Bourn back to Braves? Rumor mill gets a spin

TennesseePaul

January 9th, 2013
10:42 am

Is that a picture of Freddie Freeman and Jordan Schafer?

richbrave

January 9th, 2013
10:43 am

Cliff:

Now that’s a valid point. Let’s revert to the 70’s. Is the BRAVES org trying to convey some sort of subliminal message here?

jfp

January 9th, 2013
10:43 am

Murph, I like the second lineup a lot.
Patrick, since you seem to have such a better understanding of what Frank Wren should be doing than the rest of us, why don’t you let us know who he should get for left field and how they can fit into our budget. Maybe he should be fired because no one is available that would be an upgrade from what we have based on the information we have right now. Yeah, that makes sense.if our options don’t pan out in spring training, you can bet there will be a different sense of urgency to do something in left. But right now, it would be stupid not to want to are what happens in the spring.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
10:46 am

A few random thoughts this morning…

- There sure are a lot of people willing to decide what should (or shouldn’t) offend other people. (also, how much it matters, re offending others).

- Gattis and Francisco…for real or not… should be an interesting ST. Either COULD become a very good CHEAP solution…could, that is…

- What impact player is available at $8 mil, or for a reasonable trade? (emphasis on impact, for all you whiners) No need to even talk about what LM should do about the payroll…totally different subject.

- Some potential (and concern) for (possibility of) Justin and BJ, on the same team, creating an “us vs them” atmosphere in the clubhouse. Worth factoring into the conversation.

- Braves should be better overall, IMO. Maybe a little, possibley a lot. However, Nats almost certainly will be better…starting with a full season of Stras. Disclaimer, as always…injuries will affect all teams.

- Braves are set up to haved the best BP in baseball.

DAP

January 9th, 2013
10:46 am

10paul ok, man. impact player, plays 3B or LF, for $8mil. name that player.

Giancarlo Stanton. And you still have some funds left over.

no, you couldnt get him for $8mil. nice try!

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
10:46 am

2pm Murph

Jeff R

January 9th, 2013
10:46 am

richbrave, yep, it would have to be through subterfuge.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
10:47 am

Braves are set up to haved the best BP in baseball.

Doesn’t make us better than the Nats pitching…. our rotation is about 7-8 spots behinds theirs. And their back end of the pen isn’t too bad

richbrave

January 9th, 2013
10:48 am

Jeff R:

My head is spinning just thinking about it.

richbrave

January 9th, 2013
10:49 am

TOBF:

Yeah, they dumped BURNETT. We owned him.

Cliff Fiscal

January 9th, 2013
10:50 am

richbrave – Now that’s a valid point.

I am like the blind squirrel. Every now and then, I stumble on uttering something semi-valid.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
10:51 am

why not? 6-7 are good RBI spots.

True, but not as good as the spots above…. plus he won’t be playing 130+ games, closer to 110 imo. Hasn’t reached 90 since he was a cleanup hitter, playing 130+.

Murph

January 9th, 2013
10:51 am

- Some potential (and concern) for (possibility of) Justin and BJ, on the same team, creating an “us vs them” atmosphere in the clubhouse. Worth factoring into the conversation.

I worry more about the Uptons getting into a slap-fight in the OF when they call each other off of a fly ball and it drops between them.

Jeff R

January 9th, 2013
10:54 am

richbrave, I can’t see the Nats or Braves getting that creative!

richbrave

January 9th, 2013
10:54 am

Great convo guys, but time for buying bird seed so the neighbors in the yard don’t have to look for worms…….or maggots, whichever. later.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
10:54 am

last time we made a spring training move, we ended up with Livan (Yuck), Juan (not good), and Durbin (okay, but not a very good reliever)…. wonder what we would get this year after ST lol. Or at the deadline…. with 8-10mil saved, that means we can go get a player who made 15-20+mil a year… guess Frank will acquire a player who makes that much and is good, while not giving up his good prospects… Spruill, Hale, and Lamm will get it done. Hah!

richbrave

January 9th, 2013
10:56 am

Nor I Jeff, nor I.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
10:56 am

TOBF – Keep beating that drum, if you wish. All opinions welcome here. My comment made no attempt to asess the value of our SPs, although I think we will be fine there…however, the BP WILL help mitigate any weakness with the starters.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
10:57 am

Yuup, are you familiar with the San Francisco Giants and the mid-season trades they made during their recent World Series-winning seasons?

