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
Spook
February 19th, 2009
1:19 pm
Almost all posters agree that the Braves are at least a 3rd place team for the next year or two. Since expectations are so low, why not use this time to see how the young players we already have perform. One more season out of the playoffs won’t kill us and the young players will be exciting to watch. Then we look at what’s available in free agency and trades for next season. I also think we need to revamp our coaching staff. Cox to GM, Gonzales to Mgr, Smoltz to Bull Pen Coach, Glavine to Pitching Coach, and Jones to Batting Coach.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
1:30 pm
Bradley, I ain’t calling you Shirley and for that matter — I ain’t calling you at all — till you pay your half of the bar tab.
Kyian
February 19th, 2009
1:33 pm
Fellas, living so close to Cincy they are sort of Louisville’s team. I have watched Griffey play all of these years since his return to Cincy and although still quite capable and still posesses a very quick bat, he is light years from his glory. Let the farm system sort out the right couple of guys for that spot and determine who’s job it is.
L
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
1:34 pm
Spook, you inspired me, but I have my own wishlist:
Eddie Perez= MGR
Smoltz= pitching coach
How fun would that clubhouse be? (It would also be pretty well run I might add)
Jared
February 19th, 2009
1:34 pm
Daniel, dude. Your comparing our situation with Tampa Bay’s? I agree that they did it the “right” way. However, the Braves still work with an annual budget at around 100 million every year. They do have to be more fiscally responsible than the Yankees, but they’ll never just lose a can’t miss prospect. Unless they trade him away. If Lowe was 30 instead of 36, they would’ve offered him probably 100 for 6 years. They get who they really want. They just refuse to break the bank.
fordcobra
February 19th, 2009
1:47 pm
You know, if you looked at the picture of Wren and Shurholtz at the cage it ought to tell you something, John is involved in if not consulted on all if not most all of these deals. Everyone says how great John was but truth is he is still involved. Get off of Wren. How many 1 run games did the Braves lose last year, how many significant injuries did they have etc. I am a Braves fan let’s support them and continue to pull for them.
GO BRAVES
kirkinga
February 19th, 2009
1:49 pm
To answer your Hanson or Glavine question, I say Glavine. Give me the guy who has won over 300 games and in 2007 was a league leader in Quality Starts over some prospect that hasn’t pitched much in the high minors.
Give me Glavine because he is battle-tested and knows how to win and that is a trait that is in short supply on this young team.
Hanson may turn out to be great. Though I get really nervous when there i so much hype about a prospect, particularly a starting pitcher. This goes doubly so given the Braves recent track record with developing starters.
Glavine is the one you want now if you believe you can contend now. If the Braves truly believed Hanson to be ready, they wouldn’t have signed Kawakami because his signing, not Glavine’s is the oddest of all if Hanson is ready to pitch now.
DaleM
February 19th, 2009
1:59 pm
They are rejoicing in Seattle…and ATLANTA!
.
getnathan
February 19th, 2009
2:06 pm
Braves won all their 1 run games in September (the first against the METS of course).
A deeper bullpen, moving runners over, and clutch hitting should be better this year, and more speed on the roster will also help.
Braves Fan
February 19th, 2009
2:11 pm
When JS was the GM we didn’t see dramas play out like we do with FW as GM. Not sure what or who let the drama out of the bag. I’d personally like to see the drama back in it.
Mark Windsor
February 19th, 2009
2:13 pm
I think on paper team loks pretty good on paper Im not sure what all the meanness is here..its about pitching and defense up the middle..We havent seen what alot of our players are capable of playing a whole seasonWe might not hit as many homers as some teams but Im thinking we got doubles and higher batting avg. players up and down line up yes the key is Frenchy and maybe if the deal is right a power hitter.., the Braves have done what they truely need to doand that put togeather a pitching staff that might be best in their division..funny most people whining on here just dont know the game you dont need a homerun every game to win I think thats where we went wrong its pirtching and solid defense and as well solid club house attitude…Go BRAVES in 09
Spook
February 19th, 2009
2:16 pm
brewdawg….re your 1:34.
You just might be right. I forgot about Eddie. The choices we have among the glory days men could add much to the team spirit and personality, and fill a lot of seats too. Eddie has proved that it could work.
we have options and our back is not against the wall.
DaleM
February 19th, 2009
2:19 pm
Why are you all clamoring Nick Swisher? He hit .219 last season! Not only that, the Braves would have to trade yet MORE prospects to get him.
