Deadline approaches but Braves not in all-or-nothing mindset
Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer in Monday's 11-3 win over San Francisco. But is all this too late to catch Philadelphia in the East? (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
The meat of the comment sounded like a concession speech, which really wasn’t Chipper Jones’ intent. But when you play for a .500 team going into game No. 93 and the team ahead of you in first place is starting to resemble the one from last October, a sense of realism sets in.
“We’re not going to be sellers, I don’t think,” Jones said early Monday when asked about how the Braves should approach the trade deadline. “We’ve been buyers to this point, adding pieces here and there. But I think we’ve got our eyes toward next year and the year after, and whatever comes this year is gravy. I don’t mean that we’re waving the white flag this year by any means. But we got off to a relatively slow start, and the Phillies are what they are. They’re the world champs, they’re playing well right now and it’s going to be hard to catch them.”
The trade deadline is in 10 days. Depending on your level of optimism, the Braves are either in contention for the National League East, in contention for the wild-card spot or in contention for special early October fares to the Bahamas.
Do they buy, maybe giving up pitcher Javier Vazquez for another bat?
Do they sell, maybe giving up pitcher Javier Vazquez for another bat — for next April?
Does general manager Frank Wren stare at an 8×10 glossy of Yunel Escobar for several hours and hope an answer comes to him like some revelation in a burning bush (preferably before his head explodes)?
Does he do nothing of significance, which probably is the betting favorite and the smartest course of action? (It neither mortgages the future nor sends the wrong message to players and fans, given it’s a seller’s market right now.)
Wren isn’t saying what he’s going to do. I think because he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. I think because he doesn’t know how to categorize the team’s post-season hopes.
Question to Wren: buying or selling?
“There’s so many us who are still in this thing, one way or another.”
Question: OK. But buying or selling?
“We’re playing better. We feel good about the way we’re performing.”
OK. Let’s simplify this: Are you sellers?
“I don’t think we’ll be selling. I sure hope not. I mean, something drastic would have to happen for us to be selling.”
Solid pitching, improved hitting, and we still don’t know what to think. Yes – as Jones said, things look pretty good for next season. But it’s still July. Are you ready to shift your mindset to next April? Or have the past few seasons made that easier to accept?
They won again Monday — this time 11-3 over San Francisco. Suddenly they’re scoring and they’re winning (this makes eight out of 11). They’re now only 3 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the wild-card race. But that’s an eight-team scramble. Those things are iffy. In the division race, they’re still 6 1/2 games behind Philadelphia (which has won 13 of 14). Before the Braves got hot, they were only five back. Go figure.
It was early June when they shredded the blueprint. Since then, they’ve sent down Jordan Schafer, traded for Nate McLouth, called up Tommy Hanson, sent down Kelly Johnson, traded Jeff Francoeur for Ryan Church and watched Martin Prado turn into Rogers Hornsby The makeover is basically done.
Guarded optimism reigns.
“We’re not sellers – we’re not selling anything,” Bobby Cox said.
Jones said he’s encouraged.
“The lineup is better. We don’t have [easy] outs any more,” he said.
But the margin for error remains thin and the deficit in the division is growing, and Jones acknowledged, “When we play the really good teams, our margin for error is so small.”
The understanding being, they’re still not one of the really good teams and whatever comes this season is gravy. But they’re making it interesting.
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180 comments Add your comment
Train Wreck Bystander
July 21st, 2009
8:52 am
Ever seen that brokerage commercial where a guy buys a painting at an auction and then immediately wants to sell it back?
That’s how some of you guys look with all your doofus trade proposals.
We just got this great starting pitching, and you guys want to turn around and start dismantling it.
Yes, the Braves need bats. But they don’t need new bats – they need the bats they have to wake up. And we are seeing that happen.
Stand pat, Mr. Wren – let this Braves lineup prove its mettle.
Bob Horner
July 21st, 2009
8:55 am
I’m tired of hearing about trading Vazquez and Yunel. Vazquez is arguably our best piutcher and Yunel is one of our best, most clutch hitters. Why in the world would we trade either? And if you do, who are you going to get? It’s silly talk – we have a good, young core now.
