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
6,463 comments Add your comment
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Is it just me, or did more prospects fizzle this past season than usual?
This is an interesting topic. Do you have examples in mind?
I doubt more fizzled than usual. But I guess it depends on what you mean. That’s sort of a complex question. Because if a prospect is called up at 19. 20, 21 and doesn’t really perform like an average or above-average big leaguer, I wouldn’t call that fizzling. If a prospect isn’t showing much of anything by, say, 23-24, that’s when you can say he fizzled out, generally speaking, I would say.
Ward
October 23rd, 2012
2:08 pm
TOBF – I couldn’t help , but enjoy the comedy last night, so I let them be idiots……it was a smart move, not to come on last night. In other words I enjoyed the idiots making fools of themselfs, so I let them continue. Why ruin the moment?
RC
October 23rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Is it just me, or did more prospects fizzle this past season than usual?
I’ve got no hard data to back this up, but my perception is simply that we are more aware of prospects than we used to be, and that there has been a lot more turnover in recent years due to the relatively inexpensive cost of a pre-arb guy compared to a veteran player.
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
But I think it’s also true that players are more concerned with respect shown towards themselves than to other players.
Agreed. But if the girl slaps your buddy when he tries to kiss her, isn’t your first thought that she might slap you, too?
Ward
October 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
The most important thing to me is can the Right Handed Bat get on Base, and hit with 2 outs, and runners in scoring position. Remember it’s not the name, but can he get on base? All, I wan’t is some one who can hit, and will be happy with that.
nolie
October 23rd, 2012
2:12 pm
I’m sorry, but anybody who thinks Ross and CB are an improvement at catcher …
well I’m trying to be nicer so I’ll pass on saying what I think about that
Carroll Rogers
October 23rd, 2012
2:13 pm
good point, RC. Did you go to law school? (smile)
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:14 pm
well I’m trying to be nicer so I’ll pass on saying what I think about that
Just as well. I can’t say that I think the notion is really worthy of comment.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Agreed. But if the girl slaps your buddy when he tries to kiss her, isn’t your first thought that she might slap you, too?
Maybe, but the situation I described is more like slapping your buddy, then grabbing you by the hand and pulling you into the next room…..
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Maybe, but the situation I described is more like slapping your buddy, then grabbing you by the hand and pulling you into the next room…..
Oh, that happened to you, too?
RC
October 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
good point, RC. Did you go to law school? (smile)
Ha, no, but I was seriously considering it at one point. But after 4 years of college I decided I wasn’t really up for 3 more right away.
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
Ward, how does one scout and evaluate a player’s ability to hit with 2 outs and RISP different from overall ability to hit? Do you really think there are players out there that have some special skill to hit with 2 out and RISP that doesn’t show up in their overall hitting? And if a player just hits with 2 outs and RISP, I’m not sure I want that player. Who wants a player that needs to be put in certain base-out situations to be able to perform well?
abeeeewright
October 23rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Responding to Don’s post about how horrible the Braves pitching injury conspiracy is …
It was remarked by national analysts this year that pitching injuries are up across baseball. This is not a Braves thing, it’s a national thing.
The “inverted W” guys would say that it’s a result of folks at the lower levels developing “high stress, high velocity” mechanics in guys at a young age (instead of working with the guy’s natural mechanics).
So the theory goes, MLB is now reaping the results of this misapplied biomechanics.
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Geez, Shaun, it’s Ward, fercrissake. Leave him alone, willya?
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
2:19 pm
Hang tough, Bat. _ phil
It’s my younger brother. He has been sick as hell for several months now. He is going to have to have a liver transplant to live. He has been to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, and qualified, but he has to get much worse before it will happen.
He’s actually better, now that he has better doctors, but is really worried about how it will play out financially. I’ve been helping but what I can do is really limited. I talked to his wife about doing some fund raising but she set something up, without talking to anyone, and that did not work so now its on me.
I’m in over my head, here. If anyone has any experience I would surely love to hear about it.
