In last year on HOF ballot, case made for ‘Murph’

(more...)

5,326 comments Add your comment

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
8:48 pm

SNEAKY PETE-

Morales can’t run well anymore and would be a huge liability in left field- he hasn’t played the outfield since 2008

SNEAKY PETE

December 15th, 2012
8:51 pm

I hear that Constanza is available

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
8:51 pm

all the great guys, premium people gone… at least it seems that way :(

JasonInFL

December 15th, 2012
8:51 pm

It will be interesting to see what Swish gets. I think the Rangers or Mariners overpay for him after missing out on everyone else. I think the Phils are a dark horse too.

I miss hearing the rumors of Span, Ellsbury, Choo, etc.

SNEAKY PETE

December 15th, 2012
8:52 pm

I was kidding hence the diet remark, since so many here seem to think that losing a few pounds will cure any player’s problems cab

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
8:53 pm

Constanza is available

Braves should make him more available… to the minor league FA market.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
8:54 pm

SNEAKY PETE-

Sorry :) Have seen a few comments (I think mainly on twitter) about Morales so I missed the kidding part…

old man

December 15th, 2012
8:55 pm

Scott Hairston, career, age 33 .247 .302 .449 .751

Reed Johnson, career, age 36 .284 .340 .411 .752

What does Hairston bring? I’m a little confused here.

Lee in S GA

December 15th, 2012
8:57 pm

“I hear that Constanza is available”

—————————————
I am sure we will be seeing him from time to time also….the Braves want to remind you he is there if nothing else

SNEAKY PETE

December 15th, 2012
8:58 pm

he brings a little more power and perhaps a little more stamina considering Johnson’s longrunning back troubles. However he is going to want to cash in on that good 2012 and will likely be out of our price range

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:00 pm

I don’t think he’d be out of our price range- he only made $1.1 million last year- not going to get a $10+ million deal- but I think we can aim a bit higher

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:00 pm

I hope the Braves aggressively go after Bourjos and trumbo, trying to find a deal. I think Biurjos would be a better fit and probably cost less in terms of prospects.

I think he would be a nice get for the Braves

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:03 pm

We should know what it would take to get either one of them if the Angels want to trade. Our best available trade chip is Delgado who is young enough to be a prospect but has enough ML time to be considered to have experience,

jeffrey d

December 15th, 2012
9:03 pm

“I hear that Constanza is available”

Said no GM ever.

SNEAKY PETE

December 15th, 2012
9:03 pm

yeah I worded that poorly, I think he will want more than Wren will be willing to give him price range

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:05 pm

Our other big tradechip is a LH relief pitcher – we could part with one of EOF, Venters, or Avilian for the right player

Heath

December 15th, 2012
9:05 pm

I think I’d rather Prado/Francisco/Johnson playing 3B/LF based on match ups over Bourjos

Powderfinger

December 15th, 2012
9:06 pm

I have to believe that Wren will find a man for LF, even if it means waiting until spring training has started. If Constanza starts there on Opening Day, I’ll eat this keyboard. I mean, who would really want to see him there? He is OK in spurts, but there’s a reason he has never been an everyday player in the bigs…

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:09 pm

brian-

The Angels would love to trade Bourjos, but he’s not the best fit for the Braves- Trumbo is, and he would require, most likely, at least one MLB starting pitcher (like Minor) and another player or two. Bourjos would be a lot cheaper (probably a Delgado or Teheran and a lower level prospect- but that is just a guess). Doubt the Braves are interested in trading EOF, Venters, or Avilian right now

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
9:10 pm

He was only okay for 1 20gm spurt… other than that, he’s terrible. Wouldn’t mind him being out the organization

Heath

December 15th, 2012
9:12 pm

The question about trading for a full time LFer is simple really, will he net more than Johnson against LHP and Francisco against RHP. If not, the deal isn’t worth it. I just don’t see Bourjos outperforming that scenario.

old man

December 15th, 2012
9:15 pm

Stanton, Trumbo, Olt, I prefer to internal options.

