Dan Uggla gets $62 from the Braves, and I say, 'Ugh'

Newbomb Turk

January 5th, 2011
9:06 am

first

Newbomb Turk

January 5th, 2011
9:08 am

Wow…that is my first “first” in a long time…thought that I was losing my touch. MB, what would you have suggested that the Braves do? Let him walk at the end of the year?? Under the circumstances, the contract is not that bad for a 30 hr per year player.

Pierson Brave

January 5th, 2011
9:10 am

Where did Utley come into this?

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:11 am

Mark- Change the Utley’s to Uggla. The Braves would be happy with Utley as well but he’s not coming.

So tired

January 5th, 2011
9:12 am

Utley?

Richard Dawson

January 5th, 2011
9:12 am

“…American League, as opposed to the old Junior Circuit…” Huh?

norcross jacket

January 5th, 2011
9:13 am

-26 UZR and -10.4 UZR/150 in Florida
3.4 UZR and a 1.4 UZR/150 everywhere else.

So outside of the Marlins terrible stadium, he is actually a career + defender

Richard Dawson

January 5th, 2011
9:14 am

Boy are all of DOB’s fanboys and perpetually optimistic Braves fans going to be upset with this article.

FIRE CHIPPER JONES.

Frank

January 5th, 2011
9:15 am

I guess he’s still waking up from his hibernation. Uggla Utley. They’re all the same. LOL

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:15 am

Good column though, signing this guy 5 yr/62 million is definately a risk long term. But, no more than the big money they are paying Chipper. Cross your fingers he can give us at least a little semblance of what he used to be.

DeepDiver

January 5th, 2011
9:15 am

‘There are better ways to spend $62 million.’ Exactly — extend KK! Uggla can’t be worse than Brooksy.

Sonny Clusters

January 5th, 2011
9:15 am

We think Glenn Hubbard can work with him and turn him into a pretty good second baseman. Wait! Hubbard is gone! Maybe TP can work with him and turn him into a third baseman. Oh, well, they’d be better off with a Clusters but the phone hasn’t rung around here yet.

Richard Dawson

January 5th, 2011
9:16 am

The Utley/Uggla transposition in your article (twice) raises an interesting question. At what other time in history were there two 2B whose last name started with U…and contained five letters?

Biggdawg33

January 5th, 2011
9:17 am

Mark, should we look to find someone else at the AJC when a top-notch writer makes a bunch of bloopers in their article? Utley???

Gary

January 5th, 2011
9:19 am

Seems the copy editor didn’t do his or her job this morning. Utley? Old Junior Circuit?

Herschel Talker

January 5th, 2011
9:21 am

MB:

I vehemently disagree. This dude’s bat more than makes up for his defensive problems. Comparing him to Brooks Conrad is a joke, as Brooks didn’t have anywhere near Uggla’s numbers at the plate. If you want to get angry at contracts, then please write a column on the albatross that is Chipper Jones’ contract. This contract is much better than Chipper’s.

HT

TommyJack

January 5th, 2011
9:27 am

Agree with H. Talker.

rtr

January 5th, 2011
9:27 am

One other error – the National League is the “Senior Circuit.” The American League (the one with DHs, which is the point I think you’re making) is the “Junior Circuit.”

JDawg

January 5th, 2011
9:28 am

He is 6 months younger and has better numbers than Wirth, who cost a lot more.

Why compare his contract with other second basemen? Compare it with other hitters . . .

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:30 am

Guys lighten up on Ol’ Mark Bradley. We all knew what he was saying and got it. It’s fixed folks dont’ get pissy about it.

Caseyatthebat

January 5th, 2011
9:30 am

Well, Mark, perhaps you’d like to enlighten us as to how 62 million would be better spent by the Braves

Caseyatthebat

January 5th, 2011
9:31 am

Enter your comments here

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:33 am

What your’e really gonna get po’d about will come later when he tells us how the Falcons could lose. I hope Peter King and Mark dont’ jinx the Birds

PMC

January 5th, 2011
9:34 am

He won’t be as bad defensively as rumored. He certainly won’t be any worse than Kelly Johnson.

12.4 million is respectable money for a middle of the lineup hitter, and this deal only pays him through his 35th year.

Chipper is what 37 or 38 and he’s making over 13 million.

He would be crazy to take less than that money given what other guys just got paid.

It’s a fair deal for the player he is.

Sonny Clusters

January 5th, 2011
9:37 am

Lighten up on ol’ Mark, everybody. Our grandmother got like that and was calling all of us by the wrong names and getting confused like that and she used to be a big time newspaper writer, too. Her career ended when she got a little confused and quoted a White Horse souce. Clusters can get confused, too.

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:38 am

I believe when Uggla gets into that 4th or 5th year is when you get into that Derek Lowe/KK area where a player’s value isn’t worth what they’re contract dictates. Bat that’s a few years down the road and right now no one cares except for what Uggla does next year.

PMC

January 5th, 2011
9:38 am

This team has needed a slugger in the middle of the lineup for a decade now and people are crying about the Braves spending money???

Seriously????

You can’t win. They have focused on pitching for the last 2 years. They FINALLY get a slugger and oh…his defense isn’t good enough???

Seriously??? Ridiculous. Baseball has no salary cap, this money doesn’t preclude them from signing ANYONE else.

If they do have budget constraints… a lot of big ticket items are off the roster at the end of this year. They dumped KK and his ridiculous money. They will soon be rid of McClouth.

Wow, cry when they spend, cry when they don’t.

Fed Up With Wren (Again)

January 5th, 2011
9:38 am

Mark, gotta somewhat disagree here. The trade for Uggla would never have made sense if the Braves weren’t planning on locking him up with an extension. You can knock the trade, but the contract makes sense and the money is reasonable. Yep, Uggla has hands of stone, but it’s not just his bat the Braves are getting. By all accounts, he is a real leader and a great clubhouse presence. Besides, Prado will provide great defense at third as I predict Chipper will only play about 60 games.

ChopSkip&aJump

January 5th, 2011
9:40 am

I wish the AJC would spend $62M getting some writers that actually like local teams.

Fed Up With Wren (Again)

January 5th, 2011
9:41 am

And, yes, I gave a backhanded compliment to Frank Wren. I must not be feeling well…

Dan

January 5th, 2011
9:42 am

Not so sure Prado will be sticking around unless he proves he is a serviceable outfielder? Plenty of young outfielders that he could be part of a trade for? Waiting for Chipper to retire or hoping he cant come back for Prado is not the answer.

Uttla

January 5th, 2011
9:43 am

Have to agree that Uggla will not have the range of Prado or Infante. But, he’s better than Brooks. Offensively, he’s a huge upgrade with respect to power. Prado in left will be fine. Only problem there will be if he can stay there. I have a feeling he will be playing alot of 3rd, as our hall of famer 3rd baseman will surely be sidelined with a toe, knee, ankle, shoulder, etc injury. That, and the success of our centerfielder, will be key. Shame someone can’t teach McClouth how to swing level, for more base hits, instead of the uppercut swing for the homerun. He has enough speed to be a decent lead-off if he could just get on base more.

Caseyatthebat

January 5th, 2011
9:43 am

Maybe Mark’s time would be better spent returning to picking on Mark Richt!

Rich T

January 5th, 2011
9:44 am

I agree on Uggla.

As for Prado in LF: that’ll only be until Chipper goes down in late April.

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:44 am

PMC, all fair points but Dan Uggla at 35 is not going to be Chipper Jones at 35. Chipper is a sure fire HOF and Uggla is a solid everday player with power type second baseman. It’s a gamble for sure. If we didnt’ pay Uggla someone else would have.

Sonny Clusters

January 5th, 2011
9:45 am

We was noticing that Prado is giving back to the community (Prado on Roswell Road) and looks like a pretty good guy to keep over the long term. Some of the players are real selfish and all they want is a Dairy Queen of their own.

Long in Da Toof

January 5th, 2011
9:46 am

Just to clarify from your post, do you hate the Braves giving Dan Uggla so many million$ due to Age Discrimination, Mark?

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:47 am

Your’e right Mark I guess so. You have to choose a side though right? Maybe you will be pleasantly wrong and the Falcons win on the 15th

Hankie Aron

January 5th, 2011
9:49 am

Clusters you are always entertaining. I like reading your posts about as much as any writer for the AJC

JDawg

January 5th, 2011
9:52 am

“. . .but Dan Uggla at 35 is not going to be Chipper Jones at 35.”
**********************************
I hope not, Hankie. I would prefer that Uggla play with an ingrown toenail or a tight hammy, instead of sitting for a week . . .

dap01

January 5th, 2011
9:52 am

He fills the biggest need the Braves have had for many years. I say great deal.

Joel

January 5th, 2011
9:52 am

What do you suggest Mark? The Braves need a power hitter after this season too and the rentals were tiring fans and the team. There was no one else the Braves could get or afford. Uggla was a great trade and if he delivers, he’ll be worth the money. His defense is a vast improvement over Brooks Conrad. Have Uggla on last year’s team and we beat the Giants.

fla dawg

January 5th, 2011
9:53 am

agree with some you say and disagree with some but what does.., “who hasn’t yet played a game for them” have to do with anything? do teams not sign players all the time who have not played a game for them?

KimZ'spackage

January 5th, 2011
9:53 am

In this economy this is crazy. People don’t have money for their house payments and the food , apower bills. Do you really think that many people will be going to baseball games enough to afford to pay a guy more than $12/yr? I am sorry nobody is worth that kind of money for any job in entainment.

Athens Mike

January 5th, 2011
9:53 am

I’m with you Mark. You are paid to prognosticate and prognosticate you did. It is a real concern. Our defense was crap last year, and Prado, the best player we have right now, will have to take on a new position. It is a risky move.

Adairsville Dawg

January 5th, 2011
9:57 am

I for one am tired of watching 1-0 2-1 games, so if he can knock in a couple of runs every other night or so, and help the others get hits and knock in runs just by being in the line up and protecting them then so him the money!!!Maybe if Liberty keeps spending a little more money then more people would come out to watch the Braves instead of them having to play in a half empty stadium all week long and only big crowds on the weekends.

Bill

January 5th, 2011
9:57 am

Time will tell where this is good are bad..but for now its good………

DV

January 5th, 2011
9:58 am

Defense is overrated. Just keep guys who get the yips at the worst times (Conrad, Brooks) off the field and we’ll be fine.

Puma

January 5th, 2011
9:58 am

$62 million over 5 years is a very fair deal for a 2B who hits 30 HR/year. The only problem is that $12 million / year for the Braves is a heck of a lot more to them than it is to say Philly or the Mets.

However, I think way too much is made of Uggla’s age. He’s going to be 31, not 36. If he takes care of himself, he’ll be fine.

bill

January 5th, 2011
9:59 am

Dam* the Braves are relevant again and i am happy about it. Give them credit if Uggla had played 2nd with one arm we’d have had a good chance at the pennant. Remember its only been 2 years since we were Georgia and living in the past. Bobby could coach UGA to a 6-7 record and he’s available

RomeDawg

January 5th, 2011
10:00 am

I think the issue the readers have is that you play both sides of the fence. It was a great move when we traded for Uggla and now signing him long term, which would be the point of trading a young pitcher for him, has now “hurt the Braves”. I think sometimes journalist write just to stir the pot and this happens to be one of those articles. There are pros and cons to every move, most just don’t require a journalist writing a whole article on it.

JJ

January 5th, 2011
10:01 am

Not to pile on and all, but the Braves are apparently damned if you do and damned if you don’t with some writers. The Braves gave up a utility player and a young, extraneous LHP for an allstar that gives you 30 HRs a year and your are complaining that he isn’t a gold glover?

And are you REALLY suggesting that he’s going to play like Brooks at 2b? Give me a break.

Andy

January 5th, 2011
10:02 am

To get good players in this day and age you have to overpay. I agree that his age is a concern but it’s not like his contract runs through age 40. I am going to take a wait and see approach on this one. I’m not jumping up and down but at the same time I don’t think it’s the worst thing that could happen.

JR

January 5th, 2011
10:02 am

has he ever played the outfield? it might be worth trying as a different set of defensive skills are required.

JDawg

January 5th, 2011
10:03 am

Typical from the AJC Hacks…praise the acquisition and then when we decide to pay him to keep him, your going to find something wrong with him. I don’t recall you having any concerns with the original contract!I know it’s your job to write, but how about writing something that is factual, not speculative, like how Georgia’s AD is gonna fix Richt; or maybe how Tech’s AD is gonna fix the Basketball program; or even how Georgia Southern rebounded from disaster to make it to the semi-finals and sits in prime position to be Champions once again.

Chopper

January 5th, 2011
10:04 am

Mark Bradley,

The problem with your logic is that you assume Dan Uggla will play 2B for the duration of this contract. Plans always change because circumstances change. Dan Uggla will be playing LF by 2013 and the Braves will have brought up some young middle infielders to take over SS and 2B (Matt Lipka and Tyler Pastornicky) because they certainly don’t have any OF prospects to expect to make the big leagues as starters any time soon. So a 33 year old Uggla would make sense to slide out to LF as Prado slides back to 3B as Chipper retires.

But let’s not be confused…the Braves are not signing Uggla to a $62 million contract for his glove. It’s for his bat. And according to the market place that deal is below what he would get as a free agent. So the Braves made a good deal to get a guy who would have led the Braves in all their power categories last year but still won’t be the highest paid player on the roster (that goes to Derek Lowe and Chipper Jones).

Your evaluation of this deal is flawed. Uggla has been a more productive power player than either Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford and yet he’s getting half the deal. The Braves made a shrewd move and you need to recognize that.

jerry

January 5th, 2011
10:04 am

Uggla is very good at striking out–760 times in 5 years.

Toyt Like A Tiger

January 5th, 2011
10:06 am

I dont get why everybody hates Dan Uggla. Why do you Mark? You clearly must if you’re questioning this BARGAIN. His offense is better than Utleys because Utley plays at a baby ballpark.

Mark

January 5th, 2011
10:06 am

I don’t mind this move that much, although I agree that part of the Braves’ past success has been due to their defense and I think we should continue to make it a priority. I just think Uggla will suffice at second, and it seems Prado has adapted fairly well wherever we’ve played him.

Isn’t there a decent chance Prado is going to be filling in at third this season anyway, depending on Chipper’s status? Is there another back up at third?

fla dawg

January 5th, 2011
10:06 am

if DV is serious with his thoughts on defense then he is without a doubt the winner for the stupidest comment on this blog.

Dan

January 5th, 2011
10:07 am

I understand the concerns over Uggla’s defense, but I don’t think they’re nearly as drastic as has been documented. If you look at his stats, he has been very middle of the pack with other 2b around the league, not below average. Plus, Fredi Gonzalez (no offense, but someone who knows Uggla’s defense MUCH better than you) says he thinks Uggla’s defense is very underrated.

What?!?

January 5th, 2011
10:07 am

Uggla had a -1 WAR last year. One win. In 162 games. That’s what his defense “costs” you. Give me a break.

Considering the offensive dimension he gives the Braves that they haven’t had since Teix left, he’s a great fit. The money’s not great, but that’s what you’re gonna pay for a 30-homer 2b.

justin1

January 5th, 2011
10:08 am

Uggla will have warning track power at best within 2 years. Bad move. Hitting 30 HRs a year for a right handed pull hitter at sunlife doesnt impress me too much. If he was puttin out 40-45 it would be more promising. His numbers are not going to get better hitting in a bigger, less hitter friendly park. I predict a 25 HR year from him in 2011 and by 2015, less than 15.

