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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
11:05 pm
who could possibly where they put a puckyball franchise?
jeffrey d
November 5th, 2012
11:06 pm
Those crazy Frenchmen
richbrave
November 5th, 2012
11:09 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
DESERT DOGS
3B ED SALCEDO [.143 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B [5], 1 SO, 1 SB [4].
RHSP ZEKE SPRUILL [3.38 ERA] 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.
LHRP CHRIS JONES [BS 2, 4.97 ERA] 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 SO.
LHRP RYAN BUCHTER [W 1-0, 2.31 ERA, 1 1 IP, zeros, 1 BB, 1 SO.
cricket
November 5th, 2012
11:14 pm
Players Choice Awards -
Player of the Year – Miguel Cabrera
Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Chipper Jones
AL Outstanding Player: Miguel Cabrera
AL Outstanding Pitcher: David Price
AL Outstanding Rookie: Mike Trout
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Adam Dunn
NL Outstanding Player: Andrew McCutchen
NL Outstanding Pitcher: R.A. Dickey
NL Outstanding Rookie: Todd Frazier
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Buster Posey
richbrave
November 5th, 2012
11:18 pm
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
DOMINICA
EASTERN BULLS
Lead-off CF JOSE CONSTANZA [.385 BA] 3-5, 2 R, 1 2B [1], 1 RBI [4]
LHRP JOSE LUGO [0.00 ERA] 1.1 IP, 1 H, clean.
LICEY TIGERS
3B JUAN FRANCISCO [.290 BA] 1-4, 1 RBI [6], 2 SO
C CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT [.100 BA] 0-2
ORIENTE STARS
CF FELIX PIE [.259 BA] 0-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [7], 1 BB, 1 SO
MEXICO
No games scheduled
VENEZUELA
No games scheduled
jeffrey d
November 5th, 2012
11:19 pm
VENEZUELA
No games scheduled
Did they forfeit on account of Gattis?
Venice Jim
November 5th, 2012
11:20 pm
Election Eve in Venezuela – very somber occasion…
jeffrey d
November 5th, 2012
11:23 pm
Election Eve in Venezuela – very somber occasion…
Why? They don’t want Hugo to be elected for the 20th straight term?
cricket
November 5th, 2012
11:52 pm
plexico burress is caught driving 70 mph OVER speed limit and still beats the ticket!!
florida florida
Venice Jim
November 6th, 2012
12:18 am
Numbers are numbers…
Bobby H
November 6th, 2012
12:31 am
A horse is a horse…
ncgary
November 6th, 2012
12:36 am
what about bonds in left field and ralph garr in center
ncgary
November 6th, 2012
12:37 am
we could have the roid runner
nolie
November 6th, 2012
1:23 am
I think he’s right
Bat Masterson
November 6th, 2012
1:51 am
Who
Bay Area Steve
November 6th, 2012
2:05 am
First
Bay Area Steve
November 6th, 2012
2:30 am
You try and set up a good “Who’s on first” bit, and the whole world is sleeping. Well, just know it would’ve killed.
Bay Area Steve
November 6th, 2012
2:32 am
Abbott: I’m telling you. Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third–
Costello: You know the fellows’ names?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Well, then who’s playing first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow’s name on first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The fellow playin’ first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first base.
Abbott: Who is on first.
Costello: Well, what are you askin’ me for?
Abbott: I’m not asking you–I’m telling you. Who is on first.
Costello: I’m asking you–who’s on first?
Abbott: That’s the man’s name.
Costello: That’s who’s name?
Abbott: Yes.
Bay Area Steve
November 6th, 2012
2:34 am
jeffrey d would’ve got it. He’d've played along. The rest of you are just sleepers. That’s what you are. Worthless.
Bat Masterson
November 6th, 2012
3:02 am
I had a nice reply playing off a quote about George Washington…
“first in war, first on peace…. Yada yada
But I lost my Internet connection
Too much trouble with the phone
Plus is late, I have to be up in about 4 hours.
