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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,019 comments Add your comment
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:13 pm
You said something along the lines of…. short people are the devil.
That was hilarious. A laugh out loud at the office funny. Well done, TenneseePaul.
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:14 pm
And Medlen not only excudes confidence and and aggressiveness that is noticed by his team and the opposing team, but also has intelligence to process loads of information at once and to think ahead.
if something in baseball is not measurable quantitatively by stat heads, did it really happen?
Rodney Derrick
August 23rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Here in Durham with Direct TV, we get the Washington games on MASN and thus avoid the blackout problem that you have with other cable providers and MLB.com, so last night it was really interesting to hear Ray Knight compare Kris Medlen favorably to these guys– Catfish Hunter, Greg Maddux, Warren Spahn. Not bad from the south Georgian whose first attended MLB game was the Braves in 1966.
Tumbledown
August 23rd, 2012
3:15 pm
Let’s try to avoid comparing current Braves pitchers with past pitchers. Medlen is not Maddux. Minor is not Glavine. And, Kimbrel (thank god) is not Wohlers. Each pitcher has his own unique style.
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:16 pm
We may be stuck with Uggla, but how about this for moves in the off season. Trade McCann and Francisco to Padres for Quentin and Headley. Pay Bourne. Put Prado on second. Where does that leave Uggla? Someone will take him if the Braves eat salary, particularly if we throw in a prospect – say, Gilmartin.
Is this serious? If so, please let me go through reasons that it’s not likely to happen. If not, then it’s pretty funny.
1) San Diego wouldn’t trade Headley alone for McCann and Francisco. Why would a team that has a blue-chip, ready for the majors catching prospect on their team trade for a catcher making $12 million and only under 1 year of team control? And while I could see why Francisco makes sense for them, they also have a blue-chip 3b prospect (Jedd Gyrko) that is so close to the majors they are trying him out at 2b due to Headley’s presence in the lineup. If they choose to trade Headley, I think they would likely get a lot more years of control in return than the combined 4 that the Braves have on McCann and Francisco.
2)You may be right that the Braves trade Uggla. You may even be right that the Braves eat some of his salary to get rid of him. But you are out of your mind if you think the Braves would give away Gilmartin in order to save money on Uggla’s contract. Gilmartin’s trade value is MUCH higher than that. Even if he just turns out to be a 4th or 5th starter, having a guy like that under 6-years of low cost team control is worth more than whatever money they would save on Uggla’s contract.
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
3:16 pm
I suppose that Kris Medlen needs to put together five or six years of great pitching before I’ll worship him.
Well, one full season of 30+ starts, 200+ IP, and an ERA under 3.50, and I’ll at least start looking for the church.
jeffrey d
August 23rd, 2012
3:16 pm
I’m sorry, Jimmy, that was me. Of course, I can’t remember what color shirt I’m wearing.
cabravesfan
August 23rd, 2012
3:18 pm
I was wondering when we’d get the first comment about West Coast games and the lineup
CrαZy
August 23rd, 2012
3:18 pm
West coast games sukk — TheOnlyBravesFan
Yeah… It makes the end of the day go by slow… But the reason I love them is the kids are in bed, the wife is normally in bed and I can go down to the man cave and enjoy the entire game without disruption….
You know things like Dad help me with my homework or honey can you fix this of help me get the kids ready for bed. I rarely get to see innings 3-6 on a typical weeknight, and if I DVR the game it never works because I end up seeing the updates on my phone. Being a night person doesn’t hurt either I’m typically up till 1 AM most nights!!
Heisenberg
August 23rd, 2012
3:20 pm
Take a closer look at pitch counts and percent first pitch strikes Medlen throws. Then tell rest of Braves staff that is how it is supposed to be done. This is #1 starter for now. Beachy could be 1a when he comes back. And I would keep Delgado over Teheran and other prospects (and Hanson) if they need to trade pitching for a Bourn replacement.
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
3:21 pm
You said something along the lines of…. short people are the devil.
I’ve always wanted to keep my vision of TennPaul intact, which is why I’ve never asked him his height.
