No Griffey? Be happy, Frank! Be happy!
The guess is that one or two folks will regard this latest incompletion as further evidence Frank Wren doesn’t know what he’s doing. The belief here is that Wren keeps getting lucky like a … well, if not quite like a fox, then certainly like the luckiest dog this side of NASCAR.
Twice now an object of Wren’s affection has done an about-face. The belief here is that the Braves are better off without Ken Griffey Jr., just as they’re better off without Rafael Furcal. (As you know, I had deep reservations about Griffey and even deeper ones about Furcal.) But Wren wanted both, and what does that say about him?
It says he’s trying too hard. That’s understandable. He succeeded the matchless John Schuerholz and proceeded to put together a roster that fell apart due to injuries. Now Wren is trying to recapture all lost ground in the span of one offseason. Pursuing Jake Peavy made sense because Jake Peavy is 28; pursuing Furcal and Griffey, both on the back nine of their careers, made infinitely less.
Wren needs to step back, take a deep breath and do nothing. He has made the one move he had to make by signing Derek Lowe. Everything else can wait. The Braves don’t open until April 6. Let’s see what happens in Florida after the exhibitions begin.
This week Matt Diaz was asked how he felt when he hears Wren say — and Wren has said it time and again — that the Braves need another bat in the outfield. “As a player, you want the chance to provide that bat,” Diaz said, and we all know the man can hit lefthanders and at worst be half of a left-field platoon.
More Diaz: “I think we have a pretty adequate outfield. Jeff Francoeur drove in 70 runs last year, and that was the worst year of his career. We have [Josh] Anderson and [Jordan] Schafer and [Gregor] Blanco in center field, and when I was down in the minors doing my rehab last year I saw Schafer take over a couple of games. And in left, hopefully you’ll have me as part of a platoon. That might not strike a ton of fear into opponents, but it’s a capable outfield.”
If the pitching is as good as the Braves hope and the infield/catching is as good as Wren claims — “As good there as any team in our league or in baseball,” he said last month — a capable outfield would more than suffice. This team went into the offseason lacking players, but in Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez the Braves have found most of what they needed.
The belief here is that Wren could do far worse than to trust his farm system and give Schafer and Anderson and Tommy Hanson a shot. (Really, who would you rather see as the Braves’ fifth starter in the year 2009 — Tommy Hanson or Tommy Glavine?) There’s no cause to chase every aging player who might come on the cheap. There’s no reason to mess with what is shaping up as a solid club just for the sake of messing.
Frank Wren has been around baseball for a long time, and he knows the game and the business. All he lacks is a dollop of patience. He should take the Griffey fizzle the same way he should have taken the Furcal fiasco — as a sign that sometimes less is more.
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101 comments Add your comment
Poorjeff
February 19th, 2009
10:02 am
So the Braves give in to Frenchy…..what a d@#$ joke!!!!
Whopper Dawg
February 19th, 2009
10:11 am
Mark,
I agree. Most of the errors the Braves have made the past five years or so are trading prospects for the perceived one piece or two pieces that will put them in the chase when in reality it only depleted the club to stay about the same level of performance. Stand pat, Let the kids play.
Whopper
Jeff
February 19th, 2009
10:13 am
More and more, this offseason is reminding a lot of what the Thrashers went through during their latest offseason. The Thrashers, being the laughing stock of the NHL, weren’t able to lure anybody to Atlanta unless they substantially overpaid for their services. In fact, the NHL has a MINIMUM salary cap that the Thrash were in danger of not meeting…thus not being eligible for any revenue sharing. In fact D-man Brian Campbell signed with the Blackhawks for roughly $5M less than what we offered. The same seems to be happening to the Braves (with the exception of the Burnett element). Why is it that players simply do not seem to want to come and play for the Braves?
And are we just stuck with the two worst GM’s in Waddell and Wren? Is there something in the water in Atlanta? Maybe Thomas Dimitroff should stay as far away from Wren and Waddell as possible.
Father of 5
February 19th, 2009
10:15 am
So the best you can say about Wren is that he keeps getting lucky . . . that instills confidence. You left out his attempt to nickel and dime Atlanta’s greatest icon ever and force him to much greener pasture. Fools will believe the hype and support this team in April. By June this team will be so far out of the race that the Gwinnett team will look pretty attractive. But then some people will give credit to Wren for helping to get the Gwinnett team off to a good start — all part of his plan. Or maybe he really is a clown.
null
February 19th, 2009
10:17 am
The best thing that happened to Wren was giving Hampton away. What a waste of money.
Daniel
February 19th, 2009
10:20 am
Griffey is done period! The Braves are in a rebuilding process. They are at best the 3rd best team in the east, Losing Furcal or griffey wasnt going to leap frog them to a division title. The Braves are limited with the cash resources Liberty has awared them, Certainly not as bad as Kanas City or Pittsburg, But not in the same league as the yankees, Cubs, mets or Dodgers. Best thing the Braves can do is sit back draft wisely, develope the players and stock pile the minor league system.With the current ownership, not expext to see a player whose stardom they manufactured stay in Atlanta after they achive free agent status. Those days under Turner are over. Keeping the rising stars and adding some other teams raising stars. Tampa Bay is where the Braves want to be. Develope the youngers , Don”t expext them to stay after 6 years, and when they sign with the Yankees for 100 mil, Move the next raising star in to replace. I do miss the regime of ted turner, but that is now of past, These are now different days and a very different Braves Organization. At least we havent reverted back to the mid to late 80″s Braves, 50 to 60 wins, crowds of 12 to 15,ooo, Not yet I hope
PMC
February 19th, 2009
10:27 am
an adequate outfield? Matt… you blew your knee out and the rest of the group hit what? 27 homers?
