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672 comments Add your comment
BravesFanInNashville
December 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
I agree that Upton is probably not going to be worth his contract but what would the fans have done if the Phillies or Nats signed him? It was almost a necessary signing at that point for Wren.
If Upton had gone to the Nats and we ended up with Victorino this blog would have called Wren inept and Liberty cheap. It’s hard to please everyone.
Sambo 4 Rambo
December 16th, 2012
3:26 pm
Ole angel eyes chick from whales, I for one have been a season ticket holder here in ATL for 7 years now, going on 8. So before you talk about “Braves fans”, im sure its tough to even listen to a game all the way out in whales. And for the one time i will address you, you keep saying we are “losers” and a “.500″ team??? You mam, make no sense once so ever. We are a highly respected MLB team in America with boo koo’s of division titles and make a run at the playoffs year in, year out. The word “loser” is no where close to being attached to the Braves. And i dont know how you do math over there sweet heart but 94 wins in a season doesnt equal up to a .500 record in MLB.
David O'Brien
December 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
Choppinmama: Thanks for the great book on Clarence, the Big Man. I just got it, was in office Friday for a meeting.
Angel Eyes
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
@BravesFan I hope you are right about leadership of Heyward, Did not see any before but maybe Chipper hid it. We will see. IMO I don,t think so. As far as Upton goes, I completely agree with everyone. He is overrated and over payed. Time will tell. I just think this team needs some good leadership. They are very young. I just don’t think that without some good leadership and some HELP they won’t be the team they were before. I HOPE I AM WRONG. At end of the year I will be the first one to admit it. We will see
Sambo 4 Rambo
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
dylan, its the market that players are going for this off season. I mean there giving a drug addict a 5 year – 125 mill deal! Its not even about the numbers it seems like. If your slightly a mid-high profile player your getting paid! I cant explain it cause when i heard about the Greinke deal it made me shiver. Hes now the second highest paid SP in MLB behind CC, and your telling me he deserves that? No way! Its just how it is this year..
Angel Eyes
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
@ Sambo Believe it or not. I agree. Do you think maybe a Salary cap would work. BTw you are wrong on me but no big, believe what you want.
Mr Pitts
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
“………..you think it’s that easy to replace the braves record holder in almost every category?”
Chipper is not the record holder in almost every category. That distinction belongs to Aaron and, in many categories, by a significant margin. Chipper worshipers conveniently forget that Aaron existed. And, yes, Chipper was clutch, but I’m not sure from where this ‘leadership’ tag comes. Perhaps it’s a simple re-writing of history, like Chippers stats.
BravesFanInNashville
December 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
Sambo 4…. well said… the dollars are not in proportion to the talent right now.. I agree that Upton is not worth $75 Million but I’d rather have him than Bourn because I personally believe that we’ll see Bourn decline as speed his his biggest asset and the Upton will get a little better if not a lot better the next several years because of his age and power component.
BravesFanInNashville
December 16th, 2012
3:48 pm
Mr. Pitts I think people are referring to Atlanta Braves. My folks lived in Milwaukee for a few years when Hank played there and said he was unbelievable to watch play. Really good RF with a strong arm and good contact two strike hitter too even though he had such strong wrists to generate that great bat speed. No doubt Hank was the greatest Brave ever but Chipper was the best Atlanta Brave..
Mr Pitts
December 16th, 2012
3:57 pm
A Brave is a Brave; the club just moved to another city. I don’t buy the tendency to—when you’re talking stat leaders—that you exclude the performance of 1 of the greatest players ever in history to conveniently place ‘The Leader [somebody still needs to state the justification for this tag]‘ Chipper in the top spot. It aint true.
Ken Stallings
December 16th, 2012
4:08 pm
BJ Upton has many cases in his past where his teammates called him out for lack of hustle. I’ll never forget the time that Bobby Cox yanked Andruw Jones for loafing on the field. Jones got the message.
It is said that Upton has learned from his past transgressions. So, I think we ought to give him the benefit of the doubt on that score.