Not to mention giving CB ammunition with likely phone skrew ubs
Bay Area Steve
November 6th, 2012
3:21 am
“first in war, first on peace”
You, sir, should be shot for reminding me that the Nationals are no longer last in the National League. A great line (forget the original), ruined.
That said, if CB posted from a phone, his entire world would crash into some vortex of Hokies, retirement, and beautiful Asian women. Guy has that AARP phone, with the giant numbers. If he ever bothers you again, just give him a Grocery Store Story, and knock his heart back a notch.
(Too much, CB? I mean, I love ya, but I wanna make sure I’ve pissed you off.)
Or, Bat, do what Ease did. I don’t know what it was, but it clearly had CB all bumfuzzled.
old man
November 6th, 2012
7:17 am
Here is Cody Ross’s problem. He made 3.0M last year, and he seems to want a raise to 9.0M (3 years at 27M). The Red Sox turned him down.
He absolutely crushes lefties. He would be a perfect platoon player. But it looks like lefty pitching only accounts for 28% or so of all pitches thrown. So he wants money based on being a full time starter, but 72% of the time he is sort of mediocre. http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/631577/usage.png
If he hit righties like he hits lefties, well he would be getting Josh Hamilton money, maybe more because he is a better fielder .928 OPS versus .930 OPS) . 28% of Josh Hamilton money is around 5.6M. That would make him the highest paid platoon player ever, at least the highest paid one that was signed with the intention of platooning. But he might be worth that much. 5M + 6M + 7M, 3 years, a total of 18M. (And again, he gives you a nice CF option in the event of injury or fail).
CB
November 6th, 2012
7:20 am
BAS,most of it was good except unlike you I have actually seen a woman naked so the Grocery Store Story was only funny. BTW, I am still standing and Ease is gone. I love you too.
CB
November 6th, 2012
7:25 am
If that doesn’t bring out Ease I don’t know what else to do,we miss you here buddy.
Bravedan
November 6th, 2012
7:31 am
Do the GM meetings start today or tomorrow?
old man
November 6th, 2012
7:36 am
I am going to re-cast my Cody Ross/Juan Francisco platoon projection, based on that interesting “28%” chart in my last post. The chart looks like about 28%. It’s pretty close to that.
Ross projects to hit 13-17 HRs starting against lefties only, (career versus 2012, to account for the extent of the Fenway factor). Francisco would have 27-28 HRs, based on last year against righties. That’s 40-45 between them.
If we traded for a CFer (Span, Revere, Bourjos, etc.), that salary would cost us between 500K and 5M. So we would have somewhere between 12 and 19 million of salary room left (depending on whose numbers you use).
We could then lay in the weeds and pounce on a pitcher who might make a real difference.
old man
November 6th, 2012
7:45 am
My platoon projection is based on 650 ABs, 182 for Ross, 468 for Francisco. 650 may be a little high for a 4-5-6-7 hitter. You can adjust.
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
7:46 am
The Braves were named as best defensive team of the year by Wilson in its annual awards.
Ironic that it was the defense that did in the Braves in the WC match-up.
Defense isn’t a sexy category, but it was a key reason why the Braves produced 94 wins last season and made it to the post season.
Couch Tater
November 6th, 2012
7:55 am
Really proud right now. I mean, that’s a big deal. It really is. I could feel my time coming then boom I see my name.
3. Zamfir
2. ShamWow Guy.
1. Dadgum.
Congratulations! You’ve won a 10% discount at the Keylargo Fried Buffet.
old man
November 6th, 2012
7:55 am
I still like Justin Upton, but in a bidding war with other teams, I would bow out before mortgaging our future in a trade. It just depends on the price.
The LF/3B platoon idea seems like the best “low cost” approach to our LF/CF situation, and adding a premium pitcher as well may end up being the best way to improve the team overall.