.
Mark Windsor
February 19th, 2009
2:22 pm
just one more comment this blog is terrible all of you almost must be misable or had a bad day..Mark keep up the good work man…sorry you have to read some of this trash..and too seems to me Wren has been doing pretty good job..maybwe those of you who dont know about our new guy from japan blog the japan papers…do something..you need help…lol..GO BRAVES in 09
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
February 19th, 2009
2:26 pm
Bradley, I totally agree on Griffy. The Braves should go with the kids in the outfield.
Since some seem to be wondering, the Braves were 11-30 in one run games last year. To say that our Bravos are in need of an infusion of talent, speed, youth and defense is an understatement. Griffy would have met none of these needs.
This obsession with the long ball by some of the blogger’s borders on the edge of insanity. It takes more than just the HR. Speed, aggressiveness and solid base running at the top of the order will do much toward scoring more runs. Not to mention that Chipper, McCann and Francoeur will see far more fastballs, thereby resulting in more HR’s.
The 2008 Minnesota Twins are direct evidence of this phenomenon. They hit 111 HR’s, stole 101 bases and hit 298 Doubles, resulting in 791 RBI.
Compared to the Braves 130 HR’s, 58 stolen bases and 316 doubles, resulting in 721 RBI.
That speed and aggressiveness more than made up for the lack HR’s from the Twins offense.
I would absolutely love to see what Josh Anderson and Jordan Schafer could accomplish if a certain Hall of Fame manager would turn them lose like he did with Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders.
If the 2008 Braves would have had any semblance of a running game, they could have potentially turned some of those 30 one run losses into victories. Even splitting half would have resulted in the 2008 Braves finishing 87-75.
As they say, speed kills, it never slumps and it doesn’t take the day off. It is no coincidence that the Mets and Phillies are two of top three fastest teams in the N.L. Guys like Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes are just totally devastating offensive catalyst for their respective teams. Our Braves have not been keeping up with the JONES, so to speak. They need to get with the program and I’m talking about the fast track…… if you know what I mean.
Mitchell
February 19th, 2009
2:38 pm
Oh cheer up Brad, I was only joshing.
You do have some personality after all I guess. Besides you can’t possibly be as boring as Jeff Schultz. Everytime I would hear DOB on the radio I always pictured JS for some reason. I knew someone who looked like Jeff Schultz couldn’t have such hip taste in music. He looks like he just replaced a hip.
Oh you’re boring according to your own assessment. Me? I’m just desperate for human interaction. In the absence of Katy Temple, you’ll have to do.
Okay, now that’s just sad.
Skeezix
February 19th, 2009
2:41 pm
Mark: Be honest with the public, frank wren is terrible at this job. I know he is following a legend in JS, but he ain’t even average. He needs to be reassigned to equipment or locker room manager. He has moderately improved our pitching staff–but should never have let Smoltz get away. Also, the outfield has been our biggest weakness and he has done zero to fix it. Instead, he has wasted tons of effort on projects like Furcal that never made any sense to anyone (except wren) and now the aging overweight Griffey. Also, with both Furcal and Griffey, the Braves come out looking like jilted lovers because wren can’t properly control/manage the messages that are getting out.
Larry J
February 19th, 2009
2:58 pm
Mark, of course your story NOW is that the Braves are better off without Griffey. This after the AJC reported he was coming, and the next day – despite Griffey’s denial – you wrote here that you stood by the paper’s “source.”
Flip-flopping isn’t a good thing.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
2:59 pm
I didn’t fault the Braves for making the Teixeira trade. The Braves seemed perhaps one key cog away from making a deep run into the playoffs. However, a gasket blew, 3 wheels fell off & even had Tex been ‘the guy’ — which he wasn’t — it mightn’t have mattered.
Wren? He’s doing a pretty good job. He got blamed for ‘losing Smoltz’ but the Braves need horses to win 90 — not a pitcher 17 fastballs away from being medically certified as a source of glue.
BIG DRE
February 19th, 2009
2:59 pm
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO SEE JR.IN THE BRAVES OUTFIELD BUT HE WAS NOT THE ANSWER. LET’S SEE WHAT OUR YOUNG GUY’S CAN DO. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO GET YOUNGER AND FASTER IN THE FIELD AND I LIKE THE MIXTURE ON THE MOUND.WHY DID’NT WE PURSUE ORLANDO HUDSON TO SURE UP THE MIDDLE AND HAVE A LEGIT LEAD-OFF HITTER.WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE! MY SERVICE’S ARE AVAILABLE MR. WREN.
getnathan
February 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
BIG DRE are you really Jim Edmonds?
