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6,190 comments Add your comment
DAP
November 28th, 2012
11:04 am
richbrave But the CARDINALS and GIANTS are living proof that a cash-strapped good organization can compete in the old environment
in this context, im assuming you are talking about cash strapped when it comes to a tv deal, because these two teams are not cash strapped.
flange1
November 28th, 2012
11:06 am
Couch,
I don’t really have a problem with the line on the ball from a rules perspective. I have played Titleist since I was 12 and ALWAYS line up putts with the PROV1 lined up on my target line.
I do think that folks that draw all over their golf balls are a bit nuts, but I don’t think the line should be illegal.
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
11:08 am
DAP, there really aren’t that many closers that get extended. I’m trying to think of closers that didn’t go year to year in arbitration. And I don’t know many mid-small market teams that pay closers mroe than $10 million a year annually because of the risk of pitchers – and relievers are only throwing 60-70 innings a year.
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
11:09 am
The Phillies are in serious talks about a possible trade for Astros reliever Wilton Lopez, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports. The Phillies could be on the verge of trading for the right-hander, according to Salisbury.
Don’t really know too much about Lopez other than he is one of the few Nicaraguan major leaguers and has great control.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
11:11 am
Porcello hasn’t been all that great though…. 1.400 career WHIP, just 23. We “supposedly” don’t need to add youth to our staff, and an inconsistent one at that. Throws hard though
The Good: Oozing with potential. Rare power/speed mix. Above average runner. Has show plenty of power potential. Strong throwing arm. Great range defensively. Physically impressive frame with room to add muscle. Still only (in 20s)
The Bad: Hasn’t show ability to hit for average. Rarely walks. Strikeouts may become a problem as he faces more advanced pitching. Incredibly error prone. Fall prey to mental lapses on the field, particularly on defense.
That could go for BJ Upton too. But this was written about Salcedo. Maybe the Braves failure with him will make them reconsider on BJ…
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
11:11 am
Joakim Soria signed a deal – that’s one.
P-Town Brave ©
November 28th, 2012
11:12 am
Efrim-
Lopez is pretty good….he’d be clearly slotted in for the 8th inning at outset of ST….
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
11:13 am
You guys think Terdo is ready for the majors with the bat? I still would like to see him start 2013 in AAA. Maybe he can roam LF by July…
If only they hadn’t rushed my boy
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
11:13 am
For good reason: Pierre’s arm was/is worse than anyone’s in the majors…
Still one of the best t-shirts statements…. “Looks like Jesus, Acts like Judas, Throws like Mary” … totally made it all worth while.
P-Town Brave ©
November 28th, 2012
11:14 am
Where did Soria sign?
And Good morning all…..
Whats everyone’s feel on the BJ Upton situation…..anyone think the ETA is still at under 72 hours to go before he makes his decision?
BravePack(FreeFan)
November 28th, 2012
11:14 am
Today seems like a good day for Bossman to make a decision…and I hope he chooses the Braves.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
11:14 am
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
wilton lopez will nicely fill 8th inning for philly. a coup. hear #astros will get near-MLready prospects once finalized
multiple? near ML-ready… hmm. What could we get for JV then? Same amount of control… or EOF, since he’s even better
DAP
November 28th, 2012
11:16 am
If you look at Frenchy’s RAHAHR (runs after hitting a home run) rating since he has been in the majors, it is stellar.
i know this is a joke, but heres a chance for me to illustrate a baseball pet peeve.
a home run isnt a home run until you touch home plate. you dont score a run by hitting it over the wall. if you did, you wouldnt have to run the bases. the home run is not complete until all the bases are touched in order, and then homeplate is touched.
i dont even like it when the tv broadcasts change the score while the player is still rounding the bases.
richbrave
November 28th, 2012
11:17 am
A last comment on t.v. revenues which by the way are the life-blood of ball-clubs.
Contending with a 90 million revenue stream [YANKEES] is one thing. Contending with 275 million [DODGERS] is quite another. Once the BRAVES and a handful of others too small to contend because of market size are facing 15 of these behemoth revenue streams, it’s going to be very difficult to keep up.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
11:17 am
Joakim Soria signed a deal – that’s one.
You must mean Madson
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
11:17 am
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Phillies have reached an agreement with the Astros to acquire reliever Wilton Lopez.
Phillies needed an 8th inning RH reliever, so they got that. I think they have the makings of a good pen with some of their young arms.
