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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,505 comments Add your comment
Mark
November 21st, 2012
7:48 pm
Yankees will get Hamilton. Short porch there. If he stays healthy and everything he’ll hit 50 dingers.
Ken Stallings
November 21st, 2012
7:49 pm
Mark,
I don’t see Hamilton playing in the media spotlight of Yankee Stadium. It would be like trying to mix oil with water.
Even Boston would be better for Hamilton than the Yankees.
Ken Stallings
November 21st, 2012
7:51 pm
Sorry, meant to say to put Hamilton in left fiedl and keep Heyward in right for his cannon arm.
AlaskaBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
7:56 pm
I think Dexter Fowler should be the top option for the Braves. I’ve heard his name listed as available for a while now and the Braves have pieces the Rockies need, so this trade seems like an ideal situation. You get a leadoff switch hitter who plays good defense with a plus arm. Atlanta native…how is this not the optimal choice.
FW needs to realize the money doesn’t need to be spent on the flashy choice, but spent on substance. If Cuddyer is available from the Rockies, snag him too. I think our best options are found through trades and not free agency. The LF position should be viewed as just a place holder anyways, the farm has some good options coming up for us, just need a little bit of time.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
7:56 pm
Can’t see Hamilton wanting to go to the Yankees, and with them trying to stay under the luxury tax threshold, he won’t be going there. With the Phils supposedly out, and the Mariners already declaring themselves out, I see his suitors being down to Milwaukee (who doesn’t need offense, can’t afford him), Detroit (just because they can), Atlanta, Boston (if they want to), and Baltimore (seems unlikely)
I’d say the Braves have a good chance to get him if he’s willing to accept less money and years. And without Boston getting involved, I can’t see him getting more than 5yrs, 20mil a year.
Mark
November 21st, 2012
7:57 pm
Ken
Much of what you said I agree with. I’d love to watch him play every night as a Brave. Just don’t think we’ll be in the mix monetarily. One thing I disagree with was the 4 or 5 million difference in salary. Hamilton will get more than that above Upton. If he doesn’t then the only reason would be they are afraid of his past.
I suspect that any contract Hamilton signs will be big and full of incentives.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
7:58 pm
But even with Hamilton’s offensive prowess, I’d still go Greinke. No loss of draft pick, he’s a safer bet to produce through the length of his contract, he’s already said he wants to be here, and there is a need there; and if you don’t believe that we need a stud, hard-throwing SP this winter, we will need it next season when we lose Maholm and Hudson.
But we do need offense this season, and getting Justin Upton/Willingham is looking unlikely…
So, if Frank wants to make a big move, Greinke or Hamilton? That’s the question.
Zing
November 21st, 2012
7:59 pm
Try to get Hamilton for 5 years at $25 million per, OR 7 years at the same with club buyout at a lower price for failing multiple drug tests or something. He’s not going to get the same kind of contract that guys who put up similar stats get b/c of his past.
Failing that, I guess Upton wouldn’t be too bad as a last resort at the right price.
Bat Masterson
November 21st, 2012
8:01 pm
stick Jose Constanza in centerfield as a glove, _Ken Stallings
Biff’s not even much of a left fielder, I doubt he could play center everyday.
Mark
November 21st, 2012
8:01 pm
Again, I’d love to have him but…
Anyway he is at least 3 times better than Uggla and we gave him an average of 12 mil a year for 5 years so maybe they’ll surprise us, spend a litttle more and get e real hitter.
Mark
November 21st, 2012
8:04 pm
I second Bat on Georgie in CF. He is a little shakey out there and I was one of the guys that wanted him to play LF and move Prado to 2B so Uggs could do curls on the bench.
George_George
November 21st, 2012
8:07 pm
Venice Jim
November 21st, 2012
1:45 pm
That might not quite make up for learning that Boss has been cancelled…
******************************************************************
That is a shame, I liked that show. Y’all know STARTZ network, the network BOSS was on is owned by LIBERTY MEDIA. LIBERTY MEDIA also owns DIRECT TV.
