Braves have 2 big needs, and the means to fill them

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TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
10:34 am

Through age 28 season:
Greinke 91 wins, 1492.0 IP, 3.77 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, 1332 K
Hudson 92 wins, 1240.2 IP, 3.30 ERA, 1.222 WHIP, 899 K

Murph

October 16th, 2012
10:35 am

Are we really pumping up Mike Minor that much? Mike Minor???

I didn’t mention Mike Minor at all. Not sure where you got that from.

As far as Medlen compared to Bailey, last time I checked, two good months is better than one good month.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
10:35 am

Why shouldn’t we ask them to do so? It doesn’t have to be the minute they come up from AA, but seriously? Why not?

Lew

October 16th, 2012
10:36 am

Sorry – meant AAA

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
10:36 am

I can understand if some folks think that we should sit tight with the starting pitching for 2013 and go with what we have……

I can’t for the life of me fathom not acquiring a frontline starter between now and April of 2014. I have a very different look of the assets we have in Triple-A then I suppose. Teheran/Delgado – one of which will be used as trade bait. Gilmartin does not profile as a frontline guy. Spruill either. Graham might, but it’s way too early to tell.

It’d be very, very disappointing if Wren doesn’t look to acquire an elite starter over the next 12-14 months. Need to strive to have a top rotation. Not just middle of the pack.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
10:36 am

Last four seasons:
Greinke 57 wins, 833.1 IP, 3.37 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 824 K
Hudson 51 wins, 665.0 IP, 3.22 ERA, 1.182 WHIP, 429 K

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
10:38 am

Not saying the Braves could/will sign Greinke, just pointing out that he is a good pitcher; not to be brushed aside.

P-Town Brave ©

October 16th, 2012
10:38 am

So…gentlemen….

What is the topic du jour….

The topic of the day so to speak?

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
10:38 am

You didn’t get the memo 10Paul? Greinke’s not that good of a pitcher, a #3….

Jeff R

October 16th, 2012
10:39 am

Tough to build young pitching on the fly and still compete? Isn’t that exactly what we’ve been doing?

Yes, indeed, the Braves are doing that. It is tough to do, though. But for a team with a limited budget (under a hundred million annually), the Braves are doing a pretty good job of blending vets and kids.

Fans may see Delgado in the rotation next year if Hanson goes or unless Delgado is traded.

Murph

October 16th, 2012
10:40 am

What is the topic du jour….

The topic of the day so to speak?

Excuse me, Flo? What is the soup du jour?

It’s the soup of the day.

Mmmmm, that sounds good. I’ll have that.

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
10:41 am

You didn’t get the memo 10Paul? Greinke’s not that good of a pitcher, a #3….

Anyone who thinks Greinke is a league average starter is insane. That’s just as insane as calling him an Ace. Actually moreso, imo.

P-Town Brave ©

October 16th, 2012
10:41 am

So I guess I see we are now to comparing Huddy to Greinke….

I thought we moved on from the Greinke Station?

That said, I think the hiccup some really see in the whole ace discussion is that most people don’t see guys who don’t have high strikeout totals as aces….

Most people see an ace today as someone who can blow you away at any given moment….

Especially when you look at past postseason results where guys like John Smoltz and Curt Schilling have flourished and guys like Greg Maddux haven’t

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
10:42 am

I need to keep better records… I had a list posted before of some upper echelon pitchers in the game, and compared how they pitched through age 28 w/ Greinke. He was near, if not better than most of them. I don’t even remember everyone on the list, but Halladay was on it.

phil

October 16th, 2012
10:43 am

Flo….lol

We have a cat named that.

P-Town Brave ©

October 16th, 2012
10:43 am

Murph-

Way to look alive there….

I gave you the hanging slider and you hit it outta the park ;-)

Lew

October 16th, 2012
10:43 am

Efrim – By April 2014? Different situation than right now. I agree – by then we will need to make some decisions and changes. BUT – We’ll also have $15.5 mil coming off of the books after this year just on Hudson and Maholm’s contracts and likely would be able to spend it on one pitcher and not two..

David O'Brien

October 16th, 2012
10:46 am

You didn’t get the memo 10Paul? Greinke’s not that good of a pitcher, a #3…. — TOBF

Who said he’s not a good pitcher? He’s a very good pitcher. So is Tim Hudson. I said he’s not a Verlander/Kershaw/Cain pitcher. Those guys all have overwhelming statistics that jump off the page and stand above other very good pitchers. And they’re paid accordingly.