Most free agent starting pitchers will want a 4-5 year deal. Is there a premium veteran starter who would sign for 2 years, 15 + 15 = 30M?
old man
November 6th, 2012
8:00 am
Cody Ross 6M
Revere/Bourjos 500K
Starting pitcher 16M
Francisco 1M (arbitration)
That’s 23.5M.
old man
November 6th, 2012
8:28 am
My platoon would get you 28% of a Josh Hamilton type, and 72% of a Justin Morneau, Josh Reddick, Mark Reynolds type. That’s just comparing OPS numbers. If you use Juan’s numbers as a starter (which oddly, includes some ABs against lefties, but is higher) his playing time is like a Justin Upton (2012, a slightly down year), or a Freeman, or a Prado.
Combined, you end up with a “player” with a season long blended OPS of .829, in the range of an Alex Gordon, Adam Jones, Nick Swisher type player. I also think this is close to Justin Upton’s career number. And Prado and Ross are better outfielders.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
8:39 am
old man – Juan Francisco is not going to garner you much appreciation on the blog. The Guy has power and would likely do exactly what you think he would, but apparently he’s fat, doesn’t care to get in better shape, has no plate discipline, can’t field, run or do much of anything except swing and hope he hits the ball.
At least that’s the popular consensus. Wrong, of course, but that’s what most think. At least according to our resident 17 year old
Dadgum.....
November 6th, 2012
8:41 am
Thanks Couch Tater…..I try to stay away from the fried food. Can I take the discount off my bar bill?
Jimmy
November 6th, 2012
8:47 am
Do the GM meetings start today or tomorrow?
Today…I pretty sure. My calender has the 6th in red. So there you go.
Dadgum.....
November 6th, 2012
8:48 am
Just thinking the Braves may look at Tori Hunter. Probably a good option if Justin Upton doesn’t pan out.
Nats are looking at Bourn for CF? Really? Morse, Harper, Werth is pretty formidable. I wouldn’t move Harper for Bourn I can assure you of that. Just can’t see Bourn going to Nats or staying a Brave either for that matter. Go west young man…..
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
8:48 am
I’m not sold on Juan “San” Francisco as a starter because I’m leery of having another free-swinger in the line up. Yes, I think San would provide pop and his defense seems good, but I’d rather see Prado there at third.
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
8:50 am
Nats are looking at Bourn for CF? Really? Morse, Harper, Werth is pretty formidable. I wouldn’t move Harper for Bourn I can assure you of that. Just can’t see Bourn going to Nats or staying a Brave either for that matter. Go west young man…..
If LaRoche isn’t re-upped, the Nats would move Morse to first, or so I read.
Jimmy
November 6th, 2012
8:54 am
Jeff R – I think Adam LaRoche is now a FA.
ncscoots
November 6th, 2012
8:56 am
If LaRoche isn’t re-upped, the Nats would move Morse to first, or so I read
In truth, replacing LaRoche with Bourn does not appear to be an upgrade to me. Better OF defense in LF and CF overrides the loss of defense at 1B, sure, but the bat? I can’t see how that switch plays up on offense.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
9:11 am
Defense isn’t a sexy category, but it was a key reason why the Braves produced 94 wins last season and made it to the post season.
Exactly why I’d consider Bourjos.
Juan Francisco is not going to garner you much appreciation on the blog. The Guy has power and would likely do exactly what you think he would, but apparently he’s fat, doesn’t care to get in better shape, has no plate discipline, can’t field, run or do much of anything except swing and hope he hits the ball.
I didn’t say he was fat…. but, he kinda is. Plus, people with the Reds weren’t impressed with his work ethic and his conditioning was kinda lax. He doesn’t have any plate discipline. Just look at him when he swings. The swing is pretty bad too. 70 Ks to 11 BBs= no plate discipline
His fielding isn’t great, below average I’d say, though he has a good arm. It’d be a downgrade from Chipper, and we all know that he wasn’t all that good at 3B for his last few years. His baserunning is also another issue. It’s one thing to be slow of foot; Mac and Freddie are, but they run the bases well. Juan doesn’t.
