After spending 2010 in visa limbo and clearing up who he actually is, the erstwhile Luis Valdez returned to doing what he normally does for the AAA Braves, saving games with a minimum of fuss. It was probably his best year in the minors, 26 saves, a 1.81 ERA, 70 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, the majors were not as kind. In three brief callups, he posted a 6.97 ERA only because three runs against him were called “unearned”. In six appearances, he only once failed to allow a hit; three times he allowed four hits and one time three. In his last appearance, he allowed six runs, three of them “earned”, against the weak-hitting Padres. After that, the Braves pretty much ignored his good work in Gwinnett and were willing to try anyone else in a setup role.
Maybe he is just a AAAA pitcher. It happens. But he’s pitched well ever since the Braves picked him up from the Pirates, and he wouldn’t be the first pitcher who started off badly only to turn it around. He’s in the bullpen mix for one of the last jobs.
Jairo Asencio Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.
Maybe we should build a stadium across town. It seems out pitchers do a better job over there.
@1
Smitty with the winner! Thread Over – go home, nothing to see here…move along…
Or have the Braves move down to Triple A.
Traffic couldn’t be any worse across town.
Like soccer. The Braves have been relegated to AAA.
How would y’all feel about the DH in the NL? It is the last league in the entire world not to use it, I think. I don’t like the idea at all.
You saw Posnanski’s column today about the DH?
Traffic couldn’t be any worse across town.
I can only assume you’ve never tried to get into or out of CoolRay Stadium for a AAA game. Far worse than Braves traffic in the city.
I’m not necessarily a fan of the DH, but I think it’s time for the NL to do it. It’s become ridiculous having the leagues play by two sets of rules and the union would never allow the AL to get rid of it. People talk about all the “strategy” that having the pitcher hit brings to the game, e.g., whether to leave the pitcher in or pinch hit. That may have been important when pitchers often went the distance but it’s not much of a factor now because you are generally changing pitchers in the 6th or 7th anyway. But the NL will never do it because it would be much more expensive; a DH is normally a big-money player compared to the 12th pitcher on a staff.
Pitchers should hit and hitters should field.
@8, if ever there was a plan to gift wrap the division and hand it to the phillies for the foreseeable future, this is it.
I loved the Posnanski article. Why change it? I sure as hell don’t want the DH in the NL and they aren’t going to lose it in the AL, so I have no problem with things staying as they are. It works.
Anybody else here at Joker Merchant Stadium today?
For the past 20+ years, I’ve attended way more AL games than NL games, and IMO it borders on industrial-league softball with teams loaded with ringers. And the games take for-ev-er.
I much prefer NL ball. I’m like Skip Caray in that I like to tweak my AL pals by calling it “real baseball.” I’m not impressed or swayed that it’s one of the last remaining leagues to reject the DH. As they say, there’s no accounting for bad taste.
Maybe I’m weird, but I like the idea of the rare pitcher who can really hit. I like the idea of Edgar Martinez or Travis Hafner or Mike Sweeney actually having to pick up a glove & catch a ball. I like the idea of a manager having to decide whether or not to take a genuine defensive liability out of a game where he’s trying to protect a late-inning lead. (Oops, they tied the game & now I don’t have my basher in extra innings…)
If Babe Herman had been born 50 years later, he’d have been a DH, and I think that kinda sucks. Back in the 1920-30s, he was an absolute terror as an offensive 1B/OF (.320+ lifetime average w/ power), but if you read anything about him, most of the older ballplayers tell stories about how remarkably awful he was with the glove & how his errors (especially in the OF) were plain hysterical, so much so that those escapades (and his legendary baserunning gaffes) are what people most remembered about him. And yes, he was a fan favorite.
You want real characters in the game? Give ’em a glove.
I’m glad ST means nothing because we SUCK!
End of 2nd, 4-0 Tigers.
Braves LOB: 6
Tigers LOB: 1
Wow. Cabrera just tagged one off the subject of this thread. Our outfielders didn’t even move. It went all the way over the grass berm beyond the outfield.
I love the fact that we can say our offense sucks because pitchers are always ahead of hitters at this time. Its just unfortunate that our pitchers are way behind other teams hitters. September 2011 continues.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have outscored us 25-3 over 21 innings. Of course, this means nothing.
The Tigers seem likely to win the Grapefruit League pennant.
Apparently, we are saving all of our stuff for the regular season.
Watching Ascencio pitch 1 inning today, it looks like he has the stuff to get ML hitters out. He just isn’t.
If the NL adopts the DH I will stop watching baseball. It ruins the flow of the game.
Amen to Ububba. I’ve been a National League fan all my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our guys have to play both sides of the ball. It just feels right that way.
