Braves’ Frank Wren needs to fix good, but not great, team
Center fielder Michael Bourn may have played his last game for the Braves, who have some big decisions to make this offseason. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Once you get past the fact that the Braves waited until game No. 163 to resemble baseball’s all-thumbs team, and that a major league umpiring crew just made the NFL’s replacement referees look fit to be air traffic controllers, this is what the 2012 season really comes down to: The Braves’ margin for error this season was just too narrow.
They won 94 games. That’s impressive. They went 20-9 down the stretch after it looked again like they were circling the drain. That’s really impressive. But what really pushed this team into the postseason were two unexpected occurrences: 1) A 40-year-old (Chipper Jones) unexpectedly hit .300 for most of this season, had two walk-off homers against Philadelphia (the second when the club looked comatose on Sept. 2), and finished second in game-winning RBIs (12) and third in go-ahead RBIs (18) despite missing 50 games; 2) Kris Medlen went from middle reliever to emergency starter to channeling Cy Young.
Unexpected occurrences can make a good team look like a great team. But it’s not something anybody should count on.
The Braves’ lineup still is a bit heavy on “could be” and “should be.”
Some questioned whether general manager Frank Wren should have brought back predominantly the same roster after the team’s unraveling in 2011. But it was an understandable risk. He could make the case that one horrific finish was an aberration. There is no case now.
The Braves are losing Chipper Jones. There’s a good chance they’re going to lose center fielder and leadoff hitter Michael Bourn to free agency. Catcher Brian McCann just suffered through the most miserable season of his career, and health issues are an increasing concern. If Martin Prado is viewed as a comforting backup plan at third base, that leaves left field open.
That’s four of eight positions.
When the 2011 season ended, the heat was on manager Fredi Gonzalez and his staff (hitting coach Larry Parrish was fired). That’s not the case after Friday’s Wild Card game loss to St. Louis. The onus now is on Wren. He needs to improve a lineup that too often struggled to score runs, even during a hot September.
Wren said Saturday he’s “very optimistic about where we sit as a franchise.” He referenced the team’s young core (Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons), the late-season bounce back of Dan Uggla and pitching. That’s a good start. But these aren’t minor issues that need addressing.
“I think they need some pieces,” the outgoing Jones said. “But Frank will have a good time with all the money he’s going to have this offseason to try to get those pieces.”
There’s potentially $36.345 million coming off the books for just four players: Jones ($14 million), Derek Lowe ($10 million of dead money), Bourn ($6.845 million) and Jair Jurrjens ($5.5 million). The assumption is Wren will exercise club options for both McCann ($12 million) and Tim Hudson ($9 million).
How might payroll flexibility change the dynamic in the Braves’ offseason? Wren, handcuffed by budgetary constraints in the past, joked, “We may shop in a different store.”
So not Wal-mart?
“We may go up the street to Target,” he said.
When told that, Jones — who remembers when payroll size wasn’t an issue like now — cracked, “I guess that’s good to hear. Maybe one day we’ll get back to Macy’s and Dillard’s.”
Wren said it won’t be a great free-agent group (one reason why Bourn is expected to land an astronomical contract). The Braves more likely will need to acquire talent through trades. The other issue will be leadership, particularly with the loss of Jones. Heyward and Freeman will be expected to take on expanded roles. The Braves have gone through several transitions over the past decade, but this one might be the most difficult.
It’s also something nobody in the organization wanted to be focusing on so soon — one game — into the postseason.
“Anytime you get this close, you want to take advantage of it because you don’t know what’s going to happen next year,” Gonzalez said. “Chipper’s not going to be here. We’ve got to sign [Bourn]. You don’t know if you’re going to be healthy next year. We may not have had the sexiest team out there, but we were good.”
Not great, just good.