Murph
October 23rd, 2012
2:20 pm
If Ward didn’t have bad luck he’d have no luck at all.
doug
October 23rd, 2012
2:23 pm
If we offer Bourn the qualifing offer. Let’s say one year $13M, how long does he have to accept it while he shops around? Didn’t Maddux come back late one year and accept our offer, and we had to trade Millwood (for budget reasons)? Boras always waits forever before his clients sign, I would hate for that to hold up our other plans, and we miss out on someone, while we wait for Boras/Bourn to make the best deal.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 23rd, 2012
2:23 pm
Oh boy, I feel for ya Ward
cowdogit
October 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
After fourteen division titles, Bobby Cox had the bright idea to allow Leo Mazzone to walk away. After eight years of misery the Mazzone curse continues.
BravePack(FreeFan)
October 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
12:35 pm
If this happen by this time next year will be in the WS.
I would stop reading articles from bleacher report.
Yeah we have to dream big and go for Willingham. Willingham or no WS next year for our Braves.
CB
October 23rd, 2012
2:26 pm
Bat, if you get a fund raiser up and willing to post on the blog I will contribute. Sorry to hear about his problems.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
After fourteen division titles, Bobby Cox had the bright idea to allow Leo Mazzone to walk away. After eight years of misery the Mazzone curse continues.
Because the manager is the one that hands out the contracts? If anyone “allowed” Mazzone to walk away, it was Scherholz, who was GM at the time. What actually happened is that Mazzone’s best friend in baseball got the job of managing Mazzone’s hometown team, the Orioles, and asked him to come along for a signficantly higher salary than he was currently making with the Braves. Mazzone accepted, and the Braves moved on. Judging by Mazzone’s “success” with the Orioles, it really doesn’t appear that the Braves missed him all that much.
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Bat, contact any charitable or research organizations connected with the type of illness suffered by your brother. Not for financial help, but to tap into their fundraising skills. Such orgs normally will have good fundraising ideas that you can implement on your own, and they can steer you away from those that just eat up your time for no return. Also, contact any orgs of any kind with which your brother was affiliated: fraternal, occupational, whatever. They can not only provide funding ideas, but you’re likely to be able to draw on them for volunteers at fundraising events and the like.
I won’t kid you, this kind of fundraising is hard, more or less depending on the amount you need to raise. But it can be done, man. Hang tough.
phil
October 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Ross and anyone are an improvement at the moment, assuming Mac never returns to his former glory. Of course Ross is an old nag now and just a backup.
Even you, nolie, would be an improvement. Possibly even me.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 23rd, 2012
2:29 pm
I’m sorry to hear about your brother Bat. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.
jeffrey d
October 23rd, 2012
2:30 pm
Me too, Bat
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
2:31 pm
CB_
Thanks, really. Figuring out what approach to setting up a fund is really complicated. Non profit, or something else. What are the tax implications, what can you use the money for, how does it effect disability? All that sort of thing.
flange1
October 23rd, 2012
2:31 pm
If Leo is so great, how come he isn’t working in baseball somewhere?
abeeeewright
October 23rd, 2012
2:31 pm
Regarding CBA language …
It seems, if a team makes a qualifying offer which is declined, thus allowing the player to reach free agency, and the team makes a competitive FA offer, which the player accepts, then the team would lose its first round draft pick and get a supplemental pick.
So, Braves will either re-sign Bourn during the exclusive negotiating window (before he’s a FA) or let him walk.
phil
October 23rd, 2012
2:32 pm
Yikes, Bat. I’m sorry to hear it but am glad to hear of a potential solution and am glad to hear he must get much worse in the interim….
Is he on the list yet? I will keep my ears to the ground.
abeeeewright
October 23rd, 2012
2:32 pm
addendum to my last post …
Since Boras will certainly encourage Bourn to go to FA and since the Braves will certainly offer him a qualifying offer, Bourn is gone.
nolie
October 23rd, 2012
2:32 pm
nobody really puts any credence in Bleacher Reports do they?
Ward
October 23rd, 2012
2:32 pm
Shaun – Getting op base is important. Driving them in with 2 outs is important too. Have you scene the Cards game? I Wan’t player that can do that in key situations. Braves hitters failed a lot in that.
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:33 pm
assuming Mac never returns to his former glory.
Except, why would you assume that? Have you seen the guy, at any point in his career when healthy, not perform?
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:34 pm
It was remarked by national analysts this year that pitching injuries are up across baseball. This is not a Braves thing, it’s a national thing.
Was this a study? Was this just someone’s thoughts? I’m always skeptical of these types of claims because pitching a baseball has always been a significant injury risk.