PMC
February 19th, 2009
3:04 pm
man is it disapointing we couldn’t trade for Nady or Bay last year when they were available.
b
February 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
Stop trying to convince us that we should thank you for sticking your nose into this deal and causing Griffy to pull out. You should be FIRED!
Rabon
February 19th, 2009
3:21 pm
we can always pick up a bat during the season if we are in contention.
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
3:29 pm
Larry J.,
Right after the announcement that the Braves were going to sign Griffey(inaccurate as it turned out to be), Mark published a story almost immediately saying how he thought the Braves would be better off without Griffey. He didn’t wait until it turned out Griffey was going to Seattle.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
3:30 pm
Larry, you must have missed Tuesday’s column. (It’s linked in the text above.) The headline: “He’s not the Griffey of old; he’s an older Griffey.” I believe I’ve been consistent on this point, if no other.
Joe Bragg
February 19th, 2009
3:42 pm
Wren isn’t doing that badly, we have a rejuvenated Starting rotation….and the bad PR that the braves have gotten this year are because Wren doesn’t know how to shut up about the deals he’s tried to get. would you be hating the moves he’s made if you didn’t hear about all the “misses” we’ve had? This guy isn’t screwing up with anything other than letting the news get out.
and Griffey would’ve helped the team had we gotten him…. He still ripped righties better than 75% of the players in the game. But this is in the past now, and although I hate to see Griffey not come to Atlanta, I’m glad it’ll end where it all began.
samurai99
February 19th, 2009
3:45 pm
This is a good read. MAB: I am interested in what you think is the real reason that Jr. decided to go to the Mariners? $, AJC(!), management, location ?
GameTime
February 19th, 2009
3:50 pm
How does Francouer get a $500,000 increase in pay after the year he had? What a joke. Baseball’s salary structure makes no sense but even in that context this increase is crazy. And I have no respect for Fancouer for asking for almost $4M after the year he had.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
3:51 pm
Samurai, this is just a guess, but: I’d say it’s the difference between going to a city where he’s as revered as Willie Mays, as opposed to going to a place where he hasn’t played and might just be remembered as the guy who came to town and had absolutely nothing left. And I think the DH was a factor: Griffey might not get through 50 games playing the field, but he could double that if he only had to hit.
Coach joe
February 19th, 2009
3:52 pm
Thanks for the story. You and Terrence seem to draw the most hate blog. (my observation from new orleans)..
I agree -Braves need to move on and play the kids. WE got good pitching this year-bull pen won’t wear out in the 2nd half and the kids will be hitting by then. I do like Tom Glavine but we really don’t need him except for the fact we need a left handed starter to throw out there to keep the other teams honest.. again- thanks for your comments
Go Braves. How can you not get excited about Spring training. Every team is 0-0..
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
4:11 pm
Thanks, Coach Joe.
And a special salute here to BrewDawg, with whom I disagree on a certain major issue (John Smoltz) but who was kind enough to say something in my defense just now. Glad to know there’s a place on these blogs for civility.
Bibb Dawg
February 19th, 2009
4:11 pm
Where is Claudell Washington when you need him?
TBraveFan
February 19th, 2009
4:12 pm
two thoughts on your posed question of who I would really rather see in the rotation Glavine or Hanson…
GLAVINE hands down —
when it comes to Hanson, not saying he’s not good, but does the name Joey Devine ring any bells?? Another promise that blew up because he was rushed up…
**GLAVINE hands down!!!!!!**
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
4:20 pm
Thanks for the input, TBraveFan. But I wonder if you’ll say the same after you’ve seen Tommy Hanson.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
4:31 pm
Bradley — That’s a salient point about the DH with Griffey and the Mariners. I’m embarrassed to admit it hadn’t even crossed my mind till you mentioned it. (Ok, not that embarrassed.)
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
4:39 pm
Don’t be embarrassed, Ted. And don’t be afraid to buy a round of drinks next time.
brewdawg
February 19th, 2009
4:40 pm
Mark thanks for the salute. I know I come off kind of harsh when it comes to Smoltz, but it’s only because I feel passionately about the subject.
