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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,505 comments Add your comment
Mark
November 20th, 2012
9:29 pm
I’m still hoping that Wren can work a deal that’ll bring Pujols to 1st, Phillips to 2nd, Wright to 3rd, Posey to C and Trout to CF. Jhey can play right and Simmons SS. With this supporting cast, Shafer and Constanza can hold down LF and it wont hurt us a bit.
VaBravesFan
November 20th, 2012
9:29 pm
It doesn’t matter what Wren does, a good amount of fans won’t like it. But the truth is Wren is gonna have to overpay a notable free agent to land em, and were gonna have to give up more in trade to add someone. Were not the only team looking at Span or Willingham for example, and were certainly 1 of few going after BJ and Bourn, and Hamilton (yeah ok..)
So we can debate if whatever he does is an overpay or not, but really can’t judge it til after the 2013 season, say he does sign BJ Upton and pays the dude 5 years 80 million and he has a good year batting 5th all season, say alittle better than his past 4 years, and we go to the world series. What’s everyone’s take then?
But what if he goes the cheaper route and signs Cody Ross to create a platoon type situation in LF, and trades for Peter Bourjos for CF and we are 1 and done in the playoff or we miss the playoffs, everyone will be saying he should have spent some damn money even if it meant overpaying a guy.
Jerry
November 20th, 2012
9:36 pm
CTB, you asked why wouldn’t Wren trade our prospects when we didn’t have money. Could be that our pitching rotation for the future was not set in granite. With guys like Medlen, Beachy, and Minor, I think we have a really good cornerstone for the future. If either Teheran or Delgado comes into their own, we’ll be locked in. With Hanson and some of higher end prospects, we have a huge surplus that can’t be allowed to stagnate in the minors. Use em or lose em.
Mark
November 20th, 2012
9:36 pm
VaBravesFan
You are right but my problem with all this is this. Its like the trade deadline crap last year. Wren was willing to trade good young players for an average pitcher but thank goodness the guy nixed it(Dumpster). People tend to screw up and make bone headed decisions just because they think they have to at the trade deadline or with a free agent in the off season.
It would be different if we were talking about quality players but Upton…Hes there so lets settle for an Error making Strikout machine.
southern son
November 20th, 2012
9:37 pm
please pass on this cocky upton and sign someone else
Jerry
November 20th, 2012
9:42 pm
But what if he goes the cheaper route and signs Cody Ross to create a platoon type situation in LF, and trades for Peter Bourjos for CF and we are 1 and done in the playoff or we miss the playoffs,
VaBravesfan
You mean like we have been since 2001? Most of us expect to fold in the post season now. It’s sad, but what more have we done? Spend or don’t spend, these guys are gonna have to prove that they can kick ass in a short series. For the longest time, they haven’t
VaBravesFan
November 20th, 2012
9:45 pm
Makes you wonder what Jason Heyward would get if he was a free agent? Imagine it… I mean BJ FLIPPING Upton is possibly gonna get 15 million a season and he’s been a 240/320 hitter for 4 consecutive years!!!!! What would Heyward get? 25 million a season? Hell 30? Like I said it will be very soon when players like Omar Infante are making close to 10 million a season while at the same time Angel Pagan type players will be raking in 15-18 million a season. Imagine how things will be by 2025 or something. lol
Jerry
November 20th, 2012
9:46 pm
If Wren is bound and determined to give away $15mil per year to get Upton, then he might as well just give up and give $17mil away to Bourn. At least with Bourn and Prado batting 1 and 2 in the order we at least had the opportunity to fail with RISP. And fail we did.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 20th, 2012
9:48 pm
Spendsanity!!!!! …. (yeah, not a great pun)
phil
November 20th, 2012
9:49 pm
It is not failure to strike out repeatedly with RISP…..
Jerry
November 20th, 2012
9:51 pm
VaBravesFan, such is life in baseball. I remember when Gary Matthews first signed a free agent contract with the Braves back in the late 70s. He got paid $400k a year and he was close to, if not the highest paid player around at that time. Salaries are not going down, only up.
Jerry
November 20th, 2012
9:52 pm
Then what would you call it phil?
phil
November 20th, 2012
9:57 pm
Abject failure….
Gotta be thorough.
