Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
64 comments Add your comment
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
7:28 pm
so, we meet again.
Mark Bradley
July 10th, 2012
7:29 pm
Indeed. Kudos.
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
7:33 pm
Mark, we’ve been through the fro and stache era. but do a litle something with the hair. combed straight back makes you appear to be 55 years old.
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
7:34 pm
kidding aside, excellent comments on the video. if you were to speculate, what deal do you think Frank Wren will make? who for who?
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
“so, we meet again” line from Return of the Pink Panther. Know this one: “Did any of your parent’s children live?”
JC Boscan III (not todd grantham)
July 10th, 2012
7:48 pm
It seems like the Braves (if they try to make any meaningful trades) may be forced to over-pay because so few teams are eliminated from the double-wild card race this year. So, there may be fewer sellers than usual. Rather than make a strong move, do you think Frank Wren will decide that Ben Sheets and some back-end reliever (if not Peter Moylan) or 1 solid pinch-hitter/reserve will be enough to get to the World Series?!
JC Boscan III (not todd grantham)
July 10th, 2012
8:41 pm
crickets……..!
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
8:59 pm
One thing i appreciate Mark: like you, i answer most everyone yes sir or yes ma’am. it not only shows respect, but that your parents brought you up right.
Sonny Clusters
July 10th, 2012
9:07 pm
We was always polite in school and look where it got us. We rocketed to the top of second shift and made the All-Star team. Second shift All-Stars pretty much write their own ticket. Much like Chipper Jones, only different.
Mark Bradley
July 10th, 2012
9:17 pm
I wasn’t so polite in school. More of a smart aleck, alas.
Mark Bradley
July 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
As for the question about Wren: I think he’ll make a big move. But if Ben Sheets wins his first three starts, I reserve the right to change my mind.
Sonny Clusters
July 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
Yes, but you have really come on with this video format. We feel like we’re watching Walter Cronkite or maybe Jim Bakker. Being able to master two mediums can come in good at contract time.
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
when is the trade deadline?
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
or i guess the last date that players don’t have to clear waivers to be traded.
Rick's Camp
July 10th, 2012
9:40 pm
Mark do you sew?
Mark Bradley
July 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
I don’t sew. My wife does.
Trade deadline is July 31.
Delbert D.
July 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
How can anybody explain Melky?
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
remember the Three Stooges short Three Little Sew and Sews?
Mark Bradley
July 10th, 2012
10:18 pm
Everybody thought Melky Cabrera was a fourth outfielder. Now he might be the All-Star MVP.
todd grantham
July 10th, 2012
10:49 pm
you dont think he will experience another Melkdown?
Larry Boy
July 10th, 2012
10:53 pm
I think Wren makes a big trade too. I also think we will be surprised at who gets traded.
Chief Knockahoma
July 10th, 2012
11:56 pm
The manager has much to do with the lack of identity. Gonzales is not a bad manger, but he tries to be Bobby Cox without the resume to back it up. Cox’s style worked because of the awe and respect the players had for him. Gonzales lacks that awe and respect (hasn’t earned it) so attempting to emulate Cox is not working. I wondered as far back as the beginning of the 2011 season whether CFG was a bridge to Chipper as manager. It will be an interesting conversation if the Braves faceplant again.
gcs
July 11th, 2012
12:34 am
Watching Elvis Andrus and Matt Harrison at the All-Star Game made me remember yet again how terrible the Teixeira trade was. Sure could use those two (and Neftali Feliz) right now.
Yeah, I am not letting that go.
NorCal Brave
July 11th, 2012
12:38 am
Nice work, Mark, though I would analyze the pitching a little differently: Seems the last couple seasons our starters had trouble going beyond 6 innings, and that’s what wore down the bullpen last year. This year, JJ’s early struggles and the Beachy injury have ramped up the pressure on Wren to pull the right trade strings, and of course it wouldn’t hurt if Venters could find himself again. Do you see Medlen as another starter option if all else fails?
dunkle ugg
July 11th, 2012
4:49 am
What made the Texeira trade so bad was not resigning the best first baseman in baseball. He just made his first error and it’s July.
David Puddy
July 11th, 2012
7:02 am
“Cox’s style worked because of the awe…..”
