The Braves: Serious about saving $$$, less so about winning
Melky Cabrera: The latest in a series of cost-cutting imports. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The Braves just traded the man who might well have been their Opening Day starting pitcher for an outfielder who might not start on Opening Day. Think about that.
Think also about this: The Braves just traded a man who finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting because he was making too much money. And here’s how much Javier Vazquez is scheduled to make in 2010 — $11.5 million. That’s not even half what CC Sabathia, his new Yankee teammate, will earn. And that tells us all we need know about the Braves.
They keep making noises about contending for division titles, but it’s just noise. They can’t afford to do real business any longer. From the day the 2009 season ended they were looking to dump a starting pitcher, ostensibly to add a power hitter, but Melky Cabrera isn’t a power hitter. He was the eighth-best position player on the Yankees. He might not beat out Nate McLouth in center field here. He might wind up in a platoon. And he’s what the Braves got for the man who was their best pitcher last season.
“A perfect fit,” Frank Wren called Cabrera, speaking on a teleconference Tuesday, but the only thing perfect about this trade was how completely it detonates the Braves’ claim to being serious players. You don’t trade an ace unless you get a big bopper in return. The Braves got a guy who hit 13 home runs with 68 RBIs last season.
Yes, there’s more to the trade than Cabrera. Mike Dunn should help in the bullpen and Arodys Vizcaino is a young power arm, but the cold truth is that the Braves just played what they deemed their trump card — a surplus of starting pitching — without improving their run production one whit. And don’t fool yourselves: That $11.5 million they saved on Vazquez won’t allow them to splurge on Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. Those guys are out of price range, out of sight.
“We’re very fortunate to be able to make a deal like this,” Wren said. Then this: “We’ve been focused on [finding a run producer] all offseason, and we were waiting on the right match. And we’re still waiting.”
But Vazquez is gone. Can’t trade him twice. And the Braves can’t trade Derek Lowe because they’re down to five starters. So the best that can be reasonably hoped is that they find a Marlon Byrd or a Xavier Nady or — knowing as we do that the Braves love recycling old favorites — a Mark DeRosa or a Jermaine Dye. Except none of those players will make them better in the way that losing Vazquez makes them worse.
Loading ...As someone who has defended Wren in the past, I have to say I’m stumped. Obviously the Braves’ salary constraints are worse than we’d been led to believe if they had to make this sort of deal so soon — Santa Claus hasn’t yet come and Javier Vazquez has left the building — but even more puzzling is Wren’s contention that this enabled him “to improve our club.” Maybe it improves it in 2012, when Vizcaino is ready to join Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. But the way the Braves operate those pitchers will have been sold off by then.
Nothing about this offseason suggests that the new Braves are any better than the ones who finished third in the NL East. Is Billy Wagner an upgrade over Rafael Soriano? No. (But he’s cheaper. And also older.) Is Takashi Saito better than Mike Gonzalez? No. (But he’s cheaper. And also older.) Is the new first baseman … oh, wait. They don’t yet have a new first baseman.
For all this motion — Wren is forever in a hurry — the Braves will enter January 2010 a lesser team than in September 2009. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work. But that is, sad to say, the way it works here, where $11.5 million for a big-time pitcher is considered too much, where the drive to win is trumped by the need to scrimp.
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748 comments Add your comment
whensidslid92
December 23rd, 2009
12:15 am
Mark,
You’re right….if Wren doesn’t follow with another move. This move was made with the intent of one or two more deals following. Once the offseason is over, then lets make our big claim “The Braves: Serious about saving $$$, less so about winning”. In the meantime, let’s recognize this deal for what it is: the first in another 1 or 2 deals to follow.
dkmo10
December 23rd, 2009
12:15 am
The only thing that I can hope for is for Wren to use Melky in a trade for a big bopper. Thoughts? And yes the trade makes me sick at my stomach and Im starting to shun the braves a little with all the dissapointment. Wont spend money=early exit into the off season…..
shane
December 23rd, 2009
12:15 am
It is sad the way the Braves ownership talks about contending. The sad part is not how they are trading away proven players but go back and look at the draft, we could have drafted a stud pitcher but instead we drafted a signable pitcher. Their draft was more towards signability not players with projectability. My christmas wish is for new ownership who will clean out the front office and spend money on the draft and who will sign their homegrown talent long term for fair market deals. Frank Wren is a joke.
