Ross exit adds to Braves’ expanding to-do list

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
6:48 am

Mejia is a big tall hunk of man… very slow of foot. Wouldnt make it in LF… very little range, he’s not agile. I’m surprised it took until now to get him on the 40man… woulda used him over Ske the last year.

Re Key: I always was told that rudeness was the best policy.

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
6:52 am

My phone is very slow to this site as well… really does sukk. My 4g speed turns into dial-up!

BraveDan

November 19th, 2012
7:15 am

David O’Brien

November 19th, 2012
12:26 am

Ernesto Mejia hit his 10th homer in his 32nd game in Venezuelan Winter League on Sunday. Dude is OPSing in high .900s

Is he capable of a little occasional LF duty? surely he’s no worse than Hinske.

old man

November 19th, 2012
7:19 am

nolie,

Wow, that Gyorko kid sure crushed it at AAA. 16.7% K rate, not bad. Did you link to that because you thought he was an option? Headley has 3B blocked at SD.

old man

November 19th, 2012
7:23 am

What about this guy for our RH banger? He looks pretty good to me:

.287 /.369/.508/.877, 33 HRs, 131 OPS+, 135 sRC+

old man

November 19th, 2012
7:25 am

Dang it!

Yep, that’s Dan Uggla in 2010.

After fixating on all these numbers for a big RH bat in CF or LF, I just went back and looked at the 2010 Uggla. It makes you really appreciate what a fantastic deal it was on paper–really a superb job by Wren, including the contract.

It also makes you appreciate what a crushing disappointment he has been.

old man

November 19th, 2012
7:33 am

Is everyone on board with the idea of Prado or Simmons at lead off, IF THAT IS THE MOST BENEFICIAL ROUTE FOR OBTAINING TWO OUTFIELDERS/3B?

We would all rather have Span or Gordon, or someone like them leading off, but having Prado and Simmons as back up options sure gives you a lot more flexibility in filling your two spots.

nolie, the Gyorko link made me think of this. BJ in center and Gyorko at 3B–neither gives you a lead off batter. There are other combinations that do the same thing–i.e., leave you with either Prado or Simmons as your lead off batter.

Personally, I think Simmons looked in total command and control at the plate last year, and he could easily develop into a good lead off type guy.

Couch Tater

November 19th, 2012
7:52 am

Flange – 12oz. curls, huh? I think that may have helped the other day, when I had my GF video a solid shot. I was expecting to see Ernie Els in the vid. It was not. Sad.

I keep thinking about rebuilding this Winter, but I’m scared. Don’t want to lose the feel or have to spend 2 years fighting the old to bring in the new..and my back hurts..and it’s work..and we’re just out for a good time..and that what handicaps are for…and dammit, I hate that game…

Oh..high of 65 degrees! Let’s tee it up.

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
7:59 am

I wouldn’t like to see Simmons leading off, or hitting 2. Still have questions about his bat, and he did play only 49 games last year. However, if the choice is between Simmons 2 or BJ 2, I’d go with Simmons. Would prefer that he hit 7th though.

Perfectly fine with Prado leading off if it comes to that. Add that to Hamilton in CF, Olt at 3B, what an offense!

flange1

November 19th, 2012
8:23 am

Couch,

How true on all points!

A friend has gone over to the Taylor Made teaching center at Lake Oconee and got his swing totally digitized. It is amazing how much he learned about his swing nad how to improve by getting those computer files.

And because he (and Taylor Made) keep the files, he can compare on down the road.

I have never been into all of the video/computer simulations, but this seems like a pretty good idea!

Couch Tater

November 19th, 2012
9:12 am

Flange – Yes. One of my playing partners has done that. But, he has become obsessed with getting home to compare today’s swing with yesterdays. The game has become about checking arm position and wrist cupping. I asked him one day, if he saw a Fox and her pups that were running across the fairway (as he was checking his arm angle) His response, “Huh? Oh..uh huh..does it look like i’m too flat on my swing plane?” I wanted to wring his neck.

