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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,304 comments Add your comment
VaBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
2:32 pm
I mean shouldn’t someone like Todd Cunningham be given a shot before we call upon Schafer or Constanza….
VaBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
2:34 pm
Repost
BJ Upton wanted a 6th year or an option for a 6th year and Wren didn’t budge, and BJ is a athletic, durable 28 year old player. McCann will be 30 years old before the start of the 2014 season and has tons of wear and tear behind the plate along with vision issues, and now major shoulder surgery. No way Wren will offer anything longer than 3 years.
Wren did give Dan Uggla a 5 year deal, but the guy is a warrior. His whole career playing 150+ games a season. No worries about durability.
ozzie
December 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mac is gone after this year no matter what he does on the field in 2013. He could hit 30 jacks and 110 RBIs which would mean big pay day with an AL or even a NL team with cash.
He could hit 14 jacks and 65 RBIs missing 60 games and Wren will want to stay away for obvious reasons.
Even if he hits career avgs he will be gone bc he has AL written all over him.
Bethancourt shows “any” kind of improved bat this spring and Mac could be traded at the deadline depending on the situation.
Gattis does anything of note in AAA or in ATL behind the plate will also give Wren some assurance he will be ok.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
Mac will not be traded at the deadline
jim
December 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
The Braves top pririties now should be:
1. Extending heyward long term — It won’t get any cheaper later on. Heyward has not yet reached the level of a Braun or Longoria, so there is some risk for the team in doing a long-term deal and some incentive for the player to lock in bigger money ASAP. There is no other position player in the system with the tools and projection that Heyward has, and the prospect of the Braves signing Heyward or someone comparable in the free agent market in the near future is remote at best. For better or worse he is the frrachise player for the next 5+ years.
2. The focus has to be on fielding a competetive team for the next 5 years while the young core is in place. Baseball is too unpredictable. The best team does not always (or even usually) win the World Series. If you field a playoff caliabre team over a five year pleriod there is a much better chance of a title than loading up for a single shot at it. There is enough young pitchinjg on the staff and in the system to maintain the relative quality of the staff even after Hudson and some of the other current pitchers leave. Catching is a bigger long-term worry than anything else. It is not clear what the long-term options are there.
BravesFanInNashville
December 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
VaBravesFan. ” Wren did give Dan Uggla a 5 year deal, but the guy is a warrior. His whole career playing 150+ games a season.”
Actually Wren gave Uggla a 4 year extension he was already signed for the 2011 season and his extension covers 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The deal looked like a 5 year deal but Wren knew if he waited until after the 2011 season and Uggla hit free agency someone would give him a 4 year deal. At the time a 4 year extension on a second baseman that averaged 30HR and 90+RBI seemed like a good idea. Let’s hope Uggla returns to his career norms next year and he earns his $13 Million.
ozzie
December 29th, 2012
2:54 pm
I agree on Mac unless the Braves are 10 games out of the WC and he is doing ok. Then they will get some calls.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
2:55 pm
“…..Juan
December 29th, 2012
1:42 pm
Mejias is the New Canizares for the Braves…good number in AAA but not enough for MLB…..”
And we know this because?
MEJIA is yet to play in the ML’s. I think you’ve got to give the man a cup of coffee at least before you write him off offensively. And his glove is average or above at 1B. “The Flailing Cuban’ never had anything near to adequate defense.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
2:56 pm
yes, barring a catsasstrophy, I fail to see the Braves doing poorly enough to trade Brian
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
2:58 pm
doesn’t much matter what his glove is like with Freddie here. Mejia is a bench gut at most
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
2:58 pm
I believe TODD CUNNINGHAM has an invite to ST doesn’t he?
JasonInFL
December 29th, 2012
3:00 pm
Why are the Braves interested in Hairston? For what role? He slugs at a decent clip, but doesn’t get on base. He has a career .704 OPS against righties. He hits lefties really well at a career OPS of .825, but don’t we already have a 4th OF that hits lefties really well?
keyLargo.
December 29th, 2012
3:01 pm
Brian McCann is 28 and will be 29 2/20.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
SNEAKY PETE:
I never said he was or wasn’t a bench guy. I never said anything about his position with the BRAVES at all.
