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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
167 comments Add your comment
yogi
July 23rd, 2012
8:27 am
I’m pulling for Uggla. We need him but how long can we afford to wait?
Gene
July 23rd, 2012
8:47 am
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? It’s not over yet for the Braves, but six runs in two innings? You might as well forfeit and go home.
urban redneck
July 23rd, 2012
8:50 am
we do not have a championship caliber team this year. there is no reason for us to make a big move. we are apparently frontrunners for dempster. it does not make sense to give away prospects for a two month rental of a pitcher who is a number three or four starter at best. his last start showed that his is in fact mortal this year. i love the braves, but this just ain’t our year.
jack
July 23rd, 2012
8:50 am
Sad, just sad! Just blame everyone including the fans that pay good money to see how a team of misfits play. need to send them all to misfit land where Rudolph can save them.
Disbott3000
July 23rd, 2012
8:50 am
I want to believe that JJ can get his mojo back and really do hope that he does so, but the Braves are on the cusp of being good enough for the playoffs and can’t afford to throw away a game every five days just to give him a chance to prove he’s ok. If we were at the bottom of the standings, we could allow him to keep going out there to try and figure it out, but that’s not our situation. Maybe a change of scenery would help him out? Perhaps a trade to a team that is rebuilding, where he can take time to work through his problems?
Old Guy
July 23rd, 2012
8:54 am
Time is prime to sell. Trade McCann – he has great value on the trade market and will be a 20mm a year player very soon. Trade Hudson – lots of teams would be in on this one. Trade Bourne – we are not going to resign him so lets get something. Liberty media would be happy to unload these salaries. Then unload Fredi G. and let Chipper ride off into the sunset. We should look at 2013 as the year we came out of the good ole boy mentality and actually started contending with affordable good young players. Oh and lets get rid of Joe Simpson too.
Terry Dunlap
July 23rd, 2012
9:00 am
I finally agre…..it’s time to trade JJ away ….enough said
Craig
July 23rd, 2012
9:17 am
Uggla and JJ have to go. Uggla want though. He is not a major league hitter. He would be a good slow pitch softball player. Lot of power.
ijudgenot
July 23rd, 2012
9:26 am
There are very few perennial World Championship teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, etc. Those teams can afford to have an All Star at every position and then have some on the bench. Any manager would win the majority of his games, be in the playoffs every year and win an occasional championship. The rest of the teams have talent but not All Strs at every position so when they win the championship like St Louis did last year it is because of the manipulation of that talent by the manager. The Braves have talent but Fredi manages the team like he has All Stars at very position. He searches for a line up that he can put out there everyday so he does not have to make changes. The Giants and the Nats have talent but not grat talent. If you look at the lineups Boche and Johnson put on the field for each game, it was a different lineup each day. If the players did not change, their position in the lineup changed. The manager changed according to who the Braves were pitching. Fredi does not make proactive moves he maves reactionary moves when the situation has gotten so dire he has to do something. That’s why the Braves will not catch “lightning in a barrel” like other teams and win it all or go long in the playoffs. Bourne is a great lead off hitter , but that does not mean he can’t bat anywhere else in lineup. He is not try to steal every times he gets on base so why not switch he and Prado when you play a tough left hander. Then you can use his bunting ability to get Prado to second if he gets on and even may beat out the bunt for a hit. Heyward and Freeman are streaky so switch them around depending on who is hot. Hitting Chipper in the fourth spot instead of McCann or Uggla is a good move because he is a switch hitter so it does not matter who the opposing pitcher is and he is not swinging for the fences every time like Uggla and McCann. A single that plates a run is just as good as a solo HR. Why not let Ross play against left handlers in most series? There are only a few teams that have more than one starting lefthanded pitcher. Why can’t Uggla sit out a game a series where they face 3 or 4 tough righthanders and let Prado play second and let Francisco play left field? Why not let Uggla play first base instead of second when you play a tough lefty giving Freeman a rest and making Uggla having to concentrate on something other than his woeful hitting? None of these things may work, but at least the players know that the manager is trying to put them in the best position to succeed rather than someone who just signs a lineup card. I have not seen the Braves lineup for today but my guess is that it will go something like this; Bourne, Prado, Heyward, Chipper, Freeman, McCann, Uggla, Janish and Minor. I don,t know who Miami is starting but it does not matter.
reckingball
July 23rd, 2012
9:29 am
It is all Roger’s fault.
