, 2012
5:04 pm
I mean Michael Bourn is everything this team wants as a CF and leadoff hitter, but because he costs a little too much we can’t keep him
He’s still on the team….
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:04 pm
With Greinke’s history of social anxiety, he certainly would seem to be a better fit in a media market that is calm and laidback in terms of its approach to tough lines of questioning and pressing, 247 coverage.
Greinke has claimed that he wants to pitch in a small to mid market. Where do small to mid market teams come up with $20 million per season over five or six seasons? Possibly, but not likely, if I understand the economics.
So, Greinke either lowers his ask or figures out how to cope with the demands of pitching in a big market.
MFin04
July 18th, 2012
5:05 pm
“He’s still on the team….”
Not for long…
Jay Dubu
July 18th, 2012
5:07 pm
The bRaves have played 4 games since a 4 day layoff for the All-Star break, and they were off Monday.
What 7 days in row did Chipper work?
braveslover
July 18th, 2012
5:08 pm
Does anyone know if Wren has talked with Javy Vasquez? He won 13 with the pitiful Marlins last year with a 3.69 era then decided he had enough baseball. He says he’s playing tennis everyday and being with the kids. All it would cost is a bit of money if Wren could lure him back to the game. He looks in great physical shape and would just have to get his arm in shape. Didn’t he win 15 for us three years ago then we traded him to the Yankeees who tradeded him to the Marlins. Could be another nugget if we could lure him back to the game.
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:08 pm
Jim Bunning, Don Drysdale, and Sandy Koufax among many others of their era had no trouble dusting off a batter with a high, tight fastball. Different game today.
RC
July 18th, 2012
5:10 pm
I was actually excited to see what Greinke’s number would look like with A-Gonz as his SS this year….then Gonzalez tore his ACL, and we get to see how bad they can look with A-Ram at 3b.
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:10 pm
Just make these happen and we’re not only set for the remainder of this season but set up pretty nicely going forward as well.
Trade Delgado in a package to the Brewers for Greinke.
Trade Minor in a package to the Cubs for Dempster and money.
Trade Uggla and Terd to the Tigers for Castenallos and Young.
Move Prado back to 2nd and Put Young in LF.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 18th, 2012
5:10 pm
The heftiness of the rotation’s ERA was earned earlier in the season, when the starters were in a state of flux and Fredi was trying to solve injury issues internally (Beachy, JJ, Hudson). Prior to the All Star break, starters were beginning to find their way – especially in July – as roles began to stabilize.
Because of their respective mechanics, Hudson, JJ, & Hanson did not benefit from the long All Star layoff (even though Hudson’s ankle did). We shall see what’s up with Minor tonight, but don’t be surprised if it’s more of the same we’ve seen in the past 3 of 4 starts.
As I stated before, the Braves have too many holes. Even the resurgence of Ben Sheets the rest of the way, plus a Dempster or Greinke, will not solve chronic hitting problems that have plagued this ballclub for over half a decade now – especially in September, where Braves’ bats wither like clockwork.
Frank Wren would do well to table any trade talks right now, take the time to truly evaluate the young pitching resources for this complete season, and decide on the pieces he will part with – this winter. The constant trading of young resources for a ballclub with a restrictive payroll demands that a semblance of a rebuilding program take place in 2013. The cornerstones are there, and the young arms are talented enough to step into the breach.
unbelievable
July 18th, 2012
5:12 pm
Pirates winning again.
Cornbread
July 18th, 2012
5:13 pm
do we have anyone in the rotation that can throw hard enough to hit a batter in the fanny?
flange1
July 18th, 2012
5:14 pm
Shaun,
Nice post at 5:01
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:14 pm
I think the speculation on Greinke’s eventual asking price is premature. Nobody knows what he will accept to pitch where he wants but him. It may SEEM kinda crazy to turn down 6 years $120 mill from some big market team to accept 5 years $90 mill from a mid-market team, but if he’s happy with where he his, he might make such a decision.
No real way to tell until they have negotiations with him in person.
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:14 pm
I mean Michael Bourn is everything this team wants as a CF and leadoff hitter, but because he costs a little too much we can’t keep him? It seems like if that is the case…it is going to be impossible to sustain a team capable winning of a World Series? Right?
Might be, based on the Braves’ budget limitations right now. That could all change for the better in the future. I don’t see Liberty Media’s ownership as open-ended. Of course, the Braves would have to be sold to those with deeper pockets than Liberty and a willingness to spend money.
