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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,322 comments Add your comment
cricket
August 15th, 2012
3:40 pm
I feel a lot better about Frank Wren now. I was shaking my head when Melky was doing well.
why feel bad for Wren at all? no GM in MLB would’ve kept him after his “performance” in ATL.
Pace
August 15th, 2012
3:41 pm
Juan – exactly. The money was paid in 2011. It was not included as part of the overall payroll for this year.
rhaiz r blaide
August 15th, 2012
3:41 pm
We need to sign Bourn – He’s too valuable – How long before decisions will have to be made about Heyward, Freeman, and Kimbrel????
Heisenberg
August 15th, 2012
3:41 pm
Well if Braves cannot sign Bourn, the milk dud is a free agent who can play all 3 OF positions and his price just dropped. LoL
Aziz
August 15th, 2012
3:42 pm
I say bourne will not sign because Scott boras is his Agent. Boras likes to demand file mignon price for pork. He will be looking in excess of 20 million / year for Bourne and he will defintely suck some team like dodgers into it by making some ridiculous comparsions. I hate boras.
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
3:42 pm
I’d be willing to give Bourn 6 years with a club option. And obviously, you’d pay him more the first 4 or 5 years than the 6 or option year. Course that’s just me.
DAP
August 15th, 2012
3:42 pm
metro coach The only other viable leadoff option is Simmons, and he doesn’t have enough of a major league track record to really know exactly how he’d perform in that role.
prado is a viable leadoff option.
ATLevitt
August 15th, 2012
3:44 pm
He can still technically qualify for the batting title. Hope he doesn’t win it tho. All you would do is give him 0fers for all of the ABs he is short of qualifying. In this case, you add an 0-1 to his total and thats the average that would be counted for the batting title. Although the MLB needs to make a rule that you can win any awards in a season you tested positive for PEDs.
Tumbledown
August 15th, 2012
3:44 pm
I hope that the Braves can sign Bourn to a long-term deal. But, if the Braves fail to make the playoffs or lose early on this year, Boras cannot reasonable argue that Bourn made a difference in actual results. The Braves reached the playoffs in 2010 without Bourn. They acquired Bourn last year and proceeded to suffer though an epic collapse. It will take a deep run in the playoffs to know that Bourn’s difference-making skills contributed to better results.
Alaska Braves Fan
August 15th, 2012
3:44 pm
Bourn is a fantastic baseball player, and the Braves need him. Unfortunately, Boras will auction him off for a huge amount, much more than the Braves will be able to afford. What Michael earns for the duration of his next contract will be greater than the gross domestic product of several of the planet’s smaller nations.
When I observed Melky’s behavior in Atlanta, the first thought I had was that he was juicing. I just KNEW it. This is condign punishment, for sure.
By the way, behaving like an ass and displaying unprovoked anger are signs of steroid (testosterone) abuse. When he gets off the juice, he will be a more tolerable human being, I’m guessing. Still, he won’t come off my nasty list for quite some time.
ABF
ATLevitt
August 15th, 2012
3:44 pm
can’t win***
Shaun
August 15th, 2012
3:45 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I think Bourn is a fine player and the Braves should re-sign him. I just don’t know that they should give him something in the $15M-$20M range for more than 3 years (and there is a good chance something less than that money or those years doesn’t get it done).
Can the Braves afford NOT to re-sign Bourn? Sure they can.
From 2006-2010, the seasons in between Bourn and Furcal, when they have Marcus Giles, Kelly Johnson, Gregor Blanco, Nate McLouth and Martin Prado leading the team in games played at leadoff the Braves were third in the National League in Runs Scored. If we include last season, with Prado leading the team in games at leadoff and a struggling Bourn, they drop to 4th in the NL.
They would probably need to look outside the organization for a centerfielder, if they don’t sign Bourn, but it is certainly not doom and gloom if they fail to re-sign him.
To keep pace with what the Braves have done so far, they would have to replace what Baseball Reference estimates has been 7.4 wins above replacement so far this season from Chipper and Bourn. It won’t be easy to do that without bringing back Bourn but it’s possible.