After that, I agree with those saying maybe we want to think about using our extra cash to lock up longer term some people already on the roster.

I agree that the winter league stats are questionable. As opposed to the actual numbers, I would put more credence in something like a guy leading a winter league in wins, ERA, OPS, etc. There are some decent guys playing down there, and if you are in say the top 5 in a category relative to everyone else playing, that’s a decent achievement. I agree that if you bat .300 in winter ball, that’s not going to translate to hitting .300 in MLB any more than hitting .300 in AA ball. But some young players transition pretty quickly from hitting .300 in AA ball, and then a year or two later they are hitting .300 at the MLB level. Some don’t of course.

On Francisco, my feeling about his value is not based at all on his winter league numbers. He seems to be passing the “eye test” down there pretty well, which I think is good. But my opinion is based only on his MLB numbers.

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:16 pm

I think a healthy Bourjos would be a great fit for the Braves.

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:17 pm

Trumbo strikes out too much and would cost too much in a trade. No way is he worth Minor for the Braves.

Which is the real Trumbo anyway?

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:17 pm

brian-

Where? He’s not a corner outfielder and they are not moving Upton

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:19 pm

I know the Braves are not looking to trade a lefty reliever but if want a significant upgrade in LF or 3B we will have to trade something significant. We will trade from our strength – either young starting pitching which is most likely or one of our 3 lefty RP.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:22 pm

I don’t think Trumbo would be a significant upgrade over Marteen in left, so I wouldn’t trade any of those 3 or Minor for him.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
9:22 pm

I think he could be a corner outfielder… I mean, the Angels were going to move Trout to a corner before they signed Hamilton, and he played CF on his way through the minors. I’m generally of the opinion that a player who can play CF can play all 3 positions.

Heath

December 15th, 2012
9:23 pm

brian:

If trading EOF gave the Braves a significant upgrade in LF…fine. The problem is that Bourjos is not a LFer or a significant upgrade (or any kind of upgrade) to the offensive production of Francisco/Johnson.

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:24 pm

He would play LF. We would have the best defensive OF in the league. The question, which I think was well phrased above, is whether Bourjos would be better than a reed Johnson / Francisco platoon. Last year’s Bourjos obviously would not be. Would a healthy and regular everyday playing Bourjos be better? That can be debated as per DOBs post above on Bourjos history as an everyday player versus what we saw last year.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:27 pm

Trout has a decent amount of time in both left & right field, in the minors and the majors (not to mention he is slightly better than Bourjos & Trumbo combined ;) ) Bourjos has 6 games total (all in the minors) in a position other than center. But bottom line is I’m just not a big fan of his…if that is who we get, he is acceptable, but there are probably better options

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:28 pm

Heath – I wouldn’t trade EOF for Bourjos either. It would be a bigger player than him. You could argue Venters for Bourjos – both solid in 2011 and both struggled last year.

Bourjos would be a pitching prospect. Trumbo, as cab rightly noted above, would cost much more – likely Minor plus prospect. If I could trade EOF instead of Minor for trumbo, I do that.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:30 pm

Why do people think that Juan Francisco would play left field? He’s played 11 games in the outfield in his entire career, all in the minors. If we don’t get anyone else to play left field, it will be Marteen…

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:30 pm

I don’t know if any better options will be available before July 1 next year when teams see where they stand. I don’t have any problem with a reed Johnson/Francisco platoon

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:31 pm

If I could trade EOF instead of Minor for trumbo, I do that.

Doubt the Angels would- they need starters

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:31 pm

When I saw platoon as above it is against righties Prado LF and Francisco 3B while against lefties it will be Prado At 3B and Johnson in LF

brian

December 15th, 2012
9:33 pm

Angels need starters but they do need bullpen pieces as well. Angels will not move Trumbo for anyone but a good young starter.

Looks like the Angels are going to try and move Morales first. He cannot play LF. Only 1B and DH

JC Brave

December 15th, 2012
9:33 pm

Peter Bourjos could be a corner OF, cleanup hitter, hitting coach, pitching coach, manager, and the ACE of the pitching staff too. Trade for him!

