Derek Lowe signs with the Atlanta Braves

by gondeee on Jan 13, 2009 11:21 AM EST in Free Agents Comment 116 comments

Holy crap! The signings are rolling one after another this week. On the heels of Kenshin Kawakami signing, the Braves have signed Derek Lowe to a four-year $60 million contract. From the AJC:

They’ve agreed to terms with veteran pitcher Derek Lowe on a four-year, $60 million contract, a person familiar with negotiations said this morning. The deal will be finalized after Lowe takes a physical Wednesday.

Nice. That's going to be a nice rotation:

Derek Lowe
Kenshin Kawakami
Javier Vazquez
Jair Jurrjens
Jorge Campillo

That reminds me of a vintage 1990's Braves rotation, and now we don't have to rush Tommy Hanson.

So what does everyone think of Frank Wren now?

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MLBTR quoted some Japanese website saying that the KK signing was for $24mil over the course of the contract. How much money does that leave us with? Or is it looking like the OF bat will come via trade?

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Assuming $8 mil for Kawakami and $15 mil for Lowe, I think that puts us at about $80-85 mil which means we may have upwards of another $10 mil or so to spend.

by ajones2522 on Jan 13, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Erase My Doubts about Frank Wren

On more than one occasion I questioned whether Frank Wren could close a deal (Dan Kolb?) but he has had a helluva week and from the sounds of things it might not be over.

As I finish up the last fragments of my platter of fresh crow I too am excited about the future. Quite a turnaround!

War Frank!!

by Mike de La Hoz on Jan 13, 2009 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ive outed u, u commie ur a fan of Jim Rome arnt u?

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 14, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, no fan of Rome

I haven’t listened to him in years and I had forgotten he used the term…I have brought shame to myself and this forum.

A thousand pardons!

by Mike de La Hoz on Jan 14, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully everyone’s undies will unbunch now.

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

SIGN MANNY!!!

by jjcollins on Jan 13, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Im starting to feel the fever!!

by dabraves on Jan 13, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good pick up. I won’t rip on Wren or praise him just yet. But if the team performs well I will give him his props. I hope everyone stays healthy.

And yes, I think the bat will come via trade. Still would not mind Dunn or Abreu.

by Jerret Anderson on Jan 13, 2009 11:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

So, if the team performs poorly you will blame it on Wren? That makes zero sense.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I love results-based analysis!

Trading Hanson for Adam Eaton = success if Hanson implodes and Eaton is sucessful
Trading Ridgway for Albert Pujols = failure if Pujols gets a career ending injury while Ridgway turns into Johan Santana

by VictorW on Jan 13, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At least...

you’re admitting right from the start that you are going to second-guess on this one.

by sddbaker on Jan 13, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would switch that around

I would switch around Kawakami and Jurrjens giving us a rotation of:

Lowe
Jurrjens
Vazquez
Kawakami
Campillo-Glavine-Morton-Reyes-Hanson

All of a sudden we have a potentially very powerful rotation and a lot of depth. My guess is we consider trading Morton or Reyes for our power hitting OF. And most people aren’t including Hanson in the discussion for the 5th spot but I will disagree. If he shows what he did in the AFL I think you have to include him in the rotation.

That would allow us to use Campillo as a long relief spot starter which I think he is better suited for anyway, and Morton or Reyes used in a trade leaving the other one in AAA as depth if one of our starters in injured. Glavine will not be in the mix IMO.

by Fischerking on Jan 13, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ditto on Campillo

Though I think Morton is more likely for the 5th spot than Hanson, simply because nobody wants to rush him. I think the Braves preference is definitely to move Reyes. We’ll see, but I wonder which OF are really available. Does Ryan Ludwick make sense? Ankiel? Swisher? Nady? Those are the available names that I have heard (not including Dye who makes about $10 million per).

by Andy Braves Fan on Jan 13, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm still not sure it's rushing him.

