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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,816 comments Add your comment
BigPapaT18
December 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
I don’t think it’s crazy to think Bourn could return. I’m not sure he can get anywhere close to the deal he and Boras were looking for plus he will cost any team that signs him a 1st round pick, because the Braves extended him a qualifying offer. Not many teams in the market for a CF right now, and he will most likely have to come down off his asking price, sign a one-year deal and test the market again next year. The Braves need a lead-off hitter and he is one of the best left on the market right now. Why not?
Jeff R
December 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
I think there is a better shot of the Braves landing Justin Upton than to have Michael Bourn return. How about a 5% chance we land Upton and a 0.50% we bring back Bourn lol
That’s about right.
brian
December 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
If Bourn and Boras decide to do a one year deal due to the lack of options right now, the Braves would have to be a too destination for 1 year. We can get the draft pick next year for Bourn leaving
Jeff R
December 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
The market for Bourn should collapse….
He was awful the final two months.
Boras has a way of leveraging his clients and finding a sucker somewhere. Don’t bet against Bourn getting a big payday.
brian
December 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
Maybe he signs a 1 year offer with the braves with the understanding that the braves will not make the qualifying offer next year thus further enhancing his value
glord1
December 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
“Of course we could’ve NOT signed McCann and offered Hamilton 3 years at 22 million and KEPT all of our pitchers.”
Very true. All we would need is a left handed catchers mitt for Hamilton. :-}
Jeff R
December 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
Don’t underestimate Boras’ flare for getting his clients fat contracts. Bourn’s not looking at a one-year deal yet. If B.J. Upton can get 5/$75 million from the Braves, Bourn’s still in the hunt somewhere.
nolie
December 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
That would about equal Choo. No joke
yes joke
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
8:53 pm
If Bourn were to sign a 1 yr deal it would be around $15 mil, which the Braves don’t have
phil
December 6th, 2012
8:54 pm
Bourn is worth 10 or so…..
I suspect he signs for 12 or so eventually….Nats perhaps.
phil
December 6th, 2012
8:56 pm
I don’t pay enough attention…
If we drag Bourn back for a year, i assume Upton can man left?
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
8:58 pm
Bourn will get a big deal from some team. Just like Soriano will.
Jeff R
December 6th, 2012
8:58 pm
If Bourn were to sign a 1 yr deal it would be around $15 mil, which the Braves don’t have
And even if the Braves had the dough, they bring Bourn back to, what, add his 150-something strikeouts to Uggla’s 160-something Ks and Upton’s 160-something Ks and Heyward’s 150-something strikeouts?
Geez, Atlanta would be a whiffer’s paradise.
nolie
December 6th, 2012
9:04 pm
Upton is playing center nobody else
Powderfinger
December 6th, 2012
9:07 pm
Last year at this time, people were saying that Prince wouldn’t get his desired bucks. Bourn will get his, but it may be from some team flying a little under the radar. His situation will not deteriorate to the point where he will return to the Braves. Time to move on to the next pipe dream…
phil
December 6th, 2012
9:11 pm
I think Ara Parseghian just made me a Notre Dame fan…..
Wow, what a man.
Mark
December 6th, 2012
9:13 pm
Mother Theresa couldn’t turn me into a Neuter Dame fan but Ara is good!
glord1
December 6th, 2012
9:19 pm
I get a kick out of people that would not want to give up good prospects for Josh Willingham. Lets see the last four years he has averaged just under a .860 OPS. His last two years he has averaged 32 HR and 104 RBI. He did this is two horrible hitters parks Oak and Minn. Does he has some injury risk? Sure… but at 7 mil a year I would cartwheel for that kind of hitter. If you got his last two years numbers out of him and stuck him in the 4 hole how does the line up look then?