Sorry if I don’t want to make him the starter at 3B next year. I’d rather place a proven hitter and defender there (Prado), get a proven LF and SP, and a defender in CF.
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
9:14 am
LaRoche is a free agent but the Nats will attempt to contract him. That’s what I read in one of the DC papers.
Dadgum.....
November 6th, 2012
9:15 am
Well with shutting down Strasburg there is no telling what other great moves the Nats have up their sleeves. Not retaining LaRoche would be a huge mistake. I’m sure LaRoche was pissed they shelved Strasburg. Maybe he is looking to get out of DC. Not sure. Back to my point though. Bryce Harper is my CF in DC for a long time. No way I pay Bourn Boras-money to fix what don’t need fixin. Haven’t even mentioned 4th outfielder Roger Bernadina who is solid and quick. Just can’t see Bourn improving that outfield. Certainly not offensively. Defense isn’t enough to warrant the drop off in offense.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
9:16 am
But as part of a platoon if they can’t find the piece they really want? I think Francisco would do just fine. But what do I know.
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
9:19 am
His [Francisco's] fielding isn’t great, below average I’d say, though he has a good arm.
Hadn’t thought that San’s defense was below average. Thought he was a tick or two above average. And, yes, he does have a good arm.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
9:20 am
Cody Ross 6M
Revere/Bourjos 500K
Starting pitcher 16M
Francisco 1M (arbitration)
That’s 23.5M.
A SP for 16M? Only Greinke would be worth that, and I’m sure he’ll get a bit more. I’m pretty sure that Juan is still pre-arb eligible.
LF (Ross, Willy, etc) 7mil
Bourjos/Jay 500k
SP 19mil
Juan 500k
Maholm-Hanson trade -10mil
That’s 27mil before the trade… a total of 17mil spent. We could afford to get Pence if he became available.
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
9:21 am
Boras has a very tight relation with the Nats’ management. I definitely think that Bourn is on DC’s radar.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
9:28 am
Dude – You really need to just face reality – they aren’t going to trade Maholm. They aren’t going to sign Greinke or any other pitcher making $19 million a year. Hanson has more value than you think. And if Bourjos or Jay are worth as much as you think they are at the porice they’d cost, then why would they be traded?
Like I said – send your wish list to Santa, but be prepared when it doesn’t happen vaguely close to your projections.
And you sit there and claim we have inexperienced pitchers, that we’re not at all sure if Medlen or Minor can repeat their successes, yet you want a totally inexperienced and basically unproven player to man Center Field. Why should we believe in Bourjos any more than you believe in Medlen, Minor, Teheran or Delgado?
Jeff R
November 6th, 2012
9:39 am
Well, I think we’re going to have two new outfielders. That’s what I think. And Prado will be manning third. Maybe Wren moves Hanson. Some tinkering with the bench. Otherwise, status quo.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
9:43 am
Bourjos wouldn’t be added for his offense. It’s that CF defense that is important. He has potential to hit however, and so would be a better acquisition than a Janish-type CF
Jay is my first choice for CF. .300 hitter, .400 slugger, good, not great defense. However, he’s unlikely to be traded, hence Bourjos is my second option. He’ll provide near Bourn-level defense, and has the capability to hit .260 or better. At worst, he hits like Bourn did for the 2nd half of 2012. We did fine during that stretch.
You really need to just face reality – they aren’t going to trade Maholm. They aren’t going to sign Greinke or any other pitcher making $19 million a year. Hanson has more value than you think.
I don’t think they’d trade Maholm unless a pitcher is added. He’s a 6mil more expensive version of Minor. As of now, it’s good to have him, but if we add a frontline SP, he’s not as necessary. They still may sign Greinke, some people think they will, and the Braves can afford to. It’s just not looking likely.