Let Hudson come back (hopefully strong) and trade hijm in the off season for a stick.
All I'm Saying Is...
July 21st, 2009
9:03 am
Winning the division doesn’t mean much in the wild card era as wild card teams have just as much of a chance of making it to the World Series as Division Winners. In fact, wild card contenders have to play hard through the last day of the season and if their pitching staff can handle that intensity up until the last day, then the wild card team is typically better positioned for the playoffs due to their having to focus to get there. Why do I type all this? Well when the Braves win the Wild Card (that’s right, I said when), then they will play the Dodgers or the Cardinals (assuming they hold on). If its the Dodgers, then they will have clinched early and the Braves will be playing well and with our pitching (assuming we do not trade Vasquez—what a dumb move that would be—and Huddy comes back in good shape) we should be well positioned to upset them. If its the Cardinals, then aside from Pujols, no one in that lineup scares me and we can take them.
I agree with the poster who said that Frank Wren deserves more credit than he is getting specifically for his (1) off season fix of our pitching staff, (2) cleaning out the sentimental favorites (Glavine and Smoltz — though neither was handled in a manner they should have been), and (3) his focus on performance during the regular season thereby unloading favorites who weren’t getting it done (ex. Frenchy) knowing that Bobby would never bench them due to his loyalty to his veterans.
So, everyone needs to calm down and watch this team perform because we are putting it all together and making our wild card stretch run. Enjoy it and quit whining. LET’S GO BRAVES!
carl
July 21st, 2009
9:11 am
Gotta give the blog in general some credit here. The general consensus all year was bench Kelly Johnson and play Prado. Cox finally figured it out after 3 months and who knows how many wasted games. Also the majority said keep Escobar and deal with him, and now it looks like the Braves have no intent on trading their best player. The team is also better with Frncoeur gone, despite the fact he is “temporarily” hitting better for NY. As for Chipper, he is a great hitter but not a very good team leader. He says some truly silly things sometimes. Maybe it’s true that they are a longshot to make the postseason, but you don’t publicly announce that when your team is hot and playing their best ball of the season.
Bobbymahlon
July 21st, 2009
9:16 am
We are looking good right now so lets stay put and see if we can get the wild card spot.
Hanson could have used some outfield help last night, Diaz should had held onto the one right into his mitt and of course the pop up lost by Mclouth. He was charged with a double and a triple that were sure outs. The one thing I didn’t like about the one that dropped behind Mclouth was that he stood looking at the ball on the ground and Anderson with his poor arm had to pick it up and try to throw the ruuner out at third.
So see Escobar is not the only one that pulls blunders now and than.
Mike
July 21st, 2009
9:18 am
Trade Hudson? For what? Exactly who in the baseball will give you anything worthwhile for a guy coming off Tommy John surgery? Get real. The Braves aren’t out searching for a bat this is coming off the extended-DL so why would anyone trade for a pitcher in the same predicament. Unless the Pirates…………..
datominator
July 21st, 2009
9:24 am
There IS no big bat out there to get, Holliday is not an answer – he’s shown his true numbers outside of Denver. Unless a quality big-time bat that is available for more than just the end of this season comes along, forget about dealing Javy – it simply isn’t worth it. I think this team becomes stronger with the return of Huddy and Infante, and with those pieces alone should be able to make a legitimate run at the wild card.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
9:25 am
This should be interesting. It is late July and we are 3.5 games back and 6.5 games back in the wild card and division. I’ve seen much bigger leads fall much later in the season. I love how the lineup looks now. Kotchman as an 8th hitter. 3 outfielders basically platooning 2 spots where any of them could be everyday starters. What an change the lineup has seen this year.
Andrew
July 21st, 2009
9:27 am
Lieutenant Dan, you have a mess in Baltimore because of your inept and constantly meddling owner. The Braves’ ownership group may be cheap, but at least they leave the baseball decisions to baseball people.
