Rue Grant Defends Jordan Schafer

April 9, 2008 – 11:54 pm

Is anyone as skeptical and/or curious about the allegations and subsequent silence surrounding the Jordan Schafer situation as I am? Whereas I’d normally ridicule or chastise for such behavior, something about this whole thing doesn’t leave me feeling confident about the accusations.  For the first, and possibly last, time, I’m going to defend Jordan Schafer, especially since, at this point in time, he doesn’t have a chance to do so. So what happened? I don’t know, but here are a few possibilities: Scenario 1: Schafer used HGH. So did Roger Clemens, apparently. However, HGH was not illegal at the time Clemens used it. When did Schafer allegedly use HGH? Schafer could have used HGH like Clemens; when it wasn’t illegal. It was outlawed in 2005. Schafer was 18 in 2005. He could have used it then, got huge, and it comes out now. That’s scenario 1.

Photo: Kevin Hinton

Scenario 2:  Schafer never used HGH. Rumors are nasty things. I spent a week in high school in the principal’s office for something I never did but someone claimed they saw me do - in a locker room nonetheless. Subsequent monitorings made me look suspicious and guilty, but only because people were looking for something in particular, and oftentimes suddenly normal actions seem extremely unusual. Same thing for Schafer. He was being monitored all through spring training apparently. Maybe growing suspicion just made him seem guilty at the time - and allegations were blown out of proportion.

Scenario 3: He did it, he knew, and now he’s covering his ass. I’m not really thinking this is a valid speculation though, because who would be stupid enough to go ahead and do that after watching the struggles Roger Clemens has gone through day after day recently? I’ve met Jordan Schafer and he doesn’t seem to be that naive.

So where are we? We wait. Will we forgive him regardless? We can only hope that the Braves community will accept whatever comes of this - and if the allegations prove to be innacurate, then my greatest hope is that he does not lose the credibility and hype that he has worked so hard for.  If the truth ends up hurting us all, then hopefully someone down the road  will learn from Schafer learning the hard way.

For now, I’m standing by Schafer for the following reasons:

1. Schafer’s father wants to speak out so badly, but is waiting on his son. Seems that something that needs to be said is not out in the open yet. I anticipate that revelation.
2. If he used it pre-2005, I have absolutely NO issue with it.
3. Not all allegations end up being true. There has got to be more to this than meets the eye.
4. Tom Glavine said that being a great player is about being respected as much for your character as for your stats and numbers. I think that Schafer has had the spotlight on him a lot recently, and was making an effort to be one of those venerated, respected players before moving into the bigs. He had the spotlight on him, was turning heads, making people smile, and impressing everyone who interviewed him. Would he go out of his way NOW to ruin everything he’d worked for? Absolutely not.
5.  He’s offered up far too many samples, has failed to test positive for what he’s being accused for taking, and is obviously very disgrunted about this whole situation.
6. The Braves haven’t thrown him under the bus yet. He’s going to Orlando to keep training with other minor league players who aren’t playing official games. If it were as intense and serious as everyone was making it out to be, the Braves would have cut and run. They haven’t, and show no signs of doing so.

So, for now, I will stand by Schafer.  And I’m one of the harder ones to get to take sides.

Tags: Allegations, HGH, Jordan Schafer
Posted in General, Minor Leagues, Speculation | 4 Comments »

Julio Teheran: Colombia Serves Up Prospects

March 10, 2008 – 9:25 pm

With the recent buzz around international prospects (namely 17 year-old Julio Teheran), we figured we’d post some of what we could find.  Notable players like Edgar Renteria have been acquired from Colombian leagues, and if he’s any indication, it certainly won’t be a bad call to keep up the recruiting.  There are currently 47 Colombian players in the US major/minor systems (as well as 16 from the Dominican Republic, and 12 from Venezuela), so it seems that some of this recruiting is worth the effort.  However, since 1972, there have only been seven players to make it to the majors, the rest staying in the minors and other feeder leagues.  According to El Heraldo de Colombia, there are five major prospects in Colombia with Teheran making the biggest waves. 

It seems that every bit of information out there says the same thing about this guy.

Full Name: Julio Teheran Pinto
Age: 17 (DOB: Jan 27, 1991)
Location: Columbia
Signed: 2007 with the Braves for $800,000 (highest ever for a Colombian)

He was recruited by five different organizations, and threw a 92 mph fastball in try-outs. Typically he averages about 94 mph.  Baseball is in his blood; apparently his uncle, Miguel Teheran was a stand-out player (and is a current talent scout in Colombia - for the Braves, might I add). He’s tall and thin, 6′2.4″, 189 pounds. Growing up, he was called “the Horse” because of his size, force, and conviction. He has a consistent curve ball and sinker, and his other pitches are at least average. He’s a Curt Schilling and John Smoltz admirer, and according to sources will be playing AA ball in 2008.  Many hope that in three years he will continue in the footsteps of Emiliano Fruit, the first Colombian pitcher in the Major Leagues.  

Venezuelan Daniel Mavarez (Barranquilla pitching coach) says Teheran’s the best he’s ever seen for his age in Latin America. For the past two years, the Yankees, BoSox, Mets, Cardinals, and Tigers have been eyeing him, and are rumored to have even offered more money for him than the Braves laid out. Why did he land in Atlanta? Well, we can apparently thank Uncle Miguel for that one, too - and maybe a bit to Edgar Renteria for having a brother who has been linked to Teheran in Columbian league play, and for being a “magnificent” mentor to young Julio when he came to visit Atlanta.  We’ll definitely let you know more as we find it out, because we’re just as interested as the next guy.

The other prospects include Jair Fernandez, Ronald Ramirez, Donovan Solano, and Martin Vega, all of whom are currently playing in single A clubs for the Mariners, Astros, Cardinals, and Mariners, respectively.  Hopefully we will be able to see some great things out of these international prospects, and we’ll definitely keep our eyes on Teheran for the next few seasons.  

Tags: Edgar Renteria, Julio Teheran, Julio Tehran
Posted in Minor Leagues | 4 Comments »

Baseball in Gwinnett - Implications

January 22, 2008 – 3:03 pm

So there’s some feedback coming from the community regarding the Braves’ decision to move their AAA team to Gwinnett.  Here are some thoughts coming from different groups of people.

Atlanta:  We’re hearing mostly positive feedback from Atlanta - another baseball team in town can’t hurt, right?  Another smaller crowd sees no need to add a third team to Georgia - citing attendance issues for the big league team that would be worsened by the presence of another baseball team in the metro area.

Gwinnett:  I’m hearing two crowds from Gwinnett Read more »

Posted in Minor Leagues | 4 Comments »

2009 - AAA Ball to Gwinnett

January 15, 2008 – 6:23 pm

It’s official - the AAA team is moving to Gwinnett after just one year - we’ll have baseball in 2009.  The Braves will rent a stadium from the county for $250,000 a year for 30 years beginning next year.  Gwinnett County will design and build the stadium without much input from the team.

Image from http://www.gwinnettbraves.com

Read more »

Posted in General, Minor Leagues | 12 Comments »

Richmond Braves Relocating to Gwinnett

January 14, 2008 – 1:46 pm

The AJC is reporting that the Richmond Braves will be relocating to Gwinnett after the 2010 season.  They quote two people familiar with the situation as saying that the top farm team for the Braves will move to the north Atlanta suburb.  Apparently their lease expires after the 2010 season.

What are your thoughts on having the AAA squad so close to home?  Will it help or hurt attendance at Turner Field?  Read more »

Posted in General, Minor Leagues | 7 Comments »