Wren on his Braves: “It’s obvious we need more offense”
Frank Wren knew he couldn’t fix all that ailed his 90-loss team in one offseason, so he prioritized. He started with the rotation and added three new arms. He stabilized the most egregious source of instability. He made the Braves competitive again.
But say this for Wren: He’s no Pollyanna. He sees the potential in his reconfigured team, and he also sees a ceiling. Just past the quarter pole, the Braves are very much in the NL East mix. To stay there, the general manager believes something has to change.
“I do think we’re going to have to perform better offensively,” Wren said Wednesday. “Our pitching is giving us a chance to win, but to be legitimate contenders we have to improve offensively.”
The hope when the Braves came north from Disney World was that many competent bats would override the lack of a true big bat. “We don’t have a big bopper who’s going to hit 40 home runs,” Wren said in April. “We might have seven guys who’ll hit 20.”
He meant 20 apiece. But if you take away Brian McCann, the other regulars — this counts the two-man platoon in left field — have managed a total of 22 homers. That’s not enough to win over the long haul, not for a team that isn’t built for speed, either. (Last in the majors in stolen bases, you know.) The Braves have scored 20 runs in their past seven games, and seven came in one inning against Toronto.
The best-case scenario was that Garret Anderson would contribute professional at-bats and Jordan Schafer would lend a spark and Jeff Francoeur would remember how to hit. “We thought we had a chance to get some of our offensive production back from guys returning to form,” Wren said, but a team – and a GM – can wait only so long.
Loading ...Obvious question: Is there a deal a-coming? Wren: “The time to address need is just beginning. Teams are just now starting to see where their needs are. I don’t see any trade happening really quickly.”
If you read ajc.com blogs, you’ll find a contingent of protesters who fault Wren for not finding a real hitter over the winter. (Boilerplate criticism: He should have landed Adam Dunn, or Bobby Abreu, or Raul Ibanez, who has been reborn in Philadelphia.) But the real world of baseball, it must be noted, isn’t so convenient.
“The offensive players who were available this winter would have been hard to put into a National League outfield on an everyday basis,” Wren said. “As we were trying to improve our pitching, we had our eye on defense as well. It was a balancing act.”
And that makes sense. Really, most everything Wren has done to date makes sense. He retooled the starting pitching, which is always the hardest part. “You can’t put together a rotation on the fly,” he said, and the 90 losses of 2008 stand as stark evidence. But the modern way of baseball is to fix over the winter and tweak in the summer, and now summer’s here.
“We’re interested in improving our offense,” Wren said. “It’s obvious we need more offense.”
So there’s hope yet, Braves fans. This GM isn’t in denial. He knows what his team lacks. He’s on the case. But he’d better hurry.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
222 comments Add your comment
NEW CARS
May 28th, 2009
5:04 pm
THE ONE THING THAT I HAVE NOTICED IS THE DEARTH OF RH BATS IN THE ORGANIZATION…I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT, BUT WE NEED TO RESTOCK OUR ORGANIZATION WITH A FEW RH STICKS….BUT I’M THINKING LONG-TERM, NOT A RENTAL…IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE MORE LH BATS OUT THERE THAN EVER BEFORE…DUNN HAS GREAT STATS, BUT HE WASN’T WORTH THAT MUCH MONEY WHEN WE WERE ALREADY STACKED WITH LH BATS…SHEFFIELD WAS A QUESTIONABLE CHANCE…I WISH WE HAD WENT HARDER AFTER NELSON CRUZ
Joe
May 28th, 2009
5:04 pm
I hope we stand pat and wait until we get Heyward and Freeman to the bigs…..I don’t want to mortgage our future at a chance to win now. One bat isn’t going to make a big difference – we need at least 2 and that will come at a cost. Stay the course and stand pat and we’ll be looking at the beginning of a long run in a few years.
ATL Baseball
May 28th, 2009
5:05 pm
I think a new hitting coach would go a long way in helping some of the guys reach their old form. It’s worth a try, and no minor league prospects will have to be given up for a new hitting coach who has paid their dues in the minors.
GTSteve
May 28th, 2009
5:06 pm
No Falconian, remember Claudell had to play center field, because they didnt trust him that close to the white lines.
