Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,746 comments Add your comment
Ward
October 11th, 2012
3:32 pm
Murph – I agree Fire TP, because he was part of Bourns stolen base problems at first, and lack of base running.
Lew
October 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
I don’t think Melky burned the bridges to the Braves – he packed them with C4 and blew them to hell and back.
keyLargo
October 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Sorry, I don’t know why the Mantle link did not work but try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9fNcMLaW_A
Shaun
October 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
P-Town Brave, that’s where I get a bad rap, in my view. It’s not that I don’t believe in intangibles, clutch or players having an ability to overcome or thrive on pressure. It’s not that I believe they are all unemotional robots. I just believe that these guys are the best of the best at the intangibles, at being clutch, at thriving on and overcoming pressure. So for the most part I don’t believe there is a whole lot of separation between one player or another in this regard. The separation is more apparent in other aspects.
It’s kind of like giving speeches. Yes, there is a wide variety of ways public speaking affects people. But if you are in a room full of the best public speakers in the world, the major leagues of public speaking, if you will, there isn’t going to be much of a distinction between one speaker’s ability to thrive under that pressure of speaking in front of a group and another. Part of the reason they are great is because they thrive on that pressure. It’s a rush for them. It’s not that they are unattached robots that don’t feel the pressure of speaking in front of a large group. It’s not that that ability to come through in a clutch situation to give a great speech doesn’t exist. It’s that all these folks have it. All these folks thrive on the pressure. Same with athletics and other performing type endeavors.
flange1
October 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
Lew,
Nice post and not a bad idea.
Especially if FW can find a potential impact prospect for 3B or LF in his dealings.
People scoff at the Gattis talk, but if he would not have gotten hurt last year, I could see a three way platoon in LF and 3B platoon of Gattis, Francisco and Prado.
That would give the Braves more money to spend on CF and possibly upgrading the rotation.
King of Carrot Flowers
October 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
Tumbledown, regarding your 2:15 post, of course most of us recognize that you’re speaking the truth. Unfortunately, the computer program known as “Shaun” has no way to process this information. It’s too bad. The game is so much more interesting due to the fact it’s played on a field by real people, rather than inside your hard drive. I can’t imagine the latter would be too exciting.
RC
October 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
Strange as this sounds, I’m going to be glad when a few more teams are eliminated from the postseason. It’s getting pretty lonely in this raft out here with just the Rangers fans to keep us company….
Deep Breath and Reload
October 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
I really didn’t want to give any peptalk credit to Hunter Pence, but after reading today the talk he gave to the Giants before their game 3 win, I have to respect him.
He didn’t rah rah it too much, in essence he said he loved playing with those guys, was having too much fun and wasn’t ready for it to end yet. All he asked was that each of them give it all they had and be accountable to each other and to actually look each other in the eyes and commit to that.
The guy has been a Giant for 2 months yet he was able to get everyone’s attention and push them to perform and be accountable. Now, they are only a couple of innings away from coming back all the way to win 3 in a row and advance!
Just goes to show you that if you expect some guy to step up and be a leader just because he’s been with your club for 20 years….. don’t. A guy who has been with a club 2 months called on his team mates to produce. According to many people who were in that club house and subsequently dugout, said Pence fired them up and it made a difference.
Sometimes good old fashioned desire is infectious and carries more weight than the “too cool for school” philosophy that “we’re all professionals here and know our jobs.”
Threadkiller
October 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
I always thought Michael Jordan was clutch…I guess not..My bad!
RC
October 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
Hart is set to make $10 million next year in the last year of his contract.
No idea if the Braves have any interest, but as a RHH who can play an OF corner he seems like a pretty good target, assuming the trade price is reasonable.
tony austin
October 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Etrain – I see your point and agree with it to a certain degree. My problem is the Braves strike out way too much with RISP and adding another K machine to the fold is just too risky.
Sure Francisco may time the pitchers better with regular play and he might hit 25 bombs. If the Braves stay with him and that happens then I’ll be the first to say I was wrong and the risk was well worth it. But, though others may disagree with me, I think the strike out is one of the worst outs in baseball and I grow tired of seeing the Ks.
