First base is Braves' most fixable problem: Adrian Gonzalez

Carl Spackler

April 26th, 2010
2:35 pm

But Jeff, just last week you maintained that the Braves proved to the Phillies and you that they are a force to be reckoned with–that “they aren’t going away.”

Whatever

April 26th, 2010
2:38 pm

Maybe we can send Lowe as part of the deal.

Newbomb Turk

April 26th, 2010
2:40 pm

Seems like the last time we traded for a San Diego 1st Baseman, it turned out pretty well….

Roy Hobbs

April 26th, 2010
2:43 pm

One more facet not being mentioned is the gaping hole at 3B should this be Chippers last year. We can hope that, in the form of Freeman and Schaefer, the heir apparent at 1B and OF is currently in the Braves organization. The same cant really be said for 3B.

Yunel Asscobar

April 26th, 2010
2:43 pm

Jeff – you are right on target. We had great defense and a solid bat in LaRoche, but WrongWayWren dumped him in favor of an aging, injured, dude who’s playing out of position. Gonzalez would be a ppowerful addition to this lineup and if you have to give up Freeman to get him, so be it. Wren tinkers, always pointing to next year, makes inadequate off season moves, then goes into his “hope so” strategy mode. He’s not getting it done. The empty seats at the Ted are Wren’s legacy.

Greg

April 26th, 2010
2:44 pm

Jeff- If you listened to Wren on 680’s Chuck and Chernoff today, you would know that he is actually not concerned about Glaus at all. I dont think I’ve heard so many excuses about someone since the Don Waddell era…. oh wait.

Basically he said he’s not concerned but in actuality he is pleased with Glaus.

Just food for though- the addition of A-Gonzo would make our lineup even more unbalanced as far as left-handed power is concerned.

Adding a huge salary at the position your top prospect plays doesnt make a whole lot of sense, especially in this case where we need a RH power bat to hit between McCann and Heyward.

GoBraves

April 26th, 2010
2:46 pm

This sums it up for me, Jeff: “4) His name isn’t Troy Glaus.”

That is all.

TampaGator

April 26th, 2010
2:47 pm

How about this deal?….send Freeman and the young pitcher we got from the Yankees in the “Great Give Away” deal to the Padres for Gonzalez and then sign him to a long-term deal ASAP.

Clay

April 26th, 2010
2:48 pm

The problem with this is as soon as Gonzalez hit a mini-slump, Coach Pendleton would have him batting .200!

Just kidding (partly). I’m with you, Jeff. Gonzalez is only 27, so one prospect you could part with is Freeman, if you can lock up Gonzalez for 5 years as part of the deal.

Tucker T

April 26th, 2010
2:48 pm

The Padres are playing well right now I don’t see them dealing Gonzalez at least for a few months. They will eventually tank but you can’t trade your best player when you are sitting in first place. Also, they will probably want Freeman in exchange. I don’t think I would do that. I can see Freeman replacing Glaus after the All-star break assuming that Freeman continues to tear it up…four homers so far and counting.

jaketekaj

April 26th, 2010
2:49 pm

Jeff – Who do you think are the trade chips the Braves hold at all?
I am assuming Freeman is untouchable like Heyward of 2009 and Hanson of 2008. The hot pitcher kid we got from the Yankees for Vasquez better not go anyway because that is probably the only thing of value from that trade. Minor and the future closer kid should hopefully stay (or we will keep signing geriatric closers past their prime)
The past couple of years, we kept hearing about exciting prospects in the farm… there was always a Hanson, Heyward, Freeman, Schafer, Gorkys etc etc.

Who do we have now that other teams want? Jo-Jo, Barbaro ?

TampaGator

April 26th, 2010
2:50 pm

By the way….didn’t everyone know that Mr. Glaus was going to hit into that double play last night. Automatic with this guy. And the “Great Cox” continues to hit him in the middle of the order!!! Brilliant…sort of like letting Charlie Liebrant face Kirby Puckett in the World Series. Both make sense, right?

Dap01

April 26th, 2010
2:50 pm

The Braves are baaaaaaaaaad!

Brownie

April 26th, 2010
2:53 pm

There have been any number of questionable trades made by the Braves over the past few years (most by Schuerholz) because of panic or the old “we’re one player away….”. And Jeff you brought up the best one: Teixeira, who actually played well for us but wasn’t enough of a difference-maker.

There are 2 primary questions concerning the potential of bringing in AG: are the Braves willing to wait a year or so on Freeman to be ready and “make do” with whatever first baseman are laying around in the corner of the closet (Glaus, Hinske, etc.)? If the answer is yes, then you must remember that even when Freddie is ready he’ll still be a rookie and will take a couple years to mature and become really productive (they’re not all Heywards).

The result of the above strategy is that the Braves will be below average and the next couple of years will likely be non-playoff efforts.

The second question would be: what will we have to give up to get Adrian G? We have a large number of great prospects (especially pitching) that we could trade, but I get a Tex-like flashback that we would be giving up too much. Question 2A: can we/will we afford to sign AG to an extended contract? If not, then don’t even bother with the whole thing, because we just repeat the Tex thing again.

There seems to be a history recently of struggling Braves players going elsewhere and playing better (the reason why is a discussion for another day)…Frenchy, DeRosa, Wainwright, Marquis, Kelly Johnson, Willy Harris, just to name a few recent candidates. So, do we dare tempt fate and do it again?? May be time to give up on Yunel Escobar and ship him off as the main bait for San Diego for AG. He’s talented, young and cheap (just up the Padres’ alley).

Maybe a change of scenary will help Escobar, because he obviously isn’t happy in Atlanta. Seems like he has no friends on this team, and he only talks to the bench coach, Chino (who no doubt will be gone right after Bobby retires). He’s no doubt a head case and needs to be moved before the Braves have to deal with paying him real money.

Wren….we’re not panicing, we just can see it for what it is. Time to start dealin’.

Roy Hobbs

April 26th, 2010
2:56 pm

One other comment. Regardless of whose fault the hitting is, I assume Bobby still makes out the lineup card. He is the one putting Glaus in the lineup, and in the 5 hole. Before we give up a bunch of prospects to rent a player, shouldn’t Hinkse get a few dozen at bats to see what he can do?

come on

April 26th, 2010
2:58 pm

all the people that don’t want to give ip freeman for a proven hitter are crazy. with agonz u know what u r getting, and with freeman there is noway to know how he will do in the pros. make the deal and lock him up to 5 to 7

nique

April 26th, 2010
2:59 pm

Who would the Braves have to trade for Gonzo? Seems like Padres would want Freeman.

calibre lake dawg

April 26th, 2010
3:02 pm

I understand your pain Roy. I too have been waiting to see what’s to become of chipper but if he can’t stay healthy then he is no good and we need to move on. 38 is not old unless we are talking sports and he’s getting up there. Plays like last night wet ball or not were plays that were made on the reg when he was a little younger. Just saying it’s sad but maybe it’s time to go

Derek

April 26th, 2010
3:03 pm

Here’s a novel idea: Start over. Don’t trade away young talent and ride the season out, good or bad. When Bobby retires after this season, acquire a brand new coaching staff. Just. Start. Over. This team has a lot of young, promising talent at the major league level and in the minors. The net benefit of trading some or most of those players to acquire Gonzalez won’t be worth it.

Braves Man

April 26th, 2010
3:03 pm

I think the one who need sto go is Pendleton. Trade him to somebody and get a bag of balls and maybe a bat or two. Throw in Chipper’s old, washed up self while we are at it.

mountain_jim

April 26th, 2010
3:04 pm

Wren sure knows how to trade for hitting talent!

Matt

April 26th, 2010
3:04 pm

Schultz – you do realize that there’s another team out there called the Red Sox who have been looking at this guy for a long time. Do you actually think that the Braves and going get this guy over them? There’s only one team that get’s a guy of this caliber over them, and that’s the Yankees. Wishful thinking though………

Roy Hobbs

April 26th, 2010
3:05 pm

I hate to see him go, but the fact is Chipper is the one that said if this year is like last he is going to retire. You have to at least consider that this might be his last year.

Brian from SC

April 26th, 2010
3:07 pm

What you fail to mention is that San Diego will probably not be looking to deal him this year unless they get an overwhelming package, a la Teixeira. He’s only going to be paid 5.5 million next year. The Padres should actually have a little money to spend this off-season. Maybe call em in July of 2011.

But thanks for stating the obvious. Yeah, every team would love to have Adrian Gonzalez. Groundbreaking thought there.

Terry Pendleton

April 26th, 2010
3:07 pm

I’ve noticed a little problem in Adrian’s swing, but I’ll get that straightened out in no time once he arrives in Atlanta.

Greg

April 26th, 2010
3:08 pm

Jeff- regarding the LH vs RH thing, I wish you would tell Bobby that.

Watching him trot Melky Cabrera out there day in and day out is painful. His defense makes me yearn for Ryan Klesko and his offense makes me yearn for….. well…. Ryan Klesko.

Let Diaz and McLouth get their at bats in and right the ship and keep Melky on the pine to pinch run. (McCann may be the only one on the team, though, that Melky would be an upgrade for on the basepaths).

Lowcountry Bulldawg

April 26th, 2010
3:08 pm

The talent would be like this

Freeman
Vizcaino
Minor

for

Gonzalez

Gives the Padres the replacement for 2011. A possible starter in 2011 in Minor and a high ceiling Pitcher in Vizcaino.

This trade does involve 3 of the top 10 prospects in the organization, but again with the value in Gonzalez’s contract the Padres can leverage that type of trade, but at 11-6 I dont think the move will come soon at all. This is going to be the hard part to figure out for them. The longer the season plays out the lessa likely it will be for the Braves to justify moving that much young talent.

Brownie

April 26th, 2010
3:10 pm

Not to be redundant, but I think Wren has to figure out what they are: a good team just a guy or two away? Or are they rebuilding??

What we’ve been doing is pretending we’re still the Braves of the 90’s with a few major pieces, and then management fills in the other spots with cheap options. News Flash: strategy isn’t working!! Counting the last 3 or 4 years of Schuelholz’s reign, the Braves have essentially been non-contenders for almost a decade now.

IF the minors ARE filled with all these great prospects, then I would suggest it’s time to declare a rebuilding program. The time is right: Chipper is burnt toast, Bobby is retiring, a whole new coaching staff will be coming in (please oh please not Pendleton) and they’ve pretty much got only a few decent pieces here right now (Mac, Prado, Heyward, Hanson, JJ, Medlin, some good bullpen guys).

Yeah, I know, the Braves will stink for a couple of years or so….but then, how do you like them right now?? At least we’ll get to see some youngsters playing hard and getting their major league legs. All you need to do is look at the Rays to see that it can be fun to root for them.

So, Gonzo can be a cornerstone for years to come providing leadership for the young guys, OR you can wait and hope that Freeman is the real deal. It all comes down to how they want to spend their money.

Nick in PA

April 26th, 2010
3:10 pm

How could the Braves afford to pay Gonzo, Heyward, Hanson and Jurrjens??

F-105 Thunderchief

April 26th, 2010
3:11 pm

Heck, trade Freeman for Gonzalez. Or teach Freeman to play third. If it can happen, don’t let a prospect hold you back.

Tmac

April 26th, 2010
3:11 pm

I got a question…

When does a hitting instructor be held accountable for a lineup that continues to underachieve or even get worse over the course of each year?

I’m not looking to start a “witch hunt” for Terry Pendleton… I like him and think he is a good guy.
BUT, his name is rumored to be in the running for the successor to Bobby Cox.

And i think, based on what? The way he’s improved the batting in this lineup over the last 5 years?
I honestly don’t know how he has held his current job based on the results…

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

April 26th, 2010
3:12 pm

sounds good on paper but if gonzo were to become a brave- keep him away from TP. atlanta baseball is quickly becoming the detroit lions of football.

Big B CH 99

April 26th, 2010
3:12 pm

Liberty Media is to cheap to be able to sign Gonzalez to a long term contract. Just like Tex, it’d a rental for a yr and a half.

sippin the koolaid

April 26th, 2010
3:12 pm

no more one fix trades. we have given away the house for texiera. help. We need more than one player to fix this mess. escobar is a joke, glaus is just pathetic. All of the players are forcing it so much, it is painful to watch. i know we have faced good pitching, but i don’t know how many off the plate first pitches we have been lunging at, and then down the tube third strikes we have been looking at. Who is coaching these guys?we have no speed, no power and now the pitchers are starting to get sloppy. I can’t much blame them. The last two to three years, no offense except in a few one game outburts. this will take years to fix, by then maybe we will have new owners committed to winning.

Andrew in CT

April 26th, 2010
3:13 pm

The Padres may be willing to give up Gonzalez. I have a feeling it would come at a steep cost though. Something like Freeman, Minor, Vizcaino/Teheran and Kimbrel. Would you be willing to mortgage the entire farm system for less than 2 years of Gonzalez? Not sure I would…

Brian from SC

April 26th, 2010
3:13 pm

Another unrealistic trade proposal. If it took five or so of our top prospects to get a year and a half of Teixeira, why would people think it would take half of that to get Gonzalez? I would think they would want Freeman, Vizcaino, Teheran, and a couple other pitching prospects. In other words, our future first baseman, and about 3/5ths of our future rotation.

