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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,019 comments Add your comment
Arkansas Transplant
August 24th, 2012
1:59 pm
We could claim Josh Beckett off waives.. at least we could get a power arm that way.
Shaun
August 24th, 2012
1:59 pm
I think most reasonable people don’t envy the players for the money they make, they just get frustrated that they’re getting paid huge bucks whether they are incompetent or not. The average person gets fired when they don’t do their jobs properly, not rewarded.
Players get rewarded for not doing their jobs properly? Also, what is your definition of “incompetence”? A player that probably doesn’t meant your standards of competence is probably better at baseball than most people.
Aside from their personal pride and competitiveness, there’s no incentive for baseball players to excel once they’ve signed a huge long-term contract. Some of them don’t have those traits, as is evidenced by those who are substandard or mediocre year after year, then suddenly have a career season in their contract year. And they get paid, yet again, because baseball is a “what have you done for me lately” sport. But, you can’t fault the individuals, it’s the system which allows this to happen. The sport would be a lot more fun to watch if the compensation was based on performance like most jobs.
Is this really a huge issue? There’s little to no evidence that there is some sort of epidemic of players cashing it in after they receive a big contract. Most players have worked extremely hard all their lives to get to the big leagues and get to a point where they are well-established and are offered a big contract. Most, after they get that contract, don’t just say, “well, my work is done.” Their pride and competitiveness are huge reasons why they don’t do such a thing. Pro athletes are among the most prideful and competitive people in the world. They have to be to get there.
What do you think would happen to a player who stopped trying after signing a big contract? The team would probably release him or make his life difficult. That player would never find a job in the game again. He would face public scorn and embarrassment.
I have seen one study that indicates there may be something to contract-year performance spikes but the evidence that players do indeed perform better in their contract years is pretty scant, at best.
Brian from SC
August 24th, 2012
1:59 pm
I would think Jurrjens would likely sign with a non-contender. No contending team will take a chance on him for their rotation. If he wants to pitch in the minors or in the bullpen, maybe.
He’s another prime candidate for someone like the Royals, Astros, Mariners…hoping they can resurrect him enough to trade him for something.
Brian from SC
August 24th, 2012
2:00 pm
We could claim Josh Beckett off waives.. at least we could get a power arm that way.
That power arm has only 6.6 K/9 this season.
David O'Brien
August 24th, 2012
2:02 pm
NEW BLOGGAGE
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/24/braves-slumping-at-worst-time-as-september-looms/
Brian from SC
August 24th, 2012
2:03 pm
We could claim Josh Beckett off waives.. at least we could get a power arm that way.
You know he’s owed almost $16 million a year in 2013 and 2014, right?
Arkansas Transplant
August 24th, 2012
2:03 pm
Beckett may be having a bad year this year so far, but he may be someone in need of a change of scenery. Plus, we could get the Bosox to pay probably more than half of what he is owed, he’s signed for the next 2 years. He’d only be 34 at when his contract expired so he’s not too terribly old. It might also give us someone to throw out there in the one game WC depending on how sharp he looked down the stretch.
CB
August 24th, 2012
2:04 pm
I would have much more interest in Jon Lester than Beckett, but not at a huge price.
Brava
August 24th, 2012
2:05 pm
Maybe, tiger. I don’t see where the criticism of unions for allowing incompetent people to keep their jobs is political, but someone may. I don’t belong to either party, so I don’t know.
Shaun
August 24th, 2012
2:09 pm
Heyward had a break a week or so ago. There is no reason to give him one last night. He is 23 and our hottest, most dangerous hitter. If Fredi wants to get Johnson in against a lefty, put Prado at second and Johnson in left. We are in a desperate battle for a playoff spot. Don’t rest your best player when odds are, he does not need it.
Really? The Braves are in a desperate battle for a playoff spot? They are probably the second- or third-best team in the NL and, aside from games against Washington and San Francisco, have a pretty easy schedule from here on out.
I don’t think resting him one game is going to cause any problems. Now resting him several games in the matter of a week, that would be a problem.