Jdub
December 23rd, 2009
12:22 am
“I don’t understand how you expect your rotation to be as strong without the best guy in that rotation”
-This quote is from the mixmaster himself, Mr Bradley. I may be wrong in this statement, and if I am, I am admitting so right now, but I don’t think anyone in their right mind believes that the rotation is just as strong without Vasquez in it. I don’t know if you’re trying to get a rise out of people, or if you are just upset that Vasquez is gone. OF COURSE THE ROTATION ISN’T AS STRONG. That doesn’t seem to be the issue here. We had SIX starting pitchers, a very limited amount of “extra” cash, and two outfielders. One of which was hurt most of the time, and the other had his best season yet but can’t play a lick of defense. If you don’t think Diaz’s defense is a liability, I recommend you take a look at the Dodgers’ series that was played in LA last season. That is just one example that comes to mind that I can actually point towards with 100% confidence. There are many more but I’d have to have a great memory for that, and I don’t. I try to keep my eyes closed when anything is hit towards Diaz. He’s a great guy, and he really turned it on offensively last year, but how quickly we forget his past. He’s not an everyday guy. We tried that already. It didn’t work. So, we basically had one everyday outfielder, who missed alot of games due to injury. What were our other options, exactly? Trade Lowe (one of the few pitchers in the MLB that is basically injury free, and has been his whole career) and a ridiculous amount of cash to the Angels, for Juan Rivera? A slower, defensive liability who can hit with Vlad, Abreu, Figgins, Hunter, and Mathews Jr. in the lineup. The question is, could he hit with Diaz, Prado, Infante, and maybe 60% of the time McCann and Chipper? Or do you try to get a guy that can play all 3 OF postions, can play better than average defense, and basically gives you the outfield version of Infante. Sure, it’s not the bat we want, but I’m thinking that is a pretty solid pickup if you do end up with a bigger bat at some point. Then you’ve got the bigger bat, along with a guy that can play anywhere in the OF. As far as the bigger bat, I mean bigger than Diaz and/or Cabrera.
Mr. Bradley, I read your articles, and voice my opinions. I rarely, if ever (I can’t recall having done so, but hey, maybe I have) call you out on your opinion. Because mine is no more valuable than yours. But it looks as though you were HOPING, instead of accepting what the Braves had to do to improve. Do you think they would have given Hudson the extension if they hadn’t had him checked up and down, left and right, by doctors from all over? No, Hudson has NOT performed as we had hoped he would since he got to Atlanta. No, he “hasn’t had as good a year as a Brave as Javier Vazquez just did”. But if you’re looking at it that way, then Javy Vaszquez has never had as good a year in his career as he just did. And he’s 33 years old. Has Javy “solved it” now? Is he going to do that again this year? Maybe, but I’d be more inclined to think he would if he was 25 instead of 33. The Hudson deal is a HUGE risk. But they knew that. Say he does get hurt. You still have Lowe, JJ, Hanson, and KK. Not a bad front 4, huh? And that’s if Huddy goes down. Also, they re-signed him for what, about $27-30million for 3 years? Vazquez is going to want that for two years. And he’s not going to take a two year deal when he’s 34 years old. He’s going to want the max he can get. He’s going to look for at least three. I’m not speaking for him, I’m just going by history. Lowe just did it. And we paid him. Somebody will pay for Javy too. I understand, you think he was our best pitcher, and he was, for a few months. But Diaz was also our best hitter for a few months. This is baseball. You, of all people, know that things always even out. Maybe Javy has an even better year this year. If he does, he’s going to want even MORE money. If he has a bad year, we’ll forget all about this trade. Who knows what’s going to happen. The only thing that we, the fans, and the Braves organization