While looking for bats, Braves fortify ‘pen

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Venice Jim

December 8th, 2012
11:20 pm

I am so dumb – talking to PL and Frank from Kansas on Facebook…

Efrim

December 8th, 2012
11:20 pm

LF Crawford, CF Kemp, RF Ethier
3B Cruz/Ramirez, SS Ramirez/Gordon, 2B Ellis, 1B Gonzalez, C Ellis

SP Kershaw, Greinke, Beckett, Capuano, Harang
RP Jensan, League, Elbert

Very good team, but should be a lot better with their payroll. ;)

Efrim

December 8th, 2012
11:23 pm

Billingsley is going to have to have TJ surgery and Lilly is coming off of shoulder surgery. I see them trading one of Harang and Capuano, but not both.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:23 pm

never claimed he was an elite guy like Verlander, Felix, etc…. but he’s closer to an elite player at his position that BJ

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:23 pm

Once the contract is signed nothing else matters, you just have to show up and follow the rules and you get paid. Wouldn’t it be funny if Grienke all of sudden becomes a 5.00+ ERA pitcher over the next 6 years? Haha… Its not like he would care much, yeah he knows he been a huge disappointment but there still paying him 147 million… Can’t be too upset. Even if he was released (fired) or traded he’d still be paid all the money haha. He lounge around the mansion every day waiting for his deferred payments of hundreds of thousands every month for how many ever years they wanna spread it out.

Joachim Gilman

December 8th, 2012
11:29 pm

VJ-I think that talking with Frank is even more stupid than PL. The latter at least affords some (admittedly surreal) comic relief. For the others, I do not understand. Someone wants to make an investment.But somehow, their millions of dollars may not achieve the desired results, so the investors should lose nothing? Yes, that entirely makes sense. I want to make lots of money, unless I might lose some. Therefore, I should not be compromised.

Efrim

December 8th, 2012
11:29 pm

Texas probably has the money/assets to sign Hamilton and trade for Upton. Just a question of whether they think their current staff is enough. I’d sign Hamilton, trade for Upton and trade for a starter if I were them – they can probably do all of this with their talent.

Efrim

December 8th, 2012
11:32 pm

Dodgers are going to have a payroll around $230 million at this rate: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tBbMgiEHXYczpjt0I7dajQQ&output=html

It’s possible that they aren’t done, but I think any move will come with a trade of Capuano or Harang.

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:33 pm

Paul Lentz actually said we’d be better off the Victorino in CF and Swisher in LF instead of the Upton brothers in LF/CF…… There you have it folks. He’s clueless.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:37 pm

dense, that Paul is… very strange individual it seems

VaBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:38 pm

Gilman

You missed the part where its like opposite of incentives. The owner isn’t getting off the hook, he’s just paying a little less. The player still has a great deal.

But if your NFL player and you sign a nice contract and then suck, tough luck, you’ll be paid that small portion of that long term contract and the rest of it just goes away.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:40 pm

Dodgers at 230, Id be content with 130…. anything higher than the 90mil that looks likely for next season.

Dude said that getting Young is good for the Phils, but his worst fear is that now they can resign Cody Ross

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 8th, 2012
11:49 pm

I wouldnt sign Hamilton if Im Texas… sure , it would be nice, they have the money, but Id let Martin play. Looks like he will be a good one. Rather would sure up the staff… though with the Angels depressing offseason, Texas may not have much competition. A’s will be worse. Let Martin have CF, trade Olt and a mid-level piece for Shields. Justin would be nice, but not really necessary imo. He is worth Andrus though….

MikeInFl

December 8th, 2012
11:49 pm

Being too obsessed with money is not healthy, TOBF. Braves have a stable of talented, affordable pitchers, a handful of the best young players in the league, and still some money to spend. Try not to obsess with matching the big spenders in terms of star power, ’cause it just ain’t gonna happen.

abeeeewright

December 8th, 2012
11:57 pm

It seems like every year, some team goes crazy with over-paying free agents. This year, it’s the Dodgers turn. Think about all those massive contracts that have been handed out over the years. They always seem to bite the team when the player starts his “age related decline.”