Heath

December 15th, 2012
9:33 pm

I wouldn’t trade EOF for him either. Unless he was basically free, I wouldn’t want the Braves to trade for Bourjos at all. I don’t think that he’d outperform current players on the roster–that is the point.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:33 pm

brian-

You nearly made my head explode- yes, the “platoon” you just mentioned would be what I would expect :)

Heath

December 15th, 2012
9:37 pm

cab:

If the question was directed at me.., my 3-person platoon only has Francisco at 3B against righties.

BravePack(FreeFan)

December 15th, 2012
9:37 pm

I hope the Braves aggressively go after Bourjos and trumbo, trying to find a deal. I think Biurjos would be a better fit and probably cost less in terms of prospects.

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I don’t think Wren is going to make any trades. Other teams are asking for too much and Wren hordes his prospects too much. Frankie is relaxing on some beach in the Caribbean for Christmas right now.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
9:41 pm

260 games at CF, 12 at LF, 6 in RF for Trout in the minors… he’s got a few games at the corner in the majors

457 games at CF, 5 at LF, 1 in RF for Bourjos in the minors… no corner spots in the majors.

I still think he can play a corner position, he’s a great center fielder, surely he can play in the corner.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:42 pm

Trout has 123 games in center and 94 in left or right (77 in left/17 in right) in the majors

gcs

December 15th, 2012
9:43 pm

JC Brave

December 15th, 2012
9:45 pm

Considering the unlikeliness of the Braves acquiring Trumbo, and Wren [hopefully] deciding to pass on Bourjos, what other possible options can the Braves go for on the trade market?

I really can’t see anything out there that is worth giving prospects for. At least not with those price tags…

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
9:45 pm

I don’t think that he’d outperform current players on the roster

If he performs like he did in 2011 and throughout the minors, which is possible since he’s healthy and would be a full-time player, I think he would. Better option than forming a platoon, and may outperform them… definitely is better than Constanza and Schafer.

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 15th, 2012
9:47 pm

okay, thanks cab.. that is more than a few!

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:47 pm

Neither Constanza or Schafer will be starting on opening day for the Braves.

BravePack(FreeFan)

December 15th, 2012
9:50 pm

JC

Gordon but I doubt the Royals would trade him. Interesting news that they are 10-12 mil over budget though. Like I said though Wren is done doing anything and is enjoying pina coladas right now.

Powderfinger

December 15th, 2012
9:51 pm

cab—Exactly! I am so tired of the doomsayers saying that. Too many want to predict bench players will be starters, just because they were signed first…

JC Brave

December 15th, 2012
9:53 pm

Gordon but I doubt the Royals would trade him.

Sadly, The Gordon-to-the-Braves dream died on the same day KC traded Myers to TB. He would have been a great addition.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
9:53 pm

nearly time for VJ’s chili…perhaps I’ll be back later- if not, y’all have a good night

Tom O'Hawke

December 15th, 2012
10:03 pm

VJ’s chili… and a little alcohol, too, perhaps?

It should be a gas at the old house of cab, tonight.

BravePack(FreeFan) – What’s the significance of the (FreeFan)?

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
10:05 pm

Tom-

Oh, the alcohol was poured a few hours ago (at least for me ;) ) I will ignore the rest of your comment…

BFChris28

December 15th, 2012
10:07 pm

I want Trumbo, but I don’t know how strong of a possibility that could be.

Powderfinger

December 15th, 2012
10:08 pm

“nearly time for VJ’s chili”…Is that a euphemism? Have a good evening…

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
10:10 pm

NO! He made chili from our left over Thanksgiving turkey (that had been frozen)…it’s wonderful

Tom O'Hawke

December 15th, 2012
10:14 pm

cabravesfan

Enjoy your chili…

… and you ignoring the rest of my last post just shows what a very smart LAdy you are.

