Message heard: Welcome to the 2010 season
See this flag? It's not that the Braves don't want another one. It's just not Frank Wren's highest priority right now. (AJC photo)
Two years ago at this time, when the Braves were coming off a non-playoff season and so many of us believed it had to be some aberration, the team’s front office had a similar delusion.
“We thought, ‘This is our opportunity. We have the assets to get arguably the best offensive player in the game — let’s make it happen, let’s go for it,” Frank Wren recalled of the Mark Teixeira trade. “Obviously, things didn’t work out.”
The ripple effects of that deal — five prospects for a star first baseman who led them to third- and fourth-place finishes — were still being felt Friday.
This was Wren’s second trade deadline as general manager since taking over for John Schuerholz (who pushed the button on the Teixeira deal). At no time has he been tempted to repeat an all-or-nothing deal.
He showed it by his actions this week. He confirmed it with his words.
Wren hasn’t given up on 2009. But 2010 ranks as a higher priority.
Whether you agree with that position, just don’t expect the message to come through during ticket commercials.
“There are times when you say, ‘We’re going all in,” Wren said. “This isn’t one of those times. We’re not at that point right now.”
Casey Kotchman for Adam LaRoche. It’s the trade that didn’t move mountains. It may or may not move the Braves in the standings.
In short, the Braves reacquired LaRoche more for his past than his present. He has a little more power than Kotchman and a history of getting hot in the second half. That’s nice, but it doesn’t mean he’s a better player today. Fact is, right now he’s not. He has more home runs (13-6) than Kotchman, but he’s hitting a career-low .248, which is 34 points less than Kotchman (.282). (In the past 22 games, Kotchman also was hitting .333 with four homers, 13 RBI and a .528 slugging percentage). Defensively, they’re a push.
If you reacted to this trade with a shrug, Wren understands. It’s a little roll of the dice.
“We’re banking on what [LaRoche] has done before,” he said. “We’ve got to find power where we can get it because we don’t have that stereotypical home-run hitter.”
The 2009 playoff hopes are not dead. They’re just kind of caught in traffic, and October may start without them. It’s a seven-team wild-card, pileup, and these things are impossible to predict.
This is when it’s difficult to be a general manager. The competitive side of you says, “Do something. Win now.” The other side says, “Sit on your hands. Be patient.”
Two weeks ago, Chipper Jones said that while it was clear the front office had made improvements to the roster, “we’ve got our eyes toward next year and the year after, and whatever comes this year is gravy.”
Wren has never hid from that perception.
“I think we’ve been pretty clear about that, even going back to spring training: We think our best days are ahead,” he said. “The level of talent we have in the minor-league system and [the talent] we have that’s getting close, is going to improve our club. Whether it’s in 2010 or 2011, we think we’re going to be better. To that end, those players that we’ve identified who are part of that improvement process, we’re not going to trade — even if it’s to improve this year and make us a few games better.”
They demoted the rookie center fielder, Jordan Schafer, because he showed he wasn’t ready. They traded the right fielder, Jeff Francoeur, because they didn’t think he ever would recover, and they weren’t about to give him a raise after the season. Martin Prado for Kelly Johnson — that was just manna from heaven.
But those changes were about trying to salvage the season, not elevating it to something special.
They tried that two years ago. Didn’t work.
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191 comments Add your comment
Ron
August 1st, 2009
2:39 am
I think we are opening up a place at first for Freeman next year. I saw the guy play 15 times last year at Rome, and the guy can’t catch the ball. He can hit, but we need someone over there with a glove to handle the wild throws that Escobar, and the rest of the infield, make. Freeman will have to improve in a hurry to be ready to play the position next year as he would drop easy throws and fielding a grounder was always an adventure. I think the better move is to move Chipper to first, let Prado play third and find a leadoff guy to play second base.
Robards
August 1st, 2009
2:57 am
So what do you do after this year–bring back Scott Thorman. Kotchman wasn’t that good, but he was decent and affordable. Rochey might hit 2 or 3 more HRS, but he’ll strike out much more as well. Who plays first next year? This move makes little sense.
