Well, I wasn’t able to watch this one, but it appears that the Braves lost again. They fell behind early, then there was a fairly lengthy rain delay, then they rallied to tie, then they lost in extra innings. They’re awfully frustrating, right now.
On the bright side, Vanderbilt whipped UNC in Game 1 of the College World Series.
As much as I appreciate Mac’s detailed write-ups, you’re doing a fine job of encapsulating the travails of a team for which every game is SSDD. Keep it up, Stu.
Proctored!
Wasn’t EOF available?
UF/Vandy! Woo!
Just checking in. It’s about 30 percent I get out today, 60 percent tomorrow, 10 percent later. I actually feel quite good, except when I thnk about Scott Proctor, History’s Greatest Monster. One way or another I will try to be in contact tomorrow, though it’s possible that will be via text message to Stu or Alex.
Mather DFAd for McLouth. That really says something that they cut him before Wilkin, maybe they’re finally learning not to give their pet projects infinite chances. Hopefully Proctor is next.
Even before last night, the team was on pace to beat the all-time record for extra inning games in a season. This is getting silly.
Yesterday’s starting lineup, including Lowe, had 5 guys with OBPs below .300, and another two – Schafer and Heyward – who were hovering just above it. With Chipper out, McCann is the only above average hitter on the team.
To win, the Braves usually cannot afford to give up more than 2 runs.
Second worst team OPB in the league. This recent bad stretch has been with our mostly-AAA lineup so there’s reason to think that it’s only temporary. However Freeman and Heyward aren’t getting it done and we won’t contend if they both perform like this.
Uggla hit the ball hard yesterday. That double off the top of the wall and the last ball he hit to Beltre were completely smoked.
I thought DOB might have been telegraphing the Mather move the other day when he said the team would have to really ponder its options once McLouth returned. That said to me they might do something other than the last arrived being the first to leave. Might as well see what they have in Wilkin.
given the circumstances, this is probably the best the lineup can get…
1. Schafer cf, 2. Uggla 2b, 3. Heywrd rf, 4. McCann c, 5. Freeman 1b, 6. Gnzalez ss, 7. McLouth lf, 8. Hrnandz 3b, 9. Jurrjens
Doing some quick research, the following team are well below .500 and could be selling soon: Orioles, Royals, Twins, A’s, Marlins, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, Padres.
I know we probably won’t be upgrading SS, but I’m going to include some SS and OF from these teams plus their current salaries for team upgrading purposes…
Orioles
JJ Hardy- 5.85 million and 1.4 WAR
Adam Jones- 3.25 million and 1.4 WAR
Luke Scott-6.4 million and 0.5 WAR
Nick Markakis- 10.6 million and 0.4 WAR
Royals
Alex Gordon- 1.4 million and 2.0 WAR
(I refuse to use Jeffy or Melky in any trade scenarios)
A’s
Coco Crisp- 5.75 million and 1.0 WAR
Conor Jackson- 3.2 million and 0.8 WAR
Josh Willingham- 6 million and 0.2 WAR
Twins
Denard Span-1 million and 2.8 WAR
Michael Cuddyer- 10.5 million and 1.3 WAR
Jason Kubel- 5.2 million and 1.1 WAR
Marlins (neither of the following has a good WAR, but we know what they’re capable of…)
Omar Infante
Hanley Ramirez
Cubs
Marlon Byrd- 5.5 million and 1.4 WAR
(no one else looks to be either acquirable or tradeable)
Astros
Hunter Pence- 6.9 million and 2.3 WAR
Michael Bourn- 4.4 million and 2.1 WAR
Dodgers
Matt Kemp- 7.1 million and 3.8 WAR
Andre Eithier- 9.5 million and 2.1 WAR
Padres
Cameron Maybin- 429k and 1.9 WAR
Ryan Ludwick- 6.78 million and 1.3 WAR
Who of these guys do you think could be had for a pitching prospect?
Great to hear from you, Mac. Hope we can get you a better team when you get out, if God is willing and da Proctor don’t rise.
My short answer to #11 is that nobody trades a productive major league regular for a single pitching prospect. Also, I think we would probably be looking for a CF in particular. We have starting LF and RFs that we probably don’t want to shift to CF. So any trade would likely include McLouth and a healthy portion of his salary (and at least one additional prospect).
@13- I would agree, but add that if the CF in question is under team control for multiple years, Schafer could be part of the deal instead of McLouth.
Pence still seems ideal to me, if the Braves think he can fake CF aswell as Mather could, or Wilkin Ramirez can.
Also, how long is Byrd under contract in Chicago?
R.i.p., Big Man. What a sad, sad day.
http://backstreets.com/clarence/
Marlins’ manager “steps down”.
Yunel signs a 2/10 million dollar extension with Jays with club options for 5 million for the ’13 and ’14 seasons. WOW!
Isn’t Byrd on the DL?
If you have to give up the farm, get the most bang for the buck you can and get Kemp, if the dodgers will deal.
I think he or Either may be more ‘gettable’ than people think. The dodgers are broke, and maybe it won’t take quite as much as it would in other years. It all depends on how money the braves are willing to take.
Whatever they do, if you give a Teheran type prospect as the centerpiece in a trade two things are vital, 1. the guy you get back has to be an impact guy 2. that guy is on the roster for the next few years.
@19- The price is dictated by who wants them, and what they’re willing to offer, not by how badly the Dodgers need to move them.
And Teheran doesn’t get that deal done. I think that deal requires Hanson or Jurrjens.
@18- Yes he is. But I wasn’t saying we’d be making a trade this afternoon.