Ward
October 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Like I said before,”I’m not picky, and will be happy for improvement, and looking for improvement……” Braves only need 2 changes,and bench improved. That shouldn’t be too difficult…….
Murph
October 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Lew, I can’t speak for the rest on here, but every time I think of the word “platoon”, I see two things… Bobby Cox taking a hot hitter out of the lineup and replacing him with a guy who goes 0-4 just because he’s a righty or a lefty… and Charlie Sheen singing Tracks of My Tears in a bunker with Willem Defoe.
Both images make me cringe today even though they are decades old.
flange1
October 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Shaun,
You are totally wrong on the speech thing.
FYI.
Ward
October 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
Anyone going to watch the debate tonight? I think I’ll skip it. It’s like reading Shauns’, and Bitchells’ post all the time……Little humor……Will have better things to do….
Deep Breath and Reload
October 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
To expand on one more thought…. can anyone think of a time when a team has really had it’s back to the wall and some player says, “it’s past the time for talking. If we don’t know what we need to do now we never will.” and that team has actually gone on to success? Usually, when you hear that take on things, the team goes on to get their heads handed to them and doesn’t come back.
Just going from my experience as a Braves fan.
Lew
October 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
Murph – It has to follow strict rules – against LHP, Prado plays third and platoon guy plays LF. Against RHP, Prado plays LF and Francisco plays third. No exceptions. Only then is it truly a workable solution. Reed Johnson and someone like Constanza (I’d fer another LH hitter, but…..) on the bench in case of late inning need.
King of Carrot Flowers
October 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Did the Computer Program Known As Shaun really just equate hitting a 90mph slider to public effing speaking? I’m speechless. (And therefore, not very clutch, I suppose.)
This just confirms It knows absolutely nothing about the game of baseball.
Ward
October 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
All, have a good one! Be cool……..Talk tonight, or tomorrow, and Peace my freinds, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
Shaun-
Thanks for providing me w/ the explanation….
I know I probably didn’t deserve it, but it does make a whole lot more sense to the “dumb jock” in me now
Shaun
October 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
flange1, I’m wrong because you are assuming I’m wrong? Or do you actually have some reason and evidence that lead you to that conclusion?
Mountain Braves Fan
October 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Let’s say the Braves want Prado to stay in left field. Then their most pressing need this off-season is to find a legitimate right handed power bat to insert in the cleanup spot between Heyward and Freeman and play a serviceable 3B. This player should hit for power, get on base, drive in runs, and because of the Braves collective struggles against lefties, hit well versus LHP.
To quantify this Braves need, I set the following as minimum acceptable standards for the right handed power bat: 20 HRs, 80 RBIs, .800 OPS overall, and an .800 OPS versus LHP. I looked at all third basemen in Major League Baseball, and a total of 6 third basemen made the cut by meeting all four minimum standards. I also threw in one Honorable Mention (who missed the cut by 1 RBI). The most notable 3B who didn’t make the cut is Adrian Beltre because of his .737 OPS vs. LHP (and yes I would take Beltre in a heartbeat in the right deal).
Again, most of these guys are franchise type players that the Braves could likely never obtain and/or afford. All of them have a skill set the Braves need. The 3Bs are sorted by HRs (most to least).
NAME TEAM HRs/RBIs/OPS/OPS-LHP CONTRACT
MIGUEL CABRERA DET 44/139/.999/.913 3 years $65 million + award bonuses.
EDWIN ENCARNACION TOR 42/110/.941/1.086 3 years $29 million + 2016 $10 million club option ($2 million buyout).
CHASE HEADLEY SD 31/115/.874/.801 $8.3 million projected arbitration salary. Team control through 2014.
ARAMIS RAMIREZ MIL 27/105/.900/1.049 2 years $26 million + 2015 mutual option ($4 million buyout).
RYAN ZIMMERMAN WAS 25/95/.824/.861 7 years $114 million + 2020 $18 million club option ($2 million buyout) + trade protection + salary escalators if traded.
DAVID WRIGHT NYM 21/93/.883/.917 2013 $16 million club option ($1 million buyout) + award bonuses.
