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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
443 comments Add your comment
Geechy Dan
December 6th, 2012
8:10 pm
Astute assessments by DOB ,Blauser, Joe Nux,coy mason and Frank for Prez…..closing in on my bedtime.Thanks to all for this engaging and interesting blog.
bring back blauser
December 6th, 2012
8:11 pm
good night Geechy
Jeremy
December 6th, 2012
8:11 pm
@Greechy Dan,
The Braves are rumored to have somewhere between 10 and 15 million left in salary which could afford Justin Upton for the next 3 years according to his deal with Arizona. I’m not necessarily saying they should’ve landed Justin Upton, but someone who could hit the headlines and put the Braves back on center stage and would’ve made them seem more competitive with other teams in our division. They should’ve beaten the Phillies to Denard Span when they knew they were going to dump Bourn for BJ instead of letting him slide to a division rival who in recent years controlled the division. The point I’m trying to make is that Braves always seem content as if mediocrity and making it to the playoffs is going to be good enough forever. I’m not saying they should sell the farm, but they should try to make a good deal that will get fans excited about the upcoming season. Of course, all of this could be for not if Wren has a deal in his back pocket which I wouldn’t past him since he likes to keep his dealings close to the chest.
Petey
December 6th, 2012
8:19 pm
I’m not sure if people use statistics anymore. If they did, I figure Reed Johnson would start in left due to his credentials built over the last 10 years. Career 284/340 BA/OBP. That would score a ton a runs in this Braves lineup. Look at his 2006 season folks. That’s no fluke. Give him the at bats dam-it.
A fan named Ryan
December 6th, 2012
8:30 pm
Phils fleeced twins today getting CF REVERE, HERES HOPING MICHAEL YOUNG WAIVES HIS NO TRADE CLAUSE AND COMES TO PHILS, BEXT UP RAJ SIGNES RF SWISHER, PHILLIES ARE WINNING WS THIS YEARM BOOK IT
Jeremy
December 6th, 2012
8:31 pm
@Petey,
While I agree that Reed Johnson has been vastly underrated throughout his career, his best purpose is as a utility player because of his age and health concerns that come with an aging outfielder. It could be very risky to let him see action most of the season.
ti
December 6th, 2012
8:31 pm
Trade for Emilio Bonafiacio, Or go all in on justin Upton!
Jeremy
December 6th, 2012
8:34 pm
HOW BOUT TRADING VENTERS FOR DOM BROWN
Jeremy
December 6th, 2012
8:34 pm
HOW BOUT TRADING VENTERS FOR DOM BROWN
ti
December 6th, 2012
8:36 pm
id rather have mayberry for venters
Jeremy
December 6th, 2012
8:38 pm
A Fan Named Ryan,
Why are you posting under other user’s names? I don’t care if you do it, but I just don’t see the purpose in it on an AJC forum.
con-stanza is the man
December 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
I like constanza at leadoff too. Slap and run and get on base. we have far too many strikeouts in our lineup.
ti
December 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
Bonafiacio!
FACT
December 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
Phillies are going nowhere. Revere is fast and nothing else: no power, no arm. Worley and the Phils number 2 prospect for Revere? Looks like Phils, Mets and Marlins in the “2nd division” of the NL East.
OldTimer
December 6th, 2012
8:54 pm
Chipper never played with a sense of urgency. Just like Wren he didn’t come here to do that. Great seed planter though.
wisher
December 6th, 2012
9:02 pm
our pitching worries me
Mark
December 6th, 2012
9:03 pm
I see they must have the rolling computer lab up and running again at the “Nut House” in Milledgeville again tonight. Some real great baseball minds going at it with some of these ideas.
The smart ones please don’t be offended.
RJB in DC
December 6th, 2012
9:03 pm
I gotta believe that everyone pining for Wren to give up the farm for Dexter Fowler are trolls from Colorado desperate to get their hands on high-quality pitching prospects. Over the last four years, Fowler’s line away from Coor’s Field is 248 / 333 / 370 with a 703 ops. More specifically, his line at Turner Field in 41 career AB’s is 189/ 306 /311 with a 610 ops.
Admittedly a small sample over three years at the Ted, but this is who we toss over Minor and Delgado or Tehran for?
