While looking for bats, Braves fortify ‘pen

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Venice Jim

December 8th, 2012
3:32 pm

Way to act like you’re older than 12 by making up deprecatory names for players on the team you root for…

old man

December 8th, 2012
3:33 pm

No strikeouts again for Francisco last night!!!!

(Game was rained out.)

Mr Pitts

December 8th, 2012
3:34 pm

“Of course, we all know the last 2 have been with us. I still think there is a very, very good chance he gets back to the .815-.850 range.”

Why?

Ward

December 8th, 2012
3:35 pm

Hello everyone! I like Bonafacio will be O.K. with me. Just don’t piss him off! Also, many are way too hard on Francisco. The guy is improving, and we really don’t know what he’ll will do yet? Most are just crazy predictions. I think Francisco could really do some thing. He’s working hard at it.

Ward

December 8th, 2012
3:37 pm

Young is 36 years old, and slipping into the dark hole. His caree is about done. Injuries will surface.

Ward

December 8th, 2012
3:38 pm

I would say Youngs’ career will be wahsed up, and he will turn to the golden age.

Mark

December 8th, 2012
3:40 pm

Only the ones that consistently limit the team I root for from being successful while at the same time holding us hostage monetarily with a terrible contract preventing us from attaining players that could actually contribute toward wins.

Mark

December 8th, 2012
3:42 pm

old man

Good update on Fancisco

Lee in S GA

December 8th, 2012
3:59 pm

“Well, If Santa actually existed George_George, Swisher would have been my request from the beginning.”
————————————–
careful some 3 yr old kid may be posting ….ruin his/hers X-MAS

richbrave

December 8th, 2012
4:02 pm

Games tonight

DOMINICA

4:00 p.m. est

VENEZUELA

CARACAS and ZULIA at 5:00 p.m. est.

LARA at 6:30 p.m. est

Ward

December 8th, 2012
4:10 pm

I like it when Philly fans come on, and talk about their players. They don’t realize that they are giving up their farm system, and they have a bunch of players getting older, not younger, so Philly fans please come on. Tell us your story. Humor us, and we will laugh. we enjoy hearing. Tis the season to be jolly…….

Jersey Gil

December 8th, 2012
4:17 pm

GO ARMY BEAT NAVY….

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
4:24 pm

of course we won’t get Choo…. he’s close to a premium player. But Frank was determined to not get one! He signed BJ who’s mediocre, and is now looking at Dee Gordon and Bonifacio… or may go with Georgie, Gattis, Franwhiffco. Damned shame, he’s about as perfect as a fit for this team as any.

Agree with ya about Janish, Mark… great defensive backup, but he’s not gonna be used as a defensive replacement nearly every game. At most, he’ll spot Simmons and Uggla every 15-20 games. Don’t see why Rev can’t do that in addition to be a good bat off the bench daily. Janish ain’t gonna be picking up a bat often. Send him to Gwinnett as an insurance policy to Simmons.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
4:28 pm

okay, old man… yeah, that would be pretty crazy! Choo’s career away stats are pretty close to his 2012 ones… I’d still take him over that platoon idea, but hey, maybe that could work too. Frees up money to use for pitching :D

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
4:29 pm

If the Braves go out and get (Mr. 4th OF) Bonifacio to START in LF next season, I’m gonna have a heart attack.

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
4:33 pm

And if they go for Dee Gordon, I might end up with some sort of terminal disease…

Might as well just leave LF empty, that would be actually better…

Ward

December 8th, 2012
4:40 pm

JC Brave – Tell some one who cares…….go get sick…….little humor.

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
4:41 pm

They leave the position empty and put and ad on the LF wall that reads: “Hey, it could’ve been Bonificio here”, so people don’t bitch about all the hits dropping on that side…

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
4:42 pm

Of course, the ad wouldn’t have that typo…

richbrave

December 8th, 2012
5:00 pm

FRANCISCO draws a walk in his first AB today.

nolie

December 8th, 2012
5:18 pm

“Close to a premium player”?
The guy has a 132 OPS+ and can steal some bases , he is all the way premium in my book

Brava

December 8th, 2012
5:40 pm

manuel v ‏@manvaldez

Final line for #Braves Randall Delgado 5IP 4H 2R 6K 1BB. Wren/Freddi were in the ballpark. Teheran to pitch tomorrow.

nolie

December 8th, 2012
5:58 pm

oldest lady died @ 116. Think of everything that happened in her life time. From horse and buggy to the moon and everything since. must have been fascinating

P'cola Brave

December 8th, 2012
5:59 pm

Figure the next move the Braves make will be closer to Christmas. Really hope they aren’t going to rely on Francisco to be an everyday guy. He does have potential but prefer him as a fill in only right now instead of an everyday guy. Several good OF options that could potentially be available. I don’t think they necessarily need a premium guy as much as they just need a consistent everyday guy.