That’s the worst outfield production EVER. They may need 3 more bats in the outfield.
I agree with you long term Mark but scoring 3 to 4 runs a game for this team is going to be like pulling teeth. Hopefully this year they can manage to hang in 1 run games.
Ultrasuede
February 19th, 2009
10:27 am
I agree with you, Mark, that the Braves are better off without the aging Griffey. I wasn’t bummed that they didn’t get Furcal, either. And I hope that Tom Glavine does not sign with the Braves, because he’s way over the hill. I thank Tommy for his wonderful years with the Braves, but the Braves need to let the younger guys play and not sign a 40-something pitcher who doesn’t have it anymore.
I think they overpaid for Derek Lowe, too, and while Lowe will help them for a while, I think we’ll be saying in three years that it was a mistake to pay him that kind of money.
I also am not thrilled with the trade for Javier Vasquez (jeez, I don’t like any of the Braves’ moves this past offseason!)…I live in Chicago and saw Vasquez wet the bed time and time again with the White Sox.
All in all, I’d have rather seen the Braves rebuild with the youngsters, although I realize that they needed to get a veteran pitcher or two for the starting rotation — especially because they lost Smoltzie.
Ultrasuede
February 19th, 2009
10:31 am
PMC, speaking of Matt Diaz, I was at the Braves-Brewers game in Milwaukee last May when Diaz slid trying to catch a ball, and hit the wall down the leftfield line. I was at the Brave-Brewers game in 2007 when Smoltzie injured his shoulder warming up before an inning and walked off the field and onto the disabled list. I wonder what disaster I’ll see when I go to a Braves-Brewers game in Brew Town this year. Maybe I better stay away.
Robert M
February 19th, 2009
10:34 am
I keep hearing how the Braves have made mistakes over the past five years of trading prospects to rent players. I don’t like the rent-a-player scheme either, but tell me this….. Other than possibly Adam Wainwright, what prospects have gone on to other teams and done well?
DirtyDawg
February 19th, 2009
10:36 am
Hey, I got an idea…since Kelly Johnson ain’t worth spit as a second baseman, and since he’s got about as sweet a swing from the left side of the plate as there is in baseball, then why not let him and Diaz do their thing in left field…at least start out the season that way, and along with the development of whomever will show something in center and, obviously, a rejuvenated Francoeur in right (heh, heh, heh), we’ll be just fine….ya think?
Bill
February 19th, 2009
10:37 am
Mr. Bradley, does the newspaper really pay you to do this? Geez.. they get rid of Tony Barnhart but leave you, Moore, and Schultz? And people wonder why this newspaper is struggling. Wonder how much the Gwinnett daily Post’s subscription costs?
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
10:37 am
Let’s not compare the Braves to the Thrashers just yet.
BugKiller
February 19th, 2009
10:39 am
It is interesting though, how Wren cannot or will not close deals.
Furcal. Smoltz. Peavy. Burnett. Griffey.
In the end, the variable that remains the same is Wren.
He overpays for Derek Lowe by about 20 million dollars, when an extra 10 would have done the job.
His track record at other places (ahem, Baltimore) is dreadful.
It reminds me of Vince Dooley and Ray Goff. As good a person as Ray Goff is, and he is a good person, and he knows a lot about football, I mean, he guided Georgia to perhaps their least likely SEC Championship as a Veer QB in 1976, and he was on Coach Dooley’s staff for years, learning from a great coach, and in the end, it didn’t matter.
Frank Wren “learned” from The Genius for how many years?
In the end, it hasn’t mattered.
You can’t learn genius. And sometimes, you can’t learn from a genius, because their genius is so innate, it comes as second nature to them so much so that they don’t know how to teach it.
Wren is not the guy. More and more I am coming to that conclusion. Wren is not the guy.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
10:41 am
So what if Wren overpaid for Lowe? Everybody always overpays for free agents. The bottom line is that Wren got the guy he needed to get.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
February 19th, 2009
10:47 am
I agree with ya Mark. I have to admit I was pissed when Griffey didn’t come through; I thought it was going to be a good fit for our team. But in reality, it would be better to let the guys we have take positions out there. As you pointed out, if our pitching and infield is as good as it should be, having an average at best outfield will be sufficient, and to be honest I can’t see Frenchy having a season like he did last year, considering all the different steps he has taken this offseason to get ready.
Ryan in TN
February 19th, 2009
10:48 am
What people need to do is make up their mind!! Either rebuild and let your young kids play(don’t resign Chipper) or Put the pieces together and make a run at the playoffs. You cant go half and half it needs to be one or the other. Glavine gives them a far better option on paper as a fifth starter, than a rookie who has hardly made a start above “A” ball. Griffey is a far better option than most players we had a chance at. His presence at camp would have been very valuable to Heyward, giving the fact he may be in ATL next season. I think Wren has done a good job with what cards he was dealt. Hey, at least he didn’t trade the farm for Teixeira and get absolutly nothing in return.
don
February 19th, 2009
10:50 am
If Wren had stepped back and taken a deep breath rather than make the ridiculous Teixeira and Drew deals (neither produced anything), the team would be far better today and in the future.
