This past week, we discovered that two essential parts of the long time Braves’ stellar pitching triumphant were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Greg Maddux, aka Doggie, was without question one of the best pitchers ever to tie up a pair of baseball cleats. Those of us who were blessed with the opportunity to see Maddux pitch both in person or via the once venerable super station TBS remember so many of the gems hurled in under two hours. In an age where the average American League game often extended into four hours, when Greg was scheduled to pitch, you could still watch the game and bet on it being over early enough for you to watch your favorite prime time TV show.
I doubt Greg Maddux was the inventor of the strategy of pitching to contact, but he certainly was the master of its implementation. Often asked if he thought he would ever pitch a no hitter, he would reply that he doubted it. It just was not part of his game. Never blessed with the power to blow away hitters, he did possess the mind of a genius when it came to setting up hitters and keeping the ball off the sweet spot of the bat. Barry Bonds referred to him as old dipsy doddle because he never threw anything straight. Watching the game on TV allowed for us was to see the incredible movement on the ball no matter what he pitched. Ball control was his game. Anytime he issued a walk, it was of the intentional verity. The same is said of whenever he hit a batter. While he would profess innocence, everyone in the park knew his control was so fine, it was unfathomable that he could let one slip. He once pitched 51 consecutive innings without issuing a walk. Seldom did he throw more than three pitches to a batter. Of course in his typical self depreciating style, when ask to what he attributed his success, he cited having Rafael Furcal and Andrew Jones behind him certainly helped because he knew when the ball was struck, one of them would catch it.
The other first ballot Hall of Farmer elected who was a huge part of the Braves’ success was Tom Glavine. Another cerebral kind of guy, his game was also to make you hit his pitch. Often that pitch was a devastating change up. He lived on the outside for so long, the strike zone would became where ever he decided it should be on a particular start. When he found that batters started crowding the plate in anticipation of his extended strike zone, he learned that pitching inside was a winning strategy too.
Glavine likely would have won his 300th game as a Brave were it not for folks pushing the limits of a relationship and Tom calling the Braves’ bluff on an inside straight. I remember Glavine starting one All Star game and giving up six consecutive singles in the first inning, all ground balls. Needless to say, the National League lost that game but it was not until years later we discovered that Glavine was pitching with two cracked ribs in that game. Not that he didn’t execute his game plan, it was just the AL was hitting them where they won’t. That was the thing about Tom Terrific, he showed other pitchers on the team you did not have to be 100% to take your turn on the mound and still be successful. It also proves one can do what he is supposed to do but it still takes 8 other guys on a team to win. Glavine possessed a certain amount of grit, likely accrued from his youth hockey days. He showed others how to play through the pain. A lot of Braves fans never forgave Tom for signing with the Mets in 2003 nor his role as the President of the Baseball Player’s Association when the player’s strike of 1994 derailed the season. Say what you will, I believe it only demonstrated further his abilities as a leader both on and off the field.
Having a Hall of Fame manager to guide them did not hurt the pair either. Bobby Cox, who will also sit on the podium along with Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa and Frank Thomas, managed his teams to success, no matter their make up. Often the Braves were accused of always waiting for the three run homer to win games, seldom stealing bases or other wise employing the running game but Bobby was simply playing with the cards he was dealt. The speedy Furcal would often turn a game into a one nothing affair after legging out a single, stealing second, moving to third on a ground ball hit to second and scoring on a sac fly. Dion Sanders was another speedster employed by Cox but the two things a Bobby Cox team was known for were pitching and solid defense. Having players in the outfield who could “go get it”. Something that often contributed to the Braves pitching staff having the league leading ERA at the end of each season.
Hopefully, in 2015 we will be able to applaud the selection of John Smoltz, the third leg of the trinity of Braves pitching. John was the antithesis of Glavine and Maddux, relying upon power and an overwhelming split-finger pitch as opposed to finesse but that is a topic for discussion on another day.
Thank you, Gil! Excellent!!
I remember watching them pitch through all those years, hearing Skip talk about the day when they would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Now it is actually here. I sure wish he was around to see it.
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Well, CL, I guess when all is said and done, we should just be glad we are around to see it. It is a reminder of how quickly time passes. I can still fondly remember sitting with my dad in his den back in the 70s when cable TV was a pretty new thing and watching the Braves on TBS and of course listening to Skip.
My dad never got to see the Braves win a World Series but at least I have that one checked off my bucket list.
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I loved watching them on TBS. If you missed the live game, you could watch the rerun later.
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Some comments about the hit piece on A-Rod last night on sixty minutes.
See, a new thread….
Do I think A-Rod doped.. Yes. Do I believe the guy who testified against him? No…. Personally, I think a lot of what the guy was supplying to A-Rod were placebos. Not all but the idea of being able to take a steroid in a lozenge form that was undetectable is horse hockey… The stuff just does not disappear from your system that fast.
Never failed a drug test is pretty strong evidence against A-Rod’s doping. I think it will be very interesting to see if this ever comes to court. Saying that a fellow had a chance to testify in front of an arbitrator is a far cry from saying it in court. The supreme court has ruled that a person is not guilty of perjury unless they are under sworn testimony in a court of law.
That said, while I think A-Roid is a jerk and a despicable human being, yes, does it matter, no. It is only my opinion and that matters little in the real world. I have found that the media is in the business of selling advertising. Truth is what they can convince people of. I have always said, their are always two people who know a lie. The one telling the lie and the one who is being lied upon.
All the steroid use mattered little to the Yankees until they saw a diminishing return on their investment with Alex R. When he started to break down, they saw a way to get out of the huge contract they were committed to. One thing for sure, all the game winning homers, all the games that were altered by players who were on the juice still stand in the record books.
Unlike the NCAA who went back and forfeited all the games played by Penn State under Joe Peterno following the witch hunt in Collage Park. No, the record number of homers by Roger Maris, the Wins and strike outs by Roger Clemons and and Others will still be in the books, and thus taint every other player during the steroid era.
I think Mark McGuire who was using a substance which was not banned is an over reach. Still, the perception is there and I doubt he will ever gain entrance to the HOF unless he goes in with Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose.
Hmmm, maybe I blogged too soon yesterday…. Okay, time to go see my doctor for my yearly check up…Wonder if I could get some of those “magic” pills. I don’t think aspirin count…
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Personally, I think A-Rod doped and knew how to beat the system, either through personal manipulation, or through paying off enough people. He’s a cad. I hope I never see his mug again.
Now, that said… every MLB team, plus the commissioner’s office, was complicit until the heat became too much to bear. Chicks dig the long ball, right? Heck, fans are still more enamored with the HR stat than any other. Why else do you think most of the newer stadiums could host the Little League World Series? Right Cincinnati? Houston? Philly?
As I said, I hope that A-Rod never puts on another MLB uni. If he wants to profit and prosper as a cheater, he needs to do it legally and run for Congress.
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On a brighter subject, just 30 days until PACR.
Courtesy of DOB, here is a list of this year’s non-roster invitees:
PITCHERS (11): Right-handers Lay Batista, J.R. Graham, Jason Hursh, Mark Lamm, Cody Martin, Yunesky Maya, Gus Schlosser and Shae Simmons; left-handers Daniel Rodriguez, LHP Atahualpa Severino, and LHP Ian Thomas.
CATCHERS (4): Matt Kennelly, Steven Lerud, Braeden Schlehuber and Jose Yepez.
INFIELDERS (6): Mat Gamel, Phil Gosselin, Tyler Greene, Mark Hamilton, Tommy La Stella and Edward Salcedo.
OUTFIELDER (1): Matt Lipka.
Notable to me… Salcedo finally gets an invite. Also, there are an awful lot of IF’s invited, including 2B’s La Stella, Gosselin and Greene. That is in addition to Pastor, who is already on the roster. Think the team is sending a signal to Danny?
Speaking of Danny, there was a little bit of a news sensation over him selling his mansion in suburban Nashville back in November. It was noted as a sign of a broken relationship with the Braves. (Not sure how, but you know how the news outlets are…) Well, what they didn’t report is that in January he bought a brand new $1.5M mansion in the north Atlanta area for him and his new bride. I understand his new house has it’s own batting cage. I’d say he is highly motivated to turn things around and stay in Atlanta. At least he has plenty of reasons to do so.
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Do recognize a couple of names on the list.
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Sometimes you have to wonder how many of these kids might be showcased for possible trades? Gamel? More for a bench spot methinks. Tyler Green? Insurance… LaStella, well, you know!
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Very true, Gil. There are more than a handful of teams looking to fill out IF spots this spring. It’s good to show the whole menu if you want someone to order.
I am looking forward to seeing a few of those untouchable arms, too – Shae Simmons and Jason Hursh especially.
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Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan gives a scathing account of the events surrounding the current circus known as Alex Rodriguez.
Wow… great read. Passan includes enough detail from the case to show exactly why A-Clod is now grasping at any and every straw to save… something. Not sure what he hopes to save, as he is burning every bridge along his path, including his own union who had been behind him. He may very well be on his own now. It’s the behavior of a desperate man. If only he had the power of Executive Orders, he could just dial up whatever circumstances he would need to make his corrupt campaign more attainable.
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Gil, in my best Mr Burns(From the Simpsons) voice……
Exxxxceeeellllllent! 🙂
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Thanks Ber. 🙂 Not my best work, should have led with A-Roid rant but I had already sent it to the editor…. Sigh
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ARod pulled the plug on his own ship. Wonder if he ever thought to stock a life preserver? The piper must be paid.
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And, I disagree, Gil. The lead about the magnificent achievements of our own steriod-free guys is in the right place: at the top of the news.
The paths of Cox, Torre and La Russa crossed so many times in different capacities through the years. They seemed to have been linked their entire lives, so I’m really glad they are going into the HoF together.
And Maddux and Glavine? No comment necessary.
The thought crossed my mind about Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz: if they had NOT played on the same team together and wrought the successes they each achieved through it, would they have accrued the level required to be voted into the Hall? Not every pitcher who puts up great numbers is voted in. Just a thought.