Baseball’s a weird game. And I agree with Posnanski — weirdness isn’t a bad thing. Baseball’s pretty much the only sport other than golf where every regulation arena is vastly different from every other regulation arena. Baseball tolerates more weirdness than other sports. That isn’t a bad thing, either.
But I sure as hell never want to see the NL adopt the DH.
Wake me when the season starts.
“It is the last league in the entire world not to use it”
Nope:
“MLB’s National League and Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League, are the most prominent professional leagues that do not use a designated hitter.”
If you do not want the pitcher to bat, just bat 8, no need for a DH
Not to sound like a spelling nazi here, but I believe his name is “Ascencio.”
One competitive advantage providef to the DH league that is not often noted, is the margin it gives those teams in the FA market… Maybe Stl would have upped their offer to Pujols if they could stick him at DH if things go wrong. But they don’t have that luxury, Anaheim does. So they, and the NL, lose mire talent to the AL.
And with Selig’s giant turd All Star Extravaganza, each superstar lost matters more
Damn it, NL rules. DH sucks. It’s so simple.
The Tennessee Titans would sell out their season ticket packages and sale 30,000 #18 jersies in two hours if they signed Peyton Manning.
He would pay for himself in three days. The Titans would get 4 prime time games next year and be the favorite to win the division and probably the AFC.
I know they have two decent QBs, but Bud Adams isn’t stupid.
Houston and the Titans would be the most likely destinations, I would think.
“Not to sound like a spelling nazi here, but I believe his name is Ascencio.”
Well, he got his “s” kicked by Miggy today.
This 22-6 run by the Heat against the Hawks has had a lot of help from the refs.
31—Nice!
Parish @32 – ya think? Jeez, how blatant can you be?
I try not to be a knee-jerk LeBron hater, but watching him smirk after obviously pulling Zaza to the floor and then getting the call makes it really hard not to despise that guy.
Hate to see the Hawks not rewarded for a great TEAM effort. Team is really playing well together lately. Wonder why?
May Irsay run afoul of a Midwestern Bernie Madoff.
One could say that the Hawks were Sanduskied last night.
Not to sound like a spelling nazi here, but I believe his name is “Ascencio.”
Fail.
http://braves.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=446003#gameType=%27S%27
I don’t have Insider, but if you want to start your day off on a depressing note:
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=7659813&_slug_=the-atlanta-braves-resign-brian-mccann-soon-their-payroll-lagging-mlb&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d7659813%26_slug_%3dthe-atlanta-braves-resign-brian-mccann-soon-their-payroll-lagging-mlb
Its sad, but he’s correct. The Braves cant afford to pay a catcher 25% of their payroll. Enjoy his last few years in Atl.
Buster touches on why the rest of us were so upset with our tv deal –
“And keep in mind: The Braves’ payroll is not growing. All around baseball, new TV contracts are filling the bankrolls of the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, etc. But Atlanta’s television contract is locked into place for the next generation, and its payroll has remained stagnant.”
Did the TV deal involve TW selling rights to its own subsidiaries? If so, this doesn’t seem like an arms-length transaction. And, clearly Liberty Media doesn’t care. This ought to be a scandal. MLB should be upset about this. But I guess if you are corporate America, it’s ok to screw the fans.
Ultimately, it’s going to be hard to remain competitive no matter how good the scouting and player development system is. You can’t win without some high-priced players. Moreover, the TV contract substantially depresses the value of the team so that even if Liberty eventually decides to sell, there might not be many takers.
When Chipper comes off the books (which he will either after this year or next), we’ll have room to re-sign McCann. Now I suppose we can decide not to do it, but we should be able to.
@42 The problem is that we DO have players who could be fine catchers in the wake of McCann leaving, but we still have absolutely nothing for 3B and LF. And all of these young pitchers we have are going to get progressively more expensive.
When Chipper comes off the books Liberty could decide to lower payroll. We may have the ability to resign Bmac, but that could be take away also.
@43, Terdoslavich! Don’t forget about Terdoslavich. I’m not going to miss an opportunity to type “Terdoslavich” whenever anyone gives me the chance to say something Terdoslavich-related.
Hey Parish, I’m at Roger Dean for Tuesday’s game. I found a ticket behind home plate and jumped on it. If you happen to be going, let me know and we’ll grab a beer again.
I work for the Heat. The Arena was a madhouse yesterday.
@44
You mean like they promised MLB they wouldn’t, and haven’t yet despite everyone assuming they had? It didn’t take people long to start assuming Liberty Media would drop our payroll by $20 million again.
This TV deal may yet prove to be an unmitigated disaster, but it won’t be for another 10 years or so. It’s not gonna start happening tomorrow.
The problem is not so much in the short-run as long-term. The Braves may well be able to sign McCann once Chipper is gone but that would probably preclude other moves. I see no prospect that Liberty would ever increase the payroll significantly, if at all, given the Braves attendence and the TV deal they have. And, really, who would buy the team saddled with the TV deal? Meanwhile, you have teams in the division that are spending money and have or will have much better TV deals.