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Medlen – 2 seam fastball, change, curve, slider, 4 seam fastball
Mussina – 2 seam fastball (>3/4 miles compared to Meds), change, knuckle-curve and slider
how comparable?
CrαZy
August 23rd, 2012
3:22 pm
On the flip side… I’d hate to be cab, and have to try to catch all those early games from the East coast!! I’d never get to watch a complete game!!
IlliniBrave
August 23rd, 2012
3:22 pm
DOB: definitely a fan of Joe Strummer and the Clash. It was cool to see the Opening Ceremonies in London include their hit “London Calling”.
And definitely a fan of Kris Medlen. I got into so many arguments with bloggers over whether Meds should be in the rotation, and now I feel totally vindicated!
Abnerish
August 23rd, 2012
3:22 pm
1. Medlen is definitely staying in the rotation. Biggest no-brainer EVER!
2. Despite the slump, etc, you have no choice but to keep running Uggla out there. He’s going to break out of his slump sooner or later. If he continues to struggle, I agree, you give him more frequent off days, but you can’t bench him long-term. Maybe in Fantasy Baseball, but not in real life.
3. Now, regarding McCann… Can Gattis still play catcher? I know McCann is hurt but it sure looks like BMac’s skills have declined over the past two years. I get the sense that his best days are behind him.
cabravesfan
August 23rd, 2012
3:23 pm
CrαZy-
I used to Tivo the games and fast forward the first few innings, but now I work from home
J-MAN
August 23rd, 2012
3:23 pm
I hope Brandon Beechy is taking notice of Medlen and how he has come back from TJ Surgery. Medlen right now is the number 1 starter.
1. Medlen
2. Maholm
3. Hudson
4. Minor….He has pitched good but never gets any run support
5. Too Close to call (Sheets has struggled lately and we havent seen enough of Hanson coming off the DL to see if he has improved)
But next year will be interesting when Delgado, Teheran, Gilmartin and Beechy being added to the Rotation mix.
Personally I think we need to have a youth movement.
I’d resign Maholm, Im on the fence with Hudson, I’d trade Hanson. Id bring in Sheets at a cheap price. But I personally would not excerise that $12 million option on McCann, (Great player no doubt but the injuries have taken its toll and we could get better production from Bethancourt and at way cheaper price) Uggla will not be going anywhere because he is owed 39 million over 3 years but he can be sent to AAA if he doesnt perform. Competition creates better play and 2nd Base needs to be put up for grabs or given back to Prado. I like Francisco and think if he gets a full season to start he can hit 25 HR and 80 RBIs. I hope we resign Bourn but if we dont lets get B.J. Upton and the try to trade for Justin Upton. The Bullpen will be solid with Kimbrel, Venters, EOF, Gerrin, and Avilian.
But we will be busy reguardless this offseason with Chipper and Lows contracts coming off the books.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 23rd, 2012
3:26 pm
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Although P Tommy Hanson has a 6.00 ERA in his last 6 starts, the #Braves are unbeaten in those games. He faces the Giants tonight.
That’s 1 ugly ERA, but we’ve been winning…
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:26 pm
so braves are not signing Pettitte next year?
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
3:27 pm
This Collin McHugh kid doesn’t look half bad.
I went to college with him! He’s the first from my college to make it to the majors. I’m so proud!
King of Carrot Flowers
August 23rd, 2012
3:27 pm
Scoots, I didn’t say you were astoundingly wrong about Medlen. That was Nolie. You were just plain wrong.
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:27 pm
But I personally would not excerise that $12 million option on McCann, (Great player no doubt but the injuries have taken its toll and we could get better production from Bethancourt and at way cheaper price)
Bethancourt’s numbers at AA this season:
.243/.275/.291
The answer to the question you didn’t really ask is, no, you cannot get “better” production from Bethancourt next year than you can McCann.
Hillbilly
August 23rd, 2012
3:27 pm
If Sheets gets knocked around again like he did last time out, I wouldn’t be suprised to see his next start skipped. Mark it down as fatigue, lack of Spring Training, or whatever. His next start after this week would be the day after an off day, so if you skip him then and give him a breather, Minor moves up and pitches on 5 days rest. If they want to go back to the 6 man rotation after that, Sheets rejoins the staff somewhere around the 6th or 7th of September. By then you’ve got help in the bullpen from September call-ups.