If Minor continues his improvement next season plus with Maholm here for a whole season, that eats in to some of the wins deficit that the Braves lose in Bourn and Chipper. So you add a solid leftfielder and a solid centerfielder, and that also helps to close the gap.
TennesseePaul
August 15th, 2012
3:46 pm
actually, how the braves are accounting that is a mystery.
There’s no mystery to it. If it serves their purpose they will “claim” it next year as a reason for not spending money. They used to use the average annual value… remember all the Mike Hampton contract cost talk? Well they weren’t really paying him $15M a year back then. No, they said the money which came with the trade made him an $8M pitcher and that’s how they calculated it. But, now when they talk of contracts and lack of money it comes in the form of, say Brian McCann. His Hampton-accounting value is $5.5M. But when there is no money and no additional player is signed, you’ll hear about how is value is actually $8.5M with a raise to $12M next year. See that? You lose $3M this year and nearly $7M from the budget next year with that slight of hand.
monty
August 15th, 2012
3:46 pm
Michael Bourn will continue to be himself the next few years, barring injury. Greinke is never going to be Greg Maddux or John Smoltz. Can’t see giving him 20K+.
lee maye
August 15th, 2012
3:47 pm
Can’t afford Bourn with Uggla’s13.3 mil for the next 3 years. Braves have plenty of guys who can play CF in the minors: Constanza at .320; Durango at .288 and 44 steals; and Cunningham at .320. Or, get rid of Uggla. Cannot afford both of them and Prado to make about 8 mil.
We need to keep Prado. We cannot afford to pay over 25 mil for a couple of guys (Uggla and Bourn) out of a payroll of about 85 mil. Almost 30 percent on 2 guys and neither is a pitcher. Can’t do it.
Efrim
August 15th, 2012
3:49 pm
Frank Wren should not give Bourn and Boras what they want, which will be AT LEAST five years, and 75 million.
That’d be one of the bigger mistakes of the Frank Wren tenure.
Lew
August 15th, 2012
3:49 pm
Thanks everyone – we appreciate the well wishes. It will be a couiple of days before we know what’s up.
They need to work out a couple year deal with O’Flaherty. He has been absolutely integral to the pen’s success the last several years. Dude is money on the bank and I’m not sure you can replace him. His worst year had him posting a 3.04 ERA – four years ago. He won’t hit last years’ numbers again (nor will anyone for some time), but he’s a mid two ERA and a shut down inning in the seventh or eighth.
Liberty Media Accounting Office (L.M.A.O.)
August 15th, 2012
3:49 pm
You stiffs in Atlanta REALLY think were gonna spend that on Bourn?? We’re gonna give ourselves big fat bonuses and laugh about it in our Coors Field suite. Expect to see a AAA lineup in a couple of years.
bucket
August 15th, 2012
3:50 pm
I can understand why a player like Melky Cabrera would take something that would revive a career going nowhere. However, when he returned to Atlanta to a fan base that he had disappointed greatly with un-inspired play, I don’t understand why he felt the need to make an a** of himself when he knew that the only reason he was doing well was because he was using PED’s.
RC
August 15th, 2012
3:50 pm
Greinke is never going to be Greg Maddux or John Smoltz. Can’t see giving him 20K+.
20K….that’s like 1/20th of the MLB minimum!
You probably meant 20M…..that is a pretty steep price, but if the Braves don’t give it to him I’m certain someone else will. My bet is that he should start looking to buy instead of rent in the LA area, since there looks to be a solid bidding war between the Angels and the Dodgers for his services.
SteveinFXBG
August 15th, 2012
3:50 pm
Of course now the Nats don’t have to face juiced-up Melky today.
Train Wreck Bystander
August 15th, 2012
3:50 pm
In light of the Melky Cabrera news, the song today should have been “I Want a New Drug” by Huey Lewis & The News.
I am in the Sign Bourn camp… unless we have someone looming on the farm who can fill his shoes.
Shaun
August 15th, 2012
3:50 pm
metro coach: The only other viable leadoff option is Simmons, and he doesn’t have enough of a major league track record to really know exactly how he’d perform in that role.
DAP: prado is a viable leadoff option.
First of all, Simmons should not hit leadoff.
