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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,304 comments Add your comment
JC Brave
December 19th, 2012
12:48 pm
So if we go into next season as is do we get to vote for Prado in LF and at 3rd for the All-Star Game?
The Braves will probably [and most certainly] face more righties than lefties, so in that case Prado would play more games as a LFer than as a 3B-man.
He would get voted as an outfielder.
smalltownbravesfan
December 19th, 2012
12:49 pm
yep and friday will be the end of the world as we know it!!!
jfp
December 19th, 2012
12:49 pm
“Frank Wren”, how many players do the Braves have on the 25 man roster that are over 35? I believe the real Frank Wren has done exactly what he said about getting younger and faster.
Mikega1965
December 19th, 2012
12:51 pm
Gattis isn’t hitting left handers very good .114 with 3 rbi’s no HR. .324 14 hr’s and 32 rbi’s againts RH in 145 at bats HR every 10 ab’s not bad, but pitching must be weak in the winter league.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
12:52 pm
jfp
Concerning Lew’s excellent post at 12:34pm, I’d bet this is EXACTLY what Frank Wren is thinking as he wades thru all the free agent and trade possibilities.
I trust Frank. Is he perfect. Heck no. None of us are. But he seems to have a pretty good team and so far the majority of his moves have been good ones.
I’m just hoping that those guys have discovered something about BJ Upton that is not openly evident to most of us baseball fans. And it would be real sweet if Dan Uggla can get back to his career norms for the next few years.
Health, development and a little good luck is what we need. Then get hot down the stretch. Prescription to a top notch season!
Lew
December 19th, 2012
12:52 pm
Without Chipper, Bourn or Ross this is an 85 win team? Yet we won 94 last year with them despite Chipper missing 50 games, Bourn not showing up for half the year and Ross only playing 60 games?
Got it.
George_George
December 19th, 2012
12:52 pm
With the way MEDLEN and MINOR looked 2nd half of season and HUDSON. I see the BRAVES winning 90 plus games again this year. I perdiced 85 last year.
jfp
December 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
Kind of surprised the Braves picked up Schafer after getting busted for pot.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
Braves signed another right-handed veteran from Mexican League, Tim Corcoran, to minor league deal for depth. The 34-year-old, who last pitched in majors in ‘07 with Rays, was 7-4 w/ 2.50 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) in Mexico in ‘12, and is currently 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA in eight starts in the Dominican winter league.
smalltownbravesfan
December 19th, 2012
12:56 pm
McCann will bounce back and have the type of year we all know that he can, Uggla plays closer to his pre Atlanta days, a full year of Medlen in the starting rotation, a full year of simmons at ss. Four reasons the Braves will/could be better in 2013
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
12:56 pm
can anyone tell me if time spent on the D L counts as service time in regards to free agency/ arbitation. Example of Beachy does the year he spends on the dl count as service time?
Yes, time on DL is service time. Which means a whole season on 60-day DL is a whole season of service time.
jfp
December 19th, 2012
12:58 pm
DS1, I also believe that Wren would like to use his budgeted dollars but is smart enough not to waste it just for the sake of spending.
nc82
December 19th, 2012
12:59 pm
Schafer Uggla and Teheran to the Jays for Bonifacio and Raja Davis
Dadgum.....
December 19th, 2012
1:00 pm
Jim….I wouldn’t count out Prado making the all star game at 3rd next year at all. Certainly a lot of time before then but look at his résumé to date. All star 2nd baseman, career .300+ hitter, sans injury he could have made it last year and probably should of had a gold glove. Also keep in mind that all star game nods are big popularity contests in many cases. Even if Prado is a bit off his norm doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make it. We’ll see soon enough. I agree with you on putting players where they best help the team but it is widely noted by the Braves (Wren & Fredi) that Prado’s best position is 3rd. I wouldn’t put an all star berth past him next year.
Rock on….I still have an original issue Led Zeppelin 1 vinyl album. Scratched to hell but that kinda adds to the musical experience. Right now I’m more into convenience and think Pandora is tremendous. No scratches either.
No. 1 Braves Fan
December 19th, 2012
1:03 pm
Nostradamus: But not written in stone. True the Braves will not win 85 games in 2013. They will in 97.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:05 pm
Being the unapologetic homer that I am, I’m predicting this to be Teheran’s coming out year!