You and some others want to pay Greinke like he’s one of those pitchers, when he simply doesn’t have the stats — career or recent years — to justify him being paid as if he’s one of the best 5 pitchers in the game. That’s what I said. Not that he’s not a very good pitcher. I said he’s not a Verlander/Kershaw/Cain, or Hamels/Price. Not in terms of results. And that’s what guys should be paid for, when you’re talking about that kind of money, the pitchers making close to or more than $20 million. That’s the select few at the very top of the game, not pitchers whose stats compare to pitchers who rank among the majors’ best 10-20.

One terrific year does not make him one of those select few, particularly when that year was not in the past three seasons.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
10:46 am

Yes, it does mean that.

I simply disagree that the team should ignore potentially improving itself anywhere and everywhere on the diamond. You are probably correct that they will ignore the rest of the team this off-season and focus simply on two spots as you have your finger on the pulse and I do not. But I find such an approach to be negligent and short sited. I will grant that the right deal may not be out there to improve the club in other areas, but I contend a proper management of the team would keep itself open to all possible ways of improving the club.

Gary O.

October 16th, 2012
10:51 am

DOB,

Not to mention Greinke’s lack of playoff success. 3 games, 6.48 ERA, 16.2 innings pitched, 4 HR given up, 13 strikeouts. His playoff record is 1-1.

raleighbravefan

October 16th, 2012
10:53 am

All things considered, there is good harmony and healthy discussion on the ole blog lately.

Things we mostly agree on, at least to some degree:

LF is a top priority, and requires a strong RH bat. Alternative, less desirable choice, Prado in LF, and a bopper at 3B.

A top tier SP would be great, although most think not a first priority until 2014.

CF needs a fix…and affordable one, with defense the top priority.

Beyond that, we need a good comeback from MaCann and Uggla. We need to extend Prado (and Heyward), and need to sign R Johnson and David Ross.

I am totally good with a bench of Ross, Francisco, Janish, Johnson, and another bat.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
10:55 am

You and some others want to pay Greinke like he’s one of those pitchers, when he simply doesn’t have the stats — career or recent years — to justify him being paid as if he’s one of the best 5 pitchers in the game.

This entire post, I completely understand. It is essentially my view of Michael Bourn. But I will also point out that it is the Free Agent market. While I personally would not value Bourn at $18M a year for 6 or 7 years, it only takes one GM to make that happen. Greinke is going into the off-season Free Agent market as the only really quality pitcher available (or put another way, the top Free Agent starting pitcher on the market), and he’s young. His agent will begin negotiations with Cain’s contract, even if many disagree he is worth that level of a contract.

Secondly, it was around the trading deadline that word got out the Braves deemed they could potentially negotiate with Greinke on what was, at the time, already considered to be a very expensive level. It’s one point of note that, while exciting to hear, frankly scared the sh!t out of me because it wasn’t long after there was talk of how important it was for the Braves to hand Michael Bourn that type of contract.

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
10:55 am

<BUT – We’ll also have $15.5 mil coming off of the books after this year just on Hudson and Maholm’s contracts and likely would be able to spend it on one pitcher and not two..

And no one will be happy about it. Because no one here is going to want to spend 17 million+ on the available pitchers in free agency. And if it’s through trade, than folks will complain about the prices in prospects.

Tim Lincecum
Adam Wainwright
Josh Johnson
Matt Garza
Phil Hughes

That’s pretty much it for free agents. Can’t say I’d love to dish out big deals for any of em.

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
10:55 am

We have Maddux (Medlen) and Glavine (Minor). Where’s our Smoltz?

Seriously, does anyone expect Minor to pitch like he did in the 2nd half for the entire season? Medlen? Is Hudson expected to be much better than he was this year (not that he was bad)? Maholm? Is Delgado/Teheran/Gilmartin gonna be some surprise star? Is Beachy gonna come back from surgery pitching like he’s possessed?

I’m expecting our rotation to take a “step back” next season without some kind of top pitcher being added. With our defense being worse as well, I guess we’d better hope that our offensive fixes do extremely well.

