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
4,357 comments Add your comment
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
y’all take care
CB
November 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
DS1,click on the arrows and you can hide the Meebo toolbar.
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
More in the lines of what we were use to with Andruw Jones; Power, speed and defense
And of all I’ve heard, I had not heard BJ granted the same level as the greatest defensive CF ever.
ncbravesfan90
November 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
“Apples and oranges. Or more likely, you are seeing the opposites of the same opinion. For me, I want more in the outfield than Bourn, BJ, et al. So I’m not thrilled to death that this team is lining up to pay BJ a fortune… And when I hear Cody Ross’s name I have a similar impression… if Ross is the answer, might as well toss Gattis out there and save the money for cheaper beer.”
The Braves have money to spend and will spend this offseason. The only way I see Gattis in the outfield is if the Braves use a ton of the available money for Hamilton and put him in center field, this would use almost all the money so they may be forced to put Gattis out there then, but even then I’d say the chances would be small, they would put Prado in Left and Francisco at 3rd. The Braves will not trot out a minor league DH/C/OF onto the field to start this year with the money they have to spend. Only way Gattis could possibly be on the team to start the year would be to backup catch Laird. Even then I think the nod goes to Bethancourt.
Shaun
November 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
BJ doesn’t have defense, hustle, possibly respect, and a good attitude.
If BJ Upton looked like Cody Ross, would anyone make this claim? No. If he looked like Cody Ross, the fact that he’s merely solid and not a superstar would be charming, and people would be going ga-ga over him.
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
ncbravesfan90…. perhaps I should say, it is all a joke to mock how little respect we have for Cody Ross.
ncbravesfan90
November 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
“And of all I’ve heard, I had not heard BJ granted the same level as the greatest defensive CF ever.”
The man running the team said it. I believe I would trust him on what he sees, but that’s just me.
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
Hello everyone! Braves do have th eedge obn B.J. Upton. He’s going to met with Phillies, but reports are that Braves will have the edge in all this. TOBF – Relax man….. Just, because you don’t get your way, you don’t have to bitch about it! Not everyone agrees with your thoughts.
Tumbledown
November 16th, 2012
3:10 pm
Is there a price point where B.J. Upton becomes worthwhile? Five years-$65 million? Four-years-$50 million? I have no clue. It would seem that these are no free agent contracts agreed to right now to provide any reasonable comparison.
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
If BJ Upton looked like Cody Ross, would anyone make this claim?
You often times lean this way with some of your comments. Lots of comments regarding Prado and his way of going about things.
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
Cody Ross, and B.J. signing is looking good, but we just have to wait, and see what direction this all goes?
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
If BJ Upton looked like Cody Ross, would anyone make this claim
I don’t even know what Cody Ross looks like, but I had not heard that Ross has a smile that could melt hearts even as he is disemboweling small children.
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
[Upton] is bad [in CF].
It might just be semantics, but the fact is that he’s played poorly in CF, not that he lacks ability to play there. Same way with his bat.
He’s done a lot to make himself appear undesirable, I don’t think anyone will argue against that. But I don’t think you can deny the untapped talent, either. The question is whether the Braves are willing to risk years and dollars that a different uni, a different clubhouse, a different culture frees that talent. Me, that’s a tough call, and I’d probably go a different direction, given a plausible alternative. But not a no-brainer, either way.
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
Wren lied, that is all there is to it. He is not a good defensive OFer. what did you expect him to say, that he was considering a lazy unmotivated stiff ?
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
Bears Repeating….
Total Runs Created
2012….Upton..102——Bourn..146
2011….Upton…99——-Bourn..122
2010….Upton…90——-Bourn..112
2009….Upton…93——Bourn.. 131
not even freaking close
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
But I don’t think you can deny the untapped talent, either
At what point can one “deny the untapped talent” if not after 8 seasons? Need he play 10 years and secure a pension before one can deny talent untapped.
