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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,117 comments Add your comment
phil
October 4th, 2012
4:07 pm
I would have loved to have played for my favorite team for no less than 5 million a year for 20 years….
Salaries are way out of hand, but it’s what the market will bear so there!
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:08 pm
For CF, I’ll take Jay or Bourjos as my first options. The guys I listed above aren’t CFers, but are cheaper versions of impact bats. Better than having Hamilton and Johnson/Constanza…
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:08 pm
If I’m the Cardinals, I’m feeling pretty good about this game…Mixxo
FCS if you were the Astros you’d be feeling pretty good about this game
RC
October 4th, 2012
4:10 pm
“Frank Wren will have A LOT to answer for regarding ……. and overall mediocrity when it comes to developing positional players.”
Really?? We are now describing a system that has produced Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, and Andrelton Simmons in the past 3 years with the term with “overall mediocrity”???
If you can name me 5 organizations that have produced a better trio of position players over the past 3 years, I’ll buy you a steak sandwich at the game tomorrow.
Lew
October 4th, 2012
4:11 pm
OnlyBRaves – Is your sanity going to survive when they don’t briing in your MLB love interest to pitch and they put Francisco at third?
ncscoots
October 4th, 2012
4:11 pm
Of course there IS that Braves doing everything they could to help him with his mother thing
Sure, and the man more than likely has some loyalty to the org (they gave him his shot, after all).
MiaBchBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:11 pm
I would not offer the option to McCann. I would make every attempt to sign Russell Martin, who can be had less expensively than $12 mil and team him with Rossy. I would not sign Bourn. I would sign Johnson and have a CF platoon with Costanza and Johnson. I would move Prado to 3B. Simmons can lead off next year.
Thank to the stupidity of the Uggla contract, signing Josh Hamilton is a pipe dream – and a BAD risk. The only other alternative is to create a trade with Hanson in the package and wrestle Josh Willingham away from pitching-starved Minnesota and plug him into LF. I do not make that trade if it is going to cost me Delgado, Teheran, or Gilmartin; they can have any other pitcher in the minor league system.
raleighbravefan
October 4th, 2012
4:12 pm
Mixxo – Do you EVER feel good about the Braves? WILL you ever feel good about the Braves. Or is it just more fun to whine.
raleighbravefan
October 4th, 2012
4:15 pm
YOU wouldn’t pick up McCann’s offer, but you can bet the Braves will. Thank goodness. Glad you will never be the GM. Wren has done an outstanding job.
raleighbravefan
October 4th, 2012
4:16 pm
Time to go. I will rejoin during tomorrow’s countdown.
Lew
October 4th, 2012
4:18 pm
Any other pitcher in the system besides Teheran, Delgado and Gilmartin? I can already hear Efrim screeching over that one.
MiaBchBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:19 pm
RC, prior to Heyward, who came up first, name a fifth top-notch (not nec. an All Star) hitter – besides Chipper, Andruw, Javy, & Justice (Jermaine Dye was traded away, does not count, poor assessment on our part!)…
Who the Braves have home-grown produced in the past 23 YEARS! It is an organizational issue, and Frank Wren shows no signs of improving that trend. By the way, the jury is still out on Heyward and Freeman as to their ceiling; they are not ready to carry a team.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:20 pm
Drop BMac who until last August was hitting .275 consistently and instead pick up the .211 hitting Russell Martin. Real bright. Even an injured Mac is hitting better than that guy.
Lew: I can survive not having Greinke, especially if we bring in a good LF or another top SP. Wouldn’t be happy with Juan at 3rd though… that means that Prado is being moved in and out “often”, and we didn’t get a good left field masher. And if we didn’t get a LF masher, then there’s no reason we couldn’t have signed Greinke/Haren etc..
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:20 pm
man you read some of the suggestions on here and you just have to wonder…..
MiaBchBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:23 pm
Add McCann to the list – the ONLY surviving Baby Brave. That recruiting class was a debacle unto itself, a product of exclusive Georgia drafting in the hopes that that generation of TBS-watching players would swoon and sign with the Braves on the cheap.
UKUGA
October 4th, 2012
4:23 pm
It’s hard to believe it’s not even 5:00 yet – today!
I’ll be a wreck by 5:00 PM tomorrow.
