by Voice of Reason Raisins
JEFFERSON, GA – It’ll be a slow news morning since most of the talking heads were up way late into the early morning staying on top of the Doc Halladay / Cliff Lee 3-team blockbuster.
This much is for sure. The Derek Lowe chatter picked up dramatically last night. Most think he’ll be the next domino to fall. Most think to the LA Angels. I am 99% in that camp as well. I really do wonder, though, what will the final value be?
Many see Lowe’s 2009 season as a sign of decline. I don’t; but regardless, it’ll be used in negotiations. It’ll cost the Braves in their return.
My humble and amateur analysis deems Derek Lowe in 2009 as an anomaly. Look… the guy throws with a motion that does not tax him physically, except for the occasional blister. He’s not wearing down. He is a horse, and one of value. I believe the reports of his spotting a mechanical flaw. If I were a betting man, who I am not, I’d bet that Derek Lowe in 2010 will look closer to Derek Lowe in 2008 than Derek Lowe in 2009. And my feelings would not be hurt to see him toe the rubber in The Ted for another 3 years. But we don’t need him. He has become a surplus part. And as surplus, he’s very expensive.
But back to 2009, the guy won 15 games on a team that was obviously NOT in the top teams offensively. He must have been doing something right, huh?
So, is he worth $45MM over the next 3 years? Not to Atlanta, where they’ll still have the best top to bottom rotation in the NL, regardless of losing Lowe and regardless of Philly picking up Doc Halladay.
But what about in Los Angeles, in Halo-land? They just lost their ace John Lackey. And they lost their superman Chone Figgins… to division rival Seattle. And did you notice the Mariners just acquired Cliff Lee to go with Felix Hernandez? The Angels just got a nice kick in the teeth. Yep… just as news was breaking that The Angels were losing their ace, the news was breaking that the Mariners were adding Lee. Ouch…
All that said, as much as I’d love to see a Derek Lowe / Juan Rivera straight up swap, that won’t happen. The Braves will have to eat some of the remaining $45MM on the contract, or will have to give up a top prospect to offset it. I don’t see them giving up any top prospects, and I don’t see them paying as much as $12MM, as has been suggested. I do, though, see them paying maybe as much as $9MM, OR adding a guy like Jordan Schafer to the deal. Once you start adding pieces, though, it begins to get a little crazy.
What I mean is, the Braves wouldn’t swap Lowe + Schafer straight up for Rivera. Not equitable. So then you have to add something on the Angels end. Then you could end up with multiple players / prospects changing locale. Loopy.
In the end, it’d be nice if Frank could make it a straight up Lowe / Rivera swap, and keep all of his own pieces, including Schafer, and add a little cash on the side. Heck, it could probably happen today if Frank had Yankee money. But he doesn’t. So they’ll take some time and haggle dollars – big dollars. That could take time. But time will only increase the sense of urgency for LAA. And that need is the one thing that might make Lowe’s real trade value increase.
And while time is more on Frank’s side, he doesn’t have all winter, either. He still has to add a few more arrows to Bobby’s quiver, so he can’t exactly play a total waiting game.
Nope, this intrepid reporter – OK, this amateur Braves lovin’ spectator – thinks a deal will happen sooner than later… maybe even before Gil can get this posted. Who knows?
I do know this: the Braves and Angels now have an overlapping common goal. That should be a good place to start.
Great lead Raisins, thanks for the updated sentiments. CL will be proud….
LikeLike
Raisins, please re-post your last opine….
LikeLike
Opine?
Is that anything like Oh, Tannenbaum?
Oh, Christmas Tree?
😀
LikeLike
I have no fresh opinions at the moment, none that aren’t in the above musing.
In the new landscape of “reporting” though, there are a multitude of conflicting tweets… something I am growing to despise.
So, from taking all of the little tiny bits of detached information, the latest on the Halladay/Lee front seems to be this: nothing.
Yep, nothing. It seems that Halladay and the Phils are still haggling over his extension, and that it will most likely take another day to finalize. Yippee!
Now we can spend the next 24 hours reading the multitude of one line tweets, which in no way paint any semblance of a whole picture.
Woo-hoo!
I miss the guy with the PRESS card stuck in his Fedora hanging outside a door with his little writing pad and pencil waiting for said door to open with a belch of smoke and a story.
Ah, but I dream…
LikeLike
Speaking of dreaming… I was just read a blurb that says it looks like “Jason Bay is pointing toward signing with the Mets”, whatever that means.
Wouldn’t it just be a sweet thing if Frank, who is being very quiet about his dealings thus far this year, were to swoop in form out of nowhere and sign Bay much to the surprise of all the professional tweeters? And much to the chagrin of all the Mets fans? 😀
Ah, a guy can dream, can’t he?
LikeLike
I Dream a Little Dream of You… Yep, I think Frank Wren is becoming very Surholtz like in his dealing now. A lot easier to face the music when you don’t have egg on your face.
I read some guy saying he did not think Frank should be saying what he needs fr the team, i.e. a big bat/1st baseman/ left fielder… Like every other team in MLB and the Independent Leagues don’t already know….
It’s funny how trading ball players is so much like dealing in used cars. Same but different… They buyer is trying to knock down the price by pointing out all the defects while the seller is espousing all the virtues. Thea after the deal is done, the buyer tells all his friends what a great deal he got on an absolute cream-puff while the seller brags to his buddies on how he unloaded that clunker…. Yep, life follows art… and sports. 🙂
LikeLike
I miss the guy with the PRESS card stuck in his Fedora
Who, SG??? 😀
LikeLike
LikeLike
MLB is reporting that Ross Gload is about to sign a two year deal with the Phillies.. Man, those guys are going to be though next year. Of course their payroll is nearing $140 million. What could the Braves do with an extra $50 mil?
LikeLike
The Mets are close to signing Japanese pitcher Ryota Igarashi to a two-year deal, according to David Waldstein of the New York Times.
To counter, the Braves are set to sign Hydro Cortisono…
LikeLike
Send me an Angel…..right now!
I got it, even if everyone else was either too young or too old!
Very nice blog V! Oh how I’d love to see the Braves swoop up Bay…Angels can’t afford him. Basically the Mutts, or…well, some other team with a bit of cash.
Bay, healthy Reyes, Wright, Healthy Carlos Beltran…good offensive core there…they may be the Nats of 2009, pound the ball, with no pitching! 😛
Hydro Cortisono! 😀
LikeLike
Hydro Cortisono… like the tag lines for the old Hai Karate commercials… But different.
LikeLike
Mass. 2nd-grader sent home for crucifix drawing
TAUNTON, Mass. — An 8-year-old boy was sent home from school and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after he was asked to make a Christmas drawing and came up with what appeared to be a stick figure of Jesus on a cross, the child’s father said Tuesday.
God help ’em. They are a lost and sick bunch up there.
LikeLike
Raisins, that is what happens when common sense is not required for those who are in the decision making process. Political correctness run amok…
LikeLike
Good work, VOR. Frank is a lot sneakier this year, which is a good thing IMO. I like Lowe & I hope the Angels like him too.
20 dozen cookies today.
LikeLike
For me? 😀
LikeLike
MLBTR:
Mets Offer Five Years To Bay, Will Pursue Holliday
According to SI’s Jon Heyman, the Mets “tweaked their offer to Jason Bay,” offering five guaranteed years as an alternative. This five-year contract is at a “slightly lower” salary than the $16.25MM featured in their four-year, $65MM offer. Heyman says the Mets are willing to go to five years and $75MM for Bay, which would be a $15MM salary.
Heyman says the Mets focused on Bay in hopes of signing him more quickly than Matt Holliday. However, GM Omar Minaya will now jump in on Holliday and may talk to Scott Boras today. If the Mets have their sights set on one of the two big-name sluggers, competition could come from the Angels for Bay and the Cardinals for Holliday.
I’ll be surprised if they land Holliday. Bay I can see. Either way, they’ll get a good bat, but I’ll be honest with you, neither is worth the hamstringing contract they demand. They both play LF as if the were wearing oven mitts. And they get to the ball about well as GAnderson. They can hit, though.
If they get Bay, I hope they won’t be surprised to see him spend some time on the DL. Of course, they as a club are used to having their high $$$ stars on the DL…
LikeLike
The difference Raisins is they are in New York. While they do not have pockets as deep as the Yankees, they have the ability to throw money away and not give a rats arse about it…
You just cannot out bid a guy who has more chips than you.
I don’t think Holliday or Bay either one is worth that much money but not to worry, our government is going to redistribute that wealth back to us so hey, pay them 20 million a year… More for me…
LikeLike
Good morning!
Raisins, terrific lead!!! Thank you!!
Gil, many thanks! We’d be in a mess without you!
I’ve loved reading the posts here! Great info, thoughts and wit. Y’all ARE, without doubt, the best! 🙂
Well, a mixture of kinda good news and bad from the nursing home. Mother’s mind is a TAD better – however, she is completely bedridden now, unable to even sit up with being propped with pillows, has extremely limited use of her arms and can’t support her own head.
Her mental function has improved to the point that she usually recognizes me, Kelly and my brother; however, her speech is 99% unintelligible and she understands very little said to her. And she can remember almost nothing.
Her appetite has returned and she’s eating well (though everything has to be pureed or she chokes and someone has to feed her.)
Her blood sugar used to stay in the neighborhood of 129-149. Now it stays over 400 and she’s on insulin multiple times a day.
It is so sad. It really would have been better if her mind hadn’t improved, I think.
Question: what Christmas gift would YOU buy for a person in her state? Just think about that one.
I’ll stop in when I can. There’s just too much going on right now for me to be reliable.
MANY thanks for your prayers. Y’all are my wings. And thanks for being my bell!
LikeLike
MLBTR:
The Red Sox are “working hard” to obtain Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, write Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The writers caution that a deal is “not close, and might not happen at all.” Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote late last night that the two teams are not talking…
So, let me get this right… the Sox are “working hard” to make it happen, but the two teams are not talking…
I can hear it now:
CEO Larry Lucchino, “Youkilis.”
GM Theo Epstein, “Huh?”
CEO Larry Lucchino, “Youkilis.”
GM Theo Epstein, “What about him?”
CEO Larry Lucchino, “Nothing. I just like saying his name. Youkilis.”
Owner John Henry, “Youkilis. Heh heh… it is kinda funny.”
GM Theo Epstein, “Yeah, yeah. It’s funny. I think I’m gonna move him to third if I can ever unload Lowell to the Rangers. But then we’d have to play Kotchman every day. Bleh!”
CEO Larry Lucchino, “You know, I sure wish we could get Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres.”
Owner John Henry, “Yeah… he’d be a good ‘un. Hey, why’d we get that Kra, Kro, uh, what’s his name? Kotchman? Just why’d we get him, anyway?”
GM Theo Epstein, “I dunno. It was late… I was tired… Anyway, I’m hungry.”
Owner John Henry, “How much are those @#$% Yankees spending this winter? I hate them. Can we buy this Gonzalez guy?”
GM Theo Epstein, “Well, we’d have to trade for him, that is if they’ll trade him. I guess I could call Jed. He owes me big time. I’m hungry. Let’s go to the club.”
Owner John Henry, “OK, but you’re paying this time. I always get stiffed.”
LikeLike
Great one Raisins…
Like I said however, you cannot outspend those who have more money than you. I’ll bet Gonzalez brings a pretty penny though… Just saying…
And CL, glad you dropped in. After all, I am just keeping your seat warm. As for your mom, don’t be too surprised to learn that your mom understands more than you realize. It’s just very difficult for her to process it all and she likely knows what she wants to say, you just can’t understand her…
As for a gift… warms slippers, a nice plant but most of all your love…
LikeLike
Gil’s right CL. Exactly right.
LikeLike
V, very funny! 😀
Ladies first….sent the first wave of “mystery packages” to CL and FBG. (man, I wish it could live up to that hype-it can’t-won’t- but hey, I enjoyed it, and hope everyone else will as well!)
Mailed out a crazy number of DVD’s and VHS tapes went out today, but since most were holiday related, things will calm down a lot now….was nice while it lasted!
LikeLike
Well, got the last of the Christmas decorations up today. Plus managed to haul away a bit of trash. Always something on the “to-do” list around here. Awaiting the last of the ordered items for Christmas to come in.
Sigh… I really wish it was not so taxing physically for me to do stuff. I am forced to pay someone else to do chores I once did with ease. Oh well, I guess they need the Christmas money too.
Still waiting to hear something out of LA about Lowe. I am pretty sure they are interested but things are pretty quite right now.