Outside Robber
May 28th, 2009
5:07 pm
Obviously, ’something’ isn’t working for this team but I believe it goes deeper than just the lack of timely, power OR hitting in general. Are these Braves really a TEAM? I just don’t see any ongoing continuity of play or group chemistry between the players as a team.
Fundamentals? Weak. (Reflects on leadership or lack thereof). Until the TEAM buys into being a team, another bat or two won’t solve the main problem or so it seems to me.
Curious George
May 28th, 2009
5:13 pm
Are the Braves keeping Terry Pendleton around as Hitting Coach in order to keep him “in-house” as the heir apparent to Bobby Cox as manager?
Anyone else sad the Braves let Fredi Gonzalez go to the division-rival Marlins?
gotigers72
May 28th, 2009
5:14 pm
Have you heard the news? The Red Sox wanted to trade Jason Bay to the Braves for Francoeur, Buddy Carlyle and Jeff Bennett. But Wren turned them down. He is holding out for Big Papi! You know how he loves those aging DHs that are in decline. You know he does as evidenced by his signing of Garrett Anderson.
Seriously, how can he say with a straight face about over the winter stuff when he said they have to think about defense too. He’s either a liar or incompetent. He signed Anderson for goodness sake, who was a DH for most of the last 2-3 years. As most of us can tell by his horrible attempts at fielding this year. One game he could have made a catch if he had just bent over at the waist, but he didn’t and several runs scored because he didn’t. Diving for a ball? Forget about it!
That wouldn’t be so bad if he was absolutely rakin’, or hitting for power. But he’s a .250 singles hitter. Has ZERO home runs Frankie. .250 singles hitters are a dime a dozen. The bottom line is he is done as a player. A Raul Mondesi, except even when Mondesi was a Brave he could still field. Mondesi did the right thing, saw he couldn’t play any longer and gave it up. Do the same thing Garrett. Except you won’t. You’ll continue to draw a check and drag down this team.
Bad sign FW. BAD SIGN!
B-Man
May 28th, 2009
5:15 pm
After reading some of these posts I wonder how many of you actually know a damn thing about baseball. I think some of you just like writing on blogs to blog about something. Like people that complain about gas prices being to high or people saying Braves games are too expensive. Your all full of SH#!
We are exponentially better than last year. We are in the race for the division lead with the two teams everyone picked to be the best in the National League. We have DOMINATING PITCHING from 1-3 starters which most teams would kill for!!! (for those of you that know what that is and don’t just think back to the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz years) We have 2 all-star position players maybe 3 if Escobar can keep it up, and 90% of our roster in home grown talent. You wanna fix things? You think positively and move from there, we need to make 1 maybe 2 moves max offensively and set a lineup and stick to it.
Some of you bloggers just need to go back to your yahoo fantasy leagues and stay there.
GTSteve
May 28th, 2009
5:20 pm
i am with you B-man………buy some tickets go to a game and cheer for this team
Chief Nock A Homa
May 28th, 2009
5:22 pm
What, no love from the earlier Micah Owings post (4:56 p.m.) ???
Somebody here has got to believe it’s worth thinking about… ha ha…
Actually, why not hold out for Big Papi??? If you’re going to go for an aging superstar, he’d be the one wouldn’t he???! You know he’s going to come around…
Einstein
May 28th, 2009
5:22 pm
Need some help, please. If the Braves are 27th in home runs, why is Bobby still managing like we need a 3 run homer to win the game? Why does Chipper use his dad and Frenchy consult the Texas Rangers’ hitting coach, rather than Terry Pendleton? And, why doesn’t Wren tell the fans the truth…”our owners are not going to spend the money because they are just waiting out the clock to be IRS legal with the stock swap”? For the past 4 years we have been average and will continue to be so until new management. Peace.