Nick in PA

April 26th, 2010
3:13 pm

Look at what the Padres wanted for Peavy. Double that for A Gon.

Andrew in CT

April 26th, 2010
3:14 pm

Also, Gonzalez has stated that since he signed his last contract on the cheap, he will be going for BIG bucks on his next contract. Don’t see the Braves being able to afford that.

Rough Estimate

April 26th, 2010
3:15 pm

Jeff, I love your comment that this season is this season and you can deal with next season next year. That is so true. Wren’s one-year stopgap of Troy Glaus until Freeman is ready, just wasn’t the answer. Gonzalez (or someone better than Glaus) should have been pursued in the offseason, but Wren wouldn’t do it because he was too worried about NEXT season Freddie Freeman. Now THIS SEASON is going down the drain real fast.

Brian

April 26th, 2010
3:15 pm

And the Braves would stand zero chance of signing Gonzalez long term. You would think we would have learned from the Teixeira deal. I think the Braves have, but obviously some sportswriters haven’t.

Narc Daddy

April 26th, 2010
3:15 pm

It would be great to aquire AG, however, who do you plan on trading?
If not Freeman, who? btw it would take much more. The Red Sox have way more to offer (Buchholtz and Bard) than ATL.

Change

April 26th, 2010
3:16 pm

EPIC FAIL….

But there comes a time when a franchise has to push the button on a deal, and the Braves can’t afford to drop too far out of the race and potentially miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

Please explain….???

You can’t see the forest for the trees….It is called rebuilding for the future instead of mortgaging your farm system for a rental player…ie…TEX and JD Drew

What is one more season w/o a playoff apperance? Just making the playoffs isn’t the goal…winning the World Series is the goal.

Please

Brian from SC

April 26th, 2010
3:16 pm

If the Padres did for some reason entertain the thought of trading Gonzalez this season, he will wind up in Boston.

Tony(Brave fan in Orlando)

April 26th, 2010
3:17 pm

Yeah but, who will the Braves have to trade to get Adrian ? If Pads want Hanson or Jair or Heyward or Freeman, than I’m against getting Adrian.

Brian

April 26th, 2010
3:18 pm

I love it: less than a week ago, it was “Even in a loss, the Braves show they aren’t going away”. Now they need to mortgage the farm again for a year and a half of Adrian Gonzalez. Whatever gets the page hits up, I guess.

Bat Masterson

April 26th, 2010
3:18 pm

Not gonna happen, wouldn’t be prudent.

ATLfan15

April 26th, 2010
3:19 pm

The time to trade for AG was during the offseason. The Pads won’t give him up now unless they get a boatload of prospects in return.

And the Braves will not improve anytime soon until Cox stops trotting out a lineup with 4-5 guys hitting under .200. Glaus, McLouth, Cabrera (and maybe even Escobar) should all be ‘grabbing some pine’ right now…give some of the other guys a chance to prove themselves in the lineup, namely Infante and Hinske.

Rough Estimate

April 26th, 2010
3:19 pm

Bottomw Line: Until the Braves spend about $10-15million more per year in payroll, they won’t be able to compete with the elite teams and truely challenge for the playoffs consistantly. If they would have spent $10-15million more this off season they could have brought in Damon, re-signed LaRoche or brought in a viable firstbaseman (Adam Dunn?), and had a pretty decent looking team. Instead we are exactly where we were last year – offense sputtering (or barely running) and Wren will be scrambling to pull some midseason trades (after it’s too late) instead of addressing the problems in the offseason.

JeanE

April 26th, 2010
3:20 pm

It’s a nice thought but it ain’t happening. We already went through that with Tex. Freeman will be ready next year and I’m thinking, maybe sooner given how bad the offense is going. I think it’s time to stop all the lineup shuffling. It seems to be freaking guys out. Stick Nate at the top and let Matty get some starts in a row no matter who’s pitching that night. He’ll never get in a groove otherwise. I would like to see Hinske get some more play at 1st rather than just once a week. And Chipper, quit trying to prove how tough you are, sit your injured butt down b/c you are hurting your own team!

RaleighDawg

April 26th, 2010
3:21 pm

Watching Freddie go 0-4 yesterday in Durham makes me wonder if the big man will be ready next year…it was an ugly 0-4….

steve

April 26th, 2010
3:21 pm

No way would I trade Freeman way, not for a rental or a long term player. To think that Freeman is going to be able to come up get into the show this season is unthinkable. Freddie needs time to build confidence that an entire season of 3A builds (you get to see MLB pitchers rehabbing and those top prospects getting upped from Advanced-A).

If anyone, bring up Schafer when he’s made a full recovery and had about two weeks worth of plate appearences.

Rough Estimate

April 26th, 2010
3:22 pm

There is no guarantee that Freeman will be ready next season and even if he on the MLB team, that he will perform. He might pull a Jordan Schafer. The Braves don’t need to sell the farm to get Gonzalez, they should have just re-signed LaRoche.

carllange

April 26th, 2010
3:24 pm

Jeff – The Pads are in first place with a record 3 games better than the Braves and recently won 8 in a row. You think they are ready to deal their best hitter? Right now their team has more potential this season than the “ain’t going away” Braves. It’s nice speculation but ain’t gonna happen. Wren and Cox will give Glaus at least a half season to prove what some of us knew the day he was brought on.

steve h

April 26th, 2010
3:25 pm

Watching Freddie go 0-4 yesterday in Durham makes me wonder if the big man will be ready next year…it was an ugly 0-4…

… and that’s exactly why he needs to stay at GWT. He is not ready and he needs to learn how to recover from slumps. That’s said, most those pitchers down in Triple-A can get away with nibbling around the plate for success against non-MLB-ready prospects. So, Freddie needs to prove that he can be successful against that type of pitching first before facing the MLB.

scuba steve

April 26th, 2010
3:25 pm

at some point don’t we have to accept that the 90s and early 2000s are over and this is not a team that will be in the playoffs with any consistency or regularity? at best this team will be in the playoffs and out in the first round in 3 or 4 games.

the braves have a number of quality young players that simply need time to develop. having a quality team for multiple years two or three years down the road is much better than making a mediocre team possibly playoff worthy now. the braves haven’t been in the playoffs for four years what’s another two more if we can develop a team with hanson, heyward, jurrgens, teheran, vizcaino, prado, freeman, mccann, etc., etc.

that will be a good team, this team isn’t. let’s not mortgage the future for another mediocre year and half like with tex

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:26 pm

What about a Gary Sheffield or Jermaine Dye signing to play 1B or LF? They couldn’t be any worse than who we have now, and they should come cheap with no long-term commitment. Maybe even provide some power to the lineup?

Hmmmmmm!

April 26th, 2010
3:27 pm

It is obvious that the Braves problems start at the VERY TOP.
Ownership.

AJJ

April 26th, 2010
3:27 pm

Trading for AGon still doesnt solve the problem of having 2/3s of our out field being automatic outs. Derek lee will become available soon and will be much more affordable in a trade senerio. This would also give us the oppurtunity to have some flexibility to trade for another out fielder as well which we will have to have in order to compete.

gcs

April 26th, 2010
3:29 pm

I don’t like the idea of giving away any more prospects on this sinking ship. This roster is worse than last season’s roster. I cannot imagine the Braves making the playoffs this season.

If anything, the Braves should be sellers.

Give Bobby his gold watch, clean house and start over.

.

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:29 pm

scube steve: I think the Wild Card has shown, that if you can just get to the playoffs, you have a real chance of doing some damage if your team is playing well at that time. The playoffs are often about who is the hottest team and not necessarily the best.

BravesfaninWis

April 26th, 2010
3:29 pm

Schultz,

I don’t see any way possible that we get Gonzalez without giving up Freeman. Yes Gonzo is cheap for the rest of this season and next, but he will be one of highest paid first basemen in the league after the 2011 season so we all know that the Braves won’t keep them because they have already proven to their fans that they are a bunch of cheap @ss owners that go 2nd and 3rd rate for players and hope like hell that they work which in most cases, they don’t.

Would I like Gonzalez in Atlanta? Absolutely. Do I want Freeman to be apart of that package and have no 1st basemen to look forward to down the road? No. So there it sits, the Braves are screwed either way. They already showed us fans how important winning was to them when they went after Glaus instead of trying to land LaRoche or another 1st basemen that could at least save us runs with his glove if he can’t get us runs with his bat. Glaus costs this team runs in both categories.

I myself wish that every fan would protest this team and not buy tickets to the games. That way when the Braves see 100-200 fans at each home game, they know they will have do get something done to get the fans interested again. I am just sick and tired of seeing this on a yearly basis since their last division title. No team in the history of sports has flopped like the Braves have. 14 straight division titles and only 1 WS Title, that is pathetic. Now since they last won their last division title, they have barely sniffed the playoffs. That has to be the biggest flop in pro sports history.

Think the Yankees and Red Sox win multiple Championships by being cheap? No, they go out and upgrade each position on a year to year basis whereas the Braves go out and replace a gold glove caliber 1st basemen (LaRoche) with a guy (Glaus) that really has never played the position and missed all of last season with a injury. Why? Because he came with a much cheaper price tag then LaRoche. I know the Braves can’t hang with the Yankees and Red Sox as far as payrolls go, but they can afford better players then what they have in order to contend.

Brian from SC

April 26th, 2010
3:31 pm

Yeah, that’s the ticket to improving the team. Stop coming to games, so the Braves have to drop their payroll to Pirates level. That’ll put us in a real position to succeed.

joe

April 26th, 2010
3:31 pm

I’d be fine with it if they could resign him, which isn’t likely due to the team’s thrifty nature as of late. It would take @ 16 million per or more to get him and I don’t see us doing that.

Blackberry Cobbler

April 26th, 2010
3:32 pm

The Braves have plenty of problems……….. mostly with how Wren and Company do nothing but pick up retreads in the off season.

1B is a problem……….. bu then so is LF, CF, and 3B.

To be brutally honest, Jason Heyward is the only reason I continue to watch this team. The only other entertainment value is waiting for McCann to make another of his great defensive moves, or waiting for Escobar to commit another error or brain-fart, or waiting to see the next boo-boo that will sideline Chipper.

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:34 pm

If you are a GM and you think you have a team that remotely has a chance of making the playoffs, you do everything you can to make that push. You don’t just say “well we’ll wait for 2-3 years down the road before we start worrying about winning” You go for it now. Look at teams like the Pirates who have been to the playoffs since 1992. There are no guaratees that it will happen in 2-3 years. You go for it now. Yes the Braves did that with Texeira and it didn’t work out, but at least they gave it an effort. By the way Texeira performed just as the Braves had hoped, it was the rest of the team that didn’t come through.

Brian from SC

April 26th, 2010
3:36 pm

The Padres can keep Gonzalez and still drop their payroll by 18 million if they wanted to next year. I’m telling you, they really like their team and will be looking to add a couple (small) pieces this offseason and make a go at it next year. Trading Gonzalez doesn’t fit in that plan.

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:37 pm

This is what scares me: I believe the Braves have something like $26milllion committed to Chipper Jones and Derek Lowe each season for the next two years. That’s about 25% of their payroll that is tied up in two past-their-prime quickly aging players that have not contributed much this year or last year. OUCH!

scuba steve

April 26th, 2010
3:38 pm

i’ll grant you that once you are in any team can win it, but mostly likely if the braves get in as the wild card they are (mostly likely) facing st. louis and wainwright and carpenter at least three times…

if they’re fortunate enough to get past them, it is probably philadelphia and not out of the realm of possibility that halladay throws three times. we all saw what the lineup does against him

i am sure the offense will produce better than it has been recently but i don’t think any combination of the lineups, even with gonzalez, makes the team legitimate pennant or world series contenders.

with the young nucleus kept together they will be by 2012 or 2013 and might have five or six good years to contend. i’d rather that than one outside chance this year

Carl Spackler

April 26th, 2010
3:39 pm

That was an excellent “save” You are back on my Christmas card list.

Roja

April 26th, 2010
3:40 pm

And why would Gonzales agree to leave a team that just came off a NINE game WINNING streak to join a 5 game LOSING streak team???

We had our first base problem solved and gave away the solution. LaRoche is hitting .278 and Kotchman is hitting 279 with 14 rbis and hasn’t made an error in his last 162 GAMES.

If we were serious about winning we already had Teixeira on the team and wouldn’t spend the bux to keep him…. so he won his World Series Ring elsewhere.

Problem is (and has been) that Cox needs to double up on his Aricept and Nimenda!!!

I Hate Liberty Media

April 26th, 2010
3:40 pm

This won’t happen. But if it does, they won’t sign him beyond his current deal. The problem is Liberty Media. As long as the team owner isn’t concerned with winning, it will continue to cut corners and to pick up the likes of Glaus and Cabrera off the trash heap. Ownership is apathetic. Management is apathetic. The players are apathetic. It’s no surprise then that the fans are also apathetic.

