bullpen help?

by KC Braves on Jun 29, 2008 2:06 PM EDT

a lot of talk has been made recently about the braves looking to acquire a corner outfield bat. while i do think the braves could use another bat, im also looking for bullpen help. with moylan and smoltz on the shelf and the uncertainty of soriano's health. i think if the braves are going to even think about contending this year they need to get a reliable setup man, because im getting fed up with watching manny acosta come in and again and again blow tight games. anyway im thinking brian fuentes. With the rockies struggling as badly as they are right now, theyll probably be looking to sell at the deadline and we've heard fuentes name in possible trade talks for what seems like years now and despite his struggles last night (asshole killed my fantasy team), i think hed fit in quite nicely setting up gonzalez in the eighth.

speaking of impact bats, i dont know if anyone saw it there was a good read on mlbtraderumors the other day making a case for the braves to acquire barry bonds, now while i still think the deepest darkest corner of hell is reserved for bonds it was an interesting thought although im not a big fan of the guy's projected lineup...heres the link

http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2008/06/do-it-why-the-braves-should-sign-barry-bonds/

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Acosta

We could start with DFA’ing Acosta, or releasing him. Addition by subtraction.

by skipcaray on Jun 29, 2008 3:29 PM EDT 0 recs

we don’t need bullpen help. we need an OF that can hit over 10 homers and get an average above .270

by bigjoe on Jun 29, 2008 3:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Barry Bonds?

by jjcollins on Jun 29, 2008 5:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Edmonds

How smart would we be looking now if we’d have signed Jim Edmonds after he was released by San Diego? Of course, at the time, who wanted a 900-year old outfielder, but he’s sure gotten hot lately.

by skipcaray on Jun 29, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

You're right

Also helps to play in Wrigley vs Petco, but a change of scenery has helped him.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

the problem is

we all know that bobby has his guys that he likes and uses everyday and right now because of that the braves are basically playing with a 5 man pen- acosta, bennett, gonzalez, ohman, and boyer. We might as well not even have ring and any combination of carlyle, stockman, and ridgway on the roster. Adding fuentes, would give the braves another solid option that bobby could go to and help spread the work out among six guys rather than five.

but you are right the braves have the worst outfield in baseball and that needs to be addressed as well

by KC Braves on Jun 29, 2008 4:16 PM EDT 0 recs

RE: Worst outfield

based on what? Frenchy is struggling. Jones has had trouble in the last couple games but is doing well. Blanco is holding his own. I don’t think they are the worst in baseball.

Why do we need OFs when you although young, Anderson, Jones, Blanco, Schafer, Diaz, Kotsay (when healthy) and Francoeur (when not sucking) are all capable players. We are probably going to have to actually get rid of some OFs.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

re: re: worst outfield

maybe i shouldve clarified, worst in the majors this year. its based on the fact that our rightfielder has an embarrassing .679 OPS. Brandon jones has never proven he can hit big league pitching, yeah you look and hes hitting .278, but only .219 since the anaheim series and looked completely overwhelmed today against the blue jays. Blanco yes has been very good but he cannot cover up the defencies of the two corner outfield spots.

out of the outfielders you named, how many can be looked at as long term solutions? certainly not kotsay or diaz. anderson projects as nothing more than a fourth outfielder and like i said jones still hasnt proven that he can consistently hit major league pitching and is widely considered to be a trading piece anyway, which leaves schafer and francoeur (if he ever quits sucking).

by KC Braves on Jun 29, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

I can’t think of an outfield that’s worse than ours is right now, but two of the three are rookie callups that are only here due to injury. And of course there’s Francoeur…

But, hopefully we’ll get Kotsay back soon. That should help a lot, but he’s not a big bat. Still, it would be nice to have another runner on from time to time for Francoeur to strand.

by skipcaray on Jun 29, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

exactly what I was about to say.

I don’t disagree with you KC Braves, I guess I just don’t fully agree. Perhaps I’m in denial. I still feel like Francoeur will eventually right himself and that B. Jones (even if he is a trading piece) will be a major leaguer soon. Kotsay can help us, even if his injury will nag him for the rest of the season. I also forget Gorkys on the list. So I think the future of the outfield seems pretty good.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

To KC Braves: Address what outfield problem?

