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
Zach
February 19th, 2009
5:19 pm
Mark,
Don’t you think that Diaz full time is better than other other option we have out there in left? I’m not a big fan for Diaz part time. I think he can work out there full time way better than he can work out there part time with the likes of brandon jones. (who by the way looks like he can’t determine if he’s playing baseball or chess)
Patience
February 19th, 2009
5:24 pm
We need a right handed power bat. Smoltz was overpaid by Boston. Wren did nothing wrong there. Glavin will have a better year than Smoltz, as will Hampton who I don’t miss. We overpaid for Lowe, but when you are bidding against the Red Sox, you have to if you really want someone. If you only try for the players the Pirates and Royals bid on you end up with a roster like theirs. I liked Griffey, but I’m not worried because he didn’t come here. There will be outfielders available by opening day. We will have something of value to give up… Boyer, Bennett, Jojo, Morton to name some possibilities. We currently have a surplus of good arms. Some outfielder will suprise this Spring for us or for someone else and there will be a good fit for a trade. Hanson completely dominated top prospects in Arizona where hitters thrive. He is obviously a horse, but should begin the season in AAA. There will be a time this year when help is needed from the minors, and he should be ready. Let’s hope that is not until after the All-Star break. He needs more success in the minors. He has not been successful but a little over 1 year. He reminds me of Smoltz who was not successful in A ball. At least not in won/loss terms. This year should see the Braves near the top of the league in starting pitching and relief pitching. The offense has so many question marks. Frenchy, Diaz, and all of the centerfielders, KJ’s consistency, and Chipper’s health are such huge factors in whether this team can play with the very beatable Mets and Phillies. I believe any of the 1991 through 2003 Braves teams would have walked away with this division, but this team needs a lot to go right to win.
Kentavo
February 19th, 2009
5:26 pm
As soon as Bobby Cox realizes we’re not in the ’90s anymore – the better.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
5:29 pm
I think Bobby Cox has decided Diaz is a classic platoon player, and I think Diaz accepts his role.
Conan438
February 19th, 2009
5:35 pm
Frank Wrenn is a complete joke….How does this guy have a job…wasn’t he fired by Baltimore? He’s screwed up an awful lot in a little over a year.
Top 10 Screwups by the great Wren…
#10 Did we really pay a bouncer (Corky Miller) for a full year?
#9 Current OF debacle – worst OF in the major leagues, maybe in history of MLB.
#8 Failure to sign Josh Fields from UGA – who needs a reliever that throws 100 mph anyway?
#7 Signing Tom Glavine last year and losing a first round pick, unbelievable.
#6 Mark Texeira trade… couldn’t get more than another stiff for 1st base
#5 Rafael Furcal almost never was trade.
#4 Ken Griffey almost never was signing.
#3 Javier Vasquez trade…gave up the #1 power hitter in minor league baseball for 12-16 and an era of almost 5? + 14 years in age??? WTF???
#2 Francouer embarassement – 3 days in the minors – lost all respect for him at that point.
#1 Smoltz divorce – ’nuff said’
Wren is a joke as a GM – - – is Billy Knight available…oh wait, he sucks too…Don Waddell? Oh he sucks too…Atlanta, GA where GM’s come to destroy franchises.
MOwen117
February 19th, 2009
5:35 pm
I really don’t see the hype over Nick Swisher. His 24 home runs last year were respectable, but his average has never been over .262. His postseason numbers are terrible. His performance is no better than that of a washed up Andruw Jones. Should we really pursue Nady? Can we afford to resign him after 1 year because he is a Boras client? Unless they are willing to fork over the cash go for the temporary fix in Garrett Anderson and develop the farm system.
samurai99
February 19th, 2009
5:37 pm
Wow. The signal to noise ratio on this blog is great. I can almost hear myself think. So, I am starting to get the feeling that the ‘09 Braves will be in a “rebuilding” mode… or can I expect more? And the pool of free agents out there is slim it seems, do we stand pat? Thanks for the civil place to chime in.