I’m more concerned about the man’s lack of on base average and strikeouts. If he fails to hustle on the field, then the Braves are truly in a bad situation.
dylan
December 16th, 2012
4:11 pm
pitts
i didn’t forget hammerin hank, just for me personally i believe chipper is the greatest brave. doesn’t mean everyone does, but his leadership is without question. when players come to you before the hitting coaches, then you know youre good. chipper was the vocal and clubhouse leader for the team, and helped bring the braves back to national relevance. in terms of a pure hitter, chipper and hank are in a league of their own as far as braves go, and honestly, if chipper were to have played his whole career in this era or the era before the steroid era, there’s no telling how great his numbers would have been. in my opinion you have 3 players from my generation who will go down as some of the best pure hitters and pure ball players ever; chipper, ken griffy jr., and pujols. watching these 3 hit was like watching video of mantle, dimaggio, and ted (granted ted is the greatest hitter of all time). hank had the power, but i still personally believe chipper was a better “pure hitter” meaning power, batter’s eye, plate vision, contact, doubles, and the ability to hit anywhere on the field. Hank is probably the best brave of all time, but ill always consider chipper as the best.
bravesfan, i agree bourn would start to decline, but i don’t trust upton’s “potential” because he hasn’t shown any indication that he will live up to it. i hope he proves me wrong, but i just don’t see him being a 75 million dollar player. and i agree the increase in the money being thrown around for FA’s is crazy. personally i believe a tax should be thrown for teams that drop this much money, like the yankees, bosox, and dodgers, if the players don’t perform or are given up on. i think baseball needs a hard cap salary, otherwise you will always see the “major city” teams have a monopoly on the best in the game. that’s one reason i love tulo, said no to what i believe would have been the second largest contract of all time (?) from the yankees to stay in colorado.
BravesFanInNashville
December 16th, 2012
4:11 pm
Mr. Pitts… I just agreed with you saying no doubt Hank Aaron was the greatest Brave ever. I am just simply making room for those who point out Chippers stats since the Braves moved to Atlanta. In fact they’re both right. Hank led most categories all time and Chipper has his place in Atlanta Braves history.
dylan
December 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
@ sambo,
thats why i want a hard cap, so teams like the yanks, sox, dodgers, etc. can’t just throw out a crazy number that players honestly, can never live up to. take CC. as good as he is, has he been worth 220 million? or arod, has he been worth 237 million? i don’t think greinke deserved that big a contract, but i do think he deserved the biggest contract of any of the FA’s this year, based on his pitching skill, his stuff, and his age, and the fact that an ace, in this day and age, is extremely important in baseball.
honestly its a travesty that players like maddux, glavine, and smoltz, who were better than most of these guys (and in maddux case better than anyone else in the game in his generation and this one) never got close to what they deserved.
WigWamWisps
December 16th, 2012
4:34 pm
On trade possibilities: Peter Bourjos for Julio Teheran would NEVER happen straight up. Frank Wren would and should be ran out of Atlanta if he pulled that one. Bourjos is a .220 hitter. I don’t see him as any kind of an option. If they go that route, I say stay with what you have and give some of the youngsters a shot. Mark Trumbo would come with a hefty price tag. I would say both Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado plus a top position prospect who plays catcher. He is definitely someone I would love to see Atlanta have. He hits for average, has good power and drives in runs plus is young and is under team control for a couple more seasons. Corey Hart will likely never happen. While I would love to see Hart in a Braves uniform, a deal for him would see the Braves giving up slightly less than what they would give for Trumbo plus Hart is essentially in a walk season. Hart would likely want his contract renegotiated and the Braves may require it though the new contract would likely be prohibitive for Atlanta. I think if anyone is traded for, it would be Dexter Fowler. His contract is much more amenable and he has some of the tools the Braves are looking for. Ultimately, I don’t see Atlanta giving up its top prospects for anyone so it could be wait and see.
WigWamWisps
December 16th, 2012
4:38 pm
BravesFanInNashville, I get what you are saying but I would be willing to bet that Frank Wren does not do his job worrying or wondering whether fans will approve or disapprove. If Wren ever begins to sign players strictly because Washington or Philadelphia might sign them, he won’t last long. That’s not even in his mind and I am certain that DOB would voice the same thoughts.