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Great thought, CL. Their individual greatness was magnified by their team accomplishments. Not to mention that their individual competitive fires within their team setting helped push them farther as well. I don’t know that any one of them individually would have achieved quite as much without the others for a competitive push. It made them all better. It’s the same fire that they carried onto the golf course. Successfully channeling individual desires in a team setting is a mark of greatness. Being a big fish in a little pool can breed complacency…
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Believe it or not, this is a big week for the Braves. Note these dates:
Jan. 14, 2014 (yesterday) — Salary arbitration filing
Jan. 17, 2014 (Friday) — Salary arbitration figures exchanged
Feb. 1-21, 2014 — Salary arbitration hearings
Kimbrel, Free, Minor, JHey, C. Johnson, Meds & Schafer all filed yesterday per league guidelines. Not a big deal, in fact expected. But Friday’s deadline is a big deal. In the past, the Braves have worked hard to come to a contract agreement with their arb eligibles prior to the deadline. Historically past that date, they tend to let the process go to the arb hearing. It’s particularly notable this year with the Braves having 7 players in that category. That’s not to say they won’t still negotiate during the interim (remembering that they came to an agreement with Frenchy the night before his hearing in 2009). It’s also notable that they haven’t been to a hearing with a player wince 2001 (John Rocker).
But this year they have 7… that’s alot. That means they have 3 days to work out 7 contracts. It can be done, but it seems a daunting task.
To complicate matters, I would imagine that they are seeking to work out multi-year deals with at least a couple of players, buying out some arb and early FA years. That’s what they did with McCann. That worked out pretty well for him. (They also tried to do it with Frenchy, and he balked. That did NOT work out so good for him.) I think that it is obvious that they would love to do that with JHey and Freddie. Mr. O’B speculates that it won’t happen with JHey, being that he is only 2 years away from FA and a bigger payday. But Freddie is a possibility. Possibly Kimbrel, although the trend is not to offer long term deals to closers since they are such a question mark. There are alot more Jonathan Papelbons than there are Mariano Riveras. It’s a greater roll of the dice with closers, and when your dice are limited like the Braves, you have to also limit your risks.
But I got a little sidetracked. The main point here is that it we need to all look for 7 contract announcements from Frank in the next 3 days. Otherwise, the Braves could well sit across the table from a needed asset for the first time in 13 years. I will be keeping my ear to the wind…
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Careful you don’t get an earache Raisins…
I have to agree on the synergy (never thought I would ever use that in a real sentence) aspect of the Big Three. It is often true, however, the sum of the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts… (Yeah, sound weird but right at the same time)… Anywho, I think it is more often evident with position players and hitters than t is with pitchers. As in, getting to see more fast balls because of a speedy lead off guy or being forced to pitch to a player rather than walk him because the guy behind him is a pretty good hitter too. One has to wonder what kind of numbers The Murph would have put up if he had actually had some help on those terrible teams in the 80s.
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As for arbitration, that is what they have agents for, to do their jobs and handle to dirty work. Agents follow the wishes of their clients but everybody knows the process. The Braves want to get by on the cheap and the player wants to be appreciated and paid accordingly. They also share the same locker room with guys making 100 times what they make but don’t produce. They also know big money is great insurance with an organization who is famous for not signing a “no trade” contrac.
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Another thing about “synergy” (wow, twice in the same morning)…. Would Craig Kimbrel have developed into the top of the hill closer he is today if not for Billy Wagner playing for one year to act as his mentor?
As Confucius is reported to have said “I can count the number of seeds in an apple but I cannot count the number of apples in a seed”.
Pretty deep dude Confucius….
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I just realized I have 4 bobbleheads – 3 Brian McCann’s and 1 Mark Teixeira. What am I supposed to do with a bunch of Yankees?!?
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Sell ’em to Yankee fans! 🙂
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Nothing like a couple of bottles to Testor’s paint to change your perspective… Better get ready to change J-Hey’s cap color too… Just saying…
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Well, who says the drunken sailors have all gone home? Insane money for Clayton Kershaw, 7 years, $215 million… Must be money hidden away somewhere out on the left coast. The price of Dodger dogs will be prohibitive…Methinks George Stinebrenner has been reincarnated.
In further developments, rumor has it that Alex Rodriquez will spend the next year learning how to throw a curve ball…..
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I hate to keep banging the same drum, but it seems to keep getting in my path. LA has the richest TV deal in MLB. The money to keep Kershaw in the land of fruits and nuts is just a drop in their big ol’ organic bucket. Big ol’ bucket.
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I don’t know what is scarier, the idea that a pitcher is actually worth that much money or the idea that the money is worth so little…. My nest egg looks so puny by comparison, I fear I will have to start cleaning houses and taking in wash just to afford my Happy Meals….
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Gil, A-Clod has spent the last few years trying to throw curve balls at MLB. Sadly for him, I think he’s tossed up a bunch of hangers…
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The capitalist in me says that anyone is worth what someone is willing to pay. So good for Kershaw.
The realist in me says that I see a parallel to another industry that flourished brightly and spawned widespread bloated values. That industry – the real estate industry – came crashing around all those who helped artificially inflate it. One has to wonder when it’ll happen to MLB.
On a side note… in this crazy liberal nation we suddenly find ourselves in, the government will probably step in and put a stop to these “greedy millionaires” anyway. After all, there are alot of “less fortunate” moochers and illegal squatters that need cell phones and health insurance!
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Now on to more pleasant news…
No announcements from the Braves yet regarding contract agreements with any of their 7 arb eligible players. The deadline today is 1:00 pm EST. That means we hope to hear 7 announcements in the next 5 hours. Methinks (homage to Bob) the Braves may sit at the arb table this year for the first time since 2001.
OK, that wasn’t really pleasant, but it’s all I have.
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Cory Gearrin is now firmly placed on my “really hope this kid makes it” list.
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Bowman is of the opinion that Kimbrel is the most likely to go to hearing, with Minor and Freddie also possibilities. I have to disagree.
I see JHey as the most likely to go to hearing. I think Minor and Freeman are actually prime candidates for multi-year deals, buying out their remaining arb years and a few of their pending FA years. 5-year deals for each? I could see it.
I completely expect to hear about 1 year agreements with Kimbrel, CJohnson, Meds & Schafer.
I’d like to hear about a long extension for Simba. Lock the kid up now. He’s a star already. Maybe an Evan Longoria type deal? 6 years now, and reneg halfway through?
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On a slightly different note, Reading Bowman’s blog this morning about the new “anti collision” rule for home plate and wonder if catchers will try to perfect the LaBron James flop move. I also think that if a guy blocks the plate he invites a collision.
The dirtiest play I ever saw was the hit put upon Johnny Estrada by Darrin Erstad in 2005. Johnny was not even blocking the plate and Erstad went out of his way to give him a forearm shrive. The ultimate cheap shot if you ask me. Johnny was never the same after that.
Braves looking for a lefty reliever? I guess Easy O is headed to the Orioles…. Can’t blame him, so much money being tossed around, may as well make it while he can. Braves will have to limp by the first couple of months.
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Hummm, O’Flarety wouldn’t be available then anyway….
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Actually, the Braves do not necessarily need another lefty reliever. Luis Avilan is as good as they get, and both Carpenter and Walden have great numbers against LH batters. Oddly, Walden actually sports better numbers against lefty batters than righties anyway. And don’t count out LHRP Ryan Buchter, who had great numbers at AAA Gwinnett last year. If nothing else, Buchter can fill a bullpen spot until Venters returns in May or Floyd takes Alex Wood’s rotation spot, possibly also in May. That would then bump Woody to the ‘pen.
If you ask me, all of those reasons cumulatively are why the Braves haven’t been very aggressive in their effort to bring EOF back. And honestly, they really shouldn’t be. Having EOF on the roster would cost a guy like Venters or Woody or Anthony Varvaro or young up-and-comer Luis Vasquez a roster spot. None of those need to be blocked in their continued development.
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BTW – It’s great to have a wealth of talented young arms. The Braves are blessed in that area. It’s why they can continue to compete with the big TV teams.
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And the countdown to the 1pm deadline is down to about 2 hours. My guess is that the Braves will make 1 announcement covering all the agreements. I am not optimistic that they’ll get all 7 done. I’m also not optimistic that any will get a multi-year deal. Probably would have already heard about those deals individually.
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Inside an hour… still nuthin’…
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1 down, 6 to go. Schafer signs 1 year deal for $1M.
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… correction: $1.09M for 1 year.
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Awaiting the announcement(s). My guess… 1 year agreements with all but Freddie. Maybe Kimbrel. Kimbrel is gonna get one heckuva raise regardless.
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Meds: 1 year @ $5.8M
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CJohnson: 1 year @ $4.75M
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3 down… 4 to go…
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Today’s scoreboard (updated @ 2:15p):
Freddie Freemen –
Jason Heyward –
Chris Johnson – 1 yr / $4.75M
Craig Kimbrel –
Kris Medlen – 1 yr / $5.8M
Mike Minor –
Jordan Schafer – 1 yr / $1.09M
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Not like they won’t work on the rest, Don’t blame the players for holding out, seeing all the ridiculous money being thrown out there, they want their share…. No home discounts ever again. I think we are going to really miss the 90s….
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Mike Minor is the only guy bargaining from a perceived position of weakness and that not so much.
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These young guys know they are only one wild pitch away from a career ending injury anyway. Not like the old days when you got a one year contract for 100Gs and liked it…
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@ Raisins –
“Cory Gearrin is now firmly placed on my “really hope this kid makes it” list.
You’re right. Well done, Cory. RT @JoshuaLBall: @ajcbraves Cory Gearrin needs a RT for what he did today. wrcbtv.com/story/24473114…—
David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) January 17, 2014”
What did he do??
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Not like they won’t work on the rest
Maybe not. Braves are a known “file and trial” team. Once figures have been exchanged (today’s deadline activity), they go to arb. There is only one exception, that being Frenchy in 2009, who balked at a multi-year offer and took a 1 year deal on the eve of his hearing. I am hopeful that there are still announcements pending, or that they are working out fine details on a multi-year deal with 1 or 2 guys.
Otherwise, history indicates they’ll go to the table with 4 players this year, after only doing it once in the last 14.
It should be noted that they failed to work out an agreement with Prado last year, and both parties submitted figures. But Marteeen was traded to ARI before they could get to the table.
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What did he do??