Plus, that’s why Wren has worked at restocking the Braves’ farm system, starting with pitching. Just cheaper for a team to furnish players from within and control them a while at more affordable costs.
sheeesh
July 18th, 2012
5:15 pm
If I were the Braves GM, I would forget about Grienke and Dempster. The price in terms of prospects in either case will be too steep, especially considering that it is a sellers market. Negotiating a deal that would guarantee the right to retain one of them beyond this season is unlikely with less than 2 weeks to go before a trade must be made. Plus the $$ cost to retain them will be absurd, so the risk is even higher if the deal is made if the thought is that this serves the short-term and long-term. Not to mention that Greinke seems a little on the flaky side, Dempster is starting to get old, and they both blow in the post-season.
I would focus on someone like Clayton Richard. He is better than at least 3 of the current starters, maybe 4 (who knows about Sheets yet?). He is still in the arbitration stage of his career for the next few years, so he is affordable. He’s obviously no staff ace, but he is an upgrade to the current staff.
And I wouldn’t make a deal for any of those guys if I had to give up Delgado.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:16 pm
Ark Transplant
you think you hate Uggla, wait until you have Delmon Young in LF…. Uggla has hot and cold streaks, Young has just a long soul killing streak of mediocrity
Shaun
July 18th, 2012
5:17 pm
Jeff R, I think one could make a reasonable argument that $20M a year for Grienke is just as rational as $13M a year for Uggla, if not more rational. Uggla was only around a $14.7M/year player in 2009-2011, and now he’s 32-years-old. Assuming the Braves can make it work at all, they should have no issues paying Greinke $20M a year.
Lew
July 18th, 2012
5:17 pm
“Medlen should be getting the majority of seventh or eighth inning duties with the current state of our pen.” unbelievable
OK – Medlen’s last 12 appearances and the innings pitched – 7&8, 6&7, 9, 8, 5&6, 7&8, 6&7, 6-8, 7,8, 6&7, 7&8
Uh. Imagine that.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:18 pm
sheesh
it’s not as big a sellers market as you think, the new CBA doesn’t give teams that acquire rental players draft compensation if they leave for free agency thus lowering the overall value of rentals frm as recent as last season.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 18th, 2012
5:18 pm
Milky is not worth the beanball war to ensue. Best thing to do tonight is hope Minor has a good turn, and that Braves’ bats wake up from their 48 hour slumber.
Frankly, I fear that last night will be more the norm offensively than this past weekend.
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:19 pm
Frank Wren would do well to table any trade talks right now, take the time to truly evaluate the young pitching resources for this complete season, and decide on the pieces he will part with – this winter. The constant trading of young resources for a ballclub with a restrictive payroll demands that a semblance of a rebuilding program take place in 2013. The cornerstones are there, and the young arms are talented enough to step into the breach.
That makes sense except for the fact that the Braves are only 3.5 games behind the Nats. If Wren “stepped away” from trade talks and sort of surrendered this season to whatever happens with the personnel he has, his job could well be on the chopping block.
Right now, the pressure is on Braves’ management to get this team to the post-season. Not at all costs, but at some cost.
Jay Dubu
July 18th, 2012
5:20 pm
The Braves don’t have any budget constraints from Liberty Media, their Front Office siad so, as has been reported several times right here on the ole blog.
We all know that it’s complete fluff though!
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
NickB, yes but he’s servicable for the remainder of the year plus becomes a FA. I think I could take 2 months of him as long as Castenallos came along in the trade.
unbelievable
July 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
Uh. Imagine that.
See, I was right
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:22 pm
Jeff R, I think one could make a reasonable argument that $20M a year for Grienke is just as rational as $13M a year for Uggla, if not more rational. Uggla was only around a $14.7M/year player in 2009-2011, and now he’s 32-years-old. Assuming the Braves can make it work at all, they should have no issues paying Greinke $20M a year.
Not sure about that, Shaun. The Braves have various needs. It’s not a matter of just locking up big bucks in Greinke alone.
My guess is, Wren won’t take Greinke on longer term if his price tag is $20 million per.
Besides cost, I get back to Greinke’s 10-day rest period. Just not making sense. The Brewers should be showcasing Greinke right now.
Shaun
July 18th, 2012
5:22 pm
NickB, the flip side of that is that unless you are loaded with free agents that will net you loads of draft compensation, it’s probably better to trade a free agent than to get draft picks. A quality free agent can probably net you more in a trade than taking a risk on the draft pick returning something. So maybe a team would take cents on the dollar for a free agent to-be in order to get legit prospects over draft picks that are more risky.
Lew
July 18th, 2012
5:23 pm
Your prognosticative abilites are truly astounding.
ncscoots
July 18th, 2012
5:24 pm
That makes sense except for the fact that the Braves are only 3.5 games behind the Nats.