Zing
November 21st, 2012
8:07 pm
Took my words right out of my mouth, Ken… I had my text up here the last ten minutes or so and forgot to push “submit.” But we are on the same wavelength with that $25 M / 5 years. I’ve got to think that if it’s that obvious, FW has made overtures along the same lines.
The only thing I’d add, which I’ve said before, is that we don’t have to settle for “just” Hamilton. The way we get Span or Fowler is via trade, so we could pick one of those guys up as well.
It’s hard to see a big drawback to this scheme (other than Hamilton just being a complete bust– any FA can present risks, though), because right when the Braves would need money to sign Heyward, Freeman, et al., Uggla’s and (presumably, if he’s extended) Hudson’s money will come off the books… it doesn’t tie the Braves’ hands. Instead, it gives them a lineup to match a strong pitching staff.
AlaskaBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
8:09 pm
LF-Ichiro CF-Fowler RF-Heyward
3B-Prado SS-Simmons 2B-Uggla 1B-Freeman C-McCann
SP-Greinke,Hudson,Medlen,Minor,Maholm (Beachy working back into Maholms spot when he’s healthy)
From a money standpoint, does this look like something that could work lineup wise for the Braves next year? Forget the fact that Wren won’t do a thing regarding Greinke this year, but purely on money, why couldn’t this be the Braves next year?
cabravesfan
November 21st, 2012
8:13 pm
Liberty Media does not own DirecTV- they do have a minority equity investment in Time Warner, however, which might explain a lot…
cabravesfan
November 21st, 2012
8:19 pm
Anyways, y’all have a very happy Thanksgiving with family, friends, or whomever you chose to spend the day with. Eat lots of stuffing, avoid Black Friday, and have a wonderful weekend!
Bat Masterson
November 21st, 2012
8:22 pm
Thanks, cab. You too
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
8:27 pm
You plan could work just barely, ABF, but if we were to sign Greinke, I’d bet that Maholm is traded. He’s a 6mil more expensive version of Mike Minor. That’d give us room to make a midseason trade. As of now, the Braves are said to have 30mil to spend. Greinke, Ichiro, and Fowler would probably take up that amount, +another 2mil or so. Hanson being traded would give us about 2mil of room, trading Maholm gives us 8.
(I’m assuming that Greinke gets 20mil, Ichiro gets 8, and Fowler gets an ARB salary of 4mil)
Trey
November 21st, 2012
8:27 pm
Slow off season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
8:28 pm
Thanks cab, you enjoy your Thanksgiving as well. I will not, however, be eating lots of stuffing. Makes me sick, that’s stuff’s revolting.
Last Thanksgiving with my parents….
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
8:29 pm
2yrs, 10mil for Jonny Gomes. Slightly more than I thought he’d get, but it is the Red Sox after all.
BFChris28
November 21st, 2012
8:34 pm
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!
I know I am early, but tomorrow I will be booked lol. I will be cooking everything and will not only have Thanksgiving here at home, but will be going to two other places as well.
Good thing this is only time of year I’ll be pigging out
George_George
November 21st, 2012
8:36 pm
S/O cab.
*************
Liberty negotiated an asset swap with News Corp. and Time Warner that would give it control of DirecTV and the Atlanta Braves baseball team.[23] On February 12, 2007, the deal was completed with Time Warner wherein Liberty would receive the Atlanta Braves, a group of craft magazines and $1 billion in cash in exchange for 60 million shares of Time Warner stock (valued at $1.27 billion as of market close on February 12, 2007).[24] The deal was approved by Major League Baseball and then completed on May 16, 2007.[25] On February 20, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission approved the exchange of 16.3 percent of News Corp. for 38.4 percent of DirecTV, an $11 billion deal that also gave Liberty sports networks in Denver, Pittsburgh and Seattle plus $550 million in cash.[26]
Nowhere man
November 21st, 2012
8:43 pm
Go all in for Hamilton.
