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
Pete
July 27th, 2011
1:15 pm
It will be either Willingham or Quentin
Heyward is a WIMP
July 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
Find us a bat that can replace the WIMP called Heyward!!!!!!!
FalconFiend
July 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
Quentin switch hits right?
Alabama Man
July 27th, 2011
1:17 pm
We here at Univ. of Alabama are proud of our cheating and don’t care what you think. Bear Bryant was the biggest cheat of them all but we are Alabama and you ain’t. We will continue to pay all of our players because we have the SEC, NCAA and Slive all in our back pocket. We are scum but we don’t care. Alabama Man!!!!
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
Quentin’s a righty.
banned_schemula
July 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
Jays are stocking up on talented head cases. I bet it pays off. Rasmus is 24. Yunel is 28.
amau2009
July 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
A guy goes into a restaurant/lounge wearing a shirt open at the collar and is met by a bouncer who tells him he must wear a necktie to gain admission. So the guy goes out to his car and he looks around for a necktie and discovers that he just doesn’t have one. He sees a set of jumper cables in his trunk. In desperation he ties these around his neck, manages to fashion a fairly acceptable looking knot and lets the ends dangle free. He goes back to the restaurant and the bouncer carefully looks him over for a few minutes and then says, “Well, OK, I guess you can come in – just don’t start anything.”
Mike D.
July 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
Well it says on MLB Traderumors that Beltran is going to the Giants……WREN YOU SUCK!!!!!!
cave
July 27th, 2011
1:23 pm
thats true
bluejays got rasmus
giants are getting beltran
wren is dumpster diving for another norton
Pete
July 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
no, Quentin is righthanded
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
Beltran will start a domino effect… I say at least 5 more “big” deals before the day’s done.
beebee
July 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
too bad Shafer can’t hit above .230.
but I say trade a good pitching prospect for a certified bat.
you never know how well the pitching prospect may turn out.
IF we can get a bat by trading off a young pitching prospect, yeah I say do it!
cave
July 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
GIANTS GOT BELTRAN
TY WRENN
reality check
July 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
YES…. YES…. YES…. we are in a situation we have to get a bat. This team can not win it. Too many down years and we have done it with smoke and mirrors up until this point. In good position and must captitalize with a trade for a BAT.
preferably a louiseville slugger…..
Mike D.
July 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
Again we are stuck with the bottom of the heap because WREN SUCKS!!!!!
cave
July 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
OKAY IDIOTS,WE NEED 5 GOOD BATS NOT ONE U REALLY THOUGHT BELTRAN OR PENCE HELP OUT LAST NIGHT?ALL YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
Hey, there are still plenty of viable options out there in the form of Byrd, Quentin, Willingham, etc.
cave
July 27th, 2011
1:27 pm
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
bvillebaron
July 27th, 2011
1:27 pm
FalconFiend:
I couldn’t agree more with your Byrd comments. Wren would be crazy to trade Minor or any of the other prime pitching prospects for Beltran. As you pro-trade players should have learned by now, trading for a “big time” bat doesn’t guarantee anything (e.g. Texeira and so far Uggla). Consider also all of the following:
(1) Beltan has no cartilage in at least one of his knees and thus is an injury waiting to happen at any time (probably within 1 week if the Braves trade for him);
(2) Beltran can’t play CF on a full-time basis (if he can still play it all);
(3) Beltran is a Boras client which means that the Braves would have 2 chances to sign him beyond this year: fat and none; and
(4) The team that loses Beltran does not get ANY compensation when he signs elsewhere due to a clause in his contract.
Sure it is easy for ESPN and some of you folks on here who prefer to panic because McCann will miss a few weeks to say let’s pull the trigger on Minor because he supposedly isn’t one of the best pitching prospects and thus is presumably “expendable”. One thing I have learned over the years is that you NEVER have enough pitching and I sure wouldn’t want to see Minor pitching effectively for the Mets against us for the next decade.
P.S. If the Braves really want Beltran and they wait until Sunday, they won’t have to part with a prime prospect to get him–the pressure would then be too great on the Mets to get something for him given his contract and the fact that they said they will trade him. If some other team is stupid enough to overpay for him prior to that, thank God Wren didn’t do it.
FalconFiend
July 27th, 2011
1:28 pm
We need a reliever bc Moylan is off in Australia drinking Fosters and chasing a kangaroo. A utility IF would help too, ala bill hall or jerry harriston jr.. Bring in Quentin, Byrd, Bourn, or Willingham plus an IF/RP
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
We could probably get Willingham and Wuertz from the A’s
George
July 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
Though Ross is a competent replacement, McCann will be missed. No one has mentioned the play of the game– the pitch-out on the suicide squeeze. I don’t know whether the call came from the bench or from McCann, though McCann went to the mound immediately before the pitch– great call.
Without question we need another bat. It was rather sad last night hoping that Freeman or Uggla would come up so that we would have a chance at some offense.
