Wren on Braves: 'I think we're better' after moves

Dalton

January 10th, 2010
5:41 pm

First!

Reid Adair

January 10th, 2010
5:42 pm

Oh my goodness. I would say that I am surprised Frank Wren made such an absurd statement, but I’m not.

The pitching staff hasn’t improved. Losing Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez for Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito has downgraded the pitching, in my opinion.

Troy Glaus and Eric Hinske are, at best, question marks. If they are healthy, they are certainly past their respective primes.

I won’t even get started on Melky Cabrera.

Mike

January 10th, 2010
5:43 pm

Is he is high?

Dalton

January 10th, 2010
5:44 pm

Jeff, what is your predicted lineup for opening day?

Leo

January 10th, 2010
5:46 pm

Let’s keep ouf fingers crossed on these new gambles.

Far Away From Home Dawg

January 10th, 2010
5:47 pm

This guy is SO praying that Jason Heyward is going to make a big splash in May/June or earlier (he just might) … I am afraid the Braves might need the splash more at first though … Alas, no A. Gonzalez in sight

matt-t

January 10th, 2010
5:51 pm

They are better this year than last, I agree. Last year, no huddy, kotchman was the 1b, frenchy was a black hole in RF, Tommy Hanson wasn’t up yet.

If Glaus is healthy, this team will finish 1 or 2 in the division, 1-5 the rotation is better than PHilly.

Dalton

January 10th, 2010
5:52 pm

Chipper has monster year at plate with Glaus smashing HRs behind him.

Billy Martin

January 10th, 2010
5:56 pm

Of course Wren thinks they are better. What do you expect him to say..”I screwed up making these moves. I never should have traded Vasquez. I am in over my head and just a fall guy for John S.”

Goldenglove002

January 10th, 2010
5:57 pm

I think FW got a very good package for in return for Javy. The max value of him atleast. However the question with that deal was the neccesitty of it and if moving Javy was smart. I also wonder if there was ever any chance at Swisher instead of Melkey. Guess we’ll never know the answer to that.

Also, is that the only picture on file at the AJC of Frank Wren?

raymond

January 10th, 2010
5:57 pm

Chipper is through, Glaus and Wagner will be on the DL by July and we will be no better than 3rd. Maybe chipper will have a bad enough season that he will leave with Cox and we can finally move on.

stew

January 10th, 2010
5:58 pm

Wagner and Saito for Gonzo and Soriano is a downgrade. Glaus for LaRoche is a downgrade. Lowe or Kawakami for Vasquez is a downgrade. There’s no righty bat in LF. How are we better? I say trade about 5 guys for Ryan Braun. Then we’ll be better.

Frank's wife

January 10th, 2010
5:58 pm

Frank, How in the name of keith Lockhart can you not get more than Melky Cabrera and a couple of minor leaguers for a 15 game winner. You got played by a real GM…Now go run me a bubble bath….idiot

Dalton

January 10th, 2010
6:02 pm

No, stew, Glaus and Hinske for LaRoche is an upgrade. Especially the first half of the season, when LaRoche is still asleep.

beau vighn

January 10th, 2010
6:03 pm

I just can’t see the Braves being much better than 3rd this year. Thats a big if. I am so pissed off at management right now. For whatever reason, someone has destroyed a great franchise. I can’t justify spending the amount of dollars it cost to go to a game to watch sub standard baseball. I’m sick of this crap….

"Chef" Tim Dix

January 10th, 2010
6:05 pm

FW looks like JJ Dillion introducing a new horseman in the picture above.

Just saying.

beau vighn

January 10th, 2010
6:08 pm

Why are we not a player for one of these Cubans…When Ted was writing the checks we never let money stand in the way of putting together a good competitive team. Now we are just a heading on a business ledger in Colorado.

Trey

January 10th, 2010
6:09 pm

Unfortunately this is all we got, hopefully we will be better.

bass stringerfish

January 10th, 2010
6:14 pm

Have we already forgotten that we were in the playoff hunt with just a few games to go last year? Tommy Hanson nor Tim Hudson were in the rotation until after the second half and later…one has to believe that these two guys alone get us 5-6 more wins over the course of the year at worse. Derek Lowe had an off season, (which is saying something for a guy who won 15 games). His past history tells us that we need to give him the benefit of the doubt at least for this kupcoming season. are we throwing away 2010’s season for Chipper too? Seems to me Hoss was off a bit in 2009 as well. Which, by the way, a rebound from him picks up some of that power, as does the imporvement for a whole season of McCann’s eye sight issues. I am not sure Melkey is with us on opening day, but look beyond that, those two pitcher we picked up are high ceiling guys. Look it up. Troy Glaus has something to prove. Working on a one year contract moving into un restricted free agency…come on…if you throw away his opportunity to hit 30 HR’s, then – again, you throw away any thought of Hudson, Chipper and Lowe having better seasons too. IF that all does come to pass, then yes we are in trouble. But to not be excited about what is ahead of us…come on…stop being so half empty for a change…I am looking forward to it myself and if I am by myself in thinking this way. So be it.

ct

January 10th, 2010
6:14 pm

We are so far behind the Phillies, but maybe we can contend for a WC. They have Halladay Hamels and Happ 1-3, and a murderers row lineup that is impossible to shut down…at least the Mutts still suck..

TampaGator

January 10th, 2010
6:16 pm

A lot depends on Heyward. If he makes the team as the starting RF and does well, then having Milky in LF will be good. If Heyward flops, then the Braves are in big trouble. The bullpen will be good to OK. The starting pitching is up there with anyone in the East. Scary to think the Braves season rides on the success of a rookie RF…but it does, I think.

TampaGator

January 10th, 2010
6:17 pm

….but Philly runs away with the East. The best to hope for is a wild card berth and a short life in the playoffs.

Mike McDonald

January 10th, 2010
6:18 pm

“If we drew 3 million … ” If the Braves were better managed from the top this would have been achieved over the past decade. Terry McGuirk has been a bozo from the get-go. Management, marketing, financial accountability and personnel selection are woefully inadequate and until this is corrected, the Braves will continue to be also-rans.

Snoop Clarky Clark

January 10th, 2010
6:20 pm

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY did we get rid of Vazquez??

Joe B.

January 10th, 2010
6:21 pm

If he wants to be a 3 million attendance club, bringing in this bunch of scrubs is not the way to do it.

Attendance will fall off the map this season. How the hell can Wren sit there and try to sell this bullsh*t with a straight face?

He cannot really believe what he is saying, right? Right?

I mean, this team is garbage. Even if Chipper returns to form, this lineup has no power. We added Melky friggin Cabrera, a guy known to have NO POWER.

I am saddened by the demise of the franchise, but growing up in the 80’s, I guess we are really just returning to the norm. I wish Ted would quit worrying about bison and buy the team back. They are an absolute tire fire right now.

If someone had said to me 6 years ago that the Hawks and Falcons would be on their way to becoming first class organizations and that the Braves were a total trainwreck, I would have fallen on the floor laughing, but now it has come to pass.

Oh well. Maybe Hanson and Jurrgens will do well enough that we can trade them off for some 18 year prospects. The Braves are now a AAAA club, just like the Kansas City Royals.

Andy

January 10th, 2010
6:22 pm

The lineup can only be better since there is no KJ, Frenchy, Schafer, or Loaf in there killing rallies. The defense was downgraded. The rotation and bullpens were downgraded. With all that said, I do think we can finish with more wins than last season, IF the guys that we have now stay healthy. There are too many question marks on this team, health and agewise, to consider this team a contender. Bobby Cox as manager certainly doesn’t help.

Reptillicide

January 10th, 2010
6:25 pm

In less than 3 years, Wren has run this ship aground. I just hope that he’s not around long enough to trade away Tommy Hanson or Jason Heyward.

And I’m seriously insulted as a longtime fan that Wren expects me to believe that he really thinks that we are better off now than we were last season.

Reptillicide

January 10th, 2010
6:26 pm

Thinking about how far we are from making the playoffs, as compared to when Wren took over, is very depressing.

Unfortunately, there’s nobody in charge that gives a sh*t. We’re stuck with Wren.

Braves K

January 10th, 2010
6:27 pm

Is this how true fans react to a perfectly logical offseason strategy? Wren cannot control what the boys above him allow to spend. Honestly, looking at our lineup/rotation, how can you say this is a ‘ruined’ franchise? As for the other teams in the NL East, the entire Mets team is a gamble, and you can’t say our rotation doesn’t own Philadelphia’s.Now get off your keyboard-bashing, buy your tickets, get in your seats, and cheer the boys on. Damn.

beau vighn

January 10th, 2010
6:27 pm

So, we are to put the success of this season on a kid who has played only half a year in AAA. Heyward is not Joe Freakin’ DiMaggio..All I hear is what if’s with this organization. What if we try to bring in some bona fide major league talent to help Chipper and Mac then we might put some more butts in the seats.

Braves fan since '66

January 10th, 2010
6:29 pm

I like playing with the Braves 2010 lineup…barring injury. McClouth, Escobar, Jones, Glaus, McCann, Cabrera, Diaz and then Prado…or some other combination. Pretty good vs. last year. Starting 5 with Lowe as #5 is pretty darn good. The bench is much improved and the relievers are about the same as last year. Heyward, Freeman and Schafer are wild cards. I think Wren is doing a pretty good job with a $90 million payroll. With all that said, I wish Mr. Blank would buy the Braves. The current owners are losers in my book.

Chipper

January 10th, 2010
6:30 pm

If you want changes, stop crying and go to the park, What’s this crap were you all are saying you dont want to pay ticket prices for substandard baseball. No on showed when we were winning 100 games and going to the playoffs. FW is doing the best he can for what he has got to work with. If all the crybabies on here would shut up and go to the park and help make us part of the 3 miilion fan club, we might be able to get a gonz or uggla.

Frank

January 10th, 2010
6:31 pm

That John S. really got my arse didn’t he. I should have know better. I take the heat and he sits up in that corner office adjusting those suspenders. That guy is slicker that goose crap. Hey guys my hands are tied. Johnny boy is the real culprit. Blame him. I’m just the fall guy.

Bry22

January 10th, 2010
6:31 pm

Wren is an F’in liar!!!

ccrider

January 10th, 2010
6:31 pm

Jeff; It’s a shame that all of these morons calling out Frank Wren for doing a his job, will be the same ones saying: “I knew Glaus would hit 30 bombs, Lowe would rebound and outpitch Vazquez, Cabrera would hit in the clutch, Wagner and Saito Would be money Etc.
Wren has done the best he could do with the payroll he had. It is a more risky group of players, but their track records are better: Wagner than Soriano, Saito than Gonzalez, Glaus than Kotchman or Laroche. It may take a lot of things to go right: Heyward breaking out, Lowe and Chipper rebounding, Wagner, Saito , Glaus staying healthy. But other than the Phillies, Who have a some problems: Lidge and the bullpen, Lack of depth in the rotation, will Hamels and Rollins rebound, every team in the division and National League has their problems as well.
The Mets, for one example, can Beltran, Delgado, Reyes rebound to what they were, Is Santana injured or just had a mediocre year, they rotation is a shambles, Can David Wright hit at Citi Field or will he become the Mets version of Jeff Franceour, Can they get a setup guy for Franky Rodriguez, can they fill out the bullpen with competent relievers?
Get a Grip Fans, even the Red Sox only have an outfield of Ellsbury, Cameron and JD Drew: not exactly murdersrow
Every team has questions; Even the Yankees, Posada, Rivera, Jeter, Pettitte are getting old, they lost Matsui and Damon, will Chamberlain or be a top startert even a good 5th starter, can Granderson perform under the pressure of playing with the Yankees?
The only difference between the Braves and others are the risks are slightly longer.

Bruce

January 10th, 2010
6:33 pm

Like I said before, no power hitting outfielder this yr. If we do go with the rookie outfielder I think it will be more of the same that we got with that can’t miss player in center field last yr.

Declining Interest

January 10th, 2010
6:33 pm

Wren is fighting a losing battle. Braves have been out of title hunt since 1996. Remember, they lost the last 8 world series games they played. Any competition they showed in 2000’s was fading. All the while, atl rewarded these division titles combined with 1st round exits like braves discovered gold. This team has been a mess for awhile and will not have a chance of improving until “mr passive” bobby cox is gone at year end. No chance they have strong finish this year.

Sweet Home Alabama

January 10th, 2010
6:36 pm

wren will this nightmare end?

uberVU - social comments

January 10th, 2010
6:36 pm

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by JeffSchultzAJC: We interrupt this def. coord. hysteria for this. Frank Wren says #Braves “will be better” because of moves. Really? http://bit.ly/5jXWAs…

willie martinez

January 10th, 2010
6:37 pm

from my point of view, i’m most worried about the braves’ defense.

