Bradley’s Buzz: More Braves shoulda been All-Stars
Laying down the Law on the Midsummer Classic
A word here about the All-Star Game: I don’t much care about it, and I don’t get upset when Some Deserving Player doesn’t make the roster despite having had a good half-season. Because — OK, you’ve got me going now — who says one half-season defines an All-Star?
And why is it always the first half of a baseball season that counts? What about a guy who had a great second half of last season? Why should he get snubbed? Why wasn’t Kelly Johnson, who hit .308 over the second half of 2008, given an All-Star nod this summer? Huh? Huh?
OK, I exaggerate. But Keith Law of Scouts Inc. is one of those folks who takes the All-Star Game seriously. Writing for ESPN.com’s Insiders, he believes two Braves were given the royal scam (Steely Dan reference) this time. Guess which two.
You got it. Kelly Johnson and Greg Norton.
No, I’m kidding. Law plumps for Jair Jurrjens and Javier — he calls him “Javy” — Vazquez. (Link requires registration.) He also believes Brian McCann should be the National League’s starting catcher. He also believes Chipper Jones should replace the injured Carlos Beltran on the NL roster. (Yes, I’m aware Chipper plays third base and Beltran plays center field. I’m just the messenger here.)
Vazquez, Law writes, should have made the team over St. Louis closer Ryan Franklin. Law’s rationale:
“Ryan Franklin throws 32 decent and hit-lucky innings and takes the spot of Javy Vazquez, who ranks ninth in the NL in ERA and second in strikeouts and has thrown more than three times as many innings as Franklin — and unlike Franklin, who has never been anything better than a fifth starter or mediocre middle reliever, Vazquez has proven before he can pitch at a high level.
“(Speaking of Franklin, what is the lesson here? Using steroids is OK? [Franklin was suspended 10 games in 2005.] Will we see editorials questioning the refusal to condemn Franklin, or urging fans to boo him next Tuesday?)”
Not from me, Mr. Law. See, I don’t really care. Except about Kelly Johnson, who got jobbed, I say! Jobbed!
Onward and upward for Jason Heyward?
Writing for SI.com, John Manuel of Baseball America ranks Braves prospect Jason Heyward 10th on his 10-man list of — hyphen alert! — possible high-impact second-half call-ups. But Manuel undercuts his case, sort of:
“[Heyward] was a non-roster invitee to big-league camp this spring, hanging around through mid-March, and just got promoted to Double-A. It would be a rush job to bring his premium bat speed and right-field tools to the majors to replace Francoeur, but the National League East is wide open, and a jolt from a big bat like Heyward’s could separate Atlanta from the pack.”
Loading ...I’m going to disagree on this one. Heyward just moved from Class A Myrtle Beach to Class AA Mississippi, and he’s having a good-but-not-scorching season. (MLB.com has his updated numbers.) He could arrive as a September promotion, but I don’t think anyone in the Braves’ organization is sitting around thinking, “If we promote Heyward, we’ll catch Philly for sure.” I think they’re thinking, “Let’s not pull a Joey Devine and rush this guy.”
Speaking of a young Brave …
Both Jon Heyman and Tom Verducci of SI.com rate Tommy Hanson as the NL’s second-best rookie behind St. Louis outfielder Colby Rasmus. Here’s Heyman’s take, and here’s Verducci’s. Note that Verducci writes: “The award may wind up with Hanson, but Rasmus has the edge as an everyday outfielder who has been in the bigs all year.”
And this from Heyman: “[Hanson is] off to a 4-0 start. With Jair Jurrjens he gives the Braves a good shot to steal the division.”
And let’s not forget Javy Vazquez, shall we?
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139 comments Add your comment
Ernest
July 9th, 2009
6:04 am
This merely reinforces the thought that the Braves need a big bat to be more competitive and perhaps challenge for the division crown. We have a fairly solid pitching staff this year. Perhaps that is Frank Wren’s plan for this upcoming offseason, shore up the offense without compromising the farm.
