I guess I should put a video here, too.
Here is a list. The least-exciting players I have ever seen:
1. Steve Trachsel
2. Chris Woodward
3. Paul Bako
118 Comments
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I guess I should put a video here, too.
Here is a list. The least-exciting players I have ever seen:
1. Steve Trachsel
2. Chris Woodward
3. Paul Bako
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
here’s something to talk about.
Kevin Mench discusses all the deadline deals and grades them for each team
Mark Teixiera the Braves get a B+
Dotel we get a D-
the only A grades go to the Mets and Phils, imagine that
link
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7117530
re: post 162 in the previous thread
I know that racism is a major issue with our society and I don’t doubt that it could have some impact on sporting events but I would find it hard to draw any conclusion from a statistical analysis that finds a margin of 1%. The margin for error on a study like that has to be greater than 1% which means that, uh, it’s pretty inconclusive. So there you have two sentences which say pretty much the same thing and now a third which helps muddle the picture even further.
I am not feeling an off day today at all. It’s much better to get right back on the horse after a loss.
Rate the following ideas on a scale of 1-10. Each idea is seperate and doesn’t hinge on any of the others happening.
1. Eliminate the NL & AL. All teams play each other an even number of times. The team with the best record at the end of the season wins. No playoffs
2. Positions within the division are determined not on individual wins and losses but on series wins & losses. Series wins are determined by aggregate score over the course of the series. No extra innings would take place unless the teams were tied on aggregate score after 9 innings were played in the final game.
3. Teams are alloted a certain number of off days and could use them at any time. (This one is obviously totally unworkable but I’m bored)
4. Go back to the old PCL style schedule where each series constitutes seven games that take place over the course of a week. Monday is an offday and doubleheaders are played every Sunday.
5. Matt Diaz as an everyday player
6. World Series is 15 games long with no offdays.
7. Only live organ music can be played at games. No other sound effects or exhortations for the fans to make noise are allowed.
8. A game winning hit can only be a homerun if the batter who hit the homerun needs to score in order to win the game. Otherwise, the hitter is only credited with however many bases it would require to push the winning run across.
Idea 6: The WS should be one game that is 36 innings long. Play it on a Sunday in October… Bam, World Series Sunday. Ratings bonanza. Everybody wins.
Idea 9. Instead of rounding the bases after a home run, the batter just walks back to the dugout. There is no need to showboat around the bases.
Hmm I don’t know about a D- for Dotel. I’d say more like an Incomplete. If he comes back off the DL and pitches effectively and helps the Braves clinch a playoff spot and go deep in the playoffs, it’s still a good deal.
On a more sartorial note, how about getting rid of those “pajama bottoms” players like to wear? How on earth can you run the bases when the cuff of your pants is about to get hung up on your heel?
I think that the team that finishes last should have to spend the next year wearing those one-piece doubleknits players wore when I was a kid. Dayglo color schemes optional.
Also, the White Sox should have to wear bermuda shorts in all home games below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
@ #1 Kevin Mench is gay, so are New York and Philidelphia.
How in the hell to the Mets get an A?
Sports writers are nitwits.
#7 is a true winner.
I hate all the crap that gets played at MLB games to get the crowd into it.
That Harry Belafonte “Day-O” crap at Braves games is like chalk on a blackboard to my ears. However, nothing is as bad as Shea Stadium, the place where sampled music goes to die.
Mench is an idiot. He is obviously scoring the trades based on short term hindsight. Dotel is injured after trade = D-. Castillo has a timely hit = A. Iguchi has a timely hit = A. Tex hits a handful of homeruns but the Braves slide to 0.5 behind the Phils = B+. He’s a moron.
I’ll bite.
1)8 for the idea of no NL & AL. 0 on the no playoffs things
2)6. Cool idea but ultimately wouldn’t work
3)-29473
4)6
5)9
6)4. Too many people would die. You think the Iraq war is unpopular?