Why do we need to add outfielders when we have multiple rich outfield prospects? I’m not talking about Jones, Anderson, or Diaz, I’m talking about Schafer, Hernandez, Blanco, and Heyward. If you knew anything at all about our farm system, which you don’t, you wouldn’t be that worried. Schafer is our top prospect, Hernandez is widely believed to be a Carl Crawford type player, Blanco has been turning it on lately and has UNREAL speed, and Heyward could develop into a 40+ homer player. Sure the outfield we have had for the past THREE weeks hasn’t produced, but only Frenchy is an original starter in the outfield right now. You shouldn’t expect Jones and Blanco to be All-Stars right now.

by ctrain7379 on Jun 30, 2008 12:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

ctrain

first off i want to apologize for making such an outlandsish post without first consulting you, our resident braves/farm system expert

yes, im well aware schafer is our top prospect and of heyward’s power, blanco’s speed, gorkys potential. But coming into this season, i think we all felt like the braves had a very good shot at making it back to october this year. we were even a trendy pick by the “experts” to be in the world series. And thats what this post was about… how do we get to the playoffs in 08? with Schafer still at least a year away and heyward and gorkys still multiple years away, those are guys that, while talented, cant help us right now. No, i dont expect jones and blanco to be all-stars right now, but coming into this season blanco was supposed to be our fourth outfielder and jones was supposed to be in AAA all year, not be our best options to start everyday. And while both have served admirably, in a tough situation we need more, not necessarily from blanco in CF, but certainly from whoever is in left. Bottom line is we need more offensive production coming from our outfielders as a whole, which means francoeur has got to stop sucking and we need a corner outfielder that can drive in runs, that combined with whatever kotsay/blanco can give us should help this team dramatically.

by KC Braves on Jun 30, 2008 2:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

Don’t forget that if Glavine and Hampton are ever able to come back, the Bobby will probably move Campillo and maybe Morton to the pen.

by bravesooner10 on Jun 29, 2008 4:38 PM EDT 0 recs

Here's the Deal.

I think we have enough arms, it’s just a matter of using the right ones properly. Stockman could help this team very much. Acosta should be in AAA and I do believe he has options, so there’s no excuse. The much-maligned Boyer is also a quality arm, as long as you keep him out of the high leverage situations.

P.S.: I’ve advocated elsewhere, ever since I learned that he’d play for the league minimum, that the Braves sign Barry Bonds.

Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!

by ejruiz on Jun 29, 2008 5:00 PM EDT 0 recs

No Barry.

Based on principle.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 5:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

What principle? We already have a wife beater and a womanizer on our team….not to mention other players we’ve had in the past with issues.

by jjcollins on Jun 29, 2008 5:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

the principle

that he can’t field or run the bases. And that he’s a huge asshole.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

If u read the article there was a very meaningful line, you can make you for your mind what you lack in the heels. Don’t forget, Bonds while a huge dousche, has a very high baseball IQ. This means he can play the OF at a respectable level, his nbrs last year werent even the worst for all the LF with the qualifying ABs. He was 2nd or 3rd to worst, which is by no stretch good. But when chipper is out he can bat third, and he’ll be on base constantly. and i cant imagine a scenario where he wont contribute on the field, the only thing is will be hurt our young guys.

If for some reason he decides to talk to Jeff, that would be the greatest possible thing ever. If Barry could pass his strike zone knowledge on to Frenchy, Frenchy would be much improved, obviously.

Also, remember we have very strong character guys in our locker room, Chipper, Smoltzie, Bobby Cox. I think that would keep things in order.

If we only have to pay him 500k or w/e it is, i am all for it. he would help us in the playoffs, and getting us to the playoffs.

by Swo12bv on Jun 29, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just Image

Chipper – Tex – Bonds back to back to back in the lineup

by jjcollins on Jun 29, 2008 8:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

again, why I'm a bad GM

Because regardless of his contributions, which you have pointed out and I do not disagree Swo12bv, I cannot stand Bonds and I would not want him on my team. Someone pointed out that we have womanizers and wifebeaters on the team. Obviously I don’t think that is a good thing, but there are several differences. For one, Bonds’ tainted the game. If anybody still thinks he didn’t juice you’re crazy. If anybody defends him by saying everybody was doing it, I disagree and that’s a lame argument. Not only did he juice, he wants to pretend he didn’t and somehow thinks that people will believe him. Including the federal government. I have a little more respect for guys like Giambi, because while he did juice he admitted it and has moved past it. So not only has Bonds tainted the game, he has lied under oath and is delusional to think that anybody still believes he’s clean. Not only that, but the guy is a prick. Plain and simple. He’s an ass to the media, and I’ve heard stories from people working in the front offices of teams how much of an ass he is to them.

Anyway, apparently I’m not the only bad GM, because so far nobody else wants this dickhead on their team either. How pitiful is that? I mean, arguably Bonds could contribute as much or more to a team than a guy like Tom Glavine and nobody will touch him. Not even for under $1 mil!

I’m not trying to make anything personal with you all that are suggesting Bonds, because I agree that in theory he could produce, but the number 1 player in the history of baseball that I can’t stand is Barry Bonds.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm with you jug

by secondbass on Jun 29, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Let's just...

sign Roger Clemens, bring Pacman Jones to Atlanta and with Mike Vick already we’ll just have a city with teams full of horrible human beings. Yes Bonds is still a very capable player, but for heaven’s sake we are the Braves, and we do things the right way. We don’t sign circus acts like Bonds just to try to win another pennant. The Braves don’t need a distraction like Bonds, and it would be a slap in the face to Hank Aaron. This is Atlanta, not New York.

by tgriffith3 on Jun 30, 2008 12:38 AM EDT up 0 recs

Amen!

by secondbass on Jun 30, 2008 8:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

i....cant....believe......it

I cant even understand why, or even fathom the fact that someone did, suggest Barry Bonds would come to the Braves.