While I admit I wanted Griffey, it’s a bit perplexing to me why the Braves aren’t willing to let some of the younger guys have a shot in the outfield, and haven’t been for a couple of years now. We can’t go to retreads there forever right? Maybe we can save money AND get a better player by seeing what one of our prospects can do.
Brookhaven Braves Fan
February 19th, 2009
4:45 pm
Mark:
I agree with you, Griffey is basically done. Unlike Mondesi, it would have been a PR nightmare to bench or release Griffey. So the Braves would have been stuck with him. However, Swisher is not done and that is who the Braves should be after. After reading Moneyball a few years ago, I wanted the Braves to go after him – we need a guy who knows the strike zone and doesn’t get himself out – after suffering with Andruw Jones for the last few years. And I say that as a major Andruw Jones fan. I was hoping the team would bring him back.
Coxlover
February 19th, 2009
4:54 pm
I think Francouer will be better this year. I think he’ll hit around .250, 15 HR’s, 75 RBI’s.
DirtyDawg
February 19th, 2009
4:57 pm
Hey Mark, how’s about a little feedback on the idea of Kelly Johnson platooning, or starting everyday, in left? I mean we all know the kid’s a lousy second-baseman, and you don’t need much of an arm in left to begin with. His speed is of no real advantage at second given that his reactions and instincts were never up to the task. The Braves have at least two guys on the roster that can do the job better – Infante and Prado – and both have got adequate 2B offense. Let’s use the money we’ve just given him to use – in the outfield.
tlj
February 19th, 2009
5:00 pm
I have never seen so many unhappy people in my life. The country is in a crisis due to the economy, thousands of people are losing their jobs and half of the people on this blog want somebody else fired. The sad part is most of you have no idea what you are talking about. All you can think of let’s blame somebody for this or somebody for that. If the braves management traded the entire organization for the yankee organization, the boston organization, etc, some of you idots would still be complaining. There is an old saying, lead, follow or get out of the way. It is obvious from your post that you can’t lead so get the hell out of the way.
Mikey Mike
February 19th, 2009
5:01 pm
Griffey will regret his decision. Furcal’s back will not hold up. Smoltz will get homesick (guaranteed). Hampton is already falling apart with a new ailment. And Lowe was better acquisition. So at the end of the day, we get to see what our young studs can do. It’s put up or shut up time.
My bigger concern is that the Braves don’t seem to value the minds of Maddux and Glavine. One should be the next manager and the other should be the next pitching coach. Either order would do.
Mike
February 19th, 2009
5:05 pm
Get over it Atlanta. He did what he wanted to do. Return to his home of Seattle… Just play baseball with who you have and win games. People in Seattle have lost Randy J. Alex Rod. and many others and have moved on. You never had him and seems like you never will. Let Chipper take you to the promise land!
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
5:06 pm
Bibb Dawg: “Where is Claudell Washington when you need him?” I wish I knew, I wish I knew. Freebie trivia: During his career, CW was traded for Bobby Bonds (father of Barry) and Ken Griffey Sr (father of Junior). He hit the 10,000th home run in Yankees history. He played for 8 MLB teams. He played in an all-star game with Hank Aaron. He struck out against Nolan Ryan more times than any other player (39) to which he said: “That’s all? I thought I struck out a lot more. More CW trivia?: Game footage of CW appears in ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ — when Bueller supposedly catches a foul ball hit by Washington. Where have you gone, CW?
Bradley — Buying the first round of drinks never bothers me. It’s buying the 7th round that bankrupts. (The one with the ‘creative accounting’ from the hot waitress).
Mike
February 19th, 2009
5:09 pm
To Mark:
Griffey has not played for Seattle this season yet so to say he has nothing left is not true. Maybe you guys should give him a chance before saying he is done. If he has a great year, I hope you will print that you were wrong~!
kenny from athens
February 19th, 2009
5:10 pm
The most egregious error. Getting rejected by Mike Hampton. Hey, here’s an idea. Let’s go after Mike Hampton and then jerk around with Smoltz and Glavine. What’s next? Let’s go screw with Chipper Jones by going after Nick Esascky. Nice work Wren.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
5:11 pm
Ted, seeing as how we’re drinking buddies and all, feel free to call me Mark.
Mariners1
February 19th, 2009
5:15 pm
Heres to all the Braves fans (braves1090 especially, what a Gooch) who said the Mariners have no shot at getting Griffey back…Succck it! Hehe;P
Mariners1
February 19th, 2009
5:18 pm
P.S Good luck with Derek Blowe