Possibility od a snow storm here Saturday… Oh my, there will not be a loaf of bread or jug of milk to be found on store shelves within 100 miles of Richmond if that happens. May be a run on the stores just on the rumor of snow.
Well, would make it pretty, at least for a day or two…
LikeLike
CL…Christmas gift for your mother? Her happiness and peace, in whatever form it takes. In fact, a gift for you all.
LikeLike
CL, I would give something along the lines of a sweater, lap robe or cushy socks. Seems like nearly all elderly folks are cold most of the time.
I’m glad you had a moment to stop in. (((hug)))
LikeLike
Thanks, Ber! I’ll keep an eye on the mail.
LikeLike
Wearing my handy dandy Atlanta Braves game cap today. I gotta feelin’.
Just sayin’…
LikeLike
Bowman:
Recently, he [Derek Lowe] has gained the belief that he should simply prepare for the probability that he won’t be pitching in Atlanta when the 2010 season begins.
“I’m just waiting for it to happen,” Lowe said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of if anymore. It’s just a matter of when.”
“It kind of [upsets] you in a way,” Lowe said. “It’s well-documented that I stunk the last two months of the season. But I look at it as, ‘Am I the only guy who has struggled for a couple of months in his first season after signing as a free agent?'”
“I take it kind of personal,” Lowe said. “Noboby made them give me a four-year, $60 million contract. There wasn’t a ransom or anybody holding a gun to their heads. It was a negotiation and that’s what they viewed as fair. I would have never even considered going there if I knew that ultimately this was going to happen.”
So, lemme make sure I understand…
When you are in control of where you go, it’s just business. When the team is in control, it’s personal.
I think somebody needs to pull up his big girl panties and move on…
LikeLike
The Orioles are really shaking up the ol’ Hot Stove. They reached agreement with Garrett Atkins and are near a deal for one Mike Gonzalez. Now they are making a real run at Matt Holliday.
I guess they figure the only way to compete with BOS and NYY in the AL East is to spend like BOS and NYY.
Hey… they may be right.
LikeLike
Oops, make that “they reached agreement with Garrett Atkins and have reached agreement with one Mike Gonzalez.”
Gotta keep up…
LikeLike
So, the Braves get a couple of decent draft picks for Gonzo?
LikeLike
Hey, I like(ed) Lowe, he is just a bit disappointed is all. I am sure he said many positive things too but that doesn’t sell newspapers.
LikeLike
After all, don’t we all want to feel needed and wanted?
LikeLike
Gil, good question! IF they signed Holliday, I bet we then get stuck with their second round pick.
Teams need to realize, if they are not going to sign someone next year, to trade them for something the year before. Brewers got next to nothing picks for C.C. and Sheets was hurt. I am sure they envisioned 2 1st round picks last winter.
To lose Soriano and Gonzo and only get a 2nd round pick and a middle inning guy, sucks!
Gee, does that mean I have to hope the Mutts sign Holliday instead of the O’s??? Dang…
LikeLike
One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, ‘Good morning Alex.’
‘Good morning Pastor,’ he replied, still focused on the plaque. ‘Pastor, what is this? ‘
The pastor said, ‘Well son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service .
Somberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Finally, little Alex’s voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked,
^
^
^
“Which service…the 8:30 or the 11:00?”
From the ‘mouths of babes’…gotta love it!
LikeLike
I’m sure it’s hard to take when you think you are going to spend 4 years in one city, then find out you are going to be on your 3nd time in as many years. But, for 15 Mil a year, I’d be willing to move each and every year! 😕
LikeLike
Salty, Classic! 🙂
LikeLike
Gil, just saw this on MLB trade rumors
Since the Braves offered arbitration to Gonzalez, a Type A free agent, the Orioles will surrender their second-round pick (currently #43) to them.
Guess their sucky record protects their 1st round pick.
sigh….
LikeLike
Well, if you get the 43rd pick in the daft, you would expect to get a quality guy. A lot depends on your scouting staff. Think about this, Kelly Johnson and Scott Thorman were both 1st round picks by the Braves…. Just saying…
Talking Mike Minor with the number seven pick last year over all, seemed a bit of an under achievement.
So, getting a middle relief kind of guy might not have been so bad…
LikeLike
Heck… Pujols was picked in the 13th round, so…
To me, it’s more important to have the pick. That is a given. The science is much more of a crapshoot.
LikeLike
Oh, and don’t forget about the “sandwich” pick we receive between rounds 1 and 2…
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike
I vote for a Subway BMT on whole wheat. Drag it through the garden.
LikeLike
Whoa! Freaky! My 😀 posted ahead of my last comment even though my last comment was sent first and already there! Weirdness in WordPressland…
LikeLike
Weird V!
Well, Today the next wave of items will be mailed out.
Can’t tell you all what a relief that is to have the stuff wrapped and ready to go! I never thought there would be a slow mailing day…but, that means less moola for me…anyway…remember I was supposed to mail this stuff off in Nov, so don’t in any way, shape or form consider these Christmas gifts!
Thanks!
LikeLike
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. Don’t teach your monkey kung fu.
http://news.peacefmonline.com/foreign/200912/34712.php
LikeLike
Elin to Tiger:
“Merry Christmas; see ya.”
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/tiger-woods-athlete-decade-divorcee/story?id=9357960
The bad news for Tiger is that she’ll take half of his fortune.
The good news is that half of a gazillion dollars is still a gazillion dollars.
What, the bad news should be that Tiger is losing his wife? Like he cares…
LikeLike
This from Mr. O’B. I find it very, very interesting:
The Braves signed a guy who hit 35 homers last season … in Triple-A.
Yes, Mitch Jones led all of minor league baseball with 35 homers for the Dodgers’ Triple-A Alburquerque affiliate, while hitting .297 with a whopping 1.015 OPS and 103 RBI in 108 games. He played mostly at the outfield corners and some at the infield corners, even a few games at CF. He made the Topps Triple-A All-Star team as DH.
So why hasn’t more been made of this slugger’s signing? One number: 32. His age.
Dude spent nearly a decade in minor leagues (he’s got 235 homers in minors) and two years in Japan before making his major league debut last season for the Dodgers, going 4-for-13 with a double and six strikeouts in eight games.
He was a seventh-round draft pick with the Yankees back in 2000. When called up last season, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Jones had made a lot of improvement with his outfield defense.
By the way, Torre’s Yankees had given Jones his first callup in 2006, but he was only up for one day and didn’t even get to take BP (game was rained out) before he got sent back down next day.
Jones is expected to be invited to spring training by the Braves, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can win a big-league job. If nothing else, he’d certainly provide some pop coming off the bench — the guy has hit more than 20 homers in all seven minor league seasons that he’s played at least 80 games, including 39 homers for Triple-A Trenton in 2004.
Jones has hit 70 homers in 878 at-bats and 214 games over the past three minor league seasons. He slugged .651 in 2009 and .697 in 2007, both in desert climes in the PCL.
He’s got serious power, at least at that level.
LikeLike
Nice article here on Mitch Jones:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3565273
Maybe a nice pickup…
LikeLike
Not likely with Javy wanting to be closer to his family, but one never knows, does one???
A few extra million, he could move his whole family to Anaheim! 😀
Angels Pursuing Javier Vazquez?
By Luke Adams [December 17 at 5:54pm CST]
The Los Angeles of Angels of Anaheim are focusing on acquiring Javier Vazquez from the Atlanta Braves, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Stark hears from rival executives that, in the wake of missing out on John Lackey, the Angels have turned their attention to the Braves and Vazquez.
The Angels will have an uphill battle, however, attempting to deal for Vazquez, as opposed to his teammate Derek Lowe. In addition to coming off a stronger season and having a more favorable contract than Lowe, Vazquez also has a no-trade clause that allows him to veto a deal to a west-coast club. A trade to the Angels would mean the right-hander would have to waive that clause, which he negotiated in order to stay closer to his family in Puerto Rico.
With Lackey, Roy Halladay, and Randy Wolf all off the market, Vazquez is one of the more interesting names still potentially available. The Braves have maintained all along that once Lackey signed, Lowe would become a more attractive commodity, and the same could be said about Vazquez. I don’t expect the Braves to move him, but they could demand a significant return if they did.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/angels-pursuing-javier-vazquez.html
LikeLike
Loved the monkey shines Raisins…. He should be glad he decided against using gorillas…
Tiger and the KuFu monkeys… Same but different. If I were Elin, I would be pushing for the other half too… called child support
And a regular “Crash” Davis methinks. hey, didn’t the Phillies do pretty well with Chris Coste, a life long minor leaguer? Sometimes guys are overlooked because they didn’t sign big bonuses so the team doesn’t feel like they have to play to failure. Makes for a great story anyway…
LikeLike
I like both Lowe and Vazquez, Wren has said they were both available. Kind of like deciding whether to keep the Lexus or the Mercedes… I will be happy with either one because I think both are great pitchers.
I can see why there is interest in Javy, a bit cheaper but because he is cheaper, the player coming back will be better. Lowe would just be a salary dump, plain and simple… Great position for the Braves to be in.
LikeLike
Yep, Gil, a good position indeed. And as Stark says, we could expect a very nice return on JV.
Given the 2 pitchers’ career patterns, one might even say that trading JV is the smarter bet. His career has always been one strong season followed by a disappointing one. And his trade value will never be higher than right now. Braves could ask for Rivera plus prospects, and get it.
Of course, JV would have to give his blessing, and I don’t really see how that would happen, but anything is possible, I suppose…
LikeLike
Ever want to know how to make it more difficult for an old guy with bad knees to stand up? Make the chair closer to the floor…. Just saying… 😦
LikeLike
Another Jones boy! I’ll be rooting for him to get a call-up.
LikeLike
HO HO HO… Looks like a winter event is headed our way here in Virginia. Josie will get her wish for snow with predictions of between 5 and 15 inches locally. I did my part and made sure the generator was ready and filled the gas cans.
In the morning I will put the scraper blade on the tractor so I can clear a path to the mail box. Josie is a bit of a kid when it comes to snow… I like it just fine as long as I can stay warm and just watch it from indoors.
It’s tough enough for me to get around with out setting up an obstacle course complete with ski ramps. last thing I need to do is break some body part…
As long as it is just snow, we should be alright. As ya’ll know, it’s the ice that just kills us. Power outages are no fun.
Now baseball…. Things have been pretty quiet on the Nationals front. they signed Pudge to a 2 year contract but that is about it. Tough convincing guys they are serious about winning…
LikeLike
This guy is often a schmoe, but his offering today is pretty funny:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/2009/12/17/dec-18-cartoon/
LikeLike
often a schmoe indeed…but thats funny! 😀
Oh boy more rain…cold, cold rain… 😕
LikeLike
It’s the perfect storm for us… That is, cold arctic air from the north and a nor’easter from the south… I think we are prepared, vehicles moved away from the trees, everything covered.
Now baseball…. Still no word on trade negotiations with the Angels, wouldn’t it be a trip if Frank pulled off a switch-a-roo and got Gonzalaz from the Padres. Hey, it could happen…
LikeLike
Gil, I am envious! 35 and rainy sucks. the ground is so saturated! I hear Florida is getting crazy amounts of rain. Forget where, but 12 inches in one city. I imagine CL is getting a lot of rain as well…
LikeLike
Angels eye Vazquez, but hurdles abound
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091217&content_id=7825972&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana
I’m still confused as to how the Angels lost Lackey. He’s getting 16.4 Mil for 5 years. Lowe would cost them 15 Mil for 3 years. Why would they do that??? At least why would they do that without the Braves paying part of that huge contract???
Ok, this is a team I really don’t know much about, but just read this…even after losing Lackey, it doesn’t sound like they are really hurting for a starter…
Scioscia pointed to starters Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders as homegrown talent still developing to reach Lackey’s standard.
After all, through Lackey’s first three seasons he had an uninspiring 4.44 ERA before developing into a No. 1 starter with an impressive 3.49 ERA in his next five seasons.
“I think they have the potential to elevate their games to what John has done and I think any organization has to have their young pitchers become their lead dog like John was,” Scioscia said. “I think we have the potential for any of the three or all three to get there.”
Scioscia also said he has plenty of confidence in left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was acquired from the Rays in late August and had a 1.73 ERA in six starts with the club down the stretch.
The Angels could look for a fifth starter in their rotation as Matt Palmer is currently penciled in at No. 5 after going 11-2 with a 3.93 ERA last season.
Palmer, though, was much better as a long reliever last season, as he had a 4.66 ERA in 75 1/3 innings pitched as a starter and a 2.47 ERA in 46 innings out of the bullpen.