HONORABLE MENTION:
DAVID FREESE STL 20/79/.839/.886 $508K in 2012. Team control through 2015.
Just food for thought. For a while I have thought the Braves should go after Chase Headley—switch hitter, legit cleanup hitter, can play left field as well as third base—but it seems to me the most likely outcome for him is for San Diego to at least try to sign him long term. And it makes me a little uncomfortable to go after a guy after his career year when he hit 31 HRs and led the National League with 115 RBIs when his previous high for HRs was…12. Pretty enticing considering he still had great numbers playing half his games in Petco, and he had a .937 OPS on the road.
Threadkiller
October 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
Hey DOB, Can you get a hold of Reggie Jackson’s representatives, and tell them they can’t use the Mr. October nick name anymore? Tell them we now know that there is no written stats for clutch and therefor Reggie Jackson can no longer be known as Mr. October. Thanks
Lew
October 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
Anyone who actually believe that Prado remains solely at one position in 2013 is delusional at best. He will play four or five different positions before the season ends.
Murph
October 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
I’d give up Teheran AND Delgado to get Headley… and both of them wouldn’t even be close to enough to getting a deal done.
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
3:50 pm
Anyone who actually believe that Prado remains solely at one position in 2013 is delusional at best. He will play four or five different positions before the season ends.
If so, it will be the manager who is delusional, or it will have become a very bad year for the Braves.
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
3:50 pm
Giants get another big out. Sigh…
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
3:51 pm
Tumble-
If it makes you feel any better, one of my first baseball memories was standing in the on deck circle in LL not paying attention and the batter who hadn’t even made contact all year fouled one off it hit me in the chest and sent me airborne….was knocked completely out for a bit….
As I got older, I seemed to have a knack for not only being in the wrong place at the wrong time when it came to a ball, but also people and freak injuries….
I completely mangled my face in a SS/LF collision, tore my knee up and broke my leg in 5 places playing in a preseason rec all-star game, and just recently now that ive switched to softball, I compound fractured my wrist and then just a few weeks ago I cracked a couple ribs laying out for a ball down the LF line….
Sports are painful…no matter what you play…..but me, I’d miss it way too much if I stopped….
The one thing I can take from the pain and it all…my most proud accomplishment…not stealing bases, not game winning hits, not even district or regional championships or travel teams when I was younger….
I still love the game just as much if not more than I did when I first began….and I hold softball just slightly a notch lower than baseball….
I have learned over time to enjoy it though, because you never know exactly when it can be taken from you
single white dove
October 11th, 2012
3:51 pm
We could just accuire a ump to call the infield fly rule, might only cost us 1-2 mill….
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
3:51 pm
Anyone who actually believe that Prado remains solely at one position in 2013 is delusional at best. He will play four or five different positions before the season ends.
I do not want this. I want him at 3rd base, for good. If they keep jerking him around, they aren’t using their assets wisely.
Fredo
October 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
“Trade at the All Star Break for an ace…..”
If Beachy comes back around July, they will be acquiring an ace without the need for a trade
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
I’d give up Teheran AND Delgado to get Headley
Need to wipe off the drool before it hits the table, Murph.
Headley’s got you over-salivating.
single white dove
October 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
On second thought, it cost us a chance to win…
single white dove
October 11th, 2012
3:53 pm
DOB, what about a Wright/Pagan squad???
flange1
October 11th, 2012
3:53 pm
Shaun,
I know you are wrong because I have experience in the public speaking thing.
You know best of the best all together. SOme can handle and some cannot. I have seen it first hand.
brian
October 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
Choices – who would you choose – LF/CF/3B
LF – Willingham, Alex gordon, or Prado
CF – Pagan, Bourjos, or Span
3B – Prado, Headley, or eduardo Nunez
I still think Willingham, Pagan, and Prado are the most realistic and fit our needs the best.
Gordon and Bourjos would be nice as well but do not help solve our right handed power bat
RC
October 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
Hey DOB, Can you get a hold of Reggie Jackson’s representatives, and tell them they can’t use the Mr. October nick name anymore? Tell them we now know that there is no written stats for clutch and therefor Reggie Jackson can no longer be known as Mr. October. Thanks
Dave Winfield can keep Mr. May though, right?
