Braves again watch while Phillies sign Lee, spend millions
If the Braves win a World Series with Liberty Media as the owner, it won't be because they spent millions in free agency. (AJC photo)
Let’s start with the obvious: Baseball teams don’t win championships in December.
If they did, the World Series would be on a consistent rotation between the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox, often coming down to which team lost a pitcher to a hyper-extended elbow at the drive-thru ATM.
But December says a lot about aspirations and expectations, and the Braves’ owners, in the holiday spirit, once again look like Mr. Potter telling George Bailey to stick it.
The Philadelphia Phillies – whose team payroll already was about $58 million more than the Braves’ last season – just added Cliff Lee to their pitching staff. It gives them four pitchers (Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels) in their starting rotation who have combined for three Cy Young Awards, 13 All-Star games, two NLCS MVP awards and one World Series MVP.
It turns the Phillies — pending any other acquisitions of Albert Pujols or a Swiss Bank — into the overwhelming favorites to win the National League East, the N.L. pennant and the World Series, after which they can move onto other solar systems.
But this isn’t about a division rival adding one pitcher. It’s about the Braves being stuck with one owner.
General manager Frank Wren has conceded several times that he has to work within the confines of a budget, while trying not to step on the Bruno Magli covered toes of team owner Liberty Media. Fans may live for checkbook roster building in the winter, but the Braves don’t have that option.
This is Greg Maffei. He makes more than the entire Braves' roster.
Liberty Media doesn’t really care about you, or the product, or the fact that the Phillies’ team payroll has jumped from $89 million in 2007 to $142 million last season. They don’t hand out peanuts and foam tomahawks at stockholders meetings. They hand out profit-and-loss statements.
In sports, we want owners who are as passionate as the guy who’ll show up for the Tuesday night game against the Florida Marlins. Sorry. You get the owner whose luxury suite remains empty on a summer weekend.
A recent Wall Street Journal survey of the nation’s top 10 paid CEOs showed Liberty Media’s Gregory Maffei’s total compensation was $87.1 million, four times his financial take of the year before. The Braves’ total payroll last year: $84 million.
Question: Can Maffei play center field or hit leadoff, because the Braves are still a bit thin in those areas?
Somebody once said money doesn’t buy happiness but it enables one to pick their own misery. Applying that to sports: Money doesn’t guarantee the Phillies are going to win the World Series, but it gives them a significant advantage over the Braves when they go shopping.
Wren told our Carroll Rogers that the Lee signing, “really has no impact on the construction of our roster.”
What would you expect him to say? “Dang! We should’ve signed Carl Crawford!”
Wren robbed the Marlins of Dan Uggla. That strengthened their lineup and will enable them to move Martin Prado to either left field or third base. But they’ve still got issues. They’re banking on Chipper Jones being able to come back from a torn ACL, and he turns 39 in April. They’re banking of Freddie Freeman being ready at first base. Most of all, they’re banking on some combination of Nate McLouth and Jordan Schafer not being a train wreck again in center.
With the Phillies signing Lee, some are now screaming for the Braves to acquire Zack Greinke from Kansas City. But the Braves really don’t need another starting pitcher. The rotation of Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe and Jair Jurrjens doesn’t have the marquee value of Lee-Halladay-Oswalt-Hamels. But it’s better than most. What the Braves really need is a proven center fielder and/or leadoff hitter and/or another bat (especially if Jones can’t come back). But the lack of cash flow precluded them from going after somebody like Crawford or even Jayson Werth in free agency, or absorbing a big contract in a trade.
Once again, the Braves must shop with coupons. Sometimes that works. But it’s not the way to build hope.
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312 comments Add your comment
Coxgone!Gonzalezin!
December 14th, 2010
4:40 pm
As a Braves fan, it is extremely frustrating to watch the Braves act like a small market team with a never expanding budget, while in a large market.
All the while hearing the Braves management continue to talk about how they have constraints on their budget, while their budget is no where near what other comparable market teams spend.
For those who listen to what the Braves exec’s tell you over and over and believe it… Just know that all that money that they are not spending (compared to other teams in similar markets) is going in someone’s pocket.
And the fans continue to wish for another player, another pitcher, another bat… blah, blah, blah.
Jeff Schultz
December 14th, 2010
4:40 pm
Brent — No question attendance plays into it. That gets back to revenues, profits and losses.