Nowhere man

October 16th, 2012
10:55 am

Chipper E. Jones trying out his new bow camera this morning.

Murph

October 16th, 2012
10:55 am

Good summary raleigh. Lots o’ questions to be answered, but for once, some resources available to help fill in the gaps.

Murph

October 16th, 2012
10:57 am

DOB, now that we know about Mac’s surgery, any word on Hudson? Is he going to get the bone spurs in his ankle taken care of?

David O'Brien

October 16th, 2012
10:57 am

We probably won’t know specific recovery timetable for McCann til post-surgery. I mean, Braves have yet to even acknowledge he’s having surgery (it’s this afternoon). But even if recovery is 4-5 months, the worst-case scenario McCann mentioned last weekend, then he should be ready Opening Day or not long afterward.

But again, nothing official. And Braves haven’t said yet whether they’re picking up his option, though I would be very surprised if they don’t.

richbrave

October 16th, 2012
10:57 am

raleigh:

How about that other bat being GATTIS? Would you be happy with that outcome?

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
10:58 am

It’s one point of note that, while exciting to hear, frankly scared the sh!t out of me because it wasn’t long after there was talk of how important it was for the Braves to hand Michael Bourn that type of contract.

If Bourn had posted a .800+ OPS, I know some would of felt he warranted a contract of 18 million a year over 6-7 years. And he’s never had a year like that in his career. So it’s okay if we pay Bourn as an elite player, but patently absurd that any team pay Greinke 20 million+ in a long term deal?

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
11:01 am

Same here Efrim. Not a lot out there next season. For trades, it’s 2 years of Price, 1 on Shields. Others may become available though… But it will cost a ton

DOB,

Not to mention Greinke’s lack of playoff success. 3 games, 6.48 ERA, 16.2 innings pitched, 4 HR given up, 13 strikeouts. His playoff record is 1-1.

in 3 starts.

Homer of A-town sports

October 16th, 2012
11:01 am

I can see I am in the minority on this one but Greinke wants to play for the Braves. I am sure he would sign for the Braves for less money. You know what you are going to get with Greinke. You never see a team with top heavy pitching staff go into long slumps or losing streaks. I do see the down side of signing him when the Braves need a legit good CF. I just think you get Greinke while you have the chance.

raleighbravefan

October 16th, 2012
11:01 am

The mantra should always be do anything possible that improves the team. To do that, you must be prepared to make tough choices…and there is more than one way to relieve a feline of it’s outer covering. I believe that has always been Wren’s goal.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:02 am

Efrim – I can’t disagree about the slim pickins, but who ids available THIS winter? We’ve already had more than enough conversation re: ZG and most agree he’ll cost more than we can afford (if not on anything else about him).

But who else is there on the FA market? Dan Haren? Not sold on him, either – he had a much worse season this year than in 2011 – Down in IP, GS, K, and K to BB rate and up in ERA, Runs allowed, earned runs, HR, BB, WHIP, H/9 and BB/9. Not sure I;d want to offer him a loing term deal when two of his past three seasons were hardly Ace-like.

Unless Wren can pull off a monster trade for an outfielder/third baseman AND a top line pitcher? I will
bow to him and acknowledge his ultimate mastery.

richbrave

October 16th, 2012
11:02 am

Efrim:

How about patently refusing to pay those sums for either, and having them on someone else’s team next season?

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:03 am

And – with humble apologies to McFann, Mac might well not be here in 2014, either, freeing yet another $12.5 million from the books.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:05 am

richbrave – I’m not sold on Gattis – great offensive numbers in the minors, but never played more than 88 games – that is troubling. Maybe if you went to the three way platoon of Gattis/Prado, Prado/ Francisco?

raleighbravefan

October 16th, 2012
11:05 am

richbrave – Gattis is still an enigma, primarily due to the injury. If he looks strong in ST, great. He needs to prove mimself. I’ll ask you the same question.

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
11:06 am

Justin Verlander struggled in his first 3 postseason starts… in 10 postseason starts, he has just 3 qual. starts. Made it past the 6th 5 times, and was removed before the 5th twice.

raleighbravefan

October 16th, 2012
11:06 am

mimself = himself

Jeff R

October 16th, 2012
11:06 am

My guess is that McCann migrates to the American League in 2014. Just makes perfect sense for him to have the DH in addition to catching duties with whichever team he lands.