B-Man
May 28th, 2009
5:25 pm
For those that bring up the Tex trade we did. Yeah we gave up a lot. But the only one I would want back is Elvis Andrus because he is a true lead off hitter. Thats it! Salty is a good catcher, not a good 1st baseman and won’t be catching many years at 6 ft 5. Don’t believe me? We had a guy like that back in the 80’s called Dale Murphy, he was a catcher but his height and weight took a tole on his knees. So they moved him to the outfield. Salty probably won’t be much more than a DH in a few years. Matt Harrison is a good #4 pitcher but is over rated b/c of his record. His ERA in 2 full seasons so far is over 5.00 they can have him. The other guys are really good minor league pitchers for now and thats what you gotta pay for talent like TEX. For as much as you hate Wren for trading for TEX, at least we have a GM that got the guts to make a move. (Now, that doesn’t mean he doen’t make bad decisions, every GM does) I don’t think there is one of you that remembers the Braves in the 80’s. You have no idea how good we have it to have the kind of team we have and organization we have. BTW maybe you all should see the kind of talent we have as a farm system before talking about trading away too much. WE ARE LOADED at every position except 1st/3rd base and catcher!!!!
JamC
May 28th, 2009
5:29 pm
Grotesquely overpaid bunch, as in all major league sports. I wouldn’t pay a penny to see them play.
Wayne
May 28th, 2009
5:30 pm
Garret Anderson is old and seems to be semi-retire, slow, has no defense and catches the ball like he is just learning how. His offense is limited to singles and a double now and then. Why was he signed, not to protect Chipper–he can’t even protect himself. Attitude and visual attitude is everything. He plays at the same energy level as Jeff F. Swing or take strike three and walk back to the dugout with that old I tried and I just need my check. Cox is a complete failure this year. Frank W., Why did you not sign Adam Dunn? Anderson instead of Dunn. Frank W. you are as brain dead as Cox. And Cox, you can pinch-hit for Jeff–
Alvin
May 28th, 2009
5:32 pm
B-Man
IIRC it was JS not Frank who pulled the string on the Tex deal..other than that I agree with ya
B-Man
May 28th, 2009
5:37 pm
Alvin if thats true good call. I couldn’t remember cause it was during that period where Wren was JS assistant as well if thats the case. I could remember when JS stepped down and let Wren start making the moves.
Ron Roberts
May 28th, 2009
5:37 pm
Ridiculous that we’re less than 4 games out of first, and folks are ready to “chalk up” the season as a loss and prep for next year; get real.
And ‘DEVIL WEARS PRADA’ the reason we don’t bring Tommy Hanson up sooner is because we GAIN an extra (affordable) year of his services before he’s eligible for free agency by waiting.
Besides, we haven’t lacked with quality starting pitching; Lowe, JJ, Vasquez and KK have kept us in most of their starts. If Tommy Hanson were a power-hitting corner outfielder, I’d agree with you; but he’s not.
hop
May 28th, 2009
5:39 pm
clearly, the braves have not made the transition from having ted turner’s money to a small market,low buget team.
tampa bay and the florida marlins have proven it can be done.
the last thing we need to do is trade more young talent and when we did that in the past, it backfired on us.
just look at at texas rangers who are in first place with four of our farm team propects pulling their weight.
the braves front office has not adjusted and we need to fire wren and the boys . maybe.. we need to hire a GM from one of the florida teams?
STOP THE DUMPING OF GREAT YOUNG TALENT!!!!!!!!
Kenneth Simpson
May 28th, 2009
5:41 pm
Amen to Maestro in reference to Chipper and Escobar getting paid these high salaries and sitting on the bench “gimpy”. It is a proven fact that Chipper is not going to play over 4-5 games in a row and then come up with something hurting and here lately Escobar is the same way. Wren should watch the enthusiam that Elvis Andrus has with Texas and how he loves to play, run, and is a heck of a fielder too. By the way Salty is not playing that bad either and Harrison is going good and they tell me the best player in the giveaway to Texas is still in the minors. The braves don’t know how to make a decent trade. The only one in recent years was Renteria to the tigers. Right on Maestro.
Curious George
May 28th, 2009
5:41 pm
Given the “white lines” comment, was Claudell Washington a Coke Head? (No, I mean the OTHER kind of “Coke,” the kind without the high-fructose corn syrup.)
:’(
RobertNAtl
May 28th, 2009
5:45 pm
I’ve got it!!! Send Glavine to the Rangers for Josh Hamilton.
Wait, I have another good idea — Greg Norton to the Cardinals for Albert Pujols.
*pondering thoughtfully*
Oh — and Kotchman to the Phillies for Ryan Howard. We could throw in Frenchy to REALLY seal the deal.
