Can you really feel comfortable if Braves stand pat?

I think it’s questionable whether the Braves can get to the postseason as constructed — eight games back in the loss column to the Phils, and the proverbial logjam of teams competing for the WC.

Once we start playing in our division, there’s only one team we have (Washington) that figures to be easy (and we haven’t exactly killed those guys, at least not yet). Meanwhile, the Central and Western Division WC contenders will each have two teams to feast upon in their divisions.

I like our team and I wouldn’t make a short-term trade that hurts the long-term future — but I just think the math is not on our side this year, as you have stated before Jeff.

I’ll be rooting for the Braves to prove me wrong in the weeks to come.

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No, you really like to see them do something. We still have lots of games to make up in either the divisional or wildcard race. At least do something – a little extra bullpen help, an outfield bat with a little more power. Even a modest move like the ones the Giants made to acquire Ryan Garko for a Class A picture would make you feel more comfortable. It’s just hard to rest while I’m still on this team.

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Yes. I’m OK with it, because I didn’t expect the Braves to be World Series contenders this year. There is no one out there to get who will make them one. They are much improved over last year. I’m watching more games than last year. They are rebuilding and doing it well so far. So, yeah, I’m happy for them to stick with the process and not mortgage next year for a shot at a wildcard this year. Fred McGriff is not out there.

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Teams that just sit and do nothing are the teams that sit come playoff time.

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i hope the braves learned their very painful lesson in trading the future away with the tex trade and in making the rangers a long term success!

if the braves do not have a world series type of team,i do not want just to see a playoff team. we have all experience that many times before.

the future is very bright with many talented young players on the farm and here now.
the last thing the braves need to do is make a bonehead decision by trading ofr a “rent me now veteran player who will be gone next year!

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If you want a Playoff contender then I’m fine standing pat, if you want a World Series contender, then I will see you in 2011.

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I am happy with the team and how they are playing. No trades needed.

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I am happy with this team standing pat….heck Chipper is just playing average…he’ll get it going in August…the Braves are fine…(as long as the bats stay hot..)

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I have to agree with Frank on this one.

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Although I’d like to see us trade for a big bat, I don’t see it happening and I also wouldn’t want to see a repeat of Texiera-gate. I think it’s best to stand pat. I’m impressed with the way we’re playing, but I still don’t know if we’ll make it to the playoffs. I’d rather us see what we can do with what we have, and then assess our options during the offseason. Bye KJ, we’ll miss you.

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I say go with what we have, except maybe replacing Norton with Infante when he comes off the DL. Having Jeff and Kelly together in the lineup was like having three pitchers (nine or twelve sure outs, depending on how quickly the lineup turned over). That shortened us to a five or six inning game. At least now, we can expect to still be in it in the ninth.

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We was standing pat when we won the state champion. Standing pat is what the Braves should do, too. Letting Jeff get away may have been good and may have been bad but the Braves sure have won a lot of games since Jeff’’s been gone. I suspect Jeff being gone has done some damage to the local Dairy Queens, too. I am going to sell my Dairy Queen stock.

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I guess it’s kinda corny but we had a guy in our outfield we called Standing Pat. He would stand straight up and would never look like he was in fielding position and then when the ball was hit to him he would come running real hard and make the catch and then turn and throw the ball as hard as he could to third base or to the plate and all the runners would move up. Coach never liked that about Standing Pat.

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The starting pitching is solid, but the offense has not been consistent this season. I do not believe that this roster can combine for an “everyday” lineup that provides an offensive effort consistent enough to make the playoffs.

Many people have said this from the beginning. I am not sure why some folks are now choosing to put all of their faith in the words of Frank Wren. Just because he likes this team does not mean it has all the pieces it needs to get to the playoffs.

That being said, I do NOT want to see another deal like the Mark Teixeira trade. I don’t believe that is worth it.

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Can we please give the Tex trade a freaking break. Salty and Andrus were never going to play in this organization and Matt Harrison is a good pitcher, not great. Salty is batting .243 with 7 homers. Elvis is decent, he is batting .256. We have one of the best SS in the league. We have great pitchers.

Yes we could’ve used them later to get another player but at the time you had a chance to get a Hall of Famer. My problem was they should’ve known they couldn’t re-sign him. Maybe they could’ve gotten someone else with them later but even then it is no guarantee.

Please drop it and move on.

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I would still want to bolster the line up. I would love to pull off a trade for Adam Dunn. Stick him right in the middle of Chipper and McCann. Send Washington Kelly Johnson and a pitcher like JoJo Reyes.