Gave up a top prospect for Hunter Pence this season…. doubt they win without him

jfp

January 9th, 2013
11:01 am

DOB, agreed totally. There is no way a team would take a chance at ruining their ability to trade with a team long term for the sake of getting a player.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
11:03 am

TOBF – Durbin turned out to be a very good addition. Juan was usefull, for added depth, if nothing else. His real worth may still be to come. I’ll agree with Livan…and so would Wren.

Are you under the impression that every trade is successful?

Nova Scotia Steve

January 9th, 2013
11:04 am

According to those projects and assuming our bullpen wins roughly 20 games for the team. It looks like we could be an 86-90 win team.

Just projections but I thought it was interesting.

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:04 am

Maybe Scott Borasss missed the boat this time but do not count on it.

Would I welcome Bourn back????? Heck yea — when ST starts its about the baseball on the field and having Bourn is better than what they have now or what is left among the available FA players.

Nova Scotia Steve

January 9th, 2013
11:05 am

According to those projections and assuming our bullpen wins roughly 20 games for the team. It looks like we could be an 86-90 win team.

Just projections but I thought it was interesting.

Mr Maggot

January 9th, 2013
11:05 am

“The only people that I know that run their mouths about this are non-Indians like yourself….”

No, like most of you, I, too, am a card-carrying Native American having 1/2096th from distant relatives I’m told by somebody who was told by somebody, who was told by somebody else that this is true. So, that’s a fact.

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:05 am

I still think this is a 90-92 W team, might even be back to 94 or 95 if we can have suitable talent in LF.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
11:06 am

I could see no one getting in, not even Biggio…

Ben Duronio ‏@Ben_Duronio
Here’s why I didn’t put Biggio in before those 10. If Jason Heyward has two more 5 win seasons, he’ll have as many as Biggio.

BravesFanInNashville

January 9th, 2013
11:07 am

Patrick… The difference is that Wren’s team on a mid market salary finished with 94 wins last year. Only 3 teams . The Yankees, Reds and Nationals won more games. NONE of them won the WS either. Should those GM’s be fired for not winning the WS?

The Braves were leading their Wild Card game with their hottest pitcher Medlen cruising when a future Hall Of Fame player in Chipper Jones who is normally very solid at 3B throws a tailor made double play ball into RF. Medlen should have been in the dugout with a lead and who knows how the season ends from there? With our bullpen I liked our chances to win that game. Exactly how did Wren mess that up?

Everyone with any baseball IQ will tell you what wins in this game is pitching, pitching and pitching! He has a stockpile of that with a really solid team on the field. We really have 1 question mark….. Will either Gattis or Francisco step up and contribute more than Chippers 14HR and around 60RBI ? If a platoon of them provides that or more I don’t see how this team is appreciably weaker.

Wren made the right move in passing on Bourn and signing Upton. He made an offer to Boras for Bourn that he was willing to pay and Boras declined. At the time it was believed that Bourn was looking for at least 6 years at $15 or more. Obviously no other GM’s thought he was worth that or he’d be signed by now. The two teams most strongly linked to him The Nats and Phillies passed and overpaid in terms of prospects for much cheaper players in Revere and Span. I think Wren played that perfectly as I don’t envy who’s playing CF in DC or Philadelphia and obviously no one else thinks Bourn is worth as much as he’s asking.

Lastly Wren has taken a lot of heat for not being willing to trade Simmons for Justin Upton. Well the Rangers wouldn’t trade Andrus or Profar for him and the Indians would trade Cabrera for him either. That also shows that other GM’s including Towers of the DBacks value a great SS more than a LF.
One more time the right move by Wren.

