LIVE: Braves get Michael Bourn, now hope that’s enough
The Braves finally made a catch before the trade deadline: Welcome, Michael Bourn. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 1:45 p.m. Folks, here’s the updated blog on the trade. I’m read to chat live now about the deal and the game. Sorry couldn’t get to earlier questions and comments but I’ve been kinda busy.)
It was the eve of the trade deadline, and Jordan Schafer was having trouble sleeping.
“I just had a weird feeling,” he said Sunday. “It’s something I hadn’t felt all along. I even sent a text message to my agent. I told him I thought I might be traded. He said, ‘No, there’s no chance.’”
And then he opened his phone to show a reporter the text message: “10:57 p.m. ‘Wonder if I’m going to Houston.’”
Sometimes, it’s not so great to be a prophet.
The Braves dealt Schafer to Houston Sunday. They made the move less because of what they believe Schafer might be one day than what he isn’t now: Michael Bourn. After dealing Schafer and three prospects to Houston for Bourn, the All-Star center fielder and leadoff hitter, Braves general manager Frank Wren said, “Michael is what we hope Jordan will be in three or four years. For a team that’s poised to win, we need a finished product.”
Wren needed the right sound bite. Braves fans have felt antsy, angry, frustrated, discontent and maybe even borderline hopeless after seeing San Francisco (Carlos Beltran) and Philadelphia (Hunter Pence) each spin major deals in recent days. So Wren hit on the right themes. What comes of this deal, we can’t possibly know.
Chipper Jones lauded Bourn’s speed, but when asked if the Braves are better team as a result of the deal, he said: “I don’t know. Talk to me in two months.”
The fact Jones was a big fan of Schafer’s might have fed into his comments. (At one point, he left his locker to walk over to Schafer, who was packing, to give him a hug, and the two spoke privately for a couple of minutes.) But Jones also struck the proper tone. There were some things about this year’s Braves team we projected back in spring training camp that haven’t panned out. So it’s best not to assume anything now.
Still, credit to Wren. He waited until the day of the trading deadline before pushing the button. The trade market had become increasingly difficult and expensive (opponents love desperate buyers). Wren made the best trade he could have possibly made at this point.
Bourn is hitting .303. He leads the majors with 39 stolen bases. He has 28 infield hits. He has won two Gold Gloves. He immediately becomes this team’s best and most established leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal. So this is no minor acquisition.
“The perfect fit,” Wren called him.
The Braves certainly have World Series potential now. Then again, we thought that they had that in the spring. Championships assume two things: good health and expected production, and the Braves have used their opening day lineup only 11 times.
But consider this potential batting order: Michael Bourne, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Alex Gonzalez. If everybody’s clicking, there’s no escape. After all the angst, this may work out yet.
Some of what Wren said Sunday carried a trace of draft day spin. He acknowledged the team “inquired” about Pence and had interest in Beltran. But he also suggested the Braves never really wanted either that much.
“We could’ve had Beltran. … Same with Pence,” he said. “We were involved in everything but we weren’t really into everything.” (I’m assuming the comments would’ve been different had they acquired either.)
Wren got his wish: He held onto the organization’s four projected golden arms in the minors. He closed the deal for Bourn just before 9 a.m., then he phoned Schafer.
“I was backing out my driveway,” Schafer said. “As soon as I looked down at the phone and saw who it was, I knew. It sucks. But it’s a business.”
In a perfect world, Schafer goes on to have a good career, the Braves win a championship and Bourn turns out to be a lot better than the last time the team traded for a Gold Glove, All-Star center fielder who could hit leadoff (Nate McLouth).
We’ve learned not to project. But it certainly looks good.
By Jeff Schultz
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794 comments Add your comment
Sonny Clusters
July 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
Will he get a Bobblehead? Will it have fast springs? What will his nickname be? Borney? Let’s hope not. This is all very exciting.
ricky
July 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
some of you are never happy if we got pence you be bitching that he only went 1-5 with a rbi,hillarious,
Runner-
July 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
Agree with ricky I’d rather prefer McClouth in left batting in the 7 hole with A-Gon in the 8th and have Hinske come in to give him a rest. Hinske is not an everyday player, and we need his presence off the bench
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
Nice stroke by Heyward. Imagine what a difference it would make if he got going.
