December 11, 2011

Show #170: Braves Leave Winter Meetings Empty Handed

JJ and Prado still on the block.  The short stop position. The fortified Marlins. And the Albert Pujols deal.

Show #170 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 

122 Responses to “Show #170: Braves Leave Winter Meetings Empty Handed”

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  1. 1
    Leah Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Thanks for the show guys. Honestly, I most surprised by how little I care. I seriously think September damaged my baseball soul. I’m usually counting down days until Spring training and reading every possible rumor. Wren better do something spectacular cause I’d guess I’m not the only one feeling this way in Braves Nation. I’m sure I’ll bounce back.

    I am so totally against any scenario that includes trading Prado. Last year was a complete fluke. Tell me he’s not working his a$$ off getting ready for next season. Bad, bad, bad move.

  2. 2
    Mark in Memphis Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    I hope all you guys get over the colds you seem to have had… ;)

  3. 3
    Mark in Memphis Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    @1

    Problem w/ Prado is we don’t need him to play every day at 2B for us.

    He IS a quality Major League second baseman that can also play at 1B, 3B and in LF. At any of the corner positions, those are places where we expect more power than he can provide on an everyday basis.

    As far as LF goes, we need to get more power than he can provide. If he doesn’t play LF, he will cost too much to let him be a spot starter. When healthly, he can been a pretty effective #2 hitter behind Bourn (high BA, high OBP), however, you are usually looking for that from a SS, 2B or CF – Prado doesn’t play SS well, he won’t supplant Uggla at second and isn’t better than Bourn defensively in center.

    He will also cost too much to have him sitting on the bench “in case Chipper gets hurt”…

  4. 4
    Brendt Wayne Waters Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    The question was asked if Pujols was going to get Lebron’d in St Louis, and was quickly dismissed as Pujols brought St Louis multiple championships. However, the St Louis sports media *is* LeBron-ing him. Not that it’s anything new that the fan base is infinitely more intelligent than the sports media, but you rarely see such an obvious example.

  5. 5
    Leah Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    M in M- boooooooo. You make too much sense and I don’t like it.

  6. 6
    Leah Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    Stupid baseball question…why do expect certain position players to be a certain type of hitter? Like, Left Fielders are power hitters?

  7. 7
    Walker Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    @ Leah

    Most power hitters aren’t usually the most mobile and athletic players. So therefore most power hitters play positions such as 3b,1b,LF,RF where range isn’t a huge factor. Dan Uggla’s is a power hitter playing a traditional non power position but his range is horrible by evidence of his UZR. That’s why most people would have rather put him in LF and Prado at 2b. Also this is why 5 tool players and power hitters at SS,C,CF are so valuable like when Alex Rodriguez was a 25 year old free agent SS who could hit 50 homers, steal bases and play great defense. You can’t get more valuable than that.

  8. 8
    Kate Says:
    December 12th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    Since we get power from Uggla at a non power position we don’t need a power LF. What the Braves need is a guy who can get on base. The Braves actually hit a lot of home runs last season, but no one was ever on base when they did.

  9. 9
    Nate Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 10:42 am

    #8, agreed. We hit so many solo homers last year. I think they get enough power with Mac, Uggla, and Freeman in the middle of the order. If we can get Heyward in 25-30 HR range, which he should easily be doing every year, then we’ve got a pretty potent middle of the lineup. Our guys need to be playing to their potential, though.

    I would like to see Chipper find a home in the 2 spot in the order. That seemed to boost the offense a little bit when it happened, but then he went back to the 3 for some reason. Chipper is not a 3 hitter anymore, imo. I don’t care what the effing book says.

    The Braves had some bad mojo or something going around last year (maybe bad coaching). Even Bourn, who was having a career year, managed to be in a huge slump about a month into his Braves career.

    I think the Cardinals organization wins in the whole Pujols deal. He won them 2 championships in the cheaper/younger part of his career. Now another team will have to overpay for his less productive years. They still have Matt Holliday, Carpenter, and Wainwright, and the rest of that division looks very beatable, especially with the recent Braun news. Not to mention, Josh Freese and Carpenter won this last WS for them, not Albert Pujols.

    I mostly feel bad for the Astros fanbase. Not because their organization sucks because a senile Phillies fan has run them into the ground, but because they thought they were finally getting away from El Hombre with their move to the AL West. Now it appears they will both be meeting again in 2013…

  10. 10
    Nate Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 10:50 am

    What’s our bullpen looking like at this point?
    We now there will be Kimbrel, Venters, O’Flaherty, Medlen, Vizcaino, and Martinez. How many spots are left after that and who fills them? Varvaro, Ascencio?

