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Around SBN: Ellenberger vs. Sanchez Heats Up, Hughes Talks Retirement

The Braves, according to a major-league source, offered the Pirates the same trade that they ultimately made with the Red Sox — Casey Kotchman for Adam LaRoche.

The Pirates could have controlled Kotchman for two more seasons, but preferred to acquire two prospects from the Red Sox — shortstop Argenis Diaz and pitcher Hunter Strickland.

K-Ros on the LaRoche trade that didn't happen
My assertion from the beginning of this trade was that the Braves had desired to have Adam LaRoche back ever since they traded him (actually, ever since they saw Scott Thorman swing and miss repeatedly). I believe we got the better end of that deal, since we eventually got the trade we wanted in the first place, even if it wasn't from the original team we had offered it to.

over 2 years ago Gondeee_tiny gondeee 16 comments 0 recs  | 

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Further proof the Pirates are dumb. I’m not a Kotchman fan, but Strickland will get lost sometime around AA and Diaz is not an everyday ML shortstop.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Aug 11, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions  

The Pirates didn’t want to pay a man 4.5 million next year when they’re not going to compete. Pirates should be really competitive 2-3 years from now, at which point Pedro Alvarez should be their first baseman. Kotchman would be gone by the time the Pirates would be any good, so I think this is yet more shrewd dealings for them. I think they’re well on the right track.

And I don’t know why you think Strickland is a certain bust considering he’s only 20 years old and putting up some impressive numbers in A-ball.

by Bronn on Aug 11, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’ve seen him pitch…

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Aug 11, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

and boom goes the dynomite.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 11, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

hahah

nice

I thought hurricane season was over........

by bravesguy311 on Aug 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Right or wrong...

I think this would have been the reasoning behind choosing these guys over Kotchman. Why trade for a guy you’ll have to pay a decent amount to be mediocre?

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

by MichaelProcton on Aug 13, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

I wonder how long ago all this transpired, and what our record could be if it had gone down?

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 11, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions  

This is also interesting

from the same web page:

Confession: Wren was right
OK, time to admit the truth.

Much as I love John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, much as I hated to see them leave Atlanta, Braves general manager Frank Wren was right to part with both.

Smoltz, who left the Braves for a better offer from the Red Sox coming off shoulder surgery, is mulling his options after getting designated for assignment.

Glavine, who was released by the Braves just as he seemed on the verge of returning from elbow and shoulder surgeries, has not resumed his career.

Wren, the bad cop in both cases, took a public-relations beating. His decision on Glavine seemed particularly cold, considering that the pitcher would have received a $1 million bonus upon joining the major- league roster.

The issue, Wren said, was performance, not money. The Braves simply did not believe that Glavine still could pitch effectively in the majors.

Instead, the team promoted rookie right-hander Tommy Hanson, who is 6-2 with a 3.22 ERA — numbers Glavine probably could not have matched.

The Braves’ quest for more stability in their rotation was the main reason they were reluctant to commit to Smoltz, 42, and Glavine, 43.

Now the question is settled.

The Braves’ rotation, bolstered by the off-season additions of right- handers Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami, ranks fourth in the National League in innings pitched and third in ERA.

— Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 11, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions  

Still believe the Glavine issue could have been handled better. But it was definitely the right call to avoid giving a large contract to Smoltz coming off yet another surgery at his age.

Still, when you look at FIP (and xFIP), Smoltz is probably much better than the ERA he was putting up. His K rate was impressive, his walk rate likewise, he was just having some terrible luck on his HR/FB rate, which is largely beyond a pitchers’ control. I think he could be a useful pitcher for someone, and I certainly wouldn’t mind having him in the bullpen. I hope he gets the opportunity to play somewhere the rest of this year and be productive because he’s still one of my all time favorites.

by Bronn on Aug 11, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Glavine Issue

FW should have said “No” in the very beginning. I thought it was bad all the way around—wasted $1 million and alienated a former Braves legend (Glavine might have felt alienated anyway, but no one would have felt sorry for him or agreed with him). He should have listened to us—the wise old owls of TC. FW is going to end up being a real solid GM, when all is said and done.

"…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 Aug 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

the glavine thing was an insurance policy on our staff. if he pitched well and we had some serious deficiencies.. I.E. Hanson stagnated in AAA, or someone got hurt, or KK floundered… we may have needed Glavine… I wasn’t big on signing him, because i thought we could get similar production for less money, but that isnt an indication of what i think of him as a pitcher.

Obviously none of that happened… Hanson dominated, no one has gotten significantly injured, and KK has pitched well in his own right… SO Glavine wasnt needed… which is unfortunate at best.

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Aug 11, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don't know if he should have said no from the start...

If he hadn’t gotten hurt while he was swinging, he would very likely have been an upgrade at #5 over Reyes and Parr (if for only a month.) An expensive upgrade to be sure, but who knows if he couldn’t have had us a game or four closer to the division and WC leads.

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

by MichaelProcton on Aug 13, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

From what I remember, FW tried to handle this in a different way. Supposedly, they told Glav that they thought he was done and offered him retirement. Glavine got all Smoltzy on them and insisted that he can still pitch. They then showed him the door, as they should have.

Glavine made his own bed.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Aug 11, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

Or, you know, Wren could have handled it with class, rather than being a giant douche about it.

by Lennox on Aug 12, 2009 2:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

So asking him to retire wasn't classy?

Should they have just cut him outright? Or maybe you’d have preferred he was toiling away in Gwinnett today. There are five spots on ML rosters for starting pitchers. Glavine was never healthy enough (at the beginning of the year) or good enough (now) to be one of those five.

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

by MichaelProcton on Aug 13, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

Then again...

If they know what you’re going to throw and when you’re going to throw it, it makes it easier to swing and rive ’em.

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

by MichaelProcton on Aug 13, 2009 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

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