Some Daddy D’z barbecue should help.
phil
October 4th, 2012
4:23 pm
If Mac stinks up the joint again next year, why would we keep him in light of that?
Ozzie Virgil played better than Mac did this year….
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:24 pm
Russell Martin? Who can’t even be an average hitter in Yankee Stadium? You must be a masochist……
Playoffs!!!
October 4th, 2012
4:24 pm
Mark Bowman of MLB reporting David Ross starts tomorrow, not McCann.. Is that old news? Don’t see in the AJC
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
must be hurting, with a righty starting
phil
October 4th, 2012
4:31 pm
Bowman is quite fat and could be mistaken…
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:34 pm
Perry Mason was quite fat
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:35 pm
TOBF
Serious question: When has FW given you any indication that he is going to be looking for a big game starting pitcher this winter?
Was it the fact that in July he was in the market to upgrade the SP before Medlen had a chance to really make an impression?
I am just a bit perplexed that you and Efrim and a few others seem to be fixated on us getting a big game starter.
Now, I am not saying he won’t make a few calls to see what’s out there to improve the club, but I dare say he has other needs that are much more pressing (that you are quite aware of).
Or is it just what you hope he does this winter? Just curious. I think you are setting yourself up for a major disappointment.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:37 pm
Big name pitcher this winter? Pretty unlikely IMO
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:38 pm
Miami Beach
Your point about the “Baby Braves” from 2005 are a bit misleading. Go to any roster in the majors and see what percentage of these teams are still intact 7 years later.
phil
October 4th, 2012
4:38 pm
Yes, Perry was rotund. And seldom mistaken.
He was also not real….lol
see you folks later…
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:38 pm
nolie
I’ve got a hunch that FW will be preoccupied with adding a couple of outfielders and some bench help.
David O'Brien
October 4th, 2012
4:40 pm
Ross gets playoff start Friday over Braves catcher McCann
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/10/04/ross-gets-playoff-start-over-braves-catcher-mccann/
ncscoots
October 4th, 2012
4:40 pm
but I dare say [Wren] has other needs that are much more pressing [than starting pitching]
One other need, RH sock, preferably in the OF. After that, a front-line pitcher is much more important than the second OF slot, in my opinion.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:41 pm
Perry Mason not real????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT4wkkkaFTc
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:43 pm
It is what I hope that he does this winter, especially with Hudson possibly being gone in 2014 (and possibly not as effective by then). We’re going to have 2 rotation spots to fill that offseason (His and Maholm’s). I’d rather not throw in 2 rookies (as we did early this year with Minor and Delgado)
the fact that in July he was in the market to upgrade the SP before Medlen had a chance to really make an impression
This is the main reason. Which is why I’m kind of “frightened” that he won’t now due to Medlen’s good work. Medlen may end up being that ace we want, but right now, I’m not going to say that he is one yet.
Wren tried to trade Delgado for Dempster this summer… he saw his young pitchers struggling and panicked… I don’t want him to be in that situation again.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:45 pm
scoots
He’s going to need a CF’er who can play some D and a RH masher. With the anemic nature of our offense this year, I’d say that those two needs are much more pressing than a starting pitcher.
But that doesn’t mean he won’t jump at a chance to improve the team either. Just not sure that will be a priority for him.
As a mid market team with a budget, I really think we need to give our youngsters a shot at stardom before looking to other avenues.
But that’s just me……..
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:46 pm
we need to acquire yet another pitcher like we need a hole in the head
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:47 pm
In my opinion? LF is biggest need this offseason, then a SP. CF and Bench are last (but still important).
I think that it will be very hard to pry Willingham away from MIN and Ross may be pricey for his production. Wren might have a lot of time to spend on finding a CF.
Murph
October 4th, 2012
4:47 pm
Medlen sounds happy about Ross being behind the plate.
ncscoots
October 4th, 2012
4:48 pm
we need to acquire yet another pitcher like we need a hole in the head
I seriously doubt all this depth is going to be around when ST opens.
Playoffs!!!
October 4th, 2012
4:49 pm
FYI fellow Braves fans—-Cardinals bullpen mostly righhanded pitchers. There closer (Mott) , 8th inning guy (Boggs) 7th inning guy (pitcher they got from Marlin during the season) all righthanded.