cabravesfan
November 21st, 2012
8:45 pm
george_george-
Former assets
DirecTV Sports Networks: Owners of FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain/FSN Utah, and FSN Northwest
Liberty’s forty-eight percent interest in DirecTV
Liberty’s fifty percent interest in GSN
On September 3, 2008, Liberty Media decided to initiate the process of spinning off Liberty Entertainment to Liberty Media shareholders, leaving Malone with a majority ownership of the new company.[34] On May 4, 2009, The DirecTV Group Inc. said it would become a part of Liberty’s entertainment unit, part of which would then be spun off as a separate company called DirecTV. The new company would also acquire Liberty’s one hundred percent interests in the three FSN networks and its fifty percent interest in GSN. The rest of the unit would be traded as Liberty Starz. Liberty would increase its share of DirecTV from forty-eight to fifty-four percent, with Malone and his family owning twenty-four percent.[citation needed]
On May 4, 2009, Liberty announced that it would split off Liberty Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of Liberty owning the three FNC channels acquired under the swap with News Corp. and Liberty’s sixty-five percent interest in GSN, into a separate company that would merge with The DirecTV Group, reducing Liberty owner John Malone’s stake in DirecTV to twenty-four percent.[35] The merger was completed on November 19, 2009, with The DirecTV Group and Liberty Entertainment becoming subsidiaries of a new company named DirecTV.[36]
On June 16, 2010, Malone exchanged his preferred stock in DirecTV with equivalent amounts of common stock, reducing his voting interest in the company from twenty-four percent to three percent, with Malone resigning as chairman and ending his managerial role at DirecTV.[37]
Liberty’s chairman owns 3% of DirecTV, but it’s a public company- Liberty as a company no longer has an ownership in the company beyond that
Trader Jack
November 21st, 2012
8:46 pm
George
You need to do your homework. Cab is right about the minority interest. Use more than just Wikipedia
raffy
November 21st, 2012
8:47 pm
hamilton is the real deal- you have to sign any good guy for 5 years and count on 3 really good ones- bourne, pagan , upton etc are not on the same page as hamilton- he is a rare player- go for it braves
cabravesfan
November 21st, 2012
8:48 pm
Also, DirecTV is not listed among their assets on their company website…
MIBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
8:56 pm
Thanks to DOB for posting the link to the game featuring Gattis and Mejia. They’re both having quite a night! Both have 2-run HRs.
jbill
November 21st, 2012
9:01 pm
Happy Thanksgiving Carroll, DOB and all Braves fans on blog..God Bless you all and God Bless the USA.
jbill
November 21st, 2012
9:03 pm
The one thing we all can agree on — WE ALL WANT THE BRAVES TO WIN!–
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
November 21st, 2012
9:05 pm
Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!!
MIBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
9:06 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, jbill, and to DOB and Carroll, and to everyone on the blog
JasonInFL
November 21st, 2012
9:10 pm
Yikes. Leave for a long period of time, come back, and it’s the same old obsession! Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and say Happy Thanksgiving to the MIB blog. May you have a blessed day not only tomorrow, but every day.
Now, let’s get us a couple of OF or a David Wright for 3B and a CF!
Powderfinger
November 21st, 2012
9:23 pm
I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. Speaking for myself, I’m thankful that I live in a suburb of a major American city (though not perfect) that isn’t Miami. I almost wish baseball was set up so that bench pieces would be signed after starters, just so that I wouldn’t have to read the proclamations of “fans” that Schafer and Constanza will be starting next year in the outfield. Hold your friends close and your family even closer!
Mountain Braves Fan
November 21st, 2012
9:46 pm
I’ve been critical of the Braves potential signing of BJ Upton, but upon further reflection, I think it could be positive depending on how Frank Wren views Upton’s role with the Braves. If Wren views Upton as Bourn’s replacement both on the field in CF and in the lineup leading off, that could work.
Upton’s career OBP is .003 lower than Bourn’s (.336 to .339 for Bourn). Admittedly, Upton’s 2012 OBP was an abysmal .298. Tampa Bay was offensively challenged in 2012: 11th in the AL in runs (697), 11th in the AL in RBIs (665), 12th in the AL in OPS (.711), and last in the AL East in all three categories. Is it possible that Upton felt pressure to give more thump to an anemic Rays offense, sacrificing OBP for power? The 28 home runs were nice, the 169 Ks were not.
