2009 Atlanta Braves

[jt45]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I don't see us trying to trade Melky at all. We just traded our best starting pitcher for him as the main part of the deal.

Its been said by multiple sources that Melky was not the key to the trade -- Vizcaino was. Wait until our top prospect lists start rolling out. He will be in the top 3-5.

[mattlanta]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I've always liked Uggla. He has some power but doesn't hit for average too much. He's decent as a defensive 2B but not great. He makes quite a few errors but his bat & power can help us out. The problem I see with this is the fact of moving him to LF.

He's not used to that position so it would be sort of like the Chipper situation a few years ago when we tried him in LF. That didn't work out too well. I see that Uggla wants to stay at 2B. I say he could play LF but I just don't know about this on a regular basis.

The Marlins are looking to trade him but moving him to LF for us seems like a less chance than him being traded to a team where he stays at 2B. I do agree though with a previous poster about Glaus. If Glaus was to not be able to go from 1B then Uggla could certainly play 1B for us if needed.

What amazes me in MLB is how many teams that want to trade great players just to get rid of that $. The Braves aren't the only team that does this by any means because many teams do this. I just don't understand it sometimes. You're making your team worse & just telling the world we're not looking to win.

Uggla is terrible at second. Which is why many woudl like to see him play first for us. If we get him, I'd imagine that we'd place him in left... which he would also wreak badness.

If we want to get Uggla, I'm starting to think that it's better off just getting Jermaine Dye. They both hit for HR's, and we wouldn't have to pay the other hitter $9,000,000. Signing Dye to a cheaper contract would leave us more wiggle room to sign more bench pieces and allow us to keep our three stud youngsters in the lower farm system (Vizcaino, Teheran, Delgado) and Medlen.

I'd rather us sign Dye to a $6-7MM contract and use the rest of it to acquire bench pieces in someone like Amezega or Tracy. I'm still working on a 25 Man Roster, so be on the look out for that.

[tonybologna]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Uggla is terrible at second. Which is why many woudl like to see him play first for us. If we get him, I'd imagine that we'd place him in left... which he would also wreak badness.

If we want to get Uggla, I'm starting to think that it's better off just getting Jermaine Dye. They both hit for HR's, and we wouldn't have to pay the other hitter $9,000,000. Signing Dye to a cheaper contract would leave us more wiggle room to sign more bench pieces and allow us to keep our three stud youngsters in the lower farm system (Vizcaino, Teheran, Delgado) and Medlen.

I'd rather us sign Dye to a $6-7MM contract and use the rest of it to acquire bench pieces in someone like Amezega or Tracy. I'm still working on a 25 Man Roster, so be on the look out for that.

We already got rid of Dye once. You think we want him back again? Kidding, but I'd rather have an Uggla that can play 1B too if needed than a Jermaine Dye. Uggla would be a circus in LF like you said but we would have him for 1st if needed for Glaus.

However, I like Prado at 2B even though you're looking at a lot less power than Uggla. Getting Uggla would move Prado to a backup role again in which he's showed to be better than a backup player. I'd be happy with what we have right now too instead of getting Uggla but he does deserve a look if available.

[mattlanta]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

We already got rid of Dye once. You think we want him back again? Kidding, but I'd rather have an Uggla that can play 1B too if needed than a Jermaine Dye. Uggla would be a circus in LF like you said but we would have him for 1st if needed for Glaus.

However, I like Prado at 2B even though you're looking at a lot less power than Uggla. Getting Uggla would move Prado to a backup role again in which he's showed to be better than a backup player. I'd be happy with what we have right now too instead of getting Uggla but he does deserve a look if available.

Dye is open to playing first and would more or less be the same as Uggla defensively. Pretty much anyone can play first. If Adam Dunn can play first, then I don't see why Dye can't either... and Dye has publicly stated that he is willing to play there for a team that's interested in him.

[tonybologna]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Dye is open to playing first and would more or less be the same as Uggla defensively. Pretty much anyone can play first. If Adam Dunn can play first, then I don't see why Dye can't either... and Dye has publicly stated that he is willing to play there for a team that's interested in him.

Like I said, we already had him so why take him back again when he's much older? We had him when he was young & upcoming with promise. We never gave him a chance when he was in Atlanta the first time. He was one our top prospects but as always we look to trade them.

