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
vermont 39
July 27th, 2011
2:53 pm
The sky is not falling in…The Phails have had their fair share of injuries and their replacements have stepped up…time to see if this BRAVES team has what it takes…
GO BRAVES!!!!
richie
July 27th, 2011
2:54 pm
has the Tex deal really been that bad? I mean yea Feliz and Andrus have been great but Salty=bust, Harrison has a career 4.59 ERA. and im not sure about Beau Jones. These pitchers we have are three or four years away at best. Give up whatever to get pence ( save teheran) and make this team better so we can make a decent run. Get some middle relief and a bench bat as well. Fans want to win NOW.
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
2:54 pm
Thats not the Tex deal all over again. Minor and Delgado arent nearly the prospects Feliz and Harriston and Andrus were.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:55 pm
what is the f point of having the pitchers if u dont make a deal.
let me guess the braves are warming them up for the yankees,redsox,phillies of the world.
go get pence now,no way jj,hanson are both here in 2 years.they are both boras agents.wren thinks chipper is 4-5 games a week if that,and that is a gamble right there,make the deal for pence and we are set
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
2:55 pm
I didn’t realize that Reed was doing THAT well this year, I just figured that with his age he would be an everyday player, cuz I think he’s 35 or something like that.
the braves need owners that has balls
July 27th, 2011
2:57 pm
TRADE MINOR FOR BELTRAN TODAY, WHILE THEY STILL WANT THE LOSER BELTRAN IS A FREE AGENT HE WILL KNOCK THE CRAP AT THE BASEBALL IN OCTOBER YOU CANT AFFORD TO LOSE THE LEAD IN THE WILD CARD, DO IT TODAY FRANK WREN AND JOHN SCHERHOLTZ.
Another GM
July 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
Hey all CAPS……Beltran is going to the Giants
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
The braves cannot have a 8 man rotation,do you guys not get it?
JJ,Hanson both boras agents
Even if we lose both we have tehran,vizcanino,beachy,medlin
DO IT FW
FRANK?FRANK?
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
motor
July 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
Do we have a fookin SHORTSTOP?
Dont tell me Tex deal wasnt hell.
O-me
July 27th, 2011
3:00 pm
Pence is big. Not only very good player but more fans would go and more jerseys would be sold. Someone you could build around…Do it!!!!!
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:00 pm
HEY IDIOT BELTRAN IS NOT A 2 MONTH RENTAL,HE WILL SIGN A LONG TERM DEAL IN SF
GIANTS ARE NOT STUPID TO GIVE UP 3 PLAYERS FOR 3 MONTHS.R U GUYS DRUNK OR WHAT?
Braves20
July 27th, 2011
3:01 pm
Can’t agree with needing MORE than one hitter.With a Pence or Upton, you change the whole dynamic of your line-up i.e. Gonzalez not in the six hole. Depending on which guy you picked up, your seven hole hitter would be either Freeman or Heyward – when McCann gets back. Even given Heyward’s struggles, few teams have much better seven hitters than that.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
Phils had deal for Pence rejected by Pence. They offered Singleton and Cosart and the Astros refused. Aka it’s gonna take A TON to get this guy…
Ralph
July 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
It would be a sin to DFA Proctor after his heroic outing last nite but since i’m not a very religous person I would do it anyway
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
we have a ss in aaa who will be here next year,lugo is okay if THE OTHER @#$%BRAVES WILL HIT THE DAM BALL
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
We traded Andrus Because of Yunel, who was killing it at the time, was one of the best up and comers in the game. Who could have guessed he would act like a baby and suck at the same time.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
Heck go get Melky Back…
25 doubles 12 HR 57 RBI 14 SB .299 BA .789 OBP%
Surely it will not cost you much and he can play all three OF positions.
richie
July 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
A thing Pence has that we need is Heart. He plays hard and wants to win no matter what situation
Mister Frisky
July 27th, 2011
3:03 pm
Theo,Pence could bat anywhere he wants.He is better than what’s there now Mc Cann included.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:03 pm
theo
source/
T.J.
July 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
We traded Andrus because we had Yunel, who was killing it at the time, was thought to be one of the best up and comers in the league.
banned_schemula
July 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
I agree Teheran has some Pedro in him. And Minor, looks serviceable. But, he’s the one I would trade.
O-me
July 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
lowcounty..LOL
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
lowcountry
royals have said they are keeping melky,and franceur
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/27/report-phillies-had-a-deal-for-hunter-pence-but-astros-backed-off/
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
3:05 pm
O-me,
Come’on man I was trying really hard to sell that! Even to myself, lol!