Mr Smarty Pants
February 19th, 2009
5:37 pm
Hey all of the Seattle fans out there, congratulations on landing Griffey. We obviously don’t know how much he has left. He had little last year, had the knee fixed, and might be better. However, no matter at what level he plays the Mariners are doomed to finish last in a weak divison. The Braves could finish anywhere from First to Fourth, but they won’t finish last. Oh, and their division is loaded.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
5:48 pm
Mark/Bradley/Brad/Shirley: Consider the official reference title thingy resolved. You’re “Mark” from here on out. My word is stronger than oak.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
5:48 pm
I think Kelly Johnson could play left field, but the problem with that is that he’s just beginning to hit. (Or at least he was at the end of last season.) You don’t want to tamper too much, and I think the Braves prefer Johnson playing every day as a second baseman as opposed to splitting time with Diaz in the outfield. (And I think they really like Diaz playing against lefthanders.)
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
5:54 pm
Roger, Ted. Roger, Roger. Vector, Victor.
Skeezix
February 19th, 2009
6:05 pm
I am so glad that this year when I look at the bench, I will not see Hampton sitting there in a braves uniform. Looks like even the insurance co. ain’t gonna reimburse the Braves for his salary. Must have been a clause in there about goldbrickers. I see where he is already coming down with new ailments-good luck Astros trying to get this guy to do his job.
Navigator
February 19th, 2009
6:06 pm
It won’t take long this season for the Braves to be glad they didn’t make the deal with Griffey. I don’t even think he will make it to summer before going on the long term DL. Even if he limps through the year, his impact will only be what a journeyman player would make.
roman88
February 19th, 2009
6:15 pm
alot better pitching and depth and not to mention team speed, shaefer, anderson. tampa didn’t have much outfield power last year, but they did have pitching and speed, and the desire, I’m for one anxious to see these young guys, and hanson soon. they have alot of depth for any possible trade later too, alot of people out there wanna rip francoeur but he’ll bounce back with 20hr and 80rbi and that 3.3 mil won’t seem like much then. let the washed up guys stay away,
gayle
February 19th, 2009
6:17 pm
Comments about Wren and Scherholz notwithstanding, it is important to recognize that Atlanta and the Braves are not the favored destination they were in the 1990’s.
Remember Maddox passing on the Yankees to take less money from the Braves? That doesn’t happen anymore.
Free agents passing on Atlanta has reflected on the performance of the team, particularly in the post season. The Braves are 0-7 in the World Series since the infamous Leyritz home run in 1996, losers in the first round in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 – and not in the post season since.
Who would want to come here unless they were way overpaid?
This team needs a heck of alot more than an extra bat in the outfield.
fieldofdreams
February 19th, 2009
6:23 pm
Totally agree. Give those innings to a young player. Save the money for the mid-season, when a truly worthwhile deal will almost certainly present itself. Regarding our lousy right-fielder: hitting a curve ball in the clutch has nothing to do with his stance; Francoeur’s just in over his head. However, since he does possess a cannon for an arm, why not send him to Mississippi to learn how to throw curves, and fastballs, as a closer?
RexZeitgeist
February 19th, 2009
6:29 pm
Face it Atlanta, your city is a dump, your state is a toilet. Griffey was just playing with you inbred idiots.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
6:34 pm
Zeitgeist — (sigh) Did the monkey take your xanax?
RexZeitgeist
February 19th, 2009
6:45 pm
It just makes me feel good to laugh at your pain.
TUFFY
February 19th, 2009
7:04 pm
**Go get the O-dog, Orlando Hudson…move Johnson back to the OF, its his natural position. Hudson is a SC native and would bring the passion and spark this team sometimes lacks**
BravesFan79
February 19th, 2009
7:12 pm
Rex: have fun in last place all year. Griffey proved to everyone that he just does not have the heart of a winner when he bounces from one constant looser to another.
The Braves are ALOT better off relying on the youngsters until the summer…. when there will certainly be alot of teams wanting to dump salary. And just say NO to Swisher!!
Poorbrave
February 19th, 2009
7:21 pm
Two years ago CW was in Southern California. Had two BMW dealerships living the life of a king. Have not been able to call him since 2007.