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:13 pm
Braves would have a one heck of a line up, and I’m on board with B.J., and Cody Ross. 100% on board.
Murph
November 16th, 2012
3:13 pm
Cody Ross, and B.J. signing is looking good, but we just have to wait, and see what direction this all goes?
I lived in Canada for 3 years, and I will always remember one of the biggest culture shocks, or confusions, when I first moved up there was that everyone talked in questions, even when they were making statements.
“I’m going to Tim Hortons for some coffee?”
“I dunno, are you?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said?”
“Wait, are you asking me or telling me?”
“Telling you?”
“OK”
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
Is there a price point where B.J. Upton becomes worthwhile?
Four years, $48 million and us keeping our first rounder. Since neither of those things are happning, then probably not worthwhile. But you overpay in free agency, near 100% of the time, so Wren must be perfectly fine with that.
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
You often times lean this way with some of your comments
It’s odd. I can only assume this is when he is totally melting down. It’s the most baseless, illogical, factless, dataless, unrealistic mode of conversation he has, and he gets to it after a long day of tilting at windmills.
old man
November 16th, 2012
3:15 pm
Shaun, you miserable fool.
Cody Ross, wRC+ 113, 8M x 3 years.
BJ Upton, wRC+ 107, 15M x 6 years.
I’m probably the most liberal guy on this blog. It’s not the color of the player, it’s the amount of the green.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 16th, 2012
3:15 pm
After 8 years we should see some of that talent coming out… it’s been 4 years since he last had a great season, and there’s been little to no improvement. How much longer can we wait? And now we have to pay him big money in the hopes he gets better…
JoJo Reyes has tons of unsapped talent too….
Shaun
November 16th, 2012
3:17 pm
nolie, going forward, I bet Upton is at least as valuable a player as Bourn.
One thing to keep in mind: Runs Created is a counting stat and Bourn has more plate appearances because he’s a leadoff hitter.
If you look at the rate stats that relate to production, Upton has been better. And since Upton is younger and around the end of typical peak years while Bourn has already passed that point, it’s reasonable to expect the separation between these two offensively will grow larger going forward.
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 16th, 2012
3:17 pm
Let’s not forget this guy has been in the league for almost 10 years now so he grew up in the league. I know he has had a couple issues in the past of not hustling but I think a young player like that can learn from mistakes and being around players like Uggla and McCann and Heyward I don’t believe he would have issues like that again. Watch some recent interviews and he seems like a soft spoken, easy going guy.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
anything more than 10mil for BJ is too much for me, btw
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
If BJ Upton looked like Cody Ross, would anyone make this claim? No. If he looked like Cody Ross, the fact that he’s merely solid and not a superstar would be charming, and people would be going ga-ga over him..Shaun
looked like Ross? WTF is that supposed to mean? The guy is a lazy unmotivated stubborn under-performer and always has been.
MIGHT that change here? Well anything is possible.
WILL that change here. I wouldn’t bet 70 mil on it, .
Guy really has one thing going for him, he doers have great upside.
Will he ever actually reach it? who knows, but so far he has not and even if he “looked like” Cody Ross-whatever the hell that means- will not change what he has been.
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
3:19 pm
Why are ppl comparing BJ Upton to Michael Bourn when they’re not even comparable players?!
Upton will be brought in to be a middle of the order hitter….NOT a leadoff man!
IF we get Upton, could we wait on the other OF piece for people to start b*ch*ng and moaning about what we picked up….
I mean I know some ppl will never be happy but my God…..
Murph
November 16th, 2012
3:19 pm
Take a chance on Upton, hope that he’ll reach his potential. Take a chance on Hamilton, hope that he’ll stay healthy and on the wagon. Take a chance on Cody Ross, hope that he’ll take PEDs and give you a great half a season…. every option out there has issues. Pick the one that’s going to be on the field the most while producing at the highest rate and just sign ‘em. Stop with this prancing around and having guys over to the stadium for tea and crumpets and just get the damn thing done.
