McCann’s on the DL. Do the Braves HAVE to land a big bat?
Rule of thumb: It's never good when your best player gets hurt. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
OK, so they probably shouldn’t run out and hire Johnny Bench. He retired in 1983. But the game that wouldn’t end — and by rights should have kept going — could well influence what the Braves do the rest of the week.
The trade deadline is Sunday. Brian McCann, the Braves’ MVP, will miss the next two or three weeks with a strained oblique. (By the way, there’s a move afoot to change the team nickname to the “Obliques.” Why is it no other club seems to have such trouble with that particular body part?) He’s the biggest bat on a team that has no other big bats.
It has been reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney that the Braves have said no to the Mets’ insistence that any trade for the two-month rental Carlos Beltran would have to include one of the organization’s four top pitching prospects — Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Minor, Randall Delgado. Does this injury change Frank Wren’s thinking?
On the plus side, the Braves still lead the wild-card chase by 3 1/2 games over Arizona. On the minus, they’re only 6-6 since the All-Star break and they’ve slipped six games behind the Phillies in the National League East. And they’re still not hitting much: They’ve scored five runs in 28 innings against the Pirates, and one of those came by way of umpire Jerry Meals’ sense of charity.
The Braves can get by for a bit with David Ross as the everyday catcher. He’s a good No. 2. But it’s becoming less clear if they can win a World Series with this batting order, and with the batting order having suffered another loss it’s no longer a given that this club will make it to October. I think it will. (The Braves can still pitch, even if the team ERA has taken a hit in recent days.) But current events do not fill me with the same sense of certainty I had two weeks ago.
By Mark Bradley
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558 comments Add your comment
Nate Mclouth
July 27th, 2011
4:08 pm
What about the emergence of nate mclouth? he looks like the future
Leumas
July 27th, 2011
4:08 pm
First off, I’ve watched that replay 20 times and I still don’t know if McHenry tagged Lugo on the leg. So I gotta give the umpire a break on the call. The call was fair if you ask me. The game would have been over long before extra innings if the umpire wasn’t calling strikes on left-handed batters when the catcher almost has to dive over to the right-handed batters box to catch the ball.
Now on to the trade deadline. Why am I hearing the Braves linked to Ludwick of all people? Am I the only one that sees him as a garbage player with no real upside? I stated before and still stand behind it, trade for Drew Stubbs. He’s a Georgia boy. I wouldn’t mind Pence at all, but I don’t think I would pay the asking price. I think Stubbs would be more affordable as far as prospect cost for acquiring him. Oh and I’ve stated it before, Stubbs is hitting over .300 against lefty starters. The Phillies have a couple of those right?
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
July 27th, 2011
4:09 pm
Forgive the mis-spellings and fat thumbeness, WAR DAMN EAGLE, GO BRAVES…
Mike
July 27th, 2011
4:09 pm
THey didnt want to get screwed like other trades we have in the past and Liberty Media is some cheapsakes.
Gary
July 27th, 2011
4:12 pm
Beltran would have been a difference maker – a McGriff type. Not every prospect deal will end up like the Tex deal.
@Nate Mclouth…..yeah some emergence. Had that moroon gotten the squeeze bunt down in the game last night Brian McCann might not have injured himself later in the game and things would look a little better today.
Gary
July 27th, 2011
4:14 pm
Screwed like other trades? It was Mike Minor that the Mets were asking for and as you can see by the move the Giants made, the Braves would only had to give up one pitching prospect to get it done. Plus the Mets are paying his remaining salary as I am sure would have happened with the Braves.
Chief KnockaHoma
July 27th, 2011
4:15 pm
This team has Manager and coaching problems that are being covered up.
The players are acting out their displeasure with what’s going on in the form of injuries.
Something has GOT to change.
TROTTINGHOME
July 27th, 2011
4:16 pm
Giant’s get Beltran…now what?
BravesTnFan79
July 27th, 2011
4:18 pm
Nothing i guess. I can’t believe we couldn’t give up one pitcher for Beltran either. Lame.
ryan
July 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
I think the Braves wanted Hunter Pence all along that is why in my opinion they cooled off the Beltran deal they wanted Pence .