Hanson has more value than I think? We’ll see. Whichever GM trades anything valuable for Hanson alone will be crazy in my opinion. Hanson’s value is at an all-time low, and he has just 1 more year before he becomes “expensive”.
ncscoots
November 6th, 2012
9:44 am
Well, I think we’re going to have two new outfielders. That’s what I think. And Prado will be manning third. Maybe Wren moves Hanson. Some tinkering with the bench. Otherwise, status quo.
Yes, but the Devil is in the details. Also, in our hot stove blather.
DiamondbackMac
November 6th, 2012
9:49 am
Jeff R – Well, I think we’re going to have two new outfielders. That’s what I think. And Prado will be manning third. Maybe Wren moves Hanson. Some tinkering with the bench. Otherwise, status quo.
Sounds about right to me.
Dadgum.....
November 6th, 2012
9:50 am
Not sure who we are going to get. Probably one of the Uptons or Hunter types for CF. however the one thing I feel is 100% certain is that we won’t be getting any starting pitching. It is possible that could be a trade deadline thing depending on how our current rotation is faring or injuries. Right now we are trying to get rid of pitchers not acquire them and that includes Greinke.
Rock on…..I assume if the Nats got Bourn he would play LF? Bourn is not a great fit for the Nats.
ncscoots
November 6th, 2012
9:51 am
Player of the Year – Miguel Cabrera
Obviously, a bunch of stupy, doodie-head, anti-intellectual jocks making that vote.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
9:56 am
And there is a huge difference – one which apparently you can’t see – between bringing a valuable player in a trade and having more value than a lower level prospect. No one ever said they’d trade Hanson straight up for another player you or the Braves like better. But they won’t dump him because he makes too much money and trade him for a scrub or two. That might work in Fantasy Baseball leagues, but not in the real MLB.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
9:59 am
Mac and Uggla have to be better next year, having Simmons all year (not Pastornicky and Janish for 2/3 of season), improvements from Heyward and Freeman should be good for our offense. Add in a thumper like Pence, Willingham, Ross, Upton and that makes the lineup deep already. Would it be nice to add a hitting CF? Yes. But, we won 94 games last year not on our offense. Rather, it was on our league-leading (by miles) defense.
No matter who we add in LF (unless it’s Alex Gordon), we’re gonna get a downgrade in LF defense from Prado. It’s not really all that important, but it is something. I don’t want to downgrade our CF defense as well. Otherwise, we’ll be seeing a lot of our CF and LF’s jersey numbers as they chase down balls in the gap that reach the wall.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:01 am
Well, what kind of valuable player can we get for Hanson? Or should we place him in the 2013 rotation and let whoever remains of Teheran/Delgado/Gilmartin wait in AAA once again
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:03 am
You do realize that the reason they traded for Maholm was so they wouldn’t HAVE to go out and get another pitcher this year when they have other needs to fill?
And why exactly do you think pitchers like MInor and Gilmartin were drafted? Do you seriously think it has diddly to do with slot paymments? It is because they needed young, cheap, effective pitching in the near future that would be ready soon, because they couldn’t afford to go out and sign pitching at $16-20 million a year- especially if they were going to lock up polayers like Heyward, Freeman and Kimbrel longer term.
And just what was it about Minor’s second half performance that seemingly ticks some of y’all off? Seems to me that you’d be thrilled he seemingly made strides to becoming more than most thought he could. Instead, you seem upset he might be better than expected and are ready to ignore his advancement as an aberration, yet take a pretty average season by Bourjos and are willing to believe he’ll be just fine.
Makes no sense to me at all.
ncscoots
November 6th, 2012
10:06 am
Or should we place him in the 2013 rotation and let whoever remains of Teheran/Delgado/Gilmartin wait in AAA once again
If they don’t trade Hanson, then one of the kids has to take the job. That’s fair, and as it should be. If that means the kids go back to AAA, so be it.