I miss Omar
July 23rd, 2012
9:30 am
braves need to: 1. reevaluate roger Mac. 2. Fredi too. 3. get a RH hitter. 4. sign Bourne
Sonny Jackson
July 23rd, 2012
9:45 am
I agree with most of what everyone else is saying… why can’t we sit Uggla for a series and change up the starting 9? What could it hurt? Can’t be any worse than what we have… Play Diaz and let him get some time to warm up the bat.
Guys, we have to do something and do it quick!
Jair Jurrjens
July 23rd, 2012
9:58 am
Oh guys, come on, so I had my second really bad game in a row, I will come around…. I tip my cap to Freddi G and Frank W, they have really been very supportive in my recovery effort…. remember, I am still recovering from a bad leg and I will be ready for a slendid season with this ball club by spring training next year… Oh boy!! I can’t wait to see how much money is paid out to me once my contract expires…. I plan on throwing a no-hitter…better yet, a PERFECT GAME on my next start…. we are looking forward to winning the World Series this year!!!
P Rose
July 23rd, 2012
10:16 am
“We’ve struggled with our consistency because we’ve struggled at the end of our rotation, and you saw it today,” said Chipper Jones, who went 5-for-13 with a home run and five RBIs in the series. “It’s a little demoralizing when you’re in a dogfight for the division and you’re constantly fighting from behind.”
Throwing teammates under the bus — another “classy” move by the team “leader.”
skep
July 23rd, 2012
10:58 am
The Braves have too many holes to make a Tiexiera type trade just like they did that year. The Cubs have scared off the Dodgers and other teams because they are demanding too much for a 2 month rental. I watched the Gwinnett Braves recently and the Braves do not have much talent to go around in the minors.
harry taylor
July 23rd, 2012
11:05 am
Uggla is ugly. Will he hit the mendoza line this year. Getting close.
varoadrunner
July 23rd, 2012
11:06 am
Have to agree with most of you – JJ needs to be dropped from the rotation, maybe sent to Gwinnett
But What the H3LL is wrong with Uggla? Offensively and defensively?????
varoadrunner
July 23rd, 2012
11:07 am
AND……..As unlikely as it might be, Uggla’s home runs are no longer out-weighing his defensive liabilities.
varoadrunner
July 23rd, 2012
11:16 am
@ijudgenot – you really don’t know much about baseball, do you? I totally disagree with just about every word of your post. Sorry, but it seems to border on ignorance.
Not a pitching coach
July 23rd, 2012
11:41 am
I agree with a couple of other commenters that JJ could use te services of a sports psychologist. This is the same guy who looked like Cy Young against Boston, but now can’t locate his pitches. This must be a problem of having his head and his arm not working in sync.
blueridge
July 23rd, 2012
12:03 pm
I guess Chipper is just going to say what ever he wants to say at this point. His quotes this season have been on point and brutally honest. It is unusual for a team leader to be so honest in the press. While it’s not sustainable for the future of the Braves and the camaraderie in the club house- it has been a lot of fun to read.
Jeff R
July 23rd, 2012
12:08 pm
Bring back Leo!!!! Fire Freddie and Roger- neither can manage, motivate or teach. Chipper Jones interim manager in waiting!!! Pay somebody to take Uggla. Prado to second. That is a start.