know, is that there is roughly$100million to spend. And as of yesterday, when we still had Javy, we needed two outfielders, bullpen help, a first baseman, and a prayer. That’s alot to need, and alot to fill in one year. We’ve now gotten one of the outfielders, and gained a few millions dollars and a couple coveted prospects. No matter how you put it, the Yankees win this trade right now. Yes. They got the hot-talent, and we got an average outfielder (who played for the NY Yankees) and some “maybe” guys. But would you have rather gone after Mr. Church, or someone of his likeness (Cabrera is healthy, and is a better fielder) and kept Vazquez? Then go after another “Church” to play first base? Or would you like to at least ATTEMPT to find a power hitter. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. But now they at least have a chance to. Before this trade, they had no chance. We had Vazquez last year, and we still finished third. He even had a career year! And we still finished third. I wanted Lowe to go too. But the fact is, it just wasn’t feasible. Nobody wanted his salary, and if are going to pay it and it’s going to handicap us, why don’t we just keep him. It’s not like we’re talking about JoJo Reyes, here. It’s Derek Lowe. You bashing Wren about running a baseball team is just as bad as me bashing you about writing columns. You’re not going to pay attention to what I say, because I don’t know the whole situation of your facts and work environment. Just as you don’t know the situation about Wren. I’m not defending him, I don’t really like him. But the way you’ve gone about this offseason and this trade in particular, you just sound like another ignorant guy that doesn’t grasp the fact that the Braves cannot afford to keep everybody that they want. They had to trade Millwood and didn’t want to because of money. They had to let Glav and Smoltz go because of money. It’s not pretty and it’s not fair. If we had “Yankee, Cub, or Red Sox” money, we could’ve kept Vazquez, signed Holliday, and traded away Freeman and whoever else for Gonzalez. Because we could buy someone else when we needed them.
All I’m saying, Mr. Bradley, is that the main argument that you make is a strong one. However, the basis for it lacks one main theme: REALITY!!
TheAntiMe
December 23rd, 2009
12:22 am
Last year at this time, Frank Wren’s stated #1 goal was to upgrade the starting pitching staff. I do believe, the numbers do not lie, that he very decidedly accomplished that goal by the start of spring training last year.
Now, Wren has stated that his #1 goal this offseason is to improve the Braves offense. Based on his ability to accomplish his #1 goal last season, I, for one, believe that the Braves GM deserves to be allowed the chance to finish what he has started this offseason. Does that sound unreasonable to you, Mark?
If, at the start of the 2010 season the Braves offense isn’t improved to at least somewhere in the neighborhood of the starting rotation’s improvement from last year, then go ahead and judge Wren as a failure. But to do so at this point in time is not only unreasonable, but just plain silly.
Courtney
December 23rd, 2009
12:22 am
Baseball is dying; if not already dead. Only having 2 teams compete is going to cause a collapse. Montreal will not be the last team to fall apart. Washington isn’t doing any better and “Baseball” cities like KC, Cincy, and Pittsburgh are turning away from the sport.
lfp6
December 23rd, 2009
12:23 am
I’m not fond of this trade, either. However, there wasnt any demand for Lowe, and Wren, getting the offer for Vasquez, may have had no choice but to bite.
Now on a side note, I think we should pursue Uggla, and have Prado move to first [he did play there for a few games last season]. That should buy us time until Freeman is ready [i hope].
glove51
December 23rd, 2009
12:32 am
Mark, I enjoy your writing, but this column is pretty weak. The Braves HAD to trade a starting pitcher. I believe it is obvious they woudl have preferrd to trade Lowe. But, there was not a ready market (at least without the Braves eating a sizeable chunk of Lowe’s salary).