Atlanta Dawg

January 10th, 2010
6:37 pm

wow. I’m really amazed at the comments here. Everyone hating on Frank Wren must realize he is doing what he can with the payroll he is given. Everyone forgets the purse strings are held by a corporation that could give 2 s***s about the team. This team is better than last years team. Everyone forgets that we have removed 2 black holes in the line up with Jeff and Kelly have 5 solid starters to start the season. Last year they had 4. this team, baring injuries will be 10 games better than last year. may not win the division, but they will be in the hunt for the playoffs. As a true Braves fan, I will be one of those 3 million that will pay to see this team play because I am a true fan and want to see this team succeed. how can you all write this team off before the first pitch of spring training?

jaker

January 10th, 2010
6:40 pm

“Thinking about how far we are from making the playoffs, as compared to when Wren took over, is very depressing.”

I am sorry, but please remind about how “close” we were to the playoffs before Wren took over.

Rick

January 10th, 2010
6:41 pm

I will wait a while before drinking this KOOLAID….

jaker

January 10th, 2010
6:43 pm

Look, I will stick up for Wren and have, but this whole deal about a limted payroll, I am sorry, but our payroll aint that bad and to his credit I think Wren feels that he is not hamstrung and can ultimately put together quality teams year after year.

Jfreak

January 10th, 2010
6:46 pm

I feel good about this team because they will have great starting pitching which will keep them in MOST games. With that said I don’t think Cox makes good decisions late in games with pinch hitting or the bullpen. The Braves offense will be middle of the road if everyone plays well and their defense will be a problem with Glaus and Chipper at the corners. Did I say I feel good about this team? Yes!

I think they will contend for the wildcard because of starting pitching. If some we get solid play from Glaus and Chipper and Heyward gets a shot I think we can do just enough to be there at the end of the season. Once you get in the playoffs pitching can win series!

country boy

January 10th, 2010
6:47 pm

Frank’s wife said it best with the 5:58 post. But no matter, with Bobby in charge he will no doubt burden with us with playing one of his favorites for too long. Last year it was Shaeffer, Kelly J., and unproductive Francour. This year will not be different.

jaker

January 10th, 2010
6:48 pm

ccrider, great post, but maybe a bit too realistic for some.

braves70

January 10th, 2010
6:48 pm

The Braves new motto under Wrong-Way Wren?

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.”

Seems like this is the Braves current philosophy of taking in players too broken down to play for other teams. Oh well, after 2010, Frankie should have the same pink slip waiting for him that he got in Baltimore.

Asheville Dawg

January 10th, 2010
6:49 pm

I think the batting order will be C+ at best. At least Kelly Johnson and Craig Norton are gone! Jeff, Norton is gone right, right. I can not watch another Norton at bat. Looks to me like Jurgens, Hudson, Hanson and pray for rain. No pop in this years lineup either. In summation, all these first round NFL playoff games have been one sided blowouts, hope next weekends will be closer. These have been snooze city.

Stuart

January 10th, 2010
6:52 pm

The entire problem started with Wren signing Lowe last year. That boat anchor cost us the opportunity to keep Vazquez or spend that $15 on a right handed power bat. What GM in their right mind gives a junk ball pitcher in his mid 30s a 4-year $60 million deal?? Lowe lost a couple miles per hour last year and with it his effectiveness. 2/3 of his starts last year were giveaways, particularly the 2nd half of the season. The deal Wren made with Lowe was so bad that noone even returned his call when he tried to dump him. Look at the bright side tho, Braves fans. Wren isn’t the biggest idiot in town long as Don “I’ve got a 5-year plan to get into the playoffs” Waddell still has a Georgia address. Going on 10 years of disaster and that idiot still has a job. Can someone explain THAT one to me?

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.

Sonny Clusters

January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm

Jeff, have you ever been to the Double Dime? Do you have some trophies?

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.

gcs

January 10th, 2010
7:49 pm

Better than horrible is not good enough!

.

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.

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.

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?

Vol4ever

January 10th, 2010
8:53 pm

Huddy signed and Javy traded………………..nuff said. 4th place and no fans in the stands, sounds like the 80s all over again.

Can we sign Rowland Office?

Nativebird

January 10th, 2010
8:53 pm

This team’s expectations are so low now that even the management is transparently admitting they cannot compete due to their budget caps.
The AJC really needs to start saving more ink for more exciting sport stories around here…like High school football.

Avery

January 10th, 2010
8:59 pm

It wouldn’t have been a bad offseason except for the fact we basically swapped our two stud receivers for two old broken down models.

PN

January 10th, 2010
9:01 pm

We have downgraded at 1B, Melky will be no better than Francoeur, our BP and SP are solid, but again, our offense will be anemic. We won’t win more than 85 games with this squad. We really, really need a big power bat at either 1B or OF and Wren failed to deliver. Wagner/Saito may be marginally better than Soriano/Gonzo, but since that was never an issue last year will not result in any extra W’s. We have taken a step backwards offensively. I hope we win 80.

4 jacks

January 10th, 2010
9:02 pm

Well, what would you expect Wrenn to say “yeah, we got screwed”, hell, I don’t so much blame Wrenn, I blame ownership. Losing Vazguez was just a horroble move, but if Lowe’s contract was anywhere resonable we could have moved him. My son and I only go to 8 to 10 games per year, so I do not have alot of room to complain, but I will say this, I won’t be going back to one more game as long as this is the way the Braves are going to operate, whoever’s fault is.

AIN'T Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 10th, 2010
9:15 pm

Jeff, I like this lineup better: Cabrera(LF), Escobar (SS), Jones (3B), Glaus (1B), McCann (C), Diaz (RF), Prado (2B), McLouth (CF)…………..McLouth has already proven he can’t hit, so give the switch-hitting Cabrera a chance………….oh yeah, 30-24 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

The Grinch

January 10th, 2010
9:20 pm

With the exception of replacing Vasquez in the lineup with Hudson (a clear downgrade, IMO, though we needed the prospects to compete in the future with no payroll), this IS a better team than it was last year. Give Wren the benefit of the doubt. He, unlike most of you, knows what he’s doing. Can’t you people even wait until Spring Training to start complaining? And if you don’t like the payroll, how about get your @$$ out to the ballpark, buy some concessions, and give Frank something to work with?

Sonny, you may be on to something with Chipper’s boots.

catfish31015

January 10th, 2010
9:23 pm

All hail the mighty Heyward. Jason Heyward is our only chance at, I repeat “ONLY CHANCE” at being a contender…..but he is a chance I’m looking forward to see pan out. If everyone else stays healthy and plays at or above potential and Heyward plays like he’s playing now, I give our team a good chance. Otherwise, no post-season for the Braves again this year. Sorry, guys.

reason

January 10th, 2010
9:24 pm

Could it be that the declining attendance was due to a non-productive, predicable team, that lack motivation and a desire to win and a manager who could care less. One who kept making the same mistakes over and over again.

Braves Fan

January 10th, 2010
9:28 pm

Frank Wren is crazy if he thinks he can sell the Atlanta fans on the bs he’s shoveling and most Atlanta fans may not be experts but we have seen first class teams and a first class organization , it’s just not here anymore and for those who says the Atlanta fans are crying must not have seen the prices at Turner Field and th aggravation to just see a game!

Dawgdad

January 10th, 2010
9:28 pm

It is always what you least expect that dooms the project. So, I figure the starting pitching will be the problem. Huddy can’t handle the workload, Lowe continues to decline, Jair suffers without his mentor, Javy, KK has ever fewer good games. But then again we don’t want to be too pessimistic, so lets all go to the games and watch Troy, Chipper, and BMac hit 40 homers each and our bullpen lock down the opposition and Bobby lead his charges to victory. At least we won’t have to watch balls bounce off Loaf’s big body this year. Things are looking up, or maybe not. Guess that is what the season is for, pay your money and take your chances.

catfish31015

January 10th, 2010
9:28 pm

It’s all Bob Horner’s fault!!!!!!!

beau vighn

January 10th, 2010
9:34 pm

I just think some people are putting way too much stock in Jason Heyward. The kid may turn out to be an allstar but who knows until he has some time to season. I fear he is being annointed the Braves savior and there is no way anyone could carry that burden.

willie martinez

January 10th, 2010
9:35 pm

reason, i think those are good reasons.

VinceVanGo

January 10th, 2010
9:35 pm

Let bounce around how the starting rotation should look. I know that spring training will determine the order but based on last year and Hudson’s comeback I would go with Jurrgens as the No. 1, Hanson #2, Lowe #3, Hudson #4(to bring the arm along slowly) and Kawakami as the # 5. If anybody falls or flops go to Medlen or Minor. I also think that the Braves have enough Punch & Judy hitters to hang in there, especially if they get some pop from Chipper, McCann & Glaus, and if Heyward takes over right field and can bop about 20 or so homers. Should be an interesting year.

Kid me Not

January 10th, 2010
9:42 pm

Clusters….We been missing your humor. Thanks for blogging and making this world better and on such a low budget!

The Whole Truth

January 10th, 2010
9:47 pm

The Braves are a second tier team.. Get rid of Chppers and Kawakami’s salary and you save about $40,000,000.

Wren has a quick and sharp knife with a weak organization.. I don’t particurally like him.

The Grinch

January 10th, 2010
9:47 pm

That’s a little better, Vince.

dagnabit

January 10th, 2010
9:49 pm

I have in years past watched every braves game on TV. It was live and I knew I could watch with with my sons and later my grandsons without being embarrassed by anything unexpected. But when steroids showed up, everything changed. I have this game so much. And now it’s being destroyed from within. I am so disappointed.

Cecil34

January 10th, 2010
9:50 pm

Man, Wren better hope all the duct tape, band aids and bailing wire hold together for this bunch he has assembled….sheesh….

Well he is on record – and he should be fired at the end of the season if his estimation does not come to pass….

I will wait until then for final determination.

But also for the record, it sure looks shaky….

I get insulted by those who want to blame Braves’ woes on attendance – friends, if you want attendance, stop charging an arm and a leg to go in the first place….and at least look like you are trying…..

I knew at some point excuses would start flying about “limits” to the payroll…be a long time before that line of thinking ever goes away.

njbraves

January 10th, 2010
9:55 pm

Maybe if more people showed up at games they would spend more money. Atlanta is a terrible sports town.

Cecil34

January 10th, 2010
10:00 pm

And while I am still awake I will throw this out there – next week is when the real NFL playoffs begin….

This week is a prime example of the watering down and extending the playoffs for $$$ purposes for teams that don’t even deserve to be in there in the first place….Jees, 51 to 45? Please! Where is the defense?

Ok, I can sleep now….

ScottyMac

January 10th, 2010
10:03 pm

Enter your comments here

J-MAN

January 10th, 2010
10:05 pm

The question I want specifically asked to Frank Wren is do you seriously think this team is really better than the team that took the field at the end of last season. B/C he could be talking about the begining of last season in comparision to the begining of this season, I want some specifics.

phil

January 10th, 2010
10:09 pm

This team is a joke. Third place finish at best. But you can’t blame Wren. H’s doing the best he can with what he’s been giving. it is an absolute joke, that this franchise, who has been making a LOT of money, even over the last few years, won’t spend the money on talent that they need to. Here is what is going to happen, they will not make the playoffs agains this year. And then, cut payroll again. You’ve made this franchise a joke again. Then the only fans showing up are fans of the of the other team. A city the size of ATLANTA, with a baseball franchise acting like they are small market! I for one, will no longer go to games this coming year, and mty fahter has Hank Aaron seats for the season!. I did it thru the 80’s and 90’s, but no more. Here comes a decade of no playoffs, much less world series. In a market this size????? What a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You’d think this was the Tulsa Braves!

Jeff

January 10th, 2010
10:11 pm

Hey, you morons who keep saying “shut up and go to the park, you didn’t support the team when they were winning 100 games, etc. etc. etc.”…. HORSE S***! We Atlanta fans PACKED the park for well over 15 YEARS! And now, in a tough economy, management wonders why we don’t get 55,000 fans for a meaningless August day game against the Pirates, and the general manager wants to start blaming US??? It’s not OUR fault… put out a product worth watching and we’ll go WATCH THEM. A team of LaRoches and Garrett Andersons and Ryan Churches and Derek Lowes isn’t going to inspire ANYONE.

Wren, get a friggin clue. This is big boy baseball. Walk into your bosses’ offices and DEMAND more payroll options. If you are having to manage with one arm tied behind your back, is it worth it at all?

This team will not win more than 80 or 84 games, mark it down. This team can’t hit for power and our bullpen will be a disaster (why did we give up two bulldog-type guys like Gonzo and Soriano for an aging duo like Wagner and Saito?) Every one of the friggin’ guys that Wren has signed for traded for over the last two years has been Rico Brogna all over again.

This team has two legit superstars: McCann and Chipper, and Chipper is in the autumn of his career. Hanson and Jurrjens are too young to call superstars yet. And we have not signed a FA superstar since Tex, and that was an 11-month rental job.