1. Simmons
2. Prado
3. JHey
4. Willingham
5. Freeman
6. Upton
7. Uggla
8. McCann
Willingham should be the target if the Twins would let him go without a ransom.
phil
December 6th, 2012
9:19 pm
True, Mark! But what a guy…
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
I would think the Twins will not be trading Willingham, considering they have traded both Ben Revere and Denard Span…
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
There is nothing that would make me a notre dame fan. Nothing
Mark
December 6th, 2012
9:28 pm
I am gonna enjoy watching Neuter Dame though come January because Bama will beat that “hadn’t played anybody worth a crap” tail. Of course so would UGA, LSU, Fla., Texas A&M, and South Carolina.
ChattTownBrian
December 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
My prediction for opening day lineup:
LF/ Johnson
2B/ Prado
RF/ Heyward
CF/ Upton
1B/ Freeman
2B/ Uggla
SS/ Simmons
C/ Laird
Powderfinger
December 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
Heard the Twins’ GM on MLB radio earlier today. He didn’t rule out trading anyone else. He said their last two seasons went bad due to a lack of pitching, and he is determined not to let that happen again. According to him, he’ll worry about bats after he acquires the arms he needs.
ChattTownBrian
December 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
Of course Prado would play 3rd
glord1
December 6th, 2012
9:34 pm
Yes.”@jonjon3174: @ajcbraves Terry Ryan said he will continue to listen to offers for Willingham for pitching, is that still a possibility?”
Tweet by DOB. I say bring Willingham (and his AL Silver Slugger award) to Atlanta.
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
9:37 pm
I’m sure the Braves would like to bring Willingham to Atlanta. They are not going to give up half the farm to do it.
Mark
December 6th, 2012
9:37 pm
Trades for good players right now is tough. It’ll be tougher at the trade deadline though. Heck, remember what we tried to do at the deadline this past year!
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
9:38 pm
Willingham would be an exceptional pickup
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
9:41 pm
I am a little envious of the Rangers…so many options and different ways they can go
brian
December 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
Willingham would be an ideal pickup for LF
nolie
December 6th, 2012
9:51 pm
and his 7mil salary gets cheaper every day the way things are going this winter
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
9:54 pm
Willingham’s contract just means that the twins can a) ask for a ransom in return and b) don’t have to trade him. He’d be a great addition to the Braves, but I don’t want to give up, say, Meds, in order to get him.
nolie
December 6th, 2012
9:56 pm
I would give up Teheran for him, prolly not Meds
Powderfinger
December 6th, 2012
9:58 pm
I’d give up Delgado and a lower level pitching prospect for Willingham, especially considering his salary. But, then again, I’m not the sharpest tool in the elevator that doesn’t go all the way to the top floor…
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
9:59 pm
nolie-
I think they would want something more in return than Teheran. I’m betting they want an MLB ready starter (Terry Ryan said they are still looking for starting pitching) and Teheran, even though I still think he will be a good starter, is not there yet.
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
9:59 pm
I would give Teheran in a heartbeat…can’t give up Meds though.
Powderfinger
December 6th, 2012
10:00 pm
Meds, Minor and Beachy are untouchable. ‘Nuff said…
Mark
December 6th, 2012
10:08 pm
Enter your comments here
Brava
December 6th, 2012
10:12 pm
pourmecoffee @pourmecoffee
If there are any free agents who want to settle down, marry a dude and smoke weed together the Mariners are suddenly front-runners.
Retweeted by keithlaw
Mark
December 6th, 2012
10:13 pm
I disagree a little as it pertains to the untouchable guys.
I don’t really see anyone as being untouchable because if you run across the right GM thats in a panic and needs a certain piece to fill his puzzle you can cash in big time.
That said, the closest thing to untouchable that the Braves have is Simmons, Heyward and Kimbrel. Everyone else, especially when you consider age, is fair game!