Wren overpaid for Lowe but he almost had no choice because or rotation was depleted with Hudson having surgery and Glavine and Smoltz being done. The only bright spots were the starts of JJ and Hanson’s careers. That year Burnett signed for over $72 million with the Yankees and they wanted Lowe too. If Wren hadn’t signed Lowe he would have been called cheap and fans would have been all over him for doing nothing. We got two solid years out of him one terrible year and then we had to eat most of the contract. FYI Burnett wasn’t worth what the Yankees paid him either but that’s the price of poker! Wren’s one black eye is Kawakami. Hey he took a chance that a pitcher from Japan with great stats could pitch over here with a slightly larger baseball. It didn’t work out! That’s as much on the scouts that advised the front office to sign him as it is on Wren. Besides Theo Epstien didn’t lose his job over the Dice-K fiasco. Not every move pans out folks get over it.

Comparing Wren to Lovie Smith is a big stretch. Different sports, different roles and far different results. Wren has the Braves in position to be good for a long time and that’s all a GM can do. He can’t start the double play from 3rd base with the whole season on the line too!

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
11:10 am

Tip O’ the Cap
January 8th, 2013
9:29 pm

So the Bill James handbook says the Bravos starting pitching will get a cumulative 66-59 record. That would imply that the bullpen would have to go 28-9 for a 94 win season. Is that probable? How does that compare to last year / other years?

Braves bullpen went 25-14 this season, 26-25 last year, 32-19 in 2010, and 21-27 in 2009

unbelievable

January 9th, 2013
11:11 am

- Gattis and Francisco…for real or not… should be an interesting ST. Either COULD become a very good CHEAP solution…could, that is…-raleigh

Cheap option not solution

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:13 am

Boras will still find a good deal for Bourn – somehow – and it won’t be in Atlanta. Justin Upton – whatever his value is to the Braves, Kevin Towers is one of the biggest jerks in an executive ’s job in baseball. As I recall, Towers was a bit devious in his dealings with Wren for Jake Peavy’s services. And weren’t the Peavy negotiations between Towers and Wren leaked to the media?

@Jeff R — I rememberr those Peavy rumors though at the time it did seem to appear that Wren was offering a package of junk pitchers like Jo Jo, Morton and Boyer. Towers wanted Locke instead of any of those three and I can;t blame him for turning that down.

Wren also wanted Towers to take Kelly Johnson instead of a young Yunel & I would not have accepted that either had I been Towers.

In the end, it was a non deal that turned out to be a blessing for the Braves.

Those negotiations did get too public and it did backfire. CWS just offered Peavey more than FW did.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
11:14 am

Are you under the impression that every trade is successful?

Nope…. was just showing what happened from our moves last year… I’d think that getting a guy you want now is better than getting an outcast from ST or trying to rush a move together before the deadline.

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:16 am

Biggio better get in or this vote is a farce.

I cannot get how this guy is not a first ballot HOF — I think he had a better career than Robbie Alomar who fell off quite quickly.

Now,, Alomar does deserve to be HOF in his whole body of work but for my liking I think Biggio was better.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
11:16 am

and I guess you still are optimistic on Juan…. I’m not, because he’s looked good in AA winter ball before. The holes in his swing get exposed at the MLB level.

Gattis though… maybe we have something there

Bigboi

January 9th, 2013
11:16 am

Hey did anybody see the Django Unchained? I hear it was incredible, but I wanted to check with you guys before going to see it.

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:20 am

“Cheap option not solution”

Well, Simmons was a cheap option last yr and he proved to be a better solution and more ready than we ever imagined.

So with Gattis, we just do not know — he might be more ready than we think.

As much as I hate LM, and the pipeline is maligned for the lack of everyday players in the system the pipeline has been pretty good to us in recent yrs. Very much a home grown team in the middle of the order. Gattis just might fit in. Got to give him a chance if LM will not allow Frank to get a decent vet. There is not anything in FA save for Bourn whom I guess will be elsewhere.

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:23 am

We know about Francisco’s weaknesses, we really do not know aboutGattis yet.

If he were 23 he would be more highly regarded by the fan base but some guys do come up later and do well.

