Show #116: The 2010 Braves at the Halfway Point
Omar Infante backlash, All Star no shows, Yunel Escobar, and looking back at the first half of the Braves’ season.
298 Responses to “Show #116: The 2010 Braves at the Halfway Point”
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Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 9 10 11 12 » Show All
July 14th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
I don’t love this trade. I really wish that we could have seen what Yunel brought us w/o Bobby at the helm. He is one year removed from being our MVP. I have a unsettling suspicion that we might be seeing Yunel subbing for Elvis at an upcoming All Star Game in the near future. I do not think that we will see A-Gon at an All Star Game any time soon. Hopefully the farmhands are legit. I also agree that there might be some Yunel antics that we have not heard about . . . yet.
I am glad that we were first out of the gate in the attempt to strengthen the club headed into the second half. Gotta give Frank some credit for that.
July 14th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
I don’t think you have to be obnoxious. That’s not what I said at all. I said the Braves have been a classy organization that has won one championship under BC. The overall attitude has been good, and they just got rid of their one blemish because of his attitude. If it was because of on field performance, then the move makes no sense when considering the performance of other players on the Braves over the past few years. Yunel was all good as long as he was performing. He was no longer performing, so they traded him. if you’re polite like McOut, then you can hit .179 and start on a regular basis when healthy. I don’t think Mcout’s defense is better than Yunel’s at all.
July 14th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Over his 12 seasons, Gonzalez has a .248 average with 131 home runs and 571 RBIs.
Yuni joins a long list of guys who fall in the “doesn’t do it the Braves way and therefore must be gotten rif of” category. I just see it as more getting rid of a problem, rather than strengthening your team. I get the whole team chemistry argument. Not many organizations operate under a heavier chemistry formula than do the Braves. In any sport. Sometimes this is great, sometimes it is not. You need some energy guys. Some fiery guys. Yunel was obviously such a problem that he HAD to be traded. But don’t sell me that it is any more than a dump. Frank Wren is making a lot of comments about how dangerous Gonzalez is. Please stop.
And in no way am I comparing the two, but the Braves moved another guy who was a little too temperamental for them, and i think it cost them a lot. David Justice was that guy.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Curt, re your #125. I realize it’s contradictory. But I LOVED Yunel. I never actually buy player shirts, but if I consider buying your shirt then you’ve won me over. I considered a Yunel shirt a lot last year. And while his act drove me crazy this year (making it worse that he wasn’t mitigating any of his shenanigans with offense) it’s weird and a little sad that he’s gone.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Most of you have already heard this but for the one who maybe hasnt here’s a pretty good interview with Wren
http://twaud.io/jGS
July 14th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
“Alex Gonzalez traded to the Braves to play with Martin Prado as the first ever DP combination from Maracay to play in the Bigs”.
Well that’s kinda cool.
July 14th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
“it’s weird and a little sad that he’s gone”
I swear I’m all alone in this world.
July 14th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Thanks for the link, Leah. That was the first I heard of that.
July 14th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Honestly Professor, your reaction surprises me a little. I’m not saying it’s bad or you’re not entitled to it but just not what I expected. I think it says a lot about how childish ole Urinal was at times as well as the character we have grown to appreciate in this organization. Glad you liked the link.
Did you hear the brothers are releasing a live album in the Fall?
July 14th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Bub, I understand why you like the trade. You stated earlier that you wanted a defense first, cheap, and any offense is a plus shortstop, and that is what the Braves are going to have for the next couple of years. Again, Wren seems to be following your line of thinking. It could work.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I’m sure you’ve all seen it on the motherblog, but here’s DOB’s first full run at his take on it.
“The Braves traded a shortstop (Escobar) who’s failed to develop into the player they envisioned, a player who has continued to frustrate team officials and teammates with his often-cavalier attitude, his sometime-sullen demeanor, and his occasional mental lapses and failure to hustle at random times.
They traded A player who had the lowest slugging percentage (.284) in the National League, to go with a .238 average and a .334 OBP that would be fine if he hit for any power or drove in runs or did anything else offensively. This year, and the last month of last season, he has not done much of anything offensively.