Lew

December 8th, 2012
6:02 pm

Lee in S Ga – Sorry, I wasn’t thinking about TOBF still believing in Santa and thinking Greinke was coming to the Braves.. I should be more careful.

P'cola Brave

December 8th, 2012
6:03 pm

I would really like them to check in with David Dejesus. I think that he would be a great fit on this team and somebody that could help push this team through to the playoffs.

nolie

December 8th, 2012
6:09 pm

I was pushing for DeJesus years ago when Andruw left. might still be ok but like others recently mentioned no premium like we were promised. I do think we still need a good hitter myself

P'cola Brave

December 8th, 2012
6:14 pm

nolie

I think the definition of premium varies for many. To Wren and Co. Upton may be the premium player. While we the fans don’t see it as such it may be to them. With Reed Johnson in the fold I think Dejesus fits us quite well. I know we’ve been saying this for two years but if Uggla figures it out we look pretty good. The pitching staff as a whole is very good. The lineup contains the potential to be quite potent. By looking at the lineup this team is built for the long ball and balls in the gap more so than the hit after hit type lineup. To me the leadoff guy doesn’t need to be so much a stolen base threat as a get on base threat.

nolie

December 8th, 2012
6:17 pm

well they promised two “premium” players and I’m gonna pout till I get two…..

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
6:20 pm

“Close to a premium player”?
The guy has a 132 OPS+ and can steal some bases , he is all the way premium in my book

Dang, I never even noticed his OPS+… shame on me. Definitely premium… though it seems that some think otherwise. Definitely worth Teheran imo.

well they promised two “premium” players and I’m gonna pout till I get two…..

I’ll pout until I get even just 1. Hamilton ain’t coming here though, so that only leaves Greinke from FA… Choo, Justin, Gordon, or Willingham via reasonable trade

P'cola Brave

December 8th, 2012
6:24 pm

I would love Grienke but chances are slim. Choo would be ideal but just don’t get the feeling the Braves will part with the pieces. Plus I’m not sure what Cleveland is trying to do, compete or rebuild?

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
6:24 pm

Sure hope the Teheran of 2011 shows up tomorrow… it’s been a disappointing year and winter ball from him, though he has pitched the last 10.2 inning scoreless with just 1 hit. Need more Ks from him though

Zing

December 8th, 2012
6:24 pm

Definitely not worth Teheran. I put some stats together in a previous post — he’s terrible against lefties, mashes righties. A platoon of Francisco/Johnson is about as good. If that’s the case, I just don’t see how you pull the trigger on it, particularly since the Braves need a righty bat that can clobber lefties.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
6:28 pm

.340 OBP against lefties is very good. .380 career OBP. Not 1 Braves player reaches that mark… Hits righties much better than any of our current hitters.

P'cola Brave

December 8th, 2012
6:29 pm

Choo is far from great against LHP. Which is why I’d like Dejesus. Had a terrible year against LHP in 2011 but mashes RHP. Similar to Choo at probably half the cost plus the control for 2014 season if needed. Reed Johnson mashes LHP and is a great compliment to either guy.

Zing

December 8th, 2012
6:30 pm

Currently, with Chipper now gone, the only guy in our lineup who lights up lefties is Prado. Johnson is good as well. (Upton is all right but not great against lefties, Uggla historically hits lefties worse oddly enough, and Freeman, McCann, and Heyward all struggle). Interestingly, Heyward’s and Choo’s stats are rather similar, in that they crush righties but wilt against lefties. Really hope Heyward sorts that out.

Zing

December 8th, 2012
6:33 pm

Choo batted .199 and OBP’d .318 (.605 OPS) against lefties last year, TOBF… That’s… really bad.

Zing

December 8th, 2012
6:36 pm

That split b/t BA and OBP tells me that he retains his batting eye and draws some walks but still can’t hit lefties whatsoever. (Kind of like Uggla’s season, except Uggla retained his batting eye and couldn’t really hit much against anybody for much of the season).