By Jeff Schultz
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263 comments Add your comment
Pale Rider
October 6th, 2012
11:19 pm
Can we find someone from the south to buy the Braves from Liberty Media- that is the first step towards winning. Until then, expect continued mediocrity.
thomas smith
October 6th, 2012
11:40 pm
if the braves had a good manager, ,they would have won their division and wouldn’t have had to worry about this wild card crap
Pmc
October 6th, 2012
11:48 pm
Honestly it’s refreshing they have to find new players for this lineup.
But what to do with Rally Killer at 2nd? Expensive Disaster
Joe 12-Pack
October 7th, 2012
12:00 am
Need to trade Uggla ASAP. There has to be some sucker out there that thinks they can turn him around.
Constanza is still a possibility as a leadoff OF.
Juan Francisco has a shot at third.
Will Christian Bethancourt be ready?
lowcountry cock
October 7th, 2012
12:09 am
Tried to tell you Jeff but you were too hard headed!! Your name got thrown around few times at Williams Brice tonight
lowcountry cock
October 7th, 2012
12:17 am
and trust me Dawg fans were not talking about how much much nicer Richt was than our coach.
Bum and damn loser were most common descriptions of your guy
GOP Cannon
October 7th, 2012
12:31 am
Last nights game broke my heart! I really don’t care what this team does at this point…. The Braves are just going to find a new way to loose next year.
Escalante
October 7th, 2012
12:38 am
guys come on the player we need to pursue this offseason is shane victorino he is a couple more years older then bourne wont cost as much as bourn and can be just as good as bourn yea he had an off year but what he brings to the table isnt far off from bourn plus he brings championship experience something the braves lack OBVIOUSLY I def. will give mccann another year to prove himself because the guy can play ball he just was hurt this year guys tough to play at your best when your hurt but if i was wren i would be doing everything and anything to get rid of dan ” not the man” sluggla and that contract so we can also get bj upton no need to get hamilton because i believe freeman and heyward will be really good next year as far as homeruns and clutch rbi’s
bulldogbubba
October 7th, 2012
1:24 am
To Mr. Clusters – AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!!!!!!!
alex
October 7th, 2012
2:44 am
we have to try to solve uggla problem. what about new LA fool Kasten. they in trouble to count own money. let them bite.
captguitarman
October 7th, 2012
2:44 am
Prado, Heyward, Freeman, and platooning McCann and and Ross, and keeping Bourn, are the future. Bourn just got worn out, like the Braves’ bull pen last year. But if they let him go, he is no Pete Rose, but he will come back to haunt. Simmons is a big quetion mark. but he is immature and played like it. He didn’t get the green light for a bunt (rampant stupidity), but Fredi gave him cover with a plausible explanation . . . he was worried that Simmons (or pick any Brave) could not hit a runner in. Prado on third, then who is in left. They need to find somebody. Failure to get men on and move them is their Achilles heel, unlike St. Louis. With Braves runners on, you could always take a break, chaannel surf, go get a beer, hit the john, because you knew what was going to happen.- nothing. It wasn’t only the errors, as Chipper owned up to, but the Braves left ten runners on base. They could have won 13 to 6. How do you fix that? Not sure, but it kept them from winning the division outright, and from winning a BS Wild Card game, and it will keep them out of the play offs until the hitters learn to move runners around the bases.
kreedham
October 7th, 2012
3:01 am
captguitarman….yes not hitting with RISP was huge but I think we might have won it if Beachy hadn’t gotten hurt!
Gritsfalcon
October 7th, 2012
3:26 am
First, trade Uggla, even if the team has to eat some of the contract, like they did with D. Lowe! Second, sign Bourne. (I think all that hype about the Phillies’ is coming from Scott Boras–his agent.)
The next priority –and this is big, really big–3rd base. I don’t think Prado is the answer there and neither is Francisco. The Braves’ have to find a power hitting 3rd baseball that can hit for a good average with minimal strikeouts! If those three things happen we’ll be back here next year moving into the Divisional/Championship series round(s)! Anyway they could waggle David Wright from the Mets? Just one fans’ opinion!