Jair and Tommy are the same ages, if Tommy can win a spot in the rotation I bet they give it to him.

by someguy917 on Jan 13, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jair has also been playing professionally since he was 17, so the age thing is a much bigger difference than their chronological ages.

by cbwilk on Jan 13, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not like Tommy Hanson was sleeping on the couch everyday until he was 19 (which is when he started).

by someguy917 on Jan 13, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s funny, and true, but there’s a pretty big difference between high school and college and pro ball. That’s why JJ has a full season and a part of another in the bigs and Tommy has half a year in AA. At the same age.

I’m not saying I disagree that Tommy can win a job in ST, he’s definitely good enough, but if he does, the fact that he’s the same age as JJ won’t have a thing to do with it.

by cbwilk on Jan 13, 2009 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Right now I think Morton is slotted as the #5 with Campillo falling into the “long” relief role. Hanson/Reyes (if Reyes isn’t traded) would be used as injury replacements. Then again, there is still a lot that can happen between now and the end of spring training.

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Check out the video linked about Andruw Jones from Mlbtraderumors. What the reporter said was typically stupid but that slimmed down guy swinging the bat looks an awful lot like a guy I used to know who won quite a few Gold Gloves. If that man was serious enough to finally get back into shape, he just might be worth taking a look at.

"Fools rush in where fools have been before"

by jeg on Jan 13, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

How the hell does it remind you of a vintage 1990’s Braves staff? I don’t see three future hall-of-famers on there throwing 230 innings of 3.00 ERA.

That being said, I like the signing, and the rotation is looking so much better than it did at the beginning of the offseason.

by drdonkeypunch on Jan 13, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Heh

Indeed. But I agree, this is a nice looking rotation and maybe, just maybe a big OF bat away from a contendah??

by WienerDog on Jan 13, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like the signing

I remember pegging Lowe as probably the best option in my overloaded pitch f/x post a few months back. Would have preferred 3 years to 4, but solid signing. Much more preferable to Burnett.

1. Groundball pitcher
2. Great infield defense
3. ????
4. Profit!

by VictorW on Jan 13, 2009 12:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol at “Profit!”

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

we still need a lefty how about mark redmond

by Brandonba on Jan 13, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey - that's my line!

But you’re right, Mark Redman would totally balance out the rotation. You know Delgado, Howard, Utley, and Ibanez would all sit against MR, thus enhancing our chances of beating the Mets and Phillies by about 1000%.

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jan 13, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i spelled him wrong though redman. im not worried about not have a lefty. now we need a clean up hitter and we’re done.

by Brandonba on Jan 13, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Done

Just give Todd Redmond a bat

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

who wil it be? maggs, swisher, nady, ludwick, dye anybody else i cant think of any?

by Brandonba on Jan 13, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Barry Bonds

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

id hang myself i cant stand that guy

by Brandonba on Jan 13, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Me neither...

However, it does make you go hmmmmmmm.

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 7:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it does.

I want to go….

Hmmmmmmmm, how fast can I stab myself?

by mburris1 on Jan 13, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hahahahaha…now that is funny!

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Finally, a win! Glad we were finally able to get someone to take our money…

by Mike Kerns on Jan 13, 2009 12:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

if....just if..

andruw can rebound to the #s of .250 .340 25-30 hr and 90-100 rbis (assuming the obvious, that we are going to sign him), and we can acquire a guy like nady or ludwick for a few players that are basically useless to us (prado, morton, reyes,), this team could be…..well…good. i am still guessing that a trade with the yankees for nady will have to include soriano, which, if moylan bounces back, is not a bad thing. a few trade scenarios that i could see developing in the next few weeks.

soriano and prado to the yanks for nady
kj for ludwick/ankiel
prado and soriano for brian roberts (man, how cool would it be to see frank wren get ludwick to man left field, then turn around and acquire brian roberts to play 2nd. talk about a legit leadoff hitter. imagine the lineup:

roberts
escobar
chipper
ludwick
mccann
andruw
kotchman
francoeur (i really wish he wasnt included in a 2009 braves lineup, but it will probably happen)

by ryan c on Jan 13, 2009 12:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Roberts would cost a LOT more than prado and soriano. And correct me if I’m wrong, but I think he’s a FA after next year.