I said he should get an opportunity to prove himself with a couple dozen ML AB’s before writing him off as unworthy offensively.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
I would think he does rich, but I doubt they would jump him over AAA just to sit on the bench most of the time. I think they would have to see him as at least a platoon option. Since he hits lefhanders much better than righthanders he would seem to be blocked by Johnson IMO
jim
December 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
I agree with an earlier post by Lew that Gattis will play a month or two at AAA to hone his skill in the OF. Francisco will get a shot at seeing what he can do at 3B (at least against RH pitchers). If Francisco performs and Gattis shows he’s ready for the majors — then it becomes very interesting — a nice problem to contemplate.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
3:03 pm
and I never said that he shouldn’t get that chance, I simply replied that his glove is pretty meaningless as things stand
ozzie
December 29th, 2012
3:04 pm
If you value solo HRs and can live with a .250-260 career BA then you extend a guy like Uggla.
Most GMs wouldn’t have given him more than a 3yr deal with his bipolar offensive style. Today he is untradeable.
Since Uggla also has the rep of being a butcher in the field (a bit unfair) it was never really a good idea.
Uggla was a classic solve for X of the previous season move. They lacked pop in the middle of the order and they jumped on the first guy they could afford with pop. They ignored the rest of his game.
Apart for his walks (and 30 games in the summer of 2011) it was the second worst move since the Lowe signing.
It handcuffs the team financially and forces Prado to be a yoyo guy versus playing one spot.
He is a nice guy but he is a complementary addition to a team that already had a consistent and effective offense. The Braves had neither when they brought him in so its not really surprising that he didn’t’ stabilize things.
That is not his MO.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:04 pm
nnnnnnnnnnnnnn
And a Day of Rain
December 29th, 2012
3:11 pm
Really liked the suggestion that some of our big boppers could play well out of position. Imagine starting this lineup against the Mets or the fish for example:
Upton CF
Heyward RF
Gattis LF
Freeman 2B
Uggla SS
McCann C
Mejis 1B
Francisco 3B
Pitcher (Prado maybe)
Everybody there is playing their regular postition except Freddy and Dan, who only shift right one slot. To those who wonder about turning double plays – with sluggers like this we don’t need no stinkin’ double plays
Finally, if you’re still unconvinced, remember the hippos and elephants who performed so well in Fantasia? Our guys can do as well.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
3:12 pm
Most GMs wouldn’t have given him more than a 3yr deal with his bipolar offensive style. Today he is untradeable. @ ozzie
he was not bipolar in Miami and there was no reason to believe that his batting average would take such a plunge.
He was a very typical power hitter of today, medium batting average, decent OBP and high Ks, nothing to separate him from any number of other sluggers. Other than players like Chipper and Pujols and the like, they are all pretty streaky.
Why he took such a plunge is unknown, but don’t talk like there was anything in his play in Miami that indicated it would occur, and he had just had his best year
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
3:14 pm
too bad the Braves aren’t is a fantasy league, we could put the players where ever we wanted to whether they can actually play the position or not
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:15 pm
“….SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
I would think he does rich, but I doubt they would jump him over AAA just to sit on the bench most of the time. I think they would have to see him as at least a platoon option. Since he hits lefhanders much better than righthanders he would seem to be blocked by Johnson IMO…..”
I don’t think they would jump him over AAA either as he’s had 514 AB’s there.
There is no place for him on this club in my estimation, and it does him no good to be sent back to GWINNETT as insurance for a FREEMAN injury. This gordian knot is not one I would care to resolve.
I would think his name was prominant is trade discussions this off-season. What he’s doing down south may help WREN in this particular situation.
I’m betting there’s a trade for a couple lower minors bats before this is all said and done.
Hey, maybe he goes to the CARDINALS for OSCAR TAVARAS. heh! Seroius brain-fade by their GM.
BravesFanInNashville
December 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Ozzie….. If Uggla had hit anywhere near his Career averages of 30 Hr and 90 RBI Wren would have looked like a genius for capturing so much offense from 2B. No one has a crystal ball to see when a player that hit 30Hr 5 years in a row would suddenly fall off like that especially when he’s still in the middle of his prime. Give Wren a break… even when Uggla started so slow because he was putting so much pressure on himself to earn his contract he followed that up with a 33 game hitting streak and everything looked good in the deal. He had a terrible year last year but Wren couldn’t have been responsible to see that coming in fall of 2010.