Dan

January 5th, 2011
10:08 am

Jerry- about 100 of those strike outs came against the Braves. Switch the Braves pitching with that of the Marlins, and that will help cut down on his wiffs.

collegeballfan

January 5th, 2011
10:09 am

I like the Uggla deal. He is a better defensive player when he is away from that joke of a field in Miami the Marlins have.

The Braves will have errors from 2nd and Short next season. More than they want. But that is just the way it is will the players they have on the roster.

TB

January 5th, 2011
10:09 am

Martin Prado is a better fielder? Martin’s fielding % is .981. Ugga’s is .980. I expect lame comments from fans, but not professional sports writers. Get your facts straight, Bradley.

CT

January 5th, 2011
10:10 am

Mark,

I say Ugh! to your articles that never look at all the points. How much of a defensive upgrade will Prado be in left of Diaz/Infante/Cabrera? Did you think of that? And all you Chipper haters, have you ever gone through a knee rehab. Your whole body gets in the best shape its ever been in. If he is to be ready by opening day with a blown ACL, Chipper will be in the best shape he has been in in 6-7 years. This team just became balanced with a 5yr/62mil right-handed power hitter with better numbers than the guy in washington that just got 7yr/126mil. So give Wren a break.

Larry

January 5th, 2011
10:10 am

OK, I’ll admit it right up front. Feeling a bit cynical this morning…but…

I love sports just as much as the next guy and believe in the free market, capitalism, etc.. However, does anyone other than me sometimes feel a bit stupid to be funding a bunch of poorly or non educated, crotch scratching, spitting, and mostly immature 20 and 30 year olds 5, 10, 15, 20 and even 25 MILLION DOLLARS to throw, catch and hit a little round white ball for 8-9 months out of the year?

That State Trouper who worked nights, weekends and holidays 50 of 52 weeks every year that just got shot in the face and died probably made about 45-50K a year!

Or, is it just me?

Whew!

justin1

January 5th, 2011
10:10 am

I may be being generous for the 2011 season actually. More like 20…………………

CT

January 5th, 2011
10:10 am

I meant Diaz/Hinske/Cabrera

JoeFan

January 5th, 2011
10:11 am

This contract just shows that the Braves have money to spend. So lets see them spend some more and close the other holes in their lineup.

Sid Bream's Legs

January 5th, 2011
10:11 am

Mark,

Given how terrible your predictions are, I’m very excited by this column. Uggla may win a Gold Glove this year.

Here are a few more suggestions for the coming year:
“Heyward won’t hit 10 home runs all year.”
“Braves to finish fourth in division.”
“Pitching to fall off cliff after All-Star break.”

Tweets that mention Dan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, ‘Ugh’ | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com

January 5th, 2011
10:11 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley. Mark Bradley said: The #Braves hand Dan Uggla $62 million over five years, and I say, "Ugh." http://bit.ly/gFmbEL [...]

spider

January 5th, 2011
10:12 am

this really only affects the dummies who buy tickets to pro sports rather than buying tickets to great college and h.s. sports

TONE

January 5th, 2011
10:14 am

isnt that about the same money Grantham is making , and i hear grantham cant hit a curveball.

Dumbo

January 5th, 2011
10:15 am

Ugly……I mean Uggla

should've traded for rasmus

January 5th, 2011
10:16 am

bradley makes a good point and is a way better writer than DOB. bradley is a realist…the braves might have gotten themselves into trouble here with such a big contract to a guy who plays less than average defense and who strikes out more than almost anyone in baseball. some of you are asking “how could the braves spend this money better?” well here’s how: because we got uggla wren stopped pursuing players we actually need (like outfielders), justin upton, colby rasmus, matt kemp, and jacoby ellsbury were all options, but because we got a hitter at a position we didn’t need, we stopped pursuing players we could actually use (and now we have a second baseman playing left). had we not signed uggla we could’ve traded for any one of those dynamic players (all of whom are well under 30) and had them for years to come. so now we are settled with a good power-hitting 2nd baseman who strikes out too much and can’t play defense instead of having a power hitting outfielder or speedy outfielder like rasmus or upton. plus i don’t see the how the excuse of “well chipper gets paid more than that” helps anything. who cares? chipper is clearly getting overpaid as it is, so how do you justify uggla’s overpaying by simply saying, “well chipper gets paid more.” now we are overpaying two players. anyways stop hating on mark bradley

T-Bone

January 5th, 2011
10:16 am

Bark Madley (it is really hard to resist that), usually I agree with your opinions, but here I must depart. Though I agree with your premise completely, I think the Braves really didn’t have much of a choice. They absolutely had to have a bat. You can agree with that, I’m sure. They would have loved to have had right-handed hitting left fielder, but there just wasn’t one available. And they didn’t really give up much to get him.

Does this move have risks? Absolutely. Do we wish Uggla was younger and fielded better? You bet. But given the world that Frank Wren lives in, this is a pretty good option.

Navigator

January 5th, 2011
10:17 am

So they over paid for another moderately talented player (last was aging Chipper), so what’s new. This is the place they are with Wren, who is only average in picking personnel and then over pays for them. They are afraid to build a team through their minor leagues like the 1990’s when most of their position players came from the organization. I don’t think Uggla will improve their chances at all, plus they’ve given away at least one allstar from that team.

OPISO » D12: Huzzah! Hall of Fame season mercifully drawing to an end

January 5th, 2011
10:20 am

[...] 7. This offseason is officially starting to seem long, because I could have sworn that Dan Uggla and the Atlanta Braves had already reached a contract extension. But apparently not, as the two sides just came to a five-year agreement worth $62 million. [AJC] [...]

nemov

January 5th, 2011
10:21 am

Navigator. Prado, McCann, Freeman, and Heyward came from the minors. That’s half the line-up. That’s not even counting the pitching staff. What are you talking about?

BravesfaninVR

January 5th, 2011
10:22 am

Whew!!!!!!! first Bradley thinks the Falcons will not make the Super Bowl and now he frowns on this move. I hope the Bradley curse carries over from 2010.

Derek

January 5th, 2011
10:22 am

So what are the better ways to spend $62M, Mark? Yes, you’re just doing your job by publishing ridiculous articles (that I enjoy reading) like this, but you can’t believe what you’re saying. For a team that is paying $7M in 2011 to a minor-league player (Kawakami) and almost $8M for a CF (McLouth) that hasn’t locked down the starting job, I’d say spending $12.4M (avg) on Uggla for the next 5 years for a person that has put up numbers better than Werth’s, offensively, while saving $6M per year, is pretty good. You really think Werth’s defense is that much better than Uggla’s? And if worse comes to worse, Freeman needs to lock down the 1B job, if he doesn’t, you could see Uggla easily transition to 1B or possibly OF. Not the best scenario, but one that could keep Uggla’s bat in the lineup and downplay his glove, if it got any worse. Can’t be worse than Conrad’s.

DV

January 5th, 2011
10:23 am

@fla dawg. I assure you you’re not as smart as you think. The difference from one player to the next in terms of defense is 1 game a year at most. You won’t get far with a team of defensive specialists.

OleBravesFan

January 5th, 2011
10:23 am

Alex Gonzolaz made 1 more error (19) than Dan Uggla (18) in 2010; Yunel Escobar (18). Not saying he is good defensively but it is more of a good deal than a bad deal. I wish he was as good as Brandon Phillips but how many people are defensively? He did hit 15 more HRs than B. Phillips did. Can’t teach the kind of pop Uggla has and he can still work on his fielding and get better (even at 31 years of age)

haney

January 5th, 2011
10:23 am

First of all, as others have mentioned, that field down there in Miami/Ft Lauderdale is horrible. Second, I have never heard of Uggla being a HORRIBLE defensive player. Sure, he might not be at the top of the list as defensive 2B’s go, but I can assure you he is better that Kelly Johnson or Brooks Conrad. His bat is really going to help this lineup-having a right handed power bat has been missing for the Braves for years now. You have McCann, Heyward, switch hitting Chipper, Freddie Freeman is a lefty, McClouth is lefty, it will be nice to have a right handed power guy in the middle of this lineup.

You think about how many close games the Braves lost last year because of lack of offense, with this pitching staff, adding Uggla’s bat is HUGE. Consider the mammoth contracts that most power hitters are getting these days, I view this contract as a very good one. It is about time Liberty Mutual stepped up and forked out some dough for a quality player, gives me hope that maybe they will spend a little more that most of us ever thought.

Goldenglove002

January 5th, 2011
10:24 am

Uggla’s contract isn’t amazing, but considering the 2 through 6 spots in our lineup are solidified for the next 3-5 years as Prado, Heyward, McCann, Uggla and Freeman (Heck maybe we’ll see a miracle and Chipper plays like Chipper for the next 2 years).

As important as defense is, Uggla might not win a Gold Glove but he won’t be a butcher in the field. He’ll get done what he needs to get done, and he’s going to have slick fielders around him in Freeman, Heyward and Gonzalez.

tdmorgan

January 5th, 2011
10:30 am

should’ve traded for rasmus, what do you think we would have had to give up to get the players you are talking about? Certainly not Infante and Dunn. We would have probably have had to give up Prado and at least one of our young pitchers in the minors, I’m pretty sure people would have been asking for Tehran, Delgado or Vizcaino. You also forget that Prado has played LF in Winter Ball essentially every year that he has played down there. He didn’t play this winter because well he is guaranteed a spot and was an All-Star last year. So needless to say we had a guy who could play 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF on our roster and we could plug him where needed. I seem to remember when Chipper moved to LF to accommodate the team so that they could sign Castillo and that worked out fine. Prado is one of the ultimate team players in the game, I am sure he would like to have one definite position as he gets older but he also knows that his skills allow the Braves to be a lot more flexible with their team.

boog

January 5th, 2011
10:31 am

Man, Bradley… the Braves can’t do anything to please you. Thank goodness that’s not their objective. I am quite sure they couldn’t care less about your mindless ramblings. If they would not have signed him you would have cranked out one of your “why aren’t the braves trying to keep up with the phillies” nonsense articles. Damned if you do…damned if don’t.

Mark

January 5th, 2011
10:31 am

MB
Here’s the rub. I’m certainly no stat geek but there is one worth its weight, UZR. For the last 3 seasons, Uggs has avg a UZR/150 of -5.5 (this represents the amount of runs above/below the avg fielder the defender will produce for the team). Now compare that to Prado, who over the past two seasons at second has left a UZR of -2.95. Overall the fact is simple…the Uggs replacing Prado is nearly a clean switch. Their bats change the order and the team; both are necessary for the long haul. Good move for the Braves.

Warren Haynes For President

January 5th, 2011
10:31 am

It has been obvious from the day we traded for him that a deal very close to this was going to happen. It’s not like this is a surprise. Maybe I missed it but I don’t remember you criticizing the deal prior to today.

It obviously remains to be seen how he pans out but if you look at what he has done so far in his career and assume he will at least maintain similar numbers for the next 4-5 years he could down as one of the greatest hitting second baseman in the history of the game. This contract is a reasonable risk with the potential for a very high return.

Georgia Sam

January 5th, 2011
10:32 am

It seems to me that the Braves made the best deal that their limited resourses allowed. We gave up no prospects to get him for years 2-5 of his contract. I think the Braves can find plenty of teams willing to take a 30 homer guy off of their hands should his defense become a problem in Atlanta. He would be a prefect fit for an American league team as a DH.

should've traded for rasmus

January 5th, 2011
10:34 am

its not that im even that upset that we got uggla (even though i think we signed him for way too long given his age), its that we aren’t going after the players we actually need. we are going to once again be stuck with a makeshift outfield instead of having a true outfield with everyone playing their natural positions. also, chipper will not return to form. im sorry, but he is too beat up, and simply too old. the only thing chipper will be good for is maybe slapping some singles that narrowly escape an infielder’s glove. i love the guy, but chipper’s contract is killing us. speaking of contracts that are killing us: derek lowe…the guy should not have like the 28th highest contract in baseball to be our 4th best pitcher on the team, and while he is good in the playoffs, he’s just pretty bad during the regular season

monty

January 5th, 2011
10:37 am

Braves didn’t score runs(not many by comparison)but had very good pitching. While the pitching should be very good again, hitting should be improved significantly if everyone stays healthy, yad yada, yada. Phillies hitting may not improve much if any, but their pitching if they all stay healthy will improve significantly. We did what makes since. Uggla improves everyone else, wait and see.

Jim

January 5th, 2011
10:37 am

Its a ballsy move. I for one am impressed that the Braves finally made a long-term commitment to someone other than Chipper or a pitcher. Even if he winds up sucking, you cant blame them for trying to stabilize offensive production for the next half-decade.

Dominic

January 5th, 2011
10:41 am

I agree completely with Mark. I’m a big time braves fan, and don’t understand why people are mad at Mark for writing the truth. He’s not a cheerleader, he’s paid to provide analysis and insight.

Letting Uggla go at the end of the year would have been the right move. We have a real shot this year, and didn’t have to anchor ourselves with another huge contract to an old dude just when we are in a position to get out of some bad contracts.

Build from within. Hewyard, McCann, Prado – focus on extending those guys, because they will provide more bang for the buck and then develop young players or trade for them.

Dawgdad (The Original)

January 5th, 2011
10:43 am

Right on, Mark. I like Uggla, but the fourth and fifth year of this contract will be iffy to say the least. I would have prefered to let Uggla walk and use some of our pitching prospects to acquire a good middle infielder or centerfield prospect.

It seems the Braves can only draft and develop pitchers, so Wren needs to get off his reluctance to trade promisiong pitchers or chnage his draft strategy.

coach13

January 5th, 2011
10:46 am

Mr. Bradley- While I agree with you it was the anemic and inconsistent offense that plagued the Braves throughout the offense. If Chipper would just retire he could not only save the BRaves a butt load of money but could allow Martin to play 3b opening up an OF spot for a solid defender. Instead you have a washed up 3b eating 14 mil a year while playing a productive player in Prado out of position.

Chopper

January 5th, 2011
10:49 am

Reportedly Adrian Beltre is going to sign with Texas for 5 years and $80 million dollars. Look it up, Beltre is one year older and doesn’t compare to Uggla power wise since 2006 when Uggla came into the big leagues.

So on the open market Dan Uggla would be getting this type of deal. You can tell me that Beltre’s defense is worth $20 million more.

The Braves are making a great deal to keep Uggla here!!! Any suggestion to the contrary completely ignores what the market place is telling us.

Braves#1

January 5th, 2011
10:49 am

Rumor is the AJC is looking at further reducing payroll and MB is again grasping at any straw to hang on with another article that makes no sense. Good job Braves.

Prof

January 5th, 2011
10:51 am

If Uggla had left after this one year via free agency, Bradley would have been the first in time to moan about the Braves letting another one get away.

CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS BRADLEY

Benjamin

January 5th, 2011
10:56 am

The Uggla move puts a real anchor in the middle of our lineup. He’s got more homers from the right side since 2006 than anyone not named Albert Pujols, and he’s still relatively young.