Jeff, what wet-brain wrote that quote? I want to be sure I’m never in the same room, in case that kind of dumb is airborne.
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:24 pm
The Brewers should be showcasing Greinke right now.
Actually I think everyone knows what he has and skill sets are.. if I’m the Brewers I’m protecting him from injury. He’s of no value to them if he gets hurt before the deadline.
tony austin
July 18th, 2012
5:25 pm
I may be wrong but I wouldn’t think the Braves would tie up more than 1/5 of their payroll in one player. Add that to Uggla’s $13M and that’s over 1/3 of the payroll. That would only leave about $60M for 23 other spots, or around $2.6M per player.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:25 pm
Ark
Tigers would never trade Castellanos for …well much of anything really,he’s their Teheran (as far as untouchable prospects go)
Uggla is gonna be here until at least the last year of his deal, and you don’t trade star players during slumps unless they are such a clubhouse distraction (cough cough Upton) that it HAS to be done.
You don’t create need either. Not to mention that Prado/Uggla is better than Young/Prado
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:25 pm
Fluff, it is, Jay Dubu! I think if Braves’ management had the green light to spend more than their annual budget, they’d do it. Not saying management would go top-heavy with contracts, like the Phils, but Wren wouldn’t be watching pennies here to spend pennies there, if you get my drift.
MFin04
July 18th, 2012
5:26 pm
“So, Greinke either lowers his ask or figures out how to cope with the demands of pitching in a big market.”
Very astute point.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:26 pm
Shaun
yeah but all prospects are , are draft picks who MAY eventually pay off sooner rather than later. Lots of highly touted prospects turned out to be busts (Andy Marte for example)
unbelievable
July 18th, 2012
5:26 pm
Your prognosticative abilites are truly astounding.
Yes they are.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:27 pm
Shaun
it’s a classic philosophical debate, some GM’s prefer draft picks so they can control exactly what players the receive and at what positions and to develop them in their system. Other’s prefer to stockpile prospects to be used to acquire star players….
No. 1 Braves Fan
July 18th, 2012
5:27 pm
I am and old guy who is trying to learn about all these new preformance measurments you sabremetrics people use. Can someone kindly tell me what WHIP means and if it is replacing ERA as the primary measure for pitchers. Thanks.
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:27 pm
We wet-brainers try, scoots… we try…
Bat Masterson
July 18th, 2012
5:28 pm
As Jones also noted, the Braves have been “stingy” with their young players. He didn’t name names, but two recent examples are pitchers Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. Hanson — yes, a Boras client — has yet to come to terms with the Braves on an annual raise. He has been signed unilaterally in spring training each year.
The Braves, it seems, don’t take players’ bruised feelings into account. Maybe that worked when they were playing every October, but it isn’t something they can get away with anymore.” _ Jay Dubu
Good grief, what a dumbass. Chipper’s “stingy” comment was made in regards to trading their kids, especially the young pitchers. Not a financial comment at all.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 18th, 2012
5:28 pm
Sorry, Jeff R, but not at the expense of trading our young arms for two-month rentals. Frankly, I did not expect the Braves to contend for much this season, given that Frank Wren was financially hamstrung this year. Given that salient fact, Wren would show prudence by not compounding the money issue with selling out this team’s future. Check the remarks above. The bloggers are smart enough to know it’s not a buyer’s market, and sellers are looking to gut the Braves for their prime cuts.
This is the team money and circumstance could afford this year. Making a trade now will perpetuate the same garbage for years to come. Frank Wren has to finally learn that rebuilding on the fly in baseball does not work; too many moving pieces. A genuine rebuild is in order to clense the books and re-establish a new philosophy of building from within.
Or have the Teixeira-Lowe-McLouth-KK debacles escaped our collective memories??? Not me!!!
archie
July 18th, 2012
5:29 pm
Uggla-Francisco-Janish-Minor. Are the Braves charging full-price to see half-a-major league team tonight?
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:29 pm
You don’t create need either. Not to mention that Prado/Uggla is better than Young/Prado
You forgot to include the 13 mil saved in the swap and it’s never been said that Castellanos is untounchable.
ncscoots
July 18th, 2012
5:29 pm
Jeff, not you, man, LOL. The quote you italicized in your post, about stepping away from trades.
You’re one of the dryest brains we got here, brother.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
No1
WHIP is walks+ hits per inning pitched and it hasn’t REPLACED ERA, but it’s another good tool to use when judging pitchers. FIP and xFIP (fielding independent pitching) is probably a more accurate number than ERA as it removes the effects of the defense and/or league and parks played in respectively, from the discussion focuses more on actual pitchers production
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
Actually I think everyone knows what he has and skill sets are.. if I’m the Brewers I’m protecting him from injury. He’s of no value to them if he gets hurt before the deadline.