Mark
November 20th, 2012
9:57 pm
Be nice if they’d do it like golf. Players could get endorsements but their playing salary would come from results and not guaranteed. So much for wins, saves…so much for hitting 300, 30 HRs, 25 SB…Then at the end of the month they get a check. Confident good players could make more and the Ugglas of the world would have to get a 3rd shift job at the local plant!
brian
November 20th, 2012
9:57 pm
I don’t know Mark – Pujols is a big guy – probably PEDs
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
9:57 pm
Makes you wonder what Jason Heyward would get if he was a free agent? Imagine it… I mean BJ FLIPPING Upton is possibly gonna get 15 million a season and he’s been a 240/320 hitter for 4 consecutive years!!!!! What would Heyward get? 25 million a season? Hell 30? Like I said it will be very soon when players like Omar Infante are making close to 10 million a season while at the same time Angel Pagan type players will be raking in 15-18 million a season. Imagine how things will be by 2025 or something. lol
@VA Brave — That is exactly what I have been saying for months on this blog — imagine what Prado is going to get in a couple of yrs with his value not only from performance but his versitility which is something you cannot measure in stats.
If I were his agent I would ask 4 yrs @ 50 and even that might be conservative by what the FA class will get two yrs from now.
Mark
November 20th, 2012
9:58 pm
Brian
Good one!
Still a different kind of big though
phil
November 20th, 2012
10:00 pm
At some point, these outrageous salary increases have to stop.
The dang game isn’t THAT interesting to begin with.
Fire Selig!!
Mark
November 20th, 2012
10:02 pm
If Prado has a good year next year he’ll get more than 4 years at 50.
Mark
November 20th, 2012
10:02 pm
If Prado has a good year next year he’ll get more than 4 years at 50.
VaBravesFan
November 20th, 2012
10:02 pm
Hmmm, If you were forced to pick 1 of the following deals who would you pick and why?
BJ Upton 5 years 75 million
or
Michael Bourn 5 years 85 million.
I would take BJ, mainly cause he’s 2 years younger and I believe he’d be more valuable over the whole course of the contract. But I do realize Bourn could easily be the better player for the first 2 or 3 seasons of the deal, but you can bet your bottom dollar Upton will likely be better in year 4 and 5.
Also factor in that Bourn’s game is speed, so it would only take 1 leg injury and the guy would never be the same. He’ll be 35 years old in the final year of his deal, and I don’t see him hitting well as Juan Pierre at this stage. Bourn strikes out so much as it is now if he loses any bat speed he likely becomes a 8th batter.
Overall tough call, I would say No thanks to both deals but if I had to pick that’s my opinion.
Mark
November 20th, 2012
10:03 pm
Ooops, my bad. A double.
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
10:05 pm
The salary increases have not stopped since Free Agency began — its that TV and other sources of revenue that drives up the worth of the players.
And the owners are not suffering.
I see where Kuroda got 15 mil for one yr with the NYY per MLB Netwok. Oh well, at least he was good last yr. And its a one yr deal.
Before long good back up types will be getting 3 plus mil and more — maybe 5 before long. Who knows what David Ross will get when this 2 yr deal is up and he is still good.
I say a guy like Jeff Keppinger who is a good super utility IF will get in the 3 mil range.
One mil will get U a replacement level guy if your lucky. Like a Constanza type of guy.
northbeach Scott
November 20th, 2012
10:06 pm
I am aligned with the Kate Upton reco. She can just bounce around on top of the dugout and frankly I would be ok with Schafer and Constanza in the outfield. Yummers.
phil
November 20th, 2012
10:06 pm
We can’t compete with these salary numbers….
If we’re hamstrung by payroll going forward, it’s just a matter of time until we become Pittsburgh.
Everyone worth a toot will be gone in 5 yrs or so.
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
10:07 pm
I would choose Bourn over the BJ deal but can underrstand why some would choose BJ and his power.
Either way if the Braves did one or the other I would not kick and scream.
Both are acceptable.
phil
November 20th, 2012
10:10 pm
Schafer is the only answer….
Costs nothing, stinks, is ugly as sin.
And by the way, Happy Thanksgiving to you all in case i’m not back here til after!
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
10:11 pm
Phil
That is exactly what I have been saying all along about where this is headed — I get ripped for being a troll, nevative, etc but as our payroll stays flat and the other teams payrolls, TV deals and revenue streams go up — where do you think that is headed in time.
