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The Braves announced a couple of early moves, granting free agency to Jorge Campillo, Buddy Carlyle, and Vladimir Nunez. They also outrighted Reid Gorecki but he remains in the organization. No surprises here.
Brian McCann underwent eye surgery again. I know everybody is hoping for a good set of eyes for McCann again, not just for baseball but in everyday life. It's not something to play around with.
AFL Updates:
Jason Heyward: 4-13, 3 2B, RBI, BB, K
Brandon Hicks: 3-13, 3 K
Freddie Freeman: 1-7, 2 BB, 3 K
Craig Kimbrel: 1 IP, 2 BB
Stephen Strasburg made his debut yesterday, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and one walk and struck out two. Strasburg averaged 95 MPH with the fastball, topped at 98, and reached 97 six other times. The Braves will be seeing him next season.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Braves Promote DeMacio
The Braves have promoted Tony DeMacio to scouting director, replacing the departing Roy Clark. DeMacio is a 63-year-old scout best known for signing Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones. Not a bad resume.
He left the Braves and has worked for the Indians, Cubs, Orioles, and Pirates before returning to the Braves in 2006.
He left the Braves and has worked for the Indians, Cubs, Orioles, and Pirates before returning to the Braves in 2006.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Hudson Denying Rosenthal Article
That's what happens when you fall behind in the insider department. You start posting stuff you don't know about more often. Ken Rosenthal's article on Tuesday stated Tim Hudson was on his way out of Atlanta. Rosenthal was certain the Braves would exercise the mutual option and Hudson would decline, opting to test free agency. Why he would ever think any of these things is beyond me.
David O' Brien actually talked to Hudson instead, and said Hudson thought it was a misunderstanding. Hudson says nothing has happened yet but of course the time will come soon (a decision has to be made by pretty soon). It's clear Hudson doesn't want the option, and I would like to guess that the Braves would rather work an extension out.
O' Brien has recently updated his report to an article, further saying that Hudson denies anything from the Rosenthal article.
"This makes me sound like I'm saying ‘Screw y'all, I'm out of here,' which isn't the case at all," Hudson told the Journal-Constitution. "I've said all along that Atlanta was the place I want to be and that I'm willing to give them a hometown discount.
"I just hope when we start talking, my idea of a hometown discount and their idea of a hometown discount isn't 5 or 8 million [dollars] apart. That's the only thing that could put a wrench in the whole thing."
David O' Brien actually talked to Hudson instead, and said Hudson thought it was a misunderstanding. Hudson says nothing has happened yet but of course the time will come soon (a decision has to be made by pretty soon). It's clear Hudson doesn't want the option, and I would like to guess that the Braves would rather work an extension out.
O' Brien has recently updated his report to an article, further saying that Hudson denies anything from the Rosenthal article.
"This makes me sound like I'm saying ‘Screw y'all, I'm out of here,' which isn't the case at all," Hudson told the Journal-Constitution. "I've said all along that Atlanta was the place I want to be and that I'm willing to give them a hometown discount.
"I just hope when we start talking, my idea of a hometown discount and their idea of a hometown discount isn't 5 or 8 million [dollars] apart. That's the only thing that could put a wrench in the whole thing."
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Minor Makes AFL Debut
Mike Minor made his AFL debut tonight, throwing two innings. He allowed one unearned run on one hit, walking two and not striking out any. Buster Posey reached base on an error by the third baseman and eventually scored on a groundout. One of the two walks allowed him to get to second, but the other didn't affect Minor's outing.
Also, Jason Heyward has a double and scored.
Also, Jason Heyward has a double and scored.
Roy Clark to Nationals
The Braves have lost Roy Clark to the Nationals. Clark took a promotion as assistant GM for Washington, taking over the entire scouting department and serving as vice president of player personnel. While he is entering a tough position, I can understand how good the duties look and how that drove him to taking the job.
Frank Wren now has to replace Bobby Cox and Roy Clark. These two upcoming hirings could be huge for Wren.
Frank Wren now has to replace Bobby Cox and Roy Clark. These two upcoming hirings could be huge for Wren.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Final Grades: Outfield
The final review of the Braves grades focuses on the outfield.
The outfield was terrible in 2008 and needed an overhaul similar to the rotation. However, it didn't happen, and the Braves were left powerless in the outfield. Whether Frank Wren just put the problem to the side and hoped it worked itself out or spent so much money on the rotation that he couldn't afford a power bat, leaving the outfield like it was coming into the season was a big mistake. Such a big mistake that it likely cost the Braves a trip to the playoffs.
Garret Anderson: (C)
"Anderson still produces at a high rate, driving in at least 80 runs the past four years despite a drop in at bats. However, he doesn’t provide the power the Braves are sorely lacking. He will hold the position for a year in a platoon with Matt Diaz."