If Upton could be a little more selective at the plate, focus on getting on base instead of hitting the long ball, and get his OBP up to .340 to .350 (not all that unrealistic given his career OBP), he could be a dynamic leadoff hitter. He has legit 40 SB ability (which he has already demonstrated) and he could wreak havoc at the top of the Braves lineup IF he can get the OBP up to an acceptable level. And even in “selective” mode, I would expect Upton to hit 15 to 20 homers a season.
Upton is younger than Bourn, will be cheaper than Bourn, has more power than Bourn, and would make the lineup less left handed and better versus LHP than Bourn (.792 OPS vs. LHP for Upton, .728 OPS vs. LHP for Bourn). While Bourn is currently better defensively than Upton, that could even out over the course of the contracts the two will sign.
If Frank Wren views Upton as Bourn’s replacement in CF and Chipper’s replacement in the lineup, i.e., the right handed power bat, I just don’t think that would work. Upton is not an .800 OPS guy, and that role would negate his speed, and his value, to some extent.
So I am good with the Braves signing Upton to play CF and lead off, as long as they fill LF/3B with the elusive right handed power bat. No weak-hitting CF types need apply–we already filled Bourn’s spot in the lineup with Upton, we need to fill Chipper’s spot.
Slingblade
November 21st, 2012
9:52 pm
Uuuuuuuuummmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhmmmmm, happy Thanksgiving. I got me some mustard for my French fried taters. Uuuuuuuummmmmmhhhhhhhhmmmmm
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
10:01 pm
Thankful for this great blog, Efrim for turning me into even more of a prospect follwer and occasional hoarder, noles for his great player analysis and making me think deeper about player acquisitions, Lew for the fun and spirited arguments, scoots, raleigh, VaBraves, CB, and all the other regulars and semi-regulars Ive had the chance to come across and talk about baseball with. It’s quite fun for me as there are so few people I can do that with in real life.
Have a great Thanksgiving y’all.
brian
November 21st, 2012
10:06 pm
if Mark Cuban wanted to buy a MLB team in disarray thathe could build from the ground up…….. Miami Marlin???
Powderfinger
November 21st, 2012
10:09 pm
brian—The current owner of the Marlins isn’t looking to sell. Why would he? He’s making money hand over fist…
brian
November 21st, 2012
10:14 pm
I wasn’t saying Lurie was going to sell. Just saying that if any eam needed Mark Cuban as an owner i is the Miami Marlins
brian
November 21st, 2012
10:14 pm
team
Powderfinger
November 21st, 2012
10:15 pm
I think Cuban wants to own just about any MLB team. And there’s no doubt he would be a huge step above the present one…
BFChris28
November 21st, 2012
10:18 pm
I hope Cuban would be allowed to purchase the Atlanta Braves.
Powderfinger
November 21st, 2012
10:21 pm
BFChris28—I would take either him or Arthur Blank. Probably just a pipe dream; just gotta load the right thing in the pipe…
BFChris28
November 21st, 2012
10:22 pm
Powderfinger
Indeed.
If I had the dough, I’d purchase Atlanta Braves. That would be my dream.
The "Big Guy"
November 21st, 2012
10:44 pm
As God as my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly…
Venice Jim
November 21st, 2012
11:08 pm
A blessed respite…
Venice Jim
November 21st, 2012
11:53 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to all! And to all, a good night…
BFChris28
November 21st, 2012
11:55 pm
Welp, I am calling it a night.
Turkey in the oven and I am exhausted.
MIBravesFan
November 21st, 2012
11:57 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnohHTLMs3Q
MIBravesFan
November 22nd, 2012
12:02 am
Peanuts “Thanksgiving around a ping-pong table” Take care everyone.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
12:09 am
tater, i got sucked in.
playing Heritage from tips tmmrw.
two steps back from 12 players that are better.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
12:12 am
flange, will get it. a 12 man skins game. 12 guys 100 dollar in skins game. birdie only.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
12:18 am
flange, pretty sure i am the the fish.
these guys can jack and rack and rack it.
never now.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2012
12:25 am
South of the Border
DOMINICA
LICEY TIGERS
3B JUAN FRANCISCO [.344 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [14], 1 BB, 1 SO.
Continued encouraging signs from our third base prospect.
