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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,357 comments Add your comment
BFChris28
November 12th, 2012
9:35 pm
1st
Mixxo
November 12th, 2012
9:52 pm
Second!
Mixxo
November 12th, 2012
9:53 pm
Someone tell me what the blog said please.
*did not read*
BFChris28
November 12th, 2012
9:56 pm
Basically talking about options to fill out the needs for the club.
Disgusted
November 12th, 2012
10:02 pm
Shoppach, Span or Fowler and Willingham on the wish list.
That would not be bad. Actually, pretty decent compared to some past off seasons.
Saltalamacchia is not that good — only redemming plus in his game is some power. Don;t need him.
I would not give up the ghost on Francsco either (If he could only raise the OBP to .310 to 320). Wren knows what he is talking about with the explosive raw power.
Can see him as a .240/.320/25/90 RBI guy. If not here somewhere else. Not disgraceful in the field either.
Can they do decent — we will see, not convinced.
Disgusted
November 12th, 2012
10:03 pm
Braveone — where is the top 25?
jbill
November 12th, 2012
10:06 pm
Thanks DOB..Glad you had a safe fly home.
least of the east
November 12th, 2012
10:08 pm
Braves also need a new manager, a new owner and maybe a new GM.
they prefer to lose assets via trade than sign free agents for nothing. that Teixeira trade was one of the worst deals in history (even though we got Mahay also)-ha ha.
the fact is they have lost their luster and are no longer seen as such a desirable destination. the playoffs is an annual challenge nowadays.
never have enough money and mismanage the payroll they have.
other than that, everything is just fine.
Beavercreekbravesfan
November 12th, 2012
10:10 pm
Hopeful, but still skeptical about the off-season. Last year JS promised a major league ready shortstop and a right-handed power hitting outfielder. I missed a few games, but, uh, don’t remember seeing them in the lineup. Bourn’s all but gone, and that’s the way it is, but hope we don’t end up with more recycled players when we might be only 2 players away from a longer run in the post season.
Jeremy
November 12th, 2012
10:10 pm
Hate to see you go Ross, he was a Damn Good Brave
Disgusted
November 12th, 2012
10:10 pm
Pagan belongs in SF.
For plenty of good reasons too long to type.
TNScott
November 12th, 2012
10:11 pm
Thanks, again, DOB. May you have a safe and uneventful flight home. I would add I think the price tag for J-Up is a bit high in prospects considering he is playing in one the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball. For my money, I would try to pry Chase Headley away from San Diego away first if possible. I think he is just coming into his own and plays in a park that is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks and still produces really good numbers.
Bravefaninok
November 12th, 2012
10:11 pm
Thanks for the new blog and updates DOB!
Disgusted
November 12th, 2012
10:13 pm
“Hopeful, but still skeptical about the off-season”
You should be — imagine if Simmons and Janish had not bailed Wren out of a potential SS mess.
There are no kids or waiver pickups this time around to bail out less he gets lucky.
That is on ownership.
tmc
November 12th, 2012
10:14 pm
One thing i noticed about Bourn all season was that he didn’t run nearly as much as he could have. Now, does that mean he wasn’t given the “steal” sign or he had the freedom to go, but chose not to.
I would hate to think Fredi wouldn’t run him to keep his steals down…
but there were many games and many situations in the 2nd half of the season where i would have run Bourn and he did not.
We’ll most likely never know, but i wouldn’t be surprised.
Baseball 101
November 12th, 2012
10:15 pm
Good info and insight, as usual DOB! Thanks!
Junior
November 12th, 2012
10:17 pm
Ok, so Freddie loses confidence in Francisco after going 5 for 40, but he keeps shoving Uggly out there for a few hundred at bats… I’m sure there is a punch line here somewhere.
BFChris28
November 12th, 2012
10:18 pm
I wouldn’t mind Russell Martin as the C til McCann returns. Then can either keep Russell as a back up C and pinch hitter or use him as trade bait.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
November 12th, 2012
10:19 pm
Well they blew up the chickenman in Philly last nite……
tmc
November 12th, 2012
10:21 pm
least of the east- agree on the Teixeira trade, but the worst trade of all time was by the Braves in 1983. The Braves sent a lead-off hitter for the next decade plus (Brett Butler) a starting 3rd baseman for 5-7 years (Brook Jacoby) and a player to be named to Cleveland for a Rotator cuff! (Len Barker, who i think pitched in like 5 games for the Braves in 1984 before retiring)
I STILL can’t believe that trade.
