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Atlanta Braves 2010 thread

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by charlestonphan, Feb 10, 2010.

  1. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    almost time for pitchers and catchers to report, so i figured it was time for a new thread heading into Bobby Cox's last season as the Braves skipper.

    some news: espn and the Braves web page are both reporting tonite that Atlanta has offered Johnny Damon a one year deal rumored to be in the $4 mill range, with some of it deferred. the Tigers and Rays are also thought to be in the mix, and Damon, who is 36, has said he wants a 2 year deal wherever he goes.

    your thoughts? is he the leadoff man we have been searching for? if he signs, do we move Melky, Diaz, or McClouth? or does this ensure Heyward does not make the team out of spring training?

    Damon had a career high 24 HR and 82 RBI's last season.
     
  2. DevilFin13

    DevilFin13 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    My initial thoughts are the launching pad that was Yankee Stadium and defensive liability. You can overlook the defense if he puts up comparable numbers to last season. But I doubt we would see those HR numbers in Atlanta. He can probably still be a good hitter though. If we can get him for one season I guess it would be ok.
     
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  3. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    all i can say is thank god for baseball otherwise i'd shoot myself in the football offseason....
     
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  4. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I wish I could push the baseball start date back a few weeks/months and call your bluff.
     
  5. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    dude that is just wrong... and yet, i find myself laughing. :lol:
     
  6. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Haha. Lucky is a good sport it's done all in good fun.

    Anyway just so I don't hi-jack the thread, I do feel that the Braves are going to have a pretty good team this year and right now I'd say they're probably the 2nd best team in the NL East and have a real shot at the WC, especially with their pitching rotation although I probably would have let Hudson walk and kept Vasquez. I think their main question mark is in the offense.

    In regards to Damon, if it's a 1 year deal I'd probably try to get it done if I'm the Braves. Sure he's a bad fielder and can probably only play around 130 to 140 games in OF so his body doesn't get beat up too much but he's still a very good hitter and even playing away from Yankee Stadium, he still should be pretty good. Of course if they feel like Heyward is ready I'd probably say thanks but no thanks and use a platoon of Diaz/Hinske/Cabrera in LF and save their money to try and go for a big bat at the trading deadline.
     
  7. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    Love the 2010 staff.......also...per this news....tip of the cap!

    Tom Glavine has decided to retire and accept an invitation to serve as a special assistant to Braves president John Schuerholz.

    Glavine, who turns 44 in March, acknowledged that he was unlikely to pitch again, but this officially puts the cap on a remarkable career for the two-time Cy Young Award winner. With 305 career wins and a 3.54 ERA, we'll be seeing him in Cooperstown in five short years. Along with the new gig in Atlanta's front office, Glavine will join Chip Caray in the Fox Sports South broadcast booth for a limited number of games.
     
  8. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    if it is a one year deal, i like his potential as a leadoff guy, and how it could work out. anything approaching last years offensive output at the leadoff spot would be huge. and i think McClouth's production goes up without the stress of leading off. defensively, he is a definite liability, like you said.
     
  9. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I'm glad they were able to patch things up after what happened last season.
     
  10. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I can't wait for the season to start. I'm too lazy to go to the Braves site right now to see if they open the season at home but if they do I'm probably going to go.
     
  11. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    They open up against the Cubs at home.
     
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  12. catfightreport

    catfightreport Catfight and Female Lover

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    I really think they need to pick up Johnny Damon. He would be a big pick up right now!
     
  13. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    MRI showed no structural damage to Jair Jurrjenn's shoulder, just inflamation. still not great news this time of the year, but it could've been much worse.

    looks like Damon will get the ChiSox or Tigers to pay him what he wants. i wouldnt have minded having him at the top of the order, but not at 2 years, 14 million.

    pitchers and catchers report!
     
  14. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    Meh, it doesn't bother me about Damon. We'd have too many OF'ers at that point, especially since it's likely Heyward will be in the mix.

    My guess is Heyward starts in RF, McLouth in CF, and Melky and Diaz platooning in LF with Melky seeing most of the action (Diaz would most likely start against Lefty's).

    Staff also looks solid. JJ, Hanson, Lowe, Hudson with KK in the mix as well. I'm not sold on Saito, but I really think the pen is gonna be solid this year if guys can stay healthy. Craig Kimbrell may get a shot down there if he has a good Spring. Should be an interesting year.
     
