As the trade deadline nears, we offer a defense of Frank Wren

dude. first?

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Mark, I agree that Wren made a good move not to move 2 top pitching prospects. I do however think that Michael Bourn is exactly what we have needed from the start. Bourn is a true leadoff hitter and that is something the Braves haven’t had since Furcal. Thoughts?

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A great article Mark……………I agree……First………..

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Absolutely correct Mark. The Braves will win the Wild Card even if they make no moves and the Phils win the division even without getting Pence or anyone else. Once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen.

We all want a right handed CF leadoff type and a veteran middle reliever, but no at the expense of mortgaging a young team with a bright future. By the way, Jayson Stark reported that Wade wanted 2 of the Braves top 4 pitching prospects and 2 from the second tier for Pence but took the middling package of only A level prospects from the Phils. After the Pence and Oswalt deals you have to wonder if Ed doesn’t still work for the Phils.

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I’d be happy with any move at this point. Quentin would be great, but Crisp or Upton could fit the Braves’ needs as well. Mark, any word on possible deals involving a reliever?

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love to add bourn if it worked out

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Bourn would also be a good pickup. He always scares me when the Braves play Houston.

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Homer Simpson defended the Teixeira trade during the game last night and he is never wrong.

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Did you really say Denny Neagle did not pan out? 36 wins in2 years is not panning out?

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Good move by Frank. Houston tried to rob us blind, then turn around and trade pence to our division rival for less

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Did you not watch the game last night, Bradley? Homer Simpson defended the Texixiera trade. So it was o.k.

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I agree with the assessment, Mr. Bradley; Frank Wren could do a lot more long-term damage to the Braves’ organization that he might in the short term by acting out of haste or a sense of panic. Even if his final decision doesn’t bring a World Series title in 2011 (though of course we hope it does), should the Braves have held onto all of those highly touted pitching prospects come the end of the season they will still be there to either develop further or use to acquire position needs…and thay may bring much more then than they would have had Wren used them in a highly competitive trade market.

The jury’s still out, yes, but overall my attitude toward the situation is “Que sera, sera”. Whether Wren makes a big splash or not, the playoffs are a crapshoot.

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Yeah the difference here is that the deadline winners last year won the world series already.

and the team that got Hunter Pence had better pitching and a better lineup before making the trade.

The Braves were always just behind mostly due to the lineup and the weakness of it. When healthy they can compete. It was pretty obvious before the season started that they were razor thin in the starting lineup. That they have won 60 games is a testament to the quality of the bench. They already lost in the playoffs with bench players starting.

The Braves are unwilling to pay the price required to put a lineup on the field that can win a championship. That’s fine, and they can’t admit publicly they aren’t trying to win but the salary cap they have imposed says it for them.

Sure the guys on the field are trying, but they aren’t good enough to win 3 championship series.

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the Teixiera

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was o.k.

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Quentin or Bourn sounds like direction we are going don’t count M. Byrd from the Cubs ether that would ok by me .

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too high of a price to get Pence…..Wren a smart man….lets get a couple of guys from the CWS……

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Excellent article Mark. I do disagree with Beltran. The way we have been snake bit with injuries, he would have pulled a quad or something first week in uniform (just to creaky for my taste.). I would like Atlanta to get a speedy guy like Bourn if it does not cost too much so that we can actually start manufactoring runs instead of waiting for the 3 run homer. I think that is missing most in teh Braves lineup. You can get all the sluggers you want, but if no one is on base all you have is a solo homerun. I think with Uggla hitting now and with Freddie Freeman playing so well, a speedy outfielder who can get on and steal bases would be best. In the playoffs, it is all about manufacturing runs not hitting the long ball.

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So more less where going stan pat?

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I like how Bradley and DOB never have updates. We have to go to mlbtraderumors.com to get news.

I really, really wish we would trade heyward

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NO UPTON!!!!

Quentin is the best value that WE know about ( Does Wren have other cards to play?).

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Ashlee Simpson

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Frank Wren has a good excuse: Liberty Media. Sell this team and the stadium rights to Artie Blank, and watch the Bravos’ fortunes change. Even better when Chipper becomes hitting coach. Until then, the Braves have as much chance of winning a World Series as the NERDS have of selling out that hideous stadium on North Avenue.

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Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Source: #Braves getting “more involved” on #Astros’ Bourn. #tradedeadline #MLB

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Bourn would be so exciting to have…even if the Braves still ended behind the Phillies. Shades of Otis Nixon or Kenny Lofton. Was anyone besides me jeolous of Whitey Herzog’s super speedy Cardinals of the eighties?

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I think the Braves will make a move with all injuries we get Bourn or Quentin they would be good moves we wont catch the Phillies it would have a disaster to trade away the farm.

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Mark, do you or DOB ever have an insider info?

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Maybe they can trade for a batting coach, one who has a proven track record for teaching batters to swing at the strikes and let the bad pitches go by. Also, teach them not to close their eyes and dream of home runs while they miss pitches. Open and watching the ball, hitting it where it is pitched kinda guy. Maybe teach them to choke up and bunt with runners on first and third with one out, rather than hitting taylor-made double play grounders to short. I would like one that would even teach how batters can work on getting hit by pitches with the bases loaded, but with so many injury prone outfielders on the team, that might be too dangerous.

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The Atlanta Braves are hitting .242. It is amazing that other GM’s get the job done, but not good old Frank. One time to the playoffs under his tenure. ONE TIME.

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Bourne rumored to be going to the Red Sox!

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39 Stolen Bases and batting 304, come on Frank…Do It!!!

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Mark, to me it has nothing to do with Beltran or Pence, I never wanted either one of those I just want a center fielder that can catch the ball, throw the ball, get on base and steal a base.