DAP
November 28th, 2012
11:17 am
murph, enough with religion talk on the blog. you know the rules.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
11:18 am
Go BoSox! Get all them suckers off the market
They need to get involved for Upton then
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
11:19 am
in an attempt to support the theory that there are exceptions to every rule: Would you take Yunel Escobar over David Eckstein?
I probably should just ask you to go to the archives, immediately after the Escobar trade, for the answer.
But what the heck…
I’ll just say that, if the guy had been hitting .300 (or close to his career average) the year he was traded, I doubt he would have been. Offseason, maybe, but not during the year.
The short in-a-vacuum answer is, yes, I’d take the toxic talent over the smiling scrub.
Trader Jack
November 28th, 2012
11:20 am
DAP
With the mega TV deals changing the landscape, players signing extensions will become the exception, not the rule. Why would Prado sign one worth say 4yrs/$40 mil, when he can go FA and get 5yrs/$60+ mil.
It even makes more sense for guys like Heyward and Freeman who will still be in their 20’s when they hit FA
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
11:25 am
It even makes more sense for guys like Heyward and Freeman who will still be in their 20’s when they hit FA
Yes, but the young guys should also remember the admonition to “Never turn down a chance to make your first fortune.” Every day you play might be your last.
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
11:25 am
CF Ellsbury
RF Swisher/C. Ross
2B Pedroia
DH Ortiz/Gomes
1B Napoli/Swisher
3B Middlebrooks
C Salty/D. Ross/Napoli
LF C. Ross/Gomes
SS Iglesias
Lot of options for the Red Sox if they sign all three of Swisher, Napoli and Ross. Deep flexible roster, position player wise.
RC
November 28th, 2012
11:30 am
a home run isnt a home run until you touch home plate. you dont score a run by hitting it over the wall. if you did, you wouldnt have to run the bases. the home run is not complete until all the bases are touched in order, and then homeplate is touched.
When is the last time that’s even happened? Last one I can remember was Robin Ventura’s “walkoff grand slam single” in Game 5 of the 99 NLCS against the Braves.
The the next (and final) game of the series ended with a bases-loaded, walk-off walk by Andruw Jones vs. Kenny Rogers.
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
11:30 am
Trader Jack, I still think the Braves will lock up Heyward. He can still be a free agent at age 29 with near $60 million in his pocket already.
DAP
November 28th, 2012
11:33 am
TOBF, i think efrim is referencing soria as a closer who signed an extension. he was telling me that it doesnt happen much, they tend to go year to year.
i dont know what wren would do about it. all im saying is that if it were me, i might have to make an exception.
Couch Tater
November 28th, 2012
11:35 am
flange –
Too bad. Missed your chance to ride with Lauren Thompson. Now, you have to share a cart with my fat bald partner. I always thought it should be considered an artificial aid, but Titleist did it so must be okay, right?
Lauren – See ya at 12:38.
P-Town Brave ©
November 28th, 2012
11:37 am
RC-
Yes….one base touches after HR only apply in slow pitch softball…..
Trader Jack
November 28th, 2012
11:38 am
Efrim
Quite possible, but if he becomes the player many of us thinks he will, he could really break the bank come FA time
P-Town Brave ©
November 28th, 2012
11:38 am
Anyone who gives Napoli 4 years after his 2012 is nuts!
BTW, that right there though shows how much cake Mac is going to rake in when he becomes a FA…..
Catcher market is just REALLY weak right now….
Murph
November 28th, 2012
11:38 am
murph, enough with religion talk on the blog. you know the rules.
Seriously? You couldn’t tell I was kidding?
I haven’t been in a church since I was married 8 years ago.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
11:42 am
Josh McCarroll @jmccarroll21
Tommy Hanson started to suck after Schafer left. Maybe the HGH vendor will get him back on track.
Catcher market is just REALLY weak right now….
Mac is really really going to want to take a hometown discount to stay (like only 3 guaranteed years, 13mil AAV). Or the Braves will have to overspend (which they shouldn’t, and I doubt they will, do). I think it’s about an 80% chance that Mac is gone next winter. Hopefully he does well enough to leave us a draft pick
DAP
November 28th, 2012
11:47 am
trader jack Why would Prado sign one worth say 4yrs/$40 mil, when he can go FA and get 5yrs/$60+ mil.
for the same reason players always sign extensions. for security on a deal they like with a team they like. i dont think tv deals are going to make extensions more rare.