Me, I think they’ll trade him, unless they are privy to information we lack that would swing them otherwise.
ncscoots
November 6th, 2012
10:07 am
And why exactly do you think pitchers like MInor and Gilmartin were drafted?
Because they were Polished and Signable.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:09 am
Tell ya what, there’s very little this team really has to do to be a contender. Just the current core of players we presently have make us a playoff contender. We just need to increase our chances of a deep playoff run and protection against injuries.
Let’s trade for Olt and Gentry
Sign Haren (at a reasonable rate)
Then look at possibly an addition of Hunter.
And sign another vet arm for the pen.
Then let’s head to ST and we can see who/if any are ready in the way of our prospect. At that time we can also look at the holes we need to fill via trade.
Haren
Hudson
Medlen
Minor
Maholm/Teheran/Gilmartin (who ever isn’t traded in the Olt deal)
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:09 am
OnlyBraves – Obstinance is not becoming. What value does Hanson have? He’s young. He’s had ONE subpar season and that after an injury. He managed to win 13 games in that subpar season, struck out almost a batter per inning and managed to eat up 175 IP. He’s as good or better than most number five pitchers in MLB and is at least as good as some team’s number four starter.
To actually believe he’s worth low level prospects does nothing but reinforce the observation that you really are somewhat clueless in some areas and have little knowledge of player evaluation.
Dadgum.....
November 6th, 2012
10:10 am
Oh I don’t know. Getting a big bat 35 homer guy for CF who k’s less than 166 times with serviceable defense might just make me forget about Bourn.
As for Hanson, the guy has been messed with so much in the delivery change dept I’m not sure a 3rd change will help him. Maybe he wakes up one day with a whole new approach. Sorta like a golfer making a subtle change that seems unnoticeable to the naked eye but propels him from journeyman to major winner(see David Duval before his implosion). I would like to see Hanson make that big move. Doubt it. Medlen, Minor , Hudson, Maholm, Delgado then Beachy when he returns. Hanson would have to make a miraculous return but I doubt the Braves wait to see it. He will be dealt in a package somewhere.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:10 am
forgot to add Hanson to that list.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:11 am
scoots – Well, according to some, anyway.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:15 am
Hanson just needs to use his legs more or at least learn to use his legs more. That would help him regain his velocity.
Gary O.
November 6th, 2012
10:15 am
From the cbs sportsline blog, with an expert opinion, and the author’s opinion (not mine);
Michael Bourn, OF. Expert: $83 million, 5 years. Me: $80 million, 5 years.
B.J. Upton, OF. Expert: $70 million, 5 years. Me: $65 million, 5 years.
Nick Swisher, OF. Expert: $67 million, five years. Me: $39 million, three years.
Angel Pagan, OF. Expert: $45 million, 4 years. Me: $30 million, 3 years.
Shane Victorino, OF. Expert: $21 million, 2 years. Me: $30 million, 3 years.
Torii Hunter, OF. Expert: $22 million, 2 years. Me: $30 million, 2 years.
Ryan Ludwick, OF. Expert: $17 million, 2 years. Me: $24 million, 3 years.
Cody Ross, OF. Expert: $14 million, 2 years. Me: $21 million, 3 years..
Since he is not costing a draft pick, I don’t mind overpaying slightly for Pagan if it is a 3 year deal.
Dadgum.....
November 6th, 2012
10:15 am
Of course, I’ve set the bar so low with my predictions that anyone with half a brain and a fifth of vodka can come on this blog and feel like a genius.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:15 am
Hanson just needs to use his legs more or at least learn to use his legs more. That would help him regain his velocity.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:15 am
Oh yes he’s young, with 1 more cheap year. That’s probably about the only value he has. He’s gotten worse each year in the bigs, and had a terribly year this season. He may need to change his delivery again. No one is sure how it’ll work for him.
