Comments on: Can We Get Some Pitching Up In This Joint? Please?

By: Riley

Riley — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:21:35 +0000

Thats not gonna happen. Texeira is asking for way too much money.
I dont seem to understand why the Braves haven't been into negotiations with Pat Burrell. The Braves want a right handed power hitter to play left field, and bat in the 4 slot in between Chipper and Brian Mccann. And the Braves struggled against right handed pitching in '08, and Burrell did nothing but tear up right handed pitchers.
And lets all cross our fingers and hope that the Braves don't make a STUPID mistake and trade away Jeff Francoer to Kansas City for Zach Greinke. Greinke is a star studded pitcher, but Francoer had a fluke season last year, and will bounce back to hitting above 100 RBI's per season, like he posted in his 2 previous seasons.

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:59:01 +0000

I read the posts, quite thoroughly and my personal opinion was stating to the contrary of what you posted which was apparently simply the opinion of others to begin with. Now, speaking of reading, Erik Tool, you've just underscored the time honored tradition that "if you read it on the internet then it must be true."

Prado is a good hitter, who had a very good 228 at-bats last season while filling in at a handful of positions. When did the players all do a secret-ballot to vote for the second-best hitter on the team? Yes, he has some upside, and yes his teammates are probably very aware of that and more than willing to praise him for the excellent work he did last season to Bowman, O'Brien and others.

I am just going as far as to say that I don't believe Martin Prado to be the answer to Atlanta's offensive woes. Your plan to sign Teixeira may have been the funniest thing I've read in quite some time. So thanks for the laugh.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:11:45 +0000

I hope Smoltz comes back but I'm not expecting anything great from him. Let's get realistic, if we expect a 40 year old pitcher to come back from shoulder surgery and dominate like he used to we are kidding ourselves. I think 5-10 wins and a sub 4 ERA are decent expectations.

By: Robbie

Robbie — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:56:18 +0000

I've always liked Sheets and Garland. One or both would be good for me. And off the subject, what about Garrett Anderson. He's never hit below .280 and he's a 25-30 HR guy and will drive in over 100. He's a relatively cheep option. Real quick back to Sheets/Garland, since we can't get "bonafide" ace, why not sign both? And I'll be SICK if Smoltz is elsewhere this year. it will hurt my heart, even more than Maddox or Glavine.

By: erik

erik — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:03:03 +0000

I am wrong about Anderson's strike outs. He has only had one 100 strike out season years ago. He just doesn't walk. His career high for walks in a season is, get this, 38. Remind you of anyone that's a current Brave? So sorry about the wrong information on the strikeouts.

By: erik

erik — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:57:29 +0000

anderson might be a good option but you are inflating his numbers. You are right about never hitting below .280, but he strikes out an aweful lot. And he is not longer a 100 rbi guy. Could he still drive in 100 sure, but I would not count on it. 2003 and was the last year he drove in 100 or more. He does, however have 75+rbi for 11 years running. So he is still a run producer for sure. But his career Obp .327 so again he strikes out a lot. Ahd he hasn't hit more then 25 homers since 2003. My guess, pencil him in for 80 rbi, 15 homers, .290 avg (since he is a career .296 hitter), and oh say about .430 SLG.
But I do agree he could be a pretty cheap bargain and he is still a run producer.

By: Cheez13

Cheez13 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:02:05 +0000

So when its a good good trade Schuerholz gets the credit but when its bad then Schuerholz had nothing to do with it. Was the Tex trade a good one? Not really but Tex was leaving no matter what (23 million/year) so now the Braves at least have a serviceable 1B that doesn't cost millions and millions. Schuerlholz never really signed any big free agents other than Maddux and the only reason Maddux signed was he didn't want to go to NY. The Yankees offered him more money. I guess you want them to sign Adam Dunn to play first for 15 million/year? Thats not the answer- outside of the Yanks and Sox, it takes some time and patience to re-build a winning team. The Dodgers have alot of money and look who they lost- Lowe and Manny and they are paying Andruw and Furcal a combined 28 million this year and they will be a .500 team, is that what you want?