74bravesjersey
July 23rd, 2012
12:37 pm
Man, dem Braves will build you up & then rip you’re heart out. Win the first 2, & you think mabey they got somethin’ there, then lose the next 2 by layin’ down for em’. They are a Bipolar team. You don’t know what cha’ gonna get.
74bravesjersey
July 23rd, 2012
12:39 pm
Tired of the Bipolar Braves, off & on. That’s sorry.
Minor League
July 23rd, 2012
12:41 pm
I used to cringe when I knew Minor was pitching that night………..now I cringe when Hanson and Jurrjens pitch and actually look forward to seeing Minor pitch because at least he can strike out a few….Hanson and Jurrjens have been awful lately while Minor is getting better………….Hanson and Jurrjens are what they are………………pitchers that last only a half of season and that half is now over!
Release Jurrjens!
July 23rd, 2012
12:44 pm
The name speaks for itself!
The Truth
July 23rd, 2012
12:48 pm
The Truth is that the Brave’s ought to get rid of Bourn now for prospects as they will have no chance to sign him when Philly and Washington get in the mix after this season………….The Brave’s are going nowhere this Oct………..except back to their homes to cry in their Beers!
The Truth
July 23rd, 2012
12:49 pm
Frank Wren can’t handle the truth…………………..He Failed as a General Manager!
Ugly
July 23rd, 2012
12:51 pm
That is what Dan Uggla’s hitting is now……. Fu@king Ugly!
Brave's 2013
July 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
The Brave’s for 2013 are………Freddy Freeman,Jason Heyward,A Simmons,Martin Prado,Tim Hudson,Ben Sheets,Brandon Beachy,Mike Minor,Kris Medlen,Eric O’flaherty,Johnny Venters,Craig Kimbrel,Brian McCann and David Ross……………the rest can be discarded in my view!
yep
July 23rd, 2012
12:58 pm
If they decide it’d cost too much to get a Dempster or Greinke, than I say move Medlen to the rotation and go get a quality releiver.
Fats
July 23rd, 2012
1:21 pm
FG needs to send Jurrjens AND Uggla to the minors right away. Team can not afford to wait for these guys to work on their slumps in a playoff push. It might be just what the “doctor orders” for both of them.
duronimo
July 23rd, 2012
1:22 pm
The consistency of the inconsistency is the constant with Braves pitching. The one thing all the pitchers have in common … coaching. I think this amounts to a fact. Uggla? Infante was much better and tons cheaper. For this kind of player to get so much money? Crazy.
Jake
July 23rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Thanks to Jaded for saying what was on my mind. Namely, why is Roger McDowell getting a pass? For a team that was said before the season to be overloaded with quality starting pitching, this staff has been a dismal failure.
And as Jaded pointed out, this has been going on since McDowell showed up seven years ago. In fact, if you go back to the days of Bruce Chen and Jason Marquis, it goes back even further than that.
Bottom line is the Braves may find pitchers with potential, but they are unable to develop them. And I think a lot of it has to do with what’s going on between their ears, and seems to have a lot to do with attitude, work ethic and willpower. Especially willpower.
The Braves haven’t had that at any position since Greg Maddux left — and it’s no accident that his nickname was Doggie, short for Mad Dog. He refused to lose, like Michael Jordan. The Braves have and draft/trade for good citizens who fit into their corporate mentality. Nothing wrong with that…but the corporate profile forgot to include that will to win.
Hence the Hansons and Jurrjens et al who patiently explain the mistakes they’re making, but seem incapable of doing anything about it. Everybody’s just so dang COMFORTABLE.
The Braves haven’t had a leader — a player, manager or coach who demands excellence and motivates people — since David Justice. Which, by the way, is when they won their one World Series.
al
July 23rd, 2012
1:43 pm
So if the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, who did Japan bomb?
Kane337
July 23rd, 2012
2:11 pm
Braves just traded for Ryan Dempster.