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Thank God ! Finally we’re going to refrain from trading our future for some perceived pie in the sky today.

I agree that we can win with the team we have….patience, the cream is beginning to rise.

Oh, speaking of Yunel….we’re just going to have to accept the occasional gaff and enjoy the greater benefits of his outstanding play. He will get better.

I’m glad to see KJ playing better, but he will have better playing opportunities elsewhere….maybe he’ll be the next Mark DeRosa.

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Trade Cox for anybody.

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Frank Wren has done a magnificent job all year. Of course we all would make some moves differently if we were in that seat but in the course of a year he took a floundering average team and gave them a shot if they played well to maybe get into the playoffs with a wild card bid. That’s a pretty incredible job really when you consider they have virtually no power and virtually no speed AND salary was decreased. They had to stick it out this year and give thier younger guys time to progress and get better while making the other tough decisions. This team couldn’t afford to wait on John Smoltz or Tom Glavine to have a chance to make the playoffs. The only really bad move so far is Kawakami’s salary but I expect they knew it would take him a while to acclimate to playing in the states. If there was a great move on the table I’d expect him to pull the trigger quickly but I don’t think anyone is willing to give up a difference maker for unproven prospects. In a game without steroids prospects rather than 32+ year old veterans hold more value.

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I think Conrad will certainly be up in September. I would have liked to see the team go get Adam Dunn as a clean up hitter prior to the season but the money just wasn’t there with all the pitching expenditures. Garrett Anderson for 1 million is a heck of a bargain even with the slow frustrating start.

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Some Braves posters on here just will not be satifsfied regardless of what Wren does. It’s hard to argue and say he hasn’t pulled off many good moves. The best move may be to hold what they have right now. I’m not sure I have the best answer. BUT, I am in agreement that they shouldn’t be giving up any big prospects right now. Probably the only move I would make is to try and get another solid right handed reliever. And that is IF I could get him without giving up a whole lot. For me that includes Schafer, Medlin, and Freeman being off limits (obviously Heyward is totally off limits).

By the way, has anyone noticed what DeRosa has done since being traded to the Cards? He’s only hitting about .250, but has 5 bombs in 13 games. He would’ve been a nice pick up.

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Gotta win a bunch more games before playoffs are even in sight. Gotta take the series vs florida. Than, the Braves play the Dodgers two series out of the next three or four. That’s scary.

Come out of that still in the race, they have a chance to sneak in.

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Another thing…………..

the way the other guys are playing, this team would be a lot better if and when Chipper gets on track. This hasn’t exactly been a good year for him and he’d be the first to admit that.

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Atticus:

I noticed how you conveniently failed to mention that the Braves also included Neftali Feliz in the Texeira disaster. You are entitled to your opinion, but a number of posters agree with me that the last thing this team needs to do is trade more minor league talent for rental mercenaries like Texeira. Stand pat or at least make a McLouth type trade (you know a young player who can help now and will be around for a while).

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Good deal. I guess Bobby was just giving some guys the day off on Sunday, then. I wasn’t digging it when I saw Kelly start at second. Even though he had a good day, I think the blind squirrel stumbled on an acorn.

Prado’s great, though, and I hope he sticks around a long time.

Would it be fair to say that Prado contributes to this latest era of good feeling – chemistry-wise – the Braves seem to be having? Because it appeared that Kelly brought the team down a little bit psychologically. Of course, this is all from going to two games in person and watching the majority of the rest on TV.

But that’s why I ask you, the columnist – you get paid to find this stuff out!

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The problem with the Braves is not the talent on the 25 man roster; it is Bobby Cox. It is unbelievable how the baseball writers defend him when it is obvious that he does not understand the necessity for and makes no effort to teach/emphasize/demand that the hitters work the count – make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches — the absoulte essential if you are going to have consistant good run production. The Braves are next to last in all of baseball in averge number of pitches seen per at bat – which will guarantee poor consistant run production and not being competitive int he division. With our Pitching, it is almost beyond belief that the team is not leading the Division. Working the count and making the pitcher throw a lot of pitches is the key to offensive production – it enables your hitters to see what the pitcher has, adust 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. It not devlop and demand this is absurd. Watch good teams in their approach at the plate – then watch the Braves. Co doesn’ seem to have a clue. And this says nothing about his sometimes terrible strategy moves within games, his failure to make completely obvious changes, failure to have the most productive players in the lineup, failure to make batting order adjustments to take advantage of hot hitters, failure to get players out of the lineup when it is obvious they cannot produce, mismanagement of the bullpen etc. He won the 14 Division titles by having All Star pitching so dominant and so far far superior to other teams that it made it almost impossible to lose the Division over the long 162 game schecule — But even with all this, he usuall just barely won – and (with theis great Pitching) won only 1 WS in 14 opportunities – and that required Glavine to win a 1-0 shutout.