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the fact that Frank has done nothing means that he hasn’t liked any of the deals presented to him. he will end up making a move, but most likely it won’t be a good one.
it’s very suspicious that Ed Wade always trades top players to his old team, the Phils. with about 8 teams bidding for Pence, is that the best deal he was offerred. I find it hard to believe.

the Phils will always get a return on a good player when he becomes a free agent as they will offer arbitration. meanwhile, the cheap Braves walk away and get nothing (Sheffield, Drew, Lee) or are forced to give away an impending free agent (Soriano, Texieira). everyone for us becomes a rental.
yet Frank says the budget isn’t a problem. and the moon is made of green cheese.

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Steve:

Try to be a little fair will you. Schuerholz depleted the minor league system in the Texeira trade in 2007 notwithstanding the fact that he had an aging team that needed to be rebuilt. I think Wren took over in 2009 (maybe 2008), but the fact is that the Braves had the 7th worst record in MLB in 2008 (which is why they picked Minor 7th in 2009). The team that Wren has built has thus gone from the 7th worst in MLB to the 5th best record-wise as we speak in less than 3 years, made the playoffs and will make them again this year with or without a trade. He also is hamstrung by virture of the fact that Liberty Media gives him a budget that is 1/2 of the Phils budget and also doesn’t have a former Phils GM now working in Houston and making sweetheart deals for his former team while asking a king’s ransom from the Braves for the same player. It is amazing to me that Wren would even take a phone call from Ed Wade to discuss a trade for Bourn after the Pence negotiations and I for one hope he doesn’t panic and give up too much to get him to appease the chicken little “we got to make a trade” fans.

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Spot on Bradley…. I grew up in S. Jersey and my Dad still lives up there and says the town is “coming apart at the seams” over the Iggles and Phils trades yesterday…. I am Atlanta thru and thru since going to UGA in the 70’s. (unlike Kindaide on 680). Phila is a huge blue collar sports town with no college sports interest at all. They live and die with their teams and sell out every game and have deep pockets.. Wren has to pick and choose his moves “wisely” and will do the right thing and the bloggers are spot on so far. My Dad & I have a good time going back and forth on our teams… Go Braves and Go Falcons!!!

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Mr.Bradley I live 30min.south of filthadelphia.And every day I have to hear all of their trash.(local radio is all ready planning the WS parade)With TBS gone I must depened on the dish to see games,and on your paper to give me any and all info on this team that I have given every summer to for over 35years.Can you tell me why is it that every media outlet had something to say about the Pence deal by 11pm last night.Yet the AJC was silent?I would hope that with so many people who hang on what comes out of your paper ,that next time something that affects the braves future. someone would print it while it is a breaking news story.

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Maybe, maybe not as far as a trade making a difference making the postseason and/or winning after making it. Andrus remains highly overrated. Feliz is a decent pitcher, but the Rangers have had issues with him. They let Salty leave for nothing. But I do know the sides that take more warriors into the battle tend to come out on top more often than not.

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And one more thing. I thought the goal coming into each season was to win the World Series. Why hang on to prospects to keep spinning your wheels fighting to make the postseason the next few seasons when you can make a couple of trades to take your shot at winning it all this year?

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There waa a trade to be made with Houston and it was blown!
Ask this simple question are the Braves better off now after the Phils trade?
Simple. NO!

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BJ Upton 102 Strikeouts in 364 AB’s Batting .228. Ouch…Frank can you say Michael Bourne?

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Wren is in no rush because he knows damn well that no matter who he gets, if anybody, the Braves will not catch Philly. Or win the WS.

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just think it was wren who got us the team we have

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I agree, there is no way they two of our “aces” plus others for pence. Hope they enjoy phillies #1 & 2 prospects. Still believe after the Oswalt deal last year and now this with Pence, the Astros GM is looking for another job in philly. Hopefully he gets canned by their new owner soon. Anyway Bourn is the guy the Braves need to get, of course the big “if” will be can they do it and not be ripped by the Astros. I’m just not sure. I don’t trust them, i’m sure Wren will make an offer, but he has to hold pat if price is too high. Otherwise Bourn is the guy the Braves need the most anyway. He is a true difference maker and certainly would fit perfectly with the Braves. He is a lefty, but he hits lefty’s well so that shouldn’t matter. You figure he can’t ask as much as for him as he did for pence, so I go back to him with pretty much the same offer. 1 top prospect and maybe a little less of the second tier guys and see if they bite. Scoreing two top pitching prospects a top hitting prospect and a few second tier guys should make him pretty happy. If not we know he was working for philly all along and he can kiss our butts. Then we can bring on Coco – Good Luck Wren and Go Braves!!!

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Enter your comments here

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Minor will be no better than a 4th Starter, Braves have more than enough Pitching, Everyone forget about Kris Medlen? Deal Minor plus a B Prospect & be done with it! Michael Bourne!

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I think it’s funny that you’re using ONE deal, the Teixera trade, to justify Wren not making a deal. Teixera didn’t “significantly change” the dynamics of our offense. It was simply adding another strong power hitter to the lineup. How many teams that are power laden fizzle in the playoffs? Adding Bourne WOULD change the dynamics of our offense, or should I say “complete” our lineup. It would change pitch selection for the 2nd slot – 5th slot in the batting order. “Bash brothers” does nott win the World Series. Manufacturing runs, strong pitching, and strong defense do. Let’s call Wren out and see if he has the guts to make a deal (ala Scheurholz). Scheurholz got us to how many division titles/playoff slots by making late season deals to try and get us over the hump?

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You just had to bring up that Barker trade didn’t. Guess who owned the Braves then and a lot of folks want him to be owner again. He also signed a sore armed Messersmith who bombed

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We was wondering where Sonny Clusters went? To the Dairy Queen?