My guess is that it seems like pitchers get injured more because teams are a) more cautious and will shut pitchers down at any sign of injury and b) with technology it’s much easier to spot injuries.
In the past, pitchers would basically throw until they hurt or until their arms fell off. Even though there may have been multiple things that would have put a pitcher on the DL nowadays, that pitcher would have kept throwing and perhaps would have been done by age 30, or something.
There are those pitchers who were freaks and seem immune to injury and there are those pitchers nowadays. Those are the ones we remember. And often we remember all the ones that pitched from, say, 1920 to 1990. And we compare all those guys to the freaks of nature from the last, say, 10 years. We conclude that there aren’t as many nowadays, though we are comparing 70 years to 10 years.
A lot of discussion about pitching isn’t very fact-based, seems to me. I think many come in with an agenda and want to get their view across that pitchers nowadays are babied and possibly that players aren’t as tough as they were “back in my day,” etc.
My guess is that if someone took a serious look at pitching, there are advantages to the way teams handle pitchers these days compared to how they were handled in, say, the 1950’s. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t gone too far. I tend to think four-man rotations along with currently accepted pitch-count limits are the way to go. But I’m skeptical of the view that pitchers are less healthy than they were in the past.
phil
October 23rd, 2012
2:37 pm
Yes, Scoots.
Supposedly the first 4 months or so of this season.
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
2:37 pm
I won’t kid you, this kind of fundraising is hard, more or less depending on the amount you need to raise. But it can be done, man. Hang tough. _ scoots
Yeah, thanks, all you guys. I’ve been looking on line for support groups in the area and people that have been through it. I just feel like I’m way behind, because several weeks have gone by since my sister in law did her thing and did not raise a penny. So Friday they called and asked me to take over.
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:38 pm
Ward, for the most part, hitting is hitting. There is no distinct skill that we can pick out for hitting with 2 outs and RISP. If the Braves are overly focused on hitting with 2 outs and RISP instead of looking at overall performance, they are making a huge mistake. I think they are smart enough to realize that’s not the way to go, so I’m not too worried.
abeeeewright
October 23rd, 2012
2:38 pm
“Was this a study? Was this just someone’s thoughts? “
They just posted a count of folks injured this year, last year, and maybe some years before (if memory serves, which it probably doesn’t). There was enough of an up-trend that it merited a closer look.
However, is this just a “cluster” or is it a trend, who can say without further analysis?
jeffrey d
October 23rd, 2012
2:38 pm
By royal proclamation, I henceforth declare that everybody on the blog disagree about everything.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
October 23rd, 2012
2:39 pm
Hey, Bat! Sorry to hear about the family health issues—will keep y’all in my prayers…
nolie
October 23rd, 2012
2:39 pm
bullcrap phil, even with what he hit this year he is better than anybody they will come up with, and since he was playing in significent pain he is likely to regress toward the norm when healthy
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
I would love for someone to reveal how Mazzone would have kept Medlen, Beachy, Hanson and Jurrjens from getting hurt. Maybe he would have. I have my doubts. But clearly some have the evidence that clearly shows Mazzone would have kept all these guys healthy. I can’t wait to see it from those who are so sure about Mazzone.
phil
October 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
If we weren’t so strapped for money, I wouldn’t care about keeping Mac…
But unless he actually commits to getting into excellent shape, along with his surgery, I don’t think I want to spend a ton of money on the guy.
Except that I told Bat I would…..sigh.
Ward
October 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
Shaun – What ever!!!!!!!
RC
October 23rd, 2012
2:42 pm
Regarding CBA language …
It seems, if a team makes a qualifying offer which is declined, thus allowing the player to reach free agency, and the team makes a competitive FA offer, which the player accepts, then the team would lose its first round draft pick and get a supplemental pick.
So, Braves will either re-sign Bourn during the exclusive negotiating window (before he’s a FA) or let him walk.
I don’t think that’s the case. If it is, then the player’s union should fire their lawyers right now, because that would be an incredibly anti-player policy (even more so than losing a draft pick already is). What’s more likely is that it’s simply written strangely, and if a player resigns with his original team then no compensation takes place.