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I am happy with the team.

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I don’t see replacing 3 of your starters since opening day as “standing pat”.

Possibly you do.

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With regard to the Hall of Fame eligibility question posed yesterday: I believe that MLB is setting itself up to implode. We should never, repeat never, allow cheating to become accepted as the mainstream. When a player chemically alters his abiities he becomes the product of the alteration, not the natural ability he was born with. This is cheating pure and simple. Look at pictures of Barry Bonds in late 80’s and early 90’s and then compare them to pictures from 2000 on. It’s obvious. And it’s pathetic.

The Mark McGwire’s, Barry Bonds’s, Rafael Palmeiro’s (where did disappear to by the way) and Sammy Sosa’s of the world are not fit to shine the shoes of Willy Mays, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams. In fact, if we fans are stuck with these cheats, then I propose a SECOND “Hall of Fame” to be built in Branson, Missouri, right next to Ray Stevens and the Oak Ridge Boys, because they’re really just entertainers. They certainly are not athletes. And they certainly don’t deserve a place in the hallowed shrine of Cooperstown.

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The lineup as currently constituted just feels like more of a true TEAM than before the all-star break. I know it’s easy to look at everything in a positive light when everyone is hitting and you are winning 70% of your games, but it just feels right.

With our pitching and a building chemistry this team could continue to win 6 or 7 games out of every 10 and get into the playoffs. Just making the playoffs would certainly be considered a success this year.

Bobby – Please keep Prado at 2nd and keep the lineup close to what it has been recently.

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My swing WAS sweet – thanks for noticing. And my Golden Mullet charmed the drawers off many a Georgia Peach circa 1982… But I wouldn’t go crazy trading away players this year. This might not be our year, but NEXT year certainly could be. Kawakami will be replaced by Huddy, and our pitching staff will be even better.

Would be nice if we could land a true power hitter somehow (Adam Dunn?)

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I say stand pat. Just as a side note, has anyone noticed that since he was traded, Jeff Francouer has a .327 BA, a .425 SLG, and a .817 OPS. I’m not knocking the trade. It was the best thing for everyone involved. If you’re interested in the same time Church has a .200 BA, a .300 SLG, and a .651 OPS. Of course he’s been hurt and I think those numbers will improve.

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I still do not understand the Francouer trade. A starter for a fourth outfielder. 20 something verses 30 something does not make sense to me.As far as being a player in the trade market it seems to me the quick fix has not worked too well for the Braves in the past

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We are about a season away from having the best young lineup in baseball. I don’t see any one player out there that would put this team over the top (and if we’re going to give up any more prospects, it better be for a guy who blasts you to the WS) so there’s no point unless he’s cheap and under long-term contract. We may have gotten the closest thing there was in McLouth.

As for the Tex trade, I agree with the minority that it was a good calculated risk. He would have been with the team for 1 1/2 seasons, and with his Atlanta ties (wife’s family, GT) would probably have re-signed if the move had worked out.

And Average Joe is dead on. I saw a picture of Braves-era McGriff the other day and couldn’t believe how slight he looked compared to the guys who would dominate just a few years later. The whole thing is sickening, especially with the permanent damage done to the record books.

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[...] probably should have made a bigger issue of this in my early morning blog on the probability that the Braves will stand pat at the deadline. So I’ll try to make up for it now. The Braves are NOT going to take on [...]

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Adrien Gonzalez?

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Charlie, thanks. But considering Hudson had to have his arm reconstructed, my Sox would not be interested in him now. Next August, maybe, but not now.

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I would say stand pat. It would be hard to take over Phillies – the way they are playing recently. TEXIER deal would worth every minor leaguer we send to TEX + penny if BRAVES had put every effort to sign him. Front office and ower just didn’t made any effort to sign him. They gave him one lousy offer during spring trainning and thats it. BRAVES sould have turn around for open talk when he was hitting low and wasn’t helping team until all-star gave. DON’T call TEX deal was bad. Its the effort that owner NOT willing to open his check book is BAD.

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How long ’til Cox nullifies his moves by reinstating KJ at 2B and shifting Esco back into the 2-hole?
It is only a matter of time.
And waiting in the wings are Jeff Bennett and Buddy Carlyle!