DS1
October 11th, 2012
3:55 pm
You folks should no better. Shaun has all the facts and the facts do not lie. There are no real intangibles.
To go off on a conversation with him on these subjects is mind numbing. You should know better by now.
(this is not to say that Shaun doesn’t add a lot to the blog; he does. Just so long as you don’t question his data, then you are ok)
Shaun
October 11th, 2012
3:56 pm
flange1, if they can’t handle the pressure, they aren’t the best. Handling the pressure, among other skills, is a prerequisite for being the best of the best. That’s my whole point.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
3:56 pm
Brian-
If we got to pick anyone I’d take either Gordon, Pagan, Prado or Prado, Span, Headley….
I really don’t think Gordon is available though, at least not from what I’ve heard from KC radio
Shaun
October 11th, 2012
3:57 pm
DS1, actually everyone is fine as long as I don’t question their assumptions. I think that’s what you meant
Bobby's Cox
October 11th, 2012
3:57 pm
Prado’s numbers will get even better if he stays in one position.
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
3:57 pm
That’s my whole point.
Point taken. Everybody got it. Honest.
RC
October 11th, 2012
3:58 pm
I do not want this. I want him at 3rd base, for good. If they keep jerking him around, they aren’t using their assets wisely.
I totally disagree with you here. I actually think Prado’s versatility is one of the Braves’s biggest assets, and if they don’t leverage that they aren’t using their assets wisely.
Let’s say you have a decent bat that can play 3b (such as Francisco), but no other position. Having Prado available to back up LF, SS, and 2b allows you to have a much better offensive replacement at those positions than you normally would when resting the starter (unless you think Janish is a better bat than Francisco).
Murph
October 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
Headley’s got you over-salivating.
I can’t help it. I just made the mistake of looking at the numbers for guys we have in the system. Leonard. Terdoslavich. Salcedo.
Go look at their stats and tell me that the thought of getting Headley for the next two years doesn’t fill you with at least a little bit of hope.
flange1
October 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
I am not going to waste my time going into again for the 12,00000000 time, but I have seen the best in the country succumb to pressure.
It happens.
As Mixxo would say
Deal with it.
brian
October 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Gordon would be available (but not cheap) for the right starter- young, promising and under team contol for years.
They have to love an OF of Gordon, Cain, and Myers. Stacked. They do need pitching however and may have to deal from their strength.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Murph-
All those numbers are one giant Terdoslavich right?
Shaun
October 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
O.M.G., I honestly don’t pay much attention to what teams have done with runners on third with less than 2 outs. I don’t think looking at that sort of stuff has all that much value. It’s kind of like team record on Mondays.
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Prado’s numbers will get even better if he stays in one position.
While this is possible, it’s pure speculation. He played more innings in the OF this year than he’s ever played at a single position. His numbers were right in line with what they are every other year. There is no guarantee that keeping him in one spot will make him hit any better.
Threadkiller
October 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Utley’s career really took off the last couple of years, when faced with the facts that his wife was banging Jason Werth.
Shaun
October 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
flange1, if they succumb to pressure, they are not the best in the country.
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
I actually think Prado’s versatility is one of the Braves’s biggest assets, and if they don’t leverage that they aren’t using their assets wisely.
I see the case for this, but I think I’m still going to disagree.
Lew
October 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
I think having someone like Prado who can play all of thos positions well and still hit no matter where he plays is an amazing asset for the Braves. I’d prefer he plays in oje or two places, but they WILL use him all over.
Bobby's Cox
October 11th, 2012
4:04 pm
And I’ll stick to what I said last night: Ben Revere would be big for us in CF and would allow us to spend money elsewhere. Maybe they’d take Gilmartin for him. Bowman seems to think JR Graham is the next big thing anyway.
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
4:05 pm
Bowman seems to think JR Graham is the next big thing anyway.
Yeah, but what does Bill Shanks think, LOL?
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:06 pm
I see the case for this, but I think I’m still going to disagree.
Fair enough. It’s certainly not a premise either side of the argument can prove, and either way I think everyone is in agreement that Prado is a huge part of the Braves offense.