PMC
July 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
Some teams win championships. Some teams wonder why they can’t sell tickets even though they have hot minor league prospects.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
I wonder what the Giants gave up for Beltran? I’m guessing San Fran eats his contract and gets him for hardly anything.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
POSTGAME QUOTES
Prado wow 0/9 really?where is my mommy at?
Agon hey!norton taught taught me how to hit?
FF Hey espn??where is my damn commerical??
Chipper what happened,we lost or won?Sorry i was at hooters
Heyward shhhhhhh im tweeting
Bmac We are doomed,always next year
Proctor Release me so i can shut u guys out,u guys really suck at hitting
FG tip your cap to proctor,one helluva pitcher and batter
Schafer shhh dont tell anyone the peds are great,how else am i going to go 2/4 with a broke hand?Man,i hope no drug test this time.
rob
July 27th, 2011
1:33 pm
i am very impressed that frank wren doesn’t listen to the AJC or it’s bloggers on how to run a baseball team. thanks frank for NOT giving in and trading a pitcher for Beltran. very smart move for the future. who cares if the AJC doesn’t get as many hits online.
FalconFiend
July 27th, 2011
1:33 pm
Byrd hasn’t played much this year due to injury, but he is back now and hitting .313 with exceptional defense
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:33 pm
hey clueless ones layoff the meds beltran is with the giants now
ryan
July 27th, 2011
1:34 pm
Beltran to Giants what do we do now all you guys whining about Beltran we only would have had him for a couple of months i agree that the Rasmus thing stings didn’t a lot of you guys say don’t get Beltran There still Pence that is the block and Ludwick and White Sox are trading everyone .
don
July 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
Someone needs to kidnap Wren, cover his mouth with duct tape, and hold him in a far away cave until early August. The Braves don’t need to overpay for any duds that will add nothing to their playoff chances. the Braves should win the wild card if they stand pat- even with McCann out for a couple of weeks.
They will lose in the first round of the playoffs regardless of who is wearing the uniforms. They have a long history of underachievement in the playoffs and this year will be no different. Look at the roster. This is not a team, even with Beltran or Rasmus or Pence, who will win.
They might won with Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker, anfd Grover Alexander. Unfortunately, those boys are not available.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:36 pm
rob
how did that pitching work out in the 90s?1 world series
btw hows that hope and change working out for ya??
JoeFan
July 27th, 2011
1:37 pm
The answer to the Braves offensive problems may be at AAA. Take a look at Gartrell. He appears to be a quality hitter and a solid outfielder.Don’t forget Pastornicky is also doing well at AAA just in case the club wants to upgrade at SS.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
PENCE IS CLOSE TO SIGNING WITH THE PHILLIES
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
The White Sox have to get money off the books because they can’t sell tickets. We could probably pick up Quentin and Byrd if we’re willing to give up a few B-C grade prospects. I say we do it. That would give us insane OF depth and a potent offense.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
WHAT?!?!?!?! Pence to the Phils????? Now we HAVE to do something…
ryan
July 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
Go get Hunter Pence better than Beltran Jeff Shultz crying like little girl over Beltran .
Mark's for the Braves
July 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
To Roll Tide:
Nothing has been proven about Chizik. War Eagle–2010 National Champions!
And we got a gift last night, but we’ll take it! We do need a RH bat–we need to get one.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
CANT WAIT TO SEE BELTRAN HIT A HR OFF OF HANSON IN THE PLAYOFFS
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:40 pm
Real Deal, where did you see pence to phils?
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:40 pm
QUENTIN HAS NEVER PLAYED CF EVER R U 12 OR WHAT?
FalconFiend
July 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
I wonder if the marlins would be interested in trading Logan Morrison. They may think that their still in the race but with an ailing Josh Johnson, young pitching would be enticing.
ryan
July 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
I guess i spoke to soon about Pence now the Braves are in trouble Wren looks like a fool now fell a sleep at the wheal .
reebok
July 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
WIN a World Series??? Are you kidding? If the Braves do avoid a collapse and sneak into the playoffs as a wild card, they’ll be swatted aside in the first round. This is a below-average club in every aspect except starting pitching, and is designed to get crushed in the playoffs by teams that can both pitch AND hit.
don
July 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
I don’t know if the Giants got Beltran or not but I sure hope that is the case. Wren might escape all this in spite of himself. Of course, there is always the worry that he will panic and self- destruct.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
I said he was close to signing,did not say he is,
richie
July 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
Pence isnt going anywhere
Fred
July 27th, 2011
1:43 pm
Beltran in closing deal with Giants..anytime now
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
1:43 pm
richie
wanna bet?
John
July 27th, 2011
1:43 pm
I love the Braves but I am getting very tired of these strained obliques. I have never heard of a team having so many of the same strange “injuries”. I don’t think they are faking, but they need to stretch better or something.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
1:45 pm
Morrison is way too good and way too young for them to consider moving him. He’s part of their core for the future that’s built around Stanton.