Awe? Exactly why would that be ? 1 WS win with the best pitching staff in baseball for more than a decade. Why would there be awe?
bill
July 11th, 2012
7:43 am
Cabrera and Andrus in the outfield Furcal at short and Harrison as a strter. Would make our team better but we either traded them could not develop them or were too cheap to sign them. The team would be Andrus in left Cabrera in Right Bourn in center. Freeman Prado Andrus Chipper in the infield Mccann and Harrison, Hudson Beachy and whoever pitching. The len barker trade is just the tip of our stupidity.
Ted M
July 11th, 2012
8:12 am
I hope Wren does the easy things right away.
PMC
July 11th, 2012
9:24 am
So the Giants have made use of Melky and Gregor Blanco. Wow.
On this team both were 4th outfielders. Pretty much the entire team was 4th outfielders.
If they don’t resign Bourn, It’s going to be difficult to keep telling people that they are committed to winning.
I still think a move for a “bench outfielder” might be one of the moves they make before July 31.
Ted M
July 11th, 2012
9:33 am
Melky screwed the Braves. He lost 25lbs & dedicated himself to baseball for the Giants. Blanco still is a 4th outfielder.
fuzzybee
July 11th, 2012
10:01 am
Good commentary and your hair looks fine. But, if you are going to continue to do these videos (and you will because you can sell the ads), please get an office with some sports memorabilia behind you. It will be much more manly.
When Pigs Fly
July 11th, 2012
10:08 am
I don’t trust Frank Wren to make the right moves. His only really good move was to get Michael Bourn and most people expect him to be gone after this year. Of course Frank’s boss made the worst trade ever for Texeira so we can’t trust his judgement.
The Braves aren’t a bad team, just not a great one. If they worked a little more at scoring runs they might at least be more entertaining.
Their approach needs to change from the teams of the nineties that tried to win every game 1 to 0.
Not only does that make for boring baseball, it insures that only spectacular pitching will suffice.
Every team wants good pitching but if you don’t score more runs than the other team it’s not enough.
I think they need to concentrate more on hitting for average instead of home runs. If they lose Bourn next year when Chipper is gone, and don’t find some steady hitters, they will be in the cellar for sure.
They have had some really good offensive efforts this year but they lack consistency and in the end that will be their undoing.
I don’t blame them for trying to get another pitcher but they must address the offence as well.
Packer Ed
July 11th, 2012
10:43 am
Enter your comments here
Ron Roberts
July 11th, 2012
10:48 am
What “identity” did the St. Louis Cardinals have, until September? “Identity” is over-rated, or something beat writers and columnists seek to “define” what kind of team a ballclub is. If anything, the Braves’ “identity” is one of simply “inconsistent.”
I agree with ya, Mark, on the thought that Frank Wren probably WILL make a move; I just wonder (again) what sort of financial constraints he’s being put under. We’re SUPPOSED to have about $4-6 million set aside that we haven’t spent on this year’s squad to put towards any upgrades, if memory serves, and yet we weren’t in on Roy Oswalt. We went the “Ben Sheets” route. The “cheap cheap cheap” crickets can be heard off in the distance again.
My point being, we could’ve put that money towards Oswalt and kept our young arms/prospects and dealt with our glaring weakness. Minor and Delgado are both inconsistent, but when he’s on, Minor’s a shut-down starter (and that will improve with seasoning) and Delgado’s just lacking run support or he’d have a .500 or better record, already. We wanna give that away? Evokes memories of Adam Wainright to me.
reckingball
July 11th, 2012
11:09 am
“How can anybody explaing Melky?”
The Yankees included Melky in a trade with the Braves to get rid of him, because of his lack of commitment, his partying, and the bad influence he was having on some their other young players.
The Braves released him about a week after their 2010 season because of he half-azzed his way through that season.
As for Melky being the 4th outfielder in ATL, I remember him starting as many games as any other outfielder in 2010, in fact too many games. Bobby Cox seemed to love him for some reason. It was an outfield by committee back then.
He was just as big, or a bigger rally-killer in 2010, as AGon was last year.
Wilbo
July 11th, 2012
11:12 am
Uhhhhhhhhhhh, did you like just wake up for this interview? If the Braves want to hit the Playoffs, our players better play w/ more, and our GM certainly better act w/ more energy than your displayed in your somnambulistic mumblings. Good comments, though, wake up, dude!
reckingball
July 11th, 2012
11:20 am
If Wren does make a trade, I hope that he doesn’t give up the farm, like his predecessor did, in the Texiera trade.