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
2:43 pm
Sorry to hear about your brother, Bat. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there.
phil
October 23rd, 2012
2:44 pm
nolie
October 23rd, 2012
2:39 pm
bullcrap phil, even with what he hit this year he is better than anybody they will come up with, and since he was playing in significent pain he is likely to regress toward the norm when healthy
**************
That’s not very nice….
And we’ll see. I hope you’re right.
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
2:45 pm
Is he on the list yet? I will keep my ears to the ground. _ phil
No, he’s qualified but his score was 13 when he went over there. You have to get to 18 to 20 to get on the list and then the average wait is two months. He had some kind of test done Friday that has him freaked out, but we will not know the results for a couple of more days.
He’s feeling desperate. He called me last week and wanted to try to go back to work. I had to talk him down from that. I mean, good grief, he can’t work and a construction site, with his platelets so low if he got cut he would bleed to death.
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
2:45 pm
I do not believe the Braves will lose their first round draft choice if they make an offer that is considered a qualifying offer during the 5 day window. That just doesn’t make any bit of sense. It’s just worded in a strange way.
nolie
October 23rd, 2012
2:47 pm
I doubt it too Efrim and RC
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:47 pm
They just posted a count of folks injured this year, last year, and maybe some years before (if memory serves, which it probably doesn’t). There was enough of an up-trend that it merited a closer look.
I completely disagree with that last sentence. If it’s what you described, I don’t think it’s worth a closer look, at least in terms of seriously trying to answer whether more pitchers are injured nowadays, etc.
First of all, it’s one year’s worth of data. Second, who’s to say teams just aren’t more cautious with hurt pitchers and, instead of hiding their injuries and letting them pitch, they put them on the DL?
Not trying to attack you at all. I hope it doesn’t come across that way. It’s just that is shoddy research and when discussing pitching and injuries, I’m just skeptical of the way folks interpret the information they think they have.
Ward
October 23rd, 2012
2:48 pm
All, have a good one! I decided that Swisher would not be a good choice, because of his post season slumps, and Hamilton is way too much, and is not healthy all the time. I’ll go with Willingham, Span, Victorino, and Pagan. Would accept Justin Upton, as well. Peace my friends, and good talking. Talk later tonight, but if the idiots are on? I’ll let them continue to be stupid, as well. “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
wheelz007
October 23rd, 2012
2:50 pm
The Braves WILL pick up Mac’s $12 million option for next year. It’s the right thing to do.
They will NOT tender a contract to Jurrjens.
They WILL attempt to re-sign Bourne.
Prado will probably get a 3 or 4 year deal during the offseason.
I WILL be hoping for a right-handed, significant bat to play LF or 3B but I’m sure we’ll get a mid-teir player instead.
Jimmy
October 23rd, 2012
2:50 pm
Bat – Sorry to hear about your brother.
I’ve been involved in a couple of fundraisers around here. Bluegrass gospel sings. We put ads in the local paper and on the local radio station.
It clearly stated that all proceeds goes to the _______ Family to cover medical expenses.
No tax implications that I know of. Simply a gift.
Adding you/your brother to my prayer list.
Hope everything works out Bat. You are one of the good ones.
jeffrey d
October 23rd, 2012
2:50 pm
Thanks, guys
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:52 pm
If it is, then the player’s union should fire their lawyers right now, because that would be an incredibly anti-player policy
Would be pretty anti-team, too. It would mean that a team, having neither gained nor lost the player, would be treated as if they had done both, and would draft lower as a consequence.
I blame Carroll’s being invaded by the spirit of Rod Serling for all this.
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
2:52 pm
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mike-mathenys-rookie-mistake/
Yes, I was also wondering what the heck Lohse was doing in the game when, it’s Game Seven.
But, Matheny was a rookie manager and these things happen.
Murph
October 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
I just read a very in-depth study that analyzed pitchers and their injuries and trends between 1990 and 2011. It was a super interesting article and raised many excellent points about what the data pointed to… but I’ll be damned if I can remember what site it was on.
Oh well.
Jimmy
October 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Dagummit Ward! You were keeping Shaun ocuppied. Now, someone else will have to engage him.
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
The Red Sox are finalizing a two-year contract with David Ortiz that will keep the slugger in Boston through 2014, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports.
