Melky’s gone, which tells us much about the Braves and Wren
"As long as I'm managing, you're on this team, Melky." (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Sooner or later we’ll start to ask ourselves, “How in the world did the 2010 Braves make the playoffs?” And I’m thinking that time is …
Right about now.
The Braves dumped Melky Cabrera and Takashi Saito on Tuesday, eight days after the former had made the 27th out of Game 4 of the Division Series. These were two of the bigger acquisitions Frank Wren made last winter — others were Billy Wagner, who has retired; Troy Glaus, who had nothing left after July, and Eric Hinske, who kept pinch-hitting home runs — and now they’ve been tossed aside.
The Saito move was expected. The Cabrera one was expected if you’d watched him play. And that’s kind of the point: The 2010 Braves had a lot of guys who didn’t do much — Cabrera, Nate McLouth, Yunel Escobar, Matt Diaz, Rick Ankiel, Glaus in April and August and September — and lots more who got hurt. And somehow they qualified for the postseason, same as the Phillies and the Yankees.
To say that every Wren move of the last offseason and this regular season panned out would be incorrect. Most of them didn’t. But the sum total of his tinkering was just enough to bleed out one more victory than San Diego, and that was enough. We can critique individual trades and signings, but we cannot carp about the overall effect. This team shouldn’t have been good enough, but it was, just.
Which is why the guy who traded Javier Vazquez for Melky Cabrera should be named executive of the year. Seriously.
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468 comments Add your comment
Joe Kidd
October 24th, 2010
3:17 am
I agree; since Furcal left five years ago, Atlanta’s lineup has been virtually devoid of speed and that dearth helps explain the lack of division titles since then. No Brave has stolen over 17 bases since 2005; no Brave has swiped more than 13 bags since 2007. Conversely, each of the fourteen consecutive divisional champion Braves’ clubs possessed someone who stole at least 22 bases.
And to think that Elvis Andrus was once an Atlanta farmhand …
tlj
October 24th, 2010
11:45 am
There has been a lot of discussion about the trade made with Texas several years ago. As it turns out it was a bad trade. At the time it appeared to be a good trade and met both teams needs. Texas needed young players to add to its minor league system. Atlanta needed a power hitting first baseman.
At the time Elvis was expendable because we had Renteria starting and Escobar ready in the minors. It was a position of strength. Neliz at the time was a prospect in A ball, a good prospect but we still had several prospects in front of him. Salty was blocked by McCann, again a position of strength. Harrison at best was going to be a 5 th starter and again there were a few more prospects with more potential. Beau Jones was a throw in and did not figure in plans for Atlanta and probably not for Texas either.
Atlanta hoped Texeria would help them get to the playoff for the next 2 years and possibly longer. Unfortunately it didn’t work out. This is the reason why it takes 3 years to determine how a trade worked out for both teams. By today’s standards it was a horrible trade for Atlanta but 3 years ago it made sense.
Some of the same individuals complaining about the trade today were the same ones hollering for JS to make the trade. This is one of the reasons why Atlanta will always have a bad rap about having poor fans.
ward
October 24th, 2010
2:54 pm
tlj: i wasn’t one of those people. i frowned when he made those trades. rick ankiel was one of the bright trades. at least i thought, and i still think trading escobar was a good idea.gonzalas was o.k., and derek lee, but the other trades terrible, and wren didn’t go get us a real outfielder down the stretch like the others did, and thats why were not in the post seasons. not being bold enough. Go!!!! Braves!!!!!
ward
October 24th, 2010
3:00 pm
tlj: can you honestly say wren did a goo job. wost performance by a gm., and if we are not careful, he will trade away our whole farm syastem. just like he did with the last team. he left them in a world mess. thats how wren does his trades. just enough to get you buy!thats why i said,” higher some one like tom glavine. he knows the systems.”Go!!! Braves!!!!
ward
October 24th, 2010
3:04 pm
i’ve seen what wren does, and thats why i’m not sold on him.worst performance of the year award. that what he gets from me.Go!!!! Braves!!!!
Brave New World
October 24th, 2010
5:17 pm
Phillistein (a few days ago, when Phillies were still in playoffs, albeit, barely) “Yawn Well, ok then Sparky I’m going to go clean out my paper clip holder.”
Phillistein: Now you have all winter to count your paper clips, you sad sack loser!