Don
July 21st, 2009
9:28 am
The problem with the Braves run production is not needing another bat but rather that Bobby Cox is a terrible offensive manager. Game after game he makes all kinds of huge mistakes all the way from lineup, batting order, to in game strategy moves; but all of this is insiginificant compared to his failure to teach, emphasize, demand that the hitters work the count, make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches. The Braves are next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat – which guarantees terrible run production. Cox seems to have no understanding of the necessity for this that it enables the hitter to see what the pitcher has, adjust to the pitcher, get better pitches to hit, makes him make mistakes, tires him out both within innings and for the game, gets you into the teams weak middle relief etc. Also, there is no evidence that Cox works with young players to demand correction in obvious terrible problems in approach to hitting – Andruw and Francoeur being prime examples.
Noah
July 21st, 2009
9:33 am
The Braves have scored 408 runs and allowed 391. Winning teams almost always have a positive correlation. It looks good.
yellerjacket
July 21st, 2009
9:36 am
Frank Wren is the man. He has proven the girth of his onions time and time again with moves like letting Smoltz walk over a couple million in guaranteed money, realizing Glavine has nothing left (whose roster is he on right now? That’s right, no one’s), coming out way ahead on the McClouth trade, and getting Ryan Church for Francouer (he must have compromising nudey pics of Omar Minaya). This team is good enough to win the wild card for sure, and as soon as the Phillies come back to earth, the division. Everyone relax.
Bill
July 21st, 2009
9:39 am
Thanks Jeff for up date and info……………say no to Javy and Escobar trades
Chipper said, ” we got rid of the easy outs.” meaning Frenchy!.
Doug
July 21st, 2009
9:44 am
This team is starting to gel and there are many things in flux right now. Let them play and let the pieces work themselves out until the picture gets clearer. It feels like we have some depth and options which we should allow to play out. Unless someone makes an absolutely astounding offer, we need to complete this season working with the personnel we have. Javy will still be very valuable at the end of the season (baring injury, which is always a possibility with any player) and we will have a better feel for what we have going forward. We are playing well now, but three weeks ago it was awful. Even if the Phillies cool off, chances are we will too. We need to grind through this season with what we have and see where we are at the end. The Braves have definitely improved from last year and are on the right track. Don’t screw up the present chemistry and end up backsliding. The situation can be expressed in two words – “you never know”!
Joseph
July 21st, 2009
9:45 am
Don’t sell, try your best to finish second, maybe compete for the wildcard. Maybe something good will happen this year and give us a lot of momentum for next. However…..if we keep winning, we may just pull this thing out this year! NO SELLING!
bvillebaron
July 21st, 2009
9:47 am
I love how Bobby Cox declares that the team is not sellers “for sure”. Cox is the big reason why the Braves have delayed the rebuilding effort that was needed after 2005. The consensus was to raid the farm for “band aids” like Texeira who weren’t good enough to get the team over the top so that an aging Cox could get back in the playoffs again. The stupidest thing Wren could do would be to be buyers this year for another “band aid” (actually the stupides thing Wren could do is trade Escobar because Bobby would have to actually earn his salary and try to deal with a kid from another country rather than get rid of him because Bobby doesn’t like him). There is no difference maker hitter out there, including in particular Holliday who is having a mediocre year and is a Boras client and thus will play here two months. Then again, this is just why a bonehead trade like this will happen.
yellerjacket
July 21st, 2009
9:51 am
One more thing, someone might have already said this, but what in the heck was Gonzo doing in the game in the 8th after we pasted the Giants for that many runs in the 7th? The man just took a week off elbow tendinitis. Would it have hurt to give Medlen two innings of work instead of one? I had so little faith in Cox’s bullpen management that I was holding my breath waiting for Soriano to get up in the ‘pen for the 9th.
Schultz, can you offer some insight into whether there is any credence to our claims on here that Bobby has been abusing his bullpen for the last few seasons, or is it just bloggers finding something to gripe about?
jconservative
July 21st, 2009
9:51 am
Sit tight for now & do any trading at the winter meetings – if Hudson has been able to return. If Hudson is still an “if”, wait till April to do the trading. The Braves need to trade starting pitchers of which they have an excess.
Marc Schneider
July 21st, 2009
9:53 am
There is no one out there worth trading our pitching for. To me, it would be silly to break up the team’s main strength to add another mediocre bat. Wren has done what he could to strengthen the outfield and there is not much else he can do.
Blaming Wren for Baltimore is like blaming the deck chairs for the Titanic sinking.