Jeff Schultz
December 14th, 2010
4:41 pm
Braves vs. Phils — I didn’t think I was writing with any sense of “panic.” Just pointing out the situation.
Larry not the cable guy
December 14th, 2010
4:41 pm
C’mon man, learn to spell c’mon man!!! lmao dumb donkey hee haw lol Go Bravos
UGAKEV
December 14th, 2010
4:41 pm
Come on people. They add one pitcher and now their the favorite. The Braves are fine. Phillies got dominated by San Fran in the playoffs. They have talent but like the Yankees there are no guarantees when you spend money. Injuries will dictate alot of what happens this season. GOOOOOO Braves. Braves rotation is not too shabby
Com'on Man
December 14th, 2010
4:42 pm
Jeff Schultz – You dont see what happening?
Com'on Man
December 14th, 2010
4:43 pm
Jeff Schultz (part 2) – The Phillies also intend on the possibility of moving Ibanez.
PMC
December 14th, 2010
4:43 pm
Jeff, if you were writing with a sense of panic… how would that read?
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
4:46 pm
Larry not the cable guy – I am not too good at improper grammer like you less fortunate.
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
4:47 pm
I don’t understand what is so scary about a guy that is streaky during the regular season and holds an ERA near the likes of 4.
Jeff Schultz
December 14th, 2010
4:48 pm
Com’on Man — I thought you were one of the readers pitching “Greinke” for the Braves.
Patrick
December 14th, 2010
4:49 pm
The Phillies were suppose to be unbeatable this year as well. Ask both NY teams how ovespending on great starting pitching on the backside of thier prime is working? Its good to have the 4 they have in 2011 but how are those players going to look in 2013? They basically have 4 Tim Hudsons. The Braves on the other hand can get away with not spending as much because of the debth in the farm system. Reality is that Jurgens willl probably sign somewhere else when he can b/c he is a Borris client. The Braves have 3 or 4 potential guys ready to step in when he and Lowe leaves. Basically Braves are now built for the long term again and Phils short term. Atlanta had all the pitching in the 90’s and only 1 world series. The Marlins have won 2 since! Explain that.
Jeff Schultz
December 14th, 2010
4:49 pm
PMC — I dunno. How would panic read? I guess like this: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!”
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
4:52 pm
Jeff Schultz – No “Greinke” was to correct your spelling. :”Greinke” is overrated. Not interested in a pitcher that banks his pay stub on one particular season nor the affiliation that pays that check.
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
4:54 pm
Patrick – I would agree to an extent. I think the difference between the Phillies and Braves is the Phillies are willing to part with their “unproven” talent whereas the Braves are not.
MiamiBrave
December 14th, 2010
4:57 pm
A couple of things we’ve learned from this year’s free agency. First of all we better go ahead and give Uggla his 5 years and $71 million if he’ll even still accept it. Because if he hits 30 hrs and 100 rbis again, he’s going to cost $18-20 mil per season to sign in free agency instead of $14 mil per now. Secondly, we desperately need another legit outfield bat. If we go into the season just hoping that Chipper, McLouth, and Freeman all pan out, we’re going to lose a lot of low scoring and one run games. If just one of those guys has problems, we’re in trouble, but if two or more have bad seasons were screwed because we don’t have enough depth to replace them.
Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine redux
December 14th, 2010
4:58 pm
Now we know how the rest of the NL felt in the 90’s…
And Schultzie, Chipper’s not trying to come back from an ACL, as I see it. He’s trying to come back from two seasons of mediocre or worse hitting and average at best defense. Age catches us all, my friend.
Whopper Dawg
December 14th, 2010
4:59 pm
The best thing you can say is, at least it is not the yankees.
Troy
December 14th, 2010
5:03 pm
i bet if the braves were on the market, mark cuban would try and buy the team which i would be all for. He’s as passionate as anyone when it comes to his team. and the braves are only a few signings away from a WS.
Nevertheless, i think the Braves are in a good situation right now. They are getting younger and more talented. When Chipper, Hudson, and Lowe’s contracts come off the books we’ll have plenty of money to throw around. And we dont have to worry about pitching with all of our young prospects on the way. In two years, we’ll have a young exciting staff and one of the best offenses in MLB.
Dan
December 14th, 2010
5:04 pm
Could be worse – imagine being in the AL East with the Yankees and Red Sox
Bottom line is baseball needs a salary cap but since that will never happen the sport’s drift to irrelevance willl continue
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:06 pm
Jeff Schultz – Cole Hamels is in the final year of a 3 Year $20.5 million deal.