There was a link on the tweet to here: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/24473114/braves-pitcher-visits-local-sick-woman-at-hospital
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Good for Cory! Posted on facebook…
Gil, it’s funny….From what I had read, don’t think Kershaw was all that anxious to sign a long term contract with the Dodgers…I think he’s a good kid(and clearly the best pitcher in the game right now) but he knows an arm could blow out. And what a drag that contract could be a on team…though I imagine insurance would cover some of that…He could get an even longer contract. And I don’t think it’s that much more than Cliff Lee gets per year, amazingly enough.
Guess how old Kershaw will be after the contract ends? 33!
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Today’s scoreboard (updated @ 5:32p):
Freddie Freemen –
Jason Heyward –
Chris Johnson – 1 yr / $4.75M
Craig Kimbrel –
Kris Medlen – 1 yr / $5.8M
Mike Minor – 1 yr / $3.85M
Jordan Schafer – 1 yr / $1.09M
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Today’s scoreboard (updated @ 5:40p):
Freddie Freemen – officially unsigned, figures exchanged
Jason Heyward – officially unsigned, figures exchanged
Chris Johnson – 1 yr / $4.75M
Craig Kimbrel – officially unsigned, figures exchanged
Kris Medlen – 1 yr / $5.8M
Mike Minor – 1 yr / $3.85M
Jordan Schafer – 1 yr / $1.09M
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I understand that J-Hey and the Braves are only $300,000 different in their offer for J-Hey and his asking price. $5.2MM vs $5.5MM. That will get settled soon. No clue on the other two. I don’t think the Braves two best players will hold out as I don’t think the Braves won’t hold them up. Look for the paper work to be done soon.
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Thanks, V! I’m still not sure how to even read a tweet. Guess I’m just “twitter challenged”. 🙂
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Her is some interesting “stuff”… Watching a show “How the states got their shapes” one of the issues raised was statehood for DC… I’d support it if they took back the part of Virginia which was originally part of DC. That would solve the problem of Northern Va deciding statewide elections slanted towards Democrats. Could also split off Northern California to even out the political balance of a fifty first state…. Just saying….
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Why not, Gil? Our beloved leader already believes there are 57 states. Shouldn’t be a problem!
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58 CL… 🙂
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😆
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V, that emoticon of yours….was that photo taken right after that post by DOB?
Can’t believe the braves would let that happen with all three of the big 3 players. They will just love hearing how they aren’t very good players, at the hearings….
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I semi-agree, Ber. The responsibility is shared by both sides. The Braves made it clear that the file deadline was a hard deadline. It is an organizational policy that is well publicized. The Braves and the representatives for all 3 players knew the parameters. I don’t blame the players for asking for their figures – whether I agree with them or not – and I don’t blame the Braves for their offers. They are all grown men and understand the business of MLB.
The public perception tends to lean toward the players because they are our players and we love them. They have endeared themselves to us. And they know this. They know they have public perception on their side. Even though they already make an obscene amount of money to play a game, they have the public support on their side.
Meanwhile, we live in a day and age when corporations and business are demonized for running their operations like a… well, business. But that’s what they are and that’s what they do. Successful businesses have parameters under which they operate. In the case of the Braves, and likely most clubs, they propose salary figures using comparable players, comparable numbers, and comparable salaries. It isn’t arbitrary; it isn’t personal. It’s based on professional business analysis and industry accepted salary structure. They aren’t the bad guys. They simply want to perpetuate their business model in a way that will allow them the most success over a long period of time.
Like I said, I don’t blame either side for what they want to pay/receive. I get it.
In the case of Heyward, it seems odd that $300,000 would keep the 2 sides apart. He doesn’t really have alot to base his case on. Arbitration figures are always based on what has occurred, not what potential is present. Heyward’s numbers have been wildly inconsistent, and his number of games missed due to injury are quite conspicuous. He won’t win. His representatives should have advised him better… if they advised him at all. Many times the players themselves aren’t even involved; it’s the agents doing making all the decisions.
In the case of Kimbrel, I would bet that the union is involved with this to some degree. Kimbrel breaks all the traditional models by which clubs and agents estimate the salary parameters. Kimbrel represents a tremendous opportunity for the union to raise the standard. And if they raise the standard in this case, they raise the standard across the board. My money says the union has quietly taken the point on this one. They stand to gain more than Kimbrel. I don’t think the arbitrator will give him the record busting figure he’s asking for, but this one is tricky. Gut feeling says he loses. The union will walk away unscathed feeling like “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. But since he breaks all the traditional models and case studies. I suppose anything can happen.
In the case of Freeman, he’s the Braves’ best hitter and their most clutch player. He knows it; the Braves know it. I don’t think he’ll win his case. I really hoped the Braves could have worked out a multi-year deal with him. Lock him up and pay him. He needs to be the next great long term Brave. But again, it takes 2 sides to tango. Perhaps after the hearing, both sides can work toward that goal.
I suppose we’ll see next month, eh?
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So, when are the hearings scheduled? Prior to spring training? I cannot imagine a playing showing up without a contract.
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This is going to sound cold and harsh but if I were the Braves, I would ride Kimbrel like a rented mule for as long as they can keep him. I would even consider trading him before he hits free agency because he is not going to still be playing for the Braves 5 years from now. The money he will command is just going to be too great for the Braves to
affordbe willing to pay if they are still owned by Liberty Media.Freddie would love to go home and play in California so if they can get a long term deal which could extend him, that would be swell. I still see J-Hey moving on to the Yankees when he hit free agency.
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Salary arbitration hearings are set for Feb. 1-21.
I agree on all 3 of your assertions. Closers like Mariano Rivera are the exception, not the rule. The vast majority of the great closers have a relatively short shelf life. The Braves have a couple more in the pipeline. (There is great feeling that they organization sees JR Graham as a future closer, not a starter. Shae Simmons is only a couple of seasons away.) Anyway, I tend to agree that they’ll trade him after this season. If he has another Kimbrel-like season, his trade value will be at its highest, as will his arb number. He’ll be gone.
I think JHey is gone too. And I’m not so sure the Braves won’t be OK with that. He’s so inconsistent… but so good when he’s on. Maybe if he has a real breakout season this year, I’m talking MVP conversation type year, they might consider long term. But I think they may use him the way the Rays use their young stars… bounty to fetch the next generation of stars.
I sure hope they can keep Freddie for the long haul. They need a consistent leader in the clubhouse. Not to mention his great offense and defense. They need to keep the Simba / Gumby act together for a long, long time.
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This is the part of baseball that I really don’t like. 😦
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23 days…
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“Closers like Mariano Rivera are the exception, not the rule”
Not to mention that the Yankees never exhibited any qualms about paying him whatever he asked for in compensation. Only since the The Katzenjammer Kids, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner took over for their dad have the Yankees suddenly balked at paying outrages wages for suspect talent.
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Methinks DOB has been reading our blog again…
http://atlantabraves.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/21/for-now-wren-and-fredi-g-not-signed-beyond-2014/
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EOF is gone, reportedly signed with the A’s for 2 years and $7M, this per Rosenthal.
It’s not hard to figure out why he wasn’t re-signed here. That’s a fair chunk of cash for a guy who is not even expected back until July. And for a team what has many other viable options and not alot of cash available for a guy that they don’t even know how he’ll perform upon his return.
I like EOF and wish him the best of success in Oakland. It’s just a different kind of dynamic with relievers. They rely on being able to go 100% on every pitch for a short amount of time, unlike starters who have to pace themselves for multiple innings. A starter can get by on being 90-95% of what he was… just ask Tommy Glavine, who was less than 100% many times. But a reliever has too much riding on every pitch. When a starter makes a mistake, the team may have a few more innings to get back in it. With a reliever, a mistake can mean the game.
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According to DOB, after having spoken with EOF, the Braves made a fair 1-year offer to keep him. He made it known that other teams “were going to have to beat Braves by quite a bit with offers” and that he “wouldn’t have gone anywhere else on 1-yr deal”. Oakland offered the 2-year deal; that was the key.
Good to know that the Braves didn’t just let him out the back door without a second thought.
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Of course, over across the street, Frank is taking quite a beating right now. People are quick to point to how EOF is leaving, but nobody seems to remember who it was that picked him up off waivers when he was tossed out by Seattle. Same as Carpenter, Venters, Varvaro, Martinez… and the list goes on. It’s also funny how EOF signing elsewhere brings down the wrath of BJ’s awful season.
We are an awful reactionary society. No one sees the big picture anymore, only snapshots. Sad to me…
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Tanaka reportedly to sign with the Yankees for 7 years, $155MM. Not bad for a guy who has never pitched above AA. (Japanese league) … Gives folks a idea of what starting pitchers will be going for, and that is on top of the $20MM for the privilege of signing him. Anyone think that Medlin doesn’t have visions of sugar plums dancing in his head?
Easy O? God bless him, I’m glad he is going to the AL. He is a west coast guy being a native of Seattle, Washington. He will be worth the money to the A’s, not so much to the Braves if he can come back. Good luck to him and hope he makes it to the WS ahead of a lot of other AL teams. For sure, he will help the As win some games if he is at full strength.
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V, I think what sticks in people’s craws about BJ…for the 4 years before the braves signed him he hit no higher than… .246. (can you believe in 2007 he hit .300?) And he hit no higher than .246 playing 81 games on astro turf.
I think the thought process was he will be playing in front of fans, and boy oh boy, if we can get his brother here….
So, a guy with a low .300’s OBP (Sub .300 for 2 years in a row) is getting paid 15 Mil a year…and the braves won’t cough up 20% of what BJ gets for a guy that was arguably the best reliever in the game? (and was certainly unpaid at that time)
I know several guys had very good years last year, but haven’t shown they can do it back to back years.
And in regards to Kimbrel….he too is not just another arm, a replaceable part.
I know the thought these days by many a baseball expert is closers are really not all that important…and yet teams like the Diamondbacks, who had guys fail, would tell you differently.
Some of the experts I was bashing a minute ago, think Kimbrel is spectacularly good.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8404780/there-no-pitcher-better-craig-kimbrel-national-league
Ok, that was 2012. But look at how he was used…57 innings. Not wrung out like EOF and JV were…so, it stands to reason that he hasn’t been worn down like they admittedly have .