Yanks are starting to get pinched over the Tex, ARod, prolly CC contracts.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:01 am

very true, Mike

VaBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:03 am

Lentz is a nutcase…. I’m arguing with him on FB. Going back and reading some older comments, he’s such a loser.

Venice Jim

December 9th, 2012
12:03 am

Come on abeeeewright – the Yankees won 10 straight World Series with huge salaries…

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:04 am

And the Yankees’ last WS was?

brian

December 9th, 2012
12:07 am

What will the dodgers have to pay Kershaw now to extend him?

MikeInFl

December 9th, 2012
12:09 am

147,000,000.01?

VaBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:10 am

Dodgers have just made it interesting for there own Ace pitcher who is easily the better pitcher compared to Zack Grienke. Also Justin Verlander is paying attention as well. They easily top that deal you’d think.

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:10 am

I think I sort of asked that earlier, indirectly – it’s a really good question!

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:12 am

If Zach is worth this, not having a day for the Dodgers, what is Kershaw worth, represented by the same agent?!

Nick

December 9th, 2012
12:13 am

Dodgers payroll $220M, Braves payroll $85M. Not fair,

Venice Jim

December 9th, 2012
12:16 am

MIBravesFan – Bruce said “hi” when we saw him Tuesday…

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:18 am

VJ – lol :) I still hope to see him in concert someday!

uga-brave

December 9th, 2012
12:20 am

i dont facebook.

so it will be me and mixxo.

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:23 am

Nor do I uga-brave

uga-brave

December 9th, 2012
12:23 am

flange that would be fun.

pretty sure i want you as a partner.

you and me vs. tater and BAS.

gotta hunch tater can play a bit.

Venice Jim

December 9th, 2012
12:24 am

I’d rather be with you.., and I’ve already learned how to get rid of Mixxo for a while… ;)

VaBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:25 am

Well i’m calling it a night, see yall tomorrow. Maybe Wren will talk Otis Nixon into coming back and playing LF and batting leadoff tonight… Oh crap nevermind, we have Reed Johnson! Were set!

Venice Jim

December 9th, 2012
12:25 am

I have never commented on the Facebook page until the other night when PL had his breakdown here but was still posting there in the guise of a human being…

Venice Jim

December 9th, 2012
12:28 am

Time for me to leave – although I just got the unexpected bonus of getting to blow off an afternoon of work tomorrow. Always happy to take the bonus time-off in lieu of a minor fraction of salary…

Plus, the Giants-Saints will be on…

uga-brave

December 9th, 2012
12:28 am

so i dont tweeet or facebook.

this palce will eventually be lonely,

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:29 am

This just confirms why I will not let my family drag me into Facebook. No, no, and hell no!

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
12:39 am

I got this from DOB on one of his blogs, and I like it – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RLiuPRMJy8

uga-brave

December 9th, 2012
12:40 am

i played with blades until the bitter end. Had wilson staff irons in the late 80’s converted to mizuno blades and now i hit the same ping iron twos.

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
1:40 am

I’m going to say how bad I felt for the Army QB in that game that is now yesterday. Steelman. That kid wanted so much to win that game, to break the streak. He has gone through so much more than any of us will ever know. I felt so for that kid!

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
1:43 am

Sorry, uga – I couldn’t help myself!

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
1:57 am

Ward

December 9th, 2012
1:57 am

Hello everyone! Brava – Don’t tell them that….. You might break their hearts, and minds, and destroy what’s left of them on the old blog…..little humor….

Ward

December 9th, 2012
1:58 am

They will not understand about Justin Upton anyways…..

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
2:06 am

There are great songs that I love – they have nothing to do with

Hello, Ward!

Ward

December 9th, 2012
2:11 am

MIBravesFan – It’s O.K. with me……Just here on the old blog…..