Mike10
December 14th, 2010
5:06 pm
Im at a point now where Im just sick of the Braves organization.I want to be a fan of a team that spends money on elite players like the yankees,red sox,angels,cubs ,and hell even the phillies out of all teams.Lets face it the braves would be lucky to win the wildcard.
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:07 pm
Dan – A salary cap at this stage in the game would killl baseball for quite some time. That’s why there is a luxury tax.
Witko
December 14th, 2010
5:08 pm
Today JS moved the dial back on the dumb-o-meter. Maybe he is so drunk that his brain cells are, of their own accord, firing a little. Still, alas it is JS. Therefore, as a fish must swim, Jeff must run the train of the track.
Lasting winners are built through a quality farm system. (Most assuredly Texas’ great year came at the expense of our dumping the farm system. One is equally convinced that without the ill conceived Tex trade, the Braves would not have ordered gloves from a brick factory. Also, a few Braves may have been able to outrun a pregnant lady.) Sure JS, money helps but one may very well argue the bulk should go the farm system rather than to one of two players who may or may not live up to expectations.
As an example in another arena: The AJC pays you with money they should spend on a farm system so to speak. Each week give a chance to writers from local high school papers. Soon, you would find yourself writing in Japan. Yet, the AJC continues to waste the money.
Dennis Green
December 14th, 2010
5:09 pm
The Phillies are who we thought they were……..you want to go ahead and crown-em..then crown their asses….they just let the Yankees and Rangers off the hook!
Uncle Harriet
December 14th, 2010
5:11 pm
Braves are going to lose JJ after this year anyways, Lowe and Hudson are gettin up there and Tommy is about to give us a Boras sized punch in the gut come seasons end. Sounds like suring up Grienke would make sense if we could dump JJ and Minor or Beachy (Prefer Minor) and poss get a CF prospect out of it… Get on it Super-Wren!
Stuart
December 14th, 2010
5:11 pm
Will the Braves now possibly go get a legit CF with speed? Another big time starter? Unfortunately I highly doubt it…
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
Witko – Insulting but good point. Premium example of continued success through the farm in the Atlanta Braves and more so the Minnesota Twins. Would say the Tampa Bay Rays, but several years of the #1 pick helps them.
Steve
December 14th, 2010
5:14 pm
Liberty worried about turning a profit, but then pay one exec 87 million dollars in one year? Just more corporate america “greed is good” B.S.!
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:17 pm
Uncle Harriet – Jair is arbitration eligible through 2013.
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:22 pm
Stuart – Aaron Rowand is no faster than McLouth, hit .230, 11 HR, 34 RBI, and had 5 SB for a World Champion team in CF. Now explain to me why we need a Legit CF with speed? And we already have 6 starters (7 when Medlen returns).
Chop It Up All-Star
December 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
I’m happy with the Braves off season moves. Save this latest move by the Phillies, the Braves had made a pretty good dent in the so called Philly armor. Come 2011 and beyond all the pressure falls on the shoulders of the Phillies. They will be expected to win every game and every year, and I don’t care who you are, the heat of that spotlight will be intense. Let’s play the games, and may the best TEAM win. Come get it Philly fans – we’re ready!!
Rockdale Brave
December 14th, 2010
5:27 pm
The Phillies will get all the hype from the national media because they have added Lee. However, the media
does not play the games on the field. Let them write what
they want along with the AJC. I believe the Braves will
be competitive in the NL East with what we have. It will take 154 games played by all NL teams to show that I am wrong.
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:28 pm
162
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:31 pm
Mariano Rivera signed to a 2 year $30 million deal.
Hoosier Aaron
December 14th, 2010
5:32 pm
You’re right, the Phillies are weak in a few areas…for instance – their number SIX starter won only 9 games last year. BUM!
STRETCH
December 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
Why dont Chipper Jones give some of that money back? Know thats NOT going to happen, but you just dont give a guy like him that kinda money! Chipper Jones and Joe Johnson got paid by desperate organizations and they are suffering for it.
Pete
December 14th, 2010
5:39 pm
I’m not sure Lee is the great deal folks think he is. I think he had a tremendous last half of the season and playoffs, but I don’t think he is worth the money or length of the contract. Look at his career stats, usually his ERA is closer to 4 than 3. The downside of big money ball is the mistakes get very expensive.
