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
Steve Carter
July 31st, 2009
8:44 pm
I remember when the Braves were like this year’s Washington Nationals…any hint of a playoff race is fun for me.
Steve Carter
July 31st, 2009
8:44 pm
can’t believe I am first
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2009
8:51 pm
Steve — you’ll be getting your certificate in the mail in four-to-six weeks.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2009
8:57 pm
Made it thru the deadline with pitching stacked up like cord wood. Pay roll could actually go down next year and the team be 20 games better.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2009
8:59 pm
And if they save some money, for goodness sakes can they get Tommy Hanson a uni that fits?
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2009
9:03 pm
I mean he looks like he is wearing a sack full of cats.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2009
9:04 pm
Four consecutive post!
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2009
9:05 pm
With six do I get an egg roll?
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
“Chef” — Don’t know about eggroll but you get my unwavering gratitude. … And I’ll check with Hanson about his uni.
richbrave
July 31st, 2009
9:28 pm
JEFF:
You and I postulated about the possibilities of the BRAVES’ participation in October festivities before I went on vacation. Then the BRAVES got hot, while I was away in the sunny CARIBBEAN. Now they seem to be settling back into the June mode. I’m still of the mind that they miss this year. but will be more formidable in 2010. Are you still with me?
Sonny Clusters
July 31st, 2009
9:30 pm
We was glad Adam came back to the team because he is a hunter and will go huntin’ with Chipper and keep Chipper fit from walking around huntin’ little animals to kill. Jeff, have you ever been huntin’ with them?
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2009
9:39 pm
RichBrave — I am with you. Obviously we have to see what changes are made this winter. But I do feel good about 2010.
Sonny — I’m not a huntin’ type. But if Frenchy asked me to go huntin’ with him like I’m sure he did in old days with you, I would go. I will bring the Yoo-hoos.
Chris
July 31st, 2009
9:40 pm
Jeff,
I am very happy to see that my inadvertently “repeated” morning questions were the basis of an evening column!
j brave
July 31st, 2009
9:46 pm
well, the white flag is out.
j brave
July 31st, 2009
9:47 pm
it took half a season to get rid of two .250 hitters and one day to and another.
j brave
July 31st, 2009
9:49 pm
what was it that cost wren his last gm job?
Bad Beat
July 31st, 2009
9:51 pm
LaRoche’s swing has more holes than swiss cheese at a firing range.
moboman
July 31st, 2009
10:04 pm
What was this about? what a horrible move. We gave up something and got back the nothing we got rid of once already. Didnt take Boston long to figure him out. Bad move Frank.
Ken Stallings
July 31st, 2009
10:07 pm
I like this trade. But for the reasons you listed the first reason is because we’re not loading the truck with the farm talent and shipping it elsewhere.
However, I think LaRouche can help this year. Kotchman was a good glove but too often his mental game was lacking. His boner failing to cover first on a clear grounder to second in last night’s game at Florida was the latest example of many.
The Braves are not but a few games out of the wildcard chase. So, even if the Phillies sprint to the finish, the Braves still have a shot. If they make the playoffs they can be a dangerous team.
However, I like the chemistry for 2010. Evidence is that for the last two seasons the Braves have made steady if small improvement. If next off season the Braves can land a power hitter at first base then it might put them over the top. Move Kawakami to the bullpen and give me a starting rotation of Vasquez, Hanson, Hudson, Lowe, and Jurjenns and I think the Braves can win the division.
I’m willing to be patient if necessary to see that happen.
Sonny Clusters
July 31st, 2009
10:10 pm
Like Mrs. Cleaver used to say, “Ward, don’t be so hard on the Beaver.” Why is everybody so hard on LaRoche? It ain’t his fault that Norton and KJ and them are Bobby’s favorites like him. Take all three and try to get a runner in from 3rd and that runner will still be standing there long after them boys have gone home to go huntin’. Jeff, YooHoos is a Yankee drink from up in New Jersey. When we was playing ball together and huntin’ we would go down to the Dairy Queen for a Mister Misty. My favorite was the blueberry but it turned my mouth a funny color. Jeff always liked fruity drinks and would sometimes wear his special hitting underpants when he drank ‘em.
Last Cracker in East Point
July 31st, 2009
10:11 pm
I wish the Braves would sign more Eskimos. They are an underappreciated segment of the baseball population.
Sonny Clusters
July 31st, 2009
10:12 pm
They was lucky underpants but Jeff called ‘em his hittin’ pants. Coach told us to just leave him alone.
pete nose
July 31st, 2009
10:15 pm
Call the extermator the roach is back.
