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
Mister Frisky
October 8th, 2012
1:41 pm
If the Angels got suckered into taking Vernon 220 Wells at 22 mil per.Im sure there is some unexpecting douche bag GM that would take Caveman Dan off our books.
Mister Frisky
October 8th, 2012
1:45 pm
Angels got suckered into taking Vernon Wells at 22 mil a year.I think the Braves could find someone just as stupid to take Caveman Dan off our hands.
Rick C
October 8th, 2012
2:16 pm
Klaus, neither McCann, Uggla, or Hanson is going to fetch much value in a trade right now. Uggla in particular the Braves would have to eat most of the contract, which they can’t do with their payroll. I think Hanson will probably be traded though since they have internal options to replace him.
Your outlook on Hudson is misguided. He could easily get a multi-year deal somewhere if he wants it. His option is extremely affordable.
Simmons is just young. Giving up on him without even a half season of ML performance would be incredibly shortsighted. I question what games you are watching if you don’t think he has great ability at SS.
The rotation is pretty much set for next year. They need to spend their money on hitters, not pitchers. Even if they don’t have a true “ace,” the lineup has a bigger need right now.
Had Beachy not gotten hurt, Medlen may have never even been in the rotation. Medlen certainly had some luck behind him, but we would not have really even needed him there had Beachy stayed healthy. It’s not like they just barely made the post season either. They won the first WC spot by 6 games and were only a few behind the division leader.
enough, the need for a power hitting 3B or LF is already offset by the fact that they have a power hitting 2B.
Ron
October 8th, 2012
3:57 pm
There ain’t no way the Braves sign Josh Hamilton, he will go to a bigger payroll team, a.k.a. Red Sox, Dodgers. I think the Braves should take a hard look at one of their own in center and lead-off, Luis Durango, can steal, can hit (not much power), excellent defense and good arm. Th Braves need to concentrate on LF and 3rd base. I agree Uggla, Hanson and possibly McCann. Line-up, rotation, bench, bullpen I would like to see 1. CF Durango 2. 2nd Prado 3. 1st Freeman 4. LF To be Named 5. Rf Heyward 6. 3rd To be named 7. C Ross 8. SS Simmons. Rotation: 1)Ace To be named 2)Medlen 3)Minor 4)Hudson 5)Maholm or Delgado(Beachy not back until minimum All-Star Break) Bullpen: Kimbrel, O’Flaherty,Venters, Avilan, Gearrin, Martinez, rest to be determined at spring training. Bench: Bettancourt or Gattis, Pastornicky, Francisco, Mejia, Costanza, Can be tweaked at Spring Training. I think Uggla, Hanson, Jurrijens, McCann and most of this seasons bench should be gone. As far as To be named players: Denard Spann and Josh Willingham from Twins via trade would be good choices. Also Kyle Lohse as our Ace as I think the Cardinals would trade him as they have many arms they want in next years rotation.
Dick Dodge
October 8th, 2012
4:30 pm
It is getting old hearing Braves fans complain about the new Wild Card format.
The genius of the new format..is that WINNING the division is REWARDED (by earning an entry into the Division Series),..while being one of the two Wild Cards (no matter how much better a record one WC has over the other) warrants having to play the play-in game in order to get into the Division Series.
The Giants won 103 games in 1993..and didnt have the luxury of a Wild Card play-in game.
If the Braves management had better decisions (like not having Randal Delgado make 17 starts…like not waiting until July 31st to give Kris Medlen his first start of the season)…if Braves players had actually taken care of business on the field (like not taking the month of September off from an offensive standpoint…like getting a clutch hit with runners in scoring position)….then we would have won the division.
Bottom line, we deserved the ramifications that came with the Wild Card play-in game. We deserve being in a position of being susceptible to bad luck (like a bad call costing us a chance to come back in the 8th inning).
I love the Wild Card set-up now, because from an entertainment standpoint…it forces you to play your A game, RIGHT AWAY. The sense of urgency that has been sorely needed for a number of years with this organization…simply failed to rise on Friday. The Cardinals, once again, rose up when the chips were down…while we (and this is a familiar storyline)…choked away our season.