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091216&content_id=7820918&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana
LikeLike
I think the Angle’s are just posturing when they are talking about their young arms. A lot like Atlanta a couple of years ago when they were relying upon Davies and James and Reyes. They still want a front line guy. They just don’t want to pay front line money. That is why they would like Javy. Gets them over the hump so to speak until they are sure of the new guys without tying up payroll.
Vazquez is going to bring back a couple of pretty good players if he is traded. It’s still clears about 12 million in payroll vs 15 million for Lowe. Either way, the Braves are in a good position.
LikeLike
Woohoo… getting my internet connection upgraded today. Wow, fast surfing now. Now it takes even less time to waste time…
LikeLike
Now it takes even less time to waste time
LikeLike
I agree 100%, Gil. The Halos are absolutely posturing for any deal to come. In the end, they may get Javy, but they’ll pay dearly for him… and I’m talking Juan Rivera plus prospects. They may still end up with Lowe, which I’ll bet they’ll still like if Javy is truly off limits. But the return won’t be nearly as nice, and the Braves will have to eat enough $$$ to make the true savings about the same.
I gotta tell ya, I in the camp that would deal Javy. I know how awesome he was last season, but he is the only real hope of bringing back a really good return that will pay real dividends right away. (We are speaking as though he would approve the deal, which is an entirely different subject.)
And I, too, believe that DLowe still has some good games left; in fact, I might even go as far as to say he may be more consistent, maybe not “better”, but more consistent than Javy.
I guess that’s why they play the games on the field, huh?
LikeLike
Speaking of which, Bowman “tweets” the following:
A source close to J. Vazquez said it is “highly unlikely” that he would approve a trade to Angels or any of the other West division clubs.
In other words, it is possible. If it were completely out of the question, he’d say so. What that means is, “I’ll accept the deal, but it’s gonna cost ya” most likely in the form of a very player friendly extension.
Y’all know, too, that the M’s acquired perennial PIA Milton Bradley today. As big a pain as he is, he can still hit. The M’s are making alot of moves to improve. They smell blood. LAA has to do something.
LikeLike
Who the heck is Joe Thurston? The next Greg Norton?
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/cardinal-beat-updates/2009/12/thurston-signs-with-atlanta-braves/
LikeLike
He signed a split contract. He’ll go to AAA, no doubt.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6856
LikeLike
One thing I love about cold weather is Josie’s home made soups… I have been gathering flashlight and extension cords and the like in preparation of the onslaught.
Want to hear something funny? Josie said we need milk… LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL… or something like that…. As long as there is enough dog food and cat food for the pets, I’m staying put.
LikeLike
What is the best tasting Gil, the cat, or dog food??? 😉
LikeLike
Uh… before or after the pets have eaten??? 🙂
LikeLike
taste like chicken…. really, really bad chicken….
LikeLike
And as I sit an type, the cat jumps up on the back of my chair and scares the pididdle out of me….
LikeLike
Cats have a funny sense of humor that way!
LikeLike
pididdle? Hmmm…have to look that one up in the ol’ Funk & Wagnalls!
LikeLike
That is so cat-like. I wish I could find a funny that I read once for y’all called IIRC “The Secret Life of Dogs” & “The Secret Life of Cats”. The dog one is all “going for a walk? My favorite thing!!!”, “laying on the couch? my favorite thing!!!”, “food? my favorite thing!!!” while the cat one is “Day 475 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with strange dangling objects. I suspect the dog is an informant. He is allowed to leave the prison yet always returns. Clearly he is retarded….”
LikeLike
Yes, cats were once worshiped as gods by the Egyptians, cats have never forgotten this…
Well, we got six inches of snow pretty quick. It is suppose to change to rain latter tonight then back to heavy snow tomorrow.
Josie is like a little kid in the stuff…
LikeLike
Dress her warmly, Gil! 😆
LikeLike
Great… snow, a layer of ice, and more snow.
Fun.
I am not a big fan of snow. It’s cold and it’s wet. Unless you are talking about a dog’s nose, those are just not qualities that I find extremely desirable. (Not that I desire a dog’s nose. My dog is pretty fond of his, though.)
LikeLike
Good morning all. Wow, we really got some snow last night, they say the heavy stuff is coming in later today… So far so good though, power is still on and the heat still works. I’ll let Josie go out and play in it later. She needs to knock the snow off the reindeer…. 🙂
Maybe I’ll take her sledding, I have a nice little hill behind the house and I have an old sled hanging in the shed. Now, where did I put my boots???
LikeLike
Well, had to go outside to knock the snow off the boxwoods. Eleven inches so far. One of the big Cedars in the front yard may not come through this unscathed. They are call for more of this stuff later today.
The birds seem pretty thankful that I filled the feeders for them yesterday.
LikeLike
Gil, I’m no stick in the mud like CL and V! 😉 I LOVE Snow! Man, I am so jealous! 11 inches at 8 am??? What is the total now??? Most ever that you have seen there????
LikeLike
We got another inch through the day. Snowing now so we may get a tad more. Officially (as measured at the airport) Richmond got 6 inches… My yard stick says 12 plus right now. Most snow ever here was 18 inches, that was in ’73 I think.
Big snows are rare here because of where we lay in relation to the ocean and the mountains. But every so often we get a whopper like this one. What I thought was funny was the President had to cut short his trip to Copenhagen on global warming to beat the storm home.
Anyway, we are not venturing out until Tuesday.. maybe… 4-wheel drive can make it easier to go in the snow but it doesn’t do a thing to improve your ability to stop. Besides, the Jersey barriers the state has line the highways with have not done a very good job and way too many of those jokers have slipped through and thus we are blessed with way too many blooming idiots. (see Garden State)
LikeLike
Wow… the sun is out and is it ever bright… No cabin fever as of yet but then, I like being in the cabin….
LikeLike
Still trying to decide if it is worth it to try to re-fill the bird feeders. Saw a small squirrel run across the yard earlier and watched him disappear from sight as he fell into one of Josie’s foot prints. T’was funny… Although I don’t think the squirrel thought so. Had sort of an indignant expression if you can imagine such from a squirrel.
The dogs are not all that impressed either. Makes it tough for them to do their “business” … They keep looking at me like it’s my fault…..
LikeLike
I cannot help but be thankful I no longer have to get out in this stuff…. No digging out to go to work, UPS and FedEx delivers… 🙂 And no longer having to respond to some “emergency” because said caller doesn’t know how to drive in the snow…
I am waiting one more day before I get the tractor out to clear my road. I hope people stocked up ahead of time because it’s a long cold walk to and from the highway from here….
LikeLike
And sitting here blogging with myself… Oh the humanity….
LikeLike
So, Gil…your avatar. Does the ‘figure’ in the lower right corner not look like George Washington? The silhouette bears a striking resemblance to me. Then again…what shrinks think of my rorshach tests are not to be discussed! 😯 Needless to say, I am an ‘individual’!
LikeLike
Never noticed it before Salty… kewl…
LikeLike
Looks like Homer Simpson in the prone position….I would drive a shrink nuts! 😉
LikeLike
Both of you are wrong. It’s Bob Hope!
LikeLike
Wait… it’s ME!!!
LikeLike
Bowman:
Caray to call games for Fox Sports Net
Chip Caray received an early Christmas present on Monday morning, when Fox Sports Net hired him to serve as their play-by-play announcer for all the Braves games televised by Fox Sports South and SportSouth.
This was the role previously held by Jon “Boog” Sciambi, who accepted a full-time role with ESPN at the conclusion of this past season.
Later this morning, Fox Sports Net is supposed to officially announce this hiring of Caray, whose role as TBS’ lead baseball announcer was terminated on Nov. 30. That decision ended his association with Turner Sports, which handles all of the Braves games broadcast on Peachtree Television.
This arrangement will allow Caray to once again call a majority of the televised Braves games. During the past two seasons, he saw his workload with the Braves limited by the travel requirements that came with TBS’ national baseball package.
Hmmm… well, Merry Christmas.
I guess since it is the Christmas season, I am going to give Chip the benefit of the doubt, and hope that his assertion that being bounced around national games really threw him off. Maybe concentrating on one thing is the best thing that could happen to him.
And one more thing… at least he isn’t Bob Rathbun, as had been rumored. That would have made me bang my head against a wall.
Another thing regarding Chip. He has to have been humbled by the way his firing was played out publicly. Maybe, just maybe, this will make him the kind of broadcaster his Grand-daddy and Daddy would be proud of. If that happens, I’m glad it’ll be with his Dad’s old team.
If not… well, at least he had a shot…
LikeLike
So…Raisins…half a lump of coal? :LOL:
LikeLike
CL…Bob Hope, huh? Hmm…not seeing it…George keeps gettin’ in the way!
😆
LikeLike
Seems wordpress doesn’t like us to laugh in ‘CAPS’….fickle, fickle… 🙄
:ROLL: See what I mean? Retentive sort!
LikeLike
Salty, just look at that ski-jump nose and protruding chin. None other than Hope himself!
LikeLike
Rosey says the Bravos have feelers out on Uggla…
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/121409-Latest-MLB-buzz
LikeLike
Ya see, CL…it’s all perspective. I see ol’ GW looking straight ahead. You see Mr. Hope lookin’ skyward! Yep…I see him with his head cocked back. Nice! Gil, your avatar is schizoid!!! A schizoid rohrshach…gotta be a blogdom first!
Raisins…personally, not into Popeye! Just get Roachy back…all this new guy/bopper talk is leavin’ me illin’ over the prospect of no defense. Not good…can unravel all the good pitching Los Bravos have.
LikeLike
Not an Uggla fan myself. Just not a good fit.
Not sure about Rochey, though. That said, what else is out there? Not much…
At this point, I’d would just as soon see them trade DLowe to NYY for Swisher to play 1B, and let the younguns play OF.
MattyD/Schafer, N8 and JHey might be just as good as anything left right now, especially given that JV could be locked up for a few more years. Why not?
2009:
N8
Yuney
Chipper
Swisher
Mac
JHey
Prado
MattyD(R)/Schafer(L)
It won’t scare every pitching staff, but it would score more runs than last season.
2010:
Schafer
N8
JHey
Chipper
Mac
Yuney
Freeman
Prado
Hey… I’m bored. Waddaya expect?
LikeLike
We had Swisher in 2009??? 😛
LikeLike
😳
That should be 2010 and 2011… it has been one of those days… 😐
LikeLike
Jason Marquis is set to sign with the Nats.
It won’t help them climb over the teams atop them, but it sure helps the DLowe market…
LikeLike
We had Swisher in 2009???
He was disguised as Norton! You knew that! 😛
LikeLike
… something along the lines of 2 years, $15MM.
And the Angles want us to eat HOW MUCH of DLowe’s deal?
If Jason Marquis is worth $7.5MM per season, DLowe has gotta be worth at least $12.5MM per…
LikeLike
Angles… 😳
LikeLike
I told you, it’s been one of those days… 😐
LikeLike
I think I would just as soon, keep Lowe as pay for someone else to take him off our hands.
Jason to the Nats eh? Okay, I’ll take him.
I like Dan Uggla, as long as he is not relied upon to play defense… Does not leave much of an opening does it? Left field maybe but certainly not second base.
Like I said, other teams (Angels) are just seeing how badly the Braves want to dump payroll… Can’t blame them for trying. Now, who do the Royals have that would fit the bill?
LikeLike
Uggla playing for us, would help us in those 18 games we play the Marlins…
Hadn’t a clue what Marquis numbers were for the last 3 years, so did a search. 574 Innings, 4.37 ERA.
Lowe, 605 innings, 3.92 ERA.
I imagine the Nats were looking for an innings eater to help rest that bullpen.
One less guy out there. Joel Pineiro is the best guy left . Do the Angels think he can handle the A.L.? Is he just yet another Cardinal rescue via Dave Duncan, that will turn back into a pumpkin away from Busch stadium???
I think if the Angels trade for a starter, they want an Ace, not another non ace. Is Lowe an ace right now???
The Angels have now lost a 3rd guy, Darren Oliver to the Rangers. He was the go to guy during the playoffs last year, but he has signed with the Rangers, for a little less(3.5 Mil) than he got last year from the Angels. Angels are just acting weird.
So, what does the Angels rotation look like???
Jered Weaver 16 8 3.75 ERA.
Joe Saunders 16 7 4.60 ERA.
Ervin Santana 8 8 5.03 ERA.(injured, 16 7 3.49 in 2008)
Matt Palmer 11 2 3.93 ERA as a starter and long relief guy.
