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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,183 comments Add your comment
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
5:49 pm
Thanks DOB! Great blog.
Can’t wait to see Gattis in LF this season.
Wee Willie Keeler
November 2nd, 2012
5:49 pm
RIP PP
Jay Dubu
November 2nd, 2012
5:50 pm
Time for the Braves to make some moves….What are they waiting for?
brian
November 2nd, 2012
5:50 pm
thanks for the new blog. Can’t wait for the stove to heat up
NORRIS CHUCK
November 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
Braves Intrigued By Josh Hamilton
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [November 2 at 4:21pm CST]
The Braves are intrigued by free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports. He’s the top position player available in free agency at a time that the Braves are looking to replace the offense of Chipper Jones and, it appears, Michael Bourn.
However, Hamilton isn’t an ideal fit for a Braves’ lineup that already features a number of left-handed hitters in Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann. Plus, the Braves aren’t generally bidders on the top free agents, as Knobler notes. The Rangers made Hamilton a qualifying offer today, which means any team other than Texas will have to surrender a top draft pick to sign the outfielder. Hamilton ranks second on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.
5
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#9IcUGizG2ruUeb1k.99
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
CB
November 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
Danny Knobler with CBSSports says Braves have some interest in Hamilton.
Uh oh the rumor grows despite the many naysayers on the blog.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
I am sure we have plenty of interest in Hamilton…brian
I bet we have almost no interest at all in Hamilton
Disgusted
November 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Hey, you never know, but I will believe it if I see it.
Guess he can be at least a replacement level player.
Another thing FW can do is wait till late in FA for a bargain or two or, make a move during the season.
He does not have to spend all that $$$$$$$$$$$ in November or December. Better to wait and spend smart than spend dumb in a hurry.
That is how Frank will do it as I see it.
Braveone
November 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
From the previous blog which had 6,455 comments, Efrim led the way with 474 posts. There were 196 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 Efrim 474
2 TheOnlyBravesFan 434
3 ncscoots 348
4 nolie 344
5 P-Town Brave © 256
6 Murph 248
7 Lew 230
8 Bat Masterson 204
9 DS1 197
10 Shaun 183
11 Disgusted 172
12 RC 161
13 phil 160
14 VaBravesFan 142
15 cricket 136
16 Jeff R 125
17 TennesseePaul 112
18 old man 109
19 richbrave 103
20 David O’Brien 97
21 Dadgum….. 90
22 CB 88
23 Homer of A-town sports 88
24 Nowhere man 83
25 BravesFanSince80s 80
Disgusted
November 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
The Braves can talk Hamilton all they want but its about the $$$$$$$ and unless payrolll is going up, that is prolly not to be.
Disgusted
November 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
I got back in the top 25, YEAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
It could happen…I’m just sayin…no big time teams to bid against like the Spankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, etc. and he is from Carolina so you never know…just sayin’…more to come…
kingdaddy
November 2nd, 2012
5:57 pm
Great writeup…
SeATLite
November 2nd, 2012
5:57 pm
David, we say it often, but it might get lost in the hurly-burly of the season, so I’m gonna say it one more time. You’re the best in the business, and we’re lucky to have you. When they made you, they broke the mold.
Thanks for all you do.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
5:59 pm
yup, three great seasons…and what one win in 80 some years B4 that??
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 2nd, 2012
6:00 pm
Like I said before 4 year deal at 17-18 mil per with a 5th year mutual option. Still have 7-8 mil to play with.
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:01 pm
You never know… maybe Hamilton puts some things, like being close to family and being the marquee player on a good team, above the all-mighty buck.
Doubt it, but you never know.
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:02 pm
I had the last post in the last bloggage, so I know you guys don’t want to miss it:
I could see Hamilton, in theory. But that means that all of your mashers are lefties, except Uggla (and he’s questionable), so I am finding it hard to put together a batting order:
Heyward
Freeman
McCann
Hamilton
I’m assuming Hamilton means your CF will be right handed, and with what we have left to spend, in prospects and/or money, I don’t see us getting a power hitter in CF, in addition to a hypothetical Hamilton. We might be constrained to get a lead off type hitter in CF anyway. So with all your power and RBIs (spots 3-6?) coming from the left side, it presents a real problem putting together a lineup.
I like the idea of splurging at one OF spot, to get a real gamer changer, but a LH hitter presents this problem, and I don’t see any RH LFers of the same caliber. Except maybe Justin Upton, and that’s a trade situation. And none of us know what his team is asking for.
bruce
November 2nd, 2012
6:03 pm
watched the video of Gattis homer, most impressed with his footwork to get out of the way of pitches that would have hit his back foot… good balance despite the stance which looks unusual from that camera angle.
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:03 pm
Good God, I posted 109 times, and I made the poster list???
I need to get a job.
Wait a second, I do have a job. I suppose that makes it even worse
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:04 pm
seems to get a lot of core and lower body power though that is not the best video to make any real judgments from
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:05 pm
don’t feel too bad old man, Efrim has a job too
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
In the video, Gattis looks a lot chunkier than in the photo we have seen over and over again. Has he gained weight in the past 12 months or is it the aspect ratio in the youtube video?
I don’t want to go out on a date with him or anything, but it might tell us something about how mobile he is out in left field.
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
old man, here’s your Hamilton lineup:
1. Heyward
2. Prado
3. Hamilton
4. Gattis
5. Freeman
6. Uggla
7. BMac
8. Simmons
Perfect L/R balance, 20+ HR power 1-7, and Simmons ain’t no slouch either.
Not gonna happen for too many reasons to list, but that would be one freakin’ awesome lineup… when it’s actually on the field and not on the DL.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
Hey is not leading off in this universe
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:13 pm
Hey is not leading off in this universe
Why not? In the past he’s shown excellent on-base ability, he’s the best runner on the team (currently), and it seems to have worked out pretty well for Jason Werth. Plus it fits the L/R balance of my fictional Hamilton/Gattis lineup.
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:15 pm
Murph:
I forgot Hamilton plays some CF. But as I recall his is a mild plus in LF and RF, and a mild minus as a CFer. I suspect you would have two weak OF spots, defensively.
But I had not considered Heyward leading off. Pretty daring concept. But you would sure have some thumpers in that lineup, for sure. For dang sure. It makes you wonder if any FO has the nads it would take to trot out a lineup that unorthodox.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:15 pm
Barry Bonds is why not
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:16 pm
old man, the team could always play Hamilton in RF and Heyward in CF….
Just so nolie doesn’t crucify me, let me say that I’m not saying any of this is a good idea… but if the team wanted Hamilton and needed to make him fit somehow, there’s always a way.
Nattering Nabob
November 2nd, 2012
6:17 pm
The talk about Gattis at this point reminds me of last year’s talk about Simmons. Raw talent, not quite sure if he’s ready for MLB. I bet Gattis gets a shot well before the All Star break.
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:18 pm
Barry Bonds had 1798 AB’s hitting first, and he seemed to have an ok career, even without the “help”.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:18 pm
moi? crucify you? never happen, you is onea my bestest buddies
richbrave
November 2nd, 2012
6:19 pm
Boo-Yah……vindication.
Lot of know-it-alls here giving me flack over both SIMMONS and GATTIS. Same kind of crap as GIL in MECHANICSVILLE and I both got back when we championed MARTIN PRADO over GREGOR BLANCO.
And I got by saying I thought YUNEL ESCOBAR was a bad egg after a conversation in Spanish I had with him over his future in baseball.
I really thought SIMMONS wouldn’t be ready until this season, but I’ve thought all along that GATTIS will at least make the bench as HINSKI’s replacement. Looks like we’ll need a replacement on the pine with GATTIS patroling LF………WILLINGHAM who?
rainman34
November 2nd, 2012
6:19 pm
As one of the guys that have been beating the Gattis Drum thank you so much for the interview and write up. What do the braves need. A leadoff hitter and some right handed power. He makes to much sense. He also would cost the min so we could In another direction with the cash flow. I e hamilton. I know with a weak defensive left fielder and a good not great center fielder it could become a problem But the power in the lineup if uggs comes back strong would be crazy.
hr
Prado 12
Heyward 30
hamilton 35
Uggla to break up the lefties 25
Freeman 25
Gattis and juan 28
mac 25
simmons. 10
Crazy power just not a true table setter. I put juan in against some tuff righties at third and prado goes to left.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:19 pm
if they pay for a LFer I’m nor sure where Gattis is gonna get all that much of a shot
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:26 pm
If Gattis actually makes the team I’m getting a custom jersey made with his number and new nickname on the back. That’s awesome.
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:27 pm
DOB:
Is there an agenda with the timing of your new bloggage and the interview with Wren? We don’t have the benefit of the off the record talk, the tone, the inflection, and you do.
So, is it just that you had the cool video, and Wren happened to say something nice about Gattis, and the previous blog was getting stale? Or is Wren sort of sending up a smoke signal that we could be looking at deals focused on CF and pitching, because they are really viewing Gattis as a legitimate possibility in LF?
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:28 pm
Vindication? Where do you get that? There was nothing stated about him starting the season on the bench as Hinske’s replacement (though how a righty is gonna be his replacement is beyond me anyway), if he starts the season up here it will be to catch some games regularly while Heap is down
BFChris28
November 2nd, 2012
6:31 pm
Coming into some OT starting Monday. 17 straight days and then off for Thanksgiving and back to work next day. Gonna be tiring, but worth it.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:32 pm
and as for touting Prado, nobody here touted him any earlier than I did, as I’m sure scoots and some other oldies can attest
Virginia Brave Fan
November 2nd, 2012
6:32 pm
I really think Justin Upton in CF is a better idea. Move Martin to 3B, put Gattis in LF and trade for Upton. And I concur that Heyward could lead off.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:33 pm
good deal Chris
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:33 pm
Wasn’t today the deadline for qualifying offers? Did I miss the news on Bourn?
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:34 pm
no way Heyward leads off. Prado would lead off he has already been successful at it
Venice Jim
November 2nd, 2012
6:36 pm
old man
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/11/02/braves-make-qualifying-offer-to-bourn/
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:36 pm
Justin Upton has never played CF, has he? And isn’t he sort of average in RF?
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:37 pm
Thanks, VJ.
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
6:37 pm
I really think Justin Upton in CF is a better idea. Move Martin to 3B, put Gattis in LF and trade for Upton. And I concur that Heyward could lead off.
If they do that, which I’d be all for, then I’d hope that the team uses the cash on a SP and saves the rest for the trade deadline… would be nice to go into July with some financial flexibility.
BFChris28
November 2nd, 2012
6:37 pm
nolie
Figured it out ahead of time, with the OT, I’ll be making enough to catch up on some bills, pay off some and spend on Christmas and then have some left
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:37 pm
ESPN Insider writer suggests that the Reds should sign Bourn for 5/70. yeah, right.
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:42 pm
Someone help out an old man. Can Justin Upton play a legitimate CF?
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2012
6:43 pm
Braves made qualifying offer to Bourn, as expected
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/11/02/braves-make-qualifying-offer-to-bourn/
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:43 pm
Justin is a real good RFer, his ‘11 was fantastic. never played anything else in the bigs, but he did play it years ago in the minors. though he is fairly quick I think LF would be more likely
Justin has been an every other year hitter for the most part and does not hit anywhere near as well away from ‘zona though he does hit lefties pretty well
old man
November 2nd, 2012
6:44 pm
DOB even mentioned Justin Upton in the CF conversation. Maybe I’m just out of the loop on this. Just like the Bourn offer.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
have the time constraints of when a team can still deal with their own free agents changed DOB?
David O'Brien
November 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
Justin Upton has never played CF, has he? And isn’t he sort of average in RF? — old man
No, he’s not played center field, and I didn’t mean to include him in that discussion. Braves would haven to go different route to make him fit, playing him in left field (since Heyward isn’t moving to center or left).
And I honestly don’t think Braves will pursue Upton. I took him out of the story right after filing it.
Venice Jim
November 2nd, 2012
6:57 pm
Adam Kilgore @AdamKilgoreWP
The Nats extended Adam LaRoche a qualifying offer, as @evandrellich first reported, and did not give one to Edwin Jackson.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
prolly figger 13mil is kinda pricey for Jackson considering who they think they will have back. Good for Adam, always liked him.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
2013 is due to be an up year for Justin if he follows his pattern ‘)
I am Third
November 2nd, 2012
7:12 pm
So Knucksie couldn’t remember who the coach was at the time. Interesting. Maybe it was because the coach was an ex-teammate who couldn’t catch the knuckler and who caused Niekro’s departure and denied him the chance to finish out his career Braves. Maybe because the same ex-coach did not know what an inflied fly was.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:14 pm
Braves have kept almost nobody until their retirement
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
7:16 pm
So glad I missed today on the blog…. unfortunately, I posted comments on the old blog. Will repost.
From the previous blog which had 6,455 comments, Efrim led the way with 474 posts. There were 196 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 Efrim 474
2 TheOnlyBravesFan 434
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
7:16 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
I missed the chatter today…. helping a well known meteorologist downtown today. Even got filmed by TWC. May appear soon.
Anything important?
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
7:09 pm
Oh, and in the frenzy yesterday about Ken Rosenthal predicting Hamilton to the Bravos, I don’t think it’d happen, not sure I’d like it, but I could understand a 3 year deal for 17-18mil each year.
Then I remembered today, that he’ll get a qual. offer. Don’t want to give up that top40 pick!
Thanks, Efrim, for turning me into a prospect hoarder
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
7:12 pm
Yeah, probably a safe bet Greinke will only get about $15M a year or so on a 3 to 4 year deal…
…….
Nah, we’ll give that or more next year to Garza, Hughes, or the oft-injured Josh Johnson to be our ace.
I’d rather pay 20mil to Greinke
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
7:20 pm
Thanks for reposting all of your recent comments from the old blog onto the new blog TOBF.
Let’s see… no on Hamilton, yes on Greinke… anything else to add?
Bring the lumber
November 2nd, 2012
7:20 pm
DOB I hope we go after Upton. A young, RH power bat. Upton is due around 13 million this year, which leave the Braves around 13 million left to spend on CF and other parts. D-backs want SP so maybe we would fit as a trading partner with them.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:21 pm
too bad Frank wouldn’t. and if they pass on a pitcher this year why exactly is it that they would sign one next year?
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:22 pm
where are you getting 26 mil from? most including DOB have speculated around 22 at most
Jeff R
November 2nd, 2012
7:25 pm
Gattis in left, Schafer in center, and Prado at third. Winter over.
Murph
November 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
where are you getting 26 mil from? most including DOB have speculated around 22 at most
Does that take into account Hanson being traded away for bullpen/bench help?
Jeff R
November 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
Bourn… Gone. The Braves pocket a draft choice.
abeeeewright
November 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
Standing in line waiting to vote.
They,re telling me to turn off my phone.
RIP pascual perez. You were an original.
Vabravesfan
November 2nd, 2012
7:28 pm
Anyone who predicts the Braves to sign or even seriously go after Josh Hamilton makes me scratch my head, even crazier that people get paid to suggest moves like this is nonsense.
Bring the lumber
November 2nd, 2012
7:36 pm
Well DOB posted $25 millon give or take on twitter earlier today.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:39 pm
ok didn’t see that, he said 22 mil or so a few weeks ago
Gulf Coast
November 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
Thanks for the link to the Gattis HR, Dave. Anyone else think that without the helmet, Gattis looks like a clean shaven McCann?
jimmy
November 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
DOB what about Tori Hunter in CF?
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
looks like Hunter has played one game in center in the last two years
abeeeewright
November 2nd, 2012
7:56 pm
Watching the Gattis bomb was awesome. I love the passion the winter ball fans show.
jimmy
November 2nd, 2012
7:57 pm
um thats because with Trout and Wells they have 3 centerfielders
jimmy
November 2nd, 2012
8:00 pm
Hunter is right handed and can be had for 8-10 million
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
8:03 pm
wells? almost never plays Cf anymore either.. do you mean Bourjos and Trout?
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
I have nothing against Hunter, it might be a good idea but I’m not sure he is looked on as a good starting CFer anymore
jimmy
November 2nd, 2012
8:07 pm
ALL of them are CF’s and since only one can play CF well no duh they don’t play it as much anymore
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
8:08 pm
um
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
8:10 pm
whatever dude. neither are starting over Trout or Bourjos they have filled in a game here and there, helluva long way from playing it regularly
jimmy
November 2nd, 2012
8:12 pm
who in the hell said they would play over those two? Since the Braves have neither it won’t be a problem they have to worry about.
TennesseePaul
November 2nd, 2012
8:13 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
nolie
November 2nd, 2012
8:15 pm
WTF is your problem dude? are you incapable of understanding what the words “not sure” mean?
don’t give me a damn “um” and then omit the other starting CFer and include Wells, if you are gonna be a snarky twerp at least get it right…
Bravesfan54
November 2nd, 2012
8:17 pm
I don’t post very much, but I am a daily visitor to the AJC looking for this blog, or any Braves’ story. I do this every day. Thank you Dave, and all the AJC Sports staff and the other excellent journalists.
Vabravesfan
November 2nd, 2012
8:19 pm
you tell em Nolie
phil
November 2nd, 2012
8:21 pm
I am Third
November 2nd, 2012
7:12 pm
So Knucksie couldn’t remember who the coach was at the time. Interesting. Maybe it was because the coach was an ex-teammate who couldn’t catch the knuckler and who caused Niekro’s departure and denied him the chance to finish out his career Braves. Maybe because the same ex-coach did not know what an inflied fly was.
************
like this post…
Efrim
November 2nd, 2012
8:25 pm
I’m not trying to knock Danny Knobler, but given that the Braves front offices job is to talk about how to upgrade the roster, why is it a story that they were “intrigued” by Hamilton? How many hours do they sit in the room together talking about baseball? Probably a lot. Of course they are “intrigued” by the best player on the market – that doesn’t at all mean that they are seriously interested in signing the guy.
Sigh….
But, I can’t blame him too much – that’s the world we live in now. Everything is a story. Even if the Braves say they like a player. I’m sure 29 other teams like Josh Hamilton.
Largo
November 2nd, 2012
8:26 pm
Hamilton is in the same “strike out” range as Uggla and Bourne.
phil
November 2nd, 2012
8:28 pm
And we need more strikeout potential….sigh.
Efrim
November 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Dan Haren traded to Cubs. Angels getting Carlos Marmol. Good deal for the Cubs, imo.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
Why would the braves target a SP this winter?
Maybe cuz we’re losing Huddy and Maholm. It would be nice to add an established starter from outside the org, not just bring up Gilmartin and Graham.
Then again, if the pitching is good enough this season, with possibly 3 young SP in the rotation, maybe a year later they’ll be ready to lead.
Hope Meds and Minor do well. Last thing I want to see happen is have Frank think we need a frontline SP and bring on Garza, Hughes etc at 15+ mil
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
8:45 pm
Very good for the Cubs. Sure hope Marmol isn’t the Angels answer for closer. If it is, stay away ZG!
Bring the lumber
November 2nd, 2012
8:47 pm
CF Victorino
3B Prado
RF Heyward
LF J. Upton
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
C McCann
SS Simmons
Nice balance and tones of power in that line up.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 2nd, 2012
8:49 pm
Looks like he’ll be an Angel or Ranger, hopefully a Ranger. Angels sure did clear the cash for him though. Shoulda traded Teheran to get him
Go get him Daniels.
mpimentel
November 2nd, 2012
8:57 pm
Interesting game in dominican winter league tonight. Tigres del Licey have julio teheran starting with bethancourt as it catcher, randall delgado is schedule to make a relieve app to, the other team have horacio ramirez starting (former brave) and have constanza playing CF…it’ an interesting game for us, and you can follow it in http://www.licey.com