Steven
December 6th, 2012
9:15 pm
I am glad we did not rush into everything. Fans are putting down Wren and FG, but to be honest, Wrn and FG got us 94 wins with a team that had injuries, was offensively inconsistent all year, etc. It is very easy for us fans to comment and say negative things or bully other posters, but I for one think it is time a “adult-up” here.
We as fans wanted Span, Revere, J Upton, etc. Heck – I want the entire NL East to belly up and the Braves come out on top and win 100 plus games!!!! But wait!!!! some of the fans here and on other Braves postings will still say Wren is bad, FG is bad… C’Mon boys and girls… I challenge you to do a better job… MOST GM’S AND MANAGERS can-not do better.
OK… They are doing the best they can – and no – I would NEVER want to give up too much for any player. Unless his name is “Chipper Jones” and he is 23 years old and plays like Chipper Jones then absolutely not.
Wren – keep your patience, I know that GMs have different considerations than us fans – we want a winning team on the field – and you gave us that for the past couple of years. Did we win the playoffs? Did we even get into the WS? No…. and guess what everyone – almost none of the teams did. We had winning seasons.
To make blanket statements like you have season tickets, rooms, etc. Sorry, but I find that hard to believe, at TRUE-FAN who has season tickets, follows the team, spends money on merchandise, does not threaten to leave that and say “if 1000 fans thought like me…” Go support the Phillies, or the Marlins – you are a fair-weather fan and you should be supporting a fair-weather team like the Marlins.
OK, my only put-down here, sorry but those kinds of comments I see on blogs for the Braves and on other teams in other sports that I follow and they are pathetic. A true fan follows there team regardless of whether they got a winning record or not, whether they picked their favorite player or not. They follow their team – that is the meaning of being a fan, not someone who GIVES-UP.
As far as Freddi and Wren – I say Kudos to both of you – THANK YOU for a great couple of seasons, and thank you for bringing BJ into the fold – will he be perfect? We won’t know till the season ends. But thank you both for trying to make our WINNING SEASON TEAM be a better team for 2013. And don’t worry about the fair-weather fans, you know as well as I do that they do not, nor ever have had season tickets, have followed the Braves around, etc. They are just attempting to “blindly” pump themselves up like they know everything. Heck, if they did they would be in either one of your positions while people put them under a Microscope.
I am excited for next season, no matter who we get or don’t get. I am excited about flying from South Florida to as many games as I can get to between my insane work schedule. I am excited about getting the Extra Innings package on ComCast so that I can watch my Braves. Win, Lose, it doesn’t matter – they are my team and I am a fan…. PERIOD.
I hear the Marlins needs some fans, so for those of you who do not agree with Wren and Freddi, please, please, please become a Marlins Fan – they will welcome you….
Have a great evening everyone….
I hope that this message did not offend anyone, but then again, some of you out there seem to want to be offended so if that is the case then maybe I did a good thing here?????
ATLcracker
December 6th, 2012
9:29 pm
I’ve been tooling around the internet and I’m shocked at the generally positive response being given to the Brave’s contract with Upton. Away from this blog about the most negative thing that’s being said is that it was a little bit of a gamble. They seem to be focusing on the phrase “needed a right handed power Hitter” totally ignoring that if you look at his numbers he is more of a Swinger than a Hitter. I went back and looked at his numbers again and there is very little there to get excited about. Has anybody heard who we were bidding against and what was their offer?
bring back blauser
December 6th, 2012
9:35 pm
Philly offered 20 million less
BravesFanInNashville
December 6th, 2012
10:20 pm
Bring back Blauser. The Braves didn’t pay $20 million too much for Upton. You don’t know where the bidding would’ve gone if Wren waited. If we offered $60 Million Upton might have waited or signed elsewhere and the bidding could have gotten out of hand. Victorino got $13 Million a year and he’s in steep decline and 4 years older. Hard to say BJ wasn’t worth $15million and 2 years longer than Victorino. Man you guys have a great team stocked with pitching and aren’t happy.
boondawg
December 6th, 2012
10:28 pm
I think we have a good team. But, I do not think BJ Upton replaces Chipper and Bourn. If we begin the year with our current roster, we are weaker than we were last year.