This deal > > > > the Derek Lowe signing, which stank from the beginning because Lowe will be pushing 40 at the end of his contract.

yunel asscobar

January 5th, 2011
10:57 am

Mark – we should be thankful for Uggla’s arrival and view it as a significant step toward getting back into the post-season consistently. We always hated facing Uggla when he came to bat with the Fish, and how many times has he beaten the Braves over the years? Now, he’s on the home team. That’s a very good addition.

Fredi says his defense is okay and he’s had the chance to watch him up close, day in, day out. Dude, we’re talking about Kelly Johnson in comparison! He was no Brooks Robinson, if you get my drift. We have some stud bats in the line-up in 2011 and solid pitching. The Braves will be fine.

If you want to talk questionable contracts…KK is far better subject matter than Uggla. We will love this kid and though I’m far from a Wren fan, I see this as an outstanding move to upgrade the Braves.

If he doesn’t work out….ship him to Toronto, eh?

Ron Roberts

January 5th, 2011
11:03 am

I get your concern, Mark, and agree, to an extent; but Chase Utley’s made 13, 12, and 11 errors in his last three seasons, while Uggla’s made 13, 16 and 18. Robinson Canoe made 13, 13, 12 then inexplicably – only THREE last season. It’s a position where you’re going to get a lot of chances, so the error potential is high, anyhow.

For us to have Prado AND Uggla in our lineup, I’m okay with an extra 3.6 errors over the course of the year.

And if it becomes a real issue, I think everybody will be big boys and swap Martin and Uggla on the field at some point.

jack

January 5th, 2011
11:04 am

Chipper will be gone after this season. Uggla will move to third and take his salary place as well. All is well.

Ted Striker

January 5th, 2011
11:04 am

Birds falling from the sky in Arkansas on NYE.
Fish dying near the Ozark.
Birds dying in Louisiana.
Then 2 million fish dying in Chesapeake Bay.

Now the Braves go and spend $62 million on Dan Uggla? The apocalypse is upon us.

I am going up to the roof and sing Do-Lord.

Ozzie

January 5th, 2011
11:05 am

Regarding Chipper (coming back really fit) he was quoted over that last 10 days saying he is so out of shape he was heaving on his front lawn after a jog.

Chipper has never been a gym rat and at 39 don’t expect him to show up to camp in decathlon shape.

I have no problem with the Uggla deal IF Wren can still fix the OF (LF and CF) in 2012 or July 2011 if needed. That said I would have made it a 4yr deal but he wasn’t staying in ATL for 4 yrs it was five or FA.

If Wren cries we are broke over the next two years and they continue to have TBDs in the OF and possibly SS (Gonzo won’t be back IMHO) the Uggla deal will be like peeing on a forest fire.

He is one move. They still have 2-3 moves left in order to make this a WS caliber team. Uggla keeps them from missing the post season entirely in 2011 that is it.

They believe it means going a few games deeper into the post season but with the moves being made in the NL East that is wishful thinking. Caveat: If Chipper actually plays the whole season and say north of 110 games (effectively) they have a chance at the WC.

Chipper sits more than not then the OF will be poor once again with Mather/Hinske in LF and Nate and TBD in CF.

Heyward cannot play all three spots or hit for same.

bro

January 5th, 2011
11:06 am

Bradley, did you advise Frank Wren on how the 63 million should have been spent prior to his making the move or do you only speak up after the fact to criticize every move that is made. Try not to be so critical all the time. You don’t have to agree with every move, but it may be good once in awhile to be reasonable and point a few good facts. I would like to hear how you would have spent the money. Let’s hear it big man.

PMC

January 5th, 2011
11:08 am

Prado can probably play shortstop too.

blazerdawg

January 5th, 2011
11:09 am

Oh for cryin out loud – the guy is worth it.

coachx

January 5th, 2011
11:09 am

There are better ways to spend $62 mill according to Mark Bradley.

What might those ways be Mark ? Is that your next article. Players are getting HUGE contracts in this off season. Who could the Braves have signed for $62 mill ?

Now that he has his money he would probably be open to switch to RF with Prado if his defense is a problem.

Walker, Texas Ranger

January 5th, 2011
11:12 am

We only have to pay half since he only plays offense. Surely, the Braves are not going to put him at 2nd over Prado. Prado isnt great, err good, but he is better than Uggla

Ed

January 5th, 2011
11:12 am

It is so childish to wrire an article such as this simply to have something to argue about. Do we not have enough turmoil in this world without intentionly trying to invent more? Grow up please.

fla dawg

January 5th, 2011
11:12 am

DV… can you please tell me exactly where you got the one game per year stat. i would like to see it for myself. i stand behind my comment that your comment of “defense is over rated” is umbelievably ignorant. come on other bloggers and Bradley, jump on the “no defense” bandwagon with DV…..yeah right!

Nova Scotia Steve

January 5th, 2011
11:14 am

I’m liking this deal folks.

I mean sometimes like its a lose-lose situation for Wren and company. Not fair. They did the right thing.

Like the deal…like the power he brings…think his defense is better then public perception. However, I don’t expect Uggla to be at 2B for the entire contract. I think he’ll be moved possibly to the OF at some point.

Walker, Texas Ranger

January 5th, 2011
11:14 am

PMC, Prado can’t play SS. Omar could but not Prado. Limited range, glove and arm

voice of reason

January 5th, 2011
11:15 am

maybe tpcan work with him and turn him into a jason haystack no wit we already have guys to stike out and bounce out4-3 and miss cut off men scratch that idea and as for js moves he brought in a clubhouse cancer in tp an imobile pylon in bream and a carrerr 190 niiter in belliard and thise were hiss good moves we wont mention tex will we lmao

Walker, Texas Ranger

January 5th, 2011
11:17 am

Fla Dawg, agree with you, team was built on defense in ‘91. Bream and Pendelton were both brought in for their D. It just turned out Terry started hitting when he hit the ground in Atl.

Tron5000

January 5th, 2011
11:18 am

I’m not at all concerned with the guy’s age. He’ll be 35 at the end of the deal, which isn’t over-the-hill for a RH slugger. I can’t get past a couple stats with the guy: First 2B in history with 4 straight 30-HR seasons, and leading RH HR hitter in NL after Pujols in last 5 years.

I really think that if his average stays where it was last year or goes up, and if he gives the Braves a few seasons around 30 & 100, $12.4 million per campaign isn’t too much to part with for that production.

And he’s not exactly brick hands at 2B. I do kinda wish Hubbard were still around to work with him on his D, though.

inthecellar

January 5th, 2011
11:22 am

I think all the owners of teams should be taxed at 90%. If they can pay that much in wages and raise the ticket prices, then I say tax the hell out of them.

Smack

January 5th, 2011
11:22 am

2010 dWAR’s: Uggla -1.0. Prado -0.9. Wow Mark, big difference there. Someone needs there diaper changed!

Chief pitchanono

January 5th, 2011
11:33 am

I think his defensive problems may be overblown, but he is a huge bat in the middle of our lineup that was sorely needed and no one can argue that. Give him a chance at second and see what happens, I believe it will workout fine. The Braves got the best hitter they could have possibly have hoped for, for the money. Everyone should be thrilled, we have had great pitching for a couple of years now, but we have been a little short offensively, now we have added a big bat to go with the pitching. Be Happy!! 2011 should be another great season.

beone

January 5th, 2011
11:33 am

After reading this, all I can say is thank goodness that playing the games is important and reading about them (or the team) is a waste of time. Why do I continue to read this pathetic drivel? I must be insane!

Mikey

January 5th, 2011
11:37 am

DOB- You can’t be serious. The Braves just locked up the most powerful 2b in the major leagues over the last 5 years, by 20hrs. And your concerned about his “D”? By the way Utley makes more and produces less and ask any Philly fan if he is a gold glove.

Carlton

January 5th, 2011
11:39 am

Just like the Braves front office in recent years: find a problem, throw money at it. See Kawakami, Kenshin Hampton,Mike McClouth,Nate Jones,Chipper Teixeira,Mark Drew,J.D. Lowe,Derrek

We could have saved a lot more money and dumped McClouth to at least the bench by suring up center and using both Infante in left/Prado at second. The next 3 years can’t come fast enough for the Braves when they can 1) get rid of McClouth, 2) finally have Chipper retire, 3) have Terhan and other prospects come up from the farm so they can save money and have major talent at the same time (Heyward will be asking for more by then though).

Ted Turner was an eccentric owner, but he’s starting to look more and more like a fiscal genius compared to Wren/Schurholtz.

DV

January 5th, 2011
11:41 am

fla dawg, look at the numbers provided by Smack. 2010 dWAR: Uggla -1.0. Prado -0.9. Virtually insignificant over the course of a season. You can trot out your lineup of defensive specialists and see how that works out for you. Baseball comes down to starting pitching and hitting. Specifically, teams with a high OBP and SLG will win. Uggla provides both.

sidslidkid

January 5th, 2011
11:42 am

“It seems the Braves can only draft and develop pitchers…” – Dawgdad (The Original)

What about our all-star left fielder, catcher, right fielder and HOF 3rd baseman? Freeman seems to have been a pretty good draft pick too.

Toyt Like A Tiger

January 5th, 2011
11:42 am

ALL YOU DA’s WILL SHUT YOUR FREAKING MOUTHS ABOUT THIS CONTRACT WHEN UGGLA HITS 35 HOMERS NEXT YEAR. SPARE THE TRASH TALK ON UGGLA B/C HE WILL LOOK LIKE A HUGE BARGAIN WHEN NEXT YEAR IS DONE WITH. Aholes!

BRAVES FAN 1966

January 5th, 2011
11:45 am

what do you suggest mark you bring up the fact that the braves had great defence and out standing pitching in the 90s and yet ONLY ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP !!! what do you think the problem was?

Toyt Like A Tiger

January 5th, 2011
11:46 am

Let me put it this way, would you rather have a year of Uggla and let him walk then say fire Wren or sign him long term now cheaper and have one of the worst offenses in the league in 2012? Yea SHUT UP thats what i thought.

Toyt Like A Tiger

January 5th, 2011
11:47 am

one of the worst offenses in 2012 if we didnt sign Uggla long term i meant.

Toyt Like A Tiger

January 5th, 2011
11:49 am

Uggla will have a career year next year, mark that junk down.

skip

January 5th, 2011
11:50 am

When the Uggla saga started I said that if the Braves gave him five years and sixty-plus millions it was a bad deal. My feeling is that this contract will come back and bite the Braves in the butt in about three years. Hope I’m wrong.

Alan

January 5th, 2011
11:51 am

Mark, I have to disagree with you. In today’s market, Uggla’s deal is a bargain and you know it. He’s the durable, middle-of-the-order, right-handed power hitter that the Braves have sorely needed ever since they traded Teixeira. He’s also hard-nosed and tough as nails. Braves fans are going to love him. Is there risk involved in giving him a guaranteed 5-year contract? Of course, but I believe it’s a risk worth taking. We’ll all enjoy seeing Heyward, Uggla and McCann anchoring the middle of the lineup for the next 5 years. Have the Braves sacrificed some defense at 2B? A little, but not that much. You mentioned how well the Giants caught the ball last season. Really? I don’t have statistics in front of me, but my eyes tell me that, aside from Posey (catcher), Sanchez (second base), and Torres (center field), all of their defenders were below average. For more than half the season, the immobile Pablo Sandoval played third and for a good chunk of the latter part of the season they had the equally immobile Pat Burrell in left and Jose Guillen in right. Edgar Renteria was magnificent in the postseason, but that was on offense. His range at short is extremely limited. The Giants are not World Champions because of their defense. Or, for that matter, their speed (which is another thing so many folks complain about when discussing the Braves). They’re champions because of strong pitching and clutch hitting. Locking up Dan Uggla — in his prime and at the top of his game and at an affordable salary — is an excellent move for the Braves.

steve

January 5th, 2011
11:55 am

We need a proven right handed power hitter and we got one, he is not as bad a defender as you think he is, lets be happy we improved our lineup and quit worrying about his defense, he is going to help us win period.

Matt the Brave

January 5th, 2011
11:56 am

So, Mark, if you say that this is a bad contract for the Braves, maybe your jinx will work still!

In reality, I think that the Braves are going to end up overpaying in the last two years of this deal, but I’ve been wrong as well. I know he says that he’s a 2B, but do you think that they would move him to LF when Prado moves back to 3B after Chipper retires?

timthebrave

January 5th, 2011
11:56 am

We are a better team with Uggla. We will see about the defense. I think it is about the same as Prado and better than Brooksie. Plus they gave the CEO of Liberty almost 87 million for one year.

Carlton Berry

January 5th, 2011
11:58 am

You use the fact that Martin is a better 2nd baseman and Uggla’s age as reasons to not sign him. Chipper’s and others decline seems most often to begin at age 35-36. I think Uggla’s body frame has move long term potential then he had. If Martin is still a Brave 5 years from now, He will not be a left filder. He will proably play as many games this year at 1st or 3rd as left field. Uggla will hit 35 plus home runs at least twice during this contract. He may lead the team in home runs every Year. Worth is the same age and now has hit over 25 home runs all of two years in a row.

Paul Johnson's Johnson

January 5th, 2011
11:59 am

Mark,

You are starting 2011 off very badly…..You are wrong as usual…..I think Florence, Al is hiring a beat writer. Maybe you can cover the UNA Lions!!

26 UZR and -10.4 UZR/150 in Florida
3.4 UZR and a 1.4 UZR/150 everywhere else.

So outside of the Marlins terrible stadium, he is actually a career + defender

ThePriceIsWrongBitch!

January 5th, 2011
11:59 am

Hmmm…

Got to say that I agree with your assessment MB. But… what other options do/did we have to get a decent bat in the line-up.

I see a position change in Uggla’s future- maybe LF.

Go Bravos!

GoBraves!

January 5th, 2011
12:01 pm

This is a freaking steal! Especially at per year salary. Is 5 years too risky? Sure. He’ll be in mid 30’s by then. But no team can sign a player of his caliber at his age with less than 5 years these days. If he can still hit 20+ hrs at the end of this contract, it’d be still a good deal. He’ll easily have more than 100 rbis this year. Mark it down. Only reason people think Uggla’s defense is terrible base it on one All Star game when he had 3 errors. He’s no worse than any average 2nd baseman at worst.

BravesFan/Atlanta Native

January 5th, 2011
12:02 pm

Uggla will be fine…give him a chance before ripping into him. I’d be more concerned about Prado playing out of position and hitting .250 because of it.

Reds Fan

January 5th, 2011
12:03 pm

I think Dam Ugly is worth it myself.

Fire Frank Wren

January 5th, 2011
12:03 pm

What’s up with the careless AJC writers not knowing who they are writing about? MB calls Uggla “Utley” and yesterday Schultz called the Braves’ new manager “Fredi Rodriguez” as opposed to his actual name–Gonzalez. Do you guys not proofread? Maybe you could hire a middle school student to catch the mistakes you don’t.

I’m not a fan of Frank Wren, but I disagree with MB. I think this is one of the best moves, if not the best move other than re-signing Huddy, Wren has made since becoming GM (although it could be better if Uggla goes to LF and Prado goes to 2B). $12M a year is a much better deal than $15M for Lowe, $13M a year for Chipper, $6M a year for McLouth, or nearly $7M a year for Kawakami.

If the Braves had NOT signed Uggla to an extension, the cost of Uggla as a one-year rental would have compounded the initial problem with the trade in the first place.

