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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,547 comments Add your comment
uga-brave
January 11th, 2013
2:16 am
terry mcquirk, john S, ever considered the salary they both draw.
why the need for the both?
uga-brave
January 11th, 2013
2:17 am
who is actually the COO?
uga-brave
January 11th, 2013
2:28 am
at some point mcquirk has to be held responsible. he was there when the braves signed off on the worst cable deal of all time
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
5:15 am
Expected the Rangers to move on… all ours!
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
5:25 am
so the braves are going to front the rest of the NL east…. with medlen and minor?….. vs, halladay & Lee
vs, strasburg & gio. …. maybe Tobf had a point about getting greinke.
Haha yep… those guys don’t compare, at least yet… not front end pitchers right now. We’ll see. Hopefully we get Upton to help compensate
gio went 21-8 last season with a 1.13 whip.
and several said he cant throw strikes.
zimmerman, 1.17 whip.
strasburg 1.15 whip.
Several said he can’t throw strikes…. yep, don’t get that… he’s 25, he still is improving, and moved from the AL where he pitched really well. He’s a 1.
fellas our rotaion is about to be fronted by medlen, minor, and hudson.
#3, 3, and 3.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
6:14 am
Concerning the developments around turner field…
Yeah, they already tried turning the surrounding area into a nice neighborhood for the Olympics. Didn’t work then either.- TedGrillz
and also, still no marta service, and they’re reducing parking….. as if that wasn’t already enough of a problem
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
6:39 am
Seems like a waste of resources to trade for J Upton only to have Evan Gattis make him irrelevant
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
6:52 am
Tater_
Im sure you’re bored with it all by now but congrats on the NC game anyway.
ncgary
January 11th, 2013
7:38 am
thanks uga. getting ready to take my 14 yr old dog to my sisters
shes spoiled rotten so i hope she gets spoiled over there too. ayways
a good trip coming up and good news from docs and nurses, looks like i will get the
diaphragm pacemaker op, wont keep my muscles ffrom atrophying but will keep me breathing
and with the advancements at emory univ there in atlanta maybe the stem cells can fix that too
now that they know the common denominator , that too much protein is being made by certain genes.
anyways looks like i will be here for another yeAr of braves baseball so wren and mccquirk make it a good one
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
7:49 am
I hope you enjoy the trip, gary, and have continued success with the treatments.
brad
January 11th, 2013
7:53 am
“Wren’s modus operandi”
That’s easy to define: Locate as many K’s leaders as possible…doesn’t matter if they pitch or play the field!
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:05 am
no K leaders in the rotation….
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:09 am
“Wren’s modus operandi”
Befriend McFann and get fed mealworms
JasonInFL
January 11th, 2013
8:11 am
Frank has to at least make an offer, no?
JasonInFL
January 11th, 2013
8:12 am
Good to see you on here, Bat!
Couch Tater
January 11th, 2013
8:15 am
TennPaul –
The thought of your high-tech Rokucloud, while using your television antenna made from 2×4’s, coat hangers and chickenwire makes me snicker.
..be careful on the roof!
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:15 am
Hi Jason,
Good to see you, too. Should be some interesting story lines over the next few weeks.
JasonInFL
January 11th, 2013
8:18 am
Yup. I am in the camp that a quality to stud LF puts us in serious contention to compete with the Nats and win the division…which we want to do for obvious reasons. I think JUpton would be great!
JasonInFL
January 11th, 2013
8:19 am
I just want Frank to at least make an offer. Shoot, even if it is Teheran/Avilan/Ahmed/Spuill. Make an offer to get some dialogue going!
Couch Tater
January 11th, 2013
8:23 am
Thanks Bat!
Funny how some come out with a new 2013 poll, less than 24 hrs after the game. Give me a chance to buy an old 2012 Bama cap first.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:23 am
I’ve noticed that. I wonder if the Braves will spend the resources. I’m really interested in what they try to do with Prado. I’ve seen some pretty wide ranges in what it would take to extend him.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:28 am
Ha, no kidding, Tater. Twitter world
Well watch out cause 2013 is gonna the the year of the Dawg.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:32 am
get Justin, have Gattis practicing his catching in AAA to get ready for 2014…. see who between Gattis and Bethancourt is ready for 2014…. if both are, may allows us to trade 1 as the centerpiece for David Price.