BravesFanSince80's
July 23rd, 2012
2:22 pm
I take it you all haven’t heard Shaun(I think I’m a baseball god)’s dissertation on how Ugly Dan is leading the club in 7th inning, 2 out singles with no runners on and therefore is a huge offensive contributor and is a solid MLB 2B and that we are all looking at too small a sample size in his season’s statistics (despite hitting barely over .200 for the YEAR, but hey batting average is no reall indication whatsoever of a players’ worth, right?)…
Jasons Shrinking Waist
July 23rd, 2012
2:31 pm
Just Reported
Dempster is a Brave for Delgado
Two month Rental
–
Danny O
July 23rd, 2012
2:35 pm
Mark Bowman just tweeted that the Braves have reached a deal to acquire Ryan Dempster from the Cubs.
seabass
July 23rd, 2012
2:37 pm
I am tired of the braves having 2+ non productive, undependable pitchers. An Jurjens has had his chance, in my opinon. Move on already. You’ve got a guy comes out of retirement after 2 years and is pitching a heck of a lot better than last years allstar. Lets try something new.
romedawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:15 pm
ESPN reporting that the Dempster deal is done.
whattha?
July 23rd, 2012
3:15 pm
Dempster for Delgado, Terdo and Gilmartin????????????
romedawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Good to get him without having to give up Teheran.
Ralph
July 23rd, 2012
3:34 pm
What a lousey deal, they give up a future cy young pitcher for a 2 month rental, i’m pissed.
Ralph
July 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm
romedawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Good to get him without having to give up Teheran.
I would 10 to 1 rather give up Teheran than Delgado, Teheran is going backward.
CRMAC300
July 23rd, 2012
3:39 pm
Little tough to get really excited about a 35 year old pitcher with a 117 – 120 lifetime record and a career ERA of 4.31. Certainly an improvement over the current version of JJ, but hardly a front of the rotation pitcher. Having a good year, but Braves will regret moving Delgado. At least he won’t be in the eastern division. Where in the hell is the hitting coach with Uggla? Everyone can see his left shoulder flying open while he flails away trying to hit every ball to the moon! Don’t like the recent at bats for Hayward either. He is rolling over that outside pitch to second base again instead of hitting it hard to left. Again, where is that useless hitting coach?? Hinske, Francisco and Uggla should be living in the batting cage! They are all stealing their salaries while I pay 8 bucks for a beer at the Ted!!
Braint
July 23rd, 2012
3:54 pm
I wouldnt trade Delgado for Dempster
welikebaseball2
July 23rd, 2012
3:56 pm
Give up our erratic, #3 pitching prospect for a veteran with half his ERA? I’ll take it. Then again, I’m hoping to make the playoffs this year, not somewhere down the road. As for what this bodes for the future of our pitching staff, remember we still have our top 2 pitching prospects. Here’s hoping Vizcaino recovers from Tommy John.
It's bucks.
July 23rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Not coincidental that Bobby’s best years were with Turner writing the checks. Bobby won games as a manager because he knew his stuff and he had really good pitching and defense most of those years.
Fredi has been manager of the ear with. a bunch of youngsters and bums in Florida. He’s not the problem. He’s in a sword fight with a pocketknife. That is to say, the organization won’t get players we need to be successful due to payroll constraints. We couldn’t afford Hunter Pence, so we move an All Star second baseman to left field and sign a power hitting second baseman cheaper than the power hitting left fielder would have been. The second baseman has as little plate discipline as any hitter I’ve seen, and I coached collegiate baseball for 12 years! He hustles down the line, and dies for balls in the field….I don’t doubt he’s a great teammate, but his approach to hitting is faulty.
Bottom line, Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery, Smith, Burkett, etc…made up for a lot of shortcomings.
Minor, Delgado, Jurjens and an inconsistent Hansen (sp) don’t.
Jasons Shrinking Waist
July 23rd, 2012
4:04 pm
Dempster said via his Twitter account that there was no deal made. “There is no trade don’t know where this info came from!” the tweet read.