Thing is, we all do it occasionally. It’s a sickness, I’m telling you. OCGD. And, it ain’t about the damn score. It’s about the feel of the center of the clubface! The feel of the square launch. The holy grail of grooves! Help. Help.

ncscoots

November 19th, 2012
9:22 am

And, it ain’t about the damn score. It’s about the feel of the center of the clubface! The feel of the square launch. The holy grail of grooves!

Wouldn’t you agree that we here at the blog fall into the same trap, all too often? We get so caught up in player value, contract length, statistics, and every other damn thing…sometimes, I wonder if we remember the grass is green, the sky is blue, the ball is white, and that all that really matters is that the third goes skipping along or sailing through the other two.

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
9:26 am

ajc sports editor ‏@ajcsportseditor
Revealing piece on Pete van Wieren’s battle with cancer http://on.11alive.com/UOOQZj #braves

Efrim

November 19th, 2012
9:30 am

Frank Wren on visit with Upton:

“We spent the better part of six hours on Thursday with B.J. and his representative Larry Reynolds. It was really an opportunity for all of us to get to know each other and we started off with down on the field, you know, literally we walked down on the field and it was a beautiful 60-degree day in Atlanta and just looked at the dimensions; we talked about how the ball carried, I mean, all things you may or may not know if you’re coming in to visit. We walked through the whole clubhouse environment whether it was the player lounge or the food room, all the training facilities, the weightlifting facilities, the video room, the coach’s room, where we do our advanced meetings, and then the clubhouse proper, and you try to introduce them to as many people as possible.

We were fortunate that day that [hitting coach] Greg Walker could come up from Douglas, Georgia and sit down and kinda give B.J. a sense of his philosophies on hitting and coaching hitting. Fredi Gonzalez was there to talk, so he got a sense of what his manager’s personality is like, and we were also very fortunate that Bobby Cox was in town and Bobby was there. Bobby had a chance to sit and tell stories and relay some of his thoughts about Atlanta and the like, and then we went up to the offices and we sat in the office and talked a little bit more about organizational philosophy and also giving him a snapshot of what our system looks like and the young players and the guys he’s going to be surrounded with if he’s an Atlanta Brave.”

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
9:30 am

http://www.talkingchop.com/2012/11/19/3664584/braves-quotes-for-the-day-more-from-frank-wrens-interview-on-mlb

Lew

November 19th, 2012
9:31 am

“The ball is white”

Not for lack of effort on Charlie Finlay’s part.

Efrim

November 19th, 2012
9:34 am

On the need to add balance to a left-handed heavy lineup:

Wren: “I think right-handed is where we are a little limited, and I think it showed up a little bit this past year. It was a little tougher for Fredi to balance out our club with all of our left-handed hitters, so I think that is something that we’re cognizant of. As we look at building our team, especially in the middle of the lineup, we need to have a little more right-handed presence. It just gives (Fredi) more flexibility in building that lineup facing left-handed pitching.”

Efrim

November 19th, 2012
9:35 am

On Martin Prado:

Wren: “…In a perfect world, we probably would like Martin to play third base for us and come up with a couple of outfielders.”

Dadgum.....

November 19th, 2012
9:35 am

Yep the old golf swing analysis that brings on paralysis. Couch Tater, you are correct on club head feel. Squaring it up correctly. You swing to your physique. Learn to return the club at impact as it best fits you no question. Right now I agree that arm position and hinging are huge. They creat lag in the swing. If RH the left arm and hand are key. Once the right arm and hand take over anywhere prior to the hitting zone you are toast. May as well go fishing. Doesn’t matter if you swing flat or upright just don’t let the right side take over too soon. Most of today’s and yesterday’s ball strikers have a flatter plane. Tiger is trying to get there. McIlroy is there. Sergio has been there. It’s all about Ben Hogan these days and his swing. It ain’t rocket science…we just make it that way.

Rock on…….

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
9:38 am

BJ Upton isn’t really a good RH presence though….

phil

November 19th, 2012
9:42 am

Of course…..

Cox just “happened” to be in town….lol

Wren plays us all for fools. Of course, many of us are just that.

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
9:42 am

that would rule out Swisher as well I’m sure, Hamilton wouldn’t be as high on the list as BJ…..