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
7:29 pm
I know I just advised against tampering with K. Johnson, but … the Orlando Hudson scenario is mighty tantalizing. Why does he not have a job?
BraveFan73
February 19th, 2009
7:40 pm
Let me get this straight Mark, you are placing acquiring Raphael Furcal (who carried the LA Dodgers in the 2nd half of last season) in the same category as acquiring a legendary platoon player who would have sold a boat load of tickets in a town that can’t even sellout a playoff opener? Interesting.
If we had signed Furcal, we would have traded Escobar (who I believe is the best all-around player in a Brave uniform) for Jake Peavy (who would be te best pitcher in a Brave uniform). Furcal and Peavy are greater than Escobar. End of story.
Frank Wren is not lucky like a fox. He is staggering like a college girl who has had one to many shots. He chased AJ Burnett, who has been on the DL for a decade (10 straight seasons). Burnett would have been Mike Hampton all over again. We needed Peavy. We needed Lowe. If we expect to compete in the NL, we need a rotation that looks like Peavy, Lowe, Vasquez, Kawak, and Jurrjens. We need to allow Tommy Hanson the opportunity to make his mark (Tommy Glavine will be on the DL by mid May).
Most important, Atlanta needs to support one of the best franchises in all of sports. If Atlanta sold 40,000 tickets per game (in a stadium that holds 55,000), we would be in a financial position to sign however we wanted. We are cash strapped because our fanbase is a borderline joke. Someone compared the Braves and the Thrashers. Give me a break! The Thrashers have made it to one playoff series. The Braves are the oldest team in American sports! They won 14 straight division titles and are known across the globe. The Braves are not the Thrashers! By the way Mark, Frank Wren is not going to be in his job very long if this continues.
Good luck to Ken Griffey Jr. At his age, I would play in the American League too. He is a class act, who is clearly the best player of his time. He did not use steroids, like so many of his contemporaries. He has over 600 HRs and we wish him the best. It would have been nice to see him at Turner Field. Nonetheless, we need to move on and we still need more bats. Mr. Steroids, I mean Jordan Schafer, is not the answer and I am expecting little to nothing from Jeff Francoeur.
LlivininAL
February 19th, 2009
7:46 pm
No stat man here, I agree with you Mark, Wren needs to exhale relax and watch some spring games. I think he has done a good job, rebuilding the pitching staff with the loss of only one promising minor league catcher. One point on win/losses vs. last year, I think this years starters and yes, the bullpen too, are going to allow fewer runs scored. So we need to play a little better defense and improve on offense some. The outfield will improve after enduring and learning from the misery of last year. All the young outfielders showed some promise at times,but the team was mentally defeated the last half of the season before taking the field. And Griffey as a Mariner is fine.
Ed
February 19th, 2009
7:47 pm
Couldn’t agree more…give the young kids a chance. Look no further than last year’s darlings Tampa Bay Rays to see that it works.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
8:01 pm
Zeitybaby — If you’re laughing at my pains, you need to reimburse your ether provider. I ain’t hurt since 2006.
Ted Striker
February 19th, 2009
8:05 pm
“Mark” — On Orlando Hudson: I have no idea. Then again, Julia Roberts claimed she was an ugly ducking back in high school.
CharlieAlphaBravo
February 19th, 2009
8:57 pm
Sorry, I don’t believe it’s possible to “(try) too hard” as a GM in Baseball, or any other professional sport. There’s a difference between being patient and standing around with your hand in your pants while all the proven outfield power gets bought up for next to nothing.
Los Bravos went into last season with a young, unproven (but promising) outfield and what did that get them? 27 dingers, that’s what. Combined…. We need a consistant outfield bat with some power, and there’s no need to trade away our depth at other positions when there’s supposedly $3-5 million left in the bank.
If Frank Wren seems impatient, it’s probably because he’s sick of losing.
playoffs, are you kidding me, playoffs?
February 19th, 2009
8:59 pm
The braves will be fine, I like to see the team have more speed now, the pitching is very deep and hudson will be back later too, I just wanna see the mets fall flat on their a$$es again, last year was the biggest collapse in history,
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
9:06 pm
Orlando Hudson … Orlando Hudson … I’m starting to warm to this, I must tell you.
playoffs, are you kidding me, playoffs?