They have two leftys in the bullpen— and neither has pitched well lately, and have been hardly used at all.
Bodes well for our left-handed hitters, I would say
Murph
October 4th, 2012
4:49 pm
we need to acquire yet another pitcher like we need a hole in the head
What about after we trade away all of our pitching prospects plus Hanson for OF/3B help? Then we might need one.
cabravesfan
October 4th, 2012
4:50 pm
Medlen sounds happy about Ross being behind the plate.
I’m willing to all but guarantee that, if the situation was reversed (Ross was the normal starter and Mac was going tomorrow instead) Meds would respond the same way. That’s just the way he is (or at least the impression I get from him)- always positive and supportive of whomever is playing.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:50 pm
If I’m the GM, my priorities would be to lock up the guys that are showing great potential and would be incredibly hard to replace. Guys like Heyward, Prado and Freeman. And then a couple of guys in the pen. Then try to use the strength that you have in the minors to improve your team (either by bringing them up or dealing them). Personally, I’d be pushing for guys like Delgado and Teheran to make the jump next year. And if that happens, then you have a proven surplus to deal from.
But this is all just conjecture on our parts at this point anyway.
Don’t know why I am even looking past tomorrow at 5:07pm anyway???
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:50 pm
so do you think he would have sounded less happy if it were McCann, Murph?
ncscoots
October 4th, 2012
4:51 pm
always positive and supportive of whomever is playing.
Just one more wuss who can’t take a stand.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:52 pm
Prado definitely, Jason maybe. rest can wait to be extended IMO
cabravesfan
October 4th, 2012
4:52 pm
Just one more wuss who can’t take a stand.
Just one more great team mate that everyone knows will have their backs when they need it.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:53 pm
cab
I agree (on Medlen’s demeanor). He’d be happy if Pee Wee Herman was announced as his personal catcher! Well, maybe…………
nolie
October 4th, 2012
4:54 pm
Just one more wuss who can’t take a stand….scoots
hey it takes great intestinal fortitude to stand in the middle, you gotta fend ‘em off from both sides….
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
4:55 pm
Prado and EOF are the only 2 guys I’d extend long-term this winter (unless the Cards will give us Jay for EOF and a prospect). Durbin is a 1yr deal, and w/ JHey’s struggles to end the season, I’d wait a until next year.
David O'Brien
October 4th, 2012
4:56 pm
Braves lineup:
1. Bourn cf
2. Prado lf
3. Heyward rf
4. Jones 3b
5. Freeman 1b
6. Uggla 2b
7. Ross c
8. Simmons ss
9. Medlen rhp
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:56 pm
nolie
I’d agree that Freeman can wait. But I’d still approach him with a modest offer to get him into early free agency. I’d make a push on Heyward and definitely Prado is a priority.
In the pen, I’d talk to Eric O and Venters. Maybe even Kimbrel.
Granted, I am not talking about offering them huge deals, but reasonable money that would be guaranteed. This sort of deal ends up being good for both the player and the team, if the numbers are fair.
ncscoots
October 4th, 2012
4:57 pm
you gotta fend ‘em off from both sides
Sumbee better be uber-fending Friday, LOL. I plan to be in Atlanta until Tuesday, and I would not like to be flying back early.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
4:58 pm
WAIT A MINUTE!!! Where’s McCann????? Lordy lordy, what’s gotten into Fredo’s head………. OK, OK, I understand now!
It’s Fredo again!
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:01 pm
Funny thing is, about 3 days ago I was thinking that Ross might get the nod, depending on Mac’s health. But Fredo sounds like it’s more of a fear of the Cardinals running game that caused him to make the switch.
Did he look at their potent running numbers??? They are less of a running threat than the Braves.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
5:01 pm
not sure if EOF is coming back. they do not spend a lot of money on non-closers most of the time. Trading him would not surprise me too much
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:03 pm
Maybe we should go with Prado at SS and Constanza in CF. Rest up Simmons with a tough righty going.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
nolie
Me either (on dealing EOF).
On a serious note, with Prado proving he is more than adequate at SS in a pinch, this should liberate Fredi into making a bench choice of which guys would be best as pinch hitters in the game tomorrow. Doesn’t preclude Pastornicky as a potential PH’er, but also doesn’t tie you to him either.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
5:06 pm
Man, Nadine has taken up residence in the Atlantic. Looks like she moved in to stay. Don’t remember many storms hanging around that long
Murph
October 4th, 2012
5:07 pm
You guys read way too much into things.