Second, DAP is absolutely right that Prado is a viable leadoff option, as is Heyward.
I really hope the Braves, if they can’t or don’t re-sign Bourn, aren’t approaching their search for leftfielders and centerfielders in terms of whether players are “viable leadoff options.” Hopefully they are trying to get the best available players that fit in to their budget and their plans. Hopefully they are considering quality of player over whether players fit some lineup-spot prototype, and I think the Braves’ front office is smart enough to realize quality of players is more important than trying to make sure their team has some sort of prototypical batting order.
DAP
August 15th, 2012
3:50 pm
pace nope – that info is straight from the Liberty Media 2011 Annual Report – which is probably more reliable. I quoted the paragraph it came from.
that report doesnt mean anything as far as how the braves calculate payroll costs.
GTI in Brooklyn
August 15th, 2012
3:51 pm
Wow. Now that’s a whole different kind of bomb from the MELK-Man. Makes his little turn-around look a lot different now. Even puts a new sort of spin on his aggressive/angry behavior on the field.
Ralph Garr
August 15th, 2012
3:52 pm
A little off topic, but just heard our old buddy Melky Cabrera tested positive for PEDs and has to sit for 50…….the karma train has found another victim walking across the tracks.
TennesseePaul
August 15th, 2012
3:52 pm
That’d be one of the bigger mistakes of the Frank Wren tenure.
Worst move ever.
Disbott3000
August 15th, 2012
3:52 pm
Maybe those motions Melky was doing during the series with the Braves were supposed to represent him shooting up steroids. Maybe they should check his teammates who were doing that with him for ‘roids as well. What a jackass.
DAP
August 15th, 2012
3:53 pm
shaun, hopefully, the braves can field a lineup next year where simmons bats 8th about 550 times.
monty
August 15th, 2012
3:53 pm
If the rich teams want Bourn they’re going to get him, we can’t compete in a bidding war and we shouldn’t try. So unless he is going to give us a discount then I say get Roger Bernadina from the Nats, he’s a poor man’s(Braves) Michael Bourn. Still have money for a good pitcher and a good LF. Still have great defense and some speed up top.
Heisenberg
August 15th, 2012
3:54 pm
A good scenario would be Hanson have a strong finish to season, then trade him in a package for either Denard Span or Dexter Fowler. Still have a leadoff CF plus $$ for keeping other core guys around.
monty
August 15th, 2012
3:55 pm
Thanks RC, you’re right. Little off on the math.
Fats
August 15th, 2012
3:55 pm
He aint so good to lose your mind over him………………….If he stays he stays If he goes he goes
bfred
August 15th, 2012
3:56 pm
It ultimately comes down to what Bourn values more. Does he like the team and its stock of young players that could keep him in the postseason for years? The front office? The city? If so is that worth the difference in cash? The lifestyle difference between $90 and $110 million earned over six or seven years is not that great. Any decent money manager could make sure he lives like a king without ever touching the principal. At the end of the day Boras works for Bourn, and he hasn’t given much of any clue about what’s important to him. Maybe it’s that last dollar, maybe not.
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
3:57 pm
The Braves may not win the Bourn sweepstakes this winter, but they will be involved. They owe it to the team to at least try to resign him. As for how much it’ll take to do it, we’ll see down the road. But at this point, we know the Braves are gonna have money to spend, and I’d rather not see it spent on any top flight starting pitcher, unless they decide in that process to trade other young starters for established stars of the offensive variety. And even then, I wouldn’t touch Greinke.
RC
August 15th, 2012
3:59 pm
From DJ Gallo’s twitter: “What we can learn from Melky Cabrera: never trust a man who wears a garden gnome beard.”
Carl Farvman
August 15th, 2012
4:00 pm
Let’s bring Bob Horner back and put him in the leadoff spot. I recall that he was very fast. Classic leadoff hitter.
Heisenberg
August 15th, 2012
4:00 pm
Braves will at least make the qualifying offer and take the draft pick compensation.
bruce
August 15th, 2012
4:00 pm
Vey cool that Michael Bourn paraphrases Jesus regarding worry about tomorrow.
Michael Bourn: “The single day has enough problems of its own without you having to worry about the next day and what else could be going on. Just worry about that day.”