I have one question that NOBODY can answer for me yet: WHERE is our minor league pitching? Where is the next Glavine? Why do we not have a half-dozen superstar arms in AA and AAA? Besides Hanson, what pitching prospects do we have that the rest of the league COVETS? Why do all these OTHER teams have those guys they groom through their system: Lincecum, Sabathia, Halladay, Hamels, Lester, etc. And besides Heyward and Freeman, what stud position players do we have in the minor leagues? Since Frenchy and McCann, guys that have come up through our system and contributed have been few and far between.

We need to see if our minor league guys are getting properly prepared for the majors… we need to be in the running for star free agents EVERY YEAR… and at some point we HAVE to sign some superstars like Bay or Halladay. Sorry, as much as I love our guys, a lineup with Prado, McLouth, Hudson, Wagner and Chipper is not going to win a World Series.

ScottyMac

January 10th, 2010
10:16 pm

I’m not here to say that these moves will completey take us out of the running, but just look at the moves he was trying to make last year:

Griffey Jr = .214 Avg and 19 HR; 117 games
Peavey = 101 IP; 3.45 ERA; 16 games
Furcal = .269 Avg; .710 OPS (not to mention a 13 Million Dollar contract)
Burnett = 4.04 ERA; 13-9; 195 SO; (Pretty solid season, but for 16.5 Million??)

All of these players have something in common… It’s Wren’s mantra… damaged goods can have value but carry high risk. Just like the many ‘wishes’ he had above that would have buried the braves before the All-Star break last year.

Geezer

January 10th, 2010
10:18 pm

I am so glad I live in Rome and can see a great Class A team, where players bust their butts every game to try and improve. The Atlanta Braves under Frank Wren have become a collection point for second rate, walking wounded retreads…..and then he has the gall to blame the fans…what an absolute bunch of horse hockey and Frank Wren is full of it…..

Sonny Clusters

January 10th, 2010
10:20 pm

This Clusters can’t help but think about how the Braves ended the season with 6 losses at home and most of them against the last place Nationals. They had no fight, no pride. We lost some use for them watching that mess. We was always playing hard when we was playing ball.

Jay

January 10th, 2010
10:24 pm

Frank Wren will not last long with this team.

Our offense was our biggest weakness after last year, but that hasnt been addressed. Our three biggest power threats will have an off day every five days (McCann), be hurt one every other week (Chipper), or being off a major injury AND be switching positions (Glaus). Our Outfield still is lacking speed and power. We don’t know what we’ll get from Prado.

Another thing no one has talked about is how this team quit last year when they were knocked out of contention. I dont care what excuses they have, these guys are supposed to be professionals and they are being paid millions. The quit-job makes me think the on-the-field leadership is lacking.

This team isn’t going to the postseason next year. Wren has done a crappy job. What bothers me more about him is how much he tries to spin these bargin-bin moves that we know arent going to work.

hal

January 10th, 2010
10:24 pm

when wren took over we were so close to contending we traded away the future for a quick fix of epic proportions lol and frank can deal with the aftermath he has at least rebuilt part of the minor league syatem from the baren wasteland he interhited to this gropu of bloggers mesiah the genius js

Frank Martin Hits Player | AXI

January 10th, 2010
10:37 pm

[...] Wren On Braves: 'I Think We're Better' After Moves | Jeff Schultz Why are we not a player for one of these Cubans…When Ted was writing the checks we never let money stand in the way of putting together a good competitive team. Now we are just a heading on a business ledger in Colorado. . Jeff; It’s a shame that a… [...]

alex

January 10th, 2010
10:50 pm

hudson and hanson for jorge campillo and jojo reyes our staff is 1995 dirty

Poorbrave

January 10th, 2010
10:54 pm

Man whats that crap Wrens smoking………..if he thinks the fans are so stupid to believe his BS. The Braves will be lucky to win 80 games and finish 4th. Who wants to go to park and watch that crap? For2 years he’s going to get a power hitter…more lies. Braves have a if at 1st. a if in Billy W.. a if in RF… a if in LF… a if at 3rd(injuries)… a if in 2 relief pitchers. and a lame duck manager. A DA GM. Another year of half a@@ baseball…get ready for the Fun.

Bobby Cox

January 10th, 2010
10:56 pm

How about a Melky/Diaz platoon in left. I realize Diaz hit .328 but Melky needs some at bats. You know me, I gotta platoon somebody. I pleaded with Frank not to let Kelly go. Can’t give up on Kelly. I hope Wagner & the Jap can give me 80 appearances each. I don’t like seeing our starters go more than 6 innings. Duh.

Branch Rickey

January 10th, 2010
10:59 pm

Braves have had no offense since Schuerholz gave away Justice, Grissom & Dye in Spring Training 1997. Yeah, they reached the World Series in 1999 (got swept) and won more meaningless “divisional championships”, but look at the lack of speed & power since 1997. This organization does not produce great hitters.

DAVE

January 10th, 2010
11:01 pm

Chef, you’re 6:05 was hillarious.

Only time will tell, but I like this team. Not fond of Melky if he’s a starter, but as a 4th OF, okay. Obviously, Wren is counting on Glaus making a comeback, but if he does, we’ll be singing the praises of what a steal he is at that price.

Sonny Clusters

January 10th, 2010
11:06 pm

We was never meant to be a Buck Commander because we don’t kill little animals with big guns. When we was watching a ball game one time we saw Randy Johnson throw a pitch and a little bird flew by at the wrong time and that ball hit that little bird and that little bird exploded into a million pieces! That must be a little like being a Buck Commander and talking on little walkie talkies to each other out in the woods and knowing that at any time something can walk by, or fly by, and you can kill it and have it stuffed to hang on the wall. We was wondering what they might say to each other . .

“Uh, come in Rochy.”

“Yeah, Chipper ten four.”

“Uh, you got any candy?”

Whopper Dawg

January 10th, 2010
11:10 pm

Don’t think we are better. If you are trading the third place finisher in tehe Cy Young polling in a pitching starved major league baseball, you should have your rear end kicked. Is his house for sell, I’d like to see the price.

Rufio

January 10th, 2010
11:16 pm

Wren and the new ownership have not helped this organization. When Ted ran it at least there was some ego to get that last home run hitter, pitcher, GM or Coach. We got rid of some ball players that put fans in the seats. I still think they made a huge mistake letting Francouer go to NY and Jeff will make the Braves pay for that mistake. I watch him since he was a freshman at Parkview and he is nothing but a class person. He was the heart and Mccan was the soul and future of the Braves. I think there was a lot more Francouer jerseys in the stands than Chipper.

I was more encouraged last year before spring training than this one. Javy will win more games than a right fielder who has world series experience. You trade a first baseman with zero errors in a year or ever as a Brave and trade him to get a hitting first baseman who hits .325 for you and gives spark to the team chemistry for a could be if he feels OK player. Also,

Wren screwed two icons over. He should have made deals with Smoltz and Glavine. They both should have had Braves uniforms on when they retired.

No, we are not better off than last year……….We are not the same organization as we were in 1991 through 2005.

Tony

January 10th, 2010
11:18 pm

The Braves will trade Heyward, just watch. This is a discount team now. Just enough to get people to the games. They want in between players, almost washed up players. Sore arm pitchers, player comming off injuries etc. This team in now like BIG LOts , discontinued items

Art Vandalay

January 10th, 2010
11:25 pm

Don’t blame it on the players on the field. If you think this team is not better than one in April last year that was relying on HUGE contributions from Kelly Johnson, Francoeur, Schaffer, and Kotchman than your Baseball IQ is about a 12. This is a solid Baseball team. Dont blame attendance on the product, fact of that matter is people here don’t REALLY care about the Braves. You will pack Sanford Stadium every week with 90,000 to see a sub par coach take the field with the scraps left over from, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee en route to an 8-5 record, but the Braves had a very real chance at the Wild Card in October and Turner Field was still empty. If you showed up when they were good you’d have an argument but good or bad i’m still usually alone at the ball park.

Art Vandalay

January 10th, 2010
11:29 pm

And anyone that can keep a straight face while making any sort of argument for the production of Jeff Francoeur has no business being anywhere near a baseball stadium. Jeff Francoeur is perhaps the biggest bust in the history of the Major Leagues. If Melky is a 4th outfielder (which i agree he is) than Francoeur is a AA lifer at best. They’d be better off sticking Mitch Jones out there they’d hit for about the same average but atleast he’d jack 25-30 HRs. Jeff Francoeur killed more rallies than any player I have ever seen.

SL3

January 10th, 2010
11:30 pm

Big gamble with too many old players. If they stay healthy it might turn out well, but that is a big if.

ArkyTech

January 10th, 2010
11:34 pm

What people aren’t realizing is that last year we did not start the year with McClouth (and he was NEVER healthy), did not have a full season with Hudson, McCann played the season with bad vision, and Chipper had the worst season of his career – and still won 86 games. So in doing nothing, the Braves would theoretically be better. And if Glaus can be a .260, 25-30 HR guy this team will be waaaay better than the one that won 86 games last year.

Art Vandalay

January 10th, 2010
11:40 pm

Fact of the matter is most Atlantans don’t support the Braves but they complain about the moves. The Braves survive on a few real fans and their rep as a regional team, I would be interested to see how much tourism accounts for Braves attendance probably a huge percentage. Real Braves fans aren’t in Atlanta, Atlantans have turned in to a bunch of whiners about everything.

so cal Brave

January 10th, 2010
11:43 pm

Vazquez was in the last year of his contract, we were gonna lose him and get nothing in return anyways, because if he has a good year he’ll command more money than what we can give him or if he has a down year (like he usually does after a good one) we’re not gonna resign him anyways. It also makes no sense to sign a power bat OF or 1B on a long term high salary contract when we have Heyward and Freeman coming up this or next year at the latest. Wren is obviously thinking past this year and preparing for the future, which looks very bight.
I think our line up should be:
Prado (2B)
McLouth (CF)
Escobar (SS)
McCann (C)
Jones (3B)
Glaus (1B)
Diaz (RF)
Cabrera (LF)

Frank Wren

January 10th, 2010
11:45 pm

I won’t even get started on Melky Cabrera.

I absolutely raped the Yankees i that deal.

Quote from a Yankee fan

Just like the Yankees to give up on a pre-peak player for a marginal upgrade. Time to show them Melkman! Go out and OPS .800 in the weaker league and get yourself a nice free agent deal coming out of your peak seasons.

alan

January 11th, 2010
12:12 am

So FW ststed that the Braves don’t draw 3 mill in attendance. The Braves would draw a lot better if they had a good team. FW said a few weeks ago the team had about 8 mill saved. The braves are running on players that are just coming up but mostly on the injured and elderly. Maybe when BC retires they might change the coaching staff. I went to several games last season against my better judgement, but this season my wife is refusing to attend until the Braves are better. In the meantime BOYCOTT THE BRAVES until they begin to win. If you come in second, whats the difference you still lose. This isn’t like a horserace with win-show-place. It’s win or nothing.

MaJo

January 11th, 2010
12:13 am

Wren went shopping in the bargain bin for these guys. A bunch of too-old and/or too-injured guys that nobody else wanted. Good luck with that Frank….

TheAntiMe

January 11th, 2010
12:28 am

“We’re not a three million attendance club, which would allow us to do more.” – Frank Wren

OK, Mr. GM, so the fans shouldn’t complain that the Braves did so little to upgrade the team this offseason because they (the fans) didn’t sell out all of the home games last season.

So what he is saying is that if the fans would have done their part the folks at Liberty Media would have stepped up and tried to sign Matt Holliday or Jason Bay? Nice try, Frank, but I’m not buying that one for a second. I don’t believe that they would have even tried to sign a more moderately priced free agent like Johnny Damon.

so cal Brave

January 11th, 2010
12:34 am

Wren HAD to get those so called “bargain bin” guys. Would you rather that he had signed LaRoche to a 3 year deal at 10 Mil per? or Damon to a 3 year deal at 12 Mil per? or Bay to a 4 year deal at 16 Mil per? That’s crazy! None of those guys are worth that kind of money. There are no other options out there. But we now have the option of swinging a mid season trade if we’re close to the playoffs and take in more salary if needed.

tlj

January 11th, 2010
12:36 am

I didn’t like the trade of Vasquez but it’s not as bad as everyone thinks. First of all we didn’t trade Vasquez for Milky, we traded him to open a spot for Hudson. We also got a high rated pitcher, a possible lefty loogy and Carbera who I believe will do better than a people anticipate. Hudson will not be as good as Vasquez last year but guess what neither will Vasquez. It was a career year, he will probably have a good year but nothing like last year. Hudson will win 12 to 15 games and provide a mid 3 era. Last year everyone complained about trading a good propsect (Flowers) for Vasquez a terrible pitcher who could not pitch in big games and now all of a sudden he has become Cy Young.

I don’t agree with everything Wrenn has done but he is limited to the payroll and it appears he has done as much as possible. I won’t discuss this team potential versus last years but I think we have the potetial to win 85 to 90 games and get in the playoffs.