I guess what PO’s me about all this talk of trading Kimbrel, JHey, not signing EOF…Isn’t that why they are going to a new stadium? To make more money, to be able to sign and re-sign players?
I know, as I am sure CL does…this is a business….but, unlike most other businesses, at least to a degree…you HAVE to keep your fanbase happy. You have to show them you are trying to put the best “product” out there.
Teams like the A’s and Rays, while successful on the field, aren’t very good at drawing fans….
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I’m glad EOF went to the AL.
If I sound bitter, it’s only because I am. 😉
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Yes, I know it is a business – but the chasing of millions and millions of dollars just turns me off completely. Yeah, this is my annual “How Many Millions Is Enough” rant – but I wonder how long it takes for them to ever realize that life isn’t about stuff. Mansions, fleets of expensive cars, etc are not capable of bringing lasting happiness. Okay, end of rant. 😆
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” life isn’t about stuff. Mansions, fleets of expensive cars, etc are not capable of bringing lasting happiness.”
No, but it will sure let you rent the heck out of it for a while….
When a person is young, i.e less than 60… They only know that money is a way of keeping score. When you are older, it allows you to be secure but then, having to learn to do without and realizing money is only a means to an end only comes about when you have lived through it.
I always remember the adage from from that great sage and oracle of the south, Brother Dave Gardner, “The difference between happiness and success is, success is gettin’ what you want, happiness is wantin’ what you got”
Most baseball players come from families of limited means, they also see money as a way of measuring respect, that is, how much they are valued by their current bosses. Just saying…. Thing is, some teams are able to show a lot more respect than others.
I think a lot of Atlanta fans are just plain frustrated in the fact their team has become cannon fodder again for the big money teams, the farm club for teams like the Yankees and now the Dodgers etc. They don’t want to be contenders, they want to be winners…. The Braves have seen an erosion taking place from the top. Their CEOs going to places like Washington and Los Angles.
The thing about the Braves is their current masters, Liberty Media, allows them just enough money to stay relevant but not enough to allow for them to fail. Every club makes mistakes with free agent signings, it’s having the ability to overcome those mistakes that is important.
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And then there’s the whole sick family member thing, too…
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CL, Kris Medlen is one guy that may actually realize the worth of what he has…
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… and that’s just on a pre-FA deal. The more I see of him, the more I like him. I think he has the ability to be one of those sneaky, quiet stars. You know… win just under 20 games, but do it so consistently that he ends up being your best pitcher over the long haul while flying under the radar. Kind of like a Maddux-lite. Nothing fancy, but always effective.
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OOPS!
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@RealCJ10 is our esteemed Chipper Jones. 😕
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Apparently Chipper cleaned out the ashes and old coals from the fireplace and dumped them behind his house… not realizing there were some live ones in there.
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😆
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Opps indeed, Did he learn that trick from Glenn Hubbard? I think he did the same thing only he dump his ashed on his back deck…
All I have to say about Chipper is “RUN BAMBI RUN!!!!
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That’s funny. Mine always sat in a big ol’ aluminum washtub until they were colder than an IRS agent’s heart. No fires. Of course, the whole house burned down some years back – but that’s a whole other story.
I like Kris, too. I always had some food to eat and a few clothes to wear but my family had very little. I started work when I was 15. I’ve supported myself and my daughter on what I alone earned. Believe me, I know the value of a dollar. Sounds as if he does, too.
For those players who equate money with their self-worth, they are in for a bad, bad wake-up when the bubble bursts. And it most always does.
If I did have tons of money, I’d still live in the home we have now. Granted, I’d have some needed maintenance done and get all the shrubbery cut back, might even get a new car since the current one is now 20 years old, but other than that, don’t want anything. I’d whole lot rather do my best to lay up my treasure in heaven. 🙂
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Changed my avatar to reflect my mood, soooo tired of being stuck indoors…COME-ON SPRING…
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I second that, Gil! Wind chill has been down in the single digits. 😦
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I’m still waiting for some of that good old global warming to reach us. I guess I live in the wrong part of the globe. That said, I predict that by July and August the temps will rise above 100 degrees in spots…. That said, People will whine about the fate of the poor misunderstood polar bears, about whom the seals loath to have more of….
Hey, I love Bambi as much as the next guy, makes a great roast…
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Maddux NOT going into the Hall as a Brave? Wha? 😯
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Camp Roger begins today!!! 😀
To me, this is sort of the unofficial start to the 2014 campaign. Only 17 more days until P&CR!
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Any explanation why, V? That’s astounding!
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“John Leventhal, M.D., and his team studied children and adolescents younger than age 20 at the time of admission to the hospital in 2009. In that year, in the United States, 7,391 hospitalizations occurred in this age group because of firearm injuries, and 453 of those young patients died while in the hospital. “
This is how they play the big lie, expand your group to include people outside the normal range to make sure you can inflate your numbers to drum up support for suppression of the 2nd amendment.
Just like the lie about
global warmingclimate change. Change the parameters of the data to fit the hypothesis.Now baseball… Guess they did not want to hurt the Cubbies’ feelings. Got to get some more folks from the windy city to tour the HOF… They know the fine folks from Atlanta will avoid traveling to New York like a hippy avoids a barber…
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Any explanation why, V?
From Mr. Maddux himself:
“I spent half my career in Chicago and half my career in Atlanta. I came up a Cub, played there for six years and went back for three more. I was in Atlanta for 11 years. It comes out to about the same amount of time in both cities.
“Love both places. Obviously, I feel like I had more success as a Brave. We did get a World Series there. But I came up a Cub. For me, I couldn’t pick. I really couldn’t. Both places mean so much to me personally and my family.
“I’m going to go in as neutral, I guess.”
While I do not necessarily agree, I understand and respect his choice. For the record, he is the 10th player to be inducted with no logo on his cap.
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The Hall doesn’t choose, they only suggest. Ultimately, it’s up the player. Maddux did not feel like he could choose. At least he isn’t wearing a LA cap. 😉
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Rockies to sign Paul Janish; Indians to sign Elliott Johnson. Rockies win.
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Gee, thought I had posted something… ? Ah well, getting old(er).
The birds are gathering like they are getting ready for a Hitchcock casting call…. Must mean that snow is in the air. Looks like CL is going to get several inches and I’ll bet there is not a decent sledding hill in sight down there.
On Maddux, guess he didn’t want to offend anyone and therefore offends everyone. Sign of the times I guess. I see his point but sometimes you need to take a stand. Oh, I guess he did….
Okay, spent my spring training vacation money on a new driveway yesterday. It’s all about priorities, while I love going to see the kids play, I use the driveway everyday, well most everyday and will just take a trip or two up to DC to watch the Braves play the Nationals. If you are going to pay big league prices (Disney at $35 per ticket) I may as well see big league players.
On Camp
LeoRogerpre-spring workouts… I get the feeling that “magic’ Johnson really wants to be a team player. Some guys just really love their job and Chris appears to be one of those guys. I get the feeling he is going to emerge as one of the leaders in the club house….LikeLike
Some guys just really love their job and Chris appears to be one of those guys. I get the feeling he is going to emerge as one of the leaders in the club house
Well said…
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I thought Andre Dawson was forced to go in as a Expo…against his wishes…
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Yeah, we’re in for stuff we’re not used to. Prediction is for 1/4″ – 1/2″ of ice, then about 5″ of snow on top of that. 20-30 mph winds. *sigh* Sure hope the power stays on. 😯
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CL, we got 2 1/2 inches south of the ATL. And as you may have seen, the whole city (and surroundings) were paralyzed by it… Hope you don’t get too much…
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Ber, the city was paralyzed by shortsightedness and lack of preparedness. Why did all of downtown Atlanta wait until the snow and ice started to try to get out of downtown and go home? Not real bright. Most of the school systems around where I live were sensitive to the forecasts and realized that the system was coming in stronger and earlier than expected. So they all let out around noon. The kids were sitting at home watching it come down rather than being in school or on a bus wondering if they were going to slide off the road.
It’s mostly about common sense…. which is a rare super power these days.
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We ended up with 4 1/2 inches of really fine powder. I can hardly remember is snowing with the temps so low. I should have put down my grass seed…
Ni ice thank goodness, I really hate ice storms, as do the trees. What a lot of people in the south don’t realize and those northern transplants. is the roads in the south are built different. The roads here have a crown to allow for water drainage. Up north they are much flatter. Thus, when we get ice, cars tend to slide off the road into the ditch. The best way to drive is with two wheels on the shoulder of the road and the other two on the road. Keeps you from sliding.
I can remember from my Rescue Squad days of being at an accident scene and the ambulance actually sliding off the road while it was parked. My back tenses up just thinking about it… Not fun.
Foe sure, I am going to stay in my burrow here in Mechanicsville until all the snow melts off the windshield of the truck by natural means.
Now Baseball….. Spring training can’t come soon enough…!
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Here at my house, there are a couple of inches of ice, topped by about that much snow. Thankfully, the power has stayed on. The power company usually keeps the trees near power lines cut back, so I’m sure that was at least a partial reason why. Wind chill is all the way up to 15 now. 😆 DOT started salting Monday afternoon. I have no idea what the main roads are like, but all secondary roads I’ve heard about are sheets of thick ice. Kids (transplants) were out ice skating earlier. Most everything is shut down in this whole area. But the power and internet are both on! Thank you, Lord!!
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I spent most of my day working on my gun collection journal, Up to fifty pages so far and have maybe that much to go. Been watching the Katrina like disaster going down in Atlanta, For sure, the worse place to be in a storm is the interstate… Just no where to escape to
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Chipper to the rescue!
http://www.ajc.com/s/sports/braves/chipper-to-the-rescue/
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Excellent article by Rosenthal detailing the Braves arb plight with their players. And it appears that he, too, reads the ol’ B&S. We made many of these points several days ago…
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/rosenthal-braves-willing-to-risk-file-and-trial-with-key-players-012814
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* One rival executive wondered aloud Tuesday if the Mariners might trade Dustin Ackley to the Braves, but Atlanta is not looking for a second baseman, sources say.
The job is to Dan Uggla’s to lose, and the Braves are sitting on three potential alternatives – Tyler Pastornicky, Ramiro Pena and rookie Tommy La Stella.