David O'Brien

October 16th, 2012
11:07 am

DOB, now that we know about Mac’s surgery, any word on Hudson? Is he going to get the bone spurs in his ankle taken care of? — Murph

You really should read the story I posted yesterday on Hudson if you’re interested in Hudson. It’s the story with the headline beneath the big photo of Hudson in the middle of the Braves page on the website you’re at right now, AJC.com.

Or you can just link it here, if you don’t usually look at that Braves page for updates, etc.:

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/10/15/hudson-hopes-for-extension-wants-to-finish-career-as-brave/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog

phil

October 16th, 2012
11:07 am

Easy on those felines….

Seems as if we’ve written off Bourn….I have too but I suppose we might bring him back if he can’t secure more money from some other crowd out there than we’re willing to pay. With his tendency to strike out a lot, and under the gun like he did in a recent 8th inning I would like to forget, I guess I don’t care one way or the other. Odds are, he’s gone. Someone will pay him big dollars, and he’ll end up MVP next season.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:07 am

I mean, Braves have yet to even acknowledge he’s having surgery (it’s this afternoon)

Wren didn’t seem to think surgery was a high probability in that interview you did with him earlier. McCann seemed to think it was. I’m way out on a limb here, so I won’t be surprised to see it snap and me fall to the ground, but is this possibly something the FO isn’t “pleased” about? Or a potential “elective” surgery by McCann?

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
11:08 am

2014 payroll allocations are completely up in the air. Only Dan Uggla is guaranteed a salary of 13.2 million for 2014. No other player has a guarantee. No idea what money will be available right now, especially given that this offseason hasn’t even started.

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
11:09 am

I can see I am in the minority on this one but Greinke wants to play for the Braves. I am sure he would sign for the Braves for less money.

You may be in the minority there. He likes the Angels too. Never seen him say that he wants to play here, just that he likes our organization. That may help our cause, but since Frank says they’re not looking at pitching….

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
11:12 am

I’m way out on a limb here, so I won’t be surprised to see it snap and me fall to the ground, but is this possibly something the FO isn’t “pleased” about? Or a potential “elective” surgery by McCann?

That’s not that crazy. Odd that the Braves haven’t acknowledged it.

phil

October 16th, 2012
11:12 am

DOB is about as easy on his loyal following as Michael Vick is on a lost cause pit bull……

What’s wrong with you, Murph!! lol

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:14 am

I can see I am in the minority on this one but Greinke wants to play for the Braves

Yeah, that’s a small minority. I hadn’t even heard that Greinke was in that minority with you….

richbrave

October 16th, 2012
11:14 am

raleighbravefan
October 16th, 2012
11:05 am

“…..richbrave – Gattis is still an enigma, primarily due to the injury. If he looks strong in ST, great. He needs to prove mimself. I’ll ask you the same question……”

And I’m in clined to say ‘yes.’ Based on early returns in VENEZUELA. I’ll get back to you on that, but I like the guy. I think ‘Big Jim’s’ on his way to ATLANTA soon. Just my sense of what he’s been doing the past year and his background. I think he’s on a mission, and I think he can deliver the goods at the plate. I think he’s here as a bench-role player in 2013.

The caveat is, I haven’t seen him in person for a period of time, so I have to crawfish a bit, but like SIMMONS, I think he will deliver for us soon.

phil

October 16th, 2012
11:14 am

Maybe Mac knows something about his future that we don’t….doubt it but maybe.

Murph

October 16th, 2012
11:15 am

Or you can just link it here, if you don’t usually look at that Braves page for updates, etc

Thanks for the link and snarky comment. :)

I never go to the main AJC page. The blog is always open on my computer, and when a new blog gets posted, I click on that link and go to the new blog. I also rarely click on side stories as I’m lazy and prefer to wait for people to quote text from said side story on the main blog.

It’s all about efficiency.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:15 am

And TOBF has already sent his Wish List to Santa, too.

David O'Brien

October 16th, 2012
11:16 am

I’m way out on a limb here, so I won’t be surprised to see it snap and me fall to the ground, but is this possibly something the FO isn’t “pleased” about? Or a potential “elective” surgery by McCann? — TennPaul

Braves orthopedist is doing the surgery, and each Braves doctor who examined him in the past week recommended the surgery.