7)8
8)2. I like the mob at home plate. Call me childish…
“Idea 6”)-99999999999
10)8. Less plunking, more playing.
Remy’s idea) 99999999. Are we playing baseball or having a slumber partying talking about what boys we think are hot?
Mac’s idea) Frick yeah. However, last place in the MLB, their league, or division. I vote division.
There. Someone chip in.
There are plenty of times during a season where a team plays 15 straight games and no one dies. I think you’re overestimating the risk on that one.
Any news on Andruw’s MRI?
I’m not certain Mench’s stupidity inclines him towards men.
What is the compensation for Dotel if he leaves? Is there any?
I too would like to know what becomes of this MRI.
Kevin Hench (not Mench) is an idiot. You can’t evaluate deadline deals on August 13th.
I have no doubt that Andruw’s elbow is bothering him and I hope that he goes on the DL. However, I’m hearing that it’s been bothering him since May. I guess that’s possible, but the poor swings I saw in June had very little to do with a sore elbow. Andruw’s stride and most of all, his strike zone judgement were way off.
Could the whole elbow injury since May thing be a Boras ploy to excuse Andruw’s poor season? It’s strange that Cox said that he hasn’t heard anything about it until recently. Like I say, I’m sure Andruw’s elbow is hurting now, but I question how much affect this injury had on him in May, June and July. I’m also looking forward to the MRI results. I hope a little rest will allow Andruw to help us down the stretch – we need him.
I would like to know why Andruw’s isolated power and discipline are still fairly strong with such a terrible elbow. Why is it that his power is still pretty much there, but his BA has plummeted? Could that be the product of an elbow injury? I dunno…
That’s an interesting point, Rob. It has sounded suspicious from the get-go. But that said, it’s not like advertising an injury will help Andruw that much on the market. Injuries typically scare off teams more than do bad seasons. Whatever has caused Andruw to be this bad this season is going to cost him some change. Maybe.
Good thoughts, td. Injury or now, he’s struck out on hittable pitches all year. If he was at least making contact, I’d believe that the elbow was the reason for his ridiculous BA.
Many “experts” think that Andruw will get a huge contrast regardless of this season. I believe the Yankees, Bo Sox, or Angels are stupid enough to give him $20 mil + after this year. They’re paying for the name.
*injury or no
*contract.
Man, I’m on a roll tonight.
I got my money on the Rangers signing Andruw Jones this offseason.
Everyone always lists the same usual suspects when it comes to impending big name free agents: Boston, New York and Los Angeles. I don’t know if any of those teams need a centerfielder. The Rangers will, and they’re just the kind of team to give him 100+ million after the season he’s had.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…
Ban the long pants!
/raise the mound too, while yer at it.
Andruw hates the cold, I can’t see even Boras making him go north. I’m with Dan and have Texas high on the list.
Yeah… would the Yankees risk another albatross contract on an aging centerfielder? Right now Melky Cabrera is raking for them and Damon is splitting his time with Giambi at DH. Cashman has definitely been more restrained since Steinbrenner has laid off him (or secretly died… not sure what’s happening there).
The point remains, though. I’m not sure ‘faking’ an injury – or at least extending this one back retroactively – makes Andruw a more viable free agent. If a GM is stupid, he’s gonna be stupid regardless of the story Boras spins. Boras is, we can possibly say, telling them what they want to hear and enabling them to do what they want to do. He’s not a magic man, just a schmuck.
I don’t get the sense that AJ is faking his injury.
I don’t see what faking an injury would get him, especially with such a bad year he is having.
The injury would excuse his sorry performance, theoretically speaking. And Boras could, with a straight face, still demand 75-90% of what he would command if he were performing offensively at his normal levels. Which he will “most certainly” return to.
But I don’t think that’s the case. At all. The 4-letter showed the footage of the play that supposedly injured AJ during the game Sunday. One could plainly see the overextension and, more importantly, his reaction heading back to the dugout. It hurt and hasn’t healed since. No surprise considering all the flailing and missing.