Example — Josh Willingham — Jason Werth did not really develop till his later 20’s. Mike Morse did not really stick till age 27.

So there is some hope for Gattis.

ccrider

January 9th, 2013
11:24 am

I have always admired Ken Burns for his extraordinary work on PBS, but he has become a more admired figure than that with his stance on who should get in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He said , If he had a vote , he would never vote steroid and ped users into the HOF.
But, The best quote was one that I whole heartedly agree with, he said: ” I want them to suffer”
I think all TRUE baseball fans felt the same way after the truth came out about Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire.
We have suffered the pangs of being deceived, lied to, and having lost time and money to a sham that Bud Selig and the other owners let happen.
By the Way, Burns Actual quote was a little more adament actually: He really said ” I Hope those Motherfu***** suffer

unbelievable

January 9th, 2013
11:24 am

With more an more teams fighting for the extra playoff spot its possible that there will be fewer impact players available around the deadline. With that scenario, trade values will be increasing and teams will still have to overpay. I dont see how the Braves could take the mindset of just waiting around to see who might be able to help during the season.

Bruce

January 9th, 2013
11:25 am

Serious problems, in my opinion, if the Braves go with existing players or rookies in LF this season. They have a habit of saying they think players will be able to do a good job only to backtrack later in the season to save face.

TennesseePaul

January 9th, 2013
11:26 am

no, you couldnt get him for $8mil. nice try!

He has a projected salary of about $3.5M for 2013. That is easily less than $8M. So yes, the team could afford him with the money they have left. Now to get all semantic, no where in your question, to which I was responding, did you prohibit trades. And also, no where in your question did you prohibit ideal and far fetched trades. ( :

DAP

January 9th, 2013
11:27 am

TOBF True, but not as good as the spots above…. plus he won’t be playing 130+ games, closer to 110 imo. Hasn’t reached 90 since he was a cleanup hitter, playing 130+.

ok. not playing enough games, or not hitting well enough, or not having a good lineup around him (if you think those things will happen) are good reasons to think theres no way he gets 90RBI. but if its because hell be batting 6 or 7…thats not a reason.

Bigboi

January 9th, 2013
11:28 am

So I take it that no one has seen Django Unchained?

unbelievable

January 9th, 2013
11:29 am

Well, Simmons was a cheap option last yr and he proved to be a better solution and more ready than we ever imagined.

True, but Simmons was here to shore up the defense and everyone knew that he was fully capable of doing that. Thats a big difference than giving Gattis or Fransisco a couple of hundred AB’s not knowing what they will provide. If we are going to go that route, then give Gattis his opportunity and get Prado to 3B. We’ve seen Fransisco post his sub .300OBP already.

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:29 am

The Lowe sign was not the disaster that some make it out to be.

Of course it was an overpay but Braves fan in Nashville explained it as well as he could

Lowe won games, made his starts and gave us decent IP in 2009 and 10. He was bad in 11.

31-22 over 2 yrs with over 190 IP each yr is not a disaster. I know the ERA was high, part of it was when he was shelled, he was really shelled which made it worse than his overall value to the staff.

And no, I do not care about WAR, FIP and some of those numbers especially for a guy who pitched to contact.

He won for 2 yrs and no WC without Derek in ‘10. That is the good that counts.

He stunk in ‘11 and stunk in Cleveland in 12. That was the bad. Its history — a so so sign.

Even KK pitched better than his W-L in 09, he was not disgusting that first yr. Overpaid yes, poor sign, yes, but he was not Oliver Perez.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
11:29 am

Lots of grousing and second guessing about what Wren shoud do, or should have done about LF/3B.

Very few REALISTIC alternatives offered…other than, of course, that LM should quit being so cheap!

wreckmaniac

January 9th, 2013
11:32 am

Since Wren decided to pay Upton $500,000 per home run and is getting nothing else it would seem that Bourne is worth every penny he is seeking.

single white dove

January 9th, 2013
11:33 am

You know all these people on here have their two cents. What about how good the Braves will be next year?

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:34 am

I agree with that Unbelievable.

