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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,183 comments Add your comment
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
5:12 pm
Keith Law’s top 5 free agents are in order Zack Grienke, BJ Upton, Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn, Hiroki Kuroda.
DS1
November 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
Woody
Andruw was fairly terrible against righties and lefties in 2012. Time to put the Andruw/Atlanta saga to bed for good. No good can come of a reunion, imho.
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
YAY!
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
Finally!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!
This time he really made a play in the clutch.
A lead — its about time.
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
5:16 pm
I just decided to breakdown and get ESPN Insider.
Woody Woodward
November 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
Prolly right Wayne. Hadn’t played the field hardly either in the last couple years.
Woody Woodward
November 3rd, 2012
5:21 pm
Enter your communists here
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
5:21 pm
Here is what KLaw has to say about Angel Pagan who is ranked his 20th best free agent.
Pagan might have raised his free-agent stock this October — not so much with his performance, but simply by getting exposure, showing that while he lacks a plus tool beyond running speed, he has a number of ways to contribute to a club even in an outfield corner.
A switch-hitter, Pagan has more power and a better eye from the left side, opening his hips early when hitting right-handed, although he’s comfortable going the other way rather than trying to pull pitches he can’t get to. He’s an above-average defender in an outfield corner but would come in average or below if asked to play center regularly. That plus running speed has helped Pagan add value through basestealing and baserunning over the past few years, although that’s the kind of tool that can fade quickly as a player gets into his mid-30s. I’d love to get Pagan on a two- to three-year deal to play left and to slide over to center as a backup when needed, hitting him eighth or ninth since he doesn’t get on base enough to be an ideal leadoff guy.
I don’t foresee more 5-WAR seasons in Pagan’s future, between his age, his reliance on his legs and the potential for a widening platoon split that eventually leaves him as a part-time player.
DS1
November 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
VA
I’ve been tempted a few times to subscribe, but there’s just something offensive to me about paying for somebody’s opinion about sports. But if you find anything interesting, please feel free to share (so that us cheapskates can keep up!)
Gonna go take a nap folks…………..
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
KLaw on Ryan Ludwick who’s his 27th best Free Agent
Ludwick’s performance in 2012 produced the second-best WAR of his career (per FanGraphs), after his extreme outlier season in 2008, but this time around it looks just as unsustainable. He fattened up on a lot of weak pitching in 2012, especially within the NL Central, and is very vulnerable to off-speed stuff, especially changeups.
He’s a below-average defender in left, good enough to fill the position but a net negative once he’s there. If he’s challenged by better competition and has a little less randomness go his way, he’ll be back to extra-outfielder status this year.
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
5:25 pm
KLaw on Shane Victorino who’s his 29th best free agent.
Victorino’s bat speed has slowed to the point where he’s best utilized as a fourth outfielder who can fill any of the three outfield spots and come off the bench as a right-handed hitter, since even in his prime he was never very good hitting from the left side.
He has an above-average arm and is still an asset on the bases despite the occasional boneheaded play — it’s almost surprising how good he is at reading pitchers’ moves when you consider how poor his instincts look at times. He’s a one-year-deal player at this point, but the lack of center-field options might encourage some team to give him two or three years to be a starter.
DS1
November 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
VA
That don’t leave much left, but to trade for a CF’er.
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
Okay, nice start to the second half
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
5:54 pm
Aaron Murray is not a BUMB now.
He no longer deserves to be Booed.
The Dawgs are great — they are not BUMBS anymore.
nolie
November 3rd, 2012
5:57 pm
I would prefer Span too, gets on base better
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
5:58 pm
Va Brave — I think Pagan had a phenominal year for him.
Our FO is not paying what SF is prolly going to offer him.
I’d pass on Victorino. Best scenario is to trade for one of the Minnesota CF’s.
Or could we have a Schafer/Gattis miricle.
Could Gattis be a Willingham in waiting?
nolie
November 3rd, 2012
5:58 pm
geeze Disgusted, wobble around much?
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
6:00 pm
Revere’s speed is intriguing, And he is young.
But its a win win with either Span or Revere. I was down on Revere but after looking at his numbers, and defense (only from what I read and see on the graphs), there is alot to like.
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
6:02 pm
Nolie — You will never hear me call the Dawgs BUMBS again.