Makes sense. I’d be surprised if Cody Ross didn’t resign either. Nice pull swing for that park and Ryan Kalish can grab some plate appearances vs. RHP once and a while – not so much for the Braves, though. Don’t think he is the answer in LF.
nolie
October 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
That’s not very nice….phil
yeah, I’m terrible at keeping New Year’s resolutions too…
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
2:57 pm
I just read a very in-depth study that analyzed pitchers and their injuries and trends between 1990 and 2011.
Only 20 years worth of data? Piffle.
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington confirmed Tuesday that the club has met with Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani.
I was so happy to hear the Braves were interested in Jorge Soler. And that they even made him an offer. He would of made the system look that much better. Oh well.
Hope they get involved with Otani, although it seems like it’s down to the usual suspects for Japanese players.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
2:58 pm
Would be pretty anti-team, too. It would mean that a team, having neither gained nor lost the player, would be treated as if they had done both, and would draft lower as a consequence.
Great point. It would really be a policy that penalizes everyone while rewarding nobody. Those don’t get put into place very often.
phil
October 23rd, 2012
2:59 pm
It’s only October so be as mean as you want….
Shaun
October 23rd, 2012
2:59 pm
Murph, oh well. Who needs some convincing evidence, data, reason, etc. to make their case when we can just spout things that seem true and hope that people won’t bother to look up the facts or think things through? That’s the prevalent view throughout large swaths of baseball fandom and media. Thank God front offices and the people actually making the personnel-related decisions within the game don’t have this view, for the most part.
flange1
October 23rd, 2012
2:59 pm
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family BAT!
David O'Brien
October 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
In case anyone’s bored and would like to subject themselves to my vocal ramblings, here’s a podcast I did last night with the good fellas at AtlantaBaseballTalk.com.
http://www.atlantabaseballtalk.com/show-206-our-interview-with-david-obrien/
wheelz007
October 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
Wren is smart, regardless of what some here think. He’s put together a solid team.
He will have 5 starting pitchers lined up, PLUS Beachy. Beachy may give us a great late-season surge much like what Medlen did this year.
I expect our rotation to be Hudson, Medlen, Minor, Maholm and Hanson to start the season.
We may use Teheran and/or Delgado as trade pieces, to acquire that significant, right-handed bat we need.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
Hope they get involved with Otani, although it seems like it’s down to the usual suspects for Japanese players.
While I agree with you about Soler, I’m not sure that Otani would be a very wise investment. He’s got a good fastball, but has had some TERRIBLE games against high school competition. If he was draft eligible I could see drafting him at a certain point, but as a free agent I’m not sure he would justify the costs.
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
Those don’t get put into place very often.
Yeah, well, but one can dream, LOL.
“Everybody loses! Nobody wins! Who’s with me??!!??”
Carroll Rogers
October 23rd, 2012
3:02 pm
Bat Masterson….so sorry to hear about your brother. sounds to me like he has an awfully supportive brother. wishing both of you the best.
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
3:02 pm
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers everyone. It means a lot.
But unless he actually commits to getting into excellent shape,
I don’t know how the surgery effects how Heap can train this off season but he damn sure should be motivated.
Murph
October 23rd, 2012
3:04 pm
Only 20 years worth of data? Piffle.
I actually played soccer with a kid named Greg Piffle back when I was but a little Murph.
I’ll never forget Greg Piffle because he’s the only kid I ever saw who actually, literally, tore his sack. We were at a soccer tournament in Clovis, NM, which for us was a very big deal. Having won the Albuquerque division championship we then went to face off against the rest of the state’s best school.
Long story short we were playing a team from the Navajo Nation when Greg, one of our forwards, took the ball the length of the field. He was driving towards the goal uncontested, just the goalie to beat, when the goalie decided to come out and steal the ball with a sliding tackle.
The two met while going full speed. Greg jumped, the goalie’s leg went up, and the guy’s cleats… well, you know the rest of the story. It was one of the most horrific sports injuries I ever witnessed, even worse than Alec Mosko’s compound leg fracture during our final football walkthrough senior year. Awful.