Scott Kazmir 10-9, 4.89, 1.73 ERA in 6 starts with Angels. (still only 25 amazingly enough)
of course, Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver.
But, I still don’t see why they would trade for Lowe, honestly. I could be wrong, I often am…I hope I am in this case!
LikeLike
Don’t know Ber… I just think other teams are waiting to see if their current crop of hurlers may pan out. Not to worry, if you take all thirty major league teams and multiply that by the number of pitchers who could be in the majors next year, odds are, someone is going to need a front line starter…
LikeLike
Hmm, V and G may be right….
Yankees After Starting Pitcher
By Howard Megdal [December 21 at 8:07pm CST]
8:07pm: Could this be related to what David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote in the comments section of his blog earlier this evening?
“Got a call from a NY writer today wanting to know if I’d heard anything heating up between Yankees and Braves…. Apparently Yankees have hinted at doing “something big” soon. Don’t know if that means pitching”.
Hard to imagine the Yankees will go another round with Javier Vazquez, but could this mean Derek Lowe? Like Harang, the Yankees could be among the few teams able to take on Lowe’s three-year, $45MM deal.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/yankees-after-starting-pitcher.html
LikeLike
Angels writer on Lowe to Angels….
How about trading Matthews or Juan Rivera for Derek Lowe?
— Kelly B., Reno, Nev.
Lowe will be 37 next June, but he’s been remarkably durable — and he has shown no aversion to October pressure. His stuff would play well with the Angels’ defense, and he’d be a voice of experience on a relatively young staff. The catch is the $45 million he’s owed for three years. Matthews would seem a fairer deal than Rivera, who has great value given his production and affordable contract.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091221&content_id=7840194&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana&partnerId=rss_ana
Somehow, I don’t see that deal going down.
LikeLike
Agreed….not a ‘Chinaman’s chance in a hot weather climate’!
LikeLike
Nope, Matthews had his shot in Atlanta pre PEDs… Didn’t stick then. People make a big deal out of Lowes’ salary. I think it is more perception than anything else. Like driving 10 miles out of your way to save 3 cents a gallon on gas…
LikeLike
Like driving 10 miles out of your way to save 3 cents a gallon on gas…
Aaah…so, you have met my dad, huh, Gil? 😆
LikeLike
Hey, I’m not one to pass up a deal, but…
I will plan things out a bit sometimes. Like taking all the gas cans with me to Krogers on a Tuesday (old folks day) And getting the 10 cents a gallon discount while filling up the truck or SUV too.
It’s also knowing which stations not to stop at because you believe they have rigged the pumps… Yep, you can afford to undercut everyone else’s prices when you are selling 9/10ths of a gallon for every one showing on the meter.
There are some small advantages to tracking one’s fuel mileage.
LikeLike
Holy Cow! JV to the Yanks, along with Logan, for Cabrera and two prospects! Uhm…ok. While Cabrera isn’t the bopper, he’s also young and still growing…can see him getting to the 20-25 HR range.
Hmm…so Lowe stays…I like that, in all honesty…he has grit, experience, and eats innings. He can be the mentor, with Huddy, for JJ and ‘Big Red’.
Still…I sniff another trade…or, a LaRoche offer.
LikeLike
Holy cow…
I take one morning to go do a little shopping with Mrs. Raisins and miss the deal going down.
Not sure how I like it; gonna have to digest it. In my gut, I felt it’d take trading JV to get the bat we needed. Not sure we did. That said, the lefty prospect could be a nice acquisition. I gotta say, though, that I do find it intriguing that we now have acquired another CF/LF when we have one of those already, with Schafer just a step behind and RF about to be locked down for a while. Maybe just the first shoe to drop?
We shed ourselves of a surplus starter, and $11MM in commitment. We acquired a versatile, relatively solid even if not spectacular OF, and a couple of nice prospects.
And in reality, had we traded Lowe and extended JV, it would probably been for close to the same $15MM per year that DLowe will get anyway. (I hope Lowe shows everybody that last season was just an off year.)
Yep… I still think there is something else to happen (aside from staffing 1B). This may simply be a means of settling the staff, shedding more then $11MM from the books, and setting up the next move.
LikeLike
Oh, one more thing…
I like Javy alot. He was fantastic last season. I truly hope he has another great season, but I honestly believe that his career pattern will hld true and that he’ll be down in 2010. Maybe being behind CC, AJ, and all of the other Yankee initials will curb that somewhat, but who knows?
I’ll go out on a limb and say that I think Lowe will have a better season than him, though. Really…
Think about it. Javy gets alot of fly ball outs. He’s moving to a Little League field. Bad combination…
LikeLike
I hope Frank gave Lowe a ‘Merry Christmas’ call! Lowe may have been over-emotional, but I respect he wants to be here in Atlanta. Per his comments about mechanics and his career work ethic, if he at all has it in him, ’10 will be an “I’ll show them” kind of season! And we’ll be happy!
LikeLike
Raisins…apparently, we think much alike! We hold the same low down on Lowe! Or is that a Lowe low down? I get confuzzled! 🙄
LikeLike
Yessir, we are in agreement.
I just have a feeling that Frank has something up his sleeve. The acquisition of Melky Cabrera just doesn’t add up as long as N8 is on this team. They are so similar, except that Melky makes alot less $$$.
Could N8 be on the move in a deal for a 1B? Could Melky not get a chance to unpack his bags before moving on? Could this mean Schafer is about to be moved? All I know is that you can’t play 4 outfielders in this game, and Melky isn’t a 1 year place holder.
SD needs an outfield bat in a bad way…
Just sayin’…
LikeLike
You know, of course, that the net $8.5MM we save in the NYY deal, plus the average $5.5MM N8 is owed ($4.5MM in 2010, $6.5MM in 2011) would give the Bravos about $14MM more to spend on a nice piece of LF boppage.
Maybe Bay?
Just thinking out loud… (or something like that)
LikeLike
Yankees perspective from Mike Silva:
This trade doesn’t come without cost. Arodys Vizcaino was a top three prospect according to Baseball America, Melky Cabrera’s departure leaves a hole in left, and Michael Dunn was well regarded as a lefty out of the pen. In just a month the Yankees have dumped all three of their promising lefty relievers in Coke, Kroenke, and Dunn. Boone Logan can take over as the second lefty, but he clearly doesn’t have the upside of the three kids. Down the road this trade could hurt especially if the pitchers turn out how some think.
LikeLike
Just received a package in the mail…
Ber, you are the man. Thank you very much and Merry Christmas to you and your Pa! 😀
LikeLike
So Stuffville, an opinion, please. Does Bay really do it for any of you? I can’t get jazzed about him…perhaps I’m missing something; however, since I’m in ‘rohrschach mode’ this week…Bay reminds me of a LaRoche bookend. If that’s the case…I’ll take Rochey…less $$ and defense at a critical slot. Yep…I guess I’m Rochey fixated…Braves should get him. His contract will be affordable, and there’s no fear of a no trade, should Freeman really be ready.
Still, Raisins, you could be right on Bay and, you could be likewise with Gonzales, too. You already showed the $$ that’s freed up. Now, you ship Cabrera, Freeman, and a solid pitching prospect (Medlen…as much as I hate to lose him), you might have something. If Wren can pull off those two moves…uh, WOW?1? MLB would not see that coming…and the Mets would be bummed!
LikeLike
Here’s what I would like about a Bay signing.
1. He would be a real #4 hitter, and protection for Chipper in the lineup.
2. It would show a commitment to the fans.
3 (and most important). It would yank him right out from under the Mets. 😀
Still… not my first choice.
How about our current CF (area of need for them; area of surplus for us) to Chicago for their current 1B (area of need for us; clears the path for a prospect for them)? Of course, there’d be other moving parts as well, but N8 and DLee would be the central figures. Now, that’d be a surprise, wouldn’t it?
LikeLike
I’m a huge Derrick Lee fan…would take him in a heartbeat!
LikeLike
Wow, I didn’t expect that! 😯 I would have rather traded Lowe, but I Think V is right, you just don’t know which Javy you will get from year to year. Plus, people just weren’t going to give up much for an expensive older starter.
Yep, has to be more to this deal, right??? I really don’t want to trade Nate, unless it is for DLee…I feel he could be a #4 or #5 hitter, if given a chance. His speed seems to hurt him there.
LikeLike
And V, you are quite welcome! 🙂 Man, you just got it today?? I mailed the 2nd wave Thursday. Man, I guess Christmas mail is slowing things down. I could have walked it to you sooner! 😉
As much as it’s easy to pick on the P.O., for a government run entity they do a pretty good job. One guy sent me something on a Saturday from Texas, and I got it that next Monday! 😯
And though we will no doubt all wish each other a Merry Christmas in a few days, a Merry Christmas to to you, Mrs Raisins, and all the little Raisins! 🙂
LikeLike
I like Javy, but we all knew it was him or Derek… Pick your poison. I think the salary works out to be about the same.
Now, as for Nate.. I like him too, but you guys are right, McLough for Lee would work for me. Keeping him and signing LaRoche works for me too.
So many was that the Braves could go right now.
Still a very formidable starting rotation for the Braves…
LikeLike
Salty, Bay seemed to elevate his game playing for a winning team. As we saw with LaRoche, nothing improves a hitter like playing on a team not called the Pirates!
Bay strikes out a lot, but walks a lot(94 times last year) one of the reasons the Red Sox traded for him. He has driven in 100 or more 5 of the last 6 years, a bopper in these non steroid years.
And it’s funny, all these defensive “stats” that have popped up of late, all I know is my eyes. And since a ton of Red Sox games are televised each year, I saw him play a lot, and play that wall like he had played his whole career in Boston. And seemed to have a plenty strong arm for a left fielder. But this winter, writers have made it sound like he was a younger G.A. one of the worst there are.
LikeLike
So… I wonder if the Angels are having regrets for not trading for Lowe now? I would if I were them…
LikeLike
I was thinking, pretty nice trade when what you are giving up is Boone Logan…
LikeLike
And do the White Sox feel as if they have been had?
LikeLike
So, the Braves still need a bopper…. I don’t think you are going to get one in this day and age for less than $15 million a year. That seems to be the going rate on boppage these days.
LikeLike
A quote from Mr. O’B:
OK, scratch Bay. That’s not happening, just learned from someone who knows.
Braves are working on some other potential things, but that’s not one of them.
LikeLike
I’m not buying O’B’s inside info. Wren was burned at the stake last year…the open info policy blew up in his face. This year, what you don’t see coming will be the reality…and Bay could be it. Now, if we get Lee, in effect, we have the bopper…he’ll just be a first baseman. However, don’t be surprised if it’s Cabrera over N8…just sayin’…and, of course, another player…or three.
LikeLike
Lots of interest going on! I’m glad we kept Lowe. I just plain like him and wish him a much better coming season. I get the feeling that the entire team will really be pushing for a WS appearance, at the very least.
Nursing home news: Mom seems to be a little better in some areas (she consistently recognizes me now) but she must have asked me a dozen times today if I went to Sunday School this morning. I’ll take what I can get and be glad of it!
Tomorrow, Miss Kelly celebrates a birthday! I think I’m rapidly approaching the official “older than dirt” bracket!
Ber! A million thanks!!! MOST thoughtful of you and much appreciated!
Me? I be’s tired. Gotta wrap a few presents (didn’t get much at all this year!), birthday stuff and nursing home visit tomorrow, nursing home visit and cook on Thursday, Friday – Christmas and nursing home visit. etc etc etc….
Finally realizing that today is the 22nd of Dec and I haven’t sent Christmas cards – to each I wish you a Merry Christmas! (In fact, I’m not ready for Thanksgiving yet….)
LikeLike
(In fact, I’m not ready for Thanksgiving yet….)
Slow down, young lady! Goodness…Thanksgiving’s not for another 11 months! 😆
The Merriest of Christmas to you and yours…and a Blessedly Happy New Year!!
LikeLike
😆 Thanks, Salty! May your home be blessed! Your young soldier is away this year, I’m sure, and it’ll be tough on you and Mrs Salty. Know that he is in my prayers every last single night!
LikeLike
CL, you are most welcome! I was waiting to see if everyone had gotten it, but what the heck. It’s a book! On baseball, who would suspect??? 😛
I bought it on a whim (Usually, like the Tommy Lasorda book I bought months ago, I buy a book and there they sit months later)not expecting much, and was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Not the kind of thing you need to read in one sitting. Just a few pages at a time, read in the middle, it don’t matter! 😉 It’s perfect if you, like me have ADD! Some very interesting stories on folks like Smoltz, Tim Hudson, and folks you haven’t heard of before. (And a pretty gruesome chapter on baseballs causing terrible injuries you might want to skip over! 😯 ) You come away feeling the true, undying love Tim Kurkjian has for Baseball.