A 90 mil payrolll is going to be squat by late decade. The bottom has not fallen out yet — but 5, 6 yrs from now — the handwriting is on the wall unless the business model changes.
Some of it is beyond LM’s control cause of that TV deal. How do you get out of that — I have no idea — only lawyers and business experts can figure that out.
phil
November 20th, 2012
10:13 pm
You’re exwctly right, Disgusted.
It’s obvious if something doesn’t change. We can’t keep, nor add, talent paying it diddly squat.
People can say it’s hate all they want.
phil
November 20th, 2012
10:14 pm
Exwctly or exactly…..sigh
Venice Jim
November 20th, 2012
10:24 pm
Not that she has been around, but condolences to Soph on the Heels loss tonight…
Venice Jim
November 20th, 2012
10:26 pm
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
Chone Figgins is effectively done as a Mariner. His contract was designated for assignment tonight.
A few years ago this would have launched spasms of ecstasy from a certain portion of the blog base…
brian
November 20th, 2012
10:27 pm
signing someone like Upton to fill a void in the OF reminds me of our attempt to sign a starter to fill our pitching void. We ended up with Derek Lowe and Kawakami then. Hopefully we will do better filling LF and CF
Venice Jim
November 20th, 2012
10:28 pm
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
#Mariners cut Chone Figgins with one year and $8 million left on his contract, which they are obligated to pay. Chone Figgins is a good man who simply did not live up to the 4-year, $36MM contract; .585 OPS in 3 seasons; never seemed comfortable.
brian
November 20th, 2012
10:30 pm
I agree that I would sign Upton over Bourn at that number. His game is not all speed so he does at least have power to fall back on. I would hope that he would do better in the NL against NL pitching. Then again, I wouldn’t want to face the Nats all the time either
Venice Jim
November 20th, 2012
10:30 pm
Boxing legend Hector “Macho” Camacho was shot late Tuesday in Puerto Rico and is in critical condition, according to multiple reports.
Camacho, 50, was shot while seated in a Ford Mustang, according to several media outlets. The shots came from a second vehicle and killed the driver of the Mustang, according to reports.
Mark
November 20th, 2012
10:30 pm
VJ
We need to get him before somebody else does. Better not wait too long though. Figgins is bound to break out of it soon. We can tell him we’ll wait for him to break out of his slump and we can show proof that we are patient. We can say “just look at how sorry Uggla did the last year and a half and we haven’t given up on him”.
Myke Hawk
November 20th, 2012
10:39 pm
How does Chone get pronounced as Sean? I mean WTF?
VaBravesFan
November 20th, 2012
10:40 pm
I wouldn’t mind Figgins on a minor league deal with a invite to spring training, basically no risk involved.
jbill
November 20th, 2012
10:51 pm
Is there anything that hasn’t already been said about BJ and all the other free agents..Wren has said BJ is his #1 FA pick but he has not said how much he would pay are years..where did the 5 yrs 75 million come from? There are a lot of good players out there if Wren can pull off a good trade are two. Go Braves…I’d rather have anybody other than Schafer..hope he don’t make team.
richbrave
November 20th, 2012
10:54 pm
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
DOMINICA
EASTERN BULLS
PR/DH JOSE CONSTANZA [.345 BA] 0-0
PUERTO RICO
PONCE LIONS
DH CHRIS GARCIA [.294 BA] 1-3, 1 BB, 1 SO.
VENEZUELA
CARACAS LIONS
RF JOSH KROEGER [.274 BA] 2-5, 1 R, 2 SO.
LARA CARDINALS
LHRP LUIS AVILAN [1.80 ERA] 1.1 IP, pristine.
ZULIA EAGLES thru seven.
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.321 BA] 1-4, 1 BB, 2 SO.
LF EVAN GATTIS [.274 BA] 1-4, 1 BB, 1 SO.
LICEY TIGERS
3B JUAN FRANCISCO [.333 BA] 2-2, 1 2B [4], 1 RBI [13], 2 BB, 0 SO.
An abberation? 2 BB – 0 SO? A future trend. One can only hope. No coincidentally, 2-2 at the plate also.
C CHRIUSTIAN BETHANCOURT [.257 BA] 1-4, 1 SO.
ORIENTE STARS
LHRP DUSTIN HUGHES [0.00 ERA] 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 SO.
jbill
November 20th, 2012
11:03 pm
Hope Juan Francisco does turn it around and comes to ST 15 lbs lighter ready to go.