Braves One

April 26th, 2010
3:40 pm

Bring Brett to the Braves…

Pick up Brett Gardner from the Yankees…he has speed, hits for average, is base savvy and mans his outfield position without issue. A natural lead off hitter. Oh yes…he can bunt and knows the infield fly rule.

AJJ

April 26th, 2010
3:41 pm

I will pass on casey Kotchman

Mr. Phil

April 26th, 2010
3:41 pm

How about drop this whole Glaus experiment and bring up Freeman AND Schaffer now. Just saying.

AJJ

April 26th, 2010
3:42 pm

AGON probably doesnt have any say in a trade

suwaneedawg

April 26th, 2010
3:42 pm

They need to do something and this is surely something. This would be a darn good trade and giving up a prospect or two would be worth it. They are starting to make Bobby’s last year be a nightmare and he does not deserve it. Wren needs to pull the trigger on this soon.

Mr. Phil

April 26th, 2010
3:42 pm

BTW–doen with Liberty Media

Roja

April 26th, 2010
3:42 pm

The Cubs seem to be happy with mediocrity (65 years without even PLAYING one World Series game). Braves are quickly becoming the “Cubs of the South”

Mr. Phil

April 26th, 2010
3:43 pm

doen =down+done+ticked

blord

April 26th, 2010
3:43 pm

I would guess that it would take Freeman in the deal to get AG. I would love to have him but not sure the Braves would pony up on the deal. By the way, How is Jordan Schafer doing?

JASon

April 26th, 2010
3:44 pm

If we brought Gonzalez here, he would probably stop hitting good.

hammerin hank

April 26th, 2010
3:44 pm

Troy Glaus is the biggest joke of an offseason move that i have seen here in the A T L! I will come in and bunt every at bat and can get somewhat close to his average. PLEASE bring in somebody Mr. Wren. I cant stand looking at this guy anymore.

LuisG

April 26th, 2010
3:45 pm

Jeff Schultz
April 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
Newbomb Turf … Fred Mc…..what was his name?

JEFF: I think it was Wally Joyner, remember him? Along with Quilvio Veras and somebody else. I guess Bret Boone was part of that trade too.

DHD

April 26th, 2010
3:45 pm

You talked about it in November?? We have been talking about it for 2 years. But, that’s par for the course for you AJC guys. I do have to hand one thing to you, however…at least you aren’t asking for a former player to return. You are to be commended on that point.

As for AG…we’ll have to give them Freeman, Medlen and Escobar. Not too bad since we wouldn’t need Freeman and Escobar is in the dog house.

pete

April 26th, 2010
3:46 pm

Jordan Schafer was a product of HGH. He was terrible his first few minor league seasons then had a breakout. That was when he was busted with HGH

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:47 pm

I don’t think trading prospects for Gonzalez or anyone is the answer for the Braves. If the Braves would have just spent a litte more in the off season on some decent free agents or gotten more out of the Vasquez salary dump, they would have been ok.

Reality Bites

April 26th, 2010
3:47 pm

Okay people, u cant shine sh_ _. This team will battle for 3rd in the division at best. Chipper-DONE, Glaus-omgrofl, McLouth-LOSER. All fo Frank Wrens people have been busts. this guy is NO Scheurholtz(sp). until he and Bobby(TP) are gone we are nuthin more than also rans. Hey JS, kwik question, who has squandered more talent, Peehuwett or Cox? discuss.

pete

April 26th, 2010
3:49 pm

Let Pendleton get a hold to Gonzalez, he will stop that hot hitting very quickly

Roja

April 26th, 2010
3:49 pm

3 games out of first place with 144 games to go does not a lost season make. But with Bobby managing, 3 games out with 144 left to play makes our chances questionable at best. There was a time when we had so much talent that even Ted Turner could manage the team and win, but those days are past.

Ben Roethlisberger

April 26th, 2010
3:50 pm

BEN WANT WOMAN, BEN TAKE WOMAN!!!!

RAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
3:51 pm

“Give Bobby his gold watch, clean house and start over.”

Best Idea in a long time

Tucker T

April 26th, 2010
3:52 pm

We would have Gonzalez for the remainder of this season and next but he will be gone after that. There is little chance of signing him to an extention. He would want mega bucks. That sounds very similar to the Tex situation and we all remember how that turned out. There is no way I would give them Freeman. Maybe a package of ONE of the top pitching prospects, Medlen, and maybe Escobar. I could live with that.

TONE

April 26th, 2010
3:52 pm

they have to shake it up are all of the early fan support will be gone and if they ride out a pitiful season i wouldn’t put it past ownership to have a firesale marlin style so this season is important on many fronts
make a move get a run producer and keep the coaches away from him!!!!!!

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:53 pm

Everyone always blames Wren, but John Scherholtz is the still the team President. Don’t you think he has input on these moves? I think JS saw the writing on the wall in regards to payroll reductions and decided to get out of the GM position so he wouldn’t tarnish his “legacy”. In the 90’s JS could pretty much spend as much as he wanted.

Thoughts?

Jason W.

April 26th, 2010
3:54 pm

I say we pass on any AGonz trades unless they don’t include Freeman. That being said, I propose an alternative solution to fix 2 needs that would be cheaper on us.

1. Contact Houston and find out what it’ll take to land Bourn
2. Contact K.C. and see if offering some middle relief help in exchange for Billy Butler would work. (Butler may not hit 30HR’s but he’ll drive in 100 if our guys get on)

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
3:55 pm

San Diego is in first freaking place…do you think they are going to give Gonzalez(sp) away…this team needs new management…..and now is not too early

I'm Frank Wren and I SUCK

April 26th, 2010
3:55 pm

Why on earth would I do something like bring Gonzalez in to our clubhouse? It makes too much sense.

Besides, I’m still waiting on the Javy Vasquez trade to pay off. What’s Melky’s BA right now anyways?

LuisG

April 26th, 2010
3:56 pm

It was Bret Boone, Ryan Klesko and Jason Shiell to the Padres for Wally Joyner, Quilvio Veras and Reggie Sanders to the Braves.

Jason W.

April 26th, 2010
3:57 pm

Actually I have to take my original thought back. Butler still has a few more seasons under contract and would block Freeman

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:57 pm

What about Adam Dunn? He doesn’t hit for average, but he has great power and walks alot. He could probably drive in some runs, and he’s in the last year of his contract so he wouldn’t block Freeman. Might not take a whole lot to trade for him.

Don't Wait Until The Season Is Lost

April 26th, 2010
3:58 pm

Everyone always blames Wren, but John Scherholtz is the still the team President. Don’t you think he has input on these moves? I think JS saw the writing on the wall in regards to payroll reductions and decided to get out of the GM position so he wouldn’t tarnish his “legacy”. In the 90’s JS could pretty much spend as much as he wanted.

GroundedFalcon

April 26th, 2010
4:00 pm

Whoa! Everyone, it’s early. The Braves are only 3 games back of the leaders in a tight division. Typicallly, the Braves don’t start playing their best ball until after the All Star break. So quit panicking! They’ll be alright. Remember Glaus was injured almost all of last year. It’s hard to get the timing back in any sport. However, there is a little concern with Chipper. Maybe he could help himself by hitting from just one side. Braves management, please don’t get rattled and give up the farm! Have you ever considered starting Hinske at first base? He’s hitting well! In conclusion, I think the team is trying to hard. They need to relax. You can’t play any sport well if your on edge. Relax, Relax, Relax, focus on the ball and the hitting will take care of it self.

Yoda

April 26th, 2010
4:00 pm

Heck lets deal Chumper..err ..Slipper…I mean Chipper to Texas and see if we can recoup some of that silly trade.

Nelson S.

April 26th, 2010
4:00 pm

If we can sign him to an extension I’m all for it but if not no. Look at Ryan Howard just got, do you think we’ll be able to pay Gonzo close to that? I just don’t see it.

Rough Estimate

April 26th, 2010
4:02 pm

Everyone says Glaus just needs more time to get his timing back and start producing, well why don’t they let him play some games at AAA until he shows that he has his timing back instead of wasting a MLB roster spot? Hinske or Prado can play 1B.

Diecinueve

April 26th, 2010
4:02 pm

Jeff Schultz, Do you know what It would take for us to trade for A-Gone? Let me help you..It would be a boat load!! Probably a package similar to the Tex deal..No way that happens again! The folks on this board are still crying over the Tex trade!

Jackie Treehorn

April 26th, 2010
4:03 pm

Jeff, the only thing about trading for Gonzalez is I don’t foresee any way they don’t ask for Freeman in return. In fact, I think it would take Yunel Escobar (might not be a bad thing to get rid of him), Freddie Freeman, and a pitching prospect to get it done….and even that probably wouldn’t work.

EW

April 26th, 2010
4:05 pm

Cmon Jeff!!! We all know that bringing Gonzalez to the Braves would lead to his demise as a hitter…and that sending Glaus away would rejuvenate his swing just like all the other Braves who left and found their swing…Atlanta is becoming a black hole for hitters….

duckey

April 26th, 2010
4:05 pm

give them yunel for him he is a head case will be glad to see him go

Yoda

April 26th, 2010
4:07 pm

Throw in Chumper..I mean Slipper..Chipper and they gotta take Pendleton too

Roscoe

April 26th, 2010
4:08 pm

Jeff……where ya at?

Bourbon Dawgwalker

April 26th, 2010
4:09 pm

While we’re dealing in fairy tales, I think Albert Pujols would look better at first, Alex Rodriguez would look better at 3rd, and Roy Halladay would be great on the mound for the Bravos.

Greg Norton

April 26th, 2010
4:10 pm

You should of kept my bat around. Give me a call, I can play first base for you all.

Martin Morales

April 26th, 2010
4:11 pm

Mr. Jeff Schultz,

you should change your title to the article…I got happy when i read braves: get gonzalez…gotta admit, smart way to get people to read…

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
4:14 pm

If they would do it for Yunel, Freeman, and a pitching prospect, I say go for it…let Chipper retire and sign Gonzalez to an extension with the money saved from his contract, but I don’t think the Padres will go for that.

Marc in FL

April 26th, 2010
4:16 pm

What to do with Freeman? Simply, package him in the deal. He’ll be a good player someday, but he doesn’t look like a HOFer in the making. If Freeman was another Heyward then I would be against it, but he is, unfortunately, expendable.

Put Glaus and Melky on the wire, some team(s) will pick them up and take their contracts off our backs. That’s 5mil… That’s about what Adrian is making this year.

Delbert D.

April 26th, 2010
4:17 pm

Jeff, do whatever you have to do to make the Gonzalez thing happen. Can the AJC spring for a sky-writer plane for the next home stand?

Marc in FL

April 26th, 2010
4:18 pm

GTSteve, who plays SS if we send Escobar? Hicks? Infante? Not bad players, but Hicks can’t hit and Infante is better at stationary positions, though he would serviceable if needed I suppose.

Fire Terry P

April 26th, 2010
4:18 pm

When is the heat going to be turned up on TP again? Yes, he was a great player for the Braves in the early 90s, but he has proven to be terrible as a hitting coach. Sorry TP… it’s what have you done for me lately?!?! Do you not see the impact he is already having on J-Hey just in the first month? J-Hey has become more tentative at the plate (sorry, don’t tell me it’s patience there is a difference) and when he swings the same force/conviction isn’t there. Please show him the door before he ruins another Braves hitter…. and what concerns me even more is they have him on the short list to replace Bobby.

Marc in FL

April 26th, 2010
4:20 pm

So, you’re mad at TP for trying to teach our hitters pitch recognition?

a

April 26th, 2010
4:25 pm

Well said from an NBC sports blog in reaction to these rumors:

“If the Braves traded for Adrian Gonzales it would be like a guy making $40K a year leasing a BMW. Maybe the monthly payments are technically affordable in the short term, but it’s gonna cost too much regardless and at the end of the day he’s not even gonna own the thing.”

Right on.

Aziz

April 26th, 2010
4:28 pm

I am officially giving up on watching braves until they get rid of Troy Glauss. I don’t care if they replace him with a high school first baseman (atleast the kid would run faster than him).

Colin

April 26th, 2010
4:29 pm

8-14..here we come..Albert Pujols will make us look silly.

CraZyTRaDeMaN

April 26th, 2010
4:29 pm

Screw it lets just trade single A Rome and AA Mississippi to the PADRES for Gonzalez. And we all know how much Bobby loves platoons so I purpose we also trade AAA Gwinnett and all our Rookie league teams to the Cardinals for Pujols. Righties get Gonzalez lefties get Pujols!!! IT would work!!!

Come on Schultz you blabbering Bradley want-a-be. And who the hell wants to be like Bradley!!! In the words of EMINEM: Go home, write some @#$%, make it suspenseful, And don’t come back until something dope hits you. Isn’t it time for another Vacation Schultz? Just Kidding… ….. It just amazes me how one minute people debate how colossally bad the Tex trade was then freak out (Insert Howard Dean Scream) over 18 games into a season and 3 games out of 1st. Chill out people the Braves will make moves but not this soon. Unless we get A Gonzales for what we got for Tex (Kotchman) it won’t happen. Wren learned from JS’s trade for Tex that it’s not worth mortgaging the farm for one year of falling short of the playoffs which is what happened the year we made the Tex trade.