Vasquez has never put bak to back seasons equivalent to 2009 together inhis career. Odds are high he will delcine by a fair bit in 2010. He woudl stillbe a good pitcher to have, but not as part of a 6 man (7 inclduign Kris Medlen) rotation.
Cabrera isn’t great, but could thrive out of NY and can help you. Vizcaino is a VERY highlyrated prospect; it could be he is part of a trade package to get a bat. Dunn is at least eaul to Logan now, and has about 10 times the ceiling.
The deal frees up come cash to sign a bat, obviusly likely to be a 1st baseman. But, I owuldn;t be surpirsed if they still have two more deals to do.
BosnianBaller
December 23rd, 2009
12:33 am
I love Huddy but the fact he is wren’s neighbor definitely had something to do with him still being here and not Vasquez.
Steve
December 23rd, 2009
12:39 am
For those of you saying we never should have signed Huddy you need to think about just a straight comparison.
Huddy signed for proably $6-7 million per yer less than Vazquez. Now, look at the numbers between the two over the last 5 years and understand why signing Hudson when the Braves knew they had absolutely ZERO shot at Vazquez for a reasonable price beyond this year.
It’s a big if, but if Hudson comes back to his average over the last five years, he will be a bargain. If he does better he’s a steal. We got Hudson at a bargain price due to his injury. Many of you are barking about the Braves always buying high and selling low. Well, saying we should have ignored Hudson and spent all that money on Vazquez are basically asking the Braves to buy high and sell low.
Come on people. Think past one year please.
I will accept arguments that we overpaid for Lowe, but given how craptastic our pitching was the year before we basically had to buy high. Besides, many of you folks are the same ones that were stating the Lowe was the best free agent acquisition of the offseason in June last year.
Keith
December 23rd, 2009
12:39 am
Wren says he is in the mix for a stick. Good. Trade or sign and all is forgiven. But there is no way he could get the stick without freed up cash. No way Liberty would let him sign first then trade. He had to get cash first. Let’s all pray he gets the stick because our lineup could be very good with it or average without.
MitchC
December 23rd, 2009
12:41 am
Only one of two things could make this deal right. One, if the Braves re sign Laroche. (Unlikely from what I’ve read) or two, if they sign Adrian Gonzalez. We need a 20 homer, 90 to 100 RBI guy in the lineup, as right now, we still have decent starting pitching, but Mccann is our only real run producer, as we know Chipper will be hurt for a third of the schedule.
Right now, I’m furious at Frank, althougb I’ve said all winter that I believed this was the move he was going to make. If it can’t be “righted”, it can be “eased”, if he signs a good run producer. Hopefully, with the 9 mil saved on this deal, Frank will put his money where his mouth is, and sign someone good to upgrade the offense.
Disgusted
December 23rd, 2009
12:44 am
Jdub;
So the plan all along was to dump Vazquez’ salary so we could sign guys currently in AA? And you criticize everyone as naive?
I must have missed the announcement from Wren that dumping Vazquez (rather than pay him $11MM a relative bargain) was part of the master plan.
Defend Wren like he was your son. It is still a chicken$hit trade by an incompetent GM. If that was his best offer, then he should’ve DONE NOTHING.
Worst case, even if you have to dump JV, wait as late as spring training. Quality starting pitching is ALWAYS in demand. I’ve never seen a team get completely ripped off trying to trade a quality #1-3 type starter-until now.
Every team in the league needs more starting pitching and the Braves traded their trump card for Melky F-ing Cabrera and you. You should be able to get a loser like Melky for a middle reliever. The Yankees wanted to get dump HIM for craps sake.
tim
December 23rd, 2009
12:45 am
Enter your comments here
Wayne Kelley
December 23rd, 2009
12:46 am
Trading Vazquez was a huge mistake. Trading him for an average player is the worst ever. Bobby’s last year and we had the best starting rotation and then gave away our best pitcher. Baseball sucks anymore, it’s all about the Yankees allstar team. Why play the season? Why go to the games? So we can see the Yankees win another championship. I hate the Yankees! This trade stinks!
tim
December 23rd, 2009
12:47 am
I guess Vazquez wasnt one of Bobbys Boys.
myra
December 23rd, 2009
12:52 am
Heres two names that might be a stop gap to Freeman and that also hit 30+hr:
Derek Lee or Michael Cuddyer?