[aukevin]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

This has nothing to do with the Hot Stove, but I'm in Auburn visiting my in-laws for Christmas and I decided to drive by where Huddy is building his new home in town. That house is huge and very beautiful. I walked around the grounds of the house (the doors were locked LOL) so I could see how a millionaire lives. Man.. if only I had a golden arm LOL.

[tonybologna]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

This has nothing to do with the Hot Stove, but I'm in Auburn visiting my in-laws for Christmas and I decided to drive by where Huddy is building his new home in town. That house is huge and very beautiful. I walked around the grounds of the house (the doors were locked LOL) so I could see how a millionaire lives. Man.. if only I had a golden arm LOL.

Yeah! I am a big Cowboys fan & we recently made a trip to Dallas to see two games. My brother-in-law used to coach Jason Witten in high school.

We were invited to his house in Dallas for one night. Man, it was a beauty. I'd say easily over a million dollars put into it. The big boys can sure get those really nice homes.

[mattlanta]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Like I said, we already had him so why take him back again when he's much older? We had him when he was young & upcoming with promise. We never gave him a chance when he was in Atlanta the first time. He was one our top prospects but as always we look to trade them.

Why? Because we need him.

[Kohlstar20]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Man Frank Wren better get his act together and make a big move that improve's our team tremendously especially with Jason Bay signing with the Mets and the Phillies acquiring Roy Halladay. With those moves our division rivals are instant contenders and we haven't done jack except trade away one of the best starting pitchers in baseball and sign an injury prone veteran to play 1st base. At this rate we'll be lucky to finish 3rd in the division and that isn't even a given since the Marlins always seem to give us a run for our money now.

[mattlanta]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Man Frank Wren better get his act together and make a big move that improve's our team tremendously especially with Jason Bay signing with the Mets and the Phillies acquiring Roy Halladay. With those moves our division rivals are instant contenders and we haven't done jack except trade away one of the best starting pitchers in baseball and sign an injury prone veteran to play 1st base. At this rate we'll be lucky to finish 3rd in the division and that isn't even a given since the Marlins always seem to give us a run for our money now.

We're still a better team than the Mets. Pitching trumps all.

[mattlanta]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

We signed Hinske, and we look done for the offseason.

[Kohlstar20]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

We signed Hinske, and we look done for the offseason.

Guess that means Brooks Conrad won't be making the team as a utility player. Im not sure about Hinske though. He hasn't really done anything since he was with the Rays in 2008.

[Jgainsey]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Looks like our payroll is ~10 mill smaller than last year's. I wouldn't be surprised if they cut the payroll, but didn't want to announce it to the fans. Or maybe this is there way of announcing it. Who knows, maybe they're saving some cash for the trade deadline or next year's FA. I guess the Bravos are officially a mid-market team now..

This is definitely a much better team than the one we started the year with last season, but Philly is easily the stronger team. We probably have the most solid rotation 1-5, and barring multiple injuries, our bullpen will be above average, but that's where our advantages end. The pitching will probably be enough to keep us competitive, but this still looks like a team that's going to fall short of the playoffs for a 5th year in a row. Go Braves..

[Kohlstar20]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

We probably have the most solid rotation 1-5, and barring multiple injuries, our bullpen will be above average.

I hope we don't have multiple injuries but I think it's inevitable this season and that's the problem. Last season our whole pitching staff stayed relatively healthy as we didn't have any major injuries to our starters or relievers. That just isn't going to happen again and if anyone thinks otherwise their crazy.

[tonybologna]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

We probably have the most solid rotation 1-5,

Solid 1-5 when we just got rid of one of the best? I would've said solid if we kept Vazquez but that's not the case. Lowe,Jurrjens,Hudson,Hanson,& Kawakami is a decent rotation but with Javier being gone I fall short of calling it a solid rotation. The way Lowe pitched last season then you can say we have 4 decent starting pitchers really. I believe Lowe is losing it.

The Eric Hinske signing again has me scratching my head. We get another player that we can pay lightly in comparison to somebody else. Another player in the "washed up" category. We LOVE some old farts in that front office.

I didn't like the Glaus signing & don't like the Hinske one either. That's TWO guys probably in their last few seasons of MLB playing for us. Go figure Frank Wren!