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
3:02 am
Let’s wait and see what Adam does…maybe he gets happy to be back in Atlanta, and that translates to a beastly second half? He is known to improve after the All Star break, and maybe being back in the ATL will fuel that with a little added kick! Personally I think the Braves are in great position for the wild card, and still could get into the NL East mix, being only 8 games back with 9 games left vs the Phillies…keep the faith Bravos fans! Keep the Faith!
DirtyDawg
August 1st, 2009
3:15 am
Dollars to donuts Kotchman ends up with better numbers (based on the number of games he gets to play in) than LaRoche. My guess is that Kotchman is thankful to be on a true pennant contender and outahere.
DerrickT
August 1st, 2009
3:26 am
Last nights game serves further proof that this team is no more than a .500 ballclub. Gee, how can Jason Schmidt looks so horrible against the Marlins, and looks like Cy Young when he pitched against us. Getting blanked 5-0 was too much to bear.
I’m sure Bobby with find solace in the number of balls that were hit hard but directly at someone. Bobby has a way of finding something good out of crap. Wonder what he would have said if he was with General Custer or Napolean at Waterloo? Face it my fellow Braves fans, it’s time to switch gears to the college football and the NFL –
Go Falcon, Dawgs, and Jackets ! !
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
3:38 am
Derrick…37 (?) games left against the NL East…Braves aren’t out of it yet…remember what happened when they rose up and grabbed the Giants oh so many years ago?
curtis jones
August 1st, 2009
4:52 am
Well, obviously Kotchman was unhappy here. Maybe he’ll be happier on the bench at Fenway.
Dr. Jesse
August 1st, 2009
5:01 am
Jeff,
Who is Norton sleeping with? Wrens ugly cousin? How three pitchers have a better BA than he and they send him up as a PH. Yuck!! One tenth of the time help gets a hit. Better hitters are sent down with much better averages.
Who pulled the trigger on this? Bobby had ‘The Roach” shipped out for his repeated ADD actions.
The Braves never score after 5 innings unless they are in the lead. No bench. Huddy, Javy, Hannie, Jurggie, Lowe boy are a tremendous rotation and the Braves need to improve power in outfield at first and a new hitting coach. Since Terry’s arrival the Braves have steadily lost HR and RBI totals. Where is Chambliss when you need him?
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
5:44 am
Well, getting LaRoche will improve the power numbers (a little), and give the opposing pitchers a little more to think about when pitching to whoever is hitting in front of him.
When Hudson and Infante come back, that will be like 2 trades, improving the team, and if Wren would just dump Norton and plug in Brooks, we’d be good…
I like Greg Norton, but if ANYONE needs a change of scenery right now, it’s him.
GO BRAVES!!!
DamYankee
August 1st, 2009
5:52 am
??? LaRoche for Kotchman? Unbelievable! Has Casey made an error yet this year? How many points higher is his BA than Adam’s?
Here’s one for the “Dream On” column: Convince BMac to play first, put D Ross behind the plate. I love McCann but he’s possibly the worst defensive catcher in the league. How many catchable/blockable balls have gone to the backstop this year? A catcher should be able to call for a change-up in the dirt at 0-2 with a runner at third and the pitcher should be able to trust him to catch/block it, but Mac tries the fancy glove work, ball to the screen, runners advance. Don’t they wear all that equipment for a reason?
And in conclusion, Jeff, where do all the geniuses on this site come from? More know-it-all morons than a Fox News Christmas party.
hop
August 1st, 2009
6:08 am
This is another non-event for frank wrenn so the question is why?
you are trading a 288 hitter for a 246 and knotchman is a great defensive first basemen.
the trade makes no sense at all,but this is frank wrenn where nothing ever does.
when does the braves get rid of wrenn?
the braves had their run and now they are sliding further away from phillies and the wild card.
thank GOD we have college football just around the corner and one does not ahve to worry about either frank or the braves!