P-Town Brave ©

October 16th, 2012
11:16 am

Its not crazy but I highly doubt that if the Braves are planning on exercising the 13M option that they wouldn’t be pleased Brian is trying to do everything in his power to get his shoulder healthy….surgery or not

David O'Brien

October 16th, 2012
11:18 am

Justin Verlander struggled in his first 3 postseason starts… in 10 postseason starts, he has just 3 qual. starts. Made it past the 6th 5 times, and was removed before the 5th twice. — TOBF

Yes, Verlander was 23 at the time. Greinke was 27.

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:19 am

As far as Medlen compared to Bailey, last time I checked, two good months is better than one good month.

No one denies that Medlen was excellent in August and September. Against the likes of Mets, Marlins, Houston, Colorado, etc., and locked up with the Bud Norrises and Andrew Werners of the league (he did beat the Nats twice, matched up with Detwiler, their fifth starter). I’m less sanguine about seeing him toe it against Lee and Strasburg and Cain and the like, on a regular basis. Does that give no else pause?

DW

October 16th, 2012
11:20 am

Don’t forget, we need a 2nd baseman too. It’s high time to can Ugla!!

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:20 am

Braves doctor is doing the surgery, and each Braves doctor who examined him in the past week recommended the surgery.

Ah. Thanks for the confirmation. That fall from the limb breaking didn’t hurt all that bad, perhaps because I braced for it…

Homer of A-town sports

October 16th, 2012
11:22 am

PHIL,
That bozo Boras would not even talk to Wren last spring when Wren tried to sign Bourn. Boras said wait until the end of the season. Boras will not be reasonable with Wren. Bourn is gone. I said it before but Bourn will go to the gnats. MLB needs to look at the relationship Rizzo and Boras have. I am sure Boras is on the gnats payroll.

Murph

October 16th, 2012
11:22 am

I’m less sanguine about seeing him toe it against Lee and Strasburg and Cain and the like, on a regular basis. Does that give no else pause?

For some reason I worry less about the other team’s opposing pitcher than I do about the other team’s opposing hitters… seems those are the guys your pitcher needs to go toe to toe with. Lee/Strasburg/Cain are pretty easy strikeouts for a guy like Medlen.

raleighbravefan

October 16th, 2012
11:24 am

A LOT to like about Bourn. Obviously, biggest negative is the cost…probably way to high to justify.
Strike outs do concern me.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:24 am

I’m less sanguine about seeing him toe it against Lee and Strasburg and Cain and the like, on a regular basis. Does that give no else pause?

Strasburg, not so much. Medlen, as you pointed out, handled that lineup already. (Acknowledging it can/will change this off-season). And the Braves, in his short history, have seemed to handle Strasburg.

Meds will be pitching against a line up. The Braves line up will be hitting against the opposing pitcher. If Meds can turn in a decent outing, it’ll be on the Braves lineup to plate the runs. On the other hand, if Meds mows down the Phillies 1 through 8, except Lee keeps smacking HR’s off him, then it can be truly said that Lee dominated Meds. ( :

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:25 am

For some reason I worry less about the other team’s opposing pitcher than I do about the other team’s opposing hitters

Ah, I see. Thus, the fact that the opposing pitcher might be able to shut down the Braves’ lineup to a better extent than the Braves’ pitcher can shut down the opposing hitters is of no consequence.

DAP

October 16th, 2012
11:27 am

efrim It shouldn’t be about having a “good enough” rotation. It should be striving to have a great rotation that beats a 98 win Nationals team, right?

right on, man.

David O'Brien

October 16th, 2012
11:28 am

Probably looking at 4-6 months recovery for McCann

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:29 am

Thus, the fact that the opposing pitcher might be able to shut down the Braves’ lineup to a better extent than the Braves’ pitcher can shut down the opposing hitters is of no consequence

It’s always of consequence and, 99% of the time, the reason for wins and losses throughout the season.

I wouldn’t venture out on another limb and say Meds is an elite pitcher in the majors over the long haul. But I’m less worried about him being on the mound. He might go out and toss a quality start and lose, but he seems to be capable of keeping the team in the game, so long as the team can hit. Unfortunately for the Braves, there really isn’t a pitcher on the 2013 staff that fits your toe-to-toe match ups.