At the same time, is the rule that requires one player from each team to be on the All-Star team somewhat antiquated?
honest_abe
July 9th, 2009
6:55 am
someone’s an early riser.
until the braves figure out how to hit they ain’t winning nothing. looks like andruw has found his power again. sure could’ve used his power in center. not sayin tp is a bad hitting coach but it sure does seem like players find their stroke once they leave atlanta. hope franceour isn’t another example of this.
do people still watch baseball?
RobertNAtl
July 9th, 2009
7:01 am
Third
jimmya
July 9th, 2009
7:32 am
FIRE WREN
jimmya
July 9th, 2009
7:45 am
i`ll say it again FIRE WREN
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
7:46 am
Jurrjens deserved some consideration as well. The Braves core of pitchers gets better every day. I’m also tired of McCann getting 2nd in the voting, what has this guy got to do to get the nod. Molina as starter is a joke and I don’t even know which Molina it is. MB, do you think it is time to send him to a contender and get something really good in return. Do him and the Braves a favor and send him to Boston to replace Lowell and get one of their young pitchers.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
7:47 am
Keep Wren, fire TP
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
7:49 am
By him I mean Chipper being sent to Boston
ATLfan15
July 9th, 2009
8:12 am
Right on MB! Vazquez definitely got shafted; that’s okay though, he has proven his worth to the Braves and that’s all that matters. Good call on Heyward; he needs more time to refine his skills. Sorry to say, but Francoeur looks like a lost cause at this point…like Wilbert Harrison sang, ‘I’m going to Kansas City….Kansas City here I come.’
Bank Walker, you want to send our only power-hitting threat to Boston for a young pitcher? How would that be doing the Braves a favor? Right now, we need a big bat in the lineup; that’s the trade we need immediately because our offense is suffering. Let’s not focus on next year just yet…we are still in it.
ATLfan15
July 9th, 2009
8:17 am
By the way, I don’t count McLouth…even though technically he leads the club in HRs. We need a full season out of him to fully feel the impact he will have. While McCann is an excellent hitter, I don’t think his power numbers are enough to carry an entire lineup. Bottom line: we need another big bat!
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
8:22 am
Bank Walker, the last thing the Braves need is pitching. Last time I checked, only 1 pitcher plays at a time and ours are doing pretty well. Plus, Hudson will be back by 2010 at the latest, and possibly even this season, which would be akin to a pickup via trade. We need people that HIT and hit consistently and in the clutch. The Braves need a pickup (or a couple of current players to step up) that can lift and carry the entire team. Prado’s been great but we need more.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
8:24 am
ATL, trying to rebuild around our pitching like 1991. Chipper has 1 maybe 2 good years left and I don’t think we will be in a position to win it all in that time. I think we should start looking to the future becasue the “big bat” scenario is what cost us 4 prospects for a “big bat” for 1 year and a runner-up title. Plus the names that I hear floating around will not help. We can’t hang on tho these guys till it is too late. It Turner still owned the team we could do it but now we are on a budget. Florida keeps tearing it down just to come back 2 years later. We don’t need to go that far but we do need to use some portion to that. One of our best deals was trading a Vet for Jurrjens. Lets keep that going.
Mac
July 9th, 2009
8:26 am
Dude is right about Jurrjens and Vazquez. I know he could possibly bring a lot in trade, but I sure would like to see Vazquez stay in a Braves uni. The guy’s a warrior. Like you, I was underwhelmed when Wren made the trade. But, he’s a really good pitcher, who could be No. 1 on a lot of staffs.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
8:28 am
Quinn you can’t have enough pitching. And we don’t have to keep it all. Vazquez could be bait this year. Hudson could be next year after he shows he is able to pitch. The Braves are good enough to keep your hopes up but can never get over the hump with its current talent. Go down the lineup. This is not a championship contending team and 1 or 2 bats will not help that.
“The biggest enemy of great is good”
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
8:42 am
Gotta disagree with you, BW, our pitching is getting it done. Prado shows what can happen when just one guy gets hot. Adding the right bat(s) will win this division. That said, I DON’T want another player rental trade that robs us of young players. The Tex and JD Drew deals will go down as the worst trades in franchise history. I’d rather roll the dice with what we have now than go that route again.