Not like our votes matter for much anyway.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:06 pm
Brian-
Ok then…..use our pitching surplus to get me Gordon because I know we will rarely see who we trade to them….put Prado at 3b and then go out and nab either Victorino or Pagan….the lineup would be much more solid….
Victorino/Pagan CF
Gordon LF
Heyward RF
Uggla 2B
Freeman 1B
Prado 3B
McCann/Ross C
Simmons SS
Or jump Simmons to the top and move everyone down a slot….Alex Gordon crushes at the top of the order….
And he fits Shaun’s stat of higher K rate but still solid splits….
So….who doesnt like Alex Gordon?
Tumbledown
October 11th, 2012
4:07 pm
P-Town – Your painful sports moments are far worse than mine. The worst I have experienced involve several ankle and knee sprains and a chronically sore shoulder. I really appreciate your insights on the game as well as the comments of many others. Shoot, I enjoy Shaun’s comments and hope he at least can gain a slightly more appreciation of the game’s intangibles.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
Ok, let me hit on 3 things in one post….
1) Prado playing one place and his numbers going up COULD happen, but to suggest as much also suggests that if Francisco were given a regular job he’d hit 27 HR and drive in 100
2) I still like Revere myself too only as a money saver and I think he can get on base enough to be good for the team….his numbers may not flash greatness but he steals plenty of bases, plays high quality D, and only does what needs to be done for other guys to drive him in
3) Shanks thinks EVERYONE is going to succeed in the Braves system….and FWIW, he STILL loves Kelly Johnson….nothing wrong w/ that….guy loves the farm system….something he knows and is passionate about w/ Braves Baseball…me, I get subjected to the Cardinals Single A team here
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Not like our votes matter for much anyway.
Matters to us, doesn’t it?
Else, why do we keep coming here, some folks for years and years?
Heck, this is just like a ballgame. If all one is interested in is being “right”, then one is not a fan of the game, just a fan of “winning”. Me, I’d rather disagree with RC and strike out than not swing the bat at all.
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Victorino/Pagan CF
Gordon LF
Heyward RF
Uggla 2B
Freeman 1B
Prado 3B
McCann/Ross C
Simmons SS
Or jump Simmons to the top and move everyone down a slot….Alex Gordon crushes at the top of the order….
And he fits Shaun’s stat of higher K rate but still solid splits….
So….who doesnt like Alex Gordon?
Got no problem with Gordon, but not sure he’s the best fit for this team. If they did get him, I’d flip Gordon and Prado in the order you’ve got here. Only thing that concerns me is going Lefty, Uggla, Lefty, Lefty in slots 3-6. No way do I want Uggla to be the only RH power in the lineup going forward.
Tom
October 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
I am not really sure how realistic Willingham is either. I wouldn’t want to trade him if I were with the Twins. Thinking about the Twins, I think they would want Minor to start, then probably our 3rd or 4th best AAA pitcher and a hitting prospect. I just don’t like the idea of buying high on a guy like W.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
Tumble-
Agreed….
You ever get the chance….head to wikipedia and type in external fixator….
When I broke my wrist and arm, that is what I had to have on for a few months for the pins and screws to fuse correctly back into the bones and set properly….
Caution though if you have a squeamish stomach
BravePack(FreeFan)
October 11th, 2012
4:14 pm
brian
I’d go with Gordon, Bourjos, and Prado. All guys who play good defense and don’t strike out a ton and put the ball in play. We have enough power with Freeman, Heyward, and Uggla, McCann returning to their norms. Plus Gordon can provide 15-20 HR’S as well. That would be a pretty balanced line-up.
Gordon/Bourjos
Prado
Heyward
Freeman
McCann
Bourjos/Gordon
Uggla
Simmons
Both Gordon and Bourjos are younger players who play good D, not a 35 years old with a bad back and a journeyman CF who can’t find a team who wants him.
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:14 pm
me, I get subjected to the Cardinals Single A team here
Does that mean you get to see a lot of 5-7 middle infielders with lots of “grit”. I picture the Cardinals low minors as an assembly line of future David Ecksteins.