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
2:20 am

What is your favorite song, Ward?

Ward

December 9th, 2012
2:22 am

DOB – Is there a rumor on the Braves looking into Ramiro Pena 3rd baseman from the Yankees, who put him on waivers? Just wondering?

Ward

December 9th, 2012
2:24 am

MIBravesFan – Have lots of favorite songs…..It’s hard to determine which one? Lots of good music out there.

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
2:26 am

Ward

December 9th, 2012
2:30 am

What if the Braves go after some one like Bonafacio, or Ramiro Pena? I would be O.K. with that. All, have a good one, and be excellent to one another….. Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
2:34 am

Ward

December 9th, 2012
2:36 am

backfo one post – At last the Greinke thing can be put to rest, and just maybe silence TOBF……..Little humor……Peace Out! “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”

JC Brave

December 9th, 2012
2:37 am

Braves GM Frank Wren said he has interest in certain outfielders as one-year stopgap, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports on Twitter.

What am I missing here? Stopgap for whom? Wren’s talking as if he has a prospect OFer in the minors…

There’s no one.

MIBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
3:12 am

The song was “Garden Party” by Rick Nelson. The video was awful. My bad.

uga-brave

December 9th, 2012
3:14 am

when a blade strikes a balta golf ball there is no better better feeling.

uga-brave

December 9th, 2012
3:21 am

still putt with the same old ping anser 2 putter.

CB

December 9th, 2012
6:48 am

Obviously uga-brave has never had a girlfriend. :-)

Couch Tater

December 9th, 2012
7:07 am

Couch Tater

December 9th, 2012
7:09 am

Dodgers payroll $220M, Braves payroll $85M. Not fair

In March, Forbes valued the Dodgers at 1.4 billion. The Braves at 508 million.

Nielson tv market for LA, #2, with a market size of 5.56 million. Atlanta 9th with 2.3 million.

Based on the Nielson ratings, Forbes ranked Dodgers #26, Angels #28 and the Braves at #13.

It ain’t fair, but they want to get those Nielson numbers up.*

*Brought to you by Wild Bill’s Buckskins & Fringe Theories.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
8:29 am

Of course there should be a salary cap in baseball.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
8:29 am

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS
by filling 2 holes w/ trades, #phillies could spend for OF. cody & swisher r options. an outside chance at hamilton.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
8:31 am

Shoot, I would be happy if they would raise payroll to 100 million…at least start getting it back to where it used to be!

Ron H

December 9th, 2012
8:34 am

Man, that contract with Greinke is freaking irresponsible…24.5 million average for a number 2 starter? wow.

ncgary

December 9th, 2012
8:37 am

lets go braves how long to pitchers and catchers report day, less than 10 weeks anyway

richbrave

December 9th, 2012
8:42 am

Let’s go get GREINKE

Efrim

December 9th, 2012
8:44 am

Phillies payroll right now is around $145-150 million. I’d expect them to add at least one more legit player. I could see them getting an outfielder, RH reliever and another starter to slide Kendrick to #5 spot. They definitely need more depth in the rotation with some uncertainty with Halladay and Kendrick/Cloyd as the back of the rotation.

Efrim

December 9th, 2012
8:47 am

Should be interesting to see how everything plays out now. Hamilton, Swisher, Bourn, Ross, Sanchez, Lohse, Jackson, Dempster were practically all waiting on Greinke’s decision. And Texas, Seattle, Cleveland, Arizona and Tampa Bay seemed to be waiting to see how it plays out too. Should be a fun next two weeks….

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
8:50 am

I think the Rangers trade for Upton and Shields.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
8:52 am

yep… Andrus for Upton and Olt for Shields… But let Martin have CF

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
8:53 am

Or sign Hamilton and trade for Shields. They are going to make a couple of big moves.

CB

December 9th, 2012
8:56 am

We trade either Delgado or Teheran and our pitching depth does not look all that great. Who is next starter if someone goes down? Gilmartin?