With a little luck, this team will be better than 2012’s club. Bourn was great for 1 half a season. Mac missed a lot of time and played hurt. Uggla didn’t put it all together.
2013 has a year of Medlen, Simmons, and all those good young hitters making a play for starting time (Gattis, Francisco, Mejia, etc)
Damn, I love this game!
Martin Prado
December 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
Why do I never get a full-time position on this team? They always yank me around like a yo yo.
Wait til I become a free agent ! Then Uggla will be the contact hitter !
jfp
December 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
Dadgum, I wouldn’t count Prado out either. But because of his versatility, I think he got snubbed a little last year and it could possibly happen again. He was our MVP and most Braves fans can appreciate that, but I’m not sure everyone else does.
Drew
December 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
The Braves have usually done well with platoon situations in the Wren era. My thought is that a platoon between Prado playing either LF or 3B and a whoever is in the other position well net a greater statistic per position than any single player they would probably end up with if they got a full time player.
Save the money for an in-season or trade deadline move. It’s all about pitching anyway and the Braves still don’t have a proven #1 starter.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:08 pm
Prado could get an invite sorta like Infante did a few years back.
George_George
December 19th, 2012
1:10 pm
Martin Prado
December 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
PLEASE DON’T GO.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:11 pm
Pete Abraham @PeteAbe
#RedSox have acknowledged signing Ryan Dempster. Press conference this afternoon.
jfp
December 19th, 2012
1:11 pm
DS1, he should have gotten one last year, if Bourn had not have had such a strong first half, he probably would have.
smalltownbravesfan
December 19th, 2012
1:14 pm
thanks Dave, that really sucks for the teams, but i guess it would be wrong to punish the player just because he got hurt.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:14 pm
Ken Davidoff @KenDavidoff
My Hall of Fame ballot, Cliff’s Notes: ☑Bagwell, ☑Biggio, ☑Bonds, ☑Clemens, ☑Lofton, ☑Martinez, ☑Raines, ☑Schilling, ☑Trammell and ☑Walker.
glove51
December 19th, 2012
1:16 pm
Dave, ALWAYS enjoy your end of year list and really any discussion of music, even thoguh I generally don’t share yoru appreciation fo rap/hip-hop. I was REALLY happy to see you include John Fullbright’s record. I’ve seen him twice already. That Okemah, OK native is going to be a BIG star in the future IMO.
You had several others in there I would incldue too like Dylan, Divine Fits, Jack White, Alabama Shakes… I don’t listen nearly as much new music as you do, but I was SHOCKED you didn’t include The Lumineers, even as an honorable mention. That may be my favorite record of the year
Like others, I was surprised by the omission of Mumford & Sons as well, though I’m not AS high on them as a lot of folks are. Other you didn’t list that I’d offer up are: JD McPherson’s debut (another OK boy making national waves) Signs & Signifiers, Donald Fagen’s Sunken Condos, and The Avett Brothers The Carpenter.
Keep up the good work on the blog!
jfp
December 19th, 2012
1:17 pm
smalltownbravesfan, that’s exactly right, it wouldn’t be fair for the player to suffer. A player who has to rehab from Tommy John surgery is probably going to work harder than the guys playing the games. I know it’s a lot more painful.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:17 pm
jfp
Kinda hard to include multiple players of one team’s outfield on the All Star roster. Though if both are deserving, then that shouldn’t matter. But it seems to………
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
1:18 pm
but it still wouldn’t deter from the fact that over 1/2 the time he’s been with the club he’s been a well-below average offensive player.
With that, I do not disagree. The man has had wild swings in the variation of his performance. Noted, without argument.
However, the question is whether the poor performance swings are indicative of his abilities going forward (his new “normal”, as we’ve put it). For many here, the idea that Uggla could actually return to his career norms seems ludicrous, because the vision of those horrific periods of suckage is burned into their retinas. I merely point out that he has also had periods of good to excellent performance, and use that as the foundation for a belief that he hasn’t come to the end of his useful baseball life.