You Monday morning quarterbacks think it’s so easy to do what MLB GM’s do. Wren has kept a really competitive team on the field under a budget and kept all of his prime pitching prospects while doing it. He’s been patient this offseason when it comes to trades and that’s kept him from overpaying for players that might not be better than in house auditions in spring training.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
catchers and 2B are two of the weaker hitting positions in the NL, and baseball, right? Wonder if that’s why Mac and Uggs still rank high….
might be better than the rest of their competition, just may not be worth the near 15mil it’d cost us as a mid market team. Especiaally in the case of Mac. He’s playing fewer games, caught a ton of inning already, and we have no DH. Very hesitant to match Molina’s deal am I, or give him even 4 guaranteed. Dude’s gonna be 10-5 soon, we gotta know that he will be healthy and producing for the length of the contract, cuz we’d be stuck with him. It would suck to lose Heyward, Freeman, Medlen, or others because we have too much $$ spent at C.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
VaB;I’d Love to see Uggla, McCann both have Monster years to go along w/ J-Hey & Freeman, then Gattis hitt’n his stride offensively in LF & Upton breaking out in his new surroundings. 6 Legit Thumpers would be sweet in that Lineup, w/ Simmons, setting the table, Prado clutch hitt’n as usual would be such a formidable lineup. Then, Juafran would make 7 threats, slimmed up, found his niche’ w/ decent plate discipline from our hitt’n guru’s walk’n'fletch, man i’m pumped about this roster already. Always hope’n it would be so
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:24 pm
I’d love to see UGGLA and McCANN have consistantly productive years. That would be nice.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
3:29 pm
3/45 for Mac next year maybe with a team option for a 4th season at 12-13mil… not going longer because of the injury concerns/durability. He’s a catcher, not a 2B like Uggla… he’s not playing nearly every day. In fact, I bet Mac plays only about 110 this yyear.
Can’t see Mac taking that, and I’d rather lock up Prado anyway. Gotta pick 1of Mac/Prado and posibly throw in Huddy as well. I’m picking Prado if I’m Frank. Prado, Huddy, Mac in that order.
I just hope Mac plays well enough for us to get back a draft pick!
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:31 pm
ZULIA gets the early start today, i think that’s 7:00 p.m. EST, not positive though. Line-up’s not yet posted. Last game of the regular season. The EAGLES are in the play-offs in the event they do not capture the league championship.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
3:33 pm
Yepez is lingerin’ around, journeyman catcher, have they considered him as well?
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
3:35 pm
I like that name ‘Yepez’, kinda want to go get me a ‘pez’ dispenser now.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
3:37 pm
Jose’ Recardo Yepez, Yep, gotta get me a pez now.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
3:38 pm
Juan has hit over .300 in AA winter ball before, just last year in fact. Proceeded to go 10-51 in ST, was unable to win a spot on the Reds roster, and was traded since he had no options left. 9% walk rate and 30% K rate… hold the excitement on him.
Much more enthused about Gattis, but he still is a guy with few appearances at AA, none at AAA. So I’m cautiously optimistic on him, more than I am on Juann. Hopefully he pans out.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
3:43 pm
Who would’ve matched up better between Boscan vs.Yepez? Boscouldn’t, but Yepez probably could as a backup to Laird, until Mac is back. I realize Boscan was released some time ago.
Lew
December 29th, 2012
3:50 pm
Over 18 inches of snow so far and it’s not suppoed to stop until one this morning. It’s snowing so hard I can’t even see the Green Mountains from our yard like usual.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:52 pm
YEPEZ seems about the same offensively both in AAA last season and winter ball [mid .260's]. He is leaky defensively however. No idea what type of game he calls.
Interestingly, he came over from the MARINERS last season. He faired much better offensively than as a BRAVE, but improved defensively from .986% out west to .994% in GWINNETT.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:54 pm
Hunker down there LEW. We’ve had a few rain-drops that’s it.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
3:56 pm
TOBF; Hopefully our Offensive Guru’s Walk’nfletch are help’n Juan find an approach at the plate, I know they’ve stressed to keep the at-bat alive, battle in the count, so mabey come ST. Juan just might become a well defined disciplined hitter. I know it was stressed from wren & the higher ups to bring on more disciplined hittin’. That’s why wren outdid the Falcons in bring’n in 2 offensive coordinators to help the Line-up to battle in the count, to have more quality at-bats, so it is a work in progress. We’ve seen it in spurts in key games. I remember the good at bats the Braves had against ‘Gio & the Nats, here at Turner field, that Sunday night game, so Hopefully, the guys are still working on approaches, getting on the same page that our guru’s are preach’n. Hopeso.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
3:59 pm
SHAWN McGILL another journeyman catcher. His days as a BRAVE may be at an end however. He’s the BULL DURHAM catcher they send to A-ball to instruct the fireballing rookie phenom. He’s been up and down a bit as a BRAVE.