  15. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    that will hopefully be true about Heyward being in the mix, plus Jordan Scheafer's wrist problems will hopefully get put behind him, and there will be a logjam of talented OF ready for at bats at the big league level.

    plus if we signed Damon, the potential for a trade deadline deal would have been limited too, because of the money they would have to spend on him.

    so hopefully someone will step up and fill the leadoff role. that is my only reasoning in wanting Damon.
     
  16. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    Count me as one that does not want to see Johnny Damon sign with Atlanta. I have never understood the infatuation some have had with him. The statheads love the guy to death, and it just amazes me. He's got little to no power. Yes, he hit 24 home runs last year. When you break it down though, he hit 17 home runs and had a .533 SLG at Yankee Stadium last season in 272 AB. On the road, he hit 7 home runs and had a .446 SLG in 278 AB. He is clearly aided by the launching pad at Yankee Stadium.

    When you combine that with the fact that he's a below average defender with a pop gun for an arm in the outfield, and you have a reason to not go after this guy. Why should the Braves replace Matt Diaz in the line up with Johnny Damon?

    Diaz may not run like Damon, but he's got more pop, will hit more doubles, and plays better defense in the outfield than Damon. IMO, Matt Diaz has earned the opportunity to play everyday. I will gag if Melky Cabrera has to play much and gets more time than Matt Diaz. Melky can't hit a lick. He's yet another player that was helped by that launching pad, and it's clear it didn't help him quite as much as it did Damon. Cabrera is a career sub-.720 OPS guy who is nothing more than a 4th or 5th outfielder who is a solid defensive sub since he can play all three spots.

    Arodys Vizcaino better be good, because if he doesn't make it, the Braves got raped on the Vasquez deal.
     
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  17. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    Johnny Damon has apparently chosen to sign with the Detroit Tigers for 1 year, $8 million. Mark Bowman says the Braves were never really in it, and they gave their offer only when they heard that Damon may take it. Bowman says the Braves are confident that Jason Heyward will exit spring training as the starting right fielder, and they are confident in a Matt Diaz/Melky Cabrerra platoon in left field.

    Personaly, the thought of Diaz having to platoon with a much lesser hitter like Cabrerra is nauseating to me. How much more does Diaz have to prove to get a chance to play everyday? The guy can roll out of bed and hit.

    Also, there are some good reports on Jesse Chavez and Scott Proctor, two veteran relievers who were acquired this offseason. Chavez looks to be an inning eater in long relief, and Scott Proctor was a solid reliever a couple of years ago before tearing his UCL. Proctor signed a minor league deal and was thought to be a possibility in May. He completed a 50 pitch session today and looked very good. He could be ready to go by the time camp breaks. Bobby says he will throw him out there in the spring and see what he has.

    And a young guy the Braves appear to be high on is Jose Ortegano. He only has 8 starts above High A ball, so he will probably be in AA at the start of the season. Bobby says that people better get used to hearing his name. Jose has the kind of control that he loves in his pitchers. He's not an overpowering guy, but he's been one of the Braves better control pitchers in the minors.
     
  18. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    another thing Bowman mentioned in the last couple days is that Nate McClouth got contact lenses right after last season ended, and had plenty of time to get used to them, and at least to Nate's thinking, they are already paying dividends in how well he sees the ball off the bat when shagging fly balls this offseason. and also, his hammy that was nagging him last season is all healed up, so hopefully he can get back to that 25-30 steals he had a few years ago.
     
  19. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    Plus, they are forcing him into the leadoff spot. Personaly, I would let Diaz lead off and move McLouth to 5th in the order, but I think speed at the top of the line up is somewhat overrated. I like to put pressure on a defense, but Matt Diaz is a .380 OBP guy. He will get on base. It's not like Bobby is going to give the green light to steal that much anyway.
     
  20. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    [​IMG]

    My kind of player right there! Unshaven, cowboy hat on, with a dip in his lip.
     
  21. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    Have I mentioned that I'm not too thrilled with replacing Adam LaRoche at first base with the often injured third baseman Troy Glaus? If healthy, he will give us some power. When was the last time this guy was healthy though?

    LaRoche is a notoriously slow starter, but I would have kept him over signing Glaus based on the fact that LaRoche is never hurt, is a monster after the AS Break, and is one of the best defenders at this position in baseball. This was clearly a money issue, as the Braves obviously weren't willing to give him the 1 year, $4-5 million deal Arizona gave him. Instead, they give Glaus $1.75 million for one year with another $2.25 million in performance incentives.

    I am a Braves fan through and through, but I am not happy about the Vasquez deal or replacing LaRoche with Glaus.