Homer
July 9th, 2009
8:43 am
FIRE BRADLEY!!!
ATLfan15
July 9th, 2009
8:44 am
Quinn, agreed! BW says ‘you can’t have enough pitching, but wants to use a starting pitcher who is responsible for helping us stay in contention and is second in the majors in strikeouts as trade bait? Doesn’t seem logical to me. Vazquez is one of our most consistent starting pitchers; thanks to him and Lowe, our staff is 5th in the NL in quality starts. Trading away Vazquez is not going to help us rebuild the staff like 1991.
Waittilnextyear
July 9th, 2009
8:45 am
Why is Francoeur still in the lineup???????????
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
8:50 am
MB, are you ignoring us, pounding out another blog, or gone to bed after being up late/early writing?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
8:50 am
We can agree on that. Much rather have a long term McLouth than a short term TEx or Drew. What would it be like to have Wainwright, wow.
GT, where nerds get shot and robbed everyday
July 9th, 2009
8:57 am
If Vazquez got shafted by anybody, it was his own team. If we give him any kind of run support he’s a 10 game winner right now and an All-Star lock. But this could be a blessing, Jair and Javy now have the weekend off and won’t have to travel or throw.
Sonny Clusters
July 9th, 2009
8:58 am
I dont think Jeff should be a starter but I dont see any reason he couldnt be an All Star with so many plate appearances and playing so many games and always coming to bat with men on base and having so many chances and doing interviews all the time. When we was playing ball together he was always and All Star and we was always on the team together.
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
8:58 am
ATL, yep, this staff doesn’t need rebuilding, its pretty doggone good now and Hudson’s coming back. We need bats, whether its our own stepping up with career half-seasons or via trade. We started 1991 with Glavine, Smoltz, Avery and Pete Smith all having come out of the farm system (Smoltz was in minors when we traded for him but that was in the 80’s). We added Pendleton, Bream and Belliard. In a perfect world we would pull another Fred McGriff trade but that was more than likely a once in a generation deal. But there can be little doubt that trade was why we were able to squeak by the Giants with 104 wins in ‘93.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
9:04 am
Atl, just trading for the future, not trying to stay in contention this year. And a 32 year old pitcher with a career 4.25 ERA is nothing to hang on to. He has value today. Next year he could be the same 4.25 ERA pitcher as he was last year and you get nothing for him. His peak value will be in the next 22 days. Now if you think you can trade for a “big bat” without giving up the farm, then keep him and go for it but your looking at 2nd or 3rd place because while your trading for that magical big bat, Philly will be picking up R Halliday.
matt r
July 9th, 2009
9:04 am
FIRE DIMITROFF!!
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
9:11 am
I’m right here, Quinn. Monitoring developments.
Bryan
July 9th, 2009
9:22 am
Andruw Jones has 14 home runs and an OBP of .350. Lets swap Franceour for him while we might have a chance.
JEZ
July 9th, 2009
9:25 am
It’s frustrating for sure that Javy or JJ are not in the Allstar game. I’m also frustrated that just because Molina will be in his home park, he got voted to start with mediocre at best numbers compared to MAC..
Bryan G.
July 9th, 2009
9:26 am
I have to say, once again, that the numbers simply do not reflect the position that TP should be fired. The Braves are generally top 5 in average and runs scored since he’s been the coach. Maybe it’s just that Kelly Johnson and Frenchy can’t hit.
Why is it that no one is giving TP props for the play of, say, Prado and Brooks Conrad? Does TP only coach the guys who are hitting sub .250, Mark????
Again, obviously the Braves aren’t hitting well, but I think it’s more an issue of the groceries that were bought and less an issue of the meal that is being cooked.