And I think Bethany is right. Given the relative organization strength at catcher and the needs at other positions, it may be the smart move to let BMac go, especially since he will be in or near his 30s by then. If I had to choose, I would rather have a stronger hitting left-fielder and a weaker-hitting catcher since catchers play fewer games.
I think they will talk to McCann after the season about an extension w/ Chipper coming off the books in mind. Plus we will also pick up $10 million from notin having to pay Lowe anymore. Hudson will come off the books at some point too.
@50, Wouldn’t this have been Lowe’s last year? So we only saved $5 million after giving the Indians 10.
Freeman batting third today. I like that.
@51 We also replaced Lowe in rotation. Win/Win
Marc Schneider at 40,
MLB could have disapproved the contracts when they were entered into. Just like they disallowed McCourt’s deal with Fox. However, once it went to ink, they were dead.
When it sold, MLB could have looked after the fans by requiring a revenue supplement from TW to the Braves if the contract was not competittive in the out years. In fact, SHOULD HAVE (not necessarily just to help the Braves, but it is in MLB’s interest to keep driving the prices up).
#48 – Who cares what they promised MLB? Does Cots provide accurate figures, if so, Liberty hasnt lived up to their promise.
■2011: $ 91,044,524
■2010: $ 83,890,334
■2009: $ 96,726,166
■2008: $102,365,683
Basically, the television rights were worth some amount to the franchise. As long as they weren’t sold already in a contract, they represented a value inherent in the Braves. Before they sold the Braves, TW extracted this value by giving a sweatheart deal to one of its subsidiaries. As long as TW kept the Braves, this didn’t really matter, since it was just a transfer of rights from one TW subsidiary to another. Basically, TW gets to make its TV station look good by giving them high-revenue, exclusive programming for below market value.
When they sold the Braves, this loss of value should (theoretically) have been factored into the sale price. That is, if the Braves’s TV rights for the next 25 years would be worth (say) $10M a year more than they will be paid for them, then the Braves should have sold for $250M less than they would have with no TV contract in place (adjusted for inflation over the time period, etc.).
So truth be told, the state of the TV contract should not be a factor in the financial future of the team. When Liberty purchased the team, they knew (or should have known) they were acquiring an asset with one of its main revenue streams performing below market. It’s a fine excuse to plead poverty, but LM knew what they were getting when they purchased the Braves. So really its their fault.
The Braves slogan this year: “This is Why We Chop”
Worst one ever? And that’s saying something
From DOB:
“No runs fur #Braves in second. Ross and Heyward single, Terdoslavich grounds into DP.”
I just melted under my desk in laughter. I’ve heard legends of Terdoslavich, and now he’s here.
#57, have you forgotten “One Crazy Summer?”
This-Is-Why-We-Fight-er-Chop Dept.:
Here’s the 2012 Promo Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RykqMdK0_T0
Never really thought much about it, but on Bad Henry’s #715, that was one helluva fat pitch by Al Downing.
Guess it beats “This is Why We Suck” – but not by much.
I really think it’s time to fire the hitting coach.
I kid….kinda
Edit: Oh and the FBI is looking into point-shaving by a guard (Varez Ward) on the Auburn basketball team. There’s got to be a good joke in there somewhere.
@56,
Ok, I guess I see what you mean. If Liberty sells the team, it will have to adjust the sale price to reflect the lower future revenue stream of the franchise because of the bad TV contract.
But that doesn’t help the fans because even if someone buys the team, they are stuck with that TV contract; they aren’t likely to increase the payroll as much as other teams because they won’t be bringing in as much.
This is Why We Chop? Are you kidding?
#62 – I was coming here to report that also. Apparently they are looking into two games and one is the bad home loss to Bama where he had 8 turnovers. Apparently Ward has listed other players names to the fed. That could be a mess.
As if AU basketball couldn’t get any worse.
@50
Also, remember that when McCann gets Chipper’s money in this scenario, McCann’s current money ($11-12 million, depending on whether it’s this year or next) opens up.
EDIT: Additionally, if they don’t sell the naming rights to Turner Field, they’re not serious about the TV money issue and are just using it as a crutch. I’m pretty sure they’re not gonna do it because they see it as beneath them for some idiotic reason. That’s up to $10 million a year in additional money they’re just refusing to take advantage of, though.
Spring Training is irrelevant. Spring Training is irrelevant. Spring Training is irrelevant. Spring Training is irrelevant. Spring Training is irrelevant.
Good point, Matt. The Tampa Bay Rays have a very similar issue, locked into a horrible long-term stadium deal that predated their current ownership group, who almost certainly factored that into the relatively low price for which they bought the team.