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I can’t remember the posters name, and I wasn’t going to sift through all the posts in this blog again to find it, but to say Tex didn’t play well enough when we needed him too?? In 54 games in ‘07 as a Brave he hit .317/17 hr/56 rbi! In his overall Brave career, which was 5 games short of one full season, in 157 games he hit .295/37 hr/134 rbi! I’d say he did pretty dang well, but the rest of the team didn’t produce, except for Chipper hitting .364 in ‘08. Had Andruw Jones hit better than .222 in ‘07 and produced like he did the previous 2 years in which he hit .263/.262 with 51 hr/41 hr, then ‘07 could have been an insanely unbelievable run to and through the postseason. That’s just my thinking…

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I agree with P. Bull Terrior that, as much as I hate it, The Phillies are simply the best team in baseball. I believe that our pitching makes us the 2nd best. The way I see it we should avoid a rash move and prepare to win in the playoffs.

Many a power hitter has flopped in the playoffs and many a hitless defender (Lemke, anyone) turns out to look like Mickey Mantle in the playoffs (Cody Ross, more recently). So how can you best prepare for the playoffs? Hang on to good pitching, stengthen it if you can, and focus on speed and defense.

As I see it, that means that before anything else, we need another arm in the bullpen, whether we acquire it or it comes from the farm. I’d like to see more of Martinez and see at least one of those minor league arms pitching some middle relief.

With an eye always on the WC standings we need to be patient, if we can, about Chipper and McCann’s return. They need to be completely healthy before returning, and macho-man toughness and eagerness is NOT what the team needs right now. David Ross, in particular, allows us that luxury re: Brian during the regular season.

This means also that we stand pat in the outfield unless a favorable deal comes along. I would love to see Carlos Quentin platooning with Heyward (unless Heyward needs a trip to Gwinnett to rediscover his swing) and playing some LF against RH pitching when Prado or Chipper need a breather. In a short series, I’m OK with the defense Gonzo and Schafer provide up the middle, though some offense would help. I believe Schafer, when healthy, can create a lot of disruption if used aggressively.

I still believe there is too much panic in these blogs, though it seems that a majority of the writers have assumed a level-headed reality about the decisions Wren has made in the last few days. Remember that we have a 4.5 game lead in the WC and a better record than anyone except the Phillies, the Yankees and the BoSox despite the rash of injuries and Uggla’s horrendous start. From where I sit we are all right at this point, all things considering, ESPECIALLY considering the financial restraints with which Wren has to work. Consider the payrolls of the 3 teams with better records than the Braves.

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We’re the 4th best team in baseball. Yanks and Red Sox have got us beat. Sometimes records are deceptive, but not in this case.

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Tmac, I think you are correct. Opening day lineup – McLouth + Schafer makes a reasonably deep playoff run, and I don’t have a stroke if they win it all.

With all due respect, Cheesehead and Pete have it wrong.

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“But Mike Devereaux, who arrived in an afterthought trade for the minor-leaguer Andre King in August 1995, became the most valuable player of the NLCS en route to the Braves’ only World Series title.”

Actually the Braves have won 3 World Series titles. The Atlanta Braves have only won one World Series. Please research your articles better.

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If Turner Field would have been built on the northside the Braves would sell out every game. Instead it’s placed in a hard tog et to area with no mass transit or neighborhood to draw anyone in.

Obviously the scouts ae doing a great job of finding pieces, trade them there are more to develop and come up.

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Pete, your right the offensive numbers do not lie, but consider this. You cannot argue that Schafer is a better defensive center fielder with a cannon for an arm that can save you runs defensively. He is much more likely to steal a base (he leads the team) and his upside offensively is much better then McLouth. I think we all know what McLouth is going to give us. That being said, I’d take Bourne over either of them.

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I think it’s funny that you’re citing one of the worst trades in Braves history, and the Tiexera trade. There’s a valid argument for both, but when dealing with prospects there are no guarentees. Take for example our trades with Detroit. The one that I’m curious as to why you did not mention was the McGriff trade that helped us catch San Fran. They put up over 100 wins that season, and he helped us put one more up to send us to the playoffs. Could we have done it without McGriff, sure, anything is possible. Who knows, our offense may suddenly start to put 5+ runs per game from here on out while our staff holds opponents to 1 or less runs a game. It’s possible, but not likely You’re playing the odds when you make trades, and you’re asking yourself, do you want to try to win now or win 5 years from now? Our future looks bright even if we were to give up a Mike Minor in the process, and as you can tell, our future is still bright despite the prospects we gave up to Texas.

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MB you are missing the point- but so are all those that cover the Braves. Not trading the pitchers is about the future not about the past. Huddie-38, Lowe-40 and I believe Hanson and JJ are Boras guys. Thus in 2-3 years none of our top 4 starters will be in a braves uniform. They will need those 4 young pitchers. If you do trade one you must trade for long term help that is not near arbitration.
For the first time I say Kudos to Wren.

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Rival exec: #Braves have six untouchables, not previously reported four. Will make it tough to get #Astros’ Bourn. #tradedeadline #MLB

Dumb.

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F the dumb Astros and F the Phillis. F Phillis are looking more and more like the F Yankees god i hate them.

I think Wren did good by not giving up our prospects. He is looking at the big picture and they could be very important next off season.
BUT we do have to do something this year. I hope we can get Quentin and move Prado to CF.
I think Bourn is a good fit but i would not give the dumb Astros nothing.
Maybe Coco is the awnser, he is surprisingly good.

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Agreed… Great blog sir.

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“I hope we can get Quentin and move Prado to CF.” The pitching staff would throw rocks at you.

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Tmac, Schafer has been a negative defender in 3 of 4 years in the minors. He’s been plus in a corner, but obviously his bat doesn’t play there. Simply put, he shouldn’t be on a contending team’s roster.

