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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,746 comments Add your comment
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
9:41 pm
You know what’d be nice? If both the 2nd Wild Card teams played in the World Series. It’d make for a fun story, but I think the ratings would be less than ideal for MLB.
Plus you’d get the whole outcry of “How’d these weenies make it??”
Dum-Bass
October 10th, 2012
9:43 pm
HooRah is DOB I think.
Rufio
October 10th, 2012
9:43 pm
Can we get a new GM and Manager who has a spine with all that extra money?
Rufio
October 10th, 2012
9:43 pm
Can we get a new GM and Manager who has a spine with all that extra money?
nolie
October 10th, 2012
9:43 pm
just cause we don’t wail does not mean we are not aware of problems. I am hardly known as an optimist here, I catch it from both sides
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
As much as I’d like to see Hanson have another shot to bounce back to his old form, I think there’s a good chance that it could backfire and something similar to Jurrjens happens.
Sort of the way I’m leaning. Only the Braves know for sure if Hanson can better himself through a strenghtening program and such. They will for sure listen on the guy, and if something makes sense, I see them pulling the trigger.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
why would DOB use an alias? He has had no qualms about calling out any number of idiots over the years
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
In comparison, at least, I think you’re an optimist nolie. Not a homer, though. But still an optimist
phil
October 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
Willingham?
No. Too old. A disaster waiting to wear an A on his hat….
braveslover
October 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
No to Hanson. He supposedly worked all last winter on his delivery and it showed for about three starts then he decided to go back to the old and hittable/run-onable. We are not going to change Hanson and we aren’t going to change Uggie so we either live with them or continue to die with them. You can teach a person to play but you can’t teach someone how to win. Cox couldn’t win the big ones and couldn’t teach players or Gonzalez how to win. LaRussa taught Methany and the Cards how to win. They will always have our number for that very reason.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
why would DOB use an alias? He has had no qualms about calling out any number of idiots over the years
Shoot, he calls out the non-idiots. He calls out the bystanders. I think he called out the pope once.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
One time I asked DOB how his day was and I was banned for 2 weeks.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
9:47 pm
Don’t trade Gilmartin!!! He’s a warrior, a battler, err a Seminole.
If you must, do it. But he’s one of our 4 top arms, and is the 2nd closest to being MLB ready. As I expect Delgado or Teheran to be in the rotation next year, so Gilmartin is the 1st backup to the rotation. I wouldn’t touch him right now.
Dum-Bass
October 10th, 2012
9:47 pm
Heard the announcers say this afternoon during the Gnats-Cards game they wondered how many fans were sitting there thinking(after Jackson imploded) that Strasburg could be in there pitching that game. Was already wondering that myself.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
9:48 pm
In comparison to you? of course I am, Cassandra was an optimist compared to you. compared to most here i am pretty much in the middle. I like what I like and I talk about problems, I just don’t make them into Mayan-calendar-esque drama
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
But those 3 would be quite a bit for a 34 year old wouldn’t ya think? Being realistic we’d have to expect Willingham’s numbers to dip a little. Or possibly have a season like he had in Oakland.
Just hit 35 HR’s in the AL and has never had an OPS less than .807. I’d certainly ask for that if I were Minny.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
I just don’t make them into Mayan-calendar-esque drama
I guess the blog has skewed my definition of “optimist”
Hal J
October 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
Before putting Prado at 3B I would try very hard to trade for Chase Headley, starting with $7M per year of Uggla’s contract (and him) and Tommy Hanson — who former pitcher Bud Black might covet as a project, and a Southern California guy to boot — and maybe a A or AA pitching prospect for Headley and a top prospect outfielder, say Rymer Liriano. If I had to, I might give up one of our top pitching prospects instead of the A or AA pitcher.
With that roster, with the remaining payroll, I’m all in for ZG, Zach Greinke who would add at least two WS titles to this team, given the strength and depth of the staff he would be joining.
With Angel Pagan for CF, I’m ready for Spring Training, January 2nd, right?
phil
October 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
Optimism should abound with the Braves…..we provide reasons for this each October.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
yep, I like Willingham, but I doubt they spring for what the Twins will want, and I would likely be Ok with that
Gone Viral
October 10th, 2012
9:51 pm
“But he’s one of our 4 top arms, and is the 2nd closest to being MLB ready.”