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
8:33 am
I am in the camp that a quality to stud LF puts us in serious contention to compete with the Nats and win the division
Unfortunately, it’s not totally clear-cut that Upton 2 is an actual “stud”. The on-again, off-agin offensive performance could be put down to youth, I guess, but, even in his excellent years, his home/away splits are a little alarming. Add in the family thing (which could be good or bad), and it’s not some slam-dunk no-brainer.
If Gattis had already had some playing time at AAA, we might have a better read on his projectibility at the ML level and the decision might be a little easier. As it is, I’m a Gattis believer, but even I would probably like an option which provides a little more confidence in probable performance. Problem is, I’m not convinced that Upton 2 gives the team that.
David O'Brien
January 11th, 2013
8:35 am
Just added this to blog I posted last night about Upton and Gattis, etc:
Most good young players have already shed the prospect label and put in at least a few seasons in the majors before their 26th birthday.
There are plenty of exceptions, however. The 2011 World Series champion Cardinals had a few of them — David Freese, who’d been a 27-year-old old rookie in 2010; and Allen Craig and Jon Jay, who each debuted at age 25 in 2010. I covered a 1999 Marlins team that had 27-year-old rookie Kevin Millar, who had been 25 when he spent a second full season at Double-A.
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
8:35 am
Well watch out cause 2013 is gonna the the year of the Dawg.
Don’t your boys start out with Clemson, South Carolina, and LSU? That’s a little harsh, brother.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:38 am
JU was at his worst last year, had some injuries…. 107 OPS+. That’s about what his older brother has averaged the last 3 years, and at 28, BJ still has potential… Justin would be a good get.
.250/.325/.406/.731 on the road, BJ is .757…. plus, as the FG article stated, his road numbers are already devoid of the best hitter’s park, plus he spend a lot of time at Petco, AT&T, and even Dodgers stadium…. don’t punch him down too much for his “poor” road stats, He’ll improve.
JasonInFL
January 11th, 2013
8:40 am
He’s 25.
Couch Tater
January 11th, 2013
8:41 am
Bat – As Saban said, the Dawgs were 5 yds away from a new cap.
I would have liked to have seen a Dawg/Duck matchup in the Sugar. I think that would have generated alot of interest. As it was, the Gators weren’t interested. Their play and fan support reflected that.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:44 am
That’s a little harsh, brother.
North Texas for a breather between USC and LSU. Should be fun
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:44 am
Julien Benjamin @bravesfanjulien
@Ben_Duronio Walden being so good against LHP in addition to RHP, throwing harder, and cheap…. should make us attempt to move EOF, right?
Ben Duronio @Ben_Duronio
@bravesfanjulien Should have already been moved IMO. Hopefully they are looking to trade him
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:47 am
Ben Duronio @Ben_Duronio
I also could see reasons for the Braves trading Martinez. He’s the last guy out of the pen in ATL and could be a solid mid-reliever.
Yep… paying more than the min for the 7th guy out of the pen for us…. move him
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
8:47 am
plus he spend a lot of time at Petco, AT&T, and even Dodgers stadium…. don’t punch him down too much for his “poor” road stats, He’ll improve.
Really? What, exactly, gives you any indication that is the case?
BTW, he raked at Petco and was average at Dodger Stadium, in his career. So much for the theory of NL West stadiums suppressing his road numbers.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:52 am
Tater_
SEC championship games a blast even on the losing end. Sugar woulda been nice, they seemed disinterested in Nebraska. Not hard to understand, really.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
8:52 am
TOBF, I think you would believe most anything Duronio would spit out. Start following someone else on twitter. The 24/7 trade EOF tweets are getting to be a bit much.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:52 am
.689 at Dodger, .680 at AT&T… and in places where he has 65 or more ABs… he’s under 700 at Wrigley, Busch, and Miller
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
8:54 am
Sorry, I read something wrong on Upton. He kinda sucked at Dodger Stadium, too.
But he also got owned at Coors, so go figure.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
8:55 am
The 2 brothers on one team thing bothers me. No idea why – just does.
Taijuan Walker is a pretty awesome RH pitching prospect, and I am surprised the Mariners were willing to make that sort of a deal. Sucks for Mariners fans because why should Jack Z care if they trade a prized pitching prospect for now value? He’s gone at the end of the year if the Mariners don’t significantly improve.
