First off, I don’t think that they will trade Hudson or Andruw. I think they’ll also try to sign Andruw to an extension this offseason, but will fail, and if they fall out of contention next year they’ll trade him then. But if the Braves really wanted to restock the farm system (which is actually in pretty good shape, but not as strong as it was before the mass promotions of last season) these two guys are the big prizes.
Tim Hudson: Everybody needs starting pitching; nobody is going to back off just because they have enough. There’s been talk about a trade to the Yankees for weeks now. The Yankees have the cash to pick up Hudson’s salary — which is pretty reasonable anyway — but their farm system isn’t that good. (Baseball America ranks it seventeenth, and most of what talent there is is in the low minors.)
Where the Yankees are, you’ll see the Red Sox close behind. They mostly have pitching in their system. That might be attractive to some but really I’d rather have hitters. If I were Schuerholz, I’d spend less time publicizing my book talk to the Dodgers. They’re a perfect match; they’re in first place but have only two reliable starters (Penny and Lowe), they like to collect Braves, and they have one of the two best farm systems in baseball.
Andruw Jones:  Normally, you’d go back to the Yankees again. But center is the only relatively stable position in their outfield. They’d be better off with Damon in left and Andruw in center, so you can’t count them out. The White Sox were interested in Andruw two years ago and are playing Brian Anderson (who can’t hit) and Rob Mackowiak (who can’t field and isn’t that much of an offensive improvement) in center. Their offense is largely built around righthanded power already, so they might be reluctant. Given the general uselessness of Willy Taveras, the Astros could be interested if they could scrape up the talent.

Mac, I’m interested in your thoughts on this. What do you think we will offer Andruw? Also, what do you think he would bring in FA? Just wondering how close you think we could be…
I put this on the last post, it is a rally cry!
Well it sounds like we have the next ten games to decide what the deal is. Can we all rally around the next ten days before we call it quits? We must all chip in for this to happen! We have to be positive and supporting. Everyone needs to get involved.
Alex, Stu, csg you guys find a way for us to go 6-4, 7-3. Scout the Jays, Rays, and the Assholes. Find there weak points
Mac, find something positive about the bullpen and beg Bobby to use it.
Jenny, motivate your boy Giles (any way you have to)
Everyone else pick a player, respond on here on how you will motive them. We have 25 guys. If we all are responsible for one, we can get them through this!
Dan, you and I will try to keep these people positive.
Danny Kold, got to hell and take your New York Mets with you!
10 games! Let’s go!!!
So far the following players have been taken:
Frenchy-me
Ray- ron
TP- AAR
McCann- ‘Rissa
Paranto-DrZachary
Jordan -Ryan c
Hudson- Coy
Pratt- dans
LaRoche-JoshQ
Orr-Brad
Smitty,
I’ll take Sosa. I’ll cook him a big plate of maduros (fried plantains) and tell him to throw strikes.
MMM…Love the food from the islands!!!
I wouldn’t base the decision of whether to keep pining away or closing up shop over any set series or number of games. If anything, the time to make decisions are either during the All Star Break or before the trade deadline. It’ll be a little tough to make decisions based on the remaining interleage games.
Personally, I think the best time to make these heavy decisions are after the All Star Break and before the trade deadline at the end of July. Perhaps the break will do them some good. If not, that’s the time to start planning for next year. IMO, I think there’s a still a shot this year. Not a big one, but it’s there. This is a good club aside from the bullpen. There’s really no reason for them to be playing like this (again, aside from the pen). I’m convinced that Peter Gammons is right and that a major funk like this is just unavoidable every so often. It’s just up to the guys to psychologically work this out. If that is done, and some serious changes are made to the pen, this is still a very decent ball club.
I was just going from the story in the AJC that was talking about how the team is going to evaluate thier play over the the next ten games to see where they are.
Remmy, thanks for taking Sosa! I was getting worried.
Only 16 players, 6 coches, and a trainer to go! Adopt your now, before you get stuck with a bull pen catcher!
Oh okay, I hadn’t read that. My bad. Do you have a link?
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/0620braves.html
Funny article (fake)
I’ll take Larry Wayne Jones Jr., and bring him back to dear ol’ dad, via my private jet, and let Sr. re-teach his swing and then bring him to church to pray for 4-5 months of perfect health.
That was awesome, jenny!
NIce Johnny!
Jenny you need to tak Giles
I’ll take Jeff Porter.
Jordan, Remlinger, Reitsma, Pratt, and Orr may never again walk, much less play baseball.
Smitty, that article can’t be right. It says Schuerholz has actually been trying in the offseason and regular season to find bullpen help. Yet as everyone knows, he’s simply been writing and promoting his book while sitting around admiring his fancy clothes!
Ok that’s it. Add Schuerholtz to the list, who wants him? Colin? Mac? Alex R? Stu?
I just took Porter, Smitty. Scroll up.
My bad. Nice pick up. Keep Smoltz’s arm attached.
Maybe he has been writting and pormoting while he was waiting on return phone calls? I heard the book was going to come out in 2009, but with all the waiting he finished faster!