BravesFan/Atlanta Native

January 5th, 2011
12:03 pm

No matter what we do..Atlanta will always be ridiculed for having fare weather fans and a half empty ballpark for big games…Atlanta is a transient town with a small amount of people who grew up like I did going to see the Braves lose…but supporting them none the less. When the stadium area got too violent, (and tickets got too expensive), we stopped going.

Just wondering..are their any lifelong Braves fans still out there?

king donko of punchstania

January 5th, 2011
12:06 pm

Mark – you should do an investigative report about the people who live to be the first to make a comment on AJC sports articles. I wonder what other important daily life activities are avoided in order to get the elusive “kudos” acknowledgement for posting “first!”.

timthebrave

January 5th, 2011
12:07 pm

Mark…What do you suggest? Not signing him….Just give up Omar and some decent pitching for a one year rental?

timthebrave

January 5th, 2011
12:10 pm

BravesFan/Atlanta Native, You sound like a fairweather fan. I park in the lot right across from the field and get tickets really cheap. For 2 people to go to a game and park close by you can spend $15-25. Not a violent area in the parking lots. Just Braves fans.

Chris

January 5th, 2011
12:10 pm

Please stop writing articles.

Jeff

January 5th, 2011
12:12 pm

I say we bring in Willie Martinez to play second.

GoBraves!

January 5th, 2011
12:14 pm

timthebrave, exactly! Mark Bradley and other detractors of this deal simply do not understand that it’s nearly impossible to sign an offensive player of his caliber at that kind of contract anymore if he leaves after one year. They should thank that Uggla’s agent is not someone like Scott Boras. It’s all relative. $12.5 mil is A LOT of money to us but it’s not much in MLB world. Werth, Crawford, Lee, and so on just proved it this past month or two.

ArkyTech

January 5th, 2011
12:14 pm

Mark, it’s OK to have your opinion – you may end up being right. But if you are going to make comments like “There are better ways to spend $62 million,” then you need to say what those better ways are. You are criticizing plans without offering any of your own. Weak.

Nova Scotia Steve

January 5th, 2011
12:18 pm

I don’t really think we can criticize the attendance after last year’s home play-off games and that philly series and final home stand in general.

Braves fans showed up last year (Maddux, Glavine, Cox ceremonies) etc…the Strasburgh start…it was a great season.

During the NLDS – I’ve never seen or heard Turner Field that loud and full of energy in all my life and I’ve been a Braves fan for about 16 or 17 years.

Jim B

January 5th, 2011
12:28 pm

To Braves Fan/Atlanta Native I am a life long Braves fan and a Crackers fan before that. I follow the Braves on TV, the press and internet but go to games occasionally only to take grandchildren. Too expensive, too much time, just not worth the hassle. The ones who set the ridiculous prices are the ones who don’t have to pay them.

GoBraves!

January 5th, 2011
12:28 pm

Nova Scotia Steve, I agree the last game was loud and full of energy but it was still not a sold out game. I saw a lot of empty seats in Upper level. I think it was full in game 3. It’s kind of puzzling as everybody knew game 4 was potentially Bobby Cox’s last game as Braves manager.

Dave in Buford

January 5th, 2011
12:31 pm

I used the same argument myself recently in a watercooler discussion about Uggla … the Braves deliberately signed defense back in 1991 because Schuerholz knew he was building the team around pitching, so I agree with you, Mark … this is going against the previously very successful approach. I’m not sure its a good idea, but the problem is that they don’t have a lot of choice and no big hitters in the minors are going to show up any time soon.

BigHittas

January 5th, 2011
12:31 pm

Move Chipper to first, and put Prado at third. Freeman is not ready, I don’t understand the hype.

TB

January 5th, 2011
12:40 pm

After the Nats signed a contract with Werth (older & with far less HRs, RBIs, & Runs) for 7-years at $18million, Dan Uggla is a steal. And just like actors, the players & winning percentages sell tickets.

Senator Blutarski

January 5th, 2011
12:44 pm

I’m still upset about the Rico Carty-for-Jim Panther trade.

Farnsworth

January 5th, 2011
12:45 pm

Huh? Utley? I thought we were talking about Uggla.

ga gator

January 5th, 2011
12:45 pm

No Mark, but Chippers 12 million hurt them. Do you know anything about any sport?

N8

January 5th, 2011
12:47 pm

Mark, for the most part I semi-agree with you. I was hounding for better defense all summer (even before Chipper and Prado got hurt). But it’s strange that they would move Prado to LF and not Uggla.

If Uggla was a mediocre to below average LF who hit 30+ bombs a year, he’s a steal at 12 million per year. If he hits 30+ bombs a year at 2B and makes a ton of errors that cost us games? Not so much.

But don’t act like we’re moving Joe Morgan in his prime to LF for Brooks Conrad. Prado is only slightly better than Uggla defensively. Like KJ before him and Giles before him… it’s been a LONG time since the Braves haven’t gone with an offense first 2B and let the defesnse fall where it may.

So why should that change now?

My thought process, is that eventually Prado will be at 3B and Uggla will be in LF. Maybe as soon as 2012. So, I’m not really that concerned. But for 2011? Yeah. Catching the ball could be an issue.

Boys better be ready to hit.

N8

January 5th, 2011
12:52 pm

“Move Chipper to first, and put Prado at third. Freeman is not ready, I don’t understand the hype.”

What do you do the other 120+ games? If Chipper plays in 40 games this year and is even remotely anything more than a shell of his former self, I’ll apologize, but if you were to ask me who would have more impact on the lineup in 2011?

I’d probably lean towards Freeman being more productive. Add to that, is a blog focused around defense (or lack there of), there is a very real chance that Freeman is likely the best person (at his position) defensively on the field.

Prado in LF: average at best
Nate in CF: average at best
Heyward in RF: well above average but still has work to do
Chipper at 3B: average at best coming off of knee surgery
Gonzo at SS: Above average, steady but not spectacular
Uggla at 2B: Yikes
Mac at Catcher: he’s improved, but he’s again average at best.

Leaving us Freeman at 1B. Possibly one of the slickest fielding 1B to come around in a while. If he hits enough to remain on the big league club? He’ll be winning (or at least in the running) for gold gloves within 4-5 years.

Kashi

January 5th, 2011
12:52 pm

Mark Bradley get out of town and go cover Yankees. Money we are paying to Uggla… we are getting better production then Mark Texeira demanded money to stay with Braves. Defense Mark’s is better but $$$, way better Uggls’s then his.

Skeezix

January 5th, 2011
12:53 pm

Yeah Mark, Wren may have overpaid a little. But he’s a solid stick and this is not like the predictable disaster that KK’s signing was. FW’s signings have been getting progressively better. He has finally put the pieces together–excepting CF of coure. Truth is we really need Uggla’s bat (needed it last year). I was tired of him feasting on Braves pitching. Now he can rip on opposing pitchers for us.

Skeezix

January 5th, 2011
12:55 pm

Oh,and Mark–don’t leave town.

Ludmilla-Sports Genius

January 5th, 2011
12:57 pm

A touchdown is better than a homerun because it’s worth 6 points.

Michael

January 5th, 2011
1:00 pm

Mark start supporting are teams stop putting them down

jimmya

January 5th, 2011
1:00 pm

sure beats last years lineup huh

Kashi

January 5th, 2011
1:01 pm

Mark my words, Nate McClouth in CF will be much better defensively and offensively then 2010. He will be the difference maker in this team in 2011. Uggla’s bat in lineup will make opponent’s pitcher arms to fall cuz his bat makes our line up stronger and pitcher must make better pitch to get our guys out. Guys in our line up should get 4 – 5 BA every night. Bring it on phillies..I’m ready!

Jim

January 5th, 2011
1:02 pm

Another good thing about this deal is not having to worry about him beating us. That sumbitch single handedly beat us 3 or 4 times every year when he was with the fish.

Ted Striker

January 5th, 2011
1:05 pm

If you guys know darn well a guy meant Uggla when he wrote Utley, then what’s the big deal?

Try writing 15-20 weekly real-time blogs — sans proofreader — while simultaneously tweeting, twerping, chirping, responding to blokes like Ted Striker and occasionally…occasionally…making your way through the nearest Taco Bell drive through for a well balanced meal.

bruce

January 5th, 2011
1:10 pm

Mark,
what is you take on Fredi G’s comments in defense of Uggla’s defense?

Not quoting here, memory only, but it was something like Dan tries to make some plays when he should just keep the ball in his glove, so they are errors of playing aggressive.

Formul8or

January 5th, 2011
1:10 pm

The Braves finally spend some money for a power hitter and it cost way less than Werth and Crawford for someone with better hitting numbers. This was a steal for us

theJakester

January 5th, 2011
1:11 pm

Those of you who talk about Uggla being a poor defensive second baseman need to do a little more homwork. I realize those being critical of Uggla are either Marlins fans who are upset that he does not want to play for a disaster of a franchise in Florida or are Phillie fans acting out. Uggla was 3rd in innings played at second base in all of baseball and his fielding precentage was 0.976. He played in almost 1400 innnings about a 3rd of all other second baseman even played 1000 innings. So lots more chances and an above average fielding percentage and hall of fame type numbers from the second baseman position from the plate makes this a steal at the number the Braves are giving him.

jimmya

January 5th, 2011
1:11 pm

seems to me braves never get scouting report on teams they going to play listen to anouncers tell us the hitters hotspot our pitchers throw it right there there it goes

Kashi

January 5th, 2011
1:11 pm

Mark – STOP covering braves. You have no clue !

Del

January 5th, 2011
1:13 pm

MB, your batting avg wasn’t too good in 10. I see that you are off to a flying start in 11.

theJakester

January 5th, 2011
1:13 pm

@Kashi – I COMPLETELY agree. Mark is probably one of the most negative sportswriters I’ve EVER seen.

jimmya

January 5th, 2011
1:16 pm

hey mark gets responces tho

Jim

January 5th, 2011
1:18 pm

He’s not that bad defensively, and its a fair trade off to get his power numbers. Its not like our infield has always been an impenetrable wall anyways. Remember Kelly Johnson at 2nd? He played defense like a wet fart and we still made out ok.

Chpatt

January 5th, 2011
1:19 pm

Make up your mind. Do you want 30 home runs for a possible 5 years or not? yeah, that’s what I thought.

Chpatt

January 5th, 2011
1:19 pm

Enter your comments here

Lemke's Knuckler

January 5th, 2011
1:20 pm

Uggla is a bargain at 5/62 compared to the 100+ mil contracts being handed out right now. He’s no Robbie Alomar, but he’ll do just fine with the glove. I don’t think there’s any evidence to label him a “defensive liability”

But good optimistic article Bradley, appreciate it.

Stone

January 5th, 2011
1:20 pm

and Mark – If Uggla has 1 error a game he’ll have 162 on the season. which along with his 324 RBI would be a record by a large margin.

Jim

January 5th, 2011
1:20 pm

and Jesus, Bradley. You dont have to nitpick to find something to stir the pot about in your blogs. You can actually write about how things are looking ok and people will be fine with it. If you want to blast someone, UGA is ripe for the picking.

fla dawg

January 5th, 2011
1:23 pm

dv…. I am not saying trot out defensive specialist. and I like the Uggla deal. your theory of defense being over rated is so wrong and is exactly opposite of what so many baseball people(who know a lot more than i do) think that is not even debatable. there were seven series in last years postseason. the winner in five of those series had the higher fielding percentage. the same team beat the odds in two series and that was the rangers and it finally caught up with them in losing to the giants. you trot your great starting pitching out there and see how great they are without a good defense behind them,

Tweets that mention Dan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, ‘Ugh’ | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com

January 5th, 2011
1:26 pm

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steven a foust. Steven a foust said: Dan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, 'Ugh …: Uggla's real position is batter, and he's reall… http://bit.ly/h20yWq [...]

iopbrave

January 5th, 2011
1:30 pm

Uggla is a good deal – his defense may cost a handful of runs over 162 + games – his offense will more than offset one run every 30 games or so- also we defensively upgraded left field with Martin as well as first base with Freeman and if McLouth has a lousy spring whomever we put in center will be better improvement

iopbrave

January 5th, 2011
1:31 pm

rather … and if McLouth has a lousy spring whomever we put in center will be an improvement

Lowcountry Bulldawg

January 5th, 2011
1:43 pm

Go look at what Ryne Sandberg, Joe Morgan and Craig Biggio all did after ther 33 birthday. In the short term it is a great signing, but with an ownership group that has proven that it has a salary cap it is a bad move long term.

Also Prado in LF does not help any offensively. The corner spots are traditionally your power spots in the OF. Prado would have been better served to stay at 2B and the Braves look to aquire a Power bat if they where looking for 20 homers and a .275 avg.

Jason Heyward is the future 3-4 hitter, not a slugging 2B who is going to make 13 million at the age of 35. Again go research the stats of Sandberg, Morgan and Biggio past the age of 33. The numbers do not lie.

Lowcountry Bulldawg

January 5th, 2011
1:46 pm

Noticed someone put Alomar in a blog, feel free to look at those stats. The Braves are going to be on the hook some some serious cash on the backend of a aging career. Apparently nothing was learned from the Chipper Jones extension.

kgb

January 5th, 2011
1:48 pm

The Braves were clear in their need and desire to add a rh power bat to help balance their heavy lefty lineup. I think we can all agree on that need.

So let’s go thru the list of available of available or possiblly available rh power bats this year.

Pujols – OK not gonna happen but he is at the end of his contract
Werth – his contract with the Nat’s is a joke – so not an option
Uggla – nice trade without giving too much
all the rest – don’t really deserve discussion as they are either woefully inconsistent or have serious offensive shortcomings.

So please name a player that could come anywhere close to Uggla’s production over the last five years that the Braves could have had either thru FA or thru a trade (giving up no more than the players they did). Anyone?

The grass is NOT always greener on the other side.

Dorothy Davis

January 5th, 2011
1:49 pm

Unlike the Marlins Stadium (empty) Turner Field will certainly let Uggla know if he is not performing up to standards. You will hear the Boo Boo birds letting him know he is a Brave now and must perform like one for that salary! Could have spent that money for a good hitting outfielder and left Prado at second base, Who incidently could give Uggla lessons there.

no Mark you don't get it.

January 5th, 2011
1:49 pm

If you would have cared more about your on home team you could have have put a more planned and thoughtful article for fans to read. The first thing that jumps out at me is the lack of research you have done. Yes the offensive numbers are sexy, his defense is not as bad as you think. All you have done is jump on a band wagon. If you would so kindly look at Uggla’s splits he is actually a plus defender away from the horrible conditions at Florida stadium

nique

January 5th, 2011
1:50 pm

Mark, any chance Uggla would be willing to switch positions with Prado if he plays poor D at 2b?

Lowcountry Bulldawg

January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm

Nothing wrong with the trade, my issue is in giving him the extension. In this post steroid era, no player past the age of 32 unless he is a Pujols type would get a 5 year extension at that kinda money if your a team with an ownership group who is unwilling to budge over a 85million dollar payroll.

Fols

January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm

You guys are reading into this too much. Media has to write this. If something good happens, media needs to touch on the bad. This way they have their bases covered and can say “I TOLD YA SO”.

It’s no different than a big game. One team HAS TO LOSE. It’s a given, there will be a loser. Yet the media treat it like it’s the end of the world.