Much of the talk about the injury is part of the spin control from the AJ camp. I do believe he is really hurt, though.
The worst Andruw is guilty of is pulling a Blaine Boyer.
I don’t doubt that AJ is hurt now, I just doubt the effect of his injury over 3 months or more. If Boras can make a case that AJ was hurt all year and the injury can be easily corrected with rest or minor surgery, it may help Andruw’s stock. As someone said though, I’m not sure if it will make much difference. Whatever happens, some team will probably give Andruw $20 + million per year. I agree that the Rangers are a good possibility.
The least exciting player I’ve ever seen was Dan Kolbb. Just ahead of Stan Belinda and Rico Brogna.
I ahve to agree with most of you. 3-3 on this trip isn’t the end of the world but the Braves need to start beating the weaker clubs, especially in the NL East. It is what it is, our rotation is not really great. Smoltz and Hudson are having very good/great seasons and are more likely winning every most starts but behind them, it’s more likely to lose 2 out of 3 than the other way round.
Last night Jo Jo Reyes went 7 innings: 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, no runs.
I am troubled about what to do about him. Probably, he needs to stay down until the September call up; however, our back end still is exposed.
Kolb was exciting. Hurrendous..yes, but I was not bored when he pitched.
Re: Andruw Jones
I actually have my $ on three possible destinations for Andruw this offseason, all of which is not the Braves.
1. The Nationals.
Not only have I had a chance in recent weeks to talk to some of their front office people (one of their higher ups is an old boss of mine from 7 years ago) but he sand I were talking about the new ballpark and they are going to want to put some talented, marquee names out there.
Besides the ballpark, the Nats have the $, and also have a huge need for middle of the order power. Plus, they also have Nook Logan. Nuff said there.
Not to mention the higher up Braves connection with Stan Kasten. The Nats are looking at spending around 15-20 million more on payroll this offseason and a big outfield bat is on the menu for them.
2. The Cubs
If Mark Cuban gets this team, they are going to want to add some more names and payroll will be even less of an issue.
There’s still outfield issues galore on this team. However, if the Cubs throw a blank check at A-Rod, the Andruw jones to Chicago scenario, plan B, is out the window.
3. The Rangers
They have giant pot holes in their outfield, a free spending owner who’s hearing too many fan complaints about losing, and Andruw would probably like that easy bandbox park.
Re: Andruw Jones
I actually have my $ on three possible destinations for Andruw this offseason, all of which is not the Braves.
1. The Nationals.
Not only have I had a chance in recent weeks to talk to some of their front office people (one of their higher ups is an old boss of mine from 7 years ago) but he sand I were talking about the new ballpark and they are going to want to put some talented, marquee names out there.
Besides the ballpark, the Nats have the $, and also have a huge need for middle of the order power. Plus, they also have Nook Logan. Nuff said there.
Not to mention the higher up Braves connection with Stan Kasten. The Nats are looking at spending around 15-20 million more on payroll this offseason and a big outfield bat is on the menu for them.
2. The Cubs
If Mark Cuban gets this team, they are going to want to add some more names and payroll will be even less of an issue.
There’s still outfield issues galore on this team. However, if the Cubs throw a blank check at A-Rod, the Andruw Jones to Chicago scenario, plan B, is out the window.
3. The Rangers
They have giant pot holes in their outfield, a free spending owner who’s hearing too many fan complaints about losing, and Andruw would probably like that easy bandbox park.
whoops, sorry for double post.
Right now Jo-Jo is a AAAA pitcher. He has shown he is fully capable of getting AAA guys out, but has a lot to learn in the majors. I’d leave him in AAA as long as possible. He is no more a solution at #5 than Cormier.
Cliff and JoshQ,
I’m just glad Jo-Jo has shown the resiliency to bounce back and pitch well at AAA. I was just hoping the Braves didn’t do any long-term damage to him by rushing him up, and it looks as though they haven’t. Great to see.