BravoMan
November 16th, 2012
3:21 pm
I believe that a SP will be traded for an OF along with a FA signing. We just have so much stock to trade in the pitching department. A rotation that includes Medlen, Hudson, Minor, Maholm, Hanson. Not to mention Beachy recovering from TJ as well as Delgado, Teheran, and Gilmartin in the minors. I know these good problems have a way of working themselves out and one can never have enough pitching. However, I just think at least one of this guys has to be moved.
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
During the 2008 season, Upton was twice disciplined
Five years ago.
During the Rays’ June 27, 2010 home game against the Arizona
Three years ago.
How long is his probation, LOL?
At what point can one “deny the untapped talent” if not after 8 seasons?
Well, six seasons as a regular. 95 games over 2004-2006 as an under-21 player…I can kinda let that slide. But I see the point, and I certainly can understand the sentiment that he is what he is.
Patrick
November 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
Any word yet on how Laird’s contact is structured???
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
Frankly speaking, I sure am glad some of you aren’t the GM of the club though…..
Simmons would be gone….Medlen would have been gone years ago….Minor would either be gone or in AAA….Heyward would have been dealt last offseason…..and Michael Bourn would be here at his age 37 season….
Good grief!
PuddyCat
November 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
http://www.macon.com/2012/11/14/2250074/frank-wren-talks-about-the-braves.html
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
How can you pass on 26 HR’s, which is more than most LF Braves have had lately. I’m on board. I have mentioned him last year, and was disappointed that he didn’t sign. Cody is a great team player.
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
Scoots-
IF there really were serious questions about his character though, given who the Braves are, do you really believe they’d bring him in?
I just can’t see it as tight as the Braves are when it comes to those sorta things
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
3:25 pm
.317 on base over the last four seasons, I think.
Be something else if Fredi bats him leadoff, but honestly, that’s exactly where I expect him to be if he is signed.
Again, I’m just hoping switching leagues help – new team, middle of the prime of his career. Stop being so friggin overaggressive at the plate.
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:25 pm
nolie, going forward, I bet Upton is at least as valuable a player as Bourn….Shaun
what in God’s name would make you think that after seeing the LARGE difference in runs created over the last 4 years…other than a stubborn inability to admit that you might be wrong? certainly nothing in your precious stats indicates a reason to think that.
Yes he has more power, no he is not better in any other way
If we do get him I shure as hell hope you are right, but I really see no logical reason to think so at this point
oh well enuff BJ for me for a while. I am gonna attempt to shut up on it for awhile
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:25 pm
People will never be happy on here. They just love to bitch, and will find something to be unhappy about.
Shaun
November 16th, 2012
3:26 pm
old man, Ross has 2.48 WAR per 162 games played. Upton has 3.87 WAR per 162 games played.
wRC+ doesn’t factor in any defense nor does it factor in the fact that Ross has been a corner-outfielder for a good chunk of his career.
Efrim, I think the fact that the Braves have no obvious centerfield candidates coming up for the near future plays in to this.
old man
November 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
All, be cool., and will talk later tonight. I’m within hope Braves will sign B.J. Upton. They have the edge according to sources. Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!” Be excellent to one another…..
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
I do not think that Wren is near as much of a “Braves kinda player” guy as John S was. I think he is more likely to sign someone whom John would not have.
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:31 pm
And I hope that a move outta the difficult AL East will help him.
Just saw this Efrim… Are you implying that a player can be “held down” by his division? I could see where a team could struggle to win, when it is in a highly competitive division. Had not heard a player would do better if taken out of that division.
BravoMan
November 16th, 2012
3:33 pm
What sources have said the Braves have the edge in the Upton signing?
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:33 pm
Stop being so friggin overaggressive at the plate.
One year he Ks 150 times, the next year he takes nearly 100 BB. He clubs 24 dingers in the one year, 9 in the next. Then his power starts inching up, so do his Ks, and his BB taper down and stabilize. He ends up striking out too much and not walking enough to maintain average or OBP, but looks mean for positional power.