Ward
November 12th, 2012
10:23 pm
Hello everyone! Back for just a few! Thans for Info, and let’s hope Wren acts quickly on catchers, but I never heard of the catchers on this article, and it looks like the name form the list on Major League, when the Cleveland Fans said, “Who are these blankety blank Guys?” I hope Wren, does get us some one who can play LF, or Center? Just not getting my hopes up!
Ward
November 12th, 2012
10:25 pm
Wrens’ been searching for a LF fielder for years, so we will see. I’m trying to be positive, but we will see.
phil
November 12th, 2012
10:27 pm
An excellent read….
Best of luck to Ross. He’s missed already.
phil
November 12th, 2012
10:29 pm
Please don’t say the name Uggla….
I was beginning to forget about that black hole.
Ward
November 12th, 2012
10:31 pm
phil – I’m starting to see a black hole in all this trade talk, and Free Agency rumors. little humor
kral
November 12th, 2012
10:31 pm
let’s see we lost what we consider our three best pitchers…Beachy hurt…jair hurt..who knows..hanson..who knows..all-star catcher has worse year..no. two reliever does not repeat success …hall-famer is good but only plays 3 of 5 or so..gosh I watched almost every game and I could go on..or I could remember we won over 90 games…dang the manager and the front office and the players suck..maybe just some fans just suck
kral
November 12th, 2012
10:32 pm
you were in mine phil
Ward
November 12th, 2012
10:34 pm
All, have a good one! I’m going to enjoy the rest of the night! Don’t get your hopes up! I’m not getting mine! Peace my friends, and”Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
JC Boscan III
November 12th, 2012
10:35 pm
I smell us overpaying for someone who will not produce as expected. If not, we’ll probably be underwhelmed…….. Our bench was weak enough without losing Ross, too……….
Bravofan
November 12th, 2012
10:41 pm
I have never written on an ajc thread but I had to share my thoughts on David Ross’s departure.. As a lifetime fan of the game of baseball, I cannot think of a player other than Martin Prado that eximplifies what a “ball player” is more than David Ross. If we had a roster full of those two we would
never lose again. Ever. Best of luck to you Rossy, you will be sorely missed in Brave country..
Nova Scotia Steve
November 12th, 2012
10:41 pm
Sorry. I just don’t think Hunter is worth $7 or $8 million per-season given his injury history and age.
Who knows how he will respond to the league switch and what will we sign him for a single season? I would much rather a long term solution/sign.
tmc
November 12th, 2012
10:42 pm
i saw a blogger say it and i can’t improve on it any better.
The Braves value McCann @12-13 million more than D. Ross at 3.1 million for 2 years. – unknown blogger.
This will come back to bite the Braves. Mark it down.
George_George
November 12th, 2012
10:43 pm
FRANK WREN is CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, to let ROSS get away. He will relise it in April wnem the loses start adding up.
BFChris28
November 12th, 2012
10:44 pm
1. Span or Victorino CF
2. Prado 3B
3. Heyward RF
4. Hunter LF
5. Freeman 1B
6. Uggla 2B
7. Simmons SS
8. BUC
Until McCann gets back.
That’s what I would like
jbill
November 12th, 2012
10:47 pm
DOB..Wren and Braves have not talked at all about 3b are they just looking for LF’er and Prado automatic gets 3b. I’ve heard no rumors about Braves and 3b.
Any talk at all about Flower led off?
Efrim
November 12th, 2012
10:47 pm
Sounds like the Braves have a lot of interest in Hunter. I’d much rather him than Cody Ross or Ryan Ludwick. Just hope it’s a two year deal max.
cricket
November 12th, 2012
10:49 pm
who are these people?
Frosted Lucky Charms
November 12th, 2012
10:50 pm
Awesome! Wren is going after a 37 year old player past his prime. Nothing like spending $ that the team finally has on a player approaching 40. Can’t wait. What an investment.
Hiawatha Terrell Wade
November 12th, 2012
10:51 pm
The bit at the end about Ross really bummed me out Dave.
JHarber
November 12th, 2012
10:55 pm
I still have no confidence in Wren Can’t find his way past Dollar store, Hell he can’t even find Wal-Mart.