Not to beat a dead horse . . . but when is the AJ MRI info supposed to be released?
Anyone else stoked about the way Brandon Jones is mashing the ball? Looks like we may have a Jones in the OF next year afterall. I’d assume frenchy in Center and B.Jones in right, but bobby may not be able to help himself and create a Diaz-Jones-Harris tri-toon.
@42: Why move Frenchy to center? Isn’t B. Jones faster than Frenchy? I find it hard to believe that Brandon has a better arm than Frenchy, if that is the case I feel sorry for anyone rounding third.
I don’t know if this has been mentioned, but we really lucked out-we get to face SF after they had to come east and play a DH yesterday, while we were off. They pitched Lowry and Cain yesterday, so we get Zito; Linceum; and someone else, while we get throw Smoltz; Huddie and James. If there ever were a scenario where you kind of ought to sweep, this is it.
I saw B. Jones’ numbers and I’m also very excited. He is tearing it up and is gonna get every opportunity to make the team next year.
Question, do we move Frenchy to center or find a new center fielder? I wonder if a move to CF would diminish his gold-glove caliber status in RF. Center field is tougher and while he may be very solid in CF, maybe he would be of greater value in RF. On the flip side, if he moved it would be easier to find a replacement in RF.
According to Baseball America, Brandon Jones was one of only a few prospects the Braves were unwilling to discuss trading at the deadline, if that gives you any indication of the organization’s stance on his future.
I think an elbow injury could very well effect a hitter’s ability to reach pitches. If he can’t extend the elbow, he is going to not have as good plate coverage. It could even affect what pitches he swings at,as he favors the elbow. Of course, Andruw has never had great plate discipline anyway but it wouldn’t shock me if his elbow was a big reason for his struggles. It makes more sense than having a 30 year old who, while not a great hitter, normally hits .260 with power suddenly struggling to hit .220. As far as his market value, teams are obviously going to want to examine his elbow. They aren’t just going to take his word for it that the elbow is the problem. Andruw is going to get what he is going to get. I have no doubt that this year will cost him some money, regardless of how Boras spins it, especially with Beltran and Vernon Wells (both with big contracts)also having bad years.
As for a sweep, Linceum had a bad game the other night, but I don’t see how James-Linceum is an advantage for the Braves. And Zito is left-handed and the Braves are zombies against lefties. The real problem is that, unless the Braves score a lot of runs, you don’t know what will happen in the late innings. Almost all of the games the Braves have lost in the last several weeks, they have led at some point. It’s like a football team with a bad placekicker; they are always in danger of losing even if the dominate the game.
I don’t see Frenchy in center if for no other reason than his arm is really more valuable in right. And while he is a good outfielder, I’m not sure he is really centerfield material.
I think everyone here would like to see Brandon Jones come up right now and give Andruw a 2 week vacation on the DL. However, what will that have any long term affect on his options?
you leave Frenchy where he’s at
JoshQ, maybe I didnt read your question correctly, but I think you answered it yourself.
Question, do we move Frenchy to center or find a new center fielder? Brandon Jones will be the new CF next year
I understand the point about Linceum-James, but if this team needs to sweep some teams to get back in play-off contention (winning 2 out of 3 works, but you cannot win 2 out of 3 every series; and 2-1; 2-1; 1-2 works to 5-4, and that pace just isn’t going to cut it), then THIS is the series to do it.
AJ hitting .220 is a little bit of back luck I think (he is about 15 points lower than normal on his hits with balls in play), and a little bit of a diminution of skills. Look, he hit .251 in 2001, so dropping 30 or 40 points 6 years later isn’t out of the realm of normal regression. I think he will end up in the high .220’s, and get back to .250-.260 next year.
I would rather us face Lowry and Cain over Zito and Lincecum. Lowry shut us down last time, but I cant see that happening again. Lincecum is the pitcher that worries me
csg,
I’ve read in more than one place that scouts question whether Jones could be a viable CF in the big leagues. Most think he’s a corner outfielder, I believe.
