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
TheAntiMe
October 20th, 2010
9:47 am
Thanks for the links guys! I want to see them crying in their wheaties and making excuses.
Go get ‘em, Tiger!
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2010
9:47 am
And if Chipper plays the way he was playing the two months before he hurt his knee, the Braves would be ecstatic to have him back.
reckingball
October 20th, 2010
9:47 am
I am just glad that Melky is gone. A lot of the time he didn’t appear to be making a maximum effort. I never could understand the apparent high regard, that Cox held for him.
Also, are you reporting that Hinske and Glaus have been released from the Braves?
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2010
9:50 am
I’m not reporting that Hinske and Glaus have been released.
TheAntiMe
October 20th, 2010
9:50 am
I don’t think the Braves will touch Milton Bradley (no relation).
But, Mark, much like you, he’s a gamer. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Dontavius Supremo
October 20th, 2010
9:51 am
Chipper probably needs to hang it up before he completely destroys his knees (a la Mantle). He has a lot of years left to live, and it is no fun if you’re a physical wreck. Nothing worse than bad knees when you get to be fifty or so. Love his leadership, but not his current playing abilities.Go out gracefully, while we still love you, Chipper.
A little knowldge...
October 20th, 2010
9:54 am
Ben,
MLB contracts are guaranteed. There is no such thing as dumping to free up money, you still own the player the full amount.
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2010
9:54 am
Uncle Miltie is quite the character at reunions, AntiMe
What??
October 20th, 2010
9:56 am
I’ve yet to see anyone on this blog actually acknowledge that the Vazquez trade was made to free up the cash to re-sign Hudson. The trade was Vazquez for 2 good prospects, Melky, and Hudson (mainly Hudson) so I would say that it was an excellent trade for the Braves… Surprised that no one connected the last dot of the freed up cash and the Hudson deal which was the main point of the whole thing.
reckingball
October 20th, 2010
9:58 am
Why would the Braves want to give there team cancer, by aquiring Milton Bradley?
Bookie
October 20th, 2010
9:58 am
When Vasquez came to Atl Ozzie said V is not good under pressure. (see Vasquez last 2 starts in 09 when Braves had a chance to catch the Rocks, Wren believed him and so did I. NY is a pressure pot. You never understood this Bradley.
deb
October 20th, 2010
9:58 am
Dontavius, Chipper has a better than brand new knee now, I say we let him see if he can get it back into shape for spring. He’s already said that if he feels during spring training that he’s not playing up to his standard, he won’t go on. If anyone can do it, Chipper can.
Mike S
October 20th, 2010
10:00 am
Jesse Stone – Why in the wide wide world of sports would the braves EVER EVER EVER consider Milton Bradley? Are you Drunk????
He is a 32 year old HEAD CASE who has destroyed every single clubhouse he has entered, and his stats the last two years have been absolutely pathetic. The guy is DONE, FINITO, WASHED UP!!! and you want him? WTF???
2009 .257 12 HR 40 RBI, 2010 .205 8 HR 29 RBI
and his 2011 salary is $12 MILLION!!!!
You sir are a moron.
NEW CARS
October 20th, 2010
10:00 am
Everyone keeps talking about all the HUGE trades and signings we had “back in the day”, but I only remember 2 signings and 2 big trades that people want to remember. The trades were McGriff and, to a lesser extent, Denny Neagle. The signings were Mad Dog and the Big Cat. We traded talent for talent when we got Sheffield, giving up Jordan. And everyone wants to forget JD Drew as we gave up Wainwright.
For the most part, the 14-year run was based on great starting pitching and guys who came up through the system. Starting with Justice, Gant, Lemke and Blauser..then rolling into Chipper, Klesko, Javy, Andruw and Giles. We always seemed to work from the reject pile to fill in the blanks with guys like Lockhart, Weiss, Robert Fick, Reggie Sanders, Boone and the sort. The problem now is, outside of McCann, Escobar and Frenchie to some degree, Heyward is the first everday player to come up and make an immediate impact. Prado has taken some time and Kelly had no consistency.
Hopefully we can start developing some guys again so have a run like Lopez, Jones, Klesko, Jones, Dye, Nieves (used in a trade), Tarasco (used in a trade), Castilla (lost in expansion). Nieves and Tarasco were at the bottom tier of those guys and they were both useful for a short while. We even had a guy like Mike Kelly (No. 2 pick) that didn’t pan out and I didn’t include Deion, who was young when we got him, just didn’t come up through our system.
Now we have relievers coming through our system, which is okay, but I would certainly trade a craig kimbrell or a johnny venters for someone like Rasmus.
We are starting to put together a few good everyday prospects like Lipka, Salcedo, Pastornicky, Bethancourt and Mycal Jones, but none of those look to be impact guys like the guys I mentioned above. I really think that we need to make a concerted effort to go after and sign more guys like Lipka and Sabol and Alvord. We filled some holes with some college guys last year, but the college guys who are ready for the upper levels, like Longoria, Posey and Wieters, are going at the top of the draft.
