Braves activate Kelly Johnson, option Brooks Conrad to Gwinnett

There was some speculation that Greg Norton may be released and Brooks Conrad kept on as a pinch hitter, but that is not the case as Brooks was optioned to Gwinnett despite out-hitting Norton .111 to .344.

7 months ago gondeee 43 comments 0 recs |

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Predictable given Bobby’s love with affair with proven veterans but still annoying. If it’s about Norton being able to play the outfield and Conrad not, that is taken care of by adding Kelly to the roster isn’t it? They could (and should) also replace Hernandez with Burke who can play outfield.

by redwards95 on Jul 23, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnson hasn't played any OF since, what, '06.

None, I think, since the TJ.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Conrad was playing his heart out and you treat him like this. Norton needs to go!!!!

Baseball is my life

by That a boy on Jul 23, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Treat him like what?

He was on a minor-league deal, he had options. Look at it this way…he’s hitting great, but was he really worth his and Norton’s salary?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The point you keep making about keeping Norton just because he is owed money is kind of silly. What good does a player making a lot of money do if he can’t hit.

by gondeee on Jul 23, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again...

If you’d like to front the cost to cut him, have at it. But it strikes me there’s a lot of pressure from Liberty not to cut him loose for nothing when he was already paid for.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What pressure from Liberty?

Liberty has been hands-off and is letting McGuirk, Schuerholz, and Wren make all the decisions — that’s the way MLB insisted that it be when Liberty bought the team. Now, Liberty does tell the Braves that they need to remain profitable, but within those boundaries those three guys are free to make the decisions, not some board at Liberty.

And what money are we talking about… the guy (Norton) is making $800,000 this year — barely twice the league minimum.

I can accept the argument that keeping Norton gives the team some more flexibility if Johnson is traded, but not the argument you’re making about it being about money owed or thrown away. I think it’s an easy decision to throw away half a mil on a guy who his hitting .200 points lower than the guy who would replace him.

Your argument does not hold water.

by gondeee on Jul 23, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amen Gondee amen!!! Conrad is a switch hitter just like Norton. Yeah Norton can play outfield, but so can the four other guys we have on this team. We have Prado and Kotchman who can play first so why keep Norton around when he is not hitting. Brooks deserved to stay up at the big club, because Norton is just not hitting when given the opportunity. And Norton is not getting paid Millions sir, the Braves could let him go without a sweat. The only reason this does make sense is that we would have had three 2nd basemen.

Baseball is my life

by That a boy on Jul 23, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we showcase that he's healthy......

and then trade him. Some teams could you use a 2nd basemen with some pop.

by Dandrews on Jul 23, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He was certainly hitting well at Gwinnett.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Typical Bobby Cox, send out someone who is bustin ass, instead of the unproductive VETERAN? Norton or Diory who can use the AAA playing time.

by Dammit JIm on Jul 23, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This exactly.

I just hope he doesnt start giving Kelly alot of starts until he’s proven he can hit again

by Zeus12888 on Jul 23, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how he can.

Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.

by VivaLosBravos on Jul 23, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couple problems here...

First, can we option Norton? Second, if Hernandez goes down, we’re without a true backup SS. Prado and Conrad have combined for about 50 games there professionally.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they prob just want Conrad to get regular ABs in AAA, with Kelly coming back, that would eat into his playing time even more than it already is. Keep the kid fresh, hes not goin anywhere. But the thought of Norton on deck leaves little to be desired, and Brooks really grew on me

The New Punchout for Nintendo Wii......get it

by bravesguy311 on Jul 23, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Conrad is like 30 years old. He doesn’t need consistent playing time, he’s not progressing anymore. His only hope in the big leagues is to be a utility infielder and pinch hitter. He was doing that perfectly thus far and was sent down for his efforts.

by pancanbra on Jul 23, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

point taken, but wouldnt he benefit from getting regular at bats, regardless of age creed or denomination? and its a less definitive move than flat out DFAing Norton. Dont get me wrong, I would rather have Conrad on the bench than Norton, but he is a proven vet getting the nod over a non-progressing 30 year old.