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
6:21 am
Everyon is missing the fact that LaRoche has made ONE count it, ONE error this year at first…I know Kotchman hasn’t made any, but LaRoche is just as good defensively in the field (again ONE error…ONE WHOLE ERROR) and will provide a little more threat in the slugging percentage arena…NOT a bad move by Wren IMHO
DamYankee
August 1st, 2009
6:29 am
There goes another one.
long timer
August 1st, 2009
6:44 am
Adam LaRoche is fine, but if it weren’t for the worst trade in baseball history (Tex-Elvis-Harrison-Salty-?), Salty would be an all star first baseman by now. It was meant to be and the short sighted Braves simply blew it!
I’m still mad about it
ATLfan15
August 1st, 2009
6:47 am
I just don’t understand getting rid of Kotchman and bringing back LaRoche….like an earlier post said, this is just a big white flag being raised on the 2009 season by the Braves’ front office.
And I wish Cox would stop using Norton as a pinch hitter; I can see him being released in the offseason anyway. And why did they send Conrad back down? It’s hard to keep the faith, as abudefdef suggests, when the club is making moves like these…..oh well, like Cubs fans have said for over 100 years, “Wait till next year”……and it looks like that is exactly what Braves fans will be doing now.
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
6:54 am
I’m not a fan of Norton either, and I think if Wren were to release Norton (maybe we can get one of the locker room doors to bait him into punching it?) and call Brooks back up, I think that would show the fans that his mentality is in the “We CAN win now” mode.
Keeping Norton and his abyssmal batting average is just not a good baseball decision. He as stunk it up all season. I know they like to have veterans on the bench, but all they have to do is take a look at what Brooks did while he was here, plus, Brooks is 29, has been in the minors for a decade, and I think has a LOT to prove (which he started to prove while he was here).
RELEASE NORTON! CALL UP BROOKS!
the fans have spoken…well, at least one fan has (not that it’ll make a big difference)
gary
August 1st, 2009
6:59 am
I’m thinking the reason for this trade is that Bobby had a really cute nickname for Adam LaRoche… “Roachy”. I can’t remember him using any cute nicknamess Casey Kotchman. If the Braves (ie, Bobby Cox) would embrace a little more “small ball”, maybe they would not get into situations where the only way out is a 3-run homer. How many lead off doubles have the Braves stranded? I’m presumming they do count single runs scored in the early innings, so there’s really no need to wait till the 8th or 9th for the dramatic Big Blast.
jimmya
August 1st, 2009
7:00 am
hey let WREN get rid of some of the other dead weight bring up the kids now other teams do give them a shot now it cant hurt for them to get a taste early start with norton kjohnson prabo even diaz trade and get what we can for kawakami medlen church lets start all over these players have been here doing nothing for to long
Ron E.
August 1st, 2009
7:00 am
Are you seriously still whining about the Teixeira trade? Let’s look at some numbers for Tex during his stay in Atlanta.
2007 17 HR / 56 RBI / 1.020 OPS
2008 20 HR / 78 RBI / .902 OPS
Clearly Tex was a bust for Atlanta and if we just had Salty back with his .291 OBP and .374 SLG or Andrus with his .319 OBP and .364 SLG we’d be leading the division. NOT!
falcon
August 1st, 2009
7:04 am
You heard it here. The Braves finish 3rd with Kotchman. The Braves finish 3rd with Roachie. You’re right on Jeff. The Braves have turned the page and are gazing at 2010 right now.
Chief Nock A Homa
August 1st, 2009
7:19 am
LaRoche for Kotchman?? After waiting for Casey to finally start hitting – he does – and then we trade for a guy that Bobby had issues with for lack of concentration, and who is still trying to hit this year… Forget about him getting hot over the second part of each season – we already had that with Kotchman – he had finally gotten hot!
Second issue – wasn’t it Wren who said we have a lineup with no true 40 homer guys, but a lot who will hit 20??
What happened to that plan?? It was finally beginning to pay off as the Braves got hot for a couple of weeks with Kotchman being a big part of it, and then trade him for LaRoche??