BFChris28

December 8th, 2012
6:47 pm

Totally random name here, what about trying to acquire Colby Rasmus from Toronto?

George_George

December 8th, 2012
6:57 pm

Good evening all
I do not know the poster below, he may be new to blog but he makes a lot of good sense.
*******************
Kharule

December 8th, 2012
4:08 pm
Simmons is a beast. We better not even THINK about trading him especially for only Justin Upton. Upton goes from one extreme to the other too much. Upton needs a few great seasons under his belt to be considered an elite player before someone way overspends to pick him up in a deal with the D-Backs. Its either feast of famine with that guy, and a little bit of headcase in between.

No thanks, Arizona. Dan Uggla is all the headcase we need around these parts. That big contract spooked him and got him thinking too much and he’s trying to do too much to justify us spending that kind of money on him, and its almost like he forgot how to do all the things he used to do right all those years he played for the Marlins.

At the end of the day, we don’t need to sign or trade for an expensive LF option because we have a whole whole lot of star/super star type young players we need to sit down with and sign to long term deals. Heyward would be my #1 priority if I was in the front office, followed closely by Freeman, Medlen, Prado, Beachy, and a few others who we need to protect from hitting free agency. I’d hate to see us lose our best young guys in a couple years just because we were too occupied with obtaining both Upton brothers this off season and forgot to save enough money to sign our own guys. I’d quit watching the Braves if we let our young exceptional talent walk.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:01 pm

.249/.338/.358 vs LHP for his career…

Rasmus…. nah. Can do better than that

DAM

December 8th, 2012
7:02 pm

It’s amazing to me that some on here actually don’t want Choo. Wow. I would love to somehow get Choo or Gordon to play LF.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:02 pm

And he does fine against LH starters… .273/.378/.403/

Zing

December 8th, 2012
7:06 pm

Those numbers for Rasmus aren’t too pretty, BF.

George, I agree that the Braves should do everything they can lo lock up the young guys, especially Heyward and Freeman. They’ve got some time on Simmons. (And of course I love Medlen, but I don’t think they prioritize him the same way).

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:10 pm

well they promised two “premium” players and I’m gonna pout till I get two….. – nolie

That’s the spirit!

George_George

December 8th, 2012
7:12 pm

Now that we have signed JOHNSON we don’t need to spend a lot on LF unless we can get someone really good like a ELLSBURY or SWISHER. All we need is a lefthand hitter who can hit righthanders desently to platoon with JOHNSON, heck even BIFF or JORDAN might be able to do the job and they are leadoff type hitters.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:14 pm

actually all the numbers I posted are for Choo…

.249/.338/.358 vs LHP for his career; .273/.378/.403 vs LH starters for his career

PuddyCat

December 8th, 2012
7:14 pm

Who wants to take a shot at listing the premium players Wren may have targeting and how many of those are still available that won’t cost Either Freeman, Heyward, Venters, Kimbrel, both Teheran and Delgado, Minor, Medlen, Beachy or Prado?

Prices are outrageous when teams know you have a need. Most premium players not requiring 3-5 top prospects are gone now

Zing

December 8th, 2012
7:18 pm

TOBF: Well, I can only keep putting up the same stats over and over: .199 / .318 / .286 /.605 in all appearances against lefties last season. Terrible. That “against LH starters” stat is of dubious value, because it just looks at stats from games started by a LH pitcher. That means it includes Choo’s appearances against RH relievers later in the game. I don’t even know why they have that stat.

He’s awesome against righties, though. Just like Heyward and Freeman.

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:33 pm

Yes, I agree, now that the Braves have signed Reed Johnson, there’s no need for a LFer, or anyone else for that matter…

1. Johnson, LF
2. Johnson, 3B
3. Johnson, RF
4. Johnson, CF
5. Johnson, 1B
6. Johnson, 2B
7. Johnson, C
8. Johnson, SS
9. Heck, let him pitch too: Johnson, P

We’re SAVED!

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:41 pm

Gameday would be fun to watch with that lineup…

Reed Johnson singles on a groundball to left fielder X. Reed Johnson scores. Reed Johnson to 3rd. Reed Johnson to 2nd.

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:43 pm

X grounds into a double play. Third baseman Reed Johnson to second baseman Reed Johnson to first baseman Reed Johnson. 2 out.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:44 pm

Tim Brown ‏@TBrownYahoo
The Dodgers appear to be closing in on signing Zack Greinke. Still some ground to be covered, but they’re out in front.