George_George
November 28th, 2012
11:48 am
Good morning all
Check out below, DOD shamelessly promoteing BJ upton, trying to make signing him look good.
*********************
David O’Brien
November 28th, 2012
9:33 am
Pay no attention to TOBF comments regarding Bossman’s arm, his view is skewed by the extreme hatred he has for the guy. Plus he is only 17 and should be in school right now. BJ’s arm is great, go check some videos to see for yourself. — BravePack
Agree. Anyone who’s seen the guy play even a few games knows he has a strong arm. It’s the one aspect of his defensive game that is far superior to Bourn’s. While Bourn can really go get it and runs superior routes, he has a weak arm.
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
11:49 am
Quite possible, but if he becomes the player many of us thinks he will, he could really break the bank come FA time
Sure hope so.
Still, once the player has the security of the first big contract (early career or whenever), the next one is all about pride of place. Getting paid in relation to your stature (real or perceived). The money is more a marking point than it is cars and houses and…stuff. If the guy didn’t buy all his toys with his first big bank, he probably never will.
And the contracts after those are just piling on, LOL. Setting up one more generation of descendants.
Rick C
November 28th, 2012
11:51 am
“Check out below, DOD shamelessly promoteing BJ upton, trying to make signing him look good.”
Looks like he’s just reporting the facts to me. Exactly what a beat writer is supposed to do…
George_George
November 28th, 2012
11:51 am
The only UPTON I want to see in ATL would be KATE. She could do the pre and post game shows and dance on dugout roff between inns.
Trader Jack
November 28th, 2012
11:52 am
DAP
Seriously, would you walk away from earning an additional $20+ million, because you like the team?
Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
November 28th, 2012
11:56 am
[...] in professional baseball to date. Through his age 22 season, (he turned 23 in Ju more… Bossman Junior, El Oso Blanco & other matters – blogs.ajc.com 11/26/2012 While we wait for a decision as soon as this week from the guy [...]
Lew
November 28th, 2012
11:59 am
Would anyone walk away from an additional $20 million?
I’d be more than happy to settle for winning the Vermont Lottery at $43 million and forego the $500 million monstrosity. More than enough to see me (and all my relatives) through retirement.
DAP
November 28th, 2012
12:01 pm
trader jack Seriously, would you walk away from earning an additional $20+ million, because you like the team?
how is that different from when teams offer extensions now? and players sign them. i dont know why increased tv revenue would do anything to signing extensions, except maybe the extensions would be worth more.
and in all honestly, if i were a player, i would definitely opt for the security of an extension. too much can happen that will make trying to go through arbitration a bad idea.
Klaus
November 28th, 2012
12:02 pm
I agree with ncscoots. If the Royals would do Medlen for Myers straight up you do it every day and twice on Sunday.
Medlen had an epic 2mos in 2012 but he was a reliever before that who was pitching well but a middle reliever nonetheless.
We have no idea how he will stand up all season or what happens when there is a full season of tape on him as a starter. Hitters will adjust, they aways do.
It remains to be seen if he is Maddux 2.0 but Myers has Trout/Harper + written all over him. The Braves have pitching depth they have zero credible ML hitting depth at this point. Zero.
No OFers or INFer even in the same zip code of potential as Myers.
It would hurt to trade Medlen but you can find pitching you cannot find Trout like players very often.
It the Rays get him for Shields we missed a great opportunity.
Myers in LF, BJ Upton in CF with Heyward in RF would give ATL one of the best OF in BB. Assuming BJ gets a nice change of scenery bounce.
Myers will sell jerseys and put fannies in seats to boot should he perform as expected. He will become bigger than the team nationally just like Trout and Harper have become. That means more revenue for contract extensions and FAs down the road.
Span, Fowler, Willingham and Victorinos wont have that effect nor will they perform at that level.
ccrider
November 28th, 2012
12:04 pm
I read these comments about the Braves not developing enough of their own prospects and I am puzzled?
Heyward(all star) Freeman(All Star at some point) Simmons (future All Star) Hanson( All star quality until injury), Beachy( All star quality until injury), Kimbrell( BEST Damn closer in Baseball) and that is just the last 3 years.
Has any team in baseball had that kind of success?