Yeah, it would seem the Braves are not willing to move very much when it means they will be eating around ten extra large for a couple of years. Sports teams are a funny animal, It is a lot like blackjack, in order to win big, you have to bet big and more often than not, the dealer will draw 8 cards and still not bust…. For every number one draft pick who has every opportunity to fail, there are dozens of players who just never quite made it to the bigs for more than a cup of coffee after toiling for years in the bushes, living off Big Macs and peanut butter sandwiches hoping to catch a break.
Even our venerable Chipper Jones spent his time in purgatory learning how to play “professional” baseball and while he apparently didn’t know how to keep it in his pants, he never shirked his responsibility as a dad and still apparently can be counted on to come to the aid of a friend.
Major League Baseball is a business but one where the owners draw upon emotion to garner the support of the populace to pay for the privilege of giving them money, rely upon the glibness of youth to get players to “take one for the team” and cry poverty whenever a player truly deserves at least the current market price.
I can understand the Braves balking at the price Kimbrel is demanding, Freddie and especially Heyward, not so much. Once a player reaches the big leagues, he knows he is one strained lat away from being toast for a season, one torn ulnar collateral ligament from super star to super dud…. Thing is, GMs know that too but they have the benefit of insurance policies to protect their investment. The player better hope he can sell used cars really well to make a living.
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RE: Uggla…
In retrospect, he really did not have an adequate amount of time to adjust to his LASIK. 41 AB’s – less than 2 weeks – is not an accurate test. But the Braves also did not have the luxury of waiting for the adjustment. So what happened happened. That’s life in the big leagues.
I am truly looking forward to this spring to see if there is any improvement, and to see if there is any substance to the La Stella hype. If the Braves sense a need for 2B, then they have the resources to go get one.
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Raisins, I have talked to a couple of people who had Lasik surgery an both told me it took them about three months to get use to the changes. One guy told me his vision would change everyday. So, yeah.. I can see (no pun intended) ((okay, maybe just a little)) where Dan would have a lot more problems adapting then we would think.
I still think the Braves held it against Dan because they wanted him to have the Lasik done last spring when they first identified the problem.
My answer would have been to purchase a pair of Chris Sabo specials and put up with the catcalls as I rounded the bases….
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Neat article:
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/67249706/mlb-best-defensive-player-manny-machado-andrelton-simmons?partnerId=ed-7878825-648314183
Raisins and Ber, y’all dealing with the ice ok? New Hanover co. is still shut down. Not even pizza places or cabs companies running. Today’s high was 33 with a heavy overcast. Not a lot of melting happening. Spring, where for art thou??
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Oh, this is fun! More freezing rain for tonight. 😦
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Hey CL, ready to borrow my noose yet??? Cabin fever sets in pretty quick doesn’t it. Snow we can all deal with, ice? No so much…. It’s so sneaky, and unforgiving…
The bad news for me is how much my internet service slows down, so many people trapped…
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LOL, Gil! I would say I’d just shoot myself, but with the price of ammo these days, that would be too expensive!
Actually, we’ve gotten along pretty well. We’ve had power the whole time, we’re well provisioned, the internet is running well, so we’re not suffering. I was given a big set of NCIS dvds of seasons 1 – 10, so we’ve had a good time watching those. Plus I have new books that I haven’t started yet.
I just checked the ice on the back deck and it’s as hard as a brick. Zero melting. One of the raccoons was walking across it and left no tracks. With the current forecasts, it will likely be Sat before a real “melt-down” happens. By Sunday, it should be gone.
Hang in there, my friend! You’re tough – you can make it! 😆
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I am beginning to see patches of brown outside so I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I think the ones who are suffering the most are my kids who have had the young ones at home pretty much since the Christmas break. Nothing like a house full of bored kids to drive moms crazy…. I think even the kids are ready to go back.
The schools in our area are on a two hour delay, That way the youngins don’t have to stand out in the 10 degree cold.
The one person who I think is happiest about the whole Atlanta debacle has been Chris Christy of New Jersey. Kind of took him right off the front page…. I have learned that you need a distraction to get people to stop camping out on your front lawn. That is especially true if you are a Republican….
Personally, I am really tired of politics. Isn’t that why we have a representative government so we don’t have to worry about that stuff every day? Isn’t that the charge of the news media to keep an eye out for maleficence so we can concentrate on our real job like bird dogging the Braves?
Hey, I write my letters to selected pols but I have discovered the biggest mistake is to make a donation to any political group, you are suddenly besieged with calls and e-mails from shills and snake oil salesmen trying to get you to send them money too.
Now baseball, nice little piece on BJ by Bowman this morning. Be nice for him to hit around .260 this season. Even better if Danny Boy can use the whole field. Might save both Frank Wren and Freddi’s jobs next year.
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Okay, this is more like it, a balmy 60 degrees outside today, weather which allowed me, with the assistance of my able aide, Miss Josie to install a “doggie” door on the back porch to allow for refuge to the two pooches who own us…
Oh Lord how I wish I was physically able to get out and build my lean to and extend my back deck. Not that I am stingy but it is really hard to get people to work to begin with and even hard to find someone who will do a good job, one I would believe to be at least as good as I could build myself.
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If we lived closer, I could recommend just the guy you’re looking for.
The weather has definitely warmed up and most of the ice has melted, but I’m surprised how much is still left, especially in shaded places. I’m just very, very glad it is over!
Almost time for ST!!!!! I read somewhere that some guys have already shown up to be working on whatever.
I once thought about installing a little doggy door for the cats to go in and out to suit themselves, but realized that I’d also have ‘possums and raccoons indoors. Nope. Better not. 🙂
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I once thought about installing a little doggy door for the cats to go in and out to suit themselves, but realized that I’d also have ‘possums and raccoons indoors. Nope. Better not.
Wise decision, We’ve had a bit of a problem with out terrier mix not letting the bichon access thru the “door”. I think he finally found an opportunity because he was on the porch by the time we went to bed.
While the share a blanket, I am of the opinion they simply tolerate each other… Sigh… shows that old dogs can learn new tricks but for the most part, they just don’t want to…. True with people too, my friend Marvin is a great example, appears to perfectly content to stay with his VCR as opposed to getting higher tech with rapidly become obsolete DVDs…
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Gil… bichon, huh? I am a bichon owner too. He isn’t tolerant of anyone outside this family. Downright mean at times. But to us, he is the sweetest dog in the world. Crazy, huh?
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BTW – Over the weekend, I missed that KC has DFA’d Emilio Bonifacio. Now, Bonafacio did not have a stellar 2013 campaign by any stretch; but he has alot more potential than Jose Constanza, whom many project as the 25th man on ATL’s bench in 2014. And Boney plays all 3 OF spots as well as 2B and 3B. He also had 40 SB’s in his only full season as a starter for FLA in 2011, a season in which he played every position on the field except P, C and 1B. I think he’d be a valuable bench player for Los Barves… more valuable than Jose Constanza at the very least.
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Poor Cotton, he has to be really confused, he has been pawned off on so many people. We are his final owners, he was given to my Mom by my youngest son and his wife after they moved to Florida and he was a rescue before that. He is adorable but was banished to the outdoors when he decided he no longer wanted to be house broken. Sigh, he made his own bed on that one. Anyway, he is a great watch dog, always alerting us to the presence of strangers, squirrels, skunks, cats, deer, possums and coons and just about anything else that prowls around this place at night, including us if we approach the back yard from an unexpected direction.
Being a “little dog” he can get away with it, if he were say, the size of a lab, he have to have him put down…. but he is so little he is like a really cute and fluffy chihuahua without all the nervousness. He never really took to travel and always seemed to have panic attacks when we tried to take him places, I guess he always thought he wasn’t going to get to come back.
I fenced in part of the back yard when we we placed within the Mechanicsville “Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere” and could no longer let our dogs run free. I would say a 100′ X 50′ run would be big enough. That said, every terrier
i have eve owned never found a fence they were content to be confined within. Great travelers though. I guess the two just go together.
Now football Holy cow, did anyone see that one coming? Seattle dominated like “Bama playing one of their cream puff 1AA schools they always like to pad their schedule with. This bunch of Seahawks reminded me a lot of the type of teams the Redskins used to put together back in the Joe Gibbs heydays…. The line up was sprinkled with a lot of 6 round draft choices, except for the left tackle who Joe considered essential to protecting his various quarterbacks in a passing league.
I hope Seattle enjoys it because you can go from being a hero to a zero pretty quick in the NFL. I thought the Broncos looked “old” last night. For sure, they had their tongues hanging out by the end of the first quarter.
Okay, enough “stuff” time to check into Camp “turner” to see how it looks for the kids coming in.
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Only 10more days until P&CR!
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Ha ha ha ha ha… I love Medlen. 😀
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https://twitter.com/KrisMedlen54/status/430205847332204544
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Okay, Raisins, time to teach this old dog some new tricks! What does “RT” mean? The message was from Meds to DOB, right? When it has a photo attached, how can you tell?
(Thanks!!) 😆
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Nice article on Tom Glavine with videos
http://openingday.mlblogs.com/2014/02/03/47-days-tom-glavine/?partnerId=ed-7883935-649556153
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Hi, CL. “RT” means “retweet”, and yes… he is replying to DOB tweeting that ST starts in 10 days. Pretty funny… 😆
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Thanks, V! Yes, it is!
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Arb hearings set for Braves’ Kimbrel, Freeman, Heyward
Freeman: Feb. 11
Heyward: Feb. 13
Kimbrel: Feb. 17
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Interesting indeed…
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Well… so much for a hard line “file and trial” stance from the Braves:
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Given this development, one has to imagine that they are also working on a deal for Freddie, but hopefully for more years…
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Look for Freddie Free to follow his lead… Kimbrel will go to the wall and likely get his full asking price…. It is going to be pretty tough for the Braves to slam him when you are looking at his numbers and compare them to the prevailing wage for similar numbers put up by other closers.
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MLBTR:
Although recently DFA’ed Royals infielder Emilio Bonifacio’s $3.5MM salary is “probably an overpay,” Mike Petriello of Fangraphs feels that he could be an improvement to nearly half the teams in the Majors. Bonifacio’s baserunning has been the eighth most valuable in the game dating back to 2010 despite having 1,000 or so fewer PAs than most ahead of him on the list, and he’s able to back up at third base and center field in addition to playing a solid second base, Petriello argues.