Tomas

April 26th, 2010
4:30 pm

Jeff, this is Mark Texeira part two. Gonzalez is a better player I would say, and doesn’t slump at the start of the season. To do what he has done with no protection at all, is truly remarkable. And if I remember correctly Texeira was around 10 million and then 13 million, Adrian is earning 4.85 milllion. Blabla, etc the guy is a superstar and the Braves need one.

BUT, can you imagine what the Padres want in return? I mean I know Kevin Towers was fired, but remember what they were asking for Jake Peavy??? Tommy Hanson, Yunel Escobar, Jeff Locke, and Gorkys Hernandez. TOMMY HANSON I’d dare to say the guy is as good as Peavy, earning 500k and not injury prone. They were nuts, and that’s probably why they fired Kevin Towers.

What the Rangers got in the Texeira deal, Elvis Andrus(probably the best fielding shorstop in the AL west), Neftali Perez(he can bring it), and Jarrod Saltalamacchia who has failed to meet expectations, and two other prospects. That’s plain robbery.

Now, what would the Padres ask for Adrian? Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Craig Kimbrell?????? Those would be my 3 untoachables, and I’d hate to trade Schafer considering Mclouth’s struggles.

Ron Roberts

April 26th, 2010
4:31 pm

What kills me is, ever since they got lucky with Jaret Wright in 2003, they’ve had this itch to wanna try and put a “budget resurrection” project on their roster. Remember the 41-game Raul Mondesi experiment? Are we going to go 40 games or so before realizing Glaus can’t catch up to a major league pitch, this year? Last year it was Garret Anderson; Before that it was Mark Kotsay (and his ailing back) . . .

…what did Adam LaRoche wind up signing for? Wasn’t it like $6 million for the one season? DIdn’t we want an affordable, power-hitting 1B who could keep the base warm for a year or two? Well, at LEAST we saved $5 million, right? Except the folks who won’t buy a ticket to see a 3rd-4th-5th place team will add up, Frank Wren/Liberty Media.

Yoda

April 26th, 2010
4:33 pm

JS….I like your daydreams, but lets be real Gonzo ain’t headed here…so now we gotta decide to pack this season in (does seem rather early) or actually start making some moves that should have been attempted before spring….unload Escobar while you can…..cut a check to Chipper and retire him, dump Glaus, Melky & Mclouth…trade Lowe to anyone willing to give a warm body and pay 1/2 his salary…and then start digging over the scrape heap of the barely able to play list and see what sticks.

irked

April 26th, 2010
4:36 pm

That Texiera trade is what killed the Braves. We could have Elvis Andrus at SS and trade Yunel’s sorry behind for a 1st baseman that could hit and we’d have Matt Harrison in the rotation and neftali perez in the pen. But instead, we have Troy “no hitting” Glaus.

sgebraves

April 26th, 2010
4:36 pm

We basicly rebuild the Texas Rangers with the Tex deal, it would be the same thing if we traded for Gonzo. It’ll will take atleast 2 high prospects if not 3 and Gonzo is going to want Tex money and the Braves will lose him after a year. I say keep the prospects because if we do we could be great in a couple of years. I’m tired of them trading good prospects for 1 year guys. This goes all the way back to the JD Drew trade. How nice would it be to have Wainwright as the number 1 right about now. Make this deal which I could not see happening without including Freeman and in 2 years the braves will have a new different 1b and Freeman will be one of the Padres better hitters and probably their 2 or 3rd best starter will be a former Braves farmhand.

Mario Mendoza

April 26th, 2010
4:36 pm

It’s sad when the Braves have runners on the corners with one out or a runner on with the pitcher up and I feel like changing the channel to avoid the disappointment. Too many double plays and too many strikeouts from pitchers not being able to lay down a bunt. Tommy Hanson’s inability to lay down a bunt yesterday turned out to be a big missed opportunity. Glavine was guaranteed to lay a bunt down every time, a skill that young pitchers seemed to have forgotten. The Braves’ approach at the plate is terrible and I blame Pendleton more than Glaus or Melky or any player. I feel like the hitters don’t know how to play small ball and manufacture runs. They just seem lost at the plate with RISP. A guy with a .270 career batting average who struck out twice as many times as he walked should not be a major league hitting coach. Golden sombreros (4 K’s in one game) don’t happen too often and the Braves have three so far this season that I know of (Glaus, Heyward, McLouth). Maybe McGriff can come back and save the Braves during the middle of the season again but as a hitting coach.

irked

April 26th, 2010
4:37 pm

feliz rather. not perez

Marc in FL

April 26th, 2010
4:37 pm

To be fair Laroche demanded a 3 year 21-30 million dollar deal when we tried to resign him. He ended up settling for scraps at the end.

To be fair again… Andrus is the only person in the Tex trade that’s making it big right now. Salty has stayed injured, Feliz flashed some stuff late last season, but is proving mortal already this year and will probably never be more than set-up guy, and Harrison is just an “OK” lefty starter. I think the number of prospects we gave up scares people or something, cause so we’re only missing the SS, but until just recently Escobar has been doing just fine for us.

Yoda

April 26th, 2010
4:38 pm

I hear JD Drew is available

Diecinueve

April 26th, 2010
4:39 pm

Ok, I got the perfect deal for A-Gon..Glaus, Jo Jo, and Milky..How can the Padres pass up this deal?? Make it happen Wren!

Alan

April 26th, 2010
4:39 pm

PLEASE DON’T BRING ANOTHER PROVEN BAT INTO THE ORGANIZATION FOR (TP) TO SCREW UP, GET RID OF HIM FIRST, of course you want have that take place until Bobby is offcialy retired and by the way can’t Scheurholtz handle both his and Wrenn’s job.

Brian Jordan

April 26th, 2010
4:42 pm

I’m tired of seeing the same ole Braves…How about we get a couple of guys who can not only hit but can steal a couple bases….Kinda like the Rays….Maybe we should go after Carl Crawford I think he would be a great pickup but Carl Crawford is not slow and white so thats wishful thinking

ScottBravesfan

April 26th, 2010
4:42 pm

Jeff,

How are you going to get Gonzalez without giving up Freeman? And Gonzalez is going to require at least 20 million a year so you are sending off probably your three best prospects for a year and a half rental? Seriously did you not see the Texiera trade? It’s still costing us. We could have Elvis Andrus and Neftali Felez on our team right now instead of a nothing which we got for Mark Texiera. So one year of Mark Texiera was worth Felez and Andrus? And everyone who remotely follows baseball knows that the Boston Red Sox covet Gonzalez. Do you honestly think that the Braves are going to offer more money than Boston? Sometimes I wonder if there is something in the water in Atlanta that makes the sports fans and writers stupid.

gayle

April 26th, 2010
4:42 pm

Gonzalez would be a welcome addition and a definite upgrade. But in the grand scheme of things, he would be just one more Band Aid vainly trying to cover up the significant shortcomings of this team – on and off the field.

Getting him will placate the fans, but he can’t turn this team around by himself.

steve h

April 26th, 2010
4:43 pm

Adrian Gonzales to the Braves? No thanks!
- Craig Calcaterra
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/adrian-gonzalez-to-the-braves-no-thanks.html.php

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
4:43 pm

@Marc in FL…..Any freaking body…I have had it with his attitude

ScottBravesfan

April 26th, 2010
4:44 pm

Brian Jordan,

Carl Crawford is a free agent after the year and on a first place team in the Rays. Why exactly would they trade him when they have a shot at winning the World Series this year? Also the Yankees and the Red Sox both have made it clear that they are going after Crawford. Again do you think the Braves will be able to outspend the Yankees and the Red Sox? Maybe if you took your racist ass to the ball park then maybe the Braves would be able to actually sign some free agents but as of now the Braves are barely breaking even every year.

a

April 26th, 2010
4:46 pm

gayle, the move would have little to do with the fans in terms of its failure. the fact is that in 2010 there is no way on the planet Liberty Media is going to shell out the necessary $$$ to actually lock up gonzo.

in all our blaming of cox, TP, glaus, etc., lets not forget to throw our ownership under the bus a little bit. either bring back ted turner or someone talk arthur blank into buying this team!

ScottBravesfan

April 26th, 2010
4:46 pm

Read this

Adrian Gonzalez is going to be the biggest story of the trade deadline this year. Everyone assumes that the Red Sox will be the front runners for him. And if they continue to stink, they may push even harder for him than they otherwise would. But they’re not the only team in baseball who could use a cheap awesome first baseman. Jon Paul Morosi suggests the Braves could be in on AG.

The basis: well, not even a rumor really. Just the realization that (a) the Braves need offense and could use a first baseman; and (b) Adrian Gonzalez is a first baseman. Trades have materialized from less, of course, but at the moment that’s all there is. No word from a Braves source. No word from a Padres source.

And I sort of hope it stays that way. As I wrote earlier in the week, the Braves are not new to this trade-for-a-stud-first baseman thing. They did it with Mark Teixeira a few years ago, and it was fairly disastrous in terms of the young talent the Braves had to give up. Given that Gonzalez is even cheaper and under team-control longer than Teixeira was, the price in prospects would likely be even higher.

And it would be an overpayment no matter what Gonzalez does while signed for 2010 and 2011, because there is no conceivable way that the current owners of the Braves — Liberty Media — would approve the $180 million+ or whatever it would take to sign AG long-term.

If the Braves traded for Adrian Gonzales it would be like a guy making $40K a year leasing a BMW. Maybe the monthly payments are technically affordable in the short term, but it’s gonna cost too much regardless and at the end of the day he’s not even gonna own the thing.

a

April 26th, 2010
4:46 pm

sorry, i meant in 2012, not 2010.

a

April 26th, 2010
4:47 pm

scott, the last paragraph is priceless on that one.

Bring Back LaRoche

April 26th, 2010
4:47 pm

Maybe we can bring Casey Kotchman back– or better yet, since it seems like Kotchman is in high demand (he’s played for so many teams over the years that must mean that he’s very much desired, right?), we could sign Greg Norton! I hear he’s available and plays a very serviceable first base!

Truth is, the Braves had a good hitting first baseman at the end of last season. His name was Adam LaRoche. The Braves let him walk, though…

Mama Cox

April 26th, 2010
4:48 pm

You may not realize it, but .150 hitters need more Mama-ing than .350 hitters. And I am just the Mama for the job. Come here Yunel, xoxoxoxoxoxo

W/E

April 26th, 2010
4:50 pm

move Chipper to first, Prado to third and infante to 2nd. rearrange the batting order to prado leading off with escobar 2nd(where he succeeded last year), chip 3rd, Mac 4th, Jey-Hey 5th, Diaz 6th, Infante 7th, and McClouth/Melky 8th. If Chipper would just switch corners he’d have a better shot at staying healthy. I’m ready to end the Glaus experiment. It’s not just the sucky hitting, but he’s a liability as a fielder.

Stephen Hawking

April 26th, 2010
4:51 pm

Aliens could be dangerous.

a

April 26th, 2010
4:51 pm

W/E, do you really think chippers obliques and hammys would do well stretching for throws in the dirt? he’s no less injury prone at first.

W/E

April 26th, 2010
4:52 pm

Package Freeman to get Gonzalez and shell out the $’s to get Adrian Gonzalez to an extension. Gonzalez is still fairly young, lock him u long term. He and J’Hey along with McCann would give us a 3-4-5 to reckon with for years. But Wren doesn’t have the nuts or the competence to pull this off.

a

April 26th, 2010
4:53 pm

locking up gonzo for the long term has NOTHING to do with Wren. we don’t have ownership that will pay for it!

god im getting no work done today.

Jeff

April 26th, 2010
4:54 pm

As much as I would love to have Gonzalez its not going to happen. The owners are terrible and so I our GM.

W/E

April 26th, 2010
4:55 pm

What about those unspent 11 million dollars from Vasquez’s salary?

Yoda

April 26th, 2010
4:56 pm

W/E………..Slipper at 1st, please no…just stick a fork in him he’s done…did you see his great throw yesterday….yikes, he needs to retire Now.

is30303

April 26th, 2010
4:58 pm

i saw pass on gonzo. . . he’d be great but this isn’t rotisserie baseball. at what cost? What will the Padres want? I say too much. This has all the makings of a Texeria or a JD Drew trade.

we haven’t even tried out our in-house solutions yet. remember prado didn’t get to audition til when?

hey, doesn’t norton play first?

SeATLite

April 26th, 2010
4:59 pm

Jeff, you’re a great guy, but you should prepare yourself to get torched by Peter Hjort on the Capitol Avenue Club blog again, and with good reason.

Your writing is sincere and well-intentioned, but mercifully unmolested by reality. You say you’ve always thought that LH/RH stuff was overblown? Okay, but actual statistics don’t bear you out; while a few elite hitters do hit well against both sides, most hit quite a bit better against one or the others.