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LOL Yup Dawg i know but if they can get them 1 or 2 more runs per start maybe they can live with it

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@Jerry……..Yes I have seen the Yankees. If the playoffs were all about hitting homeruns, the Yankees would win every year but have they, uh no. The Florida Marlins have won 2 World Series and they manutactured runs throughout. The San Francisco Giants won it lasy year and they beat them Braves by manufactoring runs. Ever wonder how why the team that usually leads in homers does not win the World Series? Your comment though nice, is not correct. Toronto lead teh league in homers last year, no playoffs. The Brewers lead the league in homers a couple seasons ago, no title. This strengthens my point. Before you question an argument, do your research to make sure it is acurate.

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I believe Fumbling Frank’s contract is up after this year. He doesn’t make a move, his contract is not renewed and we have a new GM. The Braves come out ahead!

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I have not been that impressed with Wren. For every nice move a couple of not so nice. Cant fault him for Ug’s slow start. Just middle of the road GM talent wise but again he is on a cooperate short lesh budget wise. He may be getting the thumbs down from Terri Mc. San Francisco and Philadelphia have left the rest of us behind to grapple for the rest of the scraps. Still like our chances to make the wild card. But see us as another one and done.

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I guess maybe we shouldn’t make a trade because it might be a bad one again. I can certainly understand that with the examples you cited. The Phillies and Giants are now much improved so I hope we are not pinning our hopes on the current lineup with both Chipper and McCann on the shelf. Let’s face it though, even when Chipper comes back we have to consider he’ll be right back on the DL before too long given recent history. Before the upgrades, only the Phillies were better than us but now both the Phillies and Giants are. Maybe FW’s hands are tied by Liberty Media but it sure is frustrating to watch us do nothing. Maybe FW will make a last minute blockbuster deal for a needed bat!

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Can’t you hear it now on Monday from Frank Wretched and Fredi Gonzalez:

I think we can win with the players we have. “We’ll have Brian McCann back soon and Chipper Jones. That’s like getting TWO big bats into the line up and it didn’t cost us our future prospect or anything. Plus we’ll have Jordan Schafer and Nate McClouth back to from the DL. Those two will boost our offense. Blah blah blah.

What they really will be saying is….”We’re Screwed Folks for this year”.

Wait til next year when we throw all 9 of our starting pitchers in our line up. Oh wait…we can only start 5, so we’ll hold on to our top 4 prospects and do this same BS again next year….We will NOT give up anything then either because we will lose our other starters.

What’s the point of having depth in the minors and not use them when we need them.

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I guess I am missing something….if all of the mentioned prospects are as good as being projected why aren’t they on the big club now? Who are they going to replace? Did we draft any pitchers this year, and if so, why? We have all of these prospective pitchers that will waste away in the minors, and we will still need position players. Doesn’t Frank know that pitchers can toss 1000 innings and give up one run and lose because we didn’t score any?

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Mark:

I agree with your point, looks like Frank Wren understands the organization’s capabilities. So glad Mr. Shuerholtz (aka the loather of money ball) was not here to make a bad trade (or apparently is not exerting too much pressure).

Braves have an excellent farm system; they just need to improve up and down the line in the fundamentals of offensive baseball. During the Cox Shuerholz years, they seem to manage for the 3 run HR and the offense sputtered and repeately wasted great pitching performances-jut think of how many times in big games the team just can’t get a bunt down or move a runner. These poor skilss have b een institutionalized and will take a while to break, I am rooting for change and the Braves.

GF2

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but what does it say that the Astros wanted more from the Braves than they did from the Phillies? Remember the Frank Wren scorn of two years ago. Is there a reputation that follows him? It would seem so. Also, I’d rather have Bourn than Pence and Beltran anyways. However, I realy would have liked an upgrade at SS. Furcal would have been great but we all knew that wasn’t going to happen. See Frank Wren. Say what you want but Frank has not been that impressive.

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You can defend Wren but I can’t.

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I definitely agree with Foultip on the Neagle trade – sometimes, when you make trades to simply “augment” something that is already good (i.e. our starting pitching staff at that time), it changes the dynamics in a negative way. However, when a deal is made to fill a hole, then it CAN improve our team. Case in point:

Flashback – 1991 – Braves are in a tightly contested division race. Braves acquire Alejandro Pena – he fills a hole on our team, specifically our closer position. In 15 games, he goes 2-0 with 11 saves and a 1.40 ERA to finish out the season, help us win division and get to the World Series.

Return to 2011 – Braves are in a tightly contested playoff race. Our leadoff position is a “hole” in our lineup……what would Bourne do?

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Wren is no better than the dang Republicans in Congress….just can’t get the business done! Atlanta deserves better. Wish he would pack up and LEAVE!

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Excellent point. Doing nothing is not the worst thing Wren could do. If the players are getting disgruntled, I suggest they find a mirror to see why they struggle to score. They can’t get a run in from 3B with less than 2 outs (13 SF this year). They can’t advance runners. They are fundamentally a bad group. That said, losing Shafer & McClouth is not a loss, just look at the numbers. Shafer OBP below McCann’s BA. McClouth over running balls & throwing to wrong bases. Alex can’t drive in a run period. Braves lone WS was all pitching & defense. So, it worked once & it can work again.

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ill bet eds wade even threatend wren with trading pence to the sillys but he held fast the mark of a real good poker player

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Great perspective, Mark. Plenty more examples of good trades gone bad (folks in Detroit may have a different perspective on the deadline deal that brought Smoltz to Atlanta, even if Doyle Alexander was an ace down the stretch).

I would love to see the Braves make a splash, and Pence would have been great. That said, Jason Stark reported on ESPN.com tonight that the ‘Stros GM was asking for four prospects including TWO of the big four pitching prospects, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE than what he traded Pence to the Phillies for.