Mike Petriello is a man after my own heart. 🙂
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Hey guys(and gal! 😉 ) Thanks for helping with the piling on , on facebook! 🙂
I used to take on 2 dozen liberals, basically being the only conservative on a jazz forum(there were a few others, but they hated to be called names, ganged up on) but I just don’t have the stomach for it anymore.
And baseball clearly isn’t as important as politics, but it does bug me, in that the same way Rush Limbaugh , Sara Palin, or Glenn Beck, immediately cause the bile to rise from any liberal ( or low information voter that watches tv, and sees only the hit pieces those 3 get on a regular basis) and brains shut down, I feel like baseball is on that path. My best friend? Says baseball is boring. My 2nd closest friend? No interest in any sports. I have a friend who was basically a shut in when her car died last year and she couldn’t afford to fix it, was dying to go out at least once a week to go shopping, get out of the house. When I offered her a chance to see a FREE baseball game? Nah, no thanks…baseball is…wait for it….very boring.
Those I play trivia with 2-3 times a week? (Dan and Beth on facebook) No interest. Boring.
And just posting a harmless little Meme like baseball being for smart folks, you see what a firestorm that stirred up. If only politics caused that kind of reaction, eh?
Anywho, thanks for the help y’all! 🙂
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and CL, before I forget, I thought your post on the game was poetic! 🙂
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Hey V, you know who was 9th best baserunner, after Bonifacio? Elliot Johnson!!!!
I keed, I keed! 😆
But, you make a good point, Bonifacio would be an excellent pickup who could play regularly if someone went down for a few weeks…
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Listening to a radio interview with Frank right now…
Interesting comments. He says that while the Braves do not negotiate contracts once the figures are exchanged, they are typically always looking to extend their core players on multi-year deals. When asked if that meant that they were still negotiating with Freddie and Craig, he of course stated that he cannot comment on specific negotiations. But in general, they would NOT negotiate on 1 year deals. That translates to me that they are really a pseudo-“file and trial” team, still willing to work on multi-year extensions if it’s in the best interest of the team. I like that.
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I’d rather have Elliott Gould… 😉
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Perhaps we need to revisit the definition of the word “strict”. Sign of the times…
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Knockin’ ’em down one at a time…
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Both Freddie and Jason are represented by the same agency. Had to think this would get done as long as both sides wanted it. Craig is a different story. I still maintain that the MLBPA is the driving force behind Kimbrel’s side. The union cannot lose regardless of how the hearing comes out. It’ll mean an increase in their base salary figure for relievers either way.
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YES!!!!!!!!!! 😀
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Thanks, Ber!
Can you visualize 100 MILLION?? I can’t. 😯
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Oh, I can visualize it. I’ll never actually see it, but I can visualize it.
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Historic.
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Wow, what a difference a few days make, eh?
FF is now the face of the franchise, cool!
I too have a vivid imagination….but that’s all I can do. 😉
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8 years and a whopping $135,000,000.00. Holy snikey that’s alot of cash! I think we can all stop whining now about Liberty’s perceived refusal to spend any “real” money. 😯
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Look for Freddie Free to follow his lead… Kimbrel will go to the wall and likely get his full asking price…
Funny thing, I was explaining to Miss Josie tonight what the extention meant for J-Hey and told her I expected for the Braves to try to tie up Freeman to a long term deal, much the same way they did with BMac. Scary being that right sometimes.
All said, with J-Hey only going for two years, I expect him to jump ship and head to the Big Apple in 2016. Just saying…..
Yeah Ber, Elliot was a good base runner but in order for that to be effective stat, you have to get on base a lot…
I agree on Bernadina too, I have always liked him. I never thought he got a good opportunity to show what he could do in Washington. The kid has some real speed and is an acquaintance of Simba. I’m not sure where he would fit in a crowded outfield but he has a plus arm and can really go get e’em. Just his bat is not “major league” but then again, there is a guy the Braves are paying $15 that is not all that impressive either.
This might be Atom Ant’s big chance this season. I look for Gattis to spend a lot less time in the outfield this year although I expect for him to play a game or two in left at some point.
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eight years, $135 million…. That’s a pretty nice raise for the Fab 5, I guess we now know who is the heir apparent to the “face of the franchise” lablel
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Wonder how much is left after taxes, manager’s fees, etc? More money than 99% of us will see in a lifetime. Nearly $17 million every year. For eight years. Insurance business must be real good! 😉
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All said, with J-Hey only going for two years, I expect him to jump ship and head to the Big Apple in 2016. Just saying…
From the accounts that I have read, both sides were actually working on a long term deal much like with Freddie’s camp. The difference was simple:
Freddie had a breakout year and his numbers have trended up since he broke in 3 years ago. JHey has been very inconsistent, and has had a history of injuries. (Now granted, much of the injury bug is out of his control, but the presence of much injury time is still undeniable.) His numbers have been all over the chart, but overall have trended down since he burst on the scene 4 years ago.
Anyway, From what I read, JHey’s camp wanted him to be paid according to his talent and potential, the Braves wanted him to be paid according to his past accomplishments and injury history. Thus, they could not come to an accord and settled on the remaining 2 years of arb.
IMO, both sides will revisit the idea of a longer extension at season’s end, especially if JHey has the MVP-type season that he is capable of having. I can even imagine that both sides are operating under that premise, that they’ll talk again after 2014. Sounds like great incentive for JHey to have a stellar season.
It’s in the Braves best interest to lock him up (like Freddie) and have their 2 core stars in place moving into their new digs in 2017. It would also provide cost certainty, an overlooked factor that is greatly important to all teams (or businesses) trying to operate within a certain bottom line and budget.
By the way, we’ll have this same conversation about Simba next year. There is no reason to explore any long term contract talks with him this year; he isn’t even eligible for arbitration until 2015. But there is no question that he is one of the club’s cornerstone players. And he needs to be locked down just like Freddie and possibly JHey. Not to mention that Danny’s $$ will come off the books after this season.
It’s all a numbers game, and the Braves have a pretty decent number to work with. But with the Braves, they have NO room for error. They must spend their big $$ carefully. And when you are feeling the current sting of a stinky campaign by your recent big FA catch, you are not in a mood to take any more chances… not even with a home grown local boy.
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VOR. I hope you are right about the Braves and Heyward long term. You are right I think about how the Braves really want to pay based on performance. Of course if that is the case, Could Kimbrel be far behind? I don’t think so but hey, it’s sports, anything can happen….
Now, if only BJ can take a page from Freddie’s book and turn into a gap hitter and spray the field, the Braves could really surprise some folks.
Still, if you are a Braves fan, you must have a little bit more of a spring in your step with Freddi’s long term future in the fold. I look for him to start putting up some Prujols like numbers as he get stronger. This should be the beginning of his All-star years. We all know he can pick-em at first.
The only real question remaining now is Uglla, if he shows what he can do this spring, perhaps the Braves will keep him? We shall see, by the way, did Fredi Gonzalas get invited to his wedding?
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Here’s an interesting question regarding Danny…
If he comes out this spring with his new eyes settled in and appears to hit like the Uggla we thought we were trading for, are we happy campers and ride him out or 2014, or do we trade him and the last year of his contract (while he has value) and go with a youngster?
They’ve made no secret of their desire to trade him, but he has no value. If it looks like the vision thing was the cause, and that it has been fixed, wouldn’t his value return… at least partially?
I know that’s a bit of a reach, but I do wonder. Do the Braves want him back to form for his performance, or so that they can trade him?
IMO, they’d move on to a youngster in a heartbeat.
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You really do get a vibe that the Braves want to unload Danno, no matter. It is just a matter of how much of his contract they will have to eat. Tough position to be in as a player, having a feeling that no matter what you do, you are persona non gratta.
Perhaps it’s just the stuff of conjecture but no words of encouragement heard here coming from the Braves front office.
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I like it!!
http://atlantabraves.blog.ajc.com/2014/02/05/braves-new-cap-for-spring-2014/?icmp=ajc_internallink_textlink_homepage
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Q: Hank Aaron hit 733 home runs with the Braves. Who is second on the club’s all-time list?
A: Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Mathews (493 homers, 1952-66)
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This is the reality for the Atlanta Braves in the new era of unfathomable TV contracts (for everyone else):
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Frank: “We’re looking at how we can keep our team together, especially our young, homegrown players, and we have a lot of collaboration from (Braves CEO) Terry McGuirk and (team president) John Schuerholz to make sure this franchise stays strong. And we looked at how we could strategize to make that happen.”
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/wren-says-freeman-contract-first-big-step-in-brave/ndD5b/
They recognize, as we do, that this is a high priority. It’s an investment going forward. You gotta spend money to make money…
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Yay!!!
Braves’ home-red jerseys dropped from lineup
Some of you loved the Braves’ fire-engine red jerseys. Many of you hated them. Few of you were ambivalent.
Whatever the case, the red jerseys are gone for 2014, dropped from the Braves’ uniform inventory, although the team will wear a special red military-appreciation jersey for five designated home games.
The rest of the time, the Braves will don their traditional white uniforms for weekday home games and their cream-colored uniforms for weekend home games. The cream uniforms have been well received since being introduced in 2012. – ajc.com
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I never embraced the red ones. They looked OK in person, but on many TV’s they were just obnoxious, The cream home alternates are beautiful. And I like the road blues, too. I also like the road grays. I’m glad that they have alternates… it prevents fatigue on either one.
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Oh, and this time next week…
P&CR!!!!!!!! 😀
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Freddie’s salary breakdown:
2014: $5.125M + $2.85M signing bonus
2015: $8.5M
2016: $12M
2017: $20.5
2018: $21M
2019: $21M
2020: $22M
2021: $22M
Anyone want to argue the impact of the Braves moving into their very own park in 2017? ❓
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My opinion: white uniforms for home, blue for away
Stop spending money on non-necessities such as too many uniform “specialties,” especially the cheap-looking cream yellow. They look like Chinese-grade knock offs. No fashion parades, please! 😀
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😯
I love the cream unis!!
