ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Mets at Braves
I probably should reinstate the Miserable Braves Loss Type Index:
Miserable Braves Loss Type 4.1(d): “Starting Pitcher Gets Completely Knocked Around, Game Basically Over From Beginning, Don’t Try To Get Your Hopes Up.â€
Chuck James was abhorrent, giving up three in the first and then allowing a grand slam in the second, after which he was yanked for Shiell, who is probably our second-best starter right now in that he can go five without giving up more than five runs.
The offense almost got back into it, which is so frustrating. They got three in the second and loaded the bases with two out only to have Francoeur ground out to end it. It wasn’t the first time they’d get the tying run to the plate, but they never got the hit they needed to get within striking distance. The Braves actually had 16 hits (three fewer than the Mets) but they were mostly singles (four doubles, two by McCann, no homers) and they left a lot of baserunners (14, plus Aybar was thrown out stealing to end the game).
Aybar started at third and led off, and was a bright spot with four hits, scoring twice and driving in two. I expect he’ll lead off for now, especially since Giles, back in the two spot, had two hits and a walk. Baez pitched the eighth and let the first two runners reach but then got a strikeout and two popups to get out of it.
JS may have something else planned. I would probably guess that it would be to trade away a veteran or two for prospects, because this week wiped the team out. The starting pitching is worse than it’s ever been. Worse than the mid eighties. A day off, much needed, then the Pirates. Our peers.
I hope you are right, but I fear that JS will still cling delusionally to the idea of wild card birth and the much needed sell off will have to wait for the offseason or longer.
Ugg.
Beltran is the Mets revenge for Chipper in ’99.
A sell off of any veteran other than Hudson would be stupid and probably kill the Braves’ chances for 2007, which we are in no way out of yet.
The Pirates suck but are playing better. I’ll take a series win where I can get them.
Why can’t the Braves’ fans at Turner field find a Met to hate with the same passion Mets’ fans hated John Rocker back in 1999 and Chipper and Andruw Jones now? No specific Met gets booed every time they step to the plate, like Chipper and Andruw do at Shea now. Why the heck is that?
Because the Mets fans haven’t enjoyed a successful season since 2000.
And they last won the World Series in 1986, so they’re really hungry for it, if that has anything to do with it.
hungry? STARVING!
It’s our time. We will do some damage this year
It’s going to be funny as hell if the Mets get knocked out in the first round after year after year of blabbing about how the Braves may always win the division, but lose the NLDS.
Julio is getting cheered. CHEERED!
I remember in 2004 when Lofton got BOOED, Lofton!
Lofton hit over .300 and had a great season, he was booed rightfully so.
Braves fans need to get nasty.
So are we going after Zito?
LOL
When KL was with the Brave she had a great season.
“A sell off of any veteran other than Hudson…”
Scratch that. Thomson and Giles (but only Giles at the right price) can go too. But Smoltz and Andruw must not go.
I remember what Lofton said after he signed with Cleveland in 1998. He said that being in Atlanta was like being a ghost. I think that’s why they boo him. Not sure, though.
I’d cheer Julio too, no offense.
I wish I thought this series would convince JS that this team is going nowhere this year and that trading for quick fixes is ill-advised, but unfortunately I don’t believe he thinks that way. This team just does not have pitching. We have John Smoltz. What else? Oh, yeah, Bob Wickman. Color me unimpressed.
As for the Mets, they aren’t winning anything this year. They might get to the World Series, just because the NL is so incredibly pathetic this year, but whichever AL team they face will kick their butts anyway, so it hardly matters. The disparity between leagues is astonishing.
I’d boo every former Brave just to make the current Braves understand what it means to be a Brave.
Hrbek knocked off Gant because he was nasty. We need to get an edge like that if just a little one.
Rocker gave us that(I can’t believe I’m saying that).
He got people’s blood boiling.
You gotta get up for things, thats why whenever Bobby gets thrown the Braves start firing on all cylinders. THEY WAKE UP!
Some way or another you have to have some level of intensity.
You just can’t lolligag the entire season an expect to breeze through to the playoffs.
Leave the booing to Yankees’ fans. There’s nothing wrong with being a city that has class and shows appreciation for its former stars.
Ron wants milquetoastiness. I want some fire.