Jesus in Matthew 6 verse 34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ”
In the preceding verses Jesus tells us why we should not worry.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34&version=NIV
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
4:01 pm
Lew,
Just logged in and saw the posts about your son and cancer. As a father who has had a son who has beaten cancer, I can only say that I’ve been there and I hurt for you and your family. I’ll keep him and you in my thoughts and prayers because it’s something a father should not have to endure.
And on a brighter note, some of you know that my doctor had a strong fear that I had colon cancer. Well, I just had my colonoscopy and am happy to announce that my doctor WRONG! I am good to go for a while longer. And if NickB is anywhere around lurking, all I can say is, sorry to disappoint you dude.
ncbravesfan90
August 15th, 2012
4:01 pm
Surprise surprise….2-0 Washington in the 1st inning.
monty
August 15th, 2012
4:01 pm
Hard to turn down an extra 10-12 mil over 6 years or so. Money just ain’t what it used to be, gas keeps going up. Less you just want to play for BC like Chipper did. Say what you want about Chipper but he turned down the big money and alot more adulation to play for Atlanta.
BRVFAN_N_JESUP
August 15th, 2012
4:02 pm
He is 29 and it will take at least 6 years to sign him and maybe 7 so i don’t give that much to a player that is that age we have too many players in low to mid 20’s that we will have to sign. we already have Uggs with his big deal over 30 and they have to make a decision on Mac also and he is closer to 30 than 20 also and seems to be showing some wear already. we cannot afford older players with big salaries, that is the reality. That awful TV deal the Braves have is gonna kill us over the next 10+ years.
MIdtown
August 15th, 2012
4:02 pm
Ballgame!
Heisenberg
August 15th, 2012
4:02 pm
If Bourn is going to paraphrase Jesus, will we next see him in the shirtless Tebow pose?
Jasons Shrinking Waist
August 15th, 2012
4:03 pm
HA HA HA!
MELKY CABRERA OUT FOR THE YEAR FOR DOING ROIDS!!
HA HA HA!!!!
Lew
August 15th, 2012
4:03 pm
Jerry – Thanks – Hope you and your son stay well.
MFin04
August 15th, 2012
4:05 pm
Sad to hear that about Melky…one of my favorite players. One of the classiest guys in sports. Up there with A-Rod, Bonds, LeBron.
He should get Ryan Braun’s lawyer.
Hmmmm
August 15th, 2012
4:06 pm
bad Lincecum today or can he settle down … though with Strasburg pitching Lince might have already given him enough runs to work with
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
4:07 pm
Braves will at least make the qualifying offer and take the draft pick compensation.
That much is guaranteed.
Heisenberg
August 15th, 2012
4:08 pm
Go ahead Davey Johnson, leave Strasburg in for all 9 today.
Phar
August 15th, 2012
4:09 pm
Pace, that statement means that it freed up 5 million for 2012.
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
4:09 pm
Lincecum has not have a good year at all. Was hoping for a little of the old magic today. He’s probably saving that for us when we come visiting.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 15th, 2012
4:10 pm
Seriously, it’s time for Janish to have a day off. He’s started 29 consecutive games since the trade.
I know… he’s got to be tired… and with another month to go before Simmons is back… Go ahead and let Pastornicky start at least 1 game.
Uggla__ .281 .378 .531 0.910 .392 __150
He’s on the way up!
njbraves
August 15th, 2012
4:11 pm
The Braves have finally found the dynamic lead off man they’ve been searching for for years…Bourn is a must sign. If a dumb team offers him $20 million annually, then fine, let him go. I don’t think he’ll get that much though. Teams have learned from Carl Crawford’s deal. I hope he stays.
Veer
August 15th, 2012
4:13 pm
Melky would win the battle title if a Giants game were to get rained out and Giant’s opted not to play that game due to insignifiance thus subtracting 3.1 plate apperances.
raleighbravefan
August 15th, 2012
4:13 pm
The 50 games does carry over to post season, if SF is there. He could play beginning the 5th game.