ATLfan15
July 9th, 2009
9:29 am
BW, I think the stats tell the story. Our pitching staff is third (I think?) in team ERA, yet their record is right at .500; this dictates the need for run support because they haven’t gotten any so far. So, you don’t want to even try and stay in contention in a division that no one is running away with yet? You’re giving up too easily. Do you honestly believe that Wren has the money to offer Halladay? I wish, but I don’t think that’s realistic.
GT, you got it right: Vazquez would easily be a 10 game winner (AND an All Star) if he had gotten any run support during the first half of the season.
Curtis Jones
July 9th, 2009
9:32 am
I think Chipper is right where he belongs this All Star break. He is not having an All Star season at the plate, and on the field…let’s not even go there. Whether it’s injuries, age, or disinterest, he’s not the Chipper of old. He’s just old Chipper.
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
9:32 am
Thanks, MB. But are you saying no one has said anything worth commenting on? “sniff, sniff.” Hurting my feelings on my birthday!
Kenneth Simpson
July 9th, 2009
9:33 am
Has anyone noticed that Andruw has hit 4 home runs in the past 2 games including 3 last night. The braves could have had him for nothing and given him a chance. See what he has done for Texas. I don’t know what he would have done in Atlanta but he has more home runs than any of the other outfielders. They sure need some power from somewhere.
Curtis Jones
July 9th, 2009
9:33 am
Rafael Soriano should be on the All-Star team.
Javy Vazquez/Lopez
July 9th, 2009
9:34 am
Breaking News! Braves just found big righty power bat in Texas, hes wearing #25 & hit 3 homers last nite, some dude named Jones! You think Andruw would be doing this well if the Braves would have invited him to spring training under the watch of TP??? NOT theres your answer Love TP but hes not the answer, just ask Frenchy, he would love to be traded to Texas so he could work with their batting coach, bet Frenchys numbers would improve, trade Frenchy, KJ, & Medlen for a bat to Texas, you cannot trade Vazquez when hes your best pitcher, put Huddy in long relief in Medlens spot & let him progress, if we get a good righty bat from Texas & add Infante then weve got something but KJ, Norton, & Frenchy need to go ! & throw in Acosta with the Texas deal please
Kenneth Simpson
July 9th, 2009
9:36 am
By the way Chipper does not have the numbers to be in the All Star Game but again it is nothing but a popularity contest anyway. Mac should be starting instead of Molina but guess where the game is being played. Chipper needs to stay at home and get one of his tweaks healed so he can be ready for another tweak. He has more tweaks than anyone I ever heard of. Players in the old days such as Aaron and Matthews didn’t know what a tweak was.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
9:38 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MightyQuinn
jimmy
July 9th, 2009
9:39 am
WE NEED A BIG BAT
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
9:41 am
Thanks, BW! Whats the story on your screen name, by the way? You a Lone Star Native?
JEZ
July 9th, 2009
9:41 am
Kenneth I agree. It had been awhile since he was out of the lineup so I guess Chipper figured he would “tweak” something, guess he got tired and wanted a day off. Fortunately for him we found a way to win without his bat in the lineup. I think we can truly attribute that to our dominant pitching and our terrific defense we had. Go escobar! I hope people are seeing that he doesn’t need to go ANYWHERE!
Bob horner stayed hurt
July 9th, 2009
9:41 am
Kenneth you are sooooo right about Andruw….Atlanta should have signed him…I had a feeling he wasn’t washed up…oh well…he wanted to play for the Braves..we screwed up….
Don
July 9th, 2009
9:42 am
Enter your comments here
Don
July 9th, 2009
9:44 am
How could Chipper even be considered when he is only a part time player, is not having a great offensive year, and has never been a very good defensive third baseman (plays too shallow in unndessary situations, cutting down his range significantly).
Dave
July 9th, 2009
9:45 am
This is the type of thing that should motivate Chipper and the resto of the Braves for the second half. WHO CARES! I would rather see our pitchers rest and Chipper get well from all his little nicks and the team come strong out of the gate and get the lead in the division! Bobby Cox needs to wake up and realize that if he is going to retire he should have done so last season and he needs to find some fire in his belly and kick butt and quit worrying about players liking him! The division is there for the taking and if he wants to retire on top he should bring another banner home to Atlanta and get this city behind them!
submariner
July 9th, 2009
9:45 am
I know we’re supposed to be talking about the All-Stars but what are the chances that the Braves are thinking ’bout pickin up BJ Ryan off of the scrap heap? He might rebound coming in to set up Soriano and lord knows they could use another lefty out of the pen.