I agree with Bfan but I don’t know if this team is capable of a sweep. They haven’t shown much ability to put the hammer down so far.
I have read the same thing about Brandon not being a CF. I do not know whether it is speed or arm, but I understand corner OF.
By the way, if Eric Byrnes (leading the NL in win shares as of last week)got 30 million over 3 years, how could Boras ask any more than that for AJ, with a straight face?
I agree with Marc, I’ll beleive a sweep when I see one.
Stu, didnt know that about Brandon…thanks
do you guys really see Frenchy as a CF?
Frenchy played CF in high school. So I assume it is plausible for him to play CF, and he is deceptively fast. Notwithstanding that, I still don’t really see him as a CFer.
In the pre-season games I’ve seen B. Jones play in, its always been in RF. I think Francour could play center with some growing pains on reading the balls. He was a Division I defensive back recruit. Once he gets moving he can fly, the question will be what kind of jumps he gets off the bat.
The way Jones is hitting, I wouldn’t worry too much about options. I think he gets the September call-up this year and comes into Spring as a frontrunner to make the team. If all else fails, we could still play Willie and Diaz who I think will be back next year.
Andruw’s problems look like bad mechanics that are forcing him to start in a bad hitting position. That’s been evident from the start of the season.
Man you guys start early. We can sweep the Giants. Lincecum got roughed his last start. He is a rookie, he may be hitting the wall.
Not worried too much, but Vizquel and Wynn against Smoltz concerns me just a little bit. Smoltz seems to have a hell of a time getting those types of hitters out(ie: Eckstein, Reyes, Castillo, etc.), but I think he will be ok.
So here’s to that rocking home crowd tonight, the Phillies fans were great all weekend.
Andruw isn’t going to get less than what he is getting now regardless of the year he is having. And no matter how good a year Byrnes is having, he does not have anywhere near the stature that Andruw does. If anything, Byrnes’ contract increases Andruw’s value, especially since Win Shares is not a stat the many GMs are likely to be looking at.
With B. Jones, take a read on his BAPIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play). It is a good 50 points over the rough cut. Now PrOPS (Predicted OPS) by JC Bradford looks at batted ball data and IF a hitter has a high percentage of line drives and fly balls will allow for a higher batting average. Nevertheless, that BAPIP is likely to revert. The Isolated Power improvement will be more likely to hold and addresses one concern on Jones (was he a 15 home run or 30 home run guy).
Against lefthanders so far in AAA Jones is “post juice Bondsian”. OPS of about 1.345. Against righthanders, about like KJ against ML lefthanders. In other words, ok.
Lets get Andruw an elbow brace. This article on bonds makes me sick to my stomach.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003621797
New poll finally.
csg, I asked the question and then started trying to answer out loud. 🙂
I would rather us wait to call up B. Jones when the roster expand if at all. Finishing up the year at AAA is not a bad thing for him to do.
Of all possible centerfielders for the Braves in 2008, given my druthers, I’ll take Andruw.
I wonder what kind of money Rowand will get after the year he’s putting up, now that’s the way to have a contract year. Andruw should have taken been taking some notes.
Doubledawg: I hate Bonds as much, if not more, than the average person . . . but seriously, his elbow brace is a hitting machine??
That’s laughable to me.
What is everyone’s opinion on Bill Shanks’ book “Scout’s Honor?” I’m in the process of reading it and seems to have really taken exception to “Moneyball.” I like the Braves-related stories but
continued….but it seems like at the end of every chapter he seems to remember to say how the like “old-school” scouting and how a players make up is more important than a spreadsheet. Anyway, just wanting some opinion from those on here.
JDMaker1,
I’m no engineer, but my buddy is an engineer and he says the physics in the article is sound. So, unless you have some bio-engineering degree and can provide a good counter argument to the story, I’d feel free call cheater on this one as well. If a device slots your arm position, it allows for much greater consistency in your motion. Again, I’m no scientis, but I do hate bonds.