Saban
July 21st, 2009
9:55 am
Javy is signed through 2010 and will make $11.5mm next year.
ijudgenot
July 21st, 2009
9:55 am
Chipper said that the Braves no longer had easy outs. For half a season Bobby had Schaffer or KJ at leadoff with both in lineup and Francour hitting no lower than 7th in lineup. That means that teams could pitch around Chipper, Mac and Escobar. Now there is not a lot of power but good hitters throughout lineup including at 1b. Kotchman want get 15 homers but I would much rather have him hit than Francour.Francour needed a new environment.Being hometown hero was just too much pressure for him. Braves should look to next year and beyond. Trade only if multiple prospects are coming back in return. Gonzo packaged with KJ and/or JJ could bring in prospects.
Braves Mom
July 21st, 2009
10:05 am
I sure hope that the Braves don’t become sellers.
They are playing really good right now and hopefully will make a push for the wild card.
PLEASE do NOT trade Escobar. I’ll take his occassional mental blunders b/c of his offensive abilities and his excitement when he plays. I sure hope they don’t trade him. They should have traded Kelly Johnson while they still had the chance.
Joe Fan
July 21st, 2009
10:05 am
The Braves are in the wild card race and want be trading unless they are overwhelmed by the offer. The foundation is being bulit for the future and that includes solid starting pitching. So don’t look for Vasquez to be going anywhere.
Javy Vazquez/Lopez
July 21st, 2009
10:12 am
Why you guys always trying to trade me, I’m your best peetcher but you Bravos fans always peecking on the Latino playas, leave me & Esco alone we no wanna go, Comprende’????? I love to peetch for Booby, he just picka his nose & let me peetch, he’s the best Amigo!
Scott B
July 21st, 2009
10:13 am
This team has a chance to be special–this year–without making any further moves. The pitching has been fantastic. If Hudson can come back strong, the staff will be even more formidable. The offense has been showing signs of improvement of late, and with Anderson starting to hit for power, the lineup has few, if any, weak spots.
If I’m Frank Wren, I stand pat. No further moves necessary.
WILD BILL
July 21st, 2009
10:19 am
ijudgenot???? Have you lost your dam mind, trade JJ????? Let me repeat, JJ, Hanson, McCann, & Escobar are untouchable, JJ & Hanson are the future #1 & #2 STUDS for the Bravos future, if we traded JJ we should throw in Booby & Frank also, trading JJ would be like trading Marquis/Wainwright, look at those 2 now!!!!
Traver
July 21st, 2009
10:19 am
“Do not sell this farm Ray! Do not sell this farm!” “People will come”. “Peolple will most definitely come”.
Tami
July 21st, 2009
10:22 am
Let’s put it this way: Philly can’t keep winning games in a row. It’s only July 21st. They will hit another skid (or two, three, four…hopefully). The trick is hoping that the Braves don’t hit any skids before the Phillies do so they can gain some ground. I’m encouraged by the lineup right now. I don’t think the Braves need to do a thing — don’t buy, don’t sell. KEEP what you have. Huddie’s coming back in a couple of weeks, although he may not be able to go more than 4-5 innings at first. We wouldn’t want to rush him back, of course. He’s coming back, though, could mean that Lowe (who seems to only go 5 innings) or Kawakami goes to the bullpen at that point. The Sept. callups could be Schafer and another good bat & arm from Gwinnett (I hope I haven’t exceeded the number there for the roster expansion). If the guys keep on plugging along and keep steamrolling with the extra help, they could very well win the NL East. With his comment, Chipper seems to forget (maybe??) that the bulk of the Braves’ remaining games will be with their division rivals. A LOT can happen between now and the end of the regular season. The team is starting to get really good now. It’s really starting to get big-time fun down at the ole’ ballpark now. I missed that.
Clarkwork
July 21st, 2009
10:22 am
The Braves have been playing much better lately, and the pitching has been there all year. I seems the bats are going to heat up the second half and I think we have a great shot at the division or wild card. We just have to go out and keep winning series. I don’t think we need to do anything unless we can get a power bat at first base.