ALforATL
July 9th, 2009
9:46 am
BrianG makes a good point about TP and those calling for the firing of Wren should remember that he got us those two top of the line pitchers that should have been All Stars, and made a steal of a deal for McLouth. He’s made some very good moves as GM, with a few mistakes. Certainly not firing material.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
9:47 am
Curtis agree on Chipper and Soriano. MB, agree on Javy and Jurrjens. Javy, agree on TP. Andruw 14 HR’s in only 160 AB’s also compared to Kinsler .252 BA, 20 HR’s in 333 ABs.
Bravos33
July 9th, 2009
9:50 am
I am not too disappointed with Chipper and Jair and Javy getting “shafted” on the All-Star game. Chipper and Javy need the rest and they both have at least experienced the All-Star game before. Jair hopefully will get another opportunity later in his career (I guess there is never a guarantee though). Honestly, with the workload that he has, I would almost prefer McCann not have to go. (3 days off could sure help him!) BUT, he was voted by the players, he represents our team and our city, so I will look forward to rooting for him and the NL.
Also, to people that question the rule of each team being represented: think about all of the people who are fans of a team that will watch solely to root for their one and only representative. More importantly, the kids out there who probably never get to see their team (Pirates, Nationals, Royals, etc.) play on the big national TV stage want to see their heroes out there. I know when I was younger, watching Dale Murphy represent the Braves was a big deal to me. Heck, even in 1990 (I think it was) watching Greg Olson be the Braves one rep. was what I looked forward to from the All-Star game.
Don
July 9th, 2009
9:53 am
There is no mystery — As long as you have Bobby Cox’s complete lack of management of the offense and teaching/emphasizing/demanding that hitters work the count and make opposing pitchers throw a lot of pitches, we will not have a good offense. The Braves are NEXT TO LAST in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat – this GUARANTEES we will have terrible run production. This is typical Cox management. Making the pitcher throw a lot of pitches enables the hitters to see what he has, adjust to him, get better pitches to hit, wear him down, get into their weak middle realief etc. etc. Doing this and working the count in the first absolute essential of offense. Cox does’t have a clue – has never taught, emphisized, demanded this.
Zach Battles
July 9th, 2009
9:54 am
Congratulations Jurrjens and Vasquez, you are reaping the rewards of playing on a bad team! How many saves would Soriano have if he played for a legitimate contender? It’s great to be an Atlanta Brave!
Bob horner stayed hurt
July 9th, 2009
9:55 am
Could Atlanta have easily signed Adam Dunn..in the off-season..?? woulda..coulda..shoulda..
just curious….anybody know..?
Javy Vazquez/Lopez
July 9th, 2009
9:56 am
Found our man, hes Nelson Cruz with Texas, can play both corner outfield spots, righty bat with 20 homers this year, only 29 & has speed with 13 steals this year, are you listening Wren, go get him, send Frenchy, KJ, Medlen, & Acosta please, KJ is from Texas & Frenchy wants Rudy J. as his batting coach this is a no brainer we add this dude & Infante & we can make a run with the pitching weve got, GIT ER DONE!