Cale
December 6th, 2012
10:33 pm
Can we please get someone to take Dan Uggla so we can free up some money and move Prado over to 2B fullt time? One year of watching Uggla on a nightly basis was ugly, but watching him for two years now has just gotten uncomfortable. It’s like watching a little leaguer in the batting cage that is overmatched and swings and misses every single ball. You want to give him some positive words but after a while you just want him to get out of the dang cage. It’s time for Dan to get out of our cage.
bring back blauser
December 6th, 2012
10:33 pm
what are you talking about BravesFanInNashville, someone asked who the Braves were bidding against for Upton and what the difference in bid was, I never said they paid 20 million too much, quite the contrary, if you look back at other posts of mine you will see that I had said that compared to what teams are paying for players that the Braves got a bargain
RBI
December 6th, 2012
10:36 pm
I still say they ought to give Francisco a chance at 3B and leave Prado in LF.
Don’t forget, this is the Atlanta Braves. They are going to spend money foolishly and not where they should.
bring back blauser
December 6th, 2012
10:37 pm
as a matter of fact look at the post above the one you are talking about and you will see that i was merely answering a question as to whom the braves were bidding against his id is ATLcracker
Lakedawg
December 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
Someone earlier made a good observation- it would not shock me to see Schafer get it together- if he did, he could be an excellent LF/ lead off hitter. I also think Constanzo could make a contribution.
This could be a solid team just as it is, with a little rebound from Mac and Uggla- and everyone is overlooking the fact that SIMMONS may be the LO hitter we are looking for. This has the potential to be a very good team.
A.P
December 6th, 2012
11:06 pm
I agree Lakedawg. I see Freeman, Heyward and Simmons all taking a step forward. Mccan and Uggla both rebound closer to career averages and BJ brings a nice speed/power balance. I personally like our pitching and think we could be the wild card team as constructed. Another addition (possibly at the deadline or during the season) or a surprise season from Constanza, Francisco, or Gattis could have us in a dog fight with the Nats
Doof fredi
December 6th, 2012
11:44 pm
no LF? But we still have fredi. Thats gotta say it all.
BravesFanInNashville
December 6th, 2012
11:44 pm
Bring back Blauser……. Got it ………sorry about that I had you confused with another poster I saw earlier where they were ripping Wren for paying $20 Million to much and calling Wren a poor negotiator. Wren got his man and I happen to disagree with some announcers that value Bourn more than BJ. We’ve witnessed 2 really tired poor performances to close a season from Bourn and his biggest asset is obviously speed. He strikes out as much as Upton and doesn’t seem to steal bases when you need them most. Lots of games late and close and I couldn’t believe Bourn never made a move. Many of those situations ended up with a force out or DP. Bourn has value but for me at $75million over 5 years I’d bet BJ is the better value.
BravesFanInNashville
December 7th, 2012
12:08 am
I have one question, if Bourn was with another team and made $75 million over five years would we trade BJ Upton for him even up? For me the answer to that is an easy no. Now if Bourn was with another team and made say $90 million over six years (which some announcers are suggesting may be his market value) would we even consider trading BJ Upton for him even up? The answer to that question is an even easier no! I personally don’t see how any team pays Bourn more money than BJ got unless it’s a Jason Werth / Nationals deal where some team like the Cubs overpay him to be the first free agent in on a rebuilding team.
Sid Bream's Mustache
December 7th, 2012
1:22 am
Dear FW,
Bonifacio or Keppinger can be your Prado like super sub plus you should be able to get10+ SBs from every position minus 1st and catcher.
Paddy
December 7th, 2012
7:55 am
Bonifacio is the real deal and the real answer to the Braves outfield problem.
Mr Pitts
December 7th, 2012
8:05 am
Bob the Blogger: I have no problem trying Constanza/Reed and Francisco for a while. If they don’t work out, then we can look at Gattis or Cunningham, or even Pastornicky in left. At some point, you have to give your young players a chance.
Bob is too realistic and reasonable. He needs to move to another board.
wisher
December 7th, 2012
8:49 am
my lineup
costanza or leadoff man we aquire
simmons
prado
heyward
upton
freeman
mcann/laird
ugla
pitcher
Don
December 7th, 2012
9:11 am
After the acquisiiton of Uggla for big bucks and a long term contract and then Uption this year at 15 million per year for 5 years with his below .250 Batting Average, and below .300 On Base Average, and approaching 200 Strike Outs – and even worse hitting .168 with no (Zero) Home Runs against 1/3 of the Pitchers (the better Pitchers); I sure that the Braves must be at the very top of everyones SUCKER LIST as for as the asking price being elevated very high relating to both trades and free agents.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
9:19 am
Kippinger signed with White Sox.