Kenny J
July 21st, 2009
10:24 am
The paradox is, if the Braves were to scratch their way into the post season with the roster they have, they could win it all. Not saying they will, but short, pressurized series in the cool autumn air typically deliver tight games, and pitching is critical. They have as good a staff as anyone in baseball, and if the past few weeks are an indicator, they are at last getting the good at bats top to bottom to produce enough runs to win classic post-season type games. They need another middle relief arm, maybe even two. But ironically, the Braves are more suited to win in the post season than they might to overcome the Phillies to even get there. Hopefully the wild card is attainable. I like the team more all the time, and I applaud Frank Wren for his work, both over the winter and in-season. We all know his work is still cut out for him, and the final standings will give us plenty more to chat about.
Hank's Brave New World
July 21st, 2009
10:30 am
Thank you Jeff for your ongoing insights. First, who has the guts to speak the absolute truth within Atlanta’s sports media? That is, John Schuerholz is the most over-rated executive in baseball during the past 15 years…I did not say worst, or terrible, I said OVER-RATED! The amount of talent he shipped out of Atlanta is truly mind-boggling! Fortunately, for him not enough “mind” has been paid to the long-term effects of his many suspect (at best) trades and transactions. I believe his best ability was to resurrect older bodies off the major league scrapheap and rejuvenate these players for an additional season or two of productivity.
Additionally, Wren has made some positive moves, but for anyone to say that he hasn’t made a bad move is simply blind or out of touch. Josh Anderson, Joey Devine, and Willie Aybar have all produced favorably elsewhere and the Braves received virtually nothing in return (I don’t want to hear about the “contributions” of the mediocre Mark Kotsay either…!)
As for now, I favor keeping the the rotation in tact and focusing on the area where the Braves have the weakest comparative production — first base. Kotchman is simply okay but he is clearly not strong enough with the Braves current line-up to remain in a position where power hitting is normally located. If the Braves had greater outfield power that could help cover for Kotchman, but the Braves have already utilized a lot of activity on attempting to improve the outfield positions and may want to keep the group stable until the end of the season. Therefore, in view of the fact that the Braves and Padres have recently set the table for trade negotiations during the Peavy discussions (like Wren previously stated with the Pirates, initially targetting Jason Bay but ultimately moving on McLouth) but now re-direct the effort towards Adrian Gonzalez. It must be assured that Gonzalez is signed for at least two seasons beyond the end of this year as a prerequisite. The Braves will have to offer significant compensation as well…but how about packaging Kotchman, Medlin, and a choice of either Schafer or Freeman. Kelly Johnson is certainly available as well. IMO, only Hanson and Heyward are untouchable as Braves prospects. First base is where the Braves can gain the most impact, and should be their top priority.
Tami
July 21st, 2009
10:30 am
Oh…and one more thought….about Francoeur: I just KNEW that if he got traded, he would start listening to the same advice about improving his swing that he got with the Braves — just from “other people”. I have no idea why he was so stubborn. It figures he’d start finding his swing again when he gets to another team, and **groan** with a division rival. The only pressure he received was the kind he applied to himself. The Braves & coaches (& the fans) were exceedingly patient with him. If/When he goes back into a slump, the pressure he’ll get from the NY media & fans will far exceed what he might have experienced here.
submariner
July 21st, 2009
10:33 am
Hank’s Brave New World…………WORD!
submariner
July 21st, 2009
10:39 am
Tami, Francouer had too many people in his ear here. He needed a change. I bet when he got to NY , they told him to go back to what he was doing when he first came up……forget about everything he’d heard……and left it at that. Ryan Howard stikes out a lot, but nobody is in his @SS about that, because he hits huge bombs! I’d much rather had Francouer hitting 20 plus homers and driving in over 100 runs with a high strike out total, but no!… They had to tell him he needed better plate discipline, which is what screwed him up to begin with! They should have left him alone!