Yunel’s defense is great, no question. But the shortstop they got, Alex Gonzalez, plays strong defense. (Not as strong as Yunel’s D, and not as good as Gonzalez played D when I covered him in his first seasons with the Marlins, but it’s still well above average D). And while Yunel has 12 extra-base hits (all doubles), 19 RBIs and a .618 OPS, Gonzalez has 43 extra-base hits (17 homers), 50 RBIs and a .793 OPS. And a better attitude.
This trade is about winning this season, and Gonzalez improves the offense significantly. With Heyward returning and Diaz looking in the past couple weeks like the old Diaz, the biggest remaining weakness in the lineup was shortstop. Instead of trading a top pitching prospect, a pitcher like Minor that the Braves believe could be a top-half-of-rotation for years to come, for an outfielder, the Braves traded a struggling shortstop with attitude problems for a shortstly having a career-best season, in hopes that he’ll add some right-handed power to their lineup.”
Mara, I’ll soften up later. You know how I am. Right now I’m relieved to the point of elation. To be honest, the internal battle needed for me to keep on liking Yunel was getting wearisome. He gets way under my skin sometimes. The part of me that likes his smooth moves on the diamond has really been struggling to stay alive.
Plus I tend to demonize players that leave on strained terms. I know that about myself, but it’s hard to buck it.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Nate, that was what I wanted, especially if it allowed for a free agent left fielder purchase. I had pictured it going down in the winter, though, and a younger guy than Gonzalez.
But considering there’s a puncher’s chance that he’ll be defense + a little pop, I’ll take it.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Sounds like DOB thinks this is the last move. I just don’t think there is enough offense on this team to win in the postseason. I believe the Cardinals are going to win the Central. They are a better team than Cincinnati. They have a better manager, and they have better hitting and starting pitching. I worry about the Braves in a seven game series where they will face Carpenter and Wainwright two times each. Plus Jaime Garcia is no slouch. The Braves struggle against Wainwright and Carpenter. If they get by them, they get the Yankees staff.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I’m also more curious to know what guys like Infante and Prado think about Escobar. I know what Glaus, Ross, and Chip think about him already.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Nate, I expect this is our last move unless both Heyward and McLouth struggle out of the gate. If either of those guys post reasonable numbers between now and 7/31, I think Wren will hold tight.
I dunno how deep that’ll get us in the post season, but I’m rooting for a division crown and a taste of October right now. The opening of the Braves’ next great window.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Cyndi Lauper = sublime. “There’s just nothing left for me to do here… but unhook the stars… nothing left for me to do here… but unhook the stars.”
Mara, I’ll be sure to snag the live album when Fall $$ comes in. That’s a legit school expense, yes?
July 14th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Bub, I always consider it to be one.
July 14th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Yak, yak yak. I find no comfort here. Sorry guys, gals and Princesses, but life is too busy to try and keep up with the moment by moment commentary. I’m just going to watch the games. Go Braves.
July 14th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
“but life is too busy”
What’s this “life” thing you speak of? Is it about baseball? Do you have a link?
July 14th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
#169…hilarious. Cledus, you better not disappear forever ya hear? His life is cute Bub…I met her. Anyway, I’m ready, willing and able to eat my regret. I hope to all that is holy A. Gonz comes out of the gate swinging and for the fences. I’m ready to eat my words, remind the board that you’re always right, and refer to you from now until eternity as “Baseball Mastermind”. A friend who’s a huge Phillies fan told me he wanted to thank me personally for home field advantage. I told him it was obvious Ryan Howard wasn’t going to get it done. HAH!
July 14th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Ignore me if you’re tired of the links…or your name is Cledus and you have a life.
http://FANpeeps.com/-8f5S
July 15th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Love the links, Mara.
July 15th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Finally! Thursday…thought it’d never come! 10 more hours and it’s time to stomp hops!
July 15th, 2010 at 11:07 am
There’s a quote from Buster Olney in Jeff Schultz’s new story that gets into the Escobar enigma. Olney has a good relationship with most players, and he gets a lot of insider info because players trust the way he uses it. If Bobby doesn’t think your giving max effort, then pack your bags. If you give max effort, then you can bat .179 and start in a key offensive position a lot more than you probably should. It’s a good philosophy, but it’s also a philosophy that will keep McLouth in the lineup unless Wren makes a move.
July 15th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Move Wren…move on Corey Hart like white on rice.