Larry Orange
July 31st, 2009
10:17 pm
Well, somebody forgot to hide the phone from Frank again and he goes and makes a trade just to make one. Kotchman had just started to hit when ,boom, Wren strikes again. Has anybody noticed that Franceur is hitting over .300? Im still scratching my head on this deal ? 2010?
kcob95
July 31st, 2009
10:27 pm
If I’m correct, isn’t Laroche’s contract up this year? That would free up some cash along with the movement of Garret Anderson, Kelly Johnson, and Matt Diaz. I really think we do much better that diaz and Johnson. As for Garret Anderson, well he is a professional hitter, but I don’t think he will stick around as he’s shown that he has something left in the tank. I believe he will move back to the AL.
kcob95
July 31st, 2009
10:28 pm
If Kelly Johnson’s error against Florida was not enough of a reason to send him down or get rid of him, then bobby and wren should have their heads examined by PETA.
Techfan
July 31st, 2009
10:31 pm
This trade was made cause Adam is in the last year of his contract and Casey had 2 more years left! The Braves are betting on Freeman being ready next year , so that is why this move was made!
moboman
July 31st, 2009
10:34 pm
“Kotchman was a good glove but too often his mental game was lacking. His boner failing to cover first on a clear grounder to second in last night’s game at Florida was the latest example of many.”
Laroche has no mental game, and that error was not Kotchmans, it was the pitchers for not being at first.
LAC
July 31st, 2009
10:34 pm
Why does this town have the WORST GM’s in pro sports ?
wren is a complete joke, don waddell should have been gone in 2002 and the hawks guy is another clown… Why do we put up with guys like this ?
Larry Orange
July 31st, 2009
10:37 pm
LaRoche’s contract is up this year, but was Kotchman’s? Im still not understanding this? I see they got shut out on a three-hitter.
Yunel Asscobar
July 31st, 2009
10:39 pm
I like this trade because LaRoche likes me. He knows what a great player I am. I like Jeff’s lucky underpants; they fit me real nice. Before he was traded, he would let me wear them. We would switch during the 7th inning stretch. I have more rbi in his lucky underpants than in my own. I always play great, but even play better wearing Jeff’s underpants. I wouldn’t have missed the hit and run sign a couple of weeks ago, if I had been wearing his underpants. I like hunters too. I llke Yoo-hoos. Martin Prado and I play Yoo-Hoo every night night after the game.
what goes around
July 31st, 2009
10:40 pm
Braves will be back in the thick of it next year. Sign one big power hitter in the off season(the money should be there). Give Heyward and Freeman a shot and look out.
Starting rotation will be as good as any in majors. That rotation is what will keep us in the wild card race this year.
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2009
10:53 pm
Chris — You have assignment editor potential.
Kcob95, Larry –I think Kotchman has two years left but reconfirm with DOB. There’s no guarantee LaRoche will be back either since his contract’s up and he makes pretty big money right now (7 mill)
Reid Adair
July 31st, 2009
10:54 pm
Banking on what LaRoche has done in the past? Good grief, Jeff. You did more research comparing LaRoche now to LaRoche then.
This is not a noticeable improvement at all. But, with Frank Wren, I really am not surprised.
MOOKSTER
July 31st, 2009
10:55 pm
JIM POWELL IS A MORON… FOR AN INNING YESTERDAY POWELL TOLD U WHAT A GENIUS WREN IS… ALL THE MOVES HE DIDN’T MAKE AND ALL THE MOVES HE MADE… GREAT… THE GENIUS CREATED A .500 CLUB… WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A .500 TEAM? GUT THE ENTIRE TEAM WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TOMMY HANSON AND BRIAN McCANN AND START OVER…HOPEFULLY IF HE IS THE GENIUS THAT POWELL TOLD US THAT WREN IS… IN 3 OR 4 YEARS THEY WILL BE RELOADED…
Yunel Asscobar
July 31st, 2009
11:02 pm
I am conflicted. I generally don’t like bloggers who type in CAPS, but I agree with Mookster – Powell is a moron. Through in Chip Carey and you have two morons; or is it moroni? Moroney? They don’t talk about my great plays enough. Like Eskimos, I too, feel underappreciated.
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2009
11:20 pm
Mookster — I didn’t hear the commentary so I won’t make a judgment one way or the other. But I’m sure you know that team broadcasters generally are going to side with the team. They’re either paid directly by the team or they’re paid by the station who is a business partner of the team, which is almost the same thing.
todd
July 31st, 2009
11:32 pm
LaRoche has to be an improvement over the choker Kotchman. Now if they would get rid of auto-out Johnson and bring up Conrad we might have a chance at respectability. Norton needs to find another line of work also.
jim
July 31st, 2009
11:39 pm
Jeff Schulz, Wren traded Renteria for Jurrjens.