Brave New World
December 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
Chipper is a sure HOF’er, but to those who say his “leadership” will be missed, I ask “What leadership?” At the end of the day, Chipper was mostly all about Chipper. If he was such a leader then why was he never made team captain? Great player, but not the leader type. This is not a knock on Chipper’s playing abilities, again, he will clearly be in The Hall of Fame.
dylan
December 16th, 2012
5:17 pm
chipper was undoubtedly a leader. all the kids went to him for hitting advice, and anyone who has played with him (with the exception of smoltz who is an arrogant prick) will tell you he’s not just about himself. he moved to left field so vinny castillo could play 3rd, and took a sizeable pay cut so that mark derosa could stay on the team (back in 06 i believe? not sure what year it was)
Ken Stallings
December 16th, 2012
5:56 pm
I guess Chipper will have to live with the knowledge that some bloggers doubt he was a team leader. I suppose he’ll just have to settle with the unanimous view of MLB players, coaches, managers, GM’s, and team owners that he was.
I suppose he’ll get by on that.
jbill
December 16th, 2012
6:34 pm
I guess no news from Braves is bad news….
NORRIS
December 16th, 2012
8:10 pm
dont understand why people say we can fill left field with what we got in triple A???? I would be open to this if there were any that were good enough to try and fill that position. Castanza is not the answer.
220 average with speed. thats pretty much available anywhere…
Yuuup
December 16th, 2012
9:55 pm
Here it is almost Christmas and the Braves still haven’t addressed their need for either a 3rd baseman, or LF’er. Looking more and more likely that the Pillsbury Dough Boy Juan Francisco will get every opportunity to be the starter, which means its looking more and more likely that I will be getting rid of my baseball package for next season and saving my money on everything Braves related for at least the next year.
I have been a fan for 30 years. I have seen fan favorites come and go like the rest of you have, but I have never seen a Braves Icon retire, a fat lazy guy take his spot, and this team have this money to address their needs and do nothing about it. If their idea of getting fans excited and putting asses in seats is spending 75 million on Upton, and giving Francisco the 3rd base job, I think they are in for a rude awakening. Fans have been growing more and more impatient with this team in recent years and it has showed in the attendance, The only reason why fans were showing up last season was to get their final glimpses of Chipper Jones. If there was ever a time to get some impact players, this offseason was that time. The Braves front office and ownership group should be bending over backwards to get fans excited again after the past decade of letdowns, and they are doing nothing. just everyone watch how low attendance is next season, and they better not use that as a excuse, they had/have plenty of money to address their needs and they are sitting on their hands. This is what a decade of choking does to a fan base. We as fans deserve and expect more than what the Braves have given us in the last 10 years, why should we continue to spend our hard earned money on a stale product?
JHarber
December 16th, 2012
10:20 pm
Yuup— I agree 100%, I for one will not be at Turner Field. Money gone no one extended. Still need 3b or lf. Total lack of diligence is all can be said. Let nats and phillies out smart him, sad
jbill
December 16th, 2012
11:38 pm
Braves should not rely completely on farm system. None are fully ready and noboby likes a half successful, half bust platoon system. We’ve seen this before and it didn’t work..plus Prado need a position and not jerked around. Make a move Mr. Wren.
Agree Yuup , Norris and Harber.
BravesFanInNashville
December 17th, 2012
12:28 am
WigWam….. I never said Wren did or should do his job based upon what the folks on this blog think. I agree he wouldn’t last long that way. I simply mentioned what I did because there are some people on here that will complain no matter what happens. If he doesn’t make a move because he’s playing a different strategy they complain because he isn’t doing anything.. if he does make a move they complain and say he should have waited even though they would have complained about that too… It’s hard to be a GM as it is. There is no question though that some signings are meant to sell tickets and we see here that some people are expecting Wren to replace Chipper and not just the Chipper of the last two years, they want him to replace the MVP Chipper and that’s easier said than done.
I do however believe that some signings are done because a team wants that player and also to weaken a division rival. Take Josh Hamilton for example.. Strengthens the Angels and weakens Texas.
urban redneck
December 17th, 2012
6:34 am
guess we need a new blog. the natives are getting restless………and bitchy. go bravos.
Bravo Uno
December 17th, 2012
7:09 am
With Chipper retired, there will be a lot of empty seats @ Turner Field in 2013. Fans don’t want to see a lot of strikeouts and solo home runs.
On paper this Braves’ roster can’t compare with the Nationals, who are built to be the class of the division for years to come.
observer
December 17th, 2012
7:19 am
What is it with Frank Wren’s infatuation with .220 hitters? Is there some sort of Braves’ by-law that prohibits contact hitters? I’m surprised Martin Prado was able to crack the lineup.
Mr Pitts
December 17th, 2012
8:21 am
“Chipper is a sure HOF’er, but to those who say his “leadership” will be missed, I ask “What leadership?”