DS1
November 12th, 2012
10:56 pm
Hunter scares me a lot more than Cody Ross. I’m still holding out for David Wright and Chase Headley.
brian
November 12th, 2012
10:57 pm
great blog yet again DOB.
DOB for GM!!
Bat Masterson
November 12th, 2012
10:59 pm
Best of luck to you Rossy, you will be sorely missed in Brave country..
Yeah, I’m gonna miss Dumbfounded, too.
jbill
November 12th, 2012
11:00 pm
DSI..That would put fans in the park…
Efrim
November 12th, 2012
11:03 pm
Switching leagues isn’t as big anymore, but it would make sense for Hunter to sign with Detroit. That’d be a nice upgrade for them in a corner outfield spot. Dirks/Boesch/Garcia in LF.
Efrim
November 12th, 2012
11:08 pm
Ross hit .232/.294/.390 outside of Fenway and .256/.308/.422 vs. RHP. And he’s looking for a three year deal. I think I’d rather have Hunter, despite his age. In fact, I might actually rather Ludwick too. Although I think Ross/Ludwick are if all else fails, imo.
hmmmmm..........
November 12th, 2012
11:09 pm
If we may go after Torii Hunter why not go after Ichiro?
jim
November 12th, 2012
11:10 pm
If the Braves thought that ross wouldn’t get a 2 year offer for that kind of money from somebody, then Wren was as out of touch as many on this blog are always writing. This was his last chance at a big (for him) payday and he earned it, if not from the Braves then from someone else. That contract should not have been a surprise to anyone. Had the Braves made a 2 year 5 million dollar offer the mihnute he hit free agency, he would probably have accepted, and it would have pre-empted the Red Sox offer and showed him that they valued his contribution and were serious about wanting him back. Like others have written here, 6 million for two years for a PRODUCTIVE back up catcher and team leader is not too much when one considers what they have paid for far less.
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:11 pm
who are these people?…cricket
excellent question.
brian
November 12th, 2012
11:14 pm
Hunter is not going to Atlanta. If he goes to the NL it will be to the Dodgers. I would not want to learn a new league at his age
Frosted Lucky Charms
November 12th, 2012
11:14 pm
I wonder what Julio Franco is doing these days? Call him up Frank I’m sure he’d play for cheap too.
jbill
November 12th, 2012
11:15 pm
I said it before but I’ll say it again…a BIG TRADE with Twins for Willingham and Span or Revere would solve two big spots. The Wren would have the money to get a relief pitcher and Catcher.
abeeeewright
November 12th, 2012
11:17 pm
DS1 … gonna put Wright in LF and Headley at 3B? Where’s Prado going to play?
jbill
November 12th, 2012
11:17 pm
brian..is that really a problem? we do have interleague play. I thinks thats a excuse.
hmmmmm..........
November 12th, 2012
11:19 pm
im not the biggest Wren fan but it’s not his fault the Braves are bargain shoppers blame ownership. There was this outfielder who nice ALDS, played for the Orioles, and is a free agent: Nate McClouth
jbill
November 12th, 2012
11:19 pm
Wright in LF ????
brian
November 12th, 2012
11:19 pm
Braves need to get Span and then go from there. Depending on what prospect(s) it takes to get Span they can reassess and see if they can get someone like Upton or Headley.
If the cost is Teheran or Delgado, Ahmed, and Spruill – would you do it? What about if you could get Headley from San Diego for the same package? Who would you choose? What if Bethancourt has to be added to the package or Francisco (stop laughing – it was in the article)?
I would do the trade for Upton if we could keep Bethancourt.Same for Headley. I would probably take Upton knowing that Prado will give similar production at 3B.
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:20 pm
abeee
Wright at 3B. Headley in LF. And Prado is going to be the backup CF, C, 2B, 1B, SS, RF and is going to sell hotdogs in the stands between innings.
(Guess I should have said “or”)
brian
November 12th, 2012
11:21 pm
I would love to see a lineup of:
Span
Prado
Heyward
Upton
Freeman
Uggla
Simmons
Back up catcher
Pitcher
Bama Braves
November 12th, 2012
11:22 pm
On Span. He Turned Down A Trade To The Reds So Why Dose Everyone Think That He Would Come Here?
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:22 pm
I’d choose Headley, but both would demand a lot of trade chips and there are at least a dozen or more teams with better groups of prospects to trade at this point. It ain’t a vacuum out there
braveslifer
November 12th, 2012
11:22 pm
Headley by far. The package you mentioned sounds right for Headley. To high for Span in my estimation.