I don’t see a lot of difference between Spruill and him in this regard. Gilmartin has a whopping 7 AAA starts over Spruill. That’s about it.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
9:52 pm
With that roster, with the remaining payroll, I’m all in for ZG, Zach Greinke who would add at least two WS titles to this team, given the strength and depth of the staff he would be joining.
Come on now… we had Glavin, Madduz, Smoltz and only got 1.
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
9:53 pm
Who cares about Willingham’s average? He SLG’s and has a very good walk rate. Similar to Uggla in some respects, but a player that consistent and can’t hit a wall and go .750 on us again, can he?
Dum-Bass
October 10th, 2012
9:53 pm
I thought an “optimist” was who you went to for eyeglasses.
ATLcracker
October 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
Any one who starts their postseason plan with ” I would trade Dan Uggla” immediately loses credibility. His contract/performance makes him completely untradeable. You have to recognize that we are stuck with him for three years and plan accordingly.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
9:55 pm
I doubt they spring for what the Twins will want, and I would likely be Ok with that
thrilled
nolie
October 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
IMO an optimist is a person who regularly expects positive results, no matter whether that is likely to occur
I think my predictions have been pretty accurate both good play and bad., and most of my misses have probably been a bit on the negative side,
I don’t have a rep in real like as a pollyanna at all
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Spruill has given up a “whooping” 34 HR’s in 580 minor league innings. Sinkerballer. Could have a solid career as a back of the rotation starter who eats innings.
keyLargo
October 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
I thought insurance would cover that, no?
What would you guess the premium is on an out of shape, overweight, clums guy that has 3 or 4 injuries a year? DO you think it may be significant , say 40%?
5 out of 10 people on this blog have no cocept of business expenses past what the player makes. You can add at least 50% added onto Mac $13M from everything from workman’s comp to Social Security.
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
I guess I’ll just keep harping on the fact that I just simply don’t see Wren shooting for the best Triple-A rotation in baseball. One or more of those guys are going.
Couple interesting guys at Double-A too in Cody Martin and Aaron Northcraft(probably both relievers in the end). And it sounds like they may skip Alex Wood over High-A and right to Double-A – although guessing that depends on his spring and instructs.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
GV, saw a lot of Gilmartin in college ball as a fellow alum, never was all that impressed.
Minor-lite seems a good sobriquet .
Spruill I am not all that familiar with
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Well, if he only hits .230 against lefties next year, I wouldn’t be thrilled. Especially when Cody Ross hits for a higher average vs. lefties with a better SLG. Probably will cost about the same amount, and no top prospects are traded. He’s 3 years younger.
Willingham’s 2011 .208/.317/.465/.783
That’s fine, I guess. Let’s hope that he doesn’t regress to that, if we do get him.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
relax TOBF. world won’t end either way… at least till just B4 Christmas
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
Damn Mayans could have at least given one more chance at some great presents to take along with us…..
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
10:05 pm
Something about Ross scares me.
Gotta think Wren will target a younger player and not acquire two players in their 30’s. I know the team is already young, but Wren has always looked to get building block types.
saw a lot of Gilmartin in college ball as a fellow alum, never was all that impressed.
Still really wish Robert Stephenson fell to us. Reds stole him from us. He was touching 100mph in the Reds Rookie League this year.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
KeyLargo w/ the subtle digs at Mac…. thanks for the info though
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
Rome is finally going to have some more talent this year. Really excited to see a full season from Sims and Mauricio Cabrera.
kenhotlanta
October 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
nolie: what new TV shows are you watching? I like Elementary, a nice new take on Sherlock Holmes…Lucy Liu is terrific as a female Dr. Watson, she’s a lot better than she was in Southland.
I’m still not sold on Revolution and Last Resort, the first episodes were good on both, but they have the Lost syndrome of creating more questions instead of giving us answers.
I’m really looking forward to Nashville in a few minutes.
I have really enjoyed Copper.
HooRah
October 10th, 2012
10:10 pm
subtle????
