Wren on Braves: ‘I think we’re better’ after moves
Frank Wren understands the criticism but like his team. (AJC photo/Curtis Compton)
Frank Wren inherited a team once accustomed to postseasons. He has gone 0-for-2. It follows that while there are a lot of nice things that go with being the general manager of the Braves, one of them is not the benefit of the doubt.
The Braves are one month from the start of spring training. Wren’s winter roster makeover is pretty much complete after last week’s signing of Eric Hinske. We hear crickets.
Outgoing: Javier Vazquez, Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, Adam Laroche, Kelly Johnson, Ryan Church.
Incoming: Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Melky Cabrera, Michael Dunn, prospect Arodys Vizcaino, Troy Glaus, Eric Hinske.
Elsewhere in the National League East: Philadelphia acquires pitcher Roy Halladay. New York signs outfielder Jason Bay.
New Braves first baseman Troy Glaus played in only 14 games with St. Louis last season because of a shoulder injury. (AJC photo/Phil Skinner).
Put it this way: Even if Wren had 14 division titles, five pennants and a World Series on his resume like his predecessor, John Schuerholz, people would still be slapping their foreheads in unison and going, “Huh?”
Wren understands this. But he’ll also tell you, “We think we’re way ahead of where we were a year ago at this time.”
And ahead of where the Braves were at the end of the 2009 season?
“Yes,” he said. “I think we’re better.”
Clip and save.
If the Braves turn out to be better in 2010 than in 2009, when they jumped from 72 to 86 wins but missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season, it will be because reclamation projects like Glaus and Wagner ran like refurbished classics and every one of Wren’s low-budget pickups like Cabrera, Saito and Hinske turned into players of significance.
But are those the questions you want to be asking yourself right now?
“I can’t control that,” Wren said when asked about the skeptics. “We’ve got good baseball people in this organization and we feel good about this group of players. I can’t get caught up in the media perception of what we’ve done to this point. The proof’s going to be when we take the field.”
The Braves tried to deal Derek Lowe. There was little interest because of his contract. The market for Vazquez also wasn’t tremendous, despite his great season. Still Wren defends the package of players he got from the Yankees (Cabrera, Dunn, Vizcaino).
He was forced to trade Lowe or Vazquez, of course, because he made the decision to re-sign Tim Hudson to a three-year extension, a decision he doesn’t regret.
“He’s clearly been a better pitcher than the other guys.”
Fans want to be wowed. That’s just not happening any more with the Braves. They don’t have the budget. They’re at about a $90 million payroll, and Wren said, “We feel fortunate where we are. That’s still pretty good, especially with declining attendance. We’re not a three million attendance club, which would allow us to do more.”
Glaus, once a solid 30-to-40 home run hitter, is coming off a major shoulder injury. (”It’s a calculated gamble,” Wren said.)
Wagner is not long removed from elbow surgery.
Cabrera is a career .269 hitter.
It’s like renovating with change from under the couch cushions. Still, that’s Wren’s responsibility. If these changes get the Braves back to the postseason, he should be lauded. But he says he’s not bothered by the early criticism.
“Roll it back a year ago – there wasn’t a whole lot of fanfare when we traded for Vazquez,” he said. “Two years ago, there’s wasn’t a lot of fanfare for Jair Jurrjens. People said, ‘Jair who?’ I’m looking forward to spring training. I think fans will warm up to this team.”
Maybe Jason Heyward makes the club out of spring training and covers up for the team’s deficiencies. Maybe Jordan Schafer rebounds. Maybe a rotation with Hudson, Jurrjens, Lowe and Tommy Hanson will win enough games on their own.
But if people aren’t just assuming success, Wren understands why.
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312 comments Add your comment
OrlandoDawg
January 10th, 2010
6:56 pm
“I think we’re better”- Frank Wren
Key word-THINK
WinSomething
January 10th, 2010
6:57 pm
Some of the comments here are ridiculous. If you guys have already watched the season and saw that we missed the playoffs already, let me know, maybe i need to push the “live tv” button on my dvr or something. But slow down with the gloom and doom for a minute. I hate listening to people on the internet talk like they have seen the future. This team has a lot of talent on it, and a few good seasons from some of the guys could have this team right in the mix at the end of the year.
Are they going to win 110 games? Probably not. But they will be fine, im sure. Relax.
Matt
January 10th, 2010
7:00 pm
Oh man, what a poor, poor deluded spin doctor. I mean really, what did you expect him to say..”We stink and the moves I’ve made have made us infinitely worse.”? I want some of whatever medication or illicit narcotic he’s on, cause that’s the only way you can look at this team and think they are better.