When is James starting again? Anybody know?
Hoboken, you can adopt James if you want to
Speaking of Chipper, any word on him being available tonite??
I guess. Do I have to do anything? I’m not paying anybody squat.
But really, all I wanted to know is when he’d be back up with the big club and on the mound…..
No you don’t have to pay. YOu just claim them and support them and make them play the way they should (how is up to you) WE are about to go on a run read post #2
hoboken_wood – this is just our last hope for this team to start winning. It begins tonight. Next 10 games 8-2
Alright, put me down for Chuck James then. So I’m not allowed to throw my shoe at the screen when he’s pitching….I can handle that.
Since we share a last name, I’ll take Andruw. Count it.
Can I get Chipper? Since I live in is hometown……
LanceinFL, can you bring Chipper’s bat to him tonight. He must have left it somewhere after the WBC.
Johnny W has Chipper. Good pick ups on James and Andruw.
Here is who is left.
Smoltz
Betemit
McBride
Yates
Remlinger
Thomson
HoRam
Cormier
Stockman
Villareal
Giles (take him Jenny)
Renteria
Thorman
Diaz
Langerhans
give me Smoltz, I guarantee wins
Plus Schurholtz, Bobby, Hubbard, Gonzo, McDowell, Dewes, Coralass
Ok smoltz gone
I don’t think this is going to work if you can’t start spelling people’s names correctly, Smitty. It’s not sending a very positive message.
I’ll take Schurholtz, I plan to have a book burning party tonight. Give this team the “spark” it needs.
I mean Schuerholz , I copied and pasted from Smitty’s post.
Sorry, Stu. I typed it all up in a hurry. I think everyone gets the point
Thanks Charles S. I am sure this will “light a fire” under him.
ok ok, I’ll take Stockman and Yates….I love a challenge, and they do have one of Chipper’s bats in a display case at his high school here….
Poor Pat Corrales won’t even know it’s him you’re trying to motivate.
I’ll take Renteria. I’ll just tell him to keep doing what he’s doing, because damn, he’s the only guy hitting in the upper half of the line-up.
You keeping tabs on all this, Smitty?
Motivating Pat Corrales shouldn’t be a problem. Chuck Norris just said he would motivate him. I think Pat will know he is being motivated. I just hope his knees can handle it.
Sure am Rob. Way to help the team!
Happy to help, though my assignment is much easier than, say, Giles. Maybe Jenny has a bigger heart than I do.
Stockman and Yates should be easy to motivate…..perform or go back to the minors…oh yeah, dont walk anyone and dont give up the long ball….how hard can it be?
I’ll take Diaz since he and I are FSU alums. Maybe I can convince him to pronounce his name Dee-az instead of Die-az – that should be worth a few points on the batting average.
If I can’t convince Pratt to disappear, than I’ll talk him into getting hit by the pitch as much as posible. Then in most cases we can use a runner for him. That’s the best way to get him out of the games that he starts. Not playing is the most positive thing he can do for the team.
Guys, I know im new in here, but ive been a Braves fan for 20 years and I want to help. I will take Thorman and tell him to enjoy the ride and be patient at the plate; you dont want to go back to the minors do ya! Play your cards right and you will be fine
dans you and Brad (Orr) can work together on that. Seeing as how the only thing Orr brings to the team is speed, then running for Pratt would be obvious! 8-2 here we go!
Welcome Shawn! Maybe he will give you the ball from his first hit. Just make sure you are up by the Coke bottle so he can hit it strait to you!
I’ll take Langerhans and an option on Brayan Pena (if whatever mystery malady wiping out the crappy players gets Pratt).
I just told him to light a fire under the teams ass…and if you arnt playing keep everyone focused and excited. This team needs a vocal leader…come on boys we need some wins and it starts now, we are the Braves, we dont lose we f**kin win, lets do it!!!
All right, I’ll officially “adopt” Marcus, though it appears I already had him anyway :-).
Keep the player “takes” coming. They are fantastic and help ease the pain of all our sucky playing the last few weeks. 🙂
As for group 1, I also don’t think Hudson will be traded unless Liberty mandates a Marlin-style firesale. Same for Andruw.. this year. If we struggle the early part of next year though, all bets are off. The chances of us resigning him would seem to be slim (and maybe we would better off using our limited payroll on the bullpen or starting staff and putting Frenchy or Langerhans in center anyway).
Braves fan from California here, un-lurking for our Karma Project.
Anyone have the WB yet?
B. Jordan taken yet? If not I’ll adopt him. My motivational take?
‘Rest up Big Guy, we’re going to need your calm, stabilizing influence in the clubhouse, and you won’t be able to provide that if you rush back into a minor league rehab. Stay on the DL, give Thorman and the WB the benefit of your Major League experience, then come Sept. 1, we’ll activate you for your final swan song, to lead the Braves on their miracle rally to the WS!’
[What? Like a 1914 happens only once a century?]
D’oh! I see Ryan C already has Jordan. I’ll go with Villareal.
OK, Oscar, nice and easy. Spot the fastball down and away, and remember, share the wins with the starters.