Rev is no LF’er.. wow!
We are not as good as last year…..so far.
I do love the fact the Francisico has done everything Walker and Braves told him to do…proves he really wants to play. Hope Todd Cunningham gets a chance to win lead-off spot if Wren don’t pull off a deal.
At some point, you have to give your young players a chance….agree MR. PITTS..
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
9:21 am
I’m really at a loss here. All these blog regulars and folks who claim they know baseball who are happy with how this off-season has gone simply astound me. I can’t accurately put into words how saddened and disappointed I am in our GM and the direction he is sending my once beloved team. Yes I said it, ONCE beloved. Not anymore. I see VERY little in our current roster to pull for ladies and gentlemen, and the element in our roster for which I had faith has dwindled more and more with each passing year under Wren.
Many of you say you are fine with where we stand if we go into opening day with what we have now……crickets chirping………WTF?!!!!!!!!!!
Can you say KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK?!
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
9:24 am
Uggla was coming off a monster year, when we traded for him. Everyone was saying that was a huge deal for us at the time, and even with his struggles, he has helped this team win games. The Upton signing was extremely fair in this market. Did you not see an old Victorino or hurt Napoli get only 2 mil a year less? Just two years ago people were bashing Wren for not getting Pence until he gave up spare parts to land a more valuable Bourn. I hardly think other clubs think the Braves are suckers.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
9:27 am
we’re suckers with money and have been for about 15 yrs now, don’t kid yourself…
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
9:28 am
So in this market, with the crazy overpay for trades and on contracts for FA’s what would you have done ?
jbill
December 7th, 2012
9:29 am
I still would love to have Pence..he’s a winner!
Agree Wren is no sucker…just needs a kick in the pants sometimes to get him to move…lol
steve
December 7th, 2012
9:30 am
The Braves have more money to spend and have a team inferior to last year’s team. Someone please explain. The excuse has always been money. Now that some money has been freed up, what is the new excuse?
steve
December 7th, 2012
9:30 am
The Braves have more money to spend and have a team inferior to last year’s team. Someone please explain. The excuse has always been money. Now that some money has been freed up, what is the new excuse?
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
9:33 am
One of two, either over-pay for Josh Hamilton, OR that fails, overpay for Michael Bourn. Made the trade for Span that freaking SHOULD have happened, and been done with it. As stands, the offense is screwed, period. We’ll be hoping for A LOT of solo home runs from Struggla, BJ, and McCan’t…
jbill
December 7th, 2012
9:40 am
Its like trading cars, you always think your old car is worth more than they are willing to give you on trade. You either pay more are keep the old clunker. Wren thinks our prospects are worth more than other GM’s do.
Luman Harris
December 7th, 2012
9:45 am
Braves Fans SInce ’80s – So, you have to have the best team money can buy, to be interested in YOUR team? You say there’s very little to be excited about? How can you look at Kimbrel and Medlen and Heyward and Simmons and Freeman and Venters and Minor and Beachy … and say there’s nothing to be excited about?
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
9:47 am
Frank Wren is a dumb-ass. Plain and simple. He’s looks at baseball from a corporate perspective and not one which will bring a cohesive, “scrappy” club together. He has no clue how to put together an effective offense (if anyone has an example from some point in his career that proves me wrong I’d be glad if you shared it) and seems to think that at any given moment, Maddux, Glavine, and Smotz are gonna emerge from our farm system…
Luman Harris
December 7th, 2012
9:47 am
What trade for Span “freaking should have happened’? What if the Twins wanted Delgado. SHould that trade have happened? Of course not.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
9:47 am
Yes, Span deal should have happen..waiting around cost Wren.
Looney Tuned
December 7th, 2012
9:47 am
Braves mention Span & Nats get him. Braves mention wanting Revere & Phillies get him. That’s a poor job by Wren not getting either of these players. Braves need a new GM.
Luman Harris
December 7th, 2012
9:47 am
How do you know Wren “waited around”? You have no idea what the Braves offered, and what the Twins asked for.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
9:49 am
Smoltz*
Yes, Delgado for Span should have happened, Delgado may well spend all year at AAA sir, WTF?!