CrαZy
August 23rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Huddy, Maholm, Medlen, Minor… Assuming Sheets and Hanson both pitch well in there next outings who would be better for the pen… Sheets or Hanson? Seems like part of the reason Sheets signed was the ability to be a SP. How would he feel about going to the pen?
CrαZy
August 23rd, 2012
3:29 pm
Take it a little farther… Would you rather have Sheets/ Hanson in the pen or a RP that’s in Gwinnett?
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
3:29 pm
I went to college with him!
That does make one puff up a little, doesn’t it? Did you know him at all? You know, not in the biblical sense, but just regular?
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:30 pm
3B/1B Brandon Drury with a 2nd half line of .303/.347/.423 in around 185 plate appearances for Low-A Rome. Just turned 20 years old. Young for the level, and it’s good to see him make adjustments and get better as the season progressed.
Brandon
August 23rd, 2012
3:30 pm
I just want to give my personal opinion on the defense of uggla vs pastornicky at 2nd
uggla has a .982 fielding percentage in 361 attempts. He only trails aaron hill(363) in attempts. Out of qualifying 2nd basemen, others with percentages under him are rickie weeks, omar infante, dan murphy, ian kinsler, and a few others. Out of his 10 errors this season, only 3 have been actual fielding errors. He is not hurting atlanta with the glove. The main flaw in his defense has been the ability to throw with accuracy while on the move, but i do recall 1 throw that brought back memories of chuck knoblauch. To me, uggla looks quite natural at 2nd, hustles hard, is great at going back on the ball, turns the double play well, and wont hurt you with the glove( only with his arm occasionally).
Pastornicky obviously has only played 1 game at second in the majors so I’ll analyze what I saw last night.
In the 1st inning with two outs, he failed to catch what looked to be a fairly routine line drive to his left. It was like he didnt even stretch out. It reminded me of earlier in the season when there were the two line drives in back to back games that he misjudged over his head.
Later, Rev turned that double play which came with good timing, but it wasnt necessarily as great as people made it out to be. All he had to do was step on the bag and throw to 1st. also, if you look at it, his funny footwork is the reason that the runner came so close to being safe in the first place. It looked like he misjudged it, had to step back, then step forward again to step on the bag.
And lastly, How about when chipper threw the ball to him for the force out? There was some odd footwork there too.
I still cringe when the ball is hit to Rev, but I don’t mind seeing him play 2nd some more because that is a very small sample size. He’ll most likely become more natural.
cabravesfan
August 23rd, 2012
3:30 pm
If you think you are going to get anywhere NEAR the offensive production Mac has provided over the course of his career with Bethancourt, you will most likely be very disappointed. He is not a power hitter- he’s mainly a singles guy right now. He still has a lot to develop to become a major league hitter. A lot. He is not ready
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:31 pm
I went to college with him
have you at least progressed to high A?
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:31 pm
CrαZy,
My personal opinion is that Hanson’s stuff would play better in the pen than Sheet’s would. I could be wrong, but that’s the way it appears to me.
Heisenberg
August 23rd, 2012
3:32 pm
Sheets was not exactly knocked around last time. He threw 4 bad pitches and they all left the yard. Those first couple starts may have artificially raised some expectations, but nothing I see suggests the plug needs to be pulled on him. I worry about Hanson & Minor before I worry about Sheets.
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
He is not a power hitter- he’s mainly a singles guy right now.
Actually, I’d say Bethancourt is mainly a defensive guy with no bat right now. .275 on-base percentage, .291 slugging. At DOUBLE-A.
Brandon
August 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
I think I might prefer seeing Sheets in the pen before Hanson. One major reason is that Hanson is horrible at holding runners on. 2nd, I just feel that Sheets could handle the late inning pressure better than Hanson.
This still depends on how they perform in their next starts though
cabravesfan
August 23rd, 2012
3:34 pm
RC-
I was being nice
I believe the kid has great potential, but he also is only 20 and has a long ways to go yet. Offensively, anyways.