In Francisco’s defense, he did play well at times — he looked better in the field in spots as the season went on and some scount will be intrigued by the power and bat speed when he gets ahold of the ball.

The pitch recognition can be learned. I do not know if he is an everyday player.

I would favor Gattis myself — could he be a Mark Napoli type????? If he can that is a real find.

I would not bet one hundred percent aganst Pastornicky improving and competing for LF if Gattis and Francisco fail.

And, there is a trade option if its needed — Wren is always talking to other teams even if he is not trading. There might be a name out there we know nothing about. Never know.

Murph

January 9th, 2013
11:34 am

We have suffered the pangs of being deceived, lied to, and having lost time and money to a sham that Bud Selig and the other owners let happen.

In fairness, I didn’t see many fans suffering when McGwire was chasing Maris… to the contrary, seemed that the nation was in pure baseball ecstasy at the time. My dad, who hated baseball, was even drawn into the vortex.

I feel cheated in that these guys directly affected the outcome of baseball games with their PED use,… who knows how some of those division and playoff races may have been different if the players were clean…. but I have a hard time saying that I suffered. It was pretty entertaining, much in the same way that professional wrestling is entertaining. Fake can be fun… so long as you know it’s fake going into it.

That being said, I agree that not a one of those players should ever get into the HoF.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
11:34 am

unbelievable @ 11:24 Interesting point

Disgusted

January 9th, 2013
11:36 am

Very few REALISTIC alternatives offered…other than, of course, that LM should quit being so cheap!

Not gonna happen. That payroll will be flat and even cut from here on end as long as that ownership is around. To date, it looks like they cut payroll.

They do not seem to be going away soon.

DAP

January 9th, 2013
11:37 am

He has a projected salary of about $3.5M for 2013. That is easily less than $8M. So yes, the team could afford him with the money they have left.

no, 10paul. it doesnt work that way. wren could not get stanton for $8mil. it would take much more than that.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
11:38 am

Bruce @11:25 – You mean like Heyward, Freeman, and Simmons? Some failures (i.e. the Rev), but plenty of successes for rookie starters for Braves and throughout baseball.
Many here, maybe including you, have clammered for Braves to make a trade for another team’s top prospect, with the plan to use him as a starter for us.

DAP

January 9th, 2013
11:39 am

10paul, im good at semantics. i said $8mil. thats it. your only asset to trade for an impact player who plays either 3B or LF. so a trade is fine, but you can only trade the $8mil. so, no stanton.

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
11:40 am

How is it that displaying a Native American head is being disrespectfuly to Native Americans. To me, it is a compliment to Native Americans, and a show of respect for their heritage and culture. Oh well, I guess we should just change our name to the Atlanta Baseball Players.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
11:43 am

My comment about LM being cheap…well that was said with faceciousness. I am well on record by saying that the payroll is reasonable, compared to the revenue.

raleighbravefan

January 9th, 2013
11:47 am

Nunna – There is a difference between an honorable depiction, and a charicaturization. Once again a case of one individual deciding what should be offensive to another individual.

TennesseePaul

January 9th, 2013
11:55 am

i said $8mil. thats it. your only asset to trade for an impact player who plays either 3B or LF. so a trade is fine, but you can only trade the $8mil. so, no stanton.

Now you’re moving the goal posts ( : You’ve wiped out the presence of the entire minor league system and major league roster and confined it simply to the teams wallet and required Major League GM’s to change their entire method of negotiation with each other from talent and contract swaps to simply purchases and assumed the most miserly of teams would not be interested in a pile of cash. Are all these restrictions included in the fine print of all your posts, because I certainly didn’t bother to bust out the magnifying glass. ( :

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
11:56 am

Generally, teams aren’t named after persons, animals or objects that are disrespected. Notice the absence of team names like “worms”, “bugs”, “winos”, “hyenas”, “turkeys”, “chickens”, “drunks”, “pigeons”, “donkeys”, “freeloaders”, “bums”, “psycho killers”, “wimps”, etc.