VENEZUELA
CARACAS LIONS
RF JOSH KROEGER [.277 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI [8], 1 BB, 1 E [1, throwing].
ZULIA EAGLES
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.338 BA] 3-4, 2 R, 1 HR [10], 2 RBI [27], 1 SO.
LF EVAN GATTIS [.277 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR [7], 2 RBI [23], 1 SO.
Our dynamic duo keep getting after the opposition, each hammering a two RBI homer to pull ZULIA into the lead in their league race for the pennant.
richbrave
November 22nd, 2012
12:26 am
Gobble turkey day. Enjoy!
richbrave
November 22nd, 2012
12:26 am
NYTOL!
Mitchell
November 22nd, 2012
12:32 am
The “Big Guy”
November 21st, 2012
10:44 pm
As God as my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly…
Like.
Mitchell
November 22nd, 2012
12:39 am
Hell, they can’t even make babies.
They deserve to be fried.
Or, you know, oven roasted.
And then eaten. Can’t forget about that part.
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 22nd, 2012
12:41 am
Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Braves fan bloggers and to DOB. I know we all don’t agree sometimes but that’s what makes it fun. I’m thankful for my health, wonderful family, and to the Big Guy above for it all.
Now what I want to be thankful for soon: Josh Hamilton in a Braves uniform and a good CF to go along with him. Who’s with me? Make it happen Frankie.
Les Nessman "Buckeye News hawk award winner"
November 22nd, 2012
12:43 am
I really don’t know how to describe it. It was like the turkeys mounted a counter-attack! It was almost as if they were… organized!
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
12:56 am
flange, i hope i barely survive. playing with guys that said.
pretty sure i wiil carry my own.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
12:59 am
got a ping anser in the bag. got a a huge old taylor made.
BraveDan
November 22nd, 2012
1:03 am
richbrave
November 22nd, 2012
12:26 am
Thank you for your nightly updastes and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
1:06 am
got sucked into a 12 man game tmmw.
can tell you a four iron on the second hole. and a sand iron.
first hole is a total birdie hole.
first three are birdie holes. the foutrth hole not so much.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
1:12 am
gotta crank it uphill. the fourth hole is straight up. uphill.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
1:25 am
pretty sure i want flange as my part.
the dude gets the bobby jones swing.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
1:29 am
ok, gotta find six dozen pro V ones. those are the balata ballls you wanta putt.
if you are in a money game always putt sotft balls.
uga-brave
November 22nd, 2012
1:33 am
off the tee too pro V ones.
Braves Fan Since 1966
November 22nd, 2012
1:41 am
Not to worry… Philly gets what they go after and can easily top any Braves offer for Upton. It’s also good that Bourn won’t return and will be over paid to play some place else.
Bobby H
November 22nd, 2012
1:52 am
I see uga-brave doing a lot of commenting in code, just above. Do you think he’s really having a conversation with the Rally Stripper right in front of our eyes?
Everyone… Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
David O'Brien
November 22nd, 2012
2:20 am
Gattis hit a 2-run homer in that game tonight to snap a 2-all tie.
Angry acworth man
November 22nd, 2012
6:28 am
Here’s the perfect scenario…Hamilton in LF and Fowler in CF!! Please do not resign Bourne! It’s obvious that he doesn’t want to play in Atlanta.
Couch Tater
November 22nd, 2012
7:13 am
uga – I found a balata the other day, it was smiling. Got me to thinking about a time when I played nothing but Titleist “Tour Balata’s” .
#6 tee, I pulled a shot into a busy street and hit a car. #7 green. Here he comes. Not happy…
Him: “Did one of y’all hit this golf ball? I just got my car painted and somebody’s going to pay!”
I look down and it’s a Top Flite….
Couch Tater
November 22nd, 2012
7:32 am
MLB Trade Rumors:
For the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Braves wanted to trade a Brian McCann balloon to Macy’s for the Papa Smurf and Hello Kitty balloons. Macy’s wanted some helium thrown in..