And Salty, what CL said. We can never thank your Son enough for what he is doing for us!
LikeLike
TimmyK is one of the few talking heads that I can tolerate. Most, like Olney, Stark and Rosenthal, I just ignore. TK, though, he displays a joy for the game. I like that…
LikeLike
There is chatter about with the name…
… wait for it…
LikeLike
…
😀
…
(I am a stinker, ain’t I?)
…
LikeLike
… Lance Berkman in it.
Berkman has 2 more years left on his deal that pays him about $15MM per, or thereabouts.
A switch-hitting bopping 1B. That’d work, wouldn’t it?
LikeLike
Well, we have seemingly stockpiled young pitching for some reason, haven’t we?
LikeLike
Ah…
$14.5MM for 2010, and a CLUB option for $15MM in 2011.
Perfect.
LikeLike
OK, I’m not crazy about the trade as it stands now. If it leads to another I’ll reconsider.
Just finished my last orders (to be delivered in the a.m.) . I think I’ve baked something every day for the past 2 weeks, more than 1 thing on most days. I need that seperate kitchen I’ve got in Tiger here, it’s been a zoo trying to do this in our rather small kitchen here.
LikeLike
Ber, the book arrived yesterday ( I don’t think I was on here last night, lately I only know what day it is by my orders). Thank you so much! I’ll read it soon & I’m sure Dad will too.
LikeLike
FBG, glad it arrived safe and sound! 🙂 If no one else gets it this week, please let me know!
FBG, I know what you mean about the trade. Melky Cabrera is still only 25, but I was a bit shocked at his OBP. One of the very few guys that doesn’t walk on that team. Doesn’t run as much as I thought he did either. Does seem like a fairly clutch hitter. Just checked, hit .298 with runners in scoring position.
But, we traded a guy who Keith Law said had the second best numbers in the league. I would have thought we could get a bit more for him. But then again, he won’t go just anywhere. And we all know more moves to be made.
Oh, I also noticed Melky Cabrera has played 4 years, so he will likely not be very cheap come 2011, and can walk after that year as well(I Think)I would just assume spin him off and keep Nate, but Nate is probably worth more, and if there was someone to spin Melky off to, they would have made a 3 way trade, right???
Now, trade Nate, and Shafer for the San Diego Gonzo, and I will be quite happy! 😀 But, the weak hitting Fathers always seem to want pitching instead of hitting.
LikeLike
Good morning all, first let me say to CL that I feel for you. It’s tough to go thru things that you thought you were prepared for only to realize things can be even more frustrating. Now it’s being able to separate reality from the imagined. I am praying for you both.
And Happy Birthday to Miss Kelly…. Don’t they grow fast? My oldest daughter’s birthday was the 15th. I have a bevy of grandchildren (when you really are old as dirt) who have December birthdays too. Give her a hug for me…
Ber, I am anxiously awaiting your parcel but the thru rain, sleet and snow thingee does not apply to our post office here in Hanover. They have not delivered my mail since last Friday.
Lance Berkman? Well, the price is about what I said it would be. I think the trade of Vasquez was for the purpose of dumping 12 million in salary and getting the best return possible. Maybe you are right about the pitching prospects V. Could be acquiring the pieces needed for getting a bopper. I can’t see Wren trading any more of the front line guys now, Although Lowe could still end up somewhere else. You never know with baseball….
LikeLike
Y’all realize that Melky was not the centerpiece of the trade from the Braves perspective, don’t you? The centerpiece was Arodys Vizcaino. This kid was their version of our Julio Teheran. He instantly becomes one of the Braves Top 5 prospects… easily. Melky was just a throw in.
Second, Mike Dunn is a young lefty reliever with closer stuff that can get Major League hitters out now. He is no Boone Logan. Another plus.
Guys, we now have one extra top prospect, one extra lefty reliever, and another extra CF. This is stockpiling plain and simple.
Even if, though, there were not another deal to come as a result of this one, the salary dump (appx. net savings of $9MM) and acquisition of Vizcaino is enough to satisfy me.
I just see something else coming… maybe as early as today. Who knows?
LikeLike
This ‘ya’ll’ is with ya! Spot on, ‘Wrinkled One’! 😆
LikeLike
Wanted to see what condition your condition was in… and pop in and say Merry Christmas Happy New Year to all.
Before baseball talk, let me warn you about Comcast high-speed internet service. Try to find an alternative. They’ve been a nightmare for over a month now. That’s all I’ll say on that, other than… it must be nice to be approaching monopoly status.
As far as baseball news goes, gotta say I’m with Mark Bradley on the recent trades. It’s all pretty much business as usual for Liberty, Wren & Co. Trading Javy was a huge mistake. He was arguably our best pitcher.
Whatever… that’s fine. I’ll still watch the games and enjoy them without getting all worked up as though we’re building a winning team or anything. I’ll be patient and wait for new ownership and new management, but I won’t hold breath or let it bother me in the least. Nope, I’ll still watch. Like Chance, I like to watch. Well, maybe not quite like our skipper Chance…
Y’all have a very Merry and a happy Happy!
LikeLike
Rosey:
Source: Braves give Glaus one-year deal
The Braves have reached agreement on a one-year contract with free agent Troy Glaus to play first base, according to a major-league source.
The deal, which also includes incentives, is pending a physical, the source said.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/source%3A-braves-give-glaus-one-year-deal
OK… I give. Now none of it makes sense. I am officially perplexed… 😐
LikeLike
Now SG, you sound a lot like I do, usually. You don’t want to do that now, do ya??? 😉
This time I am siding with V and G (Sounds like a railroad, doesn’t it???) Javy was very good last year, no doubt. I for one thought he would suffer from pitching in the WBC before the season, and he is still possibly due for an injury. But, he does have a very weird line from year to year, next to innings pitched. Check out the ERA the last few years. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3786
Would have rather traded Lowe, but we signed him in a bit of a panic, since no one was wanting our money last year…
Look at the Reds or Brewers for some real cheap ownership. And they draw very well too.
And SG, in case you don’t pop in before Christmas, a Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! 🙂
LikeLike
Beat me to the punch again V! 😛
Well, he bats right handed. In 2008, he hit 27 Hr’s 99 RBI’s walked 87 times and had a BA of .270, with a .372 OBP. And he’s still only 33. And while he likely will be a 1st baseman, he has mainly played 3rd, so he can fill in there, and if it really is Chippers last year, he can move over to 3rd in 2011.
Now, trade Schafer, Nate, and perhaps the youngster from the Yankee deal(and some other pitching prospect) to the Padres and get Gonzo and play him at…him…well, err…Glaus in Left then??? 😕
LikeLike
And CL, I forgot, wish Kelly Happy Birthday from me! 🙂
Glad your Mom is feeling a bit better as well….
LikeLike
Glaus, huh? Hmm…it’s officially ‘Bay’ or ‘Holliday’ time, then. The #’s add up…and the prospects, if there’s a ‘bopper’ trade. I’m not tossing in the towel…yet!
LikeLike
Looks to me like there is going to be a pretty good team in Gwinnett next season…
LikeLike
Happy Birthday Kelly!!! 😀
LikeLike
Good informative article on Glaus. Maybe not a bad pickup…
Another question mark, though.
We’ve got a few of those, don’t we?
Man, if they all pan out… great. If not, well… nevermind.
LikeLike
Troy was a highly sought out guy a couple of years back. Let’s see if the shoulder is okay. Of course he won’t have to be making those long throws across the infield from first will he?
I would still like for the Braves to acquire a bopper but Heyward may be the Braves answer for that. C’mon spring training…
LikeLike
Uh, probably help to include the link, huh? 😳
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-have-new-first-253681.html
LikeLike
I rode the ATV up to the mail box earlier… Bills… and ads… Sigh, no wonder the mail carrier didn’t bother, probably thought I wouldn’t miss them.
I also to a little spin on my trail behind the house to see how much storm damage the trees suffered… Whew, it was touch a go up the hill behind the house. May get the sled out for the grand kids for when they come over Christmas Eve.
I still have to put Josie’s last present together but I think I will wait until after the kids leave so there is enough room in the house.
LikeLike
Rosenthal:
Trying to figure out Atlanta’s plan — 3:36 p.m.
Two thoughts on the Braves:
*The Javier Vazquez trade cannot be adequately judged until the Braves spend the approximately $8 million they saved in the exchange — and maybe not even then.
The Braves’ motivation in trading Vazquez was to clear salary for other moves. The first will be the signing of free agent Troy Glaus to play first base. Let’s say, just for the sake of discussion, that the second will be the signing of Mark DeRosa.
At that point, the trade effectively would amount to Vazquez and left-hander Boone Logan for outfielder Glaus, DeRosa, Melky Cabrera, left-hander Mike Dunn and minor-league righty Arodys Vizcaino, who was rated the Yankees’ third-best prospect by Baseball America.
Such a breakdown accounts neither for the years of control for each player, nor the two high draft picks the Yankees will receive if Vazquez departs as a high free agent after next season. But once the entire picture is known, the deal likely will appear more balanced.
Here’s the problem:
Given the Braves’ need for a right-handed slugger, they should be plunging into the markets for Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, the two top hitters on the free-agent market. Both, club officials say, are out of the Braves’ price range.
*Another concern: What do Glaus, left-handed closer Billy Wagner and right-handed setup man Takashi Saito have in common?
None has been a picture of health in recent seasons.
The Braves aren’t buying robust players in their primes; they’re gambling on three thirty-somethings — late thirty-somethings in the cases of Wagner and Saito.
Wagner is a physical freak who returned from Tommy John surgery in near-record time last season. Still, he pitched on back-to-back days only once with the Red Sox.
Saito, too, was handled delicately by the Sox after missing most of the second half of 2008 with a right elbow sprain. Braves manager Bobby Cox, on the other hand, can be hard on relievers; let’s see if Saito makes it through the whole season.
Finally, Glaus made a strong enough return from right shoulder surgery last January to rejoin the Cardinals in September and crack their postseason roster. But in four of the past seven seasons, he has missed significant time with injuries.
Well, that was alot of words that effectively showed very little insight. I mean, what did he say that hasn’t been discussed ad nauseum for the last 2 days?
I wish I had his job…
LikeLike
Yep, maybe the old B & S should getting more recognition because everything posted here has been pretty spot on.
LikeLike
The Braves have been putting together a pretty nice team if you are just idling until something better comes along. Not like they are the Pirates or anything. Still, they are not exactly being aggressive either. There comes a point when a team becomes obvious that they are content with being a contender for a playoff spot. Not a World Series caliber club mind you, just a team that should be in the hunt until September and if every thing goes right and things not so right for other clubs then maybe you can get a wild card berth.
There is being frugal and then there is being cheap. While difficult for the casual observer to know the difference, there is a difference… Which one are the Braves?
LikeLike
Gil, the Braves will answer that question themselves before they open the season in April.
By my untrained calculations, they still have about $10MM to spend – assuming that payroll is going to be about the same as 2009, like they said.
So in this case, the proof will surely be in the pudding. I hope the pudding doesn’t use an artificial sweetener…
There is one caveat that nobody seems to want to bring up. Suppose they go into the season with essentially what they have now assembled. They are an improved team, if not by light years. Being $10MM or so under their self imposed cap gives them alot of wiggle room to make adjustments at the trade deadline, assuming they are still in the hunt. Just a thought…
LikeLike
HO HO HO … MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE… Well, it’s almost Christmas and the first onslaught of grand-kids are on their way… I may not feel so merry later. I know the cat won’t… Poor thing, it will take her a week to get over the trauma.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas Gil. How awesome to have the family around.
😀 😀 😀
LikeLike
Now baseball, Capp signs with the Nats, and…wait, who cares??? 😛
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah everyone! 🙂 Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday!
LikeLike
Merry Christmas to all! And to all, a Good Night!
LikeLike
Merry Christmas B&S’ers…
Merry Christmas to you and yours! 😀
LikeLike
A Merry and blessed Christmas to each of you, my friends!
LikeLike
Whew… My back is killing me….
Thank you Jesus for not being a Hindu so we only have to celebrate this blessed holiday once a year.
Still, it’s good to get together with family, even for those who don’t wish to be gotten together with. 🙂
It’s raining now so we are getting lots of fog as the warm (relative term) rain hits the cold snow. Maybe they should have built this house on stilts.