  11. 11
    Walker Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 11:36 am

    @9

    Chipper stopped hitting 2nd because of weak managing. Fredi gave in like a wuss when Chipper told the media he wanted to hit lower even though the team benefited from him hitting 2nd. This team was a joke in September.

  12. 12
    Nate Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Bourn
    Chipper
    Mac
    Uggla
    Freeman
    Prado
    Heyward
    Pastornick
    P

    That lineup should score a lot of runs. Seth Smith is not needed.

  13. 13
    Leah Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    KEEP PRADO! I’m having t-shirts made.

  14. 14
    Steve Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    Leah – I’ll take a Large.

    We’ve been talking about it a bit on the Facebook page. Anyone upset (from a baseball perspective) about the non-tendering of Moylan and Brooks?

    To me, it’s the right thing to do on both accounts.

    Agreed on the Chipper in the 2 hole thing. The team did get some offensive life back in it for a while there. Hopefully Prado (is still with the team, first off) and rebounds like we think and then the 2 spot will be in good shape.

  15. 15
    Walker Says:
    December 13th, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    Moylan get hurts too much and will command too much money.

    Brooks is defensively limited and not really a major league hitter.

  16. 16
    David Says:
    December 14th, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    So, the rumor de jour: Braves are talking with Orioles about a possible trade. Adam Jones, possibly? Hey, I think that’d do the trick.

    When I first looked at Jones’ career numbers, I was underwhelmed. He’s never had an OPS over .800, and it looks like he’s a low-OBP, high K, low BB guy. But it also looks like he’s heading in the right direction, what with his HR and RBI totals increasing. He’s a .275-.280 hitter, and he’s only 25 years old, with tons of potential and good years ahead of him.

    Also, baseball-reference.com lists the “most similar players through current age” on each player’s profile, and the one that is most similar to Adam Jones through 25 years old? Dave Winfield. Not bad. He had better OBP numbers early in his career, but if Adam Jones has that kind of potential, then I’d be all for trading JJ and Delgado or Minor for him. Don’t know if that’s what we’d have to give up, but I’d do it.

  17. 17
    Steve Says:
    December 14th, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    David – I’m totally on board as well. Would love to get Adam Jones. It’s pretty exciting stuff.

  18. 18
    Vinnie Says:
    December 14th, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    I would LOVE Adam Jones. To make sure he’s not confused with Adam “pac-man” Jones…can we give him the nickname “Dig Dug”?

  19. 19
    Steve Says:
    December 14th, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Vinnie – good to hear from you. And yes, if we get Adam Jones, you can bestow any nickname you want.

  20. 20
    Leah Says:
    December 14th, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    It’s time for a little commercial break. How about some non-baseball awesomeness?
    http://t.co/McEeLW0a

  21. 21
    Steve Says:
    December 15th, 2011 at 12:12 am

    Leah – thanks for the link. Fabulous version. Although, it’s kinda funny seeing that song (particularly the jam at the end) in front of such a staid crowd. I think I told you this back in April, but that jam got probably the biggest crowd reaction at the Turner Field show.

  22. 22
    Leah Says:
    December 15th, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    I think the staid crowd was just jealous. I agree, every concert I’ve attended that section gets mad crazy wild.

  23. 23
    DAP Says:
    December 16th, 2011 at 11:27 am

    hey guys, havent been in for awhile. thanks for the show, really good job.

    i think alot has to go right for the marlins for them to get to the braves’ level. not saying it couldnt happen, but they need the perfect storm. im reserving judgement on that one.

    as far as pastornicky goes, i think he will be ok batting 8th, but up the middle defense will be a bit of an adventure. that veteran backup will be pretty important, i think.

  24. 24
    DAP Says:
    December 16th, 2011 at 11:33 am

    kate “What the Braves need is a guy who can get on base.”

    amen to that. the key to solving the offensive woes from 2011 is OBP, period. in 2010, they were among league leaders in OBP, and that skill translated into a fairly effective offense, despite not having alot of punch. the braves have power, plenty of it. give my a OBP machine.

  25. 25
    DAP Says:
    December 16th, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Adam Jones is one of the most overrated baseball players i have ever seen. he is barley better than jeff francouer. he doesnt play CF well, doesnt get on base, has bad plate discipline… the only way he could be considered a good ball player was if he could play CF really well. since he cant, he is basically a LFer, OPSing in the mid .700s every year. trading either prado or jurrjens for him would be a huge mistake.

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