Somebody punch somebody, bean somebody.
I now know what it feels like to be a Cubs fan.
Oh wait they are winning now. huh
Sounds like someone’s ready for football season. Punching or beaning someone to try and fire up your teammates will only make your teammates regard you as a hotheaded idiot.
Fire doesn’t win you games. Having good starting pitching wins you games. The Braves don’t have the latter, so they lose.
It seems that the Cardinals traded Hector Luna to the Indians for Ron Belliard.
I would like John Schuerholz to build a world series caliber team, even if the wild card is/becomes dead. I want to win in 2007 not in 2010.
Everyone wants to win in 2007, Dan ;P
Thomson is done for the season, so he won’t be traded. Or offered arbitration, so the Braves won’t get diddly for him. Marcus is the most likely to be traded, followed by the relievers we just traded for.
So I guess we’ll see Marcus leaving town then.
So I just got back from Minnneapolis. I had great seats for the 2nd loss to the Tigers. Both my teams are losing to their division leaders. At least the Twins came back and won today.
I wish I could have gotten to see the debut of our new leadoff hitter. Sounds like he did well. I’d like to hear everyones first impressions of him, how was his D and speed?
Um, it wasn’t just Mets fans who booed Rocker. And I’d also cheer Julio too… if fan ‘intensity’ – or fire, or whatever – really mattered, the Miami Heat would not have won the NBA championship and the Phillies would have been the MLB team of the century.
I agree with Sam: pitching wins. And the Braves just don’t have any pitching. That the bullpen, coming in to today, ranked 14th in the NL (AAA) in team ERA has overshadowed the fact that the starters are 11th. As the Braves have shown us over the past 15 years, a great starting rotation can minimize (at least for the regular season) a bad bullpen. The rotation is horrible. It’s just pathetic. James, Ramirez, Thomson, Shiell, Sosa, Cormier – would any of these guys get a start on a contender? Hudson might because of name recognition, but he deserves to be on that list too. The Braves have Smoltz, as Jenny put it, and nobody else. Smoltz, meanwhile, has been more good than great… although on this staff he’s Cy Young. My hope is that JS will work with the next few years in mind. He has to see that this team is not a playoff-worthy team, even in the NL.
Oh, and Betemit, in case anyone was wondering, is currently 3-3 with two doubles.
“Um, it wasn’t just Mets fans who booed Rocker.”
Really? What other teams’ fans booed John Rocker and threw batteries at him during the 1999 season?
I believe that while many may argue that the Betemit trade was one to help now, it actually is a move with an eye toward next season.
I expect Giles to be moved in the off-season (if not before)for pitching help and Aybar to be our starting secondbaseman and leadoff hitter next year.
Can JS move Baez, Wickman, Ray, and Poronto within the next 20 hours? It’s time to get something, since none of those guys will be back with the Braves next year. Hopefully, Giles can end the season strong before they trade him. He’s going to be traded, it’s just a matter of time. What a disappointing season.
Yes, JC, it’s been a disappointing season thus far, but it will be even more of a disappointment if the Braves don’t finish above .500.
So… if we trade Baez or Wickman, who is going to take their place? Startup? Don’t tell me we’re going to bring back Barry or Cormier.
how about danny kolb?
Baez and Wickman aren’t getting traded I’m willing to bet.
Jorge Sosa for Dan Kolb?
i think holding on to wickman, and baez would be in your best interest. Your team cant win it this year but maybe you can do some damage next year. Just think were your team would be had your team done these trades earlier. Hell you would have won atleast 8-10 more games. Ots not quite rebuilding time yet for your team needs some work.
+ having hampton back will help your rotation some. Hampton/smoltz/huddson will get the job done for the most part. One more quality pitcher would/should do it. one more relief man,and a healthy chipper and I would think your team was playoff bound. …………….. a carlos beltran clone would help too.
Hudson stinks. I am on the side of hoping the Braves trade him & get something back. He’s had his chance and he’s not worth the $ he’s making.
Add me to the list who would cheer Julio, and Glavine, and Maddux, and now Betemit…there are several former Braves I would never cheer for…Kyle Farnsworth, Danny Kolbb, Lofton, JD Drew.