In the end, we must sacrifice some of our pitching surplus to shore up this weakness. Hopefully though, we will trade young upside talent for the same, not older high dollar guys like Texiera. That’s where you get hurt in the long run when you can’t resign a guy.
meh
October 20th, 2010
10:00 am
think we could sucker the Cardinals into taking McLouth and a couple million dollars for Colby Rasmus? maybe we’d throw in KK to sweeten the deal.
TheAntiMe
October 20th, 2010
10:01 am
That’s true, Mark. I’ve heard that you have to hide the water cooler whenever he’s around but supposedly he got his head screwed back on straight this past season in Seattle. What an Operation that must have been.
reckingball
October 20th, 2010
10:02 am
deb, I would wait until the Phillies were eliminated, if I were you.
Jeff
October 20th, 2010
10:04 am
Executive of the year should go to the Padres GM. He accomplishes a lot more with less than Wren. The Braves need new owners and a new GM so that they can become the 14 straight Braves again.
TheAntiMe
October 20th, 2010
10:08 am
think we could sucker the Cardinals into taking McLouth and a couple million dollars for Colby Rasmus? maybe we’d throw in KK to sweeten the deal.
I wouldn’t look for anyone to take either one of those guys off of our hands, even if you paid them to. Besides, you have to give up something of value to get something of value, such as a David Ross or an Eric Hinske, or both.
A lot of people here don’t like that idea but what do the Braves need more right now, a decent outfield or a solid bench?
Don
October 20th, 2010
10:09 am
At this time of year, fans of all teams looking toward next season tend to be optomistic. In reality, the Braves have a signigificant number of question marks – and really have only THREE established, mnajor league quality, healthy postion players – Catcher, 2nd Base, and Right Field – and even this assumes that Prado will be able to bounce back from injury effectively and that Heyward will be successful as a second year player. You can make that FOUR position players if you count Infante who had been considered to be a reserve but had a great year = to be plugged into some regular defensive position.
At Third, Chipper, at best, will probably be no better as a hitter than the last two years when he was not very productive, and his defense which was barely adequated may be worse after the injury and another year of age.
At First Base, Freeman may or may not be ready to be productive as a major league hitter.
At Shortstop, Escobar who could have been a Star Shortstop and big bat in the middle of the lineup for years to come is gone (because Cox couldn’t/wouldn’t manage him) and Gonzo is no longer a quality shortstop either offensively of defensively.
In the outfield, the Braves have only ONE major league quality regular outfielder in Heyward.
And far worse, the Braves STARTING PITCHING is in question. The Braves should have been looking to a bright future with GREAT, YOUNG starting pitchers. Now, Bobby Cox (after keeping McDowell as Pitching Coach with his terrible record of MULTIPLE Pitcher INJURIES every year since he has been with the Braves) is now leavein the Braves with TWO young Pitcching Stars of their 5 starting pitchers INJURED and in question as to whether they will ever be effective again. Medlin is out at least for all of next season. JJ’s knee injury may not be anything to be concerned about, BUT he has neve been dependable/effectice since his SHOULDER injury – like he was in his first year. Of course, Lowe is also a year older and who knows. Minor and other rookies are promising but untried. The starting pitching could possibly be good but it could be a huge, huge problem. We can count on two, but then what is the question???
Missed Our Chance
October 20th, 2010
10:11 am
Why did we not pick up Cody Ross when the Marlins were giving him away? We would still be playing if that move had been made and not questioning where we were going to get an outfielder.
reckingball
October 20th, 2010
10:11 am
They need both a solid bench, and a decent outfield.
Shaggy1973
October 20th, 2010
10:13 am
Hey DOB,
Have you heard anything on who the Braves are looking at for a hitting coach? Rumors,Speculation,etc.
Forrest Gump
October 20th, 2010
10:15 am
Wren traded Elvis Andrus, one of the best shortstops in baseball, and Neftali Feliz, one of the best relief pitchers, for absolutely nothing. Nothing Wren can do in the future can erase this blunder. Cox should become GM because Wren is stupid!
Bama Brave
October 20th, 2010
10:15 am
Im guessing the marlins didnt wont to deal with us. Rember the cox fuss.
dap01
October 20th, 2010
10:15 am
This article really don’t make sense but it does discuss the Braves. The Braves need to try to do more than the minimum to get a championship. We have large holes in our lineup that can’t be masked over with minimum signings.
Frank Wren is still trying to fill the same holes that have existed for years. We have no leadoff hitter, no center fielder, no left fielder. If we had even AVERAGE at either we may still be playing.
Come on, give us atleast AVERAGE outfielders.
AVERAGE is all we ask for. But would not a great one get the fans excited?
Dumbo
October 20th, 2010
10:16 am
Milkdud..gone…next Glaus, McOut, Farnsworthless, Ankiel and Matt “swing hard” Diaz…send Henrnandez back down for some serious hitting instruction and English lessons and start looking for some people who know what a glove is for…I’m mean take out 50 errors and they win the division by 4 games. Start to work “Birdman”
Bretts Johnson
October 20th, 2010
10:16 am
Don’t we have any outfielders on the farm?