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
10:17 pm
Maybe nobody is untouchable, but I wouldn’t trade 27 year old Kris Medlen, who is not a free agent until 2016, for 2 years of 33 year old Josh Willingham and no guarantee that he would resign
nolie
December 6th, 2012
10:23 pm
not Meds, but I would prolly throw Gilmartin in on top of Teheran for him
Mark
December 6th, 2012
10:27 pm
I love Meds and I was one that was saying he needed to b starting early on last year. But, he will not be the Meds we saw last year probably again. Think about it, nobody has been that good. He came off Tommy John and up til last year he was a guy that most did not want in the rotation. Again, I love him but the liklihood of him duplicating last year again and then sustaing it is slim.
If someone loves him more than he’s worth and is banking on him breaking the scoreless inning record time after time, you gotta consider getting proven position guys that can produce runs.
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
10:27 pm
Absolutely Noles!
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
10:30 pm
I don’t think anyone is thinking Meds will repeat what he did last year. But he proved he is a solid starter that can be great. No reason to give up on him right now.
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
10:33 pm
Meds will be our best starter next year. Without the funds for a free agent or someone ready to step in, have to keep him
Mark
December 6th, 2012
10:37 pm
cabravesfan
I think we are agreeing mosty. However, 4 years or so most would have said the same thing about Hanson and JJ. 2 years ago Delgado and Tehran. I just think sometimes we tend to hold guys with potential or a year of success in much higher regard than a guy with a 370 OBP and a 265 to 270 average and 30 or so homers for 4 or 5 years in a row.
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
10:40 pm
Mark-
Except that Meds has shown he is capable- Delgado & Teheran have yet to do so (although they are both still young) and Tommy & JJ had flashes but struggled also. There is no reason, right now, to deal Meds when he has shown that he can be a top notch starter. If he struggles this year, you reconsider. But as of now, he’s more valuable to the team than WIllingham would be.
Venice Jim
December 6th, 2012
10:41 pm
I don’t think anyone is thinking Meds will repeat what he did last year.
Except me and the blog wunderkind…
Mark
December 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
cabravesfan
I hear you but he’ll never be more of a commodity than he is now. All that said, would I trade Meds for Willingham? No. But, I’d listen to teams that needed starting pitchers bad.
Last year at the deadline, would I have traded Delgado for Dempster? No way if I’m the Braves. But if I were the Cubs, I’d been all over that.
I’m afraid that this year if our K rate is where I suspect it will be at the deadline which will mean we’ll be scoring very few runs consistently, we may have several guys we can get a fortune of talent for.
ChattTownBrian
December 6th, 2012
10:50 pm
Wren is obvious to everyone not liking what teams are wanting for their players, certainly Willingham would have to fall in this category. Platoon or bust, folks.
ChattTownBrian
December 6th, 2012
10:52 pm
Sorry, I just like saying ‘folks’ for some reason. Makes me feel like I know what I’m talking about.
Powderfinger
December 6th, 2012
10:53 pm
While I don’t think Medlen will repeat what he did last year, I also don’t think he’s forgotten what got him to that level of success. So, he’s untouchable…There’s more than enough other arms that can be dangled…
raffy
December 6th, 2012
10:53 pm
you go Chipper!
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
Mark-
Trades, obviously, are a big risk. Yes Meds is a high commodity right now, but like I said, I feel he is more valuable to the Braves than WIllingham would be. We have several guys that can supply power, we don’t have much beyond Huddy that can provide consistent pitching from the starter position. Meds can do that. I am of the belief that if you have good pitching, you don’t have to put the pressure on your hitters to score 5-8 runs per night to win. And until Meds proves that is NOT something he is capable of doing, there are few players in the league I’d be willing to trade him for
Also- again, the Twins have no urgent need to trade Willingham. So I am betting they will wait and see what is offered and noting short of a #2-#4 or better starter will entice them to make the deal. At least for now
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
As long as I don’t see Constanza in LF
Mark
December 6th, 2012
11:03 pm
cabravesfan
I’m a Meds fan too, big time! I just hope we can score. We have no leadoff hitter, a ton of Ks in sight throughout the lineup, no hitter in left, black hole at 2nd, replacement catchers to start the year, lower OBP and more Ks in CF than Uggs had…:( Worried about our club!