I my cheering & booing on many factors but being an ex Brave does not draw “boos” to guys who contributed mightily to our past success, if they are good guys.
Oh, and I got chills down my spine about this story:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/0731braves.html
The last time the Mets swept the Braves IN Atlanta, 21 years ago…? July 1985? There was a chubby 10 year old named ‘Alex R.’ who attended all four of those games and stayed at the same Hotel as the Mets and met all their players. (we specifically were up visiting from Savannah that weekend).
(That was back when it was OK to cheer for both teams since as I have explained before, my father & brother are Mets fans.)
I don’t know why Ray or Paronto wouldn’t be back — neither is even eligible for arbitration. Well Ray certainly isn’t — he’s officially a rookie. Paronto has three partial years and I doubt he’s over two years of service time. One of the announcers today (I forget who) said Wickman is likely to retire after the season.
Wickman retire? that stinks. I would love for him to give us 1 year next year.
Why would Wickman retire? I’d think he has at least one more year in him.
Because he’s 38 years old and weighs 300 pounds?
That July 4th game?! Wow, I had a feeling that was when the Mets swept. I can’t believe I was right.
Hm. Good point.
I would like one more year out of Wickman, we are still not going to find a closer in the offseason so he could stabilize. Baez? Who knows. We need starters though, a few of them.
I think I hate Hudson.
“Sosa for Kolb”
Thats hilarious.
Bring back Electric Walkaloo for (Name Redacted)?
That would be a quality move.
What are we the 1899 Cleveland Spiders?
Do we have any GOOD Starting Pitching Prospects?
@44
I think we’re all starting to hate Tim Hudson.
I thought that people were talking well here about Will Startup.
Landogarner, Jeff left 5 on base, Larouche left 4.
They both suck.
By the way, Aybar 4-6 2 Rbi
MAC, isn’t he 37? Isn’t Roger Clemens 40+, Smoltz is 39.
He’s got 2 years left.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/team.php?id=431&bsort=avg_sort&psort=w&bord=desc&pord=desc
Travis Smith and Wayne Franklin have the best ERAs, anyone seen them pitch?
Kevin Barry and Phil Stockman have stats that look okay.
Anyone below Richmond lighting it up?
The Braves need a hard thrower-something they haven’t had since Smoltz a decade ago.
Have you seen anyone in the system who has 95+ speed on fastball?
Clemens and Smoltz are probably two of the best conditioned pitchers of all time. Wickman….well…you know where I’m going with this. It’s not a great longevity comparison.
well… we have some…
Lerew had a rough go in AAA but since coming down to AA… he’s done very well and seems to have finally gotten back on track.
Matt Wright was having a GREAT year in AA… they promoted him a few weeks ago and since arriving in Richmond it hasn’t gone so well! He’s still adjusting… slowly!
*Matt Harrison also in Mississippi
*Dan Smith has been GREAT in Mississippi when starting… now coming out of the pen… not so great. He’s sorta just filled in when a starter was moved and we needed another… I think Blauser has finally decided to possibly start him more. He said today that he was going to piggy back him with Sean White (who has just returned from the DL)
I think I speak for everyone when I say we’ve seen more than enough of the pitching of Travis Smith.
It seems our minor league well has run dry, I know we have a couple names, but in AA and AAA we are overall weak, and many who suceeded in A ball have not advanced very well. Hopefully our current rookie crop develops otherwise it is going to get uglier fast. We have no starting pitching to rely on, Smolts, 39, All the others stinkm Ramirez is an okay 4, thats it.
Oh Travis Smith, That guy. Oh yea.
Next question….
What did they do in the draft?
Look Dix, Wickman is in good shape, for a fat guy.
He’s got some easy velocity on his fastball.
He just guts it up their and allows it to sink.
He doesn’t have to throw hard just 90-91.
Matt Wright got just rocked in his first start at Richmond, but he has done a bit better in his next two. I think that he has some potential and it will be useful to see how he finishes at AAA.
Braves fans need to get nasty.
Yeah. that worked so well for the Mets fans against Rocker and Chipper. The two of them really stunk it up against the Mets *rolls eyes*
Marcus is the most likely to be traded, followed by the relievers we just traded for.