Interesting to note that the Astros GM, Ed Wade, started his career in the Phillies in the 1970s and worked for 16 years for the Phillies from 1989 to 2005, including serving as the GM of the Phillies from 1995 to 2005. He is also the guy who traded Roy Oswalt from the Astros to the Phillies last year for nothing.

He wasnt a great GM for the Phillies when he was with the Phillies, but he sure as heck has become a great GM for the Phillies as GM of the Astros.

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Not trading for Beltran was absolutely the right move…

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I think Bradley thinks the 2011 Beltran is the same “pre-drug tested” Beltran that was traded to Houston in 2004 that put up Bonds-esque numbers in the latter part of the regular season/playoffs. While he is a good player, he’s just like man other “post-drug tested” players of today. Broken down and injury prone. Enjoy him San Fran!

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Wren’s a bum. He makes me sick.

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“Things that I wanted to go over with him,” Blank said. “It’s more me understanding and making sure I’m clear on his logic.”

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Mark should also consider that the 2011 Beltran is NOT the impact player that the “pre-drug tested” Beltran of 2004 was when he posted Bonds-eque numbers after being traded to the Astros (see his regular season/postseason stats). The 2011 Beltran, while still a good player, is like alot of today’s “post-drug tested” from the late 90s/early 2000s – injury prone and broken down. Have fun with him San Fran!

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Good call Brent

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@ Mark –

Why do you feel the need to defend Frank Wretched…err Frank Wren.

He is what he is….He’s an idiot, he’s Inept and he’s incredibly incapable of doing for the Braves what the Thomas Dimitroff does for the Falcons and the Phillies seem to do. Get Better and Increase their chances of going TO the World Series.

Now all we can look forward to is his excuses and 9 starting pitchers. What make you or Frank Wretched think we will ever be in a better position to win in the FUTURE than we able to win now? Granted our chances of winning now just go more difficult by the ineptness of Frank Wretched ability to pull off the trade we need.

Two years from now, Chipper will be gone, We certainly wont pay top dollar to keep Jager Jergens or Tommy Hanson, so we will be back to where we are now. Our 4 top pitching prospect will then be our starters and we will NOT have the pieces to TRADE for a big bat then, so we will essentially be in 2 years where we are today….

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I am a lifelong ATL native. Let’s compare cities -First Philly (coughing an expletive under my breath) – as much as I hate to admit it, they’re batting a thousand – Baseball AND Football teams up there are making deals, WANTING to reach the pinnacle of the game (i.e. championship), and have an incredible fan base. Second Atlanta – we’re batting five hundred – we have the Falcons, who are working towards reaching the pinnacle of the game, with Dimitroff making great personnel moves, filling holes in our team, and the fan base is great, growing steadily, and pushing for the Super Bowl. Now you have the Braves, who have marginal attendance (anyone see my post about Braves ranking 21st out 27th in home percentage attendance???????), and have a really LEGITIMATE shot at reaching the pinnacle of the game, some great talent, and an incredible farm system that wouldn’t be depleted by being willing to part with a prospect or two for the sake of a great leadoff hitter/defensive wizard. Hopefully all this will be a moot point come tomorrow, when we see Wren DID have the cojones to try and make us win and improve our fan base. Especially in light of losing a professional team this year.

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Won’t be long under the NON-leadership of Frank Wren that the Braves will be going the way of the THRASHERS – and based on the way they are playing and the fact that they can’t even come close to filling the stadium – it really won’t matter much – BUT WE CAN LAY EVERY BIT OF THAT IN THE LAP OF THE IDIOT FRANK WREN!!!!!! Used to be when theatre performers gave a bad performance they could expect rotten vegetables to be thrown at them…..to bad we can’t find out where Frank is and pelt him with a few rotten vegetables and eggs – he certainly deserves it!!!!!!!!

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@ Mike 6:54 pm

Excellent point.

In Frank Wretched err…Wren brainless mind, he’s probably thinking something like this:.

If I do nothing, and keep all the prospects, the worst that can happen is we go to the playoff as a wild card (and lose in the first round) and we still have “The Four Untouchables” prospects.

We will do this same dance for the next 2 years. Bank on it.

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I have only one criticizm of your article.
“Denny Neagle, acquired in 1996, didn’t. (Though he would win 36 games in 1997 and ‘98.) ”
Maybe he didn’t do what we thought he “should” in 96, I think an avg of 18 wins per year qualifies as a good trade.
Has anybody considered the obvious? The Braves have an All-Star Roster on the DL.

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finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the other side of the argument. been waiting all week. thanks

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next#14
NEXT – no freaking political talk ok? Much appreciated

Don’t go to ESPN and see a “Braves Plans” link. I heard absolutely nadda about the Braves. What the hell is ESPN’s discomfort with the Braves?

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SemperFi……SIR YES SIR!!!

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Now this is sad, when the Indians of all teams is about to get Jimenez from Rockies. I know that Wren want to keep the big 4 but Braves needs that bat badly.

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Homer by Uggla will only embolden Frank Wretched to do nothing! Surely it will reenforce his thinking we’re just fine without trading future prospect.

Nothing could be further from the truth. To me, the hotter Uggla, Freeman and the rest of the braves get over the next few weeks, the better our odds and confidence gets when we eventually have to face Philly or San Fran in the playoffs. Adding Bourn would make it even better, not lesser of a need.

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Just curious….Who did the Giants go out and get last year around this time? Does anybody know?

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The stinking Indians are going for it!!

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no one they got burrell and ross of waivers

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Heyward is know hitting below .220 and a slg % below .400 almost the same numbers as the light hitting catcher of the Marlins, John Buck.

Keep hitting that ball Heyward LOL

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tlb…That’s what I thought, but was not sure. Ross had a profound impact. I would venture to guess that big-name, trade deadline deal takes a team to the promised land less than 25% of the time, if not less. Personally, I think they’re overrated.