Walker, Franklin, Pryor and Furbush for Upton is a heck of a package.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
8:55 am
was a blast*
ncgary
January 11th, 2013
8:56 am
thanks bat hope everything is getting better with you too
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
January 11th, 2013
8:59 am
Anyone EXCITED About this Season???
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
9:00 am
and in places where he has 65 or more ABs
Even you know that’s too small a sample for anything meaningful.
Tell you what…take all his road PAs, remove any five parks that you think suppressed his numbers, and tell me how he does in the rest. That gives you lots of room to finagle the data to make it fit your narrative, but I suspect the guy is still going to look pretty feeble away from Arizona.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
January 11th, 2013
9:00 am
3 More Weeks Til My Athlon Sports Baseball Annual Prediction Magazine hits the streets!
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
9:00 am
Thanks, gary
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
9:03 am
I think you would believe most anything Duronio would spit out
Duronio is an idiot. Full-blown.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
9:09 am
Two of their best young bullpen arms, a Top 10 overall prospect(2nd best RHP prospect in the minors) and one of the better SS prospects in baseball.
chipl1960
January 11th, 2013
9:11 am
gary have a great trip. Keep a smile on your face. Your news sounds encouraging.
chipl1960
January 11th, 2013
9:13 am
sounds like D-backs may not be sold on SS prospect they got from Cleveland.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
9:18 am
sounds like D-backs may not be sold on SS prospect they got from Cleveland.
Yeah, and that only cost them Trevor Bauer. Sure hope they believe in Gregorius.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
9:22 am
Took out just 2… AT&T and Dodger Stadium….
1182 PAs, 1045 ABs, 159 runs, 307 hits, 50 2B, 9 3B, 32 HR, 107 RBI… 9.6% BB rate, 24.1% K rate
.294/.356/.451/.807
If I take out one more, Miller Park (where he has 72 career PAs)… he goes to .300/.360/.458/.818
Taking out any more, I’d just make him look better.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
9:23 am
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Harold Reynolds just said on @MLBNetwork’s “Hot Stove” that Justin Upton repeatedly told #DBacks he would not approve deal to #Mariners
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Harold Reynolds is the younger brother of Upton’s agent, Larry Reynolds. #DBacks #Mariners.
BravePack(FreeFan)
January 11th, 2013
9:36 am
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
8:32 am
get Justin, have Gattis practicing his catching in AAA to get ready for 2014…. see who between Gattis and Bethancourt is ready for 2014…. if both are, may allows us to trade 1 as the centerpiece for David Price.
I agree with this. I wouldn’t approve a deal to the Mariners either if I was Upton. Lots of travel being in Seattle and very far from home for him. Tower has been f’n with this guy for years now…good for Justin.
Now Wren needs to get this done to put this team over the top with a stacked line-up. The Braves can’t afford to rely on platoons and minor league prospects that they hope pan out. Upton is there for the taking and this Braves team needs one more piece. JUpton is that piece.
Patrick
January 11th, 2013
9:43 am
If you read between the lines Justin has done just about everything he can with dignance to put himself into position to be traded to the Braves. He has handled this entire process smartly.
This is THE defining moment in Frank Wren’s career. HE HAS THE ABILITY to pull off a trade for Upton. Does he have the stones to do it? Personally, I’d give up Simmons to get him. But, it’s clear Wren will not. I do believe that he could still trade for Upton without Simmons in the deal though.
The biggest reason that I would do EVERYTHING I possibly could to make this trade is because both BJ and Justin has enormous potential. Both of them have shown flashes of what they are capable of. If you were to put them together in a market that isn’t crazy (like Philly or New York) it should ease their stress level and then just allow them to make each other better. I really believe that is the key to unlocking how to bring the best out of both of them. You are talking about 2! 2 potential MVP’s. You would have to be a complete idiot not to do whatever is necessary to make this deal.
I know Towers is a tough GM and I worry about that because Wren isn’t Schuerholtz. He’s not going into the hall of fame (though he could give himself a chance if he pulls this deal off) but he and Towers did come to an agreement on Jake Peavy a few years ago and Peavy declined it. That won’t happen this time. I believe that Atlanta and next to his brother is where Justin wants to be.
I would trade Teheran or Delgado or both for him and our other SS prospect and Gattis, Bethancourt, etc…do what it takes to vault the Braves into serious contenders. Pulling this trade off would also vault attendance, two of the most exciting players-brothers-playing next to each other in the same outfield. That will put people in the seats and sell season tickets.