TennesseePaul

January 9th, 2013
11:57 am

Atlanta Baseball Players

That would be offensive to the night club playas who work ever so hard at keepin’ it real.

TennesseePaul

January 9th, 2013
11:59 am

Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
11:59 am

I’ve got it! A name that dates back to our esteemed 1996 Olympics. The Atlanta Izzys, or the Atlanta WhatIzIts.

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:00 pm

The Atlanta Possums.

George_George

January 9th, 2013
12:01 pm

Chief Knock-A-Homa

January 8th, 2013
8:34 pm
Couple of things:

1 – DOB – do you NOT want the Braves to bring Bourn back, or what?? You just seem so negative about it when it is ever brought up… I mean, we get that it’s a long shot, but how great an outfield is that if we could work it out??!! Why not write about a way that it COULD work??

2 – And with Justin Upton – same thing… Why don’t you give us your thoughts on what the Braves WOULD be willing to deal for Upton ??

Would love to hear the positive thoughts on how both of these could happen…
***************************************************************************************
On number 2. Why would you want another non-aceiever named UPTON on our team? You would like to get BOURN back and trade JASON for JUSTIN?

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:01 pm

In honor of our esteemed elected officials in Clayton and Dekalb Counties, the Atlanta Crooks.

ccrider

January 9th, 2013
12:03 pm

Murph, Sure everyone thought they were seeing the most extraordinary moments in Baseball History.
It’s like a romance: You think you have found the perfect woman( or mate), you are in bliss and then you find out your in love with a former guy named Larry.
You feel stupid, deceived, and very angry, plus you have been financially taken advantage of.

Spike Lee

January 9th, 2013
12:04 pm

With only two African-American players on the roster, how about renaming yourself the Atlanta Crackers and have a rebel flag night.

And NO I’m not gonna see Django !

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:06 pm

Spike – too many Yankees living down here now. I bet Crackers wouldn’t go over well.

DAP

January 9th, 2013
12:07 pm

10paul Now you’re moving the goal posts ( : You’ve wiped out the presence of the entire minor league system and major league roster and confined it simply to the teams wallet

not moving anything. its what i said from the beginning. theres no fine print, but if you want to discuss semantics, then i just have to point out what i said, and only what i said. nothing more, nothing less.

ive already given you a break by not even mentioning the fact that you suggested a right fielder, when the parameters were specifically and 3B or LF! : ) i mean…if were arguing semantics and all!

in enjoying this to much. : )

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:07 pm

In honor of our multiple pollution problems, the Atlanta Particulants or the Atlanta ‘Hooch Turds.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
12:08 pm

the Atlanta Crooks

Chicago wants that name more

Repulsed

January 9th, 2013
12:08 pm

Trumbo. Upton. Cain. Bourn. Morse.

Surely we can do better than Schafer in LF ?

Cliff Fiscal

January 9th, 2013
12:10 pm

Ahhh, a “Banana Slug” reference. I remember in college traveling to Santa Cruz to compete against the slugs. At the time, I though the name was cool. Now, it seems clearly offensive .

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:10 pm

The Atlanta Road Rage.

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
12:10 pm

for the interstate system… the Atlanta Jumble

Murph

January 9th, 2013
12:12 pm

Liberty Media owns the STARZ movie channels… so… why not rename the team to the Atlanta STARZ, change the name of the field to STARZ Field, slap STARZ on the uniforms/hats/mugs/etc and then give the team an extra $25-50mil per season to basically act as a traveling billboard for the STARZ networks?

More money to spend, more exposure for their cable offerings, no more offending the native people, everyone is happy!

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
12:13 pm

Comment From Eric
With regards to your post about home/road splits regarding Upton, do you feel the same way about Cargo and why/why not?

12:03
Dave Cameron: Coors is a whole different animal. You definitely shouldn’t take COL hitters home/road splits at face value.

Upton’s splits at AZ aren’t too worrisome. Only 20 less than his brothers anyway, and there’s “potential”.

Surely we can do better than Schafer in LF ?

Yep. Gattis.