We have a great farm system and I believe the future of this team is very bright. Let’s get behind our braves.

so cal Brave

January 11th, 2010
12:54 am

Bay is gonna struggle big time at the new Mets stadium, his power numbers are gonna be way down. As for our line up, we may not have a 30 HR guy, but we have 5 players that could very well hit close to 20 or more HRs (Escobar, Jones, McCann, McLouth, Diaz) plus close to 15 from Prado and Cabrera. Not to mention 5 players that could hit .300. Plus anything we can get from Glaus would be a bonus. I’m not worried about our offense. Our defense may struggle at the corners, but it should be solid (not great) everywhere else.

Coach (2011 or Bust)

January 11th, 2010
1:11 am

I read Grinch’s post at 9:20 and winked at his ignorance

Hudson an upgrade or downgrade over Vazquez? Lets review.

Tim Hudson 148-78 and ranked 8th in career ERA and 9th in career wins among all active starting pitchers. His season average? 16-9 with an ERA of 3.49 and Tim Hudson has yet to have a losing record in eleven ML seasons.

Javier Vazquez 142-139 and ranked 43rd in career ERA and 12th in career wins among all active starting pitchers. Vazquez has posted five losing records out of the twelve years he has pitched. His seasonal average?13-12 with an ERA 4.19

So who was the better pitcher last season? Vazquez, not doubt about it.

And who is the better pitcher career wise and in the projectable future? Tim Hudson and there is ZERO doubt it.

That said, Frank Wren made the correct choice in resigning Hudson for three more years at bargain of 9 million per season. In fact, it was the highlight of the off season and few recognized the occasion.

Matt the Brave

January 11th, 2010
2:05 am

While I understand that we’re aren’t going to be the people who can chase a Jason Bay at this time, I don’t understand why the Braves keep targeting people who are just leaving their prime (other than Cabrera, but he’s a bit of an enigma…) rather than guys who might be reaching their prime in a year or two. This team is not built to win the World Series this season. It’s built to win around 85 games which makes it very sellable in the next year for Liberty Media. There are no bloated contracts other than the Lowe one, there is talented starting pitching coming up, and there will be some power in the lineup depending on how Heyward and Freeman develop. But this season is going to be one filled with stop-gaps until 2011. I just hope it’s not the perpetual building up to a World Series run like so many other teams seem to be doing in Major League Baseball.

Furman Bisher

January 11th, 2010
2:13 am

Booyah

Furman Bisher

January 11th, 2010
2:14 am

Can somebody help me change my bedpan?!

I just dropped a Cleveland Steamer in my pants!

Patrick-A true fan

January 11th, 2010
2:52 am

First I must say that about half of the peple who post on here are 100% morons and probably don’t like baseball anyway. They know little about baseball and they would n’t be happy if the Braves actually made it to the playoffs again..I am glad they hide behind a keyboard. Wren has made some moves that I am excited about. Hey at this point prior to spring training it’s anyones game. Last year was a good year..the boys made it interesting the final few weeks. Hey to sweep the Cardinalas at home with a Tim Hudson homrun..CLASSIC.!! This team will win they are better than the 2007 and 2008 team. I believe if Hanson starts the season with the team the win totals would have found us in the Wild Card hunt longer. I am a fan 100% I can’t play the game at the level of anyone of the guys on the field..so I cheer when they do well and I am ticked off when they don’t. Wren diwhat he feels is the best for the team now and the future. Glaus in this lineup is going to be awesome..Wagner closing games…solid. I say we fight it out with the Phillies and Marlins all year and we pick up the needed piece at the trade deadline..its 162 games..not one has been played. I will be attending and cheering..at least I am man enough to watch the game and have a real opinion based on truely following the team..not following the ” used to be bandwagon fans” that post garbage about the team because they think it makes them sound knowledgable and cool. Go Braves!!!

scottbravesfan

January 11th, 2010
3:21 am

Maybe if the losers in atlanta actually supported the team they could have a bigger payroll. But Atlanta doesn’t support anything. Falcons, Hawks, Thrashers, Braves, it doesn’t matter.

TPM

January 11th, 2010
3:31 am

I’m not sold on this team. You have guys at 1st base and 3rd base that have had troubles staying on the field in the post steriods era. I think the bullpen took a step back from last year. Wagner has not proved that he is healthy enough to close games day after day and nobody knows how old Saito really is.

Wren on Braves: 'I think we're better' after moves | Jeff Schultz Blog

January 11th, 2010
3:33 am

[...] Wren on Braves: 'I think we're better' after moves | Jeff Schultz Tags: douglas, foxboro, general-manager, gillette, national-telephone, pdf, professor-mary, some-unpopular, twitter, winter, you-sat BostonHerald.com – Blogs: Rap Sheet» Blog Archive » What did the …Instapundit » Blog Archive » LOW-COST SOLAR INVADES KENYA. People …We Think What We Eat: Structuralist Analysis Of Israelite Food …If You Didn't Think John Edwards Was Done, You Will Now – Justin …Grid Computing In Europe Changes How Scientists Think About …$2.3 Billion In Recovery Act Credits Awarded To US Clean Tech …Microsoft Appeals i4i Word Case (Again) | PC Magazine Middle and …Rassmusen: 75% of GOP Voters Still Think Their Legislators Out of …The Observer Magazine – 10 January 2010Dead Things ON Sticks: Things to Think About in Writer World View the Contact Powered by Blog [...]

gayle

January 11th, 2010
4:23 am

Branch Rickey is right on. This ship started sinking a long time ago. Starting with the Leyritz home run in the ‘96 Series – the Braves are 0-8 in World Series games since. That trade in ‘97 unloading Dye, Grissom and Justice just killed this team. I won’t defend Wren, but all this started long before he came here. But then again, he isn’t doing much to reverse the trend.

Three million fans? That might happen the day this team makes a sincere effort to field a winning team. Until then, we’ll have plenty of seats for the Cubs and Cardinals fans when their teams come to town.

RA

January 11th, 2010
5:55 am

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Next time the Braves get sold, I hope they go to a Tycoon, not a corporation. (If Arthur Blank had gotten this team, you better believe that they would have brought in some marque talent by now…)

RA

January 11th, 2010
5:57 am

I’ve got to go with gayle. In order to get increased revenue at the gate, you’ve got to put a superior product on the field. It’s a simple formula, but it never fails to work.

Angus

January 11th, 2010
6:29 am

It’s really hard to say if we are better than last year or not – too many “ifs”.

The offense should come out of the gate better, but we really don’t know what we’re going to get out of McClouth, Prado, Glaus, Chipper, Infante, or Diaz – could range from feast to famine for all of them.

The defense probably takes a step back. Cabrera > Anderson, but Diaz < Frency and Glaus <<< Kotchman/LaRoche.

Pitching – we lost our ace. Can Hanson replace him?

We won 86 last year despite quitting with six to play. We absolutely should be in the playoff race this year – and that's really all you can hope for with a $90 mil payroll.

space monkey

January 11th, 2010
6:30 am

The real gamble is Hudson. He was not very impressive last year. Didn’t do a very good job of missing bats, BTW, what’s the point of making the playoffs. A team this weak is sure to get rolled. Baseball desperately needs a salary cap. Or does everybody really want to see the Yankees and their $300 million payroll roll another somewhat strong National League contender this year. Let’s face it, the Phillies were by far the best team in the NL and they were so overmatched by the Yankees that they looked like a Little League team. MLB must have a salary cap. Or it must start a AAAA minor league for teams like Kansas City and Pittsburgh and soon Atlanta. Game over.

MitchC

January 11th, 2010
6:42 am

Jeff, Philly is hands down the team the beat in this division. They have an awesome lineup, have been to the last two World Series, and then added Halliday. They might have the division put away by Memorial Day, because I see no one else in the East who can compete with them.

As for the Braves, we have a lot of “ifs”. Wagner used to be one of the best closers in the game, but he’s 38, and coming off major surgery. Glaus is a question mark, and Lowe is another year older. Not to mention, what happens if Tommy Hanson has a soph slump?

The rotation has the potential to be solid, if Hanson doesnt have a soph slump, and if Lowe rebounds and wins 15 to 18 games, with a sub 4 ERA.

I’m hoping for the wild card, but I don’t know if that would be a stretch.

Best case, close to 90 wins, and a shot for the wild card. Worst case, we fall flat on our faces like we did in 2008, and lose 90 games. Realistically, as much as I hate to say it, we will probably be around 500, and not make much noise in the playoff race, which would be a very disappointing showing, in Bobby’s last year.

I dont think Mr Wren is being very realistic in his assessment of the team.

kevin

January 11th, 2010
6:44 am

why we show up pay see chokin ws games wildcard lost and that fans got tired of Bobby cox pickin his nose n blowin….Now we have Wren sayin we better at what nothin… We have a Manager who could not coach a wet t-shirt at hooters a Hittin coach who could not get little league hitters to hit..that and fact we dearly hope chipper jones still not worryed over findin a dead man at his ranch are lead off man can lead.futher more i get u season tickets for 2012 now unless Wren trades for lou Pinella n cash send bobby to cubs where he can sing Take me out to the ball game in HD while pickin nose…

kevin

January 11th, 2010
6:48 am

Oh and cox will trade hanson by mid season cause that cox n wren related …oh and we be in 4th this year keep ahead of Nats for last….and folks JF will inprove hittin n power and be 340 hitter with 34 homeruns n 124 rbi by all star game in Ny and they be in first followed by phillies n Marlins n that team cox claims he coach n the Nats who are gettin better…..bye bobby cox i sure hope U and wren are fired at all-star break!

Angus

January 11th, 2010
6:52 am

We won 86 last year despite quitting with six to play. We absolutely should be in the playoff race this year – and that’s really all you can hope for with a $90 mil payroll.

The offense should come out of the gate better, but we really don’t know what we’re going to get out of McClouth, Prado, Glaus, Chipper, Infante, or Diaz – could range from feast to famine for all of them.

The defense probably takes a step back. Melky > Anderson, but Glaus < Kotchman/LaRoche and Diaz < Frenchy.

Pitching? It's all about Hudson to me – he needs to be a solid #2/3 all year.

Angus

January 11th, 2010
6:54 am

check, check, 1-2, 1-2, is this thing on?

MikeY

January 11th, 2010
7:00 am

Braves have 40 players on their 40 man roster, prior to Hinske’s contract being finalized. Question: who will be dropped from the 40 man roster to make room for Hinske?

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

January 11th, 2010
7:16 am

i dont see how the roster has improved. still no big bat and no dominant closer. both additions in the bullpen have not been proven yet- looks like another long year.

Baba O'Riley

January 11th, 2010
7:24 am

THIS is the finished product???These are the “big bats” we were to acquire? We just designated Ryan Church for assignment, then we trade our most productive pitcher for a Ryan Church clone? OK, all you FW defenders, SPIN IT!

Rusty Nail

January 11th, 2010
7:34 am

Three Million in attendance?? Three words Mr. Wren- Location, Location and Location.

Bill

January 11th, 2010
7:47 am

Man, Braves fans are really spoiled. They were in the hunt for a playoff spot very late in the season. To listen to the comments here, you would think they were terrible. I have lived where the team had the worst record in baseball. When was the last time the Braves had a losing season. I don’t know of any team that can afford what it takes to be a dynasty anymore except for the Yankees. OK, the Red Sox can afford it, if they didn’t have the Yankees to contend with.

PRESTON HANNATIZED

January 11th, 2010
7:56 am

Attendance is down because the team isn’t winning. The marketing effort is FAIL. The radio ads suck: I hate the guy’s voice and the whole pitch is off key. We are supposed pay extortionate parking & peanut prices and just ignore a dreadful expansion lineup (think Royals) and come out to the games to cheer the manager’s last season???
The only good news is with Chip doing the TV maybe more fans will go to games instead!

clint ellison

January 11th, 2010
8:01 am

The Braves finally lost it with me. They are worse this year at every level—starting pitching, bullpen, first base. They trade a gold glove, 25 homer first baseman for a reclamation project. They unload two great relievers for a 72 year old man with a bad arm and a lukewarm set-up man. They now have something like 14 outfielders, all of whom are bench guys on other teams. They got a once great third baseman who now only plays when he feels like it (about 1/3 of time) because he has lost his passion for the game. It’s a sad sight. And then we have Mr Wren waxing optimistic about the coming year. My God.

Tami

January 11th, 2010
8:01 am

The 2010 Braves are better than the 2009 Braves? Based on what, Mr. Wren?? You traded away our best pitcher. You made the bone-headed move to acquire Lowe with that ridiculous package. You gave away LaRoche a season too early, etc., etc.

I had a feeling that the team would not be able to trade away Lowe waaay early on, but kept hoping I was wrong. We’re still looking for that ‘big bat’ the team is supposed to get in return for the great sacrifices in trading away some of the stellar starting pitching. Glaus and Wagner were available for a reason — they’re on the downslope. I welcome being proven wrong here, but to me, this 2010 season is setting up to be more of the same — mediocre with splashes of brilliance thrown in too late in the season to mean anything.