Anyway, Merry Christmas to all and hopefully Santa did not leave the Braves a lump of coal in their stockings.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas, my dears!!!
LikeLike
I truly hope each of you accumulated a bunch of wonderful Christmas memories yesterday!
An item from the local newspaper that I found interesting:
How many people from Wilmington have made it big in sports?
Chuck Carree, StarNews
There are many athletes from the area who have gone on to professional sports careers and other accolades.
Here’s a list for a start, although it’s difficult to be completely comprehensive:
BASEBALL
Sam Bowens, OF, Wilmington, Williston High: He played seven years in the majors and received a World Series ring with Baltimore Orioles in 1966.
Gus Brittain, C, New Hanover: He played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1937.
Tommy Greene, RHP, Whiteville: He tossed a no-hitter for the Phillies in 1991 and pitched in the 1993 World Series.
Bill Harris, IF, UNCW: He played two years in the majors, but is famous for running into the dugout in the ABC Wide World of Sports intro.
Patrick Lennon, OF, Whiteville: He played six seasons with four big league teams.
Quinton McCracken, OF, South Brunswick: He played 12 years with six teams in the big leagues as a switch-hitting outfielder.
Steve Mintz, RHP, North Brunswick: He spent two seasons in the majors and is a current pitching coach in the Minnesota Twins system.
Ron Musselman, RHP, Hoggard: In three seasons, he had a 3.73 ERA in the majors.
Donell Nixon, OF, West Columbus: He played four years in the bigs and participated in the 1989 – Earthquake World Series – with the San Francisco Giants.
Otis Nixon, OF, West Columbus: He played 17 years in the majors and finished with 620 career steals.
Trot Nixon, OF, New Hanover: He hit .357 in the 2004 World Series when the Red Sox broke the curse of the Bambino.
Carl Willis, RHP, UNCW: He helped the Minnesota Twins win the 1991 World Series after compiling an 8-3 record, 3.10 ERA in relief.
FOOTBALL
Sam Aiken, WR, James Kenan: Current New England Patriot.
Connor Barth, K, Hoggard: Current Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
Arnold Brown, DB, Laney: He played two seasons in the NFL.
Wray Carlton, RB, Wallace: Key player on Buffalo Bills 1964-65 AFL championship teams.
Alge Crumpler, TE, New Hanover: Current Tennessee Titan and selected to four pro bowls.
Roman Gabriel, QB, New Hanover: He is a former NFL MVP and in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kitwana Jones, DE, Laney: He is a current CFL player with a Grey Cup title.
Sonny Jurgensen, QB, New Hanover: He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Chester McGlockton, DT, Whiteville: He played in four pro bowls.
Greg Peterson, DE, East Duplin: Current Tampa Bay Buc.
Clyde Simmons, DE, New Hanover: He finished with 125.5 career sacks in the NFL.
Reggie Singletary, DT-OG, West Columbus: He played five years in the NFL.
Hal Stephens, DE, Whiteville: He played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions.
BASKETBALL
Chucky Brown, Leland: He won an NBA title with the Houston Rockets.
M.L. Carr, Wallace-Rose Hill: He was a former Boston Celtics player and later became the team’s coach. He was famous for towel waving on the bench on the teams with Larry Bird.
Kenny Gattison, New Hanover: He played in 494 NBA games and later became an NBA assistant coach.
Michael Jordan, Laney: He was a 2009 Pro Basketball Inductee.
Meadowlark Lemon, Williston: He was known as the Clown Prince of Basketball and went into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Sam Pellom, Leland: He played four seasons in the NBA with Atlanta and Milwaukee.
Cedric Simmons, West Brunswick: Played for NC State and four NBA teams since joining league in 2006. Currently member of NBA Developmental League’s Idaho Stampede.
Chris Wilcox, Whiteville: He is with the Detroit Pistons and in his seventh NBA season.
Tamera Young, Laney: All-time leading scorer at James Madison University, three-time all-CAA selection and inaugural draft pick of WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Now member of Chicago Sky.
AUTO RACING
Jackie Rogers: Born in Wilmington in 1943, ran on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1974-76, competing in 41 races with 10 top-10 finishes.
Chad McCumbee, Supply: Current member of NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series
Hoss Ellington, Wilmington: Former NASCAR racer and, later, team owner from 1968-1989.
TENNIS
Althea Gibson, Wilmington: Five-time Grand Slam singles champion moved to city for tennis in the mid-1940s and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971.
SOCCER
Cody Arnoux, New Hanover: All-State selection and all-American at Wake Forest, won national championship with Deacons in 2007. Now playing professionally with Everton of English Premier League.
LikeLike
And that does not even mention our own All-Star blog mistress….
LikeLike
Oh, wow, Gil! Thank you!!! That is just like you – thoughtful and kind! *big hug*
LikeLike
What Gil said! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Ber!! 🙂
LikeLike
The most original Christmas gift I’ve ever received: a handful of lottery tickets for the New Mexico and Texas lotteries from my cousin out in NM! 😆
LikeLike
If we don’t see CL for a long, long time, we will know she hit it big! 😛
LikeLike
This woman sure puts me at ease…I know the very brightest minds are dealing with terrorism.
Napolitano: “The system worked”
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday that the thwarting of the attempt to blow up an Amsterdam-Detroit airline flight Christmas Day demonstrated that “the system worked.”
Asked by CNN’s Candy Crowley on “State of the Union” how that could be possible when the young Nigerian who has been charged with trying to set off the bomb was able to smuggle explosive liquid onto the jet, Napolitano responded: “We’re asking the same questions.”
Napolitano added that there was “no suggestion that [the suspect] was improperly screened.”
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/1209/Napolitano_The_system_worked.html
LikeLike
How would you like to be a Marlin fan these days???
Dan Uggla, 2B, Marlins – There’s no doubt the Marlins are planning another payroll dump, and Uggla would appear to be at the center of it. There was a lot of early talk about him going to the Giants, but that seems to have quieted down. Some scouts believe Uggla is best suited for the American League as a DH or someone you can move around, like a Mark DeRosa. The Marlins, who receive a ton in revenue-sharing and central-fund money, are looking to keep their profit margin high.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/27/budding_slugger_may_be_reined_in_by_squeeze_play/?page=full
LikeLike
OH, and good mornin’! 🙂
LikeLike
‘Morning, Ber! Yep! I struck it rich!!! I won $4.00! 😆
LikeLike
$4.00!!!
Woo-hoo!!!
How much is left after taxes?
LikeLike
Listed amongst Tim Dierkes’ Best FA signings thus far:
#1 Mike Cameron, Red Sox – two years, $15.5MM. Cameron is getting up there (37 in January), but he seems perenially undervalued as a solid defender with pop. Should have been signed by the Braves… 😡
#5 Troy Glaus, Braves – one year, $2MM. I don’t agree with trading Javier Vazquez to free up cash for Glaus and others, but in a vacuum I like the signing. The risk isn’t much; maybe he can supply 25 homers and a solid OBP from first base. Hmmm… I’m not sure this needs to be forever connected to the JV trade as with an umbilical chord, but I like the signing. As he says, low risk; high ceiling. Doesn’t solve LF, though, does it?
LikeLike
Had Frank brought in Cameron for LF, he’d still be under budget, and have a pretty darn potent lineup:
N8, CF (L)
Yunel, SS (R)
Chipper, 3B (S)
Glaus, 1B (R)
Mac, C (L)
Cameron, LF (R)
Diaz/Melky, RF (P)
Prado, 2B (R)
or
N8, CF (L)
Yunel, SS (R)
Chipper, 3B (S)
Glaus, 1B (R)
Mac, C (L)
Cameron, LF (R)
JHey, RF (L)
Prado, 2B (R)
Alas, it is as of yet an unknown. I still do not believe that Melky will be a starter. I could be wrong.
LikeLike
That said, I’m not so sure I care to have any other 2nd tier player in LF. If it isn’t going to be a bona fide power bat, I’d just as soon give Schafer a shot and hold the budget slot until mid-July when we might have a hole or 2 to fill.
I mean, it could be a whole lot worse than:
N8, LF (L)
Yunel, SS (R)
Chipper, 3B (S)
Glaus, 1B (R)
Mac, C (L)
JHey, RF (L)
Prado, 2B (R)
Schafer, CF (L)
Just not sure I want 2 rookies in the OF at the same time. Although, would Schaf still be considered a rookie?
LikeLike
I’ll tell ya, I’d like to see Frank pull a real rabbit out of his hat and do something creative. Like what you say?
Thought you’d never ask…
Why not make a real concerted effort to sign Bay for LF? 5years/$75MM oughtta do it. (The Sox offered 4yrs/$60MM, and he publicly stated he wanted 5 years.) My Georgia math skills tell me that’s $15MM per year, which is about $6MM or so more than remains in the budget. But if you acquired Bay, you could afford to trade N8 and his $4.5MM for 2010 and $6.5MM for 2011 and roll with Melky in CF until or unless Schafer is ready.
I truly believe that acquiring Bay would put enough additional butts in seats to make up for any budget shortfall.
Not to mention that a lineup of
Melky, CF (S)
Yunel, SS (R)
Chipper, 3B (S)
Bay, LF (R)
Mac, C (L)
Glaus, 1B (R)
JHey, RF (L)
Prado, 2B (R)
would be rather formidable.
Ah, but what do I know?
LikeLike
I think that would be a great move, Raisins! Wow, I’d love to see that lineup on the field!
LikeLike
Raisins…remember my 12/23 @ 11:19AM?
Glaus, huh? Hmm…it’s officially ‘Bay’ or ‘Holliday’ time, then. The #’s add up…and the prospects, if there’s a ‘bopper’ trade. I’m not tossing in the towel…yet!
Preach it, Brother! And…what do you know? You know Frank Wren’s moves pretty well, I’d day!
LikeLike
V, I’d be cool with that! Nate would bring in something quite nice, since he’s still cheap for a year or two….I wonder if there was a plan A, and something messed it up…and they are still figuring out what plan B is.
LikeLike
$4 dollar huh? You know there is a Master Card commercial in that somewhere….
LikeLike
From MLBtraderumors
In a piece for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, David O’Brien suggested in passing that the Braves could potentially use Melky Cabrera as a trade chip. Heyman tweets that the Cubs would be very interested, if the Braves were to make Cabrera available.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/odds-ends-molina-mariners-calero.html
LikeLike
Derrik Lee..Derrick Lee.. Derrick Lee……
LikeLike
Hey, I can dream can’t I?
LikeLike
Yep.. a little late now for Lee as Glaus is definitely gonna be the 1B.
I think we can say the lineup is pretty much settled except for one spot, that being LF. I, for one, will be very surprised if Melky is an opening day starter, unless N8 is dealt. I just do not believe those 2 will be in the same OF.
I also won’t be surprised if we don’t go to spring as currently composed, though. There are many deals to be found during spring training as needs become better defined across the landscape. I can see Frank holding onto his 2 CF’s and waiting for someone to come calling. It will also give him a good opportunity to assess Schafer’s recovery and development. Should Schafer have the same type of Spring he did in ’09, the OF situation could take care of itself.
LikeLike
Good morning everyone… First, let me thank Berigan for his most generous and gracious gift. It is truly appreciated. I started reading it last night. Now, how was this so? Well, I went to the mailbox and the carrier had delivered 47 pieces of mail to me yesterday. Think they had been pigeon holing it? Some of it dated back to the 15th of December….
Anyway, it gives credence to the jib that the postal service has to raise rates so they can pay for storage.
Jennifer, tell your dad he is needed back at work…. 🙂
Now baseball. I just hope the Troy Glaus experiment works out better for the Braves than Ken Caminiti did a few years ago.
LikeLike
Gil, you are quite welcome! 🙂 Wow, 47 pieces of mail?? All in one mailbox???
I keep forgetting, but to me one of the most interesting parts of that book was about scouts. Shocking how little they are paid, considering how very important their job is…
LikeLike
Whew… back from Krogers and a multitude of other stops… You know the thing I hate about shopping at Krogers on “Old People’s Day”? Old People…… And sadly, I am one….. 😦
LikeLike
Bay Day in NY…
LikeLike
Gil, a lot of it was probably stuck on some of those delayed flights before Christmas. People don’t realize that there is mail transported with the baggage on commercial flights. Widespread flight delays/cancellations = delayed mail.
LikeLike
-and, if the carrier has a mail contract, the mail goes even if paying cargo has to be left behind.