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
4:14 pm
Thinking about the Twins, I think they would want Minor to start, then probably our 3rd or 4th best AAA pitcher and a hitting prospect.
Shouldn’t they ask for Medlen, to start?
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
4:14 pm
Bowman seems to think JR Graham is the next big thing anyway.
Everyone loves Graham. He’s 6′0” and throws 100mph. Stays in the mid-90’s deep into games too.
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
Looking back on an outfield fly and ahead toward an interesting offseason http://wp.me/p1rXym-8Ue0
cooney @coondogdizzle
@mlbbowman No mention of Gilmartin as a midseason option?
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
@coondogdizzle sure, but I think Graham will move past him as next year progresses
Damn right J.R. will move past him.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:15 pm
RC-
I agree….only thing is, I’m not even sure where you put Uggla at this point….
And yeah, the more I look at it, it’d be much more helpful if the Braves got someone like Gordon that they tried to go out and get a power hitting all star CF…..those guys dont grow on trees though either….
I just don’t know….we have now been talking about this for so long that I start to question everything….
That said, I still think Victorino is my top choice as a perfect fit as far as who we know is available
Murph
October 11th, 2012
4:15 pm
Thinking about the Twins, I think they would want Minor to start, then probably our 3rd or 4th best AAA pitcher and a hitting prospect.
Well, the joke is on the Twins then, because we don’t have any hitting prospects!
Suckers.
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
4:15 pm
I think having someone like Prado who can play all of thos positions well and still hit no matter where he plays is an amazing asset for the Braves.
Great to have that in your pocket…..
Keep him at 3rd.
ncscoots
October 11th, 2012
4:16 pm
He’s 6′0” and throws 100mph.
Lifts in his spikes, I’m guessing.
Tom
October 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
I think Francisco will be playing alot of 3rd base at least the 1st half. Just can’t see him sitting again, may be traded in a package or something. He seems more valuable getting regular playing time.
O.M.G.
October 11th, 2012
4:18 pm
Shaun, now who is not willing to look at the data. If the data proves we stike out more then league average I would think that would be meaningful.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
RC-
Good one….actually it just went back to a Cardinals affiliate…where it last was in 05….got to see Yadi, Coco Crisp, Danny Haren, and guys like that come through….
Recently were a Cubs affiliate and this past year I got to go see Javier Baez and Cuban spec Jorge Soler…pretty solid show from the two but as an organization, the Cubs put together a terrible product on the field….
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
I really hope that we aren’t 2 months away from Sergio Romo doing Taco Bell commercials and talking about “raging” all the time…..
BravePack(FreeFan)
October 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Don’t know much about this Graham kid but after watching Hanson and his struggles reaching 90 mph I’m pretty excited for a kid who can reach mid-90’s consistently.
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
And Graham is throwing a sinker – 91-92, I believe. Then the four seamer at 93-97, slider and changeup.
Interesting delivery. Compact.
Gas: http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=24277459
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
P-Town Brave,
What were your thoughts on Soler? I’ve heard a good bit about Baez but not as much on Soler.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
OMG-
I think its pretty obvious to everyone that when we have 3 guys in the tops of the league in K’s and another over 100 that we are ahead of league average there….
Thats why I still fully feel that we need more guys to put it in play……at least 1 guy that will replace what Chipper did as far as not striking out….
And then if the other guy can drop it to 120, thats a major step up from the 150+ Bourn had…..
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Don’t know much about this Graham kid but after watching Hanson and his struggles reaching 90 mph I’m pretty excited for a kid who can reach mid-90’s consistently.
Not to damper your hopes too much, but when Hanson was at the level Graham is he was reaching the mid-90’s consistently too. It don’t last forever….
Bobby's Cox
October 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
Victorino would be a nice choice. We need his attitude on this team.
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
4:27 pm
Not to damper your hopes too much, but when Hanson was at the level Graham is he was reaching the mid-90’s consistently too. It don’t last forever….