I would fire Wren at the beginning of the season if Upton isn’t our staring left fielder. Some might say that is ridiculous, but I think that passing up on a potential future MVP that has fallen into your lap is ridiculous. How can you justify to anyone that you passed that up for a “prospect” that clearly has some serious mental issues, committment to the game issues and should be in the prime in the majors but is still toiling away in the minors and you went with him because he had a good winter league season in Venezuela? That’s crazy.
Well, I could keep ranting but I it will not do anything. I DO HOPE THOUGH THAT THE MEDIA: DOB, MARK BOWMAN, JEFF SCHULTZ, MARK BRADLEY RANT AND KEEP RANTING AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE BRAVES TO TRADE FOR JUSTIN UPTON-BECAUSE THAT DOES WORK!
Everything that the media and fans can do should be done. Constant calls to Altanta sports radio, petitions (like the one that was started {AND WORKED!} that got Skip Carey back). Campains. Daily articles from every Atlanta sports writer clammoring for Wren to make this deal happen. Radio broadcasters constantly talking about how bad a move this would be all the way around if they do not trade for Justin.
These things work. Like I said before, it worked for Skip Carey and it worked in Chicago to get Lovie Smith fired. Everything should be done to get him, everything! Otherwise, no one should complain when this team doesn’t win the division, make the playoffs or lose in a playoff game, get eliminated in the first round, etc…cause that is what will happen if we don’t have 2 Uptons in the outfield on opening day. GET THIS DONE FRANK!
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
9:46 am
Personally, I’d give up Simmons to get him. But, it’s clear Wren will not.
Glad Wren is in charge…. harder to get an SS like Andrelton than a LF like Justin
Hugo Z Hackenbush
January 11th, 2013
9:50 am
Sounds like it’s not the “prospect” that has “serious mental issues” here…
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
January 11th, 2013
9:51 am
@Patrick
Co-Sign on that 9:43 post.
This is still a 1 and Done Team, BEEEEJ is not enough
Get Upton NOW!
If we get J-UP, No team in the NL would be able to Eff with our Squad!
Lew
January 11th, 2013
9:51 am
I have very mixed f3eelings on an acquisition of J Upton. Young, but very inconsistent. Above average OBP, but strikes out a fair amount and deos not walk all that much and I’m concerned about his power production going down in Atlanta.
He’s going to cost a hefty package in prospects from a minor league system that is very thin and he’s about to become not very inexpensive in addition to the inconsistency.
I just don’t see him as being “the missing link” in making us a dominant team – at least not if the numbers he puts up resemble his 2010 1nd 2012 production and tose numbers are certainly not worth $14 mil going forward. If .280, .345, with 17 HR is what he’s going to bring to the mix, I’d just as soon try Gattis in LF.
abeeeewright
January 11th, 2013
9:53 am
Personally, I’d give up Simmons to get him.
I didn’t read any farther in the diatribe then this.
It kind of deflates anything you may say from now until the end of time that you would give away six years of a guy who is already being described as the best defensive SS in the league for what would be an above average LF with a handful of years before FA.
Especially after last year’s Pastornicky experience. With so many ground ball pitchers, defense at SS is critically important.
flange1
January 11th, 2013
9:53 am
After looking at Seattle’s package, what would it take to get J Upton?
Nick
January 11th, 2013
9:54 am
Simmons, Prado, Heyward, J Upton, Freeman, BJ, Mac, Uggla could be a formidable lineup.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
9:57 am
After looking at Seattle’s package, what would it take to get J Upton?
Towers isn’t getting a equal offer to that. That was the best deal they could of made for him. Walker is an elite prospect.
If Towers demands are still that high, then the Braves would probably have to give up our three best prospects plus maybe a reliever. So….Teheran, Graham, Bethancourt and Avilan? I don’t know. I think Seattle’s package was a lot better.
Patrick
January 11th, 2013
9:57 am
Is Simmons ever going to crack the top 10 in MVP balloting? No..
Justin Upton has already
Enough said
chipl1960
January 11th, 2013
9:58 am
Without the leverage of other teams being involved I think the asking price will be lower. Now seems like the time to pull the trigger. Start with Ahmed and Delgado. Gotta play a little poker with Towers. Why push all chips to the middle if its not necessary.
abeeeewright
January 11th, 2013
9:59 am
I doubt it would take “Seattle’s package” to get J Upton.