Wanted, Ceneterfielder And Letfielder With Bat And Glove
October 25th, 2010
8:44 am
Braves, need to get ride of Nate Mclouth. Isn’t worrth what the Braves, are paying him. Need to acqiire an outfielder’s that have the offense and defense.
Bobby's Blunders
October 25th, 2010
9:34 am
One of Bobby Cox’s failures is probably going to haunt the Braves significantly for years and years to come. The Braves should have been facing the future with a Star Shortstop and a Big Bat in the middle of their lineup (Escobar) for years and years to come. Now not having him is going to be a huge, huge loss. True, the trading (giving) him away was done by Wren; But this was made necessary by Bobby Cox – because he could now/would not manage him properly. His laid back, just let things drift along, make no demands of players approach – does not work with some young players – did now work with Escobar.
There is no question about his ability, and the Braves should be facing the future with an All Star Shortstop and a big bat in the middle of the order for years to come. This was a HUGE, HUGE loss and FAILURE BY COX.
Pdog
October 25th, 2010
1:08 pm
The biggest mistake F.W. made was not acquiring Cody Ross at the trade dead line. If he would have done for the Braves what he did for the Giants the Braves could still be playing.
In fact he would be a good fit for the Braves next year in left.
Pdog
October 25th, 2010
1:12 pm
I also agree that the Escobar trade was a mistake, and come to think of it knowing Bobby even if Wren had got Ross, Cox would have been only playing him against lefties.
ward
October 25th, 2010
2:49 pm
we have a 20 year old cuban short stop.he is way better than escobar.thats why we dumped him,because tis 20 year old will be ready in a year or two.gonzalaz is just as good,and i think he;ll do just fine. that was an o.k. trade by me,not a great one,but gonzalaz will do good next year in a Braves uniform, for a full year or 2 .then the 20 year old wll be ready.
ward
October 25th, 2010
2:53 pm
this 20 year old short stop has a strong arm,and great speed.gonzalaz will do fine until the Braves bring him up.escobar was always hurt, so who cares about him.let’s focus on next season.
Pdog
October 25th, 2010
3:02 pm
Ward
Who are you talking about?
Frenchy
October 25th, 2010
5:34 pm
Hey Frank Wren: You thought I wasn’t good enough. But now I’ll be playing in the World Series while you’re eating nachos & watching from your couch. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha……..And man, what’s with that sorry outfield you put together! I mean, Melky, Ankiel, McLouth? The most amazing thing is that you still have a job.
Ron Gardenhose
October 25th, 2010
10:51 pm
Atlanta will always have bad rap . FTFY.
MJ
October 26th, 2010
1:30 am
Get Baylor as the hiiting coach please. Heyward is struggling and needs someone to gelp hi, Actually every Braves needs the help of an intelligent hitting coach. I think Every Brave hit less last year than the year before. Once they were traded to the Braves or brought up and made everyday players their averages suffered. TP had no clue how to thelp them. Being a good player does not make you a good teacher. Different skill sets entirely.
Hope all the ex-Bravos in the Workd Series do well. The Ex ” shortstop of the future”for Atlanta looks great. Andrus is quite the talent. Wren was brilliant in picking Escobar over him. Throw in Feliz, Harrison, and Frenchy, and they have few good guys, and with exception of Frenchy, Wren gave them all up to sign Texeira, who was around for maybe 18 months. Wren also gave away Renteria (better than Escobar) and DeRosa. The talent the Braves have given away, with getting nothing in return the last several years has been incredible. Add Frurcal and Betemit to the list of quality players traded (both Furcal and Andrus player in this years All-star game) Go away Frank. Manage he minor league system, but do not handle any trades for MLB players. You don’t have the goods, and you get the short end of the stick on EVERY deal you make.
ward
October 26th, 2010
1:56 am
at the begining of the season,the Braves signed young kid from cuba 18 or 19 years old. he’s suppose to be better than escobar. maybe mark bradely can help me out here. the Braves think very highly of him.he will b e ready in a couple of years or two. maybe in three. play gonzalaz until then. i just can’t remember his name.
ward
October 26th, 2010
1:59 am
mj: I Feel your pain. trade talent ,and get some thing for it,or don’t trade your talent away period…….. Go!!! Braves!!!!!!