I know,I know,probably not
but its better than give up the farm for A GON for two years
j
December 23rd, 2009
12:56 am
If I was Bobby Cox I would be so mad I would resign emdiatelly. This may be his and Chips last season they need help not Cabrare and some old dudes in the pen. SOrry Bobby you deserve better u 2 Chip. But so did Smoltz and Tommy G. Even though those were good BB moves they were very bad PR moves. That’s what the Braves are all about making $ and selling tix right.
Mark Bradley
December 23rd, 2009
12:59 am
I can’t imagine Derrek Lee as a stopgap. Cuddyer, maybe.
Ginger
December 23rd, 2009
12:59 am
Very frustrated with Braves ownership and Wren…..We should have kept Vazquez rather than get a washed up outfielder…13 home runs…13 home runs…that is pathetic. Loved watching the Braves when they were good…Turner was a great owner..Liberty Media sucks….Let’s just quit the Braves…go no zero games…buy zero cokes, hot dogs etc…buy zero Hats, shirts etc…zero , zero, zero…zero…that’s right zero…and let’s see how Liberty likes having no gate revenue, no concession stand revenue…no Braves retail revenues…Quit watching Braves on TV…no advertisers..low ratings and maybe they will sell….so Someone FROM ATLANTA…that truly wants to be a winning product on the field…Give the Yankees and Steinbrenners a lot of credit….Braves owners suck !!!
Jdub
December 23rd, 2009
1:03 am
Disgusted, I’m not getting into an argument with you. I analyzed each statement that I said and some are my opinions. Some are plain facts. I don’t think I’m being naive. I think I’m looking at the whole picture realistically. You however, are just like Mr. Bradley, and see that we traded a big talent for a bunch of nobodies. I have not disputed that fact. Show me where I wrote that. If you actually read my post objectively, which you obviously didn’t, you’d see I said:
“there is roughly$100million to spend. And as of yesterday, when we still had Javy, we needed two outfielders, bullpen help, a first baseman, and a prayer.”
You said: “Worst case, even if you have to dump JV, wait as late as spring training. Quality starting pitching is ALWAYS in demand. I’ve never seen a team get completely ripped off trying to trade a quality #1-3 type starter-until now.”
I cannot argue with that statement. But if the Braves were to decide to do what you mentioned, you realize they would go into spring training with basically the same roster they have now. After all the free-agents have signed, and a few other teams have made trades because they didn’t get those free-agents. We would have to add a first baseman and another outfielder for roughly $8million combined. So in essence, Disgusted, what you are suggesting is that we keep all the starters, and sign TWO MELKY CABRERAS, then trade a starter just before the season starts hoping to get a good return, when the teams interested in the starter (Vasquez) know that we have no shot at signing him after the season. That’s how we’re going to get a better team? I have to, respectfully, disagree with you. If Wren waits, he may get lucky and have Sabathia or Santana or somebody get hurt, and he might get a decent return for Javy. But if not, he he gets held over the barrell by any team that wants Vasquez because they know we can’t afford to keep him. I just don’t see the logic in your argument.
john weir
December 23rd, 2009
1:04 am
this trade sucks. it is nothing more than a salary dump. until there is a salary cap in baseball…the playing field is not level. it is made for the yanks do buy what ever they want to get their rings. why don’ them sign Laroche now.
Rob
December 23rd, 2009
1:12 am
Exactly Ginger. Make your opinion known with your wallet. If enough people do, maybe they’ll finally get the message.