As of today, for example, Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .365 with 6 home runs against right-handers — and .091 with 0 homers against lefties. His splits for 2007-2009 are .304/.236, 75 HRs vs 31. These numbers don’t mean Gonzalez is a bad hitter, or even that the Braves shouldn’t want him — but they strongly indicate that what you’ve “always thought” is simply, demonstrably wrong in this case.

You say you’re “not sure if the Padres can continue this winning.” Well, no, you can’t be, and whether they do or not will flatly determine whether there is any point whatsoever to fantasizing about a trade for Gonzalez. If the Padres do keep winning, they won’t consider trading him — and a lot of people closer to that team than you are have suggested that, given what he means to their fan base, they may not consider trading him even if they don’t keep winning. This matters. I can say the Braves will be an immeasurably better team if they trade for Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, and I’d be right — but that’s never, ever going to happen, so there’s no point in talking about it. And I think you’ll agree that, if you wrote a column suggesting such a thing, you’d be guilty of sportswriter malpractice.

And that’s not even dealing with the reality-based issue of whether what the Braves would have to give up to get Adrian Gonzalez would be worth a year and a half of him. You make passing reference to the Teixeira trade, but I don’t think there’s a Braves fan around at this point who doesn’t look at Andrus et al burning it up in Arlington and wish John Schuerholz had never made that deal.

My point isn’t to rag you cruelly; as I say, you seem like a great guy and I enjoy your writing much of the time. But old-school, dead-tree-media writers like you and Mark Bradley need to understand that you can no longer just phone this stuff in without checking your facts and supporting the points you want to make with some actual legwork beforehand. You’re being lazy and sloppy, and in the process you’re not helping save your job, your newspaper or your industry — to say nothing of saving the Atlanta Braves.

Get better at what you do. For your own good, as well as ours. Or you’re gonna go extinct, sooner rather than later. That’s not disrespect, it’s just a sober, steely-eyed appraisal of the reality of the situation. You might consider emulating the approach.

W/E

April 26th, 2010
5:01 pm

We coulda solved this in-house had they taken a flyer on Adam Laroche instead of a washed-up fatty with a bum shoulder. And we coulda resigned Andruw on the cheap, but we traded Javier Vasquez (who at mimimum woulda been major trade-bait at the deadline in July) for a centerfielder with a beer-gut and the worst power numbers on the team.

Eddie Perez would be a good manager

April 26th, 2010
5:03 pm

I would not mind at all if they moved Freeman and another midlevel prospect, or even D Lowe and Freeman for Gonzo. You get two seasons (almost) and then you have Chipper’s 15 mil to use toward resigning him. Prado is better at third anyway, and you have a couple of second base prospects on the farm that should be ready by then. I’d hate to lose Freeman, but Gonzo’s a proven player, Freeman is only potential.

Herschel Talker

April 26th, 2010
5:03 pm

Schultzie –

Number 4 is the key. Glaus is a complete disaster. While we’re at it firing Glaus, can we fire Bobby and Wren?

HT

carllange

April 26th, 2010
5:03 pm

Why is the Braves pathetic defense being largely ignored in team-fixing talk? If you got a good staff and bad hitters you better at least be able to catch and throw it to keep yourself in the game. Yet Wren/Cox allow an aging error machine at one corner and an aging fumbling experiment on the other. So below average D on the corners. How does that support the pitching staff you bulit this team around? does anyone remember the 1991 Schuerholz model of defense defense defense to go with the young guns?

I will say again to deaf ears McCann should be learning first base not Glaus. That way Ross could play more and Mac and his average at best D behind the plate can be phased out and focus on his offense. Or try Chipper over there or encourage him to finish his career in the AL as a DH. Melky is too chubby to be a good OF and McLouth has a weak arm. So many holes defensively with the added bonus of poor fundamentals. Hitting may come and go but good D doesn’t slump. Either does good fundamentals and this tyeam lacks both in spades.

Marty

April 26th, 2010
5:05 pm

After reading this I really want to say, start selling off and start over. But we really do have the pitching to contend and you have to capitalize on that while you have it. We’re up there among the best pitching in either league even if you take Lowe out of the equation. Who else has as many quality starters – Hanson, Huddy & Jair as us – not Philly, not the Mets, not most teams. And we’ve seen what good things can happen if we hit…hit even just a little bit. If we can make a move that will give a spark, provide some energy, shake things up, without mortgaging the farm, then DO it, NOW. Make a small trade – move Nate or Melky or Yunel, go ahead and cut Glaus, or even fire TP…something. But don’t move the whole farm system for Gonzo. This group of hitters aren’t going to ever jell. We need a spark but not a Gonzo sized spark. My two cents.

Eddie Perez would be a good manager

April 26th, 2010
5:05 pm

By the way, if not Perez to replace Bobby, I’d agree with the whole ‘clean house’ crowd. Until Liberty sells the club to a serious owner, it won’t matter anyway.

RT

April 26th, 2010
5:08 pm

When will Frank Wren finally feel some heat?

Jeff D.

April 26th, 2010
5:10 pm

Jeff, this Glaus signing made me ill. He’s been injured, busted for PED’s and just hasn’t done much since he was with the Angels. It was a hail mary for the Braves. Maybe, just maybe he’d “recapture” his stroke. Nah, I didn’t belive it. What made it worse was his conversion to the 1B position. He’s been ok at 1st but his swing may be long gone. Hell, I’d rather see Hinskie at 1B. I’m not ready to crap on Wren but this one isn’t working out at all. As for Gonzo, it seemed like SD was hot to deal him last year. I guess the Braves didn’t offer enough. Now the Pads are looking solid and they may not want to tinker with that.

kelly

April 26th, 2010
5:12 pm

End the Stop-Gaps. DON’T give up any more youth. We have and excellent farm system with incredible young talent that we continue to give away….and regret!
Who cares if we miss the playoffs yet again. It will be a bummer but we will be back in a couple with a strong young team.
PS- I hate to say it, but I think TP has to go. Shake it up a bit.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coachx

April 26th, 2010
5:12 pm

This is Mark Texiera all over again.

If you can’t afford to resign him for a $20 mill per year salary then you have no business trading for him.

bwash21

April 26th, 2010
5:13 pm

A deal for Adrian Gonzalez is going to start with:

Freddie Freeman and Kris Medlen and go from there. That wouldn’t be enough to make it happen.
Depending on what the rest is, I am ready to make it happen.

Eddie Perez would be a good manager

April 26th, 2010
5:14 pm

Carlange…excellent post.

Dawg-Hatin' Jacket

April 26th, 2010
5:15 pm

The Texiera trade is exactly why we are in the position we are in now. We continue to give away the best prospects and are left with the team on the field now. Let’s face it, one player is not going to make any difference. The Braves are just plain bad, thanks to the giving away of the farm time after time. Let’s stop that cycle of stupidity now.

bwash21

April 26th, 2010
5:15 pm

Anyone mentioning Derek Lowe in a deal for Gonzalez is an idiot.
Do you even have any idea why Gonzalez is available?

If you did, then you would understand that Lowe is not going to Padres, much less the NY Yankees in any deal.

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
5:15 pm

When Chipper retires they will be able to afford him

How About a UNICORN?

April 26th, 2010
5:16 pm

We have about as much chance of getting GONZALEZ as a UNICORN flying out of the stands at Turner Field….THE NEW ATLANTA BRAVES WOULD NEVER SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY THESE GUYS ARE THE MOST RIDICULOUS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM I HAVE EVER SEEN…..I am cautious about calling them Major Leaguers because I could bring up the entire Triple A squad from Gwinnett and have a better showing than what these bums are doing…2011 will be the year we can get rid of this so called HALL OF FAME Manager however if any other manager had been in charge of this team then we would have at least 2 World Series Championships if not 4…Bobby Cox SUX…Frank Wren Sux and Terry Pendleton double SUX….

roman bravo

April 26th, 2010
5:16 pm

remember when the braves would jump on deals well I guess those days are gone, could’ve had damon, didn’t wanna pay the money, retreads usually don’t work out, a.gonzalez would be great but I doubt they’ll do it, hate to see a mediocre team, if they do nothing, we’re looking at a battle for 3rd or 4th place.

Jeff D.

April 26th, 2010
5:16 pm

I love the new nicknames:
Glaus “Washed up Fatty” and Melky “Beer Gut” Cabrera! Sounds like a blockbuster summer flick.

Chip

April 26th, 2010
5:22 pm

The Braves have played 18 games. They’ve only hit 12 home runs, and a third of those are from a rookie. There’s only 1 homer from another outfielder.

This is the most embarrassing display of offense that I’ve ever witnessed from a Braves team…Changes need to be made immediately before this gets any more ridiculous.

bvillebaron

April 26th, 2010
5:23 pm

Jeff:

If this piece doesn’t represent the eptiome of panic based on 18 lousy games, I don’t know what does! Tell me who the rebuilding Braves are going to have to give up for the next Mark Texiera (not really) panacea and get back to me Jeff.

How About a UNICORN?

April 26th, 2010
5:25 pm

Maybe you will post this one JEFF SCHULTZ SUXS….

Allen

April 26th, 2010
5:28 pm

Kelly Johnson has 7 home runs.Do the Braves have that as a team

How About a UNICORN?

April 26th, 2010
5:31 pm

The Braves have a better chance of having a UNICORN FLY out of the stands than getting GONZALEZ why would JEFF SCHULTZ even point this out….HE KNOW DA_N well the Braves are not going to do this….FRANK WREN this guy is the biggest joke in Atlanta since JON Contract left town….I cannot believe these guys even put on Major League Uniforms they are the biggest joke of a major league baseball team I have ever seen…Cant Hit, Cant Field, Cant think (Escobar)…oh yeah thanks Frank Wren if we can hold all teams under one run we got a great shot of winning something…maybe if we throw 90 shutouts this year we can make the playoffs….How much more disappointing can it be when 3 weeks into the season you realize your team is a JOKE…..now I know how the Pirates and National Fans have felt all these years….

PN

April 26th, 2010
5:32 pm

Uhm…Jeff…with all due respect, don’t give yourself too much credit. Every team in baseball aside from a few would LOVE to have Adrian Gonzalaez on their team…it’s a no brainer to make that suggestion. You have TOTALLY neglected the downside — the cost of bringing him here. Does the Mark Teixera trade not ring any bells? Yes, everyone would love to have AGon and his .280 40 100, but it will cost the Braves probably 2-3 top tier prospects and then a couple of more middle-tier guys. This means the Padres would be stupid to not ask for at least Freddie Freeman, Kris Medlen, and some other dude whose name I can’t remember. I would love to have him here, but NOT for 4 months. If the Braves get Adrian and fork out the talent to get him, he needs to be a fixture, not a rental. Your article totally ignored this. This is the reason the Braves didn’t have him on the roster in November, bubba.

Cartersville Dawg

April 26th, 2010
5:34 pm

We need to fix the bigger problem first and get rid of Terry Pendleton?

How About a UNICORN?

April 26th, 2010
5:36 pm

Let me just ask you one question JEFF do you think the Braves are going to get Gonzalez? If so what are the chances 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, I think we all know the answer to this what are you writing this BS so we can all live in FANTASY LAND….PLEASE IN THE FUTURE PUT SOME MORE HEAT ON THE HITTERS AND THE MANAGER AND THE GENERAL MANAGER INSTEAD OF SENDING US A HYPOTHETICAL LONG SHOT…..WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START CALLING OUT THE BUMS ON THE TEAM RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF WRITING THIS CRAP

Donny Corleone

April 26th, 2010
5:37 pm

This team is more than one or two players away from contending.

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
5:42 pm

How About a UNICORN…..

Although I disagree with your methods, I have to agree with what you are saying

orlandodawg

April 26th, 2010
5:46 pm

I can’t wait until chipper and dlowe come off the books! Pay Gonzo, Heyward and Hanson

atlvol55

April 26th, 2010
5:48 pm

Wren must have lost it…he was actually defending Glaus on the radio today. Literally everytime I turn on the Braves, Glaus either strikes our or hits into a double play…

Jeff….did you notice how Glaus was barely jogging on that double play last night…I know he is slow, but on a soft grounder to third…he was out by at least 10 feet..Its one thing to be swinging back…its another to not even hustle.

Glaus= 2009 Greg Norton…every game in crucial situations and Bobby keeps putting him in there when EVERYONE knew a K or double play was coming!!

atlvol55

April 26th, 2010
5:49 pm

sorry meant to say “swing bad”

Donny Corleone

April 26th, 2010
5:51 pm

Chipper-”I’m old and hurt.”
Yunel- “Nobody love Yunel.”
Nate- “I forgot how to play.”
Troy- “I’m lost.”
Melky- never mind
Jason- “How in the he!! did I get stuck with this bunch?”
This is just a sad bunch of players who have no fire, desire, and apparantly no shame.

DMBJAMS

April 26th, 2010
5:51 pm

Jeff, you are my hero. Glaus is a has-been poser. No poppy without the juicy.

