Show #118: Our Interview with Braves Great, Otis Nixon
Otis discusses missing the ’91 postseason, why there are fewer stolen bases today, The Catch, and much more.
664 Responses to “Show #118: Our Interview with Braves Great, Otis Nixon”
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July 26th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Curt, to answer a question you asked a few days ago, Luke Scott has started 14 games in LF. He hit another HR tonight while going 2-4. He’s playing above his career numbers, but he could be one of those guys that wouldn’t take a bunch of frontline pitching prospects to get. The cons on Scott are that he obviously wouldn’t be playing CF and he doesn’t solve the right-handed power bat issue.
July 27th, 2010 at 8:08 am
I’m seeing more stuff about moving Heyward to center if need be. Not ideal, but getting the best guys out there, and as you say, if they can’t find a CF, they could pick up a corner outfielder and make do.
July 27th, 2010 at 10:42 am
For some reason, stupid or not, every time I think of the Kid in center, I get worried about him injuring himself. I don’t know why, completely unfounded, but I feel it all the same. I say put McLouth in single A ball, eat the money, and bring Blanco back into the mix. Bobby’s instincts about who to play and when have been pretty good this year. Between all of our bench stars, I think we can make do. I don’t see any substantial upgrades for what we would have to give up.
UNLESS . . . we take advantage of Frank McCourt’s upcoming divorce settlement and steal someone from the Dodgers. Kemp? Ethier? If we were willing to take on some contracts, I think we might could make something work. Would you give up Medlen and someone from the farm plus picks to get one of those guys? I might.
July 27th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Man, when are the Braves gonna move Willie Cabrera up to AAA? I think he’s proven he can hit in AA.
July 27th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Per mother blogger
Venters’ hearing set for 2 p.m. today at Nats park. Normally takes 2-3 days for result but Wren told Jeff Schultz he expects one tomorrow
July 27th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Ham, dodgers would not move Kemp or Loney to pick up Oswalt, so not sure they would make the deal for Medlen, et al.
July 27th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Curtis – I know, I know . . . but I have a feeling that the Dodgers are going to have to do something at the trade deadline, or McCourt is going to end up with a very expensive team, one that he can’t afford. It should be interesting what happens, but I bet the unload some contracts in the next week. Maybe he is going to sell the team. Who knows?
July 27th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
D. Ross for 2 more years. Me likey.
July 27th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Mara, pure awesomeness.
July 27th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Mara Wanna backup catcher
July 27th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Mara also Wanna today’s lineup.
July 27th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
I would like to see them aquire Jose Bautista from the Blue Jays.
He plays OF and 3B, which could help us in the long run should Chipper decide to call it a career (as I don’t believe we have much behind him in the minors…).
Can help this year (OF w/ pop – have to move Jay Hey to center – not my favorite thing, but do-able) and could play 3B in the future as well as long term this year should Chipper go down this year for an extended period of time.
I think it is worth a couple of good minor league prospects…
July 27th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Haven’t finished listening to the entire show, but my favorite part of the lead-in to Otis was Hammy admitting that most folks would be surprised to know that he didn’t pitch in the majors. I almost swerved off the road. Good stuff.
As for the McClouth situation, I think we should count that $$ as a sunk cost and move him to AA, or single A Rome. Since everyone is taking Curt’s points and reversing them- -him making tons of money whether is in Atlanta or elsewhere– then make him go REALLY elsewhere- -like Myrtle Beach or Rome. maybe then at least he can hit that pitching, build some confidence– maybe make AAA by season’s end- -and possibly even the 60 man in September. Then trade him or just pay him to leave in the offseason.
July 27th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Oops. I only read to the bottom of page 1 of the comments, then posted this. Didn’t see that Ham had the same thought as me.
But since we have agreement- -McClouth to A ball! Hooray.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
I’m just ready to get back to winning baseball. I believe in the team just like it is now. That is, I believe they’re a winning regular season team with a shot at a round or two in the playoffs.