Luman Harris
December 7th, 2012
9:49 am
Really? You’d have given up Minor and Delgado for Revere? That’s about the equivalent of what the Phillies gave up. Be thankful our GM did not make any rash decisions.
Luman Harris
December 7th, 2012
9:51 am
All I know is, if Wren says the asking price was too high, I’ll take his judgement over that of a bunch of fans on a blog.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
9:51 am
twins didn’t get a top prospect for Span.. they got a 2nd or 3rd prospect. Surprised they done the deal.
What if?…thats a hell of a question.
Luman Harris
December 7th, 2012
9:53 am
Braves were 7th in the league in runs scored last year. Could be better, sure. But hardly a sign of ineptitude by the GM.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
9:55 am
He has said that about all deals so far.. and u don’t know what happen either.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
9:57 am
Luman, Heyward and Freeman are still WAY too streaky. I hope they continue to improve. Simmons is my bright spot. He looks like the second coming of Ozzie (Smith, not Guillen, thank God). Venters is a question mark as he struggled at times last year when it appeared the league had him figured out. Beachy may never be the same pitcher again so he’s a non-factor until otherwise proven. Kimbrel, Medlen, Minor are fun to watch and Maholm is a solid innings eater. Prado is a beast and SHOULD be a perennial all-star AT SECOND BASE…Too many if’s and but’s man, not a lot to get excited about, too much that can go horribly wrong…Oh and yes, Delgado for Span, that should be a pretty easy decision for anybody who wants this team to improve…
Charlie Kerfeld
December 7th, 2012
10:02 am
Johnson is a good 4th outfielder, but not a good option to start in LF due age and health concerns. I still say Constanza deserves a shot as our left fielder and lead-off hitter.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
10:02 am
Talking about Luman Harris…Years ago I was at Braves game and Braves had a 10 run lead going into 9th inning at old park..Harris mgr. We lost game 11 to 10.. Guess I’m telling my age.
Tommy Boggs
December 7th, 2012
10:05 am
Francisco looks good in winter ball and is out of options. If he looks good in Spring training platoon him with Reed Johnson with Francisco getting majority of playing time since he would start against righties. If Francisco doesn’t look good in spring unload him and let Prado play 3rd and you still have options in LF between Constanza and Schafer. Will have much improved bench with Reed Johnson, Pastor, Schafer (speed instead of lard arses).
Then you go to spring with options and still have cash in pocket. If one of the above works well you take that cash and get going on extending players like PRADO.
This team has alot going for it, you wouldn’t know that with all the negativity on the AJC blogs.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:05 am
This off-season, starting with the David Ross fiasco (yes, I said fiasco, let’s call it what it was and not make some silly payroll argument that nobody who stops to think about it will buy) it appears at least, that Wren has been behind the herd on most transactions and the ridicupous Upton move was his one grand attempt at appeasement that went horribly wrong…
Looney Tuned
December 7th, 2012
10:05 am
Delgado can’t play LF and Braves have 7 other starting pitchers to pick 5 from.
Looney Tuned
December 7th, 2012
10:07 am
I wouldn’t want Constanza on my softball team…
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:07 am
ridiculous*
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:14 am
Tommy Boggs, unless we find a couple more guys who can get on base consistently, this team has very little going for it, other than a TON of K’s (and not the kind you want to stand out for)…
jbill
December 7th, 2012
10:16 am
alot going for it ….Schafer? Constanza? Juan, Johnson..sounds like a lot of if’s to me.
Schafer the two time busted kid?
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:18 am
Tommy, you do realize we now have 3 of the MLB top ten strikeout guys from last year in our lineup, PLUS McCan’t whose strikeout totals are climbing steadily. We may lead the league in a VERY negative category next year…
jbill
December 7th, 2012
10:21 am
Busted..
t://myfox8.com/2012/02/03 photoes-faces-of-meth-before-and-after/
jbill
December 7th, 2012
10:22 am
http://
my bad.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
10:23 am
Enter your comments here
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:30 am
Looney Tuned: the problem is, that’s exactly what you’re getting-a softball team, built around the occassional homer. Constanza and all others like him, pretty much, need not apply…
Atlanta Braves Links of the Day For December 7, 2012 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
December 7th, 2012
10:31 am
[...] Braves re-sign Johnson, leave WM without LF [...]