2 Regrets…#1 – they should have waited another day, and #2 – We never gotr a chance to plunk him.
SMOLTZ 29
August 15th, 2012
4:13 pm
Here’s where we are Braves fans: Nats go 22-23 over the last 45 games, Braves have to run off a 28-18 pace to win the division. That’s a .609 win pct, currently we are at .578 for the season. Nats are currently at .615 pct. Playing at a .489 pace rest of year is highly doubtful with that staff, even with Strasburg sitting out. Have to sweep them in DC next week to have a fighters chance! MERCY
j-brave
August 15th, 2012
4:14 pm
Pretty obvious Melky was juicing. What I’m surprised about is that it actually made him into a good player. I would have bet the juice would have taken him from a below average player to an average one. Remember how bad he was on the Braves?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 15th, 2012
4:14 pm
I feel a lot better about Frank Wren now. I was shaking my head when Melky was doing well.
Wow… so now because the guy has juiced, FW was right to let him walk
Melky didn’t play as if he wanted to be here…. FW did the right thing in not bringing him back.
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:15 pm
I just realized that Melky can still win the batting title under the rule that you can add an 0-for-however many plate appearances you need to get to 502 and if your average is still the highest, you win the batting title.
So finishing at 501 plate appearances actually helps his chances, not hurts them.
John Leonard
August 15th, 2012
4:15 pm
Bourn is a very good CF but not a superstar.The blackhole we had when Andruw went south, is clouding your thinking.Bourn is a 280 to 290 hitter with great speed,with a stronger arm and more power than Juan Pierre(sp).
Pace
August 15th, 2012
4:16 pm
Phar – actually that single transaction was responsible for taking a 4M profit to a 6M loss for the year for the Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc.
That would make it a $10M transaction, or just about what the Braves had to send to the Indians for Lowe. I don’t see how that reads as a 5M transaction?
da[01
August 15th, 2012
4:16 pm
Could you platoon Durango and Costanza in CF?
Veer
August 15th, 2012
4:16 pm
Melky doesn’t have amazing Homerun numbers so the PED didn’t make him hit the ball out of the park
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
4:16 pm
TOBF,
No way I let Pastornicky start a game at short. If they wanna give Janish a day off, that’s fine. But put Prado at short and Johnson in left.
Efrim
August 15th, 2012
4:17 pm
Worst move ever.
He’s a better player than Chone Figgins was, so I don’t think it would be as monumental of a disaster that that deal was….
However, Michael Bourn isn’t signing for anything less than 15 million a year over five years. I just can’t see anything less than that with the current free agent crop. Bourn would be the 3rd best and maybe 2nd best free agent on the market this winter with a few teams that have cash available – Giants, Phillies, Nationals, Braves, potentially the Rangers, having a need in CF. That’s a huge bidding war and whereas Wren would be in shock on a deal of 16 million a season or more over five or six years, I don’t think aby of those other teams would blick at bringing in Bourn for five years at 80 million. I really don’t.
It’s if Boras starts to get silly and looks for Carl Crawford money…that’s when teams might shy away. Nevertheless, this deal will not be done early. No way. No how. Winter Meetings at best, and I’d expect Bourn to remain unsigned till Christmas.
TennesseePaul
August 15th, 2012
4:18 pm
Go ahead and let Pastornicky start at least 1 game.
Pastornicky’s perspective: Statement Start.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 15th, 2012
4:18 pm
Thought he wasn’t eligible?
MLB @MLB
Despite his 50-game suspension, Melky Cabrera could win NL batting title: http://atmlb.com/RWMWsD
Reid in EAV
August 15th, 2012
4:19 pm
It’s not the money that worries me about Bourn, it’s the contract length. Do I think Bourn is worth $14-17 million next year or the year after that? Absolutely. In year 7 of a seven-year guaranteed contract, not so much. And that’s the kind of thing that hamstrings an organization that doesn’t have the resources of, say, the Yankees.
Sad Sack
August 15th, 2012
4:19 pm
If you think that the Braves will sign Bourne/Boras for next year, you are seriously delusional.
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:20 pm
Lincecum seems to have settled down, but with 50 pitches through 2 innings it may end up relying more on the SF bullpen today than the starter.