They never deserve to be Booed.
Now surly Kobe calling Laker fans stupid and telling them to shut up — that deserves to be Booed.
Kobe is great but not a likable guy. Threw his own fans under the bus because he was being Kobe — the jerk he is.
nolie
November 3rd, 2012
6:02 pm
bah his numbers pretty much sukk,
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
6:06 pm
Kobe is a jerk — low class great talent but a low class jerk.
No pro athletet should rip his own fan base like that.
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
6:38 pm
Bringing up Kobe Bryant is a sure fire way to kill the blog.
Bill
November 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
Based on DOB’s picture should Mcann be called El Oso Rojo?
Russell Bell
November 3rd, 2012
6:44 pm
Maybe people should focus less on athletes opinions and the such.
24 hour (sports) news cycle seems to be turning us all in to queens of gossip and speculation.
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
6:56 pm
Glad KOBE killed the blog and it was not me that did it.
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
7:00 pm
It would be pretty cool to see Lance Berkman decide to go back to the Astro’s and be the DH for a year or two.
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
Nice win for the Dawgs
LSU v Bama coming up. Should be fun
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
EDDIE PEREZ TO MANAGE BRAVES IN 2013. Not a bad idea and FREDI would not have to be fired, he could manage G-BRAVES. OPPS FORGET IT he could ruin our young pitchers in LAWENCEVILLE.
****************************************
The above was written somewhat in humor. FREDI must have improved somewhat as a MGR in 2012 because the team had 94 wins with generally poor offence. HOWEVER I will NEVER FORGIVE FREDI for ruining VENTERS. venters was “lights out” first half of 2011 untill FREDI started useing him every day. VENTERS has not been the same since.
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
7:09 pm
ND game going down to wire.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
7:16 pm
FSU won today y’all
Frank’s comments on Gattis really do make me wonder what they’re gonna do in CF… they may see him as the answer in LF, and may make a play for Hamilton in CF. Can’t see how that’d be a good decision though…
Or they may try to bring back Bourn or trade for a CF like Span. Interesting decisions that Frank can make this winter.
Really hope Hunter goes back to LAA though… I want a certain CF
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
7:49 pm
ND survives
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Yup
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
7:57 pm
cab a little happyer USC just scored.
kenhotlanta
November 3rd, 2012
8:02 pm
Disgusted: “Murray just sucks. Worst QB ever.”
Aaron Murray: 21 of 28 384 Yards 4 TD’s 0 Int.
Disgusted just sucks. Worst poster ever. ( What were you smoking?)
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
Murray got his poor butt sacked several times today.
kenhotlanta
November 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
Bat, he did get off to a bad start, I was just yanking Disgusted’s chain. I hope Marlon Brown is not hurt bad, we are getting thin at receiver.
George_George
November 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
USC game high scoreing 58 points, not yet halftime.
Bat Masterson
November 3rd, 2012
8:35 pm
Gotcha, ken.
The whole team started slow. Seems to be a habit, a bad one.
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
8:38 pm
VaBravesFan:
Those posts basically mirror my thoughts on those players. I say no thanks to Pagan, Ludwick, and Victorino.
I’m not 100% sold on Willingham, but I don’t think I’d be upset about adding him in left (assuming a “fair” trade). I think a CFer needs to be added via trade too…
matt
November 3rd, 2012
8:47 pm
bourn
prado
heyward
headley
freeman
uggla
mccann
simmons
matt
November 3rd, 2012
8:49 pm
no free agent is going to come cheap so why not just spend on bourn and trade some pitching for headley seems completely possible to me
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
8:57 pm
I thought FSU didn’t play today
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
it would probably take more prospects than we even have to get Headley at this point
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
9:10 pm
Hence the comment…..
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
9:16 pm
@kenhotlanta
My days of calling Murray a BUMB are over. He is great, Dawgs rule now.
The second half was better.
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
9:18 pm
We are tooooo CHEEP for one of the top 5 FA’s.
That includes Bourn. Revolving door contiinues.
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
9:19 pm
Can we offer stock in Liberty Media for Headley????? LOL
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
KLaw ranks BJ Upton as the second best free agent? wow
brian
November 3rd, 2012
9:34 pm
Thanks for the pics DOB. How did McCann escape the sling with pillow brace? Wonder if McCann can sleep with his shoulder
Playoffs!!!