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I am starting to think that the Francouer trade was more about getting rid of him on the bench and allow Diaz and Anderson to see time together. Francouer would not have been happy on the bench and may have hurt the team’s chemistry. Now we have three solid outfielders who know their roles and do not mind having a day off. I think Church will start to hit better.

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Would love to add a solid middle relief guy. I think our big Aussie is gonna wear out at the rate he is entering games.

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kashi….I don’t think an 18 million dollar a year offer was NOT opening the checkbook. Texeira was going to leave no matter what dollar amount he was offered. It was plain to see that he wanted to go to NY.

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Hello! Joshn Willingham people! The dude hit 2 grand slams last night

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Any deal for AGon will have to include multiple top level prospects not guys like Churcha nd Kotchman

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THE BRAVES HAVE NOT STOOD PAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Are we forgetting the fact that the Braves have already made their BIG DEALS?

why does it have to be at the “trade deadline” to be important

I think bringing in McLOUTH and trading Frenchy for Church are two pretty bug deals..

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“big” deals that is LOL

I do think you’ll see them trade KJ for a reliever (Saito maybe)

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submariner

LOL you think the Padre will give up ADRIAN for that package?????

to even being to get Adrian Gonzales…you would have to give up Freeman or Kotchman, Medlen, JoJo, and Schafer

which I WOULD DO by the way

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MLBTRADERUMORS.COM mentions that Atlanta talked to Oakland about Michael Wuertz but that the A’s are asking a lot for him and that Atlanta may be looking at an “under the radar” type reliever. It also mentions that Atlanta checked in with Pittsburgh about Freddy Sanchez. Now why would Atlanta be interested in Sanchez with their second base situation seemingly solidified? Sanchez, who has good numbers could be the bat the Braves have needed by moving Prado to first base, but he’s a lot like Matt Holliday. He’s a one year rental. I don’t see why they would do that. I’ll say that they end up making a deal for a bullpen arm although they may not need to do that with Tim Hudson returning and one pitcher going to the bullpen.

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I would like to see one trade. Give up Johnson for some good middle relief bullpen help OR send Johnson to the minors for awile to reacquaint him with the corner outfield positions, then bring him up to replace Norton (whom I would DFA)

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@ submariner “Send Church, Kotchman, Gonzalez and a player to be named later to San Diego for Adrien Gonzalaz and bring back Schafer to platoon with Diaz to play right field.”

Wow, that’s a lousy trade for the Padres.

Adrian Gonzalez is the type of player to target, as he’s young and under contract for a few years. Plus, a proven talent. However, you’re going to have to give up Heyward and Freeman for him, plus a few other pieces, at least. Personally, if you’re looking to compete for the next few years (ie, the final Chipper Jones years), its a trade to make.

The upside on Heyward and Freeman is huge, but that’s all it is right now, upside. There’s no telling if they’ll be MLB stars or just another hyped prospect that fails to deliver. AGon will deliver results now, and for the next few years.

I’d like to see one more bat with some power, but at the very least, they need another arm in the bullpen. The Braves have used the main guys a ton, and considering three of them have had major arm surgery in the past 2 years… The chances of at least one of those arms blowing out is pretty high.

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I wouldn’t do Heyward for AGonzo straight up. Heyward is going no where. Hitters like AGonzo grow on trees, hitters like Heyward don’t.

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“One good month for hitting is not a trend! If they don’t get a RF bat, they will not make the playoffs again this year. ”

The RF platoon looks solid, imo. You basically are looking at getting .300 from the two corner positions, and combined 35-40 HR. Nothing to write home about, but solid (And a solid improvement over what we thought we’d end up with at the beginning of the season). I wouldn’t make any major changes to the OF at this point, nor do I think the Braves will.

SP has been great, I’d put the Braves 5 plus whatever you get from Hudson up against any other team in the league. RP has been good, overworked. So we look there.

3B, SS, C… leave those positions alone. 2B with Prado / Johnson, not bad. Prado isn’t as good as he’s been, Johnson isn’t as bad as he’s been. It will level off to a solid place. 1B… Kotchman has been hot, but at the end of the day, at his best he’s Sid Bream.

RP, 1B… that’s what to target, in that order.

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Jeff Schultz….trading deadlines aren’t about what it feels like, it’s about results. Braves are getting the results we all want, over the last month, even with giving a few games away. This team is finally performing like the team we thought we were getting at the beginning of the season, a playoff caliber team.