Efrim
October 10th, 2012
10:10 pm
Dexter Fowler still intrigues me. Not sure about those defensive metrics though. Averaged 65 walks per year since 2009. I could see him hitting .260/.340/.410ish for us. Just not a great defender in CF.
keyLargo
October 10th, 2012
10:10 pm
You can/t have it your way every time, Efrim. Thank goodness we didn’t have many Van Poppel days.
keyLargo
October 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
Is there some reason you can’t talk directly to me TOFU?
BFChris28
October 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
jeffrey d
It’d serve MLB right for backing Holbrooks horrendous call
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
I like Elementary too ken. Vegas is ok so far, at least for the cast.
Last Resort and Revolution I agree for the most part. Might last, might go the way of THE RIVER.
gonna watch Arrow in a bit, first epi.
BFChris28
October 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
Referring to your 9:41pm post.
Couch Tater
October 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
I know it is probably sacrilidge, but the Hank Aaron award is a meaningless award.
It may have been meaningful for good press, February 5, 1999. The date the award was announced. Maybe just a coinkydink…
February 05, 1999|Daily News Wire Services
Members of Congress met with baseball union head Donald Fehr yesterday to seek his help in blocking a pair of proposed exhibition games between the Baltimore Orioles and a Cuban all-star team.
The lawmakers are among several who object to the games as “insensitive to the lack of human rights in Cuba,” said Ivette Mendez, spokeswoman for Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
http://articles.philly.com/1999-02-05/sports/25502176_1_cuban-doctors-cuban-officials-cuban-people
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:16 pm
Except for 2011, which was a horrible year all around, (playing in AT&T), Ross has never OPS’d under .883 vs. lefties
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:19 pm
its not ONLY about lefties, we are not looking for a platoon player at this point
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:19 pm
subtle????
Ha.
Is there some reason you can’t talk directly to me TOFU?
namecalling… I prefer meat, anyway. I thanked you for the info. I really have no clue what % it would be, that’s research material for me.
keyLargo
October 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
Hey TOFU – Something you need to say to me? I heard a month of a lack of your knowledge and I think I’ll make it a project to tell you when you don’t know WTF you’re talking about. Starting Now.
kenhotlanta
October 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
nolie: I forgot about Vegas, I like that show a lot. I recorded Arrow, may watch it after the games tonight.
Rev Buddy Greene
October 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
DOB-are Kimbrel and or Freeman considered super 2 ? I am not really sure how that works
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
Well, he does hold his own vs. righties…. .253/.312/.415/.727. Not as bad as Diaz against right-handers.
Is that line kinda poor?
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
Yankees apparently PH w/ Ibanez for ARod. That’s a good, and possibly bold, move.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:28 pm
just looking mostly at the total OPS with these guys at this point cause I want a guy who hits both sides pretty well.
I would likely be Ok with Ross too , the thing I like so much about Willingham is the 7 mil price tag. not sure what Ross will want but you know he will attempt to parley his pretty decent year into a big, long check if he can.
Like Efrim said it is kinda early yet to have much of a feel for what these guys will be looking for.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
10:28 pm
and it worked… HR, tie-game in the 9th
Klaus
October 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Some interesting & attainable ideas but I still am concerned that Uggla and his payroll impact. Wren should trade him if at all possible.
Move Prado to 2B. As much as I love Prado I would not put him at 3B. 10mm a year also seems steep for a guy who as bounced around. 8mm a year max for Prado at 2B makes sense for this payroll and given its other needs. If you need more then back load it.
Don’t want to see Hanson back. Trade him before he becomes JJ 2013.
Bench needs to be flushed apart from Ross and Juan F.
I still would love to see both Uptons in the OF if nothing else.
Willingham and Pagan are decoys IMHO. One has never played on a team with high expectations (Willingham) and the other (Pagan) was forgettable as a Met but has played outside his shoes in SF.
3B needs to be a power/RBI spot and Prado is not a big time power/RBI guy.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
Pagan was forgettable as a Met for one year, the other two were above average, one well above average. If he can hit in SF and is clean, he should hit Ok in The Ted
Mitchell
October 10th, 2012
10:34 pm
Raul Ibanez just took a curtain call after hitting a line drive into the gap.