I would love a Soriano + Prado for Swisher trade, personally.

by coldriver10 on Jan 13, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

now you’re just being silly. stop it

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

why trade pieces of our most dominant aspect right now (the last 3 innings of the bullpen)? that would be robbing peter to pay paul.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 13, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i aint givin paul shit… that piece of crap owes me $10

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 14, 2009 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All Righty

Lowe is one of those guys who creeps-up on you. He’s been throu the wars. Steady. Now lets sign us someone who can mash. Wonder if Mags is available? Dunn on for a 1 year deal?

As for our rotation, lets say Hanson becomes one of those phenoms lights out guys and is in the rotation around the all-star break.
Tommy Hanson
Derek Lowe
J Jurries
Javier Vasquez

Nice starting 4. Not so sure about the Kawakami. Figure Morton or Reyes for trade-bait.

by jbird29 on Jan 13, 2009 12:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

^^^^^^^^^^

hahaha

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

^^^^^^^^^^^

Whats wrong with Dunn-der-head ?

by jbird29 on Jan 13, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

^^^^^

Let’s just say Lowe’s arm breaks in a roller blading accident, and Vazquez punches Bobby in the nose…..Hanson doesn’t give up a hit in his first four outtings…Then the rotation might be…

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kawakami

would be better than Hanson right now. just please, stop it. lol.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 13, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

adam dunn wants 4/56. YIPES

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

But MLBtraderumors.com said Dunn was leaning towards ATL….. Aww shucks…

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure

if Wren touched base and Dunn’s agent said 4/56 then Wren would’ve said good luck and hung up.

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

^^

I was being sarcarstic and whining… sorry.. These tactics don’t transfer well on here.

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It also says

The Braves and Nats are more interested in trading for an OF bat. Gotta read everything.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 13, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw that dangit. I was being sarcastic… F I suck

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lowe, JJ, Vazquez, KK, Campillo (with C-Mo, Hanson, Jo Jo, and ….Jeff Locke and Teheran, Rorbough, Medlen, Rasmus, Heath, Cofield, D. Evans, ……and Jairo Cuevas)

Maybe JJ goes behind Vazquez depending on the spring he has.. Jo Jo gets traded because he’s of the lowest value he’s ever been right now… Maybe Jeff Bennett wins the 5th spot… Then the rotation might look like
Lowe
Vazquez
JJ
KK
Bennett

Campillo’s magic might have worn out totally, so he wouldn’t make the bullpen either, so maybe they trade him before anyone finds out

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

2010 Rotation..

Hudson
Lowe
JJ
Vazquez
Kawakizzle

Braves AAA team becomes an expansion team because the rotation and bullpen is so friggin solid

Hanson
Morton
Jo Jo
Medlen
Parr

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

Swap Parr out..

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

tommy hanson can be the southern version of JOBA!

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Plus
Thomas is from California

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn’t throw hard enough….

Maybe if Morton put some meat on them bones

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This makes no sense..

So we’re willing to let Smoltz walk over $2M, yet we outbid the Mets for Lowe by $24M?

The Braves need to decide if they want to try to remain in contention for the next couple years or not. This floating-in-between crap will only further hamstring the team’s ability to win in the future.

Plug the PR leaks, show a clear path, and move forward.

Having said that, welcome aboard Lowe, and hope that 36-yo arm of yours has at least 3 good years left in it.

by Hobnail_Boot on Jan 13, 2009 1:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's a terrible comparison though, that's not fair to Frank Wren at all.

John Smoltz is 42 years old and coming off major, major shoulder surgery, there’s no guarantee that he will pitch at all. Derek Lowe is 36 and still has all his ligaments in the right places.
Smoltz was only maybe worth what we were offering him, Lowe is worth right around it, maybe a bit less. It’s not a bad pickup given everything else that has happened.

by Perrinbar on Jan 13, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Someone on here just said that the Mets offer was merely a rumor. So there’s that too.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's true

the mets never made a formal offer. Lowe and his agent have said as much.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 13, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Makes me wonder why Wren went 4/60 right off the bat if there wasn’t another offer on the table, but I guess he wanted to wrap it up and move on to his next order of business.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure Boras wouldn’t have gone much lower than that, offer from the Mets on the table or not. If that’s what we paid, I’m pretty sure that’s what it took, with Boras.

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Bravos have made it VERY clear they are looking to contend.

So … unbunch those panties (as mattdiaz4life already suggested) and move on.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 13, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rotation

What the trade does is not make us depend on Campillo repeating next year (which most agree is unlikely) and not have to depend on a Japanese pitcher (most times you can add a half a run to their ERA to adjust for pitching in MLB)

We all know we have a ton of depth for 2009, and now we can be cautious with Hanson and only let him throw about 100 innings this year.

1) Lowe
2) Jurjjens
3 )Vasquez
4) Kawakami
5) ??

BUT add a healthy Hudson to the 2010 rotation and definitley Thomas Hanson

1) Lowe
2) Hudson
3) Jurjens
4) Vasquez
5) Hanson

that definitley has the potential to be the best staff in baseball…also think about all the innings they will eat up..

Vasquez and Lowe will BOTH (ideally) pitch around 200 innings. Think about how often that happens. All of the sudden the bull pen got a lot better.

by jsmall404 on Jan 13, 2009 1:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jsmall,

You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Mark Bowman (the best reporter in baseball), didn’t even mention Campillo’s name in the most recent article he wrote on the Lowe aquisition.

Bowman::"With Lowe and Vazquez, the Braves’ rotation projects to have the durability that was lacking last season, when each of the top four starters missed at least two months because of injuries. This should only strengthen a bullpen that was burdened by the rotation’s inconsistencies this past season.

The Braves rotation will include Lowe, Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens and Kawakami. Jo-Jo Reyes, Charlie Morton, James Parr, Tommy Hanson and Tom Glavine could potentially compete for the fifth spot in the rotation"

Do they pay Mark Bowman real money?

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

acquisition ………oops(spelling)

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what are you talking about??

“The Braves rotation will include Lowe, Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens and Kawakami. Jo-Jo Reyes, Charlie Morton, James Parr, Tommy Hanson and Tom Glavine could potentially compete for the fifth spot in the rotation”

no shit..but in 2010 when you add hudson and hanson to the 5 that is going to bump 2 guys (obviously).

I had Kawakami out because no one can say exactly what to expect from him.

and I said their rotation got much more dependable with those two inning eaters AND that the braves dont need Campillo anymore..

so what exactly are you arguing???

by jsmall404 on Jan 13, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good point about Kawakami. Your right one guy will be pushed out. Honestly I think it will be Vasquez. I can see us swapping him for something once we realize we have 6 starters. True, we havent seen what Kawakami has done, but the Braves obviously think hes gonna be good for a few years.

by SayHeyWerd on Jan 13, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The quote I posted was from Mark Bowman…He didn’t even mention Campillo as a 5th starter option for 09

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Calm down, it was a joke… Breathe buddy breathe

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I had Kawakami out because no one can say exactly what to expect from him.

Slow down, looking ahead to 2010 is futile. We don’t know that Hanson will be an impact starter as early as 2010. We don’t know that Lowe, Jurrjens or Kawakami will stay injury free. We don’t know that Hudson will return to the Huddy of old. The fact is, we won’t know any of these things until we actually GET to 2010. So what’s the point in discussing it outside of daydreaming about how nice it will be?

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You misspelled Jurrjens...

Twice.

And in completely different ways.

Your opinion is, from here on in, completely moot.

Is there a Braves Fan Remedial Spelling course that we could teach.

by mburris1 on Jan 13, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

???

So you’re saying we got Kawakami for 1 year? Where is he in your 2010 plans?

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s be honest here fellas…

The rotation won’t look like you think it will anyway… Let it go… Just let it go

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m with whodunnit here. The 2010 rotation will likely look much different than we think it will, because of injury or trade.

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2010

which of those 5 guys do you NOT think will be pitching?? yeah, of course there could be injuries..that is an obvious caviat

by jsmall404 on Jan 13, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All of these guys are proven big leaguers, Hanson is not. Holy Crap.. Calm down about Hanson, he’s done nothing at the big league level. He may, he may not. I got your caviat for you

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

re

are you saying you know exactly what to expect from him? who would you not have in the rotation when hudson and hanson are ready??

by jsmall404 on Jan 13, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What i’m saying is that Kawakami is a better bet right now than Hanson or Hudson is. Huddy just had tommy john which carries a minimum of 1 year rehab and even afterward it usually takes another year for the pitcher to get their command back. Hanson hasn’t pitched above AA at this point and has a serious fly ball problem, so expecting him to come into the league this year or next and perform at a high level is unrealistic.

My biggest point is 2010 is more than a year away, so why not focus on what the Braves are going to have in 2009!

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is this a preliminary agreement? ;-)

"The only time the Mets win is in the offseason"

by Falconzfan284 on Jan 13, 2009 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We should go with like a 10-man rotation.

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 3:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves now…

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Eff the 10-man, make it like Little League, where any player on the field can be trotted onto the mound to pitch at any given time. We could revolutionize the game of baseball if every single player on the field were responsible for at least two outs.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 13, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How about Tee-Ball style. Why spend the money on pitchers, they are too expensive.

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Worst moment of my little league career came when the coach trotted out to the mound to remove our pitcher and then looked out to CF and called me in to pitch…it did not end well.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Worst moment of my little league career was when I got beaned in the nuts! I was down and out for like five minutes. Of course, I did get up and steal second on the guy, but the kid after me (the coach’s kid, you know, the arrogant little shit who never shut up) struck out after me, which was my second worst moment in little league.

by cbwilk on Jan 13, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know whether to laugh at this, or cry…

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that brings back memories

My worst/best moment in little league, actually it was in our babe ruth league – 13 year olds, was my best friend nailing a liner to me in LF. I was going to play it as a one-hopper but the wet grass caused it to scoot instead of bounce. Caught me right between my twig and berries and unfortunately they was way before the made the banana style cups. The next thing I remember was sitting on the bench with my pants down around my knees. The coach’s wife was holding the ice pack for me (she was absolutely gorgeous) while trying to stop the bleeding. Laying right beside me on the bench was my shattered “protector” the only thing holding it together was that rubber strip around the outside. I ended up with 8 stitches and missed the final four games of the season. Regardless, between the coach’s wife and the nurse who helped stitch me up it was the most play I had in one day as a 13 year old.

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good lord you guys…

No crotch injuries for me, although the ball met my head several times during my prolific career.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember when Matt Clement and Horacio Ramirez took liners off the temple? Yeah, that happened to me too.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 13, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention our own Rafael Soriano.

I was on the opposite end of the spectrum. In HS we were working on hitting curveballs and our #2 starter’s ball didn’t break…at all. Ended up with a 70mph pitch hitting me right in the teeth. Not sure how, but I came away with nothing but a fat lip.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I used to love curve balls that didn’t curve. I was lefty and nobody had any control against a lefty so I got hit all the time. The best pitcher I ever faced threw like 90 and I knew I had no hope against that, so once I realized he was pitching me inside I leaned into one and caught it right on the elbow. I was out in right the rest of the night holding my arm hoping nobody hit it in the air to me since I couldn’t raise my glove hand.

Best pitcher getting hit I ever saw was with Richmond in 96. Raul Rodarte, a chubby outfielder, was brought in to pitch in a blowout. He throws it and the guy hits it right up the middle hitting Raul right in the ass. You hear this crazy loud pop but he doesn’t look hurt or anything. Find out later that his jock strap broke when the ball hit him.

by cbwilk on Jan 13, 2009 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I swear, the most accurate throw I ever made from right field hit my first baseman right between the eyes. We’re throwing between inning and it’s about to start, so I look in and he’s got his hands in the air and is looking right at me, so I let er rip, Perfect throw smashes him right in the face and he goes fucking Charlie Brown, glasses, glove, hat and, i kid you not, a shoe fly in the air. It was hilarious!

by cbwilk on Jan 13, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, the shoe in the air would have had me ROTFLMAO, if you will.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

That is horrible.