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
11:30 am

I’ve brought this up before, Medlen’s opponents since becoming a starter in late July:

Marlins(no Stanton), Astros, Mets, Padres, Nationals, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Nationals, Marlins(no Stanton), Marlins(no Stanton), Mets……..

Cardinals.

Still an above average starter, though. But I need to see a bit more.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:30 am

Yeah – what Murph said. I couldn’t care less about who’s pitching against Medlen, just who’s hitting against him . Other than that, it’s all about the offense we do not currently have and need to acquire.

raleighbravefan

October 16th, 2012
11:31 am

Boras will indeed do his job…and get Bourn the best deal possible. That’s what he gets paid to do. And that probably will make Bourn too expensive. BTW, Bourn wold likely be too expensive, no matter who his agent is.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:31 am

Probably looking at 4-6 months recovery for McCann

Well here’s to hoping it is a swift and full recovery.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:32 am

But yes, the jury is still out on Medlen. Not ready to annoint him the staff Ace. Now MInor……. (bet THAT gets a reaction).

Murph

October 16th, 2012
11:32 am

Thus, the fact that the opposing pitcher might be able to shut down the Braves’ lineup to a better extent than the Braves’ pitcher can shut down the opposing hitters is of no consequence.

The Braves’ pitcher cannot control what the opposing pitcher does against his teammates. If Medlen pitches a no-hitter yet loses because McCann throws the ball into CF and Constanza bobbles it and a stealing baserunner scores from 1st it doesn’t reflect all that poorly on Medlen. He’ll get the loss, but not because he got beat by an opposing pitcher. He’ll get the loss because his team didn’t do their part.

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
11:33 am

Brewers in play for Josh Hamilton? Ugh. That’d be quite the offense.

monty

October 16th, 2012
11:34 am

Good thing we didn’t get Beltran and his bad wheels, some were worried about. :)

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:34 am

Unfortunately for the Braves, there really isn’t a pitcher on the 2013 staff that fits your toe-to-toe match ups.

Hopefully, Medlen and Minor continue to prove out, Beachy comes back in good shape, and the three of them grow into it.

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
11:35 am

Minor? He had half a good season, same as Medlen. Hope he does well next year. Expecting a 3.60 ERA.

richbrave

October 16th, 2012
11:35 am

Let’s settle on the pitching we’ve got. i think the BRAVES are happy going to ST with HUDSON under contract, MINOR, MEDLEN, BEACHY, HANSON, MAHOLM, and JURRJENS fighting it out for the five slots available.

Work on that move to 3B by our LF’er, and a replacement for BOURN. If ‘Jason’s a BRAVE in 2013 it will surprise me. We need whoever at both LF and CF. CF TODD CUNNINGHAM is not the answer long-term in my opinion.

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:36 am

Brewers in play for Josh Hamilton? Ugh. That’d be quite the offense.

Sheeeesh that’d be an offense. It’d really be something if they had the bucks and retained Fielder, Braun and acquired Hamilton. They’d roll all over the place…

Of course, the Angels practically had that with Trumbo, Trout and Pujols…

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:36 am

He’ll get the loss because his team didn’t do their part.

Then, he gets a win because the opposing batters didn’t do their part?

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:37 am

Hopefully, Medlen and Minor continue to prove out, Beachy comes back in good shape, and the three of them grow into it.

For 2013? Careful scoots, it sounds as if you are saying Beachy will come back next season as an elite pitcher…

TennesseePaul

October 16th, 2012
11:39 am

Then, he gets a win because the opposing batters didn’t do their part?

Depends, are you a fan of the other team?

phil

October 16th, 2012
11:39 am

Yes, I think bourn is gone.

And good riddance I suppose. We won a grand total of zero playoff games with him. Not worth the investment to see him strike out too much and then tear himself all to pieces over it on the way back to the dugout, like some angry blogger….

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:39 am

For 2013?

Not bleepin’ hardly. That’s kinda been my point, the whole morning. :-)

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
11:41 am

For some reason I can’t copy paste Buster Olney’s blog this morning about the Brewers going after Josh Hamilton this winter. But it’s an interesting read. And looking at the Brewers lineup, they could sure use some left handed pop.

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:41 am

Depends, are you a fan of the other team?

HA!