In NBA news the Knicks will be playing all their home games at Madison Sqaure Garden on a half court.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:35 pm
Both Uptons? gag me with a spoon …..
Oh please
October 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
5 out of 10 people on this blog have no cocept of business expenses past what the player makes. You can add at least 50% added onto Mac $13M from everything from workman’s comp to Social Security.
McCann’s FICA taxes would be about .0014% but even less when you take into account the .2% temporary cut on SS taxes. Pretty much a rounding error.
Klaus
October 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
I also would be open to trading Mac for a bounty of prospects bc I don’t see him as a Brave past next year in any scenario given his age for a catcher. The mileage is going to start showing on his next deal.
Hudson should be ok with the option assuming we lose Uggla.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
thinking we will lose Uggla is a terrible assumption, highly unlikely
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Both Uptons? gag me with a spoon …..
Why? We had 2 Drews once and that worked out fine. We made it to the playoffs, in fact
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
Gosh…call me a homer, and I know that 2 subpar seasons (albeit 2 seasons with a combined 55 HR and 51 2B) have tainted Uggla’s image in the eyes of some, but I just don’t think he’s done.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:47 pm
Jason is Ok, though he hits poorly away from ‘zona and I’m not sure how he would produce in the Ted.
I think most everybody knows my opinion of Bossman Junior……
Powder Blue
October 10th, 2012
10:47 pm
I hate teh Yankees. That is all.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
And for Shaun – Uggla’s had WARs of 1.6 and 2.7 since joining the Braves.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:49 pm
Me too. When I was an Os fan, they were just starting to get good and the Yanks had been dominating the AL for decades. Damn Yankees!!!
Mitchell
October 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
At what point might Frank Wren be expected to answer for all the former Braves currently involved in post-season play who Braves fans were previously made to believe were not every day major league caliber starters?
I thought we couldn’t win with Gregor Blanco?
That’s funny cause he looked like Chipper Jones circa 1999 today.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:51 pm
I think Dan will come back some too. Regression to the mean is a powerful force, maybe even more powerful than Dan’s sukkage
Powder Blue
October 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
Glad Camden Yards has enjoyed playoff baseball for the first time in a long time this year. Such a great ballpark.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
Mitchell, you are evidencing your ignorance again….
David O'Brien
October 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
DOB-are Kimbrel and or Freeman considered super 2 ? I am not really sure how that works — Rev Buddy Greene
Neither. Freeman isn’t even close; he only has about 2-1/4 years of service. And Kimbrel only has about 2-1/2. Gotta be closer to 3 years to get in that percentage of players with service time to reach Super 2.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:53 pm
yeah a lot of my friends and kin have been very excited. good year for them no matter what
David O'Brien
October 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
HooRah is DOB I think. — Dum-Bass
And you have an appropriate screen name if you really think that.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
Regression to the mean is a powerful force, maybe even more powerful than Dan’s sukkage
You’re right. And, just playing devil’s advocate here, but even in Dan’s “sukkage,” he’s had decent (at worst) stats in runs, power numbers and BB.
Mitchell
October 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Omar Infante, in the playoffs with the Tigers for a second time.
Okay, that time he looked like a Brave.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
he has an appropriate screen name for sure.
jj
October 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Insider couple weeks ago said Swisher was looking for 5 years at 15-20 million a year. Hell no!
Willingham had a great year but maybe he is another Milkey..No!
Ross not crazy about, he had the Big Green Wall in Boston.
Pagan one good year and SF will probably keep him.
Agree on Bourn Would love to keep but $$ will rule him out.I would not trade two young pitcher that Braves have valued so high the last few year for JW..no way.I would for J Upton.
Hanson will be another JJ..bet on it. Trade him to Royals for one of their young OF’ers if Moore will do it.(Cain)
Glad DOB is not the GM. Ok glad I’m not also. DOB is to good at what he does.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
10:56 pm
Well here’s something if you’re a silver lininger. The top NL hitters in the postseason:
1. David Ross, ATL .750
1. Freddie Freeman, ATL .750
3. Ian Desmond, WSH .583
4. Ryan Zimmerman, WSH .385
5. Carlos Beltran, STL .375
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:57 pm
DOB was GMish in that blog IMO.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
Also, I know it seemed like Uggla accounted for about 8 outs in every AB, but among the NL secondbasemen with at least 500 PA, Dan was 10th out of 10 in GIDP
jj
October 10th, 2012
10:59 pm
NYY and O’s tied in 12th
nolie
October 10th, 2012
10:59 pm
Carlos was certainly worth his salary this season, and he stayed healthy like I thought was likely. Missed chance IMO
nolie
October 10th, 2012
11:00 pm
Go Big O !!!
the truth...