George_George

January 9th, 2013
12:16 pm

Murph

January 9th, 2013
12:12 pm
Liberty Media owns the STARZ movie channels… so… why not rename the team to the Atlanta STARZ, change the name of the field to STARZ Field, slap STARZ on the uniforms/hats/mugs/etc and then give the team an extra $25-50mil per season to basically act as a traveling billboard for the STARZ networks?

More money to spend, more exposure for their cable offerings, no more offending the native people, everyone is happy!

***********************
Not a bad idea.

Shaun

January 9th, 2013
12:16 pm

So if the internal options don’t work out he can always show patience and make a deal at the deadline huh? So you call us stupid? If it doesn’t work from the beginning of the season up to the deadline, do you really think the Braves will be contending for the division title, or WC at that point?

Will this deadline deal work out like the Teixiera deal? You know, where the Braves were so close and traded for a big impact bat just to miss the playoffs again? The year they traded for Teixiera, with the numbers he was putting, I bet if they had him from the get go, they probably would have made the playoffs. So again, how does being patient and waiting for the market to come to him benefit the team? The trade market has already come to him, and left. Now the guys being shopped with cost a lot, and then Wren will balk at the asking price and pass. Sorry, but if we are stupid as “Arm Chair GM’s”, you are just as dumb with your logic. — Yuup

How has the trade market come to Wren and left, exactly? Why are you making this assumption? The trade market, like most markets, are pretty dynamic.

As an example, the Nationals signed LaRoche yesterday. That presumably injected Mike Morse, a pretty good player, in to the trade market. I’m not saying there is any sort of decent chance the Braves will go after Morse. I’m just using this as an example of how the trade market can change pretty quickly and somewhat significantly with one move.

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:17 pm

Murph – Good idea. However, isn’t there a WNBA team with that name? Could be a trademark war ensuing.

Cliff Fiscal

January 9th, 2013
12:18 pm

Hey, it it meant more revenue for the Braves, I would not care if the team name was changed to the Atlanta Pile O’(bleep).

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:20 pm

The Atlanta Rodents. The Atlanta Squirrels. The Atlanta Varmints.

George_George

January 9th, 2013
12:21 pm

TheOnlyBravesFan

January 9th, 2013
12:13 pm
Comment From Eric
With regards to your post about home/road splits regarding Upton, do you feel the same way about Cargo and why/why not?

12:03
Dave Cameron: Coors is a whole different animal. You definitely shouldn’t take COL hitters home/road splits at face value.

Upton’s splits at AZ aren’t too worrisome. Only 20 less than his brothers anyway, and there’s “potential”.

Surely we can do better than Schafer in LF ?

Yep. Gattis.

*************
I like the idea of going with what we have for LF, not tradeing or signing what is left out there. Use that money as part of contract to sign MARTIN.

old man

January 9th, 2013
12:21 pm

DOB at 10:57.

He looks drunk to me. But I may not be an expert. I always try to look in a mirror, but can never remember what I looked like.

Actually, I think of the Aunt Jemima logo of about 20 years ago. You remember that it was drastically re-done in 1989 to eliminate the smiling, big-toothed, fat mammy?

http://zmblackhistorymonth2011.blogspot.com/2011/02/feb-13-aunt-jemima-negative-stereotype.html

I think a more respectful, toned down version of the “firewater injun” image would be much better. At least it would be responsive.

The Aunt Jemima brand changed their ONLY logo, in midstream. At the time, it was a big deal.

Wes Jorga

January 9th, 2013
12:21 pm

Bill James projections for the Braves seem to be consistently conservative. Does anyone know how his projections have worked out in the past?

Nunna Yobinnes

January 9th, 2013
12:23 pm

Old Man – Like a Native American in a business suit?

Shaun

January 9th, 2013
12:24 pm

Trumbo. Upton. Cain. Bourn. Morse.

Surely we can do better than Schafer in LF?

There’s Gattis, who would likely be at least a noticeably better option, if not significantly better.

As far as all those other names, just because they are (maybe) on the trade market, it doesn’t mean they are there for the taking. Their respective teams are obviously going to want something in return.