Whether he can reduce the length and severity of his slumps remains to be seen. I merely posit that he could, because he has proven, in stretches nearly as long as his slumps, that he can still hit. Thus, the notion of a return to higher performance (or, performance without such wide variations, perhaps) is at least a credible one, to me.
I do not think that you share that belief.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:18 pm
TOBF has now become a meteorologist on Twitter. Dude needs to get a job.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
Scott Miller @ScottMCBS
LHP Adam Wilk released by #Tigers after contract sold to team in Korean Baseball League, per club announcement
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Could Schafer be the Braves’ Bourjos for 2013?
DAP
December 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
scoots the question is whether the poor performance swings are indicative of his abilities going forward (his new “normal”, as we’ve put it).
and ill just add, if the .695 OPS could possibly the “new normal” then couldnt the .950 OPS just as easily be the “new normal”?
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
For many here, the idea that Uggla could actually return to his career norms seems ludicrous
yes. I think AT falls in that group. He may claim otherwise, but he doesn’t show it.
I think, more likely, the “new normal” is a .750 hitter, and not an .830 hitter. He could produce a .750 season without his mega slumps, it might be easier to stomach, but it’d still result in less production than he provided before Atlanta. However, the redeeming quality would be the end of the “half empty glass” posts… as there would be no “half season” split showing a lack of production, it’d all be rather Pujolsian in its delivery. Every split he’s the same, just that, it’s a .750 hitter, not an .830 hitter. Still good for 2B, but not a valid reason to feel confident about heading into a season with no left fielder.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
glove51: I didn’t buy Donald Fagen’s Sunken Condos, but I really liked what I listened to online. Again, I only consider albums/CDs that I have in my possession, because otherwise I’m just going on what others say or on a listen to part of a song, etc. So I’m going to miss a handful or more of ones that might otherwise make my list.
Sorry, but Mumford & Sons, Lumineers and Avett Bros. releases this year just did little for me. Good, certainly, but really not exceptional in any way, in my opinion. That whole sound’s been done so many times now, sounded redundant to me, nothing new or memorable.
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
couldnt the .950 OPS just as easily be the “new normal”?
That’d depend on your definition of “realist.”
Steve from OH
December 19th, 2012
1:26 pm
Could Schafer be the Braves’ Bourjos for 2013?
After looking at Bourjos’ stats? Yes, yes he could.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:26 pm
Jonathan Stafford @some_sports_fan
#Cardinals sign free agent C J.R Towles to minor league deal
nolie
December 19th, 2012
1:28 pm
My Hall of Fame ballot, Cliff’s Notes: ☑Bagwell, ☑Biggio, ☑Bonds, ☑Clemens, ☑Lofton, ☑Martinez, ☑Raines, ☑Schilling, ☑Trammell and ☑Walker
no Lofton, no Walker
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
1:29 pm
Could Schafer be the Braves’ Bourjos for 2013?
Hell. No.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
How ya been Steve?
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
swisher should probably start thinking about #indians or elsewhere; his LA dream aint happenin’. http://cbsprt.co/V71LJU
ChattTownBrian
December 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
I would assume if we get one of these guys that our lineup would come close to this
Fowler/ Prado/ Heyward/ Freeman/ McCann/ Uggla/ Upton/ Simmons
Prado/ Simmons/ Heyward/ Trumbo/ Freeman/ McCann/ Uggla/ Upton
If a Johnson/Francisco platoon situation:
Vs LHP – Prado/ Johnson/ Heyward/ Freeman/ McCann/ Uggla/ Upton/ Simmons
Vs RHP – Prado/ Simmons/ Heyward/ Freeman/ McCann/ Uggla/ Upton/ Francisco
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
1:32 pm
Still good for 2B, but not a valid reason to feel confident about heading into a season with no left fielder.
For that matter, not a reason to feel confident with Prado at 3B, either. Uggla’s role is to profile as a corner bat, regardless of his defensive position. If he only shows plus because of positional offense, he’s a bust.
Uggla’s ability to hit like a corner IF or OF is what allows the team to have Prado in LF or 3B and not suffer. If he can’t do that, better to look for a real corner IF or OF who profiles like one, trade Uggla, and put a regular no-power IF at 2B.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
glove51: Oh, and yes, John Fullbright’s a real rising star. From Woody Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah, not far at all from where I lived in Kansas (I was 10 miles from Oklahoma border).