You can’t please them, they sit around and ponder thoughts on what to write. It’s easier to spark interest writing the negative. This is why in todays sports, the media even find ways to write about how ugly the wins are. We can’t please them with a win, it’s the end of the world when they lose, so what makes you think signing free agents is any different. In the media’s eye……..it’s never good enough. Just like when you read through the season’s blog comments, you’d think everyone was suicidal in here.

Jaime

January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm

As a resident of NW Florida, I get the “pleasure” of seeing every game the Marlins play (I don’t get to see the Braves unless they play the Marlins, Rays, Cubs, or on ESPN: Radio for me mostly). Uggla’s defense is nowhere near as bad as the national media makes it out to be. Is he Ozzie Smith? No, but that putrid display in that All-Star game has left him with the image that we could run anyone out there and be better at 2b. His offensive production far outweighs the couple of defensive runs he’ll be responsible for.

And, hey, that negative reputation his defense gets may have lowered his price a little bit.

Bartman-n-Orl

January 5th, 2011
1:59 pm

Way to write just for the controversy of it Mark. That was week. You don’t think ALL things were considered before this trade and signing were done? or do you think Frank and Co are going,”OH, we didn’t think about that”? I’m sure you know much better than they do as to how to evaluate talent to $$$’s. Let it play out before you critique it. Besides, you only said what was wrong with it. In all your brilliance, you didn’t say what was the best or right thing to do.
Great trade! Great signing!

bjohndawg

January 5th, 2011
1:59 pm

Offensive needs had to be addressed. The defense was not that bad, except some critical times in playoffs. What they needed all season was more offense. This addresses that need. And hope that someone can teach him to glove.

Bartman-n-Orl

January 5th, 2011
2:00 pm

weak….in a hurry.

tdmorgan

January 5th, 2011
2:09 pm

lowcountry…you are putting players in defined roles…i understand about the trend that towards the end of the contract we should not expect what we expect at the beginning, thats a given. almost all free agent/extensions for players in their prime or towards the end of their prime mean that you are going to be paying for decline years, it just works that way. anyways, essentially what you are saying is that if we put Uggla in LF and Prado at 2B you are satisfied because it fits nicely into your box…well Wren doesn’t think inside of your box. Prado knows how to play LF and will do it just fine, Uggla knows how to play 2B and will do it just fine. you also have to assume that Prado will be playing 3B a decent bit this year which means for those of you who want to put Uggla in LF and Prado at 2B then we are going to have to pull a double move putting Prado at 3B, Uggla at 2B and someone else in LF…it makes much more sense to just play Prado in LF, Uggla at 2B and when Chipper gets hurt (although hoping, not expecting that he can play a majority of the season) then all you have to do is put someone in LF. Our OF options look much better than our IF options if we have to replace someone. plus, there is the potential that Mather plays well enough that we don’t have to move Prado and just stick Mather at 3B, either way we have a ton of options because of the flexibility that Prado provides without an attitude.

Thinker

January 5th, 2011
2:11 pm

Yo, MB. I think you touched a nerve, huh.

JInx Master

January 5th, 2011
2:12 pm

Another horrible article! Infield defense cost the Braves in the post season this season, Uggla is more than capable on defense & brings pop to the line-up. You can always find cheap defensive players, as this off season proved you cannot find good hitters easily. You writers & bloggers complain about everything about the Braves, Fredi just needs to get some production from some those underachievers in the lineup.

Cool Dude

January 5th, 2011
2:15 pm

I think Mark Bradley is a massive douche.

Lowcountry Bulldawg

January 5th, 2011
2:18 pm

tdmorgan,

I actually agree with everything you mention. It is not a issue of this season, nor even next. It is a longterm philosophical difference I have. I do not like have 35-36 year old player who are making 12 million a year who provide power only. In this post steroid era I think you can look at historical evidence and tell that 2B do not perform well over the age of 34. My opinon, simple as that. I would not have signed him longterm. Nice trade, bad extension.

SGD

January 5th, 2011
2:21 pm

MB, You are one of the most negative individuals I have never met. I’m wondering what would have to transpire in order for you to say something positive about Georgia teams, Braves-Falcons-Dogs-etc. Every once in a blue moon you will slip up and say something positive but not very often. In my opinion you need to find a job somewhere other than Atlanta and bash those teams for a while.

bry22

January 5th, 2011
2:25 pm

Mark-
Do you try really really hard to see how stupid you can be? You might want to try writing on the weather instead of sports! Idiot!

JInx Master

January 5th, 2011
2:36 pm

No wonder it’s hard to drum up support for these ATL teams, with all the great articles written in they’re hometown paper. Oh yeah guaranteeing Division titles & SuperBowl victories do not count, its either bottom of the barrel or day-dreaming with you Bradley. How about some positive, subjective articles that actually informs & motivates the fan base??????

Mike

January 5th, 2011
2:44 pm

Just what was Wren to do. Give the guy a break. We complain about a lack of hitting so he gets a quality player. You know it is part of a broader plan. What would you say if he had not signed Uggla to a long term contract. I bet your argument would have been just the opposite of this “defense” approach. Give the guy a break.

jed

January 5th, 2011
2:47 pm

is this so difficult? now that you’ve signed uggla, move him to LF.

Jim H.

January 5th, 2011
2:48 pm

Just moved him to left field….problem solved

Judy

January 5th, 2011
3:01 pm

I am a long time Braves fan and supporter of Wren and will continue to be a Braves fan, however, I do not like the long term signing of Uggla. For the most part through the years pitching and defense win championships (look at Giants last year no homerun hitter). The Braves have a very good pitching staff and now a below average MLB defensive team. Uggla is a 30 homerun a year hitter, but his defense is below average MLB average. It’s not the errors that hurt but lack of range that turns outs into singles. Uggla’s defense is only going to decline each year.

Pitching , defense and speed will consistenly win games. We have the pitching should have spent $62M on defense and speed. One women’s opinion, I will continue to support Braves

Rocky

January 5th, 2011
3:01 pm

I think braves management know what their doing.This really isn’t that bad since there are big contracts coming off the books in the future and won’t affect their future:

N. Mclouth: 6.5mil after 2011 season
A. Gonzalez: 2.5mil after 2011 season
S. Linebrink: 5mil after 2011 season
P. Moylan: 1.15mil after 2011 season
G. Sherrill: 1.2mil after 2011 season
S. Proctor: 750K after 2011 season
K. Kawakami: 6.667mil after 2011 season

That’s 23.767mil coming off the books after this season. The braves have the arms to replace the pitchers coming off the books.

That’s 23.767mil to replace the hitting through free agency. They could hold onto to this money and wait for 2012 season and see bottom.

D. Lowe: 15mil after 2012 season
C. Jones: 13mil after 2012 season
T. Hudson: 9mil after 2012 season
E. Hinske: 1.5mil after 2012 season
D. Ross: 1.625mil after 2012 season

and an additional 40.125mil coming off the books after the 2012 season. A total of 63.892mil coming off the books over the next two seasons.
With young pitching prospects to take over the rotation spots of Hudson and Lowe at inexpensive prices.
If the braves go on the cheap route in after 2011 season and hold onto a bulk of the 23.767mil of cap space and wait until after the 2012 season is complete then they could be major players in free agency when their will be a potential stockload of free agent hitters, especailly outfielders.

Free agents 2012/2013 braves can target:
Outfielders:

Josh Hamilton
BJ Upton
Andre Ethier
Matt Kemp

Potential Third base replacement for Chipper Jones:

David Wright

Top Pitching Prospects braves could go after also:
Zack Grienke
Matt Cain

I think 2012 could be a big free agency period for the braves. Say they add David Wright and BJ Upton. Look at their Potential Lineup for 2012.

Starting Rotation:
1-Tommy Hanson
2-Jair Jurrgens
3-Mike Minor
4-Julio Teheran
5-Arodys Vizcaino

1-CF-BJ Upton
2-3B-David Wright
3-LF-Martin Prado
4-2B-Dan Uggla
5-C-Brian McCann
6-RF-Jason Heyward
7-1B-Freddie Freeman
8-SS-Matt Lipka(braves 1st round pick in 2010)
9-Pitcher

That sets the braves up for years to come. With great hitting and pitching.

stew

January 5th, 2011
3:13 pm

MB – you’re an idiot. Uggla is the right handed bat we need so that we won’t be so vulnerable to left handed pitching. Now, if we sign and play Andruw we’ll have a pretty balanced lineup. Andruw, Prado, Gonzo and Uggla from the right side. J-Hey, Mac, and Freddie from the left side. Chip, of course, goes both ways. Even if we platoon Andruw and McLoser we’re balanced. Also, ship Lowe to the best little whorehouse in NYC and we’d be ahead 21/2 million. I’ll go with Huddy/Tommy/Jair/Minor/Beachy until one of them gets injured or doesn’t pan out with Julio and Randall waiting in the wings.

Mazeroski

January 5th, 2011
3:16 pm

FACT: Dan Uggla makes one error for 10.5 games played during his major league career at second base.
FACT: New Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar made one error for every 15.7 games played during his major league career at second base.

FACT: Dan Uggla has driven in 465 runs during his first five seasons in the Majors.
FACT: Roberto Alomar drove in 302 runs during his first five seasons in the Majors.

Have Uggla’s errors cost the Marlins more than 163 runs during his first five seasons?

Plus, Mike Hampton wasn’t available!

Lucas

January 5th, 2011
3:22 pm

Funny thing about this article is that Uggla is better defensively at 2nd base than Martin Prado according to all defensive metrics. We shouldn’t rate Uggla’s defense based that all-star game appearence.

coo coo bird fan

January 5th, 2011
3:26 pm

Sorry but this is a non issue, sounds like someone wanted to stir the pot in there column this morning. Uggla is a great hitter and has awesome range at second base. Most of his errors came from attempting spectacular plays not from going between his legs. Yes, he had a Conrad like debacle in the all star game a couple of years back but he obviously is worth the money that the market dictates. Prado is our 3rd baseman of the future, left is just a rental. We’ll be fine folks, and will go as far as our starting pitching will take us, but we already knew that. 3 fifteen game winners next year- Hudson, Jurrjens, and Hanson w/ two more w/ atleast 10 Minor and Lowe and we are contenders again. Go Braves.

Smiling Jack

January 5th, 2011
3:28 pm

Welcome back Sonny Clusters! I’ve missed you….It has been a too long Dairy Queen break. Clusters is better than any AJC writer. Great trade for Uggla and great contract for all concerned. Braves will contend and have a great chance to take it to the World Series! Spring is just around the corner. You’ll see.

Chris

January 5th, 2011
3:34 pm

A 30+ HR, 100 RBI guy in this baseball economy for about 12.5 million a year? That is a steal. He doesn’t have a glove? That’s fine, if he did he would be worth 17-20 million.

KB

January 5th, 2011
3:38 pm

Hey Mark –
HOF voting just announced. McGriff fell from 21% to 17%. Let’s start pounding the drum for this guy! The Atlanta sportswriters need to get on the campaign for his candidacy!

Maddben7

January 5th, 2011
3:42 pm

Okay first off 5y/62mil does not beat 7y/85mil. So no Uggla is not getting payed 15 mil a year like Utley. Second lets see how well Uggla plays with a SS he can trust to do his job. History suggests that if the SS and 2B are at odds then you’ll be weak up the middle. I doubt Gonzalez has the ego problems that Hanley has. Remember the Red Sox unloaded the guy for a reason besides picking up pitching.

hangman

January 5th, 2011
3:43 pm

MB, you just like to stir up trouble. You’ve got a new player to bad mouth and he hasn’t even played one game. Why don’t you take the slick hair, snake oil salesman DOB and go out to a bar. Have a few beers, hold hands and who knows what the two of you might think about doing.
GIVE US A BREAK!

Mike D

January 5th, 2011
3:44 pm

Prado had 11 errors last year (6 at 2nd base and 5 at 3rd base), while Uggla only had 7 more, and that was a few above his average.
While Prado is a tremendous fielder, you might not find a better player with the balance that Uggla has between being a pretty good fielder and a consistent power hitter in the middle of the line-up (excluding Utley).
Like we saw last year in the postseason, we kept having to rely on McCann to bring guys home. If Chipper is healthy, we will have 3 guys to rely on instead of 1, taking the pressure off of Heyward and Prado to do the same.

Blair

January 5th, 2011
3:46 pm

Mr. Bradley, the argument has certainly been made. But I’m not sure he’s worse then Kelly Johnson. In some ways they seem very similar. Uggla struggles going to the backhand, just like Kelly Johnson did. And let me tell you, I’d take Kelly Johnson defense if I could 100 RBI and 30 bombs. I’d take that production at 12.4 million over 5 years. I may not get that the last year or two of the contract… But I think Uggla will age well over his career. He’s got tremendous bat speed.

Blair

January 5th, 2011
3:49 pm

You also have to consider the lack of right-handed options in the Braves system. Basically, we have no right-handed pop in the minors. Right-handed power bats are at premium right now, and that makes it even more important that Uggla was resigned. To be honest, I love the team sans McLouth. If he has a bounce back year, which I think is unlikely, then this team will contend with those Phillies for the NL pennant.

Dave W.

January 5th, 2011
3:49 pm

Here’s the difference between journalism and blogging: A journalist would have identified a better way to spend the FA dollars. A blogger just finds an angle (a petty one in this instance) to create buzz and talk, no matter how trivial the angle is. “There are better ways to spend $62 Million”. Really? Why don’t you do some “research” and give us an example or two. All I can see is that the braves are desperate for a right handed bat and for 12.4MM a year (not absurd in this FA market of proven hitters after seeing what Werth got), got a guy who has hit extremely well for a division rival. This isn’t a case of a guy going from AL to NL and the buyer having to guess if he’ll perform in the new league/park/etc… You get a grade of U not for unsatisfactory, but for unbearable

Michael

January 5th, 2011
4:01 pm

Remember that Career Builder commericial about the guy working with a bunch of monkeys? That has to be how Mark Bradley’s co-workers feel. He is such a hack! His stories make you appreciate the national media who have a much greater understanding of sports than Mark Bradley could ever hope to have.

O'flarity's water bottle

January 5th, 2011
4:22 pm

Mark Bradley

January 5th, 2011
9:31 am
And before anyone says anything: If Uggla drives in two runs a game, he’ll finish with 324 RBIs, which would be a record by some distance. That part was an intentional exaggeration.

Dont hex the stuation mark! If he gets 324 RBI’s then the contract exstention would be great! ;-p

Doug Markham

January 5th, 2011
4:27 pm

Mark– You are a bit bored, I see. This is an excellent deal for the Braves. All baseball players make too much money (all athletes period), but as professional sports go this is going to make watching the Braves more enjoyable.

Stanley Crowe

January 5th, 2011
4:28 pm

Let’s see the guy play! A very good bat, and an OK fielder, I think. He compares well with Werth in offensive production over time. I used to hate it when we had to face him, so I’m happy that the shoe is on the other foot now (or the shoe is on OUR foot? forget that metaphor!). Also, he seems historically to have hit well at Turner Field. Can’t wait for the season . . .

Mldtown

January 5th, 2011
4:43 pm

I know one thing: It was UNBELIEVABLE how anemic the Braves offence was last fall.

Sure, the pitching was great for the Giants.
But they won because they SCORED. On Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels and Lee no less.