GermanBravesFan
July 9th, 2009
9:57 am
It’s just too bad that the division is up for grabs but the Braves have no payroll flexibility to add another solid bat. I mentioned it on DOB’s blog the other day, but I somehow get the idea that Wren had a rebuilding year in mind for this season, but just didn’t mention it publicly. The team could have run away with the division had the “if’s” from before the season been erased: Francoeur rebounding and K. Johnson proving that the second half of last season was a sign of things to come. Unfortunately, both guys have been disappointments!
long time Brave fan
July 9th, 2009
9:57 am
Chipper for All Star, don’t make me laugh. He hasn’t played like an all star in several years. He’s the highest paid player on the team and can’t produce in clutch situations anymore. Heck Prado has played well enough to be considered for all stars. Chipper can’t play in more than about 5 or 6 games in a row without having some kind of injury, so Chipper as an All star? Don’t make me laugh.
submariner
July 9th, 2009
9:58 am
Don, you are the man! I thought I was the only one! I can’t believe that lately they’re trying to play some small ball and I’ve decided that they players have self induced that philosophy….not Cox. You are exactly right! Cox cannot manage the offense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
10:00 am
Quinn, no but a little bit of a Chuck Norris fan or Jack Bauer, take your pick. Chuck Norris has no CTRL button on his computer because he is in control.
Josh
July 9th, 2009
10:03 am
What about Rafael Soriano? His numbers are ridiculously good. Oh, and get rid of fan voting. It sucks.
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
10:04 am
Happy birthday, Quinn.
And, as you cannily surmised, I am finishing up something else. This week’s Hot Button: Should the Braves be buyers or sellers? Look for it in, oh, about 40 minutes.
Peter
July 9th, 2009
10:05 am
Come on folks Andrew got his swing back working with a good hitting coach…….something the Braves desperately need.
He would not be doing well here, he needed the change and the attitude adjustment.
Here in Atlanta, as well as LA he was FAT, like Glavin, and lazy, most of all he was Rich and didn’t care. He spent more time at the Atlanta Auto show with his expensive cars, and has been on Pimp my car in LA.
With the change to another team, and the fact he couldn’t get a real contract as he is making $500K this year, he is a motivated player, and wow that is all the difference in the world !
Josh
July 9th, 2009
10:07 am
Mark, what about Rafael Soriano? His numbers are ridiculously good. Oh, and get rid of fan voting. It sucks.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
10:07 am
Javy, like it, Cruz would help but will TP destroy him? I think it would take two bats. Does Texas need a 1B, throw in Kotchman for Blalock,
Keeping It Real
July 9th, 2009
10:07 am
Druw hit three homers yesterday. I would love to have him in centerfield again. However, its best for him to be away from Atlanta and its fickled fans. Too bad that the Braves did not reach out for him to come back like they did for Furcal and Glavine. Go get em Druw.
GermanBravesFan
July 9th, 2009
10:07 am
MB… how can the Braves be buyers with no payroll flexibility? Unless, of course, you suggest they trade Vazquez…
Bravos33
July 9th, 2009
10:07 am
Thanks Mark! Really cranking them out again! Hey Mark, do you think the rule requiring each team to be represented in the All-Star game is a good one? I personally think it is very important to have each teams fans with someone to cheer for. What do you think?
Peter
July 9th, 2009
10:08 am
Hey long time Brave fan…
Hudson it the highest paid player, and chipper took less so others could join this team……. He is paid well, and in today’s dollars worth every cent !
Guys like Frenchy, and KJ are over paid not Chipper !
AlabamaBrave
July 9th, 2009
10:11 am
MB @ 9:11- Developments? What developments?
Keeping It Real
July 9th, 2009
10:12 am
Bob Horner stayed hurt,
I believe the $10 million contract demand kept the Braves from signing Adam Dunn.
Fischerking04
July 9th, 2009
10:15 am
Thanks Mark!!!—
I agree that Heyward shouldn’t be rushed. But if that’s the case are there any rumblings of adding a bat that haven’t already been beaten to death? I would like to keep Vaz but if we don’t add a bat I fear the Braves will have to hang their hopes on winning 2-1 every night. And that won’t work.
Be-little, BeBOLD
July 9th, 2009
10:17 am
Mark ask Bobby why he always has his best hitter bunt McLouth to second (when McLouth can steal) if given the “go”. He’s done it every time so far. Maybe he should use the “run & hit” . . . send the runner and let Prado pull the ball into the hole created!!! It just blows my mind, why give an out?