Justin or Willy, please.

Couch Tater

November 19th, 2012
9:43 am

Wouldn’t you agree that we here at the blog fall into the same trap

scoots – Exactly. I understand the fun of the analytic side, but a pitcher getting the hit when it’s least expected? Reminds me of the backyard games. I love it.

BravePack(FreeFan)

November 19th, 2012
9:48 am

Good Morning all. Hope everyone had a good weekend. I did as my Packers won again…5 in a row and I’m hoping for a little help from the Niners tonight so the Pack can take over 1st place in the North which is right where they belong. Go Pack Go!

So it’s the week of Thanksgiving and I really hope this Upton guy decides one way or another where he wants to play and I believe he will even if Bowman doesn’t think so. Would like to see some kind of movement before the Winter meetings. If Upton decides on another team I’m afraid of who Wren will settle for. If he goes all in for Hamilton then I hope Upton says no but if he goes after a Ross/Pagan then I want Bossman. Also, I want either Gordon(who I believe can be had) or Myers(who I believe is next to impossible to obtain) from KC. Perfect match up to trade with that team as they need pitching.

raleighbravefan

November 19th, 2012
9:49 am

Fredi G made it clear on XM radio this morning, that BJ was their top choice.

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
9:52 am

someone needs to kidnap Frank….

Couch Tater

November 19th, 2012
9:56 am

Dadgum – Mentally, I used to be able to justify my length because everyone on tour was over 6 ft. tall. Then, comes that Irishman.

..and the 14 year old girl. Bah.

ncscoots

November 19th, 2012
9:56 am

Also, I want either Gordon(who I believe can be had) or Myers(who I believe is next to impossible to obtain) from KC. Perfect match up to trade with that team as they need pitching.

So far, Wren hasn’t shown any desire to trade any pitching. Not even low-A scrubs on their third trip through the level, LOL. KC isn’t going to trade either of those two players for filler, and I can’t get my mind around Wren trading Medlen or Minor. I mean, he might, nothing’s impossible, but he hasn’t shown any inclination, in the past, to do such a thing.

raleighbravefan

November 19th, 2012
9:58 am

Tater – I hope you are talking about golf.

Efrim

November 19th, 2012
9:58 am

and then we went up to the offices and we sat in the office and talked a little bit more about organizational philosophy and also giving him a snapshot of what our system looks like and the young players and the guys he’s going to be surrounded with if he’s an Atlanta Brave.”

DeMacio: “We like polished, command/control LHP’s that sit 88-90mph. Pitchers that do throw in the mid-90’s, most likely profile as relievers and lacka third pitch”.

“For bats, we like older college bats that are athletic types that don’t really have even an average hit tool”.

Lew

November 19th, 2012
10:00 am

Well, maybe we’ll get lucky and Greg Walker can convince Upton (like he did Uggla) that it’s all right to take pitches. I shudder to think of both of them going stone cold at the same time, though.

raleighbravefan

November 19th, 2012
10:00 am

When asked about Hamilton, Fredi said that if they missed out on BJ, they would consider all other options. (pretty much what you would expect him to say…I didn’t really get the impression that they would seriously go after Josh).

raleighbravefan

November 19th, 2012
10:03 am

Efrim – I know that was tongue-in-cheek. The truth is, Wren has probably done the best he could do, under the circumstances. We’ll see now, since he has some resources for a change.

Efrim

November 19th, 2012
10:04 am

If Wren fails on Upton, I think he goes the trade route with some team. Although I guess ge could turn to another FA.

All up in the air right now. I thought we’d see at least one big name come off the board before Turkey Day including Torii Hunter, but maybe not and the 11/26-12/21 will be nuts, as usual.

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
10:09 am

Well, maybe we’ll get lucky and Greg Walker can convince Upton (like he did Uggla) that it’s all right to take pitches.

Sure hope so, cuz I can’t see his average rising any… He’s gonna be a .245 hitter. Please accept a move to LF if he is signed… please.

ncscoots

November 19th, 2012
10:19 am

Sure hope so, cuz I can’t see his average rising any… He’s gonna be a .245 hitter.