Zing
December 29th, 2012
4:00 pm
DOB: Is there any report about how Mac’s recovering from shoulder surgery?
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:00 pm
richbrave; I owe ya man, I love the Diggs you give out man. The info. always beneficial sir, Thanks a million. mabey 2 million. Somebody in the organization needs to get in contact w/ you, wren should.
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
4:01 pm
74bj:
One can hope regarding FRANCISCO, but that’s a lot of bad habits to unlearn in a short period of time. Stranger things have happened however.
Lew
December 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
richbrave – Yep, definitely hibernation weather. Good time to get some artwork done and read the latest Raymond Koury and Clive Cussler books.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:05 pm
Lew, Lew, Lew, Are you in a Winter Wonderland sir? We can’t even get cold enough down here.
Lew
December 29th, 2012
4:08 pm
Zing – A couple of weeks ago, Wren was on MLB Network and said Mac was only going to miss a couple of weeks in April. Haven’t heard anything since, though.
Lew
December 29th, 2012
4:10 pm
74Braves – Central Vermont on the hills of the Eastern slopes of the Green Mountains. Going down to minus ten next week. NO more snow forecast after today, though.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:10 pm
don’t think they would jump him over AAA either as he’s had 514 AB’s there @rich
at bats where in AA? Cunningham has never been in AAA
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
richb; I hear ya, but even if theirs a little bit of some kind of offensive direction that they could connect w/ this kid, LookOut, he’d be a big plus for the Lineup, become such a smarter hitter than the flail’ncisco we saw from last year. Dang, I hope Walkn’fletch have reached Uggla’s head somehow where he could find himself as well. Wren’s wishes for the offense to cut down on the k’s, well he’s got 2 coordinators to help minimize the k’s. A 2 headed Guru they need to soak in some knowledge like sponges.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:15 pm
Lew, is there anyway you could send pictures, I’d like to see ‘em man, I bet ya’ll got some beautiful landscapes up there. I’ve never been to Vermont, hope to go someday. Hey DOB; can you recieve some pictures on this blog?
Who’s in LF? Plus, DOB’s Top 50 albums FEATURED NEWS ARTICLE | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
December 29th, 2012
4:17 pm
[...] The rest of the article can be found here: Atlanta Braves [...]
Lew
December 29th, 2012
4:17 pm
74 Braves – I’ve got some up on FB – you could friend me – Lew Hartman.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:18 pm
no pix here. probably afraid they would be swamped by porn stills from some of the trolls on here
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:19 pm
I believe last spring training, Gattis had a taste of the instructions from the 2 headed Guru’s, & so far in every level he’s been he’s had shown pretty good plate discipline. Course, it’s not the Major’s, but they’ve gotten in his head. He doesn’t k much.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
4:19 pm
brave man to be giving out your name like that… email address as well in the past
careful mate
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:21 pm
Lew has spent years here giving out beautiful free art work, most all the oldtimers know his contacts
Zing
December 29th, 2012
4:23 pm
Thanks, Lew, for the info.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:24 pm
Lew; Gotcha Bud, my daughter, my wife have the operations of the FB, I’ll tell’em, you gotta have a big Batch of Hot Chocolate, Hot Tea, Hot Cider sitt’n near by. Ya’ll run a ski resort there near you’re place?
Lew
December 29th, 2012
4:27 pm
Not us, but from about a half mile further up the road, you can see the slopes at Killington.
I don’t know how to post photos here – always had McFann do it for me. Maybe I’ll see if she’ll do it again. Got a couple with the same view during summer and right now – its quite a contrast.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:29 pm
McFann links to the photos I think
richbrave
December 29th, 2012
4:30 pm
SNEAKY PETE
Me:
“…..MEJIA is yet to play in the ML’s. I think you’ve got to give the man a cup of coffee at least before you write him off offensively. And his glove is average or above at 1B. “The Flailing Cuban’ never had anything near to adequate defense
You
“…..doesn’t much matter what his glove is like with Freddie here. Mejia is a bench gut at most……”
.”…..at bats where in AA? Cunningham has never been in AAA…..”