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wren has not even been the gm for 10years

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I agree with others..the Tex trade wasn’t a trade for a bad player…it was only bad in that we had no chance of signing him long term. Trading the future for a rental is not generally a good idea, but we parted with most of the players in that trade because they were blocked at the major league level. It was a bad trade because the result was no good, and we lost Tex. Even if Pence didn’t become the missing piece of the puzzle this year, we still would have had another 2 years or so to bring a championship home with him. Would have made the lineup much more exciting. Its really a shame.

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A trade will help the Braves because a team has to hit as well as have good pitching in the playoffs. The season starts all over. The Phillies’ eys are on the Braves and San Fran looking forward. They made a move to improve their offense. Unless the Braves want to concede the season they will have to get an outfield bat, plain and simple.

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Here’s my current plan for improving the offense—–wait for McLouth to return from the DL.

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It’s alot easier to make “offseason” deals when you have months of due diligence/research to put towards it, Wren has made some good ones – however, I want us to go beyond “good” and be “bold” and try to get one last piece to take us to the promised land (Bourne = World Series). We have an incredible farm system. We can AFFORD to be bold and sacrifice a prospect or two. For those that think in a few years, we’ll need all those pitching prospects, that’s not the true reality of baseball. Show me a pitching staff that has 5 homegrown starters. We could have Teheran, Delgado, Beachy and 2 free agent starters several years from now. BE BOLD…..STEP FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOF A LITTLE TOWARDS THE EDGE… offer a competitive deal for Bourne, and let’s see if we can win it all this year, and maybe have the attendance that the Braves deserve….taking deep breath for about the hundredth time today

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I guess I need to offer a “glass half full” statement now – in defense of Wren, silence doesn’t imply inactivity – I know he’s never been one to “broadcast his hand” I hope tomorrow I will be praising his GM skills LOL

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I hope that Cookie Crisp is on a National Security alert list and not allowed to fly anywhere in near the ATL – if we want a leadoff hitter with a .319 OBP, we should just let the Jay-Hey kid just bat leadoff for the rest of the year. But, I would take a “we’ll give you Scott Proctor for Coco Crisp PLEASEE” deal and have Crisp be our designated pinch runner (anyone know who Herb Washington is?)

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I hope you are right. I get the feeling that he is kind of afraid to pull the trigger and risk
making things worse.

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Optimistic, I know what you mean. I hope tomorrow all this frustration is gone and we’re talking about how we’ve just solidified our lineup with Bourn at the leadoff slot!

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Mark: I’m okay with Bourne–in fact I like him. But Upton, I don’t know.

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Mark, I think you are correct. I hope that by this time tomorrow, we’re saying “Bring those Phillies on, Bourn is gonna run all over that Phillies pitching staff and Ruiz!”

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I agree Mark that Upton has potential. But he is not of the “leadoff hitter” mold, that we so desperately need. The other factor to consider, is that we are one of the most “cohesive” teams in the league, with our clubhouse chemistry unparalleled. Upton could be toxic to that.

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His average is 100 points higher on the road this year. Maybe if he gets out of TB he will take off. Get out of the building. Ron Gant said he was a 5 star player and would be a 30-30 guy in Atlanta.
Mark if you see Gant at game ask him..

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Well said, I think one’s opinion depends on one’s upbringing. This means: whether or not you are a person who tries to follow the discipline of religious faith or not; whether you grew up in a stable eomotional and physical home life or not; whether you learned to control your physical and emotional appetites or not: whether you were in a fearful home or at least a hopeful thinking homelife or not; and the kind of job you do…whether your sincerely try your best or not…etc. All these factors play into our reactions over such a silly inconsequential thing as a professional baseball game.

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I agree the Braves are a good team, they are a DANG GOOD team. But, I’m not content with good. There’s a book out there called “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, that details how companies transition from being average companies to great companies and how companies can fail to make the transition.
I want the Braves to make that transition!

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Mark, you would do Skip Caray and Ernie Johnson proud! Keep it up!

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toxic..he!!..just because he didnt hustle in 08 and mgr cut him down…in 2010 when he got into it with third baseman..We have players on Braves team that don’t hustle…give me a break.
BJ is first payer out of dugout when his teammates do go..he will do fine in Atlanta.

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Oops Mark that was supposed to be your comment!

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was Joe B. Hall the AD or Mr. Rupp?

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Yes we need the juice back…thats ok

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Mark, you weren’t part of that point shaving scandal at Kentucky back in the 50s were you?

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Shhhh Mark, you’re going to get Kentucky on probation. No statute of limitations on toddler point shaving.

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Everytime I see Kimbrel pitch I whisper a silent thank you to Frank Wren (for signing Billy Wagner) and a silent thank you to Billy Wagner (for mentoring Kimbrel).

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Bring back either Andruw Jones or Jeff Francoeur.

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me, being one of your local ag extension agents always take pride in the success of the Braves.
well, not always, but..are we talking about finding arrowheads here??

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Hey Fredi! Heyward needs help. Can or would somebody help him? He is going no where at the plate while Freddie has adjusted to MLB pitching and is developing into an excellent hitter.

Can’t somebody at least get Jason to try moving up closer to the plate? Is that so hard to try?

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Yeah Skeezix, I agree with you 100%. Jay Hey-Hey’s “sweet spot” on his swing has shrunk to the size of a golf ball. He swings at an outside pitch, ground ball to 2nd base (how many times have you seen him do that). He swings at an inside pitch, he fists it to 2nd base (or if he really turns on it, he fists it to 1st base). I hope this season is an aberration for him. But I still say, get him down to AAA for the month of August to take the pressure off him and find his swing/fix hole in his swing.