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
5:54 pm

Has the lineup been posted yet

Roja

April 26th, 2010
5:57 pm

That “power hitter” we need was non-tendered by the Braves in the off season. .322 batting average, .429 OBP, .814 SLG, 1.242 OPS, leading the entire National League in both Home Runs (7) and OPS. Who is that masked man??? Kelly Johnson. Imagine the tandem of Prado at third and KJ at second.

Maybe we don’t need a power hitter. Maybe we have one ( or two, or three) on this team all ready and we just need a Hitting Coach.

How About a UNICORN?

April 26th, 2010
5:57 pm

Sorry Jeff for the inappropriate comments above I really do believe we will Adrian Gonzalez however the PROBLEM it will be 2022 when he is 39 years coming elbow and shoulder reconstruction after missing all of last year…..hoping for a rejuvenated season back to his old form of 2010…..

GTSteve

April 26th, 2010
5:58 pm

Lol, unicorn, sad but true

Greg Norton

April 26th, 2010
6:05 pm

I can play first base, and I can bat lead-off, too. And, I’m cheap.

Jeff D.

April 26th, 2010
6:07 pm

Roja: Let’s hold off on nominating Kelly Johnson as the new Ted Williams. It’s early. He has plenty of time to get his career average back to .266

Hadji

April 26th, 2010
6:13 pm

We would need to give up Minor, who as of now is killing in the minors with k+ per inning. One of our top prospects

Roja

April 26th, 2010
6:16 pm

I’ll hold off on KJ and also on Prado’s great start. It’s EARLY so I’ll also lay off Glaus’ poor start and on Chipper’s errors, and on McClouth’s slow start and on Melky’s slow start and on Yunel’s attack of “duh”. There are 144 games left!!! But as far as TP and Bobby…. I have the last 4 years to base my feelings on that they just may BE the problem with this team.

Hillbilly Deluxe

April 26th, 2010
6:17 pm

If I were making the decision, I’d just wait ’til next when Freeman is ready. Trading for Gonzalez would stick you with another contract down the road and this team isn’t going anywhere this year, anyway. Though they won’t admit it publically, the Braves are in the middle of a rebuilding phase.

Roja

April 26th, 2010
6:18 pm

By the way, Andruw is hitting .292 with 6 HRs and a .404 OBP and .708 SLG and 1.112 OPS. I guess the White Sox have a real Hitting Coach, also.

MIchael Smith

April 26th, 2010
6:25 pm

The troubling thing about the Glaus situation is that pitchers are getting him out just blowing fastballs by him — nothing tricky or nasty, just low 90s fastballs.

But we’ll see — we are only a little over 10% into the season.

T'VILLE DAWG

April 26th, 2010
6:27 pm

If your a Cox fav he will play you no matter how bad you are, Andruw Jones didn’t hit his weight for three years before he thankfully moved on. The higher ups decided as soon as 09 was up to find the cheapest right handed hitter for first regaurdless. I can’t watch this crap any more. I’m thrilled Cox is going to leave soon. But on the other hand the other dead weight Pendelton will probably get the job so the same old shiatzu will keep spinning on the old turntable.That’s crap for another day though, man it chafes me the Braves gave away a potential superstar to a division rival, boy the Mets really have the Braves number, no need to name names, but I will, poor Jeff and am I pleased to see him flourish under legitimate coaching. Chipper hasn’t used T.P. for hitting advice in forever. punchline to the joke of the day, answer Pendelton.

Jeff D.

April 26th, 2010
6:29 pm

Roja: I think Andrew is playing better because he’s had to work for it. He was cruising on pure talent for a while, got fat and his swing got sloppy. I’m glad he’s doing well now.

gt

April 26th, 2010
6:32 pm

if he is one of the top 7 million players alive todaY, BRING HIM. HE WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT.

NO MORE BOBBY

April 26th, 2010
6:38 pm

Padres are winning so Gonzalez is going nowhere.

FYI – THE COACHES GOTTA GO BEFORE ANY BROUGHT IN PLAYER IS GOING TO HELP THIS TEAM!!! We bring in Tex. Did that help? We get McClouth from Pirates. Did that help? We get Church from Mets (lame). Did that help? We get Kotchman from Angels. Did that help? Point is we can play musical chairs all day long with bringing in new guys but until Bobby and his boys are finally gone it will always be the same results. LOSING.

TheAntiMe

April 26th, 2010
6:40 pm

Sorry, Jeff, but the Padres being desperate is a very relative concept, to be sure. Do you recall just one off-season ago when the Padres were also desperate to trade Jake Peavy that the deal was not feasible because the desperate Padres, reportedly wanted Tommy Hanson, Yunel Escobar, and 2 more very high-profile minor league prospects for Peavy and some long-shot minor leaguer?

I would be happy to see Adrian Gonzales with a tomahawk across his chest, but not at the expense of say Jason Heyward, Freedie Freeman and Tommy Hanson. It’s just not worth it to trade the Braves future for a player that – although he is perhaps the best hitter at his position in the NL – still will not be enough to get the Braves into the playoffs without other big changes to the roster taking place.

The Braves are so close with their younger players such as Freeman, Jordan Schafer, and Arodys Vizcaino that it would be foolish to give two or more of these players up.

Bottom line: Adrian Gonzales is a native son of San Diego and is a rock star in that city. I would be shocked if the Padres – desperate or not – didn’t require a kings ransom for him in a trade, just based on their recent demands with Peavy.

NEW CARS

April 26th, 2010
6:45 pm

SGT. Schultz,

I wonder if they might do like they did with the bullpen a few years ago and ship someone to the minors, like Melky and try to catch lightning in a bottle with Brent Clevlen. What are the chances of putting Chipper at first and getting Bob Horner back for a game to see which one hurt themselves first in BP…

gobraves

April 26th, 2010
6:46 pm

i know that we are all spoiled due to the success that us as braves fans have had, but wow this team is really sloppy. offence deffence everything but pitching. very few guys hustle and even if everyone did hustle i do not think that it would make up for the lack to talent left on the ball club. its like the braves are the new raiders. yesh this guy was good until he put on a braves uniform. i am not sure if it is TP or just the overall standard of this team now. i know you hear everyone say that it is a business, but at some point all these guys are going to have to start playing the game and not doing business. that goes from top to bottom of the organization.

Real UT

April 26th, 2010
6:53 pm

I would throw Freeman in if I had to. Gonzalez is a proven stud at the major league level. Freeman seems like he will be, too, but he doesn’t really have anywhere near the power Gonzalez has. The Braves need a power bat.

Lineup
1. Prado
2. J- Hey
3. Chipper
4. Gonzalez
5. Mac
6. Esky
7. Diaz/Cabrera
8. McLouth
9. P

This lineup would be dirty. I would also consider putting Infante somewhere in the outfield/infield everyday and just let him lead off.

thunderbull56

April 26th, 2010
7:20 pm

Everbody’s doing a brand new dance now.Come on baby do the locomotion.Funny how all you scribes can dog on the Nortons and Johnsons of the world.BTW, last I heard Kelly and Frenchy were rippin’ it up. And never mention the illustrious Terry Pendleton’s obvious ineptitude.I know he’s not the one in the batter’s box, but for cryin’ out loud,how long can Bobby Cox wear those rose colored glasses?

Bill

April 26th, 2010
7:21 pm

Trade Escobar and two minor leagers. If that didn’t work add another , just get it done.

MitchC

April 26th, 2010
7:23 pm

Jeff. Thank You! Finally, someone has a solution that will help this team.

I agree with you that Gonzalez would be an excellent fit for this team. He has power, he’s a first baseman, and he has a very affordable contract. Most important, he can play every day, and would result in Troy Glaus finally being let go. I also agree that the Braves can’t worry about next season and Freddie Freeman. They are having enough trouble this season, and, if they don’t start playing better soon, they will not only have to worry about Philly being long gone, but also about falling completely out of the wild card race.

Do the fans a favor, Jeff, contact Frank Wren and tell him what you just wrote. If I know Wren, he’ll wait, and wait, and wait, until it’s too late.

Get Gonzalez here, now! If Wren doesn’t, he should pay by losing his job!

GoodTraction

April 26th, 2010
7:26 pm

Where is Sonny? C’mon, Sonny, you always come out of the woodwork on the Braves blog. Even if you’re on vacation in Bora Bora, you can enlighten us by remote.

Jeff

April 26th, 2010
7:29 pm

If I were Frank Wren this is what I would do. 1) Trade one of our surplus pitchers of Adrian Gonzalez.
2) When Freeman is ready to be called up, move Gonzalez to 3rd and force Chipper to retire. Genius.

Skid

April 26th, 2010
7:45 pm

The braves don’t need to do anything but open the checkbook up alittle. I don’t care what Terry M. says but the payroll has been cut. The numbers sure don’t add up to last year. The braves could have had a good team if they could spend close to 100 mill. I am tired of the braves trying to fix the offense with vets that are 33+ years old. We need to find a RH power bat for LF in the worst way. Their were 2 on the market this year and the braves did nothing. I can’t wait until we have a real owner. Maybe we can spend some money on the players we need.

Dejay

April 26th, 2010
7:46 pm

BravesfaninWis said it best; as long as ownership continues to care more about how much $$$ was made in the Chophouse instead of titles won on the field, the Braves will remain a third-tier team who continue to think of itself as elite although it hasn’t been relevant in close to a decade. It’s as if they’re the only ones in town who don’t realize that it isn’t 1995 anymore.

The problem with this franchise goes WAYYYYYYYY beyond them not being in the eventual Gonzales sweepstakes (who are we really fooling folks, he’s not coming here). This is the same team who let a productive guy walk because $5M was too much for him to ask. And just how many contending teams you know of right now have a $1.5M, 34-year old batting cleanup? Think about it; the corner infielders are comprised of Chipper and Glaus, which would’ve been cool if it was 2006 and not 2010.

And as much as Vasquez is getting shelled in NYC, who would you rather have had here to begin the season; him or Cabrera? And do I even need to go there with the Derek Lowe signing? It’s like he took a ski mask and an AK-47 to Turner Field during the negotiations.

Ask yourselves this; before we get to Liberty Media, the GM has to be taken to task for bringing in a bunch of guys who have yet to produce. What team(s) did he build before he got here? The Orioles; how did they do under his watch? Oh, yeah.

So we can hope that the bats come around and hope that the starting pitchers (save Lowe) don’t blow a gasket the next time they go 7 innings, give up two runs, and still lose 2-0, hope that Liberty Media don’t pare payroll even further when only 12-17K are in the building in mid-July, and hope the next guy they face don’t take a look at their lineup and decide to make history like Jimenez did a week ago. There’s better odds in the Powerball, though…

ryan

April 26th, 2010
7:53 pm

ESPN is reporting that the Cubs are going to cut Alfonso Soriano maybe that is somebody the Braves can look at.

.

April 26th, 2010
8:04 pm

ryan don’t believe that sh@#

siskel_god

April 26th, 2010
8:05 pm

Throw in Escobar and bring back Everth Cabrera. Gonzo and Cabrera solve the power and the lead off spot. I know Cabrera isn’t hitting much better than any of our other guys, but for what ever reason Bobby Cox seems to hate Yunel. So let’s just do him a favor and send him to San Diego.

Tyler

April 26th, 2010
8:07 pm

Its TERRY PENDELTON, he is the PROBLEM, look at what kelly Johnson and jeff francouer are doing out of ATL, Terry Pendelton just hasnt been able to help the players get better. End of story.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:11 pm

Sadsacker News announces today that Parabrokebackmount Pictures is making a movie called “White Men Can’t Hit”.

Braves fans should be excited because the producer has announced that the leading acting role
will be chosen from Nate Mclouth,Troy Glaus,and Matt Diaz. Producer Juan Hung Lo says “The best part is these players can just be themselves and suck at hitting. Whether its Nate,Troy,or Matt that lands the leading role, all three will be in this blockbuster film !”
He also stated that “We will use Ubaldo Jimenez and Roy Halladay as the opposing pitchers in this movie.” Surprisingly he revealed that Melky Cabrera will also be in the movie. “We know Melky is not white but since he is light-skinned we can use a bunch of make-up to make him white enough.” Terry Pendleton will be the hitting coach that will be seen eating a lot of sunflower seeds and peanuts as his prodigies struggle at the plate helplessly…Although no Braves fans are expected to want to watch this documentary film,tickets are being offered at half price with 25 % of all ticket sales being donated to Bobby Cox charity : MLB Managers Over 65.
Coming soon to a theater near you…

Hillbilly Deluxe

April 26th, 2010
8:22 pm

In spite of his drawbacks, I’d be surprised to see the Cubs release Soriano. He is hitting .300 going into today,

Jeff R

April 26th, 2010
8:22 pm

“Do the Braves still feel somewhat burned by the Mark Teixeira trade? Probably.”

Geez, Jeff, if all Braves’ management feels is “somewhat” burned by the Super Tex fleecing, then maybe Wren will go off half-cocked and trade another armful of solid prospects for what amounts to another rental.