I thought we were discussing the merits of MEJIA.
Lew
December 29th, 2012
4:31 pm
TOBF – Sneaky Pete is correct. I’ve sent out well over 300 prints of my artwork over the past eight seasons (along with return addrss) as well as over fifty or so Wurlitzer drawings. Although I’m hardly a household name in the art world, I’ve been published as both an artist and an author and am not unknown even internationally.
Besides – got no money for anyone to steal and no one is coming all the way up here in this winter to confront me, either.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
I hear ya’ll; Hey Lew hang in there, my bad, not try’n to hone in on the personal life & such, it’s a shame that we have to gaurd against trolls & crazies around here, TOBF glad u threw a flag.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:37 pm
I believe TODD CUNNINGHAM has an invite to ST doesn’t he?…rich
me-I would think he does rich, but I doubt they would jump him over AAA just to sit on the bench most of the time. I think they would have to see him as at least a platoon option. Since he hits lefhanders much better than righthanders he would seem to be blocked by Johnson IMO
sorry I did not segue well there rich, thus the confusion. Johnson would not block Mejia, but I should have used Todd’s name in my reply
David O'Brien
December 29th, 2012
4:41 pm
Braves are one of a few teams still in on FA OF Scott Hairston. If price is right, he’s legit option for Braves. But Yankees and Phillies are also said to be interested.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
richb; Sounds like a good book, Merits of Mejia, good title, I Hope there’s good Merits found for him, as well as anybody in the organization that could help turn this franchise around. It might took Chipper leavin’ for these guys to really clutch it up by themselves. I mean hey Chipper did bring out the Dramatics a few times this year to win some games, & realiz’n to there were some negatives that went against us, but hopefully these guys will clutch it up for each other.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
not much of an option most seasons IMO, he had a career year last season and still had a crappy OBP
he does not normally produce numbers like that(except the poor OBP), I hope they don’t pay much
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
DOB: Would this be a good move?
JasonInFL
December 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
DOB, for what role? Repost:
He slugs at a decent clip, but doesn’t get on base. He has a career .704 OPS against righties. He hits lefties really well at a career OPS of .825, but don’t we already have a 4th OF that hits lefties really well?
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
SNEAKY; I hear ya,
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Could it work to have him & Johnson for duel bench roles?
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Hairston pretty much a righthanded platoon player, most years at bats in the 300s. I think I would rather just try Gattis
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
I don’t think Hairston is going to be cheap enough this season to just be a bench player jersey
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
Man alive; I’d love to have everybody if I could on this roster, how ’bout MLB extending Rosters from 25 to 27 or 28(sounds moronic). But would the Commish selig consider this, man, I hate it when at times we went to extra innings last year & depleted the bench too quickly.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
4:56 pm
SNEAKY; Gotcha’ on that take, whats his price, $7 – $8 mil?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
Ah okay Lew… sounds okay, just thinking that some creepy folks could easily find your address online… I know I could if I really wanted to
Dont get why we’re considering Hairston, even in a platoon situation. We’ve already got Reed as the 4th OF Id rather see Gattis or Cunningham up here. Scott is a marginal improvemnt. Not worth it.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
Mabey someone help me here; to understand this television deal (that we got screwed in)in simpler terms, why everybody else have much more in price & did we get the worst deal? Was it a Liberty Media thing or what? Did we get the worst deal? Why or How?
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
Good thing about Hairston is that he only made 1.1 million last season, so even in this year of outrageous contracts, he can’t be all THAT expensive can he?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 29th, 2012
5:07 pm
last year was a career year for Hairston… usually isnt that good. 2/6 or 7mil and as a platoon bat maybe… Yanks and Phils would probably offer morre though…
and having Gattis and Cunningham here, I dont see a need to spend on Hairsston… he’s at best an average hitter. Got Reed already, don’t need him now.
SNEAKY PETE
December 29th, 2012
5:09 pm
yes, I don’t see the attraction there
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
I’m crazy enough to say I like ‘em, but I hate for Gattis’s opportunity to be less, if any. He’s got some threat about ‘em.
JC Brave
December 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
Please Hairston, sign somewhere else…
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
5:12 pm
DOB; would you make the deal personally? If you were wren, would you sign him?
And a Day of Rain
December 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
JC Brave- Amen, brother.
TommyP
December 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
If true about interest in Hairston, I hope we pass.