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
11:10 pm
Mark-
the last 2 years, WIllingham has K’d 150 & 141 times Uggla, for comparison, has 156 & 168 and walked a league high 94 times last year to Willingham’s 76). Big power often comes with a lot of strike outs. Our lineup is more than capable of hitting for power with Upton, Uggla, Mac, Heyward, & Freeman. We will find either a LF (most likely) or a 3rd baseman to fill our needs. It’s only December 6th (on nearly the 7th depending on where you live). Plenty of time.
A.P
December 6th, 2012
11:12 pm
I like Wren’s patience. Outside of the Span deal, which could have just been the Twins liking the Nats prospect better than ours, I have not seen a single signing or trade that I felt we missed out on. No reason to over pay this far away from the season. We have decent options in house that could surprise us (Francisco, Gattis, possibly Constanza). If not, we will still be able to make a trade down the line.
JasonInFL
December 6th, 2012
11:16 pm
A.P. – agree. Span is the only one so far that I thought was a reasonable price and one that Frank may have paid
cabravesfan
December 6th, 2012
11:30 pm
Anyways, I am calling it a night. Have a good one. all!
Mark
December 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
Same here. I’m out
nelson
December 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
what about andres torres its fast !! cheap $$
nelson
December 6th, 2012
11:39 pm
Enter your comments here
richbrave
December 6th, 2012
11:47 pm
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
PUERTO RICO
MANATI ATTENDANTS
1B RUBEN GOTAY [.188 BA] 0-4
PONCE LIONS
PH CHRIS GARCIA [.185 BA] 0-1, 1 SO.
VENEZUELA
CARACAS LIONS
RF JOSH KROEGER [.289 BA] 2-4, 2 SO, 1 CS [4].
LARA CARDINALS
LHRP LUIS AVILAN [.1.47 ERA] 2.0 IP, pristine, 1 SO.
ZULIA EAGLES
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.309 BA] 0-3, 1 BB.
ERNESTO has fallen into one of his patented swoons at the plate hitting an anemic .205 his lasty 10 games.
DH EVAN GATTIS [.278 BA] 0-1.
EVAN has been on the bench the past four games.
richbrave
December 6th, 2012
11:48 pm
Me three. NYTOL
Nowhere man
December 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
Chipper E. Jones did not make an error on his new playboy playmate
nolie
December 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
Like I care how many times an 850 hitter Ks……
Nowhere man
December 6th, 2012
11:51 pm
Easily the best play he has made in the last three seasons.
Nowhere man
December 6th, 2012
11:52 pm
And she loves hunting
Nowhere man
December 6th, 2012
11:54 pm
At least Chipper’s oldest son will have someone around his age to talk to.
Venice Jim
December 6th, 2012
11:55 pm
patented swoons
editorializing, rich…
Just saw that you crushed ODU – after barely losing to you guys, we beat them – I am becoming concerned that we might have a decent year…
uga-brave
December 6th, 2012
11:56 pm
dont laugh, i love the upton signing.
for once we sigined somone that upside.
Venice Jim
December 6th, 2012
11:59 pm
And this is why, despite your frequent lapses into sanity, you are still a fool, playing blog morality monitor like it is your business what adults do with their lives…
uga-brave
December 6th, 2012
11:59 pm
dont care about the rest. we already better at ss.
that was everybodys concern.
uga-brave
December 7th, 2012
12:01 am
simmons at ss makes us better going into spring last season no matter who plays left last season.
Nowhere man
December 7th, 2012
12:02 am
If you want something to look at tonight you can Google Lexi ray taylor aka Taylor Higgins and she what kind of off season Chipper is having.
Venice Jim
December 7th, 2012
12:02 am
And time for me to move on…
Nowhere man
December 7th, 2012
12:05 am
No hating from me Jim, I am glad to see him rebound from a tough playoff loss.
Nowhere man
December 7th, 2012
12:07 am
Blog morality monitor cuts both ways. The same could be said of the people who start crying when Lentz posts anything.