Maybe there’s hope for his bat, with a new voice instructing. Maybe. But leadoff or cleanup aren’t exactly the spots you’d use to lure him into being patiently aggressive, and the Braves have basically been telling the world that those are the lineup slots they’d like to fill with acquisitions.
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/lindsay-lohan-liz-dick-tv-391316
Oh man that is a blast to read. I can only hope it is as funny as the review claims.
PuddyCat
November 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
I linked Bill Shanks Frank Wren interview at 3:22. Can’t listen to on IPhone or IPad I really enjoyed how Wren detailed a lot of info.
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
the blog always believes that we have the edge in anything like that, who needs sources??
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
No, but I would expect him to be hitting either 3rd or 4th in a Braves lineup….
Leadoff makes ZERO sense….even w/ Frediot as manager….
I’d at least expect Simmons and Prado both to be given a try there before they’d even consider that!
Also, from what I got from hearing Frank is that they’d like to finish a deal up w/ him and then get a trade done, because from the sounds of it, he didn’t want to tip his hand, but he all but alluded to the fact that the other piece IS a leadoff hitter…..
Gotta get one done though to move to the other……as DOB said earlier
CrαZy
November 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
I’m within hope
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
I have a hard time understanding the complete change in tactics that leaking all that detail indicates in Frankie’s approach this year
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
the blog always believes that we have the edge in anything like that, who needs sources??
I’d be happy to talk about someone other than Upton, if we could just get the damn team linked to somebody else.
tony austin
November 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Keep in mind that Turner Field is bound to decrease power numbers somewhat.
http://www.parkfactors.com/ATL
CrαZy
November 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
who needs sources??
Who needs other sources when we have Ward!!
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
I have a hard time understanding the complete change in tactics that leaking all that detail indicates in Frankie’s approach this year
Having money to spend has made him silly. Seen it happen before.
PuddyCat
November 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
My offseason has taken a nosedive and all Braves info matters none. Hostess is closing operations so now nothing matters anymore.
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
sign Upton and Hamilton and I’m ok with it……
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
Frankly speaking, I sure am glad some of you aren’t the GM of the club though…..
Simmons would be gone….Medlen would have been gone years ago….Minor would either be gone or in AAA….Heyward would have been dealt last offseason…..and Michael Bourn would be here at his age 37 season….
Good grief!
No shyt! Well said P-Town. Hey Upton isn’t my 1st choice but he is one of my choices for this team. I like the speed and power from the guy he is in or entering his prime and had a really good 2nd half in 2012, and while he has some issues in the past I blame that on being young and immature. It’s been a few years since anything has happened. He’s played in a tough division and has a ton of experience. If I’m not mistaken as I don’t have time to check I believe he did well in postseason play as well which is a plus for the Braves.
Bayou Brave
November 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Ward
November 16th, 2012
3:25 pm
People will never be happy on here. They just love to bitch, and will find something to be unhappy about.
Truth.
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
is that because you work with twinkies or eat a lot of them, puddytat?
Murph
November 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
I’d be happy to talk about someone other than Upton, if we could just get the damn team linked to somebody else.
Freeman, Teheran, Salcedo, and Ahmed for Stanton… gives the Marlins a backup SS for when they are forced to ship Escobar off to play for North Korea next season.
It’ll work. No way the Marlins turn that down. Sign Laroche, win the World Series, and everyone, even Shaun, is hap-hap-happy!
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:45 pm
NOT SO! Trout’s devastating loss guaranteed that Shaun will never be hap-hap-happy again….
Shaun
November 16th, 2012
3:47 pm
nolie, again runs created is a counting stat. If you look at more telling stats, you look at age and you look at skill set, these players may be pretty close in value within the next season or two and the gap will likely grow in favor of Upton as time goes on.