Stinger2
October 7th, 2012
4:48 am
wewuzrobbed: “We” normally means two or more people. Are you the twin of another poster who constantly refers to himself as “We”? Sure sounds like it since you gushed the other “We” person with so much praise. Sounds like either you are one and the same or you are his little or maybe twin brother. Anyway, the original one of you took a lot of time and used a lot of space to say nothing but the same type of negative complaining he always does.
Buddy Landel
October 7th, 2012
6:57 am
To everyone saying we should’ve fired FG and hired Francona: do you remember Francona’s managing record before he was hired by the Red Sox and their bottomless pockets? didn’t think so. unless your name is Joe Maddon, your team is only as good as it’s players. Francona managed a .440 winning percentage with the Phillies from 1997-2000.
I look for Scott Boras to con someone into giving Bourne 18M per year. If the Phillies want to do that, more power to them.
Paddy
October 7th, 2012
7:31 am
CJ…………The Braves won’t have to worry about the Marlins out spending them as you suggest. That owner is the worst in baseball. He gutted and gave up on his team when he realized he could still not draw crowds in Miami with his joke of a new ballpark. He gushes over the artists that painted the murals on his concourse but cares little or nothing about his players and fans. A seperate column is need for his less than professional manager. No, Miami will not be considered a threat to the Braves .
jfreak13713
October 7th, 2012
7:37 am
With a limited budget Wren has put together a solid team. There have been some mistakes like Derrick Lowe but overall he has done a good job. The Braves have been chokers long before Wren ever got to town and that is on the players. Hopefully with a little extra money to spend they can improve the power hitting in the outfield and maybe sure up their starting rotation??
I’d ride myself of Tommy Hanson. I would NOT resign Bourne at what he is expecting to get. Although, I would love for him to stay but he isn’t worth 15 million a year. I’d rather pay Josh Hamilton that kind of money for 140 games a year. But regardless Wren will put a quality team on the field and it will be up to those guys to not make THREE ERRORS in a one game playoff not FRANK WREN!
Thanks Chipper hope to see you soon on the bench for the Braves??
a fan
October 7th, 2012
7:45 am
Vince you make a lot of sense on you 8:42
Ted
October 7th, 2012
7:49 am
Bye bye Braves! What a great ending to the season!
MoreOrLess
October 7th, 2012
8:02 am
I still think the Braves need to sign Bourne even though he strikes out a lot. He adds a dimension to the lineup that we haven’t had in a while — speed. He has proven that a good lead-off hitter is essential for us. The Braves look more like the Braves of Otis Nixon with Bourne in the lineup. I don’t wan’t to see us return to the one dimensional “get somebody on base then wait for someone to hit a home run to bring them in” days of Bobby Cox.
guy
October 7th, 2012
8:06 am
bye uggla!!!!
Ralph
October 7th, 2012
8:17 am
Deep Six………..
October 6th, 2012
6:21 pm
Deep Six and File 13: Tommy Hanson, JJ, Fredi Gonzalez, Roger McDowell and Dan Uggla – Trade Brian McCann while you can get something for him –
—————————————————————————————————————
Before you can trade Blind/Mac you first must either pick up his option or re sign him, either way it’s gonna cost you $12million, Buy out his contract $1mil and say bye/bye.
Jay Dawg
October 7th, 2012
8:27 am
Uggla and Hudson have to go. Too much money and not enough production. Good core with Freeman, Heyward and Simmons with Prado as backup. Good core of starting pitchers and relievers. Love Brian McCann but is he reaching the end of his effectiveness as a catcher? Can he play anything else with Freeman at first that would keep him a little healthier? Not sure I see it. Ship him to an AL team to DH. Should be an interesting off season…..
Nativebird
October 7th, 2012
8:30 am
Not one all star remaining on this team next year. braves need a “game changer” if this franchise will ever get beyond an even higher bar now with this ludicrous 1-game coin toss playoff system. We’ve got to replace our retiring HOF’er with another future HOF’er. That’s the store we should be shopping in. Where is the next Cabreera? Trout? Who has the next 20 game winner?