Well, they’re sure not showing teams that Greinke’s durable.
When do you shelve a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for ten days in the middle of the season to “protect him from injury?” And if the Brewers have to do that, well, wouldn’t that lower Greinke’s value?
Lew
July 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
No 1 Braves – I’m an old guy, too. It means Walks and Hits Per innings Pitched. It’s the average of how many baserunners a pitcher averages per inning pitched.
ChattTownBrian
July 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
What is stubby, short and loves Special K?
Yogi Berra
July 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
Don’t forget Macann 14 million next year and then free agent. He would want 20 million a year.
Brewers have offered ZG 5 years and $100m and he has not took it. SO IT IS !
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:31 pm
ncscoots… Got it! I figured you were ribbing the reasoning in the quote!
archie
July 18th, 2012
5:31 pm
The Braves get shut out last night, and respond with Uggla-Francisco-Janish-Minor. Looks like 0-14 with 8 K’s.
Efrim
July 18th, 2012
5:31 pm
Can you really win World Series if you keep letting your good acquisitions go?
It’s not easy. But 90 million is a middle of the pack payroll, and sometimes, it’s harder to manage a payroll in the middle than it is for a tema like the Rays. I mean, that’s easy. 60 million to spend – means no 20 million a year players. Pretty cut and dry. When it’s middle of the pack and 90 million a year, then we have some more debate as to who is worth investing in long term. I can honestly say that while I’ll deeply miss his presence at the top of the lineup and his glove in center field, I can’t bring myself to give Michael Bourn 5-6 years and 15-16 million a year. That’s just not in the realm of possible for the Braves. Not with a flat 90 million payroll. It sucks. But I just wouldn’t be comfortable with that. I’d probably top out at what Uggla is making – or around there. 12.5-13 million a year.
brian
July 18th, 2012
5:31 pm
Minor should not be put in the same category as Janish and Francisco. For that matter Janish should not be put in the same category as Francisco
MFin04
July 18th, 2012
5:32 pm
Should have kept Delgado over Minor, Delgado can hit like 6th in tonight’s lineup.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:32 pm
Ark
tell that to Tigers fans, reading on mlb trade rumors comments they don’t want to move him for anything less than Trout
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:32 pm
When do you shelve a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for ten days in the middle of the season to “protect him from injury?”
When you know your going to trade him. I know I would.
MikeInFl
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
As I recall, McGuirk has said there are no set spending limits for Braves’ payroll. He’s also said that he’s expected to run the business as a business, that losing money is not part of his job description.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a slight bump in payroll, from the current $93-or-so mil, to closer to $100. Just from reading Wren’s comments. And if so, that leaves room to sign Bourn and a SP in the $15-18 mil range, if that’s how the Braves want to go.
Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
brian
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
archie – I do agree that that is one sorry of a 6-7-8-9 in the lineup…….
Yogi Berra
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
Francisco get two homers tonight with 2 k’s.
Efrim
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
And I do think a team might be stupid enough to pay Bourn six years, 96 million. I think that’s probably the ceiling for any contract. I can’t see him eclipsing 100 million – I really can’t.
LAMJAM
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
Forget about Melky & the Chop; best not say anything stupid or he’ll answer with 5-for-5! the real “Chop talk” from last night was, “What in the #@!% are the fans doing the Chop (weak as it was) in the 9th down 9-0″? Sorta makes the whole thing look a little lame; best to save it for when the Braves actually have the lead – like, maybe this weekend.
Lew
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
archie – Well, Chipper’s out and who else are you going to put in for Uggla and Janish. Haven’t heard that they’d instituted the DH in the NL, either.
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:33 pm
It’s risk versus reward and in that situation.. risk would outweigh reward.
sheeesh
July 18th, 2012
5:34 pm
NickB, when there are about 10 teams looking to upgrade starting pitching for the pennant race, and the same 2-4 pitchers on all 10 teams’ lists, that, my friend, is a sellers market. The CBA doesn’t change that. It just changes the negotiations for making a trade.
Arkansas Transplant
July 18th, 2012
5:34 pm
NickB, too bad the fans aren’t the ones running the team.
MiaBchBravesFan
July 18th, 2012
5:34 pm
McCann is only worth $20 million to the Yankees. Love the guy, but I would not spend $15 mil – or even $10 mil – on a position that destroys bodies and hitters. I’d rather see that money go to pitching and an MVP-caliber LF who will last longer.