CB
November 16th, 2012
3:47 pm
PuddyCat,as long as we have bacon we have life.
PuddyCat
November 16th, 2012
3:49 pm
A Hostess cupcake with the curly icing across the top with a bologna sandwich and a ice cold glass of milk has been a staple since I was 36″ tall. I’m gonna have to buy a truckload since they have no expiration. Maybe I will just buy a chest freezer
nolie
November 16th, 2012
3:51 pm
nolie, again runs created is a counting stat. If you look at more telling
:sighsandshakesheadwearily:
Gary O.
November 16th, 2012
3:51 pm
From sbnation.philly.com (from Aug 26);
For the sake of the Phillies and ensuring financial flexibility moving forward, Amaro would be wise to, instead of throwing an obscene amount of money at Michael Bourn, sign Pagan to a four-year, $32-34 million contract. He has similar, if not better, offensive stats* to Bourn with the speed to steal 30 bases.
Pagan has a slightly higher slugging percentage (.437) than Bourn (.420) this season, and their numbers are relatively even across the board (have a look for yourself). Dig deeper and you’ll see that Pagan has 72 less plate appearances (57 less official at-bats) than Bourn, so the discrepancy in production essentially balances out.
For their careers, Pagan has a better plate discipline rate (check FanGraphs), as well as a slugging percentage and OPS 53 and 48 points, respectively, higher than Bourn. Now, if you want to argue that Bourn is a superior defender to Pagan, the Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) advanced metric certainly agrees with you. Still, is that difference between the two, though considerable, worth an extra $40-50 million?
In summation: Discipline and thriftiness, Phillies. Start practicing both, and stop spending money recklessly. Giving $80 million to Michael Bourn would qualify as “recklessly,” sorta like giving $50 million to Jonathan Papelbon..
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:51 pm
gives the Marlins a backup SS for when they are forced to ship Escobar off to play for North Korea next season.
Supposedly, they’re going to play him at 3B.
Because, you know, the last time they moved a Latin SS to 3B, it worked out so well.
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
3:54 pm
In summation: Discipline and thriftiness, Phillies. Start practicing both, and stop spending money recklessly.
Does this guy remember that RAJ is their GM?
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 16th, 2012
3:54 pm
One other thing is if Upton is such a bad clubhouse guy why has he been with one team his whole career? I mean surely if he is such a bad guy he would’ve been traded long ago for prospects or whatever someone will give away for the guy. Even when he was headed for free agency the Rays held on to him to help with the playoff drive.
Shaun
November 16th, 2012
3:58 pm
nolie, I’m happy. I’m happy that writers are writers and GM’s are GM’s and scouts are scouts and baseball analytic people are baseball analytic people; and I’m happy the writers will never venture in to those other areas because, judging by their voting history, things might get ugly real quick.
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
3:59 pm
Had not heard a player would do better if taken out of that division.
Really? AL is the better league sort of thing, yes. Coming over to the weaker National League might help. Not sure if it is the case with Rays players. I sure as heck believe it used to be the case when the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox were stacked with dominant pitchers. Poor Orioles hitters didn’t have a chance a third of their schedule.
Disgusted
November 16th, 2012
4:00 pm
JoJo Reyes has tons of unsapped talent too….
@TOBF — That name should be banned from the blog and the whole internet for all of eternity. LOL
Seriously, maybe the worst underachiever we have ever had
Some scout or scouts missed the boat on him — wow.
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:02 pm
Giving $80 million to Michael Bourn would qualify as “recklessly,” sorta like giving $50 million to Jonathan Papelbon.
Writers loved that move for Philly, I thought. I mean, Pap is a great closer and the 9th inning is just a different situation and they needed stability. What’s wrong with $50 million to Paps? Kimbrel is worth $100 and Bourn is worth $18 million a year over 7 ye….
Okay, I’ll stop now. I’m just being a jerk about it.
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:03 pm
Does this guy remember that RAJ is their GM?