Who really knows if Joe Leonard might be the next Braves 3rd basemen, LA Stella, could be the next LFer (Defense at 2nd???), Cunningham might turn into a solid everyday player, William Beckwith could allow Freeman to be traded(if we can’t afford him and Heyward) , Betancourt is already All Star quality defensively, maybe he becomes a decent enough hitter that makes him an All Star.
Pitchers: We have a ton of them to develop or trade.
What do you expect, a full position roster and pitching rosters of All Stars every year?
CB
November 28th, 2012
12:06 pm
Don’t try to trade Medlen on this blog,they will come out of the wood works to get you,including DOB.
David O'Brien
November 28th, 2012
12:09 pm
Thinking of our OF prospects, TODD CUNNINGHAM has disappeared from the HERMOSILLO ORANGES line-up the past two weeks. I wonder if anything’s amiss because he had a couple of hitting spurts, but had swooned at the plate in recent games. Did the BRAVES call him home? — richbrave
I just checked and yes, the Braves had an agreement with his team that he would return home in mid-November. He did well down there, in Braves’ view.
George_George
November 28th, 2012
12:11 pm
ccrider
November 28th, 2012
12:04 pm
I read these comments about the Braves not developing enough of their own prospects and I am puzzled?
Heyward(all star) Freeman(All Star at some point) Simmons (future All Star) Hanson( All star quality until injury), Beachy( All star quality until injury), Kimbrell( BEST Damn closer in Baseball) and that is just the last 3 years.
Has any team in baseball had that kind of success?
Who really knows if Joe Leonard might be the next Braves 3rd basemen, LA Stella, could be the next LFer (Defense at 2nd???), Cunningham might turn into a solid everyday player, William Beckwith could allow Freeman to be traded(if we can’t afford him and Heyward) , Betancourt is already All Star quality defensively, maybe he becomes a decent enough hitter that makes him an All Star.
Pitchers: We have a ton of them to develop or trade.
What do you expect, a full position roster and pitching rosters of All Stars every year?
*****************
AGREED, J.S. and F.W. must be doing a lot RIGHT, but please no BJ.
George_George
November 28th, 2012
12:11 pm
ccrider
November 28th, 2012
12:04 pm
I read these comments about the Braves not developing enough of their own prospects and I am puzzled?
Heyward(all star) Freeman(All Star at some point) Simmons (future All Star) Hanson( All star quality until injury), Beachy( All star quality until injury), Kimbrell( BEST Damn closer in Baseball) and that is just the last 3 years.
Has any team in baseball had that kind of success?
Who really knows if Joe Leonard might be the next Braves 3rd basemen, LA Stella, could be the next LFer (Defense at 2nd???), Cunningham might turn into a solid everyday player, William Beckwith could allow Freeman to be traded(if we can’t afford him and Heyward) , Betancourt is already All Star quality defensively, maybe he becomes a decent enough hitter that makes him an All Star.
Pitchers: We have a ton of them to develop or trade.
What do you expect, a full position roster and pitching rosters of All Stars every year?
*****************
AGREED, J.S. and F.W. must be doing a lot RIGHT, but please no BJ.
Tumbledown
November 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
ncscoots – I am not sure that Eckstein can be fairly described as a smiling scrub. I would cite his 2006 World Series performance, but know that it would raise small sample size arguments and blind squirrel comparisons. But, he was an important contributor on two WS winners.
I don’t think I would take (in my words) a very toxic talent (Escobar) over a competent, hard nosed player (Eckstein). But, that is a more extreme example than anything involving Upton.
Lew
November 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
Again – it makes no sense. People refuse to believe Medlen can repeat his stats from last year, yet they think that a team looking to trade top talent for top pitching will consider Medlen a top pitcher.
How do you expect the Royals to consider him elite if you don’t?
Murph
November 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
If someone had offered the Braves a Medlen-caliber player for Heyward back in 2008 we would have all laughed and laughed and laughed. There’s no way the Braves would have accepted that deal.
If the Royals would accept Medlen for their version of Jason Heyward then we should try and act casual until the deal is done, then hoot and holler from the rooftops for the amazing deal we just pulled off for the best OF prospect in the game.
P-Town Brave ©
November 28th, 2012
12:17 pm
TOBF-
I wouldn’t requote anything he says as credible….
But frankly, if the Braves were smart, they’d take what they could get for him rather than wait it out like they did with JJ
David O'Brien
November 28th, 2012
12:19 pm
By the way, Cunningham is good defensively in center field. So if, for some reason, the Braves don’t get a long-term CF this winter….