Murph
February 19th, 2009
10:52 am
I agree completely. When you stop and think about it, guys like Griffey and Glavine are just names now. They aren’t the players they once were.
Sure, Griffey would have brought some intangibles to the team, but are you telling me that there aren’t guys in the Braves system who could outperform him on a nightly basis? Heyward is young, but from everything I’ve read, he’s got the tools to play in the majors. Why not give him a shot? So what if he only hits .250 during his rookie year?
I like Bobby Cox, I like Chipper Jones, but it’s time to bring some new blood onto this team. I’m sick of hearing how the veterans in Atlanta are so business-like. Get after it. Show some emotion. Play to have fun. The rest will take care of itself.
Matty
February 19th, 2009
10:53 am
Mark- can you please pass what ever it is you are smoking. There is no way this outfield is enough. You have the potential to have an outfield with a .240 average and 25 home runs, best case scenario .285 with 50hrs……no where near enough in this division.
Homer Simpson
February 19th, 2009
10:54 am
I lived in the Seattle area during Griffey’s Mariner days. Saw a lot of games in person and many more on TV. Griffey was the best, in those days. Now, he is simply an over weight, broken down, former great. Reminds me of Willie Mays trying to hang on those last couple of years and looking so bad. This is not a loss for Atlanta. They should have been after Bobby Abreu. He at least had something left. The guy did have a decent year last year. Now, all that is left out there are older, broken down, or un productive players. Fat chance on improvement this year.
jtb
February 19th, 2009
10:56 am
great idea mark….let the worst outfield in baseball just play ball. josh anderson? brandon jones? who the hell are these guys? wren needs to get on the horn and either sign garrett anderson, who hit almost .300 last year with about 15 homers and 85 rbi’s, or make a trade for nick swisher.
Coastal
February 19th, 2009
10:56 am
Is Ricky Henderson still available?
Mac
February 19th, 2009
10:58 am
If Frenchy becomes Frenchy again, rather than Brad Komminsk, everything’s OK. I’d love for one of the young guys to play his way into the lineup and the rookie of the year award. If that happens and the new pitchers pan out, it’s contender time.
richbrave
February 19th, 2009
10:58 am
For once I agree with you BRADLEY. Lets move on.
Jones
February 19th, 2009
10:59 am
I agree that Junior was not going to get this team to the playoffs, but he would have sold some tickets and could have been a good role model for the youngsters, however the way he treated the Braves recently begs to differ.
This team is really not any better than last years on paper so another 70-80 win season is in our future. People who just love to watch baseball will probably turn their attention more to Gwinnett Braves. Not downtown and much cheaper.
As far as Wren is concern what did we expect to get from him after his stay w/the O’s. Similar things happened to him when he was in control there.
Charles
February 19th, 2009
11:00 am
Frank Wren doesn’t know how to close a deal. Maybe the braves need to close their deal with him. I’ll never get over what he did to John Smoltz. Ever.
Tracy
February 19th, 2009
11:00 am
I’m a bit confused by those who cry that Smoltz is gone, but say the Braves don’t need a 40 something old pitcher in Glavine. What age again is Smoltz?
BugKiller
February 19th, 2009
11:03 am
Mark,
I understand you sometimes have to overpay for guys. It’s baseball. Compared to football and hockey, they’re ALL overpaid (not as badly as second contract guys in basketball, though).
But even you have to admit that Wren signing Lowe the way he did, overpaying him by THAT MUCH, smacked of desperation and emotionality from getting spurned by Furcal and screwing up the Smoltz negotiations.
Like he had to say, “Aha! I can close a deal! I can, I can, I can!!!”
And that’s exactly what the Lowe signing was about. No one offered him 20 million dollars close to what the Braves gave him. An extra 10 would have done, but probably have cost Wren another couple of days of waiting and haggling, but in the end, he would have gotten him, because, again, it would have been 10 million more than anyone else.
I maintain that the lone variable that remains the same in the comedy of errors that has been the Braves offseason has been Frank Wren.
In the end, it all comes back to Frank Wren.
And I maintain that my Vince Dooley-Ray Goff analogy works best.
The Braves would do well to cut bait with Wren, the sooner the better.
Otherwise, well, we’ve seen what can happen when someone who’s in over his head is made GM of a team and given carte blanche for 10 years.
As much as I abhor Bobby Cox as a manager, and I do believe he is the single-most overrated manager in the history of baseball, he has a good eye for talent, and I believe, after this year, it may be best for the organization that he return to his post as GM for a a few years to oversee an organizational restructuring that takes on a model like that of Minnesota or Tampa Bay, teams that rely soley on great defense, good pitching, and timely hitting (small ball), and not, as he does as a manager, on the three run homer, which hasn’t worked in years.
Bobby Cox for GM.
Greg Weis
February 19th, 2009
11:05 am
Mark, you write: “There’s no cause to chase every aging player who might come on the cheap. There’s no reason to mess with what is shaping up as a solid club just for the sake of messing.” Amen to the first statement. The second statement is also true, but with the clarification that “solid club” probably means finishing out of the money again at the end of the season. More and more it’s the case that you can’t build a winner just through the farm system, but have to pay big for at least a few proven free agents. The Braves corporate owners won’t do so as long as people keep watching on TV and coming in reasonable numbers to the stadium. Can’t really blame them…they’re in business to make money, after all.