Actually, the more uniform options they have, the more potential merchandising revenue they have to reap. Heck, if it’ll help ’em keep JHey, Simba and Teheran long term, they can wear a different color for each day of the week as far as I’m concerned!
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There is one camera for the Braves telecast, I think it is the third base low level camera which always made the red jerseys look orange. Same true for all my TVs.
I liked the red jersey, I bought one for Miss Josie with John Smoltz’s name and number when they first came out. I like the idea of the “military tribute” edition for this season however. Only worn five times during the entire season.
I really don’t like the retro spring training hats this year with the lower case a. Just me, I have a blue away cap and a traditional blue with the red bill plus my “gangsta” all black model… Hey, it was cheap enough, $2 from the Goodwill…
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Just as long as they don’t go back to the baby blue unis , I’ll be happy. Only player I ever saw who actually looked go in one was Julio Franco. That dude was ripped…
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Of course there will be a lot of folks needing to “update” their wardrobes with the absence of Chipper and now BMac. I expect to see a lot of Evan Gattis jerseys in the crowd this year..
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Voice O’Raisins – Gold! (Love it!)
We’re gonna hafta agree to disagree on the cheap, ugly “cream” (read faded yellow) unis. 😆
I have just realized that I have to make a new banner. *thud* Okay, the floor is now open for suggestions!
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Regarding the banner… our “young core” players are already there except for Simba. Does Gattis fall into that group? Not sure he’s earned his way there… yet. He could sure get there, though. Maybe the new “face of the franchise” should have his face where the former is. Of course, his back is already there. What about the new HOF’ers joining the honorees on the right? Will it get too crowded?
Those are my thoughts, anyway…
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And the way the Skipper is represented in the center is still the best. Genius.
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Yes!!
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You beat me to the punch on that one Raisins, agree on the HOF angle on the right but thinking not to add Maddux since he did not want to offend his Cubs’ connections… Just saying… Add Simba and we will have to see if El Orso Blanco earns a spot. Hey, if I thought it would give Uggla a boost, I’d put him front and center…. That said, I’m not sure he will make it out of spring training as a Braves. Only if he shows a new dedication to using the entire field. Loud outs count as far as I am concerned as long as they are being sprayed….
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I am so conflicted right now, I really, really really want to go to spring training but I really, really, really want to be able to go and not worry about the cost and just don’t know how I would be able to do all the walking necessary…. Drat….
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Getting old SUCKS!!!!!!
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Gil, indeed it does! 😕
Wow, look at all that performance enhancers on that pallet….Funny, Dale Murphy never had caffeine (Well, I assume Mormons can have chocolate) and yet he played in 150+ games in 12 seasons….
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days are getting longer, it’s getting….slightly warmer…it’s coming, it’s coming! 🙂
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Good thoughts, VO’R. Thanks! Especially on Cox. I believe his influence will always be felt in that organization.
Gil? Ber? Ideas??
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thinking not to add Maddux since he did not want to offend his Cubs’ connections… Just saying… Add Simba and we will have to see if El Orso Blanco earns a spot. Hey, if I thought it would give Uggla a boost, I’d put him front and center
That’s it for now unless you want to do a full on Braves’ HOF so of thingee, then you would have to add Murphy and Aaron.and Smoltzy but John might make it next season…
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$21 million per year = 1,750,000.00 per month.
Yep, that would pay the electric bill.
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Big party held in Washington to celebrate Hank Aaron’s 80th birthday:
Former teammate and popular broadcaster Bob Uecker got the laugh of the night when he spoke of meeting Aaron for the first time as a member of the Braves.
“Henry dressed a couple lockers from where I was,” Uecker said.
“I said hello.
He said, ‘What do you do?’
I said, ‘I’m a catcher.’
He said, “For who?”
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Heh, the Uecker still has it! 🙂
CL, I just don’t know…the thought of the HOF’ers is pretty good!
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Interesting article here
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I saw that CL, my thoughts number one is how little a player can be signed for once he hit the FA market. It is a rather cheap insurance policy for the Dodgers and if they have some guys coming back off the DL create a surplus, they have some guys available for trades. I am not aware if they have any minor league depth but after Arroyo signed with the Diamondbacks they felt like Maholm was a good bet.
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One thing we have learned, Teams have become really stingy when it come to giving up a first round pick, especially since the league has put in a hard cap on the cost of said picks/
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CONGRATULATIONS to US! We’re now over 91,000 viewers! 😆
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Amazingly, that does not count you, myself or Raisins….
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Looking at the pallet of Red Bull, you would think there are no stores in Orlando…. I guess there is always room on the truck, even if you have to rent a bigger truck…
When my son moved to Florida, he rented a truck to haul his “stuff”, I told him to sell it all before he left and with the money he saved, just buy new stuff when he got there. The he would not have to pay to store his old stuff upon his arrival….
I know when I down size the last time, there is going to be one heck of a sale here!!!
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Umm, CL, Gil, and VOR views don’t count eh? 😕 congrats to me on 90,990 views then?
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Ber, actually, it is just Gil and I because we’re admins. I get many notifications where people add B&S to their “follow” list and other things. Sure wish they’d join in instead of just reading!
Article on Freddie Freeman.
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Funny how there was a somewhat negative vibe by the writer opining young Freddie did not really stack up to some of the others who have been awarded such contracts. Evidently he has not seen Fab 5 play all that much and does not realize the number of errors he has saved his team mates while occupying the first base position. That and the absolutely clutch hitting he brings every at bat and unlike some on the list, I suspect the only PEDs he employs are “hugs”… Just saying….
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Under, the “you never know what you will find while cleaning out your old file drawers department.”
I found a ticket stub for the game Josie and I attended in 1998 in Atlanta between the Braves and the Blue Jays, A loss by John Smoltz, a mammoth home run by Delgado of the Jays… Wow, was it really been that long ago?
Time is going faster and faster, perhaps it is God’s way of getting us up to warp speed before we die in order to catapult us into heaven…. Just saying… got to break the gravitational pull of our earthly bonds somehow….
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Hey CL, maybe we need to post new leads more often, perhaps time for us to “go pro”… I pay for the upgrade. Or maybe switch over to MLB? Hate to leave this spot but I think there is too talent here to keep it hidden away….
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“Going Pro” is an excellent suggestion. Would give us a better profile. Mentions and comments on other sites with a link here would gather more outside interest, as well. And, as always, links on facebook, twitter, and other social networks are beneficial. I’d rather try these before abandoning the homestead – although there is always a time to let go of the old and grab hold of something new.
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Vox O’Raisins – that’s the best yet! 😆
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Grab him Braves……
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Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Of course, I reckon if I was a Braves player and lived in the Atlanta area, I’d get out of town this week too! 😉
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Pitchers and catchers report??? Yay!!!!! Clearly, spring has sprung, spring is in the air….clearly! 😛
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Bad news on the eve of Spring Training 2014:
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/fregosi-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke/ndMkn/
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Pitchers!
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And!
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Catchers!
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Report!
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Today!
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YES!!!
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😆 😆 😆
Pushing Winter’s hiney out to make room for SPRING!
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Rest Peace Jim, a great baseball man….
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I hope he had a big homecoming welcome in Heaven.
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Outstanding. I love the message this is very clearly shouting:
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Looks like the Braves are trying to line up their core.
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Things seem quiet on the southern front.
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Another rite of spring: Pitchers Luis Vasquez, Atahualpo Severino, and Lay Batista delayed by visa issues. Dominican palms must be greased. 🙄
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Great article about Jim Fregosi
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YEA!!!!! Denny Hamlin wins the Sprint Race at Daytona tonight, great race, pretty exciting. Glad to watch a race besides speed skating…. Now, if we van just see some baseball….
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Good morning all, nice surprise this morning with the signing of Kimbrel to a 4 year deal for $42MM dollars.
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-kimbrel-gets-four-year-42-million-contract/ndQjS/
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Whew. Yard mostly cleared of debris, lots of small stuff yet to be raked and carted to the front. Everything I’ve seen is proof that the pines took the brunt of the ice storm’s fury. My brother got a workout today that he hasn’t had in quite a while. 😀
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Go for him CL… Got to be careful though, I thought about doing some outside work, decided to go to KFC instead. Hey, still in the planning stages plus worked on my taxes. Still waiting on one more 1099. That and adding up my donations to Goodwill…. Little bit at a time.
The Uptons showed up today, only still missing. One has to wonder if Frank will try to sign him to an extension too this season or wait till next year?
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I am just so impressed with how the front office is making a commitment to their young core. I do believe they’ll get Simmons done this year too. I am surprised, but so very pleased. I believe it’ll show itself on the field too. When the club makes a commitment to their stars, the stars will respond. I love it!!
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While it may appear to some that the Braves are spending a lot of dough, They are locking these guys up for a pretty reasonable amount given today’s market prices.
I am most surprised at the Braves opening up their purse for Kimbrel, I just can’r imagine them paying him market prices. Perhaps the feeling (assurance) they have that his arm is not being aided by PEDs gives them a little more of a comfort zone that his arm will actually last for the duration of his contract. To be sure, if he can continue to put up number like he has in the past, he will be a steal.
I take back what I said about riding him like a rented mule, best to use him wisely and change the oil on a regular basis and keep to the scheduled maintenance.
I would not be surprised for the Braves to lock up Simba now. Perhaps that is why he stopped over in Atlanta for today.
The other pitchers? I guess the Braves would like to see the progress of their current crop of arms before writing out the long tern paychecks. It sure would be nice if Danno can produce. Good to see Liberty loosen the purse strings a bit too.
I wonder if Evan Gattis will go for the bonus checks? The 12.5MM difference in his and McCann’s price is giving the Braves a lot of flexibility. I know I would be relying on the bonus babies to be picking up the bulk of the checks. Maybe a cut of the jersey sales? Of course, other than a new pick up truck, I would think his needs are pretty low, if I were an Atlanta car dealership, I would be looking to make a deal with him in exchange for his services.
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Atlanta fans have a lot to be looking forward to, Locking in their “A” class players and a new stadium too. I might even put them on my destination map again. Should be pretty exciting for the next few years.