Seriously. People just don’t remember how good Tommy Hanson was in 2008/2009. That version, was what everyone here and around baseball circles were excited about. The kid had the look of an ace in the minors, and certainly looked the part in 2009, 2010 and the first half of 2011. The start vs. Houston in June, right before he went down with the shoulder soreness, something like 12 K’s. Kid was nasty.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:27 pm
RC-
Soler has that sound in his bat much like what Heyward does….
The ball just leaves it like a missile….and he’s gonna be pretty good….only spent a short amount of time end of season here but made the league look quite pedestrian in his short time here….for awhile he hit .400 only trailing off the last week and had a couple monster bombs and didn’t strike out….all in all, a darn good looking ball player, fast, and has a cannon….
He seems to project better than what some scouts suggested.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:29 pm
Any chance they throw Graham up at this level and into the pen at some point in 2013?
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:30 pm
Any chance they throw Graham up at this level and into the pen at some point in 2013?
I’m sure there is a chance of that. But that’d be kind of like selling your house to “invest” in a new car. Not the wisest long-term decision.
Bobby's Cox
October 11th, 2012
4:31 pm
Possibly. Again, Bowman seems to think so. And, Graham is up to 150 innings.
Efrim
October 11th, 2012
4:33 pm
I think it’s possible that they use Graham late in the year in relief, but not after he’s had a full plate of starting for Double-A and Triple-A.
Carl Farvman
October 11th, 2012
4:35 pm
“Get rid of Uggla. A nice guy. A team guy. But he can’t seem to handle the pressure of being a Brave. Get a reliaable second baseman who can hit for average.”
The pressure? Huh? The pressure brought on by a relentless press corp? The pressure from fans chopping styrofoam hatchets?…and chanting? The pressure from a legacy that includes 1 World Championship? What is this guy talking about?
Half Empty
October 11th, 2012
4:35 pm
… but who handles fielding? Murph
who ever it is, maybe Pendleton?, did a damn fine job. Braves were awesome all season on defense. best in the NL by many metrics….
Murph
October 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
Here’s what I don’t get about Hanson. Something obviously happened to him to create such a drastic change. Shoulder soreness… what’s causing the soreness? Why did he go from being a future ace to a future non-tender candidate?
If he’s hurt, why can’t he get it fixed? If he’s not hurt, then what’s wrong with him?
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:39 pm
Adam LaRoche if you need him…..
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:40 pm
Murph-
He could, and I would be ok w/ that….
Because if he had shoulder surgery, he would effective be done as a Brave
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
So the Giants lose 2 at home and are now 3 outs away from providing the Reds their first 3 game losing streak of the season at home
O.M.G.
October 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
P-town, when are these guys going to learn to cut down on their swing and just make contact with a runner on third and less than two outs when even a weak grounder to second would score the run. That drives me nuts.
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:43 pm
OMG-
Drives me even more nuts when its say 1 out, the hitter strikes out and then the next guy either hits a grounder to 2b or a long fly ball….
The same flippin thing that wouldve scored the runner had the previously batter done it, yet now its the 3rd out and the runner is left stranded
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:44 pm
If he’s hurt, why can’t he get it fixed? If he’s not hurt, then what’s wrong with him?
It’s not always something that can be fixed. The tendons in your arm are like rubber bands…they can only be stretched so many times and still “snap back”. After years of throwing a baseball at max effort, it’s possible that his muscles have simply stretched and he’ll never get that velocity back. If that’s the case, he’s going to have to learn to pitch with the stuff he has instead of the stuff he used to have.
RC
October 11th, 2012
4:45 pm
Gotta be nice to know that no matter what, Joey Votto can’t tie the game against you.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 11th, 2012
4:46 pm
Choices – who would you choose – LF/CF/3B
LF – Willingham, Alex gordon, or Prado
CF – Pagan, Bourjos, or Span
3B – Prado, Headley, or eduardo Nunez
Gordon for left field, Pagan or Bourjos for CF, Prado at 3B.
Are we sure that Jay isn’t available? No way, no how?
And yes, I’d trade Teheran if necessary for Gordon. We’d have him through 2016 (when he’d make 12.5mil)
P-Town Brave ©
October 11th, 2012
4:46 pm
RC-
Does Tommy Hanson seem like he has the IQ to do that to you?
Houston, I think we have a problem here