October 10th, 2012
11:01 pm
@borno
Kenney Lofton was a nothing to Atlanta…so much a non factor that his name is not worthy of mentioning….he was here basicly for part of two years….a horrible salary dump trade.
In the year after we traded for him….joke that it was….he stole 27 bases and was caught stealing 20 times………….
He was a non impact player for us ….
Brave New World
October 10th, 2012
11:01 pm
DOB: Not sure about Willingham, but totally agree on pursuing Pagan and/or Victorino. One of the reasons the Braves offense is prone to inconsistency is due to the number of players we had in 2012 that struck out a lot. We had Bourn, Heyward, Freeman, and Uggla all in the 150 strike out range. Let Bourn walk (something he doesn’t do enough of as a lead off hitter). I also like the fact that Pagan and Victorino are switch hitters. BTW, let’s make Martin Prado a captain after we sign him to an extension.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
I agree that Kenny was a huge disappointment on the field, and a clubhouse cancer, but how do you get that he was here part of two two years
keyLargo
October 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
McCann’s FICA taxes would be about .0014% but even less when you take into account the .2% temporary cut on SS taxes. Pretty much a rounding error.
That was at one extreme. The other extreme would be to insure him against injury, salary while disable from a workplace injury and future salary. More if you are talking about a multiyear contrract. Why don’t you mention those and work out some figures based on a guy making $13M that was hurt 3 times the previous year.
Mitchell
October 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
Who still uses the word ‘kin’?
nolie, are you sure you’re not an old timely prospector?
By the way, do you care to enlighten me to my ignorance or do you just like to let people stew in their existential goulash?
Tom in ATL
October 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
Any chance of landing Chase Headley? Switch hitting 29 year old next season – blew up in 2nd half – but with the numbers he put up in half a season at Petco – what could he do playing full time elsewhere? Part with Hanson , Tehran, and another minor leaguer – and get a bonafied star in the making with 2 years of afordable salary.
Put him at 3B – and move Prado back to 2B – trade Uggla for a bucket of warm spit and call it a day. Seriously – Uggla, even at his best -is a low contact, all or nothing type – would love to ditch him and sign Ross and Pagan.
Pagan
Prado
Headley
J Hey
Freeman
Ross
McCann
Simmons
Doable – affordable – and quality AB’s up and down the lineup – AKA St. Louis Cards
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
11:06 pm
Who still uses the word ‘kin’?
The entire English-speaking world? What an odd point to complain about.
By the way, do you care to enlighten me to my ignorance
Bitchell, we’ve been trying to enlighten you for years.
jeffrey d
October 10th, 2012
11:06 pm
Whoa, umps….are you sure that wasn’t an infielf fly??
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 10th, 2012
11:07 pm
Not to argue, nolie, but where exactly would Beltran have played?
nolie
October 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
goulash is good Mitchell
I coulda said kith and kin……
Mitchell
October 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
Any other stadium this game would be high drama if not for the impending, inevitable 280 foot pop fly to right Yankee walk off game winner.
Nowhere Man
October 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
Always someone having to resort to name calling. I guess anyone that disagrees is an idiot. Can’t someone just state an opinion that is not the same and then discuss why.
He may call out Idiots and bystanders but he wouldn’t call out all 160lbs of Tim Hudson.
As far as the article goes I agree with almost all of it. The only exception would be to explore the options at third base and if there is sometheing to be had then put Prado in LF.
nolie
October 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
Left Field , what ever it took.
and you got your nerve trying to introduce reality into my fantasy……..
glad i don’t do that.
oh wait…..
David O'Brien
October 10th, 2012
11:11 pm
That’s just ridiculous. Yankees. Damn Yankees.