It brings me to a question: have we all zipped right past Happy-To-Sniff-Playoffs Land and begun to hinge our happiness on a deep run? I’m just curious. (I did predict at the beginning of the year we would meet the Twins in the WS, but we were kidding, right? Right?)
I’m still of the opinion that the Braves are on a slow, guided upturn designed to taste some playoffs in 2010 and open a window that lasts until 2015 and beyond.
(Consider, for a moment, 2013, with all of – or many of, depending on minor league outcomes – these talents on the field and not a single one of them making free agent dollars:
Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor, Melden, Teheran, Delgado, Vizcaino, Venters, McCann/Ross, Freeman, Heyward, and Prado. Our entire starting staff, our closer, and three of our top 5 in the line-up without spending one free agent cent. Who can boast that, with this much quality? That’s three 2010 Allstars, 3 ROY candidates, and 3 current top 50 prospects.
Now subtract salaries for Lowe, Chipper, McLouth, and Kawakami, and Wagner.
That’s almost 50 million dollars we have sunk in what can be replaced, production wise, by Venters and his four grandparents. So… look for 2013, McCann’s last year on this current contract, to be the master blaster year. The grandaddy peak of the window. Not that it should end there, but we should be deep, deep in the scene by then…
back to regularly scheduled post)
[pauses for Curt to say we won't spend the money we save to get anything good]
*clears throat*
Okay, so… I’m still in the happy-to-be-here mode. Remember when it was what we were going to do “when the Braves make the playoffs?”
I’m still there. Am I alone? I want this team to continue the strategy of the slow burn. I don’t think the Braves, on paper, could construct a team destined to win it all if they traded ALL FOUR premium minor league pitchers. Short of Yankeeland Monopoly Money, I don’t think anybody can sell out their farm completely and have a team that, on paper, wins the World Series. Short of that, they all have a chance to win 11 of 19 in the post and take the crown. Atlanta included.
So my fingers are crossed that the July 31 comes and goes without a major acquisition from either the Braves, the Mets, or the Phillies. And by major, I mean Roy Oswalt. With Haren and Lee off the market, nobody else scares me.
Go Braves. To the PLAYOFFS. (am I alone, really?)
July 27th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Braves just optioned struggling Nate McLouth to Gwinnett and activated Brent Clevlen from the DL
A dream is a wish your heart makes…
July 27th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
*sorry, Ross isn’t guaranteed for 2013, and also he IS a free agent. The rest of the list is right.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Marra, seriously??? That’s great.
…. Clevlen? How did he avoid playing for the Indians?
July 27th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Not alone Mr. Alicious. Especially with Nate gone and Blanco back in a few days. I’d feel slot better if Billy would close a game in Sandman fashion and Troy would hit a homer.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Haha re: clevlen. Per mother blogger tis true!
July 27th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Actually, I’m not that surprised with Wren being a faithful ABTer and all.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
One last note: I think there is a 50% chance or better that Nate McLouth will be our opening day CF in 2011, and that he’ll be good. This was the move I was waiting for. He needs to get away from 2010 and stay away. For his own good. But a slow recovery to a .260, 20HR, average defense guy for next year wouldn’t surpise me at all.
NOW I’m alone. 8)
July 27th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
We have to win tonight! Bub, I need space from Nate before discussing next year.
Braves just optioned struggling Nate McLouth to Gwinnett and activated Brent Clevlen from the DL
July 27th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Not completely alone. I can see him improving, playing in a place where he can work on getting that uppercut out of his swing where it doesn’t impact a pennant race (read: without the pressure to perform).
However, I do wonder about your timetable. I think Nate is going to be working with the thought “if I improve in time, I can get back on the team” which just puts that much MORE pressure on the situation. So, unfortunately, I see him accomplishing nothing this year towards 2011, additionally, if he doesn’t play winter ball, I don’t see him being in a position to start the season (isn’t he a notoriously slow starter?)…
July 27th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I hope Chavez is next.