WigWamWisps
November 22nd, 2012
7:59 am
The Braves will never sign Josh Hamilton. His salary is prohibitive for Atlanta who would find itself paying one player one fifth of the salary it paid the whole team if it agreed to sign Hamilton. Hamilton walked from the Texas Rangers who have much deeper pockets than our Braves. I also don’t see BJ Upton landing in Atlanta. He is a much valued player among other teams and we all know how willing the Braves have been to get into a bidding war for talent. Atlanta either ends up backing into free agents or they make a trade for the players that contribute. I hope they don’t end up trading more prospects for a third baseman or an outfielder. The minor league system isn’t as strong as it once was. While I would love for Atlanta to acquire a player like David Wright, the New York Mets would rape the Braves once strong system further depleting it. I see Frank Wren and the Atlanta braintrust making a deal for a much cheaper center field option than Bourn, Hamilton or Angel Pagan and putting together a plattoon situation in left field. Your third baseman for the 2013 season will be Martin Prado. I am still very concerned about the Braves’ starting rotation. They have more surgically repaired elbows and erratic contributors than ESPN has hype. Happy Thanksgiving to all! All Braves fans still have hope in that all free agents haven’t signed and all trades haven’t been made yet. We can be thankful that Frank Wren can’t be the Atlanta GM forever!
Couch Tater
November 22nd, 2012
8:06 am
Foriegn Language Lesson:
“Wild Turkey”:
Cherokee language: Kv-na(kuh nuh).
Lakota language: wagleksun.
BAS language: heyyobarstendernoice.
WigWamWisps
November 22nd, 2012
8:24 am
Angry acworth man, I would LOVE to see that outfield. The only problem is that the Braves are owned by Liberty Media and not Ted Turner. Others have commented about longing for Mark Cuban to own the Braves, but the good ole’ boy network that is Major League Baseball have made it abundantly clear that they don’t want Cuban in their ownership groups. If I am not mistaken, Cuban was quoted as saying that he wasn’t interested in the Atlanta club not too long ago. The best bet for an ownership group with deep pockets is if a former athlete with deep pockets leads an ownership group to buy the Braves much like Magic Johnson and his group in Los Angeles. Another issue arises from the Braves signing Hamilton. That is that he is left handed and the Braves lineup is left handed heavy as it exists. In my perfect world, the Braves somehow deal for David Wright to man the hot corner at Turner Field for years to come, sign BJ Upton to play center field and deal for Chase Headley to play left field. Headley played the outfield when he arrived in the major leagues. In addition, I would love for Atlanta to re-sign Reed Johnson as a utility outfielder. These additions would enable Martin Prado to move back to a reserve role and he would be available when or if Dan Uggla has his annual swoon.
phil
November 22nd, 2012
8:41 am
A McCann balloon?
Happy Thanksgiving, all!
VaBravesFan
November 22nd, 2012
9:13 am
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Angry acworth man
November 22nd, 2012
9:27 am
I think the Braves ownership slogan should be “hope for the best, but expect the worst!!”
Happy Thanksgiving!!
John Tucker
November 22nd, 2012
9:31 am
Enter your comments here
Joey G
November 22nd, 2012
9:55 am
Sign Kyle Lohse. It will afford FW to trade that extra pitcher in order to get a better OF, say in a packeged deal where we get both Willingham and Span.
Disgusted
November 22nd, 2012
10:00 am
I don’t think that Loria is motivated to sell the Marlins — For one think they way he has run that team it has acturally turned over a profit. Beleive it or not.
So he does not care about winning cause winning will actually cost him.
I’d love to see a Mark Cuban buy the Braves — I am not sure that the baseball owners will let him n the game — you know how buttoned down these guys can be.
And that is MLB’s loss. Hope I am wrong about that.
Have to say that I like the Mets and Marlins woes cause as we are set up for now we should at least be third with a reasonaly decent record.
As our payroll stays flat and the game;s revenues and the roll of other teams go up well — the long term future is going to be a challenge — real challenge if we do not have a great system.,
Only player development can save us from being a KC or Pittsburgh.
Disgusted
November 22nd, 2012
10:04 am
I;d rather stay away from the available FA pitchers who would be a realistic sign.
I would rather spend $75 mil for 5 yrs on BJ than an Anibal Sanchez or Edwin Jackson — pitchers who are pretty good but not that good. They are mid range rotation guys.