Mac
July 9th, 2009
10:17 am
Bama Brave, I think he mean’t he’s keeping an eye on the ol’ blog, even while writing the new one.
Be-little, BeBOLD
July 9th, 2009
10:18 am
. . . and Diaz “pinch hitting” to bunt???? PLEASE!!!
dobearsbare
July 9th, 2009
10:19 am
I’m sure Vasquez and Jurjjens were considered, but because of the way the Braves’ rotation falls, neither would have been available to actually pitch in the ASG. Manuel couldn’t afford to have pitchers on his roster who weren’t available. So hello, Ryan Franklin. As for Chipper, he’s one of the league’s top 3-4 hitters over the past full year. But there’s a glut at third base, apparently. So he gets to go to his ranch and hunt jackalopes. He wasn’t an all-star in 1999, for what that’s worth. Maybe he’ll have a monster second half like he did that year.
the hopes of the braves nation rest in your hands mr. hanson
July 9th, 2009
10:19 am
Javy,
no offense…..but texas would laugh at that offer…literally.
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
10:19 am
AlabamaBrave, I THINK he was referring to developments on the blog. And thanks for the birthday wishes, MB. Keep up the good work!
rebar
July 9th, 2009
10:20 am
Andruw’s motivation may be coming from the fact that he pretty much was scraping the bottom of the barrel and knew he had to change. When Frenchy reaches that point, maybe he’ll do the same. I just hope that happens while he’s still the property of the Braves.
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
10:20 am
I don’t really get worked up, as I said, over the All-Star game. The fan voting? Fine with me. The every-team-must-be-represented rule? I kind of like that one. Otherwise the Pirates would never be able to say they have an All-Star.
And “monitoring developments” is a Jeff Hullinger line. You call him up and say, “What are you doing?” and he’ll say, “Monitoring developments.”
AlabamaBrave
July 9th, 2009
10:21 am
Ohhhhhhh, okay, Thanks Mac
AlabamaBrave
July 9th, 2009
10:23 am
Thanks Mark. I thought you might have had some inside info
Bravos33
July 9th, 2009
10:23 am
Understood. I agree, nothing to get too worked up about with the All-Star game. I just think its important (again for the kids in particular) to have a player to associate with their favorite team in the All-Star game.
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
10:23 am
Today is also O.J. Simpson’s birthday. Yikes!
Bama Aaron
July 9th, 2009
10:23 am
I’ll agree Jurrjens should be an all-star. He put up good numbers last year and is still performing this year with no run-support. Javy is close to being our ace this year and probably should’ve gotten consideration. For all the talk of people wanting to trade him I don’t agree. The man throws strikes, eats innings and keeps you in ballgames. I want him on the team the remainder of this year and next. If there is any starter I want to see moved if Hudson proves to be healthy it’s Kawakami…he looked good yesterday but is inconsistent. I also don’t agree with Chipper being an all-star. His numbers don’t back it up this year. Hope he can swing his way out of the slump he’s in, but right now he just looks old.
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
10:23 am
Oh, and if you’re asking me would I have taken a chance on Andruw Jones, I’d have said heck no. I didn’t think he had anything left, including interest in playing. Guess I was wrong.
bvillebaron
July 9th, 2009
10:24 am
Bank Walker Texas:
I couldn’t agree with you more; let’s not trade more prospects for a shor-term “band-aid” that won’t make this a championship team this year like we did in the Texeira fiasco and the failure to trade Andruw Jones at the deadline two weeks before he became a 10/5 player.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 9th, 2009
10:24 am
Sonny Clusters, you make me laugh every morning. You too, MB.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
10:28 am
Bville, what was the deal Boston had offered. It was like Lester and Coco. I was in Boston at the time and they were going nuts to get Andruw. It was one of their arms.
bvillebaron
July 9th, 2009
10:29 am
Mark:
I think you are the writer who proclaims that Cox is the greatest manager you ever saw, right? How about his brilliant strategy the other night of sending up Diaz who probably never had a sacrifice in his life with two on, none out and nursing a 1 run lead in the ninth? Just the latest in a long line of Cox’s idiotic “strategical” moves. I was surprised he didn’t send Kris Medlen out to try to save the game in the ninth.