DMac
February 19th, 2009
11:06 am
The Braves front office has turned a once proud organization into the laughingstocks of MLB. If the team had a real owner, the John and Frank show would have been cancelled long ago.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
11:06 am
Frank Wren didn’t make the J.D. Drew trade or the Mark Teixeira trade. John Schuerholz did.
David
February 19th, 2009
11:08 am
Mark now that Giffey is out of the picture, do You think the braves will go after Xavier Nady?
The GM
February 19th, 2009
11:09 am
Wren has been fortunate in dodging the missed signings of Griffy, Furcal, and Smoltz plus others. All injury prone over the hill or on there way there. And while his luck is holding Wren should not extend Chipper’s contract. If there ever was a player that needs to go to the AL and become a DH it is Chipper. There might be a trade there that would benefit both sides. It is time to refurbish the Braves with the next wave of young talent such as Hanson and Heyward. Toss them out there and give them time to mature. With the right manager it will be more fun to watch than older players trying to stay at the party one more season….see Tampa and Florida. Give Glavine and Cox a pat on the back and wish them well.
doc
February 19th, 2009
11:10 am
mark, i said when griff was bought up that he had a decision to make whether to play and compete in he came with the braves or retire to the mariners and go out gently. i am glad he realized he has very little left and decided to take the path of less pressure because by the outcry of his coming the expectations would have been huge. good riddance. now to find someone that is a major league player to help in left and strengthen the bench for when we have to go into the american league parks.
any extra money to revive the braves went into the sirrius radio salvage plan yesterday. get over it these are tough times. time for players in the system to step up is my guess.
Fire Frank Wren
February 19th, 2009
11:10 am
While the Braves might be better off without Griffey or without Furcal, the Braves would definitely be better off without Wren.
Wren is getting used over and over again. He’s that desperate kid in elementary school who wants everyone to like him, so he hangs on to one kid after another until they each tell him to go away. Do the Braves not see that Wren is doing irreparable damage to the organization that will last for years to come? Does the AJC not have the stones to publicly call for Wren’s resignation after one disaster after another?
Opening Day should be Publix Brown Paper Sack night. Just make sure you put it over your head and cut out the eye holes on your way to your seat.
Travis
February 19th, 2009
11:11 am
Mark,
You talk about griffey and furcal in their back 9, well what about lowe he is a 35 yr old that just got a 4 yr deal. I hope that works out but he is not going to be our ace for the next 4 yrs.
Kurt
February 19th, 2009
11:11 am
You need veterans to help the young ones along. I would rather them stay with what they have than trade more prospects for another bat.
The Teixeira and Drew deals were NOT done by Frank Wren, moron. The Jair Jurrjens steal, however, was.
And my God, people. Everyone in Atlanta has whined for years at how the Braves are penny pinchers. They finally throw some money at somebody, and everyone jumps on him for overpaying. So what? We have a solid rotation, a very good infield, and if Francoeur can return to form, an adequate outfield.
Moira
February 19th, 2009
11:11 am
What humiliating debacle is next for FRANK “WRONG AGAIN” WREN ?
My guess would be signing MICHAEL VICK as your new leadoff hitter and starting center fielder.
—-
Please commit suicide, MR. WREN.
TM
February 19th, 2009
11:14 am
I think you are on the right track MB with this article. I have my concerns about Frank Wren and his failed signings and some of his decisions to either go after a certain player or let one go (see John Smoltz). I have voiced my anger with the Smoltz situation, no need to rehash that. But, at some point when do we start looking at the person behind the moves or snubs?
I don’t share your optimism about the all snubs not being a bad thing. I don’t think we needed Furcal or Andruw Jones… I do believe this Braves team is over rated by it’s fans. 3 years missing the playoffs is not a coincidence. This team is still not improved from the last 3 years. We lost a major piece in the pitching staff in Smoltz both on the field and off. Picked up good pitcher in Lowe and an average pitcher in Vasquez. We have not improved our offense at all.
When does Frank Wren get held to the fire?
Also, I don’t think it was a coincidence that John Scherholtz moved upstairs. Not to attack JS at all, but I believe they (Braves upper mgt) knew they needed time before they would compete for title’s again. Bringing in a new G.M. gave them a “built-in” excuse for mediocrity for a few years. That is where this team is right now and the free agent players in the MLB know it. That is why you see all the snubs, period.
Rip D.
February 19th, 2009
11:14 am
two words ,GET MANNY !
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
11:15 am
I’d rather see them pursue Nady (or Garret Anderson, or Nick Swisher) than Griffey, David. But I contend the best course for now is to sit tight.
And for those who say the Braves’ outfield was terrible last season — it was, but that was last season. Francoeur will be better this year, and Diaz should be, too. And if Schafer is half as good as people seem to think, why not give him a long look?
Chixlovethebraves2
February 19th, 2009
11:17 am
What a great assessment, Mr. Bradley. My first reaction was not a good one when I first heard of the Griffey deal gone bad. But in reality, he would of sold a few more tickets but ticket-buyers dont win ballgames. The players on the field do. With Hanson and Heywood waiting in the wings, added with Lowe McCann Frenchy Escobar Johnson Shaefer Anderson…….goodness we may not win the WS this year but this talent we have now and on the horizon is unbeleivable. Let ‘em play!!!