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
Again, I only consider albums/CDs that I have in my possession
Glad that you do. I value that perspective more. Means you have the option to listen to it multiple times and, the frequency with which you listen to it would indicated it has a quality worth checking into, at minimum. I must now live vicariously through your music purchases, as well as other friends, now that I am out of LA so I’m glad you restrict your list this way. I can easily go out and read some other list by another guy to find an opinion on additional albums. It’s worked out great the last few years to take these lists from all my friends and see how many over-lap, and target them and a few interesting additions with my year end purchases. Very much appreciate it DOB. Can’t say thank you enough.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:34 pm
TOBF
Sounds like your relationship with Bourjos could be categorized as a “Slobbering Love Affair”.
I like the potential of Bourjos too, but being a realist, I also know that he might not end up being a reflection of his 2011 season. And I am also not willing to totally write off a guy like Schafer just yet either, for the same reason’s I am upbeat about Bourjos.
Steve from OH
December 19th, 2012
1:36 pm
Just livin’ the dream, DS1.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
1:36 pm
Prado really should be leading off for this team, Simmons should be hitting 8th. Wren needs to either find an impact bat or hope that Gattis is ready. Fransisco and his sub .300OBP should not be considered an option.
Real Talk
December 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
Lets get some new stuff guys..everyday the same people saying the same thing…I know DOB is like “what the hell”…Uggla is not getting traded, Schafer is not starting, Mccann can still be one of the top cathcers in the game if he can come back from a shoulder injury that affected him tremendously, BJ Upton was a bargain in this years market, the Braves WILL compete for a playoff spot and division title if they stay healthy, and Bonafacio still SUX as an option!!
PhilW1957
December 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
Seems to me our biggest issue is leadoff, not left field.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
@ncscoots: better to look for a real corner IF or OF who profiles like one, trade Uggla, and put a regular no-power IF at 2B.
Which is the contention of many of the Uggla haters………. The no-power 2B being Prado.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
Bourjos is a CF’r and Upton is not getting moved to LF. These Bourjos, Bonifacio, Schafer, Constanza wet dreams in LF are a waste of resources. These are all bench players, nothing more.
nolie
December 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
Schafer sukks
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
couldnt the .950 OPS just as easily be the “new normal”?
As he’s 33, I’d probably be a little suspect of a sudden extra 100 points of OPS over his career average.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
Steve
Glad to hear it. You deserve it!
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
1:39 pm
CTB, I can’t imagine that they paid Upton $75MM to bat 7th or 8th.
glove51
December 19th, 2012
1:39 pm
Dave, I see your point on Mumford and Avett Bros (although I LOVE the Avett Bros. and their live shows are among the best, the new Avett record was a little flat to me).
I disagree on The Lumineers, though. Yes, their style is similar to Mumford in particular, but I think thy lend a unique touch and distinctiveness to it. I personally think Mountain Goats style/sound has been done a lot.
Anyway, thanks again for the list; great job on it and your work here throughout the years.
DAP
December 19th, 2012
1:39 pm
chattownbrian, i dont know for sure, but i think the chances of seeing 3 lefties back to back in this lineup is very slim. fredi has upton and uggla at his disposal, and he will use them to split lefties, even if it doesnt seem like the need to be in the middle of the lineup. i think at best you may see heyward and freeman back to back.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
Schafer has little potential…. no pop in the bat, dude has a career 66 OPS+. Even with Bourjos’s struggles, he’s at 97. He was able to post an OPS over .750 and OPS+ 116. Schafers highs are .625 and 75. At his worst, Bourjos OPSd .606 and OPS+ 69. That’s better than Schafer’s career averages.
Schafer at his best isn’t much better than Bourjos at his worst. And I doubt that Schafer will perform extraordinarily well or Bourjos extraordinarily bad.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
Seems to me our biggest issue is leadoff
Being our biggest “focus” doesnt mean its necessarily our biggest need. Prado can provide a .350OBP, decent power, and 15+ SB from that position. Our biggest need should be finding an impact bat to play in LF. Maybe its Gattis or maybe Wren can get a Trumbo or Willingham via trade.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
A. Jones entered 2011 w/ Braves record for strikeouts in a season w/ 147. He now ranks 5th. Uggla (168/156) Bourn (155) Heyward (152)
nolie
December 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
nor can I, he certainly will not start the season hitting 7th
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
outside of what, 2 weeks, Schafer has never looked good.