And what would San Diego want for Gonzalez? Pitching? Wouldn’t do that. Remember, the Braves’ added McGriff and Andres when they had the other pieces of a contending team in place. The 2010 Braves aren’t there yet. I’d keep my powder dry, if I were Wren.

.

April 26th, 2010
8:23 pm

end of 1st…0-0. Chip looked sick at bat (in pain) ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:24 pm

Tim Hudson’s gotta throw a no-hitter to win. One run and he will lose…

David Smith

April 26th, 2010
8:24 pm

Getting Gonzo would be a huge lift to our offense with his clutch hitting (3.17 avg and leading his team in HR’s with 6) and, Gold Glove fielding. We will see if Wren has the guts to pull the trigger to get him.

.

April 26th, 2010
8:26 pm

Soriano salary is $19,000,ooo thats alot of money to eat…and like Hillbilly said he is hitting 300 with 2 hrs.

bp

April 26th, 2010
8:27 pm

All these people saying we should have kept Kelly J. are the same ones who wanted him gone.He’ll cool off.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:28 pm

Chipper might have pulled the hammy running out that bunt to shortstop…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:29 pm

Kelly could play OF too. Could be playing CF or LF and still have Prado at 2B…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:30 pm

Here’s ole two outs fer one hittin’ Glaus…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:32 pm

Bases loaded 1 out, Glaus will hit into DP. Nobody on base Glaus gets a hit…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:35 pm

Ump bad call. SS off bag on force play. Glaus was safe. 2 outs top 2nd.

1st 2010

April 26th, 2010
8:35 pm

Who would we trade for him?? Schaffer and glaus, or Melky and glaus or all of them together?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:37 pm

1st and 3rd two outs McLouth up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:38 pm

Tap to pitcher, 3 outs.

.

April 26th, 2010
8:38 pm

Umpire missed call at 2nd base, Glaus was safe. BC said not a word.
Cabrera hits, men on corners for Nate which is easy out to pitcher.

bp

April 26th, 2010
8:40 pm

Have you ever seen a worse atbat with men on than Mclouse

.

April 26th, 2010
8:40 pm

1st 2010=trade all three.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:40 pm

M. Holliday up,single to LF.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:42 pm

Rasmus base hit. runners 1st & 2nd no outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:44 pm

Holliday thrown out stealing 3rd.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:46 pm

Fly out. Runner at 2B 2 outs. Frese at bat

.

April 26th, 2010
8:49 pm

robdawg08, you do a better job than me. Keep it up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:49 pm

Freese frozen on a change-up. 3 outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:50 pm

Ok. Just 4 those not watching.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:52 pm

Hudson base hit up the middle. Now 1 for 7 for the year.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:55 pm

Escobar fly out. 1 down.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:57 pm

League leaders with 8 doubles Prado,K.Johnson,Werth.

Prado bloop single to center. 1st & 2nd. 1 out. Chipper up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
8:59 pm

Chipper walks. Bases loaded McCann up.

Bill

April 26th, 2010
9:01 pm

Braves need to do something Now!

HANGMAN

April 26th, 2010
9:02 pm

STOP TALKING AND THINKING ABOUT IT !!!!!! DO IT !!!!!!!

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:02 pm

Braves batting .192 with bases loaded for year.

McCann fly ball. Hudson scores on sac fly. 1-0 Braves.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:03 pm

Glaus Base hit. Prado scores. 2-0 Braves.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:05 pm

Heyward strikes out. 3 outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:06 pm

Joe Simpson said that TP worked with hitters for several hours in the batting cage. Did he work with mcLouth and Heyward ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:08 pm

Ryan ground ball nice play by escobar. 1 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:09 pm

Lohse grounds 2 Glaus, Hudson covers 2 outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:10 pm

Schumacker ground ball easy play Escobar. Inning over.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:12 pm

Top 4th
2-0 Braves
Braves have 5 hits, Cards have 3.

Melky Way up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:13 pm

Melky ground ball 3rd. Melky safe.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:14 pm

Melky almost picked off by Molina at 1B.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:16 pm

Nate line drive double, Melky scores. 3-0 nobody out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:17 pm

Hudson bunts Melky to 3rd. 1 out.

Jerald Holcombe

April 26th, 2010
9:18 pm

I personally feel that trading both Freeman and Vizcaino for Gonzalez is a bit too much. The Padres are shedding salary and would take any deal that gives them a player of merit like Freeman plus a pitcher like Dunn. This situation is so close to being the same situation Schuerholz encountered when he fleeced the Pads for the services of McGriff. The Pads would trip all over themselves if we put Freeman and Vizcaino on the table. The last thing that gets in the way of this trade is the fact that San Diego is in first place. We all know they won’t stay there, but until they fall off, they aren’t gonna trade anybody.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:18 pm

I meant Nate to 3rd.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:20 pm

Escobar walks.
Prado up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:22 pm

Prado line drive to 3rd. Double up Escobar.
3-0 Braves.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:23 pm

Prado just missed a double. Dang.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:24 pm

Ludwick ground out 3B. 1 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:25 pm

Pujols base hit to center.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:26 pm

Wild pitch, Pujols to 2nd.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:27 pm

Nice play Yunel 2 outs, Pujols to 3rd.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:30 pm

Hudson bouncing pitch after pitch in the dirt.

Rasmus strikes out looking. inning over.
3-0 Braves.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:33 pm

Chipper long fly ball out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:34 pm

McCann deep fly ball out LF. 2 outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:35 pm

Glaus long fly ball CF. 3 outs.

3-0 braves

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:37 pm

Simpson says Chipper’s response to B.Jordan’s comments : 1)Did he say that really. 2)Brian’s not with me before games or in the off-season so he doesn’t know if I stretch or workout or not.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:40 pm

Molina walks. Umpire squeezing strike zone.

Hudson throwing junk in the dirt not even close to the plate (split-finger).

Starting to rain.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:42 pm

Freese doubleplay to Escobar. 2 outs.

Ump squeezing Huddy on fastballs that are strikes. the splits are no where near strikes.

Jalb3rt

April 26th, 2010
9:43 pm

This has got to be the most stupid article ever written by a human being. Specially after the Texeira fiasco. WOW. But even more stupid are the bloggers proposing trades like sending Freddie Freeman and others for A-Gon. Haha! Hilarious! Giving up the future franchise 1Bman for a half year rental. OMG! Some people are really retarded!

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:45 pm

Ryan strikes out swinging. official game. Still raining. 3-0 Braves.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:47 pm

Top 6th

Heyward fly to short. 1 olut. Heyward in a bad slump. 1 for last 12.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:48 pm

Melky pop up to SS. 2 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:49 pm

Nate pop up to CF. 3 outs. Bottom 6th.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:51 pm

3-0 Braves.

I hope Cox doesn’t leave Hudson in too long (if he’s tired ?).

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:52 pm

John Jay pinch-hitting for Lohse. Strikes out. 1 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:53 pm

Schumaker walks on 4 straight balls.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:54 pm

Nobody warming up in bullpen & Pujols due up 3rd…

Ludwick hitting.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:57 pm

Ludwick base hit to CF. 1st & 3rd. Pujols up. 1 out.
Damn Cox should have a pitcher ready to come in…

Hudson needs to stop throwing splitter. Another one bounced up there.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:57 pm

Long deep foul to RF…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
9:59 pm

Hudson tiring.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm

Manage a little bit Bobby. Get a pitcher ready…

Ground ball to Escobar. Run scores. 3-1 Braves. 2 outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm

Runner at 2B.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:03 pm

Escobar took a hit away.

Holliday deep fly ball out. 3 outs. 3-1 Braves Top 7th.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:05 pm

Can anybody else watching believe that no pitcher is warming up in Braves bullpen ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:06 pm

Hudson hits for self. Ground out to 3B. 1 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:07 pm

Escobar strikes out. 2 outs.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:09 pm

Prado line drive grounder to 3B thrown out. 3 outs.

Braves leadoff hitters are combined 7 for 80 (Escobar 0 for 3 tonight).

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:11 pm

Wagner and/or Saito better be warming up…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:13 pm

Moylan & o’Flaherty warming up WTF ?

Rasmus hits homerun. 3-2. Damn.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:14 pm

Poor managing IMO. Hudson is tired.

JRW7

April 26th, 2010
10:15 pm

This 2010 is not a real professional MLB team at all. Frank Wrenn has no clue. I.E. Troy Glaus, Wren gave away Vasquez, did not attempt to sign LaRoche, TP is no MLB hitting coach. Chippers too old, and needs to give a little bit more effort sometimes, but he plays cool. Pitching is ok. I am about ready to give up on 2010.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:16 pm

Molina walks. What is Cox waiting on ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:18 pm

Righty Mylan coming in. For you Cox lovers this is the bad managing I’m talking about. he did the same thing twice with Kawakami who was tired in the 6th in both games. Why have a bullpen if you ain’t gonna use them ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:21 pm

Freese battling

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:22 pm

Freese flys out to deep right. 1 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:24 pm

Molina stole second. A catcher…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:25 pm

Prado dropped short-hop throw from McCann.

Ump just no pitched a strike from Moylan.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:26 pm

Ryan strikes out. 2 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:27 pm

Ump not calling corner strikes.

Anderson doubles to LF. tie game. 3-3.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:28 pm

Intentional walk to Schumaker. Runners 1st & 2nd 2 outs.

Cox not pulling Hudson earlier led to this tie game.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:29 pm

Pujols on deck.

Super g

April 26th, 2010
10:30 pm

We are looking for a solution at the wrong position. Since we will not trade Chipper (for a lot of reasons), we should move him to first and start looking for a third baseman or short stop. Escobar is flexible.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:31 pm

Ludwick groundout to Escobar at 2B. inning over.
3-3.

buick59

April 26th, 2010
10:31 pm

thought you had to go to Turner Classic Movies to find the Three Stooges. They’re on Peachtree TV!!

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:33 pm

Two stooges maybe ? Joe & John ? Why don’t they have commercials ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:34 pm

Reyes now pitching for Cards.

Chipper up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:35 pm

Chipper groundout to SS. 1 out.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:35 pm

Chipper spiked Pujols at 1B. Walking it off…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:37 pm

McCann broken bat grounder to 2B. 2 outs.
It was Pujols hand. He got burned by Freese throw. Imagine that ?

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:39 pm

Glaus walks. This umpire just called an outside strike. First one tonight. A sorry azz ump…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:42 pm

They just said Heyward swung at a pitch. He held up. 3-1
He walked. 1st & 2nd. Melky up. Conrad running for Glaus at 2B.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:42 pm

Come on Melky-Way !

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:43 pm

Reyes very wild.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:44 pm

3-2 count

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:45 pm

Melky just missed a double. Foul ball.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:47 pm

Melky line-out to CF. Inning over. Bottom 8th
3-3 tie.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:51 pm

Pujols double to LF past diving Chipper.

Saito pitching.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:53 pm

Holliday fly out to Conrad (2B). Pujols stays at 2B. 1 out. Walking Rasmus intentionally.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:53 pm

1st & 2nd with 1 out. Molina up.

cracker1

April 26th, 2010
10:54 pm

jeff, please tell me colby rasmus has been nicknamed

jeff, please tell me Colby Rasmus has been nick-named “E”.

‘

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:55 pm

Molina ground rule double. 4-3 Cards. 2nd & 3rd. 1 out.

Crap !

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
10:57 pm

Grounder to 2B. rasmus thrown out at plate. 1st & 3rd with 2 outs. Ryan up.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:00 pm

Ryan strikes out. But its 4-3 Cards.
9th inning. Last chance for Braves.

gcs

April 26th, 2010
11:00 pm

Bobby Cox is fricking insane. Glaus finally starts hitting the ball and he takes him out of the game.

I can’t wait til he is gone.

.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:01 pm

McLouth,pinch hitter,& Escobar due up. Franklin (closer) in to pitch.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:02 pm

Bobby should have pulled Hudson out when it was 3-0.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:03 pm

Instead he waited until it was 3-1 with runner on 1st.

Crockett

April 26th, 2010
11:05 pm

So Diaz, Hinskie and Escobar…. looks like 6 straight losses

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:05 pm

Diaz ph for Mclouth. Hinske on deck.
Diaz swinging bunt base hit to 3B.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:07 pm

Hinske Doubleplay.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:07 pm

2 outs.

Whopper Dawg

April 26th, 2010
11:08 pm

This team is far removed from being a true contender. DON’T trade the prospects to try to get a wildcard and go out first round.

Make smart decision, Wren.

Crockett

April 26th, 2010
11:08 pm

This teams is awful… Could change but my goodness what a terrible offense.

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:10 pm

Escobar fouling off pitches

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:11 pm

Escobar base hit

Crockett

April 26th, 2010
11:11 pm

How was this team ever 8-5 HA.

urm...