Murph
November 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Again – it makes no sense. People refuse to believe Medlen can repeat his stats from last year, yet they think that a team looking to trade top talent for top pitching will consider Medlen a top pitcher.
How do you expect the Royals to consider him elite if you don’t?
I consider Roy Halladay to be an elite pitcher, but he didn’t have an elite pitcher year last year.
It happens.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
9. The Paul Blair Rule. Baltimore won the first LCS game ever played when Blair dropped a two-out bunt in the bottom of the 12th to beat Minnesota, 4-3, in 1969. The LCS for its first 16 years was a best-of-five series. It worked just fine.
But in 1985, as postseason ratings began tanking, baseball gave its TV partners, ABC and NBC, the opportunity for more postseason games by expanding the LCS to a best-of-seven series. From 1980, the last time the World Series drew more than a 50 share, through 1984, baseball lost World Series viewers every year; it added up to a loss of 34 percent of the audience in just a five-year window. (Blame goes heavily to labor unrest, including the 1981 strike.) With a best-of-five LCS, the networks could get more playoff games at the same rate that was established in a six-year deal signed in 1983.
Since 1985, the postseason has expanded again (1995) and again (2012) — three expansions in 27 years. The result is that this year baseball staged 37 postseason games in 23 days. Playoff fatigue and interleague play (just wait for next season, when interleague play happens all season long) have chipped away at the aura of the World Series, rendering it more like just another tournament round than the showcase big event it should be. Despite pundits’ doomsaying, the poor World Series ratings don’t reflect the health of baseball — the sport is robust by nearly every measure — but do reflect something is amiss with the World Series itself.
Baseball wound up with too much of a good thing — too many playoff games, or, more specifically, too many non-decisive playoff games. In honor of Blair and the LCS’s original roots, let’s return to a best-of-five LCS. It would add urgency to the series, reduce viewer playoff fatigue and put the World Series back on a higher pedestal.
–Tom Verducci<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/11/27/rules-changes-replay-rosters/index.html?sct=mlb_t11_a0"
Interesting idea. Drop the LCS to 5, the DS to 3 with the wild card play-in. Then sit back and watch the b!tching and moaning flood blogs everywhere. Player shares drop with less tickets to sell… or maybe they increase with more interest in the rounds…
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
The only UPTON I want to see in ATL would be KATE. She could do the pre and post game shows and dance on dugout roff between inns.
And Justin…
I’d call it selling high on Medlen, Lew. Maybe the Royals will consider him to be a 1-2. And even if we consider him that, Beachy is right there too. He’ll be back in 2014. Give up 3 years of a pitcher (who has yet to pitch for a full season in the majors, let alone start a full season, has only 30 career games, 140 innings in a season) for a guy who is the RH version of Heyward, w/ more power potential? Filling a major need of ours? And setting up a nice core for 2014-8? I’d do that trade every damn day.
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
If someone had offered the Braves a Medlen-caliber player for Heyward back in 2008 we would have all laughed and laughed and laughed.
Agreed. But I get why folks don’t want to trade Meds for Myers given our lack of top end pitching. I see the other side.
George_George
November 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
Murph
November 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
If someone had offered the Braves a Medlen-caliber player for Heyward back in 2008 we would have all laughed and laughed and laughed. There’s no way the Braves would have accepted that deal.
If the Royals would accept Medlen for their version of Jason Heyward then we should try and act casual until the deal is done, then hoot and holler from the rooftops for the amazing deal we just pulled off for the best OF prospect in the game.
**********************************
Murph
Most of the time you make good sense, but I must ask do you REALLY want to give up MEDLEN for a untested rookee who has not had a single major league AB?
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
12:23 pm
This site sukks so bad… fire the nerds.
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
#Tigers indeed interested in Stephen Drew, as @JonHeymanCBS has reported. Detroit wants him on a short-term deal.
Peralta to AZ (they like him), we get Upton. Does DET want Bauer?
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
By the way, Cunningham is good defensively in center field. So if, for some reason, the Braves don’t get a long-term CF this winter….
Only if Justin Upton is in LF…. no wait, with 25-30mil to spend, it better be Hamilton!
Efrim
November 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
By the way, Cunningham is good defensively in center field.
I read that he was more of a 4th outfielder option long term. Not enough bat for a corner, not enough defense for CF. But whatever. Hopefully it’s not an issue.