Go to the Rangers, bud…

Mark

December 8th, 2012
7:47 pm

Reed Johnson lineup would not work for those building the lineup. He wouldn’t strikeout enough! ;)

Brava

December 8th, 2012
7:49 pm

Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst

#Dodgers closing in on signing Zack Greinke, according to a source. More to come at http://ESPN.com

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:49 pm

What about a rundown of an opposing runner on the bases? I’m not even gonna try to type that (Yeah, lucky y’all).

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:49 pm

wonder if having only Reed play would help Don Sutton do better on play-by-play… only 1 name to remember…

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
7:49 pm

Interesting. I think that makes the Rangers less likely to trade for Upton? I think they will definitely re-sign Hamilton if Zack goes to LA. They will probably target the Rays now to get Shields.

Mark

December 8th, 2012
7:50 pm

Going to be wierd when the Dodgers sign Grienke for all that cash and he want even be their #1 starter.

George_George

December 8th, 2012
7:50 pm

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:41 pm
Gameday would be fun to watch with that lineup…

Reed Johnson singles on a groundball to left fielder X. Reed Johnson scores. Reed Johnson to 3rd. Reed Johnson to 2nd
**********************************************
The above might be better than watching JASON make all his 4 to 3 ground outs.

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:51 pm

We have Reed Johnson, call it a offseason were set.

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
7:52 pm

Ludwick’s deal was a pretty good deal for the Reds considering the market. He OPS’d .877 last year. That’s pretty damn good. Of course, I was lamenting the possibility of signing him as I had delusions of grandeur that we would be getting Upton, Willingham, or maybe even Barry Bonds in LF.

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
7:53 pm

Kershaw is going to get a 200 million dollar deal at this rate…

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:54 pm

just interested in what the Dodgers are offering… gotta be 175+. Just insane. Verlander, Kershaw, Price should all easily exceed that then… dayum. If the Phils had traded Hamels like they should have, I doubt this happens.

Unless we are somehow able to renegotiate our TV deal or get a new, good owner, we’re gonna have to depend on developing our own pitching or somehow getting these guys via trade (unlikely). Hope our #3s and 4s are ready to step up next year.

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
7:55 pm

Trade Minor for Willingham and sign Dempster at 10 mill per? 11?

I know, but I am in a let’s throw crazy ideas out there kind of mood to get some of the natives riled up.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:55 pm

King Felix as well… Greinke is a strong #2, not some top-tier guy

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:56 pm

We have Reed Johnson, call it a offseason were set.

World Series bound, no doubt.

jed

December 8th, 2012
7:57 pm

well, i would certainly prefer seeing prado play 3b all season, but if we’re talking bonifacio as our LF, i may prefer that 3 way platoon of juan francisco, prado and reed johnson.

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
7:57 pm

I didn’t realize that Keith Law has BJ Upton rated as the 2nd best free agent behind Greinke and ahead of Hamilton. Not really important, but found it rather interesting.

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:57 pm

Just stay at 83 million, sure Liberty would love it. Juan “Flailing” Francisco, Reed Johnson, Evan “White Bear” Gattis, and Jose “Can’t believe he’s on a 25 man roster” Constanza can hold the fort down throughout the season.

Then we’ll have Medlen, Hudson, Minor, Maholm, Delgado in the rotation with Teheran waiting in the wings and Beachy returning in the 2nd half and then Gilmartin ready in September.

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
7:58 pm

By the way, is Wren staying in Santo Domingo, or Santiago? I live in Santiago and I’d like to pay him a visit and smack him across the face for even thinking about guys like Bonifacio and Dee Gordon.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
7:58 pm

Rangers likely bring back Hamilton, and use Olt, Perez, and Martin as trade bait. Should be more than enough to land Shields. Shame that Olt for EOF and Teheran likely wouldn’t interest them….

cabravesfan

December 8th, 2012
7:59 pm

George_george-

Do you actually believe Jason is anything but a valuable part of this team? Honestly?

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:00 pm

maybe we can use the extra 12-18mil we have left to buy a LF at the deadline…. :roll:

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:01 pm

Mainly cause he was the youngest notable CFer in free agency. He’ll only be 33 years old by the time the deal ends. Braves are in line to get good value throughout the entire contract as long as he continues to atleast maintain his power and speed.