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:42 pm
Marteeen Prado thought:
Would someone with more than half a baseball brain (roughly what I equate Fredi G to having) please inform Fredi that Prado is an excellent leadoff hitter, as well as being an excellent 2 slot hitter. Fredo doesn’t seem to pay a lot of attention to stats, as he has stated a few times (remembering his answer to why Schafer was being put in the leadoff role a couple years back).
Prado actually has hit better when in the leadoff spot.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
1:42 pm
nolie, I finally read your post from yesterday re the knife scales. How are you buying your wood? Are you aware that you can buy knife scale blanks already at the thickness you need, in various woods? You might be able to do that, instead of worrying about thicknessing the wood to your preferred size.
Do you have templates to draw out the shape and form of the scale, or do you freehand it, or what?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
1:45 pm
Ben Duronio @Ben_Duronio
A righty would make it 5-3 RH/LH with McCann back. Not optimal. Want at least as many lefties. LF should be switch or LH.
jfp
December 19th, 2012
1:45 pm
unbelievable, I believe Simmons would be the better lead off hitter. He hits for contact and doesn’t strike out a lot. Prado does a lot of the same things but has more power and since he doesn’t swing at the first pitch, it would give Simmons more opportunity to steal bases. He has the ability to steal 30 bases, why would you want a .290 hitter with that kind of speed to bat 8th in the lineup? I can see having that kind of hitter there, but not with the speed.
Real Talk
December 19th, 2012
1:45 pm
DS 1 I think he knows that and that may be what they have to do,but as a baseball man I can tell you what Martin does in the two hole is very rare and hard to find so they have to weigh options. I think if Juan plays, which I think he will, Simmons will lead off and Martin bat 2nd against righties…then against Lefties martin will lead off and Reed will bat 2nd.
nolie
December 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
most of the scales are between 1/4″ to 3/8″ that I find on the web, 1/8 to 3/16 id the wideset they would end up so there is some thickness there that usually needs to be gotten rid of while maintaining flatness on both sides. Truthfully I know nothing about power tools, even a hand drill bullies me
DS1
December 19th, 2012
1:48 pm
TOBF
Your love for Bourjos blinds you to the fact he is unproven. While you can state that he has potential and that Schafer has no potential shows that you are not objective in your views of these two players.
Now, I happen to agree that if I were going to bet on one of these guys having a good baseball career, I’d put my money on Bourjos.
But to state that due to 3 uneventful partial years in the majors, that Schafer has NO potential is not being open minded.
Gotta be a bit more open minded about players, kinda like you are asking other bloggers to be about Bourjos.
Not unrealistic expectations, but the idea that players can and sometimes do stretch and become something unexpected.
Anyone remember the expectations for Martin Prado a few years back? Folks were all over the board about what he would become.
DAP - Lefties Unite!!!
December 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
A righty would make it 5-3 RH/LH with McCann back. Not optimal. Want at least as many lefties.
ben durino doesnt understand how much braves fan hate lefthanded hitters.
of course, DOB made a fair point that all of our lefties are middle of the order guys, while the righties are projected at the top and bottom. personally, i dont see why it has to be that way. looking at who we have, i wouldnt mind batting heyward more at the top (2nd) and uggla and upton in the middle (like 4, 5, or 6.)
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
it would give Simmons more opportunity to steal bases. He has the ability to steal 30 bases
That might be a little optimistic, I think. Even in the minors, he wasn’t a great base-stealer, though he’s a very good base-runner.
nolie
December 19th, 2012
1:51 pm
no templates since each is totally different. . thought I would scribe the old scale onto the block to get close to the shape and then perhaps finish with a dremel. not sure when I should drill the holes, I was thinking after I get the slab close to the right thickness . never done anything like this so even just starting is a work in progress.
jfp
December 19th, 2012
1:53 pm
I do believe some on here are selling Simmons short from an offensive perspective. Just because Wren said any offense we get out of a great fielding shortstop would be gravy doesn’t mean he has to hit that way. He won a batting title the year before he came up and it’s not like he didn’t hit when he got here. I believe he will be even better this year, could be wrong but I like the way he looks at the plate and he is a smart baseball player.