Garret Anderson has the emptiest bat I've ever seen, meaning he doesn't produce, and when he does it's meaningless. He hit .268, which is an average average for him, but his OPS was .705 because his OBP was .303. He only walked 27 times. Despite having a decent idea of the strike zone and fouling off a lot of pitches, he doesn't walk and his bat has slowed to the point of not being able to take advantage of those high fastballs like he used to. I was borderline with the signing early on, but it proved to be terrible, and yet he remained the starter all season. At least we know he won't be in 2010.
Matt Diaz: (B+)
"Diaz doesn’t have the power for an everyday man but is a very capable member of a platoon. He is back and looking to put 2008 behind him, and will resume his role as the right-handed side of the left field platoon."
If only this guy had power, he'd be one of the best hitters in baseball. Unfortunately, he had 13 homers and 18 doubles. Diaz knows how to drive in runs but does it with singles. Despite a BB/K ratio of 35/90, his OPS was .878 mainly due to a .390 OBP. It's amazing how he does it: swinging at a fastball above his head before driving an 0-2 curve to the right field gap like it's nothing. As long as the Braves continue to get lefty outfielders, Diaz will have a job. It's pretty certain they will because the right side of the platoon has served the Braves well over the past few years. Now the left side is a different story.
Brandon Jones: (N/A)
"Jones has shown glimpses of power but not enough to give management the confidence to put him in left field everyday. The signing of Anderson and the return of Diaz means another year of AAA with a late call up."
Brandon Jones is getting old. A 25-year-old that is destined to start in the majors has already earned the job in most cases. But Jones has never been given an opportunity with the Braves. They could have saved the money used to sign Anderson and just as easily gotten the same production from Jones. He hits left handed like Anderson, too. Jones went 4-13 with four walks in his 2009 stint in Atlanta (that's close to Anderson's season total...ok not really). Now the Braves are looking to sign a right handed power bat, further showing their distrust in Jones. If he doesn't earn the left side of the platoon in 2010, I'm giving up on his chances.
Nate McLouth: (B-)
Nate McLouth took a step backwards from his 2008 season and didn't really show much as a Brave. He posted the usual sub-.350 OBP but his SLG went from .497 to .436 (.419 as a Brave). After 46 doubles in 2008, he had just 27 this year. Hopefully it's a case of changing teams for the first time in his big league career, and he'll be back to form in 2010. Turning 28 years old is my main logic behind that statement. Either way he's the starter in Atlanta for several more years.
Jordan Schafer: (C-)
"If he can prove he can handle the everyday job this Spring, he will win the center field battle. If not, he will start everyday at AAA and make an appearance in Atlanta late in the season."
Schafer did win the job out of spring training, but it's probably the worst thing that could have happened for him. He put so much pressure on himself that he apparently played through a wrist injury and let it cost him his job (was sent down and then went on the 60-day DL...I'd say that's enough reason to believe). He struck out 63 times in 167 at bats with the Braves, but there's really no way of knowing what he's fully capable of, not to mention he's 23. But whether his experience as a rookie damages him will be seen...someday.
Jeff Francoeur: (F-)
"He is said to have a new approach and mindset. All eyes will be on him because this could very well be his last chance to lock down right field in Atlanta."
I usually just grade players that ended the season with the team, but I can't help but do this. Notice I didn't take a side on my statement in my preview. I left a tiny, tiny, tiny window for Francoeur in 2009. He shut it with my finger stuck inside. Francoeur will never be a good hitter. He can drive in 162 runs with a .300 average for the next 10 years and still never be a good hitter. His rear end was booted out of Atlanta, yet he was the lone bright spot in the second half for New York. The difference between the two? A .352 SLG as a Brave and a .498 SLG as a Met. If he doesn't produce, he drags an entire offense down. If I was a Mets fan (I shudder at the thought), I would be praying every night this winter that Francoeur keeps that SLG percentage up.
Ryan Church: (B)
Ryan Church is a decent enough outfielder but isn't a starter. He was brought to Atlanta just to get Francoeur out. Church's power is limited to doubles (28), but he gets on base at a decent enough rate to keep him in there (16/22 BB/K....347 OBP as a Brave). Hopefully the Braves will replace him next year (if not they will be showing a complete lack of desire to reach the playoffs), but I wouldn't mind keeping him around as a backup. He plays good defense and can play in center if needed.
Gregor Blanco, Reid Gorecki: (N/A)
Neither will ever play in Atlanta.
The outfield was terrible in 2008 and needed an overhaul similar to the rotation. However, it didn't happen, and the Braves were left powerless in the outfield. Whether Frank Wren just put the problem to the side and hoped it worked itself out or spent so much money on the rotation that he couldn't afford a power bat, leaving the outfield like it was coming into the season was a big mistake. Such a big mistake that it likely cost the Braves a trip to the playoffs.