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The Braves must, I say must consider moving Lowe for possibly a trade with the Angels for Brandon Wood and Will Smith. We could in that respect get maximum return. One of the starters are going to be moved this off season anyways, there’s no way we could afford a rotation of Lowe, Vazquez, Hudson, KK, JJ, and Hanson, pluse there’s a odd man out there. Lowe is by far the most expensive and expendable. Brandon Wood would be a great return, (young, has power, can play multible positions). Will Smith is a power lefty (AA minors) and is a local GA boy. After that move, the Braves could look for a 5th starter in the likes of Snell at Pit, or a lesser option (Davis, Garland). These options would come at a low cost. Snell I believe could be a high reward deal, Pit would be willing to take less to move him and I think he would fit the Cox mold for a young prospect. With these trades we not only take care of the future but we also solve our power needs this year with the ablity to move Kotchman in the offseason to replenish our minor system.

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“I wouldn’t do Heyward for AGonzo straight up. Heyward is going no where. Hitters like AGonzo grow on trees, hitters like Heyward don’t.”

How many Major League homeruns has Heyward hit? How many All Star games has he played in? How many Gold Gloves?

Face it, Heyward is a 20 year old unproven commodity. Until he becomes a major league star, or even, a major league player, we have no idea what he’s going to become.

AGon is not Pujols, but he’s as good of a 1B as the Braves have had in 20 years.

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I think the way to look at this is simply, do you want to really make a run at the Phillies or go for the Wild Card? And, I think Wren is thinking that the division is probably lost. Cause if you want the division the Braves still need a big bat. But. I think the wild card slot is attainable with the team that’s on the field. I don’t necessarily agree with that, but that’s the basic fact. I still think the Braves need bullpen help. I can’t imagine that this group is going to stand the rigors of a big stretch run and the playoffs. They are just used up already.

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Braves don’t need to make a major trade. Lineup is starting to hit; starting pitching is fantastic. Only upgrade they need — a good arm in the bullpen to add depth — can be achieved through a minor deal: shipping Kelly Johnson or Omar Infante for a reliever.

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AGonzo is a power hitting 1b, yeah he does still hit for a good average but he isn’t worth Heyward. I would include Freeman for him because hes the same thing as AGonzo, but Heyward is a 5 tool OF.

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you know what stand pat even if we miss the playoffs which we might if the kind of trade genius john made are made again we will pay for it for ten years as we are now doing for the boneheaded tex trade stand pat when heward freeman and maybe scheafer if he gets a brain or a batting coach who has one are all here next year we will compete for the devision and the ws if anything over the winter see if somone will take loaf and try to get one more hard throwing young arm for the pen

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A Gonzalez has had a declining avg over the past 4 years he’s been in the majors.

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What would you trade for? Starting pitching is good, bullpen is good (maybe one more middle relief guy? but what do the Braves give up to get it?), and an offense that, when everyone executes, is good. To me that’s the key, offense needs to produce and do what it is capable of.
I will say that I think Wren has done a good job so far.
Smoltz is 1-4, Glavine was done in my opinion, and Frenchy needed a fresh start.
I don’t know if we will catch the Phillies (if they get Halladay, forget about it), but I think the wildcard is a possiblity.
They need to stay hot, here’s to hoping they will.
I miss October baseball.

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I like our team. And no trade of VASQUEZ. No way, no how. KAWAKAMI, sure, no problem.

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The Texiera deal was a fiasco. Three of the prospects we gave up are in the Major Leagues today.

I would rather watch a kid from AAA like Brooks Conrad then an over the hill bum like Greg Norton.

Stand pat, get rid of Kelly, it will do him and the team good and develop the kids.

PS, I would trade Chipper in a heart beat….he’s the worst producing 3 hitter in the league.

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I read an interesting post the other day on AJC…maybe on Caroll’s blog.

Someone posted that “there’s no way the Phillies hitting can remain this hot for the remainder of the season” – something along those lines -

Well after last night we’re 7 GB…8 in the loss column…I don’t see the Phillies collapsing…I think our only route towards the playoffs is via the Wild Card.

Furthermore I don’t believe the Braves can continue to hit this well for the remainder of the season either…we’re going to cool off..I’m sure Frank Wren is hoping we don’t get too cold and fall out of the race…hey we all are…So while we’re hot we need to make up as much ground as possible on these Wild Card teams and get the lead as quickly as possible…which could still be two to three weeks away!

Go Braves

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The Braves have some good chips to trade in Triple A, Blanco and Conrad. If we could get some young arms then it would be worth a shot but I would not mess the big club right now except to get rid of Norton.

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We have already made two trades. Mclouth and Church. I think that says we want to win. And we could make a trade for a reliever at the deadline too, but we are not going to trade for a Roy Halladay type player, not too smart considering the Talent we would have to give up.