DAP - Lefties Unite!!!
December 19th, 2012
1:53 pm
im with Wayne. if we cant find a “leadoff hitter” then it makes sense to me to just move everyone up a slot. prado leading off with heyward 2nd. 3-6 can be some combo of freeman, mccann, oggla and upton, with fransisco and simmons rounding out the bottom.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
of course, DOB made a fair point that all of our lefties are middle of the order guys
Tried to tell Ben that, he said it doesn’t matter… just stagger… I guess Prado, Heyward, Upton, Freeman, Uggla, Ethier, McCann, Simmons could work…
I believe in Bourjos more, DS1, because he’s actually played well in the majors. Did it for a full season. Schafer hasn’t come close to that. Played in Houston in that ballpark and still sukked. He has about 47 less PAs in the Majors than Bourjos does, his OPS is 100 points less. OPS+ is 30 points less.
Gestapo Fan
December 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
Anybody who is critical of the Braves, Frank Wren, Fredi or Dave is a troll.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
1:55 pm
looking at who we have, i wouldnt mind batting heyward more at the top (2nd) and uggla and upton in the middle (like 4, 5, or 6.) — DAP
So where do Freeman and McCann bat if you’ve got Uggla hitting fourth or fifth? (Because I can pretty much assure you they aren’t putting Upton sixth to begin his career with the Braves).
And if you got yet another left-handed middle-of-the-order hitter, where would he bat?
oasisbraves
December 19th, 2012
1:56 pm
#1 Album of 2012 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
oasisbraves
December 19th, 2012
1:56 pm
#1 Album of 2012 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Arkansas Transplant
December 19th, 2012
1:57 pm
I merely point out that he has also had periods of good to excellent performance, and use that as the foundation for a belief that he hasn’t come to the end of his useful baseball life…. I do not think that you share that belief.
Actually, I wouldn’t say I disbelief he could become (and I guess the word become isn’t the proper way of stating this given his age) more consistent hitter or shorten those stints of unproductivity. But after watching him play over the last couple of years have definitely given me reason to pause. Like I said before, it’s not that I dislike the guy cause I do, it more based on his performance that my opinion is based upon. He’s actually my son’s favorite Brave right now. I guess I look at it more like this.. is it possible that he could be more consistent? sure, but is it probable? To which I would have to say, I don’t know.
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
1:57 pm
If he can’t do that, better to look for a real corner IF or OF who profiles like one, trade Uggla, and put a regular no-power IF at 2B.
eh, in all truth, I’m of the frame of mind that it doesn’t matter how Uggla hits, the team should seek corner bats who profile as corner bats. Stop using Uggla and BMac as excuses for not fielding hitters in hitter positions.
But as to Prado, he is an .800 hitter averaging about 58 XBH… at 3B he should be fine regardless of Uggla’s performance.
For instance, in 2012 NL 3B hit .270/.333/.433/.766 and averaged 58 XBH.
Over the last 5 seasons NL 3B have hit .264/.330/.420/.750 and averaged 55 XBH.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
1:59 pm
unbelievable, I believe Simmons would be the better lead off hitter. He hits for contact and doesn’t strike out a lot.
You may be right. I just have Simmons hitting 8th in order to get our power bats in the middle of the lineup. If Wren could somehow land Willingham or Corey Hart type, (maybe Gattis can be that guy, but he hasnt faced MLB pitching yet) our lineup would be stacked. Either way the Braves realistically have two potential leadoff hitters on the starting roster. It makes even less sense to solely “focus” on finding a 3rd one to put in LF.
It kind of reminds me of when Wren put his focus on having to find a 1B in return for Teixeira. We got stuck with Casey Kotchman.