If the Phillies won the WS next year, everyone would say those long term contracts for older players WERE in fact good investments. It’s all about the rings, scoots…………
Disgusted
November 16th, 2012
4:04 pm
Had the Tigers not made the post season and gotten to the WS, I do think that Trout would have won the MVP and it would have nothing to do with old school vs new school.
I despise metrics but Trout was the better overall player — but I would have voted for Miggy cause without him Det likely does not get in the post season.
LAA could have lost a hundred games with or without Trout. I tend to go on the theory that the MVP should be on a team that at least made the post season — there are exceptions to the rule.
CY Young is more an individual award, the MVP is an individual award that is team dependent as I see it.
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
4:04 pm
and I’m happy the writers will never venture in to those other areas because, judging by their voting history, things might get ugly real quick.
Poor, dumbazz, geezer writers.
Hey, let’s ask O’Brien what he thinks about being characterized as a total baseball numbnuts. He’s a writer, no?
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
4:06 pm
Writers loved that move for Philly, I thought.
Writers?!? WRITERS???? Just what the blue blazes do those guys know? Just look at how they vote.
Geez. Writers, fercrissake.
Gary O.
November 16th, 2012
4:08 pm
Shaun,
Would you prefer to overpay slightly for pagan for 3-4 years (but not give up a draft pick), or Upton for 5-6 years, but give up a draft pick, and a higher AAV?
Half Empty
November 16th, 2012
4:08 pm
One other thing is if Upton is such a bad clubhouse guy why has he been with one team his whole career? @BravesPack
probably because, like the bloggers here who want him, they kept looking at that high ceiling and telling themselves that they could get him to reach it.
And being a sub-performer who often does less than hustle is not really the same as a clubhouse cancer
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:09 pm
Geez. Writers, fercrissake.
Neanderthals!
Half Empty
November 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
you could stand to learn a little graciousness Shaun.
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:11 pm
JimBowdenESPNxm JIM BOWDEN
Rick Porcello changes number to 21 so that Torii Hunter can wear #48 #teammates
Rick Porcello for Cy Young!
Murph
November 16th, 2012
4:12 pm
I just listened to the Shanks/Wren interview… not sure who was posting recaps yesterday, but my impressions were:
- Hamilton is too expensive, not really a target, but came up in conversations while talking to his reps about other players. Didn’t sound like they’d talked specifically about Hamilton.
- Wren is frustrated with the lack of depth in the FA market… he almost sounded depressed about it
- Wren is willing to deal pitching to get the player that he wants
So, to those of you (myself included) who were all happy that Wren had talked to Hamilton’s people, you can go ahead and turn on the frown, ’cause he ain’t gonna happen.
Lew
November 16th, 2012
4:12 pm
Is BJ as good as Bourn defensively? Cause I didn’t think Bourn was anywhere near as good as Andruw.
Joachim Gilman
November 16th, 2012
4:15 pm
Grading the Trout-Cabrera debate:
http://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/a-college-professor-grades-mitch-alboms-latest/
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:15 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/deion-sanders-calls-caucasian-reporter-critical-school-african-112928409.html
Shakes his head
Does Sanders still work for a respectable TV network? Just asking, because I can’t believe he’s kept a job for that long.
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
4:16 pm
Neanderthals!
Worse! Even a Cro-Magnon come back to life would look down upon a steenkeeng writer.
(Tip: The Museum Of Natural History had the statues of prehistoric families vote for MVP, and even they voted for Mike Trout. Well, all but one: the guy who first started drawing all those pictures on the inside of the caves; an early version of, you guessed it, writing.)
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 16th, 2012
4:16 pm
Like was pointed out Half Empty he hasn’t had any issues in a few years now with that. I know it is hard to believe but I don’t think a player in his early to mid-20’s that came into the league at 18 has reached full maturity. If anything he learned from his mistakes and won’t repeat his laziness.