Joey
October 7th, 2012
8:37 am
Please don’t resign Mac – for any amount of money.
Ralph
October 7th, 2012
8:40 am
For those who think Ross doesn’t want to be an every day catcher, DON’T BET ON IT, he is a free agent so my thinking is offer him the job at $6mil and bring up Bethencourt and save $6mil and put that toward paying part of Uggla’s payroll in Cleveland, i.e., like D.Lowe.
Homer for life
October 7th, 2012
8:52 am
If someone say “the Rev” at second base needs their head examined. This guy is a AAA player at best. Best stats he will ever get .240/8hr/40rbi. He is not an answer.
anonymous
October 7th, 2012
9:02 am
Couple of things: Braves fans are so immature, childish, and third-rate baseball fans. Where were the white handkerchiefs, tomahawks waving, or anything waving to show the team solidarity and support? Where was the NOISE? Instead, one call does not go your way, late in the game while you are losing, and you throw a TANTRUM JUST LIKE A SPOILED CHILD!
Chipper lost this game with his error. HOF-mer yes. But no one of Derek Jeter’s calibre will make such a throw at such a time. TOTALLY threw Medlen off. Except for a few guys, the Braves did not show up to WIN this game. A lot like UGA football against S. Carolina.
All in all, glad they made the wild card playoff. Could have been so much better.
Good luck next year. And please, let’s move past Chipper. No special interviews with him next season. No air time in the Braves radio/tv box while a game is ongoing. No commentary from him. Let next year be the NEW Braves!
Go Braves!
p
October 7th, 2012
9:03 am
uggla must go
DHD
October 7th, 2012
9:10 am
I would love Hamilton. The problem with him is the potential for injury and when you put all your money on one guy, that could be a problem. I would go a little lower and sign Swisher or BJ Upton. I wouldn’t mind if we could do both. In fact, if we could sign both of them, we’re good to go. Upton has great upside and we know what we get in Swisher.
Upton, cf
Prado, 3b
Heyward, rf
Swisher, lf
Freeman, 1b
Uggla, 2b
McCann/Ross, c
Simmons, ss
Still Gritz Blitz'n
October 7th, 2012
9:35 am
I’m w/jfreak,Hansons gotta go,Jurgens-see ya, & heck, I’m tired of all the whiffs as well, did we lead the league in total team strikeouts, I didn’t think Bourne would’ve been a whiff’n buff. Before this past season, Uncle Frankie suggested that the team needed to have more quality at bats, more discipline, working the count, & there were little spurts of it, but it was on & off again, especially in the “Gio” game home against the nats. So many times he tried to sucker our hitter’s w/ his stuff, moving in & out, alittle off the plate w/ the corners, everything he would normally do that gave him success, the Bravos that night did not succomb to that, that each guy(even Uggla I believe battled him) had an approach against him, & they beat him. They did at times but not consistently look like disciplined hitters, then after a couple of days of that, or after a off-day, they go up there flail’n themselves senseless, like they ain’t gotta clue where the strikezone is. Not good w/ 2 strike hitt’n (except for prado, & mabey at times chipper battled) but the rest of the guys look clueless, lost of focus & swing’n like they hope they hit it. I knew when Uncle Frankie brought in the 2 headed hitting Coach, Walker Fletcher that ok we’ll get on the right track. One dude that probably could hardly ever get it was struggla, mabey in smaller spurts, yeah, our record shows pretty good consider’n all the mishaps the team went through this year, now the mystery of what this team will build into next year, will we progress or will we digress(dang,somebody correct me if spelled incorrectly,thanks)
Peter
October 7th, 2012
9:36 am
Well Infante and Blanco..are part of playoff teams,,,,,and we are gone……..
We had what we needed two years ago, and we traded Blanco for Ankiel who is out of baseball…….and all are calling for the head of Uggla…..or for him to be traded.
We could play small ball then, had much better speed.