Dale Murphy
January 10th, 2010
7:01 pm
Hey “Chief”
That JJ Dillion reference was classic!!
Chris Broe
January 10th, 2010
7:02 pm
Lovin’ the Pack’s chances here. Goin’ into 4th Q okay after what could have been a blowout.
curtis jones
January 10th, 2010
7:03 pm
On paper, it looks like a 3rd place team. But then you dig deeper.
1. Defense. The Braves have one above-average defender (SS) and he is always just one eyelash away from going on a pout-strike. No arms in the outfield. Not one. The Braves’ best 3rd baseman will be playing 1st base.
2. Offense: Troy Glaus a “risk?” Let’s put it on the table. Troy’s best numbers came during…another era. Might as well pencil Omar Infante and Eric Hinske the lineup for 100 games, as they fill in for the worn-out warriors at both infield corners. Melky will be the 2010 Kotchman. An AL guy who will not adapt to NL pitching. McLouth is still not a leadoff man, but no one has told the manager. Which brings us to:
3. The manager. He showed us last year how he could mangle a half-way decent team. Let’s see what he does with even less talent.
I’m thinking 4th.
2. Offense.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 10th, 2010
7:04 pm
Dale: Thanks, try the veal, I’ll be here all week. Sorry ’bout the Hall.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 10th, 2010
7:06 pm
Curtis Jones: Like the way you count. I’ve got your drinkin money…
SanDiego Dawg
January 10th, 2010
7:08 pm
I know this is a very big IF, but if Glaus is anywhere near is former WS MVP self, the Braves have a solid chance at the wild card. Jones, Glaus, McCann & Escobar are capable of producing as well as any 3, 4, 5 & 6 lineup in the NL. The hitters at the top and bottom of the order + the braves bullpen will determine their season. I always thought Soriano had a poor work ethic & Mike Gonzo always made me nervous with all of the walks. Wagner throws strikes & always has. He may give up some hits now but we should not see any 9th inning walks from him.
Joey P
January 10th, 2010
7:09 pm
The reason why they can’t afford any big free agents is because so called fans like ya’ll won’t go to any of the games and they can’t afford them because you have to have money to PPAAYY!!!!!! the big free agents. Stop your whining and go watch them play. I will be at one or a couple of their games because I love the braves and will route for them no matter what!!!!!!!!!
WinSomething
January 10th, 2010
7:10 pm
Some of you are retarded. How about we wait for the season to be played? If any of you can see the future you should be doing something more productive than sitting here talking about an article on the AJC.
Herschel Talker
January 10th, 2010
7:12 pm
Schultzie –
Of course that’s what he’s going to say. If he said the opposite, he’d give the head honchos ammo to fire him. I, of course, patently disagree with him. The Wagner and Saito signings were hurried and forced us to trade Soriano. As for Glaus, the ex-roid user, I think this sums it up: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tim_marchman/01/08/hot.stove/index.html
• The Braves signed Troy Glaus, which makes sense, as the one thing between them and glory was clearly a 33-year-old who played 14 games last year and can be expected, if at the top of his game, to be an average hitter for his position
HT
Joey P
January 10th, 2010
7:14 pm
Even when they didn’t make it to the playoffs ya’ll still whined about John Schuerholtz.Let Frank do his job to put a playoff team on the field and GO WATCH THE BRAVES PLAY A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW HARD IS THAT!!! GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 10th, 2010
7:15 pm
Soriano=Flake.
Big flake, heat throwing flake, occasional groove one flake.
Looked good coming out of the pen with the wall on fire though.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
January 10th, 2010
7:18 pm
The 2010 roster is better on paper than the one we saw at the beginning of 2009…..maybe. So lets be objective.
Loaf or Cabrera? Cabrera.
Hudson or Vazquez? Hudson.
Soriano/Gonzo or Wagner/Saito? Toss up.
Kotchman/LaRoche or Glaus? Roll of the dice.
Francoeur or Heyward? Heyward.
Schafer or McLouth? They’re both still Braves.
McCann/Ross or McCann/Ross? unchanged.
Ditto for Escobar and Diaz.
Lowe, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Kawakami, Reyes or Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Lowe, Kawakami? Definitely the latter.
All in all, Frank Wren is correct. The 2010 version is better, on paper. But the rubber has yet to meet the road and as we already know, this team has many IF’S and QUESTION MARKS left to be answered.
Norton or Hinske? Hinske.