TennesseePaul
November 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
Really? AL is the better league sort of thing, yes
Ah, I see what you did there. Avoided the question and switched leagues. The question concerned Divisions. Not Leagues.
And second, the “weaker league” syndrome typically only applies to pitchers. Hitters don’t start teeing off on the ball because of the lack of a DH.
Half Empty
November 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
Lew, Bourn led the MLB in runs saved with +24 this season , Upton had -4 and was ranked 24th in that category. Defense is much of the large difference in Runs Created between them in the graph that noles posted above
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
4:19 pm
Good points there BP…
Plus as I can attest to, we all have said and done some stupid things in our youth….
So for anyone who is shaking their fist about that, back up and think about it a second and how you probably were in your early 20’s and then think about adding the pressure of if you were a MLB player and had all these expectations put on you….
Pretty daunting for anyone….
And no, he’s not my first choice either….but I look at it this way now….its better than having an OF w/ Constanza and Schafer starting games….
nolie
November 16th, 2012
4:19 pm
Hamilton is too expensive, not really a target, but came up in conversations while talking to his reps about other players. Didn’t sound like they’d talked specifically about Hamilton….Murph
hah, looks like I was right all along, and after I admitted I might have been wrong.. I shoulda known that couldn’t happen……
Murph
November 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
Is BJ as good as Bourn defensively? Cause I didn’t think Bourn was anywhere near as good as Andruw.
I agree with Lew, bring Andruw back!
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
hah, looks like I was right all along, and after I admitted I might have been wrong.. I shoulda known that couldn’t happen……
I can only ascribe your moment of wrongness to a brief lapse wherein you thought you were a writer.
nolie
November 16th, 2012
4:22 pm
hasn’t had any issues? all you have to do is watch him to see that he is still not hustling out there on a regular basis every year. I’ve seen him play 500 games probably in the last 4 seasons
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:23 pm
the “weaker league” syndrome typically only applies to pitchers.
Disagree. Especially for those Oriole hitters who had to face the pitching that the Yanks and Red Sox and Rays used to have(not as much now, but there was a difference). Yes, I think facing lesser pitchers in say, the NL Central would cause them to produce better offensive stats. I think you see it more with pitching and the switch to easier/tougher leagues – but I don’t think that’s non-existent for hitters as you might.
P-Town Brave ©
November 16th, 2012
4:24 pm
What ppl still aren’t seeing that I think Shaun actually brought up though is the fact that Bourn and Upton will get about the same years worth of contract yet Upton is almost 4 years younger than Bourn…
While Bourn relies on speed and that alone and that surely will decline rapidly to the end of his deal, Upton has not only the speed, power, and arm, BUT he also has time on his side….while he’s going into his prime, common sense would tell you Bourn’s is in his rear view or headed there shortly….
Plus what some have failed to capitalize on…..the Braves actually want to build an OF for the future that will be around for awhile…..
Anyone who has followed the team knows that most of the OF has been a revolving door and no one has stayed for longer than 3 years in ANY of the spots since back when Andruw patrolled CF (that was back in 05) and further than that, at least 2 of the 3 have changed regularly since even before that….
It would be nice going into consecutive offseasons knowing that our OF is set wouldn’t it?
ncscoots
November 16th, 2012
4:25 pm
all you have to do is watch him to see that he is still not hustling out there on a regular basis every year.
Yeah, but he’s not spitting on anyone in the dugout, right, LOL? And he hasn’t said anything about becoming a writer, has he? Well, then…
Efrim
November 16th, 2012
4:27 pm
I can only ascribe your moment of wrongness to a brief lapse wherein you thought you were a writer
I will say that I was surprised to see Olney and Rosenthal pick Trout as the MVP. And Olney “blasted writers” who used the “they made the playoffs” thing. I think that’s warranted. It was difficult to listen to Mike and Mike in the morning. It’s pretty apparent why Greenberg and Golic lead the show with Football in early June like it’s mid-January.