CB
November 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
Yes,site is getting worse. It takes forever to refresh and sometimes not at all.
O.J.
November 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
Ummm, Stephen Drew is a free agent, so you cant make a trade for Peralta for Drew
Klaus
November 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
I didn’t say Medlen wasn’t a top talent but we dont know if he can repeat his last two months (the reason so many view him as untouchable). We have the luxury of letting him go bc the Braves have pitching depth.
Yes it would hurt as I mentioned but Myers fills a need (slugging LF) at league minimum (which we also need).
The Royals have weak pitching and need 1-2 level guys.
There is nothing off about that logic. Braves fans want to keep Medlen bc they believe he will be Maddux. The Royals don’t need Maddux level pitching (neither Lester or Shields is in that camp) to make the move but it helps that Medlen looks like Maddux now. So you sell the hot hand if you can.
David O'Brien
November 28th, 2012
12:34 pm
I read that he was more of a 4th outfielder option long term. Not enough bat for a corner, not enough defense for CF. — Efrim
Not sure where you read that. The bat part (he lacks power) is correct, doesn’t profile well for a starting corner OF. But the defense part is not. He’s good in CF.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
12:35 pm
Yeah, Drew if a FA, so the Tigers would sign him, send Peralta to the DBacks, who are interested in him. I was saying that maybe we could take advantage of that and see if we could extract Upton from AZ then.
I’d rather see Cunningham out there then BJ Upton probably (depending on who we get for LF/3B)
11: Todd Cunningham, CF
The Skinny: After a mediocre debut with Rome in 2010 and an injury plagued year in 2011, just missed winning a batting title in a breakout 2012 campaign with Mississippi.
The Good: Line drive hitter who can spray the ball all over the field. Has shown consistent ability to make contact. Cut down an already low strikeout rate. Well above average speed. Solid defensive outfielder with great instincts and range.
The Bad: Doesn’t show much pop and doesn’t project to have any with his batting approach. Doesn’t walk enough for a top of the order type hitter. Lack of walks means his on base value is dependent on batting average, which means the hits will always have to drop for him to have value. Average arm. Speed hasn’t shown up on the basepaths. Might not be able to handle center field at the Major League level, which would hurt his overall value. Already 24 years old.
…in a perfect world…Cunningham becomes an ideal 2 hole hitter and a solid defensive center fielder.
ETA: 2014. He’ll head to AAA Gwinnett in 2013, though he might be given a chance to win a job on Atlanta’s roster in Spring Training depending on how the offseason plays out.
Klaus
November 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
RE: Myers to Medlen – yes I would take an untest rookie with that profile. We took a very test Uggla for pieces we could still use today and then gave him 13mm/yr to boot. How did that turn out.
The bottom line is you never fully know what you are going to get. Trading a middle reliever/spot starter who shows great promise as a FOR starter for a guy who could be better than Heyward is something you do.
Heck I would trade Medlen + some prospects to get him versus throwing money at Swisher, Victorino etc.
Look Wren was ready to trade Delgado for an aging Dempster. He dodge a bullet.
If he was willing to do that he would likely be all over Myers if he is truly available.
Klaus
November 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
sorry about typos. smartphone keyboard…
George_George
November 28th, 2012
12:39 pm
CB
November 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
Yes,site is getting worse. It takes forever to refresh and sometimes not at all.
*********
The above is most likely the only time I will AGREE with you, rediculess how long it takes to refresh then it double posts, sure wish they would fix it.
Murph
November 28th, 2012
12:39 pm
Murph
Most of the time you make good sense, but I must ask do you REALLY want to give up MEDLEN for a untested rookee who has not had a single major league AB?
I’d rather build a package around Minor, but if Medlen is what it takes, I think the team has to seriously look at it.
Look at what’s out there… nothing. Nada. Zip. The OF free agent landscape sucks. The player available via trade aren’t much better.
Say the team goes out and gets Willingham. That’s great, but they’ll be in the exact same position in 2 years as they are now. As they have been for the last decade it seems. Needing a LF, no money to spend, no prospects in the system.
Myers is available. Myers is the best OF prospect in the game right now. Myers is economical. Myers is right-handed. Myers plays LF. Myers hits for power.
He’s risky, but so is signing Shane Victorino and his declining bat speed, so is signing Hamilton and his addictions, so is signing Upton and his low OBP. All are risky.