Agreed on marcus, especially with the AJC saying he could be our starting 2B next year. If the Braves think they can keep Baez and Wickman, though (I hadn’t heard the retirement rumor, but it may just be for negotiation), then I bet JS will keep them. After being shut out of bidding for closers this past winter I expect JS to give at least one of them ta contract extension before October.
If I’m JS I’m working the phones to trade for prospects tonight, but I agree with those who think he won’t actually do so. But 8 games below .500 and behind 9 teams for the wild card is just too much ground to make up for this weak team.
My bad on Ray and Poronto. I’m so used to the Braves hiring major league re-treads that I forgot they had to go with minor league re-treads this year. Still, I would trade both without hesitation.
Jo Jo Reyes recently went to Myrtle Beach from Rome. In Rome he dominated; not so much in MB. And it’s only high-A. Brad Nelson (a releiver) also went up to MB, and his stuff was GREAT in Rome. Doing well in MB so far, and he’s older….I expect him to advance quickly if he keeps getting people out. Will Startup (releiver) has settled down in his last 2 appearances in Richmond. He was lights out in MB and Mississippi, but struggled in AAA. Maybe this is his turnaround.
Beau Jones (former supplemental 1st rounder) is not doing well in Rome, and Jeff Lyman has been injured and inconsistent. Luis Atilano just got shelved for the rest of the year, and James Parr isn’t as good in MB as he was last year in Rome. Dustin Evans (this year’s draft) has been okay.
I don’t know, I hope some of the guys in the minors step it up and really start doing well. I agree that the well seems dry in AAA and AA, bu tI’m telling you….MB on down isn’t too shabby.
I’ve been watching Alabama baseball(Guess where I live?hehe), and Wade Leblanc is something rare a left-hander with great breaking stuff and a 93 mph fastball.
He played in the SEC amongst the aluminum bats and Florida’s.
I hoped the Braves would have picked him up.
ESPN is giving “love” to Affleck. YUCK!
BOOOOOO!!!!!!
Colin #60
4Seam: We’re losing, it doens’t matter, ain’t that right Monte?
Monte: I heard that.
4 Seam: Dynamite drop in, Monte. That broadcast school has really paid off.
Good thing we are going on the road. I think we should wear the road uni’s at home from now on.
Guys who I would look to trade by tomorrow:
Tim Hudson
Get rid of him as soon as possible. He is falling apart. If anyone offered to pay 80% of his contract and send a token prospect back to Atlanta, I’d jump all over it.
Ken Ray
Minor league journeymen do not regularly become reliable setup men at the age of thirty. However, minor league journeymen do become flash-in-the-pans at the age of thirty with reasonable regularity. Trade him while he has some value.
Chad Paronto
Ditto.
Tyler Yates
Ditto v. 2.0.
Danys Baez
From what I understand about his confusing contract situation, he cannot be offered arbitration and becomes a free agent at the end of this season, despite the fact that he’ll have less than six years service time. In that case, the Braves don’t need a reliever who they won’t be keeping and who’ll bring back a decent prospect.
Bob Wickman
Free agent at the end of the year, likely to retire? What do the Braves need him for?
Jorge Sosa
Nine days left to trade Sosa. Somebody will take him for a token A-ball player. No reason not to do it.
Marcus Giles
Ready for the Martin Prado experience? Two schools of thought here: one is that his value will improve as Giles plays better over the next year or so, and if that’s the case, wait to trade him until this time next year. The other is that his value is stagnant or declining, in which case he should be traded immediately.
Other trade candidates:
Edgar Renteria
Renteria’s value will probably be higher in the offseason. With two years left at $6M apiece, he’s a very attractive commodity. I don’t see any reason for the Braves to pretend to contend in 2007, so go ahead and deal him this offseason.
Andruw Jones
A 10/5 guy in a couple of weeks. I’d wait for an offer that blew me away to deal Jones, keeping in mind that he’d have to approve any trade. If it’s to a contending team, he probably would.
Adam LaRoche
Is LaRoche’s value at its peak right now? Probably. Deal him this offseason and make do with a Thorman/Jurries platoon in 2007.
So… why can’t we contend in 2007? Too many things to fix?
Things just get better:
Finneran suffers likely season-ending knee injury
Finneran’s not much except that he’s the only Falcons WR who can actually catch.