Ok I had not heard they where keeping both of them. Makes sense or else his name would have been more discussed.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:06 pm
braves should offer
minor,delgado,nate
and throw in kk for free
that will do it
richie
July 27th, 2011
3:06 pm
on a lighter note. we still need a middle reliever lol
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:07 pm
if schafer not playing pence can play cf till he comes back,or bring up constanza
don
July 27th, 2011
3:07 pm
The Teixeira trade is recognized by most (other than some of these nit-wit posters) as one of the worst trades in the history of baseball. That is fact.
Everyone knows about all-stars Feliz and Andrus. Saltalamacchia, regardless of the smart remarks above, is the starting catcher for Boston- a team far, far more likely to be in the WS than are the Braves. Harrison is healthy and is putting up fine numbers in the Ranger rotation (check it out). Jones is a lefthanded reliever for AAA Round Rock and is a definite prospect. All are young.
The result of the Teixeira trade is that the Rangers should be indicted for grand theft and Wren should be committed to an asylum.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
3:08 pm
True Richie but at least to me now the OF bat is exponentially more necessary.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
3:09 pm
Hey Proctor is on a role…. do not be so quick to throw him to the curb!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
3:09 pm
Winning Pitcher, game winning RBI, classic stumble out of the batters box? He is on fire!
Bill
July 27th, 2011
3:10 pm
The Royals have one player I’d like thats Lorenzo Cain hitting 344 in aaa..I know the kid from Valdosta, Ga and he can play. He did a great job for Brewers last year.
Ok Real Deal I’m out of here..so they wont be anymore double prints. But I still agree with you…
fordcobra
July 27th, 2011
3:10 pm
Lot’s of people saying won’t trade this guy or that guy but as the title of the old game show The Price Is Right comes into play there are very few safe ones.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:11 pm
sign pence he is the long term solution
Ralph
July 27th, 2011
3:11 pm
PRADO
PENCE
JONES
UGGLA
FREEMAN
ROSS
R JOHNSON
PASTRONICKY
PRADO
PENCE
MC CANN
UGGLA
JONES
FREEMAN
R JOHNSON
PASTRONICKY
JUST DREAMING
richie
July 27th, 2011
3:11 pm
totally agreed theo. heath bell would be ideal tho
ryan
July 27th, 2011
3:12 pm
Braves have a window now to go and get Pence how can the Astros turn down this deal Minor and Delgado if Wren has the guts to it no Julio Tehran in the deal .
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
3:13 pm
Heath Bell would be sick, but he might be malcontent in being the 4th best reliever on the squad. He’s a baller though.
Another GM
July 27th, 2011
3:13 pm
Astros not giving up Pence unless they get the farm……and Wren aint giving the Farm.
Los Bravos
July 27th, 2011
3:13 pm
Wren didnt make the Texieria trade. For some reason people seem to forget that. Scheurholz did that one. It was a really bad trade though. If we’re going to give up a ton of prospects then lets go ahead and get Pence and Bourn. That would be the biz! Even if it’s unrealistic.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:13 pm
this team needs to quit saving all the dam pitchers.How did that work out for ya in the 90s??
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:15 pm
braves lost a world series game 7 1-0 to the twins,1992 i believe.
TEAM HAS NOT HIT FOR 20 F YEARS,WHY WOULD I THINK IT CHANGE NOW TO GET A BIG BAT?STUPID OF ME FOR EVEN THINKING THIS WAY I APOLOGISE!!!
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
For Pence could we get away with Delgado Pazciano and 2 other lesser known guys? I just think that we need to hold onto Minor and Teheran for the future, although we could have another mlb-ready pitcher by the time Huddy is gone.
motor
July 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
Thx Don. The truth is sad.
We are now in the same position as we have been for a decade+ .
We are close but can’t hit. And Uggs is the biggest choke job in the world.
Go on Frankie…give us the obligatory Derrick Lee player for 2011.
BJ Uptron?might as well sign Frenchy. At least the chicks will dig him.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
Pence is a quality player but not worth the farm. He is posting career highs in every category. That makes me nervous. He may be peaking since he is that magic age range or he could be playing above his head.
He is a .280 25 HR 85RBI .330 OBP% 115k guy.
That is going to command about 11-12 million this offseason. Is that really worth trading some stud pitching prospects for? I dunno…
Braves20
July 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
I’ve always bitched to an acquaintance who works for the Braves about how we never draft any hitting studs. He always replies our pitching draftees will net us the the hitters we need. Well, the time is now!
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
Id give up the farm — Teheran for Pence and Bourn.
THE REAL DEAL
July 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
DONT GIVE UP THE FARM IDIOTS,U GONNA LOSE JJ,HANSON IN 2 YEARS ANYWAYS,CHEAP ASS @#$%^&