No way this lineup needs him. Reed Johnson in a platoon out there for cheap is better than overpaying for Hairston.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
5:41 pm
He’ll probably go somewhere else, the fillies probably, then MLB network will elaborate over, & over, & over, they’ll discuss how much stronger this move made them, repetively for 3 to 4 weeks worth of the same news over & over, I’m stupid enough to signed on to the network because of my love for the game, but they really get annoying showing the same programs you seen a week earlier, I believe I am crazy, they’ll drive you nuts.
TommyP
December 29th, 2012
5:47 pm
I would imagine the cheap options that are out there in at least a platoon situation are David DeJesus, De Aza, & Will Venable of SD.
All 3 wouldn’t cost a lot in terms of what we give up and all 3 would be financially feasible.
I would take any of those 3 ahead of Hairston every day of the week.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
6:06 pm
Good points TommyP; Will Venable as I can remember hit us pretty good in the past, like his bat.
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
6:10 pm
Dang; Ya’ll take a look at Will Venable’s stats; He got some pop & speed, if he can come at a much cheaper price, go get ‘em Frankie, he did some damage to us last year or so, what a ya’ll think?
74bravesjersey
December 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
Matt Diaz signs w/ yanks, a boyhood dream, happy for em’.
Zing
December 29th, 2012
6:19 pm
Another sub-.300 OBP guy who rarely walks, but he does spank LHPing and is a veteran; viz., he is who he is at this point– no question marks like there are with Gattis and Francisco– and could platoon with Prado in LF against lefties (with Francisco at 3B against righties). Basically could replace Johnson in the Johnson/Prado/Francisco platoon that we’ve all been talking about, allowing Johnson to be more of the reserve/utility OF and bench bat. That would allow the Braves to put Gattis at Gwinnett and bring him up midseason if he’s killing it and Hairston is stinking. (Or just put Hairston on the bench if Gattis wins the job in ST.) More I think about it, more I think it wouldn’t be a bad signing.
David O'Brien
December 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
DOB, for what role? He slugs at a decent clip, but doesn’t get on base. He has a career .704 OPS against righties. He hits lefties really well at a career OPS of .825, but don’t we already have a 4th OF that hits lefties really well? — JasonInFl
Reed Johnson hits lefties well, but not a big power threat against them like Hairston is. Also, Reed’s ideal role is bench guy and PH as much as possible (he led the majors in pinch-hitting last year, by a considerable margin). If Reed is platooning in LF, it obviously weakens the bench a lot of days. But that (Reed platooning in LF) is an option they are also considering, if they don’t get another LF.
Zing
December 29th, 2012
6:21 pm
Guys, Venable’s a lefty who doesn’t hit lefties well, so that would not add anything to the LF position in my view.
Ward
December 29th, 2012
6:22 pm
Hello everyone! I would accept Scott Hairston, but he asking for 10 million, and don’t think the Braves will go there, unless they can structure a contract within range, and extentions for the following seasons. Phillys won’t over pay, and Yanks might, but most Yanks, Fans think they could do better? I read some of there blog.
Ward
December 29th, 2012
6:25 pm
I read some of theYanks blog, and the don’t think highly of cott Hairston, and on their blog some fans are suggesting Adam LaRouch.
Ward
December 29th, 2012
6:26 pm
Scott Hairston, is not a bad idea, but could be too costly, and Braves could do better, by just keep searching, and patience at the right time.
Zing
December 29th, 2012
6:26 pm
I love it when DOB’s comments mirror my own. Makes me feel like I actually know something about baseball. ;p
Ward
December 29th, 2012
6:30 pm
I like the Fowler trade if possible? Maybe ask the Cubs, about David DeJesus? Go for the big one, and get Justin Upton? If all else fails? Go with the platoon, which isn’t a bad idea either.
Ward
December 29th, 2012
6:34 pm
All, I’ll talk later…… It should be interesting already! Peace my friends and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!” Patience…….
JasonInFL
December 29th, 2012
6:38 pm
Thanks, DOB. I guess Hairston does provide more pop against lefties, but has been downright awful against righties for his career. To go along with the .704 OPS is an awful .288 OBP.
Man, I really thought we were going to get a damn good player (Choo type) for LF. Hearing about Hairston, platoons, and internal options is quite a step down from even the Hunters of the world. Oh well, I know Frank is trying!
Lew
December 29th, 2012
6:38 pm
TOBF – I’ve survived Lentz. Nuff said.