I agree with just about everything in #66 except for Hudson. His value is so low right now, there’s no use in trading him. He’s pitched like crap(or carp if you’re dyslexic, I imagine they’d pitch about the same). Keep him for next year, and hope he turns it around, then either keep him or trade him. But really its too soon now, and you’ve gotta hope he’s just hiding an injury or something at this point, right?
Oh, and I’d be willing to hold onto Ray, and Paranto if they’re not gonna be gone anyway; just to see how they pitch next ST.
Too many things to fix, too many teams to contend with. The Mets are good. The Marlins are going to be good.
The Braves are going to be counting on a 40 year old John Smoltz, a dead Tim Hudson, a risky Mike Hampton, an always frightening Horacio Ramirez, Kyle Davies, and Chuck James (good game today, by the way) to lead the rotation to the playoffs. Nope.
How about the offense? Brian McCann and Andruw Jones are great. Chipper Jones is great when healthy, which is getting increasingly rare. Renteria is playing over his head, he will regress next year, although he’ll still be a solid shortstop. LaRoche and Giles are passable. Francoeur blows, but I suppose he’ll get better. Left field is a problem. Overall, the offense is still good.
With guys like Langerhans, Diaz, and Aybar, the bench has potential to be a strength.
With guys like , the bullpen has potential to be a weakness.
Unless they hire someone to discreetly injure him again, the Braves will pick up all of Mike Hampton’s depressing salary next year. With him on the books, I can’t see the Braves having any financial wiggle room to address their glaring pitching needs. But I think that if the Braves start trading guys away, especially Hudson, they’ll be ready to contend again in 2008 or 2009. Be patient. Rebuilding takes more than two months.
JASON STARK OF ESPN REPORTS SHMIDT COULD GO TO METS.
Im not how much stock i put into this one, But wow would that be nice to wake up tomarrow with him on my team.
I would give the Braves about a 10% shot at the wildcard this year. It ain’t much, but I’m not willing to give up completely just yet. As for next year, if we start selling, we’ve got to look to next year. As bad as things have gone this year, if Hudson was pitching even average and Thomson pitched at least as well as last year w/o injuries every other start – combined with our current bullpen, we would be in good shape – at least for the wildcard. My point is, we’re not as far away as some think. We would be crazy to start looking to 2008 and do a massive selloff this year.
I don’t think the Braves can afford to risk that. Hudson’s salary balloons to $13M in 2008 and 2009, and I sure as hell don’t want him on the Braves when that happens. His comparability to other pitchers who fell apart at his age is frightening, but surely there is someone out there who believes that Hudson is still a good major league starter who’s had a bad half season. If that person is right, what will the Braves have lost if they trade him away? A decent starter with an unattractive price tag. No loss.
However, if I’m right and the Braves don’t trade him, what will they have lost? I don’t like to think about that. I’m just playing risk management here – trading Hudson while they still can is the Braves’ best bet.
send Huddy to the Red Sox for Crisp and a SP. Crisp is on the block and could be great in LF and leadoff next year.
believe me when i tell you crisp is not on the block. He will be in boston for a while
okay then, send Huddy to anyone that will take him
lol. Relax man, Huddy will regain his old self. He is a good pitcher going through a little funk right now. Alot of pitchers go through it, All other seasons for the most part suggest that huddson is a much better pitcher then what he is playing like right now.
I don’t know how you can justify such a high chance. The Braves have eight teams in front of them, and one tied with them. If you give every one of these teams an equal shot at the wild card, each team has an 11% chance of winning it. But clearly the teams’ chances are not equal. Cincinnati and Arizona have to be given chances at least twice as large as the Braves. Optimistically, I’d say that the Braves have a two or three percent chance at the wild card.
in all honesty. I think its all over for this year. I9 say there is a 0% chance to make the wild card. Too many teams are ahead of you and clearly have more talent…..Not so much talent, but having the right pieces to get them farther this year.Get your self a nice draft pick, some small but good moves this off season and get ready to roll for 2007. No knock on your team but they just had the wind taken out of thier sail’s this week end. How well you play your next series against a last place team will give you an idea of if you can make a run at the wild card. I say no, but crazy things happen in baseball. Ya just never know.
milledge for zito, hielman & x man for SHMIDT.