Tommy Boggs
December 7th, 2012
10:31 am
I wouldn’t have went after Upton, but this is what we have now. He didn’t strike out that much more then Bourn. More pop in bat and younger player. Most of you will always take the doomsday approach.
Then of course you will jump on the bandwagon if a Schafer / Constanza platoon turns out great, Or if Francisco hits 30 + bombs.
The Chipper farewell tour is over and it is time to move on.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:33 am
I seem to recall the 2 players who looked like they REALLY wanted to win that ridiculous play-in game (Ross and Constanza) are now either gone or apparent non-factors…
Fly Away Wren
December 7th, 2012
10:34 am
This guy has more supporters on this board who must think along the lines of,, he’s what we’ve got,,so let’s support him. Same for Fredo G. Keep on dreaming!! Liberty Media has tight purse strings, but Wren has shown that even when he does have $ to spend ,, he is a clueless gambler who likes taking risks, hoping the upside plays out and a player is on the rise. Goes and gets BJ Upton for biggest deal in Braves history, only to find out Derrrr… that Bourn will probably be available for around the same $. Let’ review Franks history compliments of the Capital Ave club, Tom Glavine re-signing 2008 and 09: $10M wasted. Garret Anderson 1 year $2.5M: Wasted; Derek Lowe, 4 yr $60M: wasted; Kawakami: 3 yr $22M Waste; Jurrjens for Renteria was actually a good deal, but look at how JJ ultimately turned out; McLouth; looked good on paper but was a bust. Dan Uggla is the coup de grace!! Congrats Frank. Quite a track record!!
Tommy Boggs
December 7th, 2012
10:43 am
BravesFanSince80s, look at the bright side the player that cost us that game retired and is now hammering a Playboy model! I guess you wanted Wren to bring back Tommy Hanson?
This team will be better then it was last year and still has payroll flex to make additional moves.
Didn’t over pay like the Red Sox, or give away great young players like the Phils.
I like David Ross, but he is going to find out that the Sox suck.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:46 am
the Braves will have almost 45 million tied up next year in Uggla, Upton, and McCann, none of which are worth a tinker’s damn, which pretty much says it all from Frank Wren’s perspective…
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:48 am
as it stands, unless we get Cy Young potential performances from about 3 of our starting 5, there is NO WAY this team is better now than last year. NO WAY, NO HOW, UH UH…
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
10:48 am
Like I said, Span is the only trade/signing that i feel we missed out on. But whose to say we didnt offer Delgado or Teheran and they simply liked that Nats prospect better. Just cause we have spare money doesn’t mean we should spend it foolishly. That money and our prospects will still be there this season, when we can make a more ideal trade if one of our internal options doesn’t work out.
Jeremy
December 7th, 2012
10:51 am
To anyone who doesn’t understand trading from the farm league,
The trade Delgado for Denard Span should have been a no brainer. Keep in mind we have other young pitchers in the farm that could replace Delgado withing the next year or two (aka Gilmartin). I agree that we should not have traded for Revere at the steep price that the Phillies paid. However Delgado a mostly unproven prospect with potential for a solid lead off hitter that we needed should’ve been an easy decision. Wren always puts together a competitive team, his only problem is that sometimes he seems to be too hesitant to pull the trigger on trades. Denard going to the Nationals is even worse than not trading at all. I’ll say again that the Braves are too satisfied with being mediocre and possibly being the wild card team as if that is the ultimate goal….which it shouldn’t be. Hopefully, FW has a deal in his back pocket for a 3B or LF, otherwise, the Bravees just sat around and watched other teams in the division get better. Actually, I guess we did pick BJ Upton in hopes that we can realize his potential. If he doesn’t, his average stat line could seriously hurt the braves. We have enough players that strike out at an incredible rate (ie. Struggla).