Kurt
February 19th, 2009
11:17 am
Not resigning Chipper Jones would be a travesty. You’ll never attract anyone to come to Atlanta if they see how you treat your icons. If Smoltz had wanted to end his career here, he would have. As Chipper said, we were willing to pay him the same as Boston to play, just not as much to NOT play.
You have to show loyalty to the people that have shown you loyalty. Chipper is a Braves icon. Not bringing him back would be a PR disaster, and you show the rest of MLB how poorly you treat your best employees.
Scott
February 19th, 2009
11:19 am
GET NADY! Trade them Blanco, Morton and JoJo.
KennyP
February 19th, 2009
11:19 am
Just got off the phone with a friend of a friend of someone who knows Frank Wren, says he is very happy.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
11:21 am
Here’s my thinking, such as it is: The Braves lost 90 games last season. It isn’t often you turn around and win 90 games the next year. I’d rather see them building for something than to be playing old guys who won’t be here in 2010 and beyond. (And that’s why, as much as I like and respect Tom Glavine, I really don’t feel signing him is a pressing need.)
Joe
February 19th, 2009
11:24 am
As a loyal Braves fan I’ am happy Ken Griffey Jr. is returning to Seattle because that is wear he belongs and should end his career there. I think now GM Frank Wren should look at other options such as Jim Edmonds, Garret Anderson, Trade for Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady I would like it if they got both Jim Edmonds and Garret Anderson.
Poorjeff
February 19th, 2009
11:26 am
Everybody always overpays for free agents?!?!**MB**..If thats the case why didn’t we get the other FA we wanted? **Smoltz** etc. Mark, you sound like the Pres and Congress. Is that your new Stimulus Plan, it ok to over pay?!?! Yes, we over paid and now don’t have enough money to get a LF. What about tickets, hot dogs, etc its alright to over pay? Have fun at the Park this year, see how many show up and over pay.
TM
February 19th, 2009
11:28 am
Let’s get this straight…
John Schuerholz created the current team and situation for all the past trades/signing’s and let go’s.
Frank Wren is responsible for letting Smoltz go and the lack of signing players this off season.
If you can’t grasp this… you probably think this Atlanta Braves team will compete for the NL East title.
I do like the idea of Bobby Cox going back to GM and saying so long to Mr. Wren. But based on almost all of the decisions that have happened in the last few years with the Braves, that will most likely not happen.
Kevin Taylor
February 19th, 2009
11:29 am
I am somewhat disappointed in the overall moves (not) made by Mr. Wren. While getting some good starters in this off season, allowing John Smoltz to leave Atlanta was a huge mistake. Just having John on the team at the same level he’s presently experiencing in Boston would have been worth the risk. With the depth in the starting rotation, and the hopeful emergence of Tommy Hanson, the Braves could have made a spot for Smoltz.
In light of the recent Griffey situation, I feel that the Braves will be fine without him. I believed that Griffey would have made a good impact in Atlanta but it’s his fault if he didn’t come to Atlanta, not Frank Wren’s. However, I do fault Wren for not getting Bobby Abreu. He, alone, would have given us what Griffey and Diaz combined would have given us (300 B.A. 20 homers and 100 R.B.I’s.
The solution in my opinion is to move Kelly Johnson to left and platoon with Diaz and sign another good free agent just waiting for someone to sign him, Orlando Hudson (if someone hasn’t already signed him). In Hudson, you have a very good fielder, a good solid bat (perfect leadoff)and an overall good teammate who can steal bases. Kelly and Diaz together can do as much as or even more than Griffey and Diaz.
We may not have a very powerful line up (though Chipper, McCann, and hopefully Francoeur can give 25 homers 100 r.b.i’s) but we’ll have speed, and potentially good production from every spot in the line up. With the solid starting pitching and a strong bullpen, the Braves will have what it takes to get back to the playoffs.
Regardless, Wren must make a good move to shore up left field if the Braves are to make the playoofs in 2009.
Capt Caveman
February 19th, 2009
11:31 am
I agree with you Mark. I’ve been saying all winter that the Bravos should let their young stars compete and fill out the roster.
David
February 19th, 2009
11:32 am
I still think sitting and doing nothing is the wrong answer. The braves need to get somebody other that Freny that can be a true leader and still can produce for that out field.
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
11:34 am
Mark has contradicted himself consistently since the Smoltz fiasco. As good a journalist as he is, he is just as stubborn. Lowe was the “one free agent the Braves needed to get”? Really? After you said it was good for the Braves to “start moving forward” by letting Smoltz go? A 36 year old free agent pitcher is really looking towards the future. I’ll let it go when you stop contradicting yourself Mark, I really will. Let me ask again… when do we stop blaming Smoltz for being arrogant, Furcal’s agent for lying, and the AJC (really, we are blaming a newspaper?) for Griffey, and start laying the blame on Frank Wren?
hawesg
February 19th, 2009
11:36 am
What a collosal pattern of failure on Wren’s part. Why are we constantly reading about whom he’s targeting? I’m sure Schuerholz got stiffed on deals over the years, too. But we never heard about it in the paper. We never hear when playes turn down deals from the Red Sox either. Wren has improved this team on the field, sure. But he has damaged the franchise’s reputation by appearing amateurish and unable to close a deal with players.