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:13:57 +0000

I guess you'll just have to wait and see who the bat boys are this year

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:53:43 +0000

You're entitled to your opinion Erik. Since you're the smart one and everyone else on here is stupid, I'm sure there will be a market for your unique taste. Feel free to start your own site

By: scott

scott — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:44:49 +0000

If you line of "logic" followed at all, we would've made the playoffs the past two years. The thing about the Phils winning the series (and the Rays making it there) is what's great about baseball. It doesn't matter who says what at the beginning of the season, you just never know how it will play out. I mean, we definitely won't have Tex next year and possibly no Smoltz and we could still make it. You just never know.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:37:26 +0000

I can't see us laying out that amount of money for him. It just doesn't seem smart to me, but hey, what do I know? As I've learned throughout this posting, I'm incompetent.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:34:42 +0000

One pitcher and one hitter won't get us to the playoffs. Who's supposed to carry our offense for the first half of the season for Tex's notorious slow offensive starts to the season.

I do however, agree that Smoltz is primed for a great year and fully expect to see him back in the rotation.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:30:56 +0000

We don't claim to be experts and can in fact take people that disagree with us in stride, but I can't see where any of the blame for Peavy, Burnett, or Furcal falls on Wren. That's the only reason I was asking.

……and he's only 50.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:28:36 +0000

That's what he said, that he thought we shouldn't have traded for Tex or Drew in the first place. I can't say I necessarily agree that we shouldn't have traded for Tex, the trade really brought fans back into the game in a fledgling season.

By: erik

erik — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:04:51 +0000

not just furcal and peavy. add burnett. and if you, my simple minded friend, had read my earlier posts, you would see that i stated besides the JJ deal name one thing wren has done. and for the record i think John S had more to do with that deal then Wren. name on other thing wren has done oh wait I know
he traded TEX for that kotchman guy
yeah you are so right cheez he has done something for us huh???? he got Kotchman lollollololollololololl for TEX wow you are so right on

By: erik

erik — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:02:16 +0000

i am not unrealistic my simple minded friend. Tex in the linup makes us very powerful. As long as Smoltz is at the front of the rotation. Mark my words everyone, if not for the Braves then another team, Smoltz wiill throw 200+ innings next year with a sub 3.50 era. Just remember i said this now 8 months from now. Cause I will laugh at anyone who thinks I am wrong. With Smoltz at top of rotation and tex in the lineup braves would make playoffs, mets are not that good. And name one person who said the Phils would win the series. Anyone? Anyone? not one person, cause Hamel was there ace and moyer is/was there #2. All you have to do is make the playoffs, anyone knows that, once you get there its anyone's game.

By: erik

erik — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:56:32 +0000

we didn't trade JD Drew, we traded for him from the Cards for Adam Wainwright(who could be our ace right now by the way) and Drew left via free agency to the dodgers only to back out of his deal and sign with the red sox.

By: erik

erik — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:53:28 +0000

look people, Prado being the 2nd best hitter on the team is not my personal belief, that is why my post stated, ask braves players. My post did not state I think Prado is the 2nd best hitter on the team. Read the posts people. Numerous sources: 1: MARK BOWMAN MLB.COM has written that thought 2. Dan O'brian AJC has backed it up 3. Ken R. (foxsports.com who always seems to get the drop on anything before anyone else by the way) has also stated it. Now before you ask me to post the links for it, no do it yourself, go back and read the articles for yourself find them just like I did. You want to know my personal opinion, Kelly Johnson is the 2nd best hitter on the team, but that's me. His swing is a thing of beauty. But you don't see me saying he is the 2nd nest hitter on the team do you, no. And for good reason cause I am probably wrong. Thanks Grant Pumpkin, read the posts next time, it is clear i said ask braves hitters who is the 2nd best no where in my post did it say prado is

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:34:27 +0000

So, Chipper, Prado…. McCann? Oops.

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:32:21 +0000

I wouldn't rate Millwood's performance as being particularly inspiring in Texas, and by inspiring I mean, would you want to pay him $11-12 million a year for what he has been turning in there in Arlington? I like Vazquez much better for the purpose of innings pitched.