Presto!! Problem solved.
AJC
May 28th, 2009
5:48 pm
Anybody??? Has it been confirmed that Pendleton is indeed the manager in waiting?
ethan
May 28th, 2009
5:50 pm
Why does nobody look at the injury bug we are currently dealing with. Mac came off a 15 day stint and has been great since coming back but once he is back, Chipper is playing on one leg and Yunel has been out for the past week. this team is fine if they can get over the little nagging injuries. they are right in the mix of things. another bat would be nice but all of this freaking out needs to stop there is a lot of baseball left to play.
O'brien
May 28th, 2009
5:50 pm
Mr. Bradley, Frank Wren said it was a balancing act trying to find the right outfielder who provides offense and defense. Now how would he describe Garrett Anderson’s defense? And his offense has been nonexistent. Yes, Adam Dunn’s defense is terrible, but what kind of impact would he have on the game? He already has 16 homers. And wasn’t he only signed for $8 million, Ilbanez was signed for how much? $10 million? And he has 16 homers too I think. Our entire outfield (4 guys) have 7. 7!
Is it safe to say that the main reason why the Braves did not look at those guys is because they were out of our budget constraints?
Threadkiller
May 28th, 2009
5:53 pm
Ok, I was giving Wren the benifit of a doubt until now! This is his quote: “The offensive players who were available this winter would have been hard to put into a National League outfield on an everyday basis,” Wren said.
Well Frank, Here are the games played for the last few years for Adam Dunn:
2004 = 161
2005 = 161
2006 = 160
2007 = 152
2008 = 158
Looks to me like you could pencil in Adam Dunn to play everyday!!
Bearcat
May 28th, 2009
5:56 pm
Please don’t take so long to BUST A MOVE on Frenchy and Schafer. Send them both down not in two more weeks but right stinking now today. Play Matt Diaz in right field and call up some of your young talent from Gwinnett and maybe Frenchy will realize he ain’t so NATURAL after all. When the Dodgers realized they had made a mistake with Andruw Jones, they washed their hands and moved on even though they are still paying him. I wonder how much Terry Pendleton is really helping and also wonder is Bobby Cox’s best managerial days are behind him. I would like to see how a competent first class manager such as Mike Sciosa of the Angels would handle these Braves with what they got. I am sure he would have not given up on Josh Anderson and been so SOLD on the young 22 year old JS. Let’s try to go Braves. Your attendance is going down and not up. Just think Francoeur turned down that BIG MONEY two years ago when Brian McCann did not.
El Bravo
May 28th, 2009
5:59 pm
A vast majority of bloggers are totally clueless. They make statements without checking even the simplest of facts. Kawakami started slow but he has brought his ERA down to 4.73. He is 2-3 in May with a 3.03 ERA. Yet idiots in the blogsphere are already labeling him a disaster after two months of MLB experience. Vasquez has a 3.80 ERA and yet many are unsatisfied. Lowe has been outstading. Yet people are still complaining that Wren did not fix all the problems. Wren’s signings this year have been very good overall. The bottom line is that there are two players that are absolutely killing this team and they were both farm products: Schafer and Frenchy. Now, I was never a fan of handing Schafer the CF job but he won it in Spring Training by raking like crazy (can’t fault Wren for that). And you can’t fault him either for sticking with Frenchy to this point (the guy is 25, has a ton of talent and showed promise again during Spring Training). Sadly, neither one is panning out and we have to make changes at both of those positions. Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to address those needs until the trade deadline and, by then, we may be out of it. However, if we are not out we will have a ton of trade chips to play with. We have a wealth of MLB ready starting pitching and that is usually the hottest commodity at the deadline (Lowe, Kawakami, Vasquez, Jurjens, Medlen, Hanson, Reyes, Glavine, Hudson). Not to mention Frenchy, whom I fear will no longer be a Brave come July. All in all, we are in pretty good shape for the next few years and, if we manage to keep it together for another month, we may be ok this year… may…
El Bravo
May 28th, 2009
6:07 pm
Bearcat, I agree with you on Schafer. He needs to go to the Minors now. Frenchy can play Center while we find a better option (there are none at the Minors).