Thanks RichBrave….
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
11:17 pm
On Chone Figgins — his game fell to pieces abruptly. Why, do not know but that is one of the dangers of signing a speed type of guy for long term.
I do not know if he is banged up or not, for a cheap flyer he should be a good look-see for a team that thrives on cheaper talent.
Figgins for third and Prado for LF for us — We should do better but late in the FA game if we get shut out in the FA game and cannot make a suitable trade, that could be a value option.
Another value option is a Kelly Johnson reunion — was a .370 OBP with 26 HR and 71 Ribbies as recently as 2010. For LF. He did have two decent yrs here — high OBP too. That should appeal to some of the blog.
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
11:19 pm
I don;t count out Juan Francisxo J-bill—
I thought he looked a bit slimmer when he was playing for a stretch. If he can only raise the OBP to a servicable .320 or so with his quick bat, there is 25/90 potential.
Disgusted
November 20th, 2012
11:21 pm
Schafer has one atribute that you cannot coach and that is speed.
As bad as he was getting on base and hitting, the guy did steal 27 bases last yr.
And that is why Frank saw nough redemming qualities in him to bring him back.
Can he put his game together at 26 yrs old — some guys develop and grow up later but he does have alot to prove.
cricket
November 20th, 2012
11:33 pm
get Morse
http://www.csnwashington.com/baseball-washington-nationals/talk/should-nats-go-broke-13
There’s no question LaRoche’s return would give the Nationals a better chance of winning the World Series in 2013. But the only way LaRoche will be playing in D.C. in 2013 is if he gets a long-term contract, most likely with at least three years guaranteed.
The Nationals may be willing to meet those demands, but doing so could hamstring them down the road. With LaRoche locked up through, say, 2015, there might be no spot on the diamond for young slugger Tyler Moore, or no vacant spot that would permit Michael Morse or Ryan Zimmerman to some day make a position switch. And, of course, there’s no guarantee LaRoche would still be a 30-homer, 100-RBI threat at age 35 in year three of a contract that could turn into an albatross.
Speaking of Morse, he figures into this dilemma as well. Signed for one more season at a reasonable salary of $6.75 million, he’ll be poised to strike it rich next winter as a free agent. Given all the other long-term financial commitments the Nationals already have on the books (Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez) and those they would like to add in the very near future (Ian Desmond, Jordan Zimmermann) there probably isn’t enough money left over to re-sign Morse.
Which is why you’ve heard some speculation the slugger could be traded this winter. Rather than lose him via free agency and receive a draft pick as compensation, Rizzo could be inclined to seek a deal now that would bring a larger return back to Washington.
JoeBrave
November 20th, 2012
11:33 pm
tA HELL WITH sCHAFER, THAT DUDE sucks dONkEY nutz! sTEAMY oNEZ
JoeBrave
November 20th, 2012
11:36 pm
I will enlighten you guys as to the way Frank Wren is leaning….If Upton signs then he will pull the trigger on Logan Morrison.
If he re-signs Bourn the he will trade for Alex Gordon…
If he gets Hamilton, then you will see Denard Span.
there are the three options in order of Frank’s preference.
ricocarty21
November 21st, 2012
12:02 am
I spend the extra money for Hamilton, a proven superstar. If you can not get the Money, work a trade for Josh Willingham a power righty bat who lives outside Florence,Al. and wants to play in Atlanta.
The A Bomb
November 21st, 2012
12:02 am
Quick post in the middle of hiatus from the repeat-yourself-constantly blog…
1. Very unlike Wren & Co. to leak out info regarding free agents. I think it’s a ruse and Frank’s working on something much larger.
2. Get Figgins as a backup with a low salary. Good gamble.
Back to hibernation and Happy Thanksgiving.