Did Griffey bolt from Atlanta’s offer because of a report in the AJC, or because it looked like yet another jump-the-gun clusterfrack at 755 Henry Aaron Way.
Jeff
February 19th, 2009
11:39 am
Frank Wren has got to be the worst GM in Baseball, heck in any sport, please Braves bring John Scheurholz as Gm and President, we have lost too many players this offseason, I am slowly losing my interest in th eBraves because of Wrenn.
Jones
February 19th, 2009
11:40 am
Mark, should we really trust that Wren is the man to rebuild this franchise?
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
11:40 am
This is a repost I made from one of the older blogs that I put up towards the end of it’s life. I feel strongly about it, so it bears repeating:
Well my friends, today is a happy day for Mr. Bradley. Not only did the Braves “start looking forward” this off-season by letting Smoltz go – ah let’s forget the fact they signed a 36 year old starting pitcher whose career doesn’t hold a candle to JS’s to a 3 year deal and then have it hailed as a great sign – they now have missed out on the active career homerun leader who, while past his prime, just didn’t pass the “Bradley Seal of Approval”. In all seriousness though, make no mistake about it, between giving up one of our best prospects for the immortally mediocre Javier Vasquez, and the Furcal, Smoltz, and now Griffey fiascos, that you have to start considering the fact that Frank Wren has absolutely no idea how to run a ball club. Before you bash me, ask yourself, what professional club has had themselves so publicly embarassed with 3 separate free agents over the course of five years as the Braves have been this ONE year? And I’m not even counting the entire Peavy thing. It’s an absolute joke. But hey, we signed a 33 year old overseas pitcher that nobody had ever heard a thing about right?
My Red Stapler
February 19th, 2009
11:42 am
Millions of intelligent, educated, skilled, professional, COMPETENT Americans are currently out of work, but FRANK WREN is still gainfully employed.
Anyone else here see anything wrong with that?
Steve
February 19th, 2009
11:43 am
Does anyone else agree with me that the Atlanta Journal Constitution ble it BIGTIME with the Griffey signing? Had it not been for this newspaper stating that we “signed” Griffey, Frank Wren would be holding a news conference today putting a Braves Jersey on a 600 Homerun Club member. Now we have to settle again with another mediocre outfield! Way to go AJC! Thanks for ruining out team!!
Coondawg69
February 19th, 2009
11:43 am
The bigger picture is that Frank Wren not getting the job done. Is it his fault?? That is up for debate. It seems to me that they are losing guys to other teams for “not much” money. Pay a little more for John Smoltz and Griffey and both probably would have come here. Griffey definitely would be an up grade, even if in a platoon situation. He could also help mentor some of the younger talent as well. Three maybe four 30+ yr olds starting do not need Smoltz’s mentoring, but he’s still the class of the organization.
It seems to me that the Braves are quickly becoming the late 80’s Braves in that only $$ will bring folks here. Dollar for dollar will no longer get it done. That, I think is attributable to Frank Wren.
Steve
February 19th, 2009
11:47 am
And please do not say that it is Frank Wren’s fault for John Smoltz leaving. At the end of the day, with all of the millions Smoltz made from Turner and the Braves, and all this city has given him….John Smoltz is a sell out. Plain and simple a SELL OUT!!! With incentives, he would have made just as much if not more with the Braves, but he took the easy road out with more guarenteed money. We will be better off with out “The Shadow of Maddux and Glavine” since his shoulder will blow out again in September. What a disgrace.
rhynster
February 19th, 2009
11:48 am
Wait a second…
Missing out on Furcal and Griffey was good, because they were “on their back nine”?
But signing Derek Lowe was the one move he had to make?
Um, OK.
schuerholzfan
February 19th, 2009
11:50 am
Remember how JS used to keep his mouth shut about negotiations? When the head guy does that, the rest of the org tends to follow. That looks to be the better way to negotiate. Too much press gives the other side negotiating room. John, your student might not be ready for graduate work. How about stepping in and giving him a few more pointers!
Braves + Frank Wren = No Playoffs
February 19th, 2009
11:53 am
Frank Wren = Sharp DOWNGRADE at General Manager Position from John Schuerholz
Barry Bonds
February 19th, 2009
11:53 am
I still want to play and don’t have a job. Keep me in mind.
Chris
February 19th, 2009
11:53 am
Hey Yall got to remember that the Braves are Owned by a Bunch of Out of Town Idiots. They Think that They are Going to Break the Liberty Media Bank. I Think that They Could of resigned Smoltz but Stupid Wren couldn’t get him signed because He was Scared that Smoltz would be asking to much to resign. Remember Ken Griffey Jr Did this to us Before He wanted to come to Atlanta but wound up signing with The Reds.
PMC
February 19th, 2009
11:58 am
Ultrasuede… yikes. Perhaps go to a game other than Braves vs Brewers if you can help it?
Or, I maybe try exorcising your favorite jersey or something… bad ju ju I guess.
Hopefully this year won’t bring a bad injury to anyone.
Tony in Johns Creek
February 19th, 2009
11:58 am
Come on Mark, you’re thinking this outfield is adequate?
It’s the worst offensive productive outfield in baseball arguably!
Hoping Frenchy comes back to his old self could be pie in the sky thinking. Major League pitchers have found his weakness. His numbers showed that last year. See Andruw Jones. Griffey was a short bridge contract and we could have used his veteran presence in the clubhouse. The offense once again will be weak for the Braves this year and will be our Achilles heel.