TennesseePaul
August 15th, 2012
4:20 pm
if Boras starts to get silly and looks for Carl Crawford money…that’s when teams might shy away
He’ll ask for it. He’ll drag it out until February. And then Bourn will sign for about $112M over 7 years.
unbelievable
August 15th, 2012
4:20 pm
I really dont want to see Bourn end up in Washington, looks highly likely though.
Efrim
August 15th, 2012
4:20 pm
Bryce Harper down to .247/.324/.399 on the year and has just been an automatic out since early June.
“Once in a generation” type talent for sure.
MFin04
August 15th, 2012
4:21 pm
Someone wanna compare Janish’s and Pastornicky’s numbers as starting SS. Not pinch hitting, but numbers as starters.
TennesseePaul
August 15th, 2012
4:21 pm
“Once in a generation” type talent for sure.
See Ef, that’s where you are wrong. Talent like that is once-in-a-four-generation type…
I figured the league would catch up to him. He’s no Mike Trout.
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:21 pm
If you think that the Braves will sign Bourne/Boras for next year, you are seriously delusional.
He’s right….mainly because Bourne is a fictional character that was last seen jumping off a building into a river while being shot at by trained CIA agents. Didn’t realize he was represented by Scott Boras also though….that guy is everywhere.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 15th, 2012
4:22 pm
No way I let Pastornicky start a game at short. If they wanna give Janish a day off, that’s fine. But put Prado at short and Johnson in left.
It’s just 1-3 games at most… I don’t see how it’s that big of a problem. He’s going to have to play SS/2B at times next year as a super-sub… Also don’t know if Prado is that much of an upgrade at SS over Pastornicky to warrant doing that move.
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:22 pm
Bryce Harper down to .247/.324/.399 on the year and has just been an automatic out since early June.
“Once in a generation” type talent for sure.
I’m just glad they are still batting him 2nd. It’s not much, but every little bit helps.
Kentavo
August 15th, 2012
4:23 pm
Unload Uggla move Prado back to 2B, and there’s your money to re-sign Bourn.
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:24 pm
No way I let Pastornicky start a game at short. If they wanna give Janish a day off, that’s fine. But put Prado at short and Johnson in left.
I’m fine with Pastornicky starting at short, but hopefully Fredi make sure to do it with one of his fly-ball pitchers on the mound, and not when Hudson or Maholm are pitching.
Efrim
August 15th, 2012
4:24 pm
It’s not the money that worries me about Bourn, it’s the contract length.
How is money not an issue? I’d still run away from three years, and 20 million per year. The guy is a good player who is turning 30 in December and has a career OPS+ of like 90. I think he deserves a deal in the 12-13 million a year range over four years. After that, it gets to be not worth it.
And again with this “Braves don’t have a CF in the system”. Smells like Braves don’t have a 1B for the 2009 season talk and Casey Kotchman….
Go trade for a CF. Or sign Upton for a third of the cash.
unbelievable
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Someone wanna compare Janish’s and Pastornicky’s numbers as starting SS. Not pinch hitting, but numbers as starters.
Sure, both suck at hitting. Neither steal a base. Janish has saved 2 runs over 258 innings. Pastor cost the braves 15 runs over 329 innings.
Brownie
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Only way Bourn stays in Atlanta is if he gave us a “hometown discount”…..and that won’t happen because: it’s not his hometown; Boros won’t allow it; and most importantly, why would Bourn agree to that? There are other playoff caliber teams that will pay much more.
Face it: his next contract will be at least 6 yrs/$100+ million.
Love to see him stay, but better start planning for disappointment
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Looks like Strasburg caught whatever virus Lincecum left out on the mound….two straight walks to start the 2nd.
MFin04
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
I think the Braves have to go ahead and bite the bullet for Bourn. Solves too many problems. Speed, Defense, CF, Leadoff guy. We have none of those without him.
Phar
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Pace – Its a 5 mllion dollar transaction because the Braves were on the hook to pay Derek Lowe 15 million. The indians agreed to give him a place to stay and 5 million dollars if we would give them 10, that saved us 5 million dollars and about 12 losses. “This will free up additional salary in 2012″ The annual report is explaining the finances of 2011 by giving the reason which is to free up salary space in 2012 for the addition of more players. The salary freed up is the 5 million that the Indians paid to Deek Lowe that we would have had to pay had we kept him around. As far as how Liberty Media reports there finances yes the Braves paid the 10 million to the Indians last year. As far as how the Braves do their finances they considered that 10 million part of this years salary and if you want to call it last years that is fine too. Regardless it isn’t there next year.