I agree. Over time, I’ve read many statements that annoint him a great leader. How does a fan come to this conclusion? Because players seek his advice on hitting? He’s a great hitter. Why would you not ask his advice. So, this is a great hitter giving thoughs on hitting. I’m very good at some things and if I were to pass some of this along I wouldn’t walk away with the idea that this is a sign of great leadership. And leadership in the clubhouse? Exactly how do we come to that conclusion? I’m in the stands slamming a brew, so how would I have any sense for how he is in the clubhouse? And for those who proudly remind us that baseball folks at all levels espouse his great leadership abilities…….imagine a microphone near your mouth and the ATL sports nitwit asks: And what do you think of Chipper Jones and his ability to lead this Braves club? What do you expect to get in return? C’mon folks,I fall asleep within the first 10 seconds of a Chipper interview. It is what it is.
cornjolio
December 17th, 2012
8:59 am
Chipper’s lame interviews or post-game commentary were hardly insightful.
After Maddux, Smoltz & Glavine were gone, and Chipper became the “face” of the organization, its not like the “Chipper years” were successful; no division championship since 2005.
Time for Freddie & Jason to lead by example. Their time has come.
Bobbymahlon
December 17th, 2012
9:04 am
Providing that Mark DeRosa is all right physically I wished we had signed him instead of Janish and Pena. He can play more positions then either one of them and hit a lot better than they can. He is also a beloved Brave.
TeheranTime
December 17th, 2012
9:33 am
Everyone is an expert on a blog. We have expert GM’s, pitching coaches, scouts, morality counselors and more! This is your one stop spot for experts on everything. You do know what “expert” means don’t you? “Ex” means “used to be.” “Spurt” means “a drip under pressure.”
TeheranTime
December 17th, 2012
9:33 am
Everyone is an expert on a blog. We have expert GM’s, pitching coaches, scouts, morality counselors and more! This is your one stop spot for experts on everything. You do know what “expert” means don’t you? “Ex” means “used to be.” “Spurt” means “a drip under pressure.”
An Observer
December 17th, 2012
10:28 am
Chipper, Bourn & Ross are gone; we add BJ Upton who had an on base percentage of .298.
And how are we better offensively?
Oh, I know; Dan Uggla is going to win the MVP in 2013.
jbill
December 17th, 2012
12:16 pm
same old same O…
BravesFanInNashville
December 17th, 2012
12:44 pm
I think we’re better offensively because Heyward and Freeman are a year more seasoned and have seen the pitching around the league another year. They are poised to have big years, All-Star caliber years. I think we’ll benefit from having Simmons play a full year and his bat should be better because he’s playing full time. He’s an upgrade over Pastornicky and Janish for sure. I also believe Dan Uggla will play closer to his career norms than he did last year. Not saying he’ll suddenly be a .300 hitter but if he hits .260 and drives in 90 he’ll help more than last year. Lastly we got almost nothing from Bourn after the all-star break. Upton finished on a high note in Tampa at years end. We’ll almost certainly get more from Upton the second half than we got out of Bourn. McCann is in a contract walk year so he’ll be playing to get paid, let’s hope he’s healthy enough to earn himself a big payday..
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
12:55 pm
BravesFan Whatever you are drinking or smoking. I want some. You have got to be kidding. You are dreaming!!!
An Observer
December 17th, 2012
1:18 pm
“Upton finished on a high note in Tampa at years end.”
It was his free agent season.
BravesFanInNashville
December 17th, 2012
1:31 pm
Angel Eyes……. let’s let it play out on the field… My prediction is simple Heyward and Freeman will take steps forward this year #1. Simmons will hit better than Pastornicky or Janish #2 Uggla will hit closer to his career average than to .220 #3 and Upton will have a better second half than Bourn #4.
McCann’s year will be based more on recovery from surgery than anything so that’s more wishing he’s healthy because when he’s right he’s a ballplayer.
Let’s check back next September and see how right or wrong I am…
BravesFanInNashville
December 17th, 2012
1:33 pm
An Observer.. It was also Bourn’s free agent season so why did he disappear after the all-star break..??