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
8:58 am

FW, don’t worry about leadoff big guy. Just go get us the best possible player for LF. Don’t limit the pool.

abeeeewright

December 9th, 2012
8:59 am

Efrim … “Should be interesting to see how everything plays out now….Should be a fun next two weeks….”

I wonder if the “silly contracts” that Victorino and Greinke got delay the settling out of the FA market. Unless there are two teams willing to hand out another “silly contract” it might take a while for the market to come back to reality.

It does seem, lately, that one team spends like a drunken sailor. The market has to wait ’til that ship has left port and the honeys have spent their cash before anyone else gets any love.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:04 am

Gilmartin didn’t exactly end the season on a high note. He allowed 11 earned in his last 3 starts spanning 12.1 innings.

richbrave

December 9th, 2012
9:05 am

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

DOMINICA

LICEY TIGERS

2B JUAN FRANCISCO [.317 BA] 1-3, 1 BB, 0 SO.

C CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT [,231 BA] 0-3, 1 PB [4].

RHSP RANDALL DELGADO [5.11 ERA] 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 SO.

RANDALL has his ‘good’ outing as he continues his dance thru winter ball……bad outing – good outing.

ORIENTE STARS

LHRP DUSTY HUGHES [0.00 ERA] 0.1 IP, zip.

VENEZUELA

CARACAS LIONS

RF JOSH KROEGER [.294 BA] 1-4

ZULIA EAGLES

1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.308 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR [11], 2 RBI [31], 1 SO.

Once again EL OSO BLANCO was not in the game. He’s had one pinch-hit appearance since December 2.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:06 am

I am looking at the AAA roster right now. Um, does the team have any starters on the roster?

Not Disgusted

December 9th, 2012
9:07 am

The Dodgers are not the only team that has overpaid.

The Red Sox have once again played the fool with contracts that are off the wall for quantity — a bunch of role types in Ross, Gomes and Napoli and a 32 yr old OF in Victorino who is trending on the down side.

The Uehara sign is not that bad But Boston has busted the market for mid range and bench players.

One thing they did not do is go into ridiculous length of the contracts.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:12 am

We still have a good young nucleus. If Beachy can come back strong and continue is ascent and become a legit #2 or even better, that will help a lot going forward. This team is damn close to being one of the best teams in baseball. That’s why FW should overpay a tad for a trade (in this market) if he can get an impact bat in LF. Not overpay to the ridiculous asking price of Minor and Delgado for Fowler (wouldn’t pay that for Upton), but include Teheran for a Willingham. I think FW is overvaluing T-Rex.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:13 am

Not Disgusted, yeah, I think that was part of their philosophy. Overpay a little on AAV so they didn’t have to go more than 3 years. They also signed players that they thought were good clubhouse guys to change their culture and guys they didn’t have to give up a draft pick for.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
9:15 am

I think everyone is overvaluing him…. we got Delgado who is scouted to become the same thing as him, a #2… but we’ve all seen Delgado do it at the MLB level. He’s looked good. Teheran is getting spanked by AAA and winter-ball! And if he goes to AAA and tanks again… He’s not an untouchable to me, considering how close we are to being a major contender. Trade him for Choo, Willingham, whoever… some one that makes a difference. We’ve got more prospect depth.

Not Disgusted

December 9th, 2012
9:17 am

Take away Grienke’s CY Young award season, he is a good to very good but not a great pitcher.

Maybe he has one of those career 20 W 2.50 ERA, 240 IP yrs in him during that contract, but I do not put the rent $$$$$$$$$ on it.

He should be in the 13-16 wins range and a 3.5 to 3.75 ERA. 200 IP range. That is what you get for $24 mil a yr this day in time.

Of course the W-L for pitchers is not as important as it used to be cause of the way the game is managed this day in time. Was more relevant when guys used to be expected to finish what they started.

16 W today is like 20- 22 in 1980.

richbrave

December 9th, 2012
9:18 am

Regarding GILMARTIN:

I remember a similar type soft-tosser coming to RICHMOND in 1986 and bombing. Had a 1-5 record in 40 IP with a 5.62 ERA, and a 1.67 WHIP.