Somewhat related, the Astros actually sent Pence home from a roadtrip to get an MRI on a sore elbow. He hurt his elbow swinging in BP, they diagnosed it as hyperextended. And they sent him home from LA to get an MRI.
It might be that the situation is worse than they are saying, and they are genuinely concerned. Or, it could be a move to ease the concerns of a potential suitor.. “See! Just sore. Nothing wrong with him! Good as new! Two pitching prospects please!”
Obviously Kemp would be big. But of the other potential names listed in that earlier post, I think Adam Jones would look good in our lineup (even though I think he’s left-handed). But a true CF who can also hit. Not sure when he starts to get more expensive though.
Despite the fact that many here have seemingly made their peace with the Yunel trade, it’s one we’re going to rue for a long time. What an amazing extension for the Jays.
10 pitch AB from Schafer.
2 pitch AB from Uggla.
Freddie should have gone for that ball.
I am all for making a big move for Kemp.
Braves gameplan:
1) Allow three baserunners every inning.
2) Do not allow them to score.
3) Shutout victory!
What are opposing pitchers batting against Atlanta this year? I would not be surprised if it was over .300
I can’t believe he got that. I thought that was gone.
UUUUUUGH. So close.
That was very humorous…
I can’t see the Braves getting Kemp because it seems to be against team policy to trade for anyone well known enough to be talked about on ESPN.
@31, that’s a nicer way of saying that the team has a hard on for crappy “character” players for god knows what reason.
Unrelated, but know who would help right now and be cheap? Barry Bonds.
Don’t see catcher’s interference too often.
@32, that’s been true for years, but nobody’s done it.
Awesome. Glad to have that guy back in the lineup.
We hit the ball hard and get out. We hit the ball soft, and get on.
Maybe Dan Uggla just needs 3 days to adjust to whatever town he’s in before he can play baseball well?
Two years ago, I believe I saw the same runners at the corners in a AA game.
Rangers have spent too much time near Atlanta, it seems.
Note to announcers: The total number of errors in a season do not usually come down as the season progresses.
Three things have happened this inning that have not happened near enough this season.
1. Uggla got a hit
2. Heyward got a hit
3. The braves had the other team commit an error
Nice inning
Alex Gonzalez looks lost.
Alex Gonzalez is really starting to annoy me.
Now that’s a LOOGY!
Proctor. Really?!
Here comes the Proctologist for the 4th day in a row, no doubt to blow the game.
Proctor vs. the top of the Rangers’ order again. Obviously Fredi learned nothing from last night.
Why didn’t Venters just start the inning?
/Frediot
#31
Yeah, nobody had ever heard of Teixeira or McLouth.
When is Venters arm actually going to fall off?
Dear Fredi, do you really honestly believe that this was a good idea?
So… is EOF hurt? Is Fredi actually trying to make Proctor the 7th inning guy?
Proctor was in long enough to have an impact on the game…..
EOF has a back issue.
Hurry back, Peter. Save us from more appointments with the Proctologist.
Chip: “I don’t know what Jordan’s pitch per at bat is, but I bet it’s pretty high…”
Easily accessible on–wait for it–espn.com: Schafer’s pitch per plate appearance (3.84).
Uggla–the dream season continues….
Uggla is the worst player ever.
Are we sure that the 4-year, $52-million extension was signed by both parties?
I think it’s all on McCann here. I don’t have confidence in Freddie to hit a LOOGY.
Well, hopefully I’m wrong.
And… I was!
Freddy!!
Freddie!
That was some bad defense in LF by Murphy, so I can’t quibble with Heyward being sent back to 3rd.
Nice day indeed for Freddie.
Freddie strikes out 16 times in 25 at-bats and made adjustments that are paying off today. Meanwhile, I’m really tired of hearing stories about Uggla knowing what adjustments he needs to make but having a hard time implementing them.
K for Gonzo?
@31, 49 –
Strangely enough, everytime we trade for someone you’ve heard of, that gets complained about too.
Drew, Teixeira, McLouth, Uggla..
Only Derreck Lee and Adam Laroche weren’t derided.. Maybe Mike Gonzalez escaped criticism. We bitched when we traded FOR Vasquez, and pitched MORE when we traded him away.
If I was a major league pitcher, there are few hitters I’d rather face right now than Alex Gonzalez.
Don’t think anyone complained about the Uggla trade. The extension, however…
All Gonzalezes suck.
I find it harder and harder to forgive AAG his complete incompetence at the plate.
(Edit: That was just another taylor-made DP ball off his bat. There was nobody on first and there were two outs, but nevertheless. He reaches Andruw/Frenchy territory where I’m HOPING for a K when he comes to bat).
Well, if you try to pull the ball and can’t lay off pitches that are two feet off the plate, then you’re gonna make horrible contact. The bigger mystery for me is why he ever gets a pitch to hit.
Has anyone else noticed that Venters is filthy?
I think that I heard something about that from all of baseball.
Diory is worse than Uggla.
Hernandez can’t field, but at least he can’t hit.
Fortunately, Venters and Kimbrel keep the ball out of play. Bring on the Canucks!
Kimbrel is also pretty good.
Kimbrel completely owned Josh Hamilton.
More like PWNED
I will eventually have a recap for you fine folks, but for now, here is the verbatim text I just received from Mac:
Emphasis mine.
Nice. Thanks Stu.
It’s not an easy thing to admit that a particular moment has been best evoked by Phil Collins, and I thus applaud Mac’s bravery.
I got a Braves yearbook at the game Wednesday. Roger McDowell listed Phil Collins as his favorite musician.
Stu, thanks for posting that. That’s really, really good to hear.
It sure is — I never knew Mac was a VU fan!
Recapped.