Comments on: Furcal Shuns Braves, Expected to Sign With Dodgers

By: Pat_from_Braves

Pat_from_Braves — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:07:33 +0000

I dont know where exactly Kinzer is from but I do know he bowls in a league in Douglasville on Mondays. I have a friend who bowled with him in recent months.

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:35:58 +0000

Kinzer works for Wasserman Media Group. They have 200+ employees. No use in harassing the entire agency – they're going to have enough issues now that the Braves won't deal with them. Hopefully we'll see some massive backlash against Kinzer from within the baseball community, and at least from his employers. Maybe they're fire him. It's what I'd like to see. I'm not posting their contact info because it wouldn't do any good, and frankly it's not worth our time.

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:19:08 +0000

I don't think Furcal ever had any intent to come back to Atlanta. He's a bit of a whore as well, not just Kinzer. So much for loyalty to the city and team that brought him his fame. I know it's a business, but negotiating details to the point there was a term sheet requested?

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:17:45 +0000

I'm certainly not blaming Wren for what's going on – all the cards are just falling the other way right now. It's not Wren's fault – it's nothing he can control – and I think we'll see his brilliance long-term. Scheurholz had some moves that didn't work out as expected too, so we'll see what happens. Can't judge history already – not a single inning of baseball has been played.

So what we do know:
- The Padres front office is unrealistic
- We hate the Yankees
- Paul Kinzer is a complete asshole

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:15:25 +0000

I don't see us going after Sheets. He's been too much of an injury prone pitcher for us to even be halfway interested in him. I really don't want him on the Braves.

I think we may just hang out and hold off until next offseason. I don't see us going out and spending tons of money to try and make a mediocre team a little bit better, when we don't have a chance at going all the way. Rebuilding years can happen – we need to be ok with that.

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:41:26 +0000

I'm glad to see Schuerholz's response mirrors my emotions.

Seriously, anyone post the agency's email/phone/address and we'll publish it.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:34:30 +0000

And for anyone wanting the details of Schuerholz's response to the situation:

“Having been in this business for 40-some years, I’ve never seen anybody treated like that,” Schuerholz said. “The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company — ever. I told [agent] Arn Tellem that we can’t trust them to be honest and forthright. I told him that in all my years, I’ve never seen any [agency] act in such a despicable manner.

“It was disgusting and unprofessional. We’re a proud organization and we won’t allow ourselves to be treated that way. I advised Arn Tellem that whatever players he represents, just scratch us off the list. Take the name of the Atlanta Braves off their speed dial. They can deal with the other 29 clubs and we’ll deal with the other hundred agents.”

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:32:02 +0000

I will definitely be there in the booing club.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:31:38 +0000

Arn Tellem.

I can't say I disagree with anything that Wren's been saying. He at least seems to understand that what happened was completely disrespectful and beyond his control. We'll see what happens from here I guess.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:16:55 +0000

I dont think Ive EVER heard a GM dis an agent like Wren did to Kinzer. "I dont have to worry about burning that bridge, its already gone", I hope that changes when Moylan beacomes a FA, hes represented by Kinzers gay lover Arn…Some weird last name that I cant remember

By: David

David — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:14:20 +0000

I never even thought of that. When the Dodgers come to town, you think every one will boo him? Kinda like the total opposite Julio Franco got a couple years ago when he first came to Atlanta as a Met

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:23:11 +0000

Looks like it's official now that Furcal's going back to the Dodgers. I feel so . . . used. Just to get a better contract from the Dodgers.

By: David

David — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:17:57 +0000

(continued from above)

Then people are mad about trading away Tyler Flowers. OK, I can see that. But just think about it like this. The Braves had a great shot at AJ Burnett when this deal was made. With AJ, Jurrjens, and Vazquez in the rotation, with Campillo and (hopefully) Smoltz following, thats a very good rotation. But, things did not work out his way. While this was a questionable trade, Wren was thinkinging about the now, and not the future. If he was offered this trade today, he would not have taken it.

Now people are made that he could not sign Rafael Furcal. This was not his fault at all. Furcal had virbally agreed to a deal. The Braves sent him the papers to sign. His agent let the Dodger make a counter-offer, which he liked more. Nothing at all Wren could have done about that. This has just been a very bad luck offseason for the Braves.

this is not the team of the 90s anymore. People are not wanting to come here because of the name on the jersey. But be patient, the Braves have a great farm team, and will be very good in 2-3 seasons.

By: David

David — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:17:02 +0000

It really makes me mad when I heard people saying how bad Wren is. I am pretty sure we can all agree that he is no Schurholtz. But people are mad that we did not get Jake Peavy. Wren did all he could to get Peavy. The Padres just sat on his offer, and Wren did not want to spend his whole offseason just trying to get that one piece. Because we sat with the Padres for so long, we missed out on Nick Swisher, who could have been our LF for next season.

Then people are mad that the Braves did not get AJ Burnett. I mean, come on. How many times are we actually going to win a bidding war with the Yankees? We dont have the kind of money like they do. When I heard the Yankees were going to make a serious run after Burnett, I knew he was going to the Bronx.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:42:22 +0000

Well I guess I will turn most of my attention to the world baseball classic USA team…..
I dont feel good about this. Pull something out of your ass Wren .I know you can do it!!!

By: Colin Ake

Colin Ake — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:38:00 +0000

Yep. I know it's a business, but I plan on making sure I'm at the first Braves vs. Dodgers game here this year. Furcal needs booing.

By: hunter

hunter — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:18:07 +0000

i think we should just save and look towards the prospects coming up and maybe there will be a better free agent class in the following year. Sheets is another risk. Too much of one.

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:12:13 +0000

So i have to ask everyone, who is our next target? I personally would love to see Ben Sheets in a Braves Uniform, but i have no idea anymore, has anyone heard anything about Wren's next move? I cant say that i blame Wren either, hes really trying his best and i cant say that i blame him for the peavy deal, he was already to do it, i blame Kevin Towers for that. Yankees will always be the yankees and overpay for everyone. But we have to do something big this offseason. I just dont know what anymore.

By: hunter

hunter — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:50:18 +0000

Im a little upset that wren parted ways with Tyler Flowers, but im very grateful he has not even considered trading Tommy Hanson. Having Furcal back would have been nice but lets all admit it….It was a risk…..so was Burnett. After the Hampton saga we should be grateful that Wren has seemingly played smart on the business front. It may take a few years but I feel the farm system will prove to be the best of our product.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:46:02 +0000

I feel bad for Wren and the Braves. They were side-swiped by a horribly unethical move by Kinzer. He asks for a term-sheet!!! For what? to be give it to the Dodgers. I like how Wren reacted. He focused on the way the negotiation/business was done, not on the fact that he lost Furcal. I mean, it's ok to lose a bidding war against the Yankees, but this one's a whole different story.

Personally, I hope they take the seat out from under everybody and sign Teixeira. Lots of money left to spend, might as well spend it on a franchise player like Tex. Worry about Kotchman later.