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
12:58 am
ttrue enough baseball is flourishing now. but in 20 years when poor kids who havent had any exposure to the game dont buy ther merchandise dont buy the tickets dont eat the concessions dont pay for the parking and dont even bother to watch on free tv. we then can all thank mlb for trying to squeeze every last dime out of the consumers that they could
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
1:02 am
i like the way you think cricket
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
1:15 am
well lets go find the cure for als
im off to see the wizard
the wonderful wizard of oz
follow the ubiliquin 2 follow follow follow the ubiliquin 2……………..
lol
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
1:52 am
im all for experimental brain stem cells but its a hell of a small site they aim for. its like trying to hit roosevelts head on a dime with a sledgehammer but not hitting anything else. ooops there goes your arms ooops there goes your legs, ooops there goes your eyes, but then again they all go anyway, at least you go out swinging. how bout some of you healthcare advoctes tell those slimeballs we call representatives to have the fda ease up on fatal disease requiremental testing. if some guinea pig is willing to try it why not let him or her
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLLkFAVxqM4&feature=relmfu
alis daughter is still hott
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
1:56 am
talk about a dead blog i guess all the name calling and you stinks got to everyone and we are all in an alcohol sedated dreamland
well id say nite all but why bother
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
1:58 am
and just like james brown i feel good
doot doot
the way that i should now
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
1:59 am
must be the klonopin lol
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
2:02 am
or maybe the special brownies needed for research
if only i were so lucky
id like to get in that clinical stiudy to see whayt
the effects of thc ingested in food would have on the muscles and nerves
the bible tells you God gives you herbs freely
but then man criminalizes them
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
2:03 am
wake up its time to come out and play
ncgary
November 21st, 2012
2:10 am
and lets reiterate one more time
just say no to bj upton
3 yrs 15 milion altogether tops
and wed still get the worst end of the deal
morse or hamilton and go from within if minn wants too much for spann and victorino wants more than 2 years maybe give him a team option 3rd
if franchesco could develop into an every day player wouldnt that be a great problem to have, having to turn prado into super sub again, or either have the most expensive pinch hitter in the league and put martin back at second
Ward
November 21st, 2012
2:59 am
Hello everyone! It will be interesting to see what happens with B.J. Upton. I’m going to be busy for the next few days, Thanksgiving, and will talk aagain on Sunday, or Monday? Let’s hope something is done by then, or we willl have to just wait? Peace my friends, and talk then. Have a Happy Thanksgiving……”Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
jpnatl1980
November 21st, 2012
3:27 am
All a ploy to raise the Phillies price for Upton, Wren’s cunning master plan….I hope….
N8
November 21st, 2012
3:41 am
Morse would be a nice pickup, but no way Rizzo trades him in the division without asking for a hefty bounty in return. So I’m considering that a long-shot, that in the end would likely cost too much. Unless Wren could work out an extention not allowing him to reach free agency after 2013. But last time he did that (Uggla) it turned out to be a semi-mistake. Of course if Uggla tears it up the next two years…….
I see that the Indians DFA’d Brent Lillibridge. Might be an OK option for the bench as a possible “Omar Infante” kind of play everywhere guy, plus adds some speed to the bench. WORST WORST WORST case scenario with an injury, he might be a platoon partner with a guy like Constanza for a short stretch.
I would really like to see Wren find a guy like that, that can play outield and infield. A couple years ago, I thought Prado could be that guy and just let him play somewhere everyday so he gets AB’s. But Prado has certainly earned the right to have ONE position and play everyday.
Gwd,sc
November 21st, 2012
3:53 am
I like the idea of Morse being in a Brave uni.
Bobby's Cox
November 21st, 2012
4:25 am
Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays have gone beyond what they thought the payroll could be, but said he was promised that if the right opportunity came along ownership would spend. The payroll stands at $120 million as of now.
Anthopoulos said he didn’t expect to make such a splash this offseason. He said he first targeted Johnson and but quickly learned Reyes and Buehrle were also available. He told Beeston he knew it was a lot of money, but said Beeston encouraged him and checked with the owners, Rogers Communications.
Maybe Liberty will pay up to get Hamilton? Likely not.
Arkansas Transplant
November 21st, 2012
5:45 am
2 pretty good names out there for the cheap that could come with pretty good upsides… Rayburn and Figgins.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
6:49 am
Cbet looking okay down there…. .257 avg, OPS near .700. And last night, he struck out for the first time, after about 30 ABs. Keep it up, kiddo.
Joey G
November 21st, 2012
6:59 am
Brent Lillibridge would be one former Brave I would bring back for the bench. Can play everywhere has a little po and can steal a base.
Everything written has Atalanta and MN as perfect trade partners, what’s the hold up? Get it done FW
Couch Tater
November 21st, 2012
7:18 am
Perhaps he found his intrinsic beauty through a quantitative analysis of his bone structure and breadth of smile
TennPaul –
Haha. Gee thanks. I just spent the last 5 minutes blowing coffee out of my nose.