Remember Cody Ross, Juan Uribe, B Posey, E. Renteria?

bulldogbyrd75

January 5th, 2011
4:45 pm

Just a reminder that there are no perfect players! Will Uggla be a Gold Glover….nope. Will he boost the Braves offense….absolutely! I’m glad he will be a Brave for the next few years!

Bartman-n-Orl

January 5th, 2011
4:49 pm

A lot of posts for MB to respond to. But nothing but silence. More proof that he was just posting somethingjust to be contreversial and get us all barking. Must be an AJC requirement. But compared to the writers in my town at the Orlando Slantinal, he is gold! Oh well, we have what or who we have.

Murphy for Hall of Fame!

Trey

January 5th, 2011
4:51 pm

Mark, I agree that the Braves went steep on the Uggla’s extension. $62,000,000 is pretty expensive for anyone. That money could have bought a decent Center Fielder, but; the Braves are going to rely on McLouth. However, do you think that they could have maybe tried to offer a little less to catch him? Hey, I guess we shall see!

Bravesfan79

January 5th, 2011
4:58 pm

I like the move of signing Dan, but i also like the idea of sending him to left field and giving Prado 2nd base. If he cares about whats best for the team in the playoffs, he will make the switch at some point.

Fan

January 5th, 2011
5:26 pm

So, if Prado is a better second baseman and we are only interested in Uggla’s bat why not play Prado at second and Uggla in left field? That should work. He won’t degrade our outfield.

bvillebaron

January 5th, 2011
5:26 pm

While Uggla is clearly not a great fielder, he is not as bad as you claim Mark. Interestingly, his fielding percentage is almost identical to that of Infante when Infante was playing as a second baseman. Besides no one could be as bad as Conrad was in last year’s playoffs.

Tomahawk

January 5th, 2011
5:27 pm

It may not be as bad as you think in the long-term (provided Uggla doesn’t regress drastically at the plate). Consider these points:

Chipper’s retiring soon, so we’ll have an opening at third base. When he does, we will need a solid defender at that position. Freeman is a solid defender and could probably handle third. He actually started his career in the minors at the position. Uggla has very little mobility. First base does not require a player to be overly mobile. Move Uggla to first. Prado could shift back to second. Yes, you can say that we don’t know how each player would handle shifting positions, but by that same logic you can’t automatically say they’d do a terrible job. My guess is that the front office has thought this through already.

With that said, I’ll still be keeping my fingers crossed that we don’t have another Lowe-sized burden on the team for the next half-decade.

DS1

January 5th, 2011
5:36 pm

Mark,

About 40+ years ago, I was complaining about something at work. My boss told me that unless I had a better suggestion, that I should just shut the heck up and go back to work.

So what would you do different??? Don’t just complain, give us your alternative.

Now, a lot can happen. First, Uggla isn’t the albatross some would have you believe. Second, just because he is playing second today, doesn’t mean he will be there in 2 years. Third, Prado has softer hands, but doesn’t turn two as well as Uggla. Also, Prado’s range is also limited at second. He will be a good third sacker someday if he can learn to come in on dribblers.

DS1

January 5th, 2011
5:40 pm

Tomahawk

I seriously doubt Freeman will move to third base. Prado will replace Chipper, unless Uggla is found to be a diamond in the rough at third.

DS1

January 5th, 2011
5:41 pm

Gonna head over to DOB’s blog, as Mark rarely comes back to his blogs after a while.

Brave

January 5th, 2011
5:45 pm

Mark Bradley, you are no sports writer so why don’t you quit trying to pass yourself off as one. Please move to
another section of the AJC.

Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)

January 5th, 2011
5:46 pm

Ditto that Mark Bradley!

Pitching, defense, power and speed is how the game of baseball is played, period.

Our Braves have the pitching and power down pat. However, they project to be a terrible defensive team with no running game to speak of.

As for Frank Wren… he’s done a good job of building a competitive team from year to year, but his payroll accounting needs work. Chipper hasn’t been worth the money, neither has Kawakami or Derek Lowe. The same can be said for Dan Uggla now and in the future.

Tomahawk

January 5th, 2011
5:54 pm

DS1

I don’t disagree that Freeman probably wouldn’t move to third, just pointing out to Mark that the sky isn’t falling just yet. The team has options. To play devil’s advocate in regards to your comment, if Freeman can handle third, then the overall infield defense would be better if Uggla wasn’t still at second.

Rocky

January 5th, 2011
5:55 pm

Do you see what I’m talking about? I think the braves are targeting free agency after the 2012 season.

Being a writer is a vacation!

January 5th, 2011
6:04 pm

Mark – I actually agree with your point of view! Uggla led 2nd basement in errors last year which doesn’t seem to bode well for playoff winning teams. Juan Uribe was available for less money and has post season success under his belt.

I never wonder why the Braves are the easiest ticket in town!

Joey M

January 5th, 2011
6:11 pm

Sorry, I can’t get on board with you on this. Uggla is not going to win a GG award, but he will be a better defender in The Ted than he was in Joe Robbie. (or whatever they call that place now) We have a better field, more consistent pitching, and he doesn’t have to be the focal piece. The right side will have Freeman, Uggla, and Heyward. Left side will have Gonzalez, Jones (hope) and Prado. McLouth is a bigger risk than Uggla as far as fielding goes. If Nate loses his confidence at the plate, his fielding will suffer too. I am hoping Schaffer comes back healthy. Uggla’s thing is he makes the great plays, he just tends to lull on the routine plays. Pendleton is our new 1st base coach. He will work tirelessly with Uggla on his footwork and glove work. Overall, Danny U makes us a better team. He will give excellent protection for McCann and Heyward will get plenty of at bats loaded with fastballs. And also, remember that a lot of throwing errors will be negated by Freeman’s glove at 1st. Yes, this is a great move.

Nick P.

January 5th, 2011
6:40 pm

mark you are about as dead wrong on this as one can be! with our awful defense last year we made the playoffs, if it was not for bobby retiring we would not have, that was the teams catalyst for making the playoffs, everyone and their mother knows thta Braves lack an offensive punch, pitchingis great, and personally, i dont think prade or Infante were all that better at second base either, Uggla is definitely a step up in offense, and just as good on defense!

Nick P.

January 5th, 2011
6:42 pm

if werth at his age get the type of money he got, then the uggla deal is even better for the braves!

Steve

January 5th, 2011
6:45 pm

Mr Bradley .. here’s a basic fundamental of baseball: Pitching and Defense don’t win games. RUNS DO! You must score more runs than the opposing team. If you have a good offense, average defense and a good staff, you’re probably going to win a ton of games. Sure, if you have excellent defense to compliment those you’ll be even better, but do you really think we can afford to have EVERYTHING?

The bottom line here is Chipper is retiring soon. The main power threats in our lineup (without Chip) are Heyward, McCann and Gonzalez. Prado may reach that level too, however now that we’ve added Uggla, we have a mainstay which looks to be a steady source of offense for a long time. Sure, he’s about to be 31. What’s the big deal? Do you really think it’s going to make THAT big of a difference? He projects by all accounts to stay steady for a long time barring injury.

We are poised to win for ears to come. Why fret over $62 mil? Chipper is out the door soon, so we will have the cash. Plus this guy could end up being one of the best second basemen to ever play the game offensively. He’s stayed steady for five solid years. What the heck makes you think he won’t stay steady for five more? Maybe he’ll have a down year or two, but I don’t foresee a major drop-off until he’s 37-38.

Steve

January 5th, 2011
6:49 pm

BTW .. he’s not that bad defensively. I’ve seen him play, and if you watch the games so have you. He’ll give up an out here and there however he turns a good DP and he doesn’t really have rocks for hands. He is a LOT better than Conrad with the glove, BTW. I just don’t see the concern. He has never shown me that he is a horrible defender. You sir, are exasperating.

Steve

January 5th, 2011
6:50 pm

Dang auto-spell checker … lol … exaggerating.

david

January 5th, 2011
7:03 pm

I see your point. But it’s a gamble no matter who the Braves signed to fill their offensive void, and I think we all agree they had to fill it somehow. True, Uggla’s not the most surehanded of fielders, but he’s not terrible by any means. If he plays average D and hits 25-30 hrs over the next 5 yrs everyone will applaud. If he hits .240 and leads the league in errors, then you’ll be able to say I told you so.

Road Dog

January 5th, 2011
8:41 pm

How I miss Furman Bisher of the AJC. He could actually think and write at the same time! Intertwine a few life moments into his sports’ reports. A little home spun philosophy sprinkled in for the philosophers amonst us! Bradley, you sir, are no Furman Bisher.

Bigwheel

January 5th, 2011
8:49 pm

Bradley, The infield at sunjoerobbieproshark stadium is horrible, and its not even close. Ugglas D will improve more than you think. His bat outweighs his defense

jorge's moondogs

January 5th, 2011
8:54 pm

that’s why bradley is a writer and not a baseball man. uggla’s defense takes a beating because of one game. to say the Giants won the series because of defense is a farce. burrell, uribe, renteria, sandoval and huff, gold glovers they are not. stick it bradley. great move by the braves.

vankalen

January 5th, 2011
9:08 pm

what right handed power bat would you have signed mark? tell us how you really feel

Mr. Matt

January 5th, 2011
9:41 pm

Mark, I always enjoy your work, but… This read like it was written by my ex-wife. It sounds like you might be burned on out covering the Braves or something? I don’t know?

Sit back, relax and enjoy being a Braves fan.
Bang for your buck – the Braves made the best move of the off season, THE best move. We have much to be excited about! Stop sounding like a woman and write something sweet about the falcons.

Go Braves!

Grant

January 5th, 2011
9:50 pm

Are you kidding me Bradley????? You do nothing but complain about the Braves needing a bat. They get a 30 homer guy for that cheap. Don’t write about the Braves anymore let O’Brien do it. He is the one who actually knows what he is talking about.

JC from DR!

January 5th, 2011
9:54 pm

Just a little over a day has passed since the contract extension was announced, and there’s already negative stuff being written about it. WOW… just.. wow.

Tomas

January 5th, 2011
9:58 pm

I know Uggla’s defense has a bad rep, but I gotta tell you I don’t think he is that bad…….1.4 UZR on the road not great but good.

Mitchell

January 5th, 2011
10:43 pm

All we have to do is show this to Uggs and make sure he knows what Mark Bradley thinks of him.

His defense will magically improve as a result.

Believe it.

Here’s what matters. Winning a World Series. The Braves can do it. The defense is definitely a problem and still an issue but hey, they couldn’t score runs after the 7th inning at home in ‘09 and all of sudden they couldn’t stop doing it in 2010.

They need to show they can win in the playoffs again. They have a new manager and his name isn’t Bobby Cox. That’s a good thing.

Just win a World Series within the next five years with Dan Uggla and it will be worth it.

Zack

January 5th, 2011
11:27 pm

MB- I couldn’t disagree with you more…Braves had almost no power at all from the right side last year (Prado isn’t a HR hitter). 30 HR at a prime position is super rare and very valuable…and we’re only paying him 12M (on avg) a year. Yes, his defense may not be great, but he’s not terrible at all. Have you seen him play (excluding All Star Game a couple of years ago)? Prado’s defense at third is just as good as his defense at second, and once chipper retires, Prado’ll move back to the hot corner. What would you rather than 62M on?

Boatdoc

January 5th, 2011
11:32 pm

Mr. Bradley – your article mentions no method for comparing players taking into account both their offensive and defensive abilities.

*‘I know what you’re saying: “What’s the big deal? If he drives in two runs a game he’ll make up giving one back.” But that’s not quite true’*

But we DO have a statistical tool for evaluating the value of players: Wins Above Replacement (which estimates extra games won or lost if the player were instead replaced with a bench or minor league player.) WAR accounts for all aspects of the player: hitting – both for average and power, defense, baserunning.

You correctly state that Martin Prado is a better defensive second baseman than Uggla. But the most important question about Dan Uggla is “is his defense so bad that his offense can’t justify giving him this contract?”

The answer may be in WAR:
Prado 2.7
Uggla 3.7

Martin absolutely earned his All-Star selection and 9th place in MVP voting. But the WAR predicts that with the rest of the lineup the same that a team would win one extra game per year with Dan Uggla than with Martin Prado.

I’ll be glad to see BOTH of them in our line-up. The biggest question for the 2011 Atlanta Braves is not Uggla’s defense. Center Field and Chipper Jones’ health are larger questions marks. I also don’t see much discussion about the assumption that Freddie Freeman (who has hit .167 in a major league career spanning, to date, 24 at-bats) will immediately be a productive ML player, or that the Braves will find adequate replacement for Billy Wagner.

BravesfaninNashville

January 5th, 2011
11:44 pm

Mark, If your objective when you write articles like this is to simply get a reaction out of people by stirring things up then mission accomplished. If you really believe that the Braves had a better option given this years FA market and trade partners that publicly stated it would take overwhelming offers to pry Justin Upton, or Rasmus away then I completely disagree. It personally believe that if the Braves hadn’t traded for a right handed power bat by now you’d be writing a negative article about how they have ignored an obvious glaring need. I think Frank Wren has put this team in a position to win the wild card rather handily and until the Phillies signed Cliff Lee I would have put them neck and neck with Philadelphia. I for one don’t enjoy your mostly negative view on things. I think this is one of the best years to be a Braves fan in a long time and I expect great things out of the Braves this year.

BravesfaninNashville

January 5th, 2011
11:57 pm

Frank Wren traded a utility player and the third best left handed pitcher remaining out of our bullpen. If you count Wagner from last year Dunn was our fourth best LH reliever. He kept all of our premium coveted minor league pitching as well as Minor and Beachy and he got more predictable production from the right side of the plate than Jason Werth for half the money Washington had to commit to also “sign a player that had yet to play a single game for them”. Ridiculous comment IMO as that is what every single team does that signs a Free Agent away from another team. I guess Boston is crazy to have signed Carl Crawford as he has yet to play a single game for them? Huh???

The Braves single biggest risk right now is whether they’ll get production/playing time or DL time from Chipper. If he’s healthy he’ll help this team a lot. If he’s not he’ll cost us very expensive dollars that could have been put to great use if he had retired. I see signing Uggla as very smart and given the relative market this year a steal in terms of Free Agent dollars spent by other teams to get similar performance.

Lou Vales

January 6th, 2011
12:02 am

Dear Mark, You would be much better served trying to get Georgia to rid themselves of the Botoxed Beach Boy from Boca. Do you believe that ability to run a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Meeting should be a criteria for coaching at Georgia. I understand that the Reverand Mark learned from St. Robert but this should not be about missionairy positions in Ethiopia. The workdoes is commendable,however, when you are being paid millions to coach football, your level of missionairy zeal should not determine how long you stay as coach.

As far as Uggla, you will soon understand why many new baseball fans think Dan’s first name is “justoutofthereachofadiving.”He has the range of Jamie Dukes on an elliptical.

MitchC

January 6th, 2011
12:16 am

Mark, what you’re forgetting is this:

1991 was a different time in baseball completely. Teams could win divisions by hitting 250 as a team, with `130 odd homers. As I recall, the 1992 Braves hit 138 homers, and led the league.

Additionally, those Braves teams had two Hall of Famers named Smoltz and Glavine to trot out every five days. They could win games 2-1 and 1-0. I’m not saying the Braves cant do that now. All I’m saying is… the current rotation of “Ace 4 plus ERA Lowe”, and company, need power behind them to win.