I like all FW’s other moves, but this one just makes no sense and seems to change course mid-stream – at the wrong time…
Chief Nock A Homa
August 1st, 2009
7:21 am
Gary – at your 6:59 a.m. post…
Bobby had a great nick name for Kotchman:
Crothchy!
It just was never distinguishable tot he fans that BC was talking about Casey…
Sonny Clusters
August 1st, 2009
7:23 am
Well, maybe they all can start the season next year with lucky underpants. We was trying to remember which writer it was at the AJC that wrote that story about lucky underpants.
When we was playing ball together it didn’t matter what underpants we was wearing because if we didn’t do what Coach said, we was out of the game and on the bench.
We had a hitting coach that also taught some classes and ran a homeroom and study hall. He would tell us not to swing until the pitcher threw a strike and it didn’t matter what kind of underpants we was wearing.
Smooth
August 1st, 2009
7:25 am
Why would the Braves get rid of Kotchman, for six second delay? We need bring Conrad up and move Kelly.
Nativebird
August 1st, 2009
7:33 am
Has this franchise has totally lost its mind? This is so sickening. All IN or Laroche? Wren is a joke. With the abundance of starting pitching we have with Huddy coming back? No one is talking 5 or 6 prospects, there IS no Texiera out there. But LaRoche? give me a break. They are going back to the guy that WAS the signal to the beginning of the end of the great Braves teams. I’m no Kotchman fan, but they just replaced bad with worse! This is it? THIS is the big move at the deadline? Cash it in boys. Games over.
That’s it for me. It is time. Trade Chipper, get it over with. Bobby needs to retire. Wren needs to go. In fact, Sell the darn team. They need new everything, especially ownership. This team is officially back to 1987 status and before. How disappointing. LaRoche was a bust, still IS a bust, and will ALWAYS be a bust. I can’t believe this.
NCBravesFan
August 1st, 2009
7:34 am
ATLFan15 – most likely, it was Casey becoming arbitration eligible this offseason that caused the trade. Casey isn’t a bad player, but he was going to get a salary increase that the Braves likely judged to be too much for them relative to the production. And if you don’t re-sign him, you get no draft pick compensation.
By trading for LaRoche, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, they might be able to get a draft pick if they lose him (don’t quote me on that point, because I’m not sure how LaRoche grades out as a free agent, and that grade determines if or how many picks the Braves might get.)
As it relates to this year, if LaRoche gets hot and the Braves grab the wild card, that’s gravy. But if you think about it, Casey was never going to carry this team on his shoulders. Adam probably won’t either.
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
7:35 am
gary-playing small ball means the team needs speed, and the Braves have…ummmm….let me think a minute…hmmmmmm…that’s right, we have no one on the team who can tear up the base paths. Getting someone who is a legitimate power threat will alter the way Chipper and McCann get pitched to, which will allow them to hit more doubles and homers.
jimmya-you must be smokin crack if you suggest we should trade Prado. He’s the sparkplug that CONSISTENLY sparks!
bob
August 1st, 2009
7:39 am
your all a bunch of fair weather fans the season is not even done yet and all you people can talk about is how its over and were gonna have a great team in 2010 what a load of crap you call yourself a journalist but your just a guy with a bunch of half hearted opinions
gary
August 1st, 2009
7:41 am
Small ball doesn’t always mean speed. It’s doing the little things, like advancing runners, productive outs, taking advantage of things. Whenever the Braves do something like that, the announcers just go gaga over how the Braves are playing “ABC” baseball, but for the most part, they are still in that 1990’s Three Run Homer mentality, and it’s just not coming that often.
bob
August 1st, 2009
7:42 am
SHULTZ = MOORE
Whitey Bored
August 1st, 2009
7:43 am
In stead of pitching Kawakami on his regular turn, just give the players an unpaid day off and forfeit the game. You save money, get the players some rest and get the same result.