Ricky III
July 31st, 2011
2:56 pm
ricky,
you’re whole perspective is hilarious!
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
2:57 pm
Ricky, maybe Hinske isn’t an everyday player. But what are the options here? McClouth? Constanza? With what we’ve got, Hinske is MY everyday LF. Relieve him with Constanza for defense late. Hinske’s bat is pretty big.
ricky
July 31st, 2011
2:57 pm
ralph
good point ,im thinking conrad needs to play and stay fresh
O'Brien
July 31st, 2011
2:58 pm
What’s up with the Braves and fundamentals? Bunting, moving runners over, sac fly etc.
Remarkable
July 31st, 2011
2:58 pm
I think that the Bourn Identity is the perfect fit for the Braves’ needs. Can’t wait to see him in a Braves uniform. When we get everyone back (How long have we been saying that?) this will be a great lineup. We already have some great bench players on the roster. Just look at today’s game to see that. Other than a pitcher, we may be set.
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
2:58 pm
I’d rather have Hinske if LF than Ankiel in CF!!! So there’s something good to think about compared to last year.
O'Brien
July 31st, 2011
2:59 pm
Jeff,
With Chipper being in and out of the lineup, do you think he should atuomatically be penciled in to hit 3rd whenever he is available?
Ralph
July 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
Jeff, any idea who goes down tomorrow?
steve brown
July 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
Thanks-just asking-but I do remember him calling out Hayward about not playing hurt (still laughing about that one)-I can’t seem to remember when he calls out Caucasians but I hope you can give me some examples. His good old boy huntin’ ( both in the woods and at Hooters)is more than enough for me.
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
Actually, I’d rather have Andruw circa 2000 in CF and stick Bourn in LF but . . .
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
It seems like we have been waiting on getting everyone back since about the middle of last year. The lineup has been cookie cutterish for 18 months.
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
jeff,i know u busy these are my last 2 questions for the day
1-how much cash did astros give us/
2-im sure someone will update the roster moves sometime today?
3-wish u would take over dob,position
Ralph
July 31st, 2011
3:01 pm
1 Hour left!
welikebaseball2
July 31st, 2011
3:01 pm
Okay Chipper, you say ask you again in a couple of months whether we’re a better team or not. Smart of you to not answer that question without first consulting with your quads, hamstrings, back, feet, obliques, etc.
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
go verlander no no thru 7 amazing
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
Jeff: IF Chipper says therre’s nothing in the tank he’ll leave money on table IF Mom agrees.
I say that becuase a down – in – the – dumps Chipper facing surgery last year by his own admission said Mom said quit licking your wounds and get with it.
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
Lowcountry, you’re exactly right and the only thing that’s going to change regarding everyone being back and healthy is WHO is back and WHO just got hurt. Prado missing the playoffs last year changed everything. With him in, Brooks Conrad never makes those errors and the Braves probably beat the Giants. Let’s just hope it’s Chipper that keeps getting hurt and not Uggla, Freeman, McCann (assuming he comes back healthy), etc. Maybe Gonzo can tweak something and let the Tyler P. kid come up. Wouldn’t mind seeing him.
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
O’Brien — I think Chipper will be hitting third when he comes back. Should he? At least for now, yes, but should not be set in stone. Just my opinion.
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:05 pm
55 minutes!!
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:05 pm
update…..
wallingham not going to be trade,ludwick is
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
Ralph — I would think Constanza will go down.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
Kevin: I’m not so sure that Andruw is not a HOF’er. Numbers wize he should be in.
G
July 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
See here is the problem. Bourne may eh spending a lot of time standing at 2nd or 3rd and never touch home… Because there is nobody to knock him in….
Runner-
July 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
Any of you who think Chipper will turn down the 13 million for next season are idiots. Chipper went down with a major knee injury last season and was reluctant to retire due to the money. Unless his legs fall off, he will make an attempt to come back next season.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 31st, 2011
3:08 pm
I agree with you outside of the Gonzo part. I think at this point you ride his bat out in the 8th spot and thank god he is playing solid defense. If he gives you any offense its a bonus, but I really would not feel comfortable trying to make a WS run with a Rookie SS imo.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2011
3:08 pm
Runner- He respects that game. Nuff said.