Here is a conversation with the guy who makes Barry’s arm brace.
[audio src="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/radio/audio/bpr_070807_1.mp3" /]
Long story short: the article is bunk.
Scouts Honor Review
Mac, you must have never seen Deshaies pitch.
People really need to get over Bonds. I don’t like him either, but the level of hatred and self-righteousness expressed here is a little much. He is a distasteful guy but it’s not like he’s a child molester. So he cheated. People are going out of their way to find things that purport to show he cheated. So what? It’s over, the record is his. And I bet that the guys from the fifties and sixties would have cheated if steroids were available. In fact, they did cheat–they took greenies.
wasnt Andruw that we considered trading for Ordonez? I know two years ago we talked about how bad that would’ve been for the team, but think about where our lineup would be right now with him in between Chipper and Tex
Doubledawg, I’m not arguing with you at all. It just seems absurd that it would help that much. It seems like it would get in the way to me. I’ve never really paid attention to it to be honest. I can understand the argument that it allows him to crowd the plate. However, I would have never guessed, or even considered, the physics of it.
If the physics are correct then it is just another * to put next to his record.
I don’t but that elbow thing on Bonds. If pitchers really thoguht it was a big deal they should have been men and thrown at this head. He would back off the plate then.
Phil Rizzuto died. I was at his Hall of Fame induction in 1994.
JC, thanks for the link to the Shanks’ review. I finally got around to purchasing your book and I’m looking to reading it.
HOLY COW!! Too bad he will not get to watch the Red Sox complete their epic meltdown….
It’s ironic that the Yankees are doing this exactly 20 years from George’s 1st World Title…
I can’t wait to see The Bronx is Burning Tonight. It is a good show.
FWIW, the author of that piece on Bonds’ armor actually wrote something of a rebuttal to Silva, interviewed in the BPro piece linked by JC.
I agree Smitty…I actually like it too.
Interesting news day:
9 million more Mattel toys recalled…time to check the kids toy box..damn
The woman who shot her pastor/husband to death is FREE already.
And John from Cincinnati will stay in Cincinnati not to be seen on TV anymore…it’s been CANCELLED!!
And the Braves beat the Giants 6-0 with Smoltz throwing a shutout, inspired by Tiger’s win at Southern Hills.
Whoops, here’s the link:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003623041
Nevertheless, that BAPIP is likely to revert.
Just to be clear, good hitters have the ability to consistently overperform on BAPIP. Miguel Cabrera’s last four seasons: .346, .368, .386, .382. Jones, of course, may or may not have this “skill”. We’ll see.
Nevertheless, that BAPIP is likely to revert.
Indeed. It’s not like there is a clip of the play where he hurt his elbow (there is). Or daily images of him grimacing after every swing (there are). He’s probably faking.
Ok so I screwed that up. The second quote was supposed to be from Adam M’s post 18.
It has sounded suspicious from the get-go.
@86 and 87,
There are a few who think Andruw is faking. I think the bigger issue is that he was hitting lousy before the injury, had a good spell after the injury, and is again hitting lousy. The isuue is either somethng like “why is it this bad now” or “this gives an explanation that might help him save his contract value”.
I realize that minor league numbers haven’t been analyzed by “batted ball” data. But IF we knew Brandon Jones flyball, line drive and ground ball data we would know more. Part of my batting average skepticism is that he has usually hit 280 to 300. Maybe an increase in BA at a higher level is a fluke.
Now, for those who like to call someone a “hater”, I believe even if Brandon Jones is picking up 50 “unreal” batting average points that he is a major league regular to major league star in the making. I think he can now handle MLB pitching as well as Andruw. He just probably isn’t as good as his Richmond stats say he is.
man, bummer about John from Cinci…milch is an amazing writer, but i thought that this project was a little too high-concept for hbo after it canceled carnival, deadwood and rome.
the only thing hurting andruws elbow is his ridiculous swing, but i’d be up for getting him one of those magic elbow braces.