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
I have no idea why so many people keep bringing up Melky’s chances to win the batting title this year. It can’t happen people. By adding the necessary at bats to reach 502, his average winds up at .317. He’ll barely be in the top 10 in batting with that most likely. So please let that go.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Someone wanna compare Janish’s and Pastornicky’s numbers as starting SS. Not pinch hitting, but numbers as starters.
Janish: .204/.284/.245/.529 (no slugging, it’s worse than his OBP)
Pastornicky: .248/.282/.326/.608
TennesseePaul
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Someone wanna compare Janish’s and Pastornicky’s numbers as starting SS. Not pinch hitting, but numbers as starters.
Here they are at SS. The starters numbers can be found at the same place…
_____________PA__AVG__OBP__SLG__OPS
Janish..... 109 .204 .284 .245 .529
Pastornicky 153 .248 .282 .326 .608
For Janish
For Pastornicky
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:27 pm
I think the Braves have to go ahead and bite the bullet for Bourn. Solves too many problems. Speed, Defense, CF, Leadoff guy. We have none of those without him.
I agree, depending of course on the size of that bullet
. I do think that because of his particular fit to the team they should be willing to pay him $2-3 million more than he’s “worth” in a vacuum, but the problem is if another team is willing to pay him even more than that.
raleighbravefan
August 15th, 2012
4:27 pm
Deep post season money could make a big difference. I believe there may be some additional flexibility with LM, if FW can make a strong enough case for resulting increased revenues. Some here will scoff, but….I really believe that.
Brownie
August 15th, 2012
4:27 pm
Those here complaining about Janish’s offense…..what, are you nuts????
He was brought in for one reason – to shore up the defense until AS is back. And he’s more than exceeded expectations. Next year, it will be Simmons at SS, with Pastornicky as our utility guy (Prado’s old role).
Efrim
August 15th, 2012
4:27 pm
I figured the league would catch up to him. He’s no Mike Trout.
He’s also not a CF. No way. His routes aren’t great, although he is just 19 going on 20. I think they’ll talk him up in November just to make it seem like they don’t need a CF, but Bourn makes as much sense for them as any team. And if Rizzo wants to hand out another seven year disaster, I wouldn’t mind.
unbelievable
August 15th, 2012
4:28 pm
Michael Bourn has been a 5WAR player over the past 4 seasons, pretty consistent every year. That pretty much makes him worth about $20M per. Someone will offer him at least 5/$85 and will more than likely get that level of production for him. Boras will get top dollar no doubt.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 15th, 2012
4:28 pm
Unload Uggla move Prado back to 2B, and there’s your money to re-sign Bourn.
What money? If we unload Uggla, we’ll likely have to pay 2/3 of his salary AND find a LFer.
RC
August 15th, 2012
4:29 pm
Michael Bourn has been a 5WAR player over the past 4 seasons, pretty consistent every year. That pretty much makes him worth about $20M per.
That depends on how much faith you have in WAR. It’s a very useful stat, but the defense adjustments it uses are pretty questionable, especially for “premium” positions (CF, SS, C).
Heisenberg
August 15th, 2012
4:29 pm
Janish does not need a day off. He will get plenty of those beginning around 09/01. Hopefully Simmons can come back strong enough and with enough time to sway the ROY voters. Funny, when I first mentioned it after Simmons first week, most on this blog mocked the thought as though that award was already in the bag for Harper.
Jerry
August 15th, 2012
4:29 pm
MFin04
August 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
I think the Braves have to go ahead and bite the bullet for Bourn. Solves too many problems. Speed, Defense, CF, Leadoff guy. We have none of those without him.
I totally agree. Losing him with what all he is responsible for just makes it very difficult to replace all parts, especially in one player. Maybe that is the reason why Carl Crawford cost so much, even though he didn’t work out. If he had, I think he would have paid dividends for them.