Please tell me Wren has a clue ? Once he traded away Blanco for Ankiel.we turned into a choke machine……and lost out club house cohesiveness.
Baltimore is in the playoffs……. that of course is after Wren was fired by them !
FIRE WREN ! Unless of course we should continue to build a softball team as we have……. Lack of speed and can only win when we hit home runs.
Peter
October 7th, 2012
9:38 am
Well Chipper and the crew was all excited about that one game playoff….POP that Champagne !
What a FAIL !
Still Gritz Blitz'n/O'l 74
October 7th, 2012
9:39 am
I’d love to have Swisher, DHD, good points, heck upton too, I’d go w/it.
Shane Sikes
October 7th, 2012
9:44 am
don’t need another season of Uggla batting .210/.220 (killing us)
Bring up Battencourt and put McCann on the bench.
What do you think?
Li'l Roy FontlyRoy
October 7th, 2012
9:49 am
Just mabey we’ll find out if this organization will have a clue one day.
Thomas
October 7th, 2012
9:55 am
Payroll issues always come from an owner that either has a interest that the team will win or use it as write off for tax purposes. Liberty Media is the problem!
bravos
October 7th, 2012
10:00 am
mike y – great post
starting pitching is fine – even with hanson #5
bullpen is good
now onto starting lineup
c – I like mccann but don’t see how you pay him $12mm if you have an option- go with ross and pay somebody or if have someone in minor leagues
1b – freeman – good
2b uggla – no choice and he is not that bad – walks a lot but hoped for more
ss – simmons – he is a good player – green but has a lot of potential
3b – prado with francooccasionally is not terrible and prado can play outfield as well
of – heyward is great – constanzo could play some cf and is a burner – so go get a big bopper
hamilton might be the man- would rather pay for a big bopper and shuffle constanzo and franco than bring back bourn – have to replace chipper with someone in the middle of the lineup and we should have the money. Who is out there besides hamilton that can hit homers and do we need mcanns salary to pay for him? those are the biggest questions to me besides how much you pay to keep free agent bench players.
virginia ranger
October 7th, 2012
10:10 am
How about taking the money and buying “Milkey the Drugging”—for the ML minimum and spending another ML minimum lining the pockets of the umpires.
Seriously Swisher does make some sense, cause a switch hitter who can (try to) play multiple positions would be an assest
playmeortrademe
October 7th, 2012
10:11 am
Blow it up. Wipe it out. Close the door on the Bobby Cox era. Change everything, get rid of the tomahawk and the damn chop that blares incessantly like “Rocky Top” at a Tennessee football game. Trade Uggla and pay 70% of his contract. Don’t pick up the option on McCann, he’s done. Start Ross for a year until the stud catcher in the minors is ready. Use the $45million or whatever to get some real players and build around the young staff, Heyward. Freeman, Simmons, and Prado.
virginia ranger
October 7th, 2012
10:11 am
Hey how about figuring a way to get Hamilton and Braun then between inning they could slide out to Fulton St and siupplement their incomes.
Winston
October 7th, 2012
10:16 am
Okay, who is going to take Uggla? Really, who? We have to hope he gets a little of his bat back because nobody is going to take him off the Braves hands.
The Twins have let it be known that Dennard Spann is available for a young pitcher. We have 3 and Spann is much cheaper than Bourn. He doesn’t steal as much (who does?) but he doesn’t strike out nearly as much, either.
Todd Cunningham looks like the big addition from the farm next year. The kid has hit everywhere he has played, so he looks like an inexpensive option in LF. Take Chipper’s money and pick up the options on McCann (he was hurt this year – he’ll be back) and Hudson (he’s got one more season in the tank). Then we just have to hope that Heyward, Freeman, and Uggla all stretch out their power a little. Simple!