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:07 am
t was 4 medlin when mispelling meddlens name was only unkewl cause u couldnt spell in general
Nowhere man
December 7th, 2012
12:09 am
The story about Chipper dating a playboy model is on this website and I assume would be open for discussion.
uga-brave
December 7th, 2012
12:11 am
vj. tell me they played “thunder road”
Nowhere man
December 7th, 2012
12:12 am
Ken, your review of the Boss a few nights ago was excellent. Enjoy your weatth of musical knowledge.
Nowhere man
December 7th, 2012
12:14 am
I hope you were able to catch the Led Zep interview on Letterman this week.
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:19 am
so the king said tp the queen
how we gonna get them yanks
into a war
and she said throwem inside
uga-brave
December 7th, 2012
12:20 am
i have come to the inclusion that TOBF is trying to put together a BOY band.
his inclusion is whether or not they are cute.
got a beard. you are cooked. he likes cute guys.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2012
12:22 am
The Braves could really use a guy with a solid OBP. Maybe BJ gets his back up. Not looking for an elite player. Those don’t seem to be available. Just need someone to add depth to the lineup. Otherwise we’ll be seeing a whole lot of solo homers.
nolie
December 7th, 2012
12:24 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilxP8As14dM
Johnny the fox he called to jimmy the weed
He said “hey man, I know your name”
I seen you cruising with the low riders
Hanging out down on first street and main
Tuned into and listen to the hoodoo rhythm devils
Around the bay
They’ve got some crazy djs
Send you right out to heaven
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/thin+lizzy/johnny+the+fox+meets+jimmy+the+weed_20136625.html ]
Jimmy the weed for greed was taken aback
Johnny the fox you old sly cat
Cleverly the fox concealed his stash
Crisp dollar bills leave no tracks
In the back of a black cadillac
The voodoo music travels
Down skid row only black men can go
The shady deal unravels
Johnny the fox, hot to hustle
Jimmy the weed won’t use no muscle
That cat’s so sly, slick and subtle
Johnny the fox breaks out the bottle
Tuned into and listening to
The voodoo music travels
The beating drum for the lonely one
Sends you out to heaven
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:24 am
chipper got alot of batting practice pitches for the go away tour
and im a huge chipper fan
but them was some gimmes in there and he missed some of them.
hes still first rounder hof
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:26 am
voodoo music must be a ,marley tune
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:28 am
id forgot all about the thin lizzy tour
MIBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
12:29 am
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25516759&c_id=mlb
kenhotlanta
December 7th, 2012
12:34 am
Nowhere man:Thank you, but after reading the Grammy nominees, I feel like I don’t know diddley about music anymore…I used to know every song and singer every year, but now I am way out of the loop. And no, I missed Led Zep on Letterman…what did they say? Touring again? I thought Page and Plant nixed that.
;
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:34 am
hot for muscle
mines disapperaing traded it for a waist\34 in the waist thats about 6mo than i need b
good thing i used to be stacked or i guess theyd all be gone now
never did like ;looking in the mirror but its sad to see atrophycation taking place right in front of ya and now when i look its all i can see what i used to be and what ive been reduced too
ncgary
December 7th, 2012
12:36 am
but i still feel good til i look in the mirror
kenhotlanta
December 7th, 2012
12:40 am
Phil Lynott with Gorham and Robertson and/or Gary Moore was one hot band.
ricocarty21
December 7th, 2012
12:51 am
I still like Willingham. I know he has some strikeouts but man he can crush some homers and makes everyone in front of him get better pitches to hit. I do not think he strikes out anymore than Bourne but has 4 times the power numbers and has right hand bat. While he is not a speed burner you still have some at 3rd,short,center and right. He is pretty clutch too.
kenhotlanta
December 7th, 2012
1:12 am
I like Willingham or Choo, too, we need an old fashioned slugger. I don’t care for a light hitting speedster, we already have that in Constanza, plus Hayward and Upton will provide plenty of speed.