The New Punchout for Nintendo Wii......get it

by bravesguy311 on Jul 23, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh. That’s annoying.

by Gage23 on Jul 23, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Extremely annoying.

by Sparhawk on Jul 23, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only conceivable reason for optioning Conrad over Norton is that they don’t want to have 3 second basemen on the team. Granted Kelly can play some outfield, but it’s been a while for him. Prado can play everywhere but most of his playing time will be at 2B. Still, I’m dissapointed to see this. I’d much rather have Conrad in a pinch hit situation than Norton.

by pancanbra on Jul 23, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KJ hasn't played the OF since his TJ

Ha. Initials. And Prado hasn’t really played much SS.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greg Norton sucks something fierce and we send Brooks back down to AAA? Sometimes I really hate the way we stick with veterans. Norton needs to be DFA’d….not given a chance to continue screwing us by hitting well below the Mendoza line!

by GoBravesNC on Jul 23, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Are you willing to put up the money for him NOT to play here?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We did for Frenchy…

by Gage23 on Jul 23, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We also got a far better player than Conrad to replace him.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 24, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't agree with this decision.

Norton has served us well in the past but he’s been totally unproductive so far this year. Hell, even some of our pitchers are a greater threat off the bench to pinch hit than he is.

Oh well. I hope Brooksy can make back up before too long I really liked watching his hustle and great at bats.

"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich

by NCChopper on Jul 23, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

All of our pitchers have a better average than Norton except for Vazquez. KK is even with Norton at .111.

by Gage23 on Jul 23, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome back Kell Bell!! Make me proud!

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jul 23, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whatever, just please get rid of Diory.

If Dunn walks 30 fewer times, he'll drive in 15 more runs. This is thanks to the scientifically proven formula: RBI = (this is nonsense) (I made it all up).

Here's a stat: Wins as manager: Dusty Baker, 1,162; Bill James, 0.

by TradeAndruw on Jul 23, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If only we had somebody else who could play SS...

Hurry back, Omar.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ESCO HITTING CLEANUP TODAY!

by Zeus12888 on Jul 23, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like moves that shake things up,

however i don’t like sending conrad down for doing everything right, but I think maybe over the weekend we may find out more reasons for the move, whether kelly tears it up, or whether a trade is brewing.

by SidKotchman on Jul 23, 2009 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kelly looked very ready his last few games in AAA.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 23, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He looked like shit today

If Dunn walks 30 fewer times, he'll drive in 15 more runs. This is thanks to the scientifically proven formula: RBI = (this is nonsense) (I made it all up).

Here's a stat: Wins as manager: Dusty Baker, 1,162; Bill James, 0.

by TradeAndruw on Jul 23, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where?

He got a solid base hit in his only at bat and he turned one heck of a quick double play. You aren’t seriously faulting him for the play @ first where Moylan (mistakenly) looked to throw the runner out @ 3rd, made a flat-footed throw to first, only to hit the baserunner in the head? How in the world was that Kelly’s fault? Wake up and stop thinking that everything bad thing that happens to this team is KJ-related.

Tigers love pepper; they hate cinnamon.

by Jareth Cutestory on Jul 23, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A possible explanation

is that Los Bravos are trying to hang onto as many players as possible. Norton cannot be optioned. If Norton is DFAed today, but KJ ends up being traded before the deadline, they could not bring Norton back. This is the only way to keep both Norton and Conrad.

Of course, that presupposes that anyone would WANT to bring Norton back, but there you go…. could be something in the works for KJ in the next week…

by matches on Jul 23, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Awful…..Norton is horrible.

by psjBrave on Jul 23, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You know what??

We need to make a thread about how hot Brooks Conrad has been…

People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by mvandonsel on Jul 23, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs