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
richie
July 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
ultimately we will be disappointed by what, if he does anything, Wren does.
Joel Sultanik
July 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
Very simple solution…..Minor and Heywood for Pence (or Frenchie)
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
bench chipper,schafer,ross conrad,heinske
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
theo and where does prad play when chipper comes back?
Joel Sultanik
July 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
Heywood and Minor for Pence…….very simple way to make it to October.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
Pirates officially file complaint on last night’s loss. No surprise there…
No Deals
July 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Wren is a used car dealer, he knows nothing about dealing for new cars..just the 100,000 miles plus cars..Thats why Atlanta win never win the 500 on used cars.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Prado will man SS and we’ll bench Gonzo.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Some of you guys spend to much time playing Fantasy Baseball.
richie
July 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
we can build for the future in the OF untill chipper leaves. Period.
ATLER ( ramblin wreck )
July 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
B.J. Upton is our answer. He has a bat and speed. Enough said!!!!!!
Oh I almost forgot, Schultz and Bradley suck!!!!!!!
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Please stop talking about Kemp and Pence. Everyone allways talks about how they hated the Texiera trade. Well if we were to go get Kemp or Pence it would be the Tex trade all over again.
billy
July 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
I admit the call at the end of the game was bad, but so was the strike zone for the braves hitters!!!
ATLER ( ramblin wreck )
July 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
Ross can’t hit a beach volleyball.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
Also for all you guys talking about Upton. I pointed this out last night during the marathon blog…Upton heading to last nights action was 7 for his last 44 or hitting .159 over the past two weeks. I think we got enough crap hitters on the team to go acuire another one. Might aswell leave Schafer in.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
I don’t like Upton simply because his average is so low. We need someone to come in and hit right away. That’s no guarantee with Upton.
Sherwood
July 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
Heywood and Minor for Pence would be the ultimate move. Heywood makes Frenchie
look like an All Star. In fact if we can’t get Pence give Jeff a second chance.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
Might be a double post…
Upton over the last two weeks? 7 for his last 44 / .159 avg.
Where is the bat? Upton is a nice athlete but is not the baseball player his brother is. All hype…
Mister Frisky
July 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
3 hall of fame starters equalled1 WS title in 14yrs.No one in a Brave uniform at any level is even close to the big 3.What’s the point of hoarding pitchers.The Marlins won two WS in 6 years the Braves 1 since moving to Atlanta.Do the math .
richie
July 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
correct me if im incorrect but havent the only players pan out from the tex deal were Feliz and Andrus?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
2:20 pm
Zach Wheeler upper tier Giant prospect for Beltran.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:20 pm
prado can play lf,3b,2b.if we get a lf and chipper is healthy enough to play 4-5 games a week?where does that leave prado?thats another question for fw.I personally see fw getting a rh bat off the bench for lh pitching,and a middle reliever.
Ralph
July 27th, 2011
2:20 pm
Give mets Delgado, he gave up 10 runs last nite in 2 2/3 innings
The Dude Abides
July 27th, 2011
2:21 pm
@ALTER
BJ Upton is freaking terrible
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
ATLER, I completely agree, would love to have Upton. So what if his average is low the dude is an all world talent and when he does get on the guy can run. Plus the last time I checked a .240 average is better than a .237 or .229. Oh and not to mention Upton has an amazing glove in center.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
Richie, Harrison is the best player from that trade.
Just so you know.
July 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
Why is Vick losing an endorsement deal news for the AJC? Can the haters keep Vick out of their minds and mouths.
KenDog
July 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
Get Pence. Now!
iTiSi
July 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
This would be a great name for a rock band: Julio Lugo and the Obliques
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:23 pm
12:45pm: Olney tweets that Giants pitching prospect Zack Wheeler is expected to be the centerpiece in the trade. Brown and Jonathan Sanchez are not in the deal, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Whether it’ll be Brown or Wheeler is up in the air, tweets Andy Martino.
12:37pm: The Mets will likely receive two other players in addition to Brown, tweets Newsday’s Ken Davidoff. He says the trade could be announced later today or early tomorrow.
12:17pm: Carlos Beltran is going to the Giants, tweets Yahoo’s Tim Brown, with logistics being worked out. Just minor details remain, tweets SI’s Jon Heyman. ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets that the two teams are at the one-yard line, while Brown reminds us that a 24-hour waiting period applies since Beltran has a full no-trade clause. The Phillies are just barely hanging on for Beltran, according to multiple reports.
A key development may have been the Giants’ willingness to include center field prospect Gary Brown, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports
richie
July 27th, 2011
2:23 pm
BJ upton is essentially a right handed nate mclouth. Good D, upton has a strong arm. low average, a little pop every once in a while
Ralph
July 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
I would rather have Reed Johnson
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
However I would love Bourn but thats not gonna happen
PMC
July 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
So you guys not looking for a trade, you’re cool with just having a decent average baseball club?
What is this club winning as constituted?
motor
July 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
All the pitching in the world ain’t gonna stop da Phils. I guess you have to just pack it up,HOPE we somehow can hold onto wildcard and play for next year when we have some money. Sucks to love a team in the carpetbagger South.
No money EVER.
Frank wants cheap pitching next year so he can buy something. What I don’t know. A new condo?
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
Reed Johnson isn’t a great move but he’d be nice to have off the bench.
Bill
July 27th, 2011
2:26 pm
After reading the last couple pages, I have to agree with The Real Deal. On Schafer? on bring up Constaza and Gartrell ( put them on 40 man). Bourn and Pence are the Dreams of Fans but not management . Get Upton, don’t forget BJ can play 3b and 2b also.
Don’t believe wren can make a big deal..he’s to cheap to go after the best. Thats why Braves will always be second best.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
12:08pm: The Cardinals will send Rasmus, Trever Miller, Brian Tallet, and P.J. Walters to the Blue Jays for Jackson, Rzepczynski, Dotel, and Corey Patterson, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney. Olney adds that Miller is then expected to be traded to the White Sox
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
If we get Lowe off the books via trade and others via free agency we could land Reyes. Think about that.
PMC
July 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
I guess Freeman should lead off now since he’s got the best .OBP at .357?
Ted M
July 27th, 2011
2:28 pm
•Two front office men, neither from the Astros or Phillies, told ESPN’s Jayson Stark they believed the Phillies had a deal for Pence only to have the Astros back off. The Phillies offered Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singelton, and a second-tier pitching prospect for Pence, believes Stark. An Astros official told Stark they haven’t said no to any specific proposal, however.
•The Astros want a “very top pitching prospect” for Pence, tweets SI’s Jon Heyman, and the Phillies are trying hard. However, Heyman says most believe Pence will stay put.
The Braves are not gonna get Pence…they’ve gotta shot at Beltran tho…and we need him! Bad
richie
July 27th, 2011
2:28 pm
Matt Harrison Career Numbers 4 seasons (all with rangers)
ERA: 4.59
131BB 200K
Feliz had 40 saves last year. Andrus was a allstar last season.(i think)
Bill
July 27th, 2011
2:28 pm
Santana just no hit Indians…
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:29 pm
Wren is too cheap to go after the best? That’s why this offseason we signed the best offensive 2b of the past 5 years to a big fat contract, right?
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
2:29 pm
Bill, you are exactly right. Frank Wren is to cheap to go out and get a big time guy. Just look at Beltran. we could have already had him and now he’s going to SF.
ryan
July 27th, 2011
2:29 pm
Carlos Quinton might be a good trade he is decent player i just don’t know what the Braves looking at it would surprising if they don’t do anything .
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:29 pm
Yesterday’s Ubaldo Jimenez info: about seven teams are in on him, but the Yankees and Reds are best-positioned to make a deal if the Rockies are as motivated as has been reported. So far, the Rockies’ asking price of “three sure-thing young players, including one pitcher who goes into their rotation immediately” has not dropped. The latest:
•The Rockies are in active trade talks with six to eight teams, reports ESPN’s Jayson Stark. A source tells Stark that two NL teams, yet to be identified, are in the mix, and the guess is that one of them is the Nationals
brandon
July 27th, 2011
2:30 pm
If there was ever a time for a trade, it’s now…BMc down, Chipper down, Schafer down, which leads to McLouth being in CF for a while by himself. I’d say Upton is the only one out there that looks like he could possibly fit, as far as a true CF that’s right-handed. I like his potential, but eventually he’ll have to shake off potential from his name and reach what people think he can reach.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
2:30 pm
Upton has played CF exclusively since 2008.
http://www.draftbuddy.com/baseball/players/1667/B.J._Upton
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:31 pm
the nats are also in talks about upton,bourn,and pence