Watching those guys that Shirtholtz gave away, made me kind of mad.
Just like gcs @12:34, I can’t let it go.
That has got to be the worst trade that the Atlanta Braves ever made, and probably one of the worst in the current era of MLB, at the very least.
Julio Franco
July 11th, 2012
11:43 am
We could use another starter, but let’s not give up too much. We really need to improve the bench, and re sign Bourne. With Chippers contract up, and we’ll be off the hook for Lowe, maybe we’ll do it. If not, that will be a HUGE hole to fill.
reckingball
July 11th, 2012
11:55 am
MB……Just For Men, baby. And a couple shots of Geritol before the next video. haha.
63 year Braves Fan
July 11th, 2012
12:02 pm
When Crawford & Ellsbury return from DL, Red Sox will have glut of outfielders. How about trading Jurrjens ( who won’t be here next year) for Cody Ross a reliable, inexpensive R.H. power bat for the
outfield. Probably could sign him for next year also. Sign Bourn to long term contract. Trade for
Dempster or Greinke (sign for long term) using Delgado or Teheran, and Pastornicky.
Felipe'
July 11th, 2012
12:15 pm
Mark, do you not see the Michael Bourn re-signing in 2013 and making a move at trade deadline in 2012 as connected? like Braves could do one or the other but not both?
DawgDad
July 11th, 2012
12:22 pm
This is truly a crossroads moment for Wren and the Braves. Key veterans are winding down their tenure in Atlanta, and there is a core of solid kids to build around for the future. Do the Braves have the chips to go all-in in 2012, constrained on cash, thin on pitching, with their top prospects already in the lineup, and with multiple major holes to fill?
It’s usually a mistake to think you are one or two players away from being a championship team. Can the Braves win without a legitimate major league shortstop? [History says this is just not possible]. Without a reliable right-handed bat in the middle of the order? With a Greinke/Dempster type replacing Minor or Delgado? They need to shore up ALL those holes, and also upgrade the bullpen and bench. Renting players for a run this year could doom this team to mediocrity; if he goes that route Wren cannot afford to come up short.
Sonny Clusters
July 11th, 2012
12:23 pm
Background music. Consider some background music.
Is UGA's Mark Richt still under heavy pressure? ESPN says yes | Mark Bradley
July 11th, 2012
12:42 pm
[...] places Richt atop his list of coaches under most pressure to win. Others included: Mack Brown of Texas, Brian Kelly of Notre [...]
DawgDad
July 11th, 2012
12:45 pm
It is surreal to see Melky playing at this level, but assuming he’s not doping I’m happy for him. In 2010 he was arguably the worst outfielder in the NL with his level of playing time. Cox played him because Wren and McLouth didn’t give him any other option.
The Braves chances of signing Bourn appear to be zero. Too many big market teams with more cash to burn are in the hunt, and it only takes one.
shorty
July 11th, 2012
12:46 pm
For all the Bobby Cox haters ..consider this..the Yankees,Red Sox and Phillies have had the best teams money can buy but they don’t win the series every year why aren’t you talking trash about their managers?Bobby had passion and knowledge of the game …two attributes that unfortunately Fredi doesn’t possess.
P Rose
July 11th, 2012
1:40 pm
Totally agree, DawgDad. I’m so sick of seeing players like Adam Wainwright, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Elvis Andrus play in World Series and All Star games for other teams because the Braves needed “just one more piece” to make a short-term run. Frank Wren — DON’T DO IT! Keep Minor and Delgado and let’s win it all NEXT season.
Andrew
July 11th, 2012
3:56 pm
Was I the only one who perked up when they said Josh Hamilton is a FA at the end of the year? Why can’t Liberty use some of that $900M settlement and shell out $300M for Hamilton? Then move Prado back to 3rd.
glorydays
July 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
Mark, Do you use your sewing machine to sew your own suits?