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
10:52 am
Braves Fan, you need to consider the improvement we will see from Freeman and Heyward and possibly Simmons. Uggla and Mccann will rebound to hit near their career averages. We get a full year of Medlen (Who i fully believe will be a 20 game winner), Minor should continue to pitch well, Huddy and Maholm both will be good and having Delgado and Teheran hold down the last spot will be better than Hanson. Our Bullpen is better, and we still have options down the line. This team will be better
Don
December 7th, 2012
10:53 am
AP, you do not build a WINNER by signing players who hit below .250 and with an On Base Average below .300 – and certainly not with STRIKE OUTS at almost the 200 level – and absolutely not hitters who do not produce in meaningful situations – for example hitting .168 with NO Home Runs agaisnt the top 1/3 of the Pitchers.
Rick C
December 7th, 2012
10:56 am
There goes broken record Don again…
Don
December 7th, 2012
10:58 am
BravesFanSince80’s, Well said in your post of 9:21 AM.
jbill
December 7th, 2012
10:59 am
Boggs…go back and read..I’ve always been a Juan fan. I hope he makes it big time because he has worked his butt off this winter.. last season when everyone was calling him fat-o I was taking up for him..Walker believe he can hit 30 plus.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
10:59 am
Tommy, 1 of those 3 MIGHT surprise me (most likey candidate McCann) but I seriously doubt there will be any such wagon in existence for me to even consider jumping in (not that I would anyway)…
hitch93
December 7th, 2012
11:00 am
LF problem solved with one word…Ichiro.
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
11:02 am
I get what you are saying, I for one am worried that we are to reliant on BJ’s potential. But say his average does not improve, You’re still getting right near 30/30. I for one still think we should have gambled on Hamilton (Left Handed or Not), he still can be a true difference maker. We take BJ’s 15 add 5-10 sign Hamilton, then go with internal options like we are anyways. But we didn’t cause of the risk.
I do think its unfair to bash Wren for his signings. Go look at Uggla’s stats the year before we traded for him. He hit .287 33 bombs 105 RBI’s. Why he regressed at the rate he did, I can’t tell you, but those numbers were exactly what we needed and Wren, and most fans and analyst thought we were getting. I still stand by the Bourn trade as our best move in the last 5 years, and Upton was a value on this market.
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
11:08 am
Didn’t mean to say I for one twice..
jbill
December 7th, 2012
11:08 am
ichiro…let the old man stay with NYY..
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
11:14 am
I said the Uggla move was stupid from day one. Why? He hit where and when it NEVER mattered. In front of non-existant crowds of people, in about as low-pressure an environment as existed in MLB at the time. He had an absolutely horrendously UGGLY swing, absolutely un-fixable from a coaching perspective. I used to cringe every time I saw the guy in the highlights thinking, “God I hope he’s never a Brave.”
The same is true of Upton albeit less UGGLY…
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
11:20 am
I don’t care if you are playing in front of 3 fans or 30,000 hitting .287 OBP of .370 33 bombs and 105 RBI’s vs. professional pitching is huge. His contract is larger than I like, especially with regression, but he still gets on base at a great rate (.348 last year), and hits 30 bombs every year, which is why I think last year was somewhat of a fluke.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
11:25 am
the Braves aren’t paying him to walk A.P. stop with that. His down-turn was realistically predictable whether you think so or not…
Klaus
December 7th, 2012
11:33 am
Good bench guy.
That said they must get a slugging LF and to go all in now. Mac won’t be back in 2013 and Hudson may be gone as well.
Forget the leadoff baloney. With the low BA/high SO on this team you need another RBI guy.
For as long as ATL has put a human bookmark or platoon in LF they have been MIA in October, one and done at best.
Wren does the same thing every time. He makes one significant move when he needs two. He gets over protective of prospects/ML staff and chickens out on a trade to get the last key piece.
Yes the winter meetings went nuts on the price for trades front. That is bc middling teams with one or two great players or prospects are holding playoff bound teams hostage. They will flinch soon or by the middle of ST. Especially once the big FA are off the board.
Bottom line: Trades which allow you to a win a WS will be quite painful. Wren wants to avoid that pain. You cannot have both. Trades like Uggla that don’t hurt one bit win you nothing but a decoy and a dead end salary burden.
A.P.
December 7th, 2012
11:36 am
You’re right, 5 straight years of 30+ HR’s followed by one unexpected season of 19 HR’s is predictable.
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
11:39 am
Klaus, why are McCann and Hudson not going to be with us in 2013?
BravesFanSince80s
December 7th, 2012
11:41 am
home runs aren’t what wins WS rings A.P.