submariner
July 21st, 2009
10:39 am
Vazquez is relatively cheap when you consider his worth in the current market. He makes a fine fit here. I say keep em! We could use a good righty, but who ya gonna get? I say, stay where you are, roll the dice and see how this year ends and look to improve (add a bat) in the off season. Personally, I thought that the talent base and current team were good even before they unloaded Francouer. They should have played better out of the gate. No excuses. Wren has given them the tools they need to win. You don’t have to have a top tier player at every position………unless you’re the Yankees or the Red Sox! The upgrade may need to be at Field General!!!!!!!!! When you can send a guy out there every day who will give you 6 plus, quality innings, you need to play defense and put up some freakin offense. They’re seeing the ball well now, but they shoulda, woulda, coulda been running the table. You ask any manager out there, and they will tell you that they’d love to have this team! Demoting and promoting have been an extension of the front office, not from the manager, where it should have started in the first place. Bobby’s “player manager” image has dug them a hole that they can’t get out of. Now they have to try to reel in the Wild Card when they should have been out in front looking back at the Phillies. If you’re telling me that the Philies are better on paper than the Braves, I call BS. They’ve just been getting it done with a pitching staff that, for the most part, stinks. The Braves shouldn’t be swinging for the fence and we shouldn’t be expecting it. If you don’t have power, then you have to manufacture runs. Something that Bobby Cox has never been good at doing. He never sends runners. You hear people say that they never have speed, but McClouth is fast, Escobar is fast, Prado is quick. You have to put pressure on teams and they don’t do it well. Hell, they never do it! Get runners on, steal bases, and put pressure on. That takes pitchers out of rythm and gets hitters pitches to hit. They need to work the count. They’re always 0-2, 1-2 right off the bat. Then they go into protect mode and usually get carved up. I mean, how hard is it to see. I don’t get paid, and I can see that!
booquinn
July 21st, 2009
10:39 am
“no easy out anymore”, translates to Frenchy is no longer in the lineup, I love the brutal honesty from Chipper.
Doug
July 21st, 2009
10:45 am
Attitude! Attitude! Attitude! These guys for the most part have been playing since they were kids. They have the talent. Sure any given team will have a player in any given position that has a little more talent, but across the board these are major league ball players. The team that has the best attitude, knows how to get it and sustain it, wins. The Phillies have it right now. The Braves have it right now. Can the Braves understand that they are responsible for the mental part of the game which includes knowing how to sustain that mental part? If they keep thinking the team will improve with one more trade, they have failed with all those past trades. They have to improve the enthusiasm, the intensity, the concentration, and the execution. It would appear from that last few games they know how to get there. Give us, give the team the rest of the season with what the winning attitude they just re-found (after what 3 seasons?), and first place is there, a National League Championship is within grasp, and a World Championship a possibility. If they let the attitude slip away, if they think if we just get one more good trade, forget it. Give us some winning audacity, not some whiny trade rumors.
Daniel
July 21st, 2009
10:52 am
Here’s a wild idea. Bring back Andruw Jones. He’s really starting to look like his old self again with the Rangers. He could be brought in for relatively cheap and at the very least could be a great second string outfielder and pinch hitter.
Kenneth Simpson
July 21st, 2009
11:05 am
The braves should be very reluctant to make any trades since they get stuck more often than not. The Tex disaster should make them very reluctant to empty the farm of what is left. I don’t understand why they would consider trading a good pitcher like Javy since they gave away good players to get him, Tyler Flowers for example. With Tim Hudson attempt to come back with only one year possible left with the braves they had better keep their pitchers. I am totally surprised they didn’t find a way to give Tommy Hanson away like they done Andrus, Salty, Millwood, Marquis, and others I cannot name. With the Phillies playing like they are I don’t feel they can catch them anyway.
Angus
July 21st, 2009
11:14 am
Kenneth, I keep seeing posts like yours asking why trade Vasquez.
While I don’t endorse trading Vasquez, he is perhaps our best option should we make a big trade.
Starting pitching is the only thing we have a lot of.
No way you trade JJ or Hanson (young, cheap, staff anchors for the future).
No one wants Lowe or Kawakami – neither are pitching well compared to their salaries/contracts.
Hudson will not have proven his health by the trade deadline.
Vasquez is having a career year and is cheap. And if he was gone, we’d still have a good staff -possibly as good, pending Hudson.
Again, I don’t endorse the trade, but there is logic behind it.
Falconian
July 21st, 2009
11:21 am
What the Braves needed to do they did…get rid of the little sweet meat out there in right field. They are finally hitting, and they have the best pitching staff in the National League. They do have to play 600 ball the rest of the season, and I think they will.