You’d be surprised at some of the things shipped by air! Including money. HUGE amounts of money! Many times I’ve seen armored vehicles and armed guards unload a TRUCKLOAD of money from one of the bins.
Good morning, y’all. Taking a slow morning today, nursing home later. Mom isn’t doing well. Pneumonia now. Will keep you posted – and many thanks for caring!
LikeLike
Praying for all of you, CL.
LikeLike
Not much happening on the Braves front…
… much speculation and fabrication, not much substance.
😐
LikeLike
For what it’s worth, I think Jonny Gomes might be the best “fit” left on the market, given his affordability.
He plays both corner OF spots, bats RH, had .267 AVG, .338 OBP, .541 SLG, 20 HR’s, 51 RBI on only 281 AB’s last season.
Compare that to, say, Jayson Werth, who played in 159 games last season and had 571 AB’s.
Over 571 AB’s, Gomes would project out to 41 HR’s and 104 RBI.
Now, I’m sure R/L splits would take those totals down a bit, but it’s still a point of comparison. I’d take 30/85 from LF in a heartbeat.
LikeLike
I’d take 30/85 from LF in a heartbeat.
Or center…or right… 😆
You and yours are in my prayers, CL!
LikeLike
I would not think that Gomes would want to sign with Atlanta given the Braves current plethora of players who will be jockeying for playing time.
CL, we will all be remembering you and your mom in our prayers.
LikeLike
And aren’t raw numbers a deceptive thing? So many things to take into account… Like the rotation of the earth on it’s axis and the height of the solar flares and other such unexplained things that have a tendency to make a player look really good until Terry Pendleton screws up their swing…
I mean, how is that Frenchy can be a potential All-Star in New York and a bum in Atlanta? Is it the water? After all, for all intents and purposes, the Braves gave him away….
How much ya’ll want to bet that Kelly Johnson hits over .300 this season for somebody?
LikeLike
Our prayers are with you CL.
LikeLike
So many things to take into account… Like the rotation of the earth on it’s axis and the height of the solar flares and other such unexplained things that have a tendency to make a player look really good until Terry Pendleton screws up their swing…
😆
LikeLike
CL, prayers for you and your Mom….
LikeLike
Nah… changed my mind on Gomes. Must be the weather. 🙄
LikeLike
Sigh…. Time to put down a new desk calender. What to do about all the addresses and phone numbers I have written on the old one?
Oh well, I guess if they were really that important I would have put them in my address folder for my computer to eat and lose for me…
And now more baseball…. On second look, Troy Glaus has the potential to be a real force in the line-up for the Braves… Base on the current standards established by the Nobel Prize Committee, I believe we can safely present him with the comeback player of the year award and the league MVP trophy… Not saying it will ever happen but who am I to argue with the Nobel Prize folks… After all, they are really, really smart folks. Don’t believe me, ask them? Or NBC….
LikeLike
Gil, you are wise. I nominate you for President in 2012.
LikeLike
Kelly Johnson to the D’Backs, 1 year, $2.35m
Many thanks for the prayers. Much needed! Her breathing is better today but still too tired to eat more than a couple of ‘bites’ of pureed food and a sip or two of whatever.
LikeLike
The St. Louis Cardinals have offered free agent outfielder Matt Holliday a contract for at least six years and presumably $100 million or more in hopes of retaining the 29-year-old outfielder.
This Cardinals offer, which is believed to have been made at some point in the past couple weeks, was not accepted.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/12/30/cardinals.holliday/index.html
LikeLike
Small steps CL… Small steps…
I have no doubt that the fact my mom had some extra weight (obese)prior to her going into the hospital for her last two episodes was a major contributing factor to her recovery… That said, I am personally prepared to survive just about any famine the government is planning to create.
While I am glad to see Kelly land somewhere. It’s tough to take a pay cut but that said, 2.5 mill would go a long way in taking care of my needs… Heck, might even take care of some wants.
On Matt Holliday, from what I have read, he is looking for an eight year guaranteed contract, at about 18 million per year. Nice to be able to hit the long ball… Chicks dig the long ball… That,s is still one of my favorite promos by the way…
If he is worth that, I wonder how much Fat Albert would command on the open market? Good thing for ball players that major league baseball didn’t accept any stimulus money. I think if it were me, I’d establish my residence in the Caymans or some other tax haven. All those sur-charges are going to hurt…
LikeLike
Watch chicks dig
LikeLike
😀 😀 😀 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
LikeLike
Thanks for that CL… 🙂
And what Berigan said…
Okay, it’s 2010 already and our life is flashing by at warp speed now. It won’t be all that long before the Man upstairs beams us all up so let’s make the best of it.
I guess folks like getting a do over, the New Year is like a Mulligan in life, didn’t like the way 2009 turned out, DO OVER!!! Wait, Obama is still the President…. Uh, never mind…
And the Pirates.. The Pirates are stuck like Bill Murry in Ground Hog Day. The Pirates may be the best example of how management by committee dooms you to failure. Not like Pittsburgh is a bad sports town, those for will support even a so-so team, but what they have been forced to endure goes beyond the pale. Still, the other 29 teams in MLB need to get talent from somewhere…
Great football game last night if you are a VA Tech fan, not so much if you root for the VOLS. Tech is going to be scary good next year…
LikeLike
😆 That is my all-time favorite commercial, Gil. It was so well-written – and actually well-acted by Maddux and Glavine! Glavine at the end MAKES it – otherwise it would have been just OK. You’re welcome!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! It’s just gotta get better…..
LikeLike
Happy New Year everybody!!!
LikeLike
Well, I think winter has officially arrived. Cold and blustery. I still have snow in the hills behind my house. I doubt it will be going anywhere for the next several days.
I managed to get most of the Christmas decorations taken down yesterday too. Still have some of the house lights to remove but they are not hurting anything so they can wait.
Interesting interview with Chipper Jones by David O’Brien in the AJC yesterday. I think he has it in his word processor so he can recycle it each year.
Anyone else seen the New Star Trek movie? I think it is the best one of the series so far. Reminds me of why I dislike William Shatner. Shatner reminds me too much of my first wife. Always with the attitude if you know what I mean….
Okay, all is quiet on the baseball front, the official Troy Glaus signing expected anyday but little else. I think the Braves are done now until spring training.
LikeLike
I found this particularly interesting in that interview:
“Q: How serious were you in September when you mentioned the possibility of retiring if you have a similar season in 2010? Could you really walk away from the two years and $28 million you’d have left on your contract at that point?
A: I’m on a year-to-year basis right now. If I go out and produce and have the same kind of season I always have had, everything will be fine. But I make no bones about it: There’s certain parts of this lifestyle that I’m sick of. Quite frankly, I’ve lived out of suitcases for 20 years and I’m kind of tired of it. I’ve missed a lot of firsts with my family, missed being able to go on trips with the whole family in the summer. And there’s certain politics that go with playing this game that I don’t want to have to deal with.
On the other hand, you can only play this game for so long, and as long as I can play and have fun, I’ll play. But if I feel like my talents are eroding, I will walk away.”
Gil, the temp here is 35 with a 30-mph wind. Colder than a witch’s heart! Going down into the ‘teens the next few nights. We rarely get temps like that! I’M COLD!!!!!!!!!!!! 😦
LikeLike
CL, mid 30’s even here! Teens for several nights in a row!! 😯
LikeLike
Here too, y’all. Mid-low 50s for highs, 30s for lows with a brisk wind (now & for the next several days). That’s positively Arctic by Florida standards.
LikeLike
Well FBG, sounds as if you are about to get your annual week of winter in Tampa. As for the rest of us… Thank goodness for global warming or we would all freeze to death….
LikeLike
Got marshmellows? Wind chills have been in the low-twenties all day. I don’t get cold and I’m wearing a fleece-lined heavy shirt, wrapped in an afghan and have kept a cup of hot coffee at hand.
Did not go to the nursing home today – and am trying to keep a guilt trip at bay. When one has asthma, severe cold (and that is the proper term for current conditions at this location!) can trigger attacks and I simply can’t risk another trip to the hospital with it. So here I am: (somewhat) warm and chastizing myself for it. Yeah, I know – but…. *sigh*
LikeLike
CL, you have gone above and beyond in the call of duty for your Mom…easy for me to say, but no way should you risk your health. She, or rather the earlier, healthier version of your Mom would more than understand. I bet she would demand you not see her if she was in full possession of her faculties.
Take care, and stay warm! It’s going to be cold for the better part of the next week.
LikeLike
CL, evidently you have not been made aware that sometimes it can be detrimental to see people when they are ill, they need to rest but they often feel compelled to try to keep those visiting them entertained… Not saying that is the case with your mom but.. well… You Know….
Yesterday, my mom chastised me for not bringing her home for Christmas.. tomorrow, she won’t know who I am or what year it is… can’t win sometimes. I gave up on the guilt trip bus, my mother loaded that up on me years ago. So just remember, you can’t be of any help to anyone if you wind up in the hospital too.
As far as the warmth thingee…. Josie keeps it a toasty 66 degrees in the house. My only chance to get warm is when she starts to come down with something and her internal thermometer starts working like a normal person’s and she realizes it’s cold… In the mean time, layered clothing CL.. layered clothing…
LikeLike
Did you know it can be tough trying to use a keyboard with gloves on?
LikeLike
You have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of anyone else, CL.
More than a week, Gil. We’ve already had more cold than we had all of last winter. I usually love cooler weather & don’t get cold easily at all but I’m cold tonight (I’m generally the one still in shorts when Mom & Melissa have donned sweatshirts, jeans & warm socks).
LikeLike
We spent a good chunk of the evening helping Mom go through boxes & boxes of slides from my grandparents. Got her a slide converter that transfers them all to digital files. So far we’ve covered a time span from before her birth up to a few baby pics of me. Many pics of Poppa with fish, Nany’s fancy cakes (I come by it honestly), Mom, her little sister & older brother dressed funny (what was up with 60s kids’ clothes?) & her 3 oldest brothers looking sharp in their Navy uniforms. Best of the night had to be my very dignified & ladylike Nany dressed in a funky black & white dress & black patent leather knee boots, circa late 60s. 😯
LikeLike
VOR–thanks for the tip to the blog! Glad to see a lot of familiar faces on here! I agree that Lowe is due for a rebound this year, and I hope we can do something else to improve our offense. I’m sure Frank has something up his sleeve…
LikeLike
Welcome Steve! 🙂
We even talk baseball here sometimes! 😉
I sure hope Frank has something up his sleeve, and doesn’t take J.S.’s approach of wait til just before July 31st. If we are to have any chance against the Phils this year(hey, it is this year, finally!) have to be at full strength out of spring training. Don’t want to make a foolish decision, just to make one…but V may be right about either Nate or Schafer being a trade piece…but will have to trade someone with them to get that big bat.
LikeLike
Good morning all… Welcome Steve, new faces always welcome. And now the “Big Bat” issue… Folks, I’m am fearful that Troy Glaus may be Frank Wren’s answer to the Big Bat conundrum.. Heck of a roll of the dice if you ask me.
Hey FBG.. I had an orange colored suit and a pair of platform shoes… Even had an afro…. Yes, we all went through an identity crisis in the ’60s… Well, those of us who were around in the ’60s.
Must say, now that I recall, it was tough walking down stairs in those shoes… Looked spiffy in that suit though with my black turtle neck (as opposed to redneck) when I went to the Robin’s hockey games… Yep, was a Flyer fan too….
Sigh… The only thing an orange suit would do for me now is get me a job as a flag man on a highway construction crew, or maybe arrested as an escapee from the DOC….
LikeLike
LikeLike
‘Morning’, all! Yep, I fully understand all the reasoning, advice, etc. Told myself the same things – but somehow it hasn’t quite reached my heart. I’ll get there. After having taken care of her for so many years, I’ll have to get used to not having her here and someone else doing the ‘heavy lifting’ now.
Love the video, Gil! I saw nothing wrong with the styles of the 60s! They were sharp! Wait a minute!! What am I saying??? Uh, the PICTURES I saw of them were – uh, great! Yeah. That’s what I meant! That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!! Yessir!
STEVE! WELCOME!! Delighted to have you join in!
FBG, I’m with you! When everybody else’s teeth were beginning to chatter, I was just getting comfortable! And here I am wrapped up like a Christmas present – and still cold! Just extremely unusual weather for this place!
We may have temps dip down for a night or two, then it quickly rebounds back into the upper 50s, lower 60s during most of the winter. By Feb, flowers are budding and beginning to bloom.