February 19th, 2009
9:07 pm
no seriously though, jair and campillo and the bullpen were way over used, this year should lighten the load alot, I just wanna see the guys hustle and play with desire, the young guys especially will, get off to a good start, and the depth can provide possible trade bait, if needed later
marseilles mutt
February 19th, 2009
9:11 pm
“Willie the Bard” said something about “…much ado about nothing” i.e. Griffey goes to Seattle, so, so what? I kind of thought it would be a good signing from both the economic side and also what he could bring to the team, both on the field and off. Didn’t happen! Big deal! So we move on.
From looking at Griffey first hand on the White Sox last year, I can assure you he did little to help them. He did win one game for them with a home run, and beyond that he contributed less than nothing. Having said that, the make up of the Sox is primarily veteran; he probably could have added stability to a rather young and probably somewhat insecure Braves outfield. Especially after last year!
See MB, yesterday I disagreed with you but today I couldn’t agree more, although I have always liked Garrett Anderson. As for nicknames, call me either ‘Wishy’, or ‘Washy’.
By the way if your readers don’t like the AJC, they should try the Chicago mess, er media on for size. Or have to isten to three clowns like Maxine, Jerko and Harriet on ‘the best of talk radio’. Don’t wish for something else gang, you might actually get it. And that goes for GMs as well.
playoffs, are you kidding me, playoffs?
February 19th, 2009
9:19 pm
Surely you guys aren’t serious about orlando hudson, while a .300 hitter, he had only 8HR, 40RBI, 8 stolen bases, how’s that any upgrade.
playoffs, are you kidding me, playoffs?
February 19th, 2009
9:29 pm
mark, according to fox sports, o-hudson is in talks with the dodgers and wants 4-5 mill, with incentives to reach 8mill. why would the braves need that, for a 8hr, 40 rbi guy coming off an injury?
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
9:29 pm
Playoffs, how many times do I have to say it? Don’t call me Shirley
tlj
February 19th, 2009
9:38 pm
Bravefan 73, if I understand your post, the braves were going to sign Furcal and trade Escobar to the Padres for Peavey. Didn’t Towers say Peavey did not want to go to the braves. I think Peavey actually wanted to pitch for the cubs and because he has a no trade clause and I’m pretty sure he can decide where he wants to play. I think I remember something about the braves would not agree a no trade clause and I don’t think they really wanted to pick up the option year.
I think you are assuming that is why the braves wanted to sign Furcal, the braves went on record as stating they wanted Furcal to play second and move Johnson to the outfield.
they can but will they?
February 19th, 2009
9:41 pm
sure, we are better off without Griffey, he’s old, perpetually hurt, and can’t hit a good fastball anymore, can’t hit anything from lefties anymore. we will be much faster in the outfield than in many years, maybe ever, but can Bobby manage a team built that way? He’s always been reluctant to run, save a year or two from Otis, and more apt to sit back and wait on the two or three run dinger. This year, we may be effective playing small ball, but will Bobby do it?
Mark Bradley
February 19th, 2009
9:55 pm
Yes, I saw the item on Orlando Hudson. And if that’s true, he’s probably out of the Braves’ price range.
Thanks for passing it along, Playoffs.
BravNatMarPhilMet
February 19th, 2009
10:36 pm
orlando Hudson is also a class A free agent. He costs a first round pick unless we can get him in a sign and trade deal. He is not our guy. We need a power Right handed hitting outfielder like Nady, but not Nady.
Chris Broe
February 19th, 2009
11:06 pm
We should be grateful to Aroid and Burris. A baseball cap and a political swell. They’re the techno twins of honesty and they represent all the “come-clean” this country can stand. We should take it slowly, because we are all so accustomed to lies and fraud and cheating and we should appreciate the last refuge of our best scoundrels: personal responsibility! Aroid did good, (sort of). Burris showed his cards, (a little). Why are we so shocked at Burris’s arrogance when he came recommended from the most arrogant man Illinois has ever produced? (blago). Aroid didn’t name his cousin. That means he is holding back the entire story of his ‘roid use. So what? He used roids. More than we’ll know, but he admitted it so we can assume the worst. (did he really think we wouldn’t discover who his conspirator/cousin was? bwa!)