Yes, he’d be cheap, he’d give some wisdom to FYF (if he was in the mood), he’d get on base, he’d hit HRs. But he’s Barry Bonds. #1 Douchebag of the Year for like thirty years strong. No way we’re having him taint our uniforms and even have the chance to redeem himself on our time. EFFFFF that.

by traphicg on Jun 30, 2008 9:32 AM EDT up 0 recs

thanks

I am glad others feel the same as me!

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 30, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

Flags fly forever, his jersey won’t.

The massive upgrade Bonds would provide over the Diaz/Jones/Blanco combo that’s been run out so far in left field would be on the order of 3-4 wins over the next three months. That’s the differance between making the playoffs and staying home again.

Yeah, he’s an asshole. He’s also one of the ten best hitters in baseball and can’t bring himself down to Diaz levels with his defense. Plenty of guys can’t field or run the bases, not many can hit at Bonds’ level.

by 17843 on Jun 30, 2008 6:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

i guess im torn, becuase i was a big bonds fan growing up, of course i liked griffey better. I have held on to that throughout the years. I realize he took something, who knows what it was, i realize he is a dousche, but i think in the right situation his attitude will have less of an impact, and i think our clubhouse can do that. Im being very hypocritical, becuase i always value a character guy who produces less than an idiot (for lack of a better word)... I was more trying to justify his signing, and i think he can help and from that standpoint it makes sense. He adds so much to the team, attendance and performance. on the other posts everyone is looking to increase our OF production, this move would do that.

SO i can’t argue that Bonds is a doushe, i just dont hate him as much as most people.

P.S. I have a tremendous amount of respect for JAson Giambi and guys like Fernando Vina, who came out and said I did steroids/HGH. sure those guys both admitted to it after they were accused, but thats better than admitting it. For me i have no angst against Giambi becuase of the way he handled it and in reality i respect him now more than i could have before.

by Swo12bv on Jun 30, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think

I know who the “womanizer” is…who is the wife beater?

by WienerDog on Jul 2, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bobby Cox

I'm gettin' out of this town alive...even if it kills me.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jul 2, 2008 4:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Aah

I guess I was trying to think of an actual playa.

by WienerDog on Jul 3, 2008 8:43 AM EDT up 0 recs

Also

There have been times when Acosta or Boyer have cost us a game, but more often our problem is OFFENSE! You have to score runs in order to when. You have to get guys around in order to score. We can’t seem to get hits at the right times.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 5:43 PM EDT 0 recs

offense

our recent offensive woes have come as a result of injuries, if we can get some of these guys healthy i think we’ll be alright. put blanco back in left and replace norton/b.jones with kotsay, replace gotay with chipper and lillibridge with escobar and youve got back the team that was leading the NL in batting before all the injuries happened. That being said, i like greg blanco a lot but we need more run production from a corner outfielder.

also, Ej ruiz you make a good point and i agree that we do probably have internal options that we could go to, but the problem is that bobby doesnt use anyone but the 5 guys i already menioned. adding fuentes would give bobby another proven, reliable option that he might be more inclined to go to.

by KC Braves on Jun 29, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

the frustrating thing

this is all true. Our pitching shows up when our offense takes a series off and our offense seems to be at its best when our pitching is at its worse. If we could just get both going at the same time, we’d be 4.5+ in front of everybody.

I still feel like when everybody is healthy we have one of the best teams in the NL, if not in baseball, on paper. So far, that team hasn’t been hitting on all cylinders. If getting fresh blood is the answer, than I’m all for it. I guess the reason I’m not a GM (and a good thing too) is because I’d probably take the wait and see approach, assuming that at some point this team will turn things around.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jun 29, 2008 8:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

on the other hand u might be a good GM because ur able to wait and see,

see….. any Yankee GM for the past 10 years, or George Steinbrenner

by Swo12bv on Jun 29, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

As long as

As long as Terry Pendleton is the batting coach then our hitters are gonna continue to struggle.. He is ruining Frenchy just like he did Andruw…...Coincidence, I think not!!!! JMHO

Roll Tide Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sabanholic on Jun 30, 2008 11:07 PM EDT 0 recs

yeah…blame terry for francoeur’s inability to swing at strikes, and andruw’s inability to…well…swing like a human being

by bigjoe on Jul 1, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

um, no.

TP has been there since 2001. I do not think anybody has complained about him before now. Also, if you remember, Andruw had some of his best years as a hitter in 2003, 2005 and 2006. You can look it up to see how good he was, but he did win a SS in ‘05 and finished 2nd in the MVP voting.

Give me some empirical evidence (statistics or something) to back up that TP is “ruining” hitters? I don’t understand how you can even make that comment.

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jul 2, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up 0 recs