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
3:34 pm
My personal opinion is that Hanson’s stuff would play better in the pen than Sheet’s would
I can’t see either one being effective down there. I don’t know if that will have anything to do with the decision to be made or not, though.
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:34 pm
RG sighting? Whoa.
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:35 pm
Mac just needs shoulder massage
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:35 pm
McHugh’s numbers through the minors are very impressive. I heard Alderson on WFAN comp Dillon Gee with a better fastball. I’m telling you, the Mets have pitching in bunches. And that front office is as smart as they come. Issue is money this offseason and they absolutely need to lock up David Wright and R.A. Dickey.
haggard
August 23rd, 2012
3:35 pm
David O’Brien
Thanks for the goods and the Strummer tune,(a fellow I’m not near familiar enough with) and will check out this evening at Decatur CD;helping keep their bottom line in black while you’re out of town.
Medlen is sure the cream in the coffee and I am confident he’s not merely the flavor of the month.
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:36 pm
To me, you need K’s in the bullpen. It’s nice to have in the rotation, but it’s more important for a bullpen guy to be able to come into a situation with runners on and miss some bats. Hanson seems to be better able to deliver that than either Minor or Sheets, IMO.
Brava
August 23rd, 2012
3:36 pm
Thank you, DOB
Glad to see Medlen is everything I thought he would be as a starting pitcher. As another poster said, I’ll be glad to see this six-man rotation end so he can pitch more often.
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
3:36 pm
You know, not in the biblical sense, but just regular?
Not really. I was a freshman while he was a senior. That was the year I lived right next to the baseball field, though, so I actually watched several games. I remember him because he stood out on an otherwise bad team.
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
3:36 pm
Sheets was not exactly knocked around last time. He threw 4 bad pitches and they all left the yard.
Were it Minor, say, that would read “Minor was rocked last time. He threw pitches and they all left the yard.”
Heisenberg
August 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm
Whichever starting pitcher ends up moving to the pen, it would be in a long relief role. Most of the time coming in with bases empty at start of inning. That would more closely simulate starting which they are used to so the holding of runners would be no more of a factor than when they were starting.
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm
i don’t care whom you guys put in bullpen, as long as that guy doesn’t take away innings from chad
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm
cabravesfan,
Yeah, I agree that the potential is there for Bethancourt, but he is very, VERY far away from being any kind of offensive presence. The thought that he could “replace” even McCann’s down year numbers next season is laughable.
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm
Hey cab, you’re the twitter expert around here. Did Freddie shut his down?
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:38 pm
I’m not sure what to think about the rotation, but if Sheets gets knocked around again, I think he’ll be rested and they’ll keep going with Hanson. I know Sheets has been getting outs, but he’s looked a little more tired as the outings have progressed. Can you blame him?
J-MAN
August 23rd, 2012
3:38 pm
But to those people that continue to defend Uggla you do know in 2 seasons as a Brave he has under performed. In fact if you take that 30 game hit streak he had last year he has been a sub .200 hitter as an Atlanta Brave. But just because he makes 13 million a season should not mean he should be the starter. Look at the Angles they have Vernon Wells making 16 million a season, well if Mike Scoica was like Fredi Gonzalez he would still have Wells starting and have Mike Trout in AAA because Wells makes 16 million a year. I always you play the BEST player not the player that makes the most money. I think when Simmons comes back Paul Janish should get a shot at 2nd base or have Prado move back to 2nd base and play Reed Johnson n LF.
Look at the offensive numbers Uggla is last in the NL in average and 2nd in the NL in strikeouts. And he has only hit 4 HRs since June 10. So he isnt even doing what he does best. And while his defense is better than what it was last year it seems that he is starting to struggle there recently.
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
3:39 pm
Hey Soph. Can I have my EE’s back yet?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 23rd, 2012
3:40 pm
If you think you are going to get anywhere NEAR the offensive production Mac has provided
Not hard to provide the kind of offense BMac has since last August…. it’s been pretty bad. Bethancourt might hit .200, but he’ll call a great game and throw lots of guys out!