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:23 pm
cause we are so cool on the blog, Bama……
brian
November 12th, 2012
11:24 pm
just wonder if Gilmartin will be traded or the Braves will plan on him taking Maholm’s place in a year. Also wonder if Maholm could be trade bait if the Braves feel that either Delgado or Teheran is ready (and they are not traded)
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:24 pm
brian
I’d give San Diego Teheran or Delgado (they’d probably ask for Minor too), Ahmed, Spruill, AND Bethancourt. I’d throw in a $100 Zaxby’s Gift Card and a 3 day 6 Flags Pass for the whole team!
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:24 pm
Sounds light to me for Headley
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:26 pm
nolie
It’s DAMNED light! They would ask for players that will hurt to give up.
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:27 pm
$200 Gift Card?
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:28 pm
Who’s kidding who. We’d have to give up Prado or Simmons to get either Headley or Wright.
walker
November 12th, 2012
11:30 pm
we need to get span and justin upton. we also need to trade uggla and get either wright or headley to play third and move prado back over to 2nd. leaving us with a lineup of:
Span CF
Prado 2nd
Heyward RF
Upton LF
Freeman/Wright
Headley/ Freeman
McCann C
Simmons SS
Pitcher
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:30 pm
I agree Wayne
jbill
November 12th, 2012
11:32 pm
brain..thats not bad….I.’d be happy with any of those Headley are Upton…Wren knows who we can give up..I sure don’t.
Span
Headley or Upton
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:32 pm
good luck on even one of those Walker , perhaps Span, the rest are dreams
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:32 pm
walker
So you’re going to trade for Span, Upton AND Wright or Headley? Exactly HOW are you going to pull that one off???
Buttermilk Tuesdays
November 12th, 2012
11:36 pm
I find it humorous that the media and the AJC writers continue to bring up the “inherent risk” of signing a guy like J. Upton. The Braves don’t flinch when it comes to paying exorbitant amounts of cash to guys like Dan Uggla, Derek Lowe, and Brian McCann, but when they get a chance to actually pick up the check for a legit MVP-caliber type player like Upton… “Oh no, we can’t do that, the risk is just too high.” Really? For a 25-year-old kid that clearly possess tremendous talent, and is capable of becoming of one of the best players in all of baseball? You’re not willing to take a shot at him, but would rather continue paying guys like Uggla and McCann? Management has some backward-ass logic.
hmmmmm..........
November 12th, 2012
11:37 pm
Our luck will most likely be the Braves adding Span or Hunter. Then use internal options to fill the other spot Gattis in LF or Franscisco at 3rd and Prado in the leftover spot.
jbill
November 12th, 2012
11:38 pm
Bama Braves, Cots Contract don’t say Span has a not trade contract therefore he can’t stop the deal.
braveslifer
November 12th, 2012
11:38 pm
“So you’re going to trade for Span, Upton AND Wright or Headley? Exactly HOW are you going to pull that one off???”
Pretty sure the plan begins with kidnapping…
Buttermilk Tuesdays
November 12th, 2012
11:39 pm
ass-backwards*
jim
November 12th, 2012
11:41 pm
I have been a defender of Wren up until now, but the attempted trade of Delgado for a 3 month rental of Dempster and losing Ross by not going 2 years at 3 million/year given the questions already surrounding the catcher’s position are moving me over to the other side of the argument. Adding some combination of Span, Willingham, Hunter, Cody Ross, or BJ Upton while removing Chipper, Bourn, and D. Ross does not make this team a pennant contender in my eyes next year or strengthen it for the longer run. And if people think there is a surplus of pitching we can just deal away with no consequences, wait until one of the starters goes down or underperforms next year and there is no Delgado in the system to fill that need. The history of TJ surgeries suggests that Beachy won’t be back to form until 2014 — he will be back next August, but not his old self until the second year. Hanson is the most likely to underperform or go down so that leaves Medlen, Minor, Hudson, Maholm, and ? — A decent pitching staff, but not the Giants, Reds, Nats, and Phillies. Even the Mets staff of Dickey, Niese, Harvey, Santana, and Gee or Wheeler is just as strong.
Buttermilk Tuesdays
November 12th, 2012
11:46 pm
@jim: Teheran, Gilmartin, Avilan, Graham, Martin, and Wood.