Like I said yesterday, if he doesn’t work out, he’s still young and can be traded for some return down the road. The rotation would be weakened, but we’ve got Teheran, Delgado, Spruill, and Graham all within striking distance. It wouldn’t be weakened for long. Meanwhile if the team doesn’t make the move LF will certainly be weakened, possibly this year, possibly in two years, but sooner rather than later, the hunt for a LF will resume.
With the new TV deals you can be certain that any LF worth anything to hit FA will automatically be priced out of the Braves budget. It’s almost guaranteed.
The team needs to go with a young, pre-arb player if they want to fix the problem for more than a year or two.
Myers is worth the chance.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
12:47 pm
I get why folks don’t want to trade Meds for Myers given our lack of top end pitching. I see the other side.
I’m curious, because I cannot recollect any examples, do you know of a transaction which consisted of 1 or more major league players, (starter, and maybe a bench player, whatever combination) and possibly an inclusion of a minor leaguer or more offered for a single prospect with no experience at the major league level?
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
12:54 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
Red Sox announce Greg Colbrunn as their new hitting coach. Braves assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher was a finalist for the job
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
12:54 pm
We took a very test Uggla for pieces we could still use today
People seem to forget what that trade involved. It was a utility player and a middle reliever for a 5 year veteran who’d averaged 30 HR’s a year. It was a good trade. I’d be ecstatic if the team could swing another deal for so little.
The extension of Uggla was not part of that trade. Blast it if you like, but don’t talk as if that had anything to do with the trade.
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
1:01 pm
Klaus is gonna get me killed, LOL. For the record, I’ve never said Medlen-for-Myers is a no-brainer, I’ve said it shouldn’t be rejected out of hand.
Whew.
Sri
November 28th, 2012
1:01 pm
TnPaul, Pineda for Montero?
CB
November 28th, 2012
1:04 pm
Wow, George George doesn’t agree with anything I say. I must be a genius!
Halbert
November 28th, 2012
1:07 pm
I wonder what Ruben Amaro Jr. would do if he didn’t have the Astros as a go to trade partner.
cornjolio
November 28th, 2012
1:09 pm
“The only UPTON I want to see in ATL would be KATE. She could do the pre and post game shows and dance on dugout roff between inns.”
That might sell a few more tickets & beers !
CB
November 28th, 2012
1:09 pm
Repost from 1:04pm in case anyone missed it.
Wow,George George doesn’t agree with anything I say. I must be a genius!
coach13
November 28th, 2012
1:16 pm
Heard a rumor the Braves were packaging Simmons and a top pitching prospect to go get Justin Upton. Any truth to this?
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
1:22 pm
I hadn’t heard that… doubt they would do that anyway. Bad idea to trade Simba, and if they were going to, why not take Olt? The Rangers already offered him up to us. An extra 3 years of control, and he’s cheaper.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
1:22 pm
TnPaul, Pineda for Montero?
Jesus Montero (minors) and Hector Noesi (majors) were trade to the Mariners for Joel Pinneda (majors) and Jose Campos (minors)
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
1:25 pm
How do you expect the Royals to consider him elite if you don’t?
Maybe we’re hoping Dayton reads your posts here, Lew.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
1:25 pm
I’m trying to find if a deal was ever one minor leaguer for at least 1 major league starter (position or pitcher) + others (majors/minors whatever)… I can’t think of a single deal like that. I’d like to know if it happened
flange1
November 28th, 2012
1:29 pm
Thanks for the repost CB, I missed it the first time!
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
1:29 pm
“one minor leaguer”
No MLB experience. Just a pure, sportin’ prospect on the farm aching for his shot in the show. 1 of those guys for multiple players including at least one major league starting player (position or pitcher). That’s the deal for which I am seeking an example.
braveslifer
November 28th, 2012
1:30 pm
The fact that it is debatable gives more credibility to it being a balanced idea. Kris Medlin was worth 3.9WAR last year, has three years of control, and will cost a little over $2M this year. The other ideas that are being disscussed involve Shields and Lester. Shields was worth a 4.2WAR last year, has two years of control, and will cost $9M this year. Lester was worth 3.3WAR, has two years of control, and will cost $11.6M this year.