November 3rd, 2012
9:35 pm
I’d be very surprised if the Braves showed any serious interest in Josh Hamiltion. Besides his problems with drug addiction and the fact that he is injury prone, there is ONE thing even worse:
He is another left-handed hitter.
Obtaining Hamilton will stunt the development of Heyward and Freeman because they will see even more lefthanded pitching than they did this year. It will hurt their production, and McCann’s too, when he returns
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
9:38 pm
I would not get tied down with Hamilton for more than 3 yrs if I could afford it & the Braves won’t afford him, so that is moot.
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
9:40 pm
I agree, I doubt they have much interest at all. Some of those nationla writers see a hole on a team and try to fill it with no real understanding off any nuances. I laughed when I saw that article on Fox
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
9:44 pm
I doubt Tennessee fans are unhappy about the outcome of a certain game…
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
9:59 pm
KLaw on BJ Upton #2 Free Agent.
Bossman Junior is one of the most aggravating players in the majors because he has the tools to be a superstar but hasn’t been able to put all of them into action at the same time for more than a few months. He enters free agency at age 28 coming off a disappointing season that saw his walk rate plummet as he gave up some patience for more power, a trade-off that boosted his superficial stats but made him less valuable overall.
The one thing that concerns me about Upton’s 2012 season isn’t specifically his on-base percentage but how often he missed fastballs in the zone or fouled them off rather than squaring them up. Upton has good bat speed and remains a great athlete who can run, throw and play a very good center field. He is young enough to maintain those skills for the next five years, but he needs to find a workable middle ground between his swing-at-everything approach of 2012 and the more patient approach he had earlier in his career.
VaBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
KLaw on Bourn #4 Free Agent
Bourn is a premium defensive center fielder, one of the best in the game, and a tremendous baserunner, doing just enough with the bat to make him an above-average regular and borderline All-Star.
His primary value is with his glove, as he has outstanding range derived from his plus raw speed and good instincts in center. He is the type of player who would be ideal on a team with a large center field to cover or simply one with a flyball-oriented pitching staff. He is an aggressive baserunner, with a career success rate over 80 percent on stolen bases, and he adds further value through his ability to take extra bases when hitters after him put the ball in play.
His swing is very closed and doesn’t generate much power, as he uses his hands more than his legs and tries to hit line drives to all fields. That closed stance after his stride means he can be tied up on the inner half, at or under his hands, such as a fastball from a lefty or a slider down and in from a righty. Given his speed, however, the approach works because he is a threat to reach base whenever he puts the ball in play.
The one concern I have with Bourn is that so much of his value is tied up in his legs, rather than his eyes or his bat. He is one major leg injury or a series of smaller ones away from losing the value he contributes on defense and on the bases. That value could diminish if he loses speed due to age as he gets into his 30s. I don’t think either scenario is highly likely, but it’s the major risk in signing a player like Bourn to a lengthy deal.
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
To me that is a pretty negative write up of a player you claim to be the second best free agent available
Trader Jack
November 3rd, 2012
10:13 pm
Smart money is on B J Upton going to Philly. Fills two needs, CF and two hole hitter after Rollins and before Utley and Howard
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
10:16 pm
let Philly have him
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
10:16 pm
Half Empty:
Bad year for Braves to have money…. I don’t think this is a particularly good free agent class. I think Bourn at #4 and Upton at #2 says all you need to know about the free agents this year. The Braves are better off trading for talent and offering money in the deals to fill their needs IMO.
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
10:17 pm
George – cab was not overly confident on this one…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
November 3rd, 2012
10:19 pm
brian Wonder if McCann can sleep with his shoulder
Well, they’ve GOTTA let him sleep!!…
Story made it sound like he does have a sling, he just wasn’t wearing it today…
Half Empty
November 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
free agent classes might deteriorate more in the future, more teams are trying to tie up their promising young talent and more players seem to be willing to go that route.
Trader Jack
November 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
VJ
Talk about a shoot out in So Cal
Mitchell
November 3rd, 2012
10:22 pm
“I can’t remember who the manager was that year,” Niekro said [it was Joe Torre]…
Got Heeeem!
Joe Torre, douche.