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
Your show, Good luck. I complety disagree. This team is NOT better but we will see. IMO best can do is 90 wins and 3rd place. That is stretching. I hope you are right. I will be first to congratulate you. I don’t think will happen. Again No lead off man. Lost Chipper, Bourn, Ross, Hinske, and Mccann Hurt till July. No replacements. No leadership. Too young to have any leaders Heyward, Freeman,good but not leaders. Prado-a star,but needs help. Mccann-done Upton-not even close to bourn. No LF . 2nd base- just another popeye. Where is your improvement? Team got worse not better,
An Observer
December 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
After Upton hits .235 w/18 solo HRS you’ll wish the Braves had spent that 75 million on Bourn
An Observer
December 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
Angel Eyes,
Third place?
Barring a miracle I concede 1st place to Washington. They are well-stocked and well-managed.
No way we are worse than Philly, Miami or NY Mets.
Second place at best with a shot at the wild card.
BravesFanInNashville
December 17th, 2012
2:09 pm
An Observer if that happens.. I still think Bourn wouldn’t be worth the $75 Million either because he has shown signs of getting really worn down in the stretch run two years in a row. He’s going to start declining if he hasn’t already.
For the record I don’t think Upton was worth the $75 Million dollars he got and Victorino isn’t worth $13 million a year either. These salaries are really crazy to me.
It’s just that given an equal paycheck I’d rather have Upton than Bourn because I think after a good start to the year he’ll wear down and not be very valuable in the second half again. I think BJ is figuring some things out about his game and he’s coming into his prime. I know many disagree with that and that’s ok. I’m not as big of a Michael Bourn fan as some others are because he didn’t steal a lot of high value bases when games were on the line late and close. If speed is your biggest asset you should use it when it counts most and I didn’t’ see him do that very often. I think whoever signs him will be more disappointed than the Braves will be in Upton.. Just my opinion and I respect yours too.
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
2:10 pm
Phillie improved. Pitching, Outfieder, 3rd base, bull pen. Braves no improvement. Got worse #rd place no playoffs…..
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
2:10 pm
Phillie improved. Pitching, Outfieder, 3rd base, bull pen. Braves no improvement. Got worse #rd place no playoffs…..
Ronny Stench
December 17th, 2012
2:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Ronny Stench
December 17th, 2012
2:52 pm
Prado can catch too. Need to hold on to Francisco…No telling how he might develop.
TheDudeAbides...
December 17th, 2012
3:05 pm
Nobody is scared of the Phillies. Nobody is scared of the Gnats. Go to bed with that talk…
An Observer
December 17th, 2012
3:20 pm
“Nobody is scared of the Gnats”
You’d better be concerned. They have a collection of young, solid, hungry players in addition to an aggressive manager that employs the fundamentals of the game; not a bunch of swing for the fence types.
Bravo Uno
December 17th, 2012
4:05 pm
Braves’ need to place some emphasis on position players so they don’t have to pay the piper via free agency or trade to acquire some. All this pitching development hasn’t gotten them a division championship since 2005.
Rick C
December 17th, 2012
4:46 pm
An Observer, last year the Nats were 5th in HRs in the NL, and 8th overall. They also had less sac flies and sac hits than the Braves.
Felix
December 17th, 2012
4:57 pm
Borrowing from Paul Simon’s Mrs. Robinson: Where have you gone Mister Wren?…a lonely Braves nation turns its eyes to you.
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
5:13 pm
@Felix He’s playing with his “pretty hair” Where he can win the contest again.
cornjolio
December 17th, 2012
5:23 pm
“An Observer, last year the Nats were 5th in HRs in the NL, and 8th overall. They also had less sac flies and sac hits than the Braves.” – Rick C
Rick, where did the Nats finish in the NL East ?
TheDudeAbides...
December 17th, 2012
5:25 pm
I don’t care what the Gnats have or don’t have, to be honest. I think Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons, Martin Prado, BMac and Medlen are going to all take a step forward not only as players, but as leaders. That nucleus of players, I put up against any other nucleus in Baseball.
We have some other young players like Bethancourt and Teheran that will likely round us into a rather stout playoff contender for years to come.
One question for the doubters….
…If these players produce at the level they are capable on a consistent basis, are they not unstoppable?
joe
December 17th, 2012
5:28 pm
Angel eyes= amber because thats what she said all the time=pretty hair and hair contest—lol. But i do like your blogs.