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I was sad to hear that we wouldn’t be making another move, but once that settled in i was content with what we have as a team. We already made two big moves in getting McClouth and Ryan Church, which boosted our defense to a new level. We also dont need to risk losing our prospects who have always proven to be great players. I hope we make the playoffs this year, but I’ve got my eyes set on these next few years. I can’t wait for Heyward and Freedmen to come up

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Al D, You would deal chipper? The heart and soul of this franchise right now? Thats the reason why your not the GM. Stick to the video games.

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Can we please put the comments about how bad the Texeira trade was us to rest?

Jarrod Saltalamacchia is batting just .243 with a terrible .661 OPS, and he is not exactly a defensive superstar (6 errors in 72 games started).

Elvis Andrus has an awful .668 OPS so far this season, and his stolen bases are down significantly (largely due to his .315 OBP, no doubt).

Neftali Feliz has pitched pretty well, but has yet to crack the majors and still has control problems and lacks a major-league ready second pitch to go along with his 100 MPH fastball.

Matt Harrison has a career 5.76 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 26 major-league starts.

I know that people love to rail against “mortgaging the future,” and obviously Teixeira’s arrival did not culminate in the playoff run that the Braves hoped for, but let’s be realistic here. With the possible exception of Feliz, what exactly should we be so sorry we parted with? Even if Salty or Andrus improve, they are both blocked in Atlanta by better players. Harrison has been absolutely horrendous as a major-leaguer, Feliz is not ready for the majors yet, and I’m not sure what we’d do with him if he were.

If the Teixeira trade goes down as John Schuerholz’s biggest failure or the Braves’ worst trade in recent years, I think that speaks volumes about how good most of their moves have been.

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no need to do anything right now.

there’s no way we catch the Phils, & the team we have has plenty of talent to stay w/SF, St Louis & CO in the WC chase.
Braves re-tooled in the off-season by overhauling the rotation…great move.

they should wait until Nov/Dec to make any major moves.

all we need now is continued moxie, more of the same from Prado, Esco, Mac, etc.
if you can get a bullpen arm (or even a few prospects) for KJ, great – do it.

if not, let’s dance w/these here boys that brung us back from the dead these last 20 games.

oh – & make sure Conrad returns from Gwinnett ASAFP. that kid has the kind of Lenny Dykstra attitude we need more of

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Like most everyone else on the blog, I like this team and will go so far to say that if the Braves could have fielded this team from April 5 onward, the postseason would be much more of a certainty. I, too, would prefer to see Conrad rather than Norton on the roster, and when Infante is ready, Johnson might have to bumped somewhere. Pitching, small ball, and hustle is winning games. McCann is a stud, Escobar is proving a lot of people wrong, and I suspect additional power will be found in the September call-ups.

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I would still love to see this team find some speed and power, but not at the expense of prospects. Some of these guys are playing very good baseball right now. Ride it out and hope things break in our favor this year.

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b baron,

I was only mentioning people on the major league team. I agree with you actually that we shouldn’t reproduce the Texas trade if we knew there was NO WAY we would resign Tex.

But to make it out like it bankrupted our organization is just wrong. Sometimes you go for it and if we had gone to the playoffs it would’ve been worth it because none of those players would be playing for us. I agree with you the trade to make is when you can get a player for less, that is the key to any trade. To say like peopl eon here that you don’t ever make trades of young guys for proven veterans is just stupid. Sometimes you build up your farm JUST for that purpose. I will take a proven all-star over a prospect any day of the week unless they are franchise players like McCann or Hanson or Heyward. None of those TX are franchise players in my opinion.

Wren missed on that one but he has done pretty well otherwise.

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We need another arm for the bullpen. Preferably someone with a last name that is similar to Moylan since Bobby likes calling on that one so much.

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The Braves are more than good enough as constituted to be in the race for the wildcard all the way to the end of the season. I believe they are only 3 back as of today. Catching the Phillies on the other hand requires the Braves to make up several games while waiting to meet the Phils face to face and then the Braves must at least win 7 of the 9 remaining games with the Phils. Not saying it can’t be done but a harder road to travel.

The Braves will not make a trade for a bat when likely the best bats are in their own farm system. No sense in blocking a Heyward or Freeman who possibly could help in September or certainly by mid-season next year.

One thing I haven’t seen written about is any mention of Cox’s contract being extended. Is there a real possiblity that this could be the finale for Cox?

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Agree totally with Steve here,but who’d take Johnson. Hey,I’ve loved him since he was that kid in left field,but it time!