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
10:18 pm

Tom-

I’m a woman- of course I’m smart ;)

BravePack(FreeFan)

December 15th, 2012
10:27 pm

Tom

I copied it from McFann as a tribute to my favorite player on the Braves…Freeman.

ChattTownBrian

December 15th, 2012
10:28 pm

“I want Trumbo” BFChris28

He has a first name ya know?

Tom O'Hawke

December 15th, 2012
10:28 pm

I can’t deal with this blog anymore tonight. Posts are going to who knows where? But not here! (Will THIS even post?)

cabravesfan

December 15th, 2012
10:30 pm

Tom-

Stop trying to post porn and you should be fine ;)

BFChris28

December 15th, 2012
10:35 pm

ChattTownBrian

I want Mark Trumbo :D

BFChris28

December 15th, 2012
10:35 pm

OF of Trumbo/Upton/Heyward has potential for 3 20/20 guys. Would be nice for it to happen.

Venice Jim

December 15th, 2012
10:52 pm

I want $874,563.29…

Venice Jim

December 15th, 2012
10:55 pm

Would be nice for it to happen…

Venice Jim

December 15th, 2012
10:55 pm

richbrave

December 15th, 2012
10:57 pm

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

DOMINICA

EASTERN BULLS

PH JOSE CONSTANZA [.295 BA] 0-1

LHRP JOSE LUGO [2.25 ERA] 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER.

LICEY TIGERS

3B JUAN FRANCISCO [.308 BA] 0-3, HAT TRICK!

FRANCISCO reverts. Mama said there’d be days like this!

C CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT [.228 BA] 1-3, 1 PB [4].

RHSP RANDALL DELGADO [5.40 ERA] 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.

DELGADO is hammered in a nasty outing.

ORIENTE STARS

Lead-off CF FELIX PIE [.245 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [18], 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB [9].

LHRP DUSTY HUGHES [0.00 ERA] 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 SO.

MEXICO

CULIACAN TOMATOES

Lead-off SS RAMIRO PENA [.299 BA] 0-3, 1 SO.

PUERTO RICO

MANATI ATTENDANTS

1B RUBEN GOTAY [.217 BA] 2-5.

PONCE LIONS

DH CHRIS GARCIA [.171 BA] 0-3, 1 BB.

VENEZUELA

ZULIA EAGLES

1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.306 BA] 0-4, 1 SO.

DH EVAN GATTIS [.282 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR [11], 1 RBI [32].

BravePack(FreeFan)

December 15th, 2012
11:43 pm

Gattis with another bomb. Ah shyt the kid seems ready. Throw him in left and we have our line up. No prospects traded. Prado at 3rd. Gattis seems like he’s read…hitting everywhere he goes.

JC Brave

December 16th, 2012
12:09 am

I want a 2006 Honda Civic Sedan.

Would be nice for it to happen.

nolie

December 16th, 2012
12:17 am

I don’t think it likely that Constanza will start in LF, but I do think Prado could with Francisco at third PF

JC Brave

December 16th, 2012
12:21 am

I hear Troy Glaus is healthy and trying to make a comeback…

nolie

December 16th, 2012
12:27 am

nah I won my one bet on Glaus, I think I’ll pass on him this time ;)

JC Brave

December 16th, 2012
12:38 am

Anyone with a brain would pass on him. He’s done, and has been done since before signing with the Braves.

Ward

December 16th, 2012
12:42 am

Hello everyone! just got back from seeing “The Hobbit”, and excellent movie…..I like Trumbo too, and heard Angels have too many in the out field. Then again, I would be happy with whom, Wren gets, and will welcome them to the team.

nolie

December 16th, 2012
12:42 am

won us a number of games though for about 6 weeks

JC Brave

December 16th, 2012
12:42 am

The Mets’ trade talks with the Blue Jays over R.A. Dickey have expanded to include as many as seven players. – MLB.com

Nice. Good for the Mets.

nolie

December 16th, 2012
12:44 am

lotsa mega-deals this winter

JC Brave

December 16th, 2012
12:47 am

won us a number of games though for about 6 weeks.

Yes, he sure did.