John from Cinci was poorly acted and just never had a hook.
i think hbo made a mistake by premiering it right after the sopranos finale. if anything they should have shown it before, not that it would solve some of the acting issues.
John was just too weird…had a strong supporting cast, but I agree with Beedee…concept a little too high for HBO. What do they have left “The Wire”, “Entourage” and “Big Love”?
I’m pretty sure “Flight of the Concords” is gone.
You know what’s funny about AJ the faker…during Sunday’s game they showed AJ in BP with BC and TP watching…and he LOOKED GREAT!! Hitting balls out with regularity…but as soon as the game starts…his elbow is hurting again. Geesh…
I know I’m late to the thread topic, but isn’t John Patterson right behind Steve Trachsel as the least exciting player? He’s …. so … slow …. The fact that he occasionally strikes out guys puts him slightly behind Trachsel.
here we go, Smoltz prediction
7IP 5H 2ER 1BB 8K
Tony I’m glad that I wasnt the only one who saw that. They showed Andruw hitting one, WITH EASE I MIGHT ADD, about 30rows deep in LF and then they showed him hitting one to RF about 10 rows deep. I’m not totally buying the my elbow is hurting on every swing right now either, they even said he took an extra 30 minutes of BP trying to lock in on his swing. The only time it hurts is when he starts swinging so freakin hard. BP swings are fine and there is plenty of power, but he’s trying to hit the ball out of the stadium on every swing and thats when it starts hurting
Guys, those were batting practice pitches he was hitting. Try speeding the ball up by about 30 mph and you have a completely different swing. Much more torque, etc.
Frenchy’s offense will look better and be much better than an average CF than an average RF. I personally think he has enough range to be a good CF and his arm is definitely good enough, so I wouldn’t mind putting him in CF and finding a replacement for RF. It will probably be easier to find a power-hitting RF than a power-hitting CF, which is what we’re replacing. With that said, if Brandon Jones is the real deal, then we might not have to be sifting through the Torii Hunter’s of the free agent market. In light of what you guys have said about Brandon Jones, I’d love to have a guy making the league minimum replacing Andruw, and with how terrible Andruw has played this season, it won’t be hard for that person to exceed this year’s production.
Can someone tell me how Andruw’s $15M is only going to cover raises for Smoltz and Hudson. I’ve heard that quite a bit, and maybe I’ve missed the explanation, but I thought Smoltz was only getting a $3-4M raise, and we’ve been “setting money aside” for Hudson’s salary increase. Even then, is Hudson getting a $10M raise this year?
Rizzuto was a great ballplayer according to my Dad. Unfortunately, all I know about him is that Billy Madison has trouble spelling his name (those damn z’s).
It’s uncanny how long we’ve been 3-4 games out. You’d think one team would get hot and run away with it by now.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 4 out of the AL East now. I thought they had no shot at the division this year. Stranger things have happened.
Speaking of which, the Braves and Giants pennant race in 93 was ranked 9th out of 50 (?) in a Best Pennant Races show on ESPN a few weeks ago.
Where did the ’69 race rank? If I remember correctly, the Braves won the Western Division by one game over L.A. and Cincinnati.
Remy,
I keep trying to find a list of it on Google but I can’t. I watched it on a plane and, of course, the captain babbled for a minute or so right during some awesome Fred McGriff highlights.
Thanks, Rob, for checking. At least there were the highlights.
Of course, the Mets swept the Braves and went on to win the World Series, but it was a thrilling race nonetheless.
Rob, as for the increases
Smoltz is making $8 mil this year and goes to $14 mil next year
Hudson is making $7 this year and $13 next year
1969 was the year that Aaron actually began getting some recognition and it was because of the playoff series with the Mets. He hit a home run in each game and, after that, he started being known as Bad Henry. If he had done that against the Pirates, it wouldn’t have had the same resonance. The Braves actually led in two of the three games–sound familiar?