But, I guess since he is so valuable, let’s trade him and Cunningham for Willingham. Sounds fair.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:18 am
Nick Swisher, OF. Expert: $67 million, five years. Me: $39 million, three years.
Cody Ross, OF. Expert: $14 million, 2 years. Me: $21 million, 3 years..
Both of those are pretty good. I’d be on board for those.
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 6th, 2012
10:19 am
AT
In your scenario who plays CF?
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:19 am
Great, double post.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:23 am
BravePack, I’d go with Gentry in most circumstances. But we’d actually Hunter and Heyward that could pull some duties there and possibly Johnson if we resign him.
ncscoots
November 6th, 2012
10:23 am
As for Hanson, the guy has been messed with so much in the delivery change dept I’m not sure a 3rd change will help him. Maybe he wakes up one day with a whole new approach.
I don’t think he’s going back to the minors to completely rebuild his delivery, LOL. From what I see, it’s mainly a lack of rotation through the shoulder and his long-time flaw of not using his lower body. Now, if the shoulder strengthens/heals/whatever, he can certainly fix the first problem, with not much difficulty, and regain some velocity. The other thing, I dunno. He’s been pitching that way for a long time, and who knows what lengthening his stride, etc., would do to his curve and slider?
So, it’s not a complete no-brainer, keep or trade. Depends at least a little on what the FO thinks is possible with the guy.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:24 am
Transplant – I tend to agree with you about strengthening his legs. I’ve seen both Ryan’s and Clemens’ workout and how they concentrated on leg strength. Al;ways thought all power pitchers should follow suit and realize the power comes from the legs and not the shoulder like many believe. Neither of those two ever hit the DL with arm problems, either. Hanson shoud take note.
DAP
November 6th, 2012
10:27 am
i dont think jaun fransisco needs to be on the team next year, unless something bad happens and we have to go to that platoon arrangement mentioned above. juan needs to be traded for a good RH reliever. send him somewhere he might have a chance to start. heck, maybe he could be in the deal for justin upton. they need a 3Ber.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:29 am
Lew, I definitely think it would help the strain on his shoulder and probably add a few mph to his pitches.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:29 am
Apparently the whole lineup needs to hit .250 or better… defense be damned, even if that’s what was our strength last year. Bourjos is nearly a .250 hitter as a starter, just below at .247. Those 3 points make him so hated.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:30 am
Red Sox Interested In Torii Hunter
The Red Sox have shown interest in Torii Hunter, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. Hunter, a free agent, has previously expressed interest in playing in Boston alongside David Ortiz.
Arkansas Transplant
November 6th, 2012
10:31 am
I don’t think it would be wise to give up on Hanson just yet.. specially for low level prospects as some has stated. I think that would be foolish, in that case he’d actually give us more value by just hanging onto him.
Murph
November 6th, 2012
10:33 am
I am officially giving up hope that Salcedo will turn into anything. The guy sucks.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:34 am
juan needs to be traded for a good RH reliever.
Hanson and Francisco to the Diamondbacks for David Hernandez. Good power RHP, would stabilize the back end of the pen with a righty arm to use in the late innings.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:34 am
First of all – he’s not being hated. He’s an iffy player offensive with little to no track record offensively (and what we HAVE seen is far from determinative OR all that great).
Maybe some of us feel it would be better to get a proven player (even costing more) than to hope a kid with litle MLB time is the answeIm somhat surpirsed you;’re talking hate here when all you seem to do is exhibit such for several players all on your own.
Efrim
November 6th, 2012
10:35 am
but apparently he’s fat, doesn’t care to get in better shape, has no plate discipline, can’t field, run or do much of anything except swing and hope he hits the ball.
I kinda like that he is “fat” – makes a few people around here get mad – and I like seeing those few irked.
But seriously, he doesn’t get on base enough for me – even if he were hitting 7th and just looking to park one. Not an everyday player, imo. But maybe he shocks some in the Spring.