Still, nice work pointing out the CEO makes more than the entire team. When you make pro athletes look underpaid, that’s something.
J.C. Thompson
December 14th, 2010
5:40 pm
Ahhhhhhh, the story of Atlanta sports franchises…….
Other than Arthur Blank, Atlanta owners are a joke and an embarrassment to professional sports.
heartofdarkness
December 14th, 2010
5:41 pm
If Cliff Lee had about a $500 million tax holiday attached to him, the Braves would have been there bidding. It is a pretty good illustration of trickle down economics, however.
C'mon Man
December 14th, 2010
5:41 pm
Hoosier Aaron – their 6 could actually be Kyle Kendrick, who won 11 games last year.
Bob Horner hit lollipop HR's to LF
December 14th, 2010
5:42 pm
The Braves need Chipper to come back strong…..we need McClouth to return to his 2008 numbers…we need our starting pitchers to stay healthy…we need Heyward and Freeman to produce…we won a ton of 1 run games last year…that won’t happen again this year…(and that is what scares me)
Jim
December 14th, 2010
5:44 pm
What goes around comes around! Remember when Ted Turner would spend all those $? It is a little tougher to be on the other end.
idot
December 14th, 2010
5:51 pm
The Braves will win the Eastern Div. of the NL in 2011.
ChrisfromSacramento, Ca
December 14th, 2010
5:56 pm
Im not in panic mode, I mean our catcher is at least better than thiers. That is something right.
THEY ARE BETTER AT EVERY POSISTION BUT ONE. OUR ROTATION IS MAYBE THE 4TH BEST IN THE NL, AND THE WORST OFFENSE, WE ARE TOAST!! MAYBE
I cant breathe.
Jeff Schultz
December 14th, 2010
5:56 pm
On Hamels: There you go. One more reason why Phils could move him for a bat to replace Werth.
Stuart
December 14th, 2010
6:04 pm
C’mon Man–because speed would be something nice to add to the lineup. Having a legit leadoff hitter with a good on base percentage with a batter like Prato hitting behind him–now THAT would be a great lineup. Yes, Rowand only had 5 SB, but the Phillies had speed elsewhere as well, and Rowand wasn’t the leadoff hitter. For ex. last year the Phillies had players with 34, 17, 13, and 13 steals–and the 17 was Rollins in an injury-shortened season. Our leader was Heyward with 11, who is really the only regular threat on the base paths. Sure, the Braves could possibly win without speed, like last year; it isn’t a necessity for every team. But, since we have no speed whatsoever, it would be a great addition seeing as how you can have a fast player at the top of the order, then a batter like Prado, then the Chippers, Heywards, McCanns, Ugglas, etc. bringing them in–now that would be great! Speed can come from any position, but a fast CF would be the best for us, because CF seems to be our weakest position as of now. Make sense?
Stuart
December 14th, 2010
6:11 pm
C’mon Man– Oh, and as for the starting pitching, that’s not as big of a deal for us. As long as the No. 5 starter can prove/show stability/consistency at a high level, that will be fine. But, since we do have 7+ quality starters with more on the way, and all are very young…you can only stick with 5 eventually. Yes, Lowe’s contract will be up soon and Huddy isn’t getting any younger, but that would still leave us with more than 5 solid starters. So, if the Braves could somehow get a veteran high quality starter for a reasonable price (without giving up the farm), then that would solidify the rotation 1-5 for now (to contend with Philly) and for years to come. (And I’m not convinced that Greinke is necessarily the answer…). Again, not as high on the priority list, but could certainly solidify the team.
Falcon fever
December 14th, 2010
6:17 pm
All we need is Bill Hall and trade for Cain are J Upton. Agree with Jeff no pitcher at this time..Hall is power and insurance for 6 positions.
thunderbull56
December 14th, 2010
6:18 pm
Dude, what happened? Well, here’s a little story about a man named Ted.A poor mountain boy,barely kept his family fed.Along came a girl (North Viet Cong), named Jane.See Dick, see Jane run.Soon the poor mountain boy donates his fortune to the United freaking Nations.Soon Ted uh,er,divests I believe the term is of his one true love,our Braves.Now,CEO dude makes more than entire team payroll? Who needs that kind of cash to live? Point being,everyone should win.Fans first,owners second, players third.Why fans first? Who’s paying the freaking bills Mr.CEO?