True Braves Fan
December 17th, 2012
5:28 pm
Sorry that Yuup, Norris, jbill, and Harber.that you won’t be following the Braves or spending any of your hard earned money either. Now if you would just take your negative stupid idiotic comments somewhere else…
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
5:31 pm
@joe You are right. Where do you think I got that info. I read her too. Where is she?
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
5:32 pm
@True Braves Fan At least their facing reality
They Call Me The Seeker
December 17th, 2012
5:35 pm
“If these players produce at the level they are capable on a consistent basis, are they not unstoppable?”
TheDudeAbides…
Simmons has not played a full season. Prado rebounded in 2012 following a terrible 2011 season. BMac is comning off major arm surgery & won’t be back til May at the earliest. Medlin has not been a starter for a whole season yet. Heyward had a productive season after a dismal 2011 season. Freeman has been hot & cold; needs to cut back on the strikeouts.
Unstoppable? Based on your logic we really do not know what the players you named can do yet as they’ve yet to demonstrate it on the field., on a consistent basis. McCann’s All Star years are well behind him.
Don’t get suckered into the hype from the Braves’ spin doctors.
TheDudeAbides...
December 17th, 2012
5:38 pm
…..Is that a no?
jbill
December 17th, 2012
5:44 pm
True Bravesfan..lol. Whats so true about you?
Where do you get the right to tell others what you believe is the gospel according to you..you another reckingball? all “yes man” to anything Braves do? Just another smart a@@? I know you not God…How many season tickets do you have? this is not Russia where you can’t express your opinion unless your a libral Demo? Guess you just another that things your opinion is the only opinion…Have a goods day smart a@@.
Rick C
December 17th, 2012
5:47 pm
cornjolio, you completely missed my point.
Brave New World
December 17th, 2012
5:50 pm
Some of these Philly trolls are delusional – the Phils did not improve their pitching; they got rid of their number 4 starter in Worley, and a bit of their future in the high pitching prospect sent to the Twins. Revere and Young are good additions, but not impact players. Phils have strapped themselves financially with older high-priced players. Phils had a good 5 year run, but it is over.
WigWamWisps
December 17th, 2012
5:51 pm
Let me guess, the Braves haven’t made a move yet? I couldn’t tell by the ole blog….
Clark Howard
December 17th, 2012
5:54 pm
Frank Wren, what happened to all the money you had to spend this winter?
Where’s the improvement?
Dave Ramsey
December 17th, 2012
6:04 pm
15 million a season for Upton & 14 million a season for Uggla; or 1/3 of the entire team payroll, is not exactly bang for the buck.
TheDudeAbides...
December 17th, 2012
6:06 pm
If Uggla and Upton hit HR’s to their potential – that money is well worth it.
jbill
December 17th, 2012
6:06 pm
The Braves are not better than last year… I have no problem with Upton but other than that “where’s the meat”.
Felix
December 17th, 2012
6:38 pm
Bourn is leaving and Upton is replacing him. That’s a wash. Chipper’s gone and no one has been signed to replace his bat.
…Thus, at present the offense is weaker.
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
6:43 pm
I think Brave New World forgot about John Lannan and Mike Adams. Look before you run your mouth. Braves no improvement. Nationals improved Phillies improved Braves-nothing. 3rd place Final answer
Frank Wren
December 17th, 2012
6:47 pm
“Chipper’s gone and no one has been signed to replace his bat.
…Thus, at present the offense is weaker.” – Felix
Two words: Jordan Schafer !
Rick C
December 17th, 2012
6:55 pm
Felix, regardless of Chipper’s contributions, he only played in 112 games last year.
Angel Eyes, Lannan spent most of last year in AAA. I’m really not sure how you can see him as a good addition. They arguably were better off with Worley. Revere and Young don’t really improve their lineup either.
Felix
December 17th, 2012
7:06 pm
Frank: Thanks for reminding of us of Schafer. Wow. Now there’s major power hitter. I stand corrected. World Series here we come.
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
7:18 pm
@Rick C You are probably right but I still think they will finish 2nd. Michael Young good hitter. Defense? Revere 245 hitter good speed COULD LEAD OFF. But we will see. You know I respect your opinion.
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
7:20 pm
There are some more .220 hitters and some pitchers still out there on FA . Why don’t Wren go get them. They are perfect for him
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
7:20 pm
There are some more .220 hitters and some pitchers still out there on FA . Why don’t Wren go get them. They are perfect for him
Tommy Boggs
December 17th, 2012
7:40 pm
Amber Girl find something else to bitch about. Wren his holding on to his cards and will play them at the right time. I will remind you of the late spring training trade we made to get Otis Nixon. All trades or signings don’t have to take place before the winter solstice.