Towers has put his team in a difficult spot with his incompetence. (just like he did the Padres before)
flange1
January 11th, 2013
10:02 am
Patrick,
Does that mean we should trade Simmons for Omar Infante?
Infante has been an all-star too.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
10:02 am
After looking at Seattle’s package, what would it take to get J Upton?
It’d have to be less, no? That’s 1 team out, Texas is moving on…. Mets and Phils don’t have much to move for him
.278/.357/.475/.832 Unlike his brother, Justin hits for average, has a good OBP, and has some power. At his worst, he slugged .430, that’s what BJ has averaged the last 3. He’s “only” 25, so he still has potential. After all, BJ at 28 does. 117 OPS+ for Justin, similar numbers to McCann (117 OPS+, .279/.351/.475/.826 and is younger/plays a less demanding position. Still room for the kid to blossom and break out, in an enviroment where he’s wanted.
Plus, I showed above, take out Dodgers and AT&T (he’s struggled at La, AT&T is a hard place to hit), he’s not a bad hitter on the road.
Patrick
January 11th, 2013
10:06 am
I have very mixed f3eelings on an acquisition of J Upton. Young, but very inconsistent. Above average OBP, but strikes out a fair amount and deos not walk all that much and I’m concerned about his power production going down in Atlanta.
He’s going to cost a hefty package in prospects from a minor league system that is very thin and he’s about to become not very inexpensive in addition to the inconsistency.
I just don’t see him as being “the missing link” in making us a dominant team – at least not if the numbers he puts up resemble his 2010 1nd 2012 production and tose numbers are certainly not worth $14 mil going forward. If .280, .345, with 17 HR is what he’s going to bring to the mix, I’d just as soon try Gattis in LF.
Lew, what you say makes sense. It is a gamble. But both BJ and Justin are two of the most talented players in all of baseball. I think that them playing together will make each of them better players and you could be looking at two perennial MVP candidates for the next few seasons. Personally, I would take that gamble.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
10:07 am
Peraza or Ahmed, Teheran or Delgado, 1 of EOF/Venters/Spruill/Gilmartin, and maybe Juan. Would they want Terdo, Cunningham, or Lipka instead of a pitcher for the last spot?
Murph
January 11th, 2013
10:12 am
1. Simmons
2. Prado
3. Heyward
4. J. Upton
5. Freeman
6. B. Upton
7. McCann
8. Uggla
That, my friends, would be one of the most dynamic offenses, top to bottom, in all of baseball. 25-30 HR power 3-8, with another 10-15 out of 1 and 2??
Start with Delgado and Ahmed and figure out another player or two to get it done. Watch out for the Rangers… now that the price has been set, their posturing about being out of the Upton race is going to be exposed as the canard that it really is.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
10:18 am
get that lineup, and I’ll go along with RBF in saying that we score 100 more runs, and with Mike in saying that team SLG will go up by 40 points!
Couch Tater
January 11th, 2013
10:20 am
I see the AJC has a list of rejected vanity car tags. Some not on the list..
FnPopup. – submitted by Kelly Johnson.
RobertsMyBtch – submitted by Bobby Cox
what you want in the space provided below – submitted by Chuck James
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
10:30 am
You guys are letting your eyes get bigger than your stomach on Upton 2. Especially with the trade packages to offer.
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
10:32 am
Took out just 2… AT&T and Dodger Stadium….
And how many PAs did you remove as opposed to how many you left in? And did you remember to remove Arizona from the equation?
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
10:32 am
I think the Mariners overpaid for him – if that truly is the package sent over. Would not of traded Walker for him. Swap Hultzen for Walker and I think it’s a solid deal from the M’s standpoint.
Leigh
January 11th, 2013
10:33 am
DOB – You think its possible that the d-backs did the Seatlle trade knowing it wasn’t going to happen just to show what kind of return another teams is willing to give? In other words; they want to trade Upton but are having trouble getting a good return for him. Now they can use the Seatle deal as a way to extract more from other teams. They did it to establish value knowing it wouldn’t go through.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
10:37 am
David Cameron @DCameronFG
Overrating of pitching prospects continues. RT @jcrasnick: One executive says #mariners were “clearly overpaying” for Upton.
I agree with him in the sense that elite hitting prospects are more valuable than elite pitching prospects. I was never of the opinion that a one sided system of pitching prospects can easily cash them in and simply flip them for whatever they wanted. Bogus logic, imo.