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
10:22 pm
Trader Jack – sorry I had to work and did not get to go…
Trader Jack
November 3rd, 2012
10:23 pm
Half Empty
Not so sure about that as TV money keeps increasing, why sell out early when you can wait for the BIG PAYDAY
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
10:24 pm
Half Empty:
The future is far to unclear for me to debate. This year though, is pretty clear to me that the Braves don’t have a lot of good options in the FA market. (Nor do most teams for that matter.)
Mitchell
November 3rd, 2012
10:31 pm
Btw, was that our shortstop who made the costly error that started the onslaught?
Whatever, no big deal.
Who else would he play for?
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
10:38 pm
How goes it, Heath?
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
VJ:
Hello, sir.
I’m doing alright. Just doin’ some California dreamin’ of late. I’m also geared up and ready for UK’s defense of their ‘12 title. (I don’t think they will….)
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
I was listening to the William and Mary football game today and noticed we play Friday – of course, my alternate team will probably do a little better than my alma mater …
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
Would like to see what phil thinks of the guy who caught that 42 yard pass…
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:06 pm
Pat Forde @YahooForde
Poor Bobby Hebert. Got escorted out of press box by cops right before TD play.
Yep. He’d been warned multiple times. RT @Jordan_Woodson @YahooForde What for? Cheering?
Trader Jack
November 3rd, 2012
11:13 pm
VJ
Are you a William & Mary grad? Campus reminds me of my undergrad school
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:13 pm
Nice job, Mettenperson…
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:15 pm
Trader Jack – I am – M Ed from VCU, which I only count when they make the tourney…where did you go?
Trader Jack
November 3rd, 2012
11:16 pm
BA – Swarthmore
MBA – Wharton School
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:17 pm
Les
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
11:18 pm
VJ:
Doesn’t look like Pasadena is in my immediate future… I think they were bothered by an out-of-state candidate. My only conclusion.
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:19 pm
You definitely have me on the MBA
You know, everything I know about Swarthmore comes down to Creeque Alley…
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:19 pm
Heath – too bad – I had been planning get-togethers…
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
11:21 pm
…short-term set back.
Trader Jack
November 3rd, 2012
11:22 pm
My original vocation was to be a teacher, but turned to the dark side, and became a MOTU – LOL
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
11:25 pm
Stay away from BJ Upton what ever you do Mr. Wren.
Heath
November 3rd, 2012
11:25 pm
VJ:
As an engineering supervisor you wouldn’t think that I would have to teach and babysit like teachers…
Disgusted
November 3rd, 2012
11:28 pm
“free agent classes might deteriorate more in the future, more teams are trying to tie up their promising young talent and more players seem to be willing to go that route”
That is the next step that we are gonna have to take with Heyward and Freeman. And before long maybe Simmons.
If they do not do it than they face the consequences of cheepness.
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:44 pm
Great D, EllEssYou…
DS1
November 3rd, 2012
11:48 pm
I do not like Sabean.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
11:50 pm
Another wonderfully coached game by Les Miles…….
Dawgs vs Bama for the championship in Dec. Go Dawgs
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:50 pm
Brian Sabean or Lou Saban? Or a combinatiom?
Venice Jim
November 3rd, 2012
11:51 pm
Or combination?…
DS1
November 3rd, 2012
11:54 pm
Lou
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 3rd, 2012
11:55 pm
Still some great SEC play tho. Needed LSU to win though. A Dawgs Bama Natl Championship woulda been nicer
DS1
November 4th, 2012
12:02 am
Did I say Lou? Oops. Lou been dead a while. Talking about Nick from Bama. Arrogant azz.
DS1
November 4th, 2012
12:04 am
Never cared for the way he left Miami back in 2007. A man’s word should mean something.
Bat Masterson
November 4th, 2012
12:07 am
Tater_
Teasing the LSU faithful that way………… Cruel, cruel, cruel.
Cold hearted
Mean
Venice Jim
November 4th, 2012
12:12 am
Wow – I am a moron – I meant Nick… too much vodka…
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 4th, 2012
12:12 am
Didn’t Kiffin do about the same with UT? Hence he’s called “lame”. Can’t blame the fans….
DS1
November 4th, 2012
12:13 am
VJ
and I fell for it…..
Bat Masterson
November 4th, 2012
12:16 am
Bobby Petrino’s exit from the Falcons trumps
allmost others.