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Let’s stop talking about the Tex trade and let’s talk about me! Trading deadline is closing in and here’s what I’m thinking: Let’s trade the name on the back of my jersey to the front of everyone’s jersey – The Atlanta Asscobars! We could drop Atlanta and just use Asscobars for the front of the white, home jersey. Then, we could drop Atlanta again and just use Asscobars for the front of the gray, road jersey! We then trade other player’s names for no names on the back of the jersey. We go w/the classic look the Yankees have used for decades – just the number, no name on the back. Now, that’s a trading deadline. Gotta go get ready for my game.

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I say if Hudson is healthy bring him back as middle relief for the rest of the year. Pitch him every 3 days at the most and only for a couple of innings. Let him work back slowly.

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This team needs a bat, Casey Kotchman is killing us.

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Trade Kelly Johnson.

Seriously? Not like Escobar? What’s not to like, being player of the week b/c of his batting?
Yeah, that’s terrible.

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We need another arm in the pen.

The recent trade that was worse then Tex was Seattle sending Adam Jones (All Star), Sherrill (30 save guy) and a top prospect to Baltimore for one front line starter who is often injured in Eric Beddard.

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For all those people who keep insisting that the Teixeira trade was the worst trade ever and Texas fleeced the minor league system…

Jarrod Saltalamacchia – .243 / 7 HR / 30 RBI
Elvis Andrus – .256 / 3 HR / 17 RBI
Matt Harrison – 4-5 / 6.11 ERA / 63.1 IP
Beau Jones – 2-4 / 5.88 / 33.2 IP (AA)
Neftali Perez – 4-6 / 3.58 / 75.1 IP (AAA)

…So Texas got a couple of average major league players that were blocked by McCann and Escobar anyway, two below average minor league pitchers, and one solid pitcher with potential. I don’t call that getting your minor league system pillaged. You should take a look at the facts before you just spit out what ESPN says.

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Exactly, no all-stars traded to the Rangers in the trade. How about the deal Baltimore got from Beddard. Or in 1997 Seattle traded Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek for one reliever, Heathcliff Slocumb. Oops, now that was a lopsided deal. 2 long term all stars for one hope at a decent reliever.

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# 31

You beat me to it. I continue to be baffled at people who think that was a bad trade. Tex made us a contender and we gave up almost nothing in the deal ( i do like andrus but thats about it )

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I’ll ammend that by saying, there is a glut at 2nd base with Prado, Johnson and Conrad (who’s played well in limited time). KJ seems the most likely to trade out of that group. It would make sense to take advantage of the depth at that position in exchange for somewhere else that they need help (bullpen?).

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Shane – Andrus could still eventually be a great player. He steals a lot of bases now as it is…but I would rather have Escobar then, today, and five years from now. You don’t get any trophies or rings from MLB for having the most prospects in you system. might as well use them, he and Salty weren’t going to play here anyway.

I think it was more than worth it too to take a run at it. Every team right now except the Yankees would kill to have a lineup with Chipper and Tex back to back. It wasn’t Schuerholz’ fault that the pitching fell apart last year.

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What scares me the most about standing pat is the Pen and the fact that our top 4 guys in the pen all are at the top of the league in appearances. I’ve seen that come to bite you too many times in September. One more reliever would really help.

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espn says pads would need 4-5 young pitchers and fielders for AGONZO. So…

KJ, JS, JoJo, Gonzo, and Kotchman. Average out to mid 20s in age and Gonzo and Jojo are Latino so they wouldn’t upset fanbase for trading another Latino.

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I like this team! Good moves were made prior to the season (Lowe / Vasquez) and during the year (McLout). With Hanson pitching so well and the potential for Hudson to return, the starting staff could be one of the NL’s best. The lineup isn’t full of power, but certainly full of timely hitting. I see a solid run at the division…

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Why not try and make a trade that will help us now and for the next few years? Even though the Padres say that Adrian Gonzales isn’t on the trading block, many “experts” say that he could be moved for the right price. He’s great defensively and his power would be a huge upgrade at 1B. He’s still young (27 or 28) and is under contract at bargain prices the next two or three years.That would give Freeman time to develop and he’d be ready when Adrian hit free agency.I know his numbers have been rough the last few weeks but he has NO protection in the Padres lineup.The price would be high but worth it. Maybe Medlen,Kotchman,KJ and Jojo Reyes.And maybe even another low level prospect or two. What is your opinion on that Jeff? Sound reasonable or is there no way it would work?