O'Brien
July 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
Marlins have 4 hits, but 2 runs. Braves have 7 hits, but only 1 run.
I hope we will be able to get Bourn over and get him in, because a runner at 3rd, 1 out, we suck.
Ralph
July 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
Isnt there a certain time that a minor leaguer has to stay with the big league club?
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
update…..
bell has not been traded yet,wrong info.,
texas,philly still in the hunt could go down to the wire
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
Steve Brown — Calling out Heyward (he actually fell just short of that) and bringing race into the equation are two COMPLETELY different things, and to suggest he would not have said anything if Heyward was white was wrong. Chipper talks all the time with players of all races about many things. He’s the elder statesman in the clubhouse. Players seek his advice. That was just one case where things became public with a high profile teammate.
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
3:10 pm
Chef, you can make a good argument with that, probably on the defensive prowess alone. I’m 37 but with all the old footage we have access to, I’ve never seen a better outfielder. And he played in the time of Griffey and Edmonds, so that’s saying something just for his own generation. All you had to do to understand his greatness was listen to Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, etc. talk about how many hits/runs Andruw saved them, and they had some pretty darn good CF’s in ATL before Andruw – Grissom played more shallow than anybody and was a stud, and Otis Nixon wasn’t 2nd to very many.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2011
3:10 pm
Braves will win this game, Write it down Jeff.
Ralph
July 31st, 2011
3:10 pm
@ Chef, honest question, do you think he would respect the game as much if he had lets say about 3 million for each of these last 2 seasons? In my opinion, he would have long retired
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 31st, 2011
3:11 pm
Jeff,
The Jones batting order is the same problem every big league team that has had a longtime great player reach the twilight of his career. Sure they still are good but no longer great. Example is the Yankees and Jeter. They had Gardner out performing Jeter in the 9 hole but not even sniffing the leadoff spot. Chipper at one point was a great three hole hitter, but those days have passed.
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
ralph,
no no amount of time,if you send a player back to aaa,he has to wait 10 days to be called back up,unless there is a injury
wilkin was called up,then sent back down 2 days later
Runner-
July 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
Probably the most ironic thing about calling out Heyward is the fact that he’s reluctant to play at 70% right now.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2011
3:12 pm
Kevin: I’m 49 and my late father saw Mays in his hey day and said before his passing that Andruw was the greatest CF’der ever. I’ll run with that.
Runner-
July 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
Agree 100% with Lowcountry Bulldawg. It would be a slap in the face to Chipper if he were to move to lets say the 6 hole, but it has to be done
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
i wish lugo would go but i think its constanza as well i like this kid,if nothing else he can come up late in game as a pinch runner,JMO
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
Lowcountry, Chipper should be on the bench even if he is healthy. And he wouldn’t be my Ace pinch hitter if he was on the bench. BROOKS CONRAD would get the key at-bats. The play Chipper made on the bunt/throw to first was awesome, but it’s when he got hurt, too. I’d rather he not made the play and he’d still be playing. But you can’t play NOT TO GET HURT, so just don’t play at all.
Remarkable
July 31st, 2011
3:15 pm
Thanks Jeff for setting Steve straight. Chipper takes a lot of shots from a lot of people that he doesn’t deserve. I think Chipper should rank up there with Hank when you think of the All-time greatest Braves players. What would he have done if he had of had fewer injuries? I think he had many because he gave it his all.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 31st, 2011
3:16 pm
He gunned out Ramirez!
Runner-
July 31st, 2011
3:17 pm
dang JC, he is one reliable back up to the back up catcher
ricky
July 31st, 2011
3:17 pm
Earlier fg asked chipper about moving out of 3rd hole,says he has no prob with it,i know he
batted 4th earlier
Kevin
July 31st, 2011
3:18 pm
Chef, good story. Sure don’t know Willy Mays – wish I did – but I wouldn’t be surprised if HE said Andruw was better. Andruw could’ve had his own ESPN Top 10 Plays of the Week every week.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 31st, 2011
3:18 pm
Ralph: By my count he’s made 127M to date on contracts alone. Me, I really believe he’s old school on hangers on. Foolish pride I just don’t see in him.
A money jump would have already happened going to AL to DH.