We will turn our great country around two men at a time. So Aroid cheated. So Burris lied So Aroid lied. So Burris cheated. Good! Let them pay the price. No hall of fame for Aroid, and no seat for Burris, and both have to be the bat boy for opposing girl’s softball teams on their intersecting days off. So it is written, so it is done!
Now on to Cheney/bush: An open judgement about Cheney/bush: just confess. You both sold America down the river to the Saudis. Admit it. Renounce your citizen-ships, and move to Dubai. If we never have to look at the two of you ever again, it will be worth you getting away so enriched.
Bush and Cheney are the fortunate ones: Lord they learned to help themselves!
playoffs, are you kidding me, playoffs?
February 19th, 2009
11:10 pm
thanks mark, you answered, maybe some teams pitching will go down and look to the braves many choices, but hey still excited about the season, the young guys will sink or swim
stew
February 19th, 2009
11:35 pm
Mark, Please publish a editorial degrading the Yankees and Aroid. My wifes uncle from the Bronx go’s crazy over your Yankee bashing. It’s great fun. Signed, A former Met fan, Yankee hater and current Brave fan.
Larry J
February 19th, 2009
11:52 pm
Mark, in your Tuesday column, you said you thought most fans were expecting the Griffey of the mid ’90s. I replied there that most of the rational, reasonably intelligent Braves fans I know knew the team was getting an older Griffey who would platoon in left field.
I notice you didn’t talk about the fact that in that Tuesday column you said you stood by the paper’s source?
Chris Broe
February 20th, 2009
12:29 am
Griffey has been a disappointing underachiever his entire career. He’s the new darryl strawberry. He’s good. that’s all. My grandma was good. (long ball). But I dont see her getting a contract. So what if a player is just good? I’m sick of this Mohammad Ali worship of a sports figure who never really delivers. If you look at the films of the old Ali fights, he didn’t win those fights, it was the myth of Ali that blinded the judges who gave Ali those decisions. it’s a disgrace. We worship soap figures and creatures of coca cola.
there’s only the written word, after all, it’s the purest form of humanism. It’s where stars are born: in the conjured conjunctions and the preposterous phrases……that’s where greatness lives. not on the field. they’re taking ‘roids. they’re pretending. They’re popping up with the bases loaded, and fumbling on the goal line.
The fix is in. the fix is on. Every sport is corrupt. I believe in wrestlemania more than I believe the Steelers won that superbowl fair and square. Dig deep and you’ll find a ref was paid off, or a lineman let up a little, or a safety let his shoelaces get tied together. Payola reigns!
I dont believe. And I never will. This is the cause of the credit crisis, the depression, the stock market crash, and the entire new era of disbelief.
We have to reset the clock. Reset the trust. Reset the entire game.
If not, we’re finished.
74Dawg
February 20th, 2009
12:47 am
Ted Stryker will surely call you Shirley,Mark. But Furcal and Griffey will be soon forgotten
Ted Striker
February 20th, 2009
2:56 am
74Dawg: “The fate of the Braves doesn’t depend on Furcal or Griffey. It depends on someone who can hit, field, pitch, fly a plane, and also — who didn’t have fish for dinner.”
fieldofdreams
February 20th, 2009
7:12 am
RexZeit: Your “toilet” post clearly indicates that you write with the POV of a decomposing turd.
Dave
February 20th, 2009
7:36 am
I don’t get the fans who think not signing Griffey who has a bad knee at 39 years old or Smoltz at 42 coming off Elbow surgery is a disaster. We are a team that needs to look to the future we signed Galvine as our old age project and Derek Lowe to replace Smoltz we don’t need any more players that are no more than one year players on this team.
Mark Bradley
February 20th, 2009
8:23 am
I don’t think I could say anything about Alex Rodriguez that hasn’t already been said a hundred thousand million times.