Being hot-natured, I have trouble coping with the heat and high humidity from the end of April to the end of Sep. At least the a/c is pretty consistent – without cold tendrils of air that sneak in somehow and wrap around your body like some invisible python!
Where’s the heating pad??
Haven’t had time to check news this morning. Since it isn’t posted here, I have to assume there isn’t anything worth mentioning. If Raisins hasn’t scoped it out, it ain’t there! 😆
LikeLike
Carolina Lady–with a northerner new on the blog, complaints about chilly weather may be regarded with skepticism! LOL!
LikeLike
😆 I don’t doubt that at all, Steve! However, down here, this is COLD! We just aren’t ‘geared’ up for it! I’ll be MORE than happy to ship it back to you! I’ll even use UPS! 😆
LikeLike
When you are talking about wind chills down into the single digits, it’s cold no matter where you’re from.
My pldest grandson went to the ER yesterday after experiencing hypothermia while fishing with his cousin. Core temp when he was seen in the ER was 95, that’s after he had a chance to warm up…
LikeLike
Even as a born and bred southerner, living in Georgia all of my life, the single digit cold does not bother me.
I stay inside! 😀
LikeLike
Oh, and a big “Howdy” to Steve from OH!
LikeLike
Wow… I’ve had the same avatar for a few weeks now. That must be a record. Looking for something new…
LikeLike
Countdown 2011??? No thanks are necessary.
LikeLike
Man, have we entered the next ice age??? Checking the extended forcast on http://www.wunderground.com I see Atlanta warming up all the way to the mid 40’s Weds. then back to highs in the 30’s thru at least next Sunday! 😯
And check out how cold it is in the rest of the world!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1240319/As-Britain-told-expect-snow-10-days-rest-world-coping-Arctic-weather.html
LikeLike
Quick… cash in all your carbon credits before it’s too late…
LikeLike
Snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible across metro Atlanta, according to the National Weather Service.
“We are looking at a chance of snow, mainly on Thursday, during the day and into the evening,” said forecaster Sean Ryan late Monday morning.
“The newest information is showing an accumulation of 1 to 2 inches, ranging from 1 inch in the southern part of the metro area to 2 inches in the northern part, with up to 3 inches possible in the mountains of northeast Georgia,” Ryan said.
Hmmm…
Yep, Jefferson definitely counts as northeast Georgia. Guess I better stock up on bread and milk so we can have the obligatory milk sandwiches that everyone clamors for during any harsh weather event…
LikeLike
Guess I better stock up on bread and milk so we can have the obligatory milk sandwiches that everyone clamors for during any harsh weather event…
Come on, Raisins! Here are the steps:
1. Place bread down on sidewalks, steps, driveway, etc., one slice thick…two if heavy ice is anticipated as well. Leave slight gaps between slices
2. Pour milk into fertilizer applicator; attach to hose
3. Spray until bread is very moist, or until edges of slices touch.
4. Spray shovel with WD-40.
5. After snow fall has stopped, start scraping up the bread with the shovel; snow will remain attached.
6. Discard bread/snow far from house; when the weather warms, the smell will not be pleasant!
I learned long ago…just let the bloody stuff melt…that’s if the kids haven’t finished building snowmen, which down here, typically takes care of all the snow! Saves on the cost of milk and bread, too!
LikeLike
Yep. calling for a chance of flurries here too on Thursday. I have been taking down the Christmas decorations from around the outside of the house for the past two days. Don’t take me long to look at a horseshoe with the wind blowing. I still have the icicles to take down but that is a two person job and Josie says there is no way she is going out in the cold… For sure she is not getting on the roof… So maybe by next week they will be put away until next year.
It’s so cold that I almost wish I had not given my Carhart overalls away to to my son-in-law. My daughter says he won’t go to work without them now that he has them.
Tough to hide quality… can’t wear the dang things out…
Anyway, I’m ready for some baseball…. 🙂
LikeLike
30% chance of snow here on the coast on Thursday – though, the weatherman DID say the chance was remote because it will be too cold.
Blast global warming, anyway!
Steve, I hear you up there in Ohio! Stop snickering!!
Spring Training is when???
Wren is being awfully quiet…..
LikeLike
Rosey:
Johnny Damon — The chances of Damon matching Bobby Abreu’s two-year, $19 million contract with the Angels would appear slim, but there are at least two clubs that could view him as a strong fit. The Giants and Braves.
The Giants ranked 11th in the NL last season in on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot. Damon batted second for the Yankees, but his OBP the past six seasons is .366. He has not forgotten how to hit first — and he would help provide a winning edge.
The Braves, like the Giants, need one more bat — though, like the Giants, they probably want a better defender than Damon in left.
Still, an eventual outfield of Damon, Nate McLouth and top prospect Jason Heyward would be formidable, with Matt Diaz spelling Damon and Heyward against left-handed pitching.
Melky Cabrera? The Braves could trade him to clear money for Damon.
Prediction: Braves.
I would hate watching him make his girly throws from LF, but would love to see him in the lineup. It does kinda seem logical. Also, the dude’s simply a winner. I could live with it.
LikeLike
Yeah, not quite the “Big Bat” we envisioned but he is a gamer…
LikeLike
Question… At what point do we say a couple of million dollars should be considered a pretty good salary for a major league ball player? I like Johnny Damon but I don’t think he is worth the big bucks anymore. The cessation of PEDs AKA “The Fountain of Youth” will mean a lot of guys will age normally with the corresponding deterioration of skills.
LikeLike
Johnny can still hit and is a very good leadoff hitter. Like Rosey said, a .366 OBP over his last 6 seasons. Plus, he’ll still give you 20+ HR’s as well. And I just like his attitude. It’d be a nice compliment to the Braves buttoned down atmosphere. It is speculated that he could be had for a 2 year deal at maybe $7-8MM per year to a team he wants to play for. And he has made no bones about a desire to play in Atlanta and for Bobby.
I could see this lineup:
1. Damon (L)
2. N8 (L)
3. Chipper (S)
4. Glaus (R)
5. Mac (L)
6. Yuni (R)
7. JHey (L)
8. Prado (R)
LikeLike
Tough line-up for your best hitter to be batting 8th…
LikeLike
I struggled with that one, Gil. But who else? N8? Maybe…
I’ll tell you something else. Should the Braves sign an everyday LF, they will have an excess of OF’s that I don’t believe will make it to Disney. And it begins and ends with N8 and Melky. Should they sign an everyday LF, be it Damon or Nady or whoever, then either Melky or N8 will be dealt. Bank on it. My money is on N8, and I don’t think I’d be too broken up over it. An OF of Damon, Melky and JHey would not be a bad thing. That’d make the lineup look like this:
1. Damon (L)
2. Prado (R)
3. Chipper (S)
4. Glaus (R)
5. Mac (L)
6. Yuni (R)
7. JHey (L)
8. Melky (S)
That is still a lineup that will score some runs and is pretty athletic. Decent speed at 1-2, and at 6-8. Well balanced. Don’t be surprised. N8 would draw alot of suitors plus give us $11MM in salary relief over the next 2 years.
LikeLike
Apparently, Mr. O’B agrees with me.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/01/04/2357/
Note that my first post on Damon was at 4:01pm. Mr. O’B’s new piece was posted at 5:16pm. Yes, my more detailed follow up post was at 5:50pm followed by another at 6:36pm. But I didn’t read Mr. O’B’s until a few minutes ago. I didn’t want anyone to speculate that I was “borrowing” anything from across the street. I respect Mr. O’B’s opinions, and I would not steal from him without due citation being made.
OK, clarification made. I feel better now.
LikeLike
“I would hate watching him make his girly throws from LF…” Raisins, could I have a word with you, please?
LikeLike
A fella across the street said that Baltimore’s Luke Scott, reportedly now their 4th OF and on the trade block, would be a better fit in LF than would Damon. Dude said their numbers were very similar, and that Scott is younger and a better fielder. I scoffed to myself and checked the numbers. Dude was right. Can’t argue it. For the money, Scott would seem to be a better fit.
LikeLike
Uh, CL… I mean, er, uh…
Did I say “girly” throws? That was a typo… You know, the uh, the “i” key and the “o” are right next to each other as are the “l” key and the “k” key. Not to mention that the “g” and “d” are just 2 keys apart. I meant to type dorky throws. Yeah, that’s it: “dorky” throws.
See. I cant type at all. Watch:
Thuhia is ads gppd as ir gertas.
😀
LikeLike
*sighs, shakes head slowly*
Luv ya anyway, Raisins!
LikeLike
Damon? Yes please!
LikeLike
CL–we’ve got at least 6 here, more to come!
I actually love the snow…
LikeLike
😆 Steve, I’ll tell the met office to send our share up to you! 😆 (Makes me shiver to think of it!)
The only thing I like icy cold are my beloved Diet Cokes! 😀
LikeLike
Marko @ 7:50: Pet Peeve:
When people list out a starting lineup, as if it is the lineup card that Bobby Cox will hand to the umpire before the game.
Why do you list a lineup on this blog??
Because I wanted to. Bite me. If you don’t want to see a lineup listed, scroll past it. There are alot of moving parts this time of year. It’s kind of useful at times to see how the pieces fit into the puzzle. If that bothers you, I offer no apology. Get over it.
LikeLike
OK… that’s embarrassing. 😳
It was meant for across the street. If anybody wants to remove it and this one, I would certainly appreciate it… 😳
LikeLike
nah…leave it! We knew the target…gotta let them ne’er do wells know B&Ser’s know their baseball. Besides, Marko has no idea you’re the Asst. GM-in-training! 😆
LikeLike
“Bite me?” Raisins…does the younger Raisin know you ‘go off’ like that? 😛
LikeLike
😳
I actually edited that statement out before properly posting across the way. He just kinda ticked me off… 🙂
LikeLike
I dunno… It just kinda rubs me the wrong way when people want to dictate what is and isn’t “acceptable.”
LikeLike
Go, Raisins! There are few anywhere who know baseball as you do. Sounds as if ol’ Marko has issues that extend way beyond baseball. We’ve got your back!
LikeLike
Re-reading it, I actually like the unedited edition better. Suits the time, place and audience: and idiot.
😀
LikeLike
Ha! 😀
LikeLike
By the way, our old friend The Grinch is making a few tracks across the way lately. It’d be nice to see him visit his old pals this-a-way, too…
LikeLike
By the way, can anybody tell that the snowman (my avatar) is wearing Braves garb? It kinda defeats the purpose of having it if you can’t see the Braves gear…
LikeLike
Very cute, VOR.
Cold predicted through Thurs. here, a 1 day warm up & then right back to frigid through next week. This is not normal for Florida.
LikeLike
I was talking to Grinch earlier. Y’all might want to send a few warm vibes his way, he’s freezing his posterior off in that uninsulated 160+ year old house.
LikeLike
I’m clearing the cache, but still have the calendar showing…. hmm. I guess the new one will show up some time or another.
I think Grinch is mad at us. We’re too – something. Not sure what. But he would be welcome.
LikeLike
Finally! He’s great, Raisins! I can’t really identify the stuff as Braves gear, but he’s still cute!
LikeLike
Hope Grinch has some insulated long johns! He has my sympathy!! How is that beautiful pup of his, FBG? Tell him Hello! from us!
LikeLike
His Frieda looks like a big bad dog but is apparently a marshmellow. Hopefully I’ll see her in person one of these days.
LikeLike
Good morning all, Well, quite the busy night last night… Hey Raisins, that line-up makes as much sense as the other 160 odd ones that Bobby will make up during the season. For sure, he doesn’t use a xerox machine to run them off. Just about the only given on a Bobby Cox line up card will be who is batting 3rd and the pitcher will be batting 9th but even that is dependent on Chipper’s toes….
Yep, ole Grinch is welcome anytime. Actually everyone is welcome as long as they adhere to the rules… And those rules are pretty easy to live by I think…
LikeLike
Well, what started off as a post, got kinda long… then thoughtful… and is now being massaged for a future lead. CL, you’ll have mail soon. 🙄
LikeLike
To quote the Ford Frick Award finalist and gone but not forgotten Skip Caray:
“And as night follows the day…” CL, you have mail.
LikeLike
Man, a lot of posts whilst I was away…well, asleep…Gee V, I thought for a sec we had a second newbie and he was an uppity newbie! 😛
You told Steve about how the newest member has to pay everyone here $10,000, right??? 😉
LikeLike
Wow…
The Indians picked up Shelley Duncan yesterday and Austin Kearns today.
It could always be worse…
LikeLike
Thanks to our man Raisins, A NEW BLOG IS UP!
LikeLike