Ryan
July 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
The giants gave up their best prospect for a 3 month rental of Beltran. I’m glad we didnt overpay that badly for him. We really need to get Quentin or Pence. In a dream scenario we get Bourn AND Pence and that allows Prado to play 3rd full time in the likely event of Chipper never getting healthy.
fordcobra
July 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
well if they wanted Pence why not go get him?
falconfever74
July 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
this is absolutely ridiculious not to get beltran for a pitcher who is not proven. just stupid. minor has had enough starts in the for them to know he will not be a number 1 or 2 starter in the league. if he is so valuable why is he continously up and down from the minors to the majors. u got to be kidding me beltran an all star who is killing the ball would be your at worst second best bat u dont trade for him because u want to keep a minor league pitcher who has had all opportunity to show something. and on top of that the mets are paying his salary. to let the giants get him who killed us last year without one hitter. the same people who are saying dont take beltran for 2 months are the same ones who says at least we made the playoffs. lol
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
So Ryan, you think that the Braves knew they could get Beltran for Minor (or something like that) but they didn’t because they found out that Pence is affordable?
Bill Goldberg
July 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
Heyward sucks. Does anyone else see this?
Hoosier Aaron
July 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
We just got our bat – Wil Nieves from the BrewCrew!
That’s exciting!!
JCH
July 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
bravestnfan – disappointing, I agree. But, I think making a big splash now no longer makes sense. If it there’s a deal to improve the team for the next couple of seasons AND help this year then do it (Pence for instance).
What
July 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
They needed another hitter even if mcann was well. the offense is atrocious.
BigBatHasArrived
July 27th, 2011
4:24 pm
Will Nieves.. Oh yea now we are gonna win. Thanks Frank you f***ing Idiot.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
4:25 pm
No, I don’t see Heyward sucking. Ive seen him suck at times but I would not categorize most of the ball that I’ve seen him play the past year and a half as sucking.
Tim
July 27th, 2011
4:26 pm
The Braves will NEVER win crap under this front office!!! TOOOOOO CHEAP!!!!!! FYI Mike Minor is a joke!!!!
Rob
July 27th, 2011
4:26 pm
I would do Adam Jones from Baltimore for Mike Minor
Bill Goldberg
July 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
Theo, let me rephrase. He hasn’t lived up to 1/4 of the hype. He’s hitting .224 and hits everything into the ground to the right side. Some may get through and he hits the occational home run. No super star by any means.
Tim
July 27th, 2011
4:29 pm
All Heyward cares about is fixing is jersey and batting gloves at the plate!!!!!!!!
Leumas
July 27th, 2011
4:30 pm
Braves need offense, but don’t need another trade like the one to the Rangers a few years back. From what I hear the Astros want about that for Pence. I would love to have him on our team, but I don’t want the Braves to give up the farm for him.Drew Stubbs should cost less, and he kills lefty starters. Phillies have a couple of them.
Tim
July 27th, 2011
4:31 pm
Is matt kemp on the market????
Los Bravos
July 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
All you Heyward haters are lame as hell. Just a year ago you all talked about how he was the next Fred McGriff or whoever. Give the guy some time to rebound. If he is still playing like this 2 years from now then you probably have a case. I predict that he will end up being a very solid player for years to come.
Leumas
July 27th, 2011
4:33 pm
Blah
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
4:33 pm
Well in 3 years when Heyward is hitting .275 with 30 homers and 100+ rbis I want ya’ll to come back on here and tell me how much Heyward sucks. Thank you.
Bill Goldberg
July 27th, 2011
4:34 pm
Los, I hope he does. I’m just writing what i’ve seen since last July a year ago. Doubt it.
GregD
July 27th, 2011
4:35 pm
I dont really like him but whats the story on BJ Upton. I dont know how long he is under contract or how much he is making but he could help…low average though, which is 1 of many things we are trying to upgrade.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
4:35 pm
Kemp “isn’t on the market”, but neither was Ethier. Now Dodgers are saying that the odds of an Ethier trade are “very slim”. If we blew them away I think they’d accept but otherwise he’s off the market.
Los Bravos
July 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
I agree completely Theo. Anyone that plays fantasy baseball knows that players can have down years. Look at Curtis Granderson for goodness sake. He has been a solid player for a while, but had a down year or so. Now all of a sudden this year he is a 5 tool beast. You just never know. I’m sure some of the Detroit fans were wanting him gone after just an ok or mediocre season. I bet you they are regretting that now. Give Heyward time. He’ll be a good one.
Sam
July 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
blah blah
Just so you know.
July 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
I sure do miss Terrance Moore writing for the AJC.