George
August 1st, 2009
7:45 am
I am waiting for the day when I read Wren has been traded for another loser GM. What other kind of bum ..deal is he going to make? ITS TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO STOP GOING TO THE GAMES, HIT THE ORGANIZATION WHERE IT HURTS. You can see it now tickets are 2 for 1. They are doing anything they can to get people into the stands. This is a joke organization, LaRoche, Please…. What are they doing? Wren needs performance enhancing drugs…for that matter we all do…and why is Norton still in the Major Leagues? with a .134 BA? My goodness, a blind man can hit with a higher average…for that matter a dead one can too…What a waste of time, money and a roster spot….WAKE UP FRONT OFFICE, PUT A WINNER ON THE FIELD OR GET OUT OF TOWN..
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
7:47 am
gary-don’t lump everyone into fair weather fans…I’ve been supporting the Braves since 1988, when they were LOSING 90+ games a season…and I’m supporting them now…I believe with the rotation, and the lineup, especially getting Hudson and Infante back, they can contend not only for the wild card, but also for the NL East pennant…but we do need to drop Norton…
on another note-Frenchy has hit .288 with the Mets, has 3 HRs and 17 RBIs in 17 games, Church has 14 games, .222 avg, 1 HR, 4 RBIs…Wren made a BAD decision on that trade—Frenchy’s going to end up sparkling, just like Jermaine Dye (remember when we had him?)
TOM
August 1st, 2009
7:50 am
had 2 extra tickets to braves game last night and couldn’t give them away… i had to pay the scalper to take them off my hands…
jim
August 1st, 2009
7:57 am
I can remember how happy I was when the Braves canned LaRoche the first time. Now the only thing that would make me happier is to see Wren gone. Frank, your a quitter! So please, do what comes naturally and quit.
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
7:58 am
TOM, doesn’t that just make ya mad? I mean, I think that if the fans that come to the game are going to allow Yankees and Red Sox and Cubs and Mets fans to make it akin to an away game for the Braves, then they just shouldn’t show up…come to the game to cheer on the Braves and jeer the bad guys (everyon else)…don’t come to the game to talk on your cell phone, or whatnot, come watch the game and support the team!
Whatever happened to McCann’s Cans? are they back?
DamYankee
August 1st, 2009
8:04 am
“We had a hitting coach that also taught some classes and ran a homeroom and study hall. He would tell us not to swing until the pitcher threw a strike and it didn’t matter what kind of underpants we was wearing.”
Truth, Sonny. I’m sure TP preaches this constantly, and Chipper backs him up, but as soon as one of these boneheads hits a dinger it’s all out the window (see A. Jones). BTW, all you Chipper whiners, look at the freakin’ numbers, best switch hitter in MLB history, maybe the smartest hitter in baseball today (bite me, Pujols), and he’s worked his ass off to become a better than average 3rd baseman from a defensive bust his first few seasons. I only hope the Braves can keep him around as hitting coach after his current contract runs out.
GT
August 1st, 2009
8:13 am
This has been the best sports team in the history of this town. It is still managed by the same people that made it the best sport’s team. There is a gap here mainly due to the confusion of ownership that we are feeling. I think we might have lost our rhythm a little, but we have it back. We have great pitching, we are stocked with talent all through our minor leagues. This team now is not playing bad ball, and no one can say it is not a much better team than last year’s. Another problem we have is the division has improved and not just sitting there letting us dominate. We will climb back into it and at least we are heading the right direction unlike a Pittsburgh to name one of many.
Chief Nock A Homa
August 1st, 2009
8:24 am
abudefdef….
So what your saying is that if Frenchy had not been traded, we’d have a .288/3hr/17 RBI in the last 17 games guy in RF now???
Don’t you think that your thought process on this is flawed, and that maybe Frenchy started hitting after 2+ years of not hitting BECAUSE of the change of scenery???
He was given every opportunity here – he NEEDED the change to be able to become the player that he has the ability to be…
Rest at night knowing that he would still be floundering here if he had not been traded…
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
8:33 am
Chief…we sent him away after he had a 3/4 night with 3 doubles, and he was 5 for his last 13…I just think they sent a struggling OF for a struggling OF, and should have held onto him…my opinion, he will end being in the All Star game multiple times, and we will end up with NOTHING to show for it…Wren made a lousy decision with his Frenchy’s talent
ATLfan15
August 1st, 2009
8:34 am
To NCBravesFan: I understand your points and that’s why the trade still doesn’t make sense to me (bad for just as bad?). Your explanation only further proves my ‘white flag’ comment about this season. I like your comment about how LaRoche will grade as a free agent; we may not get the picks/compensation if he comes in low on the list.