Followed that up in 1987 by going 6-12. I said when the BRAVES called him up late in the season, ” this guy will be back in RICHMOND in two weeks.”

Never saw him again . Guess who?

Attitode I learned by this example has much to do with success in baseball.

Don’t count GILMARTIN out. Not if he’s got the grit of a TOM GLAVINE.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:24 am

Not too many players do though, Richbrave. He certainly could. Gilmartin’s overall numbers weren’t bad last year, I was just commenting that he didn’t end strong. Fatigue as he pitches more innings?

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:30 am

I still wouldn’t trade Teheran for a 1-yr rental.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:31 am

If the Rangers trade for Upton and resign Hamilton, I wonder if they would trade Nellie Cruz?

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
9:32 am

I still wouldn’t trade Teheran for a 1-yr rental.

Not even Choo? Perfect fit for us, and we’re likely to get a Top40 pick when he leaves.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:39 am

Not at this point, TOBF, and I think that’s why FW is waiting. If the offseason progresses and that’s the best deal FW can make…maybe. I still think the best deal talent and price-wise seems to be Span.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:39 am

I think I would have included him for Span straight up.

VaBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
9:41 am

I think this is the year we should roll the dice. I’d definitely trade Teheran for Choo in a heartbeat. Talking about a leadoff man capable of producing a OBP around 380, with 40 doubles, 20 homers, and 20 steals, while playing good defense in LF.

Lew

December 9th, 2012
9:44 am

You’re also talking about giving up six years of control for a single year as well as trading for a player who has faced AL pitching his entire career never faced NL pitching on a regular basis and who will have a learning curve.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:44 am

I know Rios has had two really, really bad years in the last 3 years, but he had a bounce back year last year. Wonder if FW could get Kenny to kick in some money? Rios at say, 8 mill a year, wouldn’t be bad?

Lew

December 9th, 2012
9:45 am

And who would be moving from a very hitter favorable park to one that is not so much.

JasonInFL

December 9th, 2012
9:46 am

Good points, Lew. If Choo was under control for 2 years, I do it.

TommyP

December 9th, 2012
9:48 am

I’m in the camp of never giving up highly touted prospects for 1 year rentals. As Jason just said, 2 years is a different story.

Efrim

December 9th, 2012
9:48 am

Agreed, Jason. For two years of Choo, I would also most likely trade Teheran with the teams current structure.

Lew

December 9th, 2012
9:51 am

Yep – Two years would make a huge duifference.

I’m just not all that sold on what might be left available – but then again, I’ve always been more amenable to a Francisco/Prado/Gattis or Johnson platoon.

I’m liking the thunder this lineup has and JFrancisco and Gattis make it even more thunderous. Screw the station to station, small ball – bludgeon the kliving hell out of the opponents and blow them away from the fifith through the ninth with that hellacious pen.

VaBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
9:56 am

Well you also gotta factor in the Braves would receive a draft pick after he leaves. He’d have to extremely bomb in 2013 to not get a qualifying offer. Even a bum player like Shane Victorino landed a 3 year 39 million deal….

TommyP

December 9th, 2012
9:57 am

Do not count me in the camp that has Francisco as an integral part of this team. LOL

And he won’t, in my opinion.

Mixxo

December 9th, 2012
9:59 am

“I’d rather be with you.., and I’ve already learned how to get rid of Mixxo for a while… – VJ

Oh really?

Just how are you going to do that? Hit the report button on me again?

Good luck with that. ;)

VaBravesFan

December 9th, 2012
10:00 am

Won’t be too long before a qualifying offer equals a 1 year 20 million deal. On another note I can’t believe we were able to keep Johnson for only 1.6 million, Jonny Gomes signed for 10 million over 2 years, 36 year old Ross received over 6 mil for 2 years, even James Loney got 2 million… I could go on and on.

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