I doubt the Braves would be pursuing him, if they thought similarly.

Lew

November 19th, 2012
10:21 am

OnlyBraves – I can take a .245-.260 BA from a power hitter IF he raises the OBP to .340 or so. It’s a trade off for the power.

Couch Tater

November 19th, 2012
10:24 am

raliegh – Gee thanks. Now, I’ve got to head over to the gymnastics blog and tell them I was discussing wedges, last night. Not wedgies.

Couch Tater

November 19th, 2012
10:27 am

WTH? I before e except after L?

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
10:28 am

Agree Lew… but, boy, it’s gonna take one heckuva improvement in his pitch selection for that to happen. Gotta take abut 25% more walks than he’s averaged the last 4 years….

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1414097-5-reasons-why-the-phillies-must-sign-bj-upton-to-keep-him-away-from-atlanta

Upton has great speed and covers a lot of ground in center, he would be a great fit in the spacious Turner Field,

If the Phillies were to let him slip away to Atlanta, the Phillies are going to have to deal with him….preventing runs in center field against them for years to come.

Lies.

ncgary

November 19th, 2012
10:30 am

whats going down today
feel it in the air yet?

TheOnlyBravesFan

November 19th, 2012
10:37 am

BJ Upton has slugged .422 for his career, .420 in his last 4 years. That compares to Shane Victorino’s career slugging, in fact, Shane has outslugged BJ the last 4 years. Simmons is expected to be in that range. Bourjos and Jon Jay are expected to slug in the .410s.

I’m not seeing BJ as being that huge, great power RH thumper we need. Just not seeing it. Especially having watched quite a few games that he’s played…

ncscoots

November 19th, 2012
10:37 am

but, boy, it’s gonna take one heckuva improvement in his pitch selection for that to happen [Upton improving at the plate].

I imagine you would have denigrated Alex Gordon, also, prior to 2011. He had four years even worse than Upton.

Magically, he managed to extricate himself from the .230 abyss by his age-27 season, and now he is beloved by one and all here in Braves’ Nation.

phil

November 19th, 2012
10:38 am

I just don’t follow these other teams enough to really know about these FAs, but if Upton is streaky, which for Uggla has meant god awful, then I don’t know if I can stomach another flailer who we can be assured will probably stink up the joint next year. As it is, I foresee a pretty bad season offensively on the horizon. Little speed, huge strikeout numbers, average power numbers at best. Waiting on the three run homer each night will quickly get old. The pitching should be good, but the streaky hitting just won’t cut it. Again.

Bring back Chipper…

ncgary

November 19th, 2012
10:39 am

i aint got no info
just feelslike somethings getting worked out

Lew

November 19th, 2012
10:39 am

Well, Uggla raised his total by aboiut 33% last year – 62 to 94BB and by about 25% over his 2010 total of 78, so it can be done. However Uggla DID have a 92BB season with the Dead Fish.

phil

November 19th, 2012
10:39 am

Gary, what’s the good word?

ncgary

November 19th, 2012
10:42 am

big time chipper fan here phil but you know as well as i doi, they wont keep serving up batting practice pitches for his next retirement season

Hillbilly

November 19th, 2012
10:43 am

Fredi G made it clear on XM radio this morning, that BJ was their top choice.

What’s the word I’m looking for here? Nausea? Queasy? I’m not one that yearns for or protests against a particular player too much until he’s actually acquired , but when I see Melvin Upton’s .246/.298/.454/.752 line and think about 6 years at $15 mil,… well, gag reflex takes over. I really hoped Frank would acquire some right-handed thump through the trade market. Chipper’s presence is hard to replace, sure, but BJ Upton isn’t much of an attempt. Lord have mercy, I’m thinking back to those extended offensive team slumps last summer, and I’m seeing BJ Upton as the guy who’s supposed to fix that. This is a nightmare.

ncscoots

November 19th, 2012
10:43 am

Waiting on the three run homer each night will quickly get old.

Not if they hit enough of ‘em.

who we can be assured will probably stink up the joint next year

But, phil, it’s in your nature to think that of every player; why should you think differently of Upton?

ncgary

November 19th, 2012
10:44 am