To bob, who is ranting about the fans and their complaints: I am NOT a fair weather fan. In fact, I’ve been a Braves fan through thick (and VERY thin) for over 30 years. Every fan has an opinion about their team and its trades, so suck it up or move on to another blog.
Atticus
August 1st, 2009
8:35 am
4 years and no playoffs. They keep waiting for “next year” but in that talk they keep counting on two AA players. Classic.
Frank Wren did great with the pitchers, terrible with the everyday lineup.
mcgannfan
August 1st, 2009
8:38 am
2010 is a joke if Kelly Johnson is still with the team. Cox and his pets—ridiculous. Conrad is far superior to KJ but Bobby LIKES KJ.
tis stupid and 2010 will another losing season as long as Cox is in charge…babying the likes of KJ and Francouer should have been gone long before he left.
almost painful to watch this team. I was around in the 80’s and glorious nineties. sort of spoils ya.
Kotchman for Roache…………ya gotta be kidding me!
We do like to get re-treads don’t we? ridiculous
The Grinch
August 1st, 2009
8:42 am
What GM in baseball could completely rebuild last year’s wretched team into a WS contender in one offseason without adding payroll? It looks like he’ll do it in two, which makes him one of the better people at his position in the sport. Very few do more with less. Maybe the last trade will pan out, maybe not. But to dismiss everything he’s done to this point is short-sighted at the least. If he had Minaya’s or Amaro’s payroll, we’d be coasting through this division. Give the man a chance.
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
8:50 am
AMEN Grinch! (although I still diagree with bailing on Frenchy)
Atticus, spot on about the rotation—Kenshin will be ok, and we will have someone to trade at some point—6 starters and 5 spots, odd man out goes away…
GO BRAVES!!! 9 more games vs the Phillies…36? vs the NL East…NL East Pennant is REACHABLE!!!
Skeezix
August 1st, 2009
8:59 am
Yeah, forget 2009. We were a better team before this trade. LaRoche’s BA is .248 and Casey is at .282 (over .300 lately) and Casey is better defensively. Wren made this trade on the hope the Adam will get hot? This is proof again that Wren is not the man to get us to the promise land.
bull-gator
August 1st, 2009
9:01 am
Idiotic move. Sometimes it’s best to hold what you were dealt than to ask for another card. I see no upside to this whatsoever.
abudefdef
August 1st, 2009
9:02 am
You know, everyone is criticizing Wren for decisions he made with hitters, but what about the pitchers we got? So we didn’t get Burnett and Peavy, but we got Lowe and Vazquez—who would have how many more wins if they could have gotten a couple more runs per game…I agree with The Grinch, Wren can’t solve all the problems in one year, and just about everyone seems to be throwing in the towel! In the words of a tremendous actor in a fantastic movie, “Was it over when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor? H**L NO! And it ain’t over now!”
VHH
August 1st, 2009
9:11 am
I think the front office has done a good job…at least this year we are not going with a pitching lineup that is too old or too young. Rebuilding is tough.
Tim
August 1st, 2009
9:11 am
I am done with this ownership group and Frank Wren. I have been a Braves fan since I was 11yrs old and they moved to Atl. I am now 53 and this group of suits does not care about the fans. Why else would they trade for a dead weight like Adam La Lost,Kotchman was no world beater but he was better than this slug. They are to cheap to get us a legite player instead they piss money away on some Toyota import who could beat a decent college team and never goes more than 5 innings. They continue to support Bobby and his bungling staff who should have been gone a long time ago I still maintain that we won ONLY one WS in spite of BC. Its way past time to bring up the kids get some younger coaches say like Ned Yost and go play ball at least show us you give a damn.