Skeezix
May 28th, 2009
6:08 pm
TP’s not taking the at bats. If you are going to blame him for Frenchy and Schafer, then you have to give him credit for McCann, Escobar, Diaz, and Infante. If you watch Frenchy, he gets himself out (opposing pitchers must love to pitch against him). Andruw was the same his last year with ATL. How can you coach someone who won’t listen/learn and adjust– that was the problem with Andruw and now Frenchy. Blaming TP is like blaming public safety personnel everytime a habitual criminal, despite efforts at rehabilitation, repeats the same mistake again and again.
Dave 55
May 28th, 2009
6:09 pm
“Frenchy can play Center”
No, he can’t. If he could play CF, with his arm he’d have been moved to CF years ago.
Joebrave
May 28th, 2009
6:14 pm
Oh!God here we go again, Failurecoure, cannot play his own damn position much less CF!!! and some of you Gwinnett County Homers need to get off the dudes jockstrap, your nose is turning Brown!!! Goddammit This team sucks hell no don’t go to Turdner Field, pay your Mortgage instead.
DunwoodyBrave
May 28th, 2009
6:40 pm
Guys, building a roster is a zero-sum game, financially, for 26 of the 30 teams in MLB (everyone except the Yankees, Mets, et al). Sure, we could have signed Adam Dunn–but then couldn’t have signed either Vasquez or Lowe. So great, we get Dunn’s HR but have to trot JoJo out every fifth day. Dunn hits a HR, and JoJo gives up 7 runs. You think we win any of those games?
The Nats sign Dunn–and have no money for pitching.
I’d rather Wren not do anything rash. Sure, go get Edmonds or see what you can get in a trade for Medlin. But don’t trade the cornerstones, because if we can be patient for 2 years, we can be looking at a roster that’s built around anchors like McCann, Yunel, Freeman, Heyward, either Schaefer or Gorkys and maybe Cody Johnson, the way he’s tearing it up in Myrtle Beach. That’s six of the eight positions locked in right there. Plus Hansen, Lowe, Vasquez, maybe Medlin if he isn’t traded.
Mark Bradley
May 28th, 2009
6:40 pm
Just as a matter of clarification: Wren didn’t make the trade with Texas for Teixeira; John Schuerholz did.
And I hope to write something about Terry Pendleton soon. Thanks to all who have asked.
Mark Bradley
May 28th, 2009
6:41 pm
Oh, and I want to say this: Good post, Dunwoody Brave.
johnny bravo
May 28th, 2009
6:43 pm
don’t know how much truth may be to it but on mlb rumors, starks reports the braves are interested in bringing back derosa, and he suggests they could look to jim edmonds, even if they got 85 percent of what did for the cubs last yr, it would be more than what their getting out there now, just hope when wren does decide to do something the teams not 8 or so games out.
Supes
May 28th, 2009
6:45 pm
Wren did a fine job of re-building the starting rotation, and stock pilling pitching depth in general here and at AAA (by not trading away any of our high prospects – yet like Medlen, Morton and Hanson).
HOWEVER,
He failed miserably with his calculations on what this team can do offensively.
Mark, the point is Wren flat out refused to admit to this and next year (possibly) being rebuilding years.
Braves are not at the point any longer where we are 1 player away, we can’t “reload” like we used to. Too many question marks, plus Chipper’s health issues are going to plague this team for the entire season.
What I’d like to see is us hold on to our prospects and unless we can make a trade (not for a rental, but someone who figures in the team future after this season) for a corner OF for the future, I’d like to see this team got trade away players during the season.
Wren should just “bite the bullet” on 2009, and address our offensive woes in the off-season (when he can also use leverage and get MORE or a better deal for players b/c nobody is under a date deadline to get things completed).
Bry22
May 28th, 2009
6:45 pm
Send Francoeur & Reyes and Medlen to Washington for Dunn.
Supes
May 28th, 2009
6:46 pm
…and for the last time…Micah Owings DOES NOT want to be a position player. He’s repeatedly said he wants to make it as a major league starter.
TS
May 28th, 2009
6:53 pm
Re: Garrett Anderson, he has always looked/played like he’s disinterested. That’s not new in Atlanta. Now, why the Braves thought it was a good idea to sign him to fix their OF problem is beyond me. He could look like baseball is pure torture if he at least had a prayer of hitting the ball over the fence.