(yes, I know I took only part of the quote, and I’m a BMac supporter)
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:40 pm
And that front office is as smart as they come.
not to argue, but this opinion about mets’ FO is based on what evidence? my mets’ fans friends are not at all impressed.
DCBrave33
August 23rd, 2012
3:40 pm
While no one can expect Medlen to have a career play out like the one-of-a-kind Greg Maddux, he has certainly proven that he is someone the Braves should have anchoring there rotation for the next several years. Basically, you can say that the Braves will hope for Medlen to fill the future role that they had previously envisioned for either JJ or Hanson. I think he will be up for the challenge of being a mainstay, but only time will tell!
Go Braves! Lets win a few ballgames out on the west coast!
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:41 pm
Collin McHugh went 7 IP, 2 hits, 1 BB, and 9 K’s in his major league debut.
PMC
August 23rd, 2012
3:41 pm
What can realistically be done about Uggla? A week off maybe? 31-216 with 80 strikeouts is staggering.
I know he’s getting paid a ton but that’s team killing. He just can’t be sent out every night.
J-MAN
August 23rd, 2012
3:42 pm
@ RC what is McCanns Average exactly. I think Bethancourt is still better Average wise. But I’m also talking about defense when I talk about production and no way McCann is even near Bethancourt defensively. But you have seen McCann and your gonna tell me that s worth 12 million dollars.
Seriously
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 23rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Bethancourt won’t likely be ready until 2014, maybe even 2015….. I’m hoping that BMac can turn it around, as I’d hate to have to “rush” Bethancourt up just becuase Mac is gone…
haggard
August 23rd, 2012
3:43 pm
Bat
Sure is good to see you back. And is she a Braves fan?
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:43 pm
I know Sheets has been getting outs, but he’s looked a little more tired as the outings have progressed. Can you blame him?
Yeah, he has seemed to fade quite a bit. Of course, the same is somewhat true of Hanson, although you’d hope his time on the DL gave him enough rest to get his stanima back. Honestly, it wouldn’t bother me to see both of them get a LITTLE work out of the pen down the stretch, since it seems likely that if they are going to be on a postseason roster that would be the role for them.
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:43 pm
I dunno, RG. The mockery you made of the coveted eee’s cannot be easily forgiven or forgotten. You have to prove you’re worthiness of them again. Join my come back to the infield ‘teen ‘teen club and I’ll think about it.
Heisenberg
August 23rd, 2012
3:43 pm
I will admit I have been critical of Minor. He has pitched much better lately but it is hard to build that trust. Especially when the issues were above the neck and not below it. Maybe after his 2nd CY award I will begin to let it go.
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
3:43 pm
But to those people that continue to defend Uggla you do know in 2 seasons as a Brave he has under performed.
No offense, but so what? Unless you think the guy is cooked, you keep running him out there. You either believe the back of the card or you don’t, but, if it’s the former, then you gotta play the guy.
cabravesfan
August 23rd, 2012
3:44 pm
Sopheee-
it appears Freddie no longer has an account- at least not a public one
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 23rd, 2012
3:44 pm
Collin McHugh went 7 IP, 2 hits, 1 BB, and 9 K’s in his major league debut.
Nice. Real nice. Always nice to see these type of guys do well.
Pj
August 23rd, 2012
3:44 pm
I personally think dob is the best number crunching blogger on the ajc staff. Fantastic blog
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:44 pm
Oh, and RG – nolie forgot your name the other day. He also thought you went to West Georgia or something for school. Not sure if you caught that.
Hillbilly
August 23rd, 2012
3:44 pm
3B/1B Brandon Drury with a 2nd half line of .303/.347/.423 in around 185 plate appearances for Low-A Rome. Just turned 20 years old. Young for the level, and it’s good to see him make adjustments and get better as the season progressed.
Been following his improvements every day through the box scores. His first half was truly an abomination. I hope he keeps it up and ends on a high note. I also hope he sticks at 3rd rather than 1st base.
CB
August 23rd, 2012
3:46 pm
nolie is old, he barely remembers where his feet are.