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:01 pm

Thanks, CAB. Oh, you weren’t talking about me…

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:03 pm

or if Texas wants Upton too or instead…. anyway we can get Olt or Martin for LF? Or have Perez replace Delgado…. I know, unlikely…

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:03 pm

Would love for Swish’s price range to drop to the 11-12/yr range…

Brava

December 8th, 2012
8:04 pm

Amanda Comak ‏@acomak

Oh my. RT @dylanohernandez: Source: #Dodgers closing in on a six-year, $145-million deal with Zack Greinke.

nolie

December 8th, 2012
8:04 pm

I put some stats together in a previous post — he’s terrible against lefties, mashes righties….Zing

that is total crap. he is one of the top twenty career hitters in baseball right now in OBP, top 40 in OPS. . screw the lack of power against lefties if he is leading off and getting on base at a 340 clip against them. you are way off in your assessment of him as a hitter

ncbravesfan90

December 8th, 2012
8:05 pm

The Greinke deal is 6 years/$145 mil

jed

December 8th, 2012
8:05 pm

i think there’ll be a trade, vabrave. hope so, at least. but i think you underrate juan’s potential…especially if we’re just talking a platoon. it’s not easy hitting major league pitching if you’re rarely getting at-bats. and reed j hits lefties pretty good.

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
8:06 pm

And if Wren is REALLY expecting to find Juan Francisco in better shape, he’s gonna be way too disappointed… The kid is killing it here, but he’s not in shape.

He’s improving though, which makes the weight BS irrelevant..

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:06 pm

And I mean have Perez replace Teheran… but why even worry about that, unlikely to happen… those guys have potential to become premium players. Dee Gordon and Bonifacio are better options!

nolie

December 8th, 2012
8:07 pm

you are basing your replies based on one season which was the worst he’s had. Regression to the mean predicts that he will go back much higher that that
NOBODY in baseball judges a veteran on one season

cabravesfan

December 8th, 2012
8:08 pm

JasonInFl-

Sorry…unless you can run down fly balls and hit 400 foot home runs? ;)

Mark

December 8th, 2012
8:09 pm

Grienke cashing in on a poor pitching class.

Wonder what Verlander is going to get next year?

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:09 pm

Please oh please get us an impact LF, Santa.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:09 pm

overpay for Greinke… but that’s what happens when he’s the only good pitcher on the market. Should be getting something like 6/114. But I thought days ago, they were saying bidding was over 160

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:10 pm

Most valuable players from a Franchise Standpoint. My opinion, and alot of players could be switched around but I think the top 2 are concrete. Try and factor in control and how much that particular player impacts the success of the ballclub. Also while gauging money and positions. Prado and McCann make my list because they are huge to this ballclub and mean alot, BJ Upton has to make the list since the Braves committed 5 years to him as our CFer. I’m sure we could talk about Christian Bethancourt, Lucas Sims, Teheran, and Delgado and so on… But just throwing out the list in a hurry.

1. Jason Heyward
2. Andrelton Simmons
3. Craig Kimbrel
4. Kris Medlen
5. Freddie Freeman
6. Brandon Beachy
7. Mike Minor
8. Martin Prado
9. BJ Upton
10. Brian McCann

Zing

December 8th, 2012
8:10 pm

JC: No, we can have Johnson AND Prado play all the positions!

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:10 pm

CAB, I guess I am SOL then!!

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:10 pm

we won’t be affording any top-tier, hell, any 2nd tier pitching any time soon… and our farm makes it near impossible to trade for higher-echelon guys with 2+ years of control…

nolie

December 8th, 2012
8:10 pm

almost 25 mil per, so much for even the possibility of him having been willing to take less than 20 at Atlamta, nobody turns down 30 some million dollars

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:11 pm

I will be surprised if Verlander makes it to FA.

MIBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
8:12 pm

Verlander has 2 years left on his contract, and the Tigers are already looking into extending it.

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:13 pm

We could sign Dempster. Include Delgado in a trade for Willingham.

nolie

December 8th, 2012
8:14 pm

yeah Tigers have to do everything in their power to get Verlander signed soon

JC Brave

December 8th, 2012
8:14 pm

JC: No, we can have Johnson AND Prado play all the positions!

Good idea, that’d be interesting.

How would you arrange the defense and lineup?

JasonInFL

December 8th, 2012
8:15 pm

Things could start happening a little faster once Zack signs.

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