Why don’t you take your dog for a walk, or go buy a Chia pet for Christmas.
Tommy Boggs
December 17th, 2012
7:42 pm
Amber Girl is Angel Eyes not the Prince of Wales.
Yuuup
December 17th, 2012
7:46 pm
Well if Wren is not going to spend money to bring a free agent LF’er or 3rd baseman, or trade for the same type of player, at the very least he can use all that money he has sitting around and pay for fans tickets next season, that may be the only way you get some significant fan attendance next year.
I for one was played for a fool. I thought for sure by now the Braves would have added another big piece to this team. This front office just doesn’t get it. I mean I know that Frank Wren and company aren’t that stupid, because they wouldn’t hold the positions they do if they were that stupid. The fans, whether they buy tickets, pay for parking, buy merchandise, tour the facilities, buy the MLB package, or whatever it is, we fans are paying for their salaries. So do they really think that by us losing Chipper, Bourn, and Rossy, that the fans would be content with Francisco, Upton, and Laird as the replacements? Good grief, if they really believe that, then they are extremely stupid and deserve to have very low fan support next season, and every season until they do things.
I can understand if a team has no money to spend, or no prospects to trade, but the Braves have both, and haven’t used it. I am sorry if I am not like some of you that are all giddy about BJ Upton being here. I am interested in watching him play yes, but he is not the leadoff hitter that Bourn is, he doesn’t hit for average like Bourn does, and while he is sound defensively, he is not Michael Bourn out there in CF. Don’t even ask if I am giddy over the fact that the Pillsbury Dough Boy Juan Francosco may have a shot at being the heir apparent to Chipper Jones. If anyone is giddy over that, better check you mental state of mind, and seriously consider if you are a Braves fan or not. Ditto on Laird replacing Ross (or trying to is more like it)
So this is how I see it, they have the most money in years to work with, and they are doing NOTHING to try and improve the team. So even if you say that Upton and Bourn will put up identical numbers, we still took a huge step backwards in both the backup catcher position (which is huge because McCann is always ailing) and either LF or 3rd Base depending where they put Prado. If Prado moves to 3rd, it will mean a lame ass platoon in LF, if Prado stays in LF, it means the fat boy starts at 3rd base. Either way, we are now without a true leadoff hitter, we no longer have Chipper’s presence to protect other hitters in the lineup, and we no longer have a backup catcher who is capable of putting up starter like numbers on offense, and as strong defensively as Ross. The way I see it, the Braves despite having plenty of money to work with, are a worse team now than they were last Sept. Not exactly the way to keep fans interested in your product Wren, way to drop the ball.
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
8:03 pm
Whatever you say Tommy Boggs since you know it all. Would you like to come to my wedding on Christmas Eve And meet your Amber Girl or my Angel girl. First Babtist church, Burley, Idaho 4 pm. Be there or shut up.
Steve
December 17th, 2012
8:45 pm
The Trade of Dickey to the Blue Jays probably means that Bonifocio is off the table. Now where will the Braves find a lead-off type hitter? By the way, congratulations Angel Eyes. What a Christmas present!
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
8:50 pm
Thank you Steve.
Rick C
December 17th, 2012
8:57 pm
Angel Eyes, Young is coming off of a pretty bad year. There’s a reason why Texas is paying most of his salary next year. And to me it’s just another aging player on the Phillies. Revere will need to get his OBP up before he can be considered a lead off hitter. He certainly makes their defense better though.
Yuup, Prado has a career 298/340/469 line out of the lead off spot. He may not steal as many bases as Bourn, but I really don’t get the argument that this lineup does not have a leadoff hitter. For comparison, Bourn’s career line leading off is 270/339/362. And if a lack of SBs makes Prado not a “true leadoff hitter,” then you can just as well say Bourn’s excessive SOs make him not a true leadoff hitter.
It’s hard to replace a guy like Chipper. But let’s be honest here man, he only played in 112 games last year. We won plenty of games without him in the lineup. And Francisco did a decent job when he was starting. 262/293/497 when starting. If he can get his OBP up a little he would do fine.