Now, if they can just keep the egos in check. Anyone think that Matt Kemp “I’m no fourth outfielder” of the Dodgers isn’t praying for a deal to take his services elsewhere? Pretty sure the Dodgers would not mind unloading his contract either. I would not be surprised to see him end up in New York with the Mets.
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Funny…
CL asked for suggestions regarding the banner, and the Braves front office responded by clearly pointing out the core of the team. 🙂
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At first I thought it a bit interesting that Teheran was extended before Medlen or Minor was even approached. But the more I think about it, it really isn’t that surprising. We as fans kept clamoring for Frank to give us an “ace”, but they have felt all along that we have one already… in Mr. Teheran. But nobody would say it. Well, I think they just played their hand. And I guess none of us should be surprised if Julio takes a huge leap forward this season. He has the talent and he has more than a full season of experience. He could even emerge as our opening day starter. It won’t surprise me…
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Very nicely written piece by Mr. O’B about the recent extensions and their recipients.
http://atlantabraves.blog.ajc.com/2014/02/16/braves-doing-deals-future-looking-brighter/
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Ya know, everything has gone so “smoothly” in locking up our core guys, it scares me a little for Simba. Wonder if it will come together that easily for him as well. Seems like there always one…
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I think Simmons signing will depend on if he wants to take a little less now in exchange for more later. If he stays healthy???? Always the 800 lb gorilla in the room… He stands to make some really bigtime money down the road, otherwise, the Braves can eat Uggla’s contract and pay him and Gattis league minimum and play Pena at second.
Money is very fungible, all the money we send to some third world demigod may be ear marked for bandages and food but don’t think that money isn’t blended in with the profits from the coke sale to pay for bullets.
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Honestly, that doesn’t impact the roster much. I don’t think Gamel was really in anyone’s plans other than possibly catching lightning in a bottle. If anything, it clears the path a bit for Joey Terdo.
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And since we’re talking roster, and since everyone is in camp, here’s my early call of the 2014 Opening Day roster. (NOTE: Opening Day… so it doesn’t include some roster hopefuls that are maybe a few weeks away from full injury recovery, like Venters and Floyd.)
Starting lineup:
1- JHey, RF (L)
2- JUp, LF (R)
3- Freddie, 1B (L)
4- Gattis, C (R)
6- CJ, 3B (R)
2- Simba, SS (R)
7- BJ, CF (R)
8- Danny, 2B (R)
Rotation:
(9) Julio, RH
(10) Minor, LH
(11) Meds, RH
(12) Beachy, RH
(13) Alex Wood, LH
[I really like Wood. He’ll probably bump to the ‘pen when Floyd is ready, but I think this kid’s got a really high ceiling…]
Bullpen:
(14) Kimbrell, closer
(15) Avilan, LH setup
(16) Carpenter, RH setup
(17) Walden, RH
(18) Varvaro, RH
(19) Luis Vasquez, RH
(20) Ryan Buchter, LH
[Maybe Cory Gearrin sneaks in there over Buchter, but I am giving Buchter the nod since he’s a lefty…]
Bench:
(21) Laird, C (R)
(22) Doumit, C/1B/OF (S)
(23) Schafer, OF (L)
(24) Ramiro Pena, IF utility (S)
(25) Pastor, 2B/SS/OF (R)
[The last bench spot will likely come down between Pastor, Constanza and Terdo. I give the early nod the Rev, but it’s really wide open. Much will depend on the health of Rev’s knee.]
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Another reason to think that Rev will be in the bigs is that there is a bit of a logjam at 2B in the minors, believe it or not. I think the Braves would really like for Tommy La Stella to play in AAA Gwinnett this year. He has nothing left to prove at AA, and going back for a 2nd campaign there would stagnate his development. They also have Phil Gosselin, who split 2013 between AA and AAA (and had a very brief stint in Atlanta where he did nothing to embarrass himself). Both should probably be playing every day, and given that La Stella seems to be the heir apparent to Danny, Goose will probably go back to Pearl.
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In a meeting today of the Richmond branch of the Atlanta Braves fan club, Richbrave and I discussed the Braves’ probable starting line up and how righty heavy they were and our best solution was to use Pena at second. As a switch hitter he gives flexibility against leftys and actually improves your defense.
SO…. I guess we’ll see what happens with Danny this spring,
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1- JHey, RF (L)
2- JUp, LF (R)
3- Freddie, 1B (L)
4- Gattis, C (R)
6– CJ, 3B (R)
2– Simba, SS (R)
7- BJ, CF (R)
8- Danny, 2B (R)
That made me look a couple of times 🙂
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Too bad for Mat Gamel… we hardly knew you…
Just goes to show why you always need a back up plan
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I don’t expect for the Braves to sign Simba long term this season. Just no pressing to need to do so, We’ll see what happens when he becomes arb eligible. It would be like the Braves offering Gattis a long term deal, just no reason to do so at this point.
Chris Johnson would be a more likely candidate if he continues to put up great numbers. He was the guy who really saved BJ and Uggs last season from sinking the Braves’ season.
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Isn’t Cory Gearrin out of options?
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That made me look a couple of times
Yeah… me too, after I had already hit the “Post Comment” button. 🙄
I swapped them around a few times before I settled on an order. Hey, adult ADHD is real… 😯
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Isn’t Cory Gearrin out of options?
He is, but unless his velocity climbs back into the low-90’s again, he’ll be out of the organization. His biggest obstacle is that he has been relatively ineffective against left-handed batters (.313 AVG), and given that the Braves have very few LHRP options to go after those lefties, he has a serious climb. Add to that Luis Vasquez, who is younger, also does the side-armed thing, throws in the high-90’s, and piles up K’s against both righties and lefties, and Ryan Buchter, who is a LHRP that is very effective against lefties, and Gearrin has a tough spring battle. But it is a battle nonetheless and a spot is his to win.
He’s a great guy, and I am rooting for him, but I don’t think he’ll be on the opening day roster unless someone ahead of him – like Vasquez, Buchter or Anthony Varvaro – gets hurt. His velo dropped off into the 80’s at mid-season last year, and never made it back. That sounds like something physical to me. I suppose we’ll see in the next few weeks if he has the stuff to stick. I doubt he would be traded given that he is a bubble guy and teams could simply wait for him on waivers. And unless his velo is back above 90, he won’t be claimed anyway.
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One last thing on Ryan Buchter…
He’s a big lefty… 6’3″, 215. He’s also older at age 27. He throws hard with a mid-90’s fastball and big sweeping slider. He K’s both righties and lefties at a near 2 per inning rate. Last season he struck out 103 batters in just 62 innings at AAA Gwinnett. But he also walked 51… and there’s the rub. If he can improve his control under Roger’s care, he could be a very good addition to the ‘pen, especially given that Luis Avilan is the only known LHRP at the moment.
And all that can be scrambled if Fredi decides to start the season with Freddie Garcia as his #5 starter and pushes Alex Wood to the pen.
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He’s a good guy. I hope he stays around here a while…
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And the trend continues…
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Yep, sounds like a mechanical problem to me, unless you can make a ball flutter like a butterfly, 80 mph has HIT ME HARD written all over it.
Sometimes it is about a pitcher having too good “stuff” when you get high walk ratios. Most breaking ball pitchers are throwing out of the strike zone to begin with. The real art is to make it look like something it’s not. Kimbrel had the same problem when he came up and got squeezed a lot.
I think Garcia is the guy who is really on the bubble. Could go either way with him but their are other teams who could use him.
You are right about Cory having to show something, the Braves know what you are saying, of course, he could clear waivers for the same reason the Braves release him. Perhaps it is no more then “Tired arm” syndrome.
I’m pretty sure Freddie and Frank are happy this morning, I will be curious to learn the length of those extensions.
Frank has done a good job of working within the parameters set by his bosses and never any whining about the lack of resources. Freddie has shown he does have some big kahunas when he made the decision to sit Uggla and BJ.
It’s okay to be loved by your players but you first best be respected. He is still pretty young too. When all is said and done, you can only plan so much, it is up to the players to execute that plan.
The first couple of months every season is really all about seeing how your players can meld as a group. The best hope is they have a huge lead but the real fear is they fall too far behind for a September surge to make a real difference.
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Yep, Gil… you know the ol’ saying:
You can’t win pennants in April and May, but you certainly can lose them.
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Yes, that was exactly the case for the Nationals last season.
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Braves sign Simba through 2020 season, details to follow…. Really good work by the Braves’ front office having to work with what some describe as one of the worse local TV deals in all of professional sports. (Not just baseball)
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Unbelievable. The Braves have now locked up Simba for 7 years @ $58M. Just amazing… the core of this team all together for 7 years.
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Lots of young millionaires on thie Braves now, they all need to be buying Evan Gattis’s lunch for him…. Let’s hope Evan can score some personal endorsement deals to supplement his income.
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Wonder what JHey is thinking? 😀
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Funny game baseball, y’all realize that Gattis (the Braves purported clean up guy) will be the lowest paid guy in the starting line up?
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You know… I wonder if the Braves are kind of hoping that Gattis has another big power year so that they can trade him to an AL team for an all-star 2B, opening up the spot for Bethancourt in the process. They clearly are still very high on the kid, and he’s the team’s #1 position prospect. He can’t stay in AAA another year after this one, can he?
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7 years $58MM for Simmons,
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Of course J-Up’s contract is up after next year too…. We’ll see.
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J-Hey’s 2 year contract may well have been his decision as much as the Braves…. Got to remember, his was one of the first contracts signed.
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By all reports I’ve seen, Gil, it was all JHey’s decision. The Braves wanted to go long term, but the 2 sides could not come to an agreement on long term value. JHey’s camp wanted to only talk about his performance on the field, and the Braves wanted to factor in how much he was NOT on the field. Both sides agreed to settle on 2 years given the Braves staunch refusal to do a 1 year deal after arb numbers have been exchanged. But both sides were reportedly open to the idea of long term numbers, anyway. I don’t think it’s completely out of the realm of possibility for them to reneg into a longer deal at season’s end, but Jason would then be only 1 year away from FA. If he stays healthy and puts up monster numbers, he’ll likely want to wait it out. If he has a lackluster or injury plagued year, the Braves will probably be hesitant. Many variables in play with that situation…
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New Lead up! Thanks, Gil!!
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