TuffShhhtuff
July 18th, 2012
5:35 pm
Nice to see that the Braves organization is getting hit with a huge lawsuit by the parents of that little 6 yr. old(happened in 2010, so 8 now) who was severely injured by a foul ball. It’s elsewhere in the sports section. Who didn’t see this coming? Surprised it took this long. Joe Simpson has been advocating more wiring or netting farther down the lines to protect those over the dugouts down low. I will tell you what is going to happen next. The sharp end of one of those bats will impale someone in the stands. Then, and only then will MLB get smart and do something about those breaking bats. Some players have already been injured, and next it will be a fan. These people in MLB management are not too smart sometimes. Tis better to be proactive than reactive.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:35 pm
Efrim
neither can I, Carl Crawford is fresh on most GM’s minds
DS1
July 18th, 2012
5:36 pm
Win 7 in a row. Lose 1. Sit Chipper and the Nellies start to come out about the bad lineup.
Can we at least wait until we actually lose 2 in a row before complaining about the lineup? Please?
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:36 pm
MiaBchBravesFan, I think Wren has been prudent in his trades. I don’t believe he’s given more value than what he’s got in return. Bourn certainly was a steal, even for a season and half (at least). Uggla didn’t cost a boatload.
I don’t believe Wren will strip the team to make a trade or trades before deadline that hurts the Braves longer term.
Yogi Berra
July 18th, 2012
5:36 pm
agree @ 5:34
Shaun
July 18th, 2012
5:37 pm
Jeff R, the extra rest does make some sense, considering he went through all the warm-ups and got geared up for his start last Saturday, then started Sunday then again on the day after the All-Star break ended. Actually the Brewers being cautious could help his trade value ever so slightly.
No. 1 Braves Fan, WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) should not replaced ERA. Both are okay but both also are influenced by defense and randomness of a batted ball finding a hole versus turning in to a ground out. Look at things pitchers have most control over: strikeouts, walks, homeruns, groundballs, flyballs. A pitcher in the majors needs to miss bats, either all together or enough to keep hitters off-balance. So strikeouts and strikeout rate is a key metric to look at. But that of course isn’t enough. You also need to look at how well he prevents walks and how well he keeps hitters from teeing off (homerun rate).
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:38 pm
As I recall, McGuirk has said there are no set spending limits for Braves’ payroll.
I take him at his word. But there are also informal understandings in organizations.
ChattTownBrian
July 18th, 2012
5:38 pm
Ignore me then.
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:38 pm
Shaun
I have always looked at K/9 BB/9 K/BB ratio, GB% and xFIP
NickB
July 18th, 2012
5:39 pm
CHATT
HEYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ACE
July 18th, 2012
5:39 pm
hillbilly, you are right on, no stress from those questions.
Josey Wales
July 18th, 2012
5:40 pm
Throw at Melky and if he charges the mound, Freeman should punch him out. If he doesn’t charge the mound, then Freeman should punch him out when he gets to first base.
Jeff R
July 18th, 2012
5:41 pm
Jeff R, the extra rest does make some sense, considering he went through all the warm-ups and got geared up for his start last Saturday, then started Sunday then again on the day after the All-Star break ended.
Am I reading this correctly, Shaun? Greinke had three days (Sunday, the break, and then…?)
ChattTownBrian
July 18th, 2012
5:41 pm
“Can we at least wait until we actually lose 2 in a row before complaining about the lineup? Please?” Wayne
Sure will.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
July 18th, 2012
5:42 pm
Who would have thought our starting pitching would become a liability?
Certainly not this fan. Of course, Beachy’s season ending surgery, Huddy’s bone spurs along with Jurrjens continuing disappointment, not to mention the learning curve of Minor, Delgado, Teheran among whom none has yet to get over the hump. Leaving Tommy Hanson as the lone Ranger, er…pitcher who has yet to falter.
Although Ben Sheets one start gives us hope it’s beyond obvious we need another healthy, dependable starter at this juncture. So it’s still shocking to me that our vaunted rotation has failed to live up to expectations.
Speaking of shocking….
David O’Brien wrote: Tonight’s matchup: It’s a difficult one for the Braves, with Minor facing Vogelsong, who’s been remarkably consistent this season and enters with a string of 13 consecutive quality starts since May 1.
Good Lord. Thirteen in a row. Vogelsong has made 16 start, of which he’s given up 3 earned runs or less in Fifteen of them. Volgelsong coughed up a season high 4 runs on April 26th and has pitched into the sixth inning in every single start so far in 2012. Folk’s that is crazy consistency and unheard of anymore.