MarvelGoose
July 12th, 2012
12:59 am
Good start for video but some pointers. 1) You are pale. If you aren’t going to go for the pancake, at least get a scoop light with a pink gel. 2) And get out of that white room with all the blonde furniture. With the grey hair and the pale skin you looked Scandinavian. 3) Or just change your name to Sven. 4) Sit on your coat tails to keep your jacket from riding up over your neck 5) pre-write a few colorful phrases you can drop in. Its harder to talk like you write, so have some zingers at the ready. Bland is not a good strategy for a talking head.
SR
July 12th, 2012
2:58 am
Come on, letting Melky Cabrera go FOR NOTHING, was another of Wren’s follys. He went to the Royals, they got him in shape and he performed up to his potential, simple as that and now he is doing the same thing out here in the Bay Area. Think perhaps Wren’s judgment should be questioned on this move?? Of course it should but not one of you in the press has done it!! Get off your ass and ask some questions, the guy is raking and what, the Braves couldn’t use a player like that. Gimme a break.
Query
July 12th, 2012
6:55 am
Hey Mark, I see that Peter Moylan is going to pitch friday in Rome. Could you give us an update on his rehab progress
Don
July 12th, 2012
10:36 am
JUST WONDERING — Mr. Bradley, exactly how many Pitchers would have to be injured over a 7 year period (since Leo left) for you writers to notice this or question this???????
TexanBrave
July 12th, 2012
12:27 pm
Don, you hit on the “elephant in the room” that is the back-channel communications I’ve had for years with my local Braves supporters…. Can’t figure out why Bobby (as loyal as they come) or now FG doesn’t act on the key “threat” in this team analysis………. Either the never-ending chain of above the neck issues, due to an affable yet lacking on “coaching-up” PC……… or the physical breakdowns (connected?) has led to the last 7 years of our deep mound talent never fully meeting the expectations…………….I’d use a UGA metaphor on lack of ever “coaching-up”but don’t want to start that comparison until after my trip to Mizzou… With the Bravos it has been Same ‘ol Same ‘ol since LM acquisition and their corporate mindset…….. 95 wins this year and out in the “one game…….shoot-out” against the……..Cards……..ohhh-noooo
steve
July 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
One thing that troubles me the most is I keep hearing Prado”s name being brought up again as far as a trade goes, he has been our best hitter in 2 of the last 3 years and he can play multiple positions very well which is why other teams want him badly, resign Bourne to a great contract, find a good minor league shortstop to trade for because of Simmons injury, get Greinke and we have a good chance to win it all provided we stay healthy and F.G. does a better job managing.
Greg
July 12th, 2012
5:25 pm
Hunter Pence is once again available. Let’s get him this time.
Fats
July 13th, 2012
11:38 am
20-22 Home record speaks volumes for the Braves. Get with it fellows
MeinAcworth
July 13th, 2012
6:27 pm
We have, without a doubt, the best, most savy, stupid, congenial fans around. Just reading these posts will give anyone a “steak dinner” of comments. However, don’t worry about a tip, it isn’t that good.
Fats
July 13th, 2012
8:11 pm
Fans pay for high priced tickets. They can say whatever they feel…..bro
Bobby Cox was a donk
July 14th, 2012
9:34 pm
I wish Bobby Cox had even more passion. Ever time his passion led to a heehawing stool flinging tantrum that got him ejected from the game, the Braves’ odds of winning that game went up about a thousand fold. As for knowledge of the game, Cox knew ways to screw up that normal men would never even have thought of.
Bobby Cox was a donk
July 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
Bobby Cox often left me in awe. I’d sit there staring at the tv with my mout gaping, wondering how in the name of god one man could be so incredibly stupid. I was utterly amazed at how many times he could make the same donkey mistakes
74BravesJersey
July 15th, 2012
12:10 pm
So, now we have a donkey’s rear end for a manager now huh? He was practically raised & nurtured by Bobby, except this one doesn’t want to cross umpires, or hurt nobodies feelin’s. He’s a Bobby protege’ if I’ve ever seen one.
74BravesJersey
July 15th, 2012
12:11 pm
He’s a sweet feller in a gentle kinda way.
Bobby Cox was a donk
July 16th, 2012
8:24 pm
Fredi G is an extremely average and underwhelming manager. The fact he doesnt argue with umps is one of his best traits. You dont need to argue with umps to protect your players, and its perhaps the least productive activity anyone can engage in on the field. All that said, as average and unremarkable as Fredi G is, he is a million times better than Cox was.