John Leonard
August 24th, 2012
2:59 pm
You people who want to get pitching, better stop smoking that stuff,thats the one thing we have plenty of.We need position players ,that can hit and not CHOKE up with runners in scoring position.
Disgusted
August 24th, 2012
3:11 pm
We need better performances from underachievers Dan Uggla and Brian Mc Cann. And we need the Bourn of the first half not the one the last 6 weeks.
These guys are not good enough and when push comes to shove, both STL and the loser of the SF/LAD are going to go to the WC game.
Those two games they lost to the Dodgers were season defining games.
Its bad now and these BUMBS have to be better, much better. And I might want to stay away from Beckett, what we have now is better than a 32 (will be 33 yr old next yr) Beckett.
pcb mike
August 24th, 2012
3:45 pm
Should Medlen stay in rotation? That’s like asking if Maddux, Smoltz, or Glavine should stay in the rotation. Medlen should have a new nickname “ACE”. He is definitely the best pitcher on our team and one of the best in baseball. Just check his lifetime numbers.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
August 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
What a Shocker! (Sarcasm)
Miami Marlins Drawing Fewest Fans At A First-Year Ballpark In Three Decades
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper/2012/07/25/miami-marlins-drawing-fewest-fans-at-a-first-year-ballpark-in-over-a-decade/
Disgusted
August 24th, 2012
5:20 pm
Medlen is the only thing the Braves have going that is good as of late.
Disgusted
August 24th, 2012
5:22 pm
Miami is a spring training town, but not a major league city.
That team will be out of there before long, when I don;t know.
How we lost to them back in 97 is beyond reason, we should have had a three peat from 95 to 97 but we choked twice and I still have not forgiven them for it.
James
August 24th, 2012
6:04 pm
Red Sox, Dodgers Nearing Blockbuster
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [August 24 at 4:52pm CST]
4:52pm: Boston would send some cash to Los Angeles if the sides complete a deal Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. Morosi confirms that the sides are close to a trade (Twitter links).
4:34pm: The Red Sox and Dodgers are closing in on a trade that would send Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to Los Angeles, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports (on Twitter). Hurdles remain, but the sides continue working toward a deal.
The Dodgers recently won the claiming rights to Gonzalez and Beckett. Gonzalez can’t block a trade to Los Angeles, but Beckett must approve any assignment as a player with ten and five rights. Crawford and Punto cleared waivers earlier this month and can be traded without waiver-related restrictions.
The Dodgers have been willing to take on considerable salaries since their new ownership group gained control of the club at the beginning of the 2012 season. Adding the four Red Sox players would represent a substantial financial commitment:
Gonzalez will earn $21MM per season through 2016 and obtain a raise to $21.5MM for 2017-18. The total exceeds $130MM when accounting for the remainder his 2012 salary.
Beckett will earn $15.75MM per season through 2014. As noted above, he must approve any trade.
Crawford will earn $20MM in 2013, $20.25MM in 2014, $20.5MM in 2015, $20.75MM in 2016 and $21MM in 2017. His contract allows him to block trades to two teams.
Punto earns $1.5MM per season through 2013.
The Dodgers claimed Cliff Lee on waivers earlier this month after trading for Shane Victorino, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Blanton and Brandon League. The Dodgers would have to place MLB players on waivers before trading them to Boston, which could complicate trade talks.
The Braves and Giants are gonna have some serious competition for the division and wildcard if this thing goes down.
Lil' Barry Bailout
August 24th, 2012
6:29 pm
This Vogelsong person who is pitching for San Francisco tonight doesn’t appear to be playoff caliber pitching.
The Braves might stand a chance this evening.
N8
August 24th, 2012
6:30 pm
Sounds to me like the Braves should try and trade Uggla and McCann to the Dodgers. clear out some of that dead weight. apparently the Dodgers are now the yankees. Just taking on every huge contract that they can get their hands on.
Anybody else who’s getting paid too much on this team we can pawn off on Magic Johsnon and his boys?