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I wonder if anyone out there disagrees that the Tex disaster was what it was a disaster for the braves. The young Texas general manager said was one of the most lopsided trades his team has ever made. I think the braves were dead sent on getting Tex they would have thrown in anyone the rangers wanted and I am totally suprised they didn’t throw Hansen in the deal as well as a couple more prospects. JS should have been run out of the country for this deal. I will not call it a trade because it was more like a steal and people go to jail for stealing. If they cannot make a decent trade and I for one don’t think they can they need to stand pat and not mortgage the future like they did with Tex. They knew when they got him that he would leave for the big money yankees. This thing he said about loving to stay in Atlanta was just a gimmick to get more money from the Yankees. He never had any intentions of staying in Atlanta knowing the Yankees would open up the bank for him. He left for the same reason all free agents leave, MORE MONEY! Free agents don’t care about dedication to a team that nurtured them into becoming good ball players and took a chance on them only to have them leave for more money. Good Riddance to all of them who do that! Stand Pat and don’t make any more stupid trades for a rental!

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We need a reliever. Trade KJ for a solid young reliever that we can control for a couple of years, especially since we’re losing either Gonzo or Soriano (or both) next year…

This team is 1 reliever away from being dominant. The losses we’ve had lately have been lost in the bullpen. Heck, most losses this year have been either lost in the bullpen (esp when we had Bennett) or because of lack of hitting. The hitting has come around thanks to Prado…so just shore up the bullpen Wren! We don’t need KJ anymore….

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Duh – Why hold the prospects for later. They may be worth more or less later but the feeling was they had a chance to make a run and be in the playoffs and you have to take advantage of those chances, especially when you can get the best available guy without giving up your best prospects (kept Schaefer and Hanson).

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Frank Wren is correct to do nothing and he is also wrong.

The damage done by Bobby Cox in April, May and June by keeping Francoeur and KJ in the line up while Prado sat on the bench may still be too much adversity for this team to overcome.

We ain’t catching the Phillies, sorry. The wild card is a six or seven team race and our playoff chances are very iffy at best. However, the Braves are playing extremely well right now. The team ERA this month is 3.12 while the offense is scoring 5.5 runs per game. That’s pretty damn good.

I have always said, if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it and the prevailing belief is to do nothing.

But what if we don’t make the playoff’s? How bad will it look come September 30th when considering the trade value that Javier Vazquez and Mike Gonzalez have right now, and our front office missed the opportunity to cash them in for some much needed help in the outfield, minors and bullpen?

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No I like our team too. With Hudson you get a number 1 starter and with Infante, well we missed him badly. Then you have the roster expansion and Im sure they will bring up Heyward. I really like our team. If Kelly Johnson continues to hit the ball then thats great off the bench. Do not however attempt to give him his starting job or even think of platooning him. Prado won that job and Prado is our starting 2nd baseman. With that said, well,,,,,,,I LIKE OUR TEAM.

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Why arent we catching the Phillies? Last I checked we played them like 8 more times this season. We swept them last time out. The Phillies are not going to win every game from here on out and neither are we. We just have to win when they are not playing and win when they lose. You know 7 games back is nothing when you have the national league east playing each other the last 2 months of the season. We could rush to the top and it might happen. Lots of things can go wrong with any team and that does not let the Phillies off the hook. They have to continue to play great ball. One injury, well we all know what that can do to ya. Oh and didnt they sign Pedro? We eat him for lunch…………….

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The braves also got Texeira production for a year and a half. Don’t forget to include that. Once you look at all the costs/ benefits, it leans towards the negative but it’s not as if the braves imploded the farm system as some have suggested.

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joemoedee – What has you Dumb a** been smokin? 35 – 40 HR from corner outfielders. Last time I looked Church had 3. Duuufus!

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I guess you didn’t notice that the Braves have already made 2 trades. Just because they didn’t make them on the day of the deadline doesn’t mean they weren’t “players.”

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Folks, I think all this talk about dealing is purely conjecture because Frank Wren told Carroll Rogers the other day that there would be some minor tinkering but that’s it. I think the school of thought is to play out the season being competitive- maybe even win the wild card- add a free agent bat in the offseason, decide what they are going to do as far as the rotation is concerned and work in a young player. Chipper eluded to this last week when he said that the team was playing for 2010 and beyond. I am fine with this as long as there is a plan in mind. Don’t go getting trade happy just because every fan wants their team to be getting better every day and that is not always even possible.

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Dont look now. Moylan is in the game.

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If KJ is not traded tomorrow, then why would Cox use Norton late in the game instead of KJ who was 4-5 since coming back. Norton is like 1-35 or something. Just did not make any sense unless you are trying to save Johnson for a trade.

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