Re: Heyward, those advocating the call-up should take another look at Jordan Schafer because that’s what Heyward would be doing against major league pitching today.
Mark Bradley
May 28th, 2009
6:53 pm
I can see it now: Micah Owings starting in left field, Mike Hampton in center, Rick Ankiel in right.
Dave 55
May 28th, 2009
6:55 pm
… and Nick Swisher pitching.
Rufus
May 28th, 2009
7:00 pm
Any starting pitchers the Braves have, no matter how good they pitch,will be a waste of the, the hitters won’t back them. The way the Braves are hitting is very embarrassing.
Chipper look like a man on his last leg, trying to be what he was a few years ago.
Shaffer, is a sad case, he’s the only center field this team has, he strikes out two to three time a game, this is very sad.
Fact,is the Braves are in the same old predicament, for the last three year.
They play like a bunch of slapstick comedians. They will not get better, until they really clean house.
Supes
May 28th, 2009
7:15 pm
I can see it now: Micah Owings starting in left field, Mike Hampton in center, Rick Ankiel in right.
*********************************
Mark, that would actually be a more productive OF than the currrent Anderson, Schafer and Francine!
kcob95
May 28th, 2009
7:27 pm
If pendleton is so bad-why did Francoeur go somewhere else and get the same results? The problem is not Pendleton! Francoeur obviously does not want to listen. How many times has Chipper been on the radio saying that the guy needs to develop more discipline. How many times is this guy going to continue to swing at the first pitch and ground out. If Jeff Francoeur was Josh smith we hear everyday how immature he is and how he continues to under achieve with so much talent! Package Francoeur with Hudson and one prospect for a leadoff man w/ speed and a power hitter. I think the braves can make that deal for Gonzalez of the Padres! Does not matter where the power comes from-be it outfield or first base. Kotchman is serviceable and can fill in better than norton.
big dawg
May 28th, 2009
7:34 pm
i was scolded earlier this year, just a few weeks ago, when i said that i had heard, from an inside source, they were looking to move flyball frenchy, or kelly johnson, but i’m here to tell ya, look for a move to happen sooner than later, not matter what wren says…
at the time it was going to be for some solid relief pitching, but they didn’t realize they had made the mistake of keeping strikeout schafer instead of josh anderson. and they are EXTREMELY disappointed on frenchy, not only his lack of production, but his little attitude he has come up with. just watch his expressions,they tell the whole story.
Chief Nock A Homa
May 28th, 2009
7:40 pm
Mark,
Any real thoughts on the Owings idea, besides the somewhat humorous sarcasm??
And, I use the word “somewhat” very loosely….
It seems it could be a creative way to get some help…
Jt
May 28th, 2009
7:44 pm
I was one of those who thought they needed Ibanez. But thought he was too pricey for his previous production and getting on in years. Can’t honestly say I foresaw what he is doing. No way! But I don’t think the Braves can give up on Francouer. At the time I thought letting Anderson go to Detroit was not a good business decision. More veteran. Could have sent Schafer down for development and brought him up if A failed and Schaffer performed. Now they are stuck. They must do something either in center or left. Left is an aging veteran (G Anderson) and a platoon player (Diaz) who actually would be an upgrade to be somewhere every day- left, right, etc. Francouer has at least shown the ability to succeed. If he leaves, then they will have to plug a youngster in there. No need to panic. Got to attempt to succeed now without mortgaging the future. Do nothing rash. Only 3 games out. Panic leads to bad decisions. Period
Chief Nock A Homa
May 28th, 2009
7:44 pm
And Supes, relax dude, the Owings thing is just a suggestion… We don’t have to do it if you don’t want to….
Marc
May 28th, 2009
7:48 pm
So far it looks like Colorado, Arizona, Houston, Pittsburgh, Chicago (WS), and Oakland are the most likely candidates for getting an OF bat, maybe add Cleveland and Baltimore to the list here soon. That’s a lot of options really. Let’s give these teams a couple more weeks to fall on their face; then we pick them apart. Devious – I love it!
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » Wren on his Braves: “It’s obvious we need more offense”
May 28th, 2009
8:01 pm
[...] Mark Bradley | ajc.com – [...]