In my mother fu+k’n dreams
and in my worst dreams they both leave after this year
Actually, NYMets, Crisp is on the block. They offered him to the ChiSox for Mark Buehrle (or maybe it’s Buerhle?) 2 days ago.
That’s actually a call I’d make. He hasn’t been great this year, but he’s a lot cheaper and younger than Hudson, the Red Sox need pitching, and that would give us something to stick in the leadoff hole so Marcus could go back to #2 permanently.
Interesting. Hmmm.
I’m not here to rub in the sweep, and won’t be posting here again, but if I could just give my two cents on what I notice with your team…
I think your #1 problem was losing the legendary Leo Mazzone, maybe the best pitching coach in baseball, and replacing him with Roger McDowell, one of, if not THE, worst.
I can’t see McDowell mixing well with Bobby Cox for one. McDowell is not even a pitching coach type of guy. He was a wacky prankster his whole career, and bordered on insane half the time. He was a pitching coach for the Dodger’s minor leagues for only 4 years, and two of those were at the A-ball level, before becoming your pitching coach.
You guys need a real pitching coach.
Why else is Hudson having the worst year of his life? Even Smoltz’s ERA is higher than past years. Jorge Sosa goes from a 13-3 record and 2.55 ERA to getting designated for assignment? Guys like Davies and Reitsma go from solid regulars to getting shelled?
Let’s be realistic. Our pitching coach, Rick Peterson, is a big reason why our pitching is so solid. Guys like Pedro Feliciano (2.18 ERA), Darren Oliver (2.05 ERA), John Maine (2.45 ERA), Heath Bell (3.20 ERA), etc., etc. are not as good as their numbers look. They are being coached and utilized in the right way.
Who’s the better #2 hitter? Giles or Renteria?
And if the Braves wait until the winter to move Giles, batting him second for the remainder of this season, where does Renteria fit in the line-up? In my opinion, Renteria is the better #2 hitter.
If we trade Giles, what is our infield look like.
Aybar at 2nd
Renteria SS
Jones at 3rd? I am a Chipper fan but he is done. He just can not stay healthy and it will get worse each year. I hate to say it, but if he wants to keep playing he should go to an AL team so he can DH. Playing the field is beating his body up, whether its first or third it grinds on the body. Damn he can still hit too, but, if we hold Giles one more year and use Aybar as a super-sub, we can squeeze more out of Chipper.
Other note: Whats up with the sale of the team? I have not heard anything latley.
I don’t know if you guys saw The Dugout yet today, but it’s pretty funny:
http://www.progressiveboink.com/dugout/archive/jon64.html
Jenny:
How do you know crisp was offered in any deal? Did the red sox come out and say that? or the chisox for that matter? they are also in the same division (AL) And would be more then likely seeing each other in the playoffs. SO WHY HELP ONE ANOTHER OUT????? STOP and think for just one moment about that. Gm’s use a lot of smoke screens to help hide what they are doing. I am telling you crisp will stay with the red sox. stop believing everything you read, especially when the trade deadline rolls around. They need defense in the outfield right now, and he was the man they got to replace Damnon for that reason. It would make NO SENSE to trade him. I can bet you anything he stays put! you will see im right come 1:00
Just because Crisp doesn’t move doesn’t mean he iswasn’t on the block. It might just mean they didn’t find an acceptable deal.
I don’t see any reason to trade Ray, Paronto, or Yates. — we have to have a few guys to compete for bullpen slots next year, and these guys have been okay and also cheap. All you’d get for cheap, spare parts would be someone else who you hope would become a cheap, spare part.
Not ready to give up. Call me delusional. This team still has some good baseball in it. I’ll admit I don’t know if it’s enough. But just look at the teams we play in August. It doesn’t fill me with dread!
Pit-6
Cin-3
Phi-3
Mil-3
Was-7
Fla-3
SF-3 (on the last 3 days of August.)
The Cincinnati series next weekend will be so hot and miserable that the Reds BETTER rest some people! Their talk radio this last weekend was all about getting a starter. They are not invincible. Their fans are nervous. Their manager is untested.
All the Braves can do is win 3 game series. They can’t do anything about the NL West wild card competitors. They can’t do much about about NL Central hopes. But they can post a winning record in August and take their chances.