This lineup is not very good as is Mark.
Back in 3rd place for the foreseeable near future until we see what the youth coming along will be able to do and that’s no guarantee of success. How exciting…. I may just settle with the Gwinnett Braves for the time being.
Frank Wren needs to find this ridiculous leak that keeps on happening with his dealings and the AJC needs temper it’s assumptions because we’re getting tired of being played.
The GM
February 19th, 2009
12:00 pm
Replacing Wren with Cox as GM is an excellent idea and while we are at it lets see if Freddy Gonzales wants to leave the Marlins and come home.
As far as retaining Chipper, he is, to say the least, injury prone and is much better suited to being a DH at this stage of his career. There is no sound financial reason to keep paying a player who may spend most of the season on the DL….see Mike Hampton. When his playing days are over the Braves can bring him back as hitting coach. I don’t believe Braves fans will boycott the Braves if Chipper isn’t here especially if they put a winning product on the field. Remember that baseball is an entertaiment product and with this economy the product needs to be a good one. Otherwise Chipper or no Chipper, fans will stay away.
Poorjeff
February 19th, 2009
12:00 pm
I agree with Kevin Taylor @ 11:29am.
Frenchy will be better this year. “Mark B”. Is that a Fact are just your opinion? don’t bet on it.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
12:07 pm
I know for a fact that Jeff Francoeur will hit .289 with 104 RBIs this season. I know this because my name is Karnak the Magnificent.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
12:10 pm
Derek Lowe is 36 but has never been on the disabled list. Has Rafael Furcal been on the disabled list? (Why, yes, for much of last season.) Has John Smoltz? (Yes again.) Has Ken Griffey Jr.? (Yes once more.)
On The Mark
February 19th, 2009
12:11 pm
Who is getting burned here, Wren or the AJC? The AJC is making a fool of itself printing rumors only for them to be revealed for what they are — uh, rumors.
matt r
February 19th, 2009
12:16 pm
I understand the ‘let the kids play’ argument, but you still need to get guys in who are legit major league players. You need to send a signal to the fans that you are trying to win, especially in Atlanta, or people won’t show up. I don’t want us to become one of the many teams that is indefinitely waiting for the young talent to gel. Last year’s Rays were the exception to the rule.
Smiba
February 19th, 2009
12:16 pm
FIRE FRANK WREN NOW!!! he is terrible!! Time to start the website http://www.firefrankwren.com!!
Dr. Henry < Augusta
February 19th, 2009
12:17 pm
Good column Mark!!You’re right on with your comments. personally the most missed member of the organization this yr. will be Pete Van Wiren. Don S. is still coming isn’t he?? Smoltz is a close second for me…and I’m with you concerning all the overpaid overhyped overthirty ballplayers who spurned us. What happened to the best minor league system in baseball?? As far as Griffey goes I’d just as well see Brian Jordan or Ron Gant try a comeback….should be an interesting season.
one fan
February 19th, 2009
12:18 pm
Couldn’t be more happy about the tired old “kid” signing with Seattle. Let the real kids play in ATL. I am excited about the new blood. Reminds me a bit of the early nineties when the Braves pitched and played defense with a group of young, talented kids. Go Braves!
Jim
February 19th, 2009
12:20 pm
Play the young players!!! I agree. With Griffey, Glavine, and Smoltz we still finish no better than 3rd in the division and we block the progress of Hanson, Morton, Shaefer, and perhaps one or two others like Brandon Jones and Medlen. Give these guys a year of experience before you expect them to be ready to compete for a title. Isn’t this what happened with Glavine, Avery, Smoltz, Gant, and Justice etc in the late 80’s? Morton, in particular seemed to emerge in AAA last year and came up and pitched OK until an injury sapped the velocity on his fastball. It is a bit early to start writing him off because he did not have immediate success. (For the person who wants to platoon KJ against right handed hitters, didn’t he have the highest BA for lefties against lefties in the league last year? KJ will be a strength on this team even with adequate defense at 2B.)
James Bond is my hero
February 19th, 2009
12:23 pm
What about Brandon Jones? He seems like the forgotten outfielder.
Poorjeff
February 19th, 2009
12:33 pm
Hope your right 11:15 On Frenchy being better Mark… AKA… The Great Karnak the Magnificent.
richbrave
February 19th, 2009
12:35 pm
MARK BRADLEY:
Your 12;10 p.m. LOWE’s due – ssshhh!!!! You’ll jinx the guy. KARNAK? A JOHNNY CARSON disciple huh?
CJ
February 19th, 2009
12:36 pm
I’m a Matt Diaz fan but do not believe he can do it everyday, last year at the start of the season he was healthy and struggled mightily. Blanco is a nice slap hitter but strikes out a ton and no pop. I hope Schafer wins the cf job but I would’nt mind seeing Garrett Anderson platoon in left. If the Braves were going to commit to rebuild they should’ve started it three years ago, it’s too late now to waste another three years, if they do I’ll probably lose interest and I’ve been a die hard Braves fan since 1980.