So if you are the Royals; Lester and Shields give you more established past performance and experience pitching in the AL East. Medlin gives you an extra year of team control and is much cheaper. All three pitchers had simular “Ace” type years in 2012. I think it comes down to what your team values the most between years of control, salary, and past performance. If I had to rank the options I’d go Medlin, Shields, Lester.
flange1
November 28th, 2012
1:30 pm
Interesting article on adderall. I knew lost of kids took it for ADHD, but had no idea it was the new PED of choice.
http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2019776708_adderall28.html
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
1:34 pm
I’d like to know if it happened
I saw an article somewhere (danged if I can find it now, though) that talked about how few of BA’s top 10 prospects in the minors were traded within a year of acquiring their ranking. I do remember it wasn’t many. Naturally, I didn’t read the article, so I don’t know if major leaguers were involved in any of those trades.
TheOnlyBravesFan
November 28th, 2012
1:37 pm
Braves started the “Texeira-like haul” demands…. let’s be trailblazers and do it again for Myers.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
1:42 pm
I saw an article somewhere (danged if I can find it now, though) that talked about how few of BA’s top 10 prospects in the minors were traded within a year of acquiring their ranking.
That may very well be the case, but I still haven’t heard of a single minor leaguer being traded for multiple players, including at least 1 starting player.
I have a hunch that front offices don’t view other teams minor leaguers worth such a large package of players. For all the prospect hugging and hyping, the top ranked guys are still ranked because they have no track record in the majors. There seems to be plenty of examples of a single major league player netting multiple prospects, but not the other way around.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
1:44 pm
Braves started the “Texeira-like haul” demands…
Too bad so many GM’s mistakenly think they are actually holding Teixeira like players when in discussions.
McFann's date
November 28th, 2012
1:44 pm
Hiya flange. You doing awright buddy?
Good 2 see ya.
braveslifer
November 28th, 2012
1:44 pm
Just checked cots and it looks like “2014 club option is voided if Lester is traded and has finished first or second in Cy Young vote any season from 2009 to 2013″. So he only has one year of team control so he is even less of an option. I didn’t just make up the Lester idea it has made it all the way to mlbtr.
ncscoots
November 28th, 2012
1:47 pm
I still haven’t heard of a single minor leaguer being traded for multiple players, including at least 1 starting player.
I don’t know anyone here has offered that idea, have they? Are you saying, for example, Medlen PLUS somebody for Myers? Even I would balk at that. That’s just greedy.
Soph
November 28th, 2012
1:47 pm
You crack me up, CB. On a roll.
TennesseePaul
November 28th, 2012
1:50 pm
Sheeesh. Madson is still sinking in the FA market. That guy went from a rumored multi-year deal with the Phillies, to a single year + option, then to an even smaller single year + deal. The “what-if’s” have to be annoying for him.
David O'Brien
November 28th, 2012
1:50 pm
This is Murph’s last year on the HOF ballot. While it can be debated whether he belongs in the Hall, the fact that he’s been named on fewer than 15 percent of all ballots for 11 consecutive years is outrageous. What if he’d been a two-time MVP and produced the rest of his stats as a member of, say, the Yankees?
P-Town Brave ©
November 28th, 2012
1:53 pm
I’m sick of hearing about Olt about as much as Myers at this point….
If the Braves were really going to trade Simba it would be for Upton or MORE….not LESS!
And really Coach, where did you hear that…..as the only thing there is speculation on is that Texas had asked the Braves for Simba to send to Arizona….that is all….
Murph
November 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
I’m sick of hearing about Olt about as much as Myers at this point….
Yes, let’s have a few more days of Upton talk, followed by a week of Willingham, and throw in a good 4 to 5 hours of Coco Crisp to round things off.
David O'Brien
November 28th, 2012
2:03 pm
Good to see Greg Colbrunn get that BoSox hitting coach job. Known “Colby” since his days with Marlins in ’90s. Such a sound hitter, one of the best 2-3 pinch-hitters I’ve ever covered, and a terrific guy who’ll be able to get through to young and old hitters alike. Smart hire.
And for Braves, it works out well because their asst hitting coach, Scott Fletcher, was one of the other three finalists for that job. Can’t see Fletcher taking the BoXox assistant job (they’re also hiring two, like a lot of teams are doing these days) when it would be a lateral move and he’s already comfortable working with Greg Walker and with Braves hitters.
Tumbledown
November 28th, 2012
2:04 pm
I loved watching Dale Murphy play in the 80s. I really wish he could make it into the Hall, although I don’t think his stats are quite good enough.