Tim
July 27th, 2011
4:39 pm
Kemp for Minor, Proctor, Shafer
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
4:40 pm
Granderson is a fantastic example, Los Bravos. His stats are inflated by yankee stadium, but he’s still raking it none the less.
Spud Webb
July 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
JCH, you have some great points. I understand what you’re saying.
I personally don’t believe Hunter Pence is the answer. We need HR’s and RBI’s in the 4 hole. I don’t know that there is a “win it all” type out there available, who knows who’s actually really available?
Here is the question…do you think that THIS current team can win the World Series? I think with this pitching staff they can win it all. I think if the Braves don’t make a move, they’re letting this fan base down, myself included. That said, again not sure if there is a difference maker out there, Beltran was dealt to SF minutes ago for a former number 6 overall pick. Now who is left?
I will say this team reminds me a LOT of the 88 dodgers…showing my age here! Yes, that was the year Gibby limped up and banged a HR off the UNTOUCHABLE Eckersley, and that year, ECK was UNTOUCHABLE, one of the best seasons EVER by a reliever.
TP
July 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
Let’s face it folks. To be a contender in any playoffs the Braves need a new bat, a new shortstop, a new left fielder, a new center fielder, two new relief pitchers, and a second new bat. We ain’t gonna get all that right now. Fredi will be pulling his hair out pretty soon, and that won’t be easier than filling all these holes.
HAL
July 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
hey don maybe check who actually made the tex trade as well as some obscure catcher named ed hern for a future cy young winer while he was in kc
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
4:48 pm
You people who think that we practically need a new team are ridiculous. Every team has flaws. No team can fill every need that they have. What we need is someone else in the middle of the lineup who can drive in runs. We’re getting on base, but no extra base hits and no base runners crossing home plate. We need someone who can drive balls to the gap with regularity.
JCH
July 27th, 2011
4:50 pm
Spud – the Giants won it all last year with less hitting than we have. They just all started hitting at the right time. If you look at last year’s Giants line-up for the majority of the season you’d say they had no chance. But…
So, I guess there is a chance but certainly wouldn’t put any $$$ on them.
Gary
July 27th, 2011
4:52 pm
Anyone griping about a 22 year old player who is still trying to adjust to the majors after battling several injuries are completely insane. Yes Heyward’s struggles are driving you and I nuts, but unlike you, I am not ready to give up on the guy. Talk to me in 2 years if things haven’t gotten any better.
Gary
July 27th, 2011
4:53 pm
Little worried about the deal for Nieves. Obviously, some are not comfortable with JC Boscan catching as a backup? Or is it deeper and are we worried Mac will be out longer than 15-20 days?
Jay
July 27th, 2011
4:58 pm
It’s all a crap shoot, trade Minor or one of the other pitching prospects for Beltran. All four of those guys are not going to be top starters in the league. Realistically, only one of the four will even pan out. This team is NOT going to the WS with the lineup as is. I’m willing to take the gamble. We just don’t need to be packaging multiple top prospects for a rental player, that was the problem with the Texeira trade. If the Mets were willing to deal Beltran for Minor straight up, that’s a trade I would have pulled the trigger on last week!
Laughing
July 27th, 2011
5:01 pm
Looks like the Giants are about to rent Beltran.
brandon
July 27th, 2011
5:04 pm
In my opinion, of the 4 pitching prospects we’ve got, I think Teheran and Vizcaino will pan out well. Minor is valued because he’s a lefty and Delgado has only 2 pitches currently, so he’ll need to work on another 1 or 2 to be successful in the bigs. Hopefully they’ll let Gilmartin get a little bit longer time in the minors before bringing him up, sending him down, bringing him up, and so on…
ryan
July 27th, 2011
5:07 pm
Pence could be on the move rumor has is it that he not in the lineup for the Astros so could Wren be working the phones .
chris
July 27th, 2011
5:12 pm
The Braves can’t win with McLouth in CF. End of story. He’s proven for the last two years that he can’t hit a lick and he cost the team the first game with the Pirates by throwing to third base instead of second – something they teach in little league and OF’s on my softball team even know to do.
Trade Minior for Bourn and a reliever because after O’Flaherty, it’s very dicey in close games.
Not Impressed
July 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
Frank Wren is an absolute dumb a$$ if he does not do something to improve this team before the trade deadline. He ought to be run out of Atlanta and BOO’ed every time he enters the TED. At least John S’holtz would make a move an try and improve the team. Wren is an absolute DUMB A$$.