April 26th, 2010
11:12 pm

wow the hawks lost again…. why can’t Atlanta get good coaches? Ball game…

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:12 pm

Prado ground ball out 2B. Game over.

gcs

April 26th, 2010
11:12 pm

Fire Wren & Cox

robdawg08

April 26th, 2010
11:13 pm

I blame this loss totally on Cox managing. Adios everyone. I’m outta heah !

awesomeo

April 26th, 2010
11:22 pm

wer not getting gonzo. this is stupid article to get people to read ur sorry writing

PMC

April 26th, 2010
11:23 pm

It would be silly at this point to try and bolster a team that is this bad. They can’t win with the pieces they have. They need help at 1st, 3rd, LF, CF at the very least and they need an actual leadoff man. The ownership has proven already that they are unwilling to pay for it so until young players develop anemic offense and flat out terrible defense are the norm from here on out. Chipper might as well retire now before he tears anything else.

awesomeo

April 26th, 2010
11:23 pm

what are u complaining about the hawks for they still have the lead and guess what it wasnt long ago they sucked balls
theyll win the series dont worry

Braves One

April 27th, 2010
12:03 am

With the signing of Ryan Howard to ridiculous money, I think the signing of Adrian Gonzalez is not about to happen. The Braves cannnot, and should not, get into paying Gonzalez or anyone $20+M
per year. The Braves should look forward to perhaps this summer and surely 2011 having some young talent leading the way. The youngsters come cheap for awhile and the millions can be spent on players worth having in the Braves everyday lineup.

Possible lineup by mid summer or fall, most likely starting off 2011…

LF Jordan Schafer
2B Martin Prado
3B Chipper Jones
C Brain McCann
RF Jason Heyward
1B Freddie Freeman
SS Yunel Escobar
CF Nate McLouth
SP Pitcher

urm...

April 27th, 2010
12:22 am

still have the lead?? its tied 2-2 to the bucks!……..

Mitchell

April 27th, 2010
12:28 am

“The Braves can’t afford to miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year”? Sure they can. Doesn’t cost anything. Nobody’s lost their jobs over the last four years. It’s all good. It can easily happen.

Forget about this year. Don’t give anybody away for Gonzalez just to desperately try to make the playoffs. Next year is our year. New manager. New third baseman.

Could be ‘91 all over again.

Mitchell

April 27th, 2010
12:31 am

Ideally though, if they were to attempt to repeat ‘91 you’d like it if they actually won the World Series instead of losing it in the most excruciating fashion and agan the next year and over a roughly ten year period.

Bobby Cox sucks.

Najeh Davenpoop

April 27th, 2010
12:42 am

Mid-level payroll teams can’t afford to trade away their entire farm system for one-year rentals. The Teixeira trade was a mistake and this would be too.

coach smith

April 27th, 2010
12:49 am

Najeh Davenpoop

who in that TEX trade would be starting for the Braves?

Andrus? We have Yunel whcarried the Braves last year
Salty? we have 4 time all star McCann
Harrison? we have Hanson, Jurjens and so many young pitchers and veterns we can’t have them all here at one time

you people who keep bringing up the TEX deal need to get a life! None of those players would be starting here!!!!!!!!!

Phil

April 27th, 2010
7:41 am

This season was doomed over a year ago when Wren announced that Cox would be coming back for one more year. And for what? A farewell tour? Last place? If Cox had any decency, he would go ahead and bow out now instead of dragging the team through a season like this.

ronaldh

April 27th, 2010
8:12 am

Isn’t it about time that someone who writes for the Atlanta papers starts to suggest that it is time for the over-the-hill-legend at third base to retire?

Doug

April 27th, 2010
9:13 am

I have been a Braves fan since they arrived in 1966. I don’t ever recall feeling this bad about the team, even when they were at their worst. As Looney Clooney said in “Brother, Wherefore Art Thou?”, “Damn, we’re in a tight spot”.

Cracker!

April 27th, 2010
10:39 am

Jeff, you’re a joke. You’re first paragraph is a snarky attempt to claim that you somehow are the brains behind this potential acquisition, like you thought of it first and the rest of these knuckleheads needed months to catch up with you. To be honest, if you read any credible Braves blog or news source, this was discussed last year at the AS break, when other teams inquired about A-Gon only to find that the asking price was astronomical.

How soon do you forget what the padres were asking for in the Peavy deal. There’s a new GM in town in San Diego, but that doesn’t change the fact that A-Gon is the most attractive potential trade target in the MLB this year, that asking price, on a player that is exponentially more valuable than Peavy was last year is going to be extremely high. The Braves would have to give up top pitching prospects and a lot of them (they do not need Freddie Freeman, they have Kyle Blanks ready to play 1B), and throw in an everyday young player that can play for the Fathers right now (Escobar).

Do you really want to give that up for a little under 2 seasons of Adrian Gonzalez? Do you think he won’t jet for Red Sox money at the end of his Braves’ stint? The Braves don’t have a benevolent owner as they did in the Turner days, they have an ownership that owns the team as a tax write-off. Can they offer a Ryan Howards like contract to Philly? No.

So stop with these wet dreams, the Braves are not going to mortgage those cost controlled pieces for a little under 2 seasons of A-Gonzalez. Not with so many other holes in this team. Let’s start by getting a lead-off hitter, that was the most fixable problem going into the year, but Wren chose not to address it. If the most fixable problem can be fixed by trading away your top prospects and a young star, then the Braves got big f’ing problems.

Honestly, I usually go easy on AJC contributors, but really, your stupidity and snarky opening was just too much for me to ignore. Try reading an informative blog like TalkingChop or Bravesheart, and try to stay in touch with reality.

james

April 27th, 2010
10:57 am

dumb idea. sure would like to have elvis andrus and neftali feliz – but we gave them away for a year of tex. itd be nice to get gonzo – but not for the same type of prospect haul it took for the texas deal.

james

April 27th, 2010
11:00 am

or in other words… what “Cracker!” said. well done Cracker. could not agree more.

Jim Staudt

April 27th, 2010
11:08 am

You don’t even mention the biggest, most perplexing question of all — why on earth Bobby Cox continues to put his latest “pet”, Melky Cabrera, in the damn lineup! Cabrera was no better than a 4th or 5th outfielder with the Yankees, and he is no better than a 4th or 5th “automatic out” OF with the Braves. I SCREAMED with rage when they let Vasquez go for such a crummy player, but at least Vasquez has proved to be a one-hit wonder and is stinking it up for NY just like he did the last time around.

Doug

April 27th, 2010
11:47 am

On no quality lead off hitters who were up for grabs I say Baloney… Juan Pierre (sp) was cut loose by the Dodgers and is now doing well with the White Sox. All he does is hit .300, play solid defense and oh ya steal bases. He would have been a great stop gap until more youth came throgh the farm system.
I know makeing trades and dealing with agents must be a pain but the Braves Brass had all winter to get some hitting. It is not as if this just happened, the pitching is pretty solid but Atlanta is not the Early 60’s Dodgers…. not going to win alot of games scoreing 3 or less runs a game.

Hatfield Geoff

April 27th, 2010
11:53 am

This sounds good, the only problem being that the Braves are in such desperate straits that the asking price will be even higher than normal. And not getting Johnny Damon was a big mistake particularly since the asking price wasn’t as high as thought. Imagine having someone hitting .323 at leadoff, that creates momentum that probably would have pulled the Sub-Medoza Line starters out of their slumps. By the way how old is Mendoza .200 is looking pretty good in this lineup.

Old Pro

April 27th, 2010
11:54 am

If you can lock up Gonzo to long term deal, 5-6 years then yes, give up Freeman and a couple of pitchers (Jo Jo and someone else maybe). You are getting a proven major league power hitter and giving up “potential”. Proven is better than “potential”. Freeman could “potentially” flop just as easy. If you are going to mortgage the future for a 1 year rent-a-player (ala Texiera) then absolutely not. You made your bed now sleep in it.

Old Pro

April 27th, 2010
11:59 am

Coach Smith- you maybe correct but at the very least you would have some more players to leverage trades since Tex left. Instead of trading 5 players for 1 maybe they could’ve traded 2 for 1 and 3 for 1 and addressed more needs. Very stupid trade they made, especially since they knew they wouldn’t be able to resign him.

Lionel Porta

April 27th, 2010
12:28 pm

Would not bring any hitter to Atlanta as long as Pendleton is the hitting coach. Adrian Gonzalez’s numbers would nosedive if Pendleton even told him hello

Braves offense: To panic or not to panic? « control+ATL+delete

April 27th, 2010
2:49 pm

[...] is it too early to panic? Jeff Schultz thinks so. His proposal, a trade for Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez, wreaks of desperation. While I agree with [...]

Michael M.

April 27th, 2010
4:07 pm

Nice dream but a problem;

1. After Ryan Howard signed his deal do you really believe we can sign Adrian?
2. I proposed this move at a Braves website and one guy responded with “no thanks, we rebuilt the Rangers getting Teixeira and I am not interested in rebuilding the Padres.”

I thought it over and the guy is right. The best way to view Glaus is to hope he does better and view him as a stop gap until Freeman is ready, hoping it is sooner than later. You can also platoon Hinske with Glaus if it gets too bad.

Drive Monkey Drive

April 27th, 2010
6:47 pm

You are correct in saying that Liberty Media is the root of the problem. Frank Wren will ruin us just like he did the Orioles, and Terry Pendleton will be the politically correct move that will finally sink the ship. Bobby Cox was a winner because he was given talent with a desire to win. The money is not the issue. Tampa and Florida are perfect examples of teams that have put a winning product on the field despite spending limits. Corporate ownership, poor management, and bad player investments have this team looking eerily like a preview to a sequel to the Bad News Bears and Major League. The only difference is the Bears and Tribe won in the first movies. This team will flop on their own comedy of errors.

longtime braves fan

April 27th, 2010
11:35 pm

One problem with the whole discussion on aquiring Adrian Gon. Smart teams trade prospects for one key player when they are contenders or looking to go deep in October. The Braves are no longer contenders. It is time for a rebuilding process and giving away the farm again will only open up holes in other areas. Wren needs to look long term and get rid of the high priced, aging players. Build around Jurjens, Hanson, Hayward, McCann, Prado and Yunel. Gonzo would be a temporary boost, but just like Tex, the Braves needs are far too deep for one man to solve. I say rebuild after this year.

Braves in midst of downward spiral « Ace of Braves

April 28th, 2010
10:16 am

[...] about to throw out some stats, but I caution, these numbers are not for the faint of [...]

chief pitchanono

April 28th, 2010
11:58 am

Nooooooo! Don’t do it! One big time bat will not be enough to fix this team’s problems. The only thing you can do in this situation is wait it out and hope for the best. Sometimes you just have to chalk it up to fate or bad carma, whatever you want to call it, but you cannot trade away the future (the farm) to try to correct bad luck. They have to prove that this is just a slump and that most of lineup can play as expected before you can even consider making a trade. They have the talent right now to be a very good team once a few guys get going. They just have to right the ship and soon before they get too far behind and only then could you possibly consider a trade. If this happens to be down years for several players at the same time,(which would be hard to believe) then you just have to suck it up and look to next year.

Philip Alber

April 28th, 2010
2:29 pm

IF, and that is a big if, Adrian Gonzalez is traded it won’t be until the Pads cool off or the July trading deadline. He will then go directly to Fenway Park and play 1st Base/DH for the Red Sox. The REd Sox have too many “desired” players to trade. The Braves will never land Gonzalez.

Don Irvin

April 29th, 2010
7:01 am

It’s getting late,get Gonzales now. Chipper is 38 and could be productive this year and next if he had another threat in the batting order. This situation hurst McCann and the other guys. I would be tempted to move Prado to leadoff,Yunel second and because he walks and hits with power J-Hey third. We gotta do something!

Paddy O

April 29th, 2010
11:55 am

Jeff, other writers: YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO SIGN ADRIAN GONZALEZ – you thought you could sign Texeira, gave away 3 AL ML starters. Thought you could sign JD Drew – gave away Cy Young Candidate & GA native Wainwright. YOu could have traded Vazquez for $$$, signe LaRoche & Damon and most of your problems would be OK. Wren MAKES BAD DECISIONS. My suggestion: BOYCOTT THE BRAVES HOME GAMES (except free Friday Fireworks) until management acts like they care if the team wins or loses.

icecold2010

May 9th, 2010
3:04 pm

The Braves needed to move Bobby to the front office when they had the chance(before Wren).They have been on a downward crash course since.Everybody wants to talk about Pendelton but who is he going to coach up?Chipper(the all aAmarican american?)Glaus(the great unknown?)or Cabrera(mr.world champ with them dam Yanks?).Now those are the BLACK HOLES in the lineup.There has to be a player in the minors who can hit 250 in the leadoff spot.With that you would have a major league line up to throw out there every day.

Troy Glaus

July 13th, 2010
3:21 pm

Suck it Schultz.

First base is Braves’ most fixable problem: Adrian Gonzalez

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First base is Braves’ most fixable problem: Adrian Gonzalez

389 comments Add your comment

About Jeff Schultz

We’ve Moved!

One Subscription. Total Access.

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Recent Posts

Archives

More from the AJC

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