And ferget Grienke — we are not affording him. Loshe is good but was also a product of a very good Cardinals team and its systematic way of doing things.
All 3 of those guys are solid mid rotation — Loshe had the better W-L as a result of what was around him.
A. Sanchez has been inconsistent from time to time — but he is asking for $90 mil. Someone might give that to him believe it or not.
BraveDan
November 22nd, 2012
10:37 am
David O’Brien
November 22nd, 2012
2:20 am
Gattis hit a 2-run homer in that game tonight to snap a 2-all tie.
DOB, Happy Thanksgiving!!! Thanks for another great year on the BLOG!!!
BraveDan
November 22nd, 2012
10:37 am
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!
PuddyCat
November 22nd, 2012
10:41 am
Happy Thanksgiving and I look forward to another successful season. 94 wins this past season was a superb accomplishment and should continue because of the great young talent the team has assembled.
Enjoy this timeline which reflects the ups and downs all baseball teams go through. Braves fans should be thankful for all the success the Braves have had over the years. Yes, the organization has spoiled the fanbase and it will take an extraordinary effort in 2013 from the front office, coaches and players to win the division.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/history/year_by_year_results.jsp
jim
November 22nd, 2012
10:57 am
Somebody thinks we can deal for Headly and Wright and still have Prado around to be a utility guy at 6-8 million for next year. What value do you think Delgado, Teheran, Hanson and Uggla etc. command in the trade market. Both the Mets and Padres need position players more than pitchers anyway. This is not a fantasy league.
ChattTownBrian
November 22nd, 2012
11:05 am
“Sign Kyle Lohse”
Monica L. Girl
November 22nd, 2012
11:21 am
Did you say $15m a year for BJ? Sign me up, what do you think Bill?
Bill, aka Mr. Hillary
November 22nd, 2012
11:24 am
I feel your pain Monica, but Bubba is broke.
Venice Jim
November 22nd, 2012
11:43 am
Way to stay classy on Thanksgiving, troll…
VaBravesFan
November 22nd, 2012
11:47 am
With the way salaries are rising and such its gonna take a while to get used to this, cause in my opinion none of the free agents are fits for us. I mean BJ Upton might get 15 million a season! That’s unbelievable.
Guy is 28 and hasn’t met expectations but the tools are there. Very mixed opinions on his Defense in CF but most agree he’s average at best. He’s been a strikeout machine, also has produced around a 240 avg and 320 obp over the past 4 years, which is pretty bad. Only good things are he’ll provide 25 homer power and 30+ steals. But looking at the overall player, how in the hell is he worth that much to any team. To me he is one top skill short of making this type of money.
If he hit for better average, or produced a better OBP, or if he played premium defense. He is missing 1 of those. He’s not a leadoff man, and he isn’t a 3-5 hitter.
Michael Bourn provides Elite Defense, Elite Stolen Base Ability, and produces solid AVG/OBP outputs. Also he’s a legit leadoff man which are hard to find. That is why he’ll get paid big bucks, even tho its still crazy.
Mitchie-sand
November 22nd, 2012
11:50 am
Happy Thanksgiving, all. Remember to thank your military members who cant be with their families today.
kenhotlanta
November 22nd, 2012
12:03 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to DOB, Carroll, and all my fellow bloggers, good and bad…you know who you are.
For the first time in over 50 years, I will miss Furman Bisher’s annual “I’m Thankful” column, although I saw on the front page the AJC is running some sort of column, but I haven’t read it yet.
If you get a chance, watch “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” today, it’s the best movie ever made about the Thanksgiving holiday. Selah.
David O'Brien
November 22nd, 2012
12:10 pm
Have a great Thanksgiving, everybody. Sincere thanks for all of you and your continued passion. You make this possible. It’’s maddening at times, but believe me I’m thankful.
BFChris28
November 22nd, 2012
12:12 pm
You too DOB!!!!
You and Carroll makes this place and awesome place to post and discuss many things. I’m so thankful for you guys doing what you do!!!
Venice Jim
November 22nd, 2012
12:17 pm
Thanks, DOB – and a great day to everyone!