RC
August 23rd, 2012
3:47 pm
J-MAN,
You are right, McCann’s batting average is lower than Bethancourt’s this year, .229 compared to .243. However, his on-base percentage is higher (.306 compared to .275), as is his slugging percentage (.416 compared to .291). And there’s something else……
McCann’s numbers have come against MAJOR LEAGUE pitchers, not DOUBLE-A pitchers!!!! Are you seriously going to play the “Bethancourt’s average is .014 higher” card when he has spent the entire season playing 2 levels below the Major leagues?!
They are not at all comparable. We might as well start citing their high school stats if we are making comparisons like this.
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
3:47 pm
Soph-
West Georgia?? Eww!! Why did he think I went there? I don’t have herpes or anything.
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
3:48 pm
Soph-
But getting back to this Marteen-Infield club. Who would play left field in this scenario?
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:49 pm
Thought so, cab. I like to read up on the guys’ twitter accounts online sometimes and whenever I tried FF’s it kept saying user does not exist. I’m too lazy to open an actual account and start following people.
Sweet Old Buck
August 23rd, 2012
3:50 pm
Hey, RC! Love your response! You didn’t mention Bourne. Important to all of this. If Grandal and Gyorko are so highly rated, why did the Padres spend a lot money on another catcher, Austin Hedges and a 3rd baseman, Carlos Belen? Only Grandal is above AA, and he’s considered a switch hitting option at best right now. If he is so good, why is he not catching and Hundley sitting?
J-MAN
August 23rd, 2012
3:50 pm
Playing catcher is the 2nd most punishing position in sports behind Runningback.
Thats the reason McCann isnt hitting like he used to and why his defense isnt what it used to be.
McCann has had a decline in every season since 2009 with his batting average.
Remember McCann used to be viewed as a guy that could hit .330 he did in 2006 now he is hitting .229 over a .100 decline now why is that.
I’m not saying Bethancourt will give the offensive production of McCann HR wise but I think he can hit better than .229 and the Defense will be enough at a way cheaper price.
McCann is not playing like a 12 million dollar player plain and simple.
haggard
August 23rd, 2012
3:51 pm
Sopheee
I, too, had been wondering about “eee’s”, but am so infrequently able to post for significant amounts of time these days, I was afraid to even ask for an issuance. Also, if Marteeen signs a contract extension, are the “eee’s” good for the life of the contract, with a maintenance agreement thrown in?
CrαZy
August 23rd, 2012
3:51 pm
If Medlen was put in the rotation earlier and pitched this well do you guys think the Maholm deal would’ve happened?
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:52 pm
RG -
1. a scarecrow
2. George the blogger
3. Ron Gant
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:53 pm
not to argue, but this opinion about mets’ FO is based on what evidence? my mets’ fans friends are not at all impressed
Sandy Alderson is one of the smarter baseball people out there, imo. How can any Met fan not see what is going on? They aren’t impressed because of what? Not hitting it big with the bullpen? That’s as hard a thing to predict as anything in the sport and I wouldn’t base it all on that.
Payroll was slashed because they didn’t have a good roster to begin with and they also didn’t have a good farm system after the Minaya regime finished up. Why spend $140 million and continue to put an old roster out on the field – they were never going to better than the Braves, Nationals and Phillies. Alderson made the smart decision of dropping payroll to make the franchise more profitable for the owners(at the end of the day, it’s a business) and is putting more money into player development and the draft(up until the new rules came about, however he made three major signings on the international front). He’s had two very good drafts in a row with Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini and Michael Fulmer as three top picks. And the trade for Zack Wheeler was a good one.
It all comes down to what they can do with David Wright. They made the smart move in letting Jose Reyes walk, now they need to lock up Wright to make him a lifelong Met. They’ll upgrade the outfield and they have a very good potential starting staff. I think they are definitely on the right track and Sandy has a track record of success at nearly every stop – Oakland, San Diego, MLB. Guy is as smart as they come and I thought the selections of Depodesta and Riccardi were a good idea. Those two aren’t great GM’s, but they were good in the roles they had prior to that and I think it works that they are there supporting Alderson. Also, he kept John Ricco who is also apparently a good assistant GM.