A mid-market payroll team simply cannot afford to spend $3MM on a 35 year old backup catcher. Especially when they are already paying their starting catcher $12MM. Ross is considered by many to be the best backup catcher in baseball, so any other is going to be a downgrade. Laird was one of the best options remaining though. And as with Chipper, Ross only played in a limited number of games.
Rick C
December 17th, 2012
9:00 pm
Steve, I don’t see how the Dickey trade would have any affect on that. But I also really don’t see Bonifacio has a better starting candidate than any of our internal options. Would be good to have for a utility role though.
Steve
December 17th, 2012
9:05 pm
The Blue Jays have no need for a pitcher now, thus no trade need. In my opinion, Prado is better in the two hole, with his ability to hit behind the runner, and his patience.
Rick C
December 17th, 2012
9:13 pm
Are you suggesting that you think Bonifacio would have cost Teheran or Delgado? Because that would have been a huge overpay.
Prado’s numbers are actually slightly better leading off. I think he’s fine in either spot though. Can try Simmons leading off and if it doesn’t work out move Prado back up. No big deal in my opinion.
Steve
December 17th, 2012
9:23 pm
Don’t know exactly which pitcher, but probably would have cost an arm. Maybe prospect out of minors. I’m not sold with the idea of Simmons leading off. The Braves have more questions than last year’s team. Who leads off, who plays third, what will they get out of second and centerfield, plus McCann’s recovery makes one wonder how they will fare in a tough division. I am puzzled by the lack of a move for a leadoff hitter, especially when the Braves have more money than usual.
Comfortably Dumb™
December 17th, 2012
10:03 pm
I can’t believe people are still responding to Angel Eyes…this person is nuts.
Bravefaninok
December 17th, 2012
10:03 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/31521/power-rankings-nationals-reds-1-2
The folks that get paid for their opinions think the Braves are Top 5 team in all MLB…..
Gattis will be the Big bat in LF.
Bravefaninok
December 17th, 2012
10:08 pm
5. Atlanta Braves (94-68, plus-100)
The big move the Braves made in center field — losing Bourn but signing B.J. Upton — doesn’t really improve the team. That doesn’t mean Upton was a bad signing; indeed, his right-handed power adds a needed element to help balance out the lefty bats of Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann. But the Braves have other markers to suggest they’ll hold steady or improve upon 2012: youth in the likes of Heyward, Freeman and slick-fielding shortstop Andrelton Simmons plus young starters such as Mike Minor (big strides in the second half) and Randall Delgado who could improve. Oh yeah, and they have a pretty good closer. It’s going to be a terrific race in the NL East.
Strengths: Craig Kimbrel; Kris Medlen; bullpen depth; youth; left-handed power.
Weaknesses: third base or left field (wherever Martin Prado doesn’t play); durability of rotation (nobody threw 200 innings in 2012).
jbill
December 17th, 2012
10:17 pm
Congrats Angel Eyes on big day..Burly Idaho …cool. Good luck and many happy years.
Agree Steve @9:23
Agree RickC..thats way to much for Bonifacio.
Bravefaninok
December 17th, 2012
10:19 pm
“@DKnobler: Braves very excited about Evan Gattis, suggesting to teams that they could even go with him in LF next year.”
Angel Eyes
December 17th, 2012
10:21 pm
Thanks everyone. Off to work. See you tomorrow
jbill
December 17th, 2012
10:27 pm
The folks that get paid..lol..that was David Schoenfield’s (ESPN need I say more) opinion. I trust DOB’s opinion more than any ESPN jock.
joel
December 18th, 2012
12:25 am
bowman kicks DOB’s butt, weres all the new stories? AJC is not keeping anyone up to date!!
joel
December 18th, 2012
12:33 am
why do you all suggest the nats will be better than the braves? I see a heyward and freeman surge because upton will protect them both..remember a lineup with heyward, freeman, upton, uggla, and mccann has a potential to rake the ball…not to mention prado and simmons versatility
urban redneck
December 18th, 2012
2:31 am
bowman kicks dob’s butt? them’s fightin words, joel!!! i think the nats will win the east as well, but we should win a close second i hope. you said it perfectly-this lineup has the potential to rake the ball. they also have the potential to hit into double plays and strike out with runners in scoring position. i am not siding with the negative nancys saying we will finish fourth, but we have a lot more if’s than i am comfortable with. go bravos.
Braves sign utility infielder Pena FEATURED LINK | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
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5:15 am
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