Winston
October 7th, 2012
10:21 am
If the Rangers (who have money to burn) aren’t going to pay Hamilton, why would the Braves (who have a budget) go anywhere near that train wreck? Keep dreaming. He’s not coming to Atlanta, and that’s probably a good thing. The guy was as bad as Uggla for big chunks of last season.
beamMeUp
October 7th, 2012
10:22 am
the braves were still suffering effects from that huge champagne shower after backing into the playoffs. Drinking a bunch of champagne for just making a playoff game—-minor league stuff.
playmeortrademe
October 7th, 2012
10:25 am
Someone will take Uggla for the right price. He’s still young and could right himself, but he’s not worth what the Braves are paying him. If the Braves could find a buyer that would pay even 25% of his contract, that would free up about $1MM-$1.5MM per year, and I bet you could find at least one, probably two or three players more productive than Uggla at that price, or put that money toward free agents.
playmeortrademe
October 7th, 2012
10:34 am
For me, Wren has to have to have the guts to let the hometown guys, Hudson and McCann, walk and free up that money. McCann especially. There’s a chance he could rebound, but between his eyesight problems and age, his bat is slow so he pops up a lot, he can’t hit to all fields, and his defense doesn’t make up for it. Hudson can still pitch but it’s time to let the young guys have the rotation and get the experience. Use that money for position players and a cheaper 4th or 5th starter.
Johnny Come Lately
October 7th, 2012
10:41 am
I find it funny that Chipper said he gave his all every day. Did he give his all on that day in September when he sat for a game against the division leading Nationals? He settled for the wildcard, and this is what he got.
Sonny Clusters
October 7th, 2012
10:44 am
Hey Tiny, talk baseball or go talk society with the other pansies. We think you got your feelings hurt along the way and now you’re all red in the face and embarrassed and have to talk Clusters when you aren’t smart enough to make valid points of your own about the baseball team. Oh, we forgot, you are the “golly, gee, gee willikers, love me some Chipper” blogger. Many of us are looking for some better baseball from this organization and some candid reality from them about their lack of success when the big boys get together to settle the pennant. Do you ever get tired of watching other teams celebrate on Turner Field? Of course, the fans made that unadvisable for the Cards. Finally, Atlanta fans seem to have had enough of the ineptitude and the excuses and the charade of telling us they are some kind of “champions”. How did that “playoff” championship they celebrated the other night work out for them? It’s little blatherers like you that give JS the courage to keep on keeping on because you slobber at the fountain and can’t get enough Popeye arms and wasted, totally unprofessional at-bats (there you go again, “he had some pretty walks”) where he strikes out or pops up with runners on base. We say jettison Uggla. Let him go make movies with the prOn star and he can stop off and see Chipper at the ranch and kill something since he can no longer kill a baseball. Stalker2, we got so annoyed with you we left for a few days because you make it personal instead of about baseball and we think you are jealous of this Clusters because of our nice monogrammed CLUSTERS pajamas instead of those Braves pajamas with the tomahawk and the little feet sewed in them that you wear. You and “true” fans like you that make excuses for the Braves are the ones who enable them to continue to deliver mediocrity. Now, stalk away, Tiny. Show us your ignorance. Your Pal, Sonny Clusters, we don’t hold it against you because you probably are doing the best you can.
Sam Augustine
October 7th, 2012
10:51 am
Uggla and Bourn need to leave, Bourn can’t bunt Constanza can. Uggla will finish the season with a 225 avg send him back to the Marlins and get a prospect
Let's Go
October 7th, 2012
10:54 am
Winston @ 10:16 & 10:21
You make too much sense with your post but the Fantasy GM’s that troll these blogs don’t want to hear that.
In todays baseball world signing free agents is too much of a crap shoot especially for power hitters who come from the AL with their small parks and high ERA’s that inflate the numbers. Hamilton has talent and could probably hit 30 HR’s in the NL but the baggage this guy has with his substance abuse problems is a red flag that all teams have to look at. People are screaming trade for Bautista. Please, here is a guy where red flags should be all over the place with his shady numbers. The guy goes from never hitting more than 16 in his first 5 years to hitting 54 and then 43.