BravesFan-NC
December 23rd, 2009
1:26 am
I am just sick and tired of this Corporate Ownership destroying our Braves! We trade a starting pitcher for what? An average outfielder at best and some “Future Prospect” ? First Base is still a major need, we still need power hitting, and the outfield is filled with average players at best. It is all about “The Bottom Line”. The “Ownership” doesn’t care about the team nor the fans! We are no better than a Kansas City and will remain at this “Low Level” until someone who cares about the team buys the team. And they expect me to spend my hard earned money to travel to Atlanta to see a bunch of nobodies and hasbeens lose on a regular basis so a bunch of “Corporate Hacks” can stuff their pockets with my cash? The Braves have become a “Dead Organization”.
David
December 23rd, 2009
1:32 am
Hold off on the 3rd-place-finish scenarios. Rumor has it that Wren has signed Mike Lum to anchor 1st base.
David
December 23rd, 2009
1:32 am
WTF FIRE FRANK WREN
Bravo
December 23rd, 2009
1:35 am
Hey Derek Lowe, stop posting under the name jdub
gayle
December 23rd, 2009
1:41 am
Gee, I’m starting to think that Bobby will retire without getting another (2nd) Championship ring.
myra
December 23rd, 2009
1:46 am
Well folks …it is what is.
Bye Javy V. and good luck.
Hope the Melk man will deliver.
Waiting for Cuddyer…..
Whopper Dawg
December 23rd, 2009
1:51 am
I don’t often post when there have been so many comments previously, but in this case I must. Completely changes my attitude about Wren and where the franchise is headed. Contenders are searching for players like this and pretenders trade them. An absolutely ridiculous and shameful trade. They have lost me and I have been a fan since 66. See ya.
Josh
December 23rd, 2009
1:57 am
I really wish the Braves owned the AJC and traded Mark Bradley for anything. Obviously this trade is setting up another trade. I am guessing you didn’t like the Edgar Renteria for Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez trade either? And by the way… Wagner ($7M) wont be making less than Soriano ($7M)… Additionally are you saying you would rather have Gonzalez ($6M-7.5M depending on incentives) over Saito ($3.2M-5.5M depending on incentives)?
Reid Adair
December 23rd, 2009
2:19 am
“A perfect fit”?!?!?!? Did anyone actually expect Frank Wren to say anything else?
What a joke. The really sad part is that it took this “deal” for so many people to realize just how bad Wren is.
southerndawg
December 23rd, 2009
2:22 am
I hope we can remember all the naysayers come june, when the braves are battling for first. Come on give wren a break. It’s like most things, if the trade works out Wren is a genius, if it flops he is an idiot. Why not see how it turns out before we pass judgement.
X-Braves Fan
December 23rd, 2009
2:28 am
I have heard both sides make their comments. To the side that says “Hey we got Vizcaino..2nd 3rd best prospect hard thrower blah blah blah…great deal for us”, if Vazquez had walked after next year we would have received 2 compensatory draft picks..2 1st rounders for a type A if im not mistaken. So your argument that Vizcaino is the bright spot in the deal is nullified because we actually just lost a 1st rounder..and that’s all Vizcaino is, a pipe dream 1st round pick. Boone Logan cancels out with Mike Dunn and $500k which leaves the trade being Vazquez for Melky Cabrera. The reality is we traded Vazquez AND a 1st round draft pick for Melky Cabrera. The fact we have money for a bat does not change the fact that a near Cy Young quality 1st line pitcher PLUS a 1st round pick was traded for Melky Cabrera. There are no current 1st Base or outfielders on the market that make this a 1st step in a “big picture deal”. There is no justification in this move period. Im am no longer seething..i am just no no longer a Braves fan. If Liberty and Wrens goal was to save money then they certainly achieved that goal. They saved me all the money I would have spent on tickets, concessions and merchandise. I guess I should thank them but there is no way to be thankful for the ignorance displayed in this “deal”.
rosco p coltrane
December 23rd, 2009
3:00 am
I hope ya’ll dont think Melky is gonna be starting over McLouth.