I just hope somebody smarter than me can find a way to get the team into the sixth inning with a fighting chance everyday.
Go Braves!
Dix :
Again, how the hell do know????? did the sox come up to you and tell you their master plan? You all act like GM’S (much like the mets blogs) and none of you qualify, nor do you have any real knowledge of what’s going on involving trades, personnel, or any other thing that upper management does. Its all speculation, or crap that sports writer’s sell us on. In some cases “where there is smoke there is fire” does happen, but rarely. How many players have you heard in discussions that never go anywhere? That’s because it was never even an option….or teams put out a name just to see what his worth is on the open market. Bottom line……Red sox and their fans love crisp. He is spectacular with the glove, He is very average on the offense side, but that lineup produces more then its fair share of runs so why would they care? and he is cheap, they need that seeing how their payroll has ballooned in resent years.
That rumor was crap
But interesting no less
Remy, this year Renteria is the better #2 hitter. But he would also be a better #1 hitter than Giles. Given the choice between Giles #1, Renteria #2 and Renteria #1, Giles #2, I’d take the latter.
I predict the Braves are done trading until the offseason. They will finish the season with what they have then reassess. This gives Tim Hudson 2 more months to figure out his mechanical problems or to fess up to whatever arm injury he may have. It gives Giles 2 more months to pad his stats and make himself more attractive for his inevitable trade. It gives Wickman and Baeyz 2 more months to show they deserve extensions or resigning in the off season. It probably won’t be a pretty 2 months and highly likely won’t end in a postseason berth. The team might be better off doing what the Phillies are doing, but I don’t think JS is ready to declare his handiwork a bust.
I don’t think we are ready to give up. If we could get some starting pitching we will be ok. We need to gain some ground this week. I am not worried, we should steam roll the Pirates and get back in to the WC agains the Reds.
Still a lot of baseball to play.
All I can say is I’m very glad flournoy is powerless about what this team does because saying the Braves can’t contend in 2007 is insane.
I have seen several questions about the minor league system, both that its great and not so great. Assuming the team the Braves have now, and if Andruw leaves in 2007, what do the Braves need in the free agent market (Hampton comes back, etc.)?
NY you’re starting to be annoying again. Did anyone of us say that Crisp was going to be traded? NO – Actually all we can do is listen to the rumors and if someone says that Crisp is available we have to use that info. Here are some of those rumors, by the way!
1. As for a Boston Globe report that the Sox turned down an offer to acquire outfielder Coco Crisp from Boston in exchange for pitcher Mark Buehrle, Williams called it “interesting.”
2. A rumor came out of Boston that the Red Sox offered outfielder Coco Crisp for a White Sox starting pitcher — possibly Mark Buehrle — but Williams again stressed that if he trades pitching, it will be for pitching.
looks there are a few more rumors to follow these as well. So when there are several rumors tied to the same player it sounds to me he is being shopped. Who cares if the Red Sox fans love him or not, we loved Betemit and he just got moved. Your argument isn’t valid…
Thank you Dan,
Of Course this team can contend in 2007. If we would have had some form of relief pitching, we would be in the thick of things this year. I think we should look to move Hudson and Giles in the offseason, but we don’t have to sacrifice the short term by completing these trades. We can get help for 2007 and the future by moving those two guys.
Flournoy, Renteria playing over his head? I don’t know where you got that from. The guy was an allstar before moving to the american league. He is just returning back to form now that he’s in the national league again. I don’t see how we could or would want to trade one of our best hitters.
lol, ok man, what ever you say. I could argue your whole little rant there but Im just going to let that go.
You read my mind Dan!
Does anyone know what the chances are the Braves do anything before 4:00 P.M. today or are they done?
That’s the thing w/ JS, no one outside the Braves organization knows what he will do. Seriously, how many of you saw the Wickman or Baez/Aybar trades coming. We all thought there would be moves, but I don’t remember anyone seeing us trade with the Dodgers.
True. And it gives us hope that it wasn’t Dayton doing all the lopsided trades, behind the scenes, like some feared.
Did JS try to ditch AJ for Coco Crisp and some rookie 5-0 Red Sux starter?
What kind of crap is that?