Tex is up…

He'll just look like a baby.

Great to see you guys out here, JB and Akshay. Here's hoping we don't suck it up from here out.

What's everyone up to this afternoon?

Also — Any new talk about Randy Winn to Atlanta? Kotsay, Diaz, Blanco and B. Jones are useful but Winn would really help this team out with offensive consistency. Not to mention sweet facial hair!

Career averages (.287, 12, 65)

Most importantly, he has played in 149 or more games every season since 2001. That is a far more impressive statistic to me, with the injuries that this team has endured throughout the season. Diaz hits well versus lefties and a Diaz/Blanco platoon does make sense to me, however Winn makes this team far better because Blanco has been exposed as an inconsistent contact hitter with above average speed and very little power. His instincts in the corners appear to be at a disadvantage to that of his skills in center. When Kotsay returns, he will be in a corner and remains in the lineup just about everyday. I absolutely prefer seeing Blanco in the pinch running role, have Diaz as a option versus left-handed pitching from the bench and starter versus lefties. With a overall batting average for the bench players at around the mendoza line (.200), it makes perfect sense to me to bring in Winn because it makes not just one position better, but it really improves the adaptability that the club has.

Also, Omar Infante does not have to play the outfield anymore and can be a supersub all about the infield. It would make me very happy to never see Infante in the outfield again this season.

To respond to the money comment, I absolutely hear what you are saying. Winn is owed $8.875 million dollars this entire season. Leaving him with about $4.5 million remaining on his contract. As you well know, MLB teams take out insurance policies on players all the time. When John Smoltz's blessed right-arm blew potentially for the final time of his career earlier this month, you better believe that the Braves had some sort of insurance to cover his $14,000,000 that was owed. While economically speaking that money is to offset the lack of performance by Smoltz, there is now new money in the Braves pocket in exchange for no Smoltz. I would have to imagine that this new money would be enough to cover Winn at 4.5 million. Also, even if it's not enough to cover Winn you also have to realize that at the end of this season it is likely that Glavine, Smoltz, Hampton, Kotsay and Teixeira will be leaving via free agency/retirement. That means that nearly $60 million dollars will be coming off the books. With so much money ready to depart, it would be safe to say that the Braves are in EXCELLENT position to add salary at the deadline.

One more point…Winn is signed through 2009, Kotsay through 2008. The Braves would theorhetically let Kotsay and his $7 million go and absorb Randy Winn's $8-9. The extra two million is worth it in my mind as Winn is on the field for 150 games every year. While both produce strikingly similar numbers, this deal would set the Braves up to have at least two rock solid outfielders for next year. Blanco/B. Jones/Free Agent in center in 2009?

Career averages (.287, 12, 65)

Most importantly, he has played in 149 or more games every season since 2001. That is a far more impressive statistic to me, with the injuries that this team has endured throughout the season. Diaz hits well versus lefties and a Diaz/Blanco platoon does make sense to me, however Winn makes this team far better because Blanco has been exposed as an inconsistent contact hitter with above average speed and very little power. His instincts in the corners appear to be at a disadvantage to that of his skills in center. When Kotsay returns, he will be in a corner and remains in the lineup just about everyday. I absolutely prefer seeing Blanco in the pinch running role, have Diaz as a option versus left-handed pitching from the bench and starter versus lefties. With a overall batting average for the bench players at around the mendoza line (.200), it makes perfect sense to me to bring in Winn because it makes not just one position better, but it really improves the adaptability that the club has.

Also, Omar Infante does not have to play the outfield anymore and can be a supersub all about the infield. It would make me very happy to never see Infante in the outfield again this season.

To respond to the money comment, I absolutely hear what you are saying. Winn is owed $8.875 million dollars this entire season. Leaving him with about $4.5 million remaining on his contract. As you well know, MLB teams take out insurance policies on players all the time. When John Smoltz’s blessed right-arm blew potentially for the final time of his career earlier this month, you better believe that the Braves had some sort of insurance to cover his $14,000,000 that was owed. While economically speaking that money is to offset the lack of performance by Smoltz, there is now new money in the Braves pocket in exchange for no Smoltz. I would have to imagine that this new money would be enough to cover Winn at 4.5 million. Also, even if it’s not enough to cover Winn you also have to realize that at the end of this season it is likely that Glavine, Smoltz, Hampton, Kotsay and Teixeira will be leaving via free agency/retirement. That means that nearly $60 million dollars will be coming off the books. With so much money ready to depart, it would be safe to say that the Braves are in EXCELLENT position to add salary at the deadline.

One more point…Winn is signed through 2009, Kotsay through 2008. The Braves would theorhetically let Kotsay and his $7 million go and absorb Randy Winn’s $8-9. The extra two million is worth it in my mind as Winn is on the field for 150 games every year. While both produce strikingly similar numbers, this deal would set the Braves up to have at least two rock solid outfielders for next year. Blanco/B. Jones/Free Agent in center in 2009?

Also — Any new talk about Randy Winn to Atlanta? Kotsay, Diaz, Blanco and B. Jones are useful but Winn would really help this team out with offensive consistency. Not to mention sweet facial hair!