DAP
January 11th, 2013
10:39 am
if wren could get upton, i think id take the chance with him. the potential of a team that has heyward, freeman, simmons, and the uptons taking up 5 spots in the lineup the next 3 years…thats huge. plus, the storyline of the brothers being together could really help the braves as far as PR goes (national spotlight, attendance).
i think i would take the chance.
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
10:41 am
They did it to establish value knowing it wouldn’t go through.
Except that they reduced the marketplace by doing so. Even if they knew going in that Upton would refuse the trade, publicly reducing the available trade partners negates any edge they might have gotten from the proffered package as a value-setter.
Murph
January 11th, 2013
10:45 am
Man, Stanton has it good right now compared to Upton. It’s going to get awfully awkward in the Diamondbacks’ locker room if they start the season with him still on the roster.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
10:46 am
Took out just 2… AT&T and Dodger Stadium….
And how many PAs did you remove as opposed to how many you left in? And did you remember to remove Arizona from the equation?
I took it out of his road stats…. so yes, AZ isn’t included. Took out 352 of 1532 PAs (about 23%)… parks that he wouldn’t have to play in often anymore
1534 total road PAs, took out 352, leaving 1182.
tony austin
January 11th, 2013
10:47 am
Ahmed/EOF/Delgado (Someone proposed these three but I can’t remember where I read it.)
I’d like to see Wren go for it. For three years of Upton, there should be very few untouchable prospects.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
January 11th, 2013
10:51 am
Substitute Towers for Sollozzo…”You think too much of me, kid. I’m not that clever.”
Dadgum.....
January 11th, 2013
10:51 am
I’ve been on this fine blog since inception and I can’t remember a time when LF wasn’t the brunt of our jokes (Loaf on a Blackberry) or fodder for at least 50 blog topics titled “if we could only find a LF power bat to get us to the WS”. Now that the JUp rumors have caught fire again here the Braves sit with that same LF problem with a chance to do something about it. For sure Wren is trying without mortgaging the future too badly.
I do think JUp helps this team tremendously and not just his HR potential and excellent defense but for one big reasons. No more platooning Prado. 3rd base is a very very tough position to handle full time. Wren says it’s his best position. Moving back and forth like a ping pong ball to LF makes it no easier. Prado’s versatility has served us well in the past but that was primarily due to Chipper. With JUp there is no need to platoon. Prado can get entrenched at 3rd knowing he won’t be shuttled to LF at all. Any need to give JUp a rest could be handled by Reed Johnson or say Gattis. So aside from Jup’s prowess as a LF he makes the entire outfield (along with BJ) a much stronger outfield than last year both offensively and defensively. I’m betting Prado has a better year this year than last and not platooning will help. I can easily see Prado with 16-20 homers and about .300 BA along with plus defense stats.
Rock on……we’ll see but one thing for sure is that JUp is better than any hope of Gattis being the answer in the short term. No knock on Gattis, in fact I bet he makes the 25 man out of ST, but what we get from JUp will trump Gattis. Gattis off the bench could help the Braves and if it is clear after some MLB experience he is the LF answer then that is another conversation when extending JUp comes around.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
10:51 am
In other words; they want to trade Upton but are having trouble getting a good return for him
Maybe they would have better luck if they stopped holding a gun to their own head.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
10:52 am
Ahmed/EOF/Delgado (Someone proposed these three but I can’t remember where I read it.)
Good lord. If that could get it done, Wren would of pulled the trigger by now. You’re not including one Top 10 prospect in that trade.
Efrim
January 11th, 2013
10:56 am
Maybe they would have better luck if they stopped holding a gun to their own head.
Seriously. They signed a RH outfielder in Cody friggin Ross when they already had Upton, Kubel, Parra, Eaton and Pollack. What would they realistically get for Jason Kubel? Not that much, imo. They made that Ross signing knowing that they were trading Upton and probably felt like they had a deal that was close to acceptable to them. And I don’t think that deal was always Seattle’s proposal.
Nick
January 11th, 2013
10:57 am
It appears Upton will be traded to either Texas or Baltimore. The Braves are OUT on Upton. Looks like Logan Schafer in LF.
Murph
January 11th, 2013
10:57 am
For sure Wren is trying without mortgaging the future too badly.