This team needed a hitter. Chipper is done, or close to it. Mccann is our true power hitter. I hope JHey doesnt have a soph slump, but.. we all know what can happen in second years.

The Braves had to make a decision, and they made it. We can’t say we need a power hitter, which was the primary focus of the Braves offseason needs, and then refuse to pay him. We also didn’t want another Tex situation, where we gave up so much, and had Tex for only one season.

31 isn’t “old”. Uggla might well have five very productive years left. Even if he averages.. 25 homers.. and 90 RBI’s.. this is still a good deal.

I’m sorry.. but I don’t agree with you. The Braves did what they had to do, in my view.

MitchC

January 6th, 2011
12:18 am

What I meant to say was.. Mccann was the only real power hitter we had before we got Uggla. Just wanted to clarify that.

MitchC

January 6th, 2011
12:26 am

One other thing: Look at the potential numbers.

Money wise.. 62 mil over five years is less than 12 and a half million a year. Thats a lot of money.. but.. think of what a guy who can hit 25 or 30 homers, and drive in 90 or 100 runs, would make in.. New York.. or Philly. Although 12 plus mil a year is a lot of money to.. the Braves.. many teams would consider such a contract a bargain, especially when you see guys with similar numbers making 15, 20, 25, 30 mil a year.

We all know this team’s payroll constrictions.. but.., considering the fact that we needed a power hitter, and the real dollars involved, as opposed to what Uggla might have cost another team.. this isn’t an outrageous or unwise outlay of money.

Kramer

January 6th, 2011
6:14 am

I know this is supposed to be a negative article in order to get some clicks, but bleeeeehhhhh. Uggla is a great fit.

Tiger kicking Duck

January 6th, 2011
6:31 am

Agree 100%— they also need LHSP! (see phills lineup)
Lowe will look good in a Texas Uni!

fieldofdreams

January 6th, 2011
7:20 am

I suppose you have to spin this badly to illicit response of some sort. With “Danny U-boat” patrolling second, and torpedoing missiles into the left field stands, the Braves can contend for the East.

ramblingman

January 6th, 2011
7:32 am

For those of you who are complaining that you would not have given him that many years or that much money…consider the following. Unless you have mental powers to force his hand to sign his name, he was not going to sign for less years or less money. That leaves the choice between losing him after a year or signing him to this contract.

So be honest and come right out and proclaim that you would much rather lose Uggla after a year rather than sign him to a contract that is not bad considering the market.

I did not think so.

As for Bradley, I would not worry too much over what he writes. Don’t get too upset, people. It’s not like he has a record of not being wrong. As many have said, his aim was to provoke debate. Mission accomplished.

papadawg

January 6th, 2011
8:05 am

All I can say is we’re better in the outfield & second base than we were this time last year

John

January 6th, 2011
8:21 am

Mark, you are so negative about Atlanta teams. Why don’t you move to Cleveland where you would fit in nicely?

the big bone

January 6th, 2011
8:45 am

Mark i think you are over doing this he is a major league ball player. looking at his record with flordia it tells me he is a average glove with an above average bat. think this lineup 1.mclouth2.prado3.jones4.uggla5.bmac.6.heyword7.freeman8.whocares the braves will be better this year rotation stays healthy 90 win season..

raleighbravefan

January 6th, 2011
8:56 am

Mark, I realize that you have to write something negative just to “stir the pot”. It reminds me of some of the posters on the “real” Braves blog, who say outrageous things just to get a reaction. However, you remind me of a lot of politicians, who make crazy/unfounded/ unrealistic statements. My challenge to you, which I’m sure will not get an answer, is to give us specifics of what moves (name possible players) that would constitute better “use” of the money. Make your case instead of just throwing out a questionable idea with no appearant basis.

davidingeorgia

January 6th, 2011
9:00 am

Uggla is better defensively than given credit for.

Prado will play 75% or more of the season at 3b once Chipper pulls a hammy or gets a hangnail at Hooter’s.

Mark Bradley is still as clueless as he’s been since joining the AJC. Did the Braves pay Uggla too much for too long? Sure. Every major league team does these days. The question Bradley avoided answering is what better option the Braves could have taken to improve the team as much as adding Uggla’s bat will. Of course, that would require Bradley actually have a clue about what that “better option” might be so he chose to go the easy, lazy route and just gripe about the money. And apparently couldn’t be bothered to proofread this sorry excuse for a column either.

What does the AJC pay you, Mr. Bradley? I suspect you’re more overpaid given what you produce than Uggla will be.

justin1

January 6th, 2011
9:22 am

Uggla will have warning track power at best within 2 years. Bad move. Hitting 30 HRs a year for a right handed pull hitter at sunlife doesnt impress me too much. If he was puttin out 40-45 it would be more promising. His numbers are not going to get better hitting in a bigger, less hitter friendly park. I predict a 25 HR year from him in 2011 and by 2015, less than 15..

DAP

January 6th, 2011
9:26 am

better ways to spend $62mil? like what? i think the defense thing is being a little overblown by this article. its not like the braves signed jim thome to play 2nd base.

DAP

January 6th, 2011
9:30 am

justin1 His numbers are not going to get better hitting in a bigger, less hitter friendly park.

um…justin…the marlins stadium is longer down the left field line and exactly the same in left center. the heavy air in miami probably also makes it hard to hit HR out of there. you are way off here.

raleighbravefan

January 6th, 2011
9:36 am

Amazing the number of hand-wringers who have cried for years for a power hitter. Now we have one, and some people are complaining. Perhaps they just like to complain.

justin1

January 6th, 2011
9:53 am

Well either way, I read an article breaking down his power stats. It was scary. His average homer distance was like 410 and have steadily declined. I want to say his avg. homer distance this past year, granted it was his best offensive year of his career, was less than 400. Scary.

You have to admit that 30HRs is nice, but not impressive enough to grant a 5 yr salary through his, what will be, his final years of career. If he was hitting, like I said around 40 per year, then it would be fair to expect at least 30 bombs a year thru his years with Atlanta. Were signing him purely for his power, and honestly, he doesnt have scary power that will last for 5 more years.

2011- 27 HRs
2012- 29 HRs
2013- 22 Hrs
2014- 12 Hrs
2015- 11 Hrs

raleighbravefan

January 6th, 2011
9:56 am

justin – Do you also predict what stocks will be worth in 4-5 years?

Boombrave83

January 6th, 2011
10:04 am

yeh justin…..not to mention its uh…..434 in dead center down in miami….where as its 400 at the Ted. what the crap are you talkin about son?

Boombrave83

January 6th, 2011
10:06 am

justin1…..you realize that if he averages 410 per homer in atlanta, that clears the deepest part of turner field by 10 ft. and guess what….even if he hits it 401, it still counts as a homer

ramblingman

January 6th, 2011
10:42 am

We get it, Justin. You don’t like the Braves signing Uggla. You have pulled some numbers out of nowhere to make your dislike sound better and predicted an astonishing decline in power for Uggla.

Can you come up with another player who suffered such a drastic dropoff, barring injury?

Lou Vales

January 6th, 2011
10:54 am

You accuse Mark of being negative about Atlanta teams. Atlanta has had teams in all 4 major sports almost(Flames/Thrashers) continuously since 1966. With those 4 teams combined, Atlanta can boast of one LESS World Championship than the Florida Marlins have won since 1997. You expect Mark to be optimistic? Now if he was to move to Cleveland,3 teams(counting Browns/Ravens as 1)–no hockey–have won 0 World Championships, but you could count Ohio State as a better football team than Georgia since 1980 which would count for something in football hotbeds.

Atlanta-Cleveland Cleveland-Atlanta Atlanta-Cleveland Cleveland-Atlanta??

Atlanta is a far better area but writers in both cities should not expect to interview people who are carrying big crystal trophies around a jubilant locker room.

jason

January 6th, 2011
11:18 am

ok I have said this before Ugglafielding percentage is better than Prado and Infante case closed

Walker

January 6th, 2011
12:28 pm

MB- The players and coaches in atlanta who know you have very little respect for you. and the players in coaches outside of atlanta..they’ve never heard of you. Ur a disgrace to this puclication

Walker

January 6th, 2011
12:29 pm

publication*

No Crying in Baseball

January 6th, 2011
12:31 pm

The Uggla contract, as well as the contracts for Lowe, Kwakami, and Jones, are just the cost of doing business in today’s sports market. If you want to play you got to pay, “there ain’t no free.” All of you something for nothing guys need to chill out for a while. When any contract is signed there is a risk, sometimes you win sometimes you lose. If you want an established player (30 HR, 100 RBI) then you have to pay for him.

I am sure Uggla’s contract can be dumped in 3 years to the senators, royals or brewers, even if it has to be prorated. There is always value in a player that is under contract for more than a season. We need him now and the $62 mill contract is the cost of keeping him. I hate the one year rentals.

I am sure the net difference between Prado at second and Uggla at second will be negligible, as long as both are in the line up, and hitting, which they will be! If Uggla is a disaster in the field, adjustments can be made, we can always stick him in left. We did it to Chipper.

Dan Uggla / Uggla deal official, press conference at 2:30 p.m. | Sporty Twits

January 6th, 2011
1:00 pm

[...] reach agreement on new contractDetroit Free PressBraves Overreact In Extending Dan UgglaTalking ChopDan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, 'Ugh'Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Examiner.com -USA Today -SB Nation Phillyall 273 news [...]

Mr. Baseball

January 6th, 2011
2:31 pm

Adding Uggla is a positive step, but the reality is, the Braves must purge themselves of past sins before they can truly move forward. The sins of the Band Aids – trading the farm (2 All Stars) to get Texiera for a year and a half when it was a forgone conclusion he would end up with the Yankees. Overpaying for Lowe because you lost on Burnett and giving $40 million to Chipper expecting to get what he was instead of what he is. When these and other sins are repented, then signing Uggla for $62 million will be a non-event – just doing business.

raleighbravefan

January 6th, 2011
3:00 pm

Mr. Baseball – When we resigned Chipper, he had JUST WON A BATTING TITLE! Many other factors entered into that contract, which have been rehashed here ad nausium. Get over it, or at least give it a rest.

Pdog

January 6th, 2011
3:29 pm

Braves have to hope that Uggla can put up solid numbers for the next three years then hope to trade him to an American league team looking for a DH. In three years his contract will not seem crazy the way salaries are climbing and one of the kids in the minors should be ready to play either left or second by then.

SID

January 6th, 2011
4:12 pm

When will the increase in ticket prices be announced????????????????

raleighbravefan

January 6th, 2011
4:24 pm

Mark – I guess you aren’t going to provide any specifics, or even suggestions, about how the $62M could be better spent. Actually, I’m not at all surprised. Are you actually Don from the main blog just posing as a columnist/blogger?

ramblingman

January 6th, 2011
4:52 pm

Okay, so those of you who are getting all bent out of shape because the team signed a player with very good stats to a reasonable contract averaging under $13M for 5 years – here is a question for you.

Have you ever in the past complained that the Braves did not go out and sign a top notch FA? Ever complain about the Braves letting JD and Tex walk? I guess the true question is have the Braves done anything that you approved of? Ever?

baseball, you are twisting history a bit. They gave up a lot but they did not give up the entire farm for Tex. It was certainly not a foregone conclusion at the time he would sign with NY. The team took a gamble, for which they were persecuted by the same people who persecuted them for not taking a gamble at other times.

As to the overpaying for Lowe because they lost on AJ – don’t simplify it down to they paid Lowe just because of losing out on Burnett. There were many factors and one was the desperation level of rebuilding the staff. Burnett contributed but was not the sole factor. Besides, which one would you rather have right now?

As for Chipper – well, he has earned every single penny the Braves ever pay him. Calling it a sin is an opinion and, IMO, a severely wrong one.

BradleyCurse

January 6th, 2011
5:21 pm

Bradley is a true Atlanta sports fan! First he questions the Falcons in the playoffs and now he’s on to the Braves. Hawks and Thrashers fans better watch out .. you’re next!

Lou Vales

January 6th, 2011
5:22 pm

Chipper will ultimately have career ended due to an injury sustained while engaged in coitus.The man was disabled by a batting cage.The man was disabled by a bed in a 5 Star hotel.The man in his 80’s will be going by “Chipper.” He is a joke.

Billy

January 6th, 2011
5:47 pm

Prado will be an upgrade in left field. Both offense and defense. He is an experienced LF’er so it is not as if he has never played there. He has been playing LF in Venezuela for years.

Uggla makes all the routine plays at 2nd and turns the DP with the best of them. Where he accumulates his errors is when he tries to follow through with spectacular, almost impossible diving stops of balls hit and he tries to finish off the play with errant throws when he should put the ball back in his glove. His one flaw is he is not the best at making circus throws.

Craig

January 6th, 2011
7:54 pm

everyone juges his d becouse of one game give it a rest already!

Luv 2 hate me

January 6th, 2011
8:10 pm

Mark you looked like death warmed over when I saw you on TV last week discussing the Falcons (I forget what channel). Try smiling for a change!

MitchC

January 6th, 2011
8:47 pm

Mark.. one other thing.. my friend.

For a guy who just wrote an “accountability score” article, admitting you were 100% wrong about all your predictions in 2010, including the Braves.. don’t you think your position on Uggla is.. a bit. daring.. considering how your previous predictions turned out?

Once again, we can’t have it both ways. We can’t have fans, writers, etc.. clamoring for the Braves to spend money to get the power bat we need, and then.. when we do.. we get Mark Bradley writing articles saying “OMG there are better ways to spend $62 million”. The Braves either spend money for the power hitter to try and produce more homers, and RBI’s.. or they dont..

Uggla is something the Braves haven’t done much of during their successful years, do a trade and sign to a long term contract of a “Middle aged” free agent. What I mean by that is.. we signed Greg Maddux to. at the time.. a large free agent deal when he was 27 years old, and coming off a Cy Young season. Greg was probably the best free agent signing this team ever had. We had him for 11 years, he was 106 games over 500 for us, won three Cys, and a WS.

Then, two years ago.. we sign “Old” Derek Lowe to a large free agent deal when we had some money to spend. Derek gives us 15 wins a year for 2 years, and a 4 ERA. Not Cy Young Maddux, but, 15 wins isnt chicken feed.

I see it that the Braves did the best they could. I dont know if there were that many “younger” free agents out there, who we could have gone after. We couldnt necessarially sign two 15 home run hitters who were cheaper, instead of one 30 home run one, who cost 12 mil a year, because, where would we play them, and where would we bat them in the order?

The problem I have with what you’re saying is this. All of us… fans. Writers! etc, knew we needed a power hitter. Power hitters, 20 to 30 homer guys, dont come cheap now a days. We get one.. who is not old, and who can meet our needs.. for not an astronomical price, considering the markets of what he might get in NY, Philly. LA., and Bradley is writing articles criticizing the Braves for signing a power hitter to a deal that is probably below market value for the offensive production we will get from him.

Do you see my problem with what you’re saying?

Boatdoc

January 6th, 2011
8:54 pm

Jason “ok I have said this before Uggla fielding percentage is better than Prado and Infante case closed”

Although I believe adding Uggla makes the Braves a significantly better team because of his bat, fielding percentage is not the stat that makes the Uggla “case closed”.

Fielding percentages:
Uggla .980 (all at 2B)
Prado .982 overall, .987 at 2B
Infante .981 at 2nd.