Efrim
November 6th, 2012
10:36 am
Torii Hunter makes a lot of sense for a team like the Yanks – not as much for a team like the Braves, imo.
Efrim
November 6th, 2012
10:38 am
CF Gardner
SS Jeter
2B Cano
1B Teixiera
3B Rodriguez
LF Granderson
RF Hunter
DH
C
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:39 am
Efrim – Or maybe he’s traded like someone just proposed. I wouldn’t want him as an everyday player, but if it came down to it, he COULD be an effective part of the platoon that’s been mentioned.
And if his excess weight is all I had to lose, I’d be estatic.
Efrim
November 6th, 2012
10:40 am
Read an interesting tweet from Bowman – Kimbrel probably on track to receive $7 million in 2014, $10 million in 2015 and $13 million in 2016 through arbitration.
Would not lock up Craig, though. I’d be comfortable going year to year with him or any reliever for that matter.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:41 am
Defense doesn’t matter…. defense doesn’t matter…. defense doesn’t matter. Especially in CF defense doesn’t matter….
Maybe I’ll get it one day.
Guess Bourn was a bum when he was 25 as well. Bourjos had a great 2011, his 2012 numbers are bad because of injury and loss of playing time… bum. Much like Heyward last year.
cricket
November 6th, 2012
10:43 am
so we are trading a starter and JuanFran to “stabilize the back end of the pen”? and here i thought that was one strength of this roster. looks like we are in way deeper doo doo than i imagined..
Murph
November 6th, 2012
10:45 am
.307/.334/.540/.874
300 AB’s, 15 HR, 23 2B, 1 3B
Juan Francisco’s 2011 minor league numbers. I think he has the skills to play everyday, he just needs to be given the opportunity to do so with an organization that has the patience to keep running him out there while he figures things out.
Maybe that means he needs to go somewhere else, but he’s going to hit somewhere…… eventually.
Efrim
November 6th, 2012
10:45 am
I think the most likely player to be traded this offseason is Denard Span. Clear need for major league ready pitching in Minny, outfielders in the minors ready by late 2013 or April 2014(Arcia, Hicks), Ben Revere ready to man CF. Span will not be a Twin much longer.
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:45 am
Yes, yes, we all knjow what you think. Maybe bourjos hits ML pitching full time and maybe he doesn’t. I still want someone I know that can hit.
Murph
November 6th, 2012
10:47 am
Kimbrel probably on track to receive $7 million in 2014, $10 million in 2015 and $13 million in 2016 through arbitration.
I just can’t comprehend paying a bullpen guy, even one as awesome as Kimbrel, $13mil a season. Does not compute.
cricket
November 6th, 2012
10:47 am
why doesn’t Hunter make sense for braves? they would be able to sign him to play LF for 2 yrs to reasonable contract. what are other comparable realistic options?
Lew
November 6th, 2012
10:48 am
You want good dfenese and hope this defensive stalwart generates offense, yet who is cheap? Why trade for omeone like that when we already have Constanza, Pie, Durango and Schafer? There’s every indiucation that Bourjos could be more of the same.
Efrim
November 6th, 2012
10:51 am
Too early to talk about the Kimbrel stuff though. Let’s get a couple more healthy, productive seasons out of the kid before even entertaining the idea of trading him if they can’t lock him up to a reasonable deal(which is just not possible given their payroll and the fact that he is a reliever – that they never pay big dollars).
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 6th, 2012
10:51 am
None of those guys you named are as good defensively as Bourjos is. He’s nearly as good as Bourn. RH bat, who has hit before. Has some SLG ability. Of the guys you named, only Pie does, but he’s not a good CF.
Murph
November 6th, 2012
10:52 am
The Braves should trade for Span and Miguel Sano, the Twins’ 19 year old 3B prospect.
Sano hit .258/.373/.521/.893 in A ball last year… 28 HR, 28 2B, and 4 3B to go with 100 RBI… struck out a lot, but he’s an absolute masher at the dish.