KJ or Prado? Prado.
max
January 10th, 2010
7:20 pm
is he high?
areyoukidding?
January 10th, 2010
7:22 pm
Frank Wren has done the best he can with the budget that he has to work with. He did a magnificent job of acquiring pitchers last winter. Why don’t some of you know-it-alls cut him some slack? The Braves can’t buy the best free agents any more. Get over it.
Joey P
January 10th, 2010
7:22 pm
I was a Frank Wren basher but I grew up and realized that I am not that low to bash someone only for what he is done in just one year. Give him a chance and go watch them play and win. When Chipper did an interview and he asked fans to come to the game I felt bad for him and the team. Then I realized there is no fans coming to the games like there was in the past. And don’t say its because they haven’t made the playoffs. You have to support your home team no matter what.GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joey P
January 10th, 2010
7:27 pm
If they make the playoffs then you guys will say oh Frank is the best GM there is. Stop bashing him and let him do his job!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sonny Clusters
January 10th, 2010
7:32 pm
We was glad to see some baseball blogging since baseball is our favorite sport. Clusters babies get a baseball first thing when they is born. The glove and the bat come just a little later. We was a fast developing baby and we got to where we could catch at 1 year old. By the time we was two we was hitting the ball pretty good. At three we could hit behind a runner. Not many Braves can do that.
UGA75
January 10th, 2010
7:33 pm
All you have to do is look at Frankie’s history with the Orioles to see he can’t stand not being the center of attention. He is the only person in Baseball to have a problem with the too nice, Cal Ripken. He can’t stand anyone getting attention except him, so read between the lines on all his moves. Last Year for huge Media Star Bobby Cox, Frank makes moves to improve Braves two years out and Cox goes out a loser, AH, but the brilliant General Manager hires his manager, his moves for young players comes to pass and Frankie boy looks like the Franchise Hero. The reason to get rid of Vazquez was simple, he made the club better this year, not the future. If he can Frankie boy will hold back Hansen, he will no doubt, claiming he needs more experience.
Just remember this those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, just ask the Orioles management about Frankie boy (which I’m told he hates to be called).
Reading this and seeing I might have failed to make my point, FRANKY boy Sux!
toni
January 10th, 2010
7:35 pm
if the braves are better means that i do not anderstein anything about baseball.
Sonny Clusters
January 10th, 2010
7:39 pm
Clusters worry about things sometimes. We was worrying about Chipper today. They is no telling what kind of shape he will report in after all that hunting. Wearing those hunting boots all day may take its toll on Chipper’s bad feet and that could mean the DL. Then, it could be a bad oblique or a groin or a thumb that does him in. Let’s hope it isn’t a toe. If we was Bobby Cox we’d tell Chipper to report early and leave his fishing rod and his gun and his cowboy boots at home. We’d get him down to Spring Training and we’d let him stretch and run and get strong for the season. They would be no golfing and no NASCAR, just baseball. We’d let him take some balls at first base because we think Troy Glaus is probably a better third baseman walking in the door. If one of them is going to learn to play first let it be Chipper. If it Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron could move over to first, so can Chipper. When we was playing ball we played over there one game. Clusters can play anywhere.
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
7:39 pm
Dalton … How’s this? McLouth (CF), Prado (2b), Escobar (ss), McCann (c), Chipper (3b), Glaus (1B). Heyward (rf) Cabrera (LF)
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
7:41 pm
Raymond — I guess you would be the optimist of this group?
Sonny Clusters
January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
Jeff, have you ever been to the Double Dime? Do you have some trophies?
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
CT — I agree on Phillies: They’re WAY ahead of everybody else.
jaker
January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
jeff, that is not a bad lineup and like i like our bench and our pitching staff, we cannot change the fact that we dont have chase utley or ryan howard,but we will get there
GA
January 10th, 2010
7:43 pm
No one and I repeat no one, can do less with more than Frank Wren! Wake me up when he’s gone
DEMETRIUS
January 10th, 2010
7:43 pm
That deal for Vazquez was so stupid .he should have kept gonzalez stupidd ass move stupidas deal no playoff
Sonny Clusters
January 10th, 2010
7:45 pm
Clusters is really enjoying this ballgame right now. It is 45-45 and they’s less than 2 minutes to go. Football can be pretty good, too.
savannah dawg
January 10th, 2010
7:46 pm
I know Tommy Hanson is glad to see Billy Wagner. How many times did he come out of the game with a lead and watch Sorryano and Goofzales blow it. Good riddance!