Dollar Amount of Cleanup: Kleenex (daK) + Coffee (daC) + Paper Towels (daPT) < Chuckle Theory: Where giggle (ggl) + grin (grn) = Healthy heart (heHe)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proofs_from_THE_BOOK
Arkansas Transplant
November 21st, 2012
8:00 am
The Twins don’t have anyone I’d be willing to give up the farm for… Willingham is going to come at too high of a price and so is Span for what you’d get in return. Let’s not use our trade chips on those guys.
ncscoots
November 21st, 2012
8:15 am
Willingham is going to come at too high of a price and so is Span for what you’d get in return.
I’d agree on Willingham, because he makes as much sense for the Twins as for the Braves and for the same reasons, and the Twins don’t have a likely replacement. Span is another story, with Revere in the wings, and I’m sure the Twins realize that they aren’t going to get a top-end starter for him.
It still goes back to this, though: if trade currency is expended on Span, whither a LF, if not FA? I don’t believe that they would trade for both slots, and getting RH sock from the available FA who are not named Upton seems problematic. And it would probably be nearly as costly for a Swisher (pardon me while I gag) as BJ.
Still many routes that the team could take, and what happens first should determine what happens after.
TennesseePaul
November 21st, 2012
8:21 am
A source tells Rosenthal that the Rangers are still interested in Upton but are waiting for the D’Backs to back down on their demands for Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar in return.
Nice. At other front offices around the league, when the Rangers call, there is always an eager listener on the other end dying to know how the Ranger plan on trading a third teams star player for their cog. “Sure Mr. Towers, we have two stud short-stops, but we aren’t trading either of them. Here’s the deal I’m willing to make, you give us Justin Upton and you take the Braves Andrelton Simmons.“
TennesseePaul
November 21st, 2012
8:22 am
It really is something how Chone Figgins’ career sank like a stone after signing his Seattle contract.
brian
November 21st, 2012
8:40 am
Chone did have a huge fall from grace but his game was always built around speed. Lose a step or two, forget how to actually make contact with the ball, and of course then he’s done. Much more abrupt than I would have thought
CB
November 21st, 2012
8:40 am
What is the thought process of Texas holding on to 2 SS? It seems like a natural and wise move to trade Andrus for Upton filling in with prospects as needed in trade.
CRM300
November 21st, 2012
8:48 am
I live in the Tampa Bay area. Signing Upton to a big money contract would be a huge mistake. He is a head case. Could be another Uggla without the hustle. Has been benched in Tampa Bay several times for not hustling. Will have warning track power in Atlanta, especially when the wind is blowing. Home runs in Tropicana Field are pretty easy to come by. Upton will be an albatross and will not help the chemistry of the Braves. Pass on Upton!!
No Flag Since Lemke
November 21st, 2012
8:49 am
If nothing else Span would give you almost a hundred (93 to be exact) less strikeouts than you got from Bourn last season and as pointed out above would not require us to empty the pantry.
No Flag Since Lemke
November 21st, 2012
8:51 am
CRM300 – saw your post after my own post. Also live down this way and couldn’t agree more with your analysis.
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
8:51 am
A source tells Rosenthal that the Rangers are still interested in Upton but are waiting for the D’Backs to back down on their demands for Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar in return.
I hope Arizona tells the Rangers to take a flying leap.
ncscoots
November 21st, 2012
8:53 am
Home runs in Tropicana Field are pretty easy to come by.
Odd that everybody in the baseball world calls it a terrible hitters’ park.
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
8:54 am
What is the thought process of Texas holding on to 2 SS? It seems like a natural and wise move to trade Andrus for Upton filling in with prospects as needed in trade.
Andrus is a sure thing. Profar isn’t major league tested. Best I can think. Or the Rangers are just tough negotiators.
ncscoots
November 21st, 2012
8:56 am
If nothing else Span would give you almost a hundred (93 to be exact) less strikeouts than you got from Bourn last season
The more important question would be, what did he accomplish on those 93 ABs? If all he did were to make some other kind of out, I don’t see much value in the fewer Ks. Especially from a leadoff hitter.
Arkansas Transplant
November 21st, 2012
8:57 am
I think Figgin’s and Rayburn would be nice additions to ST.