Atticus

January 11th, 2010
8:11 am

This team may be slightly better but that is NOT on paper, he is saying that IF a number of things occur–Heyward coming up and playing big, Glaus and Chipper having good years and Wagner being the closer Wren wants him to be. The Phillies got much better. This team could compete for a WC if all the stars align but my high a mighty franchise has become a low rent team.

Atticus

January 11th, 2010
8:18 am

The declining attendance is due to 4 years and no playoffs. Yes everyone is spoiled that is reality but is it really realistic to pay double the ticket price for half the value? You get a bat and make the playoffs and it will be a 3 million attendance team but your front office sucks and we are sold one big commercial.

No Way Jorge

January 11th, 2010
8:27 am

Wren is a PUTZ!!!!

T-Town Braves Fan

January 11th, 2010
8:27 am

Most Brave fans are like spoiled children, because you just can’t please them. They cry when they don’t make the playoffs, cry when they make the playoffs but don’t make the WS, cry if they make the WS but didn’t win it and would probably cry if they won it but didn’t sweep it. They believe just like the Yankee fans that they should win each and every WS. But this is where the similarities end, Atlanta is not New York, we have to over pay players to come here.

It doesn’t matter what he says, Lowe came here because (as we now know) we over paid him. If we wanted Holliday to play for us, we would have had to over pay him. Why? Our fans. Players want to go where they feel they can win and are supported, not bitched at. You had better believe they read the blogs of the teams/Cities that are competing for them. Money goes only so far.

Don’t support the team and don’t go to the games that will teach them. When Mac, JJ, Hansen and Heywood leave for FA we will bitch and cry, but can anyone blame them when there is no support? And what would the mood of Atlanta be if the Braves moved to another City? Don’t think it can happen? Talk to the LA football fans, they didn’t support their team, and team moved the Rams to St. Louis. Atlanta is loser-ville, because of our fans (or lack of them).

squintyeyed

January 11th, 2010
8:30 am

g

squintyeyed

January 11th, 2010
8:39 am

wow guys I hate to say it but braves fans are becoming some of the worst fans to have……a few reality checks……..we have shown that makeing more wins and playoffs does not mean more fans will come out. Last year when we were in the thick of it with 3 freakin home games left and we didnt come close to selling out. From 1999-2005 the attendance fell from 3.2 mil to 2.3 mil…despite winning 90 games and winning the division. you guys who say you would come out if we made the team you would are full of it.

klemcudtlhopr

January 11th, 2010
8:39 am

headlines are deceiving, it’s not about the talent, it’s about the $$$. I do not see the team as better talent, its just one big financial statement for Wren and his business boys.I think it is going to be a long season with many empty seats at Turner. I will pray for Chipper and Mac to stay healthy and have big years. That is my hope.

tim

January 11th, 2010
8:39 am

This is just Public Relations BS. You don’t trade a CY Young candidate for Melky Cabrerra and an injury prone 1st baseman who’s best years were years ago and become a better team.

fordcobra

January 11th, 2010
8:40 am

Mr. Wren says if the Braves had 3 million attendance we could do more. Well I see it as if they don’t do more they likely will not see even close to 3 million. Winning brings fans not losers. I hope all of the restoration projects pan out, I would much rather be wrong myself than the Braves management.

columinst

January 11th, 2010
8:44 am

John Schuerholz inherited a team accustomed to last place. 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 halfway through spring training. Schuerholz’ roster makeover is pretty much complete after last week’s signing of Otis Nixon, a career bench player expected to play everyday in center field. Add that longshot to the two big winter signings, third baseman Terry Pendleton, coming off a season in which he hit .221 and going into the downside of his career, and first baseman Sid Bream, a Pirates castoff who averages 15 home runs, .265, and it looks like the beginning of another 14 straight last-place finishes.

fordcobra

January 11th, 2010
8:45 am

I think the only way we will ever get the $ needed to get the quality players is through local ownership, and that probably will not happen.

BuckCommander

January 11th, 2010
8:47 am

Everyone wants to be a Buck Commander!!

squintyeyed

January 11th, 2010
8:48 am

Hanson and JJ are the Glavine/Smoltz combo of old……Norton isnt the only addition by subtraction from last years club……Jo Jo, KJ, Frenchy, Schafer, and Norton is 5 players on a 25 man roster that were dead weight. We were still in it until the very end….bc of pitching…..you know, the pitching that our GM said last offseason he was going to get…….we dont have more money to spend bc our fans suckas……really, you could take away Jo Jo and comp and build a real rotation, make a trade for a very respectable CF when we needed him bad, and land us LaRoach only for the his hot stretch at the end (genius) and the fans would still say “you payed too much for that 15 game winner (Lowe), I’m not paying to go see you play.

mmck

January 11th, 2010
8:50 am

The Bravos WILL be better this year for one reason… Bobby Cox will no longer be able to continually send Greg Norton up to the plate to pinch hit!

squintyeyed

January 11th, 2010
8:53 am

pls guys…..either wait until we lose some games before you count us out, or go somewhere else. last years you guys were pulling the same crapp bcof Smoltz and Furcal and whatever, you guys coulnted us out before spring training and we damnear made the playoffs

Ron H

January 11th, 2010
8:56 am

Quit your b!tch!n, people. This is the team we’ve got. If you don’t like it, go root for one you do like…

While I’m not super enthused with what we’ve got, it’s who I’ll be rooting for in 2010. Not much more we can do at this point…

Realist

January 11th, 2010
8:56 am

The biggest problem with the Braves organization is there is no accountability under Liberty Media, except to the bottom line. As long as the Braves break even, no one at Liberty is ever going to ask Frank Wren, “Why didn’t you make the playoffs? Why did you make this trade or that trade? Why did you sign this guy, who is clearly past his prime?” If the Braves win 70 games or 90 games next year, Wren’s job will be safe either way, and Bobby Cox will once again get to choose if he wants to retire or not. After the tax break runs out, and Liberty finally sells the team, maybe then we’ll start to have some accountability in the front office.

Americus Fan

January 11th, 2010
8:59 am

What year is the capital gain exchange (stock swap)up so that Liberty Media can sale the Braves to a local owner without having to pay capital gains……like Blank

Don

January 11th, 2010
9:04 am

To Wren’s credit, he has not had the authority to fire Bobby Cox; and without that, everything else is basically meaningless. The only way you win with Cox is having Pitching so dominant and so far far suprior to the other teams that it overcomes his management procedures and lack thereof and enables you to win over the long 162 game regular season. Our Pitching is good but not that good, especially after the departure of Vazquez. With him, went the slim chance we had of being competitive.

keef1234

January 11th, 2010
9:07 am

NEWS FLASH
AP- Apparently, the Braves would have been able to secure Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira if attendance had been 3 million. So in order to do this, (and sign Albert Pujols for a long term contract) the Braves have offered a contract to Henry Aaron. Aaron had been a superstar shortstop, first baseman and right fielder for the Braves in the ’50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Frank Wren stated Terry McGuirk has suggested that if Henry (or Bad Henry) could get on an exercise routine with proper nutrition, he could could come back as a viable starter or bench player. Aaron stated (who is 75) that he will do whatever it takes to win a world series and is sure his presence will draw 3 million +. McGuirk asked Aaron to convince Ralph Garr and Gil Garrido , Rowland Office and Darrel Evans (who could spell Chipper at 3rd base) to also make a comeback. Garr and Garrido have not been located but are being sought from the press…
This story will continue to evolve…as Wren and McGuirk work the phones. Liberty Media would not comment on this new strategy or $135 million dollar payroll that the Braves should have…

Bill

January 11th, 2010
9:09 am

Welcome to the 60’s & 70’s . We’ve gone full cycle from Bobby’s first losing years before being fired ,and then winning 14 and now back to Bobby’s ending, the way it started.. Great!

What kind of stop gag manager will Wren hire next year? Hell only knows.

Don

January 11th, 2010
9:11 am

Lets see: We have a slow, coming off injury, .250 hitting, high strike out THIRD baseman playing First; We have a poor defensive, part time player, eating up a sighnificant part of the salary budget with a long term contract playing 3rd.; We have a .250 hitting, low power hittr playing Center; We have two injured, aging relief pitchers for the Set Up and Closer positions; We have Melky for who knows what; We no longer have Vazquez, one of the best pitchers in baseball; We have who knows who for Right Field and Left Field; We still have Pendleton as Hitting Coach; and worst of all, we still have Boobby Cox as Manager. Yep we are ready.

Jeff

January 11th, 2010
9:20 am

So is Wren turning this around on the fans? His budget is limited because attendance is down. Well attendance is down because the product he puts on the field it total garbage. His budget is limited because we have lousy ownership that only cares about the bottom line. I wish Arthur Blank would save us and buy the team.

Larry

January 11th, 2010
9:21 am

Wren’s key word in his assessment: “think”

This is an absence of confidence and certainly a disclaimer should what he “thinks” not unfold.

I just ended a 20 year season ticket relationship because I “think” differently!

Arthante Lafleur

January 11th, 2010
9:31 am

We’re going to be battling for third place in the NL East for the next several years. I’ve already accepted that, and you should too.

Sonny Clusters

January 11th, 2010
9:32 am

Jeff, baseball blogging seems to be pretty popular right now. Pitchers and catchers report next month. We can feel the excitement. It is time for our team to come out of the woods and prepare for the season. We heard one player has been out in the woods so long he is now more bear than man. We was thinking he always talked like a bear would talk.

dan

January 11th, 2010
9:32 am

has it ever occured to wren the declining attendance is due to the awful product he has put on the field!

T-Town Braves Fan

January 11th, 2010
9:33 am

Jeff – Heyward may not be traded, but he will leave for FA if he pans out. I’m sure you’ve read thru this blog, why would he want to stay in Atlanta with these fans? Even when the team made the playoffs, many fans came to cheer the other team or came as empty seats. The players see this, so tell me: why would any player want to play for these fans?

Bravissimo

January 11th, 2010
9:39 am

Im witholding comment till 2 weeks into spring training

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

January 11th, 2010
9:45 am

unless wren has another trade or FA signing in the works that we don’t know about. but otherwise, like i posted earlier, i’m not impressed with the additions for this year and agree with mitch c- too many ?s and if’s.

bvillebaron

January 11th, 2010
9:46 am

For all the critics about the offseason moves, a couple of points. First, in the final analysis the Braves did not “swap” or “replace” Vazquez with Lowe or Kawakami, they “swapped” or “replaced” him with Tim Hudson. You should all do yourselves a favor and compare Hudson and Vazquez’s LIFETIME stats, not last year’s career year for Vazquez, and you will see that Wren is right when he says Hudson is a better pitcher. I understand that Wagner and Saito are older than Gonzalez and Soriano, but both of the latter also missed substantial time with arm injuries of their own. Please don’t insult me by claiming that a Gonzo/Soriano combo is better than a healthy Wagner/Saito combo.

I have said it before and will repeat it. Like it or not, the Braves opearate under budgetary constraints that teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and even the Phillies don’t ($90-95M vs. $200M and even $140M for the Phillies). This team needed a major rebuilding job several years ago. I think that rebuilding process is now underway with the core of promising young players that the Braves have in Jurrjens, Hanson, Escobar, McCann, Heyward, Freeman, Kimbrel, etc. That rebuilding was delayed by doing the same thing many of you are clamoring for the team to do now, which is to spend a ton of money on someone like Bay or Holliday before that core has matured enough. Some of you have short memories because apparently you don’t remember the ill-fated decision to trade several premium prospects (two of whom are emerging stars already) for Mark Texeira. That really put the team over the top, didn’t it?

I think Wren is doing a good job of signing several veteran players like Wagner, Saito and Glaus to SHORT TERM contracts which gives the team a chance to compete at least for the wild card this year (they still have the top starting rotation in the NL East which is the most important ingredient) and not hamstring the team financially over the next several years when the time would be right to add the type of players many want the team to sign now.

Sonny Clusters

January 11th, 2010
9:48 am

Buck Commandering seems like something a team leader would do . . . Commandering, that is. When the Commander has a bad thumb, though, the Commandering has to wait. If the Commander misses 10-20-30 (pick one) games a year that means there was no Commandering going on, on the field. No bear talk, no bear hugs, barely worth watching. We was hoping our Buck Commander (down to one this season) is on a vitamin and nutrition program in preparation for the season. Maybe a healthy thumbs and toes program, as well.

Reality Check

January 11th, 2010
9:49 am

Jeff, I thought last year going into the season was awlful especially the outfield with a Rookie Center Fielder, Fraceour and the platoon thing in left field. We are going into the season with no real proven power hitters in the lineup with the exception of Chipper (Pre 2009) and Troy Glaus?? If Jason Heyward plays more like Jordan Sheffer the first few months we are dead in the water. I thought the whole ideal of trading Javier V. was to free up room for a real middle of the order bat. Very little pop and we all know this will not be a fundemental abc baseball team, Bobby has always managed with the 3 run homer as the primary weapon. I am very dissapointed this is now two years in a row we have not significantly upgraded the lineup.