Johnny DangerDawg
August 1st, 2009
12:00 am
Jeff,
How is this move going to help the Braves in 2010? They traded a decent 1st basemen for a guy who will probably play elsewhere in 2010. Do you think the Braves are planning to go after a more talented (and more expensive) free agent 1st basemen this winter? Were they worried about Kotchman’s 2010 durability?
andrewknight
August 1st, 2009
12:24 am
Hey–let’s do something, anything that shows the fans that we are doing more than boiling peanuts during office hours…to keep the 4-5k walk up crowd interested, Wren does a trade to appease a few buddies in Beantown and little else…this move is simply uninspiring.
Money
August 1st, 2009
12:35 am
This is all about money. If the Braves weren’t so cheap, we would have Tex, or another big name player similar. The highest paid Brave gets 15 mil a year. Even Todd Helton makes more than that. If the Braves want power, they need to loosin up the wallet.
scottbravesfan
August 1st, 2009
12:42 am
Braves are still going to win the wild card. The Giants and Rockies aren’t that good. The Braves just need to get everyone healthy. Now Yunel and Prado are out. The Kotchman trade was just to clear a spot for Freedie Freeman to start the year at 1st.
scottbravesfan
August 1st, 2009
12:43 am
Johnny Dangerdog,
I assume you have internet access, go to Google, type in Freddie Freeman. He’ll be our first baseman next year.
PMC
August 1st, 2009
1:11 am
Frank Wren has done a hell of a job. He can’t win games. He can only within the parameters of the budget set out to put the best team the budget can afford out on the field. The budget is set by the owner. He moved mountains to rebuild a broken down aging pitching staff last off season. Mission accomplished. Fairly average bullpen and lineup but it’s more cost effective to scout the right players then you can build a team that looks much more like the Phillies and much less like the Yankees who spend more time gettting it wrong than getting it right.
The Phillies built thier roster up over several years and were rewarded last year with a title. Frank Wren needs and deserves patience. Of course there are holes. Chipper can’t play at a high level forever, Johnson is a trainwreck in the field at 2nd base. 1st is a project. The outfield is a mess right now. At least one closer will leave in FA and the rest of the bullpen is wretched at times. All this can be fixed just not at one time or in one year. He’s made decent moves so far but there are precious few superstars on this team and you can’t win without them. The only way to realistically get them on your team and make title runs is to draft them and that takes time to get them ready for the majors. We have to be patient with this team like all the other teams in town. He’s done quite a good job as GM thus far and they do have a better than average scouting department, I just wish we could steal a few of the brilliant minds that scout for the Marlins.
Fred Claus
August 1st, 2009
1:34 am
FF will not be ready in 2010 not even in September. He is a year behind Heyward in terms of polish.
He is a raw player who will spend the whole season in AAA next year.
So what will they Braves do in 2010 at 1B. LaRoche would be a horrific mistake b/c he will MIA until late July with his bat.
Wren has an eye towards 2011 but he isn’t going to say that now. Prepare for .500 baseball next year with one of Hudson or Vaz gone by this December.
Johnny DangerDawg
August 1st, 2009
1:51 am
scottbravesfan,
Thanks for the info. The web seems to support Fred Claus’s claims the FF won’t be ready until 2011. Even if FF does turn out to be ready for the Braves in 2010, why not keep Kotchman for now and trade him after this season for some prospects (which might eventually help the Braves) instead of trading for LaRoche (whose contract is about to expire)?
AKT163
August 1st, 2009
1:56 am
Jeff, It’s unlikely that the Braves will keep LaRoche around next year. Do you think they plan on bringing up Freddie Freeman next year or do you think they’ll have Barbaro Canizares be the first baseman till Freeman is ready?
Coach (2010 or Bust)
August 1st, 2009
2:13 am
When I heard about this trade I was watching the ML baseball channel and those guys were making fun of it. I can’t say I blame them as LaRoche was the guy we started with in the first place before the Teixeira debacle went down.
Personally, I’m just shaking my head in disbelief. If anybody thinks this swap of first basemen is gonna make the Braves any better, you are sadly in need of professional medical help. Kotchman for LaRoche is a wash, nothing more.
Michael
August 1st, 2009
2:29 am
I swear, the Braves have become like watching Richie Rich work his money on all the attractive girls while you’re trying to save up for some nice gift for just one on your $10/hour salary. When will an actual person buy this team again so we don’t have to see salary dump after salary dump?
This is especially insulting after trading Francoeur away. Since the trade, he’s hitting .288 with a few dingers and a bunch of RBIs. Ryan Church is hitting .222. Oh, and the Braves gave the Mets money to balance salaries. After that stupid move, you bring in a guy with a worse average than Francoeur and hope he gets hot?
Maybe it’s just me, but management needs a little cleaning up.
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.