If you folks wish to stop having ulcers over games that mean absolutely nothing whatsoever, perhaps you should stop following every little thing that happens in said games. I, for one, don’t have any idea what the hell you guys are talking about, mainly because I haven’t followed a single thing that has happened. The only thing I could tell you about spring training thus far is that Teheran gave up like 60 home runs in a game, and that Freeman and Wilson have both gotten relatively minorly injured.
And no, it doesn’t matter, at all. Not even a little bit. Not even in a deeper “I know the games don’t matter, but these guys are playing so badly” sense. You should probably stop worrying about it, for the sake of your own personal health. Watch some college basketball…’tis the season.
If I’m not actually in Florida watching a spring scrimmage game (and I haven’t done that since the Braves left West Palm), I’m not paying much attention to ST either. I rarely do. Each year, I only hope that nobody gets hurt.
Vols won 8 or their last 9 games.
If they don’t get in and Seton Frigging Hall does …
Eh, I’d rather take Seton Hall. But I’m a big fan of Herb Pope.
#71
UT might want to remove any doubt & get to the SEC tournament final. Two wins over Vandy ought to do the trick & make up for some of those bad early losses.
That said, at the very least UT better win Friday & remain thankful that they’re not in Kentucky’s bracket.
UT’s not going to beat VU twice. And their resume is pretty bad, but then again, there are a lot of teams with unimpressive resumes that are going to be in the Tournament, so who knows?
I like Martin a lot and am actually kind of pulling for UT to get in, as long as another win over VU isn’t what’s required for them to do so.
@71
I honestly think it will be us of Miss St. If UGA beats them tonight and we win tomorrow, I like our chances.
Beating Vandy again will be tough, but if we played like we did Saturday and Vandy plays soft again, we might have a shot.
Two wins and we’re in. Let’s just take care of buisness.
I agree with Nick @69.
#75
I tend to doubt that Georgia’s beating anybody. But incentive could make UT’s path something to watch this weekend.
Seton Hall, IMO, just coughed up their chance. Hard to melt down this badly at the end of the season (10 losses in 15 games, incl. a 30-point loss to DePaul) & still get rewarded.
The Committee says that last-10/last-12 is no longer a criterion by which they’ll be judging teams — this is another problem with the UT-is-going-to-sneak-in theory — but…yeah, I’m with you.
Norhwestern going down helps the Vols. One thing the committee does look at that may help Tennessee, is how they played after Stokes joined the team.
I still say they have to win one and probably two to get it.
If the Braves are out of it in July, do you put McCann on the block?
@80 – Yes. Every player is on the block for the right price.
“This is Why We Chop”
I kinda like it, but it seems as if I’m in the minority.
Alternate ideas, straight from the meeting room:
“This is why we bunt”
“This is why we ground out softly to second”
“This is why we get with Bibi Jones”
“This is why we stay away from Miami locker rooms”
“This is why we ground into double plays”
“This is why we get no-hit”
Am I missing any?
Every year people talk about the importance of the SEC tournament as it relates to the NCAA tourney. I have honestly never known it to have an affect (Bama last year was a great example). In other words if you’re looking for the SEC tourney to get you off the bubble – it won’t. They won’t get in even if they make it to the SEC finals.
What a depressing outlook
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Atlanta-Braves-season-outlook-Tommy-Hanson-Brian-McCann-Chipper-Jones-030712
“This is why we chop” simply means that, with this poor offense, there will be lots of tomahawk chopping and chanting going on to try and rally the team to come from behind and win, in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Tring Spraining.
@83
Meanwhile, you can go on a run in the Big East Tournament and improve from a bubble team to a 4 or 5 seed.
Well, how ’bout them Dawgs?
Nice win. Glad to be rid of the mercurial Other Dawgs, but beating a team three times in one year is always a tall order.
Eh, Vandy’s in good shape. Bad matchup for us. Just worry about the draw in the Big Dance.
Good morning from Switzerland.
Here is a nice article on the correlation bewteen ST and the regular season:
http://tinyurl.com/83qbhnq
It couldn’t be Joe Johnson who demanded a trade, could it? Of course not. It’s the Hawks.
Dysfunction, thy home is the Highlight Factory.
If Tennessee gets to the tournament final, theyare probably in. With Miss St going down last night, if the Vols win tonight, they might be in.
I still think we need to win two for sure.
What are people’s predictions for how many games the Braves will win? I go with 88.
It is the Baltimore Chop anyway.
@94
This team has me confused way more than any Braves team in recent years.
On paper, I think this team could win 90 games. With all the question marks, they could be looking at 75 wins just as easy.
I predict 85 and we get a Wild card.
@82
“This is why we chop.. payroll”
Great idea, Pirates!
And with that, new post.