Buttermilk Tuesdays
November 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
We have plenty of pitching.
Venice Jim
November 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
There was this outfielder who nice ALDS, played for the Orioles, and is a free agent: Nate McClouth
There is no such person…
JHarber
November 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
Jim—I agree on all points except Wren Have had him pegged for a couple of years but the attempted trade of Delgado for Dempster finished the deal.
hmmmmm..........
November 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
not trade contract? He’d have to be a 10 and 5 guy. Ten years in the league and five with the same team
Bravesfan54
November 12th, 2012
11:50 pm
The fifth estate (sports division)assumed that B McCann would be resigned and consistently wrote it that way – as if to say it was a “no brainer”. I wasn’t completely alone on this blog as being decidedly against exercising this option – but I clearly was in the distinct minority. However, that decision having been wrongfully made,in my opinion, absolutely dictated, the decision not to compete against Boston. The better move would’ve been to let McCann go to the highest bidder (maybe Boston would take a flier on him), resign Ross and have both a plan A (our minor league phenom) and a plan B – a reasonably priced, seasoned, clubhouse friendly guy. Catchers: $2-5M, future uncertain, options: priceless!)
McCann is an expensive gamble and under the best of circumstances will not be back in decent baseball (or other)shape before mid-to-late May. $12M gets you this far, and now our first 60 days behind the plate reek of both uncertainty and instability. In the end, it wasn’t letting Rossy go, but the signing of BMac which will impact this team. (Subtext: who ever heard of seeking a backup catcher as being one of the pieces you need to find in the off-season. It’s absurd that we have to replace a back-up catcher because we committed to our $12 million dollar, defensively challenged, not too healthy, catcher – and one with back-to-back ‘poors’ in his rearview. We got some catch-up to do, boys, hitch them ponies and let’s ride! (Sorry Amber!)
hmmmmm..........
November 12th, 2012
11:50 pm
Hey VJim, did i mention he plays CF and bats leadoff?
ncgary
November 12th, 2012
11:50 pm
i try and not get down on life when i get thrown all these lemons, but now i get thrown some strawberries in amongst the lemons, and it has stung me the wrong way today. we went to the beach a couple months back and onb the way home stopped at the scotchman and got some gas. they had a sign up said to text to win the harly sporster, so i show renee the sign and say you know , you could probably win that.
well we get the call today and she won it. a nice red and black 883 sporster. now how am i gonnna ride this while on oxygen 24/7. he sure has a cruel sense of humour at me for some reason now
lol
https://www.facebook.com/ScotchmanFans
scroll down and check out her bike
Buttermilk Tuesdays
November 12th, 2012
11:53 pm
@Bravesfan54: Completely agree regarding McCann.
DS1
November 12th, 2012
11:53 pm
nolie
If Olt turns into a monster RH masher in the next year or two, we’re all going to look back and say “we coulda had that guy!”
Can we push Janish as the second coming of Simmons? Hey Texas, we’ve got a guy who is EVEN BETTER than Simmons!
HooRah
November 12th, 2012
11:53 pm
how could Span have turned down a trade? He is not a 10/5 player
Venice Jim
November 12th, 2012
11:56 pm
Oh – you mean Nate McLouth…
JASon
November 12th, 2012
11:56 pm
“No one had anticipated a month ago that the soon-to-be 36-year-old catcher would double his salary and get a two-year deal.”
I have two words for the braves organization: suck it.
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:57 pm
same with Boutjos Wayne…TOBF will be rubbin’ it in big time
brian
November 12th, 2012
11:57 pm
if the Braves could get Span and Upton or Headley it will be a rock star offseason from Wren. Those players should be in the realm of reality and they do not break the bank.
The Braves then can focus on locking up Heyward, Freeman, Kimbrel, Minor, Medlen, and Beachy over the coming years along with likely simmons
nolie
November 12th, 2012
11:57 pm
they have two words back….
Venice Jim
November 12th, 2012
11:58 pm
Good to see that DOB writes a column ridiculing people who don’t understand baseball, and they show up to prove the point…
HooRah
November 12th, 2012
11:58 pm
brian the dreamer, always believing in miracles
brian
November 12th, 2012
11:58 pm
DS1 – why would we say that we could have had Olt? It has been well reported that Texas told many teams that Olt is unavailable.
ncgary
November 12th, 2012
11:58 pm
did ya take a look at my bike nolie