Murph

October 16th, 2012
11:41 am

Then, he gets a win because the opposing batters didn’t do their part?

That’s basically how it works, isn’t it? Make it about semantics if you want, but the point remains the same. Pitchers lose lots of games, every year, due to lack of team support. Could be against Lee, could be against Jo Jo Reyes. The pitcher can’t control the support they get, they can only control how they perform against opposing batters.

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:41 am

Expecting a 3.60 ERA? You mean like Greinke?

DAP

October 16th, 2012
11:44 am

lew Not sure I;d want to offer him a loing term deal when two of his past three seasons were hardly Ace-like.

with haren you might be able to get another hudson-like pitcher for a hudson-like contract. i think that would be a good deal.

it all has to do with money, though. theres not enough as of now to get 2 good outfielders and a pitcher. but, if some trades are made, shedding salary as well as getting back some cost controlled players, it might be doable.

more than likely wont be done, anyways.

Efrim

October 16th, 2012
11:44 am

Josh Hamilton is an interesting case. Some team is going to give him something absurd like five years, 120 million. But I think five guaranteed years is the max for him.

monty

October 16th, 2012
11:44 am

Last four seasons:
Greinke 57 wins, 833.1 IP, 3.37 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 824 K
Hudson 51 wins, 665.0 IP, 3.22 ERA, 1.182 WHIP, 429 K

If anything this proves that either Greinke is way overvalued (if indeed he will get 20 mil a year)or that Hudson is way undervalued(at what, 9 mil for next year?).

P-Town Brave ©

October 16th, 2012
11:44 am

Here’s a thought….

Instead of worrying about the ROTATION to match up w/ the Nats….

How about having the OFFENSE to roll on them like the Cardinals did….

Remember the Cardinals…the team that scored 32 runs in 5 games

ncscoots

October 16th, 2012
11:46 am

The pitcher can’t control the support they get, they can only control how they perform against opposing batters.

Then, let’s make an assumption that a Braves’ pitcher performs at the same level, every outing, against a particular lineup. Is it more likely that the Braves will score enough runs to make that level a performance a win, against Cliff Lee or against Tyler Chatwood?

Matchups matter, Murph. Always have.

richbrave

October 16th, 2012
11:47 am

phil:

How did you figure that out? i thought all along my secret safe from prying eyes. Thusly the ‘GHOST of CHIPPER JONES’ handle. But you keenly discern the ugly truth……BOURN transforms as I take over his emotions afterr striking out.

HEH!

Lew

October 16th, 2012
11:48 am

DAP – The thing is that we can likely get Hudson like numbers from the pitchers we already have without spending all those bucks on Haren.

I think that what it all comes down to is this – if you don’t have wheelbarrows full of bucks to spend on an elite pitcher – and the Braves donn’t – then you have to develop your own elite pitchers. I guess we will just have to wait and see if we’ve done that.

RemoW

October 16th, 2012
11:48 am

I am not sure why starting pitching is being brought up. Beachy will be back next season. We have solid starting pitching. What we need is a consistent right handed power threat and either a left or center fielder.

I don’t see giving Bourne 15+ million year. He had faded late the last 2 seasons and he is going to want Chipper money or better for 5+ years. Oh heck no!

Huddy will get his option picked up and I hope we extend him. I did not realize how solid he has been over the last 3 or 4 years. Greinke is a head case.

They will also pick up McCann’s option and I believe that if he is healthy he will return to the All star game. Bmac is the current face of the Braves with Chipper retired and if he stays healthy and his swing returns. I believe there will be HOF talk about him.

I wonder if the Brewers would consider trading Aramis Ramriz?

O.M.G.

October 16th, 2012
11:50 am

richbrave 11:35—JJ??? no way!!!

TheOnlyBravesFan

October 16th, 2012
11:50 am

Expecting a 3.60 ERA? You mean like Greinke?

Worse than Greinke. He had a 3.44 ERA in the NL and with the worst defense behind him. Greinke may well put up a 3.10 if he were a Braves. Plus, he throws 92-94. ;)

DAP

October 16th, 2012
11:50 am

efrim Brewers in play for Josh Hamilton?

interesting choice for a recovering alcoholic.

P-Town Brave ©

October 16th, 2012
11:51 am

Scoots-

That depends….

Will they get to Chatwood before his 75 pitch limit :lol:

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