Re the Giants starters for this series–I was surprised to read the Zito info b/c yesterday (while on the is Prado platooning on just facing Moyer thread) ESPN.com was showing Atchison, Russ Ortiz (we better hit him hard!), and Lincecum. Today ESPN.com is showing the same:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/schedules
Where’d the Zito info come from?
csg,
OK, so that’s $12M. That makes sense.
Hopefully with Bob’s salary off the books, we’ll have some money there too. Good thing Teixera’s pretty cheap for next year. It’ll be interesting to see what Atlanta does. Man, I sure hope Brandon Jones works out, because we’ll have one of the cheapest and perhaps one of the best outfields in the majors.
Oh, and Ruzzuto’s not a word, he’s a baseball player!
@92
Tony,
i have no idea what hbo’s new line up will be, but as of about a year and a half ago there was a big shake up in their progrming department. The head cheese axed deadwood because he had already ok’d the second season of rome rumoured to cost between $100-150M so there wasn’t a lot of room for high cost hour long shows. they chose to ride out the end of deadwood (with 2, 2-hour episodes coming in the future to wrap the story) sopranos, six feet under and then start from scratch after they had freed up their budget. so i guess we’ll see what happens next.
i hope we kill these clowns from san fran.
GO BRAVES!
after watching Yunel, I want Renteria here next year. Escobar and KJ can continue to platoon as long as Edgar is playing everyday.
People are too quick to jump on these kids after a couple of bad games. I didn’t really expect Yunel to immediately be Ozzie Smith at short. You have to show some patience with young ballplayers and not make snap judgments (good or bad)off a small number of games. I can just imagine that everyone would have been ready to dump Randy Johnson down the river right away.
its not a snap judgement, but I think that our best option to try and win it all will be with Edgar playing everyday and Yunel and KJ platooning. Yunel will be fine at short, but he wont continue to hit for that high average against tough righties
The upcoming free agent class doesn’t do a whole lot for me. I really believe that any big addition we make will come from trades. That being said, here are my priorities in the offseason.
Extend Teixeira (whatever it takes, I’m not one who thinks Kala is going to be a superstar)
Sign Francoeur to a McCann like deal
After that things become muddy for me. We have to address the starting staff and the free agent class sucks while in order to receive anything in a trade may cost a lot.
we offered Frenchy a McCann deal and he said no, the way he’s playing this year means he’ll want even more. Teixiera will go to FA and will get $20+ on the open market. I say go ahead and sign Frenchy for a long deal and hope some cheaper options come our way for other positions
I was unaware that Frenchy was offered a deal. Hmmmm!!!
I still say we offer Tex 20 mil a year and see what happens. The worst case is that he says no.
Another Joe Morgan gem:
Jay (LA): Why does Chipper Jones not get MVP consideration like David Wright when he has had just as good a year as Wright, and he has played in 27 less games?
Joe Morgan: Well its the 27 less games. The Braves did not fall out of the rtace when he was not there, and those games make a difference. If he would have played in those games and performed as he has, he would probably be the favorite. And he is third on his team in RBIs so it is hard to say that he is the MVP of the league when he is not even leading his team in RBIs; and that is because of those games he missed.
SO, ACCORDING TO JOE, CHIPPER WOULD BE THE MVP IF HE WAS LEADING THE TEAM IN RBIS BUT SINCE HE MISSED THOSE GAMES AND IS NOT, HE ISN’T. SO THE ONLY STAT THAT COUNTS IS RBI EVEN THOUGH THE BRAVES RECORD WITH CHIPPER IS MUCH BETTER THAN WITHOUT.
New thread.
yea…keep forgetting Yunel is a rookie.
I was just reading how Justin Morneau is stating he is tired…well hell who isn’t during this time of year. You can’t tell me Francouer and McCann are exhausted. The DL means a refreshed Renteria b/c I believe he was just worn out last year.
Beedee,
I can’t wait either. Curb Your Enthusiasm is gone after this year…will be interesting.
new thread