It’s just odd how people assume because the Braves haven’t acquired a leftfielder or because there aren’t any obvious rumors, they haven’t tried or aren’t trying. There’s that select group of fans that simplify the trade market and how trading baseball players works.

Murph

January 9th, 2013
12:26 pm

I think a more respectful, toned down version of the “firewater injun” image would be much better. At least it would be responsive.

So… a smile equals drunk? Or yelling while smiling equals drunk?

Explains what happened to my Guinness and why my kids are so freaking happy/loud all the time.

Nick

January 9th, 2013
12:26 pm

I’ve seen Django twice, it’s very good.

Shaun

January 9th, 2013
12:30 pm

Bill James projections for the Braves seem to be consistently conservative. Does anyone know how his projections have worked out in the past?

From what I understand, Bill James’s projections are usually pretty optimistic, generally, compared to other projection systems.

…

I don’t think the Indian logo looks drunk, etc. I like it, aesthetically. My view, and I think the view of most reasonable people who aren’t fond of it, is why take the risk of offending a group of people if you can avoid it. I guess it’s not too shocking that for some there is no such thing as a reasonable discussion without demonizing the other side or throwing out terms that illicit outrage.

Nick

January 9th, 2013
12:31 pm

Wren is very incompetent. In fact, I think he should be fired after this season. He can’t complain about payroll now, LM gave him the funds. He promised premium players, we got one average player. Now we are hearing Schafer or Constanza in LF because we can’t afford Scott Hairston, much less a premium player.

Atlanta Braves Links of the Day For January 9, 2013 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog

January 9th, 2013
12:32 pm

[...] Bourn back to Braves? Rumor mill gets a spin [...]

Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog

January 9th, 2013
12:33 pm

[...] From Other Great Blogs issue #1 Posted on January 9, 2013 by Dugout Online Editor Bourn back to Braves? Rumor mill gets a spin – blogs.ajc.com 01/09/2013 After GM Frank Wren said during a satellite-radio interview Sunday [...]

Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog

January 9th, 2013
12:33 pm

[...] From Other Great Blogs issue #1 Posted on January 9, 2013 by Dugout Online Editor Bourn back to Braves? Rumor mill gets a spin – blogs.ajc.com 01/09/2013 After GM Frank Wren said during a satellite-radio interview Sunday [...]

Murph

January 9th, 2013
12:33 pm

Zero Dark Thirty starts on Friday… anyone want to go with me? Mrs Murph refuses… might have something to do with me duping her into seeing The Grey with me.

Shaun

January 9th, 2013
12:39 pm

Nick, I doubt Schafer or Constanza will get the majority of playing time in leftfield for the Braves. My guess is that it will be Gattis or someone not currently on the roster. If by chance it’s not either of those options, I would think Prado would get the bulk of the playing time in left with Francisco playing thirdbase.

Scott Hairston is not a desirable everyday option for leftfield. Schafer or Constanza may be better options.

Wren can’t create a leftfielder from clay that is affordable, in terms of contract or players the Braves would have to give up.

1,547 comments Add your comment

Add your comment

We’ve Moved!

Braves Scores & More

Search this blog

About Atlanta Braves

Recent Posts

Archives

Baseball video

More from the AJC

Blogroll

DOBlogroll: Hot links

Twitter and Facebook

All AJC blogs »

Tell us what you think about the site

Subscribe »

Customer Care »

AJC Services

Sections

Other Editions

Guides

Affiliates

Advertising

AJC Sites

Special Reports

Blogs

Opinion

Blogs

Topics

Features

Blogs

Topics

Features

Topics

Features

Features

Blogs

Topics

Features

Bourn back to Braves? Rumor mill gets a spin

1,547 comments Add your comment

Add your comment

We’ve Moved!

Braves Scores & More

Search this blog

About Atlanta Braves

Recent Posts

Archives

Baseball video

More from the AJC

Blogroll

DOBlogroll: Hot links

Twitter and Facebook

All AJC blogs »

Tell us what you think about the site

Subscribe »

Customer Care »

AJC Services

Sections

Other Editions

Guides

Affiliates

Advertising

AJC Sites