Marc in FL

January 11th, 2010
9:53 am

Hmm, our pitching staff should be better this year, our offense, while maybe not much of an improve in power, should be more consistent with AVG and OBP (our real downfall last year), and our defense is better. I know a lot of us are disappointed in what we acquired this offseason, but technically, this team is better.

meh

January 11th, 2010
9:54 am

I think Melky makes the outfield better(defensively for sure, maybe slightly better offensively). The pen may end up better or Wagner and Saito prove to be past their prime and the pen ends up horrible. If Glaus can get back to the way he was as recently as 2008 he should be a big help between Chipper and McCann in the line up. We’ll have to wait and see how his defense is at 1b. Basically the signings come with alot of questions and I sure hope we get the right answers. GO BRAVES!!

Coach

January 11th, 2010
9:59 am

Every team in the league could say what Wren is saying. “IF”. IF Chipper Jones gets back to doing what he does, and IF Glaus returns to his early 2000s form, and IF Wagner and Saito perform and IF Lowe gets on track and IF Heyward comes in and produces… well no $hit they would be a good team!! IF every team’s players stepped up and produced the way they were projected to when they were drafted then you would see parity like never before in MLB!!!!!!

YOu can’t be successful living on “IF”.

Marc in FL

January 11th, 2010
10:01 am

Coach, every team is living on “IF”, seriously, any team not named the Yankess has tons of question marks, and even the Yanks need some luck going their way for some key players.

Matt

January 11th, 2010
10:03 am

We’re looking for some power in our lineup. Soooooooo we get rid of LaRoche who is good for 30/100 and instead sign Glaus who is past is prime, coming off surgery, not a 1b, and HOPE that he can bounce back???? How many days till college football starts???

Poured myself a vodka

January 11th, 2010
10:06 am

How can U comment about the Braves after the Green Bay/Arizona shoot out for the ages?

I think there’s a badmitten tournament in Sri Lanka you guys could tweet about.

Smitten with badmitton is no way to go through your sports life, sportsfans.

dpelfrey

January 11th, 2010
10:18 am

Wren said they’re not a 3-million attendance team anymore, so if you want more payroll for big offseason additions, buy some tickets and go to the games instead of complaining. Some will use the argument that if they gave you a product worth seeing, you’d go to more games. That’s like hiring a contractor to do all the work without a contract and agreeing to pay him only if you like the finished product. The world doesn’t work that way folks.

jc_dawgs

January 11th, 2010
10:19 am

Call me crazy….but I still like this team’s potential. Losing Vazquez and G Anderson seems like the biggest losses to me. I think the Braves made a solid effort to replace Laroche and Soriano and Gonzales. Hopefully Wagner and Glause will step up.

Heyward and F Freeman and maybe even Schaffer could surprise us during the latter half of the season. But Heyward wont really be a surprise to me. He is a Frank Thomas power type of player….no doubt.

I think Lowe will improve this year and K Kawakami will be even better han last year given he now has a year in the bigs under his belt. I just wish we still had Vazquez and Anderson.

Mel

January 11th, 2010
10:21 am

Jeff,

Like yourself, many have written that the Braves didn’t go out and get a big name for the offense. Who do you think we could have gotten that we wouldn’t have overpaid for ($66/4 yrs for Bay? $113/7yrs for Holliday?), or traded for and not been raped (think Tex)?

say what?

January 11th, 2010
10:27 am

what do you expect out of FW? ‘We are not as good as I’d hoped, and we are going to suck.” Not going to hear that. Although that will be the case until we get out from under the corporate umbrella of Liberty Media.

alan

January 11th, 2010
10:36 am

As an old guy, I’ve followed baseball my whole life [67 yrs]. As a Brooklyn Dodger fan I suffered because until 1955 they didn’t win a world series. When they moved I became a Mets fan [always hated the yankees and American league] Mets were aj0oke u ntil 1969. I moved to Boston in the 1970’s stayed a Mets fan. started to follow the Braves on TBS and became a Braves fan. That’s my credentials. I know it doesn’t mean s**t but I wanted to say that the cureent Braves have no soul or heart. FW and BC have gotten rid of the players who did have it. FW is a pupput of the owners and as long as they make a profit there is no point in pursuing a better team. The team is made up of good young players, TH, JJ BMac, Escobar and some players who are getting by on their past reputations. BC has his favorites or KJ would have been long gone as well as TP. As I said earlier coming in second sucks, you’re still a loser, it’s winning that counts all else is BS.

JabboRockefeller

January 11th, 2010
10:37 am

Bet Wren has a bad case of the munchies about now… Hide the Cheerios!

Doug

January 11th, 2010
10:37 am

To me, the bottom line is that last year’s moves weren’t thrilling but the team’s wins improved considerably (despite some very bad stretches). This year’s moves aren’t inspiring, either, but I can see a long term plan emerging and I wouldn’t bet against Wren’s judgement yet. I think he has navigated some pretty muddy waters and improved our position despite being at a real spending disadvantage.

Kashi

January 11th, 2010
10:42 am

What happen to Dan Uggla trade? Is it going to happen? With our outstading rotation, addition of Dan Uggla is a sure Division Champ!

Don

January 11th, 2010
10:55 am

After 60 years of involvement in baseball (player, coach, manager, fan), two of the most unbelevable things that I have seen are: (1)How anyone could manager for over 20 years and still continuously do and fail to do some of the things that Bobby Cox does that violate the most basic essentials for winning, and (2) How the AJC writers continue to ignore this.

NEWS FLASH FOR WREN

January 11th, 2010
10:59 am

You know how to get attendance above 2M??? WIN GAMES, It’s that simple…

dan

January 11th, 2010
10:59 am

Aubrey Huff to Giants…seems like he would;ve been a good one to get.

Remembering1991

January 11th, 2010
11:00 am

What the hell is Wren talking about when he says “we’re not a 3 million attendance club…if so we could do more.” First, there are hardly ANY clubs that do that in attendance. Second, since their 1991 season, the Braves averaged 2.8 million in attendance!!!!!!! Is he saying that another 200,000 attendees is all he needs to put a quality team on the field. Hey, Wren, here’s some advice: Put an exciting team on the field and they will come!

Stuart

January 11th, 2010
11:04 am

More smoke and mirrors to give the illusion of a good team heading into the season to sell tickets. After a few seasons of the same nonsense fans are wising up. Check out the attendance figures last year. In a good economy folks will throw a few bucks away on tickets but not anymore. With the power invested in me I hereby change Frank Wren’s name to FRANK WHEN??

a

January 11th, 2010
11:04 am

this team IS better. let’s say glaus and cabrera have even mediocre seasons, we’ve still added 25-30 HR’s we didn’t have last year. the pitching staff is not necessarily any worse, assuming a huddy bounceback, which i think you’ll see – and DONT sleep on kawakami. i think he’ll be generally more comfortable this year and pitch very, very well. this is going to be a good ballclub.

Don

January 11th, 2010
11:07 am

Although I disagree with some of Wren’s moves (especially the Vazquez move and other recent moves); to his credit, he has probably had the most difficult GM job in baseball – having the responsibility to build a winner without the authority to fire Bobby Cox. In reality nothing he could do would make much difference as long as Cox is still the Manager.

Don

January 11th, 2010
11:08 am

WHAT HAPPENED?

Don

January 11th, 2010
11:09 am

WHAT HAPPENED? They had been saying that there was enough money to sign another bat/outfielder. Now, all of a sudden, they are saying that the budget is shot.

Don

January 11th, 2010
11:12 am

If Chipper is truly interested in what is best for the team. I assume that the would agree for his salary to be reduced to what a part time, hitting in decline, poor defensive 3rd baseman is really worth — and thus free up enough money to sign another bat/outfielder. Sure he will.
How could we obligate such a huge part of our salary budget to a long term huge contract for a part time, poor defensive player?

dvjde

January 11th, 2010
11:18 am

Wren is another groof-ball.How can you trade one of your best pitcher for nothing.You trade the previous year for Vasquez for good pitching staff and now what.Wren should go to Kansas City to get a feel of winning meant losing really…..

taterpicker

January 11th, 2010
11:19 am

now that we have no three-run-homer philosophy, will somebody please slap Bobby in the head and start playing one -run -at-a-time baseball. we have the speed and hitting to play (billy-ball) and not rely on the homer. would have won the pennant last year with this premise—just a thought.

T-Town Braves Fan

January 11th, 2010
11:31 am

For those who say a good team will equal better attendance. I beg to differ, for the good: 97-00 over 3m per season. Now the bad: ‘02 100 plus win season-2.6m, ‘03 100 plus win season-2.4m, ‘04 Division Champs-2.3m, ‘05 Division Champs-2.4m. In ‘08 we lose 90 games-2.5m and in ‘09 we field a competitive team that in the race for the playoffs into the last week-2.37m. In Atlanta fielding a competitive team does not increase attendance. Atlanta has some of the sorriest fans.

Ssgreeno

January 11th, 2010
11:34 am

I didn’t think it could get any worse – and then, to boot, they hired Chip Caray (TBS having Fired his sorry **s). The Braves are doing exactly what the Mets did on their downward spiral years ago — hiring a bunch of old retreads, all of which will be on the DL by June. Trading their best pitcher for ??? next to nothing. Then Wren pats himself on the back. Is he crazy?? This team will be lucky to win 30 games and we fans will have to listen to Motor-Mouth Caray whine about it on TV.

Chopper

January 11th, 2010
11:40 am

I do agree with Frank Wren that if you compare the roster from the beginning of 2009 to the current roster it is certainly better now than then. You did not have Hudson or Hanson in the rotation. Kotchman was at 1B, and I don’t care how unhealthy Troy Glaus might be, he’s a definite upgrade over Kotchman(LaRoche is gone, not because he didn’t help, but because he will require too large a committment via dollars and years for a team that is hoping to have Freddie Freeman at 1B in 2011). Prado is the starter at 2B over KJ. You have Diaz, Cabrera, McClouth, and likely Heyward as your top four outfielders over Anderson, Schafer, Francoeur and Diaz from last year. I think Schafer, with a healthy wrist will rebound and that will provide a deep OF mix as he is the 5th guy at this point. Cabrera is not a slugger, but at least he’s not a free swinging automatic out. Hinske is a huge upgrade over Greg Norton. I think the bullpen changes are a push. To me Wagner is a surer thing closing games than Soriano. But without knowing much about Saito, I’d rather have kept Gonzo. But taken as a pair, I don’t think the Braves lose much, since Soriano could sneeze tomorrow and need elbow surgery. Wagner strikes me as a tougher guy.

I think the biggest thing that aggravates fans is the loss of Javy Vasquez. Historically he has been on one year, off the next. But I think he was finally where he wanted to be in Atlanta. So I think he will not be as successful in 2010 and Wren will look good with that move. But I think had he stayed he would have had a similar season to 2009. I think Hudson is comparable to what Vasquez provided last year, if Hudson is healthy. So there is not a real net loss by exchanging the two.

We’ll just have to see if the Braves are better or not.

matt

January 11th, 2010
11:48 am

m- how did the Braves add 25-30 HR we didn’t have last year??? LaRoche hit 12-15 as a Brave and Garrett Anderson hit 15ish. Not sure on Church and Johnson. Let’s say we lost 30 HR from those guys. We are getting 12-15 from Cabrera and you won’t convince me Glaus is going to hit more than 20 soooooooo we gained approximately 5 HRs. How are we better than last year????

Joe

January 11th, 2010
11:48 am

Glaus is a low risk/high reward proposition. LaRoche wanted too much money, and too long of a contract considering Freeman will be the 1B in the near future. LaRoche is typically terrible in the first half of the season, so even a poor showing by Glaus would be similar. The difference is midseason they could bring up Freeman, instead of having to keep LaRoche in the lineup for the next couple of years.

Not too sold on the back end of the bullpen, for age alone. Wagner, healthy, is better than Gonzo or Soriano. Easily. Unhealthy on the other hand…

The Vasquez deal wasn’t bad. 33 year old pitchers that suddenly become dominate in one year typically do not repeat the performance. Cabrera is still young at 25, and isn’t a bad player currently, has potential to get better and is under team control for a while still. They picked up the Yankee’s 4th best prospect in Arodys Vizcaino, and also a potential decent middle reliever in Mike Dunn. All while saving money.

Hinske is another decent signing as a guy that can play 1B/3B/OF. I like the chances of this team better at this point than last year’s model.

The Phillies are still strong, but is Halladay THAT much of an improvement over Lee? Ibanez faded late last year, and one has to think he’s not going to start as well this year. Their core lineup is as good, if not better, than any other team in the league. Braves have them beat pitching wise, and will have a better lineup this year versus last year.

It should be an interesting season.

Sonny Clusters

January 11th, 2010
11:52 am

Clusters could play baseball well at an early age. We was taught baseball fundamentals and we was always winning games. We was never labeled a major league prospect, though. It may have been because we was too smart. We was always able to interview well without saying, “uh”, or “you know” like most baseball players do today. Not naming any names.