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Trading for Michael Bourn would be a great trade. He is a pure leadoff hitter and that is something the Braves need badly. They already have enough power hitters in Prado, Chipper, Heyward, Uggla, Freeman, and McCann. A guy like Bourn, who steals a lot of bases would really help the offense. I hope they can pull that one off.

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We must be the worst team ever with the 4th best record in the majors- behind 3 teams with seemingly unlimited budgets.

We should DEFINITELY fire the GM- he is getting NOTHING out of our resources.

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Speaking of unlimited budgets, wish we still had our owner “Billionaire Ted”, as Vince McMahon called him, with his deep pockets.

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Honestly, I don’t think Andruw can play CF anymore. Injuries have decimated his speed. While at one time one of the greatest defensive CFs of all time, now he’s an average fielder at best. Would love for him to be a righthanded batter on our bench though.

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Braves lose Beltran, Brave lose Pence, Braves lose.

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@wins-by-a-link

I agree with your comment 100%

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The Phillies have high attendance at home the Braves don’t so the Phillies reward their fans and spend money to get what they want to improve the team the Braves aren’t like that.

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Jeff Francouer had a .300 on-base percentage last year and after a hot start he has a .318 on-base percentage since the end of April, and even that seems to be driven by a fortunate BABIP since he still doesn’t walk. So what part of that Francouer is different from what we’ve seen before? And what part of that do we want to see here again?

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move jason heyward up in the batting order i mean oh god look who is behing him?f seabass gimee a break

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update………..

braves are working hard,houston wants minor,delgado for bourn braves said no,talks continue,braves looking at upton now

those f astros took a players from philly,and gave them 1 million dollars.mark,could you tell mlb to check into this scam??

last 3 years on july 29 astros got shyt back from philly,this game is rigged.I WANT A F INVESTIGATION INTO WADE!!

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All contending teams manage to make a deal. Why not the Braves? Frank Wren.

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Don’t think we’re getting Bourn. Houston is asking for Arodys and Delgado. Thats way to much. Probably end up making a less sexy move and get an upgrade in CF (wouldn’t take much) and a righty pen arm. Yes, similar to Ankiel farnsworth, but it will make us better without mortgaging the farm

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Can’t blame Wren for not giving up 2 of the 4 stud pitchers. I mean he wouldn’t do it for Pence, so Wade says fine, I’ll send him to the Phillies for two top A level prospects. Dude’s still in bed with Philly. Now Bourn is certainly not worth 2 if Pence wasn’t. DelGado for Bourn fine, or Minor or DelGado for Upton, otherwise just get Crisp and Willingham and bring these stud arms up for middle relief already.

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I didn’t hear one Braves fan post one thing about Michael Bourn 2-3 weeks ago, and now we must have him…he’s the perfect fit. What a joke? Keep doing your job Wren. For God’s sake, don’t listen to the fans, this organization will be in the toilet.

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I guess by your statement your co hort Schultz is delusional.

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shonuff being a scout for 15 years,none with the braves i said last year sign mutchen,and 3 weeks ago sign bourn over pence

jeff parrett u must be talking about the tex trade murphy wanted to go da

let me tell you something about the braves
1- they dont bring back rejects escobar,frenchy,etc.get it?
2- even if chipper retires we still owe him 13 million
3-im hearing we are close to bourn,and also standing pat if the offer does not go down.

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update….inside information……..

bourn……astros want delgado,viziano,and the cather salvatori,braves declined

braves are also hesitant because bourne is a fa in 2013,and he is a boras client like jj,hanson

questions
1-if braves get bourn do they want him for 1 -1/2 years
2-with schafer still around,is he going to be a replacement for bourn

so you see its not just players,you have to read the book,not the highlights

and BRAVES WERE NOT AS SERIOUS AS PENCE AS YOU THINK,ALSO THE DEAL WE OFFERED WAS BETTER THAN WHAT THE PHILS OFFERED.

Like i said bourn is for the season and next,beltran was for 3 months only

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What the heck is wrong with Jeff Heyward? Oops, I meant Jason Francouer? Oops, wrong again, I just keep getting those two mixed up!

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Nothin be stickin fork in this if not gottin the fellow from Houston Jeff Franceour was be next idea can u just see it frenchy in world series in a Phillie uniform like was in Texas last year…..he be in phillie to after sunday….watch out Braves i like u all but Phillies are more in depth n pitchin power they be in world series after beatin Sam francisco this time in NLCS….if no bad stuff durin slumps hit u see giants back in world series again…..vs texas are boston ….i see for all you chicago folks stay away from The ted stay in wrigley field watch u gutless team lose to st.louis again i watch sat game on fox matt hoilday slide was dirty no cub pitcher had the brass balls to deck him at the plate when he came up……U left fielder has quit playin for u since 2005……U hire the wrong manager n u trade lou brock in 64 cardinals say thanks for w.series win too that year ernie banks was not a farm hand u got he came from the Negro league see why cubs been lied to on that….ha ha Cubs + wrigley field over flowin toilets bad nieghbor areas….what u get no world series games ever there so enjoy a 66-96 year n 64-98 in 2012…by then they have move to southside play for 3 years while they knock down u staduim n replace it……

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Its a pretty sad day when a team cannot afford to keep their best player. Especially when thousands of people pay for tickets to games just to see him play.

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Back in ‘91 wasn’t Alejandro Pena grabbed off waivers AFTER the deadline? That guy was a huge difference maker. Considering our budget limitations (we ain’t the Phillies), you gotta be smart not just aggressive. I want to be in the playoff’s for another 14 years straight. That means not giving away the farm – and adding the right pieces through free agency. I trust Wren to do the right thing.

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Once a druggie, always a druggie – Schaefer isn’t worth spit….we need to admit that and go on and invest and find a true ball player and not a druggie to be on the team. Schafer is a LOSER!!!!!