“Medlen sounds happy about…”
“Well of course he does! Did you expect him to say anything else???”
“No, I was just saying that…”
“You people know nothing about baseball!”
“Wait… what?”
“I’m leaving the blog! I can’t handle this kind of stupidity!”
“Yeah, but, I was just saying that…”
“I came back to call you stupid again. Now I’m leaving.”
nolie
October 4th, 2012
5:08 pm
typical Texan…..
P-Town Brave ©
October 4th, 2012
5:08 pm
Ok, now people are just being ridiculous
MFin04
October 4th, 2012
5:11 pm
23 hours 57 minutes until game time.
MFin04
October 4th, 2012
5:13 pm
“we need to acquire yet another pitcher like we need a hole in the head”
Sure we do. Just as long as that pitcher also happens to be a power hitting, right handed, left fielder.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
That pitcher in Anaheim, yeah, he can do that.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
MFin04
So what you’re saying is we need a modern day, right handed hitting Babe Ruth?
Nice…….
Whatever happened to Micah Owings?
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
If the Braves don’t sign a top SP, but do bring in Willingham and Span (or like salaried players) + trade Tommy, payroll will be near 80mil. EOF will likely be here unless his salary space his needed.
keyLargo
October 4th, 2012
5:17 pm
2012 Stats Aug/Sept
David Ross…….231/ .271/ .436/ .706
Brian MC stats ..189/ .270/ .250/ .520
Add in overall defense, throwing, blocking balls in the dirt………………..???
kenhotlanta
October 4th, 2012
5:17 pm
I’m giving props to Tom Hart for the job he did this year on the TV broadcasts as roving and clubhouse reporter. He was as good as Craig Sager was back in the day on TBS, and I hope he’s back next year.
MFin04
October 4th, 2012
5:20 pm
Micah Owings – He probably may end up being a better hitter than our LF next year. I’m a little worried who we might throw out there.
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:22 pm
TOBF
Don’t be too disappointed if Hanson is still here in the spring. His trade value is in the toilet right now. If you deal him, your giving him up on the extreme cheap.
Unless there is some GM out there that thinks he has more potential than we do.
P-Town Brave ©
October 4th, 2012
5:25 pm
DS1-
That wouldn’t be too difficult a concept considering I think he has about the potential of a Wal-Mart greeter these days…
Jeff R
October 4th, 2012
5:26 pm
It is what I hope that he does this winter, especially with Hudson possibly being gone in 2014 (and possibly not as effective by then). We’re going to have 2 rotation spots to fill that offseason (His and Maholm’s). I’d rather not throw in 2 rookies (as we did early this year with Minor and Delgado)
It’s possible that Delgado could be in the rotation next season. Hence, he wouldn’t be a rookie in ‘14.
Teheran might make it to Atlanta at some point next summer, depending on Beachy’s progress.
Teheran might be the only rookie in the rotation in ‘14.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
Tommy will be back
Dum-Bass
October 4th, 2012
5:28 pm
Agree on Tom Hart. Always interesting. Sounds(close your eyes) exactly like Daron Sutton though.
BTW, nolie, Nadine is a world-class swimmer. A marathon lady. Didn’t stop with the English Channel, going for the Atlantic UK to USA now.
Jeff R
October 4th, 2012
5:29 pm
Methinks that Wren attempts to move Hanson this winter, likely as part of a package.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
5:30 pm
I won’t be disappointed… happened this year with JJ. I “hoped” that he’d be traded because I was afraid of his injury risk. He wasn’t traded and look what happened. We’re about to non-tender him.
This is our last winter to possibly get anything for Hanson. Unfortunately, he’s pitched so poorly and has bad trends where that may be impossible too. It’s a shame.
cricket
October 4th, 2012
5:31 pm
Mac hit HR against Lohse last time braves faced him
Lew
October 4th, 2012
5:32 pm
I seriously doubt that they’ll send Teheran vback to Gwinnett for a third season – he’ll be with the Braves. Might be the main reason they would trade Hanson.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
5:33 pm
Tommy will be back
Back to torment me…. no!