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Now that I think about it I can’t believe I actually shared that on a public forum.

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 13, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s more action than I’m getting as a 27 year old…

by cbwilk on Jan 13, 2009 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I've got two...

although neither of them happened to me. Since I grew up in Alaska it wasn’t uncommon for snow to still be on the field in late April, and since we started games in early May we started practicing by the end March. The out fielders had to tryout/practice on our school’s blacktop parking lot, and our infielders had to tryout/practice in the high school gym.

In the first story, one of our start infielders was taking ground balls from the pitching machine in the gym. Well, the ball goes right between his legs, bounces off the wall three feet behind him and drills him in the nuts from behind, right where the point of a banana cup ends, he goes down and stays down for about an hour.

My senior year there was this one guy, Tim, who I had played with since little league. He was ok, but definitely not high school caliber. He had tried out every year of high school and this was his last chance, so he was definitely out to impress. Well, since we were in the parking lot, the coaches used a pitching machine for fly balls meaning that the first few were always waaaaaay off the mark. The coach gets the machine running and yells, “Somebody better catch this,” half joking. The ball shoots out of the machine and you can tell that it is going to be no where close to us, but good old Tim takes of running and says, “I’ve got this coach.” He runs over three curbs and dodges a parked car, not breaking stride, then, and I shit you not, he fully lays out for the ball, I’m talking vertical to the ground. The sad thing is that as he skids along the black top the ball bounces a good 4 – 5 feet away from him. He gets up all cut up and hobbles back to the line saying, “Man, I almost had that one.” We all busted up laughing, including the coach, he was cut the next week.

Ahhhhh….the joys of baseball in Alaska.

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You sure you didn’t try out with David Eckstein? That’s an awfully large amount of hustle you just described…

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 14, 2009 1:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hahahahah...

No, how can I put this, this guy was not white. Eckstein wouldn’t have gotten cut and he would have caught it.

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 14, 2009 2:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i got spiked by a 10 year old once. seriously

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it could be like the last game of my little league season, when my dad would let every player on the team pitch to a batter.

i was a third baseman by trade. it uh, didn’t work out too well

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i don't like it

the braves are still number 3 in the division with lowe. and he’s signed through his 41st bday! good job everyone

by son.of.sourman on Jan 13, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

41?

srsly?

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And your alternative would have been…

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 14, 2009 1:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’d rather they signed Emo Peter Parker from Spider Man 3.

by cbwilk on Jan 14, 2009 2:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He had some sick dance moves.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 14, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah... sweet relief

I am very pleased with this one – I’ve only been on the Lowe bandwagon since the offseason began!

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 13, 2009 5:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I was going through old threads and ran across a post of yours that said just that. Was wondering when you were going to say something about it.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, for a while it looked like we weren't interested...

and I didn’t feel like saturating the place with “OMG SIGN LOEW1!!!!!” But I’m of the opinion that Lowe is a far better bet to justify his contract than Burnett, who went for a year more and 1.5 million more per year. If we look at the deals the other free agent pitchers got, I think this is one of the better ones.

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 13, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

4 years 60 million, wow

I hope he pitches like an ace for that kind of money. All I can say is Scott Boras is the F’ing man.

by robking on Jan 13, 2009 6:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The contract certainly isn’t ideal, but it’s better than signing Garland to a 4/48 deal. And I think we can all agree that is what really matters.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad we got him

It’s amazing he can get that though. Never really an ace, on the wrong side of 35, the economy in the crapper, I just think Scott Boras is the most talented negotiator I can think of.

by robking on Jan 13, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the best part of this deal is that it guarantees we’re not going to waste our money signing a “high win, average ERA, horrible everything else” guy like looper or garland. THANK YOU FRANK

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 9:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs