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
5,183 comments Add your comment
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:37 pm
good picks cricket, thanx
Efrim
November 5th, 2012
4:38 pm
gotta do 900+to be scary, its in the rule book Ef……
Hah! That’s true. Just like Heyward, .880 or bust and Tulo has only been at .870 away from Coors the last four seasons.
Bum!
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
4:38 pm
Boorah, just don’t bore me
ncscoots
November 5th, 2012
4:38 pm
gotta do 900+to be scary, its in the rule book Ef……
.850 is the new .900, isn’t that what you’ve told me?
A really lethal .850 would qualify, maybe.
Efrim
November 5th, 2012
4:39 pm
Honestly, I bet Upton signs for a slightly less than Bourn – not enough of a difference for him to be more of an attractive option, imo.
cricket
November 5th, 2012
4:39 pm
ortiz on bobby V.
No. 3, after he went on national TV to say what he said, he sent me a text message trying to tell me that it was the media trying to change things. I did not respond to the message and I said to myself, this guy must have some mental issues or needs medicine or something? I said, I am dealing with someone crazy and I am not going to drive myself crazy, so it is better if I leave it alone.
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
4:40 pm
Enough of feeding the troll.
Efrim
November 5th, 2012
4:40 pm
More from Bowman….
With the talk of selling a pitcher or two, who are some possible trade partners and what would be some potential returns?
– Drew T., Charleston, S.C.
To get Arizona’s Justin Upton or a player of his caliber, the Braves would have to part ways with either Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado. With J.R. Graham making an impressive rise through the Minor League system and Sean Gilmartin waiting in the wings, the Braves have enough depth to trade either Teheran or Delgado if necessary.
If the Braves are not able to get a significant return for either Teheran or Delgado, it would provide even more reason to deal Tommy Hanson. There likely would not be a great return for Hanson. But at the same time, this might be a case where the team should get what it can now for a pitcher who stood as the game’s top pitching prospect just three years ago.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:40 pm
BDD Upton hit a few homers. his plate discipline and OBP has plummeted and he still plays crappy D.
They sign that bumb and I’m calling Tonya…..
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
4:41 pm
So when you call me a jerk, idiot or moron those are not insults?
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:42 pm
no that IS funny, Nowhere calling anybody else a troll
Murph
November 5th, 2012
4:42 pm
It seems more likely that they could end up signing B.J. Upton, who set himself up for a nice payday after hitting .246
That about sums up baseball free agency these days…
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:43 pm
Bowman is a tool much of the time IMO
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
4:43 pm
If you are just going by insults your bozo card should be arriving soon.
ncscoots
November 5th, 2012
4:46 pm
They sign that bumb and I’m calling Tonya…..
Hey, Heyward’s OBP went from elite to average while he jacked up his power, too. Maybe the two of them can find their plate discipline/power combination together, next year.
Kee-rist, the offseason from hell for nolie and me would be Upton and Swisher, LOL. Doesn’t even bear contemplation.
HooRah
November 5th, 2012
4:46 pm
I call you a jerk, because you act like a jerk. Just being truthful. You are one of the most worthless posters on the blog. A class clown type who is always needy of attention and tries to get it by jabbing at your betters.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:47 pm
C’mon Frank, throw us a bone, we’re dying here….
phil
November 5th, 2012
4:49 pm
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:28 pm
a few errors just make the game more exciting…..
*********
Absolutely. Fire the defensive coordinator….
Efrim
November 5th, 2012
4:49 pm
Kee-rist, the offseason from hell for nolie and me would be Upton and Swisher, LOL. Doesn’t even bear contemplation.
Giving up draft picks for aging players is pretty much the dagger for me. I get we gotta obtain productive players, but come on, not through overpaying in free agency…..unless the team is shooting for the Gwinnett ERA title……
cricket
November 5th, 2012
4:52 pm
i want at least one playoff series win, don’t care how they get it
DAP
November 5th, 2012
4:52 pm
i dont think the braves lineup will be getting any scarier, no matter who we get. they lost a HOFer. at best we would be holding steady. but there certainly is something to be said for a having a LONG lineup. adding pagan and willingham for example, doesnt make us “scary” on paper”, but thats a good, long lineup with no easy outs. there are alot of options out there that would accomplish that.
ncscoots
November 5th, 2012
4:52 pm
Maybe it’s Upton, and they attempt to also get some prospects back in a LF deal, to cover the lost pick. Otherwise, I have trouble believing they’d give up a pick plus dollars and years for Junior.
Gary O.
November 5th, 2012
4:53 pm
Lew,
It wouldn’t stop me from signing him, but I would hope (which may be a mistake on my part) that it is factored into his eventual salary. I just remember when Beltran was a FA in Houston I think, and he went nuts in the playoffs, so his value increased.
Would it be the same for someone coming off a disappointing playoff appearance?
phil
November 5th, 2012
4:54 pm
cricket
November 5th, 2012
4:52 pm
i want at least one playoff series win, don’t care how they get it
*********
Nah.
Long as we have a good season, who cares about the silly, random postseason.
ncscoots
November 5th, 2012
4:55 pm
adding pagan and willingham for example, doesnt make us “scary” on paper”, but thats a good, long lineup with no easy outs.
On this, anyway, we agree.
Lineup depth with the possibility of big innings from even the bottom third.
there are alot of options out there that would accomplish that.
We might be in somewhat less agreement on this point, but definitely more than one way to accomplish the feat.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:56 pm
exactly phil. regular season is the cake, post season is just the icing
nolie
November 5th, 2012
4:58 pm
the UNKNOWN is always the greatest fear. Some of these suggestions are scarier than Connie and Frisco…..well maybe not quite THAT scary
Efrim
November 5th, 2012
5:02 pm
It’s probably on a case by case basis with the loss of a draft pick, but Wren did give up three in a three year span for Glavine, Lowe and Wagner. Hasn’t done it the last two offseasons – but the needs weren’t as staggering, I bet. We’ll see. I just think the glut of starting pitching up top should be used, and it should be an exciting aspect of next year that we get to bring in two top 40 picks into our system.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
5:03 pm
And probably have Bourjos leading off.- scoots
Nah. He’d hit 8th until he proves he can hit. Still a good lineup though
I’m not fully on the Willingham bandwagon…. but I was never off of it either. I just don’t want to trade Delgado/Teheran for him. I would rather get a younger LF, that we could control longer, and who doesn’t have me wondering if this is the year he falls off since he’s in his mid 30s.
But, if we can get Willingham for a “reasonable” price (imo) and we can hit him 3 or 5… I’ll be okay with that.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:06 pm
DAP – Yes, we lost a HOF player, but we lost a HOF player that only played around 100 games the last several years and a HOF player that hadn’t been putting up HOF numbers for some time.
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
5:06 pm
This might be the year that Cody Ross finally becomes a Brave. And if so, will probably be the beginning of the end of him being a decent hitter.
jj
November 5th, 2012
5:08 pm
Bourn wins Best Defensive Award in NL …but not a Gold Glove?
Hamilton asking 175 million for 7 years.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
5:09 pm
Come on Frank…. I want to hear some rumors of Hanson being shopped for some lower-level prospects.
joker
November 5th, 2012
5:10 pm
Cody best stay in Boston with the Green Wall…
Disgusted
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
I don’t know if any of U watch Dr. Phil but this Monster In Law who is on today is a trip in plain English.
That is one of the things I do watch with my sports hating wife.
She is a great woman but does not like sports.
She likes detective stories and I like sports. Opposites really do attract.
Arkansas Transplant
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
There’s predictions that Detroit are the favorites to sign Hamilton. If they actually get that done, that would be one scary lineup.
Murph
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
I sure came into this offseason full of eager anticipation, like a kid on Christmas Eve… now that feeling has been replaced with dread as every FA that was worth pursuing appears to be out of reach and every possible trade target appears that they’ll cost every player worth anything in our system.
As things stand now I think we’d be lucky… damn lucky… to get a Ross or Pagan.
On the flipside of my doominess and gloominess is the knowledge that Francisco performed ok while in a starting role and Gattis is waiting in the wings… oh, and we got Schafer back, so at least we don’t have to watch Constanza in CF all season.
Even if they end up going into the season as they are constructed now I still think they’d be able to fight for the wild card. Might not win it, but they’d at least be in the conversation.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
I’m pretty certain Hanson could bring a considerably better return than “low level prospects”. I realize you want him gone at all costs, but you need to get real.
Mixxo
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
Come on Frank…. I want to hear some rumors of Hanson being shopped for some lower-level prospects. TOBF
NOW we’re talkin’!
♥♥♥
old man
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
Glavine caught a lot of grief over the strike, and continues to do so. But I put that in the same category. He knew, for better or worse, he was elected as a union rep. He knew he was harming his rep with local fans, but he put the interest of his union members ahead of his own. You can disagree with unions in general, and the players union specifically as it relates to the strike year, but once you compartmentalize those philosophical issues, you should admire Glavine’s determination to not to short change the guys that elected him. That’s what I’ve always thought. He was handed sort of a crappy job, and he went ahead did the best job he knew how.
Arkansas Transplant
November 5th, 2012
5:24 pm
Hanson does not equal low level prospects. If that’s the fact, where’s the advantage of trading him? Seems to me he’d provide more value to us if that’s the case.
Disgusted
November 5th, 2012
5:25 pm
Man, if Hanson is moved for lower evel prospects well, that means salary dump.
But the way Tommy pitched in the second half — its not totally off the wall.
Maybe the savings of the arb yr will go to something else — but I did say that if Tommy is moved Braves fans will not like the return on it.
Good or bad — time will tell. Depends on other moves.
Murph
November 5th, 2012
5:26 pm
Hanson would return at least a bench bat and/or bullpen arm…
Wait to see who signs Hinske, then trade Hanson for Hinske, straight up. Or perhaps we could wrestle Scott Proctor away from the North Korea team he plays for now.
Disgusted
November 5th, 2012
5:27 pm
Old Man — I do think that most fans have moved on from the 94 strike.
Only sin Tommy made was being a good steward. Cannot fault him for that.
I Booed him as a Met but I Boo all the Mets. Never disliked the guy — a truly great Brave.
The Mets overpaid — we did not make a bad offer at the time given his age then.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:27 pm
Hanson – even in his worst season – won 13 games, pitched 175 IP, had a 2.27-1 K to BB rate and struck out over 8 batters per nine innings pitched. Fifth starter material? Maybe so, but certainly worth much more than low leverl prospects.
Disgusted
November 5th, 2012
5:29 pm
This might be the year that Cody Ross finally becomes a Brave. And if so, will probably be the beginning of the end of him being a decent hitter.
DS-1 — I don;t think the Braves will meet his contract demands — alledgelly 3 yrs at 27.
Now if it were 3 yrs at 20, that is doable.
Murph
November 5th, 2012
5:32 pm
It’s hard to believe Hanson is only 26. It feels like he’s been on the Braves way, way longer than that.
I still don’t fully comprehend what his issues are, why he turned in to the hit/HR machine he was 2012. I get that he was injured, but I don’t get why it hasn’t been or wasn’t repaired at the time. Did it not heal right?
Disgusted
November 5th, 2012
5:33 pm
Tyler Moore? Tyler Colvin? Scott Hairston? Nolan Reimold? Brennan Boesch?
Politically incorrect doing a platoon DS-1. But, I have learned not to underestimate this team when we have disappointing moves in the off season.
Cody Rasmus is another name. Maybe the Braves could harness the potential out of a Rasmuss or Colvin — never know.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:34 pm
Hanson’s last nine starts of 2012 -
1 ER once, 2ER 3 times, 3 ER 2 times and 5 ER 2 times.
Now that certainly is not top of the rotation material, but neither is 3 ER or less in 6 of 9 starts worthy of only low level prospects. People tend to look at his worst starts and assume all were bad. Not so.
He’s no longer mprojected as a top of the rotation pitcher, but he’s not a AA pitcher, either. He’d be fourth starter on a lot of MLB teams and number five on most others.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:35 pm
Excuse me – I miscounted eight starts and not nine.
Murph
November 5th, 2012
5:35 pm
What’s Joe Mather doing these days? Is he looking for a team?
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
5:43 pm
Boorah you may be a lot of things but better is not one of them
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
5:45 pm
Hanson has just about no value…. can’t see us getting much in return unless he’s part of a package.
He got 13 wins yes, but 12 came before July 31, when the offense was clicking and he was receiving great run support. His k/bb ratio isn’t all that good, and he just gave a bunch of homers. One of the worst 10 in that category I believe. His periphs and ERA have gotten worse each year.
Any GM that gives up anything valuable for Hanson alone needs to have their head checked
Hence, I’ll take low lvl prospects in return. Unless we want to take a chance on him next season and hope he does well (and if he does, would you really consider trading him then? We shoulda traded JJ when he overperformed).
But the trend isn’t favorable and Delgado/Teheran need to get a chance to contribute. Whoever isnt traded shouldnt need to stay in AAA and be “untouchable” yet again
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
5:52 pm
5th starter for 4mil (Hanson) who may not get better or a 5th starter for 500k who has potential to improve into a 1-2 (Teheran/Delgado)
Especially considering that we currently have a rotation with 2 #3s and 2 #4s. That 5th spot is probably better served going to a guy who has tons of potential to grow into
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:53 pm
If you’d only take low level prospects in return (and yes, he could be part of a bigger deal) then you’d just be proving you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s Fantasy Baseball mentality – Dude’s in a slump, waive him and get whoever on the remaining list is better.
It doesn’t work like that in the real world where Hanson has more value than a low level prospect.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:56 pm
Yes, we DO have a couple of young kids that would fit into the fith role – but not all teams have the same pieces we do and there are teams that could use a number 4-5 pitcher who strikes out almot a batter per inning and pitches 175 innings.
Just cause YOU don’t like him doesn’t make him worthless nor does the fact you seem to be in love with Bourjos mean he’ll ever be a relevant MLB hitter.
phil
November 5th, 2012
5:57 pm
Joe Mather!!
LOL!
If he comes back, I am switching to a Marlins or Reds fan immediately.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:58 pm
And there is absolutely nothing caved in stone that Hanson will be awarded $4 mil in first year arbitration.
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
5:58 pm
Hanson will not be dispatched for a lower level prospect or bench help. If he is dealt, it will be part of a larger deal. But count on him being in our starting rotation next April.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
5:59 pm
Joe Mather? Doesn’t Schafer need a smoking buddy?
phil
November 5th, 2012
6:00 pm
Hanson should decline arbitration and instead clean a few toilets around the Ted this offseason and then just be dang glad he gets to come back to ST in February with a chance to kick it up a notch….
Lew
November 5th, 2012
6:01 pm
phil – Trade him for a low level janitor?
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 5th, 2012
6:01 pm
How about one of Teheran/Delgado, one of Venters/EOF, Hanson, and Salcedo for J Upton? Too much? I just know it will take a lot to get him.
phil
November 5th, 2012
6:03 pm
6 o’clock and it’s dark…
Where in the heck did this year go?
Seldom said, but i appreciate the diversion this bunch brings. You guys and gals are mostly as good as gold. I appreciate you.
Later for now…
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
6:04 pm
Hanson could come back around and have a 15 win season. Stranger things have happened. And I’ll love teasing you naysayers when/if that happens.
phil
November 5th, 2012
6:04 pm
Nah, Lew….
Top of the line cleaning person….just the best.
Lew
November 5th, 2012
6:12 pm
BravePack – They aren’t trading the back end of the bullpen – it’s a major strength and you don’t weaken a stregth to stregthen a weakness when you have other ways, parts and pieces to do it.
They might add a RHRP, though – maybe Durbin since DOB says they’ve talked to him. Not so sure Moylan will be back, but who knows?
Lew
November 5th, 2012
6:13 pm
Well, I’m out of here. Got to eat some dinner and listen to the constant barrage of political attack ads. They ar eomnipresent up here next door to a Battleground State (NH). I wish it were all over.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
6:20 pm
hold on just a little longer Lou, it will soon be over
old man
November 5th, 2012
6:20 pm
Cody Ross could his in the 4 spot against lefties. Against lefties, he hit a HR every 11 ABs last year with the benefit of the Green Monster. Prior to playing for the Red Sox, he hit one every 14.8 ABs, which is outstanding as well.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
6:22 pm
Getting a thrill up our leg with Hanson , eh?
Hanson will likely get 4mil I’m sure….his comparable pitchers were in that range
I’m not in love w/ Bourjos. Just defending him. He’s not a total scrub. It’s better than being in love with a pitcher who made 14 exceptional starts (a great overperformance), a rotation that has 2 and may have 3 young uns ( and no top pitcher) that overperformed for a half, and a possibly out of shape 3B who seemed lazy and unfocused at times, has no plate awareness, k’s often, and can’t hit lefties
The Nats
November 5th, 2012
6:22 pm
Wish we had a GM like Frank Wren who would go out and get us some instant offense like Jordan Schafer.
old man
November 5th, 2012
6:23 pm
TOBF, I wonder what the Angels attitude is about Bourjos. Do they have another plan to replace Hunter, and they are just trying to increase Bourjos’ market value? Or they really plan to re-sign Hunter? Hunter was very popular with fans and teammates. He was willing to take a pay cut. Their real problem is Vernon Well salary.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
6:23 pm
Getting a thrill up our leg with Hanson , eh?
Hanson will likely get 4mil I’m sure….his comparable pitchers were in that range
I’m not in love w/ Bourjos. Just defending him. He’s not a total scrub.
Better than being in love with a pitcher who made 14 exceptional starts (a great overperformance), a rotation that has 2 and may have 3 young uns ( and no top pitcher) that overperformed for a half, and a possibly out of shape 3B who seemed lazy and unfocused at times, has no plate awareness, k’s often, and can’t hit lefties.
old man
November 5th, 2012
6:24 pm
So no one even bothered to tell me I was full of crap for proposing Maholm, Venters, and Gattis for Justin Upton?
I would still do that in a heartbeat.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
6:29 pm
I think the CF is job Bourjos unless Hunter takes a paycut to come back. I hope he does. Not just so Bourjos becomes available but also since Hunter is a team and fan favorite. They gotta keep him. Also keeps us from adding a 37 yr old for our premium player
But, I’m not sure how willing they’d be to bring him back. They wouldnt trade Biurjos for Greinke… It was a dealbreaker. We’ll see. Maybe Hanson, Ahmed, and a prospect?
Mixxo
November 5th, 2012
6:29 pm
old man @ 6:24
I would too…in a heartbeat.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
6:30 pm
but why would they?
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
6:31 pm
old man
I think it will take more than those 3 to get Upton. Gattis is unproven. Venters is a good piece in such a deal. Maholm would be a good piece, but the D’backs don’t really need mid rotation pitching.
It would take Teheran or Delgado and 2-3 more good pieces.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
6:40 pm
yup no way the get Justin without giving up Delgado or Teheran plus more
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
6:42 pm
D’backs need position players ready to play. We don’t line up well with them.
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
6:44 pm
nolie
Get off the phone with all those pollsters, and tell us who Smilin Frank is going to get first!
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
6:47 pm
David O’brien, if you haven’t had a chance check out Joss Stone’s soul sessions Vol 2. Good stuff. It has been out about three months.
Nowhere man
November 5th, 2012
6:49 pm
Mixxo saw you had a birthday a few days back. Happy belated wishes.
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
6:50 pm
I’ve seen more of Bruce Springsteen and Jay-Z in the past few days than I wanted to…….. Bruce is 63 years old. Lose the damned earring Bruce, your grandpa material now!
nolie
November 5th, 2012
6:52 pm
I hear he is gonna hire Romney to run the finances first…..
David O'Brien
November 5th, 2012
6:56 pm
By the way, that righty the Braves signed, Wirfin Obispo, throws his fastball in the high-90s and has been clocked at 100 mph.
David O'Brien
November 5th, 2012
6:58 pm
Hot stove could get stoked a bit at GM meetings this week in California desert
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/11/05/hot-stove-could-get-stoked-at-gm-meetings/
nolie
November 5th, 2012
6:58 pm
can’t grandpas still be cool??
Bat Masterson
November 5th, 2012
7:04 pm
6 o’clock and it’s dark…
Where in the heck did this year go?
Time flys, phil.
In a few weeks it will be dark here at 4:30/4:40………… Drives me f’n crazy.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
7:05 pm
the Reds park is a pretty good hitters park, no so sure how Ludwick would do in the Ted, but they are prolly interested in him cause of price
nolie
November 5th, 2012
7:07 pm
the corner store stays open though doesn’t it Bat?
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
7:10 pm
nolie
Grandpa’s are cool.
nolie
November 5th, 2012
7:12 pm
nope
BravesFanSince80s
November 5th, 2012
7:13 pm
Don’t know if you guys saw my post on the McCann article, but I read a sports medicine study on Healio.com that states 35% of professional baseball players who undergo shoulder surgery return to form. That number was helped tremendously in the study by inclusion of young, minor league players who were far more likely to recover. If you look at just MLB players, the percentage drops drastically. So, in other words, Wren just threw 12 million dollars at a gamble with about a 20% chance of success. Not my opinion, scientific fact…
nolie
November 5th, 2012
7:14 pm
mostly pitchers though which skews the results most likely
Mixxo
November 5th, 2012
7:15 pm
Thank you Nowhere Man….and to the others who chimed in with wishes.
Thanks so much!
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 5th, 2012
7:16 pm
Grandpas are still cool. Noles is one of the cool ones of course
DS1 (getting a thrill up my leg!)
November 5th, 2012
7:16 pm
Ludwick is a scary proposition. He’s had 2 good years in the past 5.
Disgusted
November 5th, 2012
7:19 pm
Stay away from Ludwick.