SCRusty
January 10th, 2010
7:46 pm
In a way, Frank Wren is correct. The current team is better than the team that started out last year. Anything would be better than the offensive production we got out of Johnson, Francoeur, Kotchman and Schaefer. Chipper’s health/age problems and McCann’s vision worries didn’t help. Now, whether this team is better than the one that ended last season, well, that remains to be seen.
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
7:48 pm
Asheville — Norton definitely is addition by subtraction.
gcs
January 10th, 2010
7:49 pm
Better than horrible is not good enough!
.
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
7:50 pm
Herschel Talker — You might be right. But whether he believes it or not, he said it, so he’s on the record.
jaker
January 10th, 2010
7:50 pm
did Philly go out and get all these big time free agents? no. there core is utley, rollins, and howard, good for them, i just dont see how we are at a complete disadvantage, we have taken the same approach and i think that long term we are going to be consistently abouve average, jair and tommy at the top of the rotation goes a long way.
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
7:51 pm
Sonny Clusters — never been. But somehow I feel there’s a story coming . . .
Brave4Life
January 10th, 2010
7:52 pm
This is just sad. I really thought they would go out and try to get a big bat…and when you traded Javy and got nothing (imo) in return, I thought they would at the very least use some of the money saved to sign a FA…..just didnt think that big offensive guy would be Troy Glaus. TG is a project at best….he has played what 7 games or so at 1st, and add the injury to the mix and, well, he may see more playing time than Mike Hampton did but thats not saying much.
I guess I am just disappointed. This is the last year Bobby Cox will manage and I thought they would at least give him a new piece or two to give him a fighting chance at winning it all (or at least another division title). I feel bad for Bobby, he deserves better. I really feel bad for the next guy, he has no chance. I use to say that it would be a HUGE mistake if they give the managers job to Pendelton, now it really doesnt matter to me anymore.
Liberty Media….PLEASE SELL THIS TEAM SO WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE AGAIN….Im sure you guys have Mr Blanks number!!
jaker
January 10th, 2010
7:58 pm
I didnt love the vasquez trade, i know this is well covered ground, but I mean if there were all these great deals out there wren would have gotten one, everyone knew we had to deal a pitcher why would they bend over backwards for us, when we signed hudson we made a decision that we preferred him over either lowe or vasquez, other teams had to know that, so again why give up much. the bottom line is have you looked at our pitching staff for next year? it is really, really good and it is going to stay that way for several years
Sonny Clusters
January 10th, 2010
7:58 pm
We heard the Double Dime was first class if you like to shoot animals with high powered weapons and let somebody else go drag ‘em into camp and dress ‘em so you can hang their head and antlers on the wall and be a Buck Commander. They will be one less Buck Commander on the team this year and that is good for all the little animals in Atlanta, Georgia.
Reverend Jim Jones
January 10th, 2010
8:06 pm
Same old company line…..blah blah blah. The only one buying it is supersap fans and Dave O’Brien, who will undoubtedly pick the Braves to win the division again.
Bobbi Dud
January 10th, 2010
8:06 pm
Welcome back Eighties Braves! It’s Loserville all over again! Stupid to be so tight with the money…the stands will be empty!
Blobie
January 10th, 2010
8:13 pm
I’ve been trying to think of something stupid to contribute, but I can’t think of anything that hasn’t already been said. Thanks Jeff.
jesse james
January 10th, 2010
8:16 pm
I really like the roster the Braves have. Of course it all goes back to staying healthy. I am so glad I don’t have to watch Soriano and Gonzalez go to full counts anymore. It should be an exciting year for Bobby Cox’ s last one.
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
Reverend — Philly over the field in the East would have to be the overwhelming favorite. Except for the injury factor.
Jeff Schultz
January 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
Blobie — You’re welcome. I think.
Billy
January 10th, 2010
8:33 pm
I’m glad Wren thinks the Braves are better. I don’t see it!!
Orlando Cepeda
January 10th, 2010
8:35 pm
SHOPPING AT GOOD WILL
This general manager is smoking good drugs trading top notch talent for retreads!! How can we compete with an all time low-budget line up??
Brave fans better get ready for a stretch of mediocre seasons as long as Frank is making deal at the swap meet….”good grief”
Deester11
January 10th, 2010
8:50 pm
While I think Wren is completely delusional, selling the “fans” on the idea that we’re better is even worse. I’d rather he come out and say “Due to budget constraints…….” I’d have bought that more.
I like Arodys a great deal. Dunn is better than Logan already. Cabrera – Hot garbage!…… Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me?