Real Talk
December 19th, 2012
1:59 pm
Most Likely lineups are:
Against Righties:
Simmons
Prado
Heyward
Upton
Freeman
Uggla
McCann
Francisco
Pitcher
Against Lefties:
Prado
Johnson
Heyward
Upton
Freeman
Uggla
McCann
Simmons
Pitcher
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
My thoughts of an optimal lineup would be
Prado
Heyward
Willingham
Freeman/Hart
Upton
Bmac
Uggla
Simmons
P
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
Heyward, Upton and Freeman have to go 3-5 in some combination… figure out 1-2, Prado/Simmons or Prado/Uggla…. If Simmons is 2nd, Uggla goes 6th imo. Mac should be 7th, whoever ends up being our last position player (Juan or Gattis) goes 8th.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
Truthfully I know nothing about power tools, even a hand drill bullies me
Well, for you, I think I’d go with the combo disc/belt sander. Using the belt sander horizontally, along with a pushpad, you could get some thickness off and keep it relatively flat. You’d still need to fine-tune that with hand-tools to get them perfectly flat and parallel, but you’re then talking about tweaking the wood instead of hogging it down by hand.
Then, once you get your thickness right, lay out the shape and use the disc sander to get it close to final on the convex side, and use the rounded end of the belt table on the concave side. Any small areas and tight curves, you’d have to do by hand, prolly. Not much way around that.
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
Sorry meant Willingham/Hart in the 3rd spot
Seattle Braves
December 19th, 2012
2:01 pm
Are we going to see Gattis and Majia is Spring Training?
DAP - Lefties Unite!!!
December 19th, 2012
2:01 pm
DOB i wouldnt mind batting heyward more at the top (2nd) and uggla and upton in the middle (like 4, 5, or 6.) — DAP
So where do Freeman and McCann bat if you’ve got Uggla hitting fourth or fifth? (Because I can pretty much assure you they aren’t putting Upton sixth to begin his career with the Braves).
no problem. freeman 3rd, upton 4th, mccann 5th, uggla 6th. i dont think you can really go wrong (or right, if thats your bent on this team).
And if you got yet another left-handed middle-of-the-order hitter, where would he bat?
is that even a remote possibility? who exactly would that be? playing what position? from everything you have told us, it doesnt seem like thats something that will happen.
Seattle Braves
December 19th, 2012
2:02 pm
is = in
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
2:02 pm
Anybody who is critical of the Braves, Frank Wren, Fredi or Dave is a troll
No we are fans who are passionate about our baseball team. Without the fans those guys dont have a job. Fans have the right to be critical especially when we are paying customers.
ATL Insider
December 19th, 2012
2:05 pm
The Angels are offering Kendrys Morales for innings-eating SP. Maholm for Morales seems fair to me. Both are in the final year of their respective deals. Braves were interested in Morales before his injury. He is a switch-hitter and plays 1B and corner OF.
Just no team celebrations at home plate if he hits a walk-off, OK?
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
2:05 pm
not sure when I should drill the holes, I was thinking after I get the slab close to the right thickness .
Yes, you want to do that while the block is still flat, not after you start cleaning it up for hand-fit.
You know, it might be useful to buy one of the kits available for this sort of thing, just to look at the sequence of events in putting it together. Might get some wood out of it, too.
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2012
2:05 pm
No we are fans who are passionate about our baseball team
I don’t think he was serious
nolie
December 19th, 2012
2:06 pm
buncha trolls……
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
2:06 pm
Simmons, Prado, Heyward, Upton, Freeman, Uggla, McCann, Gattis/Francisco
or
Prado, Uggla, Heyward, Upton, Freeman, McCann, Simmons, Gattis/Francisco
Hopefully Simba will be ready. Get to keep Prado at 2, get Uggla in a run-producing spot, no pressure, breaks up Freeman and Mac.
keyLargo
December 19th, 2012
2:08 pm
BMac’s first full season was 2006. If you compare his first three seasons with his last three you come up with these numbers. All those predicting great things and wanting to sign him to another contract for several years as the Braves highest paid player better take an extra hard look.
22 less games
37 less PA
22 less runs
80 less hits
56 less doubles
57 less RBI
42 more walks
71 more K’s
BA down 53 points
OBP down 16 points
SLG down 73 points
OPS down 89 points
OPS+ down 13 points
Total Bases down 138
SF down 6
unbelievable
December 19th, 2012
2:10 pm
The Angels are offering Kendrys Morales for innings-eating SP. He is a switch-hitter and plays 1B and corner OF.
He hasnt played the OF since 2008. Thats probably a concern