Hillbilly
August 23rd, 2012
3:53 pm
but nothing I see suggests the plug needs to be pulled on him.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not ready to pull the plug at all. I’m just saying he could use one skipped start. Just one to recharge the ol’ battery and then have him back spitting nails for the final 3 1/2 weeks.
J-MAN
August 23rd, 2012
3:54 pm
I would not be opposed to resigning McCann but not at a Yaldier Molina type contract. Also with his production he is not worth 12 million plain and simple, lower the price tag to 8 million and ill be on board.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 23rd, 2012
3:54 pm
If Medlen was put in the rotation earlier and pitched this well do you guys think the Maholm deal would’ve happened?
I think it was still possible…. Hanson hasn’t been all that great.
haggard
August 23rd, 2012
3:54 pm
Roman Gal
We all know you hold the keys to the Martha Berry cottage.
Brandon
August 23rd, 2012
3:56 pm
if mccann is truly having shoulder subluxation problems, it is hard to see how he can even hit at all. i had similar problems and any time i swung at anything belt high, my shoulder would partially dislocate. Game over!
I dont know how he does it
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 23rd, 2012
3:56 pm
Ah, McHugh went to Berry? Nice… didn’t know he was a local product… smart kid too. Gotta root for him now.
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
3:56 pm
Soph-
I’m sorry. I can’t support the Marteen-to-the-infield movement until next year when Chipper’s gone.
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:56 pm
Hi hag! How can you even ask? You know you have eee’s for life even if (say it ain’t so) ‘teen ‘teen ever leaves us.
RG had to relinquish her eee’s after making a disparaging remark about Marteeeen. It was a sad, sad day when that happened.
cricket
August 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
Alderson made the smart decision of dropping payroll to make the franchise more profitable for the owners
imo that decision was made for him. anyway, no biggie. hope they suck for years to come.
Bat Masterson
August 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
Bat
Sure is good to see you back. And is she a Braves fan?
Hey, haggard. Thanks and for a little while I guess. Tourist, fling, finished.
Sopheee
August 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
It is for next year, RG! Apparently, the Juan for 3B campaign is picking up steam so I have to get my ‘teen ‘teen to the infield club moving pronto.
the truth...
August 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
@ J-MAN
Uggla cannot be sent down without his agreeing to go………..he was a rule 5 player and has over 5 years in the bigs………….does not have to go anywhere he does not want to go…………
Murph
August 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
If one of Hanson/Sheets is headed to the pen, I hope it’s Sheets. Not because he’s been bad as a starter, I just think his 92mph fastball will get better results than Hanson’s 87mph fastball in short stints out of the bullpen.
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
3:59 pm
And cricket, I get that Mets fans are frustrated overall, but their anger shouldn’t be towards Alderson. He’s as good a baseball executive as there is through the last 20+ years of the sport.
Brandon
August 23rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Enjoying the blog today. Less name calling and good ol’ baseball talk!
Dawg Haus
August 23rd, 2012
3:59 pm
I remember just feeling good about the Braves’ chances to win whenever Maddux was on the hill. I get the same feeling with Medlen and have since 2010. Glad he was given a shot to start again.
haggard
August 23rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Ahhhhh….The big three are still benevolent and intact; Microsoft, Publix Deli, and Sopheee!
Roman Gal
August 23rd, 2012
4:00 pm
Gotta root for him now.
I really hope the Braves get to face him this year…and that he dominates for 8 innings and then the Mets bullpen blows the game.
ncscoots
August 23rd, 2012
4:00 pm
hope they suck for years to come.
That’s also my fervent wish, but I felt a lot more confident when all they had was money and The Latin Vibe. Alderson is no dummy.
haggard
August 23rd, 2012
4:01 pm
Bat Masterson
LOL !
Efrim
August 23rd, 2012
4:01 pm
imo that decision was made for him. anyway, no biggie. hope they suck for years to come.
Yeah, the Wilpons needed to cut payroll – however they really slashed it and if you’re going to be bad. Be bad. 80 wins isn’t something to be proud of. But that team is set up nicely if they can get some sticks to put around Wright.