The future is on the MLB roster… there is no future in the minors, except for maybe Graham and/or Wood.
I’d open up the books and tell Towers he can pick one MLB reliever from Venters and EOF, one starter from Delgado and Teheran, and 3 other players from the minors. Whoever he wants.
Frank could make it fun and give Towers a 60 second shopping timer, like when people get 60 seconds in Toys R Us to put as much in their cart as they can. Let him pick as many of our minor league players as he can in that time frame.
kenhotlanta
January 11th, 2013
11:00 am
Patrick @ 9:57: “Is Simmons ever going to crack the top 10 in MVP balloting? No..
Justin Upton has already
Enough said”
I don’t know how you can say this, Simmons is an elite fielder and showed signs last year of being a better hitter than we thought. Ozzie Smith finished 2nd in MVP voting in 1987 and in the top 20 several more times.
Murph
January 11th, 2013
11:00 am
It appears Upton will be traded to either Texas or Baltimore. The Braves are OUT on Upton. Looks like Logan Schafer in LF.
Link or it didn’t happen.
Rick C
January 11th, 2013
11:00 am
Nick, rumors are that Texas and Baltimore moved on. Texas made their “final offer” and Baltimore is more concerned with their SP. Nothing I’ve seen says the Braves are out on Upton.
ncscoots
January 11th, 2013
11:00 am
I’d open up the books and tell Towers he can pick one MLB reliever from Venters and EOF, one starter from Delgado and Teheran, and 3 other players from the minors. Whoever he wants.
Geez, Murph, we’re talking about Justin Upton, not Joey Votto.
TheOnlyBravesFan
January 11th, 2013
11:01 am
Jim Duquette @Jim_Duquette
a similar package from Atl would have to include Teheran, Bethancourt, plus plus, not sure if they have enough
They got Montero…. Teheran, EOF, another pitching prospect, and maybe Peraza
Murph
January 11th, 2013
11:02 am
Geez, Murph, we’re talking about Justin Upton, not Joey Votto.
Yeah, heaven forbid we lose Cunningham or Bethancourt…. or, oh no, what if he wants Constanza??
To quote Darth Vader… NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
tony austin
January 11th, 2013
11:04 am
@Efrim — I see your point and I do agree.
Okay, remove Delgado and replace him with Teheran (maybe) or anyone else not named Bethancourt or Gattis. Don’t overpay, but don’t hold back too much either. If Upton was a FA at the end of the season I could see hesitation, but he has 3 years left. I see only 2, maybe 3 names that I wouldn’t want to see FW part with. If any of the others gets Upton, make it happen.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
11:04 am
Link or it didn’t happen.
I would just as soon there be no links to Nick’s ass here if you don’t mind.
Bat Masterson
January 11th, 2013
11:04 am
Link or it didn’t happen.
I would just as soon not there be no links to Nick’s ass here if you don’t mind.
Dadgum.....
January 11th, 2013
11:05 am
Murph…..I agree with you. I’m a “future is now guy”. Prospects come and go but the hopeful future never seems to materialize for the Braves. If they could land JUp for what you propose then by all means cash in. Bethancourt not withstanding of course. Giving up Teheran or Delgado is no big deal as one of them isn’t pitching for Atlanta anyway. Gilmartin could be a good throwin along with EOF and a prospect player or two.
MikeInFl
January 11th, 2013
11:06 am
If you’re gonna compare Simmons to J Upton, only fair to throw in another player on the Simmons side, since he costs about $35 mil less over 3 years than Upton.
So, a more fair comparison: Simmons and McCann, vs J Upton, or Simmons and Prado, vs J Upton.
DAP
January 11th, 2013
11:06 am
i think i would take the chance.[on j upton]
EXCEPT, then i remember that having j upton on the team in 2014 will make it hard to keep mccann (itll be hard anyways). that makes me want to take a chance on gattis instead, so we can re sign mccann. if it didnt look likely that having j upton would make it next impossible to keep mccann, id would take the chance. but as it is, im not sure. it will be hard anyways in the coming years, with arbitration salaries of our young guys going up.
if we had justin upton, he, bj, uggla and laird would take up about a 3rd ($30mil) of a $90mil payroll. doesnt leave alot for 21 other guys, especially good players entering arbitration, and more especially if two other guys are prado and mccann.
i dont see it being feesable for the braves, unless mccann is certainly not coming back, and payroll is going up.