TheAntiMe
October 20th, 2010
10:16 am
Unfortunately, this isn’t football where you can acquire a good outfield in one season via the draft without giving anything up. It just don’t work that way in baseball.
Buck Commander
October 20th, 2010
10:17 am
Me thinks Shaggy1973 is on the wrong blog.
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2010
10:17 am
The Giants got Cody Ross off waivers. The Braves had a better record than the Giants at the time, which meant that even had Atlanta claimed him — I’m not sure it did — the Giants’ claim would have taken precedence.
Newnan Jay
October 20th, 2010
10:18 am
The team that we had this year was patched together at best. Idon’t remember the last “Big” Signing that we made. (Derek Lowe doesn’t count) Crawford would big huge to our line up. You just gotta hope that the free spending Red Sox or Yankees don’t beat us to him and give him an extra 5 or 10 Million that we can’t afford.
welikebaseball2
October 20th, 2010
10:19 am
My problem with Wren is that he did too little too late. Everyone says, “Well, look at all the moves he made during the season.” Yes, after he realized we had a shot at the postseason, he made some bold moves. My problem with him (& ownership) is that no bold moves were made BEFORE the season started. We went into the season HOPING McClouth would come around, HOPING a left field platoon of 2 career backups in Diaz & Cabrera would suffice, HOPING Chipper could stay healthy, & HOPING Glaus would regain the form of his earlier days. We were way too passive in free agency &, as a result, got the leftovers. A team full of leftovers that occasionally overachieve makes for, at best, a wild card team with no hopes of seeing the NLCS. I guess if just “making the playoffs” is your taste, go with leftovers & cross your fingers for a wild card spot. You can forget a championship with that passive approach though.
Shaggy1973
October 20th, 2010
10:19 am
Buck you think too much.
Ted M
October 20th, 2010
10:19 am
Mark,
If you were going to trade for an outfield, who would that outfielder be and who would you give up?
Has to be somewhat reasonable. Some people on these blogs think you can trade an 8th round draft in 1014 for Josh Hamilton.
submariner
October 20th, 2010
10:19 am
Dumbo: Niiiiiice!!!!!!!!
TheAntiMe
October 20th, 2010
10:20 am
Wren traded Elvis Andrus, one of the best shortstops in baseball, and Neftali Feliz, one of the best relief pitchers, for absolutely nothing. Nothing Wren can do in the future can erase this blunder. Cox should become GM because Wren is stupid!
Sorry, Forrest, but you can’t pin that one on Frank Wren. It was John Schuerholz who made that trade.
Newnan Jay
October 20th, 2010
10:21 am
Other than the playoffs, I was really impressed with Conrad. He was absolutely clutch all season until the last 2 weeks of play.
Bama Brave
October 20th, 2010
10:21 am
Umm What do you derek lowe doesnt count? It cost us close to 15 mil so it counts. lol
Jesse Stone
October 20th, 2010
10:23 am
Mike S
October 20th, 2010
10:00 am
Jesse Stone – Why in the wide wide world of sports would the braves EVER EVER EVER consider Milton Bradley? Are you Drunk????
He is a 32 year old HEAD CASE who has destroyed every single clubhouse he has entered, and his stats the last two years have been absolutely pathetic. The guy is DONE, FINITO, WASHED UP!!! and you want him? WTF???
2009 .257 12 HR 40 RBI, 2010 .205 8 HR 29 RBI
and his 2011 salary is $12 MILLION!!!!
You sir are a moron
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mike S, I never said I would go after Milton Bradley, I asked if Wren would. Nice touch with the name calling.
Shaggy1973
October 20th, 2010
10:24 am
Hey Mark, (sorry about that)
Have you heard anything on who the Braves are looking at for a hitting coach? Rumors,Speculation,etc.
submariner
October 20th, 2010
10:24 am
What about signing Dan Uggla and put Prado out in left? Just a thought.
Newnan Jay
October 20th, 2010
10:24 am
Bama Brave,
I agree that it counts as far as against the check book. But I’m talking about a big name player. I mean a difference maker.
WVBrave
October 20th, 2010
10:25 am
Move Infante to cf and then add a power hitting LF.
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2010
10:25 am
The problem with trading for a first-class outfielder, Ted M, is that the Braves would have to give up a first-class starting pitcher. And I’m not a fan of trading arms for bats.
Newnan Jay
October 20th, 2010
10:25 am
Submariner,
I agree with the Uggla talk. The guy can rake! He’s gonna want too much though…..for the Braves to give up.
JRS
October 20th, 2010
10:25 am
Now they need to dump Farnsworth, Ankiel, McOut and Diaz. The only hit I remember from Diaz all year was the one he put on the fan on the field.
JRS
October 20th, 2010
10:26 am
And I would put Brooks in there but I assume he’s been gone since Sept. That f’er should never step on a major leage field ever again.
Mark Bradley
October 20th, 2010
10:27 am
I haven’t heard anything about the hitting coach. But I’ve been away on Falcons duty.
Newnan Jay
October 20th, 2010
10:27 am
Man, we really should’ve traded for Hamilton when he was in a Reds uniform……just saying.