Ralph
July 23rd, 2012
4:04 pm
Braves will regret this trade for many, many years. Dempster was preping himself for the Braves when he gave up 4 runs in 6 innings friday nite, anyway who will leave the rotation now, JJ or Minor. Our biggest need is still un-resolved, what to do with Uggly, keep running him out there I guess.
Ralph
July 23rd, 2012
4:05 pm
I hope Dempster veto’s this deal!
don
July 23rd, 2012
4:11 pm
I was the first, and one of the few, who condemned the Teixeira trade before it was made. History has proven me absolutely right. Mark down this proposed trade for the aged Dempster. It will be a mini-Teixeira trade. Delgado for Dempster is bad enough. However, look for Wren to make it even worse.
On the other hand, I am happy that, like many successful players, Delgado will escape Atlanta so that he can find success.
Wren continues to be an idiot. Stupidity has a way of repeating itself.
Al, read here
July 23rd, 2012
4:13 pm
It’s an ‘Animal House’ reference. Watch the movie.
Delgado needed run support. Heck, most of our guys need it. I think Walker and Fletcher must
grind their teeth at what Uggla is doing. Those guys started off with good results from the lineup. Farther from Spring Training we get, the more they revert to their former non hitting selves. Dempster won’t make much diff. with this lineup not scoring. I still think the kid pitchers will all be good, some very good, by next season. Hate losing Delgado.
Gary
July 23rd, 2012
4:13 pm
So where do we go for news on the Dempster trade? Who did we give up for him. when does he start. Desperate Braves fans want to know.
Why isn't the AJC reporting this?
July 23rd, 2012
4:26 pm
According to ESPN, Dempster is headed to Braves http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8192150/sources-atlanta-braves-close-deal-chicago-cubs-ryan-dempster
infoguyatl
July 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
ESPN reporting that Dempster has formally rejected trade to Braves. Wants to go to LA.
Braves now targeting Jamie Moyer who is currently a free agent.
Speedy Gonzalez
July 23rd, 2012
4:37 pm
Dumpster here we go!!!! Bravos going to the show with Huddy, Hansy, Sheety, & Dumpy. What a rotation, we gonna win the NL & then we get sweeped at the WS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dub366
July 23rd, 2012
4:42 pm
I’am sick and tired o red neck chipper jones and his comment. 5 for 13 what did he do with the bases load him and the catcher
infoguyatl
July 23rd, 2012
4:45 pm
Dempster rejected trade to Braves because he wants to play baseball in front of people.
infoguyatl
July 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
NBA commish David Stern rejects Dempster trade to Braves.
Peachstealth
July 23rd, 2012
5:44 pm
FWIW Constanza has a 22 game hitting streak. The longest in the International League since 2007.
jharber
July 23rd, 2012
6:33 pm
If demp. does not want to come, move on. do not like what I have heard anyway. Delgado will probably be very good for years to come.
varoadrunner
July 23rd, 2012
7:46 pm
As I understand it, Dempster IS NOT a Brave YET. HE must approve it. Fortunately, he was not scheduled to pitch tonight.
So, if we assume Dempster will approve a trade to the Braves (could be a big ASSUME) we will have taken care of one of our “shortcomings”, Now what do we do about Minor other than send him to the minors (punn intended)? If Sheets can give us six consistently good innings for the rest of the year, If Huddy can give us his “ACE” best and stay healthy, If Hanson can……….well u know. We still NEED another starter Mr. WREN.
varoadrunner
July 23rd, 2012
7:46 pm
lol @ INFO……….
Uggla’s slide continues; Minor makes some strides | Atlanta Braves
July 24th, 2012
1:04 pm
[...] was this one after Sunday’s loss at Washington: “We’ve struggled with our consistency because we’ve struggled at the end of [...]
Disgusted
July 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
No Chipper…We’ve struggled with consistancy because our batters couldn’t HIT THE SIDE OF A BARN in 4 out of 5 games.