Ron
October 23rd, 2012
3:04 pm
We are all hoping for a left fielder, a center fielder and some good bench bats. Didn’t the Braves have Gregor Blanco, the Giants LF now, at some point? What happened there? I don’t think the Braves need to re-sign Bourn because he will be too expensive for Braves payroll. There are cheaper options with a player just as good as Bourn. Gattis probably needs 1 more year in development. McCann certainly needs to be re-signed, injuries have kept him from being the player we need him to be. You do not replace a player of his caliber because of 1 off year. The Bench baring trades will probably look like this: D. Ross, Pastornicky, Francisco, R. Johnson, E. Mejia( right handed minor leaguer batting beast, can play 1st and outfield).Rotation: Medlen, Minor, Hudson, Maholm,Delgado/ Hanson(traded at All Star Break). Beachy back in rotation at that point. Bullpen: Kimbrel, Venters, O’Flaherty, Avilian, C. Martinez, Durbin, Gearrin. Line-up: 1) Pagan/Revere/Spann CF 2) Prado 3rd 3) Freeman 1st 4) C. Ross/Willingham/?? LF 5) McCann C 6) Heyward RF 7) Uggla 2nd
Simmons 9) Pitcher. Pretty much the 2013 Braves!
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
3:07 pm
I don’t know how the surgery effects how Heap can train this off season but he damn sure should be motivated.
The last thing I want to hear at PCR is McCann saying, “I’m in the best shape of my life.” Pure death nail.
I hope the guy gets down on frickin’ Twinkies, fried chicken, and ice cold beer all winter. If only to tweak the obsessives on the blog.
kenhotlanta
October 23rd, 2012
3:09 pm
Bat, I’m very sorry to hear about your brother, he will be in my prayers and I hope you have good luck with the fundraising.
BravePack(FreeFan)
October 23rd, 2012
3:10 pm
I can guarantee that Wren either trades for a young, big name(bigger than Willingham) and signs a big name FA like a pitcher and a mid-tier guy for remaining position with all that $. I know it won’t be for someone discussed on this blog like we have been since the season ended or DOB has mentioned. They have the prospects and cash to add major pieces this offseason, bigger than what has been discussed here. None of us can say for sure, but with all the $ available and pitching to trade the Braves will be looking to add more than average players that many have discussed i.e. Willingham, Span, Revere. I can easily see Wren dealing a Delgado, Teheran and adding Grienke with that $ if the right OF or 3B piece comes back. Many different ways he could go this offseason but I can definitely see a big name replacing Chipper added, especially if McCann’s option is declined.
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
3:13 pm
Krispy Kreme power, eh, scoots.
Murph
October 23rd, 2012
3:13 pm
Actually I think the kid’s name was Greg Biffle, not Greg Piffle. Close enough.
And BP, I wish I shared your optimism. Personally I think we’ll be lucky to get the likes of Span and/’or Willingham.
Murph
October 23rd, 2012
3:15 pm
Bat, have you looked into any of the social network fundraising solutions? It might be a good way to get the info in front of the people who know you and your brother the most, people who can be utilized to virally spread the word to their friends and their friends friends.
You still need to have a non-profit registered and all, but that might be a very cost-effective solution.
Jimmy
October 23rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Murph – I can’t beat that story, but I was at the local high school football game one night and a player got injured. The PA guy said “Player injured on the play. Ball spotted on the twenty.”
Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt that bad.
ncscoots
October 23rd, 2012
3:18 pm
Krispy Kreme power, eh
You got it, brother, LOL. Sub out the Twinkies for a dozen Hot ‘N Ready every once in a while, and you’re ready for rock and roll. Not to mention Comeback Player Of The Year.
“I owe this award to my training regimen this offseason. And to my wife, who was always willing to make the drive when the light went on at KK.”
P-Town Brave ©
October 23rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Ahh…nice to get out and away from the PC for lunch….
Efrim – saw Soler up close and in person….he is every bit the goods!
And I believe I discussed this in one of my posts yesterday about our farm system and cash flow….I’ll see if I can find it
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
October 23rd, 2012
3:23 pm
phil But unless he actually commits to getting into excellent shape
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!…
Jimmy
October 23rd, 2012
3:26 pm
Got to roll.
Talk to you good folks later.
wheelz007
October 23rd, 2012
3:26 pm
I think folks are over-estimating how much money we’ll have available.
Prado will get a raise.
Heyward, Kimbrel, Venters, Hanson, Medlen, Beachy, Moylan and probably O’Flaherty will ALL get raises from last year.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
3:27 pm
John Sickels has an article up on minorleagueball.com with the headline “Can Hunter Morris replace Corey Hart?”