Don
July 9th, 2009
10:31 am
Diaz has 5 straight multi hit games, then goes 0-4 in 1 game, and Cox benches him and puts Francoeur back in – who is hitting .229 in his last 57 games with an On Base Percentage not a great deal higher. – Typical Cox – And we wonder why we are not producing runs.
bvillebaron
July 9th, 2009
10:32 am
Bank Walker:
My recollection is that the Braves didn’t really try to make a deal for Andruw until like the very last minute and then they asked for Lester, Buchholz and maybe Ellsbury, which wasn’t going to fly, of course. If they had started talking to Boston sooner, they may have been able to get one of those two pitchers and Ellsbury, who knows? Lester would balance out this current rotation nicely for now and the foreseeable future, don’t you think.
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
10:34 am
On another note, here’s the buyers/sellers post, if you’re so inclined.
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
10:35 am
Thanks, Mrs. CB.
And Alabama, I never have any inside info. I’m the world’s worst reporter.
The_Superhoo
July 9th, 2009
10:37 am
Mark,
The Pirates have TONS of All Stars!!! ….They just play on other teams…
Packerman
July 9th, 2009
10:37 am
I don’t have a problem with the way that the All-Star roster is filled out, but I wish the player vote was what decided the starters. If we keep the fan vote deciding the starters we might end up with an all Milwaukee team some year soon.
MightyQuinn
July 9th, 2009
10:37 am
Jeff’s On Base Average is at .276 and as a point of reference, Andruw’s is .348. However, Andruw has struck out 40 times in 160 AB’s while Jeff has K’d 46 times in 300 AB’s. However again, Andruw has walked 24 times to Jeff’s 15 despite Jeff having nearly twice as many AB’s. But if Texas’ hitting coach is the answer, why isn’t Jeff hitting any better after having worked with him in the off season? Something to make you go, “Hmmmm!”
Arun
July 9th, 2009
10:38 am
“But Keith Law of Scouts Inc. is one of those folks who takes the All-Star Game seriously”
Mark, as hard as it is to believe judging by the tone in his column, Keith Law could not care less about the All-Star game. This is from his personal blog: “If you’re here, you probably already know that I think the All-Star Game is just a marketing event and I haven’t watched it in 2003, so the outrage in the article is just for fun.”
He actually doesn’t care, just like you.
AlabamaBrave
July 9th, 2009
10:38 am
Your sarcasm is impressive MB. Most impressive.
Don
July 9th, 2009
10:40 am
Cox is receiving praise from some sources for deciding to play Prado as the regular second baseman. What kind of manager did it require not to have made this decision weeks ago? What kind of manager does it require to give Francoeur a continuous fruitless opportunity for 1 full season and now half of another season and now continue to have him in the lineup? How many games have these two things cost us in the standings? What kind of manager would give away a young, proven, great defensive, .300 hitting Centerfielder (Josh Anderson) in order to keep up Schafer who had already shown that he could’t even make consistant solid contact in the minors – having massive strikeout totals. What kind of manager’s lack of offensive management and emphasis on working the count has his team next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat – guaranteeing terrible run production. Oh, I forgot, this is the best manager you have ever seen – what a joke.
RJ
July 9th, 2009
10:41 am
If the Braves were winning, more of them would be on the All-Star team. This comes from losing.
wp
July 9th, 2009
10:44 am
Chipper will never be Chipper again. He’s lost his defensive skills and would be good trade bait to an American League Club as a designated hitter. As far as these two pitchers unless you could get a whole lot in return keep them cause good pitching is hard to find
Homer
July 9th, 2009
10:45 am
FIRE BRADLEY!!
JB
July 9th, 2009
10:47 am
If we’re going to trade pitching, trade Hudson. High salary & not getting younger. We have a complete starting staff now and can use Medlen if an injury comes up. Package Hudson & Frenchy together and we can get a big bat in right field. Go Braves!