CRM300
November 21st, 2012
8:58 am
Upton makes a lot more sense for the Phillies. Short fences would make him swing from the heels on every pitch. Might strike out 250 times on off speed pitches. They need another big contract with no production like Lee and the declining Halladay.
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
8:58 am
If nothing else Span would give you almost a hundred (93 to be exact) less strikeouts than you got from Bourn last season and as pointed out above would not require us to empty the pantry.
I’d prefer Span or Fowler to Upton, for the many reasons stated by a multiplicity of posters on ye old blog.
CRM300
November 21st, 2012
9:00 am
I think everyone calls Tropicana Field a bad ballpark period, ncscoots. It is the Rays that make it look like a bad hitter’s ballpark!
Hot Stove: Phillies Considered Favorites for Upton | Local Philadelphia News Aggregator
November 21st, 2012
9:00 am
[...] field target іѕ. Carroll Rodgers οf thе Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported thіѕ news today wіth thе tidbit thаt thе Braves dο nοt believe themselves tο bе [...]
Arkansas Transplant
November 21st, 2012
9:02 am
I’d rather sign Upton and not use any of our depth to acquire a fringe player.
Couch Tater
November 21st, 2012
9:02 am
Or the Rangers are just tough negotiators.
Remember Kevin Towers in San Diego? Peavy. What, 4 months of BS, leaks to the press and such? None came from the Braves end.
ncscoots
November 21st, 2012
9:02 am
It is the Rays that make it look like a bad hitter’s ballpark!
So you’re saying it’s a good hitters’ park for the visitors?
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
9:02 am
The more important question would be, what did he accomplish on those 93 ABs? If all he did were to make some other kind of out, I don’t see much value in the fewer Ks. Especially from a leadoff hitter.
I would say putting a ball in play gives a hitter some chance of reaching base… or advancing runners…. or whatever. Yes, putting a ball in play with a runner on first could result in a double-play, but I’d take my chances. Strikeouts nearly zero-out the chances of anything good happening.
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
9:03 am
[...] field target іѕ. Carroll Rodgers οf thе Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported thіѕ news today wіth thе tidbit thаt thе Braves dο nοt believe themselves tο bе [...]
So you don’t say? Hmm… intriguing.
CRM300
November 21st, 2012
9:04 am
No, nscoots, Rays pitching is among the best in the league. Visiting teams can’t hit their pitching and the Rays can’t score runs. I guess that qualifies as a bad hitting ballpark!
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
9:04 am
Remember Kevin Towers in San Diego? Peavy. What, 4 months of BS, leaks to the press and such? None came from the Braves end.
Yep. Towers strikes me as a snake.
ncscoots
November 21st, 2012
9:08 am
I would say putting a ball in play gives a hitter some chance of reaching base… or advancing runners…. or whatever.
Ah, but Span did put the ball in play and gave himself that chance. What I was asking was, what were the results? If the notion is that contact of any kind is better than no contact at all, shouldn’t there at least be a glimmer of results to prove it?
Tron
November 21st, 2012
9:12 am
Still bloggers talking about nothing. Stop the drivel and wait on winter meetings.
Ray
November 21st, 2012
9:13 am
It has been stated many times that Wren is exploring multiple options to improve the team. We do have to remember its not just Wren in the negotiations. For Span, there is the GM for the Twins. He could be asking for Delgado, Teharan and another high prospect. We have to remember what the other side may be asking for in a deal.
P-Town Brave ©
November 21st, 2012
9:14 am
I agree AT….
I swear if I hear someone talk about how we need to acquire Bourjos one more time, I’m going to get their address and catch a plane and go beat the holy hell outta them….
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
9:15 am
I hope Arizona tells the Rangers to take a flying leap.
And then promptly accepts a trade from Atlanta using Maholm, EOF/JV, Teheran…. with Cabrera coming from the Tribe (or Peralta from the Indians)
Jeff R
November 21st, 2012
9:16 am
Ah, but Span did put the ball in play and gave himself that chance. What I was asking was, what were the results? If the notion is that contact of any kind is better than no contact at all, shouldn’t there at least be a glimmer of results to prove it?
Me not being sophisticated in the very arcane and increasingly complex world of baseball stats, I can’t answer that question with any confidence, scoots. I would say, seat-of-my-pants, that putting a ball in play allows for more possible permutations than striking out, even if the percentage of time that doing so leads to a positive result is small.