Garret Anderson: (C)
"Anderson still produces at a high rate, driving in at least 80 runs the past four years despite a drop in at bats. However, he doesn’t provide the power the Braves are sorely lacking. He will hold the position for a year in a platoon with Matt Diaz."
Garret Anderson has the emptiest bat I've ever seen, meaning he doesn't produce, and when he does it's meaningless. He hit .268, which is an average average for him, but his OPS was .705 because his OBP was .303. He only walked 27 times. Despite having a decent idea of the strike zone and fouling off a lot of pitches, he doesn't walk and his bat has slowed to the point of not being able to take advantage of those high fastballs like he used to. I was borderline with the signing early on, but it proved to be terrible, and yet he remained the starter all season. At least we know he won't be in 2010.
Matt Diaz: (B+)
"Diaz doesn’t have the power for an everyday man but is a very capable member of a platoon. He is back and looking to put 2008 behind him, and will resume his role as the right-handed side of the left field platoon."
If only this guy had power, he'd be one of the best hitters in baseball. Unfortunately, he had 13 homers and 18 doubles. Diaz knows how to drive in runs but does it with singles. Despite a BB/K ratio of 35/90, his OPS was .878 mainly due to a .390 OBP. It's amazing how he does it: swinging at a fastball above his head before driving an 0-2 curve to the right field gap like it's nothing. As long as the Braves continue to get lefty outfielders, Diaz will have a job. It's pretty certain they will because the right side of the platoon has served the Braves well over the past few years. Now the left side is a different story.
Brandon Jones: (N/A)
"Jones has shown glimpses of power but not enough to give management the confidence to put him in left field everyday. The signing of Anderson and the return of Diaz means another year of AAA with a late call up."
Brandon Jones is getting old. A 25-year-old that is destined to start in the majors has already earned the job in most cases. But Jones has never been given an opportunity with the Braves. They could have saved the money used to sign Anderson and just as easily gotten the same production from Jones. He hits left handed like Anderson, too. Jones went 4-13 with four walks in his 2009 stint in Atlanta (that's close to Anderson's season total...ok not really). Now the Braves are looking to sign a right handed power bat, further showing their distrust in Jones. If he doesn't earn the left side of the platoon in 2010, I'm giving up on his chances.
Nate McLouth: (B-)
Nate McLouth took a step backwards from his 2008 season and didn't really show much as a Brave. He posted the usual sub-.350 OBP but his SLG went from .497 to .436 (.419 as a Brave). After 46 doubles in 2008, he had just 27 this year. Hopefully it's a case of changing teams for the first time in his big league career, and he'll be back to form in 2010. Turning 28 years old is my main logic behind that statement. Either way he's the starter in Atlanta for several more years.
Jordan Schafer: (C-)
"If he can prove he can handle the everyday job this Spring, he will win the center field battle. If not, he will start everyday at AAA and make an appearance in Atlanta late in the season."
Schafer did win the job out of spring training, but it's probably the worst thing that could have happened for him. He put so much pressure on himself that he apparently played through a wrist injury and let it cost him his job (was sent down and then went on the 60-day DL...I'd say that's enough reason to believe). He struck out 63 times in 167 at bats with the Braves, but there's really no way of knowing what he's fully capable of, not to mention he's 23. But whether his experience as a rookie damages him will be seen...someday.
Jeff Francoeur: (F-)
"He is said to have a new approach and mindset. All eyes will be on him because this could very well be his last chance to lock down right field in Atlanta."
I usually just grade players that ended the season with the team, but I can't help but do this. Notice I didn't take a side on my statement in my preview. I left a tiny, tiny, tiny window for Francoeur in 2009. He shut it with my finger stuck inside. Francoeur will never be a good hitter. He can drive in 162 runs with a .300 average for the next 10 years and still never be a good hitter. His rear end was booted out of Atlanta, yet he was the lone bright spot in the second half for New York. The difference between the two? A .352 SLG as a Brave and a .498 SLG as a Met. If he doesn't produce, he drags an entire offense down. If I was a Mets fan (I shudder at the thought), I would be praying every night this winter that Francoeur keeps that SLG percentage up.
Ryan Church: (B)
Ryan Church is a decent enough outfielder but isn't a starter. He was brought to Atlanta just to get Francoeur out. Church's power is limited to doubles (28), but he gets on base at a decent enough rate to keep him in there (16/22 BB/K....347 OBP as a Brave). Hopefully the Braves will replace him next year (if not they will be showing a complete lack of desire to reach the playoffs), but I wouldn't mind keeping him around as a backup. He plays good defense and can play in center if needed.
Gregor Blanco, Reid Gorecki: (N/A)
Neither will ever play in Atlanta.
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