Richard Weiss
December 23rd, 2009
3:39 am
That’s it.
I cannot bear to watch the Braves on TV anymore and I refuse – it’s too frustrating and a colossal waste of time.
I was starting to believe the Braves were waiting to get someone powerful in the OF or 1B – even IF we had to give up Vasquez which I prayed not. But THIS??? I cannot believe it. It feels like being blindfolded and led away to an execution.
really?
December 23rd, 2009
3:46 am
trading lowe for ten dollars would have been a smarter move. 13 homers is exactly the power needed!
TheAntiMe
December 23rd, 2009
4:07 am
I love to see all the fake fans jumping off the bandwagon.
Keef1234
December 23rd, 2009
4:37 am
As I’ve said many times…until Liberty Media sells us to Art Blank, we are doomed. Terry Mc Guirk is a LIAR, and we all fell for it when he said Liberty has given him no salary cap and that we will go after any player we need…B.S.
Read the transcript of the news conference. If OWNERSHIP doesn’t. care..
Why should we?
The franchise moves on average about every 30 years. Boston, Milwaukee, Atlanta. Attendance is going to force another town as we descend.
I’m betting… Montreal…LOL…
ChasZ
December 23rd, 2009
4:52 am
As usual, Mr. Bradley, you are spot-on. I got excited about the Braves near season’s end, and a lot of that had to do with Vazquez, J.J. and Hanson. A big three that might do damage in the playoffs, and now the biggest of those three is gone — for what? Thanks for calling a spade, a spade.
Bradley's Buzz: Vazquez-for-Cabrera discussed & dissected | Mark Bradley
December 23rd, 2009
4:54 am
[...] heard what Frank Wren had to say, and maybe you’ve even read my cool-headed thoughts on the matter. Today we leave it to outsiders. Or, in point of fact, to folks like ESPN.com’s Insiders. We [...]
Birddog
December 23rd, 2009
5:35 am
The rich get richer and the dumb get dumber.
BillyB
December 23rd, 2009
5:42 am
What is Frank Wren thinking? I thought pitching was a strength? But the Braves have traded their best starter and closer from last year and received nothing in return. How hard is that to do? Are the Braves on the verge of once again becoming a laughingstock? If so, we have Mr. Wren to thank. I live 150 miles from Atl and usually take in about a half dozen games a year. That won’t be the case in 2010.
sad brotha
December 23rd, 2009
5:44 am
the Braves will NEVER reach their potential with the worthless Terry McGuirk at any helm. What a waste of air and a salary.
PH.D
December 23rd, 2009
6:13 am
When I watched Vazquez last year I thought: man, this guy’s a horse, a samurai type stud.
Played with intensity and pitched like he knew exactly what he was doing on each pitch.
A science, an art.
Now we get this bull shxt about 8 million.
What can 8 million buy any way these days?
Wren is a lier.
HB
December 23rd, 2009
6:20 am
Wren you SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Old Dawg
December 23rd, 2009
6:36 am
Mark, I know it’s a style issue but the use of RBIs instead of RBI drives me nuts. Why have editors and producers allowed the improper use of the term?
drb
December 23rd, 2009
6:40 am
It’s not even January, and I’m already fed up with the Braves. I don’t know if the blame should go to the owners or Wren for making these moves. I do know that I’ll will not spend my hard earned money on tickets to watch this second class team.
USS Rand
December 23rd, 2009
6:50 am
Pathetic. So this is the way we’re going to end Cox’s run. Here you go Cox…do more with less.
Baba O'Riley
December 23rd, 2009
7:03 am
For all of you praising Wren’s past “deft” moves. Don’t forget that he tried his damndest to give Furcal 10M and trade the farm for Peavy last year. Frankie was very fortunate that his best efforts weren’t good enough to land those 2 last year