If Milwaukee decides that the answer is “yes”, then Hart could be a VERY strong candidate for Wren to target for LF next year.
Plusses: Right-handed, good power, only owed $10 million for 2013, will be 31 next season.
Minuses: Has a NTC that allows him to block moves to 15 teams, only one year left on contract, high K rate, has had some injury issues.
The NTC and the one year on the contract could end up being two wrongs making a right, however, if he requires the team trading for him to sign an extension in order to approve the trade. It would only be an issue if Hart is seeking a greater financial commitment than the Braves are willing to provide.
CB
October 23rd, 2012
3:28 pm
McFann, some of do that internally.
Murph
October 23rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Is the team committed to bringing back Moylan? I’m assuming so, just wondering.
P-Town Brave ©
October 23rd, 2012
3:31 pm
Here’s what I wrote yesterday….and a lot has to do with how far the farm system has fallen….
whats gonna happen when you give another 4 year large sum contract when you have Medlen, Kimbrel, Heyward, and Freeman headed towards large pay days before then….
At some point if you have that many eggs and not enough baskets something will have to give….
I agree on spending some money, I just start to then question what happens to the future…
In fact, with the scouting and farm clearly going downhill due to various things and the budget staying relatively the same, I’m not sure where the team is headed other than down….
At some point guys will be beyond affordability that are up and they will walk and there will be no one to replace them and because of the lack of funds and the fact that theyre paying less attention to the farm system now, I just don’t like the results…
In fact, the low budget tv deal, the middling attendance that draws little in the way of revenue in comparison to other clubs, and the fact that we have a absentee ownership tells me that frankly, we should be spending as much as any club on our farm system simply because we don’t have the cash flow to compete with the other teams when it comes to keeping or buying players….
And lets be honest….guys like Chipper who stay with the same club, that just doesn’t exist anymore.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
3:31 pm
Is the team committed to bringing back Moylan? I’m assuming so, just wondering.
Probably depends on what you mean by “committed to”. I think they would like to bring him back, but I would assume he’s probably a pretty low priority on their offseason shopping list. If he’ll sign at the Braves’ price, I imagine he’ll be back. If someone offers him a lot more, he’s probably gone.
Bat Masterson
October 23rd, 2012
3:31 pm
Bat, have you looked into any of the social network fundraising solutions? _ Murph
Yeah, Murph. Here’s the thing. There are web sites set up to fund raise for a percentage and my sister in law set one up and then wrote a cover letter on it and sent the link to everyone we know. COLD
I happened to check my email that day, and saw it, so I got in touch with her and said…….. did you send this to everyone we know? She said yeah why? I said my god, no one knows how sick he is……. How about something a little more personal with family and friends. Anyway, people think it’s a hoax or scam or something. So now there’s that
Efrim
October 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
From what I’ve read, I do not believe the Brewers want to put Morris at 1st base for 2013. I’d be surprised if they dealt Hart, at this point.
Venice Jim
October 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
McFann – once some people invent their own reality, they stick to it regardless of how obsessive they become in promulgating their own facts…
P-Town Brave ©
October 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
wheelz-
I never overestimate when it comes to the Braves….
I assume they have coupons, gift certificates, and cash they got from trading in games to GameStop….
Oh, and don’t forget those pesky pennies they found in the couch cushions and on the nightstand
phil
October 23rd, 2012
3:34 pm
Murph, thank you for the graphic tales of woe…..ouch.
Greg Biffle drives the 16 car on the Sprint Cup circuit…..2 greg biffles out there.
Or one minus something crucial….
Tumbledown
October 23rd, 2012
3:36 pm
I know that the people making personnel decisions on the various MLB teams rely on a mix of evidence, data, and reason to make their decisions. But maybe they would be better off relying on some good ole hocus pocus.
Oh Magic 8-Ball, should the Braves trade for Denard Span? Answer: Ask again later. D’oh!
Ok, better rely on some real evidence and data.
RC
October 23rd, 2012
3:36 pm
From what I’ve read, I do not believe the Brewers want to put Morris at 1st base for 2013. I’d be surprised if they dealt Hart, at this point.
I’d be surprised too. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be an ideal target for the Braves.