    I am happy they let Mike Gonzalez walk and will get a sandwich pick and a 2nd round pick for him. That guy was just too inconsistent for me, and I couldn't stand his herky jerky motion on the mound. I'd much rather have an older Billy Wagner, as I have heard he has regained the velocity on his fastball.
     
  22. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    if you are ramping up for a run at the postseason, counting on a healthy Glaus at 1B is leaving alot to chance.

    one of the Braves blogs i read seems to think the Braves will be mortgaging the farm system in a huge way at the trade deadline, in order to rent A-Gon for the last two months of this season and next (ala Texeira) then have Freddy Freeman take things over.
     
  23. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Braves GM needs to learn a MLB fact of life:

    Do not sign Veteran AL players and expect them to contribute very much


    I keep hearing Johnny Damon in conjunction with the Braves and recall Garret Anderson taking 2/3's a season to start hitting, now they are relying on Glaus and I'm thinking this guy doesn't learn.

    They would be better served starting their Rookies and young guys and taking their lumps to start the season.
     
  24. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    I hope not. To get Adrian Gonzalez, it would probably take Jordan Schafer along with two of their three young latin pitchers in A ball, Arodys Vizcaino, Randall Delgado, or Julio Teheran to get the deal done.
     
  25. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    I'm also glad we didn't get Damon. No way he hits 24 homers in the wasteland that is Right-Center field at the Ted.

    And like I said before, we already have too many outfielders. The one good thing about Melky, looking at his splits, is that they were pretty even home and away. I still think he'll platoon with Diaz with Melk seeing most of the action.

    Jordan Schaffer is the Wild Card. I'd actually much prefer moving McLouth to LF is Jordan comes back healthy (many people didn't know about his wrist injury in April last year). It's also not a given that Heyward will start in RF at the start of the season. Everyone thought Hanson was going to be in the rotation from day one last year as well.
     
  26. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    Looks like the Braves are on the verge of signing Dominican SS Super Stud Edward Salcedo. It's pending a physical. He reminds of Yunel Escobar somewhat. He's not big, but he's a pure right-handed hitter with a little pop.
     
  27. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    kind of young, not sure if he'll even be playing in the minor leagues after all according to rotoworld he hasnt been born yet


     
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  28. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    That's funny. They're not sure how old he really is. Supposedly he was born in July of 1991, but no one knows.

    He'll be in Extended ST this year, then probably move to rookie ball. How fast he shoots up the minors is up to him. Heyward did it in two years.

    EDIT: And there's NO WAY he's 6'3. Maybe 6'0. Unless the video's I saw were doctored.
     
  29. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    They say Salcedo is going to be at Spring Training in a few weeks and then be sent to either Rome or Myrtle Beach. Interesting. He's reportedly 18 years old, and they are going to send him to a full season league. Sounds like he may be on the fast track initially.
     
  30. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    Bobby Cox says that the ball coming off Jason Heyward's bat just has a different ring to it. He says it is the same ring Hank Aaron had when the ball came off his bat.

    Then, Tim Hudson says that the ball coming off Jason's bat sounds like a 30-06 being fired. Tim says he was jogging in the outfield and heard a something that sounded like a gun shot. He looked, and it was Jason Heyward taking batting practice.
     
  31. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    Supposedly one of Heywards BP bombs hit the ***. GM's car and did about $3000 worth of damage.
     
  32. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    First ST game today. Hanson will start, then Medlen, Parr, Acosta and...Resop (just threw up in my mouth a little).
     
  33. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    and the game is on MLB network live... Go Braves!
     
  34. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    st? special teams?
     
  35. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    In case you haven't heard, Heyward hit a homer in a game yesterday that was estimated at around 450 feet.
     
  36. charlestonphan

    charlestonphan Junior Member

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    yup, between Bowman and the fox sports blog on the Braves they are drooling over him nonstop.

    i am glad to hear about the bombs, but i absolutel love that he takes every at bat deep into the count, and has drawn several walks already. his plate discipline is said to be very good, especially for someone so young.
     
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  37. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    That is great to see from someone who is 20 and has that kind of power. Apparently he hit the homer off of a 3-2 count that he had worked to from 0-2. I know it's spring training but that's encouraging to see him have that patience after falling behind.
     
  38. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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  39. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    There is no way that package will land Adrian Gonzalez.
     
  40. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    It would be close, but I definitely wouldn't jump at the offer if I'm SD. I see where KB is coming from though, because if SD is going to trade Gonzalez they're going to want mostly prospects in return.

    Also, Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward are untouchable, so mentioning them in any deal just wouldn't be realistic.
     

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