Geezer
February 19th, 2009
12:37 pm
Another Golden Moment in the Frank “Can’t Close the Deal” Wren’s legacy. Anybody can close this deal Sticker Price $12,000 “I’ll Pay You $25,000″ said Frank Wren
matt
February 19th, 2009
12:41 pm
Right now you are returning the worst offensive OF in MLB a 1b who doesn’t hit for power a pitching staff who is more known for eating innings than winning and an aging veteran 3b who can’t play more than about 110 games a year. Possible scenarios are A) The exact opposite of last year happens (everybody is healthy and produces) B) The prospects ball out and become every dayers and then still ball out or C) They lose miserably and lock up a top 5 or 10 draft pick and continue to stock pile their farm system. Which scenario seems the most likely????
Now what? « Rowland’s Office
February 19th, 2009
12:46 pm
[...] pat, as Mark Bradley suggests, should not be an option. Brandon Jones hit .260 with a middling .748 OPS at Richmond last year. [...]
Dan
February 19th, 2009
12:47 pm
Mark – Tom Glavine had never been on the DL before last year….what is your point. Obviously there is a risk in signing any player to a long term contract. I think you are right about Griffey. The one thing I did like about him was that he would have put more fans in the seats. But with an owner that isn’t going to turn around and put that money back into the team, what does it matter anyway?
Dack Jerrick
February 19th, 2009
12:47 pm
JS also traded Jermaine Dye to Kansas City for Michael Tucker and Keith Lockhart. Nobody bats a thousand.
walt
February 19th, 2009
12:47 pm
You are right! What about Jason Heyward in left with Matt Diaz?
Mitchell
February 19th, 2009
12:49 pm
Hey Mark, have you thought about changing your name to Mark O’Bradley?
I’m not one of the DOB haters, I support mr. O’B. We just need to have a nickname for you. I’m liking MOB.
What’ya think? Help us out here. See, you’re more like the boring teacher and DOB’s the substitute that everybody actually likes who doesn’t give out homework and lets everybody go home early on Friday afternoon.
I don’t know where I’m going with this.
T.C
February 19th, 2009
12:50 pm
Im done with baseball.All i have to say is one down 103 players to go related to who used performance drugs.They dragged A-rod name all over the news for two weeks like he’s the only one who used them.Go after one,go after them all.Baseball has lost credits and trying to hide names to save the game.When you watch the game of baseball, are you watching the players perform or drugs perform?And speaking of the sorry braves,until you shop and bring in talent you will be a below average team.People are trying to bash griffy because he didn’t sign with the braves but your comments were different yesterday.Nobody wants to play for the braves nomore.
William
February 19th, 2009
12:51 pm
Thank you for a very well-written article, Mr. Bradley. I hope that the Braves will continue to develop their own talent. I know that a lot of fans are sentimental, but it does seem that we will be overpaying for Glavine by a substantial margin when we have more than enough candidates to fill the fifth spot in the rotation. Otherwise, fans do need to remember that Wren did magnificently in his trades with the Cubs and Tigers after taking over as GM.
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
12:57 pm
Mark, your seeming lack of respect for Smoltz is astounding. Yeah, he’s been on the DL in his career. He also pitched most of the last 3 years with a bum shoulder… and was a workhorse, and the Braves best pitcher, leader, and instructor while doing so. Now he gets a clean shoulder, comes at a next to nothing price tag, and it’s “so long take care, but welcome mr lowe! I’m sure at 36 your best years are ahead of you!” And, knock on wood, if Lowe does go on the DL, who do you trust to come back from it more effectively… him or Smoltz? Smoltz has done it countless times, and, amazingly, has usually come back BETTER. But yeah, the Braves are better off without him. Sure.
Art
February 19th, 2009
1:08 pm
Why not trade for Swisher and get him for one year. Hopefully he hits big time and is an A player and the Braves get 2 draft picks for him when he hits free agency next year. By then one of the young Braves outfielders hopefully develops this year and is ready in 10
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
1:11 pm
Thanks, William. Thanks, Dr. Henry.
matt
February 19th, 2009
1:12 pm
Brewdawg- the incentives in the contract from the Red Sox were much more attainable and therefore is going to pay him more than double what he would’ve been paid here. So, actually he wasn’t coming at a nothing price. You think it would’ve been smart to re-sign Smoltz for $10 million when he won’t be Ready till the All-Star break????? He’s been on the DL 11 times!!!! 5 arm surgeries!!!! 42 years old!!!
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
1:15 pm
Matt, if you think it would have ever wound up costing the Braves 10 million to keep Smoltz, then I don’t know what to tell you.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
1:15 pm
And Mitchell, I must report that I’ve never had much of a nickname. Bobby Cox, the world’s worst nickname, calls me … pause for shock value … Brad.
On the other hand, my middle name is Andrew. So I could be MAB, as opposed to MOB. Or you could just call me Mark. (As long as you don’t call me late for dinner. And as long as Ted Striker doesn’t call me Shirley.)
Royu
February 19th, 2009
1:16 pm
Wren may be the nicest and most intelligent person in the world. HOWEVER, too many things have gone against the Braves in player dealings these past few months and two and two to me add up to a problem with the man representing the Braves. We might be lucky with present players on the field but when we have to shore up this team, will we have another Furcal, Peavy, Griffey? There is a pattern that needs to be corrected ASAP!!!
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
1:17 pm
And Mitchell, if you think I’m boring … well, you’re right. I’m unbelievably boring. I bore myself. I sleep 18 hours a day. The other six hours I sit around being bored.