Methinks that Wren attempts to move Hanson this winter, likely as part of a package.
I hope you guys are right. I really do. I want Hanson to do well, but it likely won’t be in Atlanta, or even the AL. I hope that we can get anything good in return for him, but I’m not seeing why that would happen. Even if it’s a package deal.
P-Town Brave ©
October 4th, 2012
5:37 pm
Lew-
I agree partially there….
Teheran isn’t in Gwinnett next year….he’s either in Atlanta or with another organization next April
nolie
October 4th, 2012
5:43 pm
I see no reason why they would not put Teheran back in AA if that is what comes up. plenty of pitchers have spent a number of years back and forth to AAA
nolie
October 4th, 2012
5:43 pm
AAA not AA
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
Did we announce the roster today? Or do they have until tomorrow to announce it?
Guys, I am way too wired for this game tomorrow to get too deep into what we will be doing this winter. Sorry if I have made any dumb recommendations today about future roster moves. I am AMPED for tomorrow!
What I’d give to be sitting in tiger’s “4th” seat tomorrow afternoon!!!
cabravesfan
October 4th, 2012
5:55 pm
25 man rosters are not due until tomorrow morning
DS1
October 4th, 2012
5:57 pm
Thank you ma’am!
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
5:57 pm
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
Just got to atlanta. First words heard: “I don’t got no bail.” For her sake, I hope that means something else here
Sigh….
DS1: I believe they have to be submitted by 10am tomorrow. We’ll probably hear around then. Wonder how long Fredi will be up tonight deciding who gets the last spot.
Brave New World
October 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
Since it’s so easy for all of us to render our opinions (yes, we all have one), there must be some less subjective way to see if Frank Wren, Fredi and the Braves did a good job. Oh yeah, they won 94 games this year and are a playoff team. That’ll do bloggers, that’ll do. GO BRAVES!
kenhotlanta
October 4th, 2012
6:02 pm
My weekly email from The Fielding Bible predicts that Martin Prado AND Jason Hayward will win Gold Gloves this year. How ’bout that?
kenhotlanta
October 4th, 2012
6:04 pm
Oh, AND Michael Bourn! I wonder if that has ever happened before, all 3 OF Gold Glovers from one team.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
6:04 pm
Bourn might win one too ken. most of the year they were all rated first or second in all baseball at the three outfield positions
nolie
October 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
so do we move a GG winning OFer to third or get a third baseman?
DS1
October 4th, 2012
6:07 pm
3 GG’s in the same outfield?? Now that would be something indeed.
You Don't Want To Hear It, But....
October 4th, 2012
6:10 pm
Hanson gave up two ER or less in four of his last six starts and lead the Braves in strikeouts with just shy of one per inning.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
6:10 pm
I don’t mind hearing it….
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 4th, 2012
6:11 pm
If moving him to 3B means no Juan starting and we get our bopper, yes. If not, no.
He’s the top LF in the MLB for Rtot and 2nd only to Alex Gordon for Rdrs.
I’m out folks, got a game tonight. Peace.
cricket
October 4th, 2012
6:11 pm
Lew has a bizzarro brother. From HBT comments –
lew24 – Oct 4, 2012 at 3:23 PM
I’m picking the Braves to go the WS and based on my luck that means they will lose tomorrow!
Lew
October 4th, 2012
6:12 pm
nolie, I doubt they’ll send Teheran back down next year. It’s time he pitches in the bigs and makes it or doesn’t. Another year down there does nothing except add discouragement to the equation.
David O'Brien
October 4th, 2012
6:12 pm
Braves/Cardinals notes: After what happened in 2011, Medlen glad Braves are facing Cardinals
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/10/04/braves-medlen-glad-to-face-cardinals-in-wild-card/
cricket
October 4th, 2012
6:13 pm
proposed winter moves -
release chip and joe and sign Daron Sutton and Mark Grace
Lew
October 4th, 2012
6:13 pm
cricket – Not me or anyone I know. I’m not thinking past winning tomorrow.
nolie
October 4th, 2012
6:15 pm
we’ll see Lew, he might get traded. just saying there is no way to know and I don’t think they will trade him unless they get what they want, certainly not just to keep from starting him in AAA again.
cricket
October 4th, 2012
6:20 pm
i’m with nolie 6:15 pm