Errors last year:
Uggla 18 errors in 745 chances at second
Prado 6 errors in 475 chances at second

By any objective standard, Uggla represents a step down as a defensive second baseman.

But I believe that the combination of Uggla and Prado together in the lineup offensively will more than compensate for the slight degradation of defense at second.

Freddie G

January 6th, 2011
9:34 pm

It is good to see Liberty willing to spend some money, and yes it is well deserved for a player of Uggla’s production. As stated previously by several others and by me in past post’s Chipper’s contract is of most concern, considering his injury record over the last 5 years, his age and his declining production. We love Chipper, but The last extension was waaay too generous.

Furman Bitcher

January 6th, 2011
9:47 pm

Folks Chipper & Kawakami come off the books next year and that is 20 million. I think we will be just fine signing players this year and in the future.

Furman Bitcher

January 6th, 2011
9:50 pm

Boatdoc, if Uggla hits 30 dingers I can handle those 18 errors all season long

Geno

January 6th, 2011
10:17 pm

I’m glad the Braves made a deal and got a good bat. Let’s keep moving forward. Quit whining.

Boatdoc

January 6th, 2011
10:27 pm

Furman – as per my previous post regarding Wins Above Replacement, statistically Uggla would have been good for one win more than Prado LAST year – when Martin more than earned his All-Star selection.

I can’t WAIT to see what Uggla can do hitting surrounded by Prado and Heyward and Chipper and McCann instead of Coghlan, Maybin, Cantu, etc, not to mention hitting at The Ted in front of enthusiastic fans 2 hours from his home, instead of at that teal monstrosity in front of 800 apathetic seat warmers.

I won’t be surprised to see Uggla have a Davey Johnsonesque 40 + HR season. If that happens the Braves may have 4 players score 100 runs.

The big questions are still CF and Chipper’s health. Wouldn’t we love to see Nate hit .270 with 40 doubles and 20 HR, and Chipper play 130 games with an OBP of .400? If that happens I don’t give a hoot about the Phillies rotation.

Boatdoc

January 6th, 2011
10:33 pm

Here’s a question for anyone who wants to answer:

Freddie Freeman has only a handful of MLB at-bats, but there is essentially no “back-up plan” at first base.

Here’s the question: What kind of year does Freddie have to have to be considered a success? If his stats are less than the Glaus/Lee/everybody-else-amalgamation at first last year – is that a failure?

Boatdoc

January 6th, 2011
11:01 pm

Mitch: I totally agree with Uggla’s value relative to “the market”.

Uggla compares favorably with Jayson Werth or Adam Dunn statistically:

Uggla .287 33 HR 105 RBI
Werth .296 27 HR 82 RBI
Dunn .260 38 HR 108 RBI

Yet the Braves get Uggla for 62 million for 5 years: 12.4 million a year at age 30, while Werth, one year older, is getting 126 million for SEVEN years – 18 million per year, and Dunn just signed for 56 million for four years – 14 million per year.

Again: defensively Uggla may not be Joe Morgan (who is?) but offensively he gives us the kind of production that is rare for anyone in MLB, but especially rare for a middle infielder. Uggla’s slugging percentage last year was .508: higher than Ryan Howard (.505) or Prince Fielder (.471) Rather than a “liability” Mr. Uggla appears to me a “bargain.”

Bobby's Cox

January 7th, 2011
1:20 am

His contract, for a 30-HR guy really isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s a bargain. If his D really sucks that bad, or his range deteriorates around 35 y/o, they could trade him to the AL, in which 30+ bombs for a DH at $12 per season would be a bargain. Overall, good contract. Sucks that Martin has to play LF. Here’s hoping for Chipper to break out again, or retire early…

Bobby's Cox

January 7th, 2011
1:23 am

Boatdoc,

There is a backup at 1B. His name is Eric Hinske. Prado can also play 1B, in which case you’d move Schafer or Matt Young to CF, & McLouth to LF.

The Braves as currently constructed, have the depth to cover numerous injury/non-performance scenarios

puppydawg

January 7th, 2011
7:31 am

Good grief, Bradley. Who pissed in your corn flakes? When Uggla is the starting second baseman for the NL All-Star Team, you’ll be eating crow. That is, unless you employ the old journalistic trick of having amnesia and claim that you knew all along that this was a good deal for the Braves. BTW, have you ever worn a uniform?

Steve

January 7th, 2011
9:09 am

I am a huge believer in defense, so I partially agree with this, but let’s look at it from all sides.

You can have the best defense in the world, but other teams are STILL going to score 3-4 runs a game against you on average at the least. You have to be able to score at least 4-5 to win consistently. Uggla/Prado is such a huge improvement over Diaz/Cabrera/Prado on offense it is not even measuable. Teams fear Uggla at all times, not just when he is rolling like MattyD. Simply fact is that we could not have expected Infante to continue to hit like last year. We really can’t be sure Prado will, though his minor league numbers suggest he could. Uggla is a known commodity with 5 years of ridiculous numbers. If Chipper goes down,

Safety net topic. Uggla is also a HUGE safety net if Chipper gets hurt again. If we have to move someone to third it would have been Prado anyway, only instead of having to fill two holes if that happens (2B and OF) we only have to fill one. The hope is that Chipper is ready to go by spring training and plays lights out all year long, but if he does get hurt we still have a legitimate right handed power bat in the lineup. Not only that, if Chipper is able to go during spring, we should get time to evaluate McLouth and possibly Shafer before deciding on what to do next. We reallyl had no one left to evaluate at middle infield … we know we have nothing close to major league waiting in the minors at those positions. Closest we have is two yars away from what I have seen/heard.

Now from the defense side. When is the last time you saw Uggla boot a game away against the Braves? When was the last time you saw him not be able to get to a ball that you know he cost the team a game due to his limited range? Come on people, the difference between an average fielder (Infante/Prado) and Uggla has so very little impact. Uggla can turn double plays without any problems and has a accurate arm that is probabyl around average in strength. Slow and steady is better than flash and implode. Just ask Glaus how much more he liked the slow and steady A-Gon over flash and implode of Escobar. Per a couple of the defensive stat programs, Uggla might get to one less ball every 6 games or so over Prado (who wasn’t exactly a defensive dynamo folks). Yes, maybe 1 out of every 3 of those scores. Yes, maybe one out of every 3 that scores has a significant impact on the game. That 27 fewer chances, roughly 9 runs, roughly 3 games. The numbers against the league average are slightly worse, making it 4 games affected. If you seriously think Uggla’s bat doesn’t far outweigh that, then you don’t know baseball.

Uggla increases the offense FAR more than he hurts the defense. His production will help EVERYONE else in the lineup, similar to having Chipper in there. He will likely be batting behind Chipper and McCann against righties, and probably ahead of McCann against lefties. That means a huge amount of protection for those guys. Protection they really haven’t had since Andruw’s big season and Tex being here. My guess is he alters 20-25 games offensively directly. He is a HUGE run producer.

I love the contract despite the age and the defense. Look at it this way .. if he doesn’t pan out on defense and we want to trade him .. he would be one of the cheapest DH’s with that kind of production. AL teams would give up far more than we did to get him now that he is signed to what amounts to be a cheap contract for a hitter with his numbers. There is very little negative in the signign of Dan Uggla. The intangles are also ridiculous, as the guy is hard nose player who never quits. He is a better hitting, more powerful version of Matt Diaz. That kind of attitude is infectious, and it might actually resultin the team be better defensively just from being ‘in the game’ more .. though just getting rid of Escobar eliminated most of the lazy attitude this team had.

Steve

January 7th, 2011
10:12 am

Gotta hand it to MB though. He started yet anotehr blog where 90% of the posters are completely against him, and the number of posts is soaring.

He has some valid points, but I think he is too focused on the negative side. Defense is important but extremely overvalued by some folks, just like home-runs are by other folks, and OBP is probably the most-overrated stat in the books since a singles hitter can have a high OBP on a team with no one to drive him in and have no significant impact on the game (which is why OBPS or OPS or whatever acronym you choose to use is becoming the standard).

Oh, and stop quoting fielding percentage. It’s about as useless as OBP with no slugging or speed. A second baseman with zero range could have a 1.000 fielding percentage and still hurt his team due to lack of zone coverage. Uggla is not good at either. His fielding percentage is merely adequate and his range is below adequate. Even with that, he is not a tremendous downturn from Prado defensively.

To the person who said Uggla is only a 1 game bonus in total wins over Prado .. you are not thinking it thru. You need to see what Uggla is in game bonus over Infante. Prado is still going to be playing every day (or close). And don’t simply use last years numbers .. do a three year mock up. I am willing to bet you that Uggla is a 10 win improvement over Infante when using a three year window of stats instead of Infante’s outstanding career year. I still love Infante, but he is going to bring in a 6-8 million contract after this year and he just isn’t worth that.

Bobby's Blunders

January 7th, 2011
11:34 am

A player making the slary of a Star Player should be good in all aspects of the game. To pay over 12 million per year to a player who cannot play defense is absurd.
Even more absurd is the fact that the Brave seem to be conting heavily on Chipper who will be making about 15 million and taking up a huge part of the salary budget – when he is just a part time player – is very poor defensively – and despite being a great, great hitter in the past, has not really been productive for two years, and now, of course is coming off serious injures and at 39 is a year older.
They obviously do not have a Centrfielder,their Shortstop is not of major league quality either defenisvely or offensively, and they have an unproven rookie at first base. Thus, in 4 or the 8 position player positions, they have potential significant problems – not even counting the defensive problems with Uggla. Even more significant – what could have been a grat (basically young) starting pitching staff in now questionable past Hudson and Hanson — Medlin is out for the season, JJ has not been dependable/effective since the SHOULDER injury,
Lowe is a year older and who knows. They have some potentially good young talent, but it is unproven. They keep having Pitcher injury after injury, after injury – but still keep the same pitching coach – Is this his fault — who knows.

Bobby's Blunders

January 7th, 2011
11:38 am

Writers keep talking about who is going to “back up” Center Field. Before worrying about who the back up Centerfielder is, it might be best to even have a regular Centerfielder.

Tyler NJ Brave

January 7th, 2011
12:33 pm

Uggla’s defense isn’t as big of an issue when you lay it all out. If you think about it the upgrade of having Freeman at first and Prado in left instead of Glaus and Diaz/HInske, outweighs the second base position going from Prado to Uggla.

T Burns

January 7th, 2011
1:24 pm

If Bradley’s opposed to the move, then by all means count me as one in favor!

Braves_fan_RSD

January 7th, 2011
1:48 pm

Mark,

This has to be one of the most moronic blogs I have ever seen. Not only did you provide no statistical analysis to back up your points, but you can’t even get the names right.

Look at his home and away splits on defense, and if you think that’s just an anomaly look at Hanley Ramirez’s as well. The fact is the Marlins have a terrible playing surface, so its no surprise their defense is terrible there.

I’ll link you to the site that will provide you with this statistical analysis, since you are too lazy or to ignorant to find it yourself.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=3442&position=2B&season=0

Martin Prado is a career -8.4 UZR/150 at 2B while Dan is a -4.5 UZR/150, so Dan has produced better fielding numbers, while playing on a football field. Even looking at their 3 year, Martin has a -10.4 compared to Dan’s at -5.4. By no statistical analysis can you say that Martin Prado is a better fielder, which is why I believe you left stats out of this “rant.”

By the way that non athletic 2nd baseman Uggla also turns the DP better than Prado, +2.2 runs above average for Uggla, and +0.1 for Prado.

This is not meant to down Prado who is a hell of a player, but Bradley did you even look at the stats or did you just let your *** do your talking for you?

The you go on to say 62M can be spent better elsewhere but provide no feedback about what you would do if you were spending the money, easy to throw stones when you have no ideas to be criticized.

All in all a horrible article, horrible read, and gives no informative information.

Charley Maxwell

January 7th, 2011
4:35 pm

I’m a Tigers fan who now lives in Boca Raton and I love baseball. I’m one of those people you actually see in the stands. If as a first time posterI can contribute on Uggla. Won’t comment on his hitting as that speaks for itself. The stadium is actually very friendly from the 3rd base line to about 120 feet off the line but Uggla rarely hits a home run that takes advantage of those dimensions. There will be no falloff in Atlanta until natural aging process kicks in.
As to his fielding, it really is bad. Fielding percentage does not adequately describe the complete lack of range. I mean from left to right and coming in and going back. The man does not get to balls. Surely one of your beat writers could verify that with an anonymous chat with any advance scout in the game. Uggla also has trouble with the turn unless he has plenty of time. What you will notice quickly is how he can have trouble on the easiest of routine plays. He sometimes aims his throws. He really is bad and I have no dog in this fight.

Charley Maxwell

January 7th, 2011
4:44 pm

Forgot to mention that Tigers had an interset in Uggla but they saw him as a left fielder and they have NO second baseman. I’m telling you have your writer talk to scouts. They will talk to accredited people and as long as name is not mentioned they will give you all you want.to know. Football field may account for bad hops but from April through August the choppiness of field would not account for number of balls squeaking through. I don’t know if range factor takes into account a basically all right handed staff.Had one left hander at a time in bullpen and whoever it was, he was rarely used.

D12: Huzzah! Hall of Fame season mercifully drawing to an end | MLB Blitz

January 8th, 2011
4:00 pm

[...] 7. This offseason is officially starting to seem long, because I could have sworn that Dan Uggla and the Atlanta Braves had already reached a contract extension. But apparently not, as the two sides just came to a five-year agreement worth $62 million. [AJC] [...]

Jim Wynn

January 8th, 2011
9:43 pm

Dan Ugglie is nothing but a toy cannon.

Jim Wynn

January 8th, 2011
9:44 pm

Dan Uggla is nothing but a toy cannon.

Ebenezer Snerdberg

January 9th, 2011
6:31 am

If you don’t like it, with your bumbling record, it MUST be a great deal!

Pat

January 10th, 2011
12:38 pm

F-

E-4

January 10th, 2011
4:26 pm

Dan NEVER got over that All Star Game. He made a fool of himself and every once in awhile the spectre of Steve Sax invades his brain.

Bobby's Blunders

January 11th, 2011
10:38 am

Before getting too excited about the Braves, remember that all they need to be good is JUST a Major League quality Centerfielder, Shortstop. Third Baseman, and perhaps First Baseman; and for Medlin (who is at least a year away) and JJ to return to form.

Boatdoc

January 11th, 2011
10:15 pm

E-4: to say Uggla never got over “that All Star Game” is simply a troll statement.

Uggla’s stats:
2008 (The All-Star Year).260/.360/.874/ 32 HR/ 92 RBI
2010 .287/.369/.877/ 33 HR/105 RBI

* For those unfamiliar with the internet use of “troll”: In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.*

Dan Uggla has done just fine since his admittedly disastrous ASG.

Don’t feed the trolls.

Bobby's Blunders

January 12th, 2011
9:01 am

Uggla may not be great defensively, but my bet is that he is far better defenisvely than Chipper is at third and probably as good or better than our Shortstop.
If the rookie first baseman can play defense, then that will give the Braves ONE infielder who can play adequate defense.

Bobby's Blunders

January 12th, 2011
9:04 am

Come to think of it — Do the Braves have even one position player who is good defensively???? Don’t know how Prado will be in Left. Right Field may be OK.

Dan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, ‘Ugh’

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Dan Uggla gets $62 million over five years, and I say, ‘Ugh’

344 comments Add your comment

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