Dont give up now…this is the best all round team they have had in 4 years.
Supes
July 21st, 2009
11:26 am
I propose dealing Jeff Schultz and his editor to ESPN first take for Skip Bayless and a “writer to be named later”
SARAH
July 21st, 2009
11:26 am
Theres nothing wrong with this lineup now. The guys are set in their rolls and unless Cox does some bonehead moves like put Johnson back at 2nd or play Norton when McCann sits out, we are stonger then the first part of season. We will also get Infante back and he will be a impact player. He was hitting 349 before the injury. There is no reason to believe he wont be strong off the bench when he gets back.
I think when Hudson gets home (lol) we put him in the number 3 spot and put KK in either the pen or send him to AAA Gwinnett to learn how to pitch American. Dont know if we can do that though but Hudson needs to be in the lineup thats for sure. Actually both KK and Lowe are the worst pitchers we have. Jurrjens, Hanson and Vazquez have been lights out and doing their jobs very well.
This offseason trade Lowe or KK for a centerfield leadoff hitter, move McLouth to left and we are ready to go again for the title. I have faith in these guys and I love our young pitchers.
coach joe
July 21st, 2009
11:34 am
Wren has done a great job. We have a chance this year and he got rid of some players that were done(glavine,smoltz, franceour,kelly)The fans should get behind him- the team is much better and i love Prado..
go braves..
Fed up
July 21st, 2009
11:36 am
Forget the first half of the season and let’s keep it going with what we got. 1st half was a little scary with blunders made by B. Cox and some of the position. We are still weak in one position in the outfield but what team doen’t have weakness of some kind even those who win it all. Big Money does not always buy big wins
Gov. Clinton Tyree
July 21st, 2009
11:52 am
Lieutenant Dan – You’re about as far off on Wren as you can be, son. Not only is he proactive, he’s bold. Made a lot of tough calls and pissed some people off, but he was right on every one of them.
I see progress. Lots of progress. 6 1/2 back is not insurmountable if you’re winning 2 of 3. Let’s keep truckin’ and see where it ends up.
Tell you this, I like our pitching better than Philly’s. I think we’re a far better playoff team than Philly, if we can get there.
Braves Fan Since "80
July 21st, 2009
11:57 am
I have watched the braves for years and this is the first time I have not had a clear opinion on what should be done…. McClouth is he our Center Fielder (what did pittsburgh see)? I would love a Power bat but at what price, I would love to get Church in Nortons Role, Love to have Garret Anderson a PT Player and Pinch hitter extra.
OK no Milton Bradley or Adam Dunn rentals, no need for pitching, unless you trying to slow the phillies….. Unless you got a Derrick Lee (dreaming) deal and keep Escobar, stay put I guess….. Bobby and John have always found that late season vet sometimes off the waiver wire
Allen
July 21st, 2009
12:02 pm
Yes, the wild card is a bit of a mess to chase (sort of like the days before 6, or even 4 divisions). But the bottom line is that we appear to be competitive for the WC, and the bottom line question for a trade isn’t just who would we trade away but who do we realistically think we can get?
Joshua
July 21st, 2009
12:09 pm
Lt Dan your comments are way off base and do represent the opinions of this Braves fan. I am positive I am not alone in saying that Frank Wren has accomplished some pretty awesome feats considering the financial limitations he has to work with. If you don’t like it, why don’t you find another team to root for, because I couldn’t be happier with the moves he has made.
Hank's Brave New World
July 21st, 2009
12:09 pm
Thanks Submariner, I appreciate your insights as well. I also believe it’s way past due to rev-up the available speed on this team and get more aggressive on the basepaths. Bobby Cox needs to embrace this approach with the ongoing lack of power on the current Braves roster.
How about a quick power tweak on the cheap…release Greg Norton (yawn!) and sign the just-released Tony Clark. Neither hitter bats for a high average so infuse a little more power on the bench with Clark.
Now, Wren, leave the rotation alone (your pride, your masterwork!) and go get Adrian Gonzalez for Kotchman, Medlin, and Schafer (or Freeman, Padres choice)!