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8:46am: The Braves acquired center fielder Michael Bourn from the Astros for four minor leaguers, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. He says the deal is done and will be announced shortly. Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets that the Braves will receive money in the deal as well.

Bourn, 28, is hitting .303/.363/.403 in 473 plate appearances, and he leads MLB with 39 steals. The Scott Boras client has $1.45MM remaining on his contract this year and is arbitration eligible for 2012 before hitting free agency. The Astros’ outfield purge continues, as they sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies on Friday.

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@SInow/si-mlb
» SI_JonHeyman Jon Heyman
#astros get OF schafer, pitchers oberholtzer, clemns, abreu for bourn, as @jaysonst reported

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I didn’t see your post mountain_jim. thanks for the info.

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Wow! A deal alas! Great move… the Braves just moved one step closer to the WS. And for the Heyward doubters, watch his offense come back now…I hope there is no hesitation in the future to pull the trigger on other free agents. Let’s go Braves!

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I’m man enough to say this – WAY TO GO FRANK WREN! Optimistic, I’m not a Heyward “doubter” but I do wish they would send him to AAA for the majority of August to get his swing back, adjust, get healthy, whatever it takes to make him better (watch 24/7 video of Freddy driving the ball to all fields)

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All right Braves fans….the team did their part, now do yours. I’m tired of so called fans complaining about our team but we rank in the bottom 1/3 when it comes to attendance. There’s no reason for us not to sell out every game if the Philthies can. As much as I hate them, they have loyal, rabid fans….and to my dismay, that is not the case here in Atlanta. We have a great shot now of going all the way in the playoffs…..so get yourself out to the F’ing ballpark and SHOW SUPPORT!!!!

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The fact that Wren is about to speak on TV during the game broadcast tells me that he’s done with trading for now. So this is it. Bourn and done.

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Excellent article, Mark. We did the right thing by holding out until the end. The Phillies overpaid for Pence, and the Giants get Beltran for only a few more months. Wren is building a long-term winner here. Excellent trade.

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Braves get chopped liver (Bourn) while Phillies get steak (Pence). I’m hungry…

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Bourne, Braves actually traded Texeira to the Angels if I remember correctly. So it’s not like he walked away for nothing.

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Tex went to LA Angels for Casey Kotchman, which was almost better than nothing. Bourn was a great addition for the Braves.

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Hey Mark, new player but same old lack of hitting. Fatboy Livan dominated them. Sad.

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The media needs to stop overrating Hunter Pence. The way some of them talk about him he’s the second coming of Micky Mantle.

Let them keep proclaiming Pence as some sort of superstar. It caused the Phillies to seriously overpay and put a dent in their farm system as far as top prospects go. It made me laugh that certain people on certain message boards were expecting the Braves to gut their farm system for Michael Bourn because Philadelphia did for Pence.

Don’t get me wrong, Bourn is just what the doctor ordered for the Bravos lineup but the Braves were perfectly willing to continue to let Jordan Schafer develop into a leadoff hitter so there was no way that the Astros were going to get a Hunter Pence haul from the Bravos. Not only that, if the Astros could have gotten a better deal for Bourn they would have taken it. Pitching is a commodity in MLB and the Astros received three good prospects who are nearly ready for The Show.

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If Hayward can not hit left handed pitchers then he needs to go back to Gwinnett a little longer. He is only 21 years old. As much as I am pulling for Hayward we need a starter in right field , not another platoon.

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Well I really beleive Wren screwed up last year, changed the whole complexion of the club at the worst time, and now we have Gonzales instead of Escobar……. another old guy who is impatient at the plate and looks worse each time I see him hit.

I also think this is a telling thought……..Any team that has only 13 sacrifice fly’s this late in the season is in dire need of a change in philosophy!!!!!!!!

Well we are trying with the new speed in Bourne…….now watch as his speed is not put to use ?

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Trading two prospects doesn’t hurt Phillies one bit. They have the money to sign free agents and don’t need to develop players. Its called being more fortunate. The less fortunate Braves have to build teams from scratch. There’s why the Phillies are better. Duh Huh !

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I agree with “New Blog ?” Can you muster up enough energy to type a new 2 minute blog ? Come on Mark, give us something new. I’m tired of seeing this on the web page.

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[...] As the trade deadline nears, we offer a defense of Frank Wren [...]

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Let’s get this up to 350 posts and maybe he will make a bonus and take it down. Shame on AJC for this crap. If this was a print newspaper you wouldnt publish the same story 6 days in a row.

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Mark Bradley reprises his role as Judd, for the Defense. I do agree with you, MB, just having a little fun with the headline.

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Whar ye at?

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Mark – great article, and props for not over-baking a deal in a weak trade market are due for Frank Wren. I would have liked to have seen him pick up RHP Mike Adams from SD, but that did not occur.
I like the new make up of this team. Bourn is a HUGE upgrade over Schafer, and the pandering for a Constanza call up are reaping rewards for the Braves nation.

I am a bit confused over the mixed signals the Braves send offensively. Wren thinks the offense is built on speed (last in MLB in SBs, rarely hit and run if ever, and 2 Sac flys in the last month). A team built on speed must put a high priority on aggressive baserunning and OBP, which the Braves do not.

I have seen this offense strand runners by the hundreds of thousands – it is time to start putting guys in motion – steal bases, hit and run – stay out of the double play ground out – which the Braves hit into plenty. Just a note – sinze the Bourn/Constanza experiment – our speedy Braves are 1 for 2 in SB attempts.

Fredi is a Boby Cox disciple – the stolen base and working the count don’t seem to be as important as the almighty 3-run homer, of which the Braves only have hit 5 to 6 this year as I recall – most courtesy of Uggla and Freeman.

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