I’ll never forget some of those games vs the Phils. The 3-Run HR he hit [to regain a lead] in one of those was awesome.

Ward

December 16th, 2012
12:54 am

Why not Gattis too? Fire Phil…….little humor.

Ward

December 16th, 2012
12:57 am

TOBF – I like Bourjos, but yeah that’s a concern, because he’s never played LF, and could be a risk, but he’s a small “?”

Dadgum.....

December 16th, 2012
1:02 am

Look, I am sick of people clamoring for Clemens and Bonds in the HOF. Until you let in Rose and Shieless Joe don’t even come crying to me about Bonds and Clemens. Hypocrisy. I don’t care how many Cy Youngs Clemens has or HR Bonds has. They are scarred records and more players should get in before them. HOF is a complete body of work. Never and I mean never would I vote either Bonds or Clemens ahead of Shoeless Joe or Pete Rose. Of course I don’t have a vote but I’m as qualified as many that do. Nuff said.

Dadgum.....

December 16th, 2012
1:05 am

Gattis will be a platoon LF for the Braves next year. We ain’t getting nobody else. Nobody else left worth getting or giving up pitching for. Think about it.

JC Brave

December 16th, 2012
1:10 am

Bourjos: .301 career OBP

Ward

December 16th, 2012
2:34 am

There are some good out fielders still, and we just need to be patient, and let Wren work. Braves already have one heck of a team, and only one thing left to do. Is LF, which Braves have plenty of time.

Ward

December 16th, 2012
2:36 am

Chemistry is what builds a team, not money…..

Ward

December 16th, 2012
2:41 am

All, have good one! Just need to not be so damned picky, and accept what Wren, will get us. Braves, are in there every year, and the Networks write them off. Peace my friends, and talk tomorrow, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”

TheOnlyBravesFan

December 16th, 2012
5:35 am

Chemistry builds a team, eh? I’m on my way to the lab…. maybe I can make a premium left fielder.

keyLargo

December 16th, 2012
6:21 am

I heard on the radio that the deal for Dickey was done, only the players have not been announced. Four to the Mets and three to the Blue Jays.

JasonInFL

December 16th, 2012
7:14 am

I wonder if the White Sox would entertain trading Alex Rios. He was awful in 2011, pretty good in 2010, and had a real bounce back last year. He had an OPS of .850 last year with 25 HRs and 23 SBs. He is under contract through ‘14, but it was a little backloaded and will cost 13 mill/yr.

JasonInFL

December 16th, 2012
7:15 am

Rios also had a 4.3 WAR last year

JasonInFL

December 16th, 2012
7:22 am

The Sox have 4 OF prospects in their top 10 with Jared Mitchell probably the closest to MLB ready.

JasonInFL

December 16th, 2012
7:27 am

Any prospect experts out there? Efrim? Do you guys use Scoutingbook at all? I know Baseball America is a good source of info, but what other sites do folks use?

old man

December 16th, 2012
7:33 am

I know this has been discussed here before, but I can’t remember. Is there a reason, if no decent deal presents itself, why we cannot lock up Prado with a 3 x 8M or a 4 X 7M deal? He made 4.74M last year.

JasonInFL

December 16th, 2012
7:39 am

Scoutingbook still has Teheran in the top 10 prospects overall.

old man

December 16th, 2012
7:44 am

KeyLargo:

Rios seems like a good candidate. Eight triples, 23 SBs last year. Had 34 SBs two years ago. Very good arm. Plus defender in RF.

Only issues: (1) Has only played one game in LF. But you have to assume that’s not a big deal. (2) Seems to have had an on-off-on-off pattern to his seasons over the last 6 years. He’s due to have a down year in 2013. Maybe there are injury explanations, etc.

But he looks good. Excellent detective work. It’s a name I haven’t heard before.

JasonInFL

December 16th, 2012
7:48 am

I think it is easier to go from RF to LF than vice versa.

old man

December 16th, 2012
7:49 am

Rios LHP/RHP splits are microscopic. Another plus for him.

Add your comment