Maybe in 2013…Braves management will put us in a position (and give us some more players who can deliver a clutch hit..as well as stay healthy) where by winning the division…our margin for error wont come down to a one game Wild Card play-in game.
Blaming the umpire, blaming Bud Selig…may make many of you feel better, however it DOES NOTHING to change the fact that we shot ourselves in the foot several times in the game…as well as during the regular season. Instead, you guys should be directing your anger at Braves management AND the Braves players.
We had a 162 games to show that we were worthy of avoiding a one game play-in game. Plain simply…we didnt.
bravesfan82
October 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
I say trade Freeman Pastornicky and Lipka to KC for Billy Butler Jarrod Dyson and Adam Moore. Then Trade Uggla to Seattle for Figgins you know bad contract for another Move Mcann to 3rd and use Prado to 2nd and have Figgins play left field and have at the top of the lineup.
lineup for 2013
Figgins LF
Dyson CF
Prado 2nd
Heyward RF
Butler 1st
Mcann 3B
Gattis C
Simmons SS
Rick C
October 8th, 2012
6:57 pm
lol McCann at 3B? You really can’t be that stupid to think that’s seriously a good idea, can you?
superiorblogman
October 8th, 2012
7:02 pm
The Hawks are still the best team in ATL. The Braves are severely overrating there team and talent.
All the Braves really have is Prado, Heyward, Freeman, and Simmons. Everything else should be moved.
I would love to see Wren do something significant this offseason but I doubt it will happen. He made a mistake last offseason by doing other than forecasting 95 wins. Looks like more of the same this offseason. He will go out and pick up some bargain players with no pop in there bats but claim he thinks we can still win 90 games next year because he thinks Uggla will finally have a good year after 2 bad ones in ATL and our young pitchers will finally be ready at 25 and McCann will bounce back.
Wren is a forecaster and predictor rather than someone that manages by taking action.
A-town homer
October 9th, 2012
2:07 pm
Terdoslavic, Cunningham, Lipka, Bethancourt, Gattis, and Ahmed are getting close to MLB level. Bourn is gone. To many K for a lead off man. Save 11.5 mil by giving Bmac 500,000 buyout. Buying out Huddy to really get some money for the free agent market is tempting but for 9 million (8 because you would have to give 1 to buyout his contract) is a great deal. If you add all that up Bmac, Bourn, Ross, and maybe Huddy contract money…you can get wright at 3rd and Revere in OF. Plenty of money available to do that. What sounds better Huddy Bmac Bourn and Ross or Wright and Revere. Just putting that out there.
superiorblogman
October 9th, 2012
3:58 pm
Wright and Revere, lmao. Only way we get Wright is if they cut him and I think he has too much value for them to just cut. Revere I will pass.
We need to be looking at a team like Arizona that has Aaron Hill and Justin Upton. Do what you need to get those two.
superiorblogman
October 9th, 2012
4:54 pm
Candidates for lead-off man if Bourn should not get resigned
1.Shin-Soo Choo
2A Dexter Fowler
2B Austin Jackson
3 BJ Upton
PEPr
October 10th, 2012
1:44 pm
With Josh Hamilton you would have to have “AA” on speed dial! Also, the Dan Uggla I see on defense is not a liability. He plays Second like a man possessed.
nashvillewill
October 10th, 2012
3:16 pm
I agree with the commentators who wish to let McCann and Bourne go. Here’s an idea for Uggla: start him at AAA and inform him that he will be brought up when he learns to hit to all fields and bat .300 at AAA. If he succeeds by May 15, bring him up. Meanwhile, Pastornicky or Jannish can fill in and do as well or better than Ugs has so far. Any thoughts of trying Durango or Mejia who had good AAA seasons? Since Prado can play IF, leave him there and go for a power-hitting LF and a speedy leadoff at CF (Durango or Constanza could be tried in spring training). A trade including either Delgado or Teheran is ok given the depth at pitching. Gonzales/Wren (who makes these decisions?) made two major mistakes costing the Braves the division: playing Uggla and toying with Medlen for a month before giving him the starting role. Since better decisions were made than the previous year regarding the bullpen, maybe learning is still possible. Though the old Cox-like stubbornness to stand by non-productive favorites continues to irritate me and other fans.