Plain and Simple

January 11th, 2010
11:53 am

The Braves won the division 14 straight years, quite an accomplishment. Other way to look at that… the BRaves won 1 WS in 14 consecutive tries. You would think sheer luck would have let them win at least 1 more. Law of averages would lead you to believe that they should have one at least a couple more. I’m not saying they should have 10 titles int those 14 years but is it so unrealistic to expect them to have 3-4?? 14 consecutive times people!!!!! I’m sorry but 5 or 6 shouldn’t be unrealistic!!!!!

Joe

January 11th, 2010
11:53 am

“In Atlanta fielding a competitive team does not increase attendance. Atlanta has some of the sorriest fans.”

Eh, I don’t think so. Turner Field is in a dreadful area. Getting to Turner Field during the week is an exercise in futility due to traffic. There’s minimal places to go around the stadium, so it’s less of a destination. Who wants to take their family to an area that you’re worried to walk around? How many panhandlers do you need to walk over to get to the stadium? Once inside, Turner Field is a great place. Outside? Sketchy at best. Improve the whole area, and more people will come to the games.

Tons of people follow the Braves locally and nationally still, but many due it from the comfort of their own home.

Sonny Clusters

January 11th, 2010
11:54 am

We was noticing when Jeff interviews baseball players and quotes ‘em they all talk better to him than they do on television and on radie when they was always saying, “uh” and “you know” and using some cliches they heard somewhere. Jeff makes ‘em sound almost smart.

gayle

January 11th, 2010
11:54 am

There is a real disconnect for those here who say that higher attendance and the corresponding higher revenue will all be reinvested in the team. Who said that? And with this team being nothing more than a tax dodge for the current ownership, what possible reason do you have to think that they would be inclined to put one more penny into this team than they absolutely have to?

Get real people – this team is nothing more than a writeoff for current ownership. They could care less about fielding a winning, competitive team.

Ex-Braves Fan

January 11th, 2010
12:00 pm

Better than whom? The Nat’s? The Royals? The Mariners? The Pirates? The Braves ENTIRE hitting lineup depends on broken, injured, old, beaten down players coming back healthy. They have put their bull pen hopes on a 40 year old pitcher who is one year or so removed from major injury. Their set up guy is what, 39 years old? A firstbaseman that is not a firstbaseman. How will that translate in defense over Rochy? Great glove for an iron glove. Chipper still MUST PROVE he can play over 110-125 games and stay on the field. His past few years of injuries say that is not going too happen. One does not get healthy as one gets older. One gets more injuries not less. The OF is in the hands of punch and judy hitters. Rookies that are year(s) away, the future. What about now? No butts in the seats is the only way the fans of this team are going to get their attention. I followed this team from 1966 through 2005. I finally got sick of the same ole, same ole. Just as the Pirates do not care if they ever win again, the Braves run their mouths that they are contenders. Contenders for what? They think ONE stinking WS win in 34 YEARS is winning?? Division titles mean nothing. They didnot get too the big stage. They LOST. They will forever, as this city has on its soul, CITY OF LOSERS. From the Braves, Falcons, Hawks, to the idiots in public office running the city into the ground. A city of pure losers. Enjoy your summer. This team will do NO BETTER than .500 at very best.

Lucas

January 11th, 2010
12:02 pm

I second bvillebaron’s comments. When Wren took control of the Braves he was left with a devastated minor league system due to the Texeira trade. Schuerholtz did exactly what many “fans” on these boards are calling for in trading the house for a big bat. (Can you imagine Andrus, Feliz, even Salty still with the Braves) Where did that get us? It basically led us to where we are now. Wren has done a great job of restocking the minor league system and at least keeping the team competitive into September.

Look at some of the deals that he has done:
Edgar Renteria for Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez. A lot of fans complained after this deal saying that we shouldn’t give up our fan favorite Renteria but that deal worked out quite well

Jose Ascaino for Will Ohman and Omar Infante. Another steal. Ascaino is bouncing around the majors while we got good contributers to our team.

Jeff Locke, Gorkys Hernadez, Charlie Morton for Nate McLouth: Another very good deal. Not giving up highly touted prospects and getting a solid starter in return.

Even the deal that brought Vazquez to Atlanta was met with criticism on these boards. No one believed that Vazquez could pitch in big games and produce as a top of the rotation starter. Now, after dealing Vazquez after a CAREER year at age 33, so called fans are calling for Wrens head when he received very solid return for Vazquez. Vizqanio instantly becomes our number 3 prospect and Dunn will be in our top 10 prospects. You have to realize that Melky was not the centerpiece of this deal!

It seems to me that Wren has this team moving in the right direction. Our minor league system is again the envy of many other organisations. While Wren is allowing our prospects to develop (Freeman, Heyward, Minor, Spruill, Teheran etc), he is signing short term replacements (Glaus for example) to bridge the gaps. While these signing may be risky, they do allow us to field a competitive and entertaining team.

Moral of the story: Wren is not doing as bad of a job as you might think. He is not mortgaging our future by trading top tier prospects for instant gratification of fans and thus helping us build a team to be reckoned with in the future.

raleighbravefan

January 11th, 2010
12:06 pm

Joe, I agree with you on every point. I think it is likely that we will be better, and maybe a lot better than last year. I know some are mad because we didn’t go after Bay or Holliday, but that is not economic reality. I think Wren is doing a great job, considering what he has to work with. At the very least, you should see what happens before you totally bash the guy. BTW, what makes ANY of you armchair quarterbacks think that you know more (based on conjecture, hearsay, and opinion) than Wren and the entire Braves organization, when they have actual facts about budget, player developement, player availability and negotiations, etc. which you have NO access to?
Of course, if this year goes badly, just wait a year. Don has all but guaranteed a title in 2011, due to the departure of BC.

DangerousDan87

January 11th, 2010
12:10 pm

Here’s the biggest if: If the Braves improve 14 wins like they did the previous season then that will shut everyone up and raise the bar for the playoffs. I think 100 wins will get us in. Winning cures everything.

raleighbravefan

January 11th, 2010
12:20 pm

Out of 30 teams, how many would you be more satisfied as a fan over the last 18-20 years? Or even this past year? How many were in playoff contention until the final week of the season? Would you rather be a Mets fan? Giants? Dodgers?
Yes to Yankees and thier unlimited $$. Yes to Phillies the past 2 YEARS only. Sometimes Red Sox. Who else? (over almost 20 years)

WILL

January 11th, 2010
12:24 pm

the braves need the company GERITOL TO SPONCOR THEM AS they will need the product come june because this team is over the hill.

WILL

January 11th, 2010
12:28 pm

all you people are crazy this team will finish in 4th place, well 3rd the mets are awful to.

Braves73

January 11th, 2010
12:28 pm

I will be the first to say that I have supported the moves that Frank Wren has made to “rebuild” this ball club in the last two years, but I am confused with this offseason/moves. It was quite obvious that the Braves needed to move a starting pitcher in order to make from for Hudson, but the bull pen moves leave me speechless.

We had some stability and strength Gonzalez and Soriano and we let both go for Wagner & Saito???? I would have been fine signing Wagner and keeping Soriano (which would not have been “overbudget). I am not sold on rebuilding a position of strength by needless tinkering.

The Vazquez deal I get, but you again weakened a position of strength for minimal return value (Cabrera, Dunn, & Vizcaino). I don’t see how the Braves got better with these moves and Wren is trying to sell us Troy Glaus & Heinske as return value?????

I am VERY concerned that Wren is too much involved with making moves just to make them and “prove” to people that he is “genius” GM…sometimes the best moves are ones you don’t make. Let’s hope that this is not a continual trend.

WILL

January 11th, 2010
12:31 pm

i am in jennifers body and wisdom tells me this team is pathetic,ge rid of chipper and save yourself money.

BravesGone

January 11th, 2010
12:31 pm

Braves go cheap with second rate players, and will not make the playoffs again—mark it down.

Lucas

January 11th, 2010
12:40 pm

Braves73: I can agree that the Saito signing came a bit too swift. Soriano and Wagner would have been nice to have at the back end of the bullpen. Nevertheless, Gonzalez and Soriano were never “stable” as you say. Both have had their share of injury problems through the years and were commanding too much of a raise to justify keeping both. We’ve only gotten one full season out of three seasons from Gonzales so I don’t see why we would want to resign him for a high salary. Saito, while older, has been able to stay on the field and pitch effectively. So overall, our bullpen was not necessarily downgraded in production, we just got older at the back end.

Joe in SOCAL

January 11th, 2010
12:42 pm

People…please! How can anyone say this team is not already leaps and bounds ahead of last years ST roster? Having a scarecrow in LF would have been a defensive upgrade over what we left ST with and Melky in CF, even with a lifetime .269 avg is an offensive upgrade to what we started with. Couple that with a FULL year of Prado’s offensive prowess and we are ten games over where we were last year. Also, get over the fact that we don’t have HR hitters. This is going to be a small ball team with clutch hitters. We cannot hope to try and keep up with the Phils and Mets in the HR department and frankly, we don’t need to. We have the BEST rotation in the entire NL and thats whats going to get us back to the promise land, not mashing 3 run homers. This is shaping up to be a replica of the early 90’s teams that won 3-2 type games with great pitching. No one seemed to mind too much back then. One more thing…of course Wren is going to say we’re better, he has to it’s his job. Remember he makes the COOL AID, how else is he going to get people to drink it if he doesn’t drink it first.

gte268p

January 11th, 2010
12:44 pm

When Wren says he believes the Braves are better, I would like some clarification. Does he mean the Major League Team Atlanta Braves, or the franchise as a whole including the minors. I can’t see how Atlanta is better, but would possibly believe the franchise is – though I’m not happy with where we are either.

raleighbravefan

January 11th, 2010
12:47 pm

Braves73 – “stability and strength” ??????
How many games did Gonzo and Soriano miss during the past 2 years. Soriano kept having “phantom” arm problems. I think Braves got tired of dealing with them. Even games they saved were adventures, and not in a nice way. There was hardly a huge rush of teams wanting to sign Soriano to a multi-year $7M/year contract. I would bet now that the 2 new guys will spend less time on the DL than the 2 we let go.

WILL

January 11th, 2010
12:52 pm

i am a fortun e teller and it tells me i will make alot of money on this team.

Jim

January 11th, 2010
12:59 pm

Like everyone else Wren should be evaluated based on performance. And based on performance he should be fired. If he uses the excuse again that his hands are tied by $90M budget…… He is the one that tied up $15M to Lowe and $15M to Chipper. At this stage of their careers would any other team pay $15M a year for the next 3 years to either one?

T-Town Braves Fan

January 11th, 2010
1:00 pm

As I said before, the Braves have many fans lacking any heart. Now we didn’t win enough WS, tell that to the Cub fans who came to Atlanta to see their team and probably outnumbered the Braves fan in our own park. Then we have those who say the falling attendance is due to where the park is located. The Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, just like the old one. If you’ve never been to the Bronx, believe me the Ted is in paradise and they fill it up most every night.

Take Boston’s Fenway Park, seediest part of Boston where you have to walk to because there is very little parking area close to the ballpark. Again, they fill the park every night.
Last you have Detroit, smack dab in the vacant home/building capital of the world. If you don’t park in the $50 lot, you have to pay someone to watch your car. A real s-hole to go to see a game, had higher unemployment, one more win than the Braves and 200,000 more fans attended their games than Atlanta. Many of us Brave fans will never be happy.

Tomahawkin

January 11th, 2010
1:05 pm

I still can’t get over how bad Wren got worked over on the Vazquez trade. Honestly I’d a felt better if Wren had got a bag of baseballs as opposed to the Slop he got

We should’ve let Hudson go because he isn’t a #1 ace no more and use that money to keep Vazquez and get a proven Outfielder than can hit and Protect Chipper

Tomahawkin

January 11th, 2010
1:12 pm

Honestly I don’t see this light hitting team as no better than it was in 2009. We are depending on too many injury-prone “If’s and a prospect that hasn’t even played a major league game yet, I love Heyward but what happens if he turns out to be the Next George Lombard? We have no plan B

bvillebaron

January 11th, 2010
1:16 pm

Tomahawkin:

That’s right, we should have let Tim Hudson walk and get NOTHING in return for him and kept Vazquez who was making more money, has NOT been as good a pitcher over his ENTIRE career as Hudson, and becomes a free agent at the end of this season. The Braves did not get “slop” for Vazquez; they got at the very least a decent outfielder who can play all 3 outfield positions and is still young and may improve, a hard throwing lefthander who my Yankees’ fan friend claims was going to be given every chance to take Phil Coke’s middle relief position for the Yankees this year and a young pitcher who is rated as the Yankees’ #3 prospect (who incidentally Cashman said could be the one player in the deal that could “come back to bite us”).

raleighbravefan

January 11th, 2010
1:38 pm

T-Town – I’ve never been to Detroit, but I know from personal experience that Yanks and Sox are both an EASY subway ride that lets you out right at the stadium. BTW, what are the populations of New York, Boston, and Atlanta? What is the per capita income for those cities? And what was the average attendance for the Tigers in 2009? Not excuses, but contributing factors.

Tomahawkin – I strongly disagree, but if we are bad again this year, I will jump on the “Braves suck” bandwagon. If they are good, will you admit you were wrong, and FW does know what he’s doing?

Tomahawkin

January 11th, 2010
1:39 pm

Thanks to BSPN the Yankees have had the most Overrated Farm System in the Majors

The Pitcher we got in the deal could be the next Jose Capellan, I still think WhineBrenner and Cashman hustled Wren in the Vazquez deal

Tomahawkin

January 11th, 2010
1:41 pm

Frank Wren knows what he is doing it just sucks that our Cheap Owners refuse to invest a few mill in the team and address the offense

TKO

January 11th, 2010
1:52 pm

Frank says we are not a 3 mill + attendance team any longer to justify higher payroll/ investment. With his logic and the current trend, we will not be a 2 Mill. + attendance team very much longer!!!

raleighbravefan

January 11th, 2010
2:11 pm

According to ESPN, Braves had 11th highest payroll out of 11. We all wish Ted Turner was back, but there are 19 teams with lower, some MUCH lower.

Marta Smarta?

January 11th, 2010
2:36 pm

Why doesn’t the Marta train go to the Braves stadium? Very dumb. Riding the bus is a joke.

JabboRockefeller

January 11th, 2010
3:01 pm

A Marta train doesn’t visit the Ted because Atlanta “city planners” couldn’t plan an orgy at a brothel…

PMC

January 11th, 2010
3:34 pm

Different yes, better… not really. Somewhat. Better than opening day sure but are they better than 3rd or 4th? Don’t count on it. Probably an 80-85 maybe 90 if everything goes right.

So better yes. Better long term… yes. Competiting for much more than a wild card birth. No. Not this season anyway.

Fire Frank Wren

January 11th, 2010
3:34 pm

Can we drug test the Front Office like they drug test the players?

Ken Stallings

January 11th, 2010
3:35 pm

Frank Wren made one accurate statement. He said the Braves are not a 3-million attendance club. They used to be! That’s the part he conveniently omitted.

Everything else he said is bunk and he knows it. The team isn’t better. The payroll isn’t adequate to compete.

The part I blame Wren for is deceiving the customers. It is patently dishonest. I would prefer he come out and tell the truth. The Braves do not have the payroll to compete in the NL East and will now rely nearly exclusively on the farm system. He won’t do that because he enjoys his fat income.

Jason Heyward is the reason the Braves aren’t even willing to spend $2 million for a Johnny Damon who’s desperate to sign with a team. Of course, this points to another reality. If a free agent cannot hook up with one of the few teams spending for talent, they might be frozen out of the game well before their talent would warrant it.

It’s going to be intensely interesting when Albert Puhols becomes a free agent. The Cardinals have sacked so much money for Matt Holliday that it is doubtful they can afford Puhols without sacking the rest of the lineup. With $17 million a year for Holliday and around $25 million for Puhols (which is considered the least he’ll take) that combines to $42 million for just two players.

If the Cards had the $90 million payroll limit of the Braves, they would be spending about half their payroll for two position players. Best of luck complimenting them with adequate surrounding talent in the field, much less on the mound!

As the sport morphs entirely to the Yankees and the Yankees’ farm system, one wonders if any actual leadership in the commissioner’s office will realize the error. The NFL is the model for competitive balance and it’s no mere accident the NFL is now by far the most successful sports profession in America.

Baseball has reached the mark where seasons are governed by two conclusions — the Yankees hoist the trophy or we talk about how shocking it is they did not! That’s hardly the receipe which promotes fan interest, much less garners new fans. Consequently, baseball is moving toward irrelevance. As a direct result, the fan base in metro Atlanta is shrinking and next year’s attendance might be challenged to cross 2 million. Eighty-two games needs an average of 25,000 fans a game to break two million. Good luck with a team guaranteed to frustrate post season dreams for a fifth consecutive season.

The increasing ambivalence with the Atlanta Braves aren’t merely a return to the doldrums of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Then, baseball enjoyed overall competitive balance. The Braves were shocking for their consistently poor performance. What we have now is a widespread consistency of second-tier baseball teams amid a few who own the sandbox.

The Harleem Globetrotters and Washington Generals work because its an entertainment barnstorming organization. No one considers the contests a serious sporting contest. Baseball must realize that to survive it cannot allow the Yankees to claim the Globetrotter marketing scheme and relegate the rest of baseball as a collection of league fodder masquerading as competition.

Season Ticket Holder

January 11th, 2010
4:26 pm

I think the team is better also. Look at right field and first base this time last year. Also realize that Hudson was out injured. Hanson was a minor leaguer.

Some of you were the same ones saying the Vasquez trade was horrible this time last year.

bvillebaron

January 11th, 2010
5:09 pm

Tomahawkin:

You are right, the Yankees minor league players do have a reputation for being overrated and Vizcaino may turn out to be of the same category. However, not every Yankee farmhand turned out to be lousy (e.g. Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, etc.). Besides, if he turns out to be overrated, then you can blame the Braves’ talent scouts since they made their own assessment of him. My only point is that it is simply not accurate to say now that this was a lousy trade.

Smuglas

January 11th, 2010
5:10 pm

Last year, The Sporting News picked Tommy Hanson as the newcomer most to make an impact (in all of baseball). This year, they picked a Brave again, Jason Hayward. They were pretty much right on in all of their picks last year. Here’s hoping they keep up their track record with Hayward. That makes Cabrera a fourth outfielder, which is not bad for your fourth outfielder.

Tom

January 11th, 2010
6:56 pm

I really wish they would stop relying on & signing players just getting over injuries. Odds are usually against us with those players.

Luv 2 Hate Me

January 11th, 2010
7:19 pm

The braves have turned into the “GREAT LILLY WHITE TEAM” Damn couldn’t Wren have added a little more color to the team. Besides Melky and Escobar I can’t think of too many other players that aren’t white. Let’s face it white boys just can’t hit like they use to. Maybe 10 years ago when most of them were on HGH with the exception of todays Jason Bay (he can hit). Then we have old azz players to top it off. They’ll will be on the DL after the first month of the season. Please give the team back to “Ted”

Chopper

January 11th, 2010
7:24 pm

Anyone notice Bobby Cox’s face in that picture? He knows he’s screwed in his last year as manager.

Tim

January 11th, 2010
7:46 pm

spring training hasn’t started and we are already 10 games out. this is becoming the Braves of the 70’s laughable and loveable. We can’t blame Mr Wren his hands are tied by an ownership that doesn’t care. Look around very few teams are willing to spend, NYY,Bos,LAA,Muts,and Philly then there are teams like KC,Pitt,Nats and the Braves. Its a sad state but we will eventually be back possibly not in my life time I’m 54. Go Braves

richbrave

January 11th, 2010
8:41 pm

I’m really surprised KK is back, but he has to be better this season. He had moments of glory last season, and forgettable ones too. This year, he’s settled in to familiar surroundings, he knows the ball and the strike-zone, and he understands the league’s hitters. He will be better. Three games at least IMO.

richbrave

January 11th, 2010
8:42 pm

Luv 2 Hate Me :

And you can post like you used to either pot stirrer.

Fourbee

January 11th, 2010
10:07 pm

Plain and Simple

I think you put your finger on the Braves’ attendance problems. After 14 straight division titles, numerous League championships and many World Series chances, the Braves only managed to win ONE World Series. The fans became disenchanted with the Braves because it seemed that the Braves “choked” in the playoffs. The Braves had many attendance figures of 3 million or better from 1992 through 2000. However, their lackluster performances in the playoffs have made many fans ask themselves why they wanted to go root for a team that was going to let them down again.
Frank Wren has to realize that, if he wants attendance figures of 3 million or more, he will have to prove to the fans that he has fielded a team that can AND WILL win the World Series. Only then, will the fans return. We have been jaded by expecting playoff appearances and disappointed by too many early exits from the playoffs. Show us a team that WILL win the World Series and we’ll show you attendance of 3 million +.

RKCola

January 11th, 2010
10:38 pm

I’m so tired of seeing that same picture of Frank Wren.

stupup74

January 11th, 2010
11:16 pm

If Frank Wren trully believes this, well, it confrims he is an idiot.

PMC

January 11th, 2010
11:33 pm

The problem is not so much the moves Wren is making as it is the words coming out of his mouth.

I know they are trying to sell tickets. But they can’t truly believe when comparing their lineups to the others even in their own division that they have a chance at winning anything other than the wild card. Even then it’s a really long shot for this year. If you’re playing for 2012. It’s no crime to admit that you have budget restraints and you could start calling it a “process” or something like that. Just don’t pee in the cheerios and say it’s milk.

Everyone knows it’s going to take massive luck and a big time hot streak to have this team producing runs like they will need to win in chunks. They’ll be around .500 most of the year like they have been the last several.

PMC

January 11th, 2010
11:35 pm

Attendance problems have more to do with the city than they do with anything the braves would ever do. Atlanta people just don’t care much about pro sports. Their passionate money goes to their college teams because that’s historically what were here and that’s what peoples grandfathers grandfathers tradition was. The rest of the people are from out of town and they don’t care or… it’s too expensive to be bothered with.

They should have built smaller stadiums if they wanted them full here.

F Troop

January 12th, 2010
12:01 am

My goodness, Frank. You come out of the gate with this whopper:. “We’re not a three million attendance club, which would allow us to do more.”

BS, BS, BS….Frank, if you build it – they will come. This has been proven agina and again in this town. Somehow YOU and Liberty Media don’t believe you can put fannies in seats by building a winner. So what – you expect to entice the same two million fans that came last year to come back to see who, Melky Cabrera? To see a career 3b on the downside of his career (Glaus) experiment into a bonafide 1B on what you say will be a “better” team?

There are enough serious-injury recovering players on this team to put a Grady Unit outside the Ted. We will win 60 games and we will lose 60 games. In the other 42 games we will go 14-28, tops.

“We’re better” Riiight. This is Jim Jones stuff, man. And what you’re sensing is that Braves’s fans are not in a Kool Aid drinking mood this year.

truth4u

January 12th, 2010
3:18 am

Wren, of course you think we’re better..you made the changes. You’d also say we’re better for paying boocoo $$$$$$ for chipper the next 3 years. Are you kidding me? Admitting that was a mistake would really be admitting that you’re not very good at your job! Your opinion on how good a job you do doesn’t really count..

smalltownbravesfan

January 12th, 2010
9:17 am

I believe Wren is doning a very good job. Lets not forget that it was Shurholtz that traded away Elvis (ROY), Wainwright (CY candidate) and many others and he had Teds checkbook to work with. Give Wren time and the Braves will once again be contenters every year.

mark

January 13th, 2010
3:27 pm

we are same or worse at every position, period.

Habersham Dawg

January 13th, 2010
9:30 pm

(chirp)(chirp) Man it’s quiet in here. (chirp)(chirp) you can sure hear the crickets. Time to close up.

Justin

January 16th, 2010
1:54 pm

If Jason Heyward is on the opening day roster at RF, then why does everyone think that Melky will be starting in LF. Matt Diaz is a much better player than Melky. I love Diaz hitting in the 6 or 7 hole. And his hustle makes the whole team better.

Braves need to make run at Johnny Damon | Jeff Schultz

January 20th, 2010
10:49 am

[...] Listened to Braves general manager Frank Wren on 790 The Zone this morning, hearing him touch on the same themes he said two weeks ago when I talked to him about the team’s offseason moves and he concluded, “I think we’re better.” [...]

Should Braves Land Damon? - True Sports Core Forums

January 20th, 2010
11:41 am

[...] [...]

Bobby Cox

January 20th, 2010
12:38 pm

Wren is OK.. Your analysis is flawed as will be evidenced by this years win loss record. There are 30-40 specific responses I could make but I really have more important things to prepare for. I doubt that you will be replacing Frank anytime soon. Continued god luck with your career.

GaBulldogsOwnTech

January 21st, 2010
8:27 pm

Wren is delusional. All the braves do is sign retreads…..it is sickening to see how far this franchise has fallen

armchair

February 16th, 2010
10:08 am

I think this team is worse than the team that ended last year. Trading Javy was dumb. IMO the pitching and bullpen will be worse. For this team to be good, Hudson, Lowe, Glaus will have to be very solid, not to mention the new set-up, closers. If Hudson and Wagner don’t pitch well, Wren will look very bad.

jay

February 16th, 2010
2:37 pm

Everyone quit *itching and be a real braves fan and support your team go braves

Jalen

February 17th, 2010
12:33 am

Trading Vazquez for a 4th outfielder and pitcher that isnt gonna be ready for 2-3 years was just dumb. I would much rather